💎 Spooky Season Finale (Issue #9)

Good morning,

And welcome to the 28 new subscribers that have joined us since last week! Every week we share upcoming events, useful news, and a story on a standout business in the Miami Valley.

October has really flown by, it’s already Halloween weekend! Unfortunately for some, that also means that after next Tuesday, “spooky season” is officially over. But fear not, we’ve pulled together events and parties for all ages to celebrate it while it lasts.

Whether you’re planning to Trick-or-Treat next week or not, it’s looking like it will be a cold one. Temps next week are ranging from the high 20s to the low 50s. Then again, this is Ohio. The weather will do what it damn well pleases—as this week has been a great example of.

In today’s issue we’ll be covering:

• Your event guide to this Halloween weekend

• The debut of our new “Live Shows” section, covering live shows from comedy to theatre to music around the Miami Valley

• An update about the city of Dayton selling its biogas

• Winsupply’s post-purchase plans for the Golden Nugget

• Centerville shutting down new Sheetz site after local pushback

• The new defense innovation hub, one of five in the country, coming to Dayton

• A local spotlight on the folks baking the best Neapolitan-style pizza in Dayton—Old Scratch Pizza

Let’s get to it!

— Max

⚡ WEEKEND WEATHER

Friday

59° 🌡️ 76° | ⛅ | ☔ 20% | 💨 14 mph

Saturday

57° 🌡️ 64° | ☁️ | ☔ 20% | 💨 9 mph

Sunday

43° 🌡️ 61° | 🌧️ | ☔ 90% | 💨 9 mph

👾 HalloScene

📅 Thursday: 5-8pm
📍 Scene75, Dayton
💰 $20

Like Halloween and arcade games? Then this might be the eerie evening of fun for you! With each pass, you get access to unlimited attractions and their indoor trick-or-treat trail. You’re also able to compete in the costume contest starting at 6pm. Get tickets.

🍻 Brewster At The Schuster (21+)

📅 Thursday: 5:30-8:30pm
📍 Schuster Center, Downtown Dayton
💰 General Admission: $55 | Designated Driver: $15

Sip beers from the Miami Valley’s top breweries and see the Schuster’s Mathile Theatre transformed into a cozy pub. Mingle with folks from the breweries while listening to live music by Scott Houchens. Try everything from ales to lagers, and find your new favorite! It’s a laid back night all about good beer and good snacks with great company. Get tickets.

🐶 Bark-O-Ween

📅 Saturday: 10-4pm
📍 Hidden Valley Orchards, Lebanon
💰 Free entry

Dress your pup up and head out to the country for some Halloween fun. In the spirit of spooky, they’ll have doggie trick-or-treat and a costume parade. Ever seen a little dog in a spider costume? It’s priceless, and a great way to give everyone a friendly scare! Please remember to keep your pet on a leash when they’re not in the pumpkin dog park. Learn more.

🧛‍♂️ Tricks or Treats (Renn Fest Finale)

📅 Saturday & Sunday: 10:30-7pm
📍 Ohio Renaissance Festival, Waynesville
💰 13 years or older: $32 | 12 and under: Free

Celebrate the end of Renn Fest with a finale full of frights. With free entry for kids 12 and under, it’s the perfect place for your little monsters to go on a trick-or-treating adventure. The village will be brimming with Halloween magic and festive villagers ready to share treats. Grab some bites, get a drink (mead if you’re like me), and bid farewell to the village until next fall. Get tickets.

🔍 Let’s Talk About Ancient Apocalypse

📅 Saturday: 10:30-12pm
📍 Science Center Auditorium, University of Dayton
💰 Free entry

Join Dr. Bonnie Pitblado for a critical look at popular shows like Ancient Apocalypse that tell alternative narratives about our past. These shows claim that ancient civilizations were far more advanced than we think and mysteriously wiped out. Dr. Pitblado will share why that narrative is inaccurate. And instead, how the real story of people coming to the Americas during the Ice Age is more interesting. This event is hosted by the Dayton Society of the Archaeological Institute of America (AIA). I grew up going to AIA talks with my parents and always learned something from the folks they brought to town. Learn more.

🐕‍🦺 Wag O Ween

📅 Saturday: 11am
📍 Kettering Recreation Complex, Kettering
💰 Free entry

Celebrate a Happy Hooowwwlll-o-ween at the Kettering Rec’s pawsitively spooktacular event. Let your dogs trick-or-treat on the Walk and Wag and snap a few spooky shots at the photo booth. Looking to adopt? You can meet some new furry friends looking for their forever home. The event will be outdoors near Adventure Reef Waterpark, but will go indoors should the weather not cooperate. Learn more.

🐴 Halloween Pony Rides (Kids 2-8)

📅 Saturday: 1-3pm
📍 Carriage Hill MetroPark, Huber Heights
💰 $5

Have kiddos between 2 and 8 years old? For $5, they can get a magical mini adventure with these mini horses. But they’re not just any ole ponies. They’re feeling spooky season too and will be rocking adorable costumes. Get your tickets and gallop your way into a Halloween celebration your family will be sure to remember! Get tickets.

