💎 Dayton's Hydrogen Highway (Issue #23)

Good Morning,

And welcome to another issue of Miami Valley Memo. Every week we share events and news curated for the Miami Valley.

With Mardi Gras next Tuesday and Valentine’s Day next Wednesday, there are lots of special events to share in addition to our usual mix. It’ll be an exciting week in the Miami Valley!

In today’s issue we’ll be covering:

• Upcoming events

• Romantic Valentine’s events

• Festive Mardi Gras events

• This weekend’s live shows

• Dayton’s next innovation: the “Hydrogen Highway”

• Chiapas Mexican Grill’s third location opens near the Dayton Mall

Let’s get to it!

— Max

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⚡ WEEKEND WEATHER

Friday

51° 🌡️ 60° | ☁️ | ☔ 5% | 💨 17 mph

Saturday

33° 🌡️ 56° | ☁️ | ☔ 10% | 💨 15 mph

Sunday

33° 🌡️ 45° | ⛅ | ☔ 0% | 💨 6 mph

📅 EVENTS

🎵 Benefit Show For Pam Mitchell

📅 Thursday: 6 - 11 pm
📍 Dublin Pub, Downtown Dayton
💰 Free

Support Pam Mitchell's stroke recovery at a fundraiser featuring a 50-50 raffle and silent auction. Pam's husband, Nick Mitchell, is a beloved musician who regularly plays at multiple local venues.

These two are significant parts of the Miami Valley live music scene, a community that has supported them through this tough time with a GoFundMe. For its part, Dublin Pub will be donating 20% of total sales from the evening. Learn more here.

🍩 Dayton Donut Fest On Tour

📅 Fri, Feb 9th - Mon, Feb 19th
📍 10 Local Donut Shops
💰 $30

Calling all donut lovers! Dayton Donut Fest is kicking off this weekend and runs through Feb 19th. Embark on a self-guided journey through 10 of the Miami Valley's finest fried dough establishments.

With the purchase of one ticket booklet, you'll receive two treats from each participating shop. Buy your booklet online or in person, but remember to collect it at the specified locations and times (see here).

And the treats aren't the only sweet thing. Proceeds from this event benefit Oak Tree Corner and its mission to support grieving children. Get your booklet and learn more here.

🏕️ The Adventure Summit

📅 Friday: 5 - 9:30 pm | Saturday: 9 am - 7 pm
📍 Wright State University Campus Recreation, Fairborn
💰 Free

Love outdoor activities? Then take a hike to Wright State this weekend and join thousands of fellow outdoor adventurers. Hear from trailblazers like Eddie Taylor, Neal Moore, and Dr. Brad Ryan, who notably visited all 63 national parks with his grandma... after her 85th birthday!

Join competitions, browse used gear, and learn from local and regional pros. Whether you love hiking, biking, canoeing, or snow-shoeing — as long as it's done outdoors — this is the place for you. Learn more.

🍝 Tortellini Workshop

📅 Saturday: 11 am - 1 pm
📍 Hidden Valley Orchards, Lebanon
💰 $70

Add tortellini-making to your culinary skills with hands-on expert guidance. Learn to prepare this rounded, filled pasta in two ways: cheese-stuffed with cream sauce and in hearty chicken soup.

Enjoy expertly prepared versions alongside fellow cooking enthusiasts. Arrive hungry and ready for fun; leave satisfied with a family-sized meal to enjoy later. Get your tickets here.

Events marked with an asterisk (*) in the “featured” section have been sponsored by our advertising or affiliate partners. Have an event you’d like to promote? Reply and let us know!

❤️ VALENTINE’S DAY EVENTS

🍷 Valentine’s Wine Tasting

📅 Thursday, Feb 8th: 6 pm
📍 Manna Uptown, Centerville
💰 $69/person

Looking to celebrate Valentine's Day early? Check out this 5-course meal with wines curated by local wine specialist Michael Schiaparelli.

Enjoy pairings like Famille Dubard Sauvignon Blanc with seared scallops and Stolpman Syrah with pork filet mignon. Finish with a delightful chirimoya mousse, making it a night to remember. Get your tickets here.

