While perhaps not as exciting as free bourbon free trees are nice. The fine folks at Doe-Anderson will be giving away trees during lunch today in honor of Arbor Day. Yay, trees.

Free to a Good Home For Arbor Day, Doe-Anderson will be giving away mighty Oaks that from tiny acorns have grown. Okay, they're not quite mighty yet (we didn't have room for the full-grown kind), but they're well on their way and just need good homes. We've got 50 or so for anyone who would like to give back to the earth on this special day. Some of our fellow earth-friendly employees will be handing out these sweet saplings outside of our building at 620 West Main from noon till 1 on Friday, April 25th, Arbor Day!

I like that they're doing this doing lunch on a work day so people who work downtown can swing by and participate instead of having to drive someplace else. Way to look out for the environment and decrease pollution. Stay classy Doe-Anderson, I dig it.

It's not often that I get to use the word Hootenanny and that's a sure shame. Thanksfull the folks from Mighty Kindness helped me out by calling their Earth Day celebration a hootenanny. Details:

Mighty Kindness invites you to their first annual Earth Day Hootenanny on Saturday, April 19th at Willow Park in the Highlands from 12-6pm. Together with Community Farm Alliance,Rainbow Blossom, Louisville Independent Business Alliance (LIBA), Sustain Kids, and Heine Bros.Coffee,the Mighty Kindness Earth Day Hootenanny is a free celebration for the whole community featuring the Art of Earth Performance Stage, a Kid's Tent, a Free School workshop & education area. There will also be an assortment of individuals representing their organizations such as Kentuckians for the Commonwealth, Campaign for a Dept. of Peace, Cultivating Connections, Amazing Grace Wholefoods, and many other Earth-friendly groups, local green businesses, alternative healers, local farmers, peace and social justice organizations.

The Art in Earth Performance Stage will feature the music of Leigh Ann Yost, Teneia Sanders, John Gage, Tamara Dearing,Troubadours of Divine Bliss, Kentucky Bootleggers, Acoustic Tomato and Fool's Crow. You can also experiencethe magical movement of the Earth Mamas Dance Co. and workshops by Salsa Rueda & Playback Theatre.

The Mighty KIDness tent will be host to Divinity Rose's "Kid's Open Stage & Storytelling", John Gage's workshop on music for the whole family, flower planting and finger knitting with the Waldorf School, face painting and other children's activities.

The Free School will be offering educational workshops on a wide variety of environmental and community interests. Some workshops and talks will be on community gardens, composting, raw foods, homemade green cleaners, mountaintop removal, eco-landscaping as well as peace & social justice interests.

There will be free gifts abound including books and give-aways from local businesses. Bring the whole family and pack a picnic for there will not be refreshments in order to keep it a "Money-Free Festivity!".

Mighty Kindness is a local community unity organization and online resource that seeks to bring together all things in our eco-region that create a circle of sustainability and contribute to our common wealth. Please visit www.mightykindness.org to find resources for local farms, community services, local green businesses, peace & social justice groups, alternative medicine and healing, spirituality, environmental organizations and meet like-minded souls in the Mighty Kind Community.

Join us in honoring the Earth on Saturday, April 19th at Willow Park. Come enjoy inspiring local performers, witness the wonder of our mighty kids being educated and entertained, discover Community services that you never knew existed, find out about products provided by your neighbors that are good for you and eco-friendly, and meet local farmers & get fresh produce delivered to your door. Come hobknob with the heart of our commonwealth - where earth-advocates, peaceful warriors, union members, social justice workers, eco-conscious business people, artists, healers, dreamers, heroes & heroines all come together to create a community with vision, beauty, wholeness, and a healthy respect for our beloved Earth!

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!

Next Saturday April 5, 2008 from 10AM to Noon there is a free guided, educational tour of a Beargrass Creek area trail in Cherokee Park.

Environmentalists David Word and Ben Wolff will guide you on a trail adjacent to Beargrass Creek in Cherokee Park to learn more about stream ecology, aquatic insects, water quality assessment techniques and what we can do to improve water quality in our community. Easy to moderately-easy walk on trails. Tennis shoes or boots are recommended.

