Dayton Most Metro

Things to do in Dayton | Restaurants, Theatre, Music and More

Jane Krebs

2012 Dayton Fish Fry Season is Here!

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Click Here for the 2013 Fish Fry Schedule

A common complaint I hear from people is that there is nothing to do in Dayton during the winter months…to which I reply, “Apparently you’ve never heard of Dayton Fish Fry Season.”  In case you didn’t know, Dayton fish fries are THE place to be.  Traditionally, many of the Catholic churches held fish fries during Fridays in Lent, as Catholics don’t eat meat on those days.  Over the past several years, the popularity of fish fries has grown tremendously.  At a typical Catholic fish fry, you’ll be able to eat fish and chips, enjoy a few beers, bid on some amazing silent auction items, and play some black jack.  The cost is around $15 per fish fry, which is much cheaper than a night out on the town…plus you can say you are eating, drinking, shopping, and gambling for the kids!  To get you started, here is a listing of some of the area’s great fish fries.  If you know about others, please feel free to add them in the comments section.  I will do my best to update this list with additional details as they become available!

DATE PLACE ADDRESS TIME
Friday, 1/13 Holy Angels 1322 Brown St., Dayton, OH 45409 6PM-12AM
Friday, 1/13 Our Lady of the Rosary 22 Notre Dame Ave., Dayton, OH, 45404 5PM-11PM
Friday, 1/20 St. Albert the Great School 3033 Far Hills Ave., Kettering, OH 45429 7PM-12AM
Friday, 2/3 Ascension 2025 Woodman Dr., Kettering, OH 45420 6PM-12AM
Friday, 2/10 St. Henry/Bishop Leibold 6696 Springboro Rd., Dayton, OH 45449  
Friday, 2/11 St. Peter 6161 Chambersburg Rd., Huber Heights, OH 45424 5:30PM-12AM
Saturday, 2/19 Carroll High School 4524 Linden Ave., Dayton, OH 45432 6PM-12AM
Friday, 2/24 Alter High School 940 East David Rd., Kettering, OH 45429 7PM-12AM
Saturday, 3/10 Chaminade Julienne High School 505 S. Ludlow St., Dayton, OH 45402 7PM-11PM
Friday, 3/16 Carroll High School 4524 Linden Ave., Dayton, OH 45432 6PM-12AM
Friday, 3/23 St. Charles 4500 Ackerman Blvd., Kettering, OH 45429  

And did you expect me to leave without sharing a dumb (fish) joke?

Two fish were in a tank and the one says to the other, “Do you know how to drive this thing?”

HAPPY FISH FRYIN’ TO YOU ALL!

Jane’s Best Bets (11/23 – 11/27)

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Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

It’s that time of year when you get asked the question, “What are you thankful for?”  I am thankful for the many blessings in my life, including such things as my family, friends, food, shelter, etc.  In addition, I am thankful for the fact that there are always great things going on in Dayton…and I’m here to share a few of them with you.   

On Wednesday, head to the 2nd Street Market to get some of your last minute Thanksgiving items for their Stock-Up Wednesday.  If you didn’t get to catch opening night of Les Miserables at the Schuster Center, you will still have an opportunity on Wednesday (as well as a few other opportunities later in the week).  Also, many people say that the Wednesday before Thanksgiving is the biggest party day of the year, so if you are heading out to the bars (or anywhere, for that matter!), please remember to be safe! 

On Thanksgiving/Thursday, perhaps you’ll be one of the brave runners out there for the 33rd Annual Turkey Trot in downtown Miamisburg, which I am told is sold out!  I am also told that if you participate in it, you can eat WHATEVER you want on Thanksgiving and the calories don’t count!  If nobody in your family is cooking, then you can make your way to the Dayton Convention Center for Thanksgiving in Dayton: ‘A Feast of Giving’.  Or head out to one of several great restaurants for Thanksgiving dinner, such as McCormick & Schmick’s, L’Auberge, Amelia’s Bistro, C’est Tout, or Carver’s.  In addition, Neil’s Heritage House will be having their Grand Opening celebration on Thanksgiving Day!  Whatever you do, I wish you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving!

 On Friday, I’m sure many of you will be out there bright and early to get some of those Black Friday deals!  After you go back to sleep for a few hours, be sure to make your way downtown for the Dayton Holiday Festival.  The Tike’s Shop and Wonderland Windows at the Schuster Center, as well LES MISÉRABLES November 22 – 27, 2011 – Schuster Centeras the Ice Rink at RiverScape will be open.  There will be the The Grande Illumination at Courthouse Square and the Dayton Children’s Parade Spectacular in Lights.  Also, you will be able to see Les Miserables at the Schuster Center and The Blue Moon Dancing (by the way, that is a great beer!) at the Dayton Theatre Guild. 

