First Friday: Moms & Grads Edition

May 2 First Friday: Moms & Grads Edition

May is a time for celebration in downtown Dayton this  First Friday!

From Mother’s Day to graduation, or even just appreciating the gorgeous weather, you can raise a toast to all of that and more at May’s First Friday! From 5 to 10 p.m. on Friday, May 2, your favorite Downtown Dayton businesses will be showing off what’s new for spring, offering special deals, hosting live entertainment, showcasing incredible artwork, and more.

With spring weather in bloom, it’s the perfect time to enjoy Downtown Dayton with a drink in hand! Downtown visitors 21 years and older are invited to take part in the Downtown Dayton Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area and order a drink to go. DORA beverages can be purchased from participating businesses and carried outdoors while within the DORA boundary. More than 50 Downtown Dayton businesses are part of the program; see a full list of locations, rules, and boundaries on the DORA webpage.

Dayton will be in the global spotlight later this month as the NATO Parliamentary Assembly comes to town over Memorial Day weekend. The community is invited to see all of the new art and enhancements in Downtown Dayton during the Local Love: Art Stroll & Business Blitz on Saturday, May 31! That will be the first chance to explore all of the new additions and improvements, but not the last! We hope to see the community downtown all summer long supporting our downtown businesses.

ART, DANCE, MUSIC, AND FILM

• Black Box Improv, 518 E. Third St.: Take in comedy from Friday House Team “Grandpa’s Scream Jar” and a First Friday Musical! Tickets and more info at daytonblackboximprov.com/
• Blind Bob’s, 430 E. Fifth St.: Lay Low, Houseghost, Sheller, and Leaving off will be rocking at Blind Bob’s! 21+. 8pm. $10.
• Dayton Art Institute, 456 Belmonte Park North: Visit the exhibitions including “Captivating Clay: Contemporary Japanese Ceramics from the Horvitz Collection,” “The Need for Beauty,” “Jamie Wyeth: Unsettled,” “A Taste for Pop: Gifts from S. Bradley Gillaugh,” and “Kind of Funny.” Open until 5 p.m. on Friday.  
• Dublin Pub, 300 Wayne Ave.: It’s Free Juke Box Friday from 6-7 p.m.! Stick around for Irish First Fridays with a Miami Valley Pipes & Drums performance at 7 p.m. and more music at 9 p.m.
• Edward A. Dixon Gallery, 222 N. St. Clair St.: The gallery has extended hours to conveniently be part of your First Friday Art Hop. See artwork from the Dayton area, around the U.S. and around the world. Light refreshments provided.
• Front Street, 1001 E. Second St.: Explore art studios, shops, and galleries across campus! Live art demonstrations, gallery openings, and new work on display by more than 150 artists! Meet our artists, learn about their work, or sign up to take a class!  Don't just see art, live it!
• K12 Gallery & TEJAS, 341 S. Jefferson St.: Happy Hour Paint In: Painters 21+ are invited to join us for a relaxing still-life painting experience. Perfect for friends and significant others, this once-a-month opportunity is an equally fun and educational experience to explore the art of painting while enjoying your favorite drinks. 2 sessions 4:00-6:00pm and 6:00-8:00pm. Each session costs $30 drinks are not included.
• The Neon movie theater, 130 E. Fifth St.: See the full schedule online: www.neonmovies.com. Also enjoy beer and cocktail specials during First Friday! Purchase a DORA drink at THE NEON to walk around downtown Dayton’s Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area before or after the show.
• Oregon Express, 336 E. Fifth St.: You’ve never played Candy Land like this! Listen to live music and complete different board game tasks at each station. Finish your candy list to be crowned Candy Royalty! Doors at 8p, music at 9p, $10 at the door.
• Sinclair Community College, Building 13: See artwork from graduating Sinclair students. Galleries are free and open to the public from 8a-6p.
• Toxic Brew Company, 431 E. Fifth St.: Check out new paintings in the taproom during the ‘Uno Mas’ beer tapping. Ask how to buy prints online.
• Yellow Cab Tavern, 700 E. Fourth St.: Join us for Knock for Six, Toxic Nobility, Stump, and Rind live! Cover at 8:30p, music at 9p.

