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Jane Krebs

Jane’s Best Bets (9/15 – 9/19)

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Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

This past week was a blast!  One of the highlights for me was Urban Nights, where I was working the corner of Third and St. Clair.  That really doesn’t sound right, so perhaps I should clarify – I was in charge of one of the pianos downtown and my job was to encourage people to play a tune or two.  Thank you to all who stopped by to “steal the spotlight”…I enjoyed watching you tickle those ivories and hearing about all the fun things you experienced as part of Urban Nights!

Although it’s true we have to wait until May 13, 2011 for the next Urban Nights, there are plenty of other good things to choose from this week!

On Wednesday, if you were inspired by the belly dancers performing at Urban Nights, perhaps you’ll want to go to Kira’s Oasis to try it out for yourself with their Bellydance Class.  Or, you could get a little dirty and head to La Comedia for dinner and the show, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.  While there, be sure to try their famous Sweet Potato Souffle – it’s delicious!  And if neither of these events tickle your fancy, head on over to The Neon for the Foxy Film Festival for a special screening of the 70s hit movie, Foxy Brown.

Moving on to Thursday…is your house (or office) so disorganized that it looks like it came right out of an episode of Clean House?  If the answer is yes, then you’ll want to head to the Professional Enrichment Series:  Giving the Gift of An Organized You at Sinclair.  If you are interested in sports, fitness, and nutrition, then check out the Air Force Marathon Sports and Fitness Expo at the Nutter Center, which is also going on Friday.  In the evening, all you movie buffs will want to go to The Neon for the Media That Matters Short Film Festival, which will include several short films that tackle a variety of social issues.  There is also an article on DMM about this event with plenty of details, so check it out!  If you’re a young professional, then attending the ‘Jump into the DAI’ JumpstART Party for Modern Masters is a must!  For only $10, you get free admission to the Modern Masters exhibit, two drink tickets, food, and an admission ticket to Oktoberfest later this month!  I LOVE great deals!

On Friday, there is no need to watch the Food Channel – you can sharpen your cooking skills by heading to PNC’s 2nd Street Market for Market Meals to see live demonstrations.  If you’d rather have somebody cook for you, that’s okay too.  Head on over to Riverscape for the Taste of the Miami Valley.  I have gone there for the past few years and the food is amazing – no matter your taste preferences, there is something delicious for you!  Plus, there will be live music and cooking demos!  Also in the evening, if you are an animal lover, consider supporting SICSA by eating terrific food, drinking cocktails, and bidding on some wonderful silent and live auction items at their Red Dog Charity Auction.  Speaking of red dogs, I wonder if Clifford will be there.  And if you like children’s theater and you’re “wonder”ring what you should do, then head on down to Town Hall Theatre for their production of Disney’s Alice in Wonderland Jr.

On Saturday, there are plenty of fun things to do if you’re not participating in the Air Force Marathon, or if you’re not too tired after running, walking, and/or skipping.  I am actually skipping it, as I have not been disciplined enough to train for it…although I totally admire all of you runners out there!  If you enjoy fashion, lunch, and shopping, all the while supporting adults and youth with disabilities achieve greater independence through art, then you’ll want to attend Fashionable Scarecrows – We Care Arts Style Show 2010.  If you have young kids, then you will definitely want to check out The Dayton Mothers of Twins Club’s Fall Clothing & Equipment Sale.  Although I don’t have kids of my own, I have heard about it from several people who have found great bargains there on infant/kids clothes, equipment, and much more!  No need to have twins to be able to shop…it is open to the public!

If you have a “German” Shepherd, then you will want to take him to his very own version of Oktoberfest…Barktoberfest at the Centerville Library.  There will be pet vendors, contests, games, and more!  If you don’t have a German Shepherd, you can bring another type of dog, as I’m pretty sure dogs don’t discriminate.  If you missed the chance to taste some delicious food at the Taste of the Miami Valley or loved it so much that you want to go back, head on over to Riverscape.  With the help of the DMM Calendar, I “found” another great event for you while you’re downtown – the Found Art Show at c{space to benefit Garden Station.  If you’re looking for a family friendly event, again, downtown has it!  Bring the kids or grandkids and head on over to Fifth-Third Field for Dragons Movie Night with Heater and Gem.  For your “entertainment tonight,” the movie E.T. will be shown and the Green Team will be performing fun skits.  If you enjoy classic and antique automobiles and motorcycles, consider heading to Carillon Park for the Concours d’Elegance Preview Party (Concours d’Elegance is on Sunday).  There will be delicious food, drinks, music, entertainment, and a variety of auction items.  If you’re in Miamisburg, then you’ll definitely want to dance in the street while the Fries perform in between a Taste of Wine and T.J. Chumps.  And if you live north of town, you can always head out to the Taste of Troy!

