Just a reminder friends and countrymen that Bardstown Bound is tonight and hopefully the rain has gone the heck away (ask me about the leak in my house won't you?). Go out and shop, spend your economic stimulus package (have you gotten yours yet?), support the local economy, etc. Or you know, just people watch. I'll be making the rounds so if you see me say hello. 

Just a couple shopping notes. I was in Dundee Candy today and saw that they have a few (new?) chocolates that are very clearly marked vegan. I knew they carried some vegan chocolates but the new signs for these dark chocolate beauties will make it even easier for our vegan friends to satisfy a sweet tooth.

The Makery, that hip little Bardstown Road boutique full of unique crafted goods, has gotten some cool t-shirts printed up.

Designed by Joseph Clagg the Kentucky Cutout shirt is just 27 kinds of awesome. I've got to get one and I encourage you to do the same. You can swing into the store to pick one up or you can order online.

The Makery is located at 1617 Bardstown Road.

Image courtesy of The Makery

Way back in March I gave you an early head's up about the spring Bardstown Bound. I hope you put it on your calendar but if not here I am reminding you about it again.

Bardstown Bound celebrates Summer! Bardstown Road and certain side streets open their doors for some more fun with an evening of sidewalk shopping and singing, sampling, and saving on our City's favorite strip, Bardstown Road. Bars, boutiques and shops host the FIRST event of the year, presenting tastings of local favorite restaurants in boutiques to sidewalk music, many other attractions, LG&E's Louie the Lighting Bug will be on hand to entertain the kids on safety. Walk the corridor on Friday, May 16 2008 from 5:00p-whenever and find Happiness in the Highlands!

Friday, May 16, 2008 marks the 10th BB and the 1st of the Year! This 1-night event will offer 15% discounts and showcase the areas most beloved businesses. Discounts on clothing, art, home furnishings, and appetizers provided by Avalon, Bristol Bar & Grille, Bearno's Highlands, Amazing Grace and Le Gallo Rosso Bistro will be featured at the participating boutiques. So shop, taste, drink and enjoy Bardstown Road. The hours of happiness will be from 5:00p -? Bearno's Highlands, Impellizzeri's, Avalon, Bristol Bar & Grille and Asiatique will raise a glass and toast another BBC Bardstown Bound Bubbly Hours to celebrate this evening and offer drink and food specials, including cold BBC Beers and Live Local entertainment.

Participants of this Bardstown Bound event will donate proceeds to benefit the newly opened Gilda's Club of Louisville located in the Highlands. At Gilda's Club you will find support, information, fellowship, laughter, hope and inspiration. Gilda's Club Louisville is a free community where men, women and children who are living with cancer, along with their families and friends, can join with others to build social and emotional support as an essential supplement to their medical care.

A few participants: Luna Boutique, Swanson Reed Gallery, Clay & Cotton, Dot Fox, Presents Gallery, ear X-tacy Records, Asiatique, WHY Louisville, We the People, Cherry Bomb, Hal-Lai, Longest Time, Alcott & Bentley, Impellizzeri's, Eden Side Gallery, Days Coffee, Comedy Caravan, Event Design Library & Emporium, Swabek's Highland Fitness, Tree of Life, White Linen Tea Company, Avalon, ArtClub of the Highlands, Bearno's Highlands, Amazing Grace, Le Gallo Rosso Bistro, Bristol Bar & Grille

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.

You would't expect anything less than an alternative health from Rainbow Blossom in the spring would you? Of course you wouldn't.

Rainbow Blossom Natural Food Markets has taken the run of the mill health fair and given it a 'healthy' twist. Now in its third year, Blossom Into Health is an annual event created to educate the community about the many ways to maintain and improve health outside of, or along with, conventional Western medicine. Some of the areas top alternative health care practitioners will be gathered at Rainbow Blossom's St. Matthews Market-3738 Lexington Road-on Saturday, April 19th from 12 - 4 PM, providing visitors the opportunity to learn about new ways to stay healthy and to visit with providers on a one to one basis. Fair goers will also be able to sample various products, enter to win gift baskets and take home a Red Maple sapling in celebration of Earth Day.

