OK maybe galore is an exaggeration but here's the scoop on three spots ready and waiting for you to come watch the debate this evening.

Derby City Espresso
Biden/Palin Debate watch party - join fellow political junkies and Obama supporters tonight starting at 8pm for what should be a debate to remember. 'Joltin' Joe Biden vs. Sarah 'Barracuda' Palin. Debate on the big screen starts at 9, The Outfit plays free jazz at 11. American micros will be on sale all night long. I've heard there will be some serious Palin bingo played at DCE tonight.

331 E. Market Street

Ray's Monkey House
Come to our Debate party to watch along with the Highlands Community on a big screen projection. We had a great turnout for the first debate (we'll be hosting them all). Cheer, jeer, boo and laugh, while enjoying one of our wide variety of coffee and tea drinks, or beer or wine (great beer selection)...8pm-11pm

1578 Bardstown Road

21c
Nerd typography documentary Helvetica first and then a debate party in the atrium. Film screening and debate party are free and there will be a cash bar.

700 W. Main Street

Ray's Monkey House is hosting debate watching parties. Head over for coffee, beer or wine and engage in communal watching of all four presidential and vice presidential debates.

September 26, 2008: Presidential debate with domestic policy focus, University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS
October 2, 2008: Vice Presidential debate, Washington University, St. Louis, MO
October 7, 2008: Presidential debate in a town hall format, Belmont University, Nashville, TN
October 15, 2008: Presidential debate with foreign policy focus, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY

Ray's Monkey House and Kids Cafe
1578 Bardstown Road
Louisville, KY 40205

Ray's Monkey House is holding Bluegrass Jams each Tuesday from 8PM to midnight. Pros and amateurs are welcome to participate. I have one thought on Bluegrass Jam sessions: Yay.

Remember Ray's now is serving beer and wine so if late night coffee isn't your thing you're still covered.

Ray's Monkey House and Kids Cafe
1578 Bardstown Road
Louisville, KY 40205

Beer, music, food, movies? Um, yes please. All that and more is promised at VOLKSFEST. Billed as "Louisville's First Annual People's Fest" this big block party at Main and Clay downtown promises fun in pretty large quantities.

From the press release:
Festivities are from 2:00pm-midnight and will include German food, a German theme movie plus The Red Hot Rascal Bavarian Experience and live local rock n roll!

BBC & New Albanian Brewing Company will be blocking off Clay Street between East Market & Main and will be spicing up a usual sleepy Saturday downtown scene. This event is Open to the Public and is FREE with proceeds from food and beer to benefit Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, St. Vincent DePaul Society and Louisville Film Society Educational Arm.

Drink, Drink Bier--beers to be served will include a strong line-up of October Fests brews, and other special craft beers hand-selected by Louisville's "godfather of beer" Roger Baylor himself. Food will be prepared and served by local favorites, O'Shea's, Monkey Wrench and Café Lou Lou featuring: Dogs, Brats, Kraut, German Potato Salad and Big Soft Pretzels.

The "VOLKSFEST" will also feature a movie awards ceremony hosted by

48 Hours Film Project, which, will take place at dusk and will be followed by a dual screen showing of the German classic-"Das Boot" presented by Louisville Film Society. German entertainment will be from

2p-4p and then local bands will take the stage to keep the evening rockin...

Beer, Coffee, Pajama Party. Do you really need more information than that. Fine, if you insist:

Don't miss BBC's first unveiling party! We will be hosting these unveilings for our favorite seasonal brews once a month and what a better way to start the tradition than with our Heine Brothers' Coffee Stout!

It's a pajama party! Come in your pj's and stay up all night drinking the BBC HB Coffee Stout. The whole staff will be in their pajamas so make sure you do too. (You wouldn't want to be left out!)

Heine Brothers' will be here with coffee and information. We will release our first seasonal unveiling tshirt! Be the first to get a HB and BBC Coffee Stout t-shirt!

