💎 Read Me, I’m Irish (Issue #28)

Good Morning,

Break out your finest greens and golds because it’s St. Patrick’s Day weekend in the Miami Valley! We hope you have fun (and safe) celebrations!

Did you know St. Patrick’s Day is as American as apple pie? The major celebrations with festivities and parades started during colonial times in the U.S., not Ireland!

Fun facts aside, here’s what we’re covering today:

• Upcoming events and live shows

• A special round-up of St. Patty’s Day events this weekend

• The new barbeque spot coming to Hidden Valley Orchards

• Dayton’s ranking as the top place to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Ohio

Let’s get to it!

— Max

⚡ WEEKEND WEATHER

Friday

37° 🌡️ 58° | 🌧️ | ☔ 35% | 💨 12 mph

Saturday

40° 🌡️ 57° | ⛅ | ☔ 0% | 💨 15 mph

Sunday

31° 🌡️ 46° | ⛅ | ☔ 0% | 💨 16 mph

👓 Centerville Eclipse Glasses Giveaway

📅 Friday: 3 - 5 pm
📍 Cornerstone Park, Centerville
💰 Free

Gear up for a safe solar eclipse viewing experience. This Friday, Centerville is giving away 2,500 free pairs of solar eclipse glasses. Residency is not required to get glasses, but it'd be a good idea to get there as early as possible.

They'll start dispensing tickets at 3 pm, and each ticket gets you one pair of glasses. The actual handing out of the glasses is planned to start at 4 pm. Learn more and stay up to date here.

🌱 Hometown EXPO - That Spring Thing

📅 Saturday: 10 am - 3 pm
📍 Springboro High School, Springboro
💰 Free

This event, hosted by the Springboro Chamber of Commerce, offers a chance to win big prizes while discovering local vendors. Over 200 local businesses are gathering in the spirit of buying local and growing the community.

This is the largest business event in Warren County, turning out around 9,000 attendees. Definitely worth checking out if you're looking to network or find a local provider invested in the community. Learn more here.

🪴🍺 Plants and Beer

📅 Saturday: 11 am
📍 Loose Ends Brewing, Centerville
💰 Free Entry

Greenery meets the brewery this weekend at Loose Ends Brewing! Browse through 13 vendors showcasing a wide range of houseplants, plant accessories, and décor.

Learn plant-care tips and enter the rare plant raffle (winners announced in April). Buy and enjoy Loose Ends' finest beers, cocktails, and light appetizers. This free event is perfect for plant enthusiasts and beer fans alike. Learn more.

🍻 Dayton Business and Brews Meetup

📅 Weds, Mar 20: 6 - 8 pm
📍 Bock Family Brewing, Washington Twp.
💰 Free

Are you a local business owner or professional looking to network? Check out this monthly meet-up hosted by Dayton Business and Brews. These gatherings allow folks to mingle over drinks and build connections without the pressure of sales.

While free to attend, it's a good idea to bring some business cards and stories to trade. Can't make this one? No worries! They host these every month at different local breweries. Learn more here.

🎸 Red Hot Chilli Pipers

📅 Thurs, Mar 21st: 7:30 pm
📍 Victoria Theatre, Downtown Dayton
💰 $30+

Hear and see traditional Scottish bagpipes meet rock 'n' roll flair. This electrifying 9-piece band merges classic bagpipe sounds with iconic rock anthems, creating an unforgettable musical experience.

Their dynamic performances have captivated audiences globally, from New York to Beijing. Get your tickets here for a truly unique rock fusion you won't want to miss.

🥃 Blind Bourbon Tasting

📅 Fri, Mar 22: 6:30 pm
📍 The Century Bar, Downtown Dayton
💰 $75

Delve into the world of bourbon with a unique blind-tasting event. Joseph Head, a Kentucky Colonel and Bourbon Steward, will lead the journey as you enjoy five blind pours and learn bourbon lore.

This experience is limited to 40 enthusiasts. So grab your tickets while you can if you're a big bourbon fan.

🎊 Garden Party

📅 Thurs, Apr 4th: 5:30 - 8:30 pm
📍 Schuster Center, Downtown Dayton
💰 General Admin: $55 | VIP: $85

Celebrate spring's arrival with a garden party where beer and teatime treats await. Enjoy refined music, and bask in the season's freshness. Attendees will get a souvenir glass to take home, as well as select beers and wines available to buy for later.

