JumpstART

The Partnership of Arts, YPs and Rock and Roll

January 26, 2012 By Megan Cooper Leave a Comment

What do you get when you pair a Pink Floyd rock tribute with the Philharmonic? Or a couple fun-lovin’ DPO Board members with two local YPs groups? Or great food and a backstage tour? Or prizes, a live radio broadcast and crazy discounted tickets?

Lest you think this is the beginning of a REALLY complicated joke, I’m here to tell you – it’s Encore Night at the Dayton Philharmonic!

On Thursday, February 9, make a night of it with fellow young professionals!

5:30PM – Start the night at Uno’s Downtown where there will be complimentary appetizers, cash bar, prizes, and on-air “audio tweets” during a live radio remote with WTUE’s Aaron Klauber. Last prize is raffled off at 6:45 PM (must be present to win) when we cash out and the group heads across the street because…

7:15PM – We’re heading BACKSTAGE at the Schuster Center for a special tour and briefing hosted by Brent Havens (Windborne Conductor).

8:00PM – Get to your awesome seats specially reserved in the loge to hear what happens when progressive rock meets classical orchestra. The program features the music of Pink Floyd performed by the amazing Windborne Music backed by the full DPO!

This is a special night (with a crazy great discounted price) specifically to introduce YPs to the great time that is the Dayton arts scene and the Dayton Philharmonic. Tickets are only $30 – that’s more than 1/2 off plus they are actually waiving the $4 processing fee. You MUST order your tickets through the special link below or call Madea Thompson at 937-228-7591 x3222. This deal is only good through February 4th – after that the seats will be released and sold for the face value of $66 (plus that service charge). Don’t miss out!

**This event is NOT limited to previous participants of Generation Dayton or JumpstART – all local YPs are encouraged to attend.**

PURCHASE SPECIAL OFFER ONLINE:

Event hosted by jumpstART & DPO Trustees Lauren Hamer & Maha Kashani

Jane’s Best Bets (5/4 – 5/8)

May 3, 2011 By Jane Krebs Leave a Comment

Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

Since it is May, you may be asking the question, “Is there anything fun going on this week in Dayton?” The answer of course is an enormous “YES!” This week, there are so many things from which to choose that you may have some very difficult decisions ahead of you!

On Wednesday, join Dayton Creative Syndicate as they welcome Guest Speaker, Jack Supple at Brixx Ice Company. Taste some wine as part of the Weekly Wine Tasting at The Wine Gallery. Not yet prepared to make your bets for the Kentucky Derby? Be sure to attend the Derby Preview Party at Color of Energy Gallery where John Engelhardt from River Downs and other horse racing experts will give you some great tips…and don’t forget to have a mint julep! Plus, there will be a live horse outside the art gallery AND live music! Afterwards, please carefully walk to Fifth Third Field to watch the Dragons as they play the South Bend Silver Hawks. And finally, give those vocal folds a workout by heading to Blind Bob’s for Karaoke.

On jueves (Thursday), start the day at the Presidential Banquet Center for the 2nd Annual Voices for Kids Benefit, which helps CHOICES, an organization that provides a support system for youth, their families, and foster parents. Over at Sinclair, attend the 2011 Go Red For Women Luncheon. Celebrate Cinco de Mayo in style at one of these great restaurants: (1) The Caroline, which offers some great Cinco de Mayo specials; (2) El Meson – starting at 3PM, they will have $1 Tequila shots and free tapas until 5:30PM…plus amazing food, music, and dancing; or (3) El Rancho Grande (or the “E.R.” as my friend Lynne calls it) for 1/2 Price Ladies Night. Or Join the Dayton Ballet Barre for their 1st Annual Cinco de Mayo ‘Barre’ Crawl which will take place at a variety of bars in the Oregon District. If Mexican food does not appeal to your taste buds, no problem. You can attend the Beer & Burger Tasting at A Taste of Wine in downtown Miamisburg. Some other possibilities for Thursday evening include listening to the Hal Melia Quartet as part of the Vectren Just Jazz Series at the Dayton Art Institute, Space Night at the Air Force Museum, Dayton Theology on Tap at Oregon Express, or watching the Dragons as they play the South Bend Silver Hawks.

On Friday, ALL young professionals should without a doubt participate in Generation Dayton’s Get Out, & Give Back Dayton! The day will consist of a lunch, followed by a variety of service projects at area non-profits, and finally a wonderful after-party at Oregon Express! Get registered today and bring a friend! Afterwards, attend the First Friday art hop downtown. Also downtown, you can participate in the Courteous Mass Ride, watch the Dragons play the South Bend Silver Hawks, listen to the Paul McKenna Band at the Dayton Art Institute, or attend ‘Byron Stripling: Satchmo, Fats & The Duke’ (Dayton Philharmonic) at the Schuster Center (click here to find out how you can get discounted tickets, courtesy of jumpstART!). And if you’re brave enough to venture outside of downtown, head to the Dayton Mall Chick-fil-A for a Free Chick-fil-A Sandwich from 4-7PM, the Baum Opera House for The Wizard of Oz, or the Centerville Performing Arts Center for Hello, Dolly!

