You know how Mama loves her Bonnaroo...
But I was initially a little lukewarm when they announced the line-up yesterday. Roommate and I always debate about music festivals. For me, the best music festivals feature a knock-me-on-my-ass-good headliner who I've wanted to see for SO LONG and a solid line-up beyond that. Roommate prefers his festivals to feature lots of good new bands. I want my Pearl Jam. I want my Springsteen.
What I do not want, frankly, is Eminem. Or Widespread Panic. Or Lil Wayne. Or any of the other "big names" featured at this year's Bonnaroo. Sure I'm interested in seeing Arcade Fire, but meh. Neil Young will be awesome, but why do we have to lump the legend in with, well, a whole bunch of other legends? I really get almost halfway down the list before I'm psyched. My first "ooh, that's cool" outbursts came with Dr. John and then with Florence and the Machine.
Interestingly enough, two of the names I'm most excited about are favorites from previous Bonnaroos. I can't WAIT to see Low Anthem again. And I "discovered" Abigail Washburn (with the Sparrow Quartet, including our own Ben Sollee) a few years back at Bonnaroo.
I do like Mumford & Sons, and maybe by June I'll be as wackadoo crazy about them as 95% of my hippest friends.
And as I've admitted before... I KNOW that My Morning Jacket are a local TREASURE. I KNOW that. But I cannot, cannot, cannot get over how annoying the "Yim Yames" thing is. I just can't. I've been trying for three or four years, and I... I will continue to try. For the love of Louisville. But seriously.... "Yim Yames." I know he's made of puppies and awesome, according to most of you, but seriously... "Yim Yames"? Ugh.
Here's the full line up, which I have shamelessly cut and pasted from The Nashville Scene:
* Eminem
* Arcade Fire
* Widespread Panic
* The Black Keys
* Buffalo Springfield feat Richie Furay, Stephen Stills, Neil Young, Rick Rosas, Joe Vitale
* My Morning Jacket
* Lil Wayne
* String Cheese Incident
* Robert Plant & Band of Joy
* Mumford & Sons
* The Strokes
* The Decemberists
* Ray Lamontagne
* Bassnectar
* Iron & Wine
* Girl Talk
* Primus
* Dr. John and The Original Meters performing Desitively Bonnaroo
* Alison Krauss and Union Station
* Pretty Lights
* Florence & the Machine
* Superjam ft. Dan Auerbach and Dr. John
* Explosions in the Sky
* STS9
* Gogol Bordello
* Beirut
* Big Boi
* Scissor Sisters
* Gregg Allman
* Ratatat
* Global Gypsy Punk Revue curated by Eugene Hütz
* Robyn
* Warren Haynes Band
* Deerhunter
* Opeth
* Atmosphere
* Old Crow Medicine Show
* Bootsy Collins & the Funk University
* Wiz Khalifa
* Matt & Kim
* Grace Potter & the Nocturnals
* The Del McCoury Band and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band
* Mavis Staples
* Béla Fleck & the Flecktones
* Chiddy Bang
* Javanotti
* Bruce Hornsby & the Noisemakers
* Loretta Lynn
* Cold War Kids
* The Walkmen
* Devotchka
* Wanda Jackson
* Neon Trees
* Portugal. The Man
* Sleigh Bells
* Amos Lee
* Best Coast
* Dãm-Funk
* The Sword
* The Drums
* The Black Angels
* School of Seven Bells
* J. Cole
* Nicole Atkins & the Black Sea
* Wavves
* !!!
* Junip
* Freelance Whales
* Justin Townes Earle
* Ryan Bingham
* Deer Tick
* Band of Skulls
* Sharon Van Etten
* Abigail Washburn
* Omar Souleyman
* Twin Shadow
* Kylesa
* Man Man
* The Low Anthem
* Alberta Cross
* Railroad Earth
* Jessica Lea Mayfield
* Smith Westerns
* The Head and the Heart
* Karen Elson
* Beats Antique
* 22-20s
* Phosphorescent
* Clare MaGuire
* Hayes Carll
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Decemberists & Justin Townes Earle @ Iroquois Amph.
Roommate and I saw the Decemberists at Bonnaroo a few years back. I think I only hit a bit of their show, but I liked what I saw. And I enjoy what I hear on satellite radio. And I'm very intrigued by Justin Townes Earle, especially after his big profile in Garden & Gun Magazine. (Seriously people? Have you still NOT subscribed to Garden & Gun? Best magazine out there right now. It's been brilliant since issue #1. And they love us here in Louisville.)
They're playing together at the Iroquois Amphitheater on April 26. Tickets are $36 plus tax and fees. As of last night there were still tickets available (we snagged two), but I have no doubt-- especially based on the Decemberists history-- that this show will sell out soon.
They're playing together at the Iroquois Amphitheater on April 26. Tickets are $36 plus tax and fees. As of last night there were still tickets available (we snagged two), but I have no doubt-- especially based on the Decemberists history-- that this show will sell out soon.
Beam & Dafoe: Two Classic Gentlemen
Have you seen this really beautiful Willem Dafoe Jim Beam ad? Dafoe once said, "One of the pleasures of being an actor is quite simply taking a walk in someone else's shoes. And when I look at the roles that I've played, I'm kind of amazed at all the wonderful adventures I've had, and all of the different things I've learned."
Back when I lived in the East Village of NYC, I used to see Dafoe almost every day on my walk to the West Village to work (I imagine he was heading to work to, at the Wooster Group). I never stopped him and played fangirl, but he (maybe because he) was always so damned pleasant. A smile, a nod, a comment on the weather, a definite acknowledgement that we passed each other at the same time in the same place nearly every day. I'm actually kind of impressed I didn't geek out over him at the time; I've always had a big crush. I mean seriously, he was sexy Jesus. And he's still pretty gosh darned sexy.
Jim Beam and Willem Dafoe? I approve.
Back when I lived in the East Village of NYC, I used to see Dafoe almost every day on my walk to the West Village to work (I imagine he was heading to work to, at the Wooster Group). I never stopped him and played fangirl, but he (maybe because he) was always so damned pleasant. A smile, a nod, a comment on the weather, a definite acknowledgement that we passed each other at the same time in the same place nearly every day. I'm actually kind of impressed I didn't geek out over him at the time; I've always had a big crush. I mean seriously, he was sexy Jesus. And he's still pretty gosh darned sexy.
Jim Beam and Willem Dafoe? I approve.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Save the Date: Feb 25-- Young Survivors Auction
Only 5% of women who are diagnosed with breast cancer are under the age of 35. So understandably, most local support organizations for breast cancer survivors cater to women more advanced in years.
The Young Survivors cater their groups and activities to women who were diagnosed at age 35 or younger. This is their major fundraiser of the year. The BEST thing about this fundraiser is that you know that ALL of the money raised goes to support women in Louisville and in Southern Indiana. It doesn't get lumped into a big national pool.
The Young Survivors were a huge support to me when I was first diagnosed and during my treatment. I no longer take part in events, but I feel passionately about giving back to this organization that helped me so much.
The auction is always fun, sophisticated, and populated by exciting, inspiring women. And, unlike 90% of the silent auctions I attend, I usually walk away from this one with some pretty good deals! It's $10 per person in the beautiful Frazier Museum.
Save the date.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
R&G Are Dead: Stark raving sane
Rosencrantz: Do you think Death could possibly be a boat?
Guildenstern: No, no, no... death is not. Death isn't. Take my meaning? Death is the ultimate negative. Not-being. You can't not be on a boat.
Rosencrantz: I've frequently not been on boats.
Guildenstern: No, no... what you've been is not on boats.
I can't say why exactly, but Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead has been my favorite play since... college, maybe? I'm sure it has something to do with the fact that in prior lifetimes, I've taught multi-month units in English classes on Hamlet and Hamlet-derivatives, including R&G are Dead. Two summers, I taught entire courses on Hamlet and Hamlet-derivatives. Some of my friends can quote Monty Python or Star Wars or Big Lebowski verbatim-- my uber-geekout of choice is R&G are Dead.
Mostly it's because of lines like the ones above. "You can't not 'be' on a boat." Think about it. I'll give you a minute...
... right? I don't think I've gotten on a boat since my early 20's without thinking of that exchange.
It doesn't hurt that the movie version is effing brilliant as well (though not as good as the play, even though Stoppard-- the playwright-- directed the movie). Gary Oldman? Tim Roth? Richard Dreyfuss? That's a hubba hubba cast of theatrical greatness.
But here's the thing: I've never seen the play performed on stage! I know the darned thing backwards and forward. It is hands down, my favorite play of all time. But I've never seen an actual production.
... and that's why I was THRILLED to see that the Louisville Repertory Company is producing the play from Feb 3-13 at the Mex Theater in the Kentucky Center.
