Join me in support of locally owned businesses by coming to Urban Nights tonight. Find and learn about downtown's dining, nightlife, art, music, retail, and urban living options.
Urban Nights - Find And Buy Local
Urban Nights is a free event that showcases downtown's dining, nightlife, art, music, retail, and urban living options. Urban Nights will have 3 hotspots tonight:
- Live on Five - Corner of 5th & Pine in the Oregon District featuring live music
- Arts Corner - Corner of 4th & St. Clair including art exhibits, sales, music, and more!
- International Street - on 2nd Street between Main & Jefferson (food trucks, dance performances, beer truck)
Friday and Saturday the Taste of the Miami Valley is happening at Riverscape Metropark and will showcase more than 20 local restaurants offering "tastes" of their menu items. Big Brothers Big Sisters' Over the Edge fundraiser Friday features 90 adventurous individuals will accept the challenge to rappel 27-stories down KeyBank Tower into Courthouse Square, to raise funds for BBBS of the Greater Miami Valley. Saturday United Rehabilitation Services kicks off their fundraising 10th Annual Rubber Duck Regatta at 3:30p turning the Great Miami River yellow with more than 15,000 rubber ducks in a race to the finish.
I plan to start Friday on 5th St. at (1) Live on Five, trek over to (2) the Arts Corner at 4th & St. Clair, head west on 4th to see (3) Ed at Price Stores at 4th & Jefferson, north on Jefferson to (4) International Street on 2nd between Jefferson & Main, then north on Jefferson to east on Monument to (5) Taste of the Miami Valley at Riverscape Metropark. An ambitious plan indeed!
I had a similar plan and a fantastic time at Urban Nights in May. I only wish I'd had more time (some things never change). My first stop was at tent on St. Clair that had framed bugs, creatures, and more. I bought a couple keys from the old "Southern Ohio Lunatic Asylum Dayton OH". I laughed and told them that the value in my purchase was all about the tag and that no one would be surprised to find these keys on me!
Next stop, American Pi, a "pop up" success story that had recently celebrated their 1st Anniversary. They focus on providing Made in the USA products and recently moved to an adjacent space three times the size of the original store. They have a fabulous "Grandma", Peggy, on staff. She shared a story about Stephanie Dawn, the manufacturer of the black and white tote I was eyeing. KMH Manufacturing in Van Wert OH began designing and crafting their own line of quilted bags after a popular brand they used to make sent their business overseas. On hearing the story, I had to purchase the new Ohio crafted tote complete with "jewelry"!
American Pi carries local artist Amy Gantt's Lula Bell Art & Designs prints, greeting cards, and gifts. Lula Bell had a tent in front of American Pi for Urban Nights. I had met Amy once before at her studio, but didn't really have a chance to chat until Urban Nights! She designs prints, greeting cards, other stationary, and textiles. Amy also designs custom items for businesses or individuals. When I asked where she has her "stuff" printed, she proudly responded "right here in Dayton". Oregon Printing prints the paper goods and Logos@Work print the textiles.
I bought 2 prints from Amy, printed at Oregon Printing and then ran into her at Central Perc European Café having lunch the next day - spending the money she made in Dayton, in another locally owned small business in Dayton! This really brings "Buy Local" home and demonstrates how our community is positively impacted when we do.
See Full Schedule: Urban Nights
