I noticed a sign at Java Brewing Company on Main that says they're celebrating Bike to Work Week. If you ride your bike to work downtown tomorrow (Friday May 16, 2008) swing buy Java Brewing Company on Main and get 50% off any drink on the menu.

Yay for biking and double yay for significantly discounted coffee.

From May 16-June 28 the Cressman Center will be presenting Revolutionary Voices: Cultural Revolution Posters from the Crane House.

The exhibition of 38 posters printed in the decade following the beginning of the Chinese Cultural Revolution in 1966 is curated by Youn Ju Yu as part of her masters thesis in critical and curatorial studies at the University of Louisville.

Yu selected and grouped the posters into themes important to communist ideology of the period. They also are sources for post-modern Chinese art and provide a historical background for work of current Chinese artists.

This show's opening this Friday at 6:30PM will feature a gallery talk by UofL history professor Yuxin Ma.

Ma lived through the Cultural Revolution and received two degrees in English in China before completing her PhD in Chinese history at the University of Minnesota in 2003. She came to UofL in 2006, and is completing a book titled, "Constructing a Female Public Space: Chinese Women's Periodical Press, 1898-1937.

Cressman Center for Visual Art
100 E. Main St.
Louisville, KY

This Friday night The Late Seating at Actors is throwing a Derby's Over Party. There will be an Iron Bartender competition and a "Gonzo inspired performance" by Le Petomane Theatre Ensemble. I have no idea what you can expect from that but it sounds interesting:

"A frenzied dystopia where prices are high, traffic is miserable and the mad roam the streets on four-poster beds: the stuff of fiction, of course, and in no way meant to resemble any local spring festival. Join The Late Seating at Actors for an original comic evening of song, dance and neo-vaudevillian hullabaloo celebrating the city, its people and their will to survive one more Derby. Assuming we do survive..."

Derby's Over Party
Friday May 16, 2008 10:30PM
Tickets $5
Call 502-584-1205 for reservations

Actors Theatre of Louisville
316 W Main Street
Louisville, KY 40202

Tonight at 6PM there is an opening reception for Western Middle School Perspectives: an exhibition of tableaux vivants at 21c.

21c Museum is proud to present its second collaboration with Blue Apple Players and their most recent drama and photographic project with Western Middle School students. Blue Apple Players has guided 100 sixth and seventh grade Western Middle School students through a creative and educational drama workshop, with a specific focus on the tableau vivant art form. Photographed by Patrick Pfister of Pfoto.com, the photo project will be displayed at the 21c Museum until July 8th. To mark the opening of this special project, a select group of students will share a short demonstration of drama skills, and some will be available to answer questions about the process of creating the photographs.

21c Museum
700 West Main Street
Louisville, KY 40202
502-217-6300.

After being named one of the best cities for biking it's only appropriate that the Mayor's Healthy Hometown Hike & Bike event be right around the corner. Mayor Jerry wants you to be more active people and I'm with him on that plan.

Mayor's Healthy Hometown Hike & Bike

Memorial Day, May 26 10 a.m. at Waterfront Park

Starting point is near the "Dancing Waters" feature on Witherspoon St.

Booths with cycling information, bicycle assistance and healthy snacks available.

Four bands from Mom's Rockschool will perform from Noon - 2 p.m.

On-street parking is available near Waterfront Park. All TARC buses are equipped with bicycle racks for cyclists who want to leave the car at home.

The Hike & Bike cycling route will highlight various Louisville attractions and historic locations, beginning at Waterfront Park and progressing west to the Portland neighborhood, along tree-lined Northwestern and Southwestern Parkways, though Shawnee Park and back to Waterfront Park.

The complete bicycle route is approximately 15 miles, with several turnoffs available providing alternate routes as short as two miles. For walkers, a "Mayor's Mile" loop will be marked in Waterfront Park.

The cycling route will be marked with signage and include several break stations staffed by volunteers to assist with directions and water. In addition, the Louisville Bicycle Club is providing "bike captains" to help cyclists obey the rules of the road, and "bike doctors" will be along the route to assist cyclists who might encounter equipment problems. Louisville Metro Police will provide traffic assistance at key intersections and the Louisville Metro EMS bicycle team will patrol the route.

Abramson said live music is being added to this year's event, compliments of Mom's Rockschool. Four bands with youth ages 8 to 18 will perform after the Hike & Bike from 12 - 2 p.m.

