For more information: Contact Emily Broughton at 937-224-1518 or
Downtown Dayton Gets Festive for Dec. 5 First Friday
Luminaries, carolers, window display contest, holiday bargains enhance shopping experience
November 24, 2014, DAYTON, Ohio — Following the bustle of the Dayton Holiday Festival on Nov. 28 and Small Business Saturday on Nov. 29, downtown Dayton restaurants, retail shops, attractions and other local businesses have kicked the holiday shopping season into high gear during the Dec. 5 First Friday. To help usher in the next wave of patrons, the Downtown Dayton Partnership is providing amenities for shoppers, diners, employees, residents and downtown visitors that are sure to put everyone in the holiday spirit.
Many businesses and restaurants will offer specials and other incentives for First Friday shoppers. Luminaries light the way to the best in dining, arts, culture, unique retail and musical experiences in the Miami Valley. Downtown businesses will compete for prizes in the Whimsical Windows display contest, and regional performance ensembles will provide musical entertainment for all who stroll the sidewalks in downtown Dayton.
Dayton Holiday Festival activities roll on through December. Visit the Schuster Performing Arts Center to see the Tike’s Shop (noon to 7 p.m.) and the Wintergarden Wonderland Windows—the magical Rike's department store holiday window displays, featuring animated elves, woodland animals, violinists and skaters. The Kettering Tower Lobby at the corner of Second and Main streets hosts Virginia Kettering’s Holiday Train Display. This one-of-a-kind model train display was given to the community by Mrs. Virginia Kettering.
Need help locating all of downtown’s unique shops, restaurants and places to park? Use the Find It Downtown mobile tool: http://mobile.downtowndayton.org. The location-based site acts like a mobile app, allowing visitors to easily navigate downtown Dayton and find parking, restaurants, arts events and more.
Details of all businesses participating in the December 5 First Friday are included in the brief descriptions below, or visit downtowndayton.org, Twitter.com/downtowndayton or Facebook.com/FirstFridayDayton.
Art
• Color of Energy, 16 Brown St.: Local artist Mike Elsass is offering 10% off his collection of mixed media works. Call 266-3491 for more information.
• Dayton Art Institute, 456 Belmonte Park North: (Open until 8 p.m.) Check out works that illuminate the myriad ways that American European artists responded to their new exposure to Japanese art and culture in the DIA’s exhibit, “Inspirations from the East: Western Artists and the Allure of Japan.” Call 223-4278.
• Dayton Society of Painters and Sculptors, 48 High St.: (Open until 8 p.m) Come and enjoy the kickoff for the next exhibit: the Board of Directors Show. Call 228-4532.
• Dayton Visual Arts Center 118 N. Jefferson St.: (Open until 8 p.m.) Find a truly unique gift at DVAC’s ARTtoBUY: Holiday Gift Gallery. Works also will be on display from Susanne Scherette King: Narrative, elegant abstract paintings inspired by the artist’s Frank Lloyd Wright-style home. Call 224-3822.
• Gallery 510 Fine Art, 508 E. Fifth St.: Featuring art by local artists and 10% off handmade scarves. Call 672-6717.
Music
• Canal Public House, 308 E. First St.: Live music by Chrome Moses with The Left Hooks. Visit canalpublichouse.com for details.
• Dublin Pub, 300 Wayne Ave.: Irish First Fridays - enjoy happy hour from 3-6pm. Mossy is set to perform. Call 224-7822.
• Blind Bob’s, 430 E. Fifth St.: Music by Dear Fawn, Jamaican Queens and Forage. Call 938-6405.
• Gilly’s, 132 S. Jefferson St.: Old Skool Groove Night from 8 p.m. to midnight. Call 228-8414.
• Oregon Express, 336 E. Fifth St.: Featuring half-price pizza (dine-in only) from 4 to 8 p.m. and live music starting at 9:30 p.m. 21 and up. Call 223-9205.
Food and Drink
• Belle of Dayton, 122 Van Buren St.: (Open till 8 p.m.) Enjoy free quarter-ounce samples of the distillery’s vodka and new rum in the tasting room. Call 867-2355.
• Franco’s Ristorante Italiano, 824 E. Fifth St.: 10 percent off entrees. Call 222-0204.
• Lily's Bistro, 329 E. Fifth St.: It’s “Pinterest Holiday Craft Night” at Lily’s! Seasonal cocktail specials will be available at the bar. Call 723-7637.
• Salar, 400 E. Fifth St.: Featuring a happy hour from 4 to 7 p.m. with reduced prices on appetizers and select specialty cocktails and wine at the bar. Call 203-3999.
• Thai 9, 11 Brown St.: Visitors can take 15 percent off food. Call 222-3227.
• Toxic Brew Company, 431 E. Fifth St: Check out artwork by local artists and a special tapping. Call 985-3618.