Health fairs, ranging from corporations looking to keep their workforce fit to those geared towards free-health care screening for those in need, are commonplace in America. Blossom Into Health takes a different approach. "Now more than ever customers are looking for new ways to take control of their own health," says Summer Auerbach, Vice President of Rainbow Blossom. "We're always looking ways to educate our customers about good health and found that the health fair is a great way to do this. Not only do those that attend get to learn about the different treatment options that are available, they also get to meet the practitioners face to face-this gives them a real feel for both the therapy and the practitioner."

Visitors will have the chance to talk to a wide assortment of practitioners. These include Chiropractor TJ White, Food Addiction specialist Cherly Ades, Occupational Kinetic's Dr. Eric DeYoung, Rolfer Chance Mobley and more. For those with pets, Holistic Veterinarian Betty Boswell will be in attendance to talk about alternative therapies for the furry and feathered friends that share their lives.

Saturday April 19, 2008
Noon-4PM

Rainbow Blossom
3738 Lexington Rd.
Louisville, KY 40207
(502) 896-0189

I dig Burt's Bees products. They make this amazing peppermint soap that has little pieces of oatmeal in it that exfoliates your skin and makes it feel so good. OK I admit thought that I'm slightly weirded out by the fact that the company is now owned by Clorox. Clorox and all natural skin care products just don't seem to go together. You know?

In any case I'm kind of excited about the Burt's Bees seminar at Rainbow Blossom this Saturday April 12, 2008. Any event that gives me free samples from companies I already gets a check mark by "winner" in my book.

Burt's Bees Seminar
Saturday April 12, 2008
12:30PM

Rainbow Blossom
3738 Lexington Rd.
Louisville, KY 40207
(502) 896-0189

What do get when you mix honey, an old one-room school house and a dream? Burt's Bees, of course. From its humble beginning back in 1984, Burt's Bees has experience phenomenal growth and is now one of the largest and most well-known natural personal care manufacturers in America. Rainbow Blossom's St. Matthews Market, 3738 Lexington Rd. is pleased to host Burt's Bees for a consumer seminar on Saturday, April 12th at 12:30 PM.

Those attending the seminar will learn about new products, have a chance to sniff and try out samples, talk to a knowledgeable Burt's Bees representative about their favorite products along with taking home a goodie bag full of free samples.

I got a press release for something called the Kentucky Kids Consignment Spring Sale that's coming up this weekend. Totally not my bag so I'm going to quote directly from the press release.

"The Kentucky Kids Consignment Louisville 2008 Spring Sale will be in the American Legion Highland Hall at 2919 Bardstown Rd.  We'll be open for shopping on Saturday, March 15 from 9 AM to 6 PM and Sunday, March 16 from 10 AM to 1 PM with many items half-price.  Clear out the clutter and bring home the bargains with Kentucky Kids Consignment Sales!

We'll have thousands of items including spring and summer clothing (sizes from preemie to boys 20 and girls juniors), shoes, accessories, books, toys, games, strollers, furniture, scrapbooking supplies, and much, much more!  We're still accepting sellers & volunteer workers. Sellers earn at least 70% on their items and workers get to SHOP FIRST!"

Kids are expensive, so I'm told, so this might be a good opportunity to pick up some good stuff on the cheap and to unload some of the stuff your kids don't play with/have outgrown.

Kentucky Kids Consignment Sale
Saturday March 15, 2008 9AM-6PM, Sunday March 16, 2008 10AM-1PM

American Legion Highland Hall
2919 Bardstown Road
Louisville, KY

I've never been to Kentucky Crafted: The Market so I can't give you a first hand account of how neat or interesting it is. However I can say that more than one person whose opinion I trust has urged me to write about Kentucky Crafted: The Market and encourage people to go to it. So this is me, telling you about it and encouraging you to go.

Steve over at Louisville History and Issues is very enthusiastic about this event so I'm going to quote him: "I'm telling you folks, Kentucky Crafted is quickly becoming the hottest public event of the year in Louisville! This is THE place to sample and purchase all sorts of Kentuckyfood products, meet and greet Kentucky authors, and peruse all sorts of crafts made by people right here in Kentucky. This is the ultimate "Buy Local" event! I've already gone for two years straight, and I give this show the highest recommendation.