Hopefully you spent your Friday night downtown so you can wake up and gallop your way to the Derby Day Dash 5K and Kids Fun Run at RiverScape. Then head to PNC 2^nd Street Market to Make Your Own Crepe. Over at Garden Station Community Garden/Art Park, share your food, art, music, or whatever else you want as part of the Really Really Free Market. Wear your favorite hat (the bigger, the better!) and support women’s wellness by attending the 2nd Annual Crown Jewels Derby Day Brunch at Brio. I hope to see you there! Keep that hat on so that you will be able to attend the Junior League of Dayton Derby Party at The Wine Loft. In order to support a couple other great causes, attend the House of Bread Silent Auction at the Dayton Mall Holiday Inn or the American Red Cross’s Putting on the Glitz event at the Hope Hotel and Conference Center. If your doctor wrote you a prescription for laughter, be sure to get your tickets to Cocktails with Larry Miller at Victoria Theatre. Although I’m not an accountant, I don’t think this would qualify as a medical expense under your H.S.A. Listen to the Dayton Philharmonic’s performance – ‘Byron Stripling: Satchmo, Fats & The Duke’, which takes place at the Schuster Center. Other musical options include listening to the Miami Valley Symphony Orchestra’s Spring Concert at Shiloh Church or the The Primo Trio at the Dayton Art Institute as part of the Vanguard Concert Series. Catch “Saturday Night Football” at Hara Arena as the Dayton Silverbacks play the Indianapolis Enforcers. And finally, if you feel like catching a show, both The Wizard of Oz (Baum Opera House) and Hello, Dolly (Centerville Performing Arts Center) will still be running strong!

On Sunday, if you do nothing else, be sure to honor your mother! If you don’t mind (and if you do mind, sorry, I just don’t care), I’d like to give a quick shout out to mine – Thank you mom for being the best mom ever…and thank you for not just putting up with my dumb jokes, but actually laughing at them! I love you bunches and bunches! Thanks for letting me do that, although you really had no choice. Anyways, whatever you’re doing, I hope you will be able to have the opportunity to spend Sunday with your mother. And don’t worry because you won’t have to cook breakfast or lunch, as many restaurants are offering Mother’s Day Specials! Some places that are offering brunch include The Barnsider, Hilton Garden Inn, Carvers, Blind Bob’s, Boulevard Haus, Dublin Pub, and Fleming’s. Don’t forget to take your wallet…it would be bad news if your mom had to pay! And if your mom likes music, take her to Kettering Fairmont High School for the Miami Valley Symphony Orchestra Spring Concert. Or take her to see Honk! Jr. at Town Hall Theatre.

And now it’s time for the Dumb Joke of the Week. Drum roll please…

Why was the racehorse named Bad News? Because Bad News travels fast.

These are just a few best bets from the DMM Calendar. There are plenty more events listed there, so if you haven’t, I encourage you to check it out today! Also, if you have an event to share or promote, please submit it– it’s great marketing and better yet, it’s FREE! And finally, if you have a dumb joke to share, I’m all ears!

Have a great week Dayton!

Jane’s Best Bets (4/13 – 4/17)

April 12, 2011 By Jane Krebs Leave a Comment

Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

It’s almost tax day. As many of you rush to get yours completed (don’t worry, I’m in that boat too), hopefully you get a break so you can enjoy some of these events going on in the Dayton area this week!

On Wednesday, learn The Basics of Excel 2007 (which may be helpful for everyone doing their own accounting) at Sinclair. At the Greene County Career Center, attend their “Sushi Galore” Cooking Class. Afterwards, you are more than welcome to make me some! If you are feeling artsy, attend the UD Celebration of the Arts: Closing Visual Arts Exhibition and Reception. All creative professionals should get happy (if you’re not already) by attending the Happy Hour Special Event: Cincinnati Creatives Head North at Harrigan’s Tavern South. Dayton Creative Syndicate (DCS) will welcome the American Advertising Foundation-Dayton and AIGA Cincinnati colleagues to the area for a networking/social event. If you’re a movie lover who likes to laugh, make your way to The Neon for a special screening of Punching the Clown. At the Dayton Racquet Club, help kick off the Dayton Dutch Lions’ soccer season by attending their VIP Party and Date Auction! Ladies – they always say soccer players are hot (even when they don’t have a fever)! And finally, put on your blue suede shoes and catch the music of “The King” with All Shook Up, which is being performed at Victoria Theatre.

On Thursday, music lovers should attend the 2011 WGI Percussion World Championships to see talented percussion ensembles from across the U.S., Canada, and Europe. Young professionals will not want to miss the Generation Dayton Thirsty Thursday at Blind Bob’s, which will provide an awesome opportunity for YPs to network/socialize. If you put wine and yoga together, some say you get “woga” or “yine.” However, at the Metropolitan Arts Center, you get Grape and Lotus – A Wine and Yoga Practice. All you green wannabes should Go Green At PNC 2^nd Street Market, where you will learn about the top ten ways to go green at home. Support a great cause by attending Guest Grillers Kramer & Clober at BD’s Mongolian Grill. In addition to food grilled by local DJs, there will be a silent auction, raffles, games, and prizes. If you’re looking for something fun to do with the kids, take them to see Charlotte’s Web at the Dominion Academy of Dayton. And if you want a good laugh, check out the award-winning musical comedy Nunsense at Chakeres Memorial Theatre. Sounds like my kind of show, as it is described as having hilarious puns! In other theater news, you can attend All Shook Up at Victoria Theatre or Permanent Collection at The Loft Theatre. And finally, if you prefer to do the performing yourself, make your way to Champps for their Karaoke Thursdays.