🍁 Dayton Fall Harvest Festival

📅 Saturday: 2-6pm
📍 Kettering Field, Dayton
💰 Free entry

A combo autumn + Halloween celebration with a pumpkin patch, free candy, costume contest, and a plethora of kids activities. They’ll also have a DJ on deck and food trucks to curb your cravings. The costume contest kicks off at 4:30pm, so come dressed in your spooky best! Learn more.

🦇 Hauntfest on Fifth (18+)

📅 Saturday: 7pm-1am
📍 Oregon District
💰 Pre-sale (ends 10/27): $10 | Gate: $15

The Miami Valley’s grandest Halloween bash is back in the Oregon District. See the Oregon District transformed into a spooktacular party. Dive into a night filled with live performances, DJs, drinks, and food trucks. It’s not just a party. It’s a community gathering that supports the Oregon District in spirit and financially. Proceeds from the event go to the Oregon District Business Association's improvement initiatives. Attendees must be 18+ to enter, and of course, 21+ to enjoy bewitching brews. Get your tickets.

🎃 Hallofunaweenie

📅 Sunday: 4-6pm
📍 Be Hope Church, Beavercreek
💰 Free entry

Join this haunt of a good time in the Beavercreek community. Kids of all ages are welcome to don their Halloween best, hop on a hayride, and haul in heaps of candy. Beyond goodies, it’s another opportunity to celebrate the goofy side of Halloween. Learn more.

👻 Howl-o-ween

📅 Sunday: 5:30-8:30pm
📍 Boonshoft Museum of Discovery, Dayton
💰 Members: $6 | Non-members: $9 | Kids 2 & under: Free

Throw on your favorite costumes and hit the dance floor at the Monster Mash dance party, or enter the costume contest in Exhibit Hall. As you wander the museum, discover treat stations and be spellbound by themed laser shows. If you need a bite, the museum’s Eco-Eatery will keep your ghoulish appetites at bay. Gather your ghosts and goblins of all sizes for a howling good day! Get tickets.

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🎤 LIVE SHOWS 

No, you’re not imagining things… this section is a new addition to the newsletter. We’d love to get your feedback on it. Both your overall impressions and what kind of live shows you’d like to see more of. Let us know with a quick reply!

An important note is that the showtimes below are when the show starts. Almost all of the paid shows will have an earlier door time that you need to arrive by. You can learn more about each and buy tickets by clicking on the respective listing’s ticket price.

Friday

🎶 Hidden Valley Orchards | Two for the Road | 6:30pm | Free

🎶 Hidden Gem Music Club | Blessid Union of Souls with Alexis Gomez | 7pm | $47

😂 Dayton Funny Bone | Darius Bennett | 7:30 PM | $20

🎭 Victoria Theatre | Dracula: Bloodlines | 7:30pm | $14+

😂 Wileys Comedy Club | Bubba Beezy & Friends We Outside | 8pm | $20

🎭 The Loft Theatre | Angry, Raucous, And Shamelessly Gorgeous | 8pm | $23

💬 Black Box Improv Theatre | Murder Mystery | 8pm | $15

Saturday

😂 Dayton Funny Bone | Darius Bennett | 7pm | $20

🎭 Victoria Theatre | Dracula: Bloodlines | 7:30pm | $14+

🎭 La Comedia Dinner Theatre | Grumpy Old Men: The Musical | 7:30pm | $39+ kids, $70+ adults

🎶 Moe Harrigan's Tavern | Paul Cullen | 8pm | Free

🎭 The Loft Theatre | Angry, Raucous, And Shamelessly Gorgeous | 8pm | $23

💬 Black Box Improv Theatre | Murder Mystery | 8pm | $15

Sunday

🎭 La Comedia Dinner Theatre | Grumpy Old Men: The Musical | 12:30pm & 7:30pm | $39+ kids, $70+ adults

🎭 The Loft Theatre | Angry, Raucous, And Shamelessly Gorgeous | 2pm & 7pm | $23

🎭 Victoria Theatre | Dracula: Bloodlines | 2:30pm | $14+

🔔 Carillon Park | Deeds Carillon Concert | 3pm | Free

🎶 Frank Vignola and Tessa Lark | Sears Recital Hall, UD | 3pm | Free

🎭 Xenia Area Community Theater | Nightfall with Edgar Allan Poe | 3pm | $17

🗞️ LOCAL NEWS

🌱 Update: Dayton Closes Biogas Deal

Earlier this month, we shared a story about the city of Dayton looking to sell biogas produced from its wastewater treatment facility. The deal to sell the gas to Pinnacle Gas Producers in Moraine (owned by DTE Biomass Energy) was officially closed. As a result, the city will have net earnings of ~$800,000 each year. Totaling up to ~$16 million over the 20-year contract.

Correction: In our original story, we said this deal would cut the facility’s carbon emissions by 50%. It turns out that it will actually lead to a 50% reduction in the City of Dayton’s entire carbon footprint. However, it appears some of that reduction will come from the city purchasing carbon offsets as well. Still, that puts the city well ahead of schedule for its net zero carbon goals by 2050.

