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Maggie Malach

Something wicked this way comes: Downtown Dayton’s Halloween Haunts

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With Halloween fast approaching, downtown is filled with spine-chilling festivities. From haunted houses to a spooky showing of the Bride of Frankenstein, there is plenty of eerie activities waiting.

Tuesday, Oct. 18: Ghost N Goblin 5k, RiverScape MetroPark, 111 East Monument Ave.

Get ghoulish for a good cause with this 3.1-mile run around downtown that benefits The Children’s Medical Center of Dayton. Participants are encouraged to come dressed in their favorite costumes. The race will start at 6:30 p.m. For registration information and costs, click here.

Buildings decorate for the Hauntfest activities.

Thursday, Oct. 20: Halloween Pub Crawl 2011 starts at Oregon Express, 336 E. Fifth St.

The Dayton Ballet Barre hosts this pub crawl that includes numerous bars in the Oregon Arts District. Each $10 ticket covers drink and food discounts. Locations include:

  • 6 p.m. Oregon Express
  • 7 p.m. Tumbleweed Connection
  • 8 p.m.  Lucky’s Taproom
  • 9 p.m. Trolley Stop
  • 10 p.m. Dublin Pub

Thursday, Oct. 20- Sunday, Oct. 23, Haunted Series, Victoria Theatre, 138 N. Main St.

The Dayton Ballet presents the haunting world premiere of Sleepy Hollow. The series also features the return of Hyding Inside, a depiction of man’s struggle between good and evil loosely based upon Robert Louis Stevenson’s Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. For ticket information, call 449-5060.

Saturday, Oct. 29: Hauntfest on Fifth, Oregon Arts District on East Fifth Street

Dayton’s largest and longest-standing Halloween bash returns for another spooktacular night. It will feature a roundup of entertainment, including live music by such bands as Back Stabbath, a Black Sabbath cover band, and roving performers. The event also will include a chance to win cash prizes in a costume contest, food and drinks, and more.

Another Hauntfest highlight is the Third Annual Boo & Bruise pro wrestling contest. Rockstar pros will compete for the chance to become the first ever Cicero Cup winner. The contest will be held on Fifth and Jackson streets, next to the Cicero Law Office.

Costumed customers sit down for a drink at Hauntfest.

Join emcee Jim Bucher and the Bud Girls for the costume contest, which will be held on the main stage at 10 p.m. A crew of Bud Girls will roam Hauntfest and select partygoers with the best costumes in three categories and give them passes to participate in the contest, when a panel of celebrity judges will pick the winner in each category. First, second and third prizes will be given in the following categories: (1) best group costume, (2) best individual costume and (3) best witch costume.

In addition, many of the bars and taverns in the Oregon Arts District will host live bands and other entertainment the night of Hauntfest. Many will not charge a cover the night of the event. Tickets will be $5 in advance, available at most Oregon Arts District taverns and clubs, and $5 at the gate from 7 to 10 p.m. Tickets purchased at the gate after 10 p.m. will be $10.

Hauntfest on Fifth is sponsored by Budweiser, Bud Light, Budweiser Select, Buckeye Vodka, 104.7 WTUE, 103.9 The X, 99.9 The Channel, Mix 107.7, WDTN Channel 2, Dayton City Paper and the Oregon District Business Association.

Saturday, Oct. 29: 1st Annual Tailgate of Terror, Yellow Cab Building, 700 E. Fourth St.

Get the Hauntfest party started with this Halloween fundraiser. Each $20 ticket guarantees a parking spot for Hauntfest and live music by The Fair Shakes at 5 p.m., The White Soots at 7 p.m. and C. Wright’s Parlour Tricks at 9 p.m. DJ Jay Madewell of Fab Gear also will spin tunes throughout the evening. The parking lot will be open from 4 p.m. to 3 a.m.

Act fast — there are a limited number of tickets for parking spots. Walk-in tickets will be sold at the door. Tickets will be available at the following Oregon Arts District businesses: Feather’s Vintage Clothing (440 E. Fifth St.), ReCreate Music Store (438 E. Fifth St.) and Omega Music (318 E. Fifth St.). Tickets are also available through the Dayton Circus Creative Collective via email at [email protected] or by phone at 490-9268.

A smiling skeleton walks down Fith Street during Hauntfest.

Saturday, Oct. 29: Sidebar Spooktacular, 410 E. Fifth St.

Take a rest bit from Hauntfest and stop inside this Oregon Arts District bar for a drink. The costume party kicks off at 7:00 p.m. and will continue until 2:00 a.m. Each ticket is good for food all night, music provided by a DJ and one glass of Sidebar’s sangria. For ticket information, contact Tess Vella at 723-9415.