Voice Pathologist Jennifer Rettig Taking A Look at My Vocal Folds

Friday is World Voice Day, so head to The Blaine Block Institute for Voice Analysis and Rehabilitation, one of the most well-respected voice clinics in the nation as they celebrate 2011 World Voice Day! Be sure to schedule your appointment for a FREE voice screening, in which you will be able to see pictures/video of your vocal folds! I have had it done and I assure you, it is painless! If you haven’t yet, be sure to register for the 2011 Young Creatives Summit at the Dayton Convention Center in which you will be able to voice your opinions about our community. Join jumpstART as they Jump into Photography at Stivers School for the Arts. It’s a Friday in Lent, so that also means a Fish Fry (American Legion Post 707)! And finally, if you are looking to attend a show/musical, here are a few options: Nunsense at Chakeres Memorial Theatre, All Shook Up at Victoria Theatre, Permanent Collection at The Loft Theatre, The Boys Next Door at Dayton Theatre Guild, The Daughter of The Regiment (opera) at Schuster Performing Arts Center, Charlotte’s Web at Dominion Academy of Dayton, and The Phantom Tollbooth at Town Hall Theatre.

On Saturday, celebrate Earth Day by heading to the PNC 2^nd Street Market for their Tree Seedling Giveaway. (I planted a few of them a couple years ago and they are now over three feet tall!) Get in shape by participating in the 5K Run for the Cure in Tipp City, which starts at Harrison’s. Music lovers should head over to Omega Music for the National Record Day Celebration. Take the kids to the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery for the Junior League of Dayton’s ‘Kids in the Kitchen’ Event at the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery, which will feature seven different healthy lifestyles stations, including such things as zumba for children and dental care. Help raise money for scholarships for the Dayton Alumnae Panhellenic Association by attending Sashay Into Spring’ Luncheon and Fashion Show at the Hope Hotel and Conference Center. Also, be sure to bring job interview clothing donations for Clothes that Work! Support another great cause by attending a Wine Tasting to benefit Children’s Medical Center at Arrow Wine & Spirits. You can also support the Greene Community Health Foundation at their Bowling For Babies event at Beaver-Vu Bowling Lanes. All you soccer lovers will not want to miss the Dayton Dutch Lions FC Home Opener ‘All Things Dutch’ at Miami Valley South Stadium! Be sure to wear your orange! Several shows are going on around town that were mentioned above, so be sure to check out the DMM Calendar! At Kira’s Oasis, attend the Burlesque Show & ARC (AIDS Resource Center) Benefit. Or, attend Flappers & Dappers, a 20s Gala benefiting Hannah’s Treasure Chest which will be held at the Schuster Center.

On Sunday, don’t miss your chance to get All Shook Up at Victoria Theatre. Or catch Permanent Collection at The Loft Theatre, The Boys Next Door at the Dayton Theatre Guild, or The Phantom Tollbooth at Town Hall Theatre. At The Neon, check out Lunafest, which is an event featuring short films by, for, and about women. Sorry men. And finally, for a little musical entertainment, head to the University of Dayton for their Symphonic Wind Ensemble and Concert Band or their Music Ensembles.

And now it’s time for the Dumb Joke of the Week. Drum roll please…

There are three kinds of accountants in the world. Those who can count and those who can’t.

Have a great week Dayton!

My Summit Story: The Projects and the People

April 7, 2011 By Megan Cooper 1 Comment

Shawn Neff is a busy guy. Living downtown and working in Springfield, when he’s not on the road, he’s out socializing or involved in projects that are impacting his community. As his adoptive home, and he’s doing a lot to make Dayton a place he’s proud of. Here’s his Summit story.

After the 2009 Summit, Shawn volunteered as a member of the Wayne Avenue Corridor Committee – a group committed to cleaning up and highlighting the area connecting the Oregon District with the Cannery Arts District. Then, at the 2010 Summit, Shawn took a leadership role with Downtown Street Buzz, a group that worked to highlight downtown Dayton’s nightlife by getting more feet-on-the-street and creating a fun social atmosphere at selected events for young creatives.

Q: Through updayton, you worked on two community projects – Wayne Avenue Corridor and Street Buzz. What were your experiences?

I feel that both projects were valuable to me personally and definitely worth my time. I was able to make connections with people, learn new skills, and hopefully make an impact on someone else.

For the Wayne Ave Project, I take great pride in knowing that I am a part of the team that was responsible for the murals and benches, for continuing to clean up the trash and pull weeds. Hopefully for the community, they will take from it that it only takes a small group of people to make a difference and take a run down, rather scary looking area and liven it up.

While the “Buzz” group didn’t maybe didn’t go as planned, that’s to be expected of any group project. Everyone at the start is gung ho and ready to move. After a few months, people begin to loose interest and drop away from participating. You can’t let that frustrate you. “Without failure there is no success.”

Q: Beyond the projects, did updayton provide you with any valuable experiences or connections?

Absolutely, I have made numerous connections to people in the Dayton area, several which have become close friends. It’s quite an experience just to see the hundreds of people at the summit, who like me, want to make a difference in this community.

Q: What have you been doing since your Summit project involvement?

I have been actively working with Generation Dayton as a member of both the Community Involvement & Social Committees. I am also a dedicated member of jumpstART. I have been involved with several communities to help rebuild old playgrounds.

Q: Would you recommend that local YPs attend the Summit?