The Breakfast Club food special with Fried eggs, country ham and biscuits and Heine Brothers' red eye gravy. Try the homemade Heine Brothers' Coffee Stout cheesecake too!

Live Music

Ring toss, Coffee Bean Bag throw, and more carnival games TBA!

Friday August 15, 2008
3PM-Close BBC Shelbyville Road

My buddy Matthew at Derby City Espresso is pulling out all the stops to make this weekend's My Morning Jacket show an all day, all night kick ass event.

Pre show, starting at around 4PM Matt is throwing a potluck. Bring something or not you're still welcome to swing on by. Hambone will be playing live. The shop is going to shut down during the MMJ show but will be in full force after the show but will be in full force after.

A ticket stub gets you into the after party for free otherwise cover is $5. Live music, dj, good coffee, good beer, good people, etc. etc. You know where you need to be post MMJ.

Derby City Espresso
331 East Market Street
Louisville, KY

Have you ever been to one of these Brew at the Zoo events? I haven't. As we've discussed I'm deeply ambivalent about zoos and haven't been to the zoo since we moved back to town. That said this sounds awfully fun but good gracious $40 is a bit pricey. Designated driver tickets are $30 though. So my question is, since we'd be walking to and from the event, do we get the $30 tickets*?

Ticket Includes:
Samplings of microbrews, wine and restaurant specialties

Food sampling 4 - 6:30 pm

Beer & wine tasting until 8:30 p.m.

Official 4 oz. tasting glass

Live entertainment

Admission to the Zoo. Stroll though the award-winning Louisville Zoo. Exhibits open until 9 p.m.

Over 25 local restaurants will be present with food samples. It's an indecisive person's dream meal. 25 breweries will be providing you know, the actual brew from the event's title.

This is a 21+ event
Saturday August 23, 2008 from 4 - 9 p.m.
Oasis Festival Tent & Field
Louisville Zoo

*The actual ticket prices are a little nutty. If you order online ticket prices are $40, $30. If you buy them at the zoo box office which is already open selling regular zoo tickets you'll pay $45, $35. And if you buy tickets at the door, the day of the event, you'll pay $50, $40.

Through the magic of Twitter I found out that there will be free live jazz at Derby City Espresso this evening.

If jazz is your thing head down to DCE for free music and a very nice latte. Or if you're the beer drinking sort then grab a pint of DCE BBC Espresso Stout.

Derby City Espresso
331 E. Market Street
Louisville, KY

Mark my words one of these days somebody will throw a special dinner that I want to go to that I'll actually be able to afford to go to. While I couldn't care less about the beer part of this dinner the goat cheese part makes me want to go so badly I can hardly stand it. In July when I first heard about Park Place's Goat Cheese and Beer dinner I said "I have no idea how much this dinner is going to cost but whatever it is it will be worth every penny. Good gracious I love goat cheese." That was before I knew it was $55 worth of pennies per person.

If you can afford it (and it probably helps if you enjoy beer too) then please attend this and take copious notes so you can tell me just how good all these goat cheese courses are.

Indiana's "First Lady of Goat Cheese" is sharing her chèvre creations with the masses. Capriole Farms' Judy Schad and chef Jay Denham will partner to present a cheese and beer dinner Tuesday, August 12 at 6:30 p.m. The cost of the dinner is $55 per person and includes a five-course dinner paired with beers by Browning's brewmaster Brian Reymiller.  Seating is limited. To make reservations, call (502) 515-0172.

The Capriole Cheese Beer Dinner is as follows:

Appetizer
Sofia & Chèvre
Country ham, pickled vegetables, pork rillette, chèvre stuffed cherry peppers
Belgium Wit

Salad
O'Bannon
Root vegetable salad, bourbon shagbark hickory vinaigrette
Extra Special Bitter

Entrée
Juliana
herb roasted rabbit, potato pancake, roasted lemon, baby greens
She Devil India Pale Ale

Cheese Course
Mt. St. Francis
smoked almonds, cherry-orange preserve
Oatmeal Stout

Dessert
Fromage a trois Bourbon Chocolate Torte
Crispy crepe, pecans, goat's milk dulce de leche
Bourbon Barrel Stout

Capriole Farms is a family-run dairy located in southern Indiana. For thirty years, they have hand-made their cheeses using milk from their own goat herd. Following sustainable, natural practices, they produce some of the finest goat cheeses in the country.