This event is for adults 21 and older, though there are designated driver tickets available for $15 to help folks celebrate responsibly. These types of events at Schuster often sell out, so spring into action and secure yours here if you're interested.

💃 Time Warp Prom

📅 Sat, April 27th: 7:30 pm
📍 Dayton Convention Center, Downtown Dayton
💰 $30

Step back into the '80s with Mix 107.7. Dance to DJ-spun tracks and live band performances of '80s favorites. It's a high-energy night filled with retro tunes, contests, and memorable photo ops.

Perfect for those who love a good throwback or just want to experience the vibrant '80s dance scene anew. Dress for the times with lots of hair spray, neon leggings, and shoulder-padded jackets (this is what Google told us '80s fashion was). Get your tickets here.

🎤 Phil Rosenthal (Somebody Feed Phil)

📅 Sun, May 5th: 7 pm
📍 Victoria Theatre, Downtown Dayton
💰 $40+

Discover the world through the eyes of Phil Rosenthal, the brains behind the hit series "Somebody Feed Phil." Celebrated for blending humor with his love for food and travel, Rosenthal has captured hearts worldwide.

And in May, he's bringing that joy to the Miami Valley! Join him for an evening of fun stories and interesting insights from his journeys. There are still some seats left, but we don't expect it to stay that way for long. So if you're a fan, check your plans and grab your seats while you can.

🍀 SAINT PATRICK’S DAY EVENTS

Here’s our round-up of this weekend’s holiday celebrations to make your party planning easier.

Most of these are all-day events, so the times we’ve provided are just when the festivities start. Each has live music and some even have Irish dancing performances.

Wandering Griffin St. Patty’s Festival

📅 Friday & Saturday: 11 am | Sunday: 12 pm
📍 Wandering Griffin, Beavercreek
💰 Free Entry
🔗 Learn More

Harrigan’s St. Patty’s Weekend

📅 Friday, Saturday & Sunday: 11 am
📍 Harrigan’s Tavern, Kettering
💰 Free Entry
🔗 Learn More

Flanagan’s St. Patty’s Weekend

📅 Friday: 4 pm | Saturday: 5:30 am | Sunday: 9 am
📍 Flanagan’s Pub, Downtown Dayton
💰 Fri & Sat: No Cover | Sun: $10 Cover
🔗 Learn More

On Par St. Patty’s Celebration

📅 Saturday & Sunday: 10 am
📍 On Par, Beavercreek
💰 Free Entry
🔗 Learn More

St. Patty’s Weekend at The Pub

📅 Saturday & Sunday: 11 am
📍 The Pub, Beavercreek
💰 Free Entry
🔗 Learn More

Troll Pub’s St. Patty’s Celebration

📅 Saturday & Sunday: 11 am
📍 Troll Pub, Downtown Dayton
💰 Online: $10 | Day Of: $20 (cash only)
🔗 Get Tickets

Peach’s St. Patrick’s Day Bash

📅 Saturday: 12 pm
📍 Peach’s Grill, Yellow Springs
💰 Cover: $5
🔗 Learn More

Sober St. Patrick’s Day Party

📅 Saturday: 2 - 5 pm
📍 Dayton Metro Library, Downtown Dayton
💰 Free Entry
🔗 Learn More

Lucky’s St. Patrick’s Bar Crawl

📅 Saturday: 4 pm
📍 Downtown Dayton
💰 Advance: $25 | Day Of: $30
🔗 Get Tickets

St. Patrick’s at GTC

📅 Saturday: 8 am
📍 Good Time Charlie’s, Miamisburg
💰 Free Entry
🔗 Learn More

Springboro’s St. Patty’s Bar Crawl

📅 Sunday: 9 am
📍 Downtown Springboro
💰 Free Entry
🔗 Learn More

St. Patrick’s Day Cigars & Pints

📅 Sunday: 11 am
📍 The Dublin Pub, Downtown Dayton
💰 Free Entry
🔗 Learn More

Sip & Shop on St. Patty’s Day

📅 Sunday: 11 am - 4 pm
📍 JJ’s Boutique, Downtown Dayton
💰 Free Entry
🔗 Learn More