DINING AND DRINKS

• Bistecca, 137 N. Main St.: Enjoy a complimentary Prosecco toast in Hotel Lobby! Don’t miss $4 Peroni beer, $6 classic negroni and $8 select wine by the glass ONLY at the Bistecca bar from 4:30pm-9pm. Plus, reintroduction to our Bar Bites menu ONLY at the bar, available 4:30pm-9pm
• The Century Bar, 18 S. Jefferson St.: Enjoy Lilies for the Fillies from 3-7 p.m. on First Friday. Watch the traditional Friday races of the Kentucky Derby and enjoy an exclusive cocktail.
• Club Evolution, 130 N. Patterson Blvd.: You Dropped the Bomb on Me First Friday – get $1 cherry bombs and $3 Jager bombs all night!
• Dayton Beer Company, 41 Madison St.: Happy Hour runs 3-5 p.m.! Enjoy $1 off all DBC core beers.
• Dayton Live, Schuster Center, 1 W. Second St.: Sip your way into spring at the Life is Wine-derful wine-tasting event! Treat yourself to an evening of music and gourmet bites while you sip your way through spring. 21+. 
• Dublin Pub, 300 Wayne Ave.: Enjoy Happy Hour specials from 3-6 p.m.!
• Jimmy John’s, 220 N. Main St.: Try the Toasted Sandwiches: Roast Beef & Cheddar, Chicken Bacon Ranch, and Ultimate Italian!
• Lily’s Dayton, 329 E. Fifth St.: Enjoy Happy Hour specials on Bao Buns and wine, highball cocktails, and craft beers on tap from 4:30-6:30 p.m.!
• Mudlick Tap House, 135 E. Second St., (937) 895-4066: Join us for Happiness Hours from 4-6 p.m. with $2 off draft beers and $2 off shareables, ½ price bottles of wine, $8 Old Fashioned, and $9 Manhattans. 
• Oregon Express, 336 E. Fifth St., 937-223-9205: Every First Friday join us for Happy Hour deals from 5 to 8 p.m. Stop in for some of the best pizza in Dayton. Dine in, carryout and curbside pickup available.
• RiverScape MetroPark, Metroparks Café: The RiverScape Café will open on Thursday, May 1 and will offer sides, flatbreads and desserts. Because RiverScape MetroPark is part of the downtown Dayton DORA footprint, visitors can also enjoy a variety of beer, wine, cocktails and hard seltzers. Hours of operation are Tuesdays through Saturdays, from 4 to 9 p.m., with Happy Hour specials offered daily from 4 to 7 p.m.
• Salar Restaurant and Lounge, 400 E. Fifth St., 937-203-3999: Kick off your First Friday with happy hour at Salar from 4-6 p.m. with cocktail specials, $5 house wine pours, $1 off of all beers, and bar bites specials. Enjoy dinner, too, available for dine in or carryout.
• Sueño, 607 E. Third St.: Happy hour at the bar runs from 4-6 p.m.!
• Table 33 Dayton, 45 W. Fourth St.: Enjoy some late-night pizza! The oven is on and the bar is open 9p-12a on Fridays & Saturdays.
• Tender Mercy, 607 E. Third St. (Lower Level), Happy Hour runs from 4-6 p.m. featuring half-off select Signature Cocktails, beer, and wine.
• Toxic Brew Company, 431 E. Fifth St.: Beer release – Toxic will be tapping the Seasonal “Uno Mas” Lager with Lime!
• Troll Pub Dayton, 216 Wayne Ave.: Every Friday at the Troll Pub is part of W.T.F Happy Hours: Wednesday, Thursday & Friday from 4-7 p.m. featuring 1/2 Priced Pints & 1/2 priced apps, and $4 Fireball Shots.
• Trolley Stop, 530 E. Fifth St., 937-461-1101: Enjoy Half-off Happy Hour every day 3-7pm! $3 wells and half off select appetizers.
• Winans Coffee & Chocolates, 221 N. Patterson Blvd.: Happy Hour wine is $7 a glass from 4-7 p.m.!