On Saturday, sit down and enjoy Les Miserables at the Schuster Center.  Do you have an old instrument that is just collecting dust in the garage?  If so, take it to the 2nd Street Market for “It’s Instrumental,” where the market is collaborating with the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra in collecting instruments for Dayton Public Schools’ music programs.  Enjoy UD’s annual exhibit of international nativities as part of the At the Manger: World Nativity Traditions Open House.  Make your way to Aullwood Audubon Center and Farm for Candle Dipping and their Holiday Art Fair and Open House.  At Hara Arena, watch the Dayton Gems as they play Fort Wayne.  And finally, if you’re a boxing fan, head to US Bank Arena for HBO Boxing After Dark.   

On Sunday, enjoy a little R & R after the craziness of the holidays!  Be sure to check out Les Miserables at the Schuster Center if you haven’t already done so!  Prior to the show, check out some of the great things going on there, including The Tike’s Shop and Wonderland Windows. Or make your way to the Dayton Art Institute to see American Chronicles: The Art of Norman Rockwell. 

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

Why can’t you take a turkey to church?

Because they use such “fowl” language. 

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 (11/16 – 11/20)

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Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

Life is busy with the holidays drawing near, but hopefully you still can find time to get out and enjoy some of these events! 

On Wednesday, you’ll have an opportunity to eat some delicious food!  In the morning/mid-morning, eat some made from scratch waffles at Christ Episcopal Church for their 82nd Annual Waffle Shop.  In the evening, make your way to the Greenfire Bistro for a dinner to benefit Aullwood, Giuliano for their Lasagna Dinner, or to Jay’s for their Kokomo Wine Dinner.  Afterwards, make your way to The Loft Theatre to see Caroline, or Change or to the University of Dayton, as Cityfolk will be presenting Bassekou Kouyate and Ngoni Ba. 

On Thursday, attend the Junior League of Dayton Town Hall Lecture & Luncheon at Sinclair entitled, 55 Years in the Making: A Celebration of Tradition and Transformation with Daryn Kagan.  Head to Deaf Monty’s Wine, The Wine Loft, A Taste of Wine, or Arrow Wine in Centerville for “Beaujolais Noveau”.  I figured “Beaujolais Noveau” was important since it was happening at so many of the places around town where you go to get wine, but I had to google what it meant.  For those of you wondering, it’s a special type of wine whose arrival means that Thanksgiving is one week away…gobble gobble!  If you love the movies, be sure to make your way to The Neon for the Media That Matters Short Film Festival.  At the Schuster Center, catch the DBJ Business of the Year Awards.  And if you’re interested in theater, check out Caroline, or Change at The Loft Theatre.

On Friday, chocolate lovers should make their way up to Greenville for the Greenville Chocolate Walk.  And beer lovers should get their fill at the Dayton Liederkranz Turner German Club’s Fall/Winter Bierfest.  If you love theater, there are plenty of opportunities for you, including The Seussification of Romeo & Juliet at Chaminade Julienne Catholic High School; The Ladies Man at Centerville Schools Performing Arts Center; Violet: The Musical at Hugh G. Heiland Theatre (Wilmington College); and Caroline, or Change at The Loft Theatre.  At the Schuster Center, listen to the sounds of the Dayton Philharmonic with Promethean Exploits.  And if you are a young professional, you can get a special “Encore Friday” deal!  And finally, even though it isn’t even Thanksgiving yet, you can make your way to Springboro for their famous Christmas in Historic Springboro Festival. 

On Saturday, take your kids to the Dayton Art Institute for their Family Workshop with Children’s Book Illustrator Tim Bowers.  If you’re a yogi (not the bear kind), then make your way to Practice Yoga on Fifth for GROOVE + FLOW: Power Yoga with live beats by DJ HyFi.  At UD, check out their Dance Ensemble Fall Concert.  Theater options include The Ladies Man (Centerville Schools Performing Arts Center), The Seussification of Romeo & Juliet (Chaminade Julienne Catholic High School), Violet: The Musical (Wilmington College’s Hugh G. Heiland Theatre), and Caroline, or Change (The Loft Theatre). At the Schuster Center, you will still be able to listen to the Dayton Philharmonic’s Promethean Exploits.  You will also again be able to attend the Christmas in Historic Springboro Festival.  The Salvation Army’s Kroc Center is also starting Christmas early, so bring the whole family there for Christmas at the Kroc 2011: Believe.  And finally, if you enjoy good food, good drinks, and Dayton history, be sure to get your tickets to Ringing in the Holidays at Carillon Park, which I am told is an awesome event! 

On Sunday, get moving for the Hometown Holiday Walk in the heart of Centerville.  If you have or know someone who has a child with autism and would like to get his/her picture taken with Santa, bring him/her to the Dayton Mall for Sensitive Santa for Children with Autism.  You will still be able to catch a couple shows you may have missed over the weekend, including Caroline, or Change at The Loft Theatre and The Seussification of Romeo & Juliet at Chaminade Julienne Catholic High School.  And finally, don’t miss your opportunity to see American Chronicles: The Art of Norman Rockwell at the Dayton Art Institute!