A healthy marketplace with nutritional snacks, music, free children's activities and several informational booths will begin at 9 a.m. at Waterfront Park. A limited number of free T-shirts will be available and the Brain Injury Association will distribute 350 bike helmets to riders who don't have one. Instructors from Jazzercise will help get participants going by leading warm-up and stretching exercises prior to the biking and hiking.

Subway Restaurants will distribute 2,500 gift cards at both the Memorial and Labor Day events. Each gift card, valued at $2.20, upgrades a regular sub purchase to a "Fresh Value Meal" by covering the cost of a drink and chips.

My next-door neighbor has told me for months that I need to have lunch at The Cafe. Last week I finally followed her advice and had a very pleasant lunch there. The lunch was very pleasant for two reasons. First, The Cafe has given me a perfect response to the "let's have lunch downtown" invitations that sometimes come my way. I hate dealing with parking downtown. I know I'm a baby about it, I confess that, and most of the time I just suck it up and deal with it. But don't you see? The Cafe is in the perfect location for both people who work downtown and say, someone coming from the Highlands. It's on the Eastern edge of downtown but it's got lots of easy parking. Sweet.

OK, second reason I dug lunch at The Cafe was the food itself, namely plenty of vegetarian options. Soups, salads and a few interesting vegetarian sandwiches show up on the menu but the star in my opinion is the meatless strata. I do love a baked egg custard, particularly one stuffed with French bread, Swiss cheese, parmesan cheese, spinach, mushrooms, tomatoes and onions. Good stuff.

The only slight disappointment was dessert. I didn't order the bread pudding because it had raisins in it and there are few things in live I hate more than raisins. And I didn't order the Tuxedo Cake because it had raspberry filling. I don't hate raspberry filling, I just wasn't in the mood for it. My dining companion ordered a chocolate chip cookie though and reported it was yummy.

I'll definitely go to The Cafe again soon for lunch but I really want to make it back for breakfast. Sweet potato cinnamon rolls? Uh, yum.

The Cafe
712 Brent Street
Louisville, KY

A few facts about me: I am old, I am square, I am a yuppie. These facts add up to me having absolutely no business telling you about the Goth Prom at Derby City Espresso. I'm here telling you about it just the same. Consuming Louisville loves all the people!

Well I'm not so much giving you deep insight into the event as I'm passing on the basic facts on it that I have.

Goth Prom 2008
Saturday May 17, 2008
DJs, free portraits for couples
The goth couple from the Amazing Race will be appearing
All ages event, booze for 21+
7PM

Derby City Espresso
331 E. Market Street
Louisville, KY

I've already mentioned a few highlights for this week's First Friday Trolley Hop like the Derby City Tattoo Art Show and the opening at the Tim Faulkner Gallery, oh and yeah the book signing at Felice. Here are some more happenings tonight:

The Mayan Cafe will be premiering their special Derby menu. "The Mayan Cafe will be offering our Special Derby Menu on May 2! Start your meal with such delights as a chilled Squash Bisque or a Derby Salad with arugula, strawberries, jicama & Oaxaca cheese in a mint vinaigrette. For our entrees, we will be offering a Beef Tenderloin in our mole sauce and a Pan-seared Salmon filet encrusted with pistachios in a pomegranate cream sauce, as well as several other dishes. Be sure to save room for dessert to try our Sweet Crepe with fresh mangos & mascarpone cheese in a rhubarb sauce or our Blood Orange Flan."

"St. John United Church of Christ opens its doors at 7:00 pm. Everyone is welcome to tour our sanctuary. Outside, Terry Birkhead and his drumming group will perform."

Carr-Waite Studio , 221 S. Hancock Recent work by Caroline Waite and Geoff Carr. Opening Friday, May 2, 6-9 pm.

A children's book signing at a winery seems slightly odd to me but odd in a good way. I endorse it. So allow me to tell you about Rebecca Gazarik's book signing this Friday night at Felice Winery.

Rebecca is a local freelance artist and writer releasing her first children's book called The Caribbean Caribou. On Friday she'll be signing and discussing the book at Felice Winery. In simple terms he book is about a caribou who waits winter. That is a sentiment I can co-sign on so I wish Rebecca great, great success with this book.

May 2, 2008
5PM-9PM
Felice Winery
*part of First Friday festiveness

As part of this week's First Friday festivities (oh come on, I couldn't pass up that alliteration) the Tim Faulkner Gallery will be hosting an opening reception for a show of new paintings by Quincy Owens.

