My Display and Urban Nights

 My display for Urban Nights photographed by my friend Meg from She & I Photography

If you like it feel free to vote for me here

This is a last minute post but if you have time today you should definitely come downtown and check out Urban Nights. A slew of things will be going on! One being the Activated Spaces Street Team Artists project where vacant spaces are filled with art displays. I had the good fortune of being selected to participate and I created a display! You can check out my display page here. If you like it feel free to VOTE(on the sidebar to the right) for me for the People's Choice Award!

Ruck the Vote

I haven't met him yet (fanboygirl confession: I want this to happen very much) but Dan Haug aka Ruckus Roboticus is an awesome DJ from Dayton. And currently his video is up for MTVU's (not MTV because they don't play videos anymore) best freshmen video of the week.

And you know me, I love to see Southern Ohio love especially on a national level so go RUCK THE VOTE (how cute is this play on, I squeal over branding like this).

What are you doing tonight?

Why you're going to Autocomplete: A Collaborative Coloring Book Exhibit curated by Maya Drodz of VisuaLingual. You may remember my interview with here here. She is one of Midwest's finest and this exhibition is going to be stellar and I can't wait till I can see it. Here are the details

WHAT: Autocomplete 

WHEN: Opens today! - Thursday, May10th (it will be displaying till June 29th)

WHERE:  Visionaries and Voices, 3841 Spring Grove Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45223

WHY: For this group exhibition, Visionaries + Voices artists created approximately 80 black and white images which were then "colored in" by outside artists and designers using media of their choice. The resulting collaborations are varied and surprising. The exhibition has been organized by Maya Drozdz and Visionaries + Voices. Opening reception will be on May 10th. Autocomplete will be on display at the V+V Northside Gallery May 10th - June 29th.

On a similar note, Maya invited me to curate a board on Pinterest. After more trial and tribulations than I care to remember (Pinterest seriously needs to get more intuitive!), I am contributing on Midwest Makers. It is a aboard dedicated to showcasing Midwestern artists and designers and their work. So take a gander and remember to check out Maya's show!

Vote for the Humane Society of Greater Dayton

In the past, I had always put animal causes pretty low on my list of causes to support; it was still ON the list just on the bottom tier. In my mind, there were too many human causes that I thought were more pressing but as I get older, learn more of life's lessons and contemplate on my own life raised with many pets, I realize that animal causes, specifically pet causes, are really important to the human cause. Pets provide a really important connection to nature that is really hard to come by in this digital age. Pets are these simple creatures that have simple ways of expressing themselves. Being human can be complex but we can learn a lot by being simple like our pet companions. Pets teach us that when you are happy show it, when you are annoyed softly bat back and when you are sleepy take a nap. They also provide a lot of love and affection to us when we find little among our fellow man. Those of us without children, without parents, without a significant other, and/or without friends will always find love and acceptance from a pet we love and care for. Being loved by someone or something is a really important part of being human. So overall, pets help people appreciate nature, teach us how to be simpler communicators and make us feel loved. And all those things help people be happier which helps them be kinder which helps all of us co-exist more peacefully.

With all that said, help Dayton Humane Society help local animals by voting for them to win the ASPCA $100K Challenge! 

It's a competition that inspires shelters and their communities to come up with innovative ways to save at least 300 more dogs and cats within a three-month period than were saved during the same three months the year before. And we could win between $5,000 and $125,000!  Our staff and volunteers are raring to take a shot at saving more lives than we ever have before. That’s where you come in.

Your vote EVERY DAY for 12 DAYS will hep the Humane Society win the 100K ASPCA Challenge. 

Here's 5 great reason to for the Humane Society of Greater Dayton

1. Your vote will help us SAVE more LIVES
2. They are a non-profit and need your support
3. They are the area's largest NO-KILL animal center
4. They help ALL animals
5. Your VOTE will show America that WE LOVE OUR [Southern Ohio] ANIMALS!
6. BONUS I've gotten a pet from there before!

So remember to vote, vote, vote!