Space is limited so register early by calling Sarah Wolff at 502/432-2677 or e-mail Sarah at sarah.wolff@olmstedparks.org.

Yeah, I'm square, I think kites are cool. Sue me.

April is National Kite Month and we here at E.P. "Tom" Sawyer State Park want to kick it off right, so on March 29th we will again be hosting our annual Kite Day.

There will be a "Fun Fly" where you can show off your own kite flying skills and there will also be other various kite-centered contests and a professional kite-flying demonstration.

There is no cost for this event and the first 40 participants will receive a free kite.

Saturday, March 29, 2008
Noon-3PM

E.P. Tom Sawyer State Park
3000 Freys Hill Road
Louisville, KY 40241

My back yard is a weird hilly thing with small part getting too much direct sun while the rest of it gets hardly any direct  sun. In other words my dreams a of a beautiful backyard garden have been shattered by my current yard. But my patio? My patio is perfect for a container garden and I can't wait to start planting. I've already got a book on the subject but a little person to person information is always helpful so I'm hoping to make it to Just Creations this Saturday March 15, 2008 for their free Container Gardening Event with Jeneen Wiche from 1:00-3:00PM. Hopefully she's going to teach me everything I need to know to turn my patio into container garden central.

Just Creations
2722 Frankfort Avenue
Louisville, KY

Sometimes people give me free stuff to review on this website. Books, CDs, etc. Most of the time I don't review them because a) there are only so many hours in the day b) I don't want to write any negative reviews. So if I don't like something I just don't review it. I figure there are enough things to be positive about that the world can survive without one more negative review of something. I give you this insight because I want you to understand how disappointed I am not to have received a copy of the new record by The Photographic to review. I really, really wanted to get an early copy to review so I could tell you how great it is and encourage you to buy it. I was that confident that it was going to be great. Alas, I did not receive a review copy and I've not been to ear X-tacy today so I can only tell you that I'm pretty sure the record kicks ass. My advice is to go to ear X-tacy tonight for a free in-store performance by the duo and to pick up your copy of the brand new record "Pictures of A Changing World."

The Photographic
March 11, 2008
7PM
Free

ear X-tacy
1534 Bardstown Road
Louisville, KY

PS Free things I really like include books, CDs, coffee, certificates for free meals and dessert.

Update: Not only does Cory at Backseat Sandbar want to rub it in that he got a review copy of the record when I didn't he also wants me to link to his review of it. As my grandmother would say "that's tacky." Just kidding. Backseat Sandbar has its hand on the music pulse in this city so its only natural they'd have the scoop. That scoop by the way just confirms my suspicion about the record being great. To quote Cory "you need this album."

This Friday night The 930 Art Center is having an opening reception for the exhibit Various Colors by Kaori Ishitani.

The reception is from 7PM-10PM and the artist will be speaking at 7:15PM.

The exhibit will be on view March 7-30, 2008

A concert featuring Concert featuring Brooks Ritter and Sarah Elizabeth will begin at 8PM. This is a free, all ages show.

Image Life is Too Short ©Kaori Ishitani

Whoever is in charge of art direction for The Late Seating is doing a kick ass job. Last month they had the Matt Dobson poster that was super cool and this month it's the Made in Louisville design you see here. I don't know you are but I'm digging your art direction. Now, on to the details.

The Humana Festival might be a world famous event that attracts lots of visitors to from all over but it's a Louisville event and we need to claim it as such. So the folks at The Late Seating got the idea to do a "Made in Louisville" party to celebrate the festival's kickoff. This party is going to have food provided by local Louisville restaurants, a DJ will be spinning Louisville tunes, and festiveness will be oozing. The press released detais:

Louisville's Humana Festival Party
Mar 1, 2008 10:30 pm
A Made in Louisville party to kick-off the Humana Festival of New American Plays

TICKETS
Party is free,
but ticket required

Call 502-584-1205
for reservation

Enjoy DJ Matt Anthony (host of WFPK Sound Clash) playing music by area bands plus complimentary appetizers donated by Intermezzo Cafe, Artemisia, Bistro 301, Caviar and Proof on Main.

Meet and mingle with Actors Theatre artists and staff and learn more about their contribution to Louisville's own internationally acclaimed Humana Festival.

