For More Information s2

For More Information: Krystal Luketic: 937-224-1518, ext. 227 Courtney Deutsch: 937-224-1518, ext. 231

May 11 Urban Nights Includes Activities for All, From Kids to Adults More than 100 establishments will showcase downtown’s dining, nightlife, art, music, retail and housing options.

DAYTON, May 1, 2012 ― The next Urban Nights will be held from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, May 11, in downtown Dayton, the Oregon Arts District and Wright-Dunbar Business Village. Approximately 30,000 people come downtown to experience this free event. Click here for a complete performance schedule, map of participating venues, and list of all participating locations’ events and specials.

Several activities will allow the whole family to get in on the fun, including the Green Street Project, designed to celebrate all things green and promote environmental sustainability. It will include interactive and art-making activities, exhibits on green technology, games, and more on Main Street, which will be closed between Second and Third streets. The Green Street Project is presented by the Downtown Dayton Partnership, Montgomery County Solid Waste District and PNC Bank. Activities include: • The Dayton Regional Green 3 Initiative will host fun and educational activities and booths to promote greener and more sustainable practices in the Dayton region. • The Montgomery County Solid Waste District’s two mascots, Curby the Cardinal and Lucky the Ladybug, will be on hand, as well as its Extreme Recycling trailer. • The Dayton Art Institute will lead a community art mural-making project using recyclable materials. • Zoot Theatre Company will demonstrate its larger puppets and visitors will have an opportunity to create masks out of reused and found materials. • Visitors can ride a segway, courtesy of Dayton Segway Tours; chalk the street; have their picture taken in an open-air photo booth, courtesy of Lift-Off Entertainment; and check out an eco-friendly bus from Greater Dayton RTA and the eco-friendly Buick LaCrosse eAssist, courtesy of Bob Ross Buick. • The V ictoria Theatre Association will provide activities inspired by the Broadway musical Wicked.

Urban Nights visitors can get their hands dirty at K12 Gallery for Young People/TEJAS, 510 E. Third St., where they can work on the Xenia Avenue Mosaic Mural, a community art project. Participants will have their name added to a plaque dedicated to the volunteers who helped with the project. Those who’d like to have their voices heard can participate in open call karaoke at the community stage, located on the corner of Third and Jefferson streets, from 7 to 10 p.m. Other stages will be set up throughout downtown, as well as in the Oregon Arts District and Wright-Dunbar, featuring a variety of entertainment.

― more ― May 11 Urban Nights, page 2

In addition, local photographers and videographers are encouraged to capture some shots or footage during the May 11 Urban Nights to submit in the 2012 Downtown in Focus photo contest and a new video contest, Downtown on Film. This year’s photo contest will include a category highlighting downtown festivals and events, and the theme for the video contest will be “Summer in the City.” Details for both contests will be announced in early summer, with deadlines in August and winners announced at the Sept. 14 Urban Nights.

For those families who’d rather drop off the kids before exploring Urban Nights, Mini University at Miami Valley Hospital, 28 Hill St., and Montgomery County's Mini University, 40 Vista View Dr., will offer discounted childcare. Care will be offered from 6 to 11 p.m., which includes dinner, for $30 per child or $50 for two children. All teachers have been fingerprinted and have completed background checks. Children must be pre- registered; call and reserve a spot at 224-3916.

And for those who’d like to get an early start on Urban Nights ― or stay late ― several venues will host events that fit the bill. The Crowne Plaza Hotel’s Stars Lounge will host “Start and Finish,” a dinner event to bookend Urban Nights, in the rooftop restaurant and lounge. From 4 to 6 p.m., enjoy a happy hour buffet of hors d'oeuvres, free to all bar guests. Join the “10 O’Clock Cast Party” from 10 p.m. to midnight for half-priced light dinners, include burgers, sandwiches and wings. In addition, the bars, restaurants and nightclubs in the Oregon Arts District and throughout downtown will keep the Urban Nights party going past 10 p.m. Click here for a complete list of downtown’s nightlife hotspots.

A weekend-long event also will open during Urban Nights and continue after the event ends. The Dayton Circus Creative Collective will host its seventh annual multimedia arts event, Sideshow 7, at the Yellow Cab building, 700 E. Fourth St. This two-day multimedia arts and music extravaganza includes an event after-party until 1 a.m.

Follow Urban Nights on Facebook at www.facebook.com/UrbanNightsDayton for regular updates and more event highlights.

Urban Nights is presented by the Downtown Dayton Partnership, Montgomery County and the City of Dayton, with additional support from PNC Bank, Montgomery County Solid Waste District, DP&L, Greater Dayton RTA, Bud Light Lime, the Downtown Priority Board, Sinclair Community College, Mix 107.7-FM and the Ohio Arts Council.