Saturday, Oct. 29: The Monster Hop at Canal Street Tavern, 308 E. First St.

Check out live music featuring rock Robthebank. The show will start at 9:30 p.m. and tickets are $5.

Saturday, Oct. 29: PhilharMonster Halloween Concert, Schuster Center, 1 W. Second St.

Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra conductor Neal Gittleman leads this special performance of Peter and the Wolf. The performance will include scenes from Bride of Frankenstein. The concert is at 3 p.m., but come early at 2 p.m. for some pre-concert fun. A costume contest will award prizes to the most creative ensembles in three different categories. For ticket information and cost, click here.

Saturday, Oct. 29: “Bride of Frankenstein” with Orchestra, Schuster Center, 1 W. Second Street

The Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra will provide live music alongside this Halloween classic in a performance that will send chills down your spine. The show will begin at 8 p.m. For tickets, click here.

Dayton’s Haunted Butcher House on Wayne Ave., 508 Wayne Ave.

Downtown Dayton’s newest and wildest haunted house attraction promises to make each scare “memorable and original by igniting all of the senses.” The haunted house will be open Thursday to Saturday from 7 p.m. to midnight now through Nov. 1.

October First Friday to Bring Thrills and Chills

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Plan ahead for the next free monthly downtown art hop ― which will be held from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7 ― because there’s a frightening amount of fun to get into.

SMARmare's ghoulish performance in 2010.

A free outdoor performance of SMAGmare will be held in the Oregon Arts District next to the Trolley Stop, 530 E. Fifth St., from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. Set to popular music, SMAG Dance Collective, Zoot Theatre Company, Sandstorm Dance, musician Al Holbrook and local hip-hop dancers will present this tale of an evil woman luring her innocent sister to a moment of indiscretion between her mother and another man. The chance viewing causes the sister to lose touch with reality, and she creates a twisted vision of her mother and the lover as zombies controlled by her evil sister. Prepare for scares, surprises and even heartfelt moments as vampires, werewolves, the undead and the dead brought back to life, witches and warlocks, and fiendish ghouls manifest on stage.

First Friday also is a chance for visitors to win a $1,000 travel gift certificate from AAA Miami Valley by completing a First Friday Passport. Each month, AAA will award two prizes of one-year classic AAA memberships, with free renewals for existing members. Everyone who enters for the monthly prize now through Dec. 2 also will be entered into a drawing for a grand prize of a $1,000 travel gift certificate.

Visitors can pick up a First Friday passport at participating locations (click here for a list). The passport must be stamped by at least four locations, and once visitors have all four stamps, they fill out their contact information and drop their passports in any of the First Friday Passport boxes that will be at all participating locations.

Explore downtown with the First Friday Scavenger Hunt. Sponsored by updayton, participants should pick up a clue sheet in a First Friday Passport and be prepared to venture into the Oregon Arts District and along Wayne Avenue. Everyone who completed the hunt will end at a party at the Cannery Lofts, 500 E. Third St., featuring free beer, wine, snacks and a live DJ.

The First Friday Passport Program is a great way to explore downtown.

K12 Gallery for Young People/TEJAS, 510 E. Third St., will host Round 2 of Art-Off. The winners from Round 1 will battle new participants in this Iron Chef-like competition in which contestants compete with surprise materials. Audience members will vote for the artists, and Round 2 winners will compete for the Knot Award, a metal sculpture handmade by Hamilton Dixon, at a final event on Nov. 11. To sign up to participate, contact Kelly Sexton at 937-461-5149 or [email protected].

Steamroller Prints: Flat-Out Fun will be held on the street level of the Transportation Center garage on the corner of Fifth Street and Patterson Boulevard (near the former Greyhound Bus terminal) from 5 to 9 p.m. as part of the second annual statewide gathering of Ohio print cooperatives. Watch master printers from throughout Ohio create enormous images made by inking a 4-by-4 foot linoleum block, covering it with paper and rolling over it with a steamroller.

In addition, 45 smaller blocks carved by community members will be printed using this steamroller method. A limited number of blocks are available at the Dayton Visual Arts Center, 118 N. Jefferson St., which is hosting the event. Blocks are $10 each, which includes the opportunity to bring your block to the event, ink it and have it printed. Each participant will keep one print and the original carving; one signed print will be donated to DVAC.

Print co-op members from throughout Ohio also will participate in an open portfolio at ThinkTV, 110 S. Jefferson St., from 5-9 p.m. Many unframed prints will be exhibited and offered for sale for a very reasonable price.