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

What do you call a deer with no eyes?  No ideer…

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 (11/2 – 11/6)

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Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

Happy November everyone!  I hope everyone had a fabulous and safe Halloween…and that your kids (or your neighbors’ kids) shared their candy with you!  Even though there may not be any more opportunities to dress up in costume for a while (unless you’re an actor), there are still plenty of opportunities to have fun in Dayton this week!

On Wednesday, get a jump start on your holiday shopping by visiting the ARTtoBUY Holiday Gift Gallery at the Dayton Visual Arts Center or the Give Art! Gift Gallery at the Cannery Art and Design Center.  Or make your way to the Oregon District for some good fun – head to the Trolley Stop for the Old Time Acoustic Jam, Oregon Express to listen to The Doug Hart Band, or to Blind Bob’s for Karaoke with DJ Nancy.

On Thursday, purchase a holiday gift or a piece of artwork for your home or apartment at the 9th Annual Holiday Student Art Sale at Sinclair.  Listen to the music of Khalid Moss and Michael Bashaw as part of the Vectren Just Jazz Series at the Dayton Art Institute.  Have you ever wondered what a near-death experience is like?  Learn Everything You Wanted to Know about Near-Death Experiences from someone who has been researching this topic for over 20 years.  If you feel like your day has gotten off to a “rocky” start, then make your way to Bullwinkle’s in Miamisburg for Guilty? Or Not – A Mystery Dinner Theatre, to benefit the Children’s Performing Arts of Miamisburg.  Does the thought of dating and relationships leave you feeling confused like the rest of the world?  If so, make it to Sinclair’s production of I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change.  Yes, I know love sometimes “cuts like a knife.”  Others are “all for love.” Regardless of your attitude towards love and relationships, you will not to want miss seeing music legend Bryan Adams perform at the Taft Theatre!

On Friday, make your way downtown for First Friday, the fabulous art hop that occurs once per month.  They always say men won’t go to the doctor, so please help raise funds and awareness for men’s cancer/research by participating in the Movember Mustache Ride.  And men – if your lady doesn’t like a little stubble on your face, just let her know it’s for a good cause!  In addition to growing a mustache for a good cause, you will also be able to drink some great beer for two great causes!  Attend the AutoberFest Craft Beer Tasting at Taj Ma Garaj to support Dayton History and the Epilepsy Foundation.  There are lots of theater options throughout the weekend, including I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change at Sinclair Community College;  Pinkalicious the Musical at the Schuster Center; ‘Master Harold’ …and the Boys at the Dayton Playhouse; Caroline, or Change at The Loft Theatre; and Lost in Yonkers at the Dayton Theatre Guild.  And if you enjoy music, there are plenty of opportunities for that as well!  Check out the Pride of Dayton Marching Band at UD; Lynda Carter: The Wonder of Song at the Schuster Center; or Chamber Orchestra Kremlin as part of the Vanguard Concerts at the Dayton Art Institute.

On Saturday, participate in Hospice of Dayton’s 7th Annual 5K Remembrance Walk (which means you don’t have to be a runner!).  Get a start on your holiday decorations by participating in the Gingerbread House Making Workshop at the Dayton Cultural Center.  If you’re a train fanatic (not the music group kind, although you can like them too), then chugga chugga choo choo your way to the National Model Railroad Association Dayton Train Show at Hara Arena.  Visit We Care Arts’ art gallery and gift shop as part of their Holiday Open House.  There are several theater options including those mentioned under Friday, as well as My Fair Lady at Kuss Auditorium in Springfield.  If you would like a show that will have you rolling (hopefully with laughter!) and dancing, then make your way to Victoria Theatre for BAM Percussion:  The Blue Barrel Show.  Halloween may be over, but at the Schuster Center, you will be able to see “Wonder Woman”  Lynda Carter perform.  And at the Taft Theatre, Lily Tomlin will be performing…and that’s the truth.

On Sunday, you will still be able to check out some of the events/shows that have been going on throughout the weekend, including the National Model Railroad Association Dayton Train Show (Hara Arena), BAM Percussion:  The Blue Barrel Show (Victoria Theatre), Caroline, or Change (The Loft Theatre), and I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change (Sinclair).  At UD, attend the Family Pops Concert featuring the University of Dayton Symphonic Wind Ensemble.  Or get in the spirit of the holidays by attending Holidays in the Heartland at the Schuster Center.

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

What do you call a train loaded with toffee?  A chew chew train.

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 (10/26 – 10/30)

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Pumpkins Courtesy of My Mom

Halloween is right around the corner!  Hopefully you have your costume and are ready for some good scares this week…as well as some good fun!

On Wednesday, hang out in Oakwood for The Nights of the Arts.  Do all those political commercials have you confused on how to vote on election day?  If so, make your way to the Updayton Candidate Forum.  Or make your way to the Schuster Center for Tyler Perry’s ‘The Haves and the Have Nots’.