Tim Faulkner Gallery presents "Since We Last Spoke", new paintings by Quincy Owens.  Opening reception will be Friday May 2nd, 5 -10pm, and the show will hang through May.  Gallery hours are Mon - Fri 4 - 8pm, Sat 12 - 4pm, and of course by appointment.  Tim Faulkner Gallery is located at 815 E. Market St. #4 (upstairs in the Mary Craik building). 

I know you're already swamped with Derby week activities but this one is different from anything else I've seen on any social calendars so I wanted to tell you about. On Friday night May 2, 2008 Derby City Espresso is hosting an opening party for the Derby City Tattoo Art Show.

This Friday is first Friday as well. First Friday & Derby week = lots of cool stuff to do downtown. I hope you squeeze this event in though. I love the vibe Derby City Espresso is bringing downtown, I hung out there one afternoon last week and got some work done and really enjoyed it.

Derby City Espresso
331 E. Market Street
Louisville, KY

Yeah I said it, free bourbon. If you're a Friend of Lou you should have received a pass in the mail that enables you to swing by the Bourbon Country tent down at Fest-A-Ville, get a free drink, nibble on some appetizers and hear some live jazz. If you're not a Friend of Lou, well shame on you. You can still make it to the party though. Download and print your pass and you're well on your way to coolness and free beverageness. 

JOIN LOU and friends for an exclusive Friends of Lou party.

WHERE: The Bourbon Country tent at Fest-a-ville next to the Chow Wagon
WHEN: April 24, 2008 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Put the VIP pass linked in this email in your lanyard and show it at the main entrance to gain absolutely, positively free admission for you and a friend. You'll enjoy bourbon-inspired hors d'oeuvres, a free drink ticket and live music. You can even stick around a little later to hear a live jazz ensemble and watch the Great Balloon Glimmer.

This is not a bad idea at all. Business First says that prepaid debit cards, like the ones we're all bombarded with around the winter holidays, are going to be available for purchase and use at Fest-A-Ville.

The Derby Festival FunCard "can be used in lieu of traditional tickets. The FunCard works like other prepaid cards and can be loaded with up to $99. The cards can be purchased at local BB&T branches and at on-site ticket booths at the Fest-a-Ville and the Chow Wagon.

The cards can be used to buy food and drink concessions, official Derby Festival merchandise and Pegasus Pins."

Sweet. I'm all for shortening lines to buy deep fried, calorie laden foods that will make me hate myself in the morning but will give me that sugar buzz I know and love right away.

Fest-A-Ville runs Thursday, April 24, 2008 through Friday, May 02, 2008
11AM-11PM, Sunday 1PM-11PM
Pegasus Pin required for admission

Waterfront Park, Great Lawn
Louisville, KY

The Bardstown Road Farmers' Market has been open for  a few weeks now and the Phoenix Hill Farmers' Market officially opens this afternoon. They sure do have a great day for their first market of the year. The weather is absolutely perfect today. So get thee downtown this afternoon from 3PM-6:30PM to buy direct from farmers. Knowing where your food came from is very, very cool.

Phoenix Hill Farmers' Market
Parking lot of Mellilo's/The Bodega
Market Street
Louisville

I got a press release about a the premier of a locally shot and produced film by student filmmaker Justine Feldt. It sounds like she and her partner pretty much bootstrapped the film and have been working on it like mad for the past year.

Local filmmaker and college student, Justine Feldt, will hold the premiere of her new film Winding Road on April 25 at Jefferson Community and Technical College.  The event will be in the Hartford Building basement located on 649 South First Street. A mini-concert featuring soundtrack artists such as Douglas Lucas, Teneia Sanders, and Cast Iron Airplane will take place at 7pm. The film will begin at 8:30pm. The event is free and open to the public.  

An avid filmmaker, Feldt has spent the last year working non-stop on Winding Road.The film follows the story of a young Haley Smith, who dreams of becoming a famous songwriter. Without her mother's knowledge, Haley leaves home for a prestigious songwriting competition in Chicago. Along the way, she hitches a ride with a young man who is her complete opposite. Through their journey, they form an unlikely friendship, despite Haley's growing concerns about the young man's true intentions.