... and that's why I was shocked when I saw the poster for the show. Click on the link above. No really, go do it. *eyes bulge out like in a cartoon* Is this my favorite play? "The Original Mash-up"?? "A Pirate, a Unicorn, and Hamlet walk into a bar..." A jester with a clown nose? I'm super happy to see that someone revised the text that goes along with the calendar. I wish I'd saved the old text... the old description of the play made the play out to be a knee-slapping, side-splitting, screw-ball comedy. What?
Listen, this is just me getting all English teacher nerdy and proprietary about my favorite play. Yes, R&G are Dead is funny, but it's not a Three Stooges routine. These guys aren't clowns. It's an existentialist, absurdist tragicomedy... with really more emphasis on the tragic than the comic. It's a sad freakin' play. There's nothing clown-like about lines like: "Whatever became of the moment when one first knew about death? There must have been one. A moment. In childhood. When it first occurred to you that you don't go on forever. Must have been shattering. Stamped into one's memory. And yet, I can't remember it. It never occurred to me at all. We must be born with an intuition of mortality. Before we know the word for it. Before we know that there are words. Out we come, bloodied and squawling, with the knowledge that for all the points of the compass, theres only one direction. And time is its only measure. "
Just rips your heart out, doesn't it?
All this is just to say... go see this play. You might brush up on your Hamlet first; it really is much, much more impressive if you've got Hamlet fresh in your mind (Dagnabbit! I was going to suggest you rent the Mel Gibson version because it's really quite good for what it is. That, of course, was filmed before (we knew) he was a misogynist anti-semite arsehole. Sigh. Well, then, I recommend the Campbell Scott version. The movie itself is kind of a shitshow, but Campbell Scott does a stunning Danish Prince. Stunning. And it's Campbell Scott-- delicious!)
I'm trusting that the Louisville Repertory Company just put their poster design into the hands of someone who didn't "get" the play. I'm trusting that they don't plan to strip the tragic from the tragicomedy. I truly can't wait to see this. It's February 3-13 at 8pm with a 2pm matinée on the 13th. Tickets are $10-15. Cheap indeed for having your mind blown by Stoppard's brilliance.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
In Which I Get to Be "Roommate"...
So it's been a little quiet around these bloggy parts. Sorry for that. If you follow me on Twitter (@loueyville), you know that here at Casa Lou we've been dealing with a serious health crisis. Specifically Roommate's health crisis. More specifically, the heart attack that he had last Friday/Saturday.
Roommate has started a new blog, Heart Attack Colored Lens, to share information with his friends and family and to generally address what it means to be a 39 year-old heart attack survivor. Knowing Roommate, when he gets bored with talking about his health, he'll probably start blogging about other stuff-- music, movies, the Louisville scene. And in his blog, I get to be "Roommate."
I'm biased. But I think you should plug his blog into your Google Reader. Oooh. That sounds nerdy-dirty.
I tell ya, Roommate is doing great-- super good spirits, good energy, chipper on all levels-- but sometimes I feel like I'm still recovering from his heart attack. I fancy myself something of a "writer" (at least sometimes I do), but I find it hard to put this experience from my perspective into words. I've lost people who are dear to me-- grandparents mostly. And I've sat vigil by the hospital beds of those that I've loved. But last weekend there were moments-- however brief, however marginally warranted-- when I thought Roommate might suddenly wink out of my life. Forever. And it was literally (I know we overuse the crap out of that word, but this time it is the perfect word) the worst feeling I've ever had.
I don't think I take Roommate for granted. We do a pretty good job of reminding each other how lucky we are to have each other. But what I DID take for granted is the idea that Roommate would always be here. Maybe not always my housemate, my partner-in-crime, my favorite travel companion, my sounding board, and sometimes my foil... but always here. Those moments when I thought he could suddenly not be here... perhaps the worst moments of my life.
So, my PSA before I get back on the blogging horse and tell you about fun stuff happening in the 'Ville and other nonsense: In the almighty words of the great philosophers Bill & Ted-- Be Excellent To Each Other.
Party on, Roommate.
Roommate has started a new blog, Heart Attack Colored Lens, to share information with his friends and family and to generally address what it means to be a 39 year-old heart attack survivor. Knowing Roommate, when he gets bored with talking about his health, he'll probably start blogging about other stuff-- music, movies, the Louisville scene. And in his blog, I get to be "Roommate."
I'm biased. But I think you should plug his blog into your Google Reader. Oooh. That sounds nerdy-dirty.
I tell ya, Roommate is doing great-- super good spirits, good energy, chipper on all levels-- but sometimes I feel like I'm still recovering from his heart attack. I fancy myself something of a "writer" (at least sometimes I do), but I find it hard to put this experience from my perspective into words. I've lost people who are dear to me-- grandparents mostly. And I've sat vigil by the hospital beds of those that I've loved. But last weekend there were moments-- however brief, however marginally warranted-- when I thought Roommate might suddenly wink out of my life. Forever. And it was literally (I know we overuse the crap out of that word, but this time it is the perfect word) the worst feeling I've ever had.
I don't think I take Roommate for granted. We do a pretty good job of reminding each other how lucky we are to have each other. But what I DID take for granted is the idea that Roommate would always be here. Maybe not always my housemate, my partner-in-crime, my favorite travel companion, my sounding board, and sometimes my foil... but always here. Those moments when I thought he could suddenly not be here... perhaps the worst moments of my life.
So, my PSA before I get back on the blogging horse and tell you about fun stuff happening in the 'Ville and other nonsense: In the almighty words of the great philosophers Bill & Ted-- Be Excellent To Each Other.
Party on, Roommate.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Wednesday Afternoon Randomness: OMG SNOW! Edition
[Insert hysterical snow talk here.]
This past Monday was "Blue Monday;" supposedly the third monday of January is the most depressing day of the year. As it happened to coincide with a day off, I didn't feel the full thrust of the cosmic tug toward the dark side. But I swear, there's something to it. Maybe it's Blue Monday a little late, or maybe it's just the oppressive GRAY that we've been experiencing in Louisville, but I'm more than a little out of sorts these days. So what better time than a clearinghouse post of all the good things coming up here in town?
This past Monday was "Blue Monday;" supposedly the third monday of January is the most depressing day of the year. As it happened to coincide with a day off, I didn't feel the full thrust of the cosmic tug toward the dark side. But I swear, there's something to it. Maybe it's Blue Monday a little late, or maybe it's just the oppressive GRAY that we've been experiencing in Louisville, but I'm more than a little out of sorts these days. So what better time than a clearinghouse post of all the good things coming up here in town?
- You know one thing I love about Louisville in January? Consuming Louisville's "One Thing I Love About Louisville" series.
- Speaking of Michelle Jones: Next week Let Them Tweet Cake is taking a field trip to LVL1 to build our own mintiboosts. If you're a nerdy chick, you need to be there. Read this great article about LVL1 in the LEO.
- Got the blues? I do. So it's a good thing Actors Theatre is breaking out Ma Rainey's Black Bottom this week. It runs through February 13.
- Feel like banging your head against a wall? How about a just a little head-banging? I can't believe how excited I am to see Broadway Across America's Rock of Ages next week. It's at the Kentucky Center from January 25-30, and it sounds like it will be good, pure, goofy fun.
- There's another IdeaFestival sponsored adult spelling bee at Zanzabar next week on the 27th.
- According to the folks at the Visitor and Conventions Bureau, we'll be seeing some additions to the Urban Bourbon Trail in the near future.
- Speaking of bourbon: Baxter Station is now open on Mondays and features a special "Bourbon Flights & Bourbon Bites" menu. Door prizes, visits with Master Distillers, and other special events. This looks like it's poised to be a regular Monday night thing for yours truly!
What did I miss? Here's hoping for snow days and blue skies and good friends and warm places for all of us... soon! Get out there and do something fun.
Walden's TKAM: The Perfect Play for Imperfect Times
You know I love me some Walden Theater. So I'm super excited to see their production of the play version of one of my favorite books ever (probably one of yours too).
To Kill a Mockingbird had such an impact on me when I was a 7th grader that for more than a decade whenever a friend or family member was pregnant, I lobbied passionately that they name any boychild "Atticus." When I first met Roommate and we started dating, I found out that he hadn't read TKAM, I freaked out, bought him the book, and hovered over him til he read every last word. (He loved it.)
It's the perfect book for imperfect times.
Times where we're publishing revisions of classic novels and sanitizing history. (I'm told that the Walden production does not excise the n-word.) Atticus says: "When a child asks you something, answer him, for goodness' sake. But don't make a production of it. Children are children, but they can spot an evasion quicker than adults, an evasion simply muddles 'em."
