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Home > Blogs > The Lounge Lizards > Archives > 2008 > August
August 2008
Nominate your favorite sports bar here
With the Ohio State University vs. Youngstown State game happening Saturday, Aug. 30, college football season is officially upon us. This means that it’s time to take a look at our favorite sports bars in town and yours.
For the big game this week, the Lounge Lizards would like to put the spotlight on Geez Grill & Pub in Kettering.
Boasting 12 TVs of the newer, sharper flat screen variety, this Saturday the bar will feature the Big Ten Network live broadcast of the game and a 22 oz. $2 draft beer special to go along with.
Kickoff is at noon, and reservations are highly recommended or you may risk a shut out.
The bar was installing a new speaker system over the weekend, which is all the better to hear our beloved Buckeyes win with. Plus, you can’t beat the sizable menu that features pizzas, a terrific tuna melt and homemade soup creations made by Momma Geez daily.
Do you have a favorite sports bar that you think beats out all the rest on the local playing field? Are you a sports bar owner or manager who thinks your place has what it takes? Tell us all about your favorite sports bar in town and why you love it right here. Submissions may be used in upcoming Lounge Lizards columns. Also, cast your vote for the Best Local Sports Bar by Tuesday, Sept. 2, at www.ActiveDayton.com/bestofdayton
See you at the game!
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Sidebar officially opens it’s doors
One of the Lounge Lizards was able to get a sneak peek at Sidebar last night. In case you haven’t heard about it yet, it’s a new lounge that’s opened in downtown Dayton across from the Schuster Center’s parking garage in the Lobby at 130 W. Second St.
This is a welcome addition to the downtown landscape and will be a wonderful stop for pre- or post- Schuster Center events. Mark Fisher has written about the bar’s impressive wine list which you can read here if you like, but it’s the cocktails that will keep the Lounge Lizards coming back for more.
The theme of the lounge is loosely legal. The wine list is called “The Docket” and language like, “Your Honor, I’d like to request a Sidebar,” works well.
The bars signature cocktails are the SouthSide (an impressive drink made with Tanqueray, mint, lime and Angostura bitters), the Two-Step (made with Tito’s, lemon and fresh fruit), the Pimm’s Cup (made with Pimm’s No. 1, Cucumber, Orange and Strawberry) and the Whiskey Smash (made with Jim Beam Rye Whiskey, Angustura bitters, muddled lemon and mint).
I agree with Mark’s assessment of the interior of the place. It’s an impressive warm decor that’s been completely renovated and redecorated, but the narrow aisles around the bar can leave you feeling a little too close for comfort fairly quickly. The patio will be something we look forward to next summer and try to get as much use out of this fall before the weather turns. Here are a couple interior/exterior shots to give you an idea of the look and feel of the place.
If Alexis’ SouthSide cocktail last night is any indication of what’s to come, we expect more great things. They will need to figure out what they’re doing menu-wise but we’re sure that will come after they get through their first week or two of being open.
Have you been? What did you think?
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Blind Bob’s celebrates grand opening
The newest Oregon Arts District business will celebrate its grand opening during the upcoming First Friday event on Sept 5 from 5 to 10 p.m.
Blind Bob’s, 430 E. Fifth St., will feature beer and spirits, food, and live music. Located in the former Nite Owl space, the bar has been completely renovated and even before it’s opening date has an extensive music schedule booked out which you can check out here.
For those not familiar First Friday bills itself as, “a showcase for downtown Dayton’s arts and entertainment offerings. The free event will be held from 5 to 10 p.m. Sept. 5 throughout the Oregon Arts District on East Fifth Street; the Cannery Art and Design Centre, 434 E. Third St.; the Dayton Convention Center Mezzanine Gallery; and the Dayton Visual Arts Center, 118 N. Jefferson St.”
In addition to Blind Bob’s grand entrance into the Dayton scene, the Dayton Theatre Guild will also be opening its doors to the public on Sept. 5. The Theatre Guild, which recently purchased the former Dayton Gym Club at 430 Wayne Ave. is letting visitors tour through the 20,000-square-foot building, which the Guild soon will begin renovating with hopes, according to a recent press release, “to begin producing shows in its new home as early as January 2009.”