Winding Road is a low-budget independent film, funded solely by Feldt and her co-producer and assistant director, Claire Thixton. Because of Louisville's thriving art scene and support of independent artists, Feldt was able to find many volunteers and musicians to help make the film a success. The film was entirely shot in Kentucky, with the majority of scenes filmed in the Louisville area.  As a female filmmaker, Feldt is an advocate for gender-equality behind the camera. Feldt, who has attended the New York Film Academy and was apart of the 2006 Samsung Fresh Films competition, hopes that Winding Road will lead her to more filmmaking opportunities.

I dig that last paragraph. Particularly the part about Louisville's thriving art scene and support of independent artists." Damn skippy. I hope lots of people take the opportunity of the Winding Road premier to come out and show support for Louisville's art community.  

Being the crazy dog person I am I love that tonight we've got Dog Day in the Park at Slugger Field today and coming up soon we've got HappyTail Hour. Yay for springtime activities that are pet friendly.

For the second year in a row, Metro Animal Services (MAS) and the Louisville Waterfront Development Corporation (WDC) will host HappyTail Hour, in conjunction with Kroger's Fest-a-Ville on the Waterfront Park's Great Lawn.  It's Louisville's only "pet inclusive" cocktail event, taking place Monday, April 28th from 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. at Waterfront Park. (All pets must be on leashes.)

The event will provide a fun opportunity for the pet loving community to come together to listen to the music from Margarita-Ville on the Great Stage, mingle, play games with their dogs and hang out in the newest Kentucky Derby Festival venue at Waterfront Park.  S.P.O.T., MAS's 34-foot mobile adoption unit will also be on hand with adoptable animals.

"There are a lot of festival events, but none are really conducive to pets.  HappyTail Hour will fill that void and provide an event where people can bring their pets along to have a bite to eat or to socialize," said Jackie Gulbe, MAS assistant director of community relations.  "Many people love mingling with other pet lovers and the animals like and really need to socialize too." 

The original event was conceived as a result of community feedback expressing concern about a lack of events that welcome pets.  Many dog owners are interested in social activities that are pet friendly. 

"I see how many people bring their dogs to the other events that we have on the waterfront and it just made sense to have an event geared for the pet loving crowd," said Ashley Cox, WDC marketing & event coordinator.  "This will be a derby event where pets are completely welcome!"   

For questions, contact Jackie Gulbe at Metro Animal Services at (502) 361-1318.

One of my beloved's very good friends died from Leukemia while they were in college as such the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society are right up there with the Alzheimer's Association. So I'm happy to share the press release I got for a benefit at Flame Run on April 26, 2008 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Flame Run contemporary art glass studio is hosting a Glass Extravaganza on April 26 to raise money for the Kentucky and Southern Indiana chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The public is invited.

About 20 pieces made by Flame Run artists will be sold at auction or given away through raffles from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Some of the pieces will be made during the evening of the event by Flame Run artists. Attendees will buy raffle tickets at the door for $10, $15 and $50. Refreshments will be served.

Flame Run co-owner Susie Slabaugh White planned the event after she was nominated as a candidate for Woman of the Year by the Kentucky and Southern Indiana chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. She is one of 13 business and community leaders competing for the titles in honor of the Boy and Girl of the Year - local children who have survived blood cancer. The winners are judged solely on a philanthropic basis - the male and female candidates raising the most funds win. Last year's events raised $132,000, according to Carolyn Harper, who is coordinating the campaign for the society.

"I am honored to be given this opportunity to raise awareness about leukemia and lymphoma," said White, whose grandmother died of lymphoma about 10 years ago.

Flame Run
828 East Market Street
Louisville, KY

I don't personally know enough about Tricia Batement to give you the full scoop so I'm just going to quote the press release.

The Louisville Graphic Design Association (LGDA) will host a lecture by designer Tricia Bateman on Thursday, April 24th at 6pm. The event will be held at the Cressman Center for Visual Arts Gallery at 100 East Main Street, and will include hors d'oeuvres provided by the Wiltshire Pantry. The cost is free for LGDA members, $15 for non-members and $5 for students.

LGDA members attending this event can enter to win a full-conference registration to the annual HOW Design Conference, a four-day conference, created for graphic design professionals, being held May 18-21, 2008 in Boston, MA. The giveaway, valued at over $1,000 is open to current LGDA members, no purchase necessary.

