The folks who run Midnights at The Baxter are really tender, soft hearted people aren't they? You'll recall that for Valentine's Day they ran Moulin Rouge. Now, for Mother's Day, they're showing Psycho. I love these people. Oh and if you bring your mother to the film? She gets in free. I really love these people.

Have I told you much my beloved adores the work of Alfred Hitchcock? How in our living room there is an poster from the 1954 release of Rear Window? No? Well she does and we have. My point being I have to be very careful to make sure she doesn't know Psycho is showing this weekend at midnight or she'll make me stay up and go. She's already hounding me to know what Hitchcock movies the Palace will be showing this summer. If anyone has any inside scoop on that it would be greatly appreciated.

Psycho
Saturday May 10, 2008
11:55PM

Baxter Avenue Theaters
1250 Bardstown Rd
Louisville, KY 40204 

Just a couple shopping notes. I was in Dundee Candy today and saw that they have a few (new?) chocolates that are very clearly marked vegan. I knew they carried some vegan chocolates but the new signs for these dark chocolate beauties will make it even easier for our vegan friends to satisfy a sweet tooth.

The Makery, that hip little Bardstown Road boutique full of unique crafted goods, has gotten some cool t-shirts printed up.

Designed by Joseph Clagg the Kentucky Cutout shirt is just 27 kinds of awesome. I've got to get one and I encourage you to do the same. You can swing into the store to pick one up or you can order online.

The Makery is located at 1617 Bardstown Road.

Image courtesy of The Makery

Way back in March I gave you an early head's up about the spring Bardstown Bound. I hope you put it on your calendar but if not here I am reminding you about it again.

Bardstown Bound celebrates Summer! Bardstown Road and certain side streets open their doors for some more fun with an evening of sidewalk shopping and singing, sampling, and saving on our City's favorite strip, Bardstown Road. Bars, boutiques and shops host the FIRST event of the year, presenting tastings of local favorite restaurants in boutiques to sidewalk music, many other attractions, LG&E's Louie the Lighting Bug will be on hand to entertain the kids on safety. Walk the corridor on Friday, May 16 2008 from 5:00p-whenever and find Happiness in the Highlands!

Friday, May 16, 2008 marks the 10th BB and the 1st of the Year! This 1-night event will offer 15% discounts and showcase the areas most beloved businesses. Discounts on clothing, art, home furnishings, and appetizers provided by Avalon, Bristol Bar & Grille, Bearno's Highlands, Amazing Grace and Le Gallo Rosso Bistro will be featured at the participating boutiques. So shop, taste, drink and enjoy Bardstown Road. The hours of happiness will be from 5:00p -? Bearno's Highlands, Impellizzeri's, Avalon, Bristol Bar & Grille and Asiatique will raise a glass and toast another BBC Bardstown Bound Bubbly Hours to celebrate this evening and offer drink and food specials, including cold BBC Beers and Live Local entertainment.

Participants of this Bardstown Bound event will donate proceeds to benefit the newly opened Gilda's Club of Louisville located in the Highlands. At Gilda's Club you will find support, information, fellowship, laughter, hope and inspiration. Gilda's Club Louisville is a free community where men, women and children who are living with cancer, along with their families and friends, can join with others to build social and emotional support as an essential supplement to their medical care.

A few participants: Luna Boutique, Swanson Reed Gallery, Clay & Cotton, Dot Fox, Presents Gallery, ear X-tacy Records, Asiatique, WHY Louisville, We the People, Cherry Bomb, Hal-Lai, Longest Time, Alcott & Bentley, Impellizzeri's, Eden Side Gallery, Days Coffee, Comedy Caravan, Event Design Library & Emporium, Swabek's Highland Fitness, Tree of Life, White Linen Tea Company, Avalon, ArtClub of the Highlands, Bearno's Highlands, Amazing Grace, Le Gallo Rosso Bistro, Bristol Bar & Grille

I haven't written much about Derby events because you'd have to be living in a cave to not be aware of the eleventytwo million Derby related events going on in town this week. That said here's a new one on me: The Third Annual Unstable Clown Party. And as it happens it's in my neighborhood, I might just have to walk by.

