Pinch Me! It’s almost St. Patrick’s Day

By Katie Wedell | Friday, March 12, 2010, 09:00 AM

Yep, it’s almost here. The greenest of drunken days. Lots of pubs, restaurants, bars and clubs will be throwing shamrocks on the walls and dying their brew green for your enjoyment.

We’ve highlighted some of the best St. Patty’s Day parties in town in this week’s Go! section and you can read all about them on ActiveDayton.com. Here’s the link: St. Patrick’s Day events

There’s a full list of St. Patrick’s Day themed events available for searching in our Events database.

And finally, if green just isn’t your color, check out these non-leprechaun-infested events happening this weekend. Shamrock-free parties

Did we miss you’re event? Put the info here on the blog. Green Cheers!

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Some shamrock-free party options this weekend

By Tony Black | Wednesday, March 10, 2010, 06:32 PM

By Katie Wedell, staff writer

Many bars are having St. Patrick’s Day warmups this weekend complete with green beers and shamrocks galore. Learn more about St. Patty’s Day related events

But for the non-Irish, or anyone looking for something different this weekend, these bar best bets are great alternatives to bagpipes and Blarney Stones.

A.B.C. (Anything But Clothes) Party

That’s right, come one, come all, but don’t come in clothes to Atmosphere this Friday. But please come with something covering your skin. It’s time to get creative! Wear a box, a curtain, a whole roll of duct tape - whatever! - as long as it’s not clothing. Drink specials include $5 all-you-can-drink well drinks and drafts until midnight and body shots with the Elite Hotties. They’re also advertising a special guest DJ, identity unknown.

• Where: Atmosphere Night Club, 507 Miamisburg Centerville Road, Dayton
• When: 10 p.m. Friday, March 12
• The bite: $5 for all-you-can-drink promotion. 18 and up to get in, 21 and up to drink. Bottle service and VIP tables available. Call (937) 433-3996 for more information.

Party with “Blaze One Records”

The 88 Club will be the place to party with Fat Josh and “Blaze One Records” Friday night. UFC fighter Jody Poff will be there along with YoungBlaze, The Original Get Money Boys and many more performers from around Ohio. Get there early for their “Off The Hook” Happy Hour with specials including $2 domestic beer, $3 import beer and $3 well drinks from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

• Where: The 88 Club, 219 N Patterson Blvd., Dayton
• When: 10 p.m. Friday, March 12
• The bite: $5, ladies 18 and up, guys 21 and up.

Alice in Wonderland costume party

Dress as a cat, a queen, a rabbit, or a mad man in a hat! There will be prizes for the best costumes and drink specials all night. If you haven’t been to Top Dog in a while, now is the time to check out this not new, but improving watering hole.

• Where: Top Dog Saloon, 308 W. Main. St., Fairborn
• When: 9 p.m., Saturday, March 13
• The bite: No cover, call (937) 878-4430 for more information

CONTACT this reporter at (937) 225-2124 or kwedell@coxohio.com

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Some mad, mad parties this weekend

By Tony Black | Tuesday, March 2, 2010, 06:48 PM

By Katie Wedell, Staff Writer

It’s a mad, mad world, and we’re happy to party in it. We think the Mad Hatter would approve of these unusual bar best bets.

Mad Hatter Unbirthday Tea Party

Vex is celebrating the release of “Alice in Wonderland” with a mad costume party. Get dressed up for a tea party full of cats, queens, rabbits, mad hatters and maybe an Alice or two. Everybody will be on the dance floor as DJ Kris, Matt Freeman and Infidel-icious spin Darkwave, Goth, Industrial and more.

• Where: Club Vex, 101 S. St. Clair St., Dayton
• When: 9 p.m. Friday, March 5
• The bite: 18-20 $5, 21 and up $3, ladies get in free before midnight, so don’t be late! More info at www.myspace.com/nightofsyn.

Wet ‘n’ Wild Party

Local colleges are already on Spring Break, and you know what that means - wet T-shirt contest time. If you couldn’t get away to Cancun or Miami, don’t worry. South Beach is bringing the college spring break atmosphere to Dayton. South Beach is giving away $350 to the sexy wet T-shirt contest winner this Friday. Plus dance music with DJ Chris Rock, $2 Jello shots, body shots, and a merchandise giveaway with the Splash Hotties.

• Where: South Beach, 729 Lyons Road, Centerville
• When: 9 p.m. Friday, March 5
• The bite: Must be 18, cover charge info and more at (937) 439-9040, www.southbeachdayton.com or www.splashhotties.com.