• Tumbleweed Connection, 454 E. Fifth St.: Featuring a wine tasting and live music. Call 228-5500.
• Uno Chicago Grill, 126 N. Main St.: 10 percent off food. Call 910-8000.
Entertainment
• The Black Box Improv Theatre, 518 E. Third St.: Watch at Black Box’s veteran improve troupe perform their long-form show, “Womit 2.0.” Stick around for “Manikin Hunters,” an improvised show based on audience suggestions. BYOB. Call for ticket prices and availability, 369-0747.
• Courteous Mass Bike Ride, Don Crawford Plaza in front of Fifth Third Field, 220 N. Patterson Blvd.: The ride will depart at 5:30 p.m. All tours are free and welcome any skill level. Visit facebook.com/courteousmassdayton for details.
• Dayton Theatre Guild, 430 Wayne Ave.: Check out the comedy “Isn’t It Romantic.” It's the late 1970s New York where women share their thoughts and desires with each other and press on to “have it all” as they end their twenties. Tickets $12-$18 Call 278-5993.
• RiverScape MetroPark, 111 E. Monument Ave.: Head to the MetroParks Ice Rink for Star-Late Skate from 7-10 p.m. Admission and rentals is $7; children 3 and younger are free with a paying adult. Call 278-2607.
• The Schuster Center, 1 W. Second St.: The Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra will be joined by local duo Adelee & Gentry and choirs and choruses from the region for “Hometown Holidays,” an uplifting holiday tribute filled with seasonal favorites. $23-78 Call 228-3630.
Shopping
• Beaute Box, 116 W. Fifth St.: Featuring a monthly VIP event. VIPs will receive complimentary massages and spa treatments with wine and cheese service. Email or call 903-3165.
• Bonnett’s Book Store, 205 E. Fifth St: Take 25% off all Bonnett's gift certificates, good for any purchase, including
• Clash Consignment, 521 E. Fifth St.: Check out the local artwork and take advantage of discounts on select merchandise. Kids can get a special photo with Santa! Call 241-9434.
• Confetti, 42 W. Fifth St: Bring your First Friday purchases into Confetti and gift wrap them for free! Additional wrapping paper and embellishments are available for purchase. Get a custom gift tag hand-lettered by a local artist free with any purchase at the shop. Call 367-5512.
• Dayton Woman’s Club, 225 N. Ludlow St.: Visit the annual Holiday Bazaar and browse a variety of gift items, baked goods, holiday decorations and cards, jewelry, and raffle items. The Friday dinner is open to the public; reservations are required. Call 228-1124.
• Eclectic Essentials, 510 E. Fifth St.: Offering 10 percent off select merchandise. Call 361-0662 for more information.
• Gallery Jewelers, 110 N. Main St.: Located inside the first floor of the Premier Health Building, Gallery Jewelers will offer 50% off on all diamond earring purchases. Call 224-4408.
• Scavenger, 31 S. St. Clair St.: Patrons can win a gift basket full of fashion and home accessories, plus enjoy a one-day sale on select items throughout the store, plus complimentary treats! Call 367-3810.
• Sew Dayton, 261 Wayne Ave.: Bring your own beverage and hang out with other seamsters during the Stitch n’ Sip event. Call 234-7398.
• Sherwood Florist, 444 E. Third St.: Holiday wreaths, regularly priced at $60, will be on sale for $45. Call 298-3655.
• The Tike's Shoppe, Schuster Center Wintergarden, 1 W. Second St.: This special shop is run by kids for kids - and priced within a kid's budget! The shop is open from noon to 7 p.m. Visit Santa from 2-5 p.m. The Tike's Shoppe is managed by YES! for Youth. Additional support from ABC 22/FOX 45 and the Victoria Theatre Association. Call 813-0037.
• Yellow Cab Building, 700 E. Fourth St.: Handmade Holiday @ Yellow Cab is an art and craft bazaar, bringing together more than 30 artisans selling unique, locally made goods. Call 424-3870.
First Friday is presented by the Downtown Dayton Partnership with support from the Oregon District Business Association, the Ohio Arts Council 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. Download the Find It Downtown mobile search tool for smartphones at http://mobile.downtowndayton.org.
About the Downtown Dayton Partnership
The Downtown Dayton Partnership is a nonprofit organization dedicated to making downtown Dayton a better place to live, work and visit. Working with downtown property owners, businesses and residents, we provide strategic planning, business development and marketing services to grow and strengthen our downtown. The DDP is supported by the businesses, property owners and residents it represents through funding from the downtown Dayton Special Improvement District. The DDP focuses efforts in five key areas: strategic planning, advocacy for downtown, marketing and communications, member services and public space management. Learn more at downtowndayton.org.
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