PERFORMANCE
Marco Polo by Greg Romero
presented by Specific Gravity Ensemble
directed by Rand Harmon
Players: Lucas W. Adams, Sarah Feldman, Julia Leist, Corey Long, Randy D. Pease, Jennifer Poliskie

VIDEO
Show Me Your Louisville by Jason Tongen
Talk Derby to Me, Bat Birth Factory and Haunted Sanatorium by Thomas Green 

Local band The Muckrakers have released three internet only singles in preparation for release of their fourth studio album. The third and final internet only single is an ode to this city we love. Called "Lights of Louisville" the band describes it as "a song about finding who you are by being with the people you love." I dig that sentiment and I dig this track. I think you will too, go download it now. It's emotive, pretty and genuine without being sappy.

The track is only available for free for a two week period. I don't know when those two weeks began so seriously, go download it now.

Thanks for the Louisville love Muckrakers and thanks for sharing the music! That's pretty much the definition of awesome and I appreciate you for it.

Also thanks to Steve at Louisville History and Issues for the tip.

Thanks to all who participated in the giveaway for Louisville author Will Lavender's debut novel Obedience. I'll be contacting the winners by email but I'll share the favorite books the winners listed in their entries:

To Kill a Mockingbird
Eat Pray Love & Catcher in the Rye
The Great Gatsby & On the Road
The Stand
To Kill a Mockingbird & The Bell Jar & The Group

Free stuff abounds
I'm giving away copies of local author Will Lavender's debut novel Obedience. You've got until 12:01 Monday to enter to win.

My friends over at Backseat Sandbar are giving away tickets to the Dawn Landes show next Friday night.

Indian Buffet Battle Royale in the Highlands
Not really but that's a great headline huh? Sitar Indian Restaurant recently opened up where Ballyhoo's used to be near Cafe Metro on Bardstown Road. In addition to having a great location this place is sure to attract a steady stream of business due to having an everyday buffet. It is this constant buffet that I assume has inspired Kashmir, further down Bardstown Road (near Longest Avenue) to expand their buffet from a weekend only affair to everyday. There was a giant sign out front that said "Buffet Everyday $6.99" when I drove by yesterday.

Gigantic Government Vehicles
This is more Page One's territory than mine but I've been thinking about this a good deal. One street over from me lives a recently elected politician. Since his election he's been driving a state vehicle (it's got the official seal on it and the name of his office) presumably back and forth to Frankfort. This thing is a massive SUV. I'm a bit of a tree hugger so I'm not a fan of SUVs in general but isn't it overkill (both in terms of environmental impact and just the cost of fuel for the thing) to have a huge vehicle for one or two people? Isn't it overkill when the largest cargo the vehicle will probably ever tote are briefcases and maybe a couple banker's boxes of documents? Wouldn't a more fuel efficient vehicle (say maybe even a Toyota that's made in Kentucky instead of a Chevy that isn't) be a better use of tax payer dollars?

I probably should just ignore this issue but I can't help but think about it every time I walk my dog past this massive automotive monstrosity wonder parked on the street. Do you have any thoughts on this issue?

Local author Will Lavender's first novel Obedience hit store shelves yesterday. I've got five copies in my hot little hands I'm itching to giveaway courtesy of the book's publisher (thanks Shaye Areheart Books). To enter all you have to do is leave a comment or send an email telling me what your favorite book is. Bonus points if in your comment you tell why it's your favorite book.

For Louisville based winners of this contest, and Louisville readers in general, the author and I have discussed putting together a one time book club gathering to meet and discuss Obedience. I can hardly describe how much fun I think it would be to discuss a good novel with the author. I really hope we can pull this gathering off. So, please also leave a comment to let me know if you'd be interested in said gathering.

Obedience is a psychological thriller, the author describes it as being reminiscent of the Michael Douglass film "The Game" and set on a a college campus. Here is the full publisher's blurb

When the students in Winchester University's Logic and Reasoning 204 arrive for their first day of class, they are greeted not with a syllabus or texts, but with a startling assignment from Professor Williams: Find a hypothetical missing girl named Polly. If after being given a series of clues and details the class has not found her before the end of the term in six weeks, she will be murdered.