On Thursday, support a great cause by attending the Clothes That Work Fashioning Futures Modeling Success Luncheon at Sinclair’s Ponitz Center.  Get out that Halloween costume and join some great young professionals for the Generation Dayton Costume Party at The Moraine Embassy.  Enjoy Half-Price Wine Night at Coco’s Bistro…”wine not?”  At the Dayton Racquet Club, enjoy their Dinner & Goose Island Beer Tasting with New Chef Jack Skilliter.  And at the Victoria Theatre, you will be able to have An Evening with David Sedaris.

On Friday after work, participate in the Oregon Arts District Walking Tour.  There are plenty of spooky/Halloween-themed activities on Friday including the Halloween Party Wine Tasting at Emporium Wines/Underdog Cafe; Horrorama 2011 at Englewood Cinema; Ghosts, Cemeteries and Murders Walk at Courthouse Square; the Haunted Butcher House; Mayhem & Mystery Dinner Theatre: ‘Costume Carousing’ at the Spaghetti Warehouse; the Land Of Illusion Haunted Scream Park; and Slasher: A Horrifying Comedy at UD…I think I would need the comedy to put up with the horror.  And finally, in theater news, you will be able to see Lost in Yonkers (Dayton Theatre Guild) or Opera Theatre: Opera Scenes (Wright State).

On Saturday, if you’re a 5K runner with an extreme sense of adventure, then you will want to participate in the Swamp Stomp Mud Challenge Event.  You may not be able to afford a trip to Italy so instead, make your way to Jay’s Restaurant for their Italian Wine Luncheon.  Saturday is also all about Halloween, as it is the night for the famous Hauntfest in the Oregon District.  In addition to Hauntfest, there are many other Halloween-themed events/activities for Saturday including the  ‘PhilharMonster’ Halloween Concert at the Schuster Center; the 1st Annual Tailgate of Terror at the Yellow Cab Building; the 3rd Annual Boo & Bruise in the Oregon District; a Ghosts, Cemeteries and Murders Walk at Courthouse Square; Spooktacular at SideBar; the Dayton Philharmonic’s Bride of Frankenstein at the Schuster Center; and Howl-O-Ween at the Boonshoft Museum (a family friendly event).

On Sunday, make your back to the Oregon District (if you even left from Saturday night) for a Walking Tour.  Get a group together and enjoy a Segway Tour of Downtown Dayton.  (I was actually just talking to some people who went on one of these and said it was a fun experience!)  And if you enjoy theater, then check out Lost in Yonkers (Dayton Theatre Guild) or Monty Python’s Spamalot (Schuster Center).

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

What do you call a witch at the beach?  A sand-witch.

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 (10/19 – 10/23)

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At the Ghosts N' Goblins 5K - Can you guess my costume?!?!

Even though Halloween is about two weeks away, the Halloween festivities have officially begun with the Ghosts N’ Goblins 5K downtown on Tuesday night!  There are many more great Halloween themed, as well as non-Halloween themed options for this week!

On Wednesday, if you love a good scare, then be sure to make your way to the Haunted Butcher House.  To be honest, the name of it alone scares me!  In addition to seeing lots of Halloween decorations this time of year, you also see lots of political signs, commercials, etc.  The task of choosing who to vote for or how to vote on certain issues can be daunting.  Get some help by attending the Voters Guide LIVE at Stivers.  History buffs should make plans to attend Soaring at Kitty Hawk, 1911: Buster’s Vacation at The Engineers Club of Dayton.  At the Dayton Convention Center, attend the TechNet-Aero Conference if you work in or are interested in business and defense information technologies (hopefully if you work in it, you are also interested in it!).  And finally, I hope you were lucky enough to get tickets to the sold out Mix 107.7 Concert For A Cure at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, with some great acoustic performances by Safetysuit, Christina Perri, and Andy Grammer.  And if you weren’t, it’s okay.  As Andy Grammer would say, “you gotta keep your head up.”

On Thursday, make your way to the Dayton Racquet Club for their $10 Wine Tasting.  Afterall, what could be better than sipping some great wine and enjoying their amazing views?!?!  Head to Victoria Theatre for the Dayton Ballet’s Sleepy Hollow & Hyding Inside.  And if you would prefer to celebrate in honor of the ballet, then dress in your favorite black and white costume and participate in the Ballet Barre’s 2001 Halloween Pub Crawl, which will take place in the Oregon District.  Or wear your Halloween costume for Boo in the Burg in Downtown Miamisburg.  If you want to do something fun with the kids, then take them to see Disney On Ice – Mickey & Minnie’s Magical Journey at the Nutter Center.  And if you can’t take them Thursday night, there will be shows all weekend long!

