Dayton History Books Online

[The following text is taken from the website. I'm taking a break for a few days, so enjoy yourselves!]

You have found Dayton History Books Online! This website is dedicated to placing historical items about Dayton, Ohio online. Curt Dalton, a local author who has written several books about Dayton's history, saw a need to make books and other educational materials about Dayton available to children and the general public. He knew that the documents had to be in a format that could easily be read and searched, to enable visitors to use the information in homework and personal projects. What better way than through the world wide web? On October 24, 2004 Dayton History Books Online opened with a list of twenty books and booklets that could be read, searched and printed out. As of December 1, 2009 there are 459 books, booklets and articles available, consisting of 13,764 pages of text, with more added every month. A new feature, called Dayton Speaks, has 57 audio oral histories that can be listened to online.

Dayton History Books Online

Signatures Coffee

Last week, I had the pleasure of being invited out to Signatures Coffee in Fairborn (near the Bookery). I spent a delightful time getting to know the new owners and trying out the coffee there. I like smaller, independent coffee shops, and frequent them when I can. If you're in (or traveling by) the downtown Fairborn area, give them a try - directions are here.

Signatures Coffee

Woodland Lights - Through 30 Dec

I've been meaning to talk about this for a while (sorry, Jackie!), but it's especially appropriate with snow in the forecast! Why travel all the way to Cincinnati when there's a wonderful (and inexpensive) light display in Washington Township?

Woodland Lights offers a fantasyland of holiday lights and displays along a half-mile wooded path. The 25-night event enters its 17th season with more lights, more vignettes, and the same winter whimsy that enchants thousands of visitors every year.

Woodland Lights offers more choices this year for families:

Mondays – Tuesdays
Nostalgia Nights
View the lights, enjoy refreshments, and visit with Santa before Christmas in an historic log cabin. Musical entertainment in the cabin the day after Christmas.
COST: $3 Free for kids under 3

Wednesdays – Sundays
Festival Nights
For visitors who want the most that Woodland Lights offers. Lights, Refreshments & Santa Visits PLUS Carriage Rides, Amusement Rides, Costumed Characters, Live Deer, Games and Activities and Musical Entertainment after Christmas.
COST: $6 Free for kids under 3

Woodland Lights - Through 30 Dec

Films of Flight - Dayton Innovation Legacy

The Dayton Innovation Legacy is "a multimedia resource about Dayton for learners of any age". This is a great site to help remind Daytonians what this city can be about. On the front page is an embedded video of the Wright Brothers in flight. Awesome!

Films of Flight - Dayton Innovation Legacy

Comic Holiday Warehouse Clearance - TODAY and TOMORROW

Bell Book and Comic - the comic store I buy mine at - is having their clearance sale on the 19th and 20th along with Fearless Readers.

Bell, Book & Comic and Fearless Readers will have a HOLIDAY WAREHOUSE CLEARANCE SALE!

TWO DAYS ONLY! Sat Dec 19 (11:00 am to 6:00 pm) and Sun Dec 20 (11:00 am to 4:00 pm)

at the Cross Pointe Centre (Alex Bell Rd and Far Hills Ave) in Centerville, OH.

* All back issue comics will be 2 for $1.00.

* Over 200 boxes of comics in stock to choose from.

* $5.00 trade paperbacks and graphic novels.

* New Overstock comics at only $1.00 each.

Comic Holiday Warehouse Clearance - TODAY and TOMORROW

Shrinking as Success

This article from Tuesday's DDN - "What can cities like Dayton do to stop shrinking?" - is interesting.

The basic idea, quoted from Dan Kildee of Flint, MI, is that success for cities needs to be redefined to when they are "built for the population that the economy can actually support and sustain."

It's the same basic premise that we came up with at the 10 Living Cities conference a few months ago. [1] It's still true. Perhaps we'll have to do more DIY and less buy-buy-buy - both in our private lives and for our civic and cultural entertainment.

But it means some things will get smaller, and that's okay.

For example, when a pizza chain gets larger than its customer base, it may have to close some franchises or risk folding entirely. There is nothing wrong with that. When things get better or grow more sustainably, perhaps it will expand again.