At first the students are as intrigued by the premise of their puzzle as they are wary of the strange and slightly creepy Professor Williams. But as they delve deeper into the mystery, they begin to wonder: Is the Polly story simply a logic exercise, designed to teach them rational thinking skills, or could it be something more sinister and dangerous?

The mystery soon takes over the lives of three students as they find disturbing connections between Polly and themselves. Characters that were supposedly fictitious begin to emerge in reality. Soon, the boundary between the classroom assignment and the real world becomes blurred-and the students wonder if it is their own lives they are being asked to save.

Finally, Will Lavender will be reading from Obedience at Carmichael's on Frankfort Avenue tomorrow night, February 21, 2008 at 7PM. I really hope there is a great turnout to support this local author and his new work. A literary town is a great town.

Contest info
To enter leave a comment or send an email to info AT consuminglouisville.com (with Contest Entry as the subject) that includes the title of your favorite book. Feel free to also share why that book is your favorite.

Winners will be selected at random from all entries received before 12:01AM Monday February 25, 2008.

I love that we live in a town that has events like an "interactive workshop on how to grow and use organic sprouts." Naturally this event is at Rainbow Blossom (St. Matthews location) and is free.

The workshop is Thursday February 28, 2008 at 6:30PM

Rainbow Blossom
3728 Lexington Road
Louisville, KY

Design geeks listen up:

The Louisville Graphic Design Association (LGDA) is partnering with the Derby City Adobe User Group to host a virtual lecture by Kevin Lynch, Former Macromedia CEO and Adobe's Senior Software Architect on Monday, February 25th at 6:30pm. The event will be held at Captive Indoor Media, 4th floor of Butchertown Market at 1201 Story Ave, and will include hors d'oeuvres and giveaways of $5,000 in Adobe software.

Guests at the event will hear important product news, get their hands on some exclusive swag, and see an exclusive video presentation by Kevin Lynch. The live presentation will be given using a new web-conferencing tool and will connect 60 Adobe User Groups across the country.

The lecture is free and open to the public. Reservations are encouraged but not required. To RSVP email lgda.rsvp@gmail.com

Sounds very, very cool. Particularly the part about giving away Adobe software. I hear rumor there will be some other schwag given away as well.

I hesitate to post about this because I don't want the free tickets to be gone before I confirm with my beloved that we can go but I'm a kind person so I'm going to go ahead and tell you that the Louisville Film Society and Actors Theatre are presenting a free screening of Rushmore on Monday (how is it that I don't own the Rushmore soundtrack? Must.Correct.Now).

I'm an unabashed Wes Anderson fan girl. The Royal Tenenbaums is a classic and one of my favorite films ever (also a brilliant soundtrack). I even like the bad Wes Anderson movies (*cough* The Life Aquatic) so of course I love Rushmore.

Actor's Theatre
Humana Festival Movie Night
Monday, February 18, 2008 7:30 PM
Free, ticket required-Call 502-584-1205

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

You might not know this about me but I enjoy opera. I'm sadly not very knowledgeable about it (like I couldn't name the most important operas or hum their most famous songs) but I do enjoy it. Perhaps someone from the Kentucky Opera will volunteer to give me a primer. In the meantime I've found another way to increase both my opera knowledge and the amount of opera I enjoy in my life: a free concert at UofL featuring mezzo-soprano Katherine Rohrer. Rohrer "is a resident artist at the University of Louisville School of Music this month."

"She is the first resident artist to visit since the school received a grant from the Marilyn Horne Foundation to host performances of young opera singers over the next four years.

Rohrer's resume already includes appearances with San Francisco Opera, New York City Opera and Glyndebourne Opera. Her debut concert was at Carnegie Hall.

During her stay, Rohrer and pianist John Parr will give short recitals at area schools and perform for the West Louisville Boys' Choir. Her residency will culminate with the Feb. 21 concert."

That concert is February 21, 2008 at 8PM and it is free and open to the public

Mezzo-Soprano Katherine Rohrer Concert
Margaret Comstock Concert Hall, School of Music
University of Louisville
Louisville, KY

It looks like this is not the only free concert of up and coming opera singers we can expect.

"Daniel Weeks, a tenor and faculty member, was instrumental in helping to secure the Marilyn Horne Foundation grant. The foundation promotes the careers of emerging young singers by sponsoring concerts and artist residencies throughout the United States. Weeks is an alumnus of the foundation's young singers program."

That's fantastic. Well done Mr. Weeks, I'm serious about extending my opera appreciation so I'm really looking forward to future artists in residence with this program.
 

Tony Hepburn, a sculptural potter and artist in residence and ceramics department head at Cranbrook Academy of Art will be speaking this Saturday February 9, 2008 at the University of Louisville. The title of the free lecture is more than mouthful:  "Parafunctionality: The Fusion of Art, Design and Architecture" but the based on the information about the artist I imagine the lecture would be quite interesting.

"The Michigan multimedia artist works in sculpture, ceramics, drawing and digital photography."

"His many awards include a Friends of Contemporary Ceramics' lifetime achievement award, National Endowment for the Arts fellowship and two New York Council of the Arts fellowships.

Hepburn's work is in private collections worldwide and in public collections including the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the Smithsonian Institution's Renwick Gallery in Washington, D.C., and the International Ceramics Museum in Faenza, Italy."

Parafunctionality: The Fusion of Art, Design and Architecture
Saturday February 9, 2008, 4PM
Chao Auditorium in Ekstrom Library
University of Louisville

On Valentine's Day Graeter's is having a buy one get one free special on Sundaes. Buy one for your sweetheart and get one for yourself free. I'm betting they're not going to be too technical or literal on the definition of sweetheart so try it with your mom, your girlfriend, your boyfriend or even your drinking buddy and let me know how it goes. If the weather is nice enough for an evening stroll up to my local Graeter's I may just have to take them up on the deal myself.

Yesterday at a Louisville Coworking meetup someone mentioned knitting and I whined over how I had tried to teach myself to knit last year and failed miserably. A very nice woman at the meeting offered to teach me to knit (yay, someone to teach me!) and someone else piped up that every Thursday there's a "Stitch and Bitch" session at The Knit Nook. If that's a new phrase for you it comes from a knitting book of the same name that came out a few years ago. The book is a knitting instruction guide/pattern book geared primarily at DIY-minded women in their 30s and younger I think.

If I'm understanding the Stitch and Bitch concept correctly knitters of all skill levels gather round chatting, knitting, gossiping, talking, laughing helping each other with knitting and just generally having a festive time. Sounds like a fine situation to try and learn to knit in.

The Knit Nook normally closes at 6PM but stays open until 9PM on Thursday to accommodate all the stitching and bitching.

The Knit Nook
1140 Bardstown Rd. suite B
Louisville, KY
452-1919

Next Friday February 1, 2008 there's an opening for the 14th Annual African American Art Exhibition at Actors Theater from 5-9PM. The exhibit, which actually starts on January 29 and runs through February 23, 2008, features 68 works by 34 artists.

The opening is free and include the opportunity to "meet the artists and enjoy live entertainment and appetizers. In conjunction with downtown's First Friday Gallery Hop."

The artists in the exhibit:
Hugeaux, Eric Gholston, Abner A. Cope, Logan Kearse, Craig Screven,Clifford Darett, Ronald W. Claxton, Susan Williams, Velma J. Morris, Rhonda C. Bristol, Sean C. Haynes, UPFROMSUMDIRT, Aukram Burton, Mariah Spann, Gary J. Kirksey, LaMar Barber, Delita S. Martin, Bud Dorsey, Danny B. Campbell, William Buchanan, Juliet Seignious, John W. Simms Jr., Vitus Shell, DANTE, Cedric Michael Cox, Carlton Wilkinson, Ebony Patterson, Rex Deloney, Peppers, Kojo Kamau, Ann S. Reynolds,Tracy Ameen, Nicole Imani, Glendia Cooper

Wonder what the political leaders of Kentucky are thinking?

Join the MLWPC on Thursday, January 24, 2008, 5:30-7:00 p.m. for "A Conversation with Kentucky Political Leaders...." with: Ken Moellman, Chair of the Libertarian Party, Jennifer Moore, Chair of the Kentucky Democratic Party and Steve Robertson, Chair of the Republican Party. Our panel will be moderated by Amy Shir.

FREE and Open to all. Cash Bar and hors d'oeuvres available for $10.
RSVP to Nicole.candler@insightbb.com

Holiday Inn at 2nd and Broadway in Louisville

Next up from the Louisville Film Society is a screening of Spike Lee's Girl 6

"Upset by the treatment of women in the movie industry, out of work and desperate for money, Girl 6 decides to take a job as a phone-sex operator. This provocative urban comedy written by Suzan-Lori Parks is an often overlooked Spike Lee film.  This screening is in support of the stage play Topdog/Underdog, also written by Parks. Topdog/Underdog is set to open at Actor's Theatre on January 17th."

Jan. 21 7:30 PM
Actors Theatre 316 W. Main St.
FREE, ticket required—Call 502-584-1205

The fine folks in the band One Small Step sent me an email about two events Friday January 18, 2008 celebrating the release of their forthcoming CD Another Shelter.

First up is a free, all ages in-store appearance at ear X-tacy at 7PM.

Then they'll be hitting Lisa's Oak Street Lounge for a 21+ show that's also going to include  The Invaders and DJ Sean John. That show starts at 10PM cover is $3.

Friend of Consuming Louisville Cory at Backseat Sandbar has very good things to say about seeing One Small Step live: "Just two guys and a girl, a guitar, a bass and a synth, and its simple, beautiful and really good. I honestly cannot encourage seeing them highly enough."

Purchase the CD after January 18 at Ear-X-Tacy, Cherry Bomb, or We the People or you can order a copy directly from One Small Step's Louisville-based label, Brightskull Records by e-mailing Jamie at info@brightskull.com.  The CD will be $8 (postage paid). That's a great deal for good music people. Place your orders now!
 

Next Tuesday, January 15, 2008 the Louisville Film Society and 21c Museum foundation present two free screenings of Iranian director Abbas Kiorstami's Palme d'Or winning film Taste of Cherry.

The free screenings are at 7PM and 9PM at the 21c Museum Hotel.

21c Museum Hotel
700 West Main Street
Louisville, KY 40202

The InKY Reading Series first event of 2008 could be described as a poetry extravaganza.

Cincinnati poet Jillian Weise is the author of The Amputee's Guide to Sex, a collection of poems from Soft Skull Press. Her poems have appeared in The Atlantic Monthly, Chelsea, Tin House and others. Her chapbook, Translating the Body, was released by All Nations Press in January 2006. Individual poems have been honored by the Academy of American Poets, the Emily Dickinson Prize Anthology, Pushcart Nominations and Verse Daily. After working at The Paris Review as an editorial assistant, she was the Alan Dugan Writing Fellow at the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown, Massachusetts, which she completed in May 2006. She is currently a Fellow at the University of Cincinnati.

Kristi Maxwell is the author of Realm Sixty-four, a collection of poems just released from Ahsahta Press. Her second book, Hush Sessions, will be published by Saturnalia in 2009. She is pursuing a doctorate at the University of Cincinnati.

Christina Lovin is the author of What We Burned for Warmth, a chapbook of poems from Finishing Line Press. Her work has appeared in Harvard Summer Review, Diner, Hunger Mountain , The Bark, and the anthologies Missing Mountains and Coal: An Anthology. She is a recipient of the Al Smith Fellowship from the Kentucky Arts Council.

In addition to the poetry singer/songwriter Teneia Sanders will be performing songs from her first full album, Soul Catcher.

Friday January 11, 2008
Open mic at 7:00, music at 7:30, featured readers at 8:00
Free

The Rudyard Kipling
422 W. Oak Street
Louisville, KY

The Speed Art Museum is honoring and celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by offering free admission to  its special exhibition Gee's Bend: The Architecture of the Quilt on Monday January 21, 2008.

I highly suggest you see this exhibit. It's outstanding and well worth your time. Seeing it for free would be even better. stillGee's Bend: The Architecture of the Quilt runs January 2, 2008 - March 23, 2008

Admission is free only on January 21, 2008 at all other times admission is $8, free to museum members. Gallery hours are:
Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.;
Thursday 10:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.;
Saturday 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.;
and Sunday 12:00 to 5:00 p.m.
The museum is closed on Mondays.

Speed Museum
2035 South Third Street
Louisville, Kentucky 40208

Here's the press release for an interesting sounding free event on UofL's campus on Saturday January 19, 2008.

U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall will be the focus of a panel discussion on the University of Louisville’s Belknap Campus Jan. 19, 2008

The free, public event, “Chief Justice John Marshall: Origins and Consequences of Judicial Review,” will begin at 10:30 in Chao Auditorium, Ekstrom Auditorium.

Panelists will include Michael McDonald, a retired Kentucky Court of Appeals judge; Scott Miller, a retired Kentucky state senator, and Jane Lollis, a Louisville attorney. Charles Ziegler of Uof L’s Department of Political Science and Thomas Mackey of UofL’s Department of History will moderate.

Marshall, who served on the nation’s highest court from 1801 to 1835, is perhaps best known for establishing judicial review, a practice allowing courts to strike down laws that violate the Constitution.

For more information, call Lynn Olympia of the Alexander Hamilton Historical Society of Kentucky, 502-897-5726.

I got an email about a free perfomance of 10 minute plays produced by the apprentice company at Actors Theatre January 14, 2008. I've never heard of the apprentice company before. A bit of digging at the Actors website turns up this description

The Acting Apprentice Company provides members with a total immersion into one of the nation's premiere regional theatres and the invaluable opportunity to develop their craft as actors, their skills as collaborators and their knowledge as theatre professionals. An ensemble of 22 actors, Apprentices attend regular classes that include movement, scene study, text analysis, audition technique and community-based theatre. Successful candidates have a unique combination of talent, work ethic, commitment to their art and an interest in actively engaging in the world both within the theatre and outside its walls.

Cool. The 10 minute plays they'll be performing are:

Ready, Set, Go by Marc Bovino
In Paris You Will Find Many Baguettes but Only One True Love by Michael Lew
Two or a Carload by Robert McBroom
The Greekest of Tragedies by Kevin Del Aguila
You Can Radiate by Sharon Eberhardt
Laundry Service by Beth Novick
Suspension by William Orem
Montana Lovesong by Tim J. Lord
Otherwise Engaged by Ruth McKee
The Other Desk by Eric R. Pfeffinger

Admission is free, but tickets are required and are available at the Box Office, 502-584-1205.

The 930 is just turning into the art and music spot in town isn't it? The latest step toward art world domination is Watercolor Painting Workshop for kids that is absolutely free this Saturday January 12, 2008.

This watercolor painting workshop for kids ages 4-12 will explore the landscapes of their imaginations. Children under 4 are welcome to come also, provided that a parent or guardian stays with them. All supplies will be provided.

This workshop will be taught by Tessa Janes and Katherine Valentine. Time together will also include a snack and some time to play in the gym and playground.

Register by emailing michael@the930.org and please include the names and ages of the children attending.

Saturday January 12, 2008. 2-6p.m.

The 930 Center
930 Mary St.
Louisville, KY 40204

If you're actually older than 12 and want to participate in an art workshop don't forget the about the Experimenting with Cyanotype workshop at The 930 on January 12, 2008.

The Louisville Orchestra and Metro Parks are putting on a series of free concerts at public facilities and community centers across town.

The Louisville Orchestra and Metro Parks present the 2008 Winter Chamber Concert Series! Come listen to the soothing sounds of world-class musicians as they play your favorites in some of the city's finest facilities. All performances are free and open to the public, made possible by a grant through the National Endowment for the Arts.

String Quartet
Sun Valley Community Center
6505 Bethany Lane
Thursday, January 10th, 1:30-2:30 p.m.
For more information, call 502/937-8802

"Waterpooloza"
Woodwind Trio
Mary T. Meagher Aquatic Center
Crescent Hill Park
201 Reservoir Avenue
Wednesday, January 16th, 9:45-11:30 a.m.
For more information, call 502/897-9949

Guest Pianist and String Quartet
Douglass Community Center
2305 Douglass Boulevard
Thursday, January 17th, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
For more information, call 502/456-8120

Woodwind Trio
California Community Center
1600 West St. Catherine Street
Monday, February 18th, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
For more information, call 502/574-2658

Jazz Swing Combo
South Louisville Community Center
2911 Taylor Boulevard
Friday, February 22nd, 12:30-2:30 p.m.
For more information, call 502/574-3206

Free concerts are most assuredly a step in the right direction for helping January suck less.