The pipeline that will transport the biogas should be live by next fall. This operation is the first of its kind in the Midwest and one of a few in the country. Yet another example of Dayton being at the forefront of innovation. [WYSO]

🥞 Winsupply To Revive Golden Nugget Site

Last Friday (Oct. 20th), Winsupply announced they bought the Golden Nugget property in Kettering. But they’re not turning it into more office space. Instead, they shared plans to re-open it as a breakfast and lunch spot early next year. They’ve identified an experienced restauranteur to partner with, but a deal has yet to be finalized. The property was previously a target for GetGo, another out-of-state chain looking to build here. Though early this month, that seemed to fizzle out after some local pushback.

Like many locals, Golden Nugget was near and dear to Winsupply’s early executive team. In their earliest days, they'd hold their board meetings there because they didn’t have a conference room. Today, Winsupply is one of the largest companies headquartered in the Miami Valley. According to the Dayton Business Journal, their 2022 revenue was $7 billion.

It's not every day you see a multi-billion dollar business in a different industry revive a beloved spot. While it won't be the same Golden Nugget, they seem committed to honoring its legacy. We can’t wait to check them out next year! [Dayton Daily News]

🚫 Centerville Reverts Sheetz Approval

In a unanimous decision on Monday (Oct. 23rd), the Centerville City Council reversed their previous August approval of a 24/7 Sheetz store at 6318 Far Hills. The council cited the store’s inconsistency with the local use and character of nearby properties as the primary reason for denying the construction. It seems appeals made by residents and institutions right next to the site swayed the council. Especially Bethany Lutheran Village (across the street) and Epiphany Lutheran Church (next door). These folks had concerns about the impacts of the increased traffic in their community. And within about a month of filing their appeals, they've won. [Dayton Daily News]

💡 Dayton Chosen For New Defense Innovation Hub

The Department of Defense has singled out Ohio to host a Mission Acceleration Center, one of five across the nation. Naturally, they selected Dayton to house this defense innovation hub. Its purpose is to advance new defense technology by creating a collaborative ecosystem of small businesses, industry, academia, investors, and government. This doesn't just fuel innovation, it also makes it easier for local businesses to sell to the DOD and raise private funding. With a focus on prototyping and risk reduction, this hub will stimulate growth across the Miami Valley in our defense, manufacturing, and aerospace sectors. [Dayton Business Journal]

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🔦 LOCAL SPOTLIGHT

Dayton’s Favorite Neapolitan-ish Pizza

Itching for a slice of Naples in Dayton? We prescribe a dose of Old Scratch Pizza. But beware... all it takes is one bite and you’ll be craving perfectly charred crust every weekend.

Old Scratch opened its first location in Downtown Dayton in October of 2016. In fact, they celebrated their 7th birthday last Wednesday, October 18th. A smarter newsletter operator would have featured this spotlight in last Thursday’s issue instead of this week’s, but hey, we’re all learning here 🤓. Back to Old Scratch…

They specialize in “Neapolitan-ish” style pizzas. It’s “ish” because unlike traditional Neapolitan-style pizzas they are not stingy with the toppings. You can get everything from your standard pepperoni plastered pizza, like the “Dayton”, to a more traditional ‘za like their “Margherita”. They also keep 20 regional craft beers on tap and in rotation at each location.

Speaking of locations, they’ve been on quite the tear this year. They started 2023 by opening the Beavercreek location and announcing their fourth in Troy, which they’re targeting to open by year’s end. And as their footprint grows so does their charitable impact.

Cones for a Cause is Old Scratch's charitable fund. Guests can get free ice cream cones with the option to make a donation in return. Those donations fund micro-grants, usually between $100 to $2,500, that help local nonprofits with special projects and programs. Since 2016, over $172,000 has been donated to 70 local nonprofits.

And we're not their only fans. For the last six years in a row, they’ve won 2nd place for Best Pizza in Dayton.com’s “Best of Dayton”. Only to be bested by Marion’s, which Old Scratch has been a hilariously good sport about on their Facebook page.

In our household, Old Scratch reigns supreme. First off, their gluten-free crust is out of this world. You wouldn’t know it unless someone told you. Second, you just can’t beat wood-fired pizza, and no one does it like them. And last, but certainly not least, their specials and flavor combos.

Old Scratch is where we discovered hot honey on pizza, with their “Angry Beekeeper”. That changed our lives. The image at the top of this spotlight story was our order last Wednesday, it's the “Dayton” with bacon on one half and hot honey on the other.

But flavor-packed slices aren’t all they’re serving up. Their warm bread—like pita but fluffier—really lays it down. With plenty of dips and sauces to choose from, my favorite is the romesco. I dip everything in that.

Throw in their great sides like oven-roasted veggies and fresh salads, and you have a party. Literally, Old Scratch Pizza is one of our go-to's when we're entertaining. They elevate a pizza party into something special.

Whether you’re hosting or looking for something to grab when you’re tired of cooking, they’ll scratch that itch and leave you wanting more! Check out their website to find their nearest location, view their menu, and order online.

Do you know an awesome local business or organization that deserves the spotlight? Tell us all about them here.

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