What an interesting sounding event this is: the second annual Kentuckiana Green and Local Business Mini-Conference.

From the event website:
Earth Week Keynote address: Judy Wicks will be speaking at 7:00 p.m., Sunday April 20 for the Local Living Economies Earth Week Kickoff . Judy will be speaking on her experience in creating sustainable community business through the White Dog Cafe, her famous restaurant in Philadelphia and the growing success of sustainable businesses around the world. A Reception will begin at 6 pm.

At 8 a.m. Monday, April 21 Judy Wicks will kick off the morning with a Business Breakfast for the Green and Local Business Mini-Conference. Judy will discuss the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies, the global network of local business associations she co-founded.

Schedule:

April 20th
6 p.m. - Judy Wicks: Reception
7 p.m. - Judy Wicks: Living with Local Economies
* Free and Open to the Public!

April 21st
8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. - Business Breakfast with Judy Wicks and others. Going Green and Local: Business Success Stories
10:00 a.m. - 12 p.m. - Where Do We Go From Here? Business & Community Partnerships for a Local Living Economy
12 p.m. - 2 p.m. - Lunch and Learn: How Do We Network & Market for Sustainable Business Success?

Location for all Events:
The Clifton Center
2117 Payne Street
Louisville, KY For more information visit: www.centerforneighborhoods.org

Thanks Kurt for the info.

How is it possible that next Friday is the final Friday of March already? I do not know but it is and that means it's time for another Frankfort Avenue Trolley Hop.

Frankfort Avenue Trolley Hop
Friday March 28, 2008

Some highlights:

Sniper Photo Studio at the Mellwood Arts Center is having a sale

Mom's Music is presenting Kentuckiana's Fastest Drummer Qualifying & Live Music@Cafe Ole` 6-8pm

Elizabeth's Timeless Attire will be showing Vintage Derby Hats from 1930-1960

Friday February 29, 2008 is the February edition of the Frankfort Avenue Trolley Hop. Highlights of this week's Hop including paintings of Ireland by Spike Frederick at Crescent Hill Gallery, a sale at Sniper Photography at the Mellwood Arts Center and live music from Michael Ray at Margaret's Consignment and Collectibles.

Just an fyi that the reception at Carmichael's for Will Lavender's book Obedience has been rescheduled due to the crazy weather today. Instead of being tonight the reception will be Sunday February 24, 2008 at 4:00PM at Carmichael's on Frankfort Avenue. 

We're coming up on the last Friday of the month, that means it's time for the Frankfort Avenue Trolley Hop. Proximity to Fat Tuesday (it's February 5) means this week's trolley hop must have a Mardi Gras theme.

The highlight of the theme is the Mardi Gras Ball at the Mellwood Art Center featuring food, drinks and lots of entertainment.

Other events include Tarot Card Reading at Crescent Hill Gallery, Mardi Gras Music at Margarets Consignment and Collectibles, Live jazz from the Jeff Sherman Band at Varanese and music and wine tasting at The Wine Rack.

This Thursday January 10, 2008 at 7PM Carmichael's Books on Frankfort Avenue will be hosting author Andre Bergeron who will be reading from his new book, The Devil's Ridge.

According to Carmichael's "Bergeron uses the mythic quality of the North American great ape, Sasquatch, or Bigfoot, to craft a gripping page-turner that taps into our primal fears and basic instincts. Reminiscent of stories told around the campfire, The Devil's Ridge will make you wonder what is lurking in the shadows, just beyond the fire's light."

Carmichael's Bookstore
2720 Frankfort Avenue
Louisville, Kentucky

On Thursday January 3, 2008 Mary T. Meagher Aquatic Center & Radio Disney Presents a Dive –In- Movie

First show is Ratatoullie at 1:15.
Doors open at noon for Pre-show activities (12:15 – 1:15) with Radio Disney
 
Second Show is Cars at 7:00.
Doors open at 6:30

Tame those holiday blahs and have some family fun – dive in and watch a favorite movie for free! Bring your float, swimsuit and towel, because we’re gonna get wet.

Swimmers 8 and under must be with a chaperone of at least 18.

Don't want to cook on Christmas but also don't want to spend a tall stack of Yanqui dollars on dinner at one of the downtown hotels? Perhaps the Christmas buffet at Sweet Peas on Frankfort Avenue is just the ticket for you. There will be three seatings for dinner: 5PM, 6:30PM and 8:00. The buffet will have all of Sweet Peas usual Southern standards including a salad and dessert bar.

Definitely call for reservations, 894-9091.

Sweet Peas
2350 Frankfort Avenue
Louisville, KY

via LouisvilleHotBytes forum

VOICES of Kentuckiana will present “Holidays Around the World,” the chorus’ annual holiday concert on December 7th & 8th at 8:00 pm at the Eifler Theater at Clifton Center, 2117 Payne St., Louisville. Artistic Director Shaun Popp says he chose the international theme this year for a slightly different twist on the traditional holiday concert repertoire. “We will take you on a musical journey to Great Britain, Russia, Spain, France, and a few other surprise destinations. Look for a rendition of “The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies” you won’t see anywhere else. As with all VOICES Concerts, you can never count anything out!”