On Sunday, if you’re looking for something corny to do, head on over to Young’s Jersey Dairy to eat some yummy ice cream and to navigate Cowvin’s Corny Maze.  See, didn’t I tell you I liked corny things?!?!  If you want to go way back in time to the 1600s, check out the Ohio Renaissance Festival.  And finally, if you’re a fan of antique and classic cars and motorcycles, park yours over at Carillon Park for the Fourth Dayton Concours d’Elegance.

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

How does a dog stop a DVD player?

It presses the “paws” button.

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 (9/8 – 9/12)

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Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

Hello wonderful DMM readers!  I hope you had a wonderful Labor Day weekend and didn’t have to labor…or at least too much.  It was my high school reunion this weekend, but I did manage to make it to some of the Dayton festivals going on and I LOVED seeing all the wonderful people out there having fun!

There is another great week in store for you with even more festivals so I hope you are ready!  Get your smartphone calendar out (or, if you’re old-fashioned like me, your pencil and paper one) and arrange your schedule so you can fit in as much fun as possible!

On Wednesday, treat yourself to dinner and a margarita at Carmel’s for Fajita Madness.  Afterwards, get your toes tapping at Oregon Express with C. Wright’s Parlour Tricks.  Or bring out your Little Tikes trike (well, a guitar and a mic may be a better choice) and head on over to South Park Tavern for the Rock n’ Roll Play Date with Jay Madewell…and you thought play dates were just for kids!

On Thursday, support a wonderful cause and bring your spare change to McDonald’s for the Ronald McDonald House Charities DAY OF CHANGE.  The Notorious B.I.G. said “Mo Money, Mo Problems,” so that might be our cue to give a little bit back.  Who knew that rappers could be so wise?!?!  If you have a hot date planned for Thursday night (or if like me, you really just love your mom), head on over to PNC 2nd Street Market to make your own flowers for that special someone as part of Fall Flower Arranging.  And if you don’t have a hot date, no worries!  Head on over to Generation Dayton’s ‘Thirsty Thursday’ at Beef O’Brady’s in Centerville to meet some awesome young professionals in the area for social networking!  And if you do have a hot date, perhaps you will want to head on over to the Crowne Plaza Stars Lounge to see the John Slate Trio.  Also, just to clear up any misconceptions – I am by no means a dating expert nor is this a dating advice /“Sex and the City” type column.  If you are looking for dating advice, you may want to…or rather NEED to look elsewhere.

Friday is a tough day for you if you have difficulty making decisions, as there are so many events from which to choose!  Head on over to the Vandalia Sister Cities Oktoberfest for some sauerkraut and good German beer, the Dayton Greek Festival for some amazing gyros, or the Italian Fall Festa for some more foods whose names I don’t know how to pronounce.  For those of you asking, yes, I am a speech pathologist; however, I never took classes in German or Italian.  I just eat the food.

Friday is also the evening to be downtown!  Check out Urban Nights (a must attend event), which happens only twice a year.  It is like Meijer’s in that it’s a one-stop shop for the city of Dayton.  You will be able to check out downtown’s art, music, retail, urban living, nightlife, and dining options.  If you enjoy cycling, I also hope you consider riding with the Urban Bikes at Urban Nights.  My mom says, “Don’t forget your helmet.”

Saturday has too many options to choose from as well!  Again check out one of the many festivals going on throughout the weekend:  the Vandalia Sister Cities Oktoberfest, the Dayton Greek Festival, and/or the Italian Fall Festa.  In addition, check out the 10th Annual Hispanic Heritage Festival at Riverscape (just going on Saturday).  If you love arts and crafts, head on down to Miamisburg for the Miamisburg Starving Artists Outdoor Arts and Crafts Festival.  Don’t let the name fool you…there WILL be food there!

