Scene 75

Recently, to celebrate one of my friend’s birthdays we went to Scene 75.   It was my first visit there and certainly won’t be my last.

Located right off Interstate 75, north of Dayton, the brand new facility will be great for the winter when outside activities are limited as well as providing a new location for celebrating birthday, team, and adult special occasions. Scene 75 entertainment includes laser tag, lazer frenzy , 4d movies, mini bowling, inflatable bouncing arena, go-carts, blacklight mini golf, spin bumper cars, chaos gamer room, arcade games, outdoor volleyball, and outdoor bocce courts. With a bar, sports bar, and snack stand on site, visitors have convenient access to refreshments .

Everything but the food and drink is paid for by a pre-paid rechargeable card, the size of a credit card. As visitors participate in different activities or play arcade games, all they have to do is swipe their card and “tickets” earned on the arcade games are stored on these cards until the customer wants to reimburse for prizes.

While we were there we played two games of laser tag, rode go-Karts, played some arcade games and ate at Radar’s sports bar. The Laser tag games were set up as team games with multiple floors and “bases”. The go-karts were fun although the track is flat and pretty simple. The arcade games included some of the classic arcade games, skee-ball and basketball but also some newer interactive ones as well. The service at Radar’s was reasonable although I wouldn’t go to Scene 75 just for the food. We were wanting to do the putt-putt golf but it was a 50 minute wait so we passed this time.

 

I was impressed with how clean the restrooms were considering it was a Saturday evening and how short the lines were when we first got there at 6:30. As the evening got later lines and wait times increased as did the crowds. One thing that got annoying after a while was how the attendants at the Laser Tag and Go-Karts yelled their scripted instructions and rules. It was so loud and so rushed that you couldn’t understand most of what they said and felt like you were being yelled at.

 

I would recommend visitors new to Scene 75 visit their website ahead of time and consider what activities they may want to do so they can plan on how much money they want to spend. (Cash or Credit Card) Then when they get to Scene 75 they should put that amount on the card and decide not to recharge during the night. Otherwise, you may end up spending a lot more money than you originally intended. Another thing that might be wise for a new Scene 75 visitor is to walk around Scene 75 when you first get there to know where things are and put your name on the list for any activities you want to do so you won’t have to wait.

 

I’m already planning on going back to Scene 75 in a month or two with a group and am excited to try some of the other activities.

Victoria Theater Summer Film Series

If you're looking for something fun and reasonably priced to do in the months of July or August you should definately check out the Dayton Victoria Theater Summer Film Series.  On Friday and Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons during those two months the historical Victoria Theater hosts a film series that is an enjoyable experience for all ages. 

The doors to the theater lobby open an hour in advance and the doors to the auditorium open thirty minutes before the show.  Before the film starts free bags of popcorn and soft drinks can be enjoyed in the lobby and thirty minutes before the show an older gentleman by the name of Marvin plays some "old classics" on an organ in the orchaestra pit.  Marvin plays a song the audience can whistle along to and several with words on the screen that guests can sing along to.  Once Marvin finishes a short older Looney Tunes cartoon is shown.  And that's all before the film even starts!

The film schedule is posted on the Victoria Theater website and typically plays one movie per weekend (for all three showings) except for the one weekend each summer they play a trilogy.  Some of the films include musicals, Alfred Hitchcock, westerns, Indiana Jones and comedy films.  Seating is first come first serve and all floor and balcony seats are open.  As you enter the auditorium guests are handed a flyer that has some interesting facts about the movie and the actors involved.

And can you believe this whole experience only costs $5 per show (unless you purchase a summer pass)!!  I've been at least once or twice each summer for the last three years with different ages and everyone has always enjoyed it.

Parking is a little bit of a challenge if there are any big events going on downtown so it's best to get there early so you can enjoy the full experience!