On Friday, get a start on your holiday cooking plans by attending Tasty Party Appetizers at 2nd Street Market.  It is FREE!  Attention all you yoga lovers – make your way to Practice Yoga on Fifth for the screening of the new documentary ‘Yogawoman’ to benefit the YWCA of Dayton.  If you have never been to the opera, now is your time, as the Dayton Opera will be presenting La Bohème at the Schuster Center.  In addition, they are offering “Friday Nite Tweet Seats” for members of area Young Professional Networking Groups and their guests.  These seats are valued at $66 but are being sold at the promotional rate of $15!  So, if you think the arts are too expensive for young professionals, think again!  At Victoria Theatre, you will be able to see the Dayton Ballet’s Sleepy Hollow & Hyding Inside.  There are a couple other shows you can catch on Friday as well, including Lost in Yonkers (Dayton Theatre Guild) and The Crucible (Sinclair’s Blair Hall Theater).  And if you prefer to have fun in a less formal environment, then check out my friend’s band Buddha and the Boogie Down as they play at Flanagan’s!

On Saturday, start the day off high on carbs with the Centerville Rotary’s 11th Annual Pancake Breakfast.  Then, make your way to The Salvation Army Kroc Center for their Chili Cook Off.  In the afternoon, take the kids to Victoria Theatre for the Dayton Ballet’s Children’s Halloween Party.  And in the evening, take your date to Victoria Theatre for the Dayton Ballet’s Sleepy Hollow & Hyding Inside.  Head to the Miami Valley Symphony Orchestra’s Fall Concert at Shiloh Church.  At Schindler Banquet Center, get a new wardrobe without spending a fortune as part of the 3rd Annual Fashion Swap ‘N Shop.  If you are Irish (or just like Irish music), then purchase tickets to see bohola, featuring dancers from the Richens/Timm Academy of Irish Dance at Stivers School For the Arts.  Theater options will still include Lost in Yonkers (Dayton Theatre Guild) and The Crucible (Sinclair’s Blair Hall Theater).  And finally, support United Rehabilitation Services, a wonderful organization who works to enhance the quality of life for children and adults with disabilities, by attending their 55th Anniversary Gala at Sinclair’s Ponitz Center.

On Sunday, listen to the Duquesne Tamburitzans at the Centerville Performing Arts Center, the Miami Valley Symphony Orchestra at Kettering Fairmont, or to the sounds of the Dayton Opera as they perform La Bohème at the Schuster Center.  Watch the Dayton Ballet’s Sleepy Hollow & Hyding Inside at Victoria Theatre or the Dayton Theatre Guild’s performance of Lost in Yonkers.  And finally…if you have been craving chocolate, you are in luck as there will be an All You Can Eat Chocolate Party at the Bellbrook Chocolate Shoppe!

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

Why didn’t the skeleton go to the movies?

Because he had no body to go with.

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 (10/12 – 10/16)

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Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

I hope you have been able to enjoy these nice fall days!  And even if the weather does get bad this week, there are some indoor options along with the outdoor options!

On Wednesday, attend The Fundraiser’s Guide to Social Media at the main branch of the Dayton Metro Library.  This is great (and free!) opportunity, particularly if you serve on a board or work for a non-profit.  And in the evening, you’ll be able to support one of those non-profits, Agape for Youth, by attending the Fostering Changes for Future Generations Gala at the Schuster Center.  At Wright State, listen to Arlene B. Mayerson, a national expert on disability rights law, as part of the Wright State University’s Presidential Lecture Series.  Listen to classical music as the Tiberius String Quartet from Rumania performs at the University of Dayton.  And if you want music you can jam to, then make your way to the Oregon District’s Trolley Stop for the Old Time Acoustic Jam or to Oregon Express to listen to The Doug Hart Band.

On Thursday, bring your kids to the 2nd Street Market for Pizza Making for Kids.  You’ve been making dinner for them for a while, so why not let them learn how to make dinner for you for a change?!?!  If you consider yourself a “techie,” then make your way to Brixx for Tech Town Thursday.  Attention all you vegetarians out there – don’t “wine” because there aren’t any food options for you, as McCormick & Schmick’s is offering a Vegetarian Wine Dinner.  In Centerville, listen to the music of Sean Jones (R&B and Soul) presented by the Miami Valley Community Concert Association.  Join some great young professionals in the area with Generation Dayton’s Thirsty Thursday at The Wine Gallery.  At Oregon Express, catch Theology on Tap.  Or make your way to the Schuster Center to listen to the Dayton Philharmonic’s performance, Romeo, Juliet & Prokofiev.