Also Saturday…do you have an old formal that has just been taking up space in your closet?  Then consider donating it to the Clothes That Work 2nd Annual Royal Dress Drive to help underprivileged teens in the area attend their high school formals.  If you feel the need to burn off all those calories from all the eating and drinking you have been doing at festivals lately AND support the Miami Valley Crime Prevention Association, consider participating in the SPIKING ON CRIME Sand Volleyball Tournament at Setters.  If you love live music, head on over to Jackass Flats for the 5th Annual Miami Valley Firefighter/EMS Memorial Association Concert.  And finally, in the evening, if you enjoy getting dressed up, listening to live music, dancing, eating great food, and supporting a great cause (listed in no particular order), head on over to the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery for the Boonshoft Gala:  ReDiscover.  You are sure to discover a great time!

On Sunday, if you’re not watching the Browns game, consider heading out to Guitar Fest at Stubbs Amphitheater in Centerville or X Fest at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds.  If you have a pooch that could use a good washing AND enjoy a good glass of wine (you, not your dog), head on over to A Taste of Wine in Miamisburg for Wine, Washes and Wet Noses.  All proceeds benefit the Humane Society of Greater Dayton.  If you’re like me and can’t get enough of elé Cake Company’s buttercream icing, check out their Buttercream Fest 2010.  They’ll have lots of fun things including live music, food, crafts, a cruise-in, and a 5k (probably to balance out all those amazing buttercream treats they will have)!  And if  you didn’t get to make it to all those weekend festivals or had such a good time that you would like to go back, the Vandalia Sister Cities Oktoberfest, the Dayton Greek Festival, and the Italian Fall Festa will still be going strong!  Gosh, I feel exhausted just talking about all the stuff going on this week!  Decisions, decisions!

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

I went to the library to try to find a book on indecisiveness but I couldn’t decide which one to pick.

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 (9/1 – 9/6)

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Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

First of all, thank you for all the wonderful feedback with regard to the first edition of Jane’s Best Bets on DMM!  I feel so honored to have your support!  It just confirms what I already know…that the people in Dayton are truly the best!

Hopefully you had a terrific (beer) week last week…and a good DD.  Perhaps you were able to sample a new beer and learn a thing or two.  I personally learned that there are more beers than there are calories in a McDonald’s Big Mac.  To name a few, I discovered a blueberry beer, a raspberry beer, a watermelon beer, an apricot beer, and a banana bread beer.  Who knew that drinking could be so healthy?!?!  (Disclaimer 1:  I am not a registered dietician or MD.  You may want to talk to your healthcare professional before making these beverages a part of your daily diet.  Disclaimer 2:  I am not a lawyer either, so don’t trust that disclaimer 1 is properly worded.)

Anyways, with last week being such a busy week, you’re probably thinking there isn’t much going on this week.  Wrong!  Get ready to celebrate the beginning of September…and another wonderful week in Dayton!  Plus, it’s a holiday weekend to boot!

On Wednesday, head on over to the first day of the Montgomery County Fair.  Don’t worry, if you can’t make it, you’ll still have five more days to check it out!  Or bring the whole family to watch the Dayton Dragons play against the Bowling Green Hot Rods (I wonder if there is any relation to A-Rod) for their Friends and Family Night.  Also, give yourself a day off of cooking and don’t feel guilty about it because it will be for a good cause!  For every meal sold at Coco’s, $1 will be donated to the Victoria Theatre Association’s Physicians for Kids as part of the Coco’s Cares – Dine for a Cause Program.

If you have ever thought about starting your own business, head on over to “One-On-One Business Counseling” provided by the Dayton Area Chapter of SCORE at the Dayton Metro Library’s Main Branch on Thursday.  Also on Thursday, if you’re a fan of smooth jazz, check out the J.T. Fedrick Band as part of the Dayton Art Institute’s 2010 Vectren Just Jazz Series.  Kill two, three, or four birds with one stone by also visiting the Modern Masters Exhibit from the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Investigation Destination:  Science and Math in Art Exhibit, and/or the Prints from the Great Depression exhibit.  If you’re an animal lover like me and don’t feel like killing ANY birds, then head on over to The Greene to see First Call Acoustic.  And finally, if you like to sample delicious food, you MUST  head over to the Fraze for “The Taste”.  Experience multiple “tastes” from places like Tumbleweed, the Oakwood Club, Belmont Catering, and Fleming’s.

