Local Outdoor Theaters to Enjoy this Spring and Summer

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Everyone has been binge-watching Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime Video from home. If you are in the mood to see a first-show film, consider going to a local outdoor theater. From the comfort of your vehicle, you can watch a couple of movies under the stars. Be sure to bring your blankets and pillows!

Outdoor theaters were very popular in the 1960s and 70s. You watched two movies with a 10-minute intermission that included cartoons. Most theaters had a play area to enjoy before the movie began. (Anyone remember Woodlawn Outdoor Theater on Springfield Pike, Oakley Drive-In on Madison Road, Mt. Healthy Drive-In on Compton Road, Twin Theater in Bond Hill, Jolly Roger Drive-In in Sharonville, Ferguson Drive-In in Western Hills or the Holiday 28 Drive-In in Loveland?)

Here is our list of local outdoor theaters where you can enjoy a movie:

Bel-Air Drive-In
Highway 421 in Versailles, Indiana
This theater has been around for over 60 years!

Centerbrook Drive-In
6735 SR 67, N. Martinsville, Indiana (two-hour drive)
Closed on Monday and Wednesdays. In business since 1950!

College Hill
Hollywood Drive-In Theater – College Hill East Parking Lot at 1538 Cedar Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio
Mobile outdoor projection events

Dixie Twin Drive-In
6201 N. Dixie Drive, Dayton, Ohio
Two large screens with a digital projector.

Holiday Auto Theatre 
1816 Old Oxford Road (Ohio 130) in Hanover Township
Open year round and in business for over 60 years.

Hollywood Drive-In Theater
College Hill East Parking Lot at 1538 Cedar Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio
Mobile outdoor projection events

Melody 49 Drive-In 
7606 Pleasant-Plain Road, Brookville, Ohio
This theater has been showing movies since 1966 and has two screens.

Sidney’s Auto Vue Drive-In
1409 Fourth Avenue, Sidney, Ohio
This theater has been showing movies under the stars since 1956.

Starlite Drstarlitedriveinohio.com/Contact_usive-In 
2255 State Route Ohio (125), Amelia, Ohio
Seasonal theater (Opens April 14, 2020 for the season)
This theater originally opened in 1947.

Tibbs Drive-In
480 S. Tibbs Avenue, Indianapolis, Indiana (two-hour drive)
Four screens at this theater!

List update June 20, 2022

Milford – A Great Place to Live and Ranked a Best Place to Retire!

Milford has proven to be an admirable model of a city. If you were to create a check list of characteristics in your ideal city, Milford would likely check all the boxes. Whether it’s outdoor recreation, diverse businesses, connection to history, variety of residential options,  Milford delivers on every note. According to Smart Asset, a financial planning website, Milford is #4 in the state for retirees. Factors such as tax rate, recreation centers and doctors’ offices were used to create the ranking. In a message from City Manager Michael Doss, he encourages visitors to “learn what more than 7,000 residents already know; that Milford is a great place to raise a family, work, play and retire.”

History
The origins of Milford began with a 230-acre land survey in 1788 and a 1,000-acre Revolutionary War land grant in 1796. John Hageman was one of the first permanent settlers and laid out Milford or Hageman’s Mill, as it was originally named, in 1806. When Hageman left for Indiana in 1811 the town was commonly referred to as Milford. The name came from a newspaper that used the name to describe the town’s location as the first safe ford over the Little Miami River north of the Ohio River. It was at this location that one would cross the river to get to the mills, thus the name mill-ford or Milford. Milford was incorporated 25 years later in 1836 and officially attained city status in 1982.

Get Connected
If you’ve never spent the day in Milford, the Milford Urban Trail System serves as an incredible guide. This four-mile loop trail will take you past a wonderful sampling of all that Milford has to offer. Milford is a critical intersection of eight long-distance hiking and cycling trails that collectively cover over 22,000 miles.
img_0170-copyIn 2012, Milford was established as the first official Trail Town on the Buckeye Trail (1,400+ miles). Milford is also located on the North Country National Scenic Trail (4,600+ miles), American Discovery Trail (6,800+ miles), Sea-to-Sea Long Distance Hiking Route (7,700+ miles), Underground Railroad Cycling Route (2,000+ miles), Ohio to Erie Cycling Route (450+ miles), Little Miami Scenic Trail (78 miles), Little Miami Scenic River (105+ miles). In addition to trail access, Milford is home to a number of parks that offer a variety of recreation opportunities.img_0015

Mosey Down Main

The downtown business district of Milford along Main Street offers a plethora of dining and shopping opportunities. As you mosey down main you will find a variety of restaurants, art galleries, antiques and speciality shops often located in buildings built in the 1800’s. In addition to the historic business district, Milford is also home to several national chains such as Wal-Mart, Rave Motion Pictures, Kroger, Starbucks and a number of chain restaurants. From small town charm to modern conveniences, Milford has it all.img_0372-copyimg_0367-copyimg_0360-copyimg_0357img_0351img_0347

Roads Rivers and Trails
Roads Rivers and Trails is an independently-owned adventure outfitter. Not only do they sell outdoor recreation equipment, they pride themselves on providing information and guidance based on their extensive experience.