Cleveland: My Big City Visit

I never got a chance to share my trip to Cleveland. It was a whirlwind weekend trip that had me spending time at places I enjoyed and seeing people I love. Here's a break down and if anyone makes it out there I highly recommend hitting all these places:

Friday

• Drop off gear at Shaker Height accommodations
• Eat at east side Melt
• Go to Coventry to spend the rest of the evening
• Get a caffeine fix at Phoenix Coffee
• Wine (no dine, stuffed from Melt) at La Cave (it has a great rating on Beer Advocate)
• B-SIDE! My favorite dance place of all time. It's the best place for a nerd like myself to get their boogie on

Saturday

• Head to Case campus - my dream is to get an honorary degree from there one day
• Check out the Cleveland Art museum that is so close to being completed!
• Checked out student exhibit at CIA
• Eat at Tommy's - great tempeh!
• Head to Eton
• Go to Menchie's - haven for preteen girls but decent place to get yogurt
• Check out Anthropologie
• Eat sushi at Pacific East with my girl Nidhi

Sunday

• Go to Sweetie Fry at Cedar Lee - it doesn't get better than a place where you can get ice-cream and fries! The stout(er) chocolate is the way to go. I haven't met a beer ice-cream I haven't liked.
• Head to Gordon Square. When I lived in Cleveland, I hadn't hung out much on the west side Other than working in Ohio City and visiting Tremont once or twice, I spent most my time on the east side.
• Eat at Happy Dog - hot dog with whatever you want on it!
• See my good buddy Nick and ride on his motorcycle...still not sure if I'm a fan but I'll be damned if I don't try to enjoy it every time I get the chance
• Play a board game...I win as usual

Wait! There's More!

Monday

• Eat at my old office building that houses Saffron Patch
• Say farewell, exchange well wishes and say goodbye to Cleveland
• Tally-ho to SoOh...ten pounds heavier and immeasurably happy

It goes to show that you can never appreciate a place as much until you leave it and visit. We basically took about 3 weeks worth of weekends when were living there and jam packed them into this one weekend visit. I was in a very different place emotionally and mentally when I lived in Cleveland. There were tons of fun times but I think I was often looking toward our eventual move and not living in the now when I lived in Cleveland. But a much as I miss it, I don't ever want to try and live there again. I want my Cleveland self that I left behind to stay right there; goofing off, dancing, feeling unsure, eager to leave, wondering what I'm doing and hoping to get it together someday.

Cleveland was a great big city to feel a bit lost in. Kyle would tell me that he thought Cleveland has an east coast city feel to it. Of course that conjures thoughts of living in New York City for me. I never had any desire to live in a city like that, I'm a bit too midwest and laid back (for the hustle and bustle of a city of that size, but in a small way I think I made a go of it in Cleveland. It sounds a bit silly (especially for those who lived in NYC) but for this small town girl, Cleveland was that big city experience for me. And now that I have left, I shall never return because I want to feel exactly how I do about it now; a bit wistful and proud I lived there. Southern Ohio has made me feel more proud of having lived there too. When I tell people I lived there for 3 years they seem impressed that I stuck it out there. Cleveland is by no means a horrible place, it just has that big city grit to it that makes my small town self feel kind of cool for having lived there.

Cleveland is that, Cleveland is the; Cleveland is the reason I'm cool

- Kid Cudi

SoOh Spotlight: Four Ambition

I had the pleasure of meeting Shannon at Four Ambition's open house. It was an awesome space located in a refurbished factory building off Linden Ave. Shannon was screen printing free shirts for everyone there and he was also entertaining questions about screen printing and Four Ambition. Unfortunately, I was a complete bum and had no insightful questions to ask him at the time. Despite me being tongue tied then, he was kind enough to answer my many questions for today's SoOh Spotlight. Thanks Shannon!

Tell me a little about your work; and what do you enjoy most about it?

We offer screen printing, embroidery, and graphic design services to businesses, design firms, and pretty much anyone who could use printed apparel. I love getting to see new designs come in and we also get to help out other entrepreneurs who are just getting started with their ventures!

How much of your work is influenced by Southern Ohio? 

A ton, and we always try to get involved with the things in or around Dayton. Not to mention 95% of our clients are in Southern Ohio. I love my Dayton and all the surrounding areas!

What part of Southern Ohio do you live in and how long have you been here? 

I currently live in Dayton, Ohio and was born and raised so 26 years now

What are your top 3 favorite places to eat in Southern Ohio?

So hard to pick just 3! But Marion's pizza, Blind Bobs, and Milano's are my favorites..but the deli on 2nd street and cherry house cafe are quickly earning their spots on that list

What are your top 3 favorite go to events in Southern Ohio?

The Greene, Riverscape, and Carillion Park

What are your top 3 favorite places to shop/thrift in Southern Ohio?