St. Patrick’s at Bock Family Brewing

📅 Sunday: 11 am
📍 Bock Family Brewing, Washington Twp.
💰 Free Entry
🔗 Learn More

St. Patrick’s at Carillon Brewing

📅 Sunday: 11 am
📍 Carillon Historical Park, Dayton
💰 Free Entry
🔗 Learn More

St. Patrick’s at Bellbrook Brewing

📅 Sunday: 12 pm
📍 Bellbrook Brewing Company, Bellbrook
💰 Free Entry
🔗 Learn More

St. Patrick’s at Eudora

📅 Sunday: 4 pm
📍 Eudora Brewing Company, Kettering
💰 Free Entry
🔗 Learn More

Green Dayton 2024

📅 Sunday: 7 pm
📍 Yellow Cab Tavern, Downtown Dayton
💰 Advance: $12 | Doors: $15
🔗 Get Tickets

🎶 LIVE MUSIC 

Friday

Benny Hill | Crooked Handle Brewing | 6:30pm | Free

Sonny Moorman | Phone Booth Lounge | 8pm | Free

Spungewurthy | Mr. Boro's Tavern | 8pm | Free

Two For The Road | The Brick Tap & Tavern | 8:30pm | Free

Hip Hop Showcase | Brightside Dayton | 8:30pm | $10

Carmen Clouse | Courtyard Lounge | 9pm | Free

Ryan Mundy | Good Time Charlie's | 9pm | Free

🎭️ LIVE THEATRE

Friday

Peter Pan | Town Hall Theatre | 7pm | $16

Disney's Beauty and the Beast | Alter High School | 7pm | $17

Sense & Sensibility | Dayton Playhouse | 8pm | $18+

Saturday

Peter Pan | Town Hall Theatre | 3pm | $16

Disney's Beauty and the Beast | Alter High School | 7pm | $17

Sense & Sensibility | Dayton Playhouse | 8pm | $18+

Sunday

Sense & Sensibility | Dayton Playhouse | 2pm | $18+

Disney's Beauty and the Beast | Alter High School | 2pm | $17

Peter Pan | Town Hall Theatre | 3pm | $16

🗞️ LOCAL NEWS

🍖 Match Made In Heaven: BBQ & HVO

Dayton Barbecue Company has found a permanent home at Hidden Valley Orchards in Lebanon. The owner, Eric Evans, says it's the perfect fit for his barbecue vision.

Last year, they tested the waters and received a huge thumbs up from customers, selling out fast every weekend. This was in conjunction with pop-ups downtown at Toxic Brew Company, which they plan to continue.

This new spot, once home to “The Coop at HVO,” will now be filled with the delicious smells of Eric's brisket, ribs, and chicken. And there's more good news: Eric has teamed up with Dante Roe, the operator behind the food truck Smokin’ Inferno BBQ & Catering, which closed last October.

Just like the meats they cook, they're slow-rolling with soft openings over the next two months. They'll be hosting their first soft opening this Saturday, March 16th — serving until sold out.

May 1st will mark their grand opening. After that, Dayton Barbecue Company will be open Wednesday through Sunday at HVO. Want to keep up to date with their journey and schedule? Check out their Facebook and give them a follow. [Dayton Daily News]

☘️ Dayton Ranks #1 In Ohio For St. Patty’s Parties

Dayton was named the #1 city in Ohio and #21 in the entire country for St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. WalletHub conducted this analysis, looking at 200 cities in the U.S., rating them by:

• Traditions: number of Irish pubs/restaurants, holiday events, Google search interest about the holiday, and share of folks with Irish heritage. Dayton ranked #8 in the nation for this category

• Affordability: cost of drinks, food, and hotels around the holiday

• Safety: walkability, traffic congestion, crime rate, and DUI-related accidents

• Weather: based on the forecasted weather around the holiday (rain & temp)

Across all these factors, Dayton beat out all other cities in Ohio for the top spot. Cleveland was a close second at #24, Cincinnati got #30, and Columbus was far behind at #81.

This holiday is big business for local bars and restaurants across the country. According to WalletHub, Americans are expected to spend $7.2 billion celebrating it.

So, if you celebrate the holiday this weekend, know you're doing it in the best place in Ohio. We'll raise our glass to that! [Dayton Daily News]

🙏 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!