Times when our government officials seem to care more about being "right" and getting their way than they do about doing what's right and finding common ground. Atticus says: "You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view--until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."
Times when we're talking an awful lot about "civility," but not necessarily practicing it. Again, the font of wisdom says, "It's never an insult to be called what somebody thinks is a bad name. It just shows you how poor that person is, it doesn't hurt you."
For those of you who are unfamiliar with Walden Theater, it's one of the premier young adult theaters in the country and an absolute treasure for this city. Read more about it at their website. And we live in a time (honestly, was there ever NOT a time?) when young people seem to get way more bad press than they do good press. As someone who has devoted her life to working with young people, I rise up like an angry mama lion when I hear people patently shit-talking the kids. So if you find yourself in the "goddamned kids these days" camp or worrying about the future of America, Walden is a good place to put your concerns to rest. These are talented, creative, imaginative, devoted young people who will inspire your faith in "kids these days." Once you see how hard they work, you'll quit your worrying. (100% of Walden kids graduate from high school. They go to school all day and devote hours and hours of their after school time to classes and rehearsals-- and still have to do their homework. 88% go on to higher education.)
I'll get off my soapbox now. Support Walden. Go see To Kill a Mockingbird. Renew your faith in humanity.
directed by Charlie Sexton
Synopsis
After a black man is accused of a terrible crime, lawyer Atticus Finch and his intrepid daughter Scout have to navigate the color lines drawn in a sleepy Alabama town to defend the accused and protect the townspeople from themselves. The book, a sensitive, bold look into a small town during the civil rights era, just celebrated its 50th anniversary.
Dates: 2011
Venue
Walden Theatre, 1123 Payne Street
Ticket Information
Walden Theatre: (502) 589-0084
To Kill a Mockingbird had such an impact on me when I was a 7th grader that for more than a decade whenever a friend or family member was pregnant, I lobbied passionately that they name any boychild "Atticus." When I first met Roommate and we started dating, I found out that he hadn't read TKAM, I freaked out, bought him the book, and hovered over him til he read every last word. (He loved it.)
It's the perfect book for imperfect times.
Times where we're publishing revisions of classic novels and sanitizing history. (I'm told that the Walden production does not excise the n-word.) Atticus says: "When a child asks you something, answer him, for goodness' sake. But don't make a production of it. Children are children, but they can spot an evasion quicker than adults, an evasion simply muddles 'em."
Times when our government officials seem to care more about being "right" and getting their way than they do about doing what's right and finding common ground. Atticus says: "You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view--until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."
Times when we're talking an awful lot about "civility," but not necessarily practicing it. Again, the font of wisdom says, "It's never an insult to be called what somebody thinks is a bad name. It just shows you how poor that person is, it doesn't hurt you."
For those of you who are unfamiliar with Walden Theater, it's one of the premier young adult theaters in the country and an absolute treasure for this city. Read more about it at their website. And we live in a time (honestly, was there ever NOT a time?) when young people seem to get way more bad press than they do good press. As someone who has devoted her life to working with young people, I rise up like an angry mama lion when I hear people patently shit-talking the kids. So if you find yourself in the "goddamned kids these days" camp or worrying about the future of America, Walden is a good place to put your concerns to rest. These are talented, creative, imaginative, devoted young people who will inspire your faith in "kids these days." Once you see how hard they work, you'll quit your worrying. (100% of Walden kids graduate from high school. They go to school all day and devote hours and hours of their after school time to classes and rehearsals-- and still have to do their homework. 88% go on to higher education.)
I'll get off my soapbox now. Support Walden. Go see To Kill a Mockingbird. Renew your faith in humanity.
To Kill a Mockingbird
by Christopher Sergel, adapted from the book by Harper Leedirected by Charlie Sexton
Synopsis
After a black man is accused of a terrible crime, lawyer Atticus Finch and his intrepid daughter Scout have to navigate the color lines drawn in a sleepy Alabama town to defend the accused and protect the townspeople from themselves. The book, a sensitive, bold look into a small town during the civil rights era, just celebrated its 50th anniversary.
Dates: 2011
January 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29 @ 7:30pm
January 22, 29 @ 2:00pm
January 22, 29 @ 2:00pm
Venue
Walden Theatre, 1123 Payne Street
Ticket Information
Walden Theatre: (502) 589-0084
Monday, January 10, 2011
Actors Apprentice/Inter Co: The Tens
Speaking of Actors...
This week, Actors' Apprentice/Intern Company is presenting The Tens, an evening of 10-minute plays. Like sketch comedy, 10-minute plays are ideal for the reluctant theater-goer. If you find you don't like something, hang in there... you'll have something new to consider in nine minutes.
I am always impressed by the Apprentices/Interns at Actors, so I'm putting this on my calendar, for sure.
This week, Actors' Apprentice/Intern Company is presenting The Tens, an evening of 10-minute plays. Like sketch comedy, 10-minute plays are ideal for the reluctant theater-goer. If you find you don't like something, hang in there... you'll have something new to consider in nine minutes.
I am always impressed by the Apprentices/Interns at Actors, so I'm putting this on my calendar, for sure.
It Takes A 'Ville @ Actors Theatre
The first few minutes of Second City's IT TAKES A 'VILLE are a little painful, you have to admit. You've taken off your big bulky coat, and you're enjoying that lovely fleeting feeling of liberation from your clothing (it's almost like stripping naked in the summer-- take off your big, bearskin, down-of-a-thousand-geese coat and you feel all hanky-panky, woo-I'm-nekkid!, for just a little while). You're all tucked into your nice little seat in the round where there really is no bad seat. You've got your nice little glass of bourbon-- you know, because you're a Louisvillager. You're done with reading the Playbill. Maybe you're chatting up your theatre companion, and then...
Whammo! These stinkin' out-of-towners from the Big City of Chicago take the stage and start maligning our fair city. What the hell do they know? They don't live here; they don't know us. Screw them, right? Sonsabitches.
Because Louisville is like your mamma, right? It's all fine and good for you to lay out your mamma when you're talking to your friends. Human nature. We talk smack about the people we love who drive us crazy... But if your FRIEND talks smack about your mamma? Oh no. No no no.
And that's what the first few minutes of IT TAKES A 'VILLE are like. It's like listening to a friend talk smack about your mamma. It stings. It makes you not like them. It makes you want to punch these folks in the nose, in fact. And then... it starts to be funny.
And it stays funny.
After just a couple of weeks of intensive research into our fair city, the Second City players have crafted a remarkably on-the-nose, mostly-scripted comedy. There are jokes that will stick with you (it's going to snow tonight, and the mere thought of Louisvillagers driving in the snow makes me snicker now). And like most sketch comedy, if something isn't working for you, hang in there and the sketch will change soon. The improv portions of the program were by far the most remarkable displays of talent. There were a few big misses: my goodness, if they milked the joke about KY-IND relations one more time, I was going to have to stand up and shout: For the most part, we don't hate Indiana; we just don't ever want to have to go there! Leave it alone already!
IT TAKES A 'VILLE is at Actors through February 6. And you really should go. You should go if only because this is your one chance to see it (I imagine). No one's going to produce this script again-- the jokes are too "of the moment." It was a ton of fun, and as I said, the talent is impressive.
Just brace yourself for that initial slap. Hang in there.
Whammo! These stinkin' out-of-towners from the Big City of Chicago take the stage and start maligning our fair city. What the hell do they know? They don't live here; they don't know us. Screw them, right? Sonsabitches.
Because Louisville is like your mamma, right? It's all fine and good for you to lay out your mamma when you're talking to your friends. Human nature. We talk smack about the people we love who drive us crazy... But if your FRIEND talks smack about your mamma? Oh no. No no no.
And that's what the first few minutes of IT TAKES A 'VILLE are like. It's like listening to a friend talk smack about your mamma. It stings. It makes you not like them. It makes you want to punch these folks in the nose, in fact. And then... it starts to be funny.
And it stays funny.
After just a couple of weeks of intensive research into our fair city, the Second City players have crafted a remarkably on-the-nose, mostly-scripted comedy. There are jokes that will stick with you (it's going to snow tonight, and the mere thought of Louisvillagers driving in the snow makes me snicker now). And like most sketch comedy, if something isn't working for you, hang in there and the sketch will change soon. The improv portions of the program were by far the most remarkable displays of talent. There were a few big misses: my goodness, if they milked the joke about KY-IND relations one more time, I was going to have to stand up and shout: For the most part, we don't hate Indiana; we just don't ever want to have to go there! Leave it alone already!
IT TAKES A 'VILLE is at Actors through February 6. And you really should go. You should go if only because this is your one chance to see it (I imagine). No one's going to produce this script again-- the jokes are too "of the moment." It was a ton of fun, and as I said, the talent is impressive.