Segway Adventure

A Groupon offer convinced me to try a segway tour for the first time and I loved it! In fact we didn’t want to end!  Although due to a flat tire our tour started 15-20 minutes late, we still had the same amount of time on the tour.  Departing from the Convention Center, we followed our guide all throughout the city on a 90 minute tour. 

The tour included Oregon District, UD, cemetery, Brown Street, Riverscape, and all along the river.

I was a little worried about balance, steering and speed prior to trying it but I was able to pick it up pretty quickly.  It felt like gliding most of the time.   Because all your pressure is in your feet, my feet did get tired after a little bit but we stopped and took a break for a few minutes.  As we rode around, our tour guide pointed out different city landmarks and commented on new things the city was planning.

I enjoyed seeing the city through a different view point and trying something new.  I can’t wait to do it again in another city.  Although it was a little pricy the experience was wonderful!

The company schedules tours on a weekly basis but reservations are needed to reserve a spot.

Press Coffee Bar

I read an article about this local down town coffee shop, called Press, and then felt like I kept hearing about it from other people so I decided I must try it out.  Neither my friend nor I drink coffee and their menu was very simple and very coffee focused so we ended up choosing a chai tea.  The tea was good and strong.  The coffee bar was in an old brick building with walls decorated with abstract art. 

I felt like maybe the place was a little too hipster for me.  It just didn't seem to be as warm and inviting as the coffee shops I frequently visit.  My friend and I were laughing and catching up on life but I felt like we were being watched.  Maybe it was just the time of day we were there.  I definitely felt out of my element but still enjoyed the experience.  This coffee shop is out of the way for me so I don’t know that I will be a regular customer but I’m glad I got to see what all the buzz was about.

The Inside Scoop

I first heard about the Inside scoop from a group case project in one of my MBA classes.  Then when I saw a Groupon for it I knew it would be a good excuse to give a local business a visit. 

The place is brightly painted and clean.  The location isn’t the best as it is stuck inside an older shopping center and the sign isn’t very big.  Both times I’ve visited other customers were in there though so I guess somehow they are getting the word out. 

The Inside Scoop offers a large variety of Hershey ice cream flavors, sundaes as well as hot dogs and soft pretzels.  There is a large room towards the back with extra seating that we only found out about because no other seats were open.  The prices were good and flavor great.  But then again I love most any ice cream I’ve tried! J

Because of the location, I don't know how often I'll visit here. But I did have a good ice cream experience when I went.

Wine Loft

My first experience at the Wine Loft was a good one.  I was stopping in after a wedding to see some friends.  It was around 11 on a Saturday night and not too crowded.  I knew I would like the place when the sign on the door said to pick a seat wherever it looked comfortable.  The high tables, couches, and bar area were all very modern and clean looking. 

The menu was full of different wine selections of course but also had some good sounding food as well. One of my friends ordered the potato skins with goat cheese which had an interesting gourmet taste.

The wait staff was very quick with refilling drinks and closing customers’ tabs but managed to do it in a non conspicuous way.   I definitely want to go back to enjoy the relaxing environment and try out their dinner menu.

2nd Street Market

If you are looking for something unique to do, check out Second Street Market.  It’s one of Dayton’s hidden treasures that you must check out. The market is open year-round.  Hours on Thursday and Friday are 11-3pm, and Saturday 8-3pm.
The market is housed in a long narrow historic building that used to be where railroad cars were built. With the garage door sides with windows there is lots of natural light.

Saturday mornings there’s plenty of hustle and bustle with over 40 vendors and lots of samples to check out.  Some of the local vendors sell arts and crafts while others sell flowers, meats, cheeses, breads, and wines.  In addition to shopping one can also have some breakfast or lunch from one of the food vendors selling hot soup, crepes, Mediterranean, Thai or just some fresh coffee. 

There’s small tables and chairs scattered throughout the Market to enjoy one’s meal, local musicians, and people watching.  The market also has free WIFI if you decided to bring your laptop. 