Pub Crawl

Boston’s is hosting a second Dayton City Pub Crawl this Saturday. The bus will be starting at Boston’s and making stops at One Eyed Jacks, Fox & Hound, Harrigan’s, Chappys, South Park Tavern and then ending up back at Boston’s.

• Where: Boston’s Bistro and Pub, 7500 N. Main St., Dayton
• When: Saturday, March 6, beginning at noon.
• The bite: $25, call (937) 461-1002 to reserve your seat on the bus.

CONTACT THIS REPORTER at (937) 225-2124 or kwedell@coxohio.com. Tell us about your bar and club events at activedayton@coxohio.com

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Cure your winter blues with a bikini contest and some mini-golf

By Tony Black | Tuesday, February 23, 2010, 05:58 PM

By Katie Wedell, Staff Writer

Yes, it’s still February, and yes it’s still cold outside. But the continuing winter weather doesn’t mean you have to settle for a boring weekend. Head out to one of these bar best bets and cure your winter blues.

Pre Spring Break Party

Can’t wait to escape the cold and unwind this Spring Break? Then don’t. South Beach Night Club is bringing Spring Break to you this weekend. They’re holding a hot bikini contest where the crowd will pick the winner of a $250 grand prize. Music with DJ Chris Rock and body shots with the Splash Hotties.

• Where: South Beach Night Club, 729 Lyons Road, Dayton
• When: 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 26
• The bite: 18 and up, call (937) 439-9040 for cover charge info.

CEOs and Office Hoes Party

It’s a college standby for a reason. There’s something very naughty about getting dressed up for the office - in an outfit HR would definitely not approve of! Atmosphere is offering a $5 all-you-can-drink-until-midnight special, plus $2 well drinks and draft beers for those dressed for the theme. A reminder that females certainly can and should be CEOs, and we think it would be way funnier to see guys dressed as office hoes.

• Where: Atmosphere, 507 Miamisburg-Centerville Road, Centerville
• When: 10 p.m., Friday, Feb. 26
• The bite: Call (937) 433-3996 for cover charge information.

12th Annual Bud Light Barstool Open

Play some putt-putt and help raise money for United Rehabilitation Services this weekend. Holes will be set up at nine different bars in North Dayton: Bunkers, Heroes & Legends, Hinders, Jackass Flats, Little York Tavern, Oscar’s, Shiloh Athletic Club, Tony’s and Wings. With 96 teams already polishing their putters, the event has raised more than $17,000 already.

• Where: Various bars, see description above
• When: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 27
• The bite: Free to watch, $180 per four-person team to play. There were only a few team spots open as of Tuesday. Call Heroes & Legends at (937) 241-3932 for sign-up information.

CONTACT this reporter at (937) 225-2124 or kwedell@coxohio.com. Got upcoming bar events? Send ‘em to us at activedayton@coxohio.com.

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Will you be celebrating the margarita?

By Alexis Larsen | Sunday, February 21, 2010, 07:30 PM

Feb. 22 marks a day of celebration for the most popular cocktail in the U.S. — the Margarita. National Margarita Day celebrates the tasty tequila based concoction. Here are a few impressive facts about this classic cocktail:

The Margarita was the most popularly ordered drink in 2008, representing 18% of all mixed drink sales in the U.S. The Martini, Rum and Cokes, Vodka and Tonics, and the Cosmopolitan all came after. (Source: Cheers On-Premise Handbook 2008)

On average, Americans consume a whopping 185,000 Margaritas per hour. (Source: Brown-Forman, 2008)

The U.S. is the number one tequila market. (Source: Cheers On-Premise Handbook 2008)

If you enjoy your cocktails, there is only one way to really celebrate the day right and that would be with a margarita in hand.

Looking for places to go order a good margarita out? Here is a link to our five top margaritas.

Looking to mix a margarita from the comfort of your own home? Here’s the “Classic Margarita” courtesy of the “Mr. Boston Official Bartender’s Guide.”

Ingredients: 1 1/2 oz. tequila, 1 oz. Cointreau, 1/2 oz. lime juice, lime wedge, for garnish

Instructions: Shake the tequila, Cointreau and lime juice with ice and strain into a salt-rimmed cocktail glass, or a salt-rimmed ice-filled margarita glass. Garnish with lime.

If you have an interesting recipe that’s a variation on the classic margarita, we’d love to hear about it. Ditto if you know of any places that mix a killer margarita in or out of town.