On Friday, learn what people are thinking about you without them having to say a word at Generation Dayton’s Lunch with Dan Edwards presenting “Body Language“.  I need to ask him how to improve my poker face, even though I have no intention of turning into Lady Gaga.  Speaking of ladies, later on in the evening, head on downtown for Ladyfest 2010 at c{space (which continues through Saturday) or Dayton’s First Friday, which will give you an opportunity to explore many of Dayton’s artistic offerings.  If you enjoy biking, join the Courteous Mass Ride with fellow cycling enthusiasts.  Or have fun listening to Stranger, a super fun 80s cover band that is playing at Sharkey’s.  I still remember what my parents said about talking to strangers, so if you go, just be careful or bring your mom and dad with you.

On Saturday, start your day off right by heading to the PNC Second Street Market for breakfast and a little shopping with some of their amazing vendors.  Another “must attend” event is Alterfest, which has been a Labor Day weekend staple in Dayton for many years.  No matter your age, there is something for you to do, from great live bands (Saturday’s lineup includes The Johnsons, The Fries, and This Side Up) to rides and games to their famous chicken dinners.  If you don’t feel like taking a chance with the weather at Alterfest, then check out the Producers at the Dayton Playhouse or get tickets to the Sandra Rutledge Jazz Show at Gilly’s.

On Sunday, the fun continues at Alterfest with several bands performing, including Spungewurthy and Last Call, along with the other festivities.  Or head on over to the Holiday at Home Festival where there will also be numerous things to do, including listening to live music, singing karaoke, and arts and crafts booths.  This is a family friendly event, as there will also be activities for the kids.  If you enjoy reggae music, head on over to the Michelob Dayton Reggae Festival. And if music from from the 50s, 60s, and 70s is more your style, then check out the band Legend at Stubbs Amphitheater in Centerville.

And finally on Monday, if you’re not having friends and family over for a cookout to celebrate Labor Day, Kettering is definitely the place to be.  You can still celebrate “at home” with the annual Holiday at Home Parade in Kettering.  Following the parade, again check out the numerous activities going on in Kettering as part of the Holiday at Home Festival, including an auto show (only on Monday), arts and crafts, and live music from The Fries, as well as music from some other great performers!  And, if you would like to BE one of the entertainers, you will have the opportunity to do so.  Just check out the karaoke going on there.  Or, if you haven’t had an opportunity to go to Alterfest or the Montgomery County Fair, this is your last chance for the year!   So, with so many great things to do, you have absolutely no excuse not to celebrate the holiday!  And if your boss is actually making you labor, let me know and I’ll see what I can do.  Just don’t count on anything.

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

Did you hear the joke about Labor Day?  It works for 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!

Jane’s Best Bets (8/25 – 8/29)

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Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

Time and time again, I have heard people say, “There is nothing to do in Dayton.”  Usually it is pretty difficult to ruffle my feathers (probably because I don’t have any), but this phrase really gets my goat!  As a Dayton native and huge advocate of the city, I know there are TONS of things to do in Dayton…and my goal here is to prove it to you!

For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Jane Krebs.  For those of you who do know me, my name is still Jane Krebs.  Each Wednesday, I will be bringing you Jane’s Best Bets – a weekly column devoted to informing you of some of the best events going on in and around our wonderful city.  To give you a little history, Jane’s Best Bets actually began a little over a year ago when I started emailing a group of friends and family about fun events going on around town.  The concept grew and grew and today, that email reaches more than one-hundred people.  And now, I feel so fortunate to bring it to all of you – the wonderful readers of DaytonMostMetro.com!

I am a person of many interests and am involved in many wonderful organizations in our community, such as the Red Cross Associate Board and Generation Dayton.  So whether you’re a sports fanatic, a food guru, art enthusiast, community service advocate, or a music junkie, you have definitely come to the right place.  Dayton has something to offer you…and it is my job to show you!

