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: Dayton’s Porches Become Concert Stages This Weekend

• Hidden Gems: Meef’s Pasteria, Joe’s Pizzeria, Casa Del Sabor

• Local Events: 8/18 – 8/25

• Computer Love: OpenAI Makes Massive AI Investment in Ohio

• Money: Dayton Defense Tech Company Lands $500 Million Deal

• Sports: Elly Walks it Off, Mason Native Makes Cincy Open, Bengals Open Preseason, Dragons Update

— Tom

Did you know?

Dayton’s Porches Become Concert Stages This Weekend 🎶

One of Dayton’s most unique music events returns this Saturday, August 22. Dayton Porchfest transforms the historic St. Anne’s Hill neighborhood into a walkable music festival, with local musicians performing live from porches throughout the community.

Instead of one big stage, visitors can walk from house to house discovering different artists and sounds along the way. Even better, the event is free, making it an easy way to spend a summer Saturday while supporting Dayton’s local music scene.

Click here to learn more

Hidden Gems

Dayton’s Italian family tree grows: Meef’s in Beavercreek 🍝

A familiar Dayton restaurant family opened a new chapter in Beavercreek when the Demnikas launched Meef’s Pasteria at 2495 Commons Blvd. in May 2025. The former CBCB Bar & Grill space now leans Italian and homemade, with pasta entrées, baked dishes, pizzas, calzones, stromboli, seafood, and garlic-roll comfort filling the table.

The family also operates Tuscany’s Grill & Market and Demnika’s Italiano, giving Meef’s a lineage rather than a chain feel. Pickup and delivery add convenience, but the appeal is personal: generous cooking, family know-how, and a polished neighborhood setting ready for weeknight dinners or celebrations.

Check them out on Facebook

Joe’s on Airway: pepperoni cups, scratch dough, 1959 roots 🍕

Sixty-seven years in, Joe’s Pizzeria still lets the pizza do the talking. The Airway Road original at 4313 Airway Rd. has been a Dayton fixture since 1959, built around scratch-made dough, house sauce, freshly ground sausage, shredded cheese, and those crisp-edged pepperoni cups locals recognize instantly.

The compact dining room and busy counter preserve the old-school rhythm; subs, spaghetti, and wings round things out without distracting from the pies. There’s little interest in reinvention here. Joe’s charm is continuity—the same no-frills approach that has carried family traditions, lunch runs, and neighborhood pizza arguments across generations.

Check them out on Facebook

From Jalisco to Vester Avenue — Casa Del Sabor 🌮

Casa Del Sabor’s story reaches far beyond Vester Avenue. The Soto family traces its restaurant roots to San José de la Paz, Jalisco, after immigrating to the United States in the early 1970s; they opened the Springfield restaurant in 2014. Today, 1200 Vester Ave. carries that history with a colorful cantina, warm service, and cooking meant to feel like home.

Tacos, burritos, chimichangas, fajitas, enchiladas, and handcrafted margaritas keep tables lively, while online ordering handles the hurry-up nights. More than a neighborhood Mexican stop, it’s a family tradition translated into Springfield hospitality—bright, generous, and made for gathering..

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 5000+ Daytonians?

Local Events

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: Ongoing Aug. 14–20, times vary

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

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

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 

WIND DOWN FOR BLACK BUSINESS MONTH

• What: Celebrate Black Business Month while meeting local entrepreneurs, support organizations and honorees from Greater West Dayton’s business community.

• When: Aug. 19, 5:30–7:30 PM

• Where: 130 West 2nd Street LLC, 130 W. Second St., Dayton

• How Much: Free 

KETTERING BLOCK PARTY BRINGS NEIGHBORS TOGETHER

• What: Kettering gathers for free food, city-service booths and live entertainment, turning Lincoln Park and Fraze Pavilion into a friendly neighborhood celebration.

• When: Aug. 19, 6–8 PM

• Where: Fraze Pavilion & Lincoln Park, 695 Lincoln Park Blvd., Kettering

• How Much: Free 

LEVERT EXPERIENCE BRINGS R&B HOME

• What: Marc Gordon, Joe Little and Dave Tolliver revisit music connected to LeVert, The Rude Boys and Men At Large under downtown skies.

• When: Aug. 20, 7–9:30 PM

• Where: Levitt Pavilion Dayton, 134 S. Main St., Dayton

• How Much: Free 

VETFEST ROCKS FOR OHIO VETERANS

• What: Britches Down delivers country and rock while the community gathers around food, dancing and a cause supporting Ohio veteran initiatives.

• When: Aug. 21, 7–11 PM

• Where: Milton Athletic Club, 640 Cosler Dr., Dayton

• How Much: $10 donation 

GREENE HOME SHOW BUILDS BIG IDEAS

• What: Homeowners can browse improvement specialists, products and project ideas during a three-day expo covering renovation, design and household upgrades.

• When: Aug. 21–23, times vary

• Where: Greene County Expo Center, 120 Fairground Rd., Xenia

• How Much: Free 

JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP DAY FILLS FISHER PARK

• What: Jefferson Township celebrates with live music, family activities, local businesses and food, filling Judge Arthur O. Fisher Park with hometown energy.

