A Night On The Town In Dayton

After a hard day out at the Air Force Research Laboratory doing scientific research - SRED - that will one day allow humanity to colonize Mars, it's good to get out of work mode and go out for a night on the town. Some people like to see a play; others want to watch sports; and still others are more interested in drinking each other under the table. Whatever your preference, Dayton should be able to accommodate. For help planning your perfect night out in Dayton, feel free to turn to our guide to the nightlife in Dayton, Ohio.

Music and Theater

For lovers of classical music, there's the Benjamin and Marion Performing Arts Center, where you can see performances by the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, the Dayton Opera, traveling Broadway shows, and other concerts. You can also hear concerts by popular bands with crazy names like Slurry Mixer and the Milkshakes (who may or may not sound like their namesake) at the University of Dayton Arena. For a seasonal night out, you can also check out the Cityfolk music festival and the Winter Guard International Championships, which sees military bands competing against one another.

For those who are interested in theater, film, or dance, there are a number of venues in Dayton that give regular performances. The Victoria Theater downtown holds ballet, musicals, and classic film showings, so it's where you want to go if you've just heard of an old film about boys growing up with sling ropes and tree houses or a British classic. The Dayton Playhouse also hosts numerous events in various entertainment genres and the nearby Loft Theater has its own theater company. The Pontecorvo Ballet Studio has two companies, one specializing in ballet, the other in progressive dance.

Sports

If you'd rather drink a vat of effluent treatment chemical than sit around watching sissies wail at each other for three hours, than you'll be happy to know that Dayton has a full compliment of college and professional sports teams whose games you can go to instead. The University of Dayton Flyers and the Wright State University Raiders are competitive in men's and women's basketball, baseball, soccer, and softball. The Dayton Dragons, a minor league baseball team affiliated with the Cincinnati Reds, regularly sells out games while the minor league hockey Dayton Bombers continue to struggle to fill seats at their home games. Football fans can take in a Dayton Flyers game or try something new and attend a game by the Dayton Diamonds, a women's football team.

Food and Liquor

What night out would be complete without a great meal and a couple of drinks? If you plan on drinking so much you need a strapping system to hold you in your chair, you'll find some great pubs in the Oregon District. There are also numerous nightclubs, so if you want to go dancing you should probably go there before you get too wasted. If you want to put some food in your belly while you're out, Dayton is home to several well-known pizza chains like Cassano's and Mario's Piazza. There's also the Mexican chain Hot Head Burritos and Super Subbys, which specializes in sandwiches and chili.