I think it should be almost mandatory that not just ‘YP’ers, but anyone who wants to make a difference, attend the summit. It’s a chance to meet and network with people. A chance to give your input, and listen to other’s thoughts on what we want to make of this city. A chance to get involved and put all those thoughts into motion.

Q: What is your vision for the Dayton region?

I want to see a thriving downtown. I want to see people moving back into the urban core. I want to hear more positives and less negatives about downtown Dayton. I moved to downtown 2 years ago from out of town, and I have completely adopted this city and want to see it thrive.

This is the second in a series highlighting people who have been involved with the updayton Young Creatives Summit. For part one, see My Summit Story: Who Knows You?

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No Foolin’ – Great YP Events in April

March 31, 2011 By Megan Cooper Leave a Comment

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FEATURED EVENT

Friday, April 15th:
updayton’s Young Creatives Summit

Dayton Convention Center
Friday, April 15; 3-6 PM
$15 ($5 for Students)
Info Packet (agenda, breakout descriptions, etc) HERE

The Summit has been slightly revamped to meet the needs of the busy young creative while maintaining the mission of giving YOU a say in the direction of the Dayton region. This year’s features include: a shortened Summit (3-6 PM), a great “speed networking” professional development opportunity, and established regional organizations such as the Downtown Dayton Partnership, CityWide Development, the Human Relations Council, and the Southwestern Ohio Council for Higher Education (SOCHE) adding their strength to make YOUR projects even more impactful and sustainable.

Don’t miss the 2011 Young Creatives Summit. REGISTER NOW!

A few April YP Highlights:

April 1, 5-10 PM – Sure, it’s the day for practical jokes, but no kidding – don’t miss First Friday! This month, enjoy roving musicians, jugglers and breakdancers, new art installations at the Southern Belle and two locations off Courthouse Square, a preview of the DVAC Art Auction, the monthly Courteous Mass bike ride and more. First Friday is presented by the Downtown Dayton Partnership. For more information, including specific event details, visit the First Friday Web page or Facebook page.

April 7, 5:30-7:30 PM – Come join the Young AFCEAns at the Fox and Hound near the Fairfield Commons Mall for a Networking / Social Event. Bring a friend that may be interested in learning more about AFCEA. Appetizers, beer and soda will be provided by Young AFCEAns. Please contact Casey Weinstein at [email protected] if you have questions.

April 8, 6PM – The Great Escape is back! The Red Cross Associate Board hosts this fantastic party in the Schuster Center Wintergarden featuring live music, dancing, an exciting silent auction, and great food resulting in a memorable and fun-filled evening. Everyone who attends will have a chance to win a fabulous door prize of a weekend trip for two valued at $1,000 to anywhere in the US -generously donated by AAA Miami Valley. Tickets are $40 in advance and $45 at the door.

April 13, 7-9 PM – Kick off the soccer season by joining the Dayton Dutch Lions FC at the PreSeason VIP Party! $11 gets you a Dayton Dutch Lions FC calendar, finger foods, and a cash bar in the Patterson Room of the Dayton Racquet Club. Come enjoy a great networking opportunity AND your chance to bid to win a day with the DDL players and owners (dates include a massage & pedi from Square One and dinner at McCormick and Schmicks!)

April 13, 5:30-9 PM – Get ready for a happy hour extravaganza! It’s all sorts of creative when Dayton Creative Syndicate (DCS) welcomes AAF-Dayton and AIGA Cincinnati colleagues to the Gem City for a networking and socializing super event at Harrigan’s South. Come out and rub elbows with some of the most creative folks in southwest Ohio! (Or at least stop by for the $2 special on domestics and well drinks.) They’ll be at Harrigan’s South location, 671 Lyons Road, Centerville.

April 15, 6:30 PM – Post-Summit, Pre-Party with JumpstART as they check out the Stivers Photography Auction. Free to attend, cheap to bid, pay what you want. Professional photographers from across the nation donate works to be auctioned off to benefit the arts program at Stivers. Hang out with other arts-minded YPs, support a great cause and get some art on your walls.

April 20, 5:30 – 8 PM – Back by popular demand is Generation Dayton’s Speed Networking. It’s your chance to effectively network one-on-one with other young professionals. There will be a cash bar and complimentary appetizers. Free for members, $15 for nonmembers. Bring plenty of business cards and be ready to connect! Registration required; contact [email protected] to reserve your spot, seating is limited!

April 23, 8AM – Noon – HYPE (Northern Miami Valley) is getting it’s volunteerism on as they donate a Saturday morning to a Habitat for Humanity Service Project. Don’t miss this opportunity to make a major difference in the community while meeting some great local YPs. More info on the Web page.

That’s just a small selection of the great events available in April – check out the Web pages of each group to see all they have to offer – including socials, networking, professional development and more!

Jane’s Best Bets (3/23 – 3/27)

March 22, 2011 By Jane Krebs Leave a Comment

Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

Woohoo…it’s spring! That means you need to put a little spring in your step and make your way to some of these events going on this week!

