For More Information:
Val Hunt Beerbower: 937-224-1518, ext. 230
Emily Broughton: 937-224-1518, ext. 227
Urban Nights photos are available for download on the Downtown Dayton Partnership’s Flickr page.
Complete listing of Urban Nights activities and event map will be available on Downtown Dayton Partnership’s website.
Downtown Dayton’s Biggest Street Party Returns on Friday, May 9
DAYTON, Ohio (April 24, 2014) ― Dayton-area residents have a serious case of cabin fever, and it’s Urban Nights to the rescue! The spring event is scheduled for 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, May 9, throughout downtown Dayton, the Oregon District and Wright-Dunbar Business Village. This free event showcases all downtown has to offer, including urban living, dining, shopping, and arts and entertainment.
There are even more vibrant experiences to enjoy during the May event. Three “hot spots” capture the essence of downtown life—Street Art on Second, featuring the winner of the DDP Urban Nights grant, Dayton Visual Arts Center’s Naked Prints, along with student art activities from Stivers and the K-12 Gallery; Fashion Boulevard; and the Live on Five stage. Details about each hot spot can be found on the next page.
Special activities abound during downtown’s biggest biannual event. Kickoff the evening with Urban Bikes @ Urban Nights, a police-escorted bike ride touring the city. The American Institute of Architects will present a “Selfie Scavenger Hunt” that encourages participants to snap a photo of oneself at designated downtown architectural points of interest and share the images on social media to be eligible for prizes. RiverScape MetroPark will host Bluegrass, Beer & Food along the river, featuring bluegrass and “newgrass” music and the perfect complement—craft beer and a food truck rally. While visiting RiverScape MetroPark, register for The Great Dayton Adventure, a fast-paced urban scavenger hunt that pits teams and solo participants against one another for prizes. Head to the Yellow Cab building for Sideshow 9, a celebration of local art and music. Learn about downtown Dayton’s progress and contribute to future development at the UrbanBuzz in the Kettering Tower lobby. Learn more about each of these activities on pages two and three.
The party doesn’t stop at the shores of the Great Miami River; Wright-Dunbar Business village touts R&B and gospel music; cultural arts and step performances; delicious, unique cuisine; educational and engaging entertainment for children; a slice of Dayton history; and so much more.
More than 30,000 people come downtown to experience this free event, when more than 100 establishments showcase downtown’s numerous offerings. The best way to see as much as possible during Urban Nights is to walk or bike, and Greater Dayton RTA also will provide free event buses to help visitors get around. Look for the special blue and orange line buses that will transport visitors to different downtown destinations in a snap.
Follow Urban Nights on Facebook at www.facebook.com/UrbanNightsDayton for regular updates and more information, or visit www.downtowndayton.org for details about Urban Nights, First Fridays, and other public programs.
Urban Nights is a program of the Downtown Dayton Partnership, with support from the City of Dayton and Montgomery County, as well as Bud Light Lime, Miami-Jacobs Career College, DP&L, the Downtown Priority Board, Sinclair Community College, Mix 107.7-FM, Greater Dayton RTA, WYSO 91.3-FM and the Ohio Arts Council.
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May 9, 2014, Urban Nights, page 2
MAY 9 URBAN NIGHTS HOTSPOTS
Street Art on Second
Sponsored by DP&L and Sinclair Community College
Second Street between Main and Jefferson streets
Naked Prints: Purchase unframed (“naked”) prints by local artists from Dayton Visual Arts Center. Naked Prints is made possible in part by the DDP Urban Nights grant, which gives nonprofits, businesses, organizations, schools and/or individuals the opportunity to showcase their talents, services and creativity in a way that might not otherwise be feasible due to cost restrictions. Visitors also can enjoy print-making demonstrations and mosaic projects from the K-12 Gallery. Stivers School for the Arts students also will be on hand, screen printing artistic T-shirts that will be for sale.
Premier Health Activities: Take part in healthy and fun activities, including basketball, football toss, demonstrations by nationally ranked jump ropers the Comet Skippers, and other physical fun, presented by Premier Health.
Street Art on Second also will feature plenty of food, beer, roving entertainment and live music all evening from the Second Street Stage. Be sure to visit UrbanBuzz in the Kettering Tower lobby. This interactive program will present an update on the Greater Downtown Dayton Plan and seeks feedback that will help shape the future of downtown Dayton.
Second Street Stage
5-6 p.m. Jamie Suttle Band
6-7:30 p.m. Tempest
7:40-8:30 p.m. Grateful Parrot
8:40-10 p.m. Brass Tracks Band
Fashion Boulevard
Sponsored by Miami-Jacobs Career College
St. Clair Street between Third and Fourth streets
Dayton’s own fashion incubator (DE-FI) will host a fashion bonanza. Friday’s event features a roundtable designer forum and on-the-spot make-overs for men and women from Salon J Ladner along with Beaute Box. Models will hit the runway for the fashion show at 6, 7 and 8 p.m., and the ambush makeover reveal will take place at 8:30 p.m.
Look for other activities, including yoga in the street, CADC's “selfie station,” roving entertainers, and other activities from the St. Clair Street businesses. Enjoy beer, food and live music from Dart’s Arts Big Jam Band.
Live on Five
Media Sponsor: WYSO 91.3-FM
Fifth Street, near the Trolley Stop, in the Oregon District
Rock out to a variety of live, local bands and visit the top-notch restaurants, art galleries and other retail boutique stores that comprise the historical Oregon District.
Entertainment Schedule:
5-5:30 p.m.: Yvette “Diva” Williams – Diary of a Diva
5:40-7 p.m.: Jah Soul
7:10-8:30 p.m.: Hey There Morgan
8:40-10 p.m.: Meghna & the Majority
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May 9, 2014, Urban Nights, page 3
MORE URBAN NIGHTS HIGHLIGHTS
Bluegrass, Beer & Food
RiverScape MetroPark, 111 E. Monument Ave.
Enjoy some fresh “newgrass” music and even fresher food as RiverScape MetroPark comes alive with the progressive bluegrass sounds of Ryan & Brian, Blue Caboose, and The Repeating Arms. While you're at it, choose from a rally of your favorite food trucks and an array of craft beer. Music takes place from 5 to 10 p.m.
R&B Gospel Plaza
Corner of Third and Williams streets in Wright-Dunbar.
The Wright-Dunbar plaza main stage will feature live entertainment from L.Y.D. featuring Yolanda Drake, Gospel Gems, Sisters in Christ Gospel Choir and DJ Hummons Vessels of Honor Praise Dancers, along with various food vendors.
Urban Nights Happenings
· Tours of downtown's urban living spaces
· Eclectic art in downtown's galleries and elsewhere
· Specials at downtown's unique restaurants, nightlife and retail shops
· Live entertainment, cultural arts, creative and tasty cuisine, and other festivities in the Wright-Dunbar Business Village
· Urban Bikes @ Urban Nights bike ride leaving at 6 p.m. from Fifth Third Field and ending at Fashion Boulevard on St. Clair Street; riders are encouraged to wear a helmet and should be able to ride at a decent pace; not a ride for young children on their own bikes
· Architectural Selfie Scavenger Hunt — a fun way to see downtown's unique architecture
· The Great Dayton Adventure Race, an urban scavenger hunt from Five Rivers MetroParks that will wind through the Urban Nights action
· Sideshow 9 - a two-day celebration of music and art in Dayton that kicks off during Urban Nights at the Yellow Cab building
· UrbanBuzz - stop by Kettering Tower to see the progress greater downtown Dayton has made in recent years and help shape future plans for the city through interactive feedback activities
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