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Become a star just by going to the bar

By Tony Black | Tuesday, February 16, 2010, 07:51 PM

By Katie Wedell

Some of the world’s biggest future stars may be hiding right here in the Miami Valley. Show off your hidden talents on the mic - or the pole - at these bar best bets this weekend.

The Great Guinness Toast at Dublin Pub

Be part of a nationwide effort to break a Guinness Book World Record and drink some beer in the process. Hundreds of thousands of people across the nation will participate in the 2010 Guinness Toast by toasting in unison at 11 p.m. Prior to the big moment, help pick the 2010 Guinness Toastmaster. Toaster candidates will present their best toast, and audience applause will choose a winner.

After being crowned and leading the Dublin Pub into history with the big toast, the winner will also get a three day, two night trip to Las Vegas and a $100 gift card to Dublin Pub. Prizes will also be awarded for second and third place. Plus music by Roger Drawdy and The Firestarters.

• Where: Dublin Pub, 300 Wayne Ave., Dayton
• When: Friday, Feb. 19, crowning of the Toastmaster at 10 p.m., the toast at 11 p.m.
• The bite: Free, must be 21 to participate

Rock ‘N Pole at South Beach

This one is pretty simple. The girl that “rocks the pole” the best (based on audience applause) wins $250 cash and, well, fame - for the night at least. RSVP to this event at www.myspace.com/southbeachclub to be entered into giveaways throughout the night.

• Where: South Beach Nite Club, 729 Lyons Road (Washington Park Plaza), Centerville
• When: 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 19
• The bite: Call (937) 439-9040 for more information. 18 and up welcome.

“Gem City Idol” at The 88 Club

The 88 Club is holding a second round of auditions Monday for the “Gem City Idol” competition. They’re calling it “Dayton’s Next Great Singing Competition” and say they are looking for the best R&B singers and groups in Dayton. Auditions began Feb. 15 and continue Feb. 22.

Participants will perform before a panel of four judges, and finalists will perform Saturday, Feb. 27. The winner gets the grand prize of $500 and the opportunity to perform at both The 88 Club and the Club 1700 (formerly know as Santana’s Cafe) at 135 E. Third St. in Dayton. All performers must be at least 21 years of age with proper ID.

• Where: The 88 Club, 219 N. Patterson Blvd., Dayton
• When: 6 p.m. - 9 p.m., Monday, Feb. 22
• The bite: $10 entry fee. Part of the proceeds will be donated to the Dayton chapter of the American Red Cross for the Haiti relief fund. For more information, contact esther@the88club.com.

Dayton Icon continues at Fox and Hound

If Beavercreek is more your neck of the woods, check out the singers competing for glory in the Dayton Icon karaoke contest. Three singers are eliminated each Monday leading up to the semi-finals starting March 15. Auditions are over, but you can sit back and enjoy some future stars.

• Where: Fox and Hound, 2661 N. Fairfield Road, Beavercreek
• When: 9 p.m. Mondays
• The bite: Free

CONTACT this reporter at (937) 225-2124 or kwedell@coxohio.com

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Fat Tuesday parties to spice up your mid-week

By Katie Wedell | Monday, February 15, 2010, 08:40 AM

If you can’t make it down to New Orleans for Mardi Gras this week, then at least enjoy some of these Fat Tuesday specials closer to home. Don’t forget the beads!

Aquarius: Gather the most beads while singing your heart out during karaoke with Rob Austin and National Holiday. Plus stuff your face at the Cajun buffet.

Where: 135 E. Second St., Dayton

When: Tuesday, Feb. 16

The bite: Call (937) 223-1723 for more information.

TJ Chumps: Ladies get 75 cent, 23 oz. domestic drafts and everyone can enjoy $10 domestic buckets from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. They’ll have prizes for the best Mardi Gras costumes so bring your beads.

Where: 559 S. Main St., Englewood or 12 E. Linden Ave., Miamisburg

When: Tuesday, Feb. 16

The bite: No cover. Call (937) 859-4000 (Miamisburg) or (937) 836-4300 (Englewood) for more information.

Smokey Bones: Our local Bones is throwing a reggae Mardi Gras Party with Seefari and ijahmelody.

Where: 6744 Miller Lane, Dayton

When: 9:30 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 16

The bite: No cover. Call (937) 415-0185 for more information.

Any other local bars or restaurants celebrating Mardi Gras this Tuesday?

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