On Wednesday, make your way to the Community Blood Center for Because Kerrigan Cared Week, where all blood donations will be made in memory of Steve Kerrigan, a veteran Dayton broadcaster who recently lost his battle with multiple myeloma, a blood cancer. After you have donated blood, you will want to help replenish your blood supply by eating a good dinner! So be sure to head to the Bonefish Grill for their Bang Bang Shrimp Wednesdays or to Sammy’s El Pueblo for their Fajita Dinner for 2 for $19.99. All you who love debating political issues should head to the Trolley Stop for Drinking Liberally – Dayton. Even though St. Patrick’s Day has come and gone, you will be able to attend the Green Drinks Dayton March at Cork & Vine Wine Market and Lounge, in which you will be able to find out about local organizations who “think green.” And if you don’t mind making a fool of yourself, head to Blind Bob’s Tavern for Karaoke with DJ Nancy. If you’re a really good singer, that’s okay too…except for the fact that you just make all of us bad singers look even worse!

On Thursday, if you want to celebrate that it is almost the weekend, head to After Work Thursdays at The Moraine Embassy for “Downtown Happy Times.” They say wine and yoga relax you, so be ultra relaxed by attending Grape and Lotus – A Wine and Yoga Practice at Metropolitan Arts Center. Love movies and art? Make your way to DAI’s Movie Night, featuring Ayn Rand’s ‘The Fountainhead’. Plus, the ticket price includes admission to the new exhibit, Creating the New Century: Contemporary Art from the Dicke Collection! If you are a film enthusiast, you may also head to Ajami: Dayton Jewish International Film Festival, which takes place at The Neon. There are a couple options available for young professionals who enjoy the arts, including Young Professionals Night at the DPO (Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra) or Jump into Strings (hopefully you don’t get hurt) with jumpstART. If you do decide to jump, join other jumpers at the Milano’s on Brown Street prior to the show! Or head to New Music for New Dance at Victoria Theatre. They must also enjoy jumping, as they say that you should “Jump into spring with a fusion of fresh, innovative dance and stimulating, live music!” A good friend of mine saw a preview of it and said it was AWESOME! And finally, all you car lovers must attend the Dayton Auto Show, going on through Sunday!

New Music for New Dance-Dayton Ballet

On Friday, if you haven’t made it to one yet this season (I’m talking about fish fry season, not spring), then make plans to attend the St. Charles Fish Fry. At the Spaghetti Warehouse, attend the Mayhem & Mystery Dinner Theatre ‘Fashion Friction’. If you enjoy music, head to the Schuster Center for Daugherty: Electric Guitar Concerto – Passport Performance. All you dance lovers should plan to attend the Russian National Ballet Theatre performance at Clark State Performing Arts Center. And if you can’t decide if you like music or dance better, then I have a solution for you – attend the Dayton Ballet’s New Music for New Dance at Victoria Theatre, which will have both! Catch a performance of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at The Playhouse South. If you like Buzz (not to be confused with getting buzzed), then watch Toy Story 3 as part of the ArtStreet Friday Film Series Presents at the University of Dayton. I have not seen it yet because I’ve heard it even makes grown men cry! If you love wine and Porsches (just make sure you don’t try to drive the Porsches after you’ve had a few glasses of wine), then head to the Taj Wine Tasting 2011 at Taj Ma Garaj. In addition to delicious wine and gorgeous cars, there will be yummy food from some of the area’s premier caterers, including Belmont Catering and Bernsteins.

On Saturday, start the day off right with the Dogfish Head Beer Breakfast at Spinoza’s. If you’re more of a health nut, then head to The Mall at Fairfield Commons for their 4th Annual ‘No Buts About It’ 5K Run/Walk. Over at PNC 2^nd Street Market, you will be able to see Birds of Prey. Seriously. Just “pray” they don’t eat you! Before the weather gets too warm, all you chili lovers should head to the South Park Chili Cook off at South Park’s Hope Lutheran Church. Help “Big Brothers Big Sisters” by participating in their Bowl For Kids’ Sake at Woodman Lanes. And if you’re not available or have a thumb injury and can’t bowl, feel free to make a donation to support this wonderful cause! If you’re looking for a music, theater, or dance option (or perhaps some combination of these art forms!), spring over to Victoria Theatre for New Music for New Dance, Town Hall Theatre for Pinkalicious, The Musical, The Playhouse South for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, or the Schuster Center for New Worlds – Passport Performance. And finally, if you love hockey and want to support a good cause, watch as the Dayton Gems Pack the House for Kyle Terrian.

On Sunday, head to the Little Art Theatre for brunch and a movie. If you like Joseph, watch him and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at The Playhouse South. At Town Hall Theatre, you will still be able to see Pinkalicious, The Musical. If you haven’t yet had the opportunity to see New Music for New Dance, I strongly encourage you to do so! At South Park United Methodist Church, listen to some beautiful voices as the University of Dayton Chorale performs. If you haven’t had the opportunity to check out the Dayton Auto Show, remember that Sunday is the last day for it! And if you need some techniques to help you relax before heading into another busy work week, head to Practice Yoga on Fifth for their Intro to Mindfulness Meditation.

And now it’s time for the Dumb Joke of the Week. Drum roll please…

Two kangaroo moms were talking to each other and one said, “I hope it doesn’t rain today.” The other one replied, “Yeah, I just hate it when the children play inside.”

Have a great week Dayton!

YP Roundup – Here Comes the Spring

March 3, 2011 By Megan Cooper Leave a Comment

Wow – a few days into March and I’m just publishing this now. I guess that’s what happens when February is the shortest month and the sun starts luring people (me) outside and away from computers. Anyway – just in time for First Friday (btw: check out the fab listing of galleries, bands, outdoor rec events and more on the event calendar) – here is a shortened edition the YP Roundup. Since you’ve got the handy-dandy DMM calendar, this Roundup will start to feature just one or two events each week from our great local YP organizations. Check out organizational Web pages or the DMM calendar for a more comprehensive list.