Just brace yourself for that initial slap. Hang in there.
Donations Needed for Breast Cancer Fundraiser Auction
Friends and dear readers,
If you read this blog with any regularity, you know that I'm a happy, healthy breast cancer survivor. Likewise, if you read this blog, you'll know that I've gone on something of a "pink diet" (or really, "pink fast") in the past year or so. When I was newly diagnosed and in treatment, I felt compelled to show up at every "pink" event, to walk in every "pink" walk, and to avail myself of all the fantastic free services offered in our city to cancer patients and survivors. But I always ended up getting crazy weepy at those events, listening to other breast cancer survivors tell their stories. I'm also the kind of person who is deeply uncomfortable with the idea of being called "heroic" just because I survived cancer-- and a lot of survivor rhetoric lapses into that (the doctors were heroic; my friends and family were at times heroic; I just muddled through the best that I could). Because I'm so shy, support groups and organizations made me snap over to social anxiety overload as soon as I walked into the door.
But when I was first diagnosed-- like the very day that I was diagnosed-- Norton Hospital put me in touch with Megan Schanie of the Young Survivors Group. And she took me out to lunch and told me what to expect from surgery, chemo, fake boobs, the works. And for the course of my treatment, the Young Survivors group was a fabulous source of support to me (right down to Megan's mother-in-law who fed me and took me to treatments when my own mom or Roommate couldn't be around).
And the Annual Young Survivors Auction is one "pink event" that I feel passionately about supporting. First of all, it's a damned good time, and most years I come away with really good deals on silent auction goods. Secondly, it supports a cause that truly helped me and truly helps a lot of young women.
So if you're a business owner or your make stuff or you have services you can offer to this group, I humbly ask that you donate something to the silent auction to be held at the Frazier Museum on February 25. It doesn't matter how small your donation is. Goods, services, gift certificates, experiences... And I'll make it as easy on you as possible; I'm happy to come to you at your convenience and pick up the item. These donations are tax deductible and a Young Survivors rep will provide you acknowledgment in writing of your donation. Email me at lou [at] loueyville.com if you are interested or if you have any questions.
And for the rest of you, mark your calendars: February 25 at the Frazier. A good time and a great cause.
Thanks. Y'all rock.
xo
Lou
If you read this blog with any regularity, you know that I'm a happy, healthy breast cancer survivor. Likewise, if you read this blog, you'll know that I've gone on something of a "pink diet" (or really, "pink fast") in the past year or so. When I was newly diagnosed and in treatment, I felt compelled to show up at every "pink" event, to walk in every "pink" walk, and to avail myself of all the fantastic free services offered in our city to cancer patients and survivors. But I always ended up getting crazy weepy at those events, listening to other breast cancer survivors tell their stories. I'm also the kind of person who is deeply uncomfortable with the idea of being called "heroic" just because I survived cancer-- and a lot of survivor rhetoric lapses into that (the doctors were heroic; my friends and family were at times heroic; I just muddled through the best that I could). Because I'm so shy, support groups and organizations made me snap over to social anxiety overload as soon as I walked into the door.
But when I was first diagnosed-- like the very day that I was diagnosed-- Norton Hospital put me in touch with Megan Schanie of the Young Survivors Group. And she took me out to lunch and told me what to expect from surgery, chemo, fake boobs, the works. And for the course of my treatment, the Young Survivors group was a fabulous source of support to me (right down to Megan's mother-in-law who fed me and took me to treatments when my own mom or Roommate couldn't be around).
And the Annual Young Survivors Auction is one "pink event" that I feel passionately about supporting. First of all, it's a damned good time, and most years I come away with really good deals on silent auction goods. Secondly, it supports a cause that truly helped me and truly helps a lot of young women.
So if you're a business owner or your make stuff or you have services you can offer to this group, I humbly ask that you donate something to the silent auction to be held at the Frazier Museum on February 25. It doesn't matter how small your donation is. Goods, services, gift certificates, experiences... And I'll make it as easy on you as possible; I'm happy to come to you at your convenience and pick up the item. These donations are tax deductible and a Young Survivors rep will provide you acknowledgment in writing of your donation. Email me at lou [at] loueyville.com if you are interested or if you have any questions.
And for the rest of you, mark your calendars: February 25 at the Frazier. A good time and a great cause.
Thanks. Y'all rock.
xo
Lou
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
A Few of My Favorite Things: 2010
I swear I wrote the bulk of this post on 12/31/10... I just kind of got overwhelmed and gave up. But here it is, a day (or 4) late and a dollar short, I'm sure... my "End of Year Post."
I don't have the attention span for making "Top Ten" lists. I'm also not otaku enough (to use a term recently brought to light by Patton Oswald in his controversial Wired article) to be able to make a masterful list. I couldn't name my top ten anything without scraping the barrel for the last three or four. So instead, I give you my "highlights" post-- the best of everything this year, big or small, local or personal, noteworthy or silly.
I'd be remiss if I didn't start out with the fact that 2010 was a relatively drama-free year for me (granted, there's still 21+hrs left). I'd started to get a little too comfortable with the fact that I had become something of a crisis magnet. Just in the past couple of years, I've had cancer, had my house destroyed by Hurricane Ike... if we go back as far as 2005, we've got Katrina and job loss and heartbreak and a move to a city I knew nothing about. 2010 was basically a piece of cake. I had a surgery in February. I had pneumonia this past fall. A couple of deaths wrecked me. Otherwise, we're good here at Casa Lou. It wasn't a banner year, but it wasn't scary or deeply sad or traumatic. That's a win.
It's been a great year for Loueyville. Man, I love this blog and the doors-- personal and "professional"-- it's opened for me. I've said it before, and I will say it again, I'm sure: 80% of my life in Louisville-- the friends I've made and the cool ass things I've done are thanks to this blog and to my Twitter presence. Although I didn't make any really close friends, I had a great time meeting one blog-follower/Twitter-friend each week during my Lenten Promise. And I plan to repeat that promise again this year. The blog/Twitter helped me take people I didn't know to shows at Actors Theater and the Kentucky Center. It also allowed me to have my first ticket contest and treat two great couples to the Cirque Dreams Holidaze show at the Palace this winter. I LOVE that Loueyville is featured on the home page of the Possibility City website; it makes me so proud. This little labor of love is a huge blessing in my life, and it's been a highlight of 2010 to keep plugging away at it.
Speaking of the blog, I have to admit that perhaps the best thing that I have done in service to the blog is cover the HullabaLOU Festival at Churchill Downs. I know the event lost a Bieberload of money, and I am so sorry that it will not be coming back next year (read my posts re: why I think they were wrong to throw in the towel), but I had a damned fine time at HullabaLOU. Great performances, sometimes from unexpected talent. Not to mention the fact that it was the first time that I felt like I was "big girl press" = free tickets, parking passes, buffets, access to performers (though I was too shy to pipe up during the press conferences). A milestone, indeed. And a good time in general.
That being said, I can't underestimate the impact that having press passes to all of the Humana Festival plays had on me. I was thrilled beyond thrilled to attend every single play during the Humana Festival run. And actually, I've hit every Actors play this year save A Christmas Story, which I caught last year. We are so lucky to have Actors. I am insanely lucky to have people at Actors who view my blog as honest-to-goodness "press." Likewise the Broadway Across America folks at the Kentucky Theater. Who on God's green earth would have thought one of my theater highlights for the year would have been Legally Blonde?! But it was! So. Hugely. Fun.
I moved to my neighborhood, the Original Highlands, because it seemed like the best 'hood in the city. And lo and behold, this place gets better every year. Sure we lose a place or two (Barret Bar, I'm thinking of you!) but we gain so much more. Papalino's and the Holy Grale have vastly improved my quality of life this year.
My New Year's wish for 2011 = Original Highland's Neighborhood Association, please back the eff off of great places like the Grale and the Monkey Wrench and let 'em have their 4am licenses. It's embarrassing to put the brakes on quality businesses like these.
As I said, I can't do "top ten" lists, but I can tell you some of my favorites.
I don't have the attention span for making "Top Ten" lists. I'm also not otaku enough (to use a term recently brought to light by Patton Oswald in his controversial Wired article) to be able to make a masterful list. I couldn't name my top ten anything without scraping the barrel for the last three or four. So instead, I give you my "highlights" post-- the best of everything this year, big or small, local or personal, noteworthy or silly.
