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: One of Dayton’s Favorite German Festivals Returns This Weekend

• Hidden Gems: GoChop, Q Barbe Q, Roma’s Pizza & Pasta

• Local Events: 8/11 – 8/18

• Computer Love: Beavercreek Tech Firm Lands $100M Air Force Contract

• Money: Dayton Lands a Massive $350 Million Project

• Sports: Five Legends Enter Canton, National Patriot Games, Dragons Update

— Tom

Did you know?

One of Dayton’s Favorite German Festivals Returns This Weekend 🇩🇪 

You don’t have to travel to Germany to experience a little German culture this weekend. Germanfest Picnic returns to Dayton’s historic St. Anne’s Hill neighborhood August 14–16, bringing three days of German food, music, drinks and traditions to the city.

Hosted by Dayton Liederkranz Turner, Dayton’s oldest German organization the festival gives visitors a taste of the German heritage that helped shape the Miami Valley. Expect favorites like schnitzel, German beer, live entertainment, vendors and plenty of festival food. Best of all, admission is free.

Click here to learn more

Hidden Gems

Africa by the bowl: GoChop’s jollof, suya, plantains 🥘

GoChop brings a passport stamp kind of energy to the Gem City with a fast-casual tour of Africa. Founder Vivian Elebiyo-Okojie opened the concept inside Global Gourmet at 465 Miamisburg Centerville Rd. in July 2026, pairing a bright, modern setup with street-food traditions from across the continent.

The signature GoChop Bowl layers smoky beef suya over jollof rice with plantains, corn, vegetables, ata dindin sauce, and suya spice; the Senegal inspired Dakar Bowl pairs chicken yassa with crisp, colorful toppings. House sauces and hibiscus drinks keep the journey moving. It’s culture made conversational customizable, welcoming, and another reminder of just how globally connected Dayton’s food scene has become.

Check them out on Facebook

Charcoal Smoke and Mediterranean Soul at Q Barbe Q 🌯

Charcoal does the heavy lifting at Q Barbe Q, the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern spot at 1000 Miamisburg Centerville Rd. The concept began in West Chester in 2017, and its Dayton area outpost carries forward the same grilled meat focus without dressing things up.

Kafta, lamb kebabs, and chicken arrive alongside hummus, baba ghanouj, falafel wraps, pickles, cabbage salad, rice, and garlic sauce; the mixed platter turns the table into a little sampler. Quick counter energy suits lunch, while generous platters make dinner easy to share. Familiar format, deeply seasoned payoff no ceremony required.

Check them out on Facebook

Roma’s keeps Springboro fed—and gives back 🍝

Roma’s Pizza & Pasta carries family know-how into 282 W. Central Ave., where Labinot “Labi” Troni opened his Springboro shop in 2020 after years in the region’s Italian restaurant world. The work stays hands on: New York-style pizza starts with homemade dough, while baked ziti, lasagna, stuffed shells, stromboli, garlic knots, and cannoli keep the comfort broad.

Roma’s also makes community part of the recipe, donating meals to Springboro teachers, first responders, and city staff. That generosity gives the storefront extra meaning. It’s a family business measured not only in slices and sauce, but in who gets fed.

Check them out on Facebook

THE BULLETIN 📌

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Local Events

SMALL BUSINESSES FIND BIG RESOURCES

• What: Meet lenders, advisers and support organizations serving local entrepreneurs, with practical connections, lunch and resources gathered under one roof.

• When: Aug. 11, 11 AM – 2 PM

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

• How Much: Free; lunch included

BLUES TITANS SHARE THE ROSE STAGE

• What: Blues-rock heavyweights Joe Bonamassa and Gov’t Mule share the stage for a powerhouse evening of guitar-driven roots music.

• When: Aug. 11, 7 PM

• Where: Rose Music Center, 6800 Executive Blvd., Huber Heights

• How Much: $68.50+

CRAFT YOUR OWN RENAISSANCE CAPE

• What: Makers use library sewing machines to create a custom cape for Ohio Renaissance Festival season.

• When: Aug. 12, 2:30–5:30 PM

• Where: Dayton Metro Library – West Carrollton Branch, 300 E. Central Ave., West Carrollton

• How Much: Free; registration required 

LEASE SMARTER, SKIP THE LANDMINES

• What: SCORE breaks down commercial leases, costly clauses and negotiation traps for entrepreneurs considering a brick-and-mortar location.

• When: Aug. 12, 6–7:30 PM

• Where: Online, hosted by SCORE Greater Cincinnati & Dayton

• How Much: $10

CLEVELAND FED TALKS LOCAL ECONOMY

• What: Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack joins regional business leaders for an economic outlook and morning discussion.

• When: Aug. 13, 7:45–9 AM

• Where: NCR Country Club, 4435 Dogwood Trail, Kettering

• How Much: Free for eligible Chamber members; registration required 

THE SCIENCE BEHIND STRESS SNACKING

• What: A registered dietitian explores stress, cravings and mindful eating with practical strategies for more intentional choices.

• When: Aug. 13, 3:30–4:30 PM

• Where: Kettering Health Years Ahead Dayton, 3969 Salem Ave., Dayton

• How Much: Free; registration required

TACO FEST ROLLS INTO THE BRIGHTSIDE

• What: Dayton food trucks serve traditional and inventive tacos while The Brightside marks 12 years of community food-truck rallies.