That analogy also gives us another hint to what will let us succeed - and it's not by blindly copying another city's model.

It doesn't do a business or a city any good to try to mimic another - then it's nothing more than the lesser, poorer knockoff. What you do instead is specialize.

Again, each pizza chain has a distinct product, even though they're all pizza. Marco's is not Rocky's is not Dominoes is not Papa John's is not Pizza Hut is not Uno's is not Yum Yum. And thank goodness for that.

[1] There were perhaps fewer degrees in the audience there, but the same ideas. Which should tell you something about looking for good ideas from all sectors of your community.

Shrinking as Success

Imagination Station meeting TONIGHT 7pm

Want to start doing something to help the Dayton area? Imagination Station is a new concept that aims to be a primary driver of civic engagement in order to incubate new possibilities for the region's future and take responsibility for creating a culture of engagement in the region. (You can read more of the aims, outcomes and metrics in this PDF).

WHAT: To brainstorm and action plan Imagination Station

WHEN: Thursday December 17, 2009, from 7:00 -8:30 PM

WHERE: Dayton Metro Library, Main Branch meeting room

GOAL: Create business plan for 18 month start-up/proof-of-concept period

ACTIVITES: After general discussion, break out into groups around those key areas that need more specific development and plans

KEY AREAS FOR DISCUSSION / DEVELOPMENT / PLANNING
0. Ideating / Flushing out Concept*
1. Space
2. Personnel
3. Brand Identity & Web Development
4. DIY Kit Development
5. Methodology & Training
6. Collaborative Partners
*Looking for group to identify other possibilities, activities, etc.

Also, if you know people who would be good imaginers, please extend an invitation to them to participate.

RSVP to appreciated if possible (though it's late notice, so don't let that keep you from coming.)

Imagination Station meeting TONIGHT 7pm

HolliDayton - 26 Dec 2009

The seventh annual HoliDayton showcase will be held on Saturday December 26th, 2009 8PM at Blind Bob's, 430 E. 5th Street, Dayton, Ohio.

As with years prior, there will be two stages of full band and solo performances alternating throughout the evening.

Come celebrate another great year of Dayton music with us!

THE 2009 LINEUP:

THE STORY CHANGES
JT WOODRUFF (FROM HAWTHORNE HEIGHTS)
KUAN
THE SMUG BROTHERS
THE SOUND FOR LANGUAGE
THE MOTEL BEDS
JOE ANDERL
THE SEEDY SEEDS
DAVID PAYNE
KRIS N.
ANDREW (FROM THE PRETTY PUNCHERS)

HolliDayton - 26 Dec 2009

Holiday Relaxation for Charity - 20 Dec 2009 1-7pm

Renaissance Salon and Spa, 400 E Fifth St.; 1-7 p.m.

This Holiday Relaxation Event is full of low-priced services -- $15 dry cut, mini-manicures, and mini-pedicures; $10 haircuts for kids 10 and under. In addition to reduced prices, Renaissance is donating half of the profits to the parents' association of River's Edge Montessori (formerly Franklin Montessori) to fund field trips, events, and programs throughout the year. Make appointments now to support this worthy cause! Call for cost. 281-1999.

Holiday Relaxation for Charity - 20 Dec 2009 1-7pm

Santa Pub Crawl - 12 Dec

Santa Pub Crawl
Have some fun and raise money for Toys for Tots and Montgomery County Children Services
Sat, Dec. 12, 6 p.m. – 2 a.m,
The event kicks off at the Dublin Pub and goes on until 2am!
Cost: $10 unwrapped toy (or $10 donation) For more info, including the line-up of bars for the evening, see the Downtown Dayton website.

Santa Pub Crawl - 12 Dec

"'Tis The Season" 11 Dec @ 7pm; Secret Santa shop 12 Dec

Friends And Company Book Club celebrates families for the holidays!

December 11, 2009, 7:00pm-9:00pm

Higher Dimensions Performance Guild presents "Tis The Season"

Play written and directed by Pat Woods

Admission $1.00 refreshments will be sold

December 12, 2009, 1:oopm-4:oopm

Secret Santa Shop

Enjoy part 2 of our family holiday celebration with Secret Santa Shopping, holiday classics on the big screen, pictures with Santa and lots of holiday fun.