I'd be remiss if I didn't start out with the fact that 2010 was a relatively drama-free year for me (granted, there's still 21+hrs left). I'd started to get a little too comfortable with the fact that I had become something of a crisis magnet. Just in the past couple of years, I've had cancer, had my house destroyed by Hurricane Ike... if we go back as far as 2005, we've got Katrina and job loss and heartbreak and a move to a city I knew nothing about. 2010 was basically a piece of cake. I had a surgery in February. I had pneumonia this past fall. A couple of deaths wrecked me. Otherwise, we're good here at Casa Lou. It wasn't a banner year, but it wasn't scary or deeply sad or traumatic. That's a win.
It's been a great year for Loueyville. Man, I love this blog and the doors-- personal and "professional"-- it's opened for me. I've said it before, and I will say it again, I'm sure: 80% of my life in Louisville-- the friends I've made and the cool ass things I've done are thanks to this blog and to my Twitter presence. Although I didn't make any really close friends, I had a great time meeting one blog-follower/Twitter-friend each week during my Lenten Promise. And I plan to repeat that promise again this year. The blog/Twitter helped me take people I didn't know to shows at Actors Theater and the Kentucky Center. It also allowed me to have my first ticket contest and treat two great couples to the Cirque Dreams Holidaze show at the Palace this winter. I LOVE that Loueyville is featured on the home page of the Possibility City website; it makes me so proud. This little labor of love is a huge blessing in my life, and it's been a highlight of 2010 to keep plugging away at it.
Speaking of the blog, I have to admit that perhaps the best thing that I have done in service to the blog is cover the HullabaLOU Festival at Churchill Downs. I know the event lost a Bieberload of money, and I am so sorry that it will not be coming back next year (read my posts re: why I think they were wrong to throw in the towel), but I had a damned fine time at HullabaLOU. Great performances, sometimes from unexpected talent. Not to mention the fact that it was the first time that I felt like I was "big girl press" = free tickets, parking passes, buffets, access to performers (though I was too shy to pipe up during the press conferences). A milestone, indeed. And a good time in general.
That being said, I can't underestimate the impact that having press passes to all of the Humana Festival plays had on me. I was thrilled beyond thrilled to attend every single play during the Humana Festival run. And actually, I've hit every Actors play this year save A Christmas Story, which I caught last year. We are so lucky to have Actors. I am insanely lucky to have people at Actors who view my blog as honest-to-goodness "press." Likewise the Broadway Across America folks at the Kentucky Theater. Who on God's green earth would have thought one of my theater highlights for the year would have been Legally Blonde?! But it was! So. Hugely. Fun.
I moved to my neighborhood, the Original Highlands, because it seemed like the best 'hood in the city. And lo and behold, this place gets better every year. Sure we lose a place or two (Barret Bar, I'm thinking of you!) but we gain so much more. Papalino's and the Holy Grale have vastly improved my quality of life this year.
My New Year's wish for 2011 = Original Highland's Neighborhood Association, please back the eff off of great places like the Grale and the Monkey Wrench and let 'em have their 4am licenses. It's embarrassing to put the brakes on quality businesses like these.
As I said, I can't do "top ten" lists, but I can tell you some of my favorites.
- Music-wise: My favorite album of 2010 is Trombone Shorty's Backatown. Seriously, I dare you to listen to the first 60-seconds of the CD and NOT want to boogie. Im-possible! Also: Cee-Lo Green's Ladykillers. His "F++k You" is the song of the year, in my opinion.
- Movie-wise: I see a lot of movies, and I know my tastes are strange. But no movie really tweaked me this year. Not one. Honestly, I think the best movie I saw in 2010 is How to Train Your Dragon.
- TV-wise: I'm still madly in love with Modern Family and Parenthood. But you can't ever go wrong with watching an episode of Castle or the Closer. I have to admit, for the 2010 season, I'm just loving the heck out of Raising Grace. Man, I miss LOST something awful.
Overall, 2010 was a pretty good year. I'm not particularly sad to see it go, but I had a lot of great times. My Louisville family of friends is full of spectacularly smart, funny, nerdy people (yeah, I'm looking at you!), and I've enjoyed their company heaps this year.
Bonus favorite pop culture thing: The Man of My 2010 is Craig Ferguson. He's friends with the Mythbusters, he hosted Shark Week, and he put on a hell of a live show in Cincy this year. He has a robot sidekick, for godssake! You can have all the Team Coco you want; I am firmly in the camp of Team @CraigyFerg.
And Bonus bonus favorite pop culture thing: Nothing had made me smile and laugh as hard this year as Craig Ferguson's "Secretariat" schtick. It never gets old. Add a little Kristen Bell or Neil Patrick Harris to the mix, and it's sublime. Watch here.
Happy New Year, Louisvillagers. Love you guys.
xxoo Lou
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Advanced Warning: KAAC's High School Musical
I have to admit, the whole High School Musical thingie totally passed me by (which is probably a good thing, seeing that I'm thirty-mumble-mumble years old). So this really isn't my bag. But it sure is someone's bag given the popularity of the movies and now the stage musical.
Kids Acting Against Cancer (KAAC) is an impressive local charity founded and staffed by some really impressive local kids. (Seriously, bitch all you want about teenagers, but I am grateful every day to work with young people and to see the kindness and empathy they're capable of).
As much as I wish I could kind of just give this show a plug on the blog and let it happily pass by, I think I'll have to attend. Not only is KAAC a great cause that I want to support, I can personally attest to the fact that the cast features some truly talented young actors.
Their website is woefully out-of-date, but here's the skinny on their upcoming production:
Kids Acting Against Cancer presents its production of Disney's smash hit "High School Musical"! Proceeds benefit Gilda's Club of Louisville & UofL Pediatrics Oncology Specialists!
January 15
Producers' Reception: 75$, 6:30, (Preferred Seating, Drinks, hors d’oeuvres)
House Opens-7:30 PM
Curtain-8:00 PM
Tickets-Students 15$, Adults 20$
Clifton Center
Grab the teenagers in your life and take 'em!
Kids Acting Against Cancer (KAAC) is an impressive local charity founded and staffed by some really impressive local kids. (Seriously, bitch all you want about teenagers, but I am grateful every day to work with young people and to see the kindness and empathy they're capable of).
As much as I wish I could kind of just give this show a plug on the blog and let it happily pass by, I think I'll have to attend. Not only is KAAC a great cause that I want to support, I can personally attest to the fact that the cast features some truly talented young actors.
Their website is woefully out-of-date, but here's the skinny on their upcoming production:
Kids Acting Against Cancer presents its production of Disney's smash hit "High School Musical"! Proceeds benefit Gilda's Club of Louisville & UofL Pediatrics Oncology Specialists!
January 15
Producers' Reception: 75$, 6:30, (Preferred Seating, Drinks, hors d’oeuvres)
House Opens-7:30 PM
Curtain-8:00 PM
Tickets-Students 15$, Adults 20$
Clifton Center
Grab the teenagers in your life and take 'em!
Over the River: Habana Blues
I'm not really a "foodie." My food interests tend toward the plebeian. For example, over the holidays, I was one of the poor unfortunate souls stuck in the New England HellaBlizzard (though, thankfully, not one of the poor unfortunate souls STILL stuck in the HellaBlizzard), and when Mama Lou asked what I wanted her to chef up for some cabin fever comfort food, I said, "Remember that thing you used to make with the Velveeta and the canned tomato soup?" (It's good. Mmmmm.... )
Anyway, so my food/restaurant posts can always be viewed with a bit of skepticism, I'm sure.
Two nights ago, Roommate and I availed ourselves of cheapo rates at the Horseshoe Casino and did an overnighter. Casino trips, especially non-Vegas trips, are always a pretty even mix of depressing and fun. But we found the cheap drinks at the Envy bar and a dolphin slot machine that liked to give us money (pretty dolphins, good dolphins, we like the dolphins), so a good time was had by all. I'm not ashamed to admit that one of the draws to the casino was the Savannah-toned siren call of Paula Deen's buffet. And we weren't disappointed. Good southern comfort food. Fresher and better done than most big ass buffets. And (really) a totally cute little Paula gift shop. Hey y'all!
But, it turned out that the culinary highlight of the trip was not the raw oysters on Paula's salad bar, but the great little Cuban restaurant in New Albany where we had lunch the next day. Habana Blues is right in downtown New Albany on Market Street. For lunch, all sandwiches come with either black bean soup or a side salad for just $7.50. Roommate had the Cuban sandwich, and I had a wonderful grouper sandwich. And... best of all, the dark, strong, fruity sangria is only $11 a pitcher all day Monday-Wednesday! Super great deal considering a single glass was $6. Half a pitcher of sangria-- three glasses or so-- and I was zonked for the afternoon.
What I liked best about Habana Blues was not the great, reasonably-priced food or the good, cheap sangria, but the fact that our waiter clearly LOVED where he worked. He chatted up the place to us with a huge smile. Outdoor patio. Live music til 2am. DJs on weekends. And most exciting of all: a dinner paella that takes an hour to cook-- you can call in advance, and they'll start it for you!