Also happening Sept. 5: Pacchia (410 E. Fifth St.) will host a free jazz performance by the Lee McKinney Trio from 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.; The Trolley Stop (530 E. Fifth St.) will feature a collection of art and photography by Dayton native Don Leet, and classic rock band “Raised by Possums” will perform; several Oregon District galleries will host opening receptions for exhibitions, including Color of Energy (16 Brown St.), Gallery 510 Fine Art (510 E. Fifth St.), Visceral (523 E. Fifth St.) and Link Gallery (519 E. Fifth St.); The Dayton Visual Arts Center, which recently joined First Friday, will present “Real Women” by Jacquelynn Buck; The Cannery Art and Design Centre will present paintings by Anita Tresslar; the Dayton Society of Painters and Sculptors will host an exhibit featuring work by the “three Donnas:” Brinkman, Gibson and Townsend at the Dayton Convention Center Mezzanine Gallery; the Dayton Circus Creative Collective will host a DJ, drum circle, bonfire, dance party and more at its Garden Station, located on the corner of Fourth Street and Wayne Avenue; and the Greater Dayton RTA will offer free service on its Wright Flyer trolley between all participating locations.
The Downtown Dayton Partnership’s Web site has a complete list of downtown’s arts and cultural amenities, as well as a dining guide, parking map and more on this event.
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Alefest recap — what did you think?
Dayton’s home brewed AleFest celebrated 10 years of super suds this Saturday, Aug. 23, at Carillon Historical Park.
The craft beer-a-palooza that draws fans of all shapes, sizes and interests and brewery representation from near and far works whether you are a seasoned beer veteran or a newbie in search of a fresh taste adventure.
Congratulations go out to AleFest chairman and founder Joe Waizmann and his legions of volunteers who give time to make this event go as smoothly as the beer goes down — 10 years later this event continues to get better and better with age which is no easy feat.
This event may be over, but there are more reason for beer loves to say “cheers”: Chappy’s Tap Room and Grille will play host to the first Dayton AleFest cask event on Nov. 1 and there will be an AleFest a winter event focusing on beer and food pairing at the Masonic Center on Feb. 7, 2009. Mark your calendars!
The lines at this year’s AleFest could be daunting (let this photo serve as proof) but patience was rewarded in almost every case. A few highlights this year for Alexis were the Dogfish Head booth (the 60 Minute IPA run through Randall the Enamel Animal with hops and the Festina Peche also run through Randall the Enamel Animal with peaches); the fact that one of the tables near a corner of one of the tents that was serving Chimay never seemed to have much of a line around it (score!); the tent of Ohio breweries with some very impressive beers onhand to sample and the way cool AleArt@AleFest booth with original art that was raffled off to benefit the Dayton Visual Arts Center.
All in all it seemed a fun day was had by all despite the crazy heat. At least that was my experience.
How about you? Were you there this year? What did you think? Any new favorites beers you had the pleasure of tasting?
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New cocktail bar geared to Lizards set to open
Our fine colleague Mark Fisher has written about a new downtown Dayton bar that is just days away from opening that has the Lounge Lizards very, very excited.
SideBar, which is scheduled to open Thursday, Aug. 28, in the First National Plaza at 130 W. Second St. in downtown Dayton has a cocktail menu that according to Mark, “aims high.”
Mark writes, “Michael Rubel, who is crafting the drinks list, says SideBar will take “an artisanal approach to bartending,” eschewing premade mixes and syrups in favor of house-made bitters, grenadine syrup, ginger syrup and other ingredients. Order a Manhattan here, Rubel says, and you’ll get one made with rye, not bourbon, with a dash of bitters and imported Maraschino cherries, Rubel said. There will even be multiple kinds of ice, Rubel said.”
For much, much more on the new location, owner, hours, menu read the full story from Mark here.
One thing we know for certain: We know where we’ll be this Thursday ….
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Here’s what’s up with the Foundry …
The Foundry, the club at 26 Wyandot Street in downtown Dayton, has indeed closed it’s doors according to owner Jon Neidert who spoke to us earlier today over the phone saying that the “club is for sale.”
Neidert said the club closed last month after it’s liquor license wasn’t renewed. “The city objected to our renewal and a judge denied our stay,” said Neidert who cited it as the reason for closing.
The 12,000 square foot club which opened on Valentine’s Day weekend in 2004 offered visitors an industrial atmosphere with 40-foot ceilings, concrete and steel bars and a dance floor that could accomodate more than 300.
Saying he wanted to focus on the positive, Neidert said about the space, “I think it would make a great establishment downtown. The city should get behind new businesses opening.”