On Friday, aspiring artists should make their way to Wright State for Draw on the Walls.  If your kids love animals but you don’t want to bring them into your house (the animals that is, not the kids), take them to the Bison Hayride Tour at Heaven’s Corner Zoo.  Halloween is right around the corner, so make your way to the Spaghetti Warehouse for their Mayhem & Mystery Dinner Theatre: ‘Costume Carousing’.  If you get a laugh when Jay Leno and David Letterman make fun of all things political, then be sure to make your way to Springfield to see The Capitol Steps, as they will take on a variety of current events…including the Octomom.  Head up to Yellow Springs for Fling in the Springs.  At the Schuster Center, listen to the Dayton Philharmonic with Prokofiev Meets Shakespeare.  You may have read the Cliff Notes in high school, but what is even easier (and more entertaining) is watching The Crucible live at Sinclair’s Blair Hall Theater.  And if you enjoy being scared, then make your way to the Land Of Illusion Haunted Scream Park.

On Saturday, get your girlfriends together and participate in the Girlfriend Ride Dayton to benefit the Artemis Center.  This won’t just be any ride, as some stops along the way include a hand massage station, a chocolate fountain, and a wine tasting.  Or make your way to Fifth Third Field for the 2011 Making Strides against Breast Cancer Walk.  At the 2nd Street Market, it’s Fall Family Fun Day, so be sure to bring the kids!  Typically, it would be inappropriate to bring your kids to the Funny Bone (unless they are your adult children).  However, in the afternoon, you will be able to take them there for the Family, Food, & Fun Comedy Magic Show.  And if you don’t have any, I have friends that would probably be happy to lend theirs to you.  If you live up north, make your way to the HarvestFest Street Fair in downtown Tipp City…it sounds like fun and it’s free!  In addition, in the evening, you will be able to hear live music by the 80s cover band Stranger.  In Yellow Springs, you’ll be able to attend Fling in the Springs.  If you enjoy German music, head to the Dayton Liederkranz Turner German Club for their German Fall Concert.  Have some fun and support the Epilepsy Foundation of Western Ohio with the Fall Treasure Hunt Road Rally…sounds like a mini amazing race!  You will be able to listen to music at both the Schuster Center (Romeo, Juliet & Prokofiev) and Victoria Theatre (The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra).  And finally, put on your mask and attend a major party in Dayton – ARC Ohio’s Masquerage…a decade of decadence, which will benefit the AIDS Resource Center.

On Sunday, make your way to Garden Station Sunday Market, which is the only Sunday Farmer’s Market in the area.  If you like to write, then attend the Second Sunday Free Writers’ Workshop at Books & Co.  It says “free writers” so I wonder if they’re in jail for something.  Make your way to Belmont for their Neighborhood Jam Fest, which will feature food, music, drinks, artists, and a car show.  If you enjoy shopping, head to The Event Connection for the Home, Lifestyle and Craft Expo…after all, it’s not too early to start your Christmas shopping!  Listen to the sounds of the University of Dayton Orchestra and Symphonic Wind Ensemble at South Park United Methodist Church.  At Sinclair, catch a performance of The Crucible.  And if you’re looking for a little Sunday fling, then enjoy Fling in the Springs.

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

What did the mother buffalo say to her little boy when he went off to school?  Bison.

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 (10/5 – 10/9)

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Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

It is going to be another great fall week in Dayton with plenty of things to do!

On Wednesday, it’s all about social justice, with a little theater and beer brewed in the mix.  At lunch time, attend the Awareness Luncheon at the Dayton Racquet Club to learn more about human trafficking or the Domestic Violence Vigil at Courthouse Square to remember the victims of domestic violence and to honor those survivors.  At the Schuster Center, you will be able to attend Mel Brooks’ ‘Young Frankenstein’.  And I didn’t forget the beer – there is a Beer Tasting at Trolley Stop, as well as a Beer Tasting with Beer Guru Charles at Rumbleseat Wine.

On Thursday, don’t miss your chance to get fresh produce at the Centerville Farmers Market.  You may have to wait another year for both Dayton’s and Minster’s Oktoberfests, but you will still have the opportunity to participate in Rue Dumaine’s Oktoberfest, with a special menu and beer selection!  One of the other great things about this time of year is pumpkin beer…and you will be able to have some with the Pumpkin Beer Tap Takeover at Spinoza’s or Pumpkin Beer Night at Thai 9.  And if you feel guilty about drinking beer, then pair it with religion with Theology on Tap at Oregon Express.  Wishing to jazz things up a bit?  Listen to Ed Clay and The Patrol as part of the Vectren Just Jazz Series at the Dayton Art Institute.  If you want to get involved in your community, join Generation Dayton for the event, Better Boards 101.  And at the Fraze in Kettering, participate in the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Light the Night Walk.

On Friday, if you enjoy discussing economic issues, then be sure to attend the Economic Summit on the Revitalization of Manufacturing at the Dayton Convention Center.  Friday is also First Friday downtown, so be sure to check out all the galleries, live music, demonstrations, the First Friday Scavenger Hunt, the Dayton Visual Arts Center’s Steamroller Prints: Flat-Out Fun, and much more!  At Victoria Theatre, “catch” The Flying Karamazov Brothers, whose show will involve music, comedy, dance, theater, and juggling.  Plus, there is a Buckeye Vodka Tasting prior to the show!  If you enjoy being spooked, then make your way to the Land Of Illusion Haunted Scream Park in Middletown.  At the Schuster Center, Mel Brooks’ ‘Young Frankenstein’ will still be showing.  And over at Sinclair, check out A Vintage Affair, in which you will be able to sample wines and unique beers, have a few hors d’oeuvres and desserts, take part in a silent auction, and enjoy jazz music.

