Kristen Wicker, 937-224-1518, Ext. 228, Or Krystal Luketic, Ext. 227 s1

For More Information: Kristen Wicker, 937-224-1518, ext. 228, or Krystal Luketic, ext. 227

First Friday Features Holiday Shopping, Live Music and a Very Hairy Bike Ride

Dayton, Oct. 26, 2011—Kick off the holiday season with the next free monthly downtown art hop, which will be held from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4 .

Start your holiday shopping during First Friday, when such gift galleries as DVAC’s ARTtoBUY Holiday Gift Gallery and The Cannery’s “Live Art, Give Art” open. In addition, shoppers will find a variety of unique gifts ― including clothing, jewelry, music and artwork ― at downtown retail stores.

First Friday also is a chance for visitors to win a $1,000 travel gift certificate from AAA Miami Valley by completing a First Friday Passport. Each month, AAA will award two prizes of one-year classic AAA memberships, with free renewals for existing members. Everyone who enters for the monthly prize now through Dec. 2 also will be entered into a drawing for a grand prize of a $1,000 travel gift certificate.

Visitors can pick up a First Friday passport at participating locations (click here for a list). The passport must be stamped by at least four locations, and once visitors have all four stamps, they fill out their contact information and drop their passports in any of the First Friday Passport boxes that will be at all participating locations.

Gem City Circle Walking Tours will host two tours highlighting local history. The Main Street Historic Walk of Downtown Dayton will meet at the Dayton Metro Library, 215 E. Third St., at 5 p.m. and the Ghosts, Cemeteries and Murders Walk of Downtown Dayton will meet at Courthouse Square at 7 p.m. Tickets are$10 per person, and advance reservations are required. Contact tour guide Leon Bey at 274-4749 or email [email protected].

Grow a moustache for a good cause with the Movember Moustache Ride. Participants will meet at Fifth Third Field for a bike ride around town that will both flaunt their facial hair and raise awareness for men’s health. The ride will end at Brixx Ice Company, 500 E. First St., for refreshments and a celebration. For registration information, click here.

Galleries and other venues downtown will host exhibit openings, sales, live music and other special events, and restaurants, retail shops, bars and clubs, and other establishments throughout downtown will be open.

For regular updates about this event, follow First Friday on Facebook or text “FirstFridayDayton” to 90210. First Friday is presented by the Downtown Dayton Partnership with support from AAA Miami Valley, the Oregon District Business Association, and WYSO-FM 91.3. The Downtown Dayton Partnership’s website has a complete list of downtown’s arts and cultural amenities, as well as a dining guide, parking map and much more. Click here for a complete list of events.

― more ― Nov. 4 First Friday, page 2

Art Exhibits and Events in the Central Arts District • Cachet G! International Boutique and Gallery , 133 E. Third St.: New works in acrylic gauche by Yvette Dalton. • Canal Street Tavern , 308 E. First St.: Live performance by Mike Perkins at 9:30; tickets are $7 at the door. • Clash Consignment Co., 113 E. Third St.: Listen to live music while shopping for holiday gifts – select artwork will be 30 to 50 percent off. • Cold Beer & Cheeseburgers, Fourth & Jefferson Bldg.: karaoke from 8 p.m. to midnight. • Dayton Metro Library, 215 E. Third St.: Main Street Historic Walk of Downtown Dayton meets at 5 p.m. • Dayton Visual Arts Center, 118 N. Jefferson St. (open until 8 p.m.): ARTtoBUY Holiday Gift Gallery and the opening of the “Alchemy of Art: Bart Vargas” exhibit. • De’Lish Café, 139 N. Main St.: Wade Baker Jazz Quartet and samples from the café’s new coffee menu; call 461-2223 for cost. • H. David Clay Studio, 33 S. St. Clair St.: Functional and decorative pottery made on the premises. • J-Alan’s, 131 N. Ludlow St.: live performances by Boogey Matrix Mechanism and Romeo Champagne, starting at 10 p.m. • The Loft Theatre, 126 N. Main St.: performance of Caroline, or Change at 8 p.m., call 228-3630 for tickets. • Schuster Performing Arts Center, Second and Main: Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra Presents Lynda Carter: The Wonder of Song at 8 p.m.; call 228-3630 for tickets and cost.

Art Exhibits and Events in the Oregon Arts District • Blind Bob’s, 430 E. Fifth St.: Live music featuring Mouth of the Architect, By Way of Sunstorm, Astro Fang, Electric Banana and Back Stabbath starting at 9:30 p.m. • Boulevard Haus, 328 E. Fifth St.: $1 off tap beer for those who mention First Friday. • Color of Energy, 16 Brown St.: Opening of “Cross Sections” exhibit by Fred Niles and Molly Schoenhoff. The show features Niles’ large-scale photographs depicting various locations in New Zealand, Scotland, Turkey and the United States, and Schoenhoff’s handmade paper and collages composed of small plant fibers. • Deaf Monty’s Wine, 22 Brown St.: $5 for a 6-ounce glass of red or white wine. • Dublin Pub, 300 Wayne Ave.: Live music by The Temps. • Gallery 510 Fine Art, 510 E. Fifth St.: A selection of work by local artists and handmade gifts perfect for holiday giving. • Jay’s Seafood, 225 E. Sixth St.: Live music by Puzzle of Light at 9 p.m. • Jimmy Modern, 605 E. Fifth St.: Showing work by more than 30 artists. • The Neon, 130 E. Fifth St.: Call 222-SHOW (7469) for films and show times. • Omega Music, 318 E. Fifth St.: Live music by DJ Mistress at 6 p.m., DJ Ethan at 7 p.m. and Mercutio at 8 p.m. • Oregon Express, 336 E. Fifth St.: Music featuring classic rock and dance songs at 9 p.m. • Press, 257 Wayne Ave.: “The Wood Show,” featuring work by 15 artists using wood as a medium; open until 11 p.m. • ReCreate, 438 E. Fifth St.: New and used instruments, other music-related items, original artwork. • Trolley Stop, 530 E. Fifth St.: Live music by Front Porch Revival. • Urban Krag, 125 Clay St.: Climbing gym open until 11 p.m. • Wiley’s Comedy Niteclub, 101 Pine St.: Scott Iott at 9 p.m.; tickets are $10. • Yellow Cab Building, 700 E. Fourth St.: Exhibit of new works in the gallery. Art Exhibits and Events in the Cannery Arts District • The Cannery Art and Design Center, 434 E. Third St.: Presenting the fifth annual “Live Art, Give Art” and featuring classical guitarist Ian Stukenborg and artist Jerry Edwards, who will be demonstrating portraitures. • K12 Gallery for Young People/TEJAS, 510 E. Third St.: Exhibiting work by students from St. Helen’s School.