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: Kroger Will Now Deliver Your Entire Grocery List

• Hidden Gems: Dayton Beer Company, Salt Block Biscuit Co., Winds Café

• Local Events: 9/30 – 10/7

• Computer Love: Dayton’s Biggest Tech Event of the Year

• Money: Dayton Breaks Ground on $70M Innovation Hub

• Sports: Reds clinch wild card, Broncos throttle Bengals, Bearcats stun Kansas

— Tom

Did you know?

Kroger Will Now Deliver Your Entire Grocery List Through DoorDash 🛒 

Starting Wednesday, Kroger shoppers can order their entire grocery list through DoorDash not just prepared meals or flowers. The expansion, which includes Kroger owned brands like Ralphs, Harris Teeter, and Fred Meyer, means customers can now get everything from milk and produce to household essentials delivered straight to their door.

Kroger says home delivery is becoming a key part of how people shop, and partnering with DoorDash gives millions of customers an easier, faster way to stock up without leaving home.

Hidden Gems

36 Taps & Ballpark Views—Dayton Beer Co. 🍺

At 41 Madison St. in downtown Dayton, Dayton Beer Co. pairs a European-style beer hall with a humming production brewery. Clinks echo off reclaimed cedar and stainless tanks while 36 taps pour DBC standards and Ohio guest beers; in season, the rooftop adds sky views and a breeze, just steps from Day Air Ballpark.

Core pours include Oregon Alley IPA, Gem City Light, and Roof Juice. The kitchen flows with shareables—pretzel knots with beer cheese, smoked wings, tacos, and square-cut flatbread pizzas. Founded by brewer Peter Hilgeman in 2012—the city’s first locally owned brewery in 50 years—DBC keeps the momentum going.

Check them out on Facebook

Butter, Pyrex & Fire Blocks charm 🍰

Owner-baker Justin Mohler built Salt Block Biscuit Co. as a memory box—Pyrex on the shelves, family photos on the wall, and the aroma of butter drifting to the sidewalk. In the Fire Blocks District at 115 E. Third St., the 950-square-foot room keeps conversation close and the pastry case closer.

The board skews playful: open-faced biscuit sandwiches (Early Bright, the Sow), biscuits & sausage gravy, and curveballs like Cheeseburger Lasagna or seafood corn chowder over a toasted biscuit. Cakes, cobblers, and cookies rotate with the seasons; coffee keeps pace. Small, cozy, and proudly Dayton, with easy online ordering for dine-in or carryout.

Check them out on Facebook

Seasonal spirit in Yellow Springs 🥩

Menus here move with the farms. At 215 Xenia Ave in Yellow Springs, Winds Café has been crafting seasonal plates since 1977, long before “farm-to-table” was a buzzword. Co-owner Mary Kay Smith and chef/co-owner Roland Eliason keep things lively: charcuterie with house terrines, a crisp Roma Crunch Caesar with white anchovies, and rotating mains like Braised Labelle Duck & succotash or Creole Roasted Trout with pecan cornbread stuffing.

The room hums through lunch, dinner, and even an after-hours bar window, with wines and cocktails to match. It’s a village anchor—refined yet relaxed, and a perfect stop after a stroll downtown.

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 3500+ Daytonians?

Local Events

MANHATTAN SHORT FILM FESTIVAL (WCPL)

• What: Watch and vote on 10 Oscar-qualifying shorts with your neighbors.

• When: September 30, 2–4:30 PM

• Where: Woodbourne Library, 6060 Far Hills Ave, Centerville

• How Much: Free (registration requested)

JEANNE PHILLIPS TRIO AT WHISPERZ

• What: Jazz trio grooves and midweek wine specials to close out the month.

• When: September 30, 6–9 PM

• Where: Whisperz Speakeasy, 926 Watertower Ln, West Carrollton

• How Much: Free

SINCLAIR GALLERIES: DING CHAO & TRONSOR

• What: Dual exhibitions—Chao Ding’s “The Dialogue” and John Tronsor’s “limen series”.

• When: October 1, 8 AM – 6 PM

• Where: Galleries at Sinclair College, 444 W Third St (Bldg. 13), Dayton

• How Much: Free

FAIRBORN FARMERS MARKET

• What: Midweek market with produce, baked goods, flowers, and local makers.

• When: October 1, 10 AM – 1 PM

• Where: Main St & Grand Ave (Fifth-Third Commons), Fairborn

• How Much: Free

NEW TO TECH (PUBLIC MEETUP)

• What: Beginner-friendly software dev fundamentals, career tips, and Q&A.

• When: October 2, 6 PM – 8 PM

• Where: The Hub Powered by PNC, 31 S Main St, Dayton

• How Much: Free

OPEN MIC NIGHT AT THE BARREL HOUSE

• What: Sign up, grab the mic—music, comedy, and community vibes.

• When: October 2, 7:30 PM – 10:30 PM

• Where: The Barrel House, 417 E Third St, Dayton

• How Much: Free

HAPPY HOUR PAINT-IN @ K12

• What: Two-hour guided painting sessions; sip-and-create your fall masterpiece.

• When: October 3, 4 PM – 6 PM

• Where: K12 Gallery & TEJAS, 341 S Jefferson St, Dayton

• How Much: $30

DAYTON CONTRA / BARN DANCE

• What: Easy lesson, live old-time band, and community dancing. No partner needed—just comfy shoes and a smile.

