| *** 😊Around Town: 10 Things to do in Dayton this weekend Jonathan Heart's artwork will be displayed in "More Than Words" at the Springboro Art Gallery. Contributed Credit: Contributed Fun Scrabble art in Springboro, outstanding Shakespeare at Wright State, a concert of love songs in Troy, and a tribute to movie music at the Schuster Center are among top events this weekend. Click here. 🦖Gem City Family: Unique indoor things to do for kids as winter trudges on Pamela Chandler's daughter Jasmine enjoys a dinosaur exhibit at the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery. CONTRIBUTED Have antsy kids? Columnist Pamela Chandler gives a rundown of some unique and fun indoor spaces for kids to enjoy this winter. Click here. 🎶Music: Weekend of Jazz to feature Grammy-nominated One O’Clock Lab Band The One O'Clock Lab Band, 2025. Photo credit: Pete Comparoni / UNT Credit: Pete Comparoni/University of Nor If you love jazz, don’t miss the Weekend of Jazz festivities spotlighting local talent and nationally recognized performers. This year’s headliner is the One O’Clock Lab Band, the premier performing ensemble of the University of North Texas jazz studies program. Read more about the event. 🎭Theater: ‘Forbidden Broadway’ roasts more than 30 musical shows Forbidden Broadway: Merrily We Stole A Song," an evening of musical theatre spoofs of such shows as "Frozen" (pictured), will be presented March 7 and 8 at the Victoria Theatre. CONTRIBUTED Credit: CONTRIBUTED Eat your heart out Tom Brady. It’s time for Broadway to be roasted as the latest national tour of “Forbidden Broadway” comes to town. Take a look at the shows that’ll be in the hilarious hot seat. 🎶Music: Lounge collective brings soulful vibes back to Brightside The Return of the Pack: Lounge collective brings soulful vibes back to the Brightside. Photo provided by K.Carter. The Pack is back. A sextet of soulful Dayton artists covering hip-hop, R&B and pop are returning to the stage Sunday for their first performance in nearly four years. Read more about this group. 🖼️Visual Arts: MLK’s 1964 Dayton speech inspires new art exhibition, collaboration Harmon, Reginald. "Portrait of a King." Oil on canvas, 20 24. PHOTO BY REGINALD HARMON Credit: REGINALD HARMON Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s 1964 Dayton speech is the inspirational foundation of this year’s “Visual Voices” presentation continuing through Feb. 28. Take a deeper dive into the exhibit’s art and artists. Also, on Sunday at EbonNia Gallery, “Visual Voices: Legends, Icons, & Offsprings” will offer a casual conversation with Rhine McLin, Christopher Shaw and Annette McGee Wright, children of Dayton icons. 🏃♂️Get Active: How to experience the 1,444-mile Buckeye Trail in Ohio Dayton Hikers founder Andy Niekamp began his thru hike of the Buckeye Trail on March 20, 2011 and finished 88 days later - CONTRIBUTED The Buckeye Trail is not only one of 42 major long-distance trails in the United States but it’s the longest loop trail and the 12th longest trail in the country. Read more about how you can enjoy this beautiful, historic trail. 🎬Pop Culture: Tom Hanks' connection to Wright State University Actor Tom Hanks holds up a piece of cut ribbon after participating in a ribbon cutting for the new Tom Hanks Center for Motion Pictures at Wright State University Tuesday. LISA POWELL / STAFF Credit: Lisa Powell Two-time Oscar winner Tom Hanks has been linked to Wright State University since the late 1970s when he was a budding actor. Read more about how he has impacted the university. 🥞Make a Difference: More than 250 volunteers will serve up pancakes to raise money for food banks, pantries On Sunday, Feb. 23, an estimated 4,000 guests will chow down on pancakes and sausage in an effort to help those less fortunate. Credit: submitted The Day of Caring pancake brunch returns Sunday to help those in need. For 35 years the event has attracted dozens of churches and service organizations. This year’s goal is to raise $15,000 for local emergency hunger and housing coalitions. Read more about this beloved community-minded tradition. ⭐A Day in the Life: Jonny Thomas Jonny Thomas is the owner of Regenerate Garden Co. Credit: Contributed Johnny Thomas, owner of REGENERATE Garden Co., is passionate about soil health as well as sustainable food and farming practices. He’s also an artist with roots in California and Costa Rica. Read more here. 📷Photos: Dayton Art Fair at The Arcade, Women’s Valentine’s Dance at the Greater Dayton LGBT Center and TechFest 2025 at Sinclair Community College The Contemporary hosted the Dayton Art Fair at the Dayton Arcade in downtown Dayton on Saturday, Feb. 15 and Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025. Formerly known as the Annual Art Auction, The Cos largest annual fundraiser has been reimagined to offer local and regional artists a space to sell their work directly to the community. Heres a look at highlights from Saturday. TOM GILLIAM / CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER Credit: Tom Gilliam The Contemporary hosted the Dayton Art Fair at the Dayton Arcade Feb. 15 and 16. The Greater Dayton LGBT Center hosted its annual Women’s Valentine’s Dance fundraiser Feb. 15. TechFest happened at Sinclair Community College’s Building 12 Feb. 15 and 16. 📻ICYMI: Fun and faith: ‘Kaleidoscope’ radio show celebrates 25th anniversary Derrick Dye juggles daggers over Bill Nance at an outdoor "Kaleidoscope." CONTRIBUTED Credit: CONTRIBUTED Local radio variety broadcast “Kaleidoscope” is celebrating 25 years of impacting the community with national and local faith-based entertainment. Read more about the broadcast’s history and mission. CONNECT WITH ME Thanks for taking the time to read this newsletter. I encourage you to keep in touch. Share story tips or feedback about this newsletter by emailing me at [email protected]. | 