From the market’s online calendar it looks like every weekend is different.  One weekend the local park system might be giving away baby trees to plant, a florist class might be held or clowns may be walking around making balloon animals for the kids.

Ele Cake Company

I'm still not sure how to pronounce the name of this place but that doesn't stop me from enjoying it!

My experience started with a lunch invitation to eat at the café which is inside the West Carrollton location but separated from the bakery counter.

The café is only open for lunch (10-2pm). The café seating area was comfortable and reminded me a little bit of a coffee shop.  If I lived closer to this location I could picture myself coming to hang out and reading a book amongst their comfortable seating.

Soup, Sandwiches, Salad, Coffee, and smoothies are included in their menu.  Ele uses very fresh ingredients and their portions are intentionally light so you have room for dessert!  I ordered a combo meal of ½ Dijon ham sandwich (thinly sliced roasted cider glazed ham, caramelized onions, swiss cheese with Dijon mayo on a toasted pretzel roll) and a cup of the soup of the day.  It was very tasty and light.

After hearing about Ele cupcakes, I figured I didn’t have a good excuse to not try one.  I tried a plain vanilla one because I wanted to be able to measure the freshness of the cake and icing without extra flavor.  I was not disappointed!  The cupcake was moist with a good portion of icing but not too decadent like many other gourmet cupcakes. 

You must visit just to look at the beautiful cakes and bakery items in their display area if nothing else.  In addition to the West Carrollton location, there’s also one in Beavercreek that offers the bakery side of the business but not the cafe.

That Crepe Place

A good stop for breakfast, lunch or dinner, That Crepe Place has a menu full of good selections.  So much so you may have trouble decided on just one to order.  However you probably don’t want to order more than one for yourself since the portion sizes are large and very filling. 

I’ve tried the Mediterranean which consisted of Chicken Breast, Feta Cheese, Sweet Roasted Red Peppers, Fresh Baby Spinach, with Balsamic Glaze and the Nutella and Fruit Crepe which was full of Creamy Hazelnut Chocolate spread with choice of Bananas and Strawberries.  Both were very delicious!!

There’s not a whole lot of seating: 3 or 4 high round tables and chairs and a few tables and chairs outside.  But the decor is very fresh and clean.

It was kind of neat to watch the crepe creation process.  I overheard the owner say that he’d like to eventually franchise the concept which I could see taking off with the unique concept.

City View Diner

If you’re looking for a local place that is close to the Greene and yet is relaxing and isn’t too crowded, you might want to check out City View Diner. 

The diner is filled with tasteful New York photographs and skylines and soft music.  I’ve visited 3 times and have never had to wait for a table and the food comes out fairly quickly.
The owner is a native New Yorker and will most likely stop by your table to chat.  The owner retired from managing U.S. Air Force clubs in the U.S. and overseas so he definitely has experience around food and events.  From someone who has eaten at plenty of Air Force clubs, the food was much better than they stereotype AF Club so you don’t have to worry about him bringing that part of his experience! The waitress I’ve had two times now isn’t very outgoing but I think she’s just young and doesn’t have much experience.

The menu includes quite a variety food.  According to the owner the Reuben is his top sellers and burgers come quickly after.  I’ve tried the Reuben and the grilled fish and enjoyed both very much.  They came out nice and warm and were quite tasty.  The prices are reasonable for the size and quantity of food.

I’ve found that the restaurant is great too about working with you if you want to come with a group.  Just make sure to contact them ahead of time so they can plan accordingly.

Woody's BBQ

Woody’s BBQ hasn’t been in the Dayton area too long but has definitely built up a clientele.  Although a national franchise, the fact that the location used to be an old diner and the atmosphere convinces you it’s a long time local establishment.  Be ready for large portion sizes!

I’ve visited three times: twice for lunch during the week with co-workers and once for dinner on a Saturday night with family.