March is the month that launched the Young Guns vs. Old Pistols for the Wright-Patt Junior Force Council. Not on Base? Keep up with their events on their new Facebook page. Want more info on YP events behind the gates? Check out the story on DMM.

Week One:

Check out First Friday. Some really cool opportunities there include a story telling session, live music in a music store, a new art exhibit (or two), zumba, an 80’s skate party, a bike ride, and general frivolity and fun.

Join the Dayton Ballet Barre at Norton’s on Sunday, March 6 for… ballet? NO! It’s to get in the mood for March Madness. They’ll be watching OSU take on Wisconsin. They don’t call it the “big dance” for nothing – of course the Ballet Barre is getting into that action.

Week Two:

Wednesday, March 9 gives you a chance to join the members of HYPE for lunch at Kanoe Cafe. It’s an informal lunch to meet a few new friends and learn about upcoming HYPE events. RSVP by March 8 to guarantee your spot.

Wednesday night brings you the chance to check out Lucky’s Taproom, the Oregon District’s newest tavern, with the Dayton Creative Syndicate. This Happy Hour brings together professionals from design, copy writing, and other creative fields for a good time.

Week Three:

Get the Montgomery County Economic Update when Generation Dayton hosts Commissioner Debbie Lieberman on Tuesday, March 15 for the Business and Breakfast Speaker Series. A free event to attend (breakfast at your cost) with good friends and great information.

Week Four:

On Thursday, March 24 JumpstART is going to campus for a great deal on String Theory featuring the Richter Uzur Duo at UD. Of course, it’s not a full Flyer experience without first checking out Milano’s for some great food and drink specials as well as some great door prizes.

On Saturday, March 26 the American Heart Associate answers the call for YPs who wanted to be included in the Dayton Heart Ball (without the Heart Ball price). Join them at the Red Heart Lounge After-party! Geared toward YPs, it’s a chic event that offers a discounted rate, food, dancing, wine/beer, red carpet photos and a chance to mix and mingle with other YPs making a difference in the lives of others. Contact [email protected] for details.

AND:

Other great events tagged for YPs in the region include the Dayton AMA presentation on how to turnaround a downtown, a healthy and tasty wine/yoga combo, and the chance to bring your friends together to Bowl for Kids’ Sake.

“Like” some YP pages online, keep an eye on the DMM calendar and let us know here if you’ve got other great YP events coming up!

Jane’s Best Bets (2/9 – 2/13)

February 8, 2011 By Jane Krebs Leave a Comment

Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

Some of you may be suffering from cabin fever, as the weather last week wasn’t conducive to enjoying all the wonderful activities in Dayton. Although it’s supposed to be cold this week according to our local meteorologists, hopefully you will have the opportunity to get out and experience some of the wonderful things going on in our city!

On Wednesday, in the afternoon, take a trip to the Dayton Metro Library’s main branch for Special Events: Putting the FUN in Fundraising, in order to learn how to plan and execute a successful fundraising event. Over at the Schuster Center, check out Visual Voices Art Exhibit: Dayton Skyscrapers 2011. If you missed the Trolley Stop’s Monthly Beer Tasting last week because of the ice/snow, no worries, as it has been rescheduled for Wednesday. Afterwards, be sure to stay for the Old Time Acoustic Jam!

On Thursday, join Generation Dayton as they partner up with jumpstART for their Thirsty Thursday at De’Lish. Afterwards, Jump into Theatre with these two great organizations by checking out the Human Race Theatre Company’s production of Twelfth Night. Make sure you ask for the “jumpstart” deal in order to get half-off tickets! Plus, the Human Race will offer a private tour after the production! For those of you who love the sport of skiing, head to The Neon for their screening of ‘The Story’, which is a documentary on the topic. At the Schuster Center, listen to the sounds of the Dayton Philharmonic for Heroes & Journeys: Strauss & Mozart. In addition, A Streetcar Named Desirewill be playing at Victoria Theatre and True West will be playing at the University of Dayton.

On Friday, for those of you who like the color green, you’ll want to attend the ‘Ohio Leads the Way: Green Markets and Green Jobs’ Expo at the Dayton Convention Center. If you’re feeling a little anti-social and would prefer to just watch a movie, head to UD for ArtStreet Friday Film Series Presents: The Social Network. I still haven’t seen this movie, but have definitely heard good things about it! Over at the Nutter Center, meet Achmed the Terrorist, Bubba J, and Jose Jalapeno on a Stick, as they take the stage alongside the hilarious Comedian Ventriloquist Jeff Dunham! All you beer lovers may want to take a trip to Cincinnati for the Cincy Winter Beerfest – just bring a DD, or rather have the DD bring you! For a fun way to start off Valentine’s Weekend, attend the Valentine’s Masquerade Ball Fundraiser at the Cannery Art and Design Center to benefit the YMCA Youth and Teen Programs. If you’re looking for some theatre/music options, there are plenty! Get your tickets to The Berenstain Bears Onstage: A Bear Country Musical (Town Hall Theatre), A Streetcar Named Desire (Victoria Theatre), Fat Pig (Dayton Theatre Guild), Stauss: A Hero’s Life(Dayton Philharmonic at the Schuster Center), The 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee (Dayton Playhouse), Twelfth Night (The Loft Theatre), or True West at the University of Dayton. At Alex’s, you can see The Fries, one of my favorite local bands (and foods) perform as part of their 2011 Debut! Speaking of fries, be sure to check out the St. Henry/Bishop Leibold Fish Fry! After all, what Friday would be complete without one?!?!