• When: October 3, 7 PM – 10:30 PM

• Where: Michael Solomon Pavilion, 2917 Berkley St, Kettering

• How Much: $7–$10

FLAVORS OF FALL AT SUNWATCH

• What: Hands-on history and autumn activities at Dayton’s prehistoric 800-year-old village site; family-friendly demos all day.

• When: October 4, 10 AM – 4 PM

• Where: SunWatch Indian Village, 2301 W River Rd, Dayton

• How Much: Included with admission

DAYTON HOME + DESIGN SHOW

• What: Builders, décor pros, demos, and inspiration for every room.

• When: October 4 – 5; Sat 10 AM – 6 PM, Sun 10 AM – 4 PM

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

• How Much: $10+

WAGNER SUBARU OUTDOOR EXPERIENCE

• What: Two-day outdoor adventure fest with try-it activities, camping, live music, and gear demos—Dayton’s big fall play day.

• When: October 4–5; Sat 11 AM – 10 PM, Sun 11 AM – 5 PM

• Where: Eastwood MetroPark, 1385 Harshman Rd, Dayton

• How Much: Free

OREGON DISTRICT RECORD FAIR

• What: 20+ vinyl vendors line Fifth Street between Omega Music and Blind Rage. Flip, find grails, meet local shops.

• When: October 5, 11 AM – 4 PM

• Where: Oregon District (5th Street), 318 E 5th St, Dayton

• How Much: Free

YOU CAN’T POUR FROM AN EMPTY CUP

• What: ADAMHS leads a practical self-care workshop before World Mental Health Day. Learn stress signs, burnout monitoring, and build a personal plan.

• When: October 6, 10 AM – 12 PM

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

• How Much: Free

COSPLAY FESTIVAL @ BUSHIDO RAMEN

• What: All-ages cosplay hangout with prizes, vendors, and ramen vibes—costumes encouraged.

• When: October 6, 4 PM – 8 PM

• Where: Bushido Ramen, 2607 Wilmington Pike, Kettering

• How Much: Free

DAYTON CAREER FAIR @ MARRIOTT

• What: Meet hiring managers across industries; bring résumés and dress to impress. On-site interviews and immediate openings.

• When: October 7, 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM

• Where: Marriott at the University of Dayton, 1414 S Patterson Blvd, Dayton

• How Much: Free

CODE FOR DAYTON: CIVIC HACK NIGHT

• What: Monthly civic tech meetup. Share ideas, then collaborate on community data projects in a friendly hack-night format.

• When: October 7, 6 PM – 8 PM

• Where: The Hub Powered by PNC, 31 S Main St, Dayton

• How Much: Free

Computer Love

Future Forward: Dayton’s Biggest Tech Event of the Year Lands November 12 💻

The 19th annual Taste of IT Conference returns to the Sinclair Conference Center on November 12, 2025, bringing together tech leaders, innovators, and problem-solvers for a full day focused on the future. With the theme “Future Forward,” this year’s event dives into what’s next in cybersecurity, cloud computing, leadership, and data innovation through expert-led sessions, hands-on workshops, and networking opportunities.

More than 200 professionals are already registered, and with 338 spots remaining, it’s the go-to place to explore new technologies, spark collaborations, and gain insights you can put into action right away.

Click here for more info

Money

Dayton Breaks Ground on $70M Innovation Hub Set to Transform Former Fairgrounds by 2027 💰

Dayton has officially broken ground on the Think Dayton building a five-story, 120,000 sqft innovation hub that will anchor the massive onMain redevelopment project. Rising on the site of the former Montgomery County Fairgrounds, the $70 million project including $35 million in state funding will feature research labs, classrooms, flexible office space, and collaboration areas designed to connect universities, industry, and government.

With construction now underway, Think Dayton is expected to open by 2027, kicking off the city’s plan to transform 38 acres of vacant land into a future-focused district for technology, jobs, and cutting edge innovation.

Real Estate 🏠

Sports

Reds clinch wild card; open in L.A. tonight ⚾️

Despite a 4–2 loss in Sunday’s finale, Cincinnati grabbed the NL’s final wild card at 83–79 via a head-to-head tiebreak over the Mets.

The Reds visit the defending champion Dodgers for a best-of-three starting tonight at 9:08 p.m. ET. Probable Game 1 matchup: Hunter Greene vs. Blake Snell. October baseball is back in the Queen City.

Broncos throttle Bengals 28–3 on MNF
With Joe Burrow sidelined, Cincinnati’s offense sputtered in Denver: 159 total yards, eight accepted penalties and just one first down over nearly two quarters. Jake Browning threw for 125 yards as the Bengals fell to 2–2.

Bo Nix torched Cincinnati for 326 yards and two TDs as Denver outgained the Bengals 512–159 in a choppy, flag-filled night.

Bearcats stun Kansas with 29-second dagger
Tawee Walker punched in a 2-yard TD with 29 seconds left to lift Cincinnati over Kansas, 37–34 Saturday. The Bearcats marched 75 yards in 1:16 for the winner and overcame four wiped-out touchdowns due to penalties.

Cincinnati moves to 3–1 (1–0 Big 12) with a gritty road statement in Lawrence.