Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

It’s April, so don’t be fooled by the people that tell you there is nothing to do in Dayton! There are many great things going on here this week!

On Wednesday, picture yourself in one of the Landscapes by Gregory T. Davis or the Landscapes by Monique Janssen-Belitz, both at Sinclair. At the University of Dayton’s ArtStreet, attend Patrick Dougherty’s Stickwork’s Photography Exhibit. All you opera lovers should attend Opera Preview On Campus: The Daughter of the Regiment at Wright State. Everybody needs to eat, so head to the Oregon District’s Boulevard Haus where Sausages, Burgers, and Sandwiches will be 25% off! Afterwards, wise men say that you may want to get “All Shook Up” at Victoria Theatre.

On Thursday, make your way to the Schuster Center to see Nick Clooney, an award-winning journalist, author, TV personality, and activist (and the father to George Clooney!) as part of the Junior League of Dayton Town Hall Lecture Series. Over at the University of Dayton, the most talented winter guards around the world will be competing in the 2011 WGI Color Guard World Championships. Jazz your life up a bit by attending the Vectren Just Jazz Series: Maggie Green and the Brazilian Jazz Connection at the Dayton Art Institute. In downtown Miamisburg, head to A Taste of Wine for their Greek Wine Tasting. All you theater lovers should head to the UD for Smoke on the Mountain or Victoria Theatre for All Shook Up. And if you love baseball, I hope you’ll be at the Dayton Dragons’ Opening Day as they take on the Bowling Green Hot Rods!

On Friday, there will be several opportunities to support some wonderful non-profits in the Miami Valley, so get out and have fun for a cause! At the Greene, they are Going Blue for Autism Awareness – when you make select purchases at both The Wine Loft and The Funny Bone, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to local autism charities. At Town & Country Shopping Center, check out the Inner I Gallery & Partners For Community Living – Opening Reception, in which fine art created by artists with developmental disabilities will be on display and for sale. Over at the Schuster Center, enjoy live music, great food, drinks, a silent auction, raffles, and much more as part of the The Great Escape! All proceeds will directly benefit the Dayton Chapter of the American Red Cross to aid in disaster relief. (I’m helping to plan the event so I hope to see you there!) At the Hope Hotel and Conference Center, you will be able to support another great cause, We Care Arts, as they have their 2011 ‘Happy Days’ Auction. Also on Saturday, you can enjoy Half-Price Happy Hour Pizzas at Oregon Express. Make your way to Fifth-Third Field to catch the Dragons as they play the Bowling Green Hot Rods. Some theater options include All Shook Up at Victoria Theatre, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at The Playhouse South, The Boys Next Door at the Dayton Theatre Guild (I hope they’re cute), Close Ties (a family drama that brings an understanding about Alzheimer’s ) at the Kettering Health Network Theater, and Smoke on the Mountain at UD. Also, you’ll have the opportunity to check out the amazing documentary The Elephant in the Living Room presented as part of the UD ArtStreet Friday Film Series.

On Saturday, participate in the Run for Congo 5K at Wegerzyns Garden Center. Afterwards, it is perfectly acceptable to stuff yourself with pancakes at the Kiwanis 6th Annual Pancake Breakfast at Christ United Methodist Church. If you love playing games (the nice kind, not the mean kind), head to Game Day at Your Library (the Dayton Metro Library’s East Branch). Over at the UD Arena, you will be able to check out the 2011 WGI Color Guard World Championships. If you love flowers, head to the Dorothy Lane Market School of Cooking for their Tropical Flowers Arrangement Class. Bring out the artist in you by participating in the Art-Making & Historical Touring (Dayton Visual Arts Center) or the Get Creative Workshop – Visual Journaling (Dayton Art Institute). Also at the Dayton Art Institute, you will be able to catch the Vanguard Concerts: Graffe String Quartet with Pianist Michiko Otaki. Theater options for Saturday include All Shook Up (Victoria Theatre), The Boys Next Door (Dayton Theatre Guild), Close Ties (X*ACT, Xenia Area Community Theatre at the Kettering Health Network Theater), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (The Playhouse South), and Smoke on the Mountain (UD). And if you miss football season, be sure to check out the Dayton Silverbacks as they take on the Marion Blue Racers.

On Sunday, start the morning off with All You Can Eat Brunch at Yankee Trace. Then, eat some more at the Taste of Greene County at the Nutter Center. Take the family to see the Dragons play the Bowling Green Hot Rods…plus Charity Cuts on the Plaza and McDonald’s Friends & Family Day at Fifth Third Field. Get your legs moving for the Kettering Spring Into Health 5K Run/Walk. If you love music, listen to the Dayton Philharmonic’s ‘The Symphonic Mozart’ at the Dayton Masonic Center. Or head to UD for their Jazz Faculty Recital. And finally, don’t miss your chance to catch All Shook Up at the Victoria Theatre. Thank you, thank you very much for reading.

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

Why was it really hot after the baseball game?

All the fans left.

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!