Goat's milk dulce de leche! That's so not fair. How much of a discount do you think they would give me if I explain I don't drink beer? And also that I don't eat rabbit. That's got to be worth like a $25 discount right? I'm offering to forgo all the beer and the entree!

Park Place on Main
401 East Main Street
Louisville, KY

Subtitle: Goat cheese, nom, nom, nom.

Indiana's first lady of goat cheese is teaming up with Park Place on Main to bring you an unbelievable night of goat cheese and beer. Join Capriole Farms' Judy Schad and Chef Jay Denham on Tuesday, August 12 for a special dinner showcasing Schad's goat cheese. Each course will be paired with a brew by Browning's Brewmaster Brian Reymiller. Seating is limited and reservations are required. Save a seat at (502) 515-0172.

I have no idea how much this dinner is going to cost but whatever it is it will be worth every penny. Good gracious I love goat cheese.

DCE has become a serious hotspot for live music and fun events. Again, since I won't be around next week I'm going to go ahead and dump all the details for events this coming week into this post:

Wednesday 6/11 -08:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Michale Waldsword & The World's Tallest People - Live & Acoustic Music

Saturday 6/14 - PARADOX GOTHIC & INDUSTRIAL DANCE PARTY - ALL AGES $5

Monday 6/16 - 08:00 PM - 11:00 PMMansions & Rooftop Rhapsody

Saturday 6/21 - PARADOX GOTHIC & INDUSTRIAL DANCE PARTY - ALL AGES $5

Wednesday 6/18 - 09:00 PM - 01:00 AM The Screaming Delta Demon & Somatica - Live $5

Friday 6/27 - 07:00 PM - 08:00 PM Ashleigh Flynn Live - Ahsley has been featured by Paste Magazine and the Village Voice, this is gonna be a great show - free

Saturday 6/28 - PARADOX GOTHIC & INDUSTRIAL DANCE PARTY - ALL AGES $5

Also DCE would like you to know there is a new kick ass mural on the back pation and just in time for summer they've got:

frozen Chai smoothies (plus our regular frozen lattes, mochas and fruit smoothies)

Derby City Espresso Stout back on tap!

60 beers, 50 teas, locally roasted coffee!

Derby City Espresso
331 E. Market Street
Louisville, KY

Let me tell you I know at least one person who is salivating over the thought of a special beer dinner at Browning's. Since I don't drink beer this event certainly isn't for me but $40 a person for a four course meal with beer pairings sounds more than reasonable. So if beer is your thing, this sounds like a dinner you should check out.

Summertime...and the living is easy. Relax into the hottest season of the year with a cool beer and delectable dishes at Browning's. Chef Jay Denham and brewmaster Brian Reymiller present the annual Summer Beer Dinner on Saturday, June 28 at 6 p.m. The event is $40 per person and includes a four-course dinner paired with Browning's beers. Door prizes, which include food and merchandise, will also be given away during the evening. Seating is limited and reservations are required for this event. To save your seat, call (502) 515-0174.

Menu after the jump.

Derby City Espresso is celebrating one year in business today! Congratulations! Because DCE's owner Matt is such a nice guy he's giving you presents for his businesses birthday. Those presents are: $1 espresso shots all week, Small French press (12oz) $1 all week, and $3 pints of Derby City Espresso stout on tap, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Head down to DCE to take advantage of these great deals and congratulate Matt on one year in business. Then be sure to swing by again this Friday night:

Join us for our anniversary party this Friday night on the trolley hop. Free snacks all night long. Come out an enjoy some great art by Terry Tapp the portrait painting owner of the tattoo parlour Electric Devil at 964 Baxter Avenue. Opening starts at 6pm. In addition, The talented bunch of fellows known as Lotus Blake will be performing for your pleasure (no snow this first friday) beginning at 7pm. At 10pm our spoken word poetry jam is on tap!

