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: 100 Years of Chocolate Magic, Born in a Dayton Kitchen

• Hidden Gems: Mar’Tae Kitchen & Cocktails, Amar India, Cherry House Café

• Local Events: 12/2 – 12/9

• Computer Love: IBM and UD Team Up to Build the Future of AI Chips in Dayton

• Money: Beavercreek’s $2.1M Power Play: Defense Firm Doubles Down on Growth

• Sports: Top-ranked Buckeyes’ statement in Ann Arbor, Bengals thump Ravens on Thanksgiving, Flyers edged in ESPN Events final

— Tom

Did you know?

100 Years of Chocolate Magic, Born in a Dayton Kitchen 🍫

Esther Price Candies is celebrating 100 years of sweet history in Dayton. The company began in 1926 when Esther Price started making fudge in her home kitchen and selling it door-to-door. Her recipes, ingredients, and commitment to quality never changed and many are still used today.

As part of the centennial celebration, the company released a limited edition 1 lb box wrapped in a special purple design to honor the generations who helped build the brand. What started as one woman stirring chocolate at night has grown into one of Ohio’s most beloved traditions, still made in the same Dayton facility a century later.

Click here for more info

Hidden Gems

Now pouring in Trotwood: Mar’Tae Kitchen & Cocktails 🐟

An upscale vibe, soft velvet seats, and a clink of glass mark the arrival of Mar’Tae Kitchen & Cocktails. The new addition to Trotwood, located at 5212 Salem Ave, is a sibling-run supper spot inviting you to an elevated night-out. Founded by community builder Tae Winston and her brother Mark Lee, the room blends date-night polish with neighborhood pride; two private dining rooms and a 15-seat bar keep celebrations close.

From lump crab cakes and a deviled-egg flight to Southern-style oxtail and whole fried snapper, the plates lean luxe beside a smoke-kissed Blue Smoke Martini or the signature Mar’Tae Reserve. Open evenings with optional OpenTable reservations, making gathering the crew effortless.

Check them out on Facebook

Warm samosas + steadfast service = Amar India 🍚

Three decades in, Amar India still feels like Dayton’s extended dining room—gracious hosts, steady pacing, and a party-room buzz when families gather at 2751 Miamisburg Centerville Rd in Centerville. House decor and hospitable service are welcoming, and will turn first visits into routines.

From clay-oven tandoori and silky saag paneer to fragrant biryani, the kitchen keeps classics polished without fuss. Weekdays hum with lunch specials and reliable carryout; milestones are covered with catering and private rooms. Sister spots on Miller Lane and in Beavercreek broaden the family footprint, but this Centerville original remains the cozy heartbeat.

Check them out on Facebook

Drive-thru comfort & sweets: Cherry House Café 🥧

Morning through dusk, Cherry House Café hums with neighborly chatter and the sweet scent of baking, tucked at 1241 Meadow Bridge Dr in Beavercreek. Family owners Bill and Annette Mangan bring decades of Dayton restaurant know-how to a space that feels easygoing and kind. The pastry case and scratch kitchen anchor the room, and a convenient drive-thru keeps busy days moving.

Homestyle extends well past the sweets, with standbys like the cherry-apricot chicken salad sandwich, hot beef with smoked gouda, and grilled-chicken pasta in house marinara. Boxed lunches and party trays handle the crowd, while the dining room’s easy pace leaves room for conversation.

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 4000+ Daytonians?

Local Events

MINI RESOURCE FAIR: CONNECT & THRIVE

• What: Meet community partners for housing, health, and employment support.

• When: December 2, 12–2 PM

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

• How Much: Free 

BACK TO THE FUTURE: OPENING NIGHT

• What: Great Scott! The time-travel blockbuster lands at the Schuster with 1.21 gigawatts of Broadway energy.

• When: December 2, 7:30–10 PM

• Where: Schuster Center, 1 W 2nd St, Dayton

• How Much: $53+ 

DECK THE DIAMOND AT DAY AIR BALLPARK

• What: Day Air Ballpark flips the switch on Deck the Diamond, a brand-new outdoor walk-thru holiday light spectacular featuring over 1.1 million lights, music, and activities.

• When: December 2–7 & 9, 6–9 PM

• Where: Day Air Ballpark, 220 N Patterson Blvd, Dayton

• How Much: $12+ (limited capacity; advance purchase encouraged) 

OPENING: LORI DAUGHERTY AT THE CO

• What: Celebrate a local artist’s spotlight show with neighborly vibes, mingling, and art talk inside the Arcade’s contemporary gallery.

• When: December 3, 6–8 PM

• Where: The Contemporary Dayton, 25 W Fourth St, Dayton

• How Much: Free 

UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL

• What: Campus ensembles kick off Advent with carols, chamber works, and community singalong inside UD’s glassy arts hub. Festive, friendly, always free.

• When: December 3, 7–10 PM

• Where: Roger Glass Center for the Arts, 29 E Creative Way, Dayton

• How Much: Free 

PECHAKUCHA DAYTON VOL. 58 @ BRIGHTSIDE

• What: Rapid-fire talks (20x20 format) by local creatives; big ideas, breezy vibes.

• When: December 4, 6:30–9:30 PM

• Where: The Brightside, 905 E 3rd St, Dayton

• How Much: Free 

MOVIOLA AT BLIND BOB’S

• What: Cincinnati jazz collective lands in the Oregon District for a groovy, horn-forward Thursday night set.

• When: December 4, 7 PM

• Where: Blind Bob’s, 430 E 5th St, Dayton

• How Much: $10–$15 

KETTERING MAYOR’S TREE LIGHTING

• What: Flip the switch on Kettering’s big tree with music, cocoa, and cheery holiday photo ops at Lincoln Park Commons.