Really, when your waiters are as happy as this guy was, you're doing something right. I'll totally make the bridge trek to visit Habana Blues again-- especially for the paella and definitely during the summer when I can eat outside.
Anyway, so my food/restaurant posts can always be viewed with a bit of skepticism, I'm sure.
Two nights ago, Roommate and I availed ourselves of cheapo rates at the Horseshoe Casino and did an overnighter. Casino trips, especially non-Vegas trips, are always a pretty even mix of depressing and fun. But we found the cheap drinks at the Envy bar and a dolphin slot machine that liked to give us money (pretty dolphins, good dolphins, we like the dolphins), so a good time was had by all. I'm not ashamed to admit that one of the draws to the casino was the Savannah-toned siren call of Paula Deen's buffet. And we weren't disappointed. Good southern comfort food. Fresher and better done than most big ass buffets. And (really) a totally cute little Paula gift shop. Hey y'all!
But, it turned out that the culinary highlight of the trip was not the raw oysters on Paula's salad bar, but the great little Cuban restaurant in New Albany where we had lunch the next day. Habana Blues is right in downtown New Albany on Market Street. For lunch, all sandwiches come with either black bean soup or a side salad for just $7.50. Roommate had the Cuban sandwich, and I had a wonderful grouper sandwich. And... best of all, the dark, strong, fruity sangria is only $11 a pitcher all day Monday-Wednesday! Super great deal considering a single glass was $6. Half a pitcher of sangria-- three glasses or so-- and I was zonked for the afternoon.
What I liked best about Habana Blues was not the great, reasonably-priced food or the good, cheap sangria, but the fact that our waiter clearly LOVED where he worked. He chatted up the place to us with a huge smile. Outdoor patio. Live music til 2am. DJs on weekends. And most exciting of all: a dinner paella that takes an hour to cook-- you can call in advance, and they'll start it for you!
Really, when your waiters are as happy as this guy was, you're doing something right. I'll totally make the bridge trek to visit Habana Blues again-- especially for the paella and definitely during the summer when I can eat outside.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Happy Annual Gift-Giving Holiday To You!
Great minds think alike. The annual gift exchange between me & Roommate is always a highlight of the Christmas season for me. He knows where to shop for me (Why Louisville? Scout) and what I like (Deadliest Catch Wii Game? Hell yes!).
But this year we ended up gifting each other the SAME Why Louisville? t-shirt! Look for us some Waterfront Wednesday looking like Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum (not gonna happen).
But how could we NOT buy this shirt? It's so damned cute! See it here.
Hope your Culturally-specific Gift-Giving Holidays were likewise good to you!
But this year we ended up gifting each other the SAME Why Louisville? t-shirt! Look for us some Waterfront Wednesday looking like Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum (not gonna happen).
But how could we NOT buy this shirt? It's so damned cute! See it here.
Hope your Culturally-specific Gift-Giving Holidays were likewise good to you!
Friday, December 17, 2010
Did Anyone Ask if YOU Want an NBA Team? (Try NHL!)
So there's an editorial in today's CJ about the city's plans to woo the NBA. Again. (As @eekshecried said on Twitter, "They've been pouring money into this question for years. It's the city's second-favorite hobby after drinking.") And my first reaction is to generally shrug and say, "Whatev."
Right? I'm SO not a fan of the NBA (except for my boyfriend "Big Baby" on the Celtics. I loves me some Big Baby.). Could not care less about the NBA. I'd go so far as to say that I WOULDN'T go to an NBA game at the Whale... but that would probably be a lie. As I told someone early this week as we entered the Kalightoscope exhibit, "My mama always said that I'd go to a pig calling if someone invited me." (And come on people, that's hardly a stretch. A pig calling would be FUN!) (More fun than the Kalightoscope maybe?) (I'd like to take this opportunity to mention the fact that my Meatspace Workplace's firewall BLOCKs that Kalightoscope website-- rightly or wrongly-- because of the amount of advertising on it. Hm.)
Anyway, so first reaction to NBA news: "Whatev."
But after thinking about it, I'm a little steamed.
Here's why: Did anyone bother to ask us?
Did anyone bother to poll Louisvillagers and say, "How'd you like an NBA team?"
Because if they had polled ME, I would have said, "Nope. No thanks. Use that money elsewhere. Or hey.... waitaminnit... how's about an NHL team! Now THAT I'd love!"
Because who doesn't love hockey, right? (Ok, sure, some of you. Most of you who claim NOT to love hockey have probably never seen a game.) Earlier this year, I tried to get Louisville Slugger Field on board with the whole hockey thing. Remember? Got no response at all. (I've batted zero-- pun intended-- with the media folks at Slugger. They NEVER return emails from me. And I'm such a big Bats fan. If any of y'all can pull any strings...)
But this is actually a really good idea for the YUM center. And if not NHL, what about a smaller league? Louisville actually had a hockey team from the 40's til the 00's. The Blades, the Shooting Stars, the Icehawks, the Rebels, the Riverfrogs, and the Panthers. Most of the teams played out at the Fairgrounds, but a couple of them played at the Louisville Gardens.
Anyway, out of curiosity, I did a VERY informal poll on Twitter. And a couple Tweeties were good with the NBA, but the vast majority of people who bothered to respond to my tweet were overwhelmingly in favor of the NHL. Overwhelmingly. In fact, most responses included the words "HELL YEAH!" (We're a profane group, us hockey fans).
So seriously, Louisville. Give me that $89K, I've just done your feasibility study for you. Most people have responded to the NBA idea with a giant thudding "Meh." But the idea of the NHL gets people psyched. And people who aren't psyched have probably never watched hockey. Start the season out with cheapo tickets, and people will check it out for curiosity. One game and they're hooked, I betcha.
Seriously. I'm brilliant. Right? Right. Louisvillagers Powers Activate!
(Those words... I do not think they mean what I think they mean.)
Right? I'm SO not a fan of the NBA (except for my boyfriend "Big Baby" on the Celtics. I loves me some Big Baby.). Could not care less about the NBA. I'd go so far as to say that I WOULDN'T go to an NBA game at the Whale... but that would probably be a lie. As I told someone early this week as we entered the Kalightoscope exhibit, "My mama always said that I'd go to a pig calling if someone invited me." (And come on people, that's hardly a stretch. A pig calling would be FUN!) (More fun than the Kalightoscope maybe?) (I'd like to take this opportunity to mention the fact that my Meatspace Workplace's firewall BLOCKs that Kalightoscope website-- rightly or wrongly-- because of the amount of advertising on it. Hm.)
Anyway, so first reaction to NBA news: "Whatev."
But after thinking about it, I'm a little steamed.
Here's why: Did anyone bother to ask us?
Did anyone bother to poll Louisvillagers and say, "How'd you like an NBA team?"
Because if they had polled ME, I would have said, "Nope. No thanks. Use that money elsewhere. Or hey.... waitaminnit... how's about an NHL team! Now THAT I'd love!"
Because who doesn't love hockey, right? (Ok, sure, some of you. Most of you who claim NOT to love hockey have probably never seen a game.) Earlier this year, I tried to get Louisville Slugger Field on board with the whole hockey thing. Remember? Got no response at all. (I've batted zero-- pun intended-- with the media folks at Slugger. They NEVER return emails from me. And I'm such a big Bats fan. If any of y'all can pull any strings...)
But this is actually a really good idea for the YUM center. And if not NHL, what about a smaller league? Louisville actually had a hockey team from the 40's til the 00's. The Blades, the Shooting Stars, the Icehawks, the Rebels, the Riverfrogs, and the Panthers. Most of the teams played out at the Fairgrounds, but a couple of them played at the Louisville Gardens.
Anyway, out of curiosity, I did a VERY informal poll on Twitter. And a couple Tweeties were good with the NBA, but the vast majority of people who bothered to respond to my tweet were overwhelmingly in favor of the NHL. Overwhelmingly. In fact, most responses included the words "HELL YEAH!" (We're a profane group, us hockey fans).
So seriously, Louisville. Give me that $89K, I've just done your feasibility study for you. Most people have responded to the NBA idea with a giant thudding "Meh." But the idea of the NHL gets people psyched. And people who aren't psyched have probably never watched hockey. Start the season out with cheapo tickets, and people will check it out for curiosity. One game and they're hooked, I betcha.
Seriously. I'm brilliant. Right? Right. Louisvillagers Powers Activate!
(Those words... I do not think they mean what I think they mean.)
Monday, December 13, 2010
Ho Ho Holiday Stuff! Happy Snow Day!