“We poured out heart and soul into the place and I hate to see it sit there vacant,” said Neidert.
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Cocktail museum shakes and stirs history
It should not come as a surprise that there is a Museum of the American Cocktail … there’s a museum, a day, a week and a month to celebrate just about everything, so why not cocktails?
Ted Haigh, the curator of the Museum of the American Cocktail in New Orleans recently sat down with the Associated Press and shared some interesting little-known facts about cocktails. Here are a few tidbits …
Although people tend to call anything in a V-shaped glass a cocktail, the drink traditionally is required to have spirits, sugar and bitters. Some other facts about the drink:
Originally, the cocktail was considered a morning eye-opener. Some speculate that’s how it got its name — a metaphor for a rooster (cock) heralding the light of day.
In New Orleans, legend has it Antoine Peychaud served his blend of bitters and brandy in eggcups, known as “coquetiers”; to the French-speaking residents. The word later was corrupted to “cock-tay,” and finally to cocktail.
In the 1800s, bitters were used as medicine. Peychaud’s Bitters — label still reads, “Good for what ails one irrespective of malady.”
Martinis and Manhattans were not developed in the United States until vermouth was imported from Europe.
Two of the earliest recorded enhancements to the cocktail were a sugar-crusted glass lip with fruit peel (called a crusta), and the addition of absinthe, now illegal in the U.S.
They recently had an event called “Tales of the Cocktail” - a festival which brings mixologists, authors, bartenders, chefs and drink designers together for several days of demos, tastings, seminars, mixing competitions, dinner-pairings and more. The Web site has a line stating, “measuring some of their success in garnishes, Tales of the Cocktail 2007, used 7250 mint leaves, 3580 lime wedges, 800 watermelon cubes, 560 gin soaked dried cherries, 1390 orange slices, 2 tons of ice and more for thousands of sippers!” It sounds like these folks are serious about their drinks.
The site for the event actually has some blogs, podcasts and some good recipes posted that sound very elegant.
Here’s a recipe by Stacey Smith of GW Finsm, New Orleans, that sounded quite lovely. Not to mention it was the official cocktail of the 2007 event:
Starfish Cooler
Ingredients: 1 oz. Moet and Chandon White Star, 1 oz. Lemoncello, 1 oz. PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur, 1 oz. Un-sweet Iced Tea, 1/2 oz. Simple Syrup Instructions: Muddle orange slice and mint leaf in Collins glass, combine all ingredients.
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Happy National Rum Day!!!!
Did you know that Saturday, August 16th is National Rum Day?
Yes indeedy, there’s an entire day dedicated exclusively to Rum.
It’s a liquor with a rich history and to honor it we offer up a few tasty facts about this tasty spirit.
Did you know … Rum is considered to be the world’s oldest distilled spirit?
Rum is produced in a variety of styles? Light rums are commonly used in cocktails while golden and dark Rums are appropriate for drinking straight, or as a brandy or for use in cooking.
Not every distilled sugarcane product is Rum? There’s Cachaca (only made in Brazil); Arak or Arrack (only made in Indonesia), or Aguardiente, which comes from Spain.
With the end of summer on the way and it being National Rum Day, here’s a great link with Rum Cocktail recipes and selections tips that’s worth a look, especially if you’re looking to toast the day properly.
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U.S. trivia players gather in Huber Heights
More than 100 Buzztime trivia players from 18 states are expected to descend on the BW3 in Huber Heights (7875 Waynetowne Blvd., Huber Heights; (937) 237-7771) for Triviapalooza, a player-planned event in which trivia buffs will go head-to-head to see whose knowledge will reign supreme.
For those not familiar, Buzztime, Inc. is an interactive entertainment company that produces and distributes interactive games for restaurants and bars. This Triviapalooza event was created and organized completely by Buzztime players through the company’s dedicated players’ Web site according to a representative for Buzztime. Reps from the trivia company will be onhand at the Huber Heights BW3 to help kick off the weekend’s festivities by sponsoring a happy hour on Friday, August 15th.
The three-day event will also include a charity auction benefiting Adventures In Movement (AIM) for the Handicapped, Inc., a national non-profit organization that helps children and adults with special needs.
“Triviapalooza is social networking at its finest,” says David Tolle, a Buzztime player and the event organizer from Huber Heights. “Most of our participants have known each other for years through playing interactive Buzztime games at various bars and restaurants. Our players span the nation, from California to Florida. We are excited to meet each other in person for the first time. We look forward to competing together to determine the ultimate trivia champion.”
The Triviapalooza event is free and open to the public to attend and participate in. For more information, visit www.buzztime.com. For more on Buffalo Wild Wings click here.
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Cincinnati named a top “hard drinking city”
As we’ve seen recently, Forbes.com loves to make lists. One of the latest ranks America’s 15 hardest drinking cities. Forbes analyzed data on residents who had at least one drink in the last 30 days, men who had more than two drinks per day, or women one drink and residents who had five or more drinks on one occasion. There were two Ohio mentions - one for Cleveland (tied at No. 8) and one for Cincinnati (No. 10). Here’s how they stacked up …
1: Austin, Texas 2. Milwaukee, Wisconsin 3. San Francisco, California 4. Providence, Rhode Island 5. Chicago, Illinois 8. (TIE) Seattle, Washington 8. (TIE) Cleveland, Ohio 8. (TIE) St. Louis, Missouri 9. Boston, Massachusetts 10. Cincinnati, Ohio 11. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 12. Virginia Beach, Virginia 13. Portland, Oregon 14. Jacksonville, Florida 15. Detroit, Michigan
But as the article points out … “Of course, just because a city ranks high on the list doesn’t make it a den of debauchery. A top-drinking town could be populated by health-conscious adults who sip a glass of wine a day in order to keep their hearts healthy. And just downing a few cold ones doesn’t make a person irresponsible.”
Still, it’s safe to assume if you’re looking to party, Austin might just be the place to go …
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So what’s up with The Foundry?
The location that was self-billed as Dayton’s largest nightclub currently has several pieces of plywood covering its name.
Earlier this summer I noticed the name of the club at 26 Wyandot Street in downtown Dayton had been covered up. A friend suggested a window must be broken… and from some of the police reports of the goings on there, I left it at that.
However, today an announcement came in the mail for a fund-raising event, “Masquerage” being held at “formerly The Foundry” in October.
An answering machine picked up a call to the night spot and played an announcement for an event for this weekend - October something - so clearly something is happening.
So, what’s up? If you know… share it here - we’d love to know.
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New patio brings a taste of aloha to local hangout
Jimmie’s Cornerstone Bar & Grille, a stone’s throw from Miami Valley Hospital on the corner of Wyoming and Brown streets just keeps getting better and better.
Jimmie Brandell added a kitchen in the back room of the bar to start his family-run restaurant business in October 2006 and just shy of two weeks ago Brandell debuted a 50 seat patio behind the back of the bar. The impressive space is framed by bamboo and features a largish concrete bar when you enter to the left as well as a cool fish pond/fountain in the far right corner of the space.
Built by Aloha Pool and Spa (237 Virginia Ave., Dayton), Brandell said he worked with Aloha owner Koa Llacuna to make his vision for the back space happen. The relaxing vibe and cool space makes for one of the best patios in town. You’d never know you’re sitting so close to a hospital or busy street.
Brandell said he intends to keep adding to his sizable menu saying that he had ordered a slow cooker to do brisket and different meats. If you haven’t been yet, Jimmie’s (formerly Walnut Hills) features big portions, reasonable prices and fresh ingredients further complemented by great service and atmosphere. And now a cool outdoor patio space. Take a look and see for yourself.
WHAT: Jimmie’s Cornerstone Bar & Grille.
WHERE: 1001 Brown St., Dayton
MORE INFO: (937) 424-1784 or www.thecornerstonebar.com
HOURS: 7 a.m.-2:30 a.m. Monday through Friday, 5:30 a.m.-2:30 a.m. Saturday and Sunday
KITCHEN HOURS: 7 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Friday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday 11a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday. Kitchen is closed Sundays. Full carryout menu available
PARKING: This can be a little confusing to those unfamiliar. The parking lot across the street from Jimmie’s next to the Taco Bell is the place to park. There are a few spots behind the bar but those are hit and miss — if you’re looking for a sure spot this is the way to go.
The view of the patio from the outside street …
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Starbucks to offer coffee discounts (Savings Rates will Vary)
In an attempt to get its sales percolating, Starbucks has announced a money saving plan.
The deal - buy a coffee anytime before 2 p.m. and your friendly, caffenated barista will stamp your receipt that can be used to purchase a $2 iced grande beverage - anytime after p.m. You know the drill - coupon must be present etc.