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Promont House
The Promont is a Victorian mansion built in 1865 that was the former home of Ohio’s 43rd Governor, John M. Pattison. It is on the National Register of Historic Places and is current the home of the Greater Milford Area Historical Society.promonthousemuseum_color3

Valley View Nature Preserve and Education Center
Valley View is a 150-acre nature preserve and education facility. Valley View has about five miles of trails that are perfect for hikes and walks in all seasons.img_0149

Full of Fun Festivals
Great US 50 Yard Sale – Held the third weekend in May, this widespread event serves to promote tourism along U.S. 50.
Frontier Days – This community festival was voted ‘Best Festival on the Eastside’ in 2013-2015 by Cincy Magazine. Frontier Days offers a little something from everyone from parades, games, food, live music, frog jumping contest and a spaghetti-eating contest. The festival usually takes place the first weekend of June.
Amazing Race – The Amazing Charity Race is an adventurous way to raise money for dozens of local charities. The race is comprised of a variety of physical and mental challenges and has raised over $600,000 for local charities.
Movies on the Miami – Free movies are shown on the second Saturday of July and August at Riverside Park. This event is hosted by the Milford Parks & Recreation Commission.
Milford Street Eats Foodtruck Rally – The Milford Street Eats Foodtruck Rally is in its fourth year and offers delicious bites from over two dozen vendors. This event also offers local beers and live music.
Art Affaire – Art Affaire is Milford’s premier art and fine craft show featuring approximately 100 local and regional juried artists. The event includes live music, food and more. Art Affaire is an annual event on the fourth Saturday of September.
Hometown Holidays – This traditional hometown holiday celebration offers Mr. and Mrs. Claus, horse-carriage rides, great gift ideas, and food and drinks from the area’s most popular and award-winning shops and restaurants.

Location, Location, Location
Milford in conveniently located 15 miles east of Cincinnati on US 50. The city lies inside the I-275 loop along the Little Miami River. Milford is bordered by Indian Hill, Terrace Park, Miami Township and Union Township.

As is the theme of Milford’s recreation and business opportunities, so it is with residential options. The diversity of real estate options in Milford runs the gamut from charming cottages and historic gems to modern estate homes and condos. A complete list of amenities and easy access to I-275 make Milford a great place to live.

Century Bar in Downtown Dayton, Ohio is Among America’s Best Bourbon Bars

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Is bourbon your beverage of choice? Then you should head to the Century Bar in downtown Dayton, Ohio. This bar made The Bourbon Review’s list of “America’s Best Bourbon Bars.” This is the fourth year in a row The Bourbon Bar has received this honor.

The Century Bar has a long history. It was established in 1862 and was the former Kette & Sons Rye Whiskey Distillery.

The bar serves 87 different bourbons.

See The Bourbon Review’s list of best bourbon bars.

 

 

Dayton, Ohio Is a Top U.S. Defense Community

WrightBros 2Dayton, Ohio was named a “Great American Defense Community” and is one of ten places in the U.S. that has been noted for its support of members of the military. The honor looked at education and employment factors as well as housing and deployment support for those in the military.

Read more about this honor from the Business Journal here.

Cincinnati is a Techie City

Young couple using tablet.Relaxing.Cincinnati, Ohio was ranked among the top 10 mid-sized cities and the top 100 cities overall for a top tech job. The survey reviewed average salaries, job availability, cost of living and a location quotient. Cincinnati’s rankings came in at:

  • #9 – Mid-sized cities
  • #49 – Overall in the U.S.

The top cities for techies? San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle and Washington D.C. See the rankings here.

Cincinnati was also ranked #7 for “10 Cities that are Secretly Great for Tech Grads” per a blog by DataFox. The blog noted the city has a good balance of Fortune 500 firms along with many startup businesses. See the blog here.

 

 

Dayton House Market Ranked the Fifth Healthiest in the US

Dayton_evening.jpgAccording to a report from Nationwide’s Health of Housing Markets, Dayton is the 5th healthiest housing market in the U.S.