Come taste Buckeye Vodka at the Victoria Theatre before the Projects Unlimited Variety Series presentation of The Flying Karamazov Brothers from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. The tasting includes free appetizers. For more information and a special price for the show, call Ticket Center Stage at 937-228-3630.

Shakespeare for Life, a marathon relay reading of the Bard’s works, will start at 8 p.m. during First Friday. Free Shakespeare! and Optum Nurses for a Cure, a registered team with the Centerville chapter of Relay for Life, will present the relay 24 hours a day through 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14, at the Blue Sky Gallery, 33 N. Main St. The event kicks off with a reading of Julius Caesar, with the goal of reading all 37 plays, 154 sonnets and five poems credited to William Shakespeare. The event is a fundraiser for Optum Nurses for a Cure and Free Shakespeare! To volunteer or make a conation, contact [email protected].


Each month, numerous downtown art galleries stay open late for the public.

Gem City Circle Walking Tours will host two tours highlighting local history. A tour of the Oregon Arts District will meet in the Jay’s Seafood parking lot at 5 p.m., and the Ghosts, Cemeteries and Murders Walk of Downtown Dayton will meet at Courthouse Square at 7 p.m. All walks are $10 per person, and advance reservations are required. Contact Leon Bey, tour guide, at 274-4749 or email [email protected].

A variety of roaming performers will provide entertainment (weather permitting). Courteous Mass, a community of bike-minded individuals, will meet at Don Crawford Plaza in front of Fifth Third Field at 5:15 p.m. for an urban street cycling ride through the city and First Friday action.

Galleries and other venues throughout downtown will host exhibit openings, sales, live music and other special events, and restaurants, retail shops, bars and clubs, and other establishments throughout downtown will be open. For regular updates about this event, follow First Friday on Facebook or text “FirstFridayDayton” to 90210. First Friday is presented by the Downtown Dayton Partnership with support from AAA Miami Valley, the Oregon District Business Association, and WYSO-FM 91.3. The Downtown Dayton Partnership’s website has a complete list of downtown’s arts and cultural amenities, as well as a dining guide, parking map and much more. Click here for a complete list of events.

Downtown’s Biggest Street Party Is Getting Bigger

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A child paints the street as part of an interactive component of Urban Nights.

If you are looking to take your weekend to new heights, look no further than downtown Dayton.

Urban Nights will be back with even more fun activities on Friday, Sept. 16, from 5 to 10 p.m. New this year is Over the Edge, a challenge that combines fundraising with adventure. Participants who raise at least $1,000 will be given the opportunity to rappel over the side of the 27-story KeyBank Tower. All proceeds will benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Miami Valley. Space is limited; for more information, call 220-6857.

Urban Nights has plenty of live entertainment. Check out the stage featuring Celtic and folk music, including performances by  Norman’s Conquest. Back by popular demand is the Community Stage. For the first part of the evening, local bands and performers will be allowed 10-minute slots on the stages. The second half will feature karaoke, when anyone can take a turn at the mic.

Urban Nights is filled with interactive activities. The public pianos that debuted

A street performer juggles fire.

during the fall 2010 Urban Nights are also back by popular demand. Hauer Music will provide four pianos to be placed on street corners throughout downtown, which pedestrians are invited to play. Other interactive activities will include an opportunity to help create a work of art with jelly beans, a chalk walk on the sidewalk, and a chance to learn how to break dance and juggle.

K12 Gallery for Young People, 510 E. Third St., will host Round 1 of Art-Off, a new fundraising event in which individuals battle to create the greatest art-making spectacle in an Iron Chef-like competition. Participants will receive materials (announced the night of the event) to create artwork within the theme “chaos vs. order.” Ten artists will compete during six 30-minute time slots from 6 to 9 p.m., and audience members will vote on each time slot’s winning artist based on the artists’ performances in crafting their pieces, as well as their finished products. To sign up to participate, contact Kelly Sexton at 461-5149 or [email protected].

Winning entries from the Downtown in Focus amateur and professional photography contest will be on display in the Kettering Tower lobby during Urban Nights. One amateur winner and one professional winner were selected in each of the following categories: My Downtown Favorite, Downtown at Night and Abstract Downtown. A panel of judges awarded a $250 cash prize to the Best in Show winner in each division. In addition, City of Dayton Mayor Gary Leitzell selected one photo that best represents the City’s “Dayton Originals” motto.

The weekend-long Taste of Miami Valley will kick off during Urban Nights at RiverScape MetroPark. Guests can sample food from more than 30 area restaurants. Admission is free, and most tastes are $3 each.

A street painter illustrates the vibrant downtown atmosphere.