On Saturday, kick-off your day with me at the Kickin’ It for Breast Cancer Fall Kickball Classic.  They have gone country at the 2nd Street Market with Saturday Live Music by The Johnsons.  Make a trip up to Yellow Springs for the Yellow Springs Street Fair.  Or make your “way” to Waynesville for the very popular Sauerkraut Festival – just be sure to get there early as it will be very “krauted”.  Oktoberfest celebrations are not over yet!  Head to the Dayton Liederkranz Turner German Club for their Oktoberfest Celebration.  There will also be beer at the Big Beers & Barley Wines Beer Fest 2011 at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds.  At Stivers, watch the amazing Dayton Contemporary Dance Company during their Fall Concert – Director’s Cut.  Attend Haunting Harmony at Centerville High School to listen to the Gem City Chorus, with some great guest artists including contestants from NBC’s The Sing Off. Or catch Mel Brooks’ ‘Young Frankenstein’ if you haven’t yet had an opportunity to do so.

On Sunday, kick it into gear by participating in the 35th Dayton River Corridor Classic Half-Marathon & 5k Run/Walk.  Head to Stivers to see the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company’s Director’s Cut.  Purchase some local goods at Garden Station Sunday Market.  In addition, you will be able to check out the Ohio Renaissance Festival, the Sauerkraut Festival, or Mel Brooks’ ‘Young Frankenstein’.

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

What do you call a clever monster?  Frank Einstein

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 (9/28 – 10/2)

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Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

I hope you had the opportunity to sample some wonderful craft beers at Oktoberfest this past weekend!  Speaking of Oktoberfest, I am reminded of the fact that we switch from September to October this week.  I wish for you a great start into the new month…and here are some events that will hopefully help!

On Wednesday, join some amazing women for the Fourth Annual Women in Business Networking Conference.  At the Nutter Center, attend the Third Annual IBI/BBB Integrity Breakfast in order to get the inside scoop on integrity in the marketplace.  In the evening, after a hard day’s work (unless you work the 2nd or 3rd shift), make your way to the Dayton Racquet Club for Dueling Bartenders.  If you have a high schooler or if you know one, encourage him/her to attend College Prep Night at Fifth Third Field…there is a chance to win a $1,000 scholarship!  Interested in green initiatives?  Learn about the Neighborhood Stabilization Program which helps to make vacant and foreclosed homes green at Green Drinks September at Franco’s Ristorante Italiano.  Don’t forget to bring your paintbrush and some green paint!  My mom says left handed people are the only ones in their right mind.  However, at Chappy’s, they’re having the Left Hand Weak Sauce Porter Tapping…so I am guessing that despite the fact that lefties may be in their right mind, they are the weaker of the two.  Yes, I am right.

On Thursday, don’t get too spooked out when you go to the Schuster Center for the ‘PhilharMonster’ Halloween Concert.  Check out UD’s Department of Visual Arts with their Open House, where you will be able to see their new studios, galleries, classrooms, and much more.  If you’re a woman who loves purses, you won’t want to miss the Girls’ Night Out – Purse Swap at the Melting Pot.  You may be able to “coach” some of your girlfriends into going with you as well.  Mix one part beer and one part religion and you have Theology on Tap, which will take place at Oregon Express.  Or make a trip up to Cedarville University for their presentation of  ‘And Then There Were None’.

On Friday, get geared up for Gear Fest at Eastwood MetroPark.  If you like to drink beer from half-gallon jugs, then be sure to go to Minster’s Oktoberfest!  Just a tip – you may want to rent a big passenger van so you only have to have one DD!  Attend The Fourth Annual Blue Moon Affair at the Schuster Center, whose proceeds benefit the Community Action Partnership’s Youth Empowerment Center.  And finally, if you enjoy music and dance, and would like to help assist in the restoration of historical outdoor drama, attend the Caesar’s Ford Theatre Civil War Ball at Hope Hotel and Conference Center.