🍷 February Wine Dinner

📅 Tues, Feb 13th: 6 pm
📍 Salar, Oregon District
💰 With Wine: $99/person | No Wine: $75/person

Indulge in a romantic five-course dinner at Salar. Start with a shrimp and lemongrass lettuce wrap followed by a polenta cake with grilled chicken. Then, savor red wine braised beef cheeks and seared duck breast medallions.

Conclude with a cassis and pink peppercorn chocolate tartelette. Get your tickets here and choose to have your meal with or without wine.

🍽️ Valentine’s Day Cooking Class

📅 Tues, Feb 13th: 6 pm
📍 Manna Uptown, Centerville
💰 $79/person

Celebrate Valentine's Day with a cooking class from Manna Uptown's Chef Margot. You'll learn to make four exquisite dishes as you wine and dine. These include fried queso fresco and a sole filet with champagne sauce.

This adds a fun twist to your celebration, giving you romantic recipes to recreate at home. See the full menu and get your tickets here.

✨ Valentine’s Under The Stars

📅 Wed, Feb 14th: 6:30 pm, 8 pm
📍 Boonshoft Museum, Dayton
💰 $75/couple

Enjoy Valentine's Day under the stars (and in the warmth) in the Caryl D. Philips Space Theater. Relish gourmet charcuterie and sweet treats, then toast with champagne.

The night includes a memento of that night's sky, a keepsake photo, and a long-stem rose. Water, lemonade, and a cash bar are also available. We expect these tickets to go quickly, so be sure to snag yours if you're interested.

🎉 MARDI GRAS EVENTS

🇩🇪 German Mardi Gras

📅 Saturday: 7 - 11 pm
📍 Dayton German Club, Downtown Dayton
💰 $5

Celebrate German-style Mardi Gras, aka Fasching, with a festive costume ball at Dayton's German Club. Enjoy live music from the Uberland Band, partake in a dessert contest, and explore games for kids.

Snacks and drinks await — feel free to bring a dish of your own to share. Come in costume to join the masquerade fun. Admission is free for club members, military, and students with ID. Learn more.

🎊 Mardi Gras Celebration

📅 Tues, Feb 13th: 4 pm
📍 Mudlick Tap House, Downtown Dayton
💰 Varies By Dish

See the Tap House transform for Mardi Gras. Sip on iconic cocktails like Sazeracs and Hurricanes, paired with Cajun classics like gumbo and jambalaya. Satisfy your sweet tooth with beignets and cinnamony king cake.

You can also book an igloo for a private Fat Tuesday celebration for up to 8 guests. All reservations are limited, so make yours soon if you're interested.

⚜️ Chef TJ’s Fat Tuesday Dinner Buffet

📅 Tues, Feb 13th: 5 pm
📍 Amber Rose, Dayton
💰 $40

Experience Mardi Gras at Amber Rose next Tuesday. Going on its 4th year, this event features a buffet prepared by Chef TJ, who grew up in New Orleans.

He'll be sharing his family recipes, including gumbo, steak Orleans, and seafood pasta. Then there's banana bread pudding and black bottom bourbon pecan pie for dessert. Tickets are only available online, and you can grab yours here.

🎶 LIVE MUSIC 

Friday

Nothing But Treble | Jayne's On Main | 7:30pm | Free

Barely Able | Phone Booth Lounge | 8pm | Free

Vintage Vadar & Stoneface | Blind Bob's | 8pm | $10

Southern Saviour | Mr. Boro's Tavern | 8pm | Free

Side Piece | The Brick Tap & Tavern | 8:30pm | Free

Sean Poole | Good Time Charlie's | 8:30pm | Free

Saturday

Max Nunery | Jayne's On Main | 7:30pm | Free

Linus Tate | Phone Booth Lounge | 8pm | Free

Visitor, Mom Rock + TBA | Blind Bob's | 8pm | $10

The Nathan Jenkins Trio | Mr. Boro's Tavern | 8pm | Free

The B-Caged | The Brick Tap & Tavern | 8:30pm | Free

Grocery Store Vodka | Good Time Charlie's | 8:30pm | Free

Velvet Crush Unplugged | Dublin Pub | 9pm | Free

Love U: 90's RnB Night | Yellow Cab Tavern | 9pm | Advance: $7, Doors: $10

Joyride | Katz Lounge | 9pm | Free

Intergalactic Space Force | Courtyard Lounge | 9pm | $5

🎭️ LIVE THEATRE

Friday

Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone In Concert | Schuster Center | 7:30pm | $90+