Reservations are encouraged but not required. To RSVP email lgda.rsvp@gmail.com

About Tricia Bateman
Tricia Bateman began her career in design coloring with Pantone markers on Bienfang 100% rag paper on her dad's ad agency office floor. As an adult, Tricia has left her mark on the magazine design industry with more than 10 years experience winning various design awards and inclusion in Folio magazine's Folio:40. Former titles under her guidance include Writer's Digest, Popular Woodworking and HOW. Looking for a new creative challenge, Tricia recently left HOW magazine for Madison Design Group. From the new point of view of a design firm, she's managed a few magazine redesigns and launches as well as branching out into branding, identity and collateral for companies like Procter and Gamble, Cincinnati Children's Hospital and Summerfair Cincinnati.

The Late Seating at Actors presents The Promiscuous Materials Project
Apr 25, 10:30 pm following performance of Doubt at 8 pm

An electric mixture of selected stories and songs by Jonathan Lethem, interpreted by local artists as part of The Promiscuous Materials Project.

TICKETS $10 (or $5 with Actors ticket stub)
CALL 502-584-1205 for reservation

PERFORMANCE
Necessary Theatre
Freewheelin Theatre Company
Riverrun Theatre Company

MUSIC
One Small Step

VISUAL ART
Lindsey Dobson
mperfect
Natasha Sud
Joe Welsh
Brad White
Matt Dobson

MUSIC VIDEO
Andy Garbe

If biking is an option why on earth would you want to fight with all the traffic downtown pre and post Thunder? Particularly when there is free valley bike parking. You don't even need to bring a lock! Interested in volunteering to help out with this great service? See the last paragraph below for details.

Louisville Metro will again be sponsoring FREE Valet Bicycle Parking at Thunder Over Louisville this Saturday, April 12. Space will be available for secure, full-service parking of 700 bicycles on a first-come first-served basis at the corner of Preston & Witherspoon Streets from 11AM to 11PM - no locks needed.

Just ride your bike to Thunder at Preston & Witherspoon across from Louisville Slugger Field, (some folks ride from home; others drive, park further out where it's free, and ride from there), drop it off, and pick it up when the fireworks are over! It's that simple, and you avoid all the traffic congestion and parking headaches that come with driving your car to Thunder.

This year's service is being operated by the local non-profit organization Bicycling for Louisville. They are still looking for volunteers to help staff the event in short 1-2 hour shifts throughout the day, and especially from 10PM-11PM after the fireworks are over, when everyone comes to retrieve their bikes. If you're interested in helping out, contact Barry Zalph at info@bicyclingforlouisville.org or 582-1814. Volunteers will receive a free, wicking, Bike Louisville t-shirt!

Another First Friday another Trolley Hop. You know how these things go. A few highlights for the April 2008 edition:

- The Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft Gallery Shop will host a reception for the April Artist of the Month - Bruce Frank. Frank is a photographer who uses his background in graphic design to create images that generally feature a central flower or leaf pattern, with an enhanced background or border. He calls his work contemporary botanical art.

The Museum will also unveil the 2008 Derby couture! Wearables include: Hats by Angie Schultz, Polly Singer, Jill Henning, Leigh Magar, Fleur de Paris, C.K. Nobles, Donita Cherry and Ann deVuono; Jewelry by Summer Eliason and Kara Nichols; Sunglasses by iWOOD Eco Designs; and Neckware by Bird Dog Bay and Judy Kushner.

- "Join St. John United Church of Christ in their post-Lenten Fish Fry at 6:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall. The Sanctuary is open to guests and will feature organ music. Outside, enjoy musical drumming guest Terry Birkhead. St. John is also hosting The Thousand Poet's opening event at 8 p.m. upstairs in our Renaissance Theatre. Enjoy poetry with Erin Keane and Adam Day, followed by The Big Time Band and finally a musical performance by Brett Eugene Ralph. For more information, visit thousandpoets.org."

- The Bodega at Felice will be sampling Derby entertaining ideas and Ky Ale products. As part of Poetry Month, there will be poetry readings at The Bodega during the Trolley Hop.

- "Gallery NuLu, 632 E. Market St. 2nd floor, proudly announces their latest show, Leah Tinari's "These Squares Certainly Sabotage the Stereotype"! Opening: April 4th, 2008 from 5-8 pm through: May 31s t, 2008.

Brooklynite and celebrated New Yorker illustrator Leah Tinari makes her first trip to Louisville with her outrageous, sumptuous paintings. Tinari celebrates and puts her personal touch on the everyday snapshot by turning it into art, permanently recording her boisterous nights out and family gettogethers in our 'snap it, delete it, and retake it' society.