With padded benches, country décor and sports playing on flat screens throughout the restaurant, this is definitely a casual, homey eatery.  Space is limited by the small size of the restaurant but lunch during the week is not too crowded.  Dinner on the weekend is another story though since you will probably have to wait for an open table.  There’s not much of a waiting area so if you end up waiting for a table you’ll probably feel a little cramped.

The service was pretty good each time I’ve visited.  The servers kept the drinks filled and were pretty quick with checks.

With a name like Woody’s BBQ you can expect mostly BBQ in different forms on the menu.  The restaurant provides four different sauces to flavor the meat of your choice with:  There are plenty of country vegetables to choose from and I definitely recommend the sweet potato fries.  They cost a little bit more than regular fries but are delicious wedges with cinnamon and sugar on top!!

Woody’s BBQ hasn’t been in the Dayton area too long but has definitely built up a clientele.  Although a national franchise, the fact that the location used to be an old diner and the atmosphere convinces you it’s a long time local establishment.  Be ready for large portion sizes!

I’ve visited three times: twice for lunch during the week with co-workers and once for dinner on a Saturday night with family.
With padded benches, country décor and sports playing on flat screens throughout the restaurant, this is definitely a casual, homey eatery.  Space is limited by the small size of the restaurant but lunch during the week is not too crowded.  Dinner on the weekend is another story though since you will probably have to wait for an open table.  There’s not much of a waiting area so if you end up waiting for a table you’ll probably feel a little cramped.

The service was pretty good each time I’ve visited.  The servers kept the drinks filled and were pretty quick with checks.
With a name like Woody’s BBQ you can expect mostly BBQ in different forms on the menu.  The restaurant provides four different sauces to flavor the meat of your choice with:  There are plenty of country vegetables to choose from and I definitely recommend the sweet potato fries.  They cost a little bit more than regular fries but are delicious wedges with cinnamon and sugar on top!!
                             

Warning: Sugar Coma!

GiGi's cupcakes may send you into a sugar coma but they sure are a fun treat. The mile high frosting is really what makes the sweets so rich. 

I looked up the company's history online and the franchise has a neat start-up story.  It almost made me want to support them even more because of it.

The cupcakes may seem to be priced a little steep but that seems to be the trend these days with gourmet cupcakes.  From what I've seen the majority of Gigi's customers buy no more than 6 at a time. 

They do have a frequent buyer club card so after purchases of so many cupcakes you can get some free.

To ensure my body doesn't freak out from a sugar coma on the special occasion when a Gigi's puchase seems fun I've started cutting the cupcakes into smaller pieces. This way I can share the calories as well as the sugar and still get to partake in the wonderful sweetness!

Spinoza's

                                                  
If you live in the Dayton area and you haven't been to Spinoza's yet you're missing out. 

It's located by Sears in the Fairfield Mall so there's plenty of parking. 

I checked this place out for the first time last December and probably have gone at least 7 or 8 times since then (which is saying alot coming from someone who doesn't like to eat out too much and likes trying different places!)

Spinoza's atmoshere is relaxed with live music Thursday through Saturday. Service is usually pretty quick even with a big group. 

I've gone with 1 person all the way up to 22, sometimes for lunch and sometimes for dinner and each time I've enjoyed my experience. 

The salads and pizzas are great. My favorite salad is the drunken goat and even some people that don't typically like salads have liked Spinoza's! I've tried 8 of their gourmet pizzas and enjoyed each one of them. You can tell they use fresh ingredients that are good quality and serving sizes.

TJ Chumps

                                          
For one of the Christmas parties I went to we ate lunch at TJ Chumps in Fairborn.  The food was pretty good for a sports bar but not anything special.  There was plenty to choose from on the menu though.

The place was very clean and wasn't too crowded although there were plenty of customers.  What really stood out to me was how quick and efficient the service was. The wait staff was very efficient with serving, refills, and checks without seeming pushy. 