On Saturday, head out to the PNC 2^nd Street Market for their Valentine’s Celebration, featuring perfect gifts for your sweetheart. All teens are welcome to attend the Game Day @ Your Library, which will take place at the East Branch of the Dayton Metro Library. Be sure to reserve your spot for the Do-It-Yourself Valentine Cookie Cakeat the delicious Ele Cake Company…I just can’t get enough of their butter cream icing! If you have any leftovers, feel free to send them my way! Over at the UD Arena, watch the UD Flyers as they play Temple. The ‘Ohio Leads the Way: Green Markets and Green Jobs’ Expo will still be going on at the Dayton Convention Center. If you so desire, you can see A Streetcar Named Desire at Victoria Theatre. All you Sex and The City lovers will want to see the new show, Hot Mess in Manhattan. There are also several other theater options listed on the DMM calendar. At the University of Dayton, you will be able to check out the Libby Larsen Residency: Grand Finale Concert. If fish fryin’ is your thing, head to St. Peter’s for their Fish Fry and Monte Carlo. Several restaurants are also having Valentine’s specials or “couples specials,” such as the Sweetheart Package at The Melting Pot. Over at the Nutter Center, attend the WYSO’s Silent Auction and Wine, Chocolate and Cheese Tasting, featuring one of my favorite types of chocolates – Winans! At Hara Arena, catch the Dayton Gems as they play the Fort Wayne Komets…kind of reminds me of that song I used to sing when I was little about comet making your mouth turn green and tasting like Listerine. Darn, now I’m going to have that song in my head all day! And finally, you will not want to miss the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company’s (DCDC’s) Black History Month Performance entitled In the Spirit of…The Spirit Within. They are an amazing group of performers!

On Valentine’s Day Eve, be sure to Savor Your Sunday & Support Stivers. At the Dayton Art Institute, check out the Afternoon Musicales. If you’re looking for something to do with your sweetheart (or your mom or grandma), you can check out Spinoza’s Dinner and a Movie Package, the Valentine Sharing Menu at Fleming’s, 3 course dinner for 2 for $25.99 at Mimi’s, or the Sweetheart Package at The Melting Pot. If your mom, grandma, or sweetheart enjoys theatre, take her to one of the many shows going on, including The Berenstain Bears Onstage at Town Hall Theatre, The 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee at the Dayton Playhouse, Twelfth Night at The Loft Theatre, A Streetcar Named Desire -Passport Performance at Victoria Theatre, or Fat Pig at the Dayton Theatre Guild. If the lady in your life likes music, take her to listen to the sounds of the Dayton Philharmonic for The Magic Orchestra with Dan Kaminat the Schuster Center. And finally, another wonderful Sunday option is DCDC’s Black History Month Performance In the Spirit of…The Spirit Within.

And now it’s time for the Dumb Joke of the Week…well actually, a couple cheesy pickup lines in honor of Valentine’s Day. Drum roll please…

Let’s make like a fabric softener and snuggle.
Are your legs tired, because you’ve been running through my mind all day long.
Do you believe in love at first sight or should I walk by again?

Disclaimer: The success of these pick-up lines is not guaranteed.

Have a LOVEly week Dayton!

Arts and Entertainment on a Budget – Feb. 4th Edition

February 4, 2011 By Adrienne Niess Leave a Comment

The ice is finally melting, so cure that cabin fever and check out these wallet-friendly entertainment options:

The Super Bowl is sure to be a weekend highlight for many, but if football isn’t your thing, go see “9 to 5: The Musical” this Sunday instead! Get 4 tickets for just $90 or 2 tickets for just $50! Call 228-3630 or visit http://ticketcenterstage.com and use the code FOOTBALL.

Join JumpstART on Feb. 10th for Jump Into Theatre. This young-professional branch of Culture Works is offering half-price tickets to “Twelfth Night,” plus a backstage tour. Tickets are going fast, so reserve yours now!

Riverscape Ice Rink offers free skating on Tuesdays and Wednesdays ($3 to rent skates), and only costs $5 (including skate rental) the rest of the week. You can even celebrate Valentine’s Day early at the Saturday Night Sweetheart Skate from 7 to 10 p.m. on February 12.; the first 100 couples will receive a free flower from the Flowerman!

Encore Theater Company will host the New York bound musical “Hot Mess in Manhattan” on Saturday, Feb. 12 at 8 pm at Sinclair Community College, Building 8. Tickets will be $18 at the door, but reserve your table of 4 now and pay only $12.15 per person! Visit http://www.encoretheatercompany.com/ to order your tickets; just select “reserved table of 4” and enter the code “hotmess” to receive the discount.

Student and community theatre productions always make a great date night at a great price. The University of Dayton Theatre Program is presenting Sam Shepard’s “True West” Feb. 4-6 and 10-12; tickets are only $12. Centerville High School will present “Crimes of the Heart” on Feb. 11 and 12; admission is free, but donations will benefit the CHS Drama Club. These are just a few of the upcoming (and affordable) theatre performances in Dayton; visit onStageDayton for many more.