Ready to Clown Around?

Join the fun-loving "Girls on Speed" for the Third Annual Unstable Clown Party.

This family-friendly event is a chance for us common folk to kick back and act like the clowns that we are...while watching the clowns - er, um...we mean dapper celebrities - make their way down our street to the famed Barnstable Brown fete!

DATE: Derby Eve, Friday, May 2, 2008
TIME: 7:00 p.m. 'til we get tired!
PLACE: Front lawn of 2026 Speed Avenue (near Big Dave's: Speed and Bardstown Road in the Highlands)
BRING: Sense of humor, lawn chairs, and your beverage of choice
For more information, please contact Steph: stephb611@gmail.com.

This is one of those film classics that I know I should have seen but I actually never have. So let me give you wikipedia's description:

"Chinatown is a 1974 film directed by Roman Polanski featuring many elements of the film noir genre, particularly a multi-layered story that is part mystery and part psychological drama. It stars Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway, and John Huston. Also appearing in the film are John Hillerman, Diane Ladd, Perry Lopez, James Hong, Joe Mantell, Bruce Glover, Burt Young, and Noble Willingham.

The film was nominated for eleven Academy Awards, winning in only the category of Best Original Screenplay for Robert Towne. In 1991, Chinatown was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".

A sequel, called The Two Jakes, was released in 1990, starring Jack Nicholson (who also directed it), with a screenplay written by Robert Towne."

Chinatown
Saturday April 26, 2008
11:55PM

Baxter Avenue Theaters
1250 Bardstown Rd
Louisville, KY 40204

I'm a fan of Le Gallo Rosso during the summer months when the weather is nice and you can sit outside in their charming courtyard. Now that I think of it I've never actually dined indoors there. Hmm, interesting.

The upcoming "A Big Night" event sounds like a nice opportunity to experience a meal there in a different way. A family style dinner will be served consisting of: Gorgonzola Fettuccine with Mushrooms (Vegetarian), Chicken with Artichokes and Spaghetti with Homemade Meatballs (from Chef Annette Saco's grandmother's recipe), salad, dessert and non-alcoholic beverages. The meal tax and gratuity are included in the $35 ticket price ($25 for Bon Vivant Savant members). 20% of that ticket price goes to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Tuesday April 29, 2008
Dinner begins at 7PM
Reservations are required, call 502-287-2772

Le Gallo Rosso
1325 Bardstown Rd
Louisville, KY

So there are a couple new-ish restaurants on Bardstown Road. I've been to one and plan to the try the other one soon.

The one I've been to is Jarfi's Bistro. I never made it to Jarfi's when they were located down at the Kentucky Center so I can't compare the two locations. I can compare the Jarfi's with the previous tenant of the space Lentini's. Well, as kindly as I can let me say that Lentini's was a bit past its prime and Jarfi's is a very welcome addition to the neighborhood.

Jarfi's has a front dining room and bar that straddles the vibe between casual and upscale. Window seats look out onto Bardstown Road, pots of fresh herbs decorate the tables and Cokes are served in glass bottles. The back of the house has a more formal dining room, a sushi bar and a lounge. I've only been there once and I ate in the front dining room so I don't have any opinion on the other dining areas. My meal in the front dining room was fantastic. The server was great and the hot brown was the best I've had in a really long time. B ordered the ahi tuna appetizer as her entree and said it was outstanding. I'm really looking forward to going back for dinner sometime soon and trying some of the vegetarian options on the menu.

The other new restaurant in the neighborhood is Oishii Sushi which sits near the corner of Bardstown Road and Woodbourne Avenue, next door to Conn's bodyshop. The building was formerly an AT&T/Cingular shop and then some kind of car accessory place. I think the building is happier now that it's a perpetually busy sushi restaurant. Like I said, I haven't been but every time I've driven or walked by the place has been very busy. I'm a complete sushi novice so I'm not really that jazzed about going but B has recently decided that she just freaking loves lightly seared ahi tuna so she's quite interested in sushi and trying more items. So, alas, we'll be walking up to Oishii soon. I don't like cucumber or avocado though I like slightly cooked tuna. Menu suggestions?

The Idea Festival blog yesterday announced some cool dining events to get us all in the mindset for Idea Festival come September.

The 2008 IdeaFestival in Louisville, KY is still six months away, but why wait to experience it? A series of unique spring and summer dining events is being planned to remind people that the Festival is about innovation, creativity and taking a few risks.

What are you doing April 17 at 6:30p?

The daring diners who attend the Lights Out Dinner at chef Peng Looi's Asiatique Asian Fusion restaurant on Bardstown Road will be asked to try something more than a little out of the ordinary: enjoying a multi-course meal without seeing it.

Diners will be blindfolded as they enter the darkened room reserved for the dinner, and enjoy a series of imaginative courses paired with wines and other spirits, all without setting eyes on them.

Why would anyone want to eat in the dark?

Ask diners in Paris, Zurich, New York and other cities where the dining in the dark concept has taken off in recent years. There's even a restaurant in Los Angeles that now serves all its meals in utter darkness, its waiters outfitted with night-vision goggles. Another, in Cologne, Germany, employs blind or vision-impaired servers in its subterranean, windowless dining room.

Those who've tried this particular dining experience say canceling out the often-dominant sense of sight heightens the senses of taste and touch.

Chef Looi is not revealing the menu ahead of time, but assures participants he'll personally present each course and explain his approaches to scintillating ingredients, spices, sauces, temperatures, techniques, and the fine balance between sweet and savory.

Seating will be limited to the first 50 people who register. Tickets for the complete meal with wine and other pairings are $100 apiece, which includes gratuities and taxes.

Make your reservations now, and we look forward to not seeing you there!

Upcoming IdeaFestival Lights Out Dinners are planned at the Mayan Café downtown, in June, and the Patron on Frankfort Avenue, in early September. For more information on these unique experiences, phone David Mudd at 502.859.1762 or contact him by email.

I'm so freaking excited for Spring I can hardly stand it. On Tuesday evening we walked and walked around the Highlands and I was yet again reminded how much I love this town and the neighborhood I live in. All that brings me to letting you know way, way early that the first Bardstown Bound event of 2008 is Friday May 16.

Subtitled "Taking it to the Streets" (I do hope someone, somewhere will be playing that Doobie Brothers song during the course of the evening) festivities start at 5PM and will go on well into the night.

From the press release some of the evening's highlights:
 

Friday, May 16, 2008 marks the 10th BB and the 1st of the Year! This 1-night event will offer 15% discounts and showcase the areas most beloved businesses. Discounts on clothing, art, home furnishings, and appetizers provided by Avalon, Bristol Bar & Grille, Bearno's Highlands, Amazing Grace and Le Gallo Rosso Bistro will be featured at the participating boutiques. So shop, taste, drink and enjoy Bardstown Road. The hours of happiness will be from 5:00p -? Bearno's Highlands, Impellizzeri's, Avalon, Bristol Bar & Grille and Asiatique will raise a glass and toast another BBC Bardstown Bound Bubbly Hours to celebrate this evening and offer drink and food specials, including cold BBC Beers and Live Local entertainment.

Participants of this Bardstown Bound event will donate proceeds to benefit the newly opened Gilda's Club of Louisville located in the Highlands. At Gilda's Club you will find support, information, fellowship, laughter, hope and inspiration. Gilda's Club Louisville is a free community where men, women and children who are living with cancer, along with their families and friends, can join with others to build social and emotional support as an essential supplement to their medical care.

Dude. Just dude. This is the weekend for you to stay out late seeing movies. On Friday you can see both parts of Kill Bill then on Saturday you can see Trainspotting. Arguably Ewan McGregor's finest work.

Yeah, yeah everyone knows the "Choose Life" bit from Trainspotting (of course it helps that it's on the poster to the right) but you want to know my favorite quote from the film? Here it is: "Some people hate the English, but I don't. They're just wankers. We, on the other hand, are colonized by wankers. We can't even pick a decent culture to be colonized by."

Trainspotting
Saturday March 29, 2008

Baxter Avenue Theaters
1250 Bardstown Rd
Louisville, KY 40204

This Friday March 28, 2008 there's a special edition of Midnights at the Baxter. It's a double feature featuring Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill Volume I and Kill Bill Volume II. What a most excellent double feature.

This special Friday edition of Midnights at the Baxter is in conjunction with the Kill Ville party down at Glassworks on Saturday March 29, 2008. So really, you can just make this weekend a Tarantino extravaganza.

Baxter Avenue Theaters
1250 Bardstown Rd
Louisville, KY 40204

I can't tell you how excited I am that the Bardstown Road Farmers Market opens for the year next Saturday April 5, 2008. One of my favorite things about living in the Highlands is getting up early on a Saturday morning and walking to the Farmers Market (often with a trip to the bread shop at Douglass Loop as well). Obviously the selection is a little thin this early in Spring but I'm excited and ready to see what the farmers have. I've been on a major cooking upswing (in addition to my crazy all-the-time baking tendencies) and having a selection of local, fresh produce is only going to encourage a further support that trend.

Bardstown Road Farmers Market
1722 Bardstown Rd. (Bardstown Road Presbyterian Church parking lot)
April 5-December
8AM-Noon

Let me tell you what wikipedia says about Monty Python's Life of Brian.

"Monty Python's Life of Brian, also known as Life of Brian, is a 1979 comedy written and performed by the Monty Python comedy team. It tells the story of Brian Cohen (played by Graham Chapman), a young man born at the same time as Jesus Christ, who is mistaken for the Messiah.

The film was controversial because of its combination of comedy and religious themes. However, it has also been very popular with viewers: in 2000, readers of the British Total Film magazine voted it the greatest comedy film of all time; in 2004, the same magazine named it the 5th greatest British film of all time; in 2006 it was voted the best comedy movie of all time on two separate polls conducted by the British TV channels Channel 4 and Five."

Clearly, it would be an absolutely horrible thing to confess that you've never seen such a comic masterpiece. *Whistles* Old School Louisville Filter: Baxter Avenue is showing Life of Brian this Saturday "in honor of The Vogue's tradition of featuring the film the night before Easter."

Life of Brian
March 22, 2008
Trailer after the jump

Baxter Avenue Theaters
1250 Bardstown Rd
Louisville, KY 40204

I'm pasting an email message in its entirety for your consumption regarding The Falafel House:

"The Falafel House Has a new chef and the falafel now is better than before i think the best in the ville"

I don't know the person who sent me the email so I can't vouch for this info but sending sparse, teasing email messages about yummy falafel is certainly a way to get my attention. I'll be checking out The Falafel House soon my cryptic, unknown friend, and I expect a fine, fine falafel meal. Let's hope you've not raised my hopes for nothing.

The Falafel House
Corner of Bardstown/Baxter/Highland
Louisville, KY

I got a press release about St. Patrick's Day festivities at Avalon. You know I've yet to go to Avalon but I've heard good, good things about it so I'm definitely going to have to make it in soon.

A St. Patrick's Day Celebration is being held on Saturday, March 15th at Avalon located at 1314 Bardstown Road in the very Irish Highlands. Join Avalon for lunch or dinner before or after the St. Patrick's Day Parade. Enjoy hearty Irish favorites of Guinness Irish Beef Stew, Corned Beef & Cabbage and, of course, traditional Fish & Chips - along with a variety of Irish beers and whiskey. Everyone's Irish on St. Patrick's Day!

Avalon
1314 Bardstown Road
Louisville, KY

Tomorrow night, Wednesday March 12, 2008 Avalon will present an opening reception for the 2008 Avalon Spring Art Show. The show, which runs during the months of March, April and May features works by local artists in a variety of mediums (complete list of artists after the jump). Artists will be on hand for the reception which runs from 5-7PM.