Now, Business First is reporting that the Southeast Tourism Society has named Crafted: The Market" as one of the top 20 events in the Southeast this winter! "Every quarter, the Atlanta-based organization selects 20 of the top events for each season and publishes them in more than 300 newspapers, magazines, radio and TV stations and in 125 AAA publications, according to a news release."

Kentucky Crafted: The Market 2008
Saturday, March 8, 2008
9:00 am to 6:00 pm

Sunday, March 9, 2008
10:00 am to 5:00 pm (EST)

South Wing B
Kentucky Exposition Center
Louisville, Kentucky

$1 off admission coupon (PDF)

Locust Grove's Fourth Annual Used Book Sale will be Saturday March 8 and Sunday March 9, 2008. Books of every imaginable genre and style will be represented with books being sorted by categories.

From the press release

The sale will feature all categories of books from mysteries to children's books, history, cookbooks, reference books & movies. 12,000+ books will be offered for sale. Books are priced at $2.00 for hardcover, $1.00 for trade paperbacks, and .50 for regular paperbacks, with a few special or antiquarian books priced higher. At the end of the sale on Sunday from 2:00-4:30 p.m. books will be sold by the bag for $10.00.

Book appraiser Charles Bartman will do free book appraisals on Saturday at 2 p.m. Please limit to two books per person. NEW this year will be a Silent Auction, on Saturday from 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. featuring unusual, valuable and antiquarian books.

Locust Grove
561 Blankenbaker Lane
Louisville, KY 40207

I was in Junior Achievement in high school. My JA experience was an excellent one (I was president of my company and cleaned up at the annual awards banquet my senior year thank you very much) so it's an organization that is dear to me heart. So allow me a moment to encourage you to check out an online auction that benefits Junior Achievement of Kentuckiana.

An auction is a great way to support good organizations because they get your money and you get some kind of actual good or service. You know, you get more than that warm fuzzy feeling. Items up for bid include all kinds of great stuff like lunch for two at Limestone, a Sonoma-Cutrer Wine Basket, private knitting lessons, Spanish lessons, logo design (from Doe Anderson!), tennis lessons, front row behind home plate seats for a Louisville Bats game and a metric ton of other gifts.

Online bidding will begin this morning February 25, 2008 at 9:00 AM, Eastern Standard Time and will end March 14, 2008.

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.

I had a meeting last week with a local businessman who mentioned this new downtown business to me. That was the first I'd heard of it but today I came across the press release from the city.

A new gourmet grocery will soon open downtown, thanks in part to a loan from Louisville Metro Government.

The Gourmet Market at Theatre Square will offer a full-service meat counter, groceries and perishable items when it opens this spring inside the historic Kentucky Theatre. Owners George Stinson, Ed D. Lewis and Eric J. Haner received a $50,000 forgivable loan from the Louisville Metro Business Development Corp.

The owners are renovating the theatre, on Fourth Street near the Brown Hotel, into a retail center that includes a florist, an upscale wine/liquor shop and a Nancy's Bagels store.

This has got to be exciting news for downtown residents and even people who work downtown. I do hope though that they cater to downtown residents (meaning being open more than 9-5, including weekends). The convenience of having a grocery, florist, small liquor store and a bagel shop on Fourth Street will be significant I would think for downtown residents.

I'm not totally sure what this event is but it seems to be some kind of shopping extravaganza sponsored by Underwired magazine.

Not exactly my scene though the way I need clothes and accessories it should be. Maybe I can hire someone to be my guide to this world.

Thursday, February 28, 2008
6-10PM
$10 in advance
$15 at the door

Order advanced tickets through Underwired's website

Mellwood Arts & Entertainment Center
Ballroom #1,
1860 Mellwood Ave
Louisville, KY

Huge Deals, Fabulous Finds, Upscale and Exclusive

Bring your best gals and shop till you drop with music, giveaways, food and samplings of Italian wines. And remember, CASH IS KING (some vendors will be accepting credit cards).