Also, for those of you who have not seen a “Jane’s Best Bets”, in addition to featuring fun events, it also features the signature “Dumb Joke of the Week”.  Perhaps not my readers’ favorite part, as those who know me would describe me as VERY corny (think the “Laffy Taffy” type).  So, if you are corny, I think we’re going to get along just fine.  And if not, that’s okay too – just feel free to shake your head because after all, I’ll never know!

So, without further adieu, here are your best bets!  It’s Dayton’s very first Beer Week, so if you like beer, then this is definitely your week.  If you don’t, however, there are plenty of other fun things for you to do!

Starting on Wednesday, check out one of the many beer tastings going on as a part of Dayton Beer Week, such as the Abita Beer Tasting Event at Rue Dumaine, the Brooklyn Brewery Tasting at Bruning’s Wine Cellar, the Beer and Wine Throwdown at the Culinary Company, the Stone Beer Dinner at Thai 9, the Dogfish Head Beer Dinner at Dorothy Lane Market, the Brooklyn Brewery Oktoberfest Release at Fox & Hound, or the Stone 090909 Vertical Epic Tapping at Chappys.  That sure was a mouthful!  Speaking of mouths, perhaps you like to use yours to sing.  If so, you’ll want to head to the 88 Club for ‘Wild Out’ Karaoke Wednesday.  Or, if you’re a bookworm who likes a good bargain (don’t we all!), check out the Wright Library Book Sale, which runs through Sunday.

Then on Thursday, continue to celebrate Dayton Beer Week by sampling more beer at another tasting, such as the Troegs Beer Tasting at the Dorothy Lane Market in Oakwood, the Mt. Carmel Beer Tasting at a Taste of Wine, or the Goose Island Beer and Cheese Tasting at Spinoza’s.  If you’d rather check out opportunities to be out and about in the great outdoors as opposed to chilling and sipping a brewski, you may want to check out Five Rivers MetroParks’ Intro to Backpacking Class.  Or, check out the Kim Kelly Orchestra as part of Big Band Nights at the new Pavillion at Riverscape!

On Friday, support local farmers by going to the Xenia Farmer’s Market.  If you’d like to meet other young professionals in the area, check out Generation Dayton’s 4th Friday Lunch, followed by Generation Dayton’s 2010 WPAFB Tour (open to Generation Dayton Members).  I know several people who attended this event last year and said it was great!  Later in the evening, check out some live outdoor music – one of my favorite things!  Some options are the Websters at Sharkey’s (very fun cover band!) or Funky G at The Greene (FREE)!  And, if you enjoy festivals, check out the Lebanese Festival to sample authentic Middle-Eastern food and pastries, watch some belly dancing, and enjoy all the other things festivals have to offer including amusement rides and poker (I guess this column is about “bet”ting after all!).  Or, if you feel like going to another beer tasting, check out Red Carpet Night at the Trolley Stop, where there will be many different beers to try!

I’m hoping you can save up some energy during the week because Saturday is the big day – the 12th Annual AleFest Dayton at Carillon Park!  If you like beer at all, then this is one event you won’t want to miss, as you can choose from over 300 beers to sample!  At Riverscape, check out the African American Cultural Festival.  Or, if you didn’t get to check out the Lebanese Festival Friday, now is your chance.  If you’re a Jimmy Buffett Fan, check out the 3rd Annual Concert, Fish Fry & Benefit with the Parrots of the Caribbean.  Just be sure you don’t put Margaritaville in your Garmin – you may get lost.  And, if you love the 80s, go to Mix 107.7’s Summerfest at the Fraze to see Blondie and Cheap Trick!  “One way or another,” I’m sure you’re going to make it a great Saturday!

And finally on Sunday, if you’re not too exhausted – head back to Carillon Park for WYSO’s FREE Summer Concert featuring the Rev Cool Arkestra and Dance Ensemble & C. Wright’s Parlour Tricks, or go to Stubbs Park in Centerville to see Lone Raven.  Or if you feel like just kicking back and reading a book, I know where you can get one at a bargain!  Head on over to the last day for the Wright Library Book Sale where a bag of books is just $2.00!

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

What did the farmer say when he picked up the corn?

“Aw, shucks!”

(See, I told you I was “corn”y!)

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!