Derby City Espresso
331 E. Market Street
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

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.

We've discussed how I'm not a beer drinker, thus my input on this event probably wouldn't be helpful at all. So I'll just directly quote the press release instead.

Belgium displays unparalleled diversity of flavor and color in its native beer styles, and on Tuesday, March 4, Corbett's "An American Place" presents a dinner to celebrate the history and nuances of these noble brews. From the strong Trappist ales to the fruity lambics, Belgian beers offer extensive food pairing possibilities, and Pete Larsen of Wetten Imports has put together an unforgettable list. He will be on hand to discuss each brew along with Corbett's assistant general manager Carrie Crouch.

Belgian beers inspire reverence typically reserved for the finest wines. The cost for this dinner is $55 per person and includes five-courses prepared by Corbett's executive chef Chris Howerton. Tax and gratuity are additional. The evening begins with a 6:30 p.m. reception followed by dinner service at 7 p.m. Seating is limited for this special event and reservations may be made by calling (502) 327-5058.

Full menu after the jump

Corbett's
5050 Norton Healthcare Boulevard (Old Brownsboro Crossing)
Louisville, KY

I got an email reminding me of a few specials and events at Brownings that I thought I'd share.

They've got happy hour specials on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays

"Come to Browning's Happy Hour every Tuesday from 5 to 7 p.m. and receive free appetizers in addition to our great happy hour beer prices! We will have an appetizer buffet available to guests that will include Browning's bar plates as well as some special treats from Chef Denham.

Now you only have to make it half way through the week to celebrate. On Wednesdays, order any appetizer after 3 p.m. and get another one of equal or lesser value free! Consider it good practice for the weekend. On Saturdays, we've brought back our happy hour. Get session beer pints for $3.25 all day long."

On Saturday December 23, 2008 it's the Winter Beer Dinner.

"There's a new reason to celebrate at Browning's, where hearty winter fare is paired with tasty brews at the Winter Beer Dinner on Saturday, February 23, 2008 at 6 p.m. The event is $40 per person and includes a four-course dinner paired with Browning's beers. Door prizes, which include gift certificates and merchandise, will also be given away during the evening. Seating is limited and reservations are required for this event. To save your seat, call (502) 515-0714."

Click for complete Beer Dinner menu

Browning's
401 East Main St
Louisville, KY

Today has the distinction of being both Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras) and Super Tuesday. The magnitude of two such events colliding means it's time for the Super FAT Tuesday election bacchanalia at Derby City Espresso.

Election results beginning at 7pm going all night long... $1 Old Style, $3 American micros from New Holland Brewing Co, Great Lakes Brewers, BBC, Schlafly, & Rouge Brewery

Derby City Espresso
331 East Market Street
Louisville, KY

I got word from Matthew Landan, owner of Derby City Espresso, that he teamed up with BBC to create a new beer, an espresso stout that's going to be introdced to the world on Friday February 1, 2008 during the First Friday Hop festivities.

We're proud to announce the fruit of a partnership between the BBC Tap Room & DCE to create a massive caffeinated stout! Come on by and have a taste!

Swing by on Friday night for free tastings of BBC Derby City Espresso Stout. A very limited number of growlers will be available for purchase as well or you can hang out at Derby City Espresso and enjoy it on tap.

Derby City Espresso
331 East Market Street
Louisville, KY

This is fair bit of advanced notice but since this is a very cool sounding event at Browning's has limited seating I though I'd go ahead and post about it.