• When: Aug. 22, 11 AM – 4 PM

• Where: Judge Arthur O. Fisher Park, 5661 Dayton-Liberty Rd., Dayton

• How Much: Free admission 

SWEET CORN FESTIVAL HARVESTS FAMILY FUN

• What: Fulton Farms celebrates harvest season with sweet corn, vendors, food trucks, children’s activities and live entertainment across a family-friendly weekend.

• When: Aug. 22–23, times vary

• Where: Fulton Farms, 2393 State Route 202, Troy

• How Much: Free 

WRIGHT WRIDE ROLLS THROUGH THE COUNTRYSIDE

• What: Celebrate the Wright brothers’ cycling legacy with supported 25-, 50-, 75- or 100-mile countryside routes, rest stops and lunch.

• When: Aug. 23, 7 AM – 5 PM

• Where: John Bryan State Park, 3790 OH-370, Yellow Springs

• How Much: $35+ 

DAYTON WEDDING SHOW PACKS THE PLANS

• What: Couples can meet local wedding pros, gather planning inspiration and catch fashion ideas—with a grand-prize giveaway adding a little extra sparkle.

• When: Aug. 23, 11 AM – 3 PM

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

• How Much: $5+; ages 12 and under free 

SCOUTING OPEN HOUSE SPARKS ADVENTURE

• What: Families can meet Troops 320 and 5320 while trying camping skills, fire-building, knots, cooking and games in a friendly hands-on open house.

• When: Aug. 24, 7–8 PM

• Where: Lutheran Church of Our Savior, 155 E. Thruston Blvd., Dayton

• How Much: Free 

THE THIN PLACE OPENS AUDITIONS

• What: Dayton Theatre Guild welcomes community performers for cold readings from Lucas Hnath’s eerie drama, with all backgrounds encouraged to audition.

• When: Aug. 24–25, 7 PM

• Where: Dayton Theatre Guild, 430 Wayne Ave., Dayton

• How Much: Free 

STATE CERTIFICATION UNLOCKS BUSINESS DOORS

• What: Entrepreneurs learn how Ohio MBE, WBE, VFBE and EDGE certifications work—and how qualifying can open doors to contracting opportunities.

• When: Aug. 25, 10–11:30 AM

• Where: Online via Zoom, hosted by Dayton Minority Business Assistance Center

• How Much: Free; advance registration required 

INTERSECTING INTERESTS EXPLORES CULTURE THROUGH MEDIA

• What: Teens explore different cultures, creative work and ways of life through media while connecting interests across art, identity and community.

• When: Aug. 25, 4–5 PM

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

• How Much: Free

Computer Love

OpenAI Makes Massive AI Investment in Ohio 🤖

OpenAI is making a massive bet on Ohio, signing on for roughly 8 gigawatts of computing capacity at a new AI campus in Pike County. The project will transform part of a former uranium enrichment complex into one of the country’s largest planned AI infrastructure developments.

NVIDIA will provide the AI computing infrastructure, while OpenAI has also committed $164 million toward programs benefiting Ohio communities and college students. The project is expected to create thousands of jobs and further establish Ohio as a major hub in America’s growing AI industry.

Money

Dayton Defense Tech Company Lands $500 Million Deal 💰

Dayton based Resonant Sciences is being acquired by Joby Aviation in a deal worth $500 million. The local defense technology company employs roughly 250 people and develops advanced sensing, communications and aircraft systems used across more than 20 aircraft platforms.

As part of the deal, Joby plans to make Resonant’s Dayton operation the center of its growing defense business. The acquisition is expected to close in early 2027 and could further strengthen Dayton’s position as a major hub for aerospace, defense and high tech jobs.

Real Estate 🏠

Sports

ELLY WALKS IT OFF FOR THE REDS ⚾

Elly De La Cruz delivered his first career walk-off hit Monday, lining a 10th-inning RBI double to lift Cincinnati past St. Louis 6–5 and split a day-night doubleheader. Dane Myers forced extras with a two-out, pinch-hit homer in the ninth.

De La Cruz finished 2-for-4 in the nightcap after entering the game in a 5-for-44 skid.

MASON NATIVE MAKES CINCY OPEN DEBUT

Mason native Vignesh Gogineni brought his tennis journey full circle Aug. 11, making his professional tour debut at the Cincinnati Open, a tournament he grew up attending. The 22-year-old Yale graduate once served as a practice partner for stars including Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz.

Gogineni received a qualifying wild card before falling 6–3, 6–1 to Finland’s Otto Virtanen.

BENGALS OPEN PRESEASON WITH A WIN

Cincinnati opened the preseason with a 16–14 win over Detroit on Aug. 13, its first preseason-opening victory since 2021. Joe Burrow played just 13 snaps but looked sharp, completing 5 of 6 passes for 39 yards.

The Bengals kept most starters on a short leash while using the night to evaluate depth before their next preseason matchup against Chicago.

DRAGONS RETURN HOME AFTER TOUGH ROAD SWING

The Dragons went 2–4 in six completed games at Lake County from Aug. 11–15, capped by Justin Lebron’s grand slam in Saturday’s 6–5 win; Sunday’s finale was canceled by severe weather.

Dayton now returns to Day Air Ballpark for six games against Quad Cities, Aug. 18–23, before heading to Fort Wayne for a 6:35 p.m. road opener on Aug. 25.