• When: December 5, 6–8 PM

• Where: Lincoln Park Commons, 695 Lincoln Park Blvd, Kettering

• How Much: Free 

AL JACKSON AT DAYTON FUNNY BONE

• What: National stand-up headliner & syndicated talk show host hits the stage at The Greene.

• When: December 5, 7:30–9 PM

• Where: Dayton Funny Bone, 88 Plum St, Beavercreek

• How Much: $22 

THE NEON FAMILY MOVIE SERIES (THE POLAR EXPRESS)

• What: Free family film on the big screen and a pajama party—downtown classic with concessions.

• When: December 6, 11 AM – 1 PM

• Where: THE NEON, 130 E 5th St, Dayton

• How Much: Free (ages 12 and under), $2 (adults) 

WEST CARROLLTON HOLIDAY FESTIVAL

• What: Wagon rides, choir carols, crafts, gingerbread voting, and a sparkling tree lighting—small-town charm, big holiday grin.

• When: December 6, 4–6 PM

• Where: Civic Center Area, 300 E Central Ave, West Carrollton

• How Much: Free 

SINCLAIR “SOUNDS OF THE SEASON” CONCERT

• What: Symphonic Chorale, Youth Jazz, faculty guests—community holiday program.

• When: December 7, 3–4:30 PM

• Where: Sinclair Centerville Campus Auditorium, 5800 Clyo Rd, Centerville

• How Much: Free 

VANDALIA TREE LIGHTING & CANDY CANE HUNT

• What: Tree lighting, Santa photos, and the classic outdoor candy cane scramble.

• When: December 7, 4–7:30 PM

• Where: Vandalia Recreation Center, 1111 Stonequarry Road, Dayton

• How Much: Free 

DESTRESS FOR SUCCESS: MINDFULNESS CRAFT

• What: Wright State’s Dunbar Library hosts a wellness craft pause during finals—mindful making, good vibes.

• When: December 8, 12–2 PM

• Where: Dunbar Library (1st Floor), 3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy, Fairborn

• How Much: Free 

KETTERING CIVIC BAND HOLIDAY CONCERT

• What: A cozy, classic band program of seasonal favorites performed by hometown musicians—bring the whole crew.

• When: December 8, 7 PM

• Where: Kettering Middle School Auditorium, 3000 Glengarry Dr, Kettering

• How Much: Free 

TIDINGS OF PEACE & GOODWILL

• What: University of Dayton Continuing Education presents a one-hour community holiday program—music and meaning for the season.

• When: December 9, 7–8 PM

• Where: University of Dayton, 300 College Park, Dayton

• How Much: Free 

A COMEDY OF ERRORS

• What: Shakespeare’s slapstick mistaken-identity romp hits downtown for one night.

• When: December 9, 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM

• Where: Dayton Convention Center, 22 E 5th St, Dayton

• How Much: $30

Computer Love

IBM and UD Team Up to Build the Future of AI Chips in Dayton 🤖

IBM and the University of Dayton are teaming up on a major semiconductor research project that could reshape the region’s tech future. IBM is donating more than $10 million in advanced chip-making equipment to help UD build a new nanofabrication lab, expected to open in early 2027. The space will let students and researchers design and test next-generation materials used in AI, photonics, and high-performance computing.

UD leaders say the partnership will boost hands-on training and put the school at the center of America’s growing push to strengthen its chip workforce. Local officials also see it as a major win for Dayton, attracting high-skill jobs and helping the city compete in a fast-changing tech economy. This collaboration could quietly become one of the most important tech moves the Miami Valley has seen in years.

Money

Beavercreek’s $2.1M Power Play: Defense Firm Doubles Down on Growth 💰

CFD Research just made a major investment in Beavercreek, buying the 4020 Executive Drive building it has been operating out of for $2.1 million. The company opened its Midwest operations center there last year, but purchasing the property signals something bigger: long-term growth and confidence in the region’s defense economy.

The move comes shortly after hiring Darrell Phillipson a former Air Force Research Lab leader who oversaw more than $230 million in budgets to guide its Ohio operations. With defense activity around Wright-Patterson Air Force Base continuing to rise, this purchase shows CFD Research is locking in its footprint and preparing for more high value contracts ahead.

Real Estate 🏠

Sports

Top-ranked Buckeyes make a statement in Ann Arbor 🏈

The Buckeyes flipped The Game with a clinical 27–9 road win. Julian Sayin tossed three touchdowns—including a 35-yard, fourth-down dart to Jeremiah Smith—and a bruising ground attack bled the clock with a 12-minute, game-sealing drive. Ohio State finishes 12–0 and advances to the Big Ten Championship vs. Indiana.

Burrow returns; Bengals thump Ravens on Thanksgiving
Joe Burrow returned on Thanksgiving and Cincinnati beat Baltimore 32–14 at M&T Bank Stadium, capitalizing on five Ravens turnovers. The QB threw touchdowns to Tanner Hudson and Andrei Iosivas as the Bengals pulled away after halftime, while the defense amped up pressure on Lamar Jackson. A timely road win to keep Cincinnati in the playoff hunt.

BYU 83, Dayton 79 — Flyers edged in ESPN Events final
Dayton led 36–30 at halftime in Kissimmee before No. 9 BYU surged late to take the tournament championship, 83–79, on Nov. 28. Richie Saunders scored 29 for the Cougars; Javon Bennett led UD with 22. A strong holiday showing sets up the Flyers’ December slate at UD Arena.