We used one of the party rooms that can be reserved for free. It had several flat screen TVs and plenty of chairs and tables that can be arranged to fit quite a few people.

If you're looking for an quick, clean office lunch it's definately a quick in-and-out place.  I would imagine TJ Chumps is also a great place to catch a sports game.

Christmas Lights

There's something about Christmas activities especially Christmas lights that make me feel like a child no matter how old I get.  This year I checked out ones in South Carolina and Ohio but I thought I'd also share some of the other places I've seen great lights.  Every year I try to check out some kind of new Christmas/holiday display or tradition because they are so many to enjoy!




South Carolina-
Holiday Lights on the River
http://www.icrc.net/events/holiday-lights.aspx
Check out the lights with a drive through a 2 mile loop through the Saluda Shoals Park (near Columbia) The lights are displayed from Nov 23-Dec 31 and costs $10 a car.  My cousin and I added to the experience by sticking our heads out of the mini van sunroof to take pictures and sing a Christmas carol or two.  Before Christmas the event includes all kinds of family Christmas events and activities as well.


Georgia-
Callaway Gardens - It's been a couple of years but I still remember how much I enjoyed this experience. We rode all bundled up on a shuttle with benches.  The lights were synchonized with music and it was a truly magical experience.


Walk Through Bethlehem is located in Warner Robins at Crossroads Baptist Church.  Visitors come from hours away every year to take a walk through the Christmas Story.  The "walk" involves traveling with a group of other visitors through a 22,000 sq foot city filled with twenty-three shops, four hundred costumed characters, and over 100 live animals, including two camels. The event is free and includes hot drinks and sweets after the journey.  Be sure to arrive early though since the crowds grow more and more every year.  Definately a great thing to remind you of the true meaning of Christmas.


Texas-
If you're near San Antonio anytime between Thanksgiving and January you should swing by the River Walk to see all the lights. You can take a river boat cruise or just walk along the river to enjoy the atmosphere.

There's also two neighborhood areas in San Antonio that are worth driving through.  One is called Windcrest and the neighbors have contests every year.  The other is called Shavano Park which you have to see to believe.  The houses themselves are BEAUTIFUL but the lighting displays are over the top (in good way).  Our family still talks about one of the houses we saw that had manicans dressed up in Victorian Village dress with a horse drawn carriage in the circular driveway. Another had a iceskating village in their flower beds and of course the iceskaters were actually moving!


Ohio
Clifton Mill- The mill built in 1802 has kept a tradition over the last 20 years of celebrating Christmas through the display of 3.5 million lights illuminating the mill, the gorge, the riverbanks, trees and bridges on site. The experience includes a detailed village, Santa Claus museum (over 3000 of all shapes and sizes) and synchronized light and music show.  Admission is $10 for all individuals over the age of 6. (http://www.cliftonmill.com/)


Downtown Dayton loves to celebrate Christmas. If you want to burn some calories from all that great holiday food, iceskating at Riverscape is a must.  Under the covered pavillion for only $5 individuals can ice skate outdoors right alongside the river.  Christmas lights, warmers, and hot drinks are also part of the experience. Throughout the winter there is different scheduled theme music to add to the atmosphere as well.


I saw two things this year for the first time that are quick free festive things to look at if you're in the area. 
The first was the Wintergarden Wonderland.  At the Schuster Center, several window displays from the old Rike department store are on display. For many decades these displays were a required holiday stop for families in the area.  Some of the restored figures on display are more than 50 years old. These window displays don't take long to look at it but are apart of Dayton history. 


My grandma and parents enjoyed looking at them for their nostalgic feel.  Just down the street in the Kettering Tower we happened upon a Santa Fe model train window display.  The train moves across the track through the miniature village and can be seen from the lobby. Neither of these two things took long to see but were quaint holiday traditions to see.

Although Christmas is now over and people are taking their lights and decorations down if they haven't already, I'm excited for next year and what new decoration displays I'll see!