A map of participating venues and a complete performance schedule, including a listing of all participating locations’ events and specials, is available online at www.downtowndayton.org. Follow Urban Nights on Facebook at www.facebook.com/UrbanNightsDayton for regular updates and more information.

The best way to see as much as possible during Urban Nights is to walk, and many of the destinations are just a short distance from each other. Greater Dayton RTA also will provide free event trolleys to help visitors get around. In addition, cyclists will gather at 5:15 p.m. at Don Crawford Plaza in front of Fifth Third Field for Urban Bikes @ Urban Nights, a community ride through the action hosted by Bike Miami Valley.

For more information, contact Krystal Luketic at 937-224-1518 ext. 227 or [email protected].

Urban Nights is presented by the Downtown Dayton Partnership, Culture Works, Montgomery County and the City of Dayton, with additional support from WDTN-TV2, DP&L, Greater Dayton RTA, Budweiser Select, the Downtown Priority Board, Clear Channel and Mix 107.7-FM, Wright Dunbar, Inc., Generation Dayton and the Ohio Arts Council.

Celebrate the start of September with First Friday

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Whether you are in the mood to explore downtown or you just want to kick back and listen to some live music, the Sept. 2 First Friday has all the entertainment you need from 5 to 10 p.m.

All summer the local bands have been rocking out at the RiverScape MetroPark, 111 E. Monument Ave. This Friday, Human Cannonball will perform at the free First Friday @ 5 concert from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Beer will be sold from 5 to 7 p.m. and the concession will be open. Free bike parking provided.

First Friday also is a chance for visitors to win a $1,000 travel gift certificate from AAA Miami Valley by completing a First Friday Passport. Each month, AAA will award two prizes of one-year classic AAA memberships, with free renewals for existing members. Everyone who enters for the monthly prize now through Dec. 2 also will be entered into a drawing for a grand prize of a $1,000 travel gift certificate.

Visitors can pick up a First Friday passport at participating locations (click here for a list). The passport must be stamped by at least four locations, and once visitors have all four stamps, they fill out their contact information and drop their passports in any of the First Friday Passport boxes that will be at all participating locations.

Starting at 8 p.m., numerous First Friday locations will blast Rev. Cool’s Around the Fringe radio show, which features lively dance music from around the world and your own backyard and airs on WYSO-FM 91.3. A variety of roaming performers also will provide entertainment (weather permitting).

See the Sights

For those looking for a unique way to tour downtown, check out Courteous Mass. This community of bike-minded individuals will meet at Don Crawford Plaza in front of Fifth Third Field at 5:15 p.m. for an urban street cycling ride through the city and First Friday action.

Another great way to stretch your legs while seeing the city is with Gem City Circle Walking Tours, which will host two tours highlighting local history. A tour of the Oregon Arts District will meet in the Jay’s Seafood parking lot at 5 p.m., and the Ghosts, Cemeteries and Murders Walk of Downtown Dayton tour will meet at Courthouse Square at 7 p.m. All walks are $10 per person, and advance reservations are required. Contact Leon Bey, tour guide, at 274-4749 or email grantsguru501c[email protected].

Channel Your Inner Artist

First Friday is a great chance to interact with art. Press, 257 Wayne Ave., will host a kids’ art event in which children ages 4 to 10 are invited to explore their creative side by creating works in a variety of mixed media.  SMAG Dance Collective will perform in front of Boulevard Haus, 328 E. Fifth St., at 7 p.m. with painter Mike Elsass and musician Al Holbrook. Elsass will apply paint to a canvas and four dancers, each representing a different color and mood, will spread the paint with their bodies. The group also will perform its Homeless Series, which features solo and duet performances, throughout the Fifth Street corridor.

Additionally, K12 Gallery for Young People/TEJAS, 510 E. Third St., will host its first “Collaborative First Fridays for Families” sculpture-making event. First Friday visitors are invited to stop by and help create a collaborative sculpture around the theme “Junk It, Funk It.” Work alongside artists Cindi Remm and Michele Devitt to turn recyclables and junk into a community sculpture.

Dayton is filled with a variety of art exhibits.  Open until 8 p.m., Dayton Visual Arts Center, 118 N. Jefferson St., will feature “Coming to a Waterway Near You.” This exhibit by Virginia Burroughs examines the effects of blue-green algae on waterways across the country, and includes demonstrations by Burroughs on applying mixed media to photographs.

In the Orgeon Arts District, Color of Energy, 16 Brown St., will display works of pastel artist Daniel Wise and a preview of the “Sedona Vortex” exhibit by Mike Elsass. Down the street, Gallery 510 Fine Art, 510 E. Fifth St., will feature a variety of gallery artists will demonstrating their techniques, including painting, drawing, beading and Zentangle. The Cannery Art and Design Center, 434 E. Third St, will feature the “crazy quilt” paintings of Carol Stoops and the oil paintings and printmaking of Kathryn Pitstick, along with live jazz and refreshments.

