This Saturday is something called Celebrate Asia Family Day at the Speed. The short press release I got is the first I've heard of it so I'm not sure exactly what to tell you to expect though it sounds cool enough particularly given that admission is free.

The Speed is proud to host this wonderful celebration of Asian Cultures. Celebrate Asia Family Day is the area's largest Asian cultural events for families. Come and enjoy the arts and traditions of China, India, Japan, Korea, Philippines, Samoa, Thailand, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam. Activities include: cultural performances from several different Asian cultures in the auditorium; informational displays on the Sculpture Court; hands-on experiences in the Art Sparks Workshop, and special demonstrations.

Saturday May 10, 2008
Noon-5PM

Speed Museum
2035 South 3rd
Louisville, KY

Louisville Underground is a new podcast about "the Underground Culture of the River City." Mostly it looks like that means underground bands. Though now that I think about it I'm not really sure what an underground band is but that's probably because I'm old and boring. I'm thinking punk rock. Right?

If you're younger and hipper than I am and the phrases "Underground Culture" and "Underground Bands" sound good and interesting to you, or you're just the adventurous sort definitely check out the Louisville Underground podcast.

Bourbon Baroque: Louisville's period-instrument ensemble plays a petit Advent recital of French Baroque Carols before the St. Francis in the Fields choral Evensong service. Come hear a little bourbon and be enamored by the brilliant voices of the St. Francis Evensong Choir.

Sunday December 2, 2007
5PM

St. Francis in the Fields Episcopal Church
6710 Wolf Pen Branch Road, Louisville, 40027
Free
For more info call: 502.228.1176

Please join Crane House for a festive, pre-holiday presentation of selected Asian etiquettes and aesthetics related to birthdays, weddings, gift-giving, New Year and special clothing.  Crane House’s gift shop will be open alongside and eclectic boutique from Ethos Asia and original prints and watercolors by Chinese artist, Waverly Liu.

Asian Etiquette and Aesthetics
Sunday, November 18, 2007 2PM-5PM
Free and open to the public

Crane House, the Asia Institute, Inc.

1244 S. Third Street
Louisville, KY 40203

Events galore this weekend, lots of them holiday related which makes me quite happy. I know the holiday season starts earlier and earlier every year but I can't help but enjoy it.

Friday November 9, 2007
The InKY Reading Series offers up more good times with its fiction night at the Rud

The Photographic Correction: Ben Sollee is playing at 4th Street Live in the second week of the Louisville Home Grown Music Series. The Photographic will be playing next week November 16

Shops in the area of the Vogue in St. Matthews are throwing a holiday party and you're invited for shopping and refreshments

Shops in Chenoweth Square are throwing a holiday open house

Saturday November 10, 2007
Highland United Methodist Church at 1140 Cherokee Road is hosting it's annual Holiday Bazaar and Bake Sale from 9AM-2PM. Eat baked goods, buy unique holiday gifts.

The Mid City Mall ValuMarket (a really good store for ethnic foods and vegetarian foods by the way) is having a Holiday Open House from 11AM-8PM. There will be samples throughout the store and staff will be on hand to offer help and holiday entertaining ideas

The Louisville Artisans Guild is having its annual Holiday Showcase at the American Legion Highland Post on Bardstown Road. Hours are Saturday, 10 am to 6 pm; Sunday, 11 am to 4 pm

Midnights at The Baxter Present a Jim Henson Double Feature with The Dark Crystal starting at 10PM and Labyrinth starting at Midnight.

Sunday November 11, 2007
Musicians Emergency Resource Foundation Concerts will be happening in three clubs across Louisville.

Writer's Showcase Deathmatch at Molly Malone's brought to you by Art Sanctuary, starts at 8PM

November's First Friday Gallery Hop looks to be a really good one. Highlights include:

The Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft is wrapping up its celebration of Day of the Dead with food, music, art, a sugar skull contest, fire dancers and face painting. Visitors to this event are encouraged to bring photos and trinkets to place on an open altar in honor of loved ones.