Happy snow day, y'all! Been sitting in a coffee shop for the better part of the day, and it's so adorable seeing moms and dads coming in with little ones off of school... playing cards and board games, having long post-snowman-building hot cocoas.
But, I still have more of the Scrooge than the Spirit in me right now. This despite watching a marathon of Christmas specials in my pjs last night: Muppets Christmas Carol, Shrek the Halls, the Family Guy Christmas (ugh), and something involving a baby reindeer who was abandoned by his asshole Santa-pulling reindeer dad, ends abandoning his own mother, and by the end decides that his "real" dad is a flying squirrel. You can't make this shit up, kids.
Anyway, I'm working on filling my ho ho ho gas tank. Tonight I'm headed out to see Kalightoscope at the Galt House. The Galt House et al have been hyping this holiday event since last Christmas, and I'm pretty jazzed to see what it ends up looking like. If somehow you've missed the major advertising push behind this, Kalightoscope is, according to the website:
There's also a dinner show and special overnight Galt House packages available. At the very least, the Galt House bar is always a spectacle during the holidays with the real candy gingerbread house that's bigger than my first NYC apartment and the beautiful Santa display.
This is my fifth holiday season in Louisville. I find that so hard to believe. But what's even more hard to believe is that there are so many local holiday traditions that I am just now getting around to. This Halloween was my first Dracula at Actors Theater. And while last year, I did see A Christmas Story, this was the first year that I went to see the more traditional A Christmas Carol. Despite the fact that I spent the Christmas season of 2008 living a block away from Slugger Field, this was the first year that I went to the Festival of Trees.
A Christmas Carol is totally worth working into your schedule in the next couple of weeks. After seeing the show, I immediately tweeted that, corny though it sounds, watching the play made me feel all warm and Christmasy. (It didn't last: no fault of Actors Theatre). There's a lovely trailer for the play at Actors' Theatre's YouTube page; watch it, and you'll want to go. Unfortunately, I left my Playbill at home otherwise I'd cite particular performances, but the most stunning change (so I've heard... as I said, first time for me) was the casting of an aerialist to play the Ghost of Christmas Past. Beautiful. Oh and hey, somehow Actors landed Stephen Colbert to play Cratchitt. (I kid. But seriously. I did a double take.)
This week is going to be a crazy one. Somehow I need (perhaps "want" is a better word) to work in seeing Barefoot in the Park at Actors and The Looking Glass Wars at Alley Theater. Tonight is Kalightoscope. Tomorrow is Let them Tweet Cake. And I'd really like to get a Christmas tree in time to enjoy a little of its piney goodness before I leave. Oh and shopping and shipping and packing and...
Ho ho ho! Stay warm, Louisville!
But, I still have more of the Scrooge than the Spirit in me right now. This despite watching a marathon of Christmas specials in my pjs last night: Muppets Christmas Carol, Shrek the Halls, the Family Guy Christmas (ugh), and something involving a baby reindeer who was abandoned by his asshole Santa-pulling reindeer dad, ends abandoning his own mother, and by the end decides that his "real" dad is a flying squirrel. You can't make this shit up, kids.
Anyway, I'm working on filling my ho ho ho gas tank. Tonight I'm headed out to see Kalightoscope at the Galt House. The Galt House et al have been hyping this holiday event since last Christmas, and I'm pretty jazzed to see what it ends up looking like. If somehow you've missed the major advertising push behind this, Kalightoscope is, according to the website:
... a landscape of larger-than-life, lighted holiday sculptures inspired by ancient Chinese art. Made of sheer, painted fabrics, each towering sculpture is enhanced by light, color and an imaginative setting. Some even reach 24 feet high!
Santa’s Midnight Flight over the World, Toyland and the breathtaking Nativity are just some of the twelve areas designed to awe and delight. Holiday music, aromas and little surprises make it an unforgettable experience for anybody. And it's all inside a temperature controlled, 16,000 square foot pavilion.
There's also a dinner show and special overnight Galt House packages available. At the very least, the Galt House bar is always a spectacle during the holidays with the real candy gingerbread house that's bigger than my first NYC apartment and the beautiful Santa display.
This is my fifth holiday season in Louisville. I find that so hard to believe. But what's even more hard to believe is that there are so many local holiday traditions that I am just now getting around to. This Halloween was my first Dracula at Actors Theater. And while last year, I did see A Christmas Story, this was the first year that I went to see the more traditional A Christmas Carol. Despite the fact that I spent the Christmas season of 2008 living a block away from Slugger Field, this was the first year that I went to the Festival of Trees.
A Christmas Carol is totally worth working into your schedule in the next couple of weeks. After seeing the show, I immediately tweeted that, corny though it sounds, watching the play made me feel all warm and Christmasy. (It didn't last: no fault of Actors Theatre). There's a lovely trailer for the play at Actors' Theatre's YouTube page; watch it, and you'll want to go. Unfortunately, I left my Playbill at home otherwise I'd cite particular performances, but the most stunning change (so I've heard... as I said, first time for me) was the casting of an aerialist to play the Ghost of Christmas Past. Beautiful. Oh and hey, somehow Actors landed Stephen Colbert to play Cratchitt. (I kid. But seriously. I did a double take.)
This week is going to be a crazy one. Somehow I need (perhaps "want" is a better word) to work in seeing Barefoot in the Park at Actors and The Looking Glass Wars at Alley Theater. Tonight is Kalightoscope. Tomorrow is Let them Tweet Cake. And I'd really like to get a Christmas tree in time to enjoy a little of its piney goodness before I leave. Oh and shopping and shipping and packing and...
Ho ho ho! Stay warm, Louisville!
Thursday, December 9, 2010
What Do Sydney & Louisville Have In Common?
Sometimes press releases are like time machines. I just got the greatest press release in my emails box, and it's full of all kinds of good news for the city and for various events and festivals. Awards. Kudos. Laurels. Pats on many backs.
But the events described in the press release haven't ACTUALLY happened yet. They happen tomorrow. At 1:30p. In the Lobby of the Whale. With Uncle Mayor Jerry.
Oh, I can't keep this good news in. Because you know how much Mama loves her some festivals, right? I'll publish more details on the news tomorrow after the awards/kudos/laurels/pats have already been handed out. (WHAT IF THESE PEOPLE CHANGE THEIR MINDS? You don't want to jinx this, Louisville).
What do Sydney & Louisville have in common? We're the only two recipients of the designation of "World Festival & Event City" in the "over 1 million" category. That's pretty damned world class, kids. Sydney and little ol' LOU? So says the International Festival and Event Association. Earlier this month we got ourselves one of the ugliest buildings and now this...
It's been a good month to be a Louisvillager. So say we all.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Aglow Tonight (I sure will be!)
(Personal note to said friends and all of the pals who share my conflict: let's rent a bus next year! Shuttle our noggy butts between parties! Maybe add a third party to the mix! [NOT IT!])
Aglow is not only a fabulous time, but this year Four Roses Bourbon is a major sponsor, and there's all kind of bourbony goodness happening along the route. AND Aglow is the perfect time to nail your entry for the LIBA Holiday Passport Contest. Submit receipts from five LIBA member businesses and you're entered into a drawing for $1000 gift certificate and a host of other lovely runner-up prizes. Enter as many times as you want. Details here.
Go forth and shop local, Louisvillagers!
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Hey We Made Another List!
Sure, this is a purely subjective list.
Sure, this site is more of a goof than anything else.
And sure, it's not a list we really WANT to make. Or do we?
The Kaden Tower, located on Dutchman's Lane, (or as I normally call it, "The Ruth's Chris Building") made Oddee's list of 12 of the WORLD'S Ugliest Buildings. The WORLD'S ugliest, kids... our building is on the list with buildings from Spain and Australia and Thailand and China. I don't know about you, but I'm thinking that's pretty awesome.
According to Wikipedia: "Designed by a student of Frank Lloyd Wright, the building is notable for its cantilevered structure and its suspended lacework facade" That student, in fact, was his son-in-law, William Wesley Peters. And, "the Kaden Tower, when occupied at night, is reminiscent of a Japanese lantern with inside lighting illuminating the grillwork with a soft, yellow glow. During the month of December in the 1970s and early 1980s, transparent color gels were placed on the inside of the windows to form large seasonal symbols when the office lights were left on. Other notable features of the building are several Wright-inspired stained glass windows and a glass elevator system on the building's exterior, surrounded by a low dome that houses the building's air conditioning systems and accented with a reflecting pool and fountain."
Check out the other 11 buildings on the list. The Kaden Tower is pretty vanilla compared to some of the seriously uggums buildings out there. But we'll take recognition where we can get it, won't we, kids?* Ugly is AWESOME!** Congrats to the Kaden Companies for keeping Louisville weird!