Here’s what’s cookin’
After you’ve visited the galleries, grab a bite to eat or stop to watch the entertainment at numerous restaurants downtown.  Boulevard Haus, 328 E. Fifth St., will offer $1 off tap beer for those who mention First Friday. Deaf Monty’s Wine, 22 Brown St., will feature a discount on rose, $5 for a 6-ounce glass. Lucky’s Taproom & Eatery, will tap a firkin tapping of Left Hand Brewery’s 400 Pound Monkey at 5:30 p.m.

Newly opened Olive, an urban dive, 416 E. Third St., will offer dessert and a beverage for $7 and will feature the art of Melinda A Esmond. De’Lish Cafe, 139 Main St., will feature live music and the “downtowner” specialty cocktail. Blind Bob’s, Dublin Pub, Garden Station, Jay’s Seafood, Omega Music, Oregon Express and Trolley Stop will feature live music.

. . .and there’s more!
District Antiques, 122 Van Buren St., will offer 15 percent off any purchase of new items and 10 percent off consigned items. Newly opened Clash Consignment Co., 113 E. Third St., will host live DJs and a raffle for store gift certificates.

Restaurants, retail shops, bars and clubs, and other establishments throughout downtown will be open during First Friday. For regular updates about this event, follow First Friday on Facebook or text “FirstFridayDayton” to 90210. First Friday is presented by the Downtown Dayton Partnership with support from AAA Miami Valley, the Oregon District Business Association, and WYSO-FM 91.3.

The Downtown Dayton Partnership’s website has a complete list of downtown’s arts and cultural amenities, as well as a dining guide, parking map and much more. Click here for a complete list of events taking place downtown.

Seeing the City from New Eyes

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A native of Cincinnati, I didn’t really dip my toes into everything Dayton has to offer until my freshman year of college at the University of Dayton. While some of my classes exposed me to popular sites in the city, such as the Schuster Center, I took it upon myself to explore lesser-known pockets of downtown. After four years of living and working in Dayton, I am still finding interesting new places, but I am proud to say I definitely know more than I did when I was a freshman.

Making old new again

As a girl who perpetually has nothing to wear (yet a closet full of clothes), I’m always on the prowl for new additions to my wardrobe. In the past few years I have gained a huge appreciation for vintage clothing, although I am still learning how to filter through what’s gold and what’s just … old. The best place I’ve found to score some great finds? Feathers Vintage Clothing. Located in the Oregon Arts District, it’s the perfect place to browse before grabbing a stuffed burger at Blind Bob’s. Disclaimer: One glance at its front window, filled with the kinds of clothes you dream about stumbling across in such a store, and you will have no choice but to stop and see what’s inside.

Lights, Camera, Action

The best movie experiences are ones in which the whole audience connects over the film. While these occasions are rare, they make going to the movies special. At The Neon, one gets that sense of community during every film. Plus, the selection is awesome – way better than any other theater in the area. It offers everything from Oscar-nominated blockbusters to the lesser-known movies all the cool kids rave about. If you’re wary about seeing a movie that hasn’t been over-advertised, check out The Neon’s website. It provides great summaries, as well as a schedule for upcoming films.

Music to my ears

My inaugural trip to Omega Music was on a first date. After a delicious dinner at Thai 9, we went on a romantic walk down the brick-paved stretch of Fifth St. in the Oregon Arts District. While the night was awkward (Sorry I was more excited about buying that live concert CD than I was about being on that date with you), I still love going back and browsing the music selection. The staff also is really friendly, which I haven’t always encountered in music stores. I still think of that long-lost first date every time I walk into Omega, but at least there’s great music to make me forget it.

Get Lucky

As a lover of food (but by no means a connoisseur), my favorite places to eat are ones that have a unique, but not intimidating, menu. Enter Lucky’s Taproom. A descriptive beer menu for someone who knows nothing about beer (i.e., me) and a staff willing to make recommendations? Sign me up. The first time I went to Lucky’s I ordered the fish and got to choose the beer it was battered in. Awesome. Apparently quality is always Lucky’s standard, as the food is excellent every time I go.

Hit the pavement

A longtime runner before college, I saw my move to Dayton as a chance to get to know a new city – on foot. Confession: In high school I ran almost 10 miles daily with my cross-country team, but when left to my own devices, I am way too tempted to sit on the couch and watch reruns on E! instead of getting up and exercising. Having new, uncharted territory encouraged me to start running here, but it was the awesome routes that kept me going. I love cities, yet I love being in parks; lucky for me, downtown is a blend of both. Check out the Five Rivers MetroParks website for more information on all of the trails available.