Tinari's illustrations regularly accompany The New Yorker's Goings On Around Town Section, putting her touch on bands like The Faint and Supergrass. Her work has also snagged the cover of the UK's Adbusters, as well as coverage in Elle, Lucky, Spin, and The New York Times Magazine. She teaches a drawing and painting class at Parsons School of Design as well.

Whitney May of The New York Arts Magazine sums it up: "Here, youth, laughs, tequila, and a digital camera are everything; neither politics nor the rest of society pose any significant roadblock."

On Tuesday April 15, 2008 the Louisville Film Society and the 21c Museum Foundation present An Evening with Allison Anders. Two of her films, "Border Radio" and "Gas Food Lodging", will be shown and a QA with the Kentucky native filmmaker will take place after each film.

Tuesday April 15, 2008
7PM Border Radio followed by a Q&A with Allison Anders
9PM Gas Food Lodging followed by a Q&A with Allison Anders

Filmmaker info from Louisville Film Society

Before carving out a niche as one of the most distinct voices in nineties American cinema, Allison Anders made her debut, alongside codirectors and fellow UCLA film school students Kurt Voss and Dean Lent, with 1987's Border Radio. A low-key, semi-improvised postpunk diary that took four years to complete, Border Radio features legendary rocker Chris D., of the Flesh Eaters, as a singer/songwriter who has stolen loot from a club and gone missing, leaving his wife (Luanna Anders), a no-nonsense rock journalist, to track him down with the help of his friends (John Doe of the band X; Chris Shearer). With its sprawling Southern Californian and Mexican landscapes, captured in evocative 16mm black and white, Border Radio is a singular, DIY memento of the indie film explosion in America.

21c Museum Hotel
700 West Main St.
Louisville, KY

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

Back in November Park Place on Main introduced a dinner menu aimed at theater goers. I thought it was a great idea that allowed people to have a great meal in plenty of time to make it to the show on time. Morton's must have thought it was a good idea too because they've just introduced their own Pre-Theater menu.

You don't have to be on the way to a performance to take advantage of Morton's Pre-Theater Menu. Any occasion is a perfect one to dine early and enjoy legendary steaks and seafood at a bargain price. Morton's Louisville presents a special menu nightly from 5:30 to 6:30 that includes a salad, entrée, side and dessert. The menu is an incredible value at $49.95 per person plus tax and gratuity. For reservations, call (502) 584-0421.

Full menu after the jump.

Morton's The Steakhouse
626 West Main Street
Louisville, KY

This dinner is too rich for my blood but if you can swing it sounds like a neato lecture and dinner.

Austrian artist Werner Reiterer is the creative force behind the chandelier installation at the corner of Seventh and Main in front of the 21C Museum Hotel. Following the artist's free lecture in the 21C Atrium on Wednesday, April 16, Proof chef Michael Paley will present a three course menu at which Reiterer will be the guest of honor. A portion of the proceeds from the dinner will go to support the 21c Museum Foundation. The cost is $125 per person, including wine, tax and gratuity. Seats are limited and reservations may be secured with a credit card at 502-217-6374 or bbomba@proofonmain.com.

On Friday evening March 28, 2008 from 5-8PM there will be a closing show at Gallery NuLu for Valerie Sullican Fuchs solo show "Boys Don't Cry." I don't know much about the show so here is some info from the press release:

Described as a "prominent video artist" by Julien Robson, The Speed Museum's Curator of Contemporary Art , Fuchs offers her first solo exhibition in five years.

Fuchs has exhibited her work throughout the US, including Louisville's 21C and Speed Museums, twice at the Santa Barbara Center for Contemporary Art, and several galleries in Chicago. Fuchs has also shown her work abroad, most recently in Estonia at the Parnu Film and Video Festival, as well as in Austria and Serbia.

Fuchs is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Al Smith Fellowship from the Kentucky Arts Council, multiple Artist Enrichment Grants from the Kentucky Foundation for Women, and a grant from the Sony Corporation. In 2003, she won a Prague Quadrennial Award for Video Design. In 2005, the Louisville International Airport commissioned the creation of her 'Zero to Sixty' project, on permanent display in the terminal.

She received a Bachelors in Architecture from the University of Kentucky, and her MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Her latest collection offers several new video pieces, as well as other works.

Gallery Nulu
632 East Market, Upstairs
Louisville, KY
502-561-1162

I got this press release for an interesting sounding show that opens next week at Zephyr Gallery.