From the press release:

The holidays may be over, but there’s a new reason to celebrate at Browning’s, where hearty winter fare is paired with tasty brews at the Winter Beer Dinner on Saturday, February 23, 2008 at 6 p.m. The event is $40 per person and includes a four-course dinner paired with Browning’s beers. Door prizes, which include gift certificates and merchandise, will also be given away during the evening. Seating is limited and reservations are required for this event. To save your seat, call (502) 515-0714.

Full menu after the jump.

Browning's
401 East Main St
Louisville, KY

Each Thursday the Louisville branch of Drinking Liberally convenes at the BBC on Shelbyville Road. This Thursday January 17, 2008 they'll have a special guest for the meeting, Representative Reginald Meeks. This is a great opportunity to meet one of Jefferson county's state representatives in a casual, relaxed atmosphere.  

It's also a great chance to check out the newly remodeled BBC. I hear they've rearranged things in the bar, added a gargantuan tv for game watching, and tweaked some other things. In addition they've got a new menu that includes some old old favorites but also has lots of new things that definitely sound worth trying.

Drinking Liberally Louisville
Thursday January 17, 2008
BBC

3929 Shelbyville Road
Louisville, KY 40207
(502) 899-7070

Fresh from their Iowa caucus party Derby City Espresso has announced that they're going to keep the political party going tomorrow night with a New Hampshire Primary Party.

Join us for the second episode in that fan favorite four-year game show called let's elect a president!

OBAMA took round one convincingly last night in Iowa - a black man won a state with only 3% black population!?!?!? Things maybe are chaqnging

Can Hillary (the bitch) come back and win round two in New Hamp?

Can Edwards win anything?

Find out Tuesday night at 7pm at DCE as we tune into NPR to listen to to the poll results and discuss the issues that matter today!

POLITICS ROCKS!

ALL AMERICAN CRAFT BEERS on sale for $3

Derby City Espresso
331 E. Market St.
Louisville, KY

It's already time for the first First Friday Gallery Hop of the new year. I haven't seen too many notices/releases for special events going on during the gallery hop but I do know that Derby City Espresso will be celebrating the opening of an exhibition of Suzanne Edds's work called Clay Works that features her ceramic masks and other larger works. In addition to the opening there will be live music by Lotus Blake and a beer tasting hosted by BBC brewers.

Update: Just got this info

The Tim Faulkner Gallery will be presenting the work of Erik Orr this Friday night, January 4th.

The Gallery is located at 815 E Market st, upstairs in the Mary Craik building.

Derby City Espresso knows how to celebrate democracy and they'll be doing just that tonight January 3, 2008 as we all suffer through the mayhem known as the Iowa Caucus.

BARACK Obama, Hillary Clinton, Ron Paul, RUDY Guliani, MITT Romney - no matter who wins you win too! That's American democracy!
Come out and dance your blues away!
It all starts in Iowa on January 3.
It all starts at DCE.
Democratic and republican beer specials all night long!!!

Derby City Espresso
331 E. Market St.
Louisville, KY

Derby City Espresso knows how to celebrate democracy and they'll be doing just that on January 3, 2008 as well all suffer through the mayhem known at the Iowa Caucus.

BARACK Obama, Hillary Clinton, Ron Paul, RUDY Guliani, MITT Romney - no matter who wins you win too! That's American democracy!
Come out and dance your blues away!
It all starts in Iowa on January 3.
It all starts at DCE.
Democratic and republican beer specials all night long!!!

Derby City Espresso
331 E. Market St.
Louisville, KY 

A couple days ago I had a very nice meeting (hi Paul!) and then hit several shops and stores to buy provisions for holiday entertaining. Restocking adult beverages was necessary so I headed to Old Town Wine and Spirits. I had specific wines in mind but needed some help with beer. I'm not a beer drinker and wanted some advice. A very, very nice employee was there to give me all the help I needed. As I was checking out he asked if there wasn't any beer I liked at all and I said, no, I've never found one I could stomach. He said hang on, ran back to the cold beer cases, came back with a bottle and said something like "this one is on me. I really think you should try it. This is the beer that opened me up to beer." Super helpful and giving me a free bottle of beer? Fantastic. Yes, Old Town has certainly earned my repeat business.