Admission $1.00 refreshments will be sold

All christmas gifts will be priced from .50-$4.00

Both events take place at 580 Calumet Lane

"'Tis The Season" 11 Dec @ 7pm; Secret Santa shop 12 Dec

Last Minute Holiday Sale - Bell Book & Comic, 12 December

I'm a customer of Bell, Book, and Comic, and have been for years. They're great folks who really love what they do. So if you have a gamer or comic lover in your family, take advantage of these sales!

Bell, Book & Comic will have a LAST MINUTE HOLIDAY SALE on Saturday, Dec 12 from 11:00 am until 8:00 pm.

We'll have 10% off games, comics, t-shirts, posters and more!
Get a $10.00 gift certificate for only $9.00 plus tax.
And, we'll have 50% off recent back issue comics.

Also, please don't forget our Holiday Warehouse Clearance Sale at the Cross Pointe Centre on Saturday and Sunday, Dec 19 & 20. Please see our website or give us a call for details.

Last Minute Holiday Sale - Bell Book & Comic, 12 December

China Town Hall - 7:45 on 8 December

China Town Hall is a national day of programming on China, involving 40 cities throughout the United States.
The program will feature an interactive national webcast with Dr. Kurt M. Campbell, assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, and Mr. Stephen A. Orlins, president of the National Committee on United States–China Relations.

A panel discussion with local China experts will also be offered. Dr. Margaret Karns from the University of Dayton will serve as moderator. Participants include Dr. Laura Luehrmann and Dr. Andrew Lai from Wright State University.

Free parking is available in the WSU Student Union Visitor’s Lot.

Presented by the Dayton Council on World Affairs.

China Town Hall - 7:45 on 8 December

Family Portraits at the Dayton Art Institute - 5 Dec

Dec. 5 • Family Portraits at the Museum
Dayton Art Institute, 456 Belmonte Park N.;
11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Inspired by The Holy Family with a Donor in a Landscape by Pier Francesco Bissolo, Photographik, Inc. will be at the museum to take family portraits in the museum’s Great Hall. Families will receive one free 5 x 7 portrait, printed while you wait, with the option to purchase additional prints. Also take advantage of special holiday shopping opportunities in The Museum Store. These are part of the special event series celebrating the museum’s 90th anniversary. Free admission. 223-5277.

Family Portraits at the Dayton Art Institute - 5 Dec

Ben Waterman B-Ball Classic 4 & 5 Dec

On December 4TH and 5TH, the 8th Annual Ben Waterman Basketball Classic returns to Central State University. This year Central State hosts Marygrove College (MI), Talladega College (AL) and perennial rival Wilberforce University.

Ben Waterman, a standout athlete and longtime basketball coach and high schools basketball coach in the State of Ohio and the first African-American basketball coach in the Big Ten Conference at The Ohio State University.

For INFORMATION on the Ben Waterman Basketball Classic, contact Jahan Culbreath, Assistant Athletic Director at (937) 376-6295.

Ben Waterman B-Ball Classic 4 & 5 Dec

Family Movie Series at the Neon - Dec 5, 12, and 19

This year the Neon is showing The Muppet Christmas Carol, Home Alone, and Little Women as its Family Movie Series. Free admission for kids 12 and under, $2 for adults. Each movie starts at noon. Sounds like a great way to get out for low cost this holiday season!

Family Movie Series at the Neon - Dec 5, 12, and 19

Sherlock Holmes 4-16 December

The Beavercreek Community Theatre is going strong this season! Their next offering (under the Children's Theatre label) is Sherlock Holmes.

Adapted from Sir Arthur Doyle’s famous detective story, Alice has letters written by a dead girl. Moriarty wants those letters, so does Holmes. The game’s afoot!! But not before the professor’s gang has London in its grip. Only the young Holmes understands the true objective the professor has in mind (to sinister to reveal here) and is willing to put his life on the line to stop it.

You can purchase tickets online at the BCT website.

Sherlock Holmes 4-16 December