Zephyr Gallery will exhibit Compositions of Symmetry, artwork by Louisville artists Michelle Amos and Brenda Wirth from April 2nd -May 10th. An artist's reception and First Friday Gallery Hop will be held on April 4th 6-9pm at the gallery, 610 East Market. The May First Friday Gallery Hop will be held on May 2nd 6-9pm. Gallery hours are Wednesday- Saturday from 11am- 6pm and by appointment.

Brenda Wirth will display her series of digitally manipulated photographs that are the basis for several large new vinyl pieces. Using self-adhesive colored vinyl adhered to clear vinyl, Wirth created brightly colored intricate symmetrical patterns that reference the natural world. Her works include an installation using painted driftwood, light and shadow.

Michelle Amos takes a different approach to symmetry with her twin dolls in woven caskets.

The band Ut Gret will play the opening reception and offer sweet melodic tunes for a festive Spring evening.

The final mega jam and the last two Harry Pickens shows are already sold out for The Jazz Factory's final week. But at my last checking there were still seats available for tonight's Larry Coryell shows and tomorrow's UofL Jazz Combo show.

Head down and say a sad goodbye to what should have been a Louisville institution for years to come.

Just got a press release for a new show at Flame Run that's going to feature the work of the glass studio's founder Brook Forrest White Jr.

Flame Run contemporary art glass studio will showcase the work of its founder, Brook Forrest White Jr., in a solo exhibition April 4, 2008 through May 20, 2008. A reception is scheduled on Saturday April 5 from 6 to 9 p.m.

The show will include at least 10 to 15 new pieces, including "Twinkle Twinkle," an installation depicting the solar system that is 35 feet wide, 11 feet tall and two feet deep. "It's a new direction for me because it is work on a much larger scale," White said.

Twinkle Twinkle sounds amazing. The opening reception for the show is Saturday April 5 from 6PM-9PM. The show runs April 4-May 20, 2008.

As I know I've mentioned before the Alzheimer's Association is an organization near and dear to me. Each fall I work as hard as I can to raise money for the annual Memory Walk. That's a not so subtle way of letting you know I'll be harassing you to donate come August. I want to raise more money that ever for the Memory Walk this year and I sincerely hope you'll give me your support. In addition to supporting me in the Memory Walk here is another cool way you can support our local branch of the Alzheimer's Association:

Local film production company Hart-Lunsford Pictures helped produce the independent film "Diminished Capacity." The film stars Alan Alda, Matthew Broderick, and Virginia Madsen. In the film Alan Alda plays a man with Alzheimer's. On Sunday April 13, 2008 a local premier of the film including a Q&A with screenwriter Sherwood Kiraly is being held as a fundraiser for the Kentucky-Southern Indiana chapter of the Alzheimer's Association.

Tickets are $50 and include a wine/beer/ hors d'oeuvres reception, film viewing and the Q&A. The entire $50 ticket price will be donated to the Alzheimer's Association.

Tickets must be purchased through the Center for The Arts. They can be purchased online starting today at www.kentuckycenter.com or over the phone at 502-584-7777.

Sunday April 13, 2008
6:00PM
Kentucky Center for the Arts

There's a reception and after party at 21c Friday night following the screening of FLOW: For Love of Water at Baxter Avenue Theatres. From the press release:

Please join us in celebrating the Kentucky premiere of the acclaimed documentary FLOW: For Love of Water
See the film @ 7:30 @ Baxter Avenue Theatre and make your way to 21c Museum Hotel for the afterparty.

Meet the Director Irena Salina and Co-Producer Gill Holland

Friday, March 21, 2008
10pm until Late
Atrium Gallery
Special Musical Guest DJ Jesse Jamz
Free with FLOW Ticket Stub or Donation to the 21c Museum Foundation
Cash Bar

The film was a co-production of Louisville-based The Group Entertainment, Executive Produced by Louisvillian Augusta Brown Holland and co-produced by her husband Gill Holland, and is directed by French filmmaker Irena Salina.

21c Museum Hotel
700 West Main St.
Louisville, KY

The Mayan Cafe is one of my favorite Louisville restaurants. I love everything about it from the atmosphere to the food to the fantastic Jackson's Organic Coffee the restaurant serves. Next Thursday March 27, 2008 The Mayan Cafe is going to be debuting a new menu and I for one am really excited about it. 

