Happy Tuesday Daytonians! 

Thanks for spending another week with The Gem, where good times aren’t hard to find. Let’s take a look at what we’ll be covering in this edition… 

• Did You Know: Huber Heights is Hosting a Free 3-Day Festival This Week

• Hidden Gems: La Comedia, Taku, Home Sweet Home

• Local Events: 5/5 – 5/12

• Computer Love: AI is Heating Up and Ohio is Building the Cooling Fix

• Money: $4M Bet Near Dayton Airport Signals Big Money Move in Booming Industrial Real Estate

• Sports: A Big-League Baseball Moment for Kids, Cavs Survive Game 7, Dragons Update

— Tom

Did you know?

Huber Heights is Hosting a Free 3-Day Festival This Week 🎉

Looking for an easy weekend plan? The Huber Heights Marigold Festival is back May 8–10 at the Eichelberger Amphitheater, turning the city into a lively hub of food, music, and family fun.

Expect live entertainment, food trucks, local vendors, a beer garden, a car cruise in, and even a kids zone making it one of the most packed community events of the week. Best part? It’s completely free to attend. If you want a simple way to get out, explore, and enjoy the spring weather, this is your move.

Click here to learn more

Hidden Gems

Forks Down, Curtain Up: La Comedia Dinner Theatre in Springboro 🎬

La Comedia turns dinner into a slow-building overture at 765 W. Central Ave. in Springboro: lobby chatter, velvet anticipation, and a stage waiting just beyond the buffet. Since 1975, the theater has produced its shows in-house, drawing performers from across the country; John Goodman’s first acting job was here as Thomas Jefferson in 1776.

Dinner keeps the ritual charmingly old-school—signature salad with papaya chutney, chef-carved meats, sweet potato soufflé, and dessert delivered tableside. Big-hearted and proudly nostalgic, it’s Southwest Ohio’s version of “make a night of it,” with forks down just in time for curtain.

Check them out on Facebook

Taku Japanese Steakhouse | Xenia’s easy evening reset 🍣

Traditional instrumentals and the soft hiss of the grill give Taku Japanese Steakhouse a calm little sparkle at 167 Hospitality Dr. in Xenia. The team’s stated mission—healthy, fresh, natural dishes in a relaxed setting—shows in the easy pace: booths for families, sushi-bar focus, and service that keeps dinner unhurried.

Choices span maki rolls and sashimi, hibachi entrées, bento boxes, teriyaki plates, and warm miso or noodle comforts. Nothing feels overproduced; the appeal is steadiness. Close to home and simple to plan, Taku is the kind of weeknight pause that turns errands into dinner.

Check them out on Facebook

Home Sweet Home Cafe — Minnesota heart in Englewood 🍔

Home Sweet Home Cafe wears its name honestly inside 320 W. National Rd., Suite 6 in Englewood: cozy booths, coffee chatter, and griddle-and-gravy aroma. Owner, Brent, who grew up dairy farming in Central Minnesota, brought a little farmhouse spirit to this family-owned spot after years of restaurant work and a long dream of opening his own place.

Burgers, sandwiches, salads, and homestyle dinner plates keep the comfort lane wide, while curbside and delivery handle couch-bound nights. The room stays casual and kind, with a small-town feel Northmont can proudly claim as its own.

Check them out on Facebook

THE BULLETIN 📌

Want to spread the good word about your business, a project you’re working on, a hire, or just want to say hi to 4500+ Daytonians?

Local Events

EL ASADERO CINCO CELEBRATION

• What: El Asadero marks Cinco de Mayo with festive neighborhood energy, Mexican flavors, and a community-minded celebration.

• When: May 5, 1 PM

• Where: El Asadero, 101 E Alex Bell Rd #134, Centerville

• How Much: Menu prices vary

EL MESON FESTIVAL SEASON KICKOFF

• What: Officially welcome festival season with El Meson’s annual Cinco de Mayo celebration, festive food, and lively West Carrollton hospitality.

• When: May 5, 5 PM

• Where: El Meson, 903 E. Dixie Dr., West Carrollton

• How Much: Menu prices vary

CAREERS BEGIN DOWNTOWN

• What: Regional employers meet job seekers, including youth ages 16 and up, for hiring conversations and fresh starts.

• When: May 6, 12–4 PM

• Where: Dayton Convention Center, 22 E. Fifth St., Dayton

• How Much: Free; registration requested

VIVALDI, SPRING INCLUDED

• What: Dayton Philharmonic musicians bring Vivaldi’s beloved seasons to life in an intimate chamber concert.

• When: May 6, 7 PM

• Where: Wright State University Schuster Hall, 3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy., Fairborn

• How Much: $93+

CHECK YOUR NUMBERS, DAYTON

• What: Premier Community Health offers free cholesterol, blood pressure, glucose, and hemoglobin A1c screenings for adults.

• When: May 7, 12–4 PM

• Where: Dayton Dream Center, 2720 E. Third St., Dayton

• How Much: Free

WHO DONE IT, HUBER HEIGHTS?

• What: Adult sleuths team up for clues, suspects, and a playful murder-mystery game night.

• When: May 7, 6–8 PM

• Where: Dayton Metro Library Huber Heights Branch, 6243 Brandt Pike, Huber Heights

• How Much: Free

MARIGOLDS TAKE THE HEIGHTS

• What: Huber Heights kicks off a three-day festival with vendors, food trucks, live entertainment, and family activities.