Methodology for the ranking included employment, demographics, mortgage market and housing prices. (Springfield, Ohio ranked #7 on the list.)

See the report here and the website here.

Look at homes for sale here.

Local Fall Festivals for November 2015 in Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky, Dayton and Southeastern Indiana

Autumn Foliage Along a Calm Lake Watersmeet, Michigan, USA
It’s autumn – a beautiful time of year to get in the car and experience the local region. Throughout Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio; Northern Kentucky; and Southeastern Indiana, there many local falls festivals to enjoy during November 2016:

Whiskey City Festival
November 5, 2016
Lawrenceburg, Indiana
Musical performances, tastings and contests!

Hearth Warming Holidays – Waynesville Annual Holiday Open House
November 11-13 2016
Shop, dine and enjoy the holiday decor!

Southern Ohio Indoor Music Festival
November 11 and 12, 2016
Roberts Convention Centre in Wilmington, Ohio
Listen to acoustic music groups and bluegrass!

Jungle Jim’s International Wine Festival
November 11 and 12, 2016
Jungle Jim’s International Market in Fairfield, Ohio
More than 400 wines and 90 booths.

Merchant Open House – Troy Main Street
November 4-6, 2016
Troy, Ohio

Miami Township Holiday Parade
November 17, 2016
1082 SR 28 in Milford, Ohio
Enjoy marching bands, floats and more!

Christkindlmarkt
November 18-20, 2016
Germania Park in Cincinnati, Ohio

Christmas in Historic Springboro
November 18-20, 2016
5K run, parade and more for this annual event that draws more than 70,000 people.

Hometown Holiday Celebration and Grand Illumination
November 4-6, 2016
Troy, Ohio Main Street

Grand Illumination Tree Lighting and Children’s Parade
November 25, 2016
Downtown Dayton, Ohio
Kick off night with lighting of holiday lights and a parade!

Christmas in the Country
November 26-27, 2016
Shandon, Ohio
Home-cooked food including Welsh cakes! Enjoy activities for the kids, horse-drawn carriage rides and meet Santa!

 

Dayton, Ohio is an Affordable Place for Homeowner’s Insurance

A Free Term Life Insurance Quote Is Only Easy To Obtain
Dayton is an affordable place for insuring a home! SmartAsset.com ranked the top 10 most affordable market places in Ohio and Dayton was on this list. Average homeowners insurance costs $258 per year in Dayton. (The average for the state of Ohio is $475.)

View the ranking results here.

Interested in obtaining a quote for your home (and auto) insurance? Contact Sibcy Cline Insurance Services! 

 

 

August Home Sales Up Almost Eight Percent in Cincinnati!

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August home sales rose in Cincinnati with a 7.8% increase as compared to August 2014. Mortgage rates are still low and the inventory of homes for sale remains low. It is a great time to sell your old home and purchase a new one.

August 2015 vs August 2014

  • 7.81% Increase in home unit sales (2,306 vs 2,139)
  • 5.27% Increase in sales volume
  • -2.35% Decrease in average sale price ($186,148 vs $190,630)

January – August 2015 vs January – August 2014

  • 7.14% Increase in home unit sales (16,571 vs 15,467)
  • 11.62% Increase in sales volume
  • 4.18% Increase in average sale price ($183,158 vs $175,802)

CABR

Statistics courtesy of: Cincinnati Area Board of Realtors August 2015 Home Sales Report

Dayton’s Carillon Historical Park

Carillon Tower
The Carillon Historical Park in Dayton, Ohio is located on 65 acres and contains historic buildings as well as exhibits about the history of Dayton’s technology from 1796 to the present. You can learn about settlements, transportation, invention and industry.

At the park, you can see the original Wright Flyer III airplane as well as a steam locomotive from 1835 and one of the first self-starting cars.

Enjoy the Carillon Brewing Co. brewery and restaurant. Learn all about old brewing methods while enjoying your meal!

The Heritage Center of Dayton Manufacturing & Entrepreneurship features a 4-D Theater, as well as a full-scale carousel featuring images about Dayton innovation.

Hawthorne Hill is the mansion that was once Orville Wright’s home. Visitors to this home have included Charles A. Lindbergh and Franklin D. Roosevelt! It’s a step back into history when touring rooms.

The Park also features the Deeds Carillon, one of Dayton’s best-known landmarks, and the largest carillon in Ohio.

Watch this video with a sky view of the park here:

Listen to the carillon chimes here: