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 

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

Should I pepper this post with quotes from The Big Lebowski? Nah, that'd be over the top wouldn't it? You already know if you're a Lebowski person or not don't you? If you are then get yourself to Baxter Avenue Theatres this Saturday evening for a big screen presentation of The Dude and company.

The Big Lebowski
Saturday April 19, 2008
11:55PM

Baxter Avenue Theaters
1250 Bardstown Rd
Louisville, KY 40204

I hate it when the Midnight Movie at Baxter Avenue Theatre is something I'm ignorant of. It makes me feel like a cinema novice.

In any case this week's midnight movie is something called Videodrome. Wikipedia has a pretty detailed synopsis if you're interested.

Videodrome
April 12, 2008
11:55PM

Baxter Avenue Theaters
1250 Bardstown Rd
Louisville, KY 40204

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

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

FLOW: For Love Of Water, a new film by Irena Salina, highlights the local intimacies of an emerging global catastrophe: African plumbers reconnect shantytown water pipes under cover of darkness to ensure a community's survival; a Californian scientist forces awareness of shockingly toxic public water sources; a 'Big Water' CEO argues privatization is the wave of the future; a "Water Guru" in India sparks new community water initiatives in hundreds of villages; a Canadian author uncovers the corporate profiteering that drives global water business.

With an unflinching focus on politics, pollution and human rights, FLOW: For Love of Water ensures that the precarious relationship between humanity and water can no longer be ignored. While specifics of locality and issue may differ, the message is the same; water, and our future as a species, is quickly drying up. Armed with a thirst for survival, people around the world are fighting for their birthright; unless we instigate change, we face a world in which only those that can pay for their water will survive. FLOW: For Love of Water, is a catalyst for people everywhere: the time has come to turn the tide and we can't wait any longer.

Friday, March 21, 2008 7:30pm
Followed by a Q&A with director Irena Salina

Saturday, March 22nd, 2008 7:30pm
Followed by a Q&A with executive producer Augusta Brown Holland and co-producer Gill Holland.

Baxter Avenue Theatre
1250 Bardstown Rd.
Louisville, KY

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

On Saturday March 15, 2008 nios @ 917 will be getting into the St. Patrick's spirit just as much as any Irish pub around town will be. Starting at 2:00PM they'll be hosting a St. Patrick's Parade Parking Lot Party. It's $5 to get in (boo cover charge!) but that $5 for admission will also get you a free Guinness (yay free beer!).

Other highlights include:

• Executive Chef, and Irish born Josh Tuley will be preparing traditional Fish and Irish Chips for $5
• BBC beer specials will be featured as well as $5 Green Apple Tini's $5 Irish Car Bombs and Special Irish Whiskey's TBA
• Live music (but I don't know who will be playing)
  

nios @ 917
917 Baxter Avenue
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.

Way back at Halloween Baxter Avenue Theater held a costume contest. The winner got to choose a film to be shown at a future edition of Midnights at the Baxter. The time has come to show that selection, and what a great selection it is: Léon the Professional.

Luc Besson's masterpiece of violence and an unexpected relationship stars Jean Reno, a very young Natalie Portman, Gary Oldman and Danny Aiello. If you haven't seen it you're missing out. If you have, which means you love it, then don't miss the opportunity to see it again on the big screen.

Saturday February 23, 2008
Midnight

Baxter Avenue Theaters
1250 Bardstown Rd
Louisville, KY 40204

If only the bloody Oscars didn't run so long and late I'd definitely be heading to nios @ 917 to celebrate the evening (I'm old and have to be home in bed early). Here's the press release description:

Sunday, February 24, 2008 nios @ 917 and the Event Design Group rolls out the Red Carpet to celebrate and honor the 80th Academy Awards. nios @ 917 will host for Louisville what Los Angeles might be missing...The Oscar Party!

Doors will open at 6:00pm and nios will provide complimentary small plates from 6 -10. Oscar ballots will be handed out for those who want to vote and collected by 8:00pm-showtime. Winners will receive super swag bags filled with goodies and gift certificates from shops and eateries up and down Bardstown Road and Baxter Avenue.

Oscar-themed cocktail specials will be mixed and served into the wee hours of the morning. Two TV's and one large screen will be for your viewing and voting pleasure. Live jazz and blues music will also be playing for your listening pleasure.

Sunday, February 24, 2008
Doors Open: 6:00pm
Ticket price: $20
Call 451-5377 for advanced tickets and party information or pay at the door

nios @ 917
917 Baxter Avenue
Louisville, Ky
456-7080

Limited VIP VALET Parking will be available-first come first serve.

It's not everyday you get to write the words "Sex and Chocolate Workshop Lecture." Not everyday indeed. Gilda's Club Louisville is presenting a workshop on the health benefits of dark chocolate and combining it with a presentation and discussion of the sexual implications of living with cancer. Chocolate and sex talk all in one even, these people sure do know how to put on an event.

Join us for this exciting and informative lecture/workshop on Chocolate at Gilda's Club Louisville 633 Baxter Avenue! Chefs Dee Gough and Collen Engle will tempt our palates with scrumptious chocolate treats while talking about the health benefits of dark chocolate.  Combine this with a rich presentation and discussion about the sexual implications of living with cancer, facilitated by Mary Helen Davis, MD.  We are in for a wonderful evening.

Be sure to sign up soon.  This event is sure to fill-up quickly! (502) 583-0075

Sex and Chocolate Workshop Lecture
Wednesday February 20, 2008, 6:00PM-8:30PM

Gilda's Club Louisville
633 Baxter Avenue
Louisville, KY

I saw The Savages at Baxter Avenue Theaters yesterday (capsule review: more bitter than sweet but I'm glad I went to see it) and saw a poster advertising free coffee or a free scoop of ice cream from Homemade Ice Cream and Pie Kitchen with your Baxter Avenue ticket stub/receipt. I noticed when driving by the new branch of Homemade Ice Cream and Pie (can I just shorten that to Pie Kitchen since that's their url?) a big sign out front advertising it as a coffee shop and know that they've had live music in there as well. They've got free wifi and outstanding desserts (I recently had a really fantastic slice of birthday cake), if they can make a proper cappuccino I might have to start hanging out at the Pie Kitchen from time to time.

Slightly off topic but let me compliment Homemade Ice Cream and Pie Kitchen for having the nicest, most not surly teenage employees of any establishment in town. Seriously, they've got the most consistently nice young employees I've come across. I notice and appreciate it so I'm sure other people do as well.