The price reduction is a big cut from the normal price of most grande-sized iced drinks. A grande iced latte, for example, costs about $3.35 locally - so coffee lovers - that’s $1.35 to spend on something else. To get the discount, customers must present a receipt from their morning Starbucks visit - see store for details. Of course you can save $2.00 by not purchasing an iced coffee in the afternoon, but where’s the fun in that?
Starbucks perviously announced a rewards program tied to its rewards card/prepaid/reloadable card that gives userstwo hours of free wireless Internet service a day, free selected syrups and soy milk additions, free refills of drip coffee (the old-fashioned kind of coffee) and a tall (Starbucks version of small) beverage of any kind for those who purchase a pound of coffee (the whole bean variety).
CNN is reporting that the promotion was previously limited to the Seattle, Chicago and Miami markets but is now being expand to locations across the Country. A call to the local Starbucks confirmed the story. The local barista wasn’t sure how long the promotion would be running but she thought it would “be a month or so… they usually are.”
So, if you like coffee in the morning and an Iced grande coffee buzz in the afternoon - you’re gonna save some bucks - at least for awhile.
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B movies attack! Again!
It’s baaaaaaaaaaaack …
“Attack of the B Movies” returns for a second year run of low-budget vintage “B” movies from the 50’s and 60’s.
This year’s campy monster line-up includes teenagers from outer space, a wasp woman, giant leeches and of course, a screaming skull.
The double-feature film series which promises to be so bad it’s good, runs 7 p.m. each Thursday through Oct. 30 at The Greene’s Cinema De Lux 14 in Beavercreek. The cost for camp? $5.
The series will appropriately meet its end on Halloween night with a special four-film finale billed as a “Screecher Feature Quadruple Bypass Scarathon.” Ticket prices for the finale have not yet been announced.
Here’s the line-up of horror and sc-fi films slated to play:
Aug. 14: “Gorgo” and “Teenagers from Outer Space” (opening scene posted below)
Aug. 21: “The Brain That Wouldn’t Die” and “First Spaceship on Venus”
Aug. 28: “Devil Girl from Mars” and “Robot Monster”
Sept. 4: “Giant from the Unknown” and “She Demons”
Sept. 11: “The Wasp Woman” (check out the trailer below) and “Phantom from 10,000 Leagues”
Sept. 18: “Monster from a Prehistoric Planet” and “Voyage to a Prehistoric Planet”
Sept. 25: “The Last Man on Earth” and “Bride of the Beast”
Oct. 2: “A Bucket of Blood” and “Attack of the Giant Leeches”
Oct. 9: “House on Haunted Hill” and “Amazing Transparent Man”
Oct. 16: “Last Woman on Earth” and “Bloodlust”
Oct. 23: “Screaming Skull” and “Tormented”
Oct. 30: “Werewolf in a Girls Dormitory” (trailer posted below) and “The Bats”
Oct. 31 Screecher Feature Quadruple Bypass Scarathon: “Nightmare Castle,” “Dementia 13,” “House by the Cemetery,” and “Night of the Living Dead”
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Toasting Mustard Day 2008!
Condiment lovers across the country take note: National Mustard Day takes place on Saturday, Aug. 2. And as a recent press release that came across our desk points out, there’s one thing that every Mustard Day party needs in order to properly pay tribute to a most beloved dinner accessory: a cocktail.
Kicker is, we never thought the cocktails they would be suggesting would involve mustard. Let these recipes stand as proof that you can in fact turn almost anything into a cocktail. We’ve only included two, but there are five cocktail recipes total. Go here to check them all out …
Ingredients: 1-1/2 oz. Vodka, 3 oz. tomato juice, 1/2 tsp. lemon juice, 1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce, 1 tsp. GREY POUPON Spicy Brown Mustard, Garnish - celery stalk. Instructions: Mix all ingredients except celery. Serve over ice cubes in tall glass. Add celery stalk. Makes 1 serving.
Ingredients: 1-1/2 oz. Plum wine, 3 oz. carrot juice, 1 dash lime juice, 1 dash soy sauce, 1 tsp. GREY POUPON Savory Honey, Garnish - Crystallized Ginger on a toothpick. Instructions: Mix all ingredients except ginger. Serve over ice cubes in tall glass. Thread ginger onto frilled toothpick. Add to drink. Makes 1 serving.
Drink while watching this …
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