This is by no means a complete list of things to do in downtown Dayton. Be sure to check out the Downtown Dayton Partnership’s website for more information and other suggestions of great places in the city to visit.

Aug. 5 First Friday has everything from skatedecks to a scavenger hunt

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Looking for a different way to explore downtown? The Aug. 5 First Friday is rolling in with a night of live music, art shows and entertainment.

Broaden Your Horizons

First Friday will be the continuation of the First Friday Passport Program. Pick up a First Friday Passport at RiverScape and other participating locations (click here for a list) to win prizes from AAA Miami Valley, which each month will award two prizes of one-year classic AAA memberships, with free renewals for existing members. Everyone who enters for the monthly prize now through Dec. 2 also will be entered into a drawing for a grand prize of a $1,000 travel gift certificate.

The passport must be stamped by at least four locations, and visitors can get all four stamps during one First Friday or complete it another month. Once completed, they simply fill out their contact information and drop their passports in any of the First Friday Passport boxes that will be at all participating locations.

Get a Clue

The Aug. 5 First Friday is also the premiere of the First Friday Scavenger Hunt, an event hosted by volunteers from the young professional organization updayton. Teams of friends and families are invited to enjoy an evening packed with clues that include stops at some of downtown’s swankiest restaurants, venues and art spaces. Follow the clues to the final destination ― the First Friday After Party, where complimentary beer, wine and light snacks await everyone who completes the hunt. Clue sheets also will be inside First Friday passports.

Skateboards, Sculptures and Still-Life

Another featured event is the “The Art of Skate,” an art exhibit featuring skate decks and paintings celebrating skating culture past and present. Held at the Yellow Cab Building, 700 E. Fourth St, more than a dozen artists contributed to the project, including Amy Kollar Anderson, Rev. Chad Wells, Mike Guidone and Jason Goad, along with two California artists. The exhibit will be open until midnight, and the skate decks will be raffled later in August.

New to the city’s arts scene, the Dayton Arts Project will present local artists’ work, followed by a performance of choreography, dance and media at Sinclair Community College’s Blair Hall Theatre. Featured artists include Damon Sink, who will create new live music in a collaboration with choreographer Rodney Veal; choreographer Ashley Sass, who will present her work, Momentum; Tom Watson III, presenting his Stem/ReAssemblage series; and Ben Quinn, who will display five new large works in a mixed-media exhibit.

Additional art shows include:

  • The Blue Sky Project’s final exhibit will be showcased at 8 N. Main St. In this eight-week summer artist-in-residence program, five professional artists from throughout the world have worked with area teens in a collaborative art-making process that resulted in the new works of contemporary art that will be on display.
  • The Cannery Art and Design Center, , 434 E. Third St., will host Doug Benedict’s “Found Object Steel Sculpture,” along with live jazz, wine and hors d’œuvres.
  • Color of Energy, 16 Brown St., will present an introduction to the Record Gallery, a new store featuring collectible music items, along with new works by Mike Elsass and Bob Rhodes.
  • Color 2 Gallery, 519 E. Fifth St., will host Mike Elsass’ reception for the graduates of Stivers.
  • Dayton Visual Arts Center, 118 N. Jefferson St., will host its 20th Annual Open Members’ Show in the gallery. A selection of artists from the Members’ Show will give brief gallery talks about their work.
  • Elaine Balsley Fine Art, 523 E. Fifth St., will feature artwork by Stivers School for the Arts graduates.
  • Gallery 510 Fine Art, 510 E. Fifth St., will feature new figurative wood carvings by Marvin Olinsky and new still-life paintings by Nancy Hatton.
  • K12 Gallery, 510 E. Third St., will feature the work of TEJAS summer art camp students, as well as work by local painters in an exhibition centered on landscapes and showing films created by students throughout this year in K12’s first Film Fest.

Hitting the Right Note

In the Garden Station, 509 E. Fourth St., the Dayton Creative Circus Collective will host Free Music First Friday featuring a rare Dayton appearance by The Hiders from Cincinnati. After its 2006 debut, the band was named by NPR’s World Café as an “artist to watch.” Tim Pritchard of the local band Floods will open at 8 p.m.

More live music will be featured throughout the Oregon District. Check out the Trolley Stop, the Oregon Express, the Tumbleweed Connection and the Dublin Pub for a variety of performances all night. Additionally, Practice Yoga will be hosting the WYSO-FM Rev. Cool Around the Fringe Dance Party, and several participating First Friday locations will be playing the long-running radio show.