On Saturday we jump into October…and you can jump right back into Gear Fest at Eastwood Metro Park.  Support We Care Arts by attending the We Care Style Auction at the Mandalay Banquet Center.  If you like the color green, then participate in the Green Energy Ohio Tour.  And if you like pink, then attend Pink and Chrome – Ride for the Cure at Thomas Cloud Park.  Attend Resolve It! Solve It! with Six-Step Problem-Solving at the main branch of the Dayton Metro Library.  I’ve been told that their theme song is “Ice Ice Baby,” because after the workshop, you’re bound to be singing “If there was a problem, yo I’ll solve it.”  At the Dayton Art Institute, see Orla Fallon, a talented singer/harpist who has performed for the Pope as well as some former U.S. Presidents.  Enhance your cooking skills by attending El Meson’s Cooking Class.  I’m available if you need a taste tester!  You may have missed Oktoberfest this past weekend at the Dayton Art Institute, but if you make the trip up to Minster, you’ll be able to attend their version!  Have a unique dining experience at Carillon Park with their Tavern Dinners: Harvest Feast, which will feature a candlelit “hearth cooked and historically accurate multi-course supper.”  Or make your way to the Schuster Center for the Philharmonic Gala: Dance to the Music.

On Sunday, be sure to make it up to Minster if you haven’t yet for their Oktoberfest.  Does your pooch need a good cleaning?  Take him/her to A Taste of Wine for Wine, Washes & Wet Noses, where h e/she will be washed while you can sit back and enjoy a glass of wine.  And finally, at the Schuster Center, listen to the sounds of R&B/jazz artist Lalah Hathaway, with an opening act by the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company.

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

A three-legged dog walks into a bar and says to the bartender, “I’m looking for the guy who shot my Pa.”

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 (9/21 – 9/25)

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Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

What a great weekend!  I enjoyed seeing so many people downtown on Friday for Urban Nights!  And I enjoyed my first ever Air Force Marathon experience, which was also my first ever racing experience since running track in kindergarten.  It was great to see so many people come from all parts of the country and world to be in Dayton!  Although you may not be running around base this week, you may be running around town trying to catch some of these great events!

On Wednesday, put on your cocktail dress (for ladies only), eat some delicious food, and get out your credit card to bid on some amazing silent auction items at From Homeless to Homefull at Carillon Park.  Proceeds benefit Homefull, an organization in Dayton that helps to end homelessness.  If you enjoy drinking, head to The Caroline for the Epic Brewing Tasting.  And for some evening entertainment in the Oregon Disrict, head to Trolley Stop for the Old Time Acoustic Jam, Oregon Express to listen to The Doug Hart Band, or Blind Bob’s for Karaoke with DJ Nancy.

On Thursday, buy local produce at the Centerville Farmers Market.  Knitting has become a pretty popular thing to do and not just for old ladies, so if you’re interested, make your way to Books & Co. at The Greene for Daytime Knitters.  Couponing has also become popular with all those crazy couponing shows.  Get started with the trend by attending Couponing 101 at the Miamisburg Senior Adult Center.  They say not to mix religion and politics, but it is perfectly okay to mix religion and beer, as Theology on Tap will be happening at Oregon Express.  At the Fox and Hound in Beavercreek, you will be able to buy love and support the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society with the Bachelor Auction for a Cure.  And finally, scientists and wannabe scientists – make plans to attend the inaugural Dayton Regional Science Festival Ignite Innovation: An Evening with Paula Apsell (Executive Producer of the PBS series NOVA) at The Engineers Club of Dayton.

On Friday, attend the BRAVO! 2011 Champagne Brunch and Fashion Show at Sinclair’s Ponitz Center or Ignite Innovation Lunch and Learn at the Schuster Center.  If you’re in the field of marketing/fundraising, then make your way to the Dayton Metro Library’s main branch for a workshop entitled, Writing to Make a Difference: How to Create Marketing Materials That Get Results.   At The Salvation Army Kroc Center, you will be able to attend the Human Rights & Dignity Banquet.  If you like mums, then be sure to attend the Tipp City Mum Festival.  Speaking of mums, it’s hard for me to keep mum about one of my favorite festivals of the year – Oktoberfest!  You can avoid the Oktoberfest crowds but still experience this great festival by getting your tickets to the DAI Oktoberfest Preview Party which is held Friday night!

On Saturday, start your day off on a healthy foot by participating in the Greater Dayton 5k Heart Walk and Run to support the American Heart Association.  Or take part in the St. Vincent de Paul – 2010 Friends of the Poor Walk.  Support Communication Services for the Deaf by playing in the Spikes for Tykes Volleyball Tournament at Setters.  Buy some great local products/produce at the 2nd Street Market and listen to live music by Old Skool, which will be playing a type of music I really like…the oldies!  Also on Saturday…several festivals will be going on, including the Germantown Pretzel Festival (Veterans Memorial Park in Germantown), the Chocolate Festival (Montgomery County Fairgrounds), Oktoberfest (Dayton Art Institute), and the Tipp City Mum Festival (downtown Tipp City).

On Sunday, head to the Garden Station Sunday Market for some great local produce.  Leap back into time by visiting a re-created 16th century English village with the Ohio Renaissance Festival.  And finally, remember that Sunday is your last chance to make it to the DAI Oktoberfest, the Tipp City Mum Festival, and the Germantown Pretzel Festival!

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

I went into the bank the other day and asked the teller to check my balance – she leaned over and pushed me.

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!