The Marvelous Wonderettes | La Comedia Dinner Theatre | 7:30pm | $70+

Private Lives | Beavercreek Community Theatre | 8pm | $15+

Saturday

Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone In Concert | Schuster Center | 2pm | $90+

The Marvelous Wonderettes | La Comedia Dinner Theatre | 7:30pm | $70+

Private Lives | Beavercreek Community Theatre | 8pm | $15+

Sunday

Private Lives | Beavercreek Community Theatre | 3pm | $15+

The Marvelous Wonderettes | La Comedia Dinner Theatre | 7:30pm | $70+

😂 LIVE COMEDY

Friday

Aaron Weber | Dayton Funny Bone | 7:30pm | $20

J Anthony Brown | Wiley’s Comedy Club | 8pm | $25

Saturday

Aaron Weber | Dayton Funny Bone | 7pm & 9:45pm | $20

J Anthony Brown | Wiley’s Comedy Club | 7:15pm & 9:45pm | $25

🗞️ LOCAL NEWS

🔋 MRE Launch Hydrogen Highway From Dayton

The country's first Transcontinental Hydrogen Highway is being born out of Dayton. Now, this isn't a highway in the same way as I-75. Rather, it's a series of hydrogen refueling stations that are planned to be built over the next 1-3 years and will span from New York to Los Angeles.

The folks behind this project are Dayton-based Millennium Reign Energy (MRE). MRE is a manufacturer that creates hydrogen generators which they call Earth Stations™. These stations take water plus electricity and produce "green hydrogen" which can be used as a fuel source.

Hydrogen as a fuel source? We've all heard of battery-powered electric vehicles, but there's another kind of EV that uses hydrogen as its fuel source. These hydrogen-powered vehicles are called fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEV).

FCEVs tend to have a much further range and charge faster (minutes vs hours) than battery EVs. But they aren't as popular because hydrogen production is very energy-intensive. And most of that energy comes from fossil fuels, which defeats the purpose. Because of this, their adoption has been slow, and refueling infrastructure doesn't exist.

This is exactly what MRE has set out to fix. Their Earth Stations are more efficient at producing hydrogen and can be installed in a matter of hours. And as they build this "highway" out, they'll be intentionally connecting them to renewable sources of energy.

Their first station will go live in Dayton this year. It will serve a triangular region of Cincinnati, Columbus, and Richmond. It's a big first step towards making sustainable FCEVs a reality. And what better place for this innovation to be happening than Dayton? As always, the Miami Valley is leading the way. [Dayton Business Journal]

🌮 Now Open: Chiapas Mexican Grill’s 3rd Location

Last Friday (Feb 2nd), Chiapas Mexican Grill opened their newest location near the Dayton Mall, marking their third venture since starting nine years ago.

Originating from Chiapas, Mexico, the owners launched their first location in Centerville in 2015, aiming to serve authentic Mexican cuisine in the Miami Valley — focusing on everything from the menu to the decor.

At Chiapas, the menu boasts street tacos, Mole del Sur, and tortas, alongside other Mexican cuisine staples. And if I do say so myself, they serve the coldest and most crisp Mexican beers on draft in the area.

The Dayton Mall Chiapas Mexican Grill is located at 8971 Kingsridge Drive in Miami Twp. They operate from 11 am to 10 pm, Monday through Thursday, and extend their hours slightly on Fridays and Saturdays to 10:30 pm. Sunday hours are from 11 am to 9:30 pm. Their grand opening celebration is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb 21st. [Dayton.com]

🙏 THANKS!

That’s all for today. Thank you for reading this week’s memo!

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Hope you have a great weekend, and we look forward to seeing you next Thursday!

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