Dayton is about to get bizarre

New monthly event “part street fair, part art exhibit and part sideshow”


SOME THINGS TO CHECK OUT DURING DAYTON BIZARRE

ART

Dayton Art Institute, 456 Belmonte Park North: (Open until 8 p.m.) The "Year of American Art" begins with more than 100 works by American Impressionists from the 1880s through the 1940s, including John Singer Sargent, Mary Cassatt, William Merritt Chase, Childe Hassam, John Twachtman, and many others.

Dayton International Peace Museum, 208 W. Monument Ave.: (Open until 5 p.m.) Exhibit "The Peace Corps Experience: 54 Years of Global Service" showcases photographs and short narratives, exploring the experience of Peace Corps volunteers from their initial training to the service they perform in their assigned countries.

Dayton Visual Arts Center, 18 N. Jefferson St.: Don't miss "The Cline Show," DVAC's annual post-secondary art and design scholarship exhibition.

Clash Dayton, 521 E. Fifth St.: Featuring "Animal" art show, benefitting local pet adoption agency SICSA.

Sinclair Community College Art Galleries, Building 13 at Fifth and Perry streets: Stop by The Burnell Roberts Triangle Gallery and the Works on Paper Gallery for the annual juried fine art student exhibition.

MUSIC

Blind Bob's, 430 E. Fifth St.: Featuring happy hour from 4 to 8 p.m., $2.50 well drinks. Music by Good English, Hotel War, and Salvador Ross.

Dublin Pub, 300 Wayne Ave.: Featuring Irish First Fridays, with a happy hour, a performance by the Miami Valley Pipe and Drum group starting around 7 p.m., and live music starting at 9 p.m.

Gilly's, 132 S. Jefferson St.: Old Skool Groove Night from 8 p.m. to midnight.

ENTERTAINMENT

The Black Box Improv Theatre, 518 E. Third St.: Share your social media profile and enjoy a watching a whole improvised show devoted to your stories. This show includes a short intermission. Also featuring First Friday Improv Jam: Following the 8 p.m. show, the free Improv Jam will start at 10 p.m. and will be a kind of "open mic" experience. Arrive by 10 p.m. to submit your name if you want to jump on stage.  BYOB. Call for ticket prices and availability.

Courteous Mass Dayton, Don Crawford Plaza, 220 N. Patterson Blvd.: Bring your bike every First Friday for a group ride, starting at 5:30 p.m. Take a tour of area community gardens on this spring ride. All riding levels welcome. Visit www.courteousmassdayton.com or email courteousmassdayton@yahoo.com.

Dayton Theatre Guild, 430 Wayne Ave.: Presenting "Desire Under the Elms," the story of an old, flinty New England hardscrabble farmer determined to take a young wife after burying his first two, and the raging conflict that follows with his sons and the young wife. $12-$19 8 p.m.

The Neon, 130 E. Fifth St.: Catch "The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel," the sequel to one of the highest-grossing films in NEON history. Call 222-SHOW (7469) for prices and show times.

The "Old" Yellow Cab Building, 700 E. Fourth St.: Hosting "Dayton Crafty-Con" featuring artisan vendors, craft displays, a food truck, and more, to raise funds for The Dayton Circus Creative Collective's annual Sideshow on May 8.

Practice Yoga, 504 E. 5th St.: Five-Dollar Fridays: All levels welcome at this 75-minute class with Ross Stambaugh, 5:45-7:00 p.m. Drop-in only (no pre-registration), $5.

Wiley's Comedy Joint, 101 Pine St.: Featuring comedian Mike Gardner. $12 and two-item minimum. Shows at 7:30 and 9:45 p.m.

FOOD AND DRINK

Belle of Dayton, 22 Brown St.: (Open till 8 p.m.) Every Friday, stop by the bottle shop and tasting room from 5-7 p.m. to purchase spirits, glassware and apparel. Valid ID is required with liquor purchase and tastings. Free admission.

De'Lish Café, 139 N. Main St.: Featuring "Sample & Sip": Explore the new wine menu with samples of a few of De'Lish customer-voted favorites. Live cooking demonstration at 7 p.m.

Fifth Street Brewpub, 1600 E. Fifth St.: Pub grub specials from 4-5 p.m. and happy hour ($1 off all draft beer) from 4-6 p.m., plus the debut of a new beer: Herbivore No. 2.

Lily's Bistro, 329 E. Fifth St.: Part of the Dayton Bizarre, Lily's will feature a few types of fresh lemonade, and have two or three vendors, including LeeAnne House selling her "Housemade" sriracha and spices.

Oregon Express, 336 E. Fifth St.: Featuring half-price pizza from 4 to 8 p.m. and live music.

Trolley Stop, 530 E. Fifth St.: Live music starting at 9:30 p.m. and 10-tap Founders Brewing Company takeover starting at 8 p.m., plus happy hour specials.

SHOPPING

Brim, 464 E. Fifth St.: Kangol Spring Launch event begins Friday at 6 p.m. Check out what's new for spring from popular hat brand Kangol. Free Kangol swag with Kangol purchase while supplies lasts.

Sew Dayton, 261 Wayne Ave.: First Fridays feature the free Stitch n' Sip event. Bring your own beverage and sewing project and make new sewing friends!

Strings Attached, 225 N. Main St.: Featuring open knit/crochet session. Bring your own knitting or crochet project and enjoy the company of friends and light refreshments.

Source: Downtown Dayton Partnership

Things in the Oregon District are about to get downright bizarre.

Dayton Bizarre, a collaboration between the Oregon District Business Association and the Downtown Dayton Partnership, will take over Fifth Street 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, April 3 and noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 4.

The monthly street fair will have performers and businesses on the streets of the historic district near Dayton’s heart.

“We believe it will be something that will go on for years and years to come,” Brian Johnson, an organizer for the event, told us. “It will show the weirdness and uniqueness of what Dayton has to offer.”

More than 40 independent businesses, artists and performers will participate, and there will be activities such as adult tricycle races and choose your own adventure.

It will coincide with First Friday Art Hop the first Friday and Saturday of each month.

Businesses will be encouraged to get bizarre and jump in the action. Several will have tables on the streets.

“Dayton Bizarre will be part street fair, part art exhibit and part sideshow. It’s all about creating a vibrant street level party that showcases the amazing independent businesses that call the Oregon District home,” said Amelia O’ Dowd, organizer and owner of Brim, in a prepared statement.

Johnson said the event will be similar to the August First Friday, which had a “bizarre” theme.

The group's organizers are currently looking for artists, street performers and musicians who are interested in participating in the April event. If you are interested, email daytonbizarre@gmail.com or contact them on Facebook.

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