This Saturday March 22, 2008 from Noon-4PM the Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft will present a Figurative Clay Sculptures Workshop with Maggie Towne. 

I've never before heard of "Titicut Follies" so I'm going to share a quote about the film from the event announcement.

"Titicut Follies" is a documentary film that tells you more than you could possibly want to know - but no more than you should know - about life behind the walls of one of those institutions where we file and forget the criminal insane... A society's treatment of the least of its citizens - and surely these are the least of ours - is perhaps the best measure of its civilization."
- Richard Schickel, Life Magazine

Tuesday, March 18th, 2008 7 & 9 PM
Free

21c Museum Hotel
700 West Main St.
Louisville, KY

It's with great sadness I pass on news that The Jazz Factory is closing. A friend forwarded to me a newsletter that was sent out to The Jazz Factory faithful. Below are some quotes from it:

Dear Faithful Jazz Fans,

I'm sad to inform you that The Jazz Factory® will suspend operations at the close of business on Saturday, March 29. For five years we have presented the very finest local, regional and national jazz talent, five nights a week, to Louisville audiences. However, during the five years we have been open, we have not found a way to make the business support itself. As a result, Dianne and I, together with our partners, made the difficult decision to close the doors at the end of this month. We will continue to try to find ways to save the business, or to continue in some other form. But for now, closing is the only option.

The Jazz Factory will continue its normal Tuesday-Saturday schedule through March 29, including performances by Ron Jones, Sarah Stivers, The New York Standards Quartet, Larry Coryell and Harry Pickens. On our final night, March 29, we have invited dozens of jazz musicians who have performed at The Jazz Factory to join Harry Pickens and his trio for a farewell jam.

Well, there won't be free trolley service but several galleries will be open tonight since last week's First Friday Trolley Hop was called due to weather.

The Carr-Waite Gallery will be featuring new work by gallery owners Geoff Carr and Caroline Waite. Pyro will be open and featuring member Susan Moffett's "Journeys: Drawings and Prints" and Swanson-Reed will have "Make It Right: Rebuilding New Orleans."

The Urban Design Studio is hosting an event on Tuesday March 25, 2008 to discuss local food and agriculture (things that are near and dear to my heart).

We are excited to present the next forum in our Sustainable City Series - Local Food & Agriculture. This event is sure to be a hit with foodies, farmers, health nuts, sustainability advocates and many others. We have a great lineup of speakers including: Susan Hamilton of Louisville Metro's Economic Development Department, Ivor Chodkowski owner of Grasshoppers and member of Community Farm Alliance, Bill Huston of Urban Fresh, and Chef Mark Williams - Executive Chef at Bourbon Street Cafe and local Slow Food movement advocate Slow Food Bluegrass.

Local Food and Agriculture presented by The Urban Design Studio
Tuesday, 25 March 2008, 6:00-8:30PM
The event is free but you must register and seating is limited

Glassworks
815 W Market Street
Louisville, KY 40202

I guess it's time to start compiling a list of special menus and events for Easter. The Brown Hotel gets the prize for being the first to send me a press release for Easter.

The J. Graham's Café menu is served buffet-style and features Potato Leek Soup and a selection of salads including Grilled Ostrich, Macadamia Nut and Green Pea with Chipotle Vinaigrette, Romaine Lettuce, Caesar Dressing with Cranberry Bread Croutons and Deviled Eggs with sour cream and chive. Entrée presentations include Roasted Chicken with lemon confit cream sauce, Herb-Crusted Mahi Mahi with vanilla beurre rouge and Kentucky Ham with Honey Glaze. At the carving station, diners can choose Rubbed Pork Crown with apple cider whole grain mustard sauce, Lamb Shoulder Confit with herb roasted new potatoes or Assorted Grilled Vegetables. Menu items made especially for children will also be available along with a display of assorted pastries, cheese and crudités fore everyone to enjoy. The cost for the J. Graham's Café Easter Brunch is $32 per person, $16 for Children 4-12, plus tax and gratuity. Lunch is complimentary for children under four-years-old. Seating times are 11:30 a.m./11:45a.m. and 1:15 p.m./1:30 p.m. For reservations please call (502) 583-1234, Extension 7225.

The English Grill's Easter Lunch begins with a gorgeous buffet in the Brown Lobby of Oyster Chowder and antipasto selections of Grilled Asparagus, Prosciutto and Capicolo Ham, Roasted Peppers, <