The Five0Two Campaign has announced that February's work of art is available. The piece is a new Bill Green (he of Lebowski Fest fame) poster featuring Hunter S. Thompson and a fleur de lis thrown in for good Louisville measure. 

Every month we pick an artist that we admire or think deserves to have their work seen around the city. That artist then creates a piece of artwork that is printed on postcards and posters and distributed around the city for all of us to enjoy. The artist gets some money and the city gets a work of art in the voice of that artist. There are no restrictions on the art that is produced, only that it reflects the vision of that particular artist.

We may choose for that piece of art to be distributed in other ways, like tshirts or beer cubbies. We'll sell those in hopes that we can keep this project alive indefinitely.

Four Roses Bourbon and Nanz and Kraft Florist are teaming up for a benefit event for Brightside. A $5 donation at the door gets you premium bourbon samplings from the fine folks at Four Roses Bourbon Hall and bourbon discussion with Hall of Fame Master Distiller Jim Rutledge. You also get hors d'oeuvres and the opportunity to shop around Nanz and Kraft's floral playground to buy beautiful Valentine's gifts for your sweetheart.

Four Roses Flower Hour

Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2008 6-8 p.m.
Nanz & Kraft Florist
141 Breckenridge Lane
St. Matthews

I'd seen some information floating around but nothing specific about Grateful Threads possibly being bought and staying open.

Teddy just left a comment letting us know that is in fact the case:

Threads is in the process of being bought and by the weekend will officially be saved with hopes of a reopener on Feb 9th with a few fresh changes many of the old store staying the same that we all have grown to love with continuing the Family Tradition

Excellent. I for one am very happy to hear this news. Bardstown Road just wouldn't be the same without Grateful Threads.

You're going to buy Valentine's presents. You know it, I know it. You could try to say that you're simply abstaining from the crass commercialism that pervades our every emotion and action but you know you'd just come across as cheap or uncaring. So instead of giving in and buying overpriced flowers and mass produced candy or completely abstaining and looking like a jerk, allow me to suggest an alternate plan, a middle path if you will. The Consuming Louisville Valentine's Gift Guide will give you ideas for cool goods you can buy and gestures you can perform that will be appreciated and cherished by your beloved. In short, I'm giving you a primer here on pitching woo. You can thank me later.

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 is just a reminder that The Snack Institute Art Collective's Small Bites $10 Art Show is coming up this Friday night. Yes, I said $10 art show. Original art at insanely affordable prices makes me really happy.

Small Bites: The Snack Institute $10 Art Show
Friday January 25, 2008
8:00PM

2900 Frankfort Avenue
Louisville, KY

Mr. 43 Folders himself Merlin Mann was of course at Macworld last week and filmed a couple interviews for the fine MacBreak program. These interviews are interesting if you're a Mac geek (and I am) but we're most interested in the "Abide" shirt Merlin is rocking in the videos.

That shirt is a fine example of the superior quality materials our friends from Lebowski Fest have sent out into the world. You should buy one. You might also considering buying a sticker or other Abide materials.

All this reminds us that the 7th Annual Lebowski Fest is happening July 11 and 12, 2008 here in Louisville. Being the 7th annual event here in Louisville is cool enough but when you consider this year is the 10th anniversary of the film's release, well then you know that excellence will abound. 

You know, in case you're into that kind of thing.

Ikea
9500 IKEA Way
West Chester, Ohio 45069

What is Louisville for Lovers? It is "a tiny niche of pop culture for and about louisville kentucky. it’s main focus is an annual compilation released for valentines day with original, exclusive songs by louisville bands." Got it? Good cause volume 8 will be released on February 5, 2008.

At the Louisville is for Lovers website you can pre-order the CD as well as listen to tracks from it.

Grateful Threads Lives! Click here for information on the grand reopening.

It's with great sadness I pass on the news that Grateful Threads is closing. I know the owner was trying to sell the business but that must not have panned out since everything, including displays and fixtures, is for sale at 30-50%.