Rock Out

Local musicians Blind Karma will play the First Friday @ 5 show at RiverScape MetroPark. The concession will be open and beer will be sold during the performance from 5-7 p.m. The concert will wrap up in plenty of time to head to the galleries and other arts venues taking part in the First Friday art hop.

…And There’s More!

Celebrating its grand opening will be Clash Consignment Co., 113 E. Third St., which features items for adult women and men, including an eclectic and funky mix of vintage to modern clothing, jewelry, shoes and other accessories. The store also carries original work by local artists, and will be hosting DJs during First Friday. New to First Friday is District Antiques, 122 Van Buren St., which specializes in antiques, collectibles, home furnishings and artwork. Patrons will receive 15 percent off new items and 10 percent off consignment items during First Friday. Martha Mellon Interior Design Studio also will offer free 30-minute in-store design consultations. Visitors are asked to bring their room measurements, photos, fabric samples, and toss pillows and other accessories to help with the design consultation. A variety of roaming performers will provide entertainment (weather permitting). This month, catch The Dropbacks juggling duo, the Circle Nerdz breakdance crew, solo saxophonist Tyrone Martin, and accordion and violin duet Nathan Rogers and Liz Landis.

From approximately 8 to 11 p.m., many of downtown’s buildings will be lit for amateur and professional photographers who would like to capture night shots of the city in preparation for this year’s Downtown in Focus photo contest, held in conjunction with the Sept. 16 Urban Nights. Visit DowntownDayton.org for contest details.

Visitors also can get outdoors during First Friday for Courteous Mass, which will meet at Don Crawford Plaza in front of Fifth Third Field at 5:15 p.m. for a bike ride through the event action. Gem City Circle Walks will host two historical walking tours led by longtime local history buffs Leon Bey, Nancy Roach and Curt Dalton. An Oregon Arts District walk will begin at 5 p.m. and the “Ghosts, Cemeteries and Murders Walk of Downtown Dayton” will begin at 7 p.m. Each walk is $10 and advance reservations are required by contacting Bey at 937-274-4749 or [email protected].

In addition, all the restaurants, retail shops, bars and clubs, and other establishments throughout downtown will be open during First Friday. For regular updates about this event, follow First Friday on Facebook or text “FirstFridayDayton” to 90210.

First Friday is presented by the Downtown Dayton Partnership with support from AAA Miami Valley, the Oregon District Business Association, Clear Channel Dayton, Heidelberg Distributing Co., Five Rivers MetroParks, Culture Works and WYSO-FM 91.3.

The Downtown Dayton Partnership’s website has a complete list of downtown’s arts and cultural amenities, as well as a dining guide, parking map and much more. Click here for a complete list of events taking place downtown.

Add address – also, check for addresses throughout. Since this doesn’t start with the list, as in the release and brochure, there may be other places the address needs to be included.

First Friday band likes pop, rock, ‘unexpected elements’

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When Greg Bell plays a show with his band, Blind Karma, he goes for impact.

“My first job is to do something that will astound my band mates to break that ice on stage,” he says. “Then we can address the audience as a unit.”

From Bell’s description of the band’s performances, it is clear it set out to entertain, no matter the cost.

“I don’t mind looking foolish if that opens the door to get the audience involved,” he says. “Generally, if I see someone shoe gazing, I will do something so ridiculous they can’t shoe-gaze anymore.”

Audiences can expect this outgoing presentation when Blind Karma performs at the Aug. 5 First Friday @ 5 summer concert at the RiverScape MetroPark pavilion .

Formed in 2008, Blind Karma is a trio of Daytonians who bring crowds to its feet with a variety of cover songs from as early as the 1960s. Bell says the band likes to play rock and pop music, but also tries to include unexpected elements in their concerts.

Although the band has original material, they are currently only playing covers. They pull their material from a variety of decades as to find something that appeals to everyone in the audience.

“I’m always hoping for that little extra something to remind the audience how special that song, that time period was,” Bell says.

Off the long list of songs on Blind Karma’s setlist, Bell declines to list a favorite to play live (“That’s like asking me to choose amongst my children!”) but admits “Time” by Pink Floyd is especially meaningful to him.

“It’s one of the most beautiful, moving songs,” he says. “I want to do it justice and play it with conviction. It has the potential to be an emotionally charged song.”

As far as venues go, Bell looks forward to playing in Dayton for a variety of reasons: playing downtown at RiverScape MetroPark, working with sound engineer Monika Shroyer and participating in a community event, such as First Friday.

Bell recognizes Dayton as a grounded place to perform — each venue has unique strong points and the and want to create the best experience possible for the audience.