• When: Aug. 14, 5–10 PM

• Where: The Brightside, 905 E. Third St., Dayton

• How Much: Free admission

GERMANFEST BRINGS GEMÜTLICHKEIT BACK

• What: St. Anne’s Hill fills with German food, bier, bands, cultural displays, vendors and neighborhood gemütlichkeit.

• When: Aug. 14–16, times vary

• Where: Dayton Liederkranz-Turner, 1400 E. Fifth St., Dayton

• How Much: Free

MIAMI COUNTY FAIR CULTIVATES COMMUNITY

• What: Seven days of livestock, entertainment, fair traditions and family fun bring neighbors together under the theme “Cultivating Community. Harvesting Memories.”

• When: Aug. 14–20, times vary

• Where: Miami County Fairgrounds, 650 N. County Rd. 25-A, Troy

• How Much: $6+; Free ages 8 and under

CORVETTES ROLL INTO THE AIR FORCE MUSEUM

• What: Polished Corvettes line up beside aviation history for a morning cruise-in celebrating American engineering on wheels and wings.

• When: Aug. 15, 8 AM – 12 PM

• Where: National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, 1100 Spaatz St., Dayton

• How Much: Free for spectators

SWEET CORN TAKES OVER FAIRBORN

• What: Handmade vendors, entertainment, children’s activities and plenty of sweet corn fill Community Park during Fairborn’s hometown festival.

• When: Aug. 15–16, times vary

• Where: Fairborn Community Park, 691 E. Dayton-Yellow Springs Rd., Fairborn

• How Much: Free admission

DAYTON CELEBRATES BLACK CULTURE

• What: Music, food, heritage and community programming fill Island MetroPark during Dayton’s two-day African American Cultural Festival.

• When: Aug. 15–16, times vary

• Where: Island MetroPark, 101 E. Helena St., Dayton

• How Much: Free

BUILD IT, FLY IT, BOOMERANG!

• What: Kids decorate paper boomerangs with Aboriginal Australian-inspired patterns, then head to a flight zone to test their creations.

• When: Aug. 17, 4–5 PM

• Where: Dayton Metro Library – Miamisburg Branch, 545 E. Linden Ave., Miamisburg

• How Much: Free

LEAD POWERFUL CONVERSATIONS AT AILERON

• What: Leaders practice structured, high-stakes conversations designed to build clarity, accountability and stronger workplace relationships.

• When: Aug. 18, 9 AM – 4 PM

• Where: Aileron, 8860 Wildcat Rd., Tipp City

• How Much: $650

WOOD CARVERS SHARE THE BENCH

• What: Miami Valley wood carvers gather for an informal carve-in, swapping techniques, ideas and woodshop camaraderie.

• When: Aug. 18, 2–4 PM

• Where: Woodcraft Dayton, 175 E. Alex-Bell Rd., Suite 264, Dayton

• How Much: Free

Computer Love

Beavercreek Tech Firm Lands $100M Air Force Contract 🚀

A Beavercreek defense technology company just landed a major opportunity with the U.S. Air Force. Skyward Ltd. secured its first $100 million Phase III contract vehicle, opening the door for the company to support projects involving artificial intelligence, machine learning and advanced aerospace technology.

The deal is especially significant for the Dayton region because Skyward operates just minutes from Wright Patterson Air Force Base. Funding has already started flowing to early projects under the contract, giving the local company a chance to turn technology it has developed into real world solutions for the Air Force. It’s another example of how Dayton’s growing defense and technology sector continues to attract major federal investment and puts local companies at the center of next-generation military innovation.

Money

Dayton Is Building a Massive $350 Million Water Facility 💰

Dayton is moving forward with a massive $350 million water treatment project that could become the largest dedicated “forever chemical” treatment facility in the country. The city selected Dayton-based Shook Construction to help lead the project, which will remove PFAS chemicals from the local drinking water supply.

The new facility will help protect water used by more than 430,000 people across the Dayton region. Construction is expected to begin in 2026, with the PFAS facility targeted for completion in 2029. Beyond cleaner water, the project represents one of the largest infrastructure investments currently underway in the Dayton area.

Real Estate 🏠

Sports

FIVE LEGENDS ENTER CANTON 🏆

Canton became football’s center stage Saturday as five legends entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Drew Brees, Roger Craig, Larry Fitzgerald, Luke Kuechly and Adam Vinatieri made up the Class of 2026, with the enshrinement ceremony held Aug. 8 at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.

The celebration capped a week of Hall events, including Thursday’s Panthers-Cardinals Hall of Fame Game.

SPIRE HOSTS NATIONAL PATRIOT GAMES

Northeast Ohio became a national youth-sports stage Sunday as the inaugural Patriot Games began at SPIRE Academy in Geneva. One male and one female athlete ages 14–17 from every state were selected for the competition, which runs Aug. 9–11 and offers $250,000 in college scholarships.

Events include football, basketball, track, fitness testing and an obstacle-course finale, with the national showcase closed to the public.

DRAGONS BATTLE THROUGH GREAT LAKES HOMESTAND
Dayton’s August homestand against Great Lakes featured plenty of offense but a tough overall result, with the Dragons dropping the first two before rebounding for an 8–5 win Saturday and falling 8–6 in Sunday’s finale.

Next, Dayton heads to Eastlake for six games against Lake County from August 11–16, then returns to Day Air Ballpark August 18 to open a series with Quad Cities.