Head down there and grab a piece of Highlands history. Seriously, that stretch of Bardstown Road won't be the same without Grateful Threads.

Fleet Feet Sports is presenting something called Diva Night this Friday January 11, 2008. Described as a celebration of women and fitness."

There will be representatives from other local businesses of interest to women but most interestingly there will be bra fittings, shoe fittings, fitness and wellness topics, injury advice and more. Proper bra fitting is one of the great mysteries in life particularly getting good sports bras. So all active women and women looking to become more active should definitely swing by.

The first 40 women to RSVP will receive a gift bag and there will be wine, cheese and chocolate.

Fleet Feet Louisville
1500 Bardstown Road
Louisville, KY
479-8786

On occasion I've been called a tree hugger so it's no real surprise that I'd be interested in an event called "Greening Your Home." However after making the leap from apartment dweller to householder this past year and seeing last month's LG&E bill I'd interested in anything that can help "create an energy efficient home" even if I hated the environment and cut down trees just for fun.

Also, events that give me free samples of local organic food? Always high on my to do list.

"Want to “go green” but just don’t know where to begin? Then stop by Rainbow Blossom’s Greening Your Home! Whether you want to start small - simple choices to create an energy efficient home, using chemical-free cleaners, making ‘greener’ food choices - or if you want to make bigger changes, we’ ll have experts from around Kentuckiana on hand to assist you. While getting practical tips to ‘green up’ your living space sample organic, local foods and other products. We’ ll also be raffling off an electric, zero emission scooter. From learning how to compost your kitchen waste to building a house made of straw, this event is a one stop resource for “greening” your home and your life!"

January 12, 2008 Noon-4PM

Rainbow Blossom
3738 Lexington Rd.
Louisville, KY 40207
(502) 896-0189

1. Ray's Monkey House on Bardstown Road is closed today due to frozen pipes.

2. Just in case you don't already know the Eddie Bauer store in Oxmoor Mall is closing. All remaining merchandise (and there is still some pretty decent stuff left at this point) 25-40% off the lowest marked price. I got two pairs of jeans and a sweatshirt for under $50 today.

You've got just over a week to finish your Christmas shopping. Is your list is still way too long? Are you starting to stress about it a little bit? Relax, take a step back. Hit your favorite swanky bar and order a Good Night, Irene because Metro Parks has gathered up some Holiday Gift Ideas to help you out. The suggested gifts will not only shorten your shopping list but will also allow you to give gifts that help your friends and family get more involved in the activities our great Metro Parks system afford us.


Gift ideas include golf passes, Metro Art Classes gift certificates, campground season passes, swimming pool memberships, park and museum stores gift certificates and more. There are some really good suggestions so check it out.

For their last in-store event of 2007 Carmichael's is hosting the authors of three very different books for signings. This Sunday December 17 from 2-4PM at the Frankfort Avenue store:

Photographer Bill Carner will sign copies of last December's most sought after book, Louisville Then and Now.

Randy West, editor and photographer for the Corydon Democrat, will sign copies of his book of photographs of the people and places of Harrison County, Indiana.

And last, but clearly not least, we'll have Culture Maven C.D. Kaplan, who will sign copies of his fabulously annotated and imminently practical calendar 2008 History Warp Day Planner.

Carmichael's Bookstore
2720 Frankfort Avenue
Louisville, KY 40206
502-896-6950

Tonight Regalo on Market will be celebrating a couple new lines of men's jewelry from 5-8PM. Have a beer or a glass of wine while looking at all the nice shiny baubles including stainless, titanium, sterling, and tungsten rings, pendants, cufflinks and bracelets.

Regalo on Market
636 E. Market
Louisville, KY

The Mellwood Art Center and The Big Bone are presenting The $20 Art Show. Over 20 local artists will be featured and absolutely no artwork will be over $20.

In addition to being able to buy affordable art you'll also be able to enjoy live holiday music from Leigh Ann Yost, Kathleen Hoye and others

Saturday December 15, 2007
6PM-10PM
The Pigment Gallery at The Mellwood Art Center

Mellwood Art Center
1860 Mellwood Avenue
Louisville, KY

List of participating artists after the jump

Churchill Downs has released "Kentucky Derby 133," a 96-page coffee-table book that chronicles this year's race. The book is a collection of text written by by John Asher, vice president of racing communications for Churchill Downs and photographs.