Don’t forget to start your night out off right with a great meal! Dayton Dining offers lots of tips and discounts for local restaurants; just “like” their Facebook page for the inside scoop.

Finally, buy your tickets now for “The Drowsy Chaperone,” and save 35%! This Broadway Series production will be at the Victoria Theatre from March 8-20. Visit http://ticketcenterstage.com before Feb. 18th and use the code JANET.

YP Roundup – February

February 1, 2011 By Megan Cooper 1 Comment

We’ve made it through the longest day of the year and now we’re into the shortest month; fingers crossed that the pesky groundhog misses its shadow and spring is just around the corner. Groundhog or not, time seems to be flying by, but before it gets too far away from us – we can enjoy a lot of great YP events coming up this month.

Wednesday, February 2: Start off February by making a commitment to better your city! A way for YPs to get involved is the “Street Level” committee for the Vacant Storefronts Project. The Downtown Dayton Partnerhsip (in collaboration with many community leaders, businesses, volunteers, and organizations) has been crafting the Greater Downtown Dayton Plan. They handed over control of this important project to any and all young people in the region who want to make a significant visual impact on the vibrancy of the region. There are three committees working hard to fill the empty storefronts in different ways. Contact Sherri to learn how to get involved.

UPDATE: CANCELLED! Also, the first Wednesday of the month brings the Ballet Barre/Associate Board meeting at the Dayton Racquet Club. As always, they start with a social and an opportunity to check out the view from the top of the DRC, then they get into the business of the meeting.

Have you checked out Meetup yet? If you’re a 30-something in the region and interested in meeting some new people while checking out some fun venues, maybe this is for you. Their schedule changes often as new events are added as people decide to host a party or schedule a dinner out. They’re planning a couple fun ones on Friday, February 4 (downtown with First Friday as the setting) and Saturday, February 5 to watch the UFC fight at Champps down south.

To keep with the Meetup spirit, the Dayton Young Professionals are hitting Meadowlark for a fun, social, and casual brunch on Sunday, February 6.

Are you a reader? Or do you love the social aspect of a book club? Either way, join Generation Dayton on Monday, February 7 at Books & Co. at the Greene for their monthly book club meeting. They are discussing The Little Black Book of Leadership written by Dr. Todd Dewett. Who’s going to be there? Oh yeah, Dr. Dewett himself! Don’t miss this chance to get great insights on an inspiring book from the author himself.

Head up north on Wednesday, February 9 from 12-1 PM to have lunch with HYPE. They’ll be at The Backyard Bistro in Piqua where you can meet some new friends, keep up with some upcoming events, and check out a great location in the northern Miami Valley. New members welcome!

Thursday, February 10 brings a collaboration for all networking, social, and arts minded YPs. JumpstART hooks up with Generation Dayton during their monthly “Thirsty Thursday” to make it bigger and better than ever. Get some free appetizers, happy hour drink prices, and 1/2 off small plates at downtown’s newest hot spot, De’Lish. THEN head across the street to the Human Race Theatre for half price tickets to Twelfth Night. Stick around after the show to meet the cast and get a special YP backstage tour. It’s a big night open to ALL young people in the region. Details on the whole night here.

Did you know that one of the local YP groups – Generation Dayton – is actually a program of the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce? It just demonstrates how much local businesses value the role of young professionals in the region. Learn more about it from Phil Parker, the President and CEO of the Dayton Chamber, at the Business and Breakfast Speaker Series on Tuesday, February 15 at the Dayton Racquet Club. Free to attend, breakfast at your expense.

So, you got your breakfast YP fix – now get those creative juices flowing on the evening of February 15 as the Dayton Creative Syndicate presents speaker Brian Hoff from The Design Cubicle. Time: 6-7 PM – Only $10 for DCS members, $20 for nonmembers, $5 for students. Learn more about Brian and the DCS here.

Are you a 20-something in the region looking for some new people to hang out with? There is no shortage of great events with the 20-somethings of Dayton Meetup. On Wednesday, February 16 they are partying it up at the Soft Rock Cafe for Karaoke and drink specials. No worries if you’re a non-singer, you can shoot pool, throw darts, or make fun of cheer on the signers.

The 20-somethings love their mid-week get togethers. Wednesday, February 23 they test how many brain cells they’ve kept since college with trivia at Harrigan’s South. These and lots more meetups for the 20-somethings at: http://www.meetup.com/20somethings-of-Dayton-Ohio/#upcoming

Generation Dayton often opens its events to all YPs in the region. But this month’s Lunch Speaker Series on Friday February 25 is for dues-paying Member’s Only. If you’re a member of GenD or want to consider joining, check out the Web page for details on this lunch topic.

Et. al: Not specifically YP events (oh, no – I’m breaking the rules!) but some great options for YPs include:
Pecha Kucha night on Thursday, February 3 at the Neon, a graffiti party at upcoming downtown restaurant Olive during First Friday, Dayton Diode (self-described as a YMCA for nerds) open house on Saturday, February 5, the YMCA Valentine’s Ball on February 11, WYSO’s silent auction on February 12, and EVERY Sunday in February you can enjoy brunch to benefit Stivers School for the Arts at Coco’s. For these (and so many more) great Dayton events, keep an eye on the weekly Jane’s Best Bets.

So – those are a handful of events keeping you busy in February and introducing you to lots and Lots and LOTS of new YPs who are active and involved in having a great time in Dayton. Go to everything and you’ll average an event every other day. Check out something new and let me know how it goes.