“There is a direct connection here in town of people wanting to do the best we can with what they’ve got,” he says.

You can catch Blind Karma when they play the August 5 First Friday @ 5 concert from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at RiverScape MetroPark Pavilion, 111 E. Monument Ave. The concession will be open and beer will be sold from 5-7 p.m. The concerts will wrap up in plenty of time to head to the galleries and other arts venues taking part in the First Friday art hop.


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Women in Jazz Festival draws female musicians from all over region

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Jazz singers from all over the country will be performing.

Downtown’s Summer Music Series kicks off with the 29th annual Michelob Women in Jazz Festival on June 26. The event will feature eight hours of soulful music, including performances by Teresa Hunt, Beverly Jackson with Audrey Whitaker, Elizabeth Hayes, April Aloisio, Patricia Berg, Sandra Rutledge, Linda Dachtyl and Brenda Flowers.

The festival, held at Dave Hall Plaza on Fourth St. between Jefferson and Main Streets is free. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets and relax on the greenspace while they listen to the best female artists in the region. Food and merchandise vendors will also be present.

“We want crowds,” says headlining act Teresa Hunt from Atlanta. “Set up tents and bring your kids to hear both contemporary and traditional jazz all day.”

Hunt, a Dayton native, will be performing at the festival for the first time in five or six years. There’s one thing she’s most looking forward to about being in her hometown again.

“I’m excited to see my grandson, David,” she says. “He’s three and I’m hoping to have him front and center.”

The Michelob Women in Jazz Festival will be held from 1-9 p.m. No alcoholic beverages may be brought in (though beer will be sold at the festival), and no glass containers or pets are allowed.

The festival is presented by the City of Dayton Department of Recreation and Youth Services. The series is sponsored by Heidelberg Distributing Co., the Downtown Dayton Partnership, WROU, Martin Romie Talent, and the Crowne Plaza Dayton Hotel. For more information, call 333-8400.

Courthouse Square performers add entertainment to lunch hour

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Free pizza is served to the crowd in the square.

Now that the rain has finally stopped, Courthouse Square is the place to be weekdays at noontime.

Starting June 21 and lasting through Sept. 15, The Square is Where … will feature a variety of performers. Entertainment booked to date includes belly dancers, jugglers and a saxophonist.  The festivities will occur around noon on most Tuesdays through Fridays.

Spectators can enjoy the show while grabbing lunch served by food vendors. Additionally, the YMCA will be hosting practice yoga and Zumba classes, perfect for those looking to recharge during their lunch breaks.

The Square is Where … is inspired by Affair on the Square, an event that took place more than a decade ago.

Now the Downtown Dayton Partnership and Montgomery Country are presenting The Square is Where … is a part of the Greater Downtown Dayton Plan to encourage growth and development in the city center.

“We’re trying to show there is a thriving, vibrant downtown during the work day,” says Krystal Luketic, special event coordinator for the Downtown Dayton Partnership.

As details become available, a complete schedule will be posted on www.DowntownDayton.org and www.mcohio.org. Any local performers interesting in entertaining on the square should contact Ashleigh Nunamaker at 937-224-1518, ext. 235 or [email protected].

Performance, visual arts bring ‘cultural experience’ to Loft Theatre

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Tripple Croxx Entertainment, OFP Productions and the Human Race Theatre Company, present The Signature’s “Poetic Soul Fusion” show June 17.

The night, hosted by national slam poet Will Evans, will include appearances by HBO Def poet Sunni Patterson, acoustic soul singer Ken J. Martin and internationally renowned violinist Shaw Pong Liu. The performances will also recognize Black Music Month, Juneteenth and the accomplishments of the late Gil Scott-Heron.

Sierra Leone, producer of The Signature, says the show synthesizes performance and visual arts and will have something for everyone.

“It’s a cultural experience,” she says. “But we want to pay homage to other things taking place as well.”

Patterson, the featured artist, brings her New Orleans heritage into her music by adding some soulful flavor. She is known for both her visionary styling and her powerful delivery. With a resume that includes appearing on BET’s “Lyric Café,” and HBO’s “Def Poetry,” Patterson promises to bring a show-stopping performance.

Leone says through The Signature, artists like Patterson and can reach people.

“We believe creative art is the tangible element that connects us to our humanity,” says Lee Croxx, CEO of Tripple Croxx Entertainment.

The show will be held at The Loft Theatre, 126 N. Main St. Doors open at 8:30 p.m., and cocktails will be available before the show. Tickets for The Signature cost $15 in advance and $20 at the door. They are available at www.ticketcenterstage.com. 937-228-3630.