Avalon
1314 Bardstown Road
Louisville, KY

Image: "Red Daisies" oil on canvas by Micki Thomas

Sometimes people give me free stuff to review on this website. Books, CDs, etc. Most of the time I don't review them because a) there are only so many hours in the day b) I don't want to write any negative reviews. So if I don't like something I just don't review it. I figure there are enough things to be positive about that the world can survive without one more negative review of something. I give you this insight because I want you to understand how disappointed I am not to have received a copy of the new record by The Photographic to review. I really, really wanted to get an early copy to review so I could tell you how great it is and encourage you to buy it. I was that confident that it was going to be great. Alas, I did not receive a review copy and I've not been to ear X-tacy today so I can only tell you that I'm pretty sure the record kicks ass. My advice is to go to ear X-tacy tonight for a free in-store performance by the duo and to pick up your copy of the brand new record "Pictures of A Changing World."

The Photographic
March 11, 2008
7PM
Free

ear X-tacy
1534 Bardstown Road
Louisville, KY

PS Free things I really like include books, CDs, coffee, certificates for free meals and dessert.

Update: Not only does Cory at Backseat Sandbar want to rub it in that he got a review copy of the record when I didn't he also wants me to link to his review of it. As my grandmother would say "that's tacky." Just kidding. Backseat Sandbar has its hand on the music pulse in this city so its only natural they'd have the scoop. That scoop by the way just confirms my suspicion about the record being great. To quote Cory "you need this album."

I got a press release for something called the Kentucky Kids Consignment Spring Sale that's coming up this weekend. Totally not my bag so I'm going to quote directly from the press release.

"The Kentucky Kids Consignment Louisville 2008 Spring Sale will be in the American Legion Highland Hall at 2919 Bardstown Rd.  We'll be open for shopping on Saturday, March 15 from 9 AM to 6 PM and Sunday, March 16 from 10 AM to 1 PM with many items half-price.  Clear out the clutter and bring home the bargains with Kentucky Kids Consignment Sales!

We'll have thousands of items including spring and summer clothing (sizes from preemie to boys 20 and girls juniors), shoes, accessories, books, toys, games, strollers, furniture, scrapbooking supplies, and much, much more!  We're still accepting sellers & volunteer workers. Sellers earn at least 70% on their items and workers get to SHOP FIRST!"

Kids are expensive, so I'm told, so this might be a good opportunity to pick up some good stuff on the cheap and to unload some of the stuff your kids don't play with/have outgrown.

Kentucky Kids Consignment Sale
Saturday March 15, 2008 9AM-6PM, Sunday March 16, 2008 10AM-1PM

American Legion Highland Hall
2919 Bardstown Road
Louisville, KY

I know absolutely nothing about this movie. I don't think I've even heard of it before so I've got no info for you. I'm just going to post the poster and maybe it will ring a bell for you or spark your curiosity. Oh alright I'll give you a wikipedia quote about it as well:

"The City of Lost Children (French: La Cité des enfants perdus) is a dystopian French fantasy/drama film by Marc Caro and Jean-Pierre Jeunet released in 1995. The film is stylistically related to the previous and subsequent Jeunet films, Delicatessen and Amélie."

Midnight
March 8, 2008

Baxter Avenue Theaters
1250 Bardstown Rd
Louisville, KY 40204

We'll soon be rounding that corner, you know, the one that makes us all Irish so it's time to start making your plans.

The 2008 St. Patrick's Parade, presented by the Ancient Order of Hiberians, will be Saturday March 15, 2008 at 3PM. The parade route runs along Baxter Avenue/Bardstown Road from Broadway to MidCity Mall. Festive.

A couple days prior to the parade you can join the AOH in celebrating the blessing of the beer at O'Shea's. They'll be busting into a newly blessed barrel of BBC's Bourbon Barrel Stout. There will be a bagpiper, Irish toasts, lots of Irish food and naturally beverages. I'd wager that more than a pint or two will be lifted at this event. There's no cover for this event so you can spend all your money on food and drink.

I'm sure every Irish bar in town will be bringing the festiveness in a major way for St. Patrick's so if you've got an event or know of an event let me know.

Of course personal favorite Irish pub is The Irish Rover. The place will be an absolute madhouse though so I'll probably stay at home, I'm a wuss that way. If you go raise a pint and eat some fish and chips for me.