Asher and Calvin Borel, the winning jockey of the 2007 Kentucky Derby will be on the book signing circuit this weekend, hitting a different retail store each day to sign copies of the book.

Friday December 14, at 7PM Barnes & Noble at The Summit shopping center
Saturday, Dec. 15, at 2PM Borders on Shelbyville Road
Sunday December 16 1PM A Taste of Kentucky in Mall St. Matthews

The book retails for $35 and is also available for purchase online.


via Business First

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

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

A few weeks ago I was at the post office and the nice lady working there complimented the Night Owl shirt I was wearing. I told her I got it at Why Louisville and this led to a discussion about various independent businesses in the Highlands. The lady behind me in line joined the conversation and said she wished all these independent businesses could get together to create one gift card that could be used at independent shops and restaurants all over the city. I told her I thought that was a great idea.

The Highlands VIP Card isn't the "Louisville independent business gift card" that the lady in the post office imagined but maybe it's a step in that direction.

The Highlands VIP membership card gives you exclusive member savings, discounts and special privileges at more than 100 of Highlands businesses.

The card costs $20 and is available for purchase online.

Lots of things going on downtown tomorrow night in conjunction with the First Friday Gallery Hop. A few highlights:

First there's the aforementioned opening party at Gallery NuLu for Gibbs Rounsavall.

Glassworks is making holiday shopping easy with "The sale of the year that you don't want to miss! Glassworks artists sell their "not quite perfect" pieces for great bargains!

Market on Market presents Ceramics by Charles Hansen & Photography by Ross Gordon

Sadly Ray of Light is going out of business at the end of the year but for First Friday shoppers that means really good deals. Starting tomorrow, December 7, 2007 40% will be taken off everything in the store

Steelskin Gallery is having their second annual "Art as Gift" sale

Paul Paletti Gallery will have a collection of photographs from Cirque de Soleil

Derby City Espresso is having an opening for Tim Faulkner's paintings, a painter from New Orleans who moved here after Katrina. DCE is also having a free beer tasting hosted by the BBC Tap Room and the Pouchak doing providing live jazz music.

Speaking of Tim Faulkner his new gallery, Tim Faulkner Gallery will be open from 6-9PM. Located on the second floor of 815 E. Market Street the gallery's first show features paintings by Faulkner and Indianapolis artist Quincy Owens.

On Saturday December 8, 2007 from 12PM-4PM local artisans and companies including The Knit Knook, Glass Dreamz, Jackson's Organic Coffee, Just Creations, Grateful Suds, SUSTAINkids and many others will be at the St. Matthews location of Rainbow Blossom with interesting, unique gifts that will make your inner tree hugger feel all warm and fuzzy. And also? There will be free chocolate for your sampling pleasure. I think you'll agree that eco-friendly gift shopping and free chocolate make for a very good afternoon.

Olmsted Parks Conversancy will be on hand to provide gift wrapping for a nominal donation. They will also be offering gift memberships at a special reduced rate - available only through Rainbow Blossom - at the Fair and throughout the holiday season.

Rainbow Blossom
3738 Lexington Rd.
Louisville, KY 40207
(502) 896-0189

Thanks Steve for the reminder.

Sometimes you come across something that is so unexpected yet not at all surprising at the same time. Rainbow Blossom having Tibetan Monks blessing holiday gifts is one of those things. 

The Mellwood Art Center and The Big Bone are presenting The $20 Art Show. Over 20 local artists will be featured and absolutely no artwork will be over $20.

In addition to being able to buy affordable art you'll also be able to enjoy live holiday music from Leigh Ann Yost, Kathleen Hoye and others

Saturday December 15, 2007
6PM-10PM
The Pigment Gallery at The Mellwood Art Center

Mellwood Art Center
1860 Mellwood Avenue
Louisville, KY

List of participating artists after the jump

Just a reminder that it's next Friday night, not tonight.