• When: May 8, 4–9 PM

• Where: Eichelberger Amphitheater, 8625 Brandt Pike, Huber Heights

• How Much: Free

BLOOM FOR BUSY WOMEN

• What: A self-care evening with chair massages, hors d’oeuvres, vendors, beverages, raffles, and a little exhale.

• When: May 8, 5:30–9 PM

• Where: Salvation Army Dayton Kroc Center, 1000 N. Keowee St., Dayton

• How Much: $25+

BROOKVILLE BLOCK PARTY & CRAFT FAIR

• What: More than 70 booths, food trucks, and family games turn the library into a community celebration.

• When: May 9, 10 AM – 4 PM

• Where: Dayton Metro Library Brookville Branch, 425 Rona Parkway Dr., Brookville

• How Much: Free

LITTLE TRAINS, BIG SMILES

• What: Small-scale train rides roll through Carillon Park, delivering bite-sized adventure for kids and grownups.

• When: May 9, 1 PM

• Where: Carillon Historical Park, 1000 Carillon Blvd., Dayton

• How Much: $1 per rider

MANSION BRUNCH FOR MOM

• What: Dayton Woman’s Club offers seated brunch in its historic mansion, with drinks included for adults.

• When: May 10, 11 AM, 12:15 PM, and 1:30 PM

• Where: The Dayton Woman’s Club, 225 N. Ludlow St., Dayton

• How Much: $35

MOM GETS MAKER MAGIC

• What: Make a personalized Mother’s Day gift at the market, with local vendors nearby for bonus browsing.

• When: May 10, 11 AM – 3 PM

• Where: 2nd Street Market, 600 E. Second St., Dayton

• How Much: Free to attend; purchases $5–$10

DAYTON DEALMAKERS MEET UP

• What: Local real-estate investors and service providers network, swap leads, and talk community development possibilities.

• When: May 11, 6–8 PM

• Where: TJ Chumps, 1100 E. Dayton Yellow Springs Rd., Fairborn

• How Much: Free

MBAC CERTIFICATION BOOT CAMP

• What: Entrepreneurs learn how business certification can open doors to contracts, visibility, and new opportunities.

• When: May 11–12, 11 AM – 1 PM

• Where: Dayton Metro Library Main, 215 E. Third St., Dayton

• How Much: Free; registration required

NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERSHIP NIGHT

• What: Dayton’s leadership institute focuses on cultural and racial harmony, helping neighbors build stronger civic ties.

• When: May 12, 6 PM

• Where: Dayton Metro Library Southeast Branch, 21 Watervliet Ave., Dayton

• How Much: Free

Computer Love

AI is Heating Up and Ohio is Building the Cooling Fix 🤖

As artificial intelligence systems get more powerful, they’re also generating more heat and that’s becoming a major tech challenge. That’s where Vertiv comes in. The Ohio based company is investing $50 million to expand its operations, focusing on advanced cooling systems designed to keep high-performance AI data centers running efficiently.

With demand for AI infrastructure exploding, traditional cooling methods are no longer enough, pushing companies to adopt newer technologies like liquid cooling. This move not only boosts Ohio’s role in the fast growing AI space, but also highlights a critical piece of the tech stack most people overlook—the systems that keep AI from overheating.

Money

$4M Bet Near Dayton Airport Signals Big Money Move in Booming Industrial Real Estate 💰

A $4 million land deal near Dayton International Airport could signal a big money move for the region. A Massachusetts-based developer is planning to turn the site into a new industrial park targeting warehouses, distribution centers, and light manufacturing. That’s where the real opportunity is right now. With e-commerce still booming, companies are racing to get closer to major highways and airports to move products faster and cheaper.

For Dayton, this isn’t just another development it’s a strategic bet on logistics, one of the fastest growing sectors in the country. Projects like this can bring jobs, raise nearby property values, and attract even more business investment. Bottom line: smart money is flowing into industrial real estate, and this deal puts Dayton right in the middle of it.

Real Estate 🏠

Sports

Baseball Buddies Gives Kids a Big-League Moment ⚾

Kroger’s Dragons Baseball Buddies program gives kids ages 7–13 a chance to feel like part of the team at Day Air Ballpark. Winners enter early, play games on the field, meet Dragons players in the dugout, join the starting lineup, and receive a replica jersey and hat.

81 winners will be drawn across nine games, with one winning a Grand Prize ballpark party (limo ride, food, mascots, and a team store spree).

Click here for more info.

Cavs Survive Game 7, Advance to Face Detroit
Cleveland answered a tight first half with a second-half surge on May 3, beating Toronto 114–102 to win the series 4–3 and move into the East semifinals.

Jarrett Allen set the tone with 22 points, 19 rebounds, three blocks and two steals, while the Cavs built a 22-point fourth-quarter lead. Next up: top-seeded Detroit.

Dragons Split Lansing Trip, Next Stop: West Michigan

Dayton played .500 ball on the road at Lansing from Apr. 28–May 3, taking three of six—highlighted by a doubleheader sweep on Apr. 29 (5–2, 7–0) and a 5–3 win on May 2.

Next up is a road set at West Michigan May 5–10, before the Dragons return home to host Lake County on May 12 (7:05 p.m.).