VOICES of Kentuckiana Holiday Concert
December 7th & 8th at 8:00 pm
Tickets: $20, available online

Eifler Theater at Clifton Center 2117 Payne St. Louisville, KY

World Communities of Louisville presents the 2007 International Holiday Bazaar

• Approximately 35 international craft vendors and artists selling their goods in time for holiday gift giving
• A dozen international restaurants and food vendors serving ethnic cuisine and beverages
• International musicians and dancers providing entertainment
• Children’s activities.

Saturday, December 1^st
9:00am – 4:00pm

The Clifton Center
2117 Payne Street
Louisville, KY

This event is part of the Frankfort Avenue Business Association's Olde Tyme Christmas

Thanksgiving weekend is turning out to be full of opportunities for literary enjoyment and merry making. On Friday you've got Janet L. Boyd reading at Quills and poet Jeffrey Skinner reading at Moxie Letterpress and there are two events over the weekend at Carmichael's on Frankfort Avenue. On Saturday author and architect Liesl Geiger will be at discussing and signing her new book Essence of Home: Timeless Elements of Design.

According to Carmichael's "The book combines insightful interviews with architects and detailed photographs of more than 50 homes to illustrate the concepts she describes. Just in time for the holidays, this book is the perfect gift for anyone who is building a home or just dreaming of it."

On Sunday join "Phyllis EagleTree to celebrate the publication of her beautiful new book, Roll the Wheel: The Abundant Life and Wisdom of Mae Phillips.

In short essays and vivid photographs, EagleTree captures the richness and depth of the life of Harlan County native Mae Phillips - a life lived simply but fully in the mountains of eastern Kentucky."

Liesl Geiger Saturday November 24, 4PM
Phyllis EagleTree Sunday November 25, 4PM

Carmichael's Bookstore
2720 Frankfort Avenue
Louisville, KY 40206

The Frankfort Avenue Business Association's Olde Tyme Christmas on Frankfort Ave., will be held Saturday, December 1, 2007. Enjoy annual events, including the Santa Sprint Run and Stroll, Dog Walk, Horse Trams and Trolley service, along with Good Neighbor awards as well as various special events.

Enjoy special sales and exhibits, holiday refreshments, free trolley rides and horse and carriage rides up and down Frankfort Avenue - from Mellwood to Cannons Lane. Santa can usually be found at the Water Company ready to talk with children

For my money the highlight of the Olde Tyme Christmas is the Holiday Dog Walk: "Meet at the Crescent Hill Library Parking Lot at 10AM, Walk to Clifton and Frankfort and return back to Frankfort Ave. to the Library. Prizes for the most festive dog!" Call 585-3430 for more information. Yeah, I'm one of those crazy dog people.

On Wednesday (yep, the day before Thanksgiving) Zen Garden is having a special customer appreciation day. On this day your meal is absolutely free. You do however have the option of making a donation, in the amount of your choice, to charity.

The total donations collected will be shared by three charities, one of which has been chosen already by Zen Garden. The other two will be chosen by popular vote.

So on the day before most of us stuff ourselves to the gills with turkey and all the trimmings enjoy a fantastic vegetarian meal, donate some money and cast your ballot for which deserving charities reap those donations.

Zen Garden Customer Appreciation Day
Wednesday November 21, 2007
11AM-10PM

Zen Garden
2240 Frankfort Avenue
Louisville, KY

(The dish in the photograph is the very, very highly recommended orange tofu)

Yeah, yeah, yeah the day after Thanksgiving is Black Friday alright but it's also an extra special F.A.T Friday. So don't drive yourself mad by fighting people at the malls and Best Buy all day. Instead check enjoy an extended editions of the Frankfort Avenue Trolley Hop.


Festivities begin at the civilized hour of 11AM. No one at Just Creations is going to be beating you with their purse at 4:45AM to grab the last handmade, fair trade, economic sustainability supporting cast iron salsa pig from Columbia. Good times last until at least 10:30PM.

I've heard that some excellent art buying and shopping opportunities will be going on at the Butchertown Market as well on Friday but I've yet to get any confirmation on that. As soon as I do I'll post it.

So much stuff is going on this weekend I don't know how you're going to choose between it all but I hope you squeeze a lot of it in.

Friday October 26

Jack O'Lantern Stroll at Bellarmine featuring jack o'lanterns, huge pumpkin pies, dipping of Krispy Kreme donuts and donations going to Dreams with Wings 6PM-9PM

Bardstown Bound Boofest With shops, restaurants and bars all along the Bardstown Road corridor offering up treats for young and...not so young alike. 5PM-??

Frankfort Avenue Trolley Hop This event seems to grow in both coolness and popularity every month. If you go that way I'd be sure to take a stroll down Hillcrest Avenue to check out all the Halloween finery on display.

Family Halloween at Mellwood Arts & Entertainment Center Featuring art, food, pumpkin carving, ghost stories and more for kids and adults both.

Arabic Music at Caffe Classico George Wakim with Alma Gitana performing. 8:30PM

Saturday October 27, 2007

Affordable Art Show & Fall Festival at The 930 Art Center All art under $100, food, music, petting zoo, good times.

Poetry Reading at Moxie Letterpress Poetry reading, music and art to buy. 7PM

Evil Dead 2, Midnights at The Baxter Evil Dead 2 and the costume contest with the kick ass prize. Midnight

The Courier says that LGE says that only 200 people are still without power after last night's storms. That's pretty impressive I think. It seems like most of those 200 are situated around Hillcrest in Crescent Hill. Obviously this begs the question "do the storm gods hate extensive Halloween displays or were they just trying to participate in the extensive Halloween displays?"