I got a press release for an interesting sounding event at the American Printing House for the Blind.

WHO: The public is invited to join the staff of the American Printing House for the Blind (APH) and “Sound Prints” co-host Carla Ruschival.

WHAT: A celebration for Louis Braille's Birthday, National Braille Literacy month, and the 150th Anniversary of American Printing House for the Blind. Admission is free.

WHERE: Callahan Museum, American Printing House for the Blind, 1839 Frankfort Avenue, Louisville, KY

WHEN: Saturday, January 5, 2008, 1:00pm -3:00pm (Reservation deadline is January 4, call 899-2365 for reservations.)

DETAILS: Louis Braille was born January 4, 1809 in France. American Printing House for the Blind was chartered January 23, 1858.

Come celebrate these two memorable birthdays with us at the Callahan Museum. Join the staff of the museum for cake, learn more about the life of Louis Braille, and see a demonstration of Braille books being read, as we celebrate literacy for people with vision loss.

I'm totally going to be a bird watcher when I get older.

New in 2008!

Be a part of the F-Boss's! Fly by Our Seats Seniors

We have expanded our program beyond the Forest. You will learn how to identify birds by the way they look and the way they sound as you visit some of the best bird viewing sites around Jefferson County.

Each program is guided by a Forest naturalist and consists of transportation to the various sites, and some short easy hikes. Lunch at local eateries at your own cost.

Participants can meet at the Forest Welcome Center or at Hays Kendnedy Park.

Reservations are required in advance.
Free

Monday January 8, 2008
8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

I saw a very cool poster (designed by Tyler Deeb) advertising Jamie Barnes performing at Quills this Friday December 21, 2007. I've never heard of Jamie Barnes before today but man am I glad I saw that poster (and also wondering how I've missed out on Barnes all this time and wondering why there isn't a digital version of that poster floating around online). Billboard Magazine's blog put Barnes in the category of "Wuss Rock" with such Consuming Louisville favorites as Iron and Wine, Cat Power and Jose Gonzalez (I'd also add Sufjan Stevens to that list).

We mean it in the kindest, sweetest sense when we say wuss. Think Iron & Wine, Jose Gonzalez, Cat Power... we love us some wusses.

I too love the wuss rock and after listening to a few tracks online I too love Jamie Barnes. Seriously. If you like Iron and Wine you'd be doing yourself a horrible disservice by not going to Quills on Friday night to see Jamie Barnes perform, particularly given that it's a free show. Of course you'd be able to do that if you hadn't already promised to take your mother out for a nice holiday dinner on Friday night. Not that I'm bitter.

Since I can't make the show I'm doing the next best thing by heading out to pick up Barnes's most recent record The Recalibrated Heart. I suggest you do the same or if you don't need to own the physical CD the Amazon.com mp3 store has the album available for a steal at $7.99. Barnes will also be taking part in WFPK's Louisville Songwriters Holiday Showcase edition of Live Lunch on Friday with Danny Flanigan, John Mann, Leigh Ann Yost and Brigid Kaelin. Listen to the show live at noon on WFPK.

Jamie Barnes at Quills Friday December 21, 2007
7PM Free

Quills Coffee & Books
1220 E Kentucky St
Louisville, KY

The Frazier Museum has a series of lunchtime events that present "bites" of history. These events are free and open to the public. The next one, on Thursday December 20, 2007 will be a presentation on political cartoons during Abraham Lincoln's administration.

With Malice Toward One -- Abraham Lincoln and the Political Cartoonists will be held noon Thursday, December 20, at the Frazier Inernational History Museum in Louisville. Dr. Mark Summers will discuss one very effective way to change or direct public opinion -- the political cartoon. During the Civil War, newspapers on both sides attempted to sway public sentiment. This program is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Tony Dingman at 502-756-5665.

I'm a history geek so this sounds like a great lunchtime event to me.

Thanks for tip Steve

Frazier International History Museum
829 West Main Street
Louisville, Kentucky