Free stuff abounds
I'm giving away copies of local author Will Lavender's debut novel Obedience. You've got until 12:01 Monday to enter to win.

My friends over at Backseat Sandbar are giving away tickets to the Dawn Landes show next Friday night.

Indian Buffet Battle Royale in the Highlands
Not really but that's a great headline huh? Sitar Indian Restaurant recently opened up where Ballyhoo's used to be near Cafe Metro on Bardstown Road. In addition to having a great location this place is sure to attract a steady stream of business due to having an everyday buffet. It is this constant buffet that I assume has inspired Kashmir, further down Bardstown Road (near Longest Avenue) to expand their buffet from a weekend only affair to everyday. There was a giant sign out front that said "Buffet Everyday $6.99" when I drove by yesterday.

Gigantic Government Vehicles
This is more Page One's territory than mine but I've been thinking about this a good deal. One street over from me lives a recently elected politician. Since his election he's been driving a state vehicle (it's got the official seal on it and the name of his office) presumably back and forth to Frankfort. This thing is a massive SUV. I'm a bit of a tree hugger so I'm not a fan of SUVs in general but isn't it overkill (both in terms of environmental impact and just the cost of fuel for the thing) to have a huge vehicle for one or two people? Isn't it overkill when the largest cargo the vehicle will probably ever tote are briefcases and maybe a couple banker's boxes of documents? Wouldn't a more fuel efficient vehicle (say maybe even a Toyota that's made in Kentucky instead of a Chevy that isn't) be a better use of tax payer dollars?

I probably should just ignore this issue but I can't help but think about it every time I walk my dog past this massive automotive monstrosity wonder parked on the street. Do you have any thoughts on this issue?

Like other fine dining establishments across town Avalon is offering a special dinner menu in celebration of Valentine's Day. The menu looks very nice and I'm pleased to report it even has a vegetarian entree. But by virtue of its association with Luna Boutique it would appear that Avalon has a leg up on other restaurants in the Valentine's department. Their secret weapon? For $25 the boutique will have a wrapped gift waiting on your table for the object of your affection.You can take care of dinner and gift giving with one call for reservations.

The $75 "Wine & Dine With Your Valentine" Dinner Package for Two offers each of you a choice of three of Chef Chip Lawrence's most popular menu items; and includes one bottle of wine from select vintners, Fess Parker, Kenwood, Gundlach Bundschu and St. Gabriel - or if it's bubbly you desire - one bottle of Korbel Champagne.

And for an additional $25 Luna Boutique will provide a unique gift wrapped and waiting
at the table for that someone special in your life.

Leave it to Avalon to make your Valentine's Day easy and memorable.

Call (502) 454-5336 for Reservations (and to make arrangements for that special Valentine's Day gift)

Full menu after the jump

Avalon
1314 Bardstown Road
Louisville, KY
454-5336

I know it's cold and all but I just don't see the need to name winter events for arctic animals. That being said the Polar Bear Cleanup scheduled for Saturday February 9, 2008 is a very good volunteer opportunity to clean up Bardstown Road.

As part of the Mayor's Anti-Litter Citizen Task Force and the Brightside Beautiful Business Program, we are asking you to come out for a clean up of Bardstown Road from Baxter Avenue to Goldsmith Lane. We will meet at the Mid City Mall Parking lot starting at 8:30 a.m. Brightside will hand out bags, gloves, rakes and shovels.

Bearno's Pizza will provide lunch for those who participate in this important effort to restore Louisville's historic corridor to it's original charm by eliminating unsightly trash and litter!

I'd seen some information floating around but nothing specific about Grateful Threads possibly being bought and staying open.

Teddy just left a comment letting us know that is in fact the case:

Threads is in the process of being bought and by the weekend will officially be saved with hopes of a reopener on Feb 9th with a few fresh changes many of the old store staying the same that we all have grown to love with continuing the Family Tradition

Excellent. I for one am very happy to hear this news. Bardstown Road just wouldn't be the same without Grateful Threads.