SPECIAL SHOPPING DEALS AND OTHER ACTIVITIES

• 2nd Street Market, 600 E. Second St.: It’s MayFair at the Market! This annual, multi-day spring plant sale hosted by the Wegerzyn Gardens Foundation will have both annuals and perennials.
• After5, 111 E. Third St.: Mention First Friday at checkout to take 20% off of your total purchase!
• The Century Bar, 18 S. Jefferson St.: Enjoy Lilies for the Fillies from 3-7 p.m. on First Friday. Watch the traditional Friday races of the Kentucky Derby and enjoy an exclusive cocktail.
• Choice Juice Boxx, 31 S. St. Clair St.: Spend $50 at Varsity House to receive 10% off from your Choice Juice Boxx purchase.
• CORPORATE, 119 E. Third St.: First Friday sale! Get 15% off from 11a-6p every First Friday
• Dayton Metro Library, 215 E. Third St.: Teens grades 7-12 are invited to socialize with friends, play games, and more from 2:30-3:30 p.m. Registration is required – learn more at daytonmetrolibrary.org
• Gem City Jewelry, 110 N. Main St., Suite 125: Mention First Friday and receive 30% off of any items in the store. All custom Mother’s Day jewelry will be 30% off!
• Gem City Tattoo Club, 436 E. Fifth St.: Tattoo flash sale! From 12:30-7:30 p.m., GCTC will offer traditional designs from our group of professional artists at a discounted price of $80-$100! Stop in and choose from 100s of designs. First come first serve!
• Mintha’s Boutique, 520 E. Third St.: Get 20% off your entire purchase when you mention First Friday!
• Omega Music, 318 E. Fifth St.: New release day! Explore the new releases on vinyl, CDs, and more. All day 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Oregon District.
• Oregon Express, 336 E. Fifth St.: You’ve never played Candy Land like this! Listen to live music and complete different board game tasks at each station. Finish your candy list to be crowned Candy Royalty! Doors at 8p, music at 9p, $10 at the door.
• Pedal Wagon Dayton: Pedal Wagon Dayton: Hop around to some of Dayton’s best breweries on the Brewery Cruise! Seats are $39.50 for adults 21+ or rent a private ride for up to 15 people! pedalwagon.com/dayton/brewery-cruise/ 
• Picture Perfect Paint Parties, 123 N. Ludlow St.: Come and enjoy our grape tastings of the month and a mini-paint party canvas. Register at www.pictureperfectpaintparties.com or call 937-265-0691 for more information.
• Preservation Dayton, Dayton Arcade, 35 W. Fourth St.: Join Preservation Dayton for a walking tour of Historic Downtown Dayton! $10 per person. Reservations are required. Learn more and register at preservationdayton.com
• Sole Touchers, 37 S. St. Clair St.: Mention First Friday to receive 25% off all shoes in store!
• Square One Salon & Spa, 506 E. Third St: Enjoy First Friday & Saturday Styles! A new way to experience Square One with Preferred Pricing on Select Services! Available only on First Friday & Saturday of each month with select service providers. Book early – appointments fill quickly! 
• Two Social, 123 E. Third St.: Battle it out at Dayton’s premier weekly platform fighter tournament! Featuring the iconic Super Smash Bros. Melee and Rivals of Aether II.
• Vidia’s Closet, 27 S. St. Clair St.: When you shop this women’s clothing boutique in the St. Clair Lofts on First Friday, you can take 20% off your entire purchase! Shop in-store and enjoy a complementary glass of wine.
• Wild Whiskers, 33 S. St. Clair St.: Shop May deals! Buy 2 get 1 free on Vital Essential treats for dogs & cats and on Shepherd Boy Farm Treats for dogs and cats, $2 off Limited Edition Spring Color West Paw toys, and buy 1 get 1 free on Bixbi cat cans!

Links & Tags

Downtown Dayton Partnership.

Downtown Dayton Partnership - A nonprofit organization that includes information about working, living and having fun in downtown Dayton.