Old Town Wine and Spirits
1529 Bardstown Road
Louisville, KY 40205
Phone : 502-451-8591

The folks at Jenicca's are awfully fun and creative in their events. First you've got Make It Work Wednesdays, now you've got Friday Night Lights. You are watching Friday Night Lights aren't you? No? Because you have a social life and don't stay home on Friday nights? Phsaww! That's what DVRs are for.

In any case head downtown to Jenicca's on Friday nights for "Friday Night Lights" beer specials on all light beers. And tomorrow, Friday night November 30, enjoy music from Petticoat, Petticoat out of Lexington at 9pm.

Backseat Sandbar describes Petticoat, Petticoat as "one of Kentucky’s only true indie pop bands" and worthy of your love and attention.

If you haven't been down to Derby City Espresso to see Decked Out, an exhibition of skateboard deck art, you're running out of time.  Over 100 decks, created by various artists, are included in the exhibition which closes Friday November 30, 2007.

The closing party will feature jazz by The Epley/Pouchak Duo and there will be a free German beer tasting with River City Distributing.

Decked Out Closing Party
November 30, 2007
8PM-11PM

Derby City Espresso
331 East Market St.
Louisville, KY

The weekend events roundup is coming to you quite early this week to give us time to strategically plan out our holiday activities around stuffing ourselves enjoying holiday foods with restraint.

Friday November 23
Costumed demonstrators will be in the kitchen and woodshop from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m during the the Locust Grove Holiday Sampler. Everything in the museum store will be 20% so you can stock up on gifts.

The F.A.T. Friday Trolley Hop on Black Friday is an event I've been looking forward to for months. It combines food, drink, art and shopping, all things that I enjoy very much. I'm strategically planning to land on Frankfort Avenue mid afternoon. Do a bit of hopping and shopping, refuel at the Irish Rover for dinner and then even more shopping. I suspect dessert at Sweet Surrender will be on the agenda as well.

After you're done on Frankfort Avenue just drive on down to Mellwood for more art and more shopping at the Butchertown Market with Moxie Letterpress's Give the Gift of Art event. If you're there close to 8PM stick around for the poetry reading and live music.

If you can't stand the shopping hordes and nightmare of parking on Frankfort Avenue head over to Quills Coffee & Books where Janet L. Boyd will be reading from and signing Don't Get Me Started: The LEO Years at 6 PM.

Saturday November 24, 2007
The American Printing House for the Blind is hosting a Family Day Open House from 10AM-3PM.

Author and architect Liesl Geiger will be at Carmichael's on Frankfort Avenue discussing and signing her new book Essence of Home: Timeless Elements of Design.

Midnight at The Baxter is forcing you to choose between The Beatles in "A Hard Days Night" and Talking Heads in "Stop Making Sense"

Sunday November 25, 2007
Phyllis EagleTree will be at Carmichael's on Frankfort Avenue discussing her new book Roll The Wheel: The Abundant Life and Wisdom of Mae Phillips.

Derby City Espresso is giving you free music and free beer. Clearly they're good people. Join them for a tasting of three seasonal beers from Schlafly.

If you know of interesting events happening this weekend that I've missed please let me know and I'll add them to the list. You can let me know by leaving a comment her or by sending an email to: info AT consuminglouisville.com.

Beer lovers you've got one more thing to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. On Sunday Derby City Espresso is hosting a free Schlafly Beer Tasting.

They'll be featuring 3 of Schlafly's seasonal brews: Coffee Stout, No. 15 Ale and Christmas Ale.

The tasting starts at 7PM. At 8PM the tuba, banjo, accordian & drums ensemble SQUEEZE-BOT will perform.

Did I mention all of this is for free? You must have been very good this year to deserve such goodness.

Derby City Espresso
331 E. Market St.
Louisville, KY