The KMAC Gallery Shop will be featuring a selection of works by Geoff Carr from his Day of Dead Series, and the complete show of those works will be on display at Carr + Waite Studios (221 S. Hancock St.) during the Trolley hop 

The Kentucky Center will have live music by Leah Ann Yost and complimentary hors d’ oeuvres provided by Jarfi’s Bistro. New Works in Encaustic by Joel Javier will continue to be on display through November 15. "Joel Javier earned a BFA in studio art from Murray State University in 1999 and has been working as the Wallace Grant Education Outreach Coordinator at the Speed Art Museum since 2005. From 2003 to 2004, he was the Speed's Art Learning Center Coordinator. Javier has served as artist intern and resident at Bernheim Arboretum and Research."

The Frazier International History Museum has Norman Rockwell's "Home for the Holidays" from 5PM-9PM. The exhibit spans Rockwell's Saturday Evening Post covers from 1916 to 1959.
A cash bar and light hors d'ouveres will be available.  All galleries and the Frazier Museum Store will be open and admission is free.

Glassworks will have glassblower John Oleson demonstrating the creation of his wine goblets as well as wine tasting with selections from around the World with Guest Wine Industry Professional-Chris Webb, bluegrass music by Tom Cunningham and Lance Brown and 20% off all wine related glass art.

Apparently it's Speed Museum day as this is the second post in a row about an event there. I'm not really an architecture buff though so this one sounds a lot more exciting to me than that last event.

Join the Speed's Community Support and Outreach Committee in celebrating the Harlem Renaissance through song, dance, period costumes, food and drink.  This event will feature performances by the African American Theater Program at the University of Louisville and from Actor's Theater of Louisville's presentation of Spunk.  Passed and buffet hors d'oervres and a cash bar will be available.

Harlem Nights, an Evening at the Speed Art Museum
Saturday November 3, 2007
7PM-10PM
Admission is $35
Call (502) 634-2737 to purchase tickets

You heard me people, Swayze Days of Summer. Bearno's in the Highlands knows good cinema.

08/24/07 - Swayze Days of Summer - Roadhouse screening - 9pm @ Highland's Bearnos - $5
08/25/07 - Swayze Days of Summer - Dirty Dancing screening - 9pm @ Highland's Bearnos - $5

Update: Turns out the Swayze Days of Summer are brought to you by the . I don't know much about this organization but clearly they're good people. With events like the Swayze Days of Summer on their agenda I look forward to getting to know them better.

What's that? You don't know about Louisville Geek Dinner? Louisville Geek Dinner is a "social networking event for those who love technology." Um, can you say awesome concept?

The purpose of Louisville Geek Dinner is to organize a social networking event for geeks. The original concept came from listening to London Geek Dinner podcasts. The first two Louisville Geek Dinners were quite successful, however there is still potential for significant growth. Let's build an environment like Silicon Valley!

Who is invited, and what does it mean to be a geek? Wikipedia defines geek as the following, "a person who is interested in technology, especially computing and new media. It is comparable with the classic definition of hacker." The quickest way to determine if you are a geek is to take a geek test. The simple fact is that we love technology. We need a social event where everyone speaks our language for a change. All geeks are invited.

Geeks represent and get thee to dinner Thursday night.

Thursday, August 23rd 2007 @ 6:00pm EST
Fox and Hound Pub and Grille - Google Directions
Free entry to event, attendees buy their own dinner

Clifton Unitarian Church is presenting the First Annual Sustainability Fair on May 19. Some really cool vendors and displays are scheduled to be at this fair including

The Good Oil Boys will be at the fair with a converted diesel car that now runs on vegetable oil.. And they will talk about kits available for such conversions.

Ohio Valley Creative Energy will have a booth. They use methane gas from landfills to provide heat for glass, clay, and metal artists.

Sun Wind Power Systems will have a booth, displaying solar and wind energy systems.

Kentucky Solar Partnership will have a booth, and conduct a lecture/slide show on Solar Energy and Energy Conservation.

The Speed hosts the annual celebration of local Asian cultures for families. As one of the area’s largest Asian events, families can enjoy the arts and traditions of countries across Asia including China, India, Japan, Korea, Laos, the Phillipines, Uzbekistan, Samoa and Vietnam including traditional music and dance performances, informational displays, hands-on experiences, and games. Admission is free.

Saturday May 19
11:00AM-4:00PM