Gem City Living | First Friday activities and other things happening in Dayton🛍️

Happy New Year, readers! I trust you enjoyed the holidays and are gearing up for what will undoubtedly be another busy year for activities across the Dayton region.

Downtown Dayton businesses are ringing in the new year by delivering numerous entertainment options as well as dining and shopping deals for First Friday, taking place Jan. 3 from 5 to 10 p.m. From discounts at boutiques to happy hour specials and comedy showcases, there’s something for everyone. Check out this detailed list of participating businesses and exciting offerings.

After5, an Oregon District boutique, is among the participants in the First Friday art hop. If you mention First Friday at checkout you can take 20% off of your total purchase. J SPIVEY PHOTOGRAPHY

Credit: J SPIVEY PHOTOGRAPHY

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Credit: J SPIVEY PHOTOGRAPHY

This week’s edition also spotlights upcoming January events, various winter offerings courtesy of Five Rivers MetroParks, a popular anime convention heading to Dayton, and the careers of local musicians Sandy and Michael Bashaw.

Let us know what you think. If you have thoughts, feedback or news tips, please email me at Russell.Florence@coxinc.com.

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😊Around Town: 10 things to do in Dayton this weekend

Dayton Performing Arts Alliance presents the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra's Rockin' Orchestra Series concert The Motortown All-Stars Jan. 4 at the Schuster Center. FACEBOOK PHOTO

Credit: FACEBOOK PHOTO

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Credit: FACEBOOK PHOTO

The iconic music of Motown, an informative look at nature through the career of a National Geographic photojournalist, the sassy comedic stylings of Sommore, and a fun opportunity to ice skate to the music of Taylor Swift are notable events happening in the region this weekend.


Around Town: Things to do in January: Shows on local stages, wedding expos, music events and more

The Dayton Battle of the Bands Finale happened at The Brightside Music & Event Venue in downtown Dayton on Saturday, March 9, 2024, featuring The Shady Pine, Freakquency, Austin Wolfe, MelinaMarie, The Bruins, and sheller. Winner of the 2024 Dayton Battle of the Bands was Freakquency. TOM GILLIAM / CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

Credit: Tom Gilliam

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Credit: Tom Gilliam

Mark your calendars! There are a wide range of events to keep in mind as you plan your January schedule. From a pair of wedding expos and the annual Battle of the Bands to the Flyin’ to the Hoop basketball showcase and multiple Martin Luther King Jr. observances, there’s a lot to digest.


🎭Stage Notes: Here are 10 performances to see in January throughout the Dayton region

Former "Saturday Night Live" performer Molly Kearney will be one of two comedians to present their acts when the Clark State Performing Arts Center returns its Club Kuss series to its 2024-25 season.

Credit: Contributed

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Credit: Contributed

Tony Award-winning musicals, the local premiere musical adaptation of a blockbuster film, a frightful adaptation of a popular horror movie franchise, and the local return of a historic “Saturday Night Live” cast member are notable shows happening across area stages in January.


⛸️Around Town: Bored this winter? Here are activities at the MetroParks to get you out of the house

Skaters of all ages can enjoy a full season of outdoor skating with a season pass to the MetroParks Ice Rink - Jan Underwood

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Looking for fun things to do during the winter months? Consider exploring the offerings of Five Rivers MetroParks, especially as the promise of snow entices sledders as winter kicks into gear. Check out our MetroParks guide.


💻Around Town: Popular anime convention Ohayocon coming to SW Ohio

An anime convention called Ohayocon will come to Dayton the last day of January and first couple days of February. In this photo a woman is dressed in cosplay as a anime character. iSTOCK/CONTRIBUTED

Credit: Getty Images

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Credit: Getty Images

Ohayocon, one of Ohio’s largest anime conventions, celebrates its 25th anniversary Jan. 31-Feb. 2 at the Dayton Convention Center. In addition to appearances by anime voice actors and two cosplay contests, the event includes gaming tournaments, scavenger hunts, workshops and more. Read more about this year’s festivities.


🎭Year in Review: These were the big stories in arts and culture in the Dayton region in 2024

Francisco Rivera (Snow King) and Jasmine Getz (Snow Queen) in the Dayton Ballet's 2024 world premiere of "The Nutcracker." Photo by Ron Valle

Credit: ron valle

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Credit: ron valle

From the exceptional, Dayton-themed beauty of Dayton Ballet’s world premiere of “The Nutcracker” to various leadership changes among local arts organizations, 2024 was active and memorable. Here’s a look at the top arts stories of last year.


📚Year in Review: Favorite author interviews from 2024

"Clete" by James Lee Burke (Atlantic Monthly Press, 330 pages, $28).

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Book Nook columnist Vick Mickunas, who has offered insights for Dayton Daily News since July 2004, looks back on his favorite radio interviews with authors from 2024, including James Lee Burke who, in his mid-eighties, released two books last year.


🎵A Day In The Life: Multi-instrumentalist couple met in Dayton’s 1960s folk music scene

Sandy and Michael Bashaw with a "Sound Sculpture". The couple have performed as experimental group Theater of Sound and world music ensemble Puzzle of Light.

Credit: Hannah Kasper

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Credit: Hannah Kasper

Kettering couple Sandy and Michael Bashaw have carved a unique musical imprint in Dayton as creators of the world music ensemble Puzzle of Light and experimental group Theater of Sound. Read more about their relationship and upcoming projects.


📷Photos: Armstrong Air & Space Museum Holiday Lights, The Bossler Mansion in St. Anne’s Hill, and Normandy United Methodist Church in Centerville

Here’s a look at highlights of Holiday Lights at the Armstrong Air & Space Museum, located at 500 Apollo Dr. in Wapakoneta. The walk-through light display honors the late Wapakoneta native Neil Armstrong, NASA astronaut, aeronautical engineer and the first person to walk on the Moon plus showcases the U.S. space program. Admission is free but donations are encouraged to help improve and expand the display for future holiday seasons. Visitors can view the lights nightly from the day after Thanksgiving until Jan. 1. TOM GILLIAM / CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

Credit: Tom Gilliam

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Credit: Tom Gilliam

See the Holiday Lights at the Armstrong Air & Space Museum in Wapakoneta.

See the Bossler Mansion in Dayton’s St. Anne’s Hill historic district decked out for the holidays.

See Normandy United Methodist Church in Centerville decorated for Christmas.


🎬ICYMI: Documentary about filmmaker Julia Reichert now airing on Netflix

For 50 years, Julia Reichert illuminated humanity, particularly America’s working-class, across compelling themes of feminism, family, politics and economics. She was also a Wright State University professor of film production for 28 years. CONTRIBUTED

Credit: CONTRIBUTED

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Credit: CONTRIBUTED

“Julia’s Stepping Stones,” a documentary chronicling Academy and Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Julia Reichert’s influential career, premiered Dec. 18 on Netflix.

Crafted by Steven Bognar of Yellow Springs, Reichert’s husband who shared Academy and Emmy Award honors for their documentary “American Factory,” “Julia’s Stepping Stones” is told in Reichert’s own words. Before her death in 2022 she recorded the story of how she became a filmmaker.

Read more about the film and Reichert’s legacy.


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Thanks for taking the time to read this newsletter. I encourage you to keep in touch. Share story tips or feedback about this newsletter by emailing me at Russell.Florence@coxinc.com.

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