I'd say Valley Thrift store, Great Miami Outfitters for all my hiking/camping gear, and the Greene for sure

Anything else you would like to share about yourself, your work or Southern Ohio? 

Just if you or know of anyone who needs decorated apparel, hit us up! And that Southern Ohio is awesome! You can have the urban city life here but drive 15 minutes and you can be hiking through the woods and connecting with nature. I think that's what I love most about Dayton.

Late Night Ode to Cleveland

Cleveland

BAM! presents Dayton's first Cash Mob

 I'm really excited to announce yet another venture for me; BAM! What is BAM!?

BAM! is a collective of artists, designers and urban planners who create installations in public spaces throughout the Dayton area. Our installations are interactive, informational and encourages positive social change.

And who is "we"? Well, it's me (Bethany of i love SoOh not so fame) and Erin Gillespie. My friend and colleague and all around girl-on-the-scene extraordinaire. We decided we wanted to create cool events and installations in Dayton. Candy Chang is our inspiration but we hope to add our own flair and have varied projects we bring to Dayton. And our first event is Dayton's 1st Cash Mob for National Cash Mob Day on

Saturday, March 24th 2012 at 5 p.m.

at 521 E Fifth St

DAYTON, OH

Here's a the official National Cash Mob logo

This is a very exciting time for BAM! It is just the beginning but we have drummed up some decent press that I shall list:
 

• Facebook: we have 32 (hopefully in counting) rsvps, 17 maybe and 127 invitees. Help us spread the word by re-sharing!
• Twitter: we've got twitter presence that I would love beefed up, so please follow and retweet.
• It's Great in Dayton: posted about our event
• Dayton Most Metro: we are on their calendar 

• ****LOCAL NEWS****: we will be making an appearance on FOX 45 at 8:20 am on Friday, March 23rd, 2012!! - Very excited about this and any tips on appearing on tv would be greatly appreciated!

This was very inspired by the cash mobs that started in Cleveland so I want to thank them for creating such a great idea. Speaking of idea, here is the sum up of what a cash mob is:

The general idea is to encourage people to go into small, local businesses and spend their money, en masse, to give the business owner a little bit of economic stimulus.

By and large, those that organize Cash Mobs are simply people trying to make a positive impact on the businesses in their communities (and have fun while doing it)!

So please remember to re-share, tweet, and come on out for Dayton's 1st Cash Mob presented by BAM!

Fusian - Dayton (and Cincinnati)

via Fusian

Fusian

Everyday 11:00 am - 10:00 pm

1200 Brown St.
Dayton OH, 45409

I might have lots of explaining to do when it comes to my absence lately but I don't want that to get in the way of telling you about an awesome new place called Fusian. Fusian has Southern Ohio love written all over it. It was started in Cincinnati by Oakwood natives (basically Dayton locals) and they now have a Dayton location. One of the things I've missed from Cleveland is the accessibility to lots of good sushi. It had so many great places (Pacific East shout-out!). But now, Dayton has a nice place to get sushi. Fusian is causal, affordable and the portions are phenomenally filling. The set-up feels very Chipotle like which is good because it's easy to get the hang of and fast. OinkADoodle Moo has the same set-up only BBQ style. I also like how Fusian serves beer and sake (very nice touch). I do have two personal wants from them; plum wine (it's cheap and deliciously sweeter than sake) and rice balls or onigiri (not sushi but a wonderful to go item that won't spoil quickly). I really liked Fusian and will be going again soon. It's also great to have locals bring more cool things to Dayton and Southern Ohio!

Price: $
Location: Brown St. near the UD campus
Building: Bright, clean and spacious with ample seating
Parking: I parked across the behind Panera. If there is better parking please share.
Food: For the non fish eaters they also serve chicken

Girls' Day: Share the Love 2012

Occasionally, I like to have a Girls' Day with some gal pals and do some sort of project. Fortunately for us, we stumbled upon Etsy's Share the Love 2012 which is a tradition of Etsy teaming up with Citymeals-on-Wheels to give Valentine Day cards to the people Citymeals' serve. Below are the results of our share the love experience.

This is only some of the cards but I could only fit so many on the table

We tired to get creative with the copy and I think we were successful! Notice the Elvis one; "Thank you, thank you very much...for being my Valentin!"...brilliant!

...

This was a great project and if you didn't have a chance to do it this year, do it next year! If anyone had the chance to do it, please share your cards.