* I mean the kind of recognition that doesn't involve being ridiculed for being a state that provides tax incentives for the creation (pun intended) of 900 jobs at a theme park that most CERTAINLY won't be a EOE, you know what I mean?
** anyone else really, really want to live in a bolwoningen?? I TOTALLY do!
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Oy Vey... Teenaged Dinosaur Theme Park!
On the first day of Chanukah, my Crazy State gave to me... a theme park companion to the Creation Museum complete with a bazillion dollars in tax incentives.
Not very sing-able, I'm afraid.
I guess we can chalk this venture up as Reason #54782 Kentucky is a Punchline in Jokes Made in the Other 49 States.
That being said, you know I'll do my gosh-darnedest to be there on opening day. Just like I was there at Opening Day of the Creation Museum. (Still one of my favorite blog posts) The Creation Museum already has a whole hall based on the Noah's Ark story, by the way, including a big ass Ark. From that post:
In the Flood Geology room, the Great Flood is explained through videos and posters. And for the first time, I can hear other museum-goers make little noises of satisfaction, like they’re understanding science for the first time. “Who knew?” they seem to be saying. “So that’s how it worked.” It’s horrible, this flood, a tsunami cresting over the poles and cascading over the continents, making Katrina and the Asian tsunami look like the overtopping of a sink left on too long. One wonders how Noah’s ark, oil-tanker though it is, wasn’t dashed to pieces and sent to Davy Jones’s Locker, pairs of sheep, mice, and dinosaurs and all.
Yes, dinosaurs. Dinosaurs not only shared the earth with man since day one—day 5 actually, when they were created alongside the chipmunks and wolves—but they were saved by Noah and survived the flood (According to some literature I picked up in the gift shop, the dinosaurs on the ark were most likely “teenagers.” I wonder how Noah kept them away from the drugs and the online porn.) In fact, dinosaurs went on to thrive for many centuries. How else can you explain the preponderance of dragons in literature? Not dragons, silly Arthurians, but late-stage dinosaurs. (The gift shop, by the way, looks like a set from Harry Potter and is called Dragon’s Hall.)
In the meantime, while you're waiting for the Flood Geology Theme Park to kick it in 2014, celebrate REAL science in the early months of next year by checking out the Star Trek: the Exhibition hosted by the Louisville Science Center. I caught this exhibit during the summer of 2009 at the Franklin Museum in Philly. And while I am not a Trekkie (or Trekker), I have to admit, it was pretty damned pop culturely cool beans.
Beam me up.
Not very sing-able, I'm afraid.
I guess we can chalk this venture up as Reason #54782 Kentucky is a Punchline in Jokes Made in the Other 49 States.
That being said, you know I'll do my gosh-darnedest to be there on opening day. Just like I was there at Opening Day of the Creation Museum. (Still one of my favorite blog posts) The Creation Museum already has a whole hall based on the Noah's Ark story, by the way, including a big ass Ark. From that post:
In the Flood Geology room, the Great Flood is explained through videos and posters. And for the first time, I can hear other museum-goers make little noises of satisfaction, like they’re understanding science for the first time. “Who knew?” they seem to be saying. “So that’s how it worked.” It’s horrible, this flood, a tsunami cresting over the poles and cascading over the continents, making Katrina and the Asian tsunami look like the overtopping of a sink left on too long. One wonders how Noah’s ark, oil-tanker though it is, wasn’t dashed to pieces and sent to Davy Jones’s Locker, pairs of sheep, mice, and dinosaurs and all.
Yes, dinosaurs. Dinosaurs not only shared the earth with man since day one—day 5 actually, when they were created alongside the chipmunks and wolves—but they were saved by Noah and survived the flood (According to some literature I picked up in the gift shop, the dinosaurs on the ark were most likely “teenagers.” I wonder how Noah kept them away from the drugs and the online porn.) In fact, dinosaurs went on to thrive for many centuries. How else can you explain the preponderance of dragons in literature? Not dragons, silly Arthurians, but late-stage dinosaurs. (The gift shop, by the way, looks like a set from Harry Potter and is called Dragon’s Hall.)
In the meantime, while you're waiting for the Flood Geology Theme Park to kick it in 2014, celebrate REAL science in the early months of next year by checking out the Star Trek: the Exhibition hosted by the Louisville Science Center. I caught this exhibit during the summer of 2009 at the Franklin Museum in Philly. And while I am not a Trekkie (or Trekker), I have to admit, it was pretty damned pop culturely cool beans.
Beam me up.
Dreidel's Day Out!
Happy Chanukah to one and all! Whether you're Jewish or not, you're guaranteed to feel just a little more seasonally joyful if you give Awesome Louisvillager, Brigid Kaelin's "Dreidel's Day Out" video a looksee!
Clicky, clicky, and crank it up!
Clicky, clicky, and crank it up!
Mapother to go (Sun)dancing
Long time readers know that Mama has a wee little celebrity crush on a certain semi-famous Louisvillager.
Today the 2011 Sundance Film competition released its line-up and our fair William Mapother is starring in one of the sixteen films slated for the US Dramatic Competition.
from the /Film blog:
Today the 2011 Sundance Film competition released its line-up and our fair William Mapother is starring in one of the sixteen films slated for the US Dramatic Competition.
from the /Film blog:
This year’s 16 films were selected from 1,102 submissions. Each is a world premiere.
Another Earth (Director: Mike Cahill; Screenwriters: Mike Cahill and Brit Marling) — On the eve of the discovery of a duplicate Earth, a horrible tragedy irrevocably alters the lives of two strangers, who begin an unlikely love affair. Cast: William Mapother, Brit Marling, Jordan Baker, Robin Lord Taylor, Flint Beverage.
A Louisvillager AND sci-fi? Love!
Mr. Mapother blogged about this earlier today. In usual humble fashion. The IMDB listing for the film is a little sparse, I'm afraid. I'll be sure to do some digging around to find out more.
Congrats to one of our Louisvillagers!
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Happy Thanksgiving!
I have so much to be grateful for: my health, gainful employment, good friends, a loving family, a lovely (but messy) home, an interesting life...
I am thankful for you, too, faithful blog readers. I am thankful that I live in a city that gives me more to write about than I have TIME to write about. I am thankful that through this blog I have met so many wonderful people who continue to enrich my life, broaden my horizons, and give me reasons to be happy, to laugh, and to be inspired.
I hope you spent your Thanksgiving with loved ones. And if you could not, I hope you spent Thanksgiving doing exactly what you wanted to do. And if you could not do that, I hope that in the next few days you find time to carve out a little slice of bliss for yourself, however small it may be.
Thank you for reading. The truth is, I would write even if no one was reading. But that you are reading-- well, that amazes me every day. And I am grateful. And I send you all my love.
xo
Lou
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Up, Up, and Away!
I keep meaning to write a blog post about LVL1 and the White Star Balloon project... but at the very least I thought I should mention that they're having a fundraiser this weekend to support the White Star build and launch.
LVL1 is Louisville's hackerspace (the good kind of hackers), which is just now celebrating its one year anniversary. And sometime this winter/spring, they will try to become the first group of makers to send a robot balloon from the US to Europe via the Gulf Stream. This Saturday, they're celebrating the start of the Gulf Stream season and raising funds for the expensive build. If you donate $10, you get to send up a message in a bottle to be dropped in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean!
The CJ did a somewhat muddy article on White Star today. Maybe it's the gloomy weather, or maybe I just haven't had enough of my first cup of coffee of the day, but there's something about this article that rubs me the wrong way. Is it just me?
Anyway, I'll be out of town (I'm coming, Hagrid!). But if I weren't, I'd so be there. Here are the details. More on LVL1 and White Star soon.
Music, Food, Science and fun provided, BYOB
When: Saturday Nov 20, 7PM-12AM
Where: LVL1 Hackerspace, 814 E Broadway, rear entrance in the alley.
Who should come: Anyone interested in being a part of history or who thinks science is cool!
Why: All people who donate $10 or more at the party will get to write a message in a bottle, to be dropped into the middle of the Atlantic Ocean!
Monday Night Randomness: Be Jealous!
So, I need some good news. Here's some good news:
- Thanks again to the folks at Bohlsen PR for setting up the Cirque Dreams Holidaze giveaway. We have two very happy winners. Thank you too to Michelle at Consuming Louisville who played fairy godmother and added two extra tickets to the mix so we could, indeed, have two winners. Even if you didn't win, you should go. It looks like all kinds of good holiday fun-- who doesn't love acrobats and stuff?-- and the Palace Theater is a magical place to see anything, anytime.
- Speaking of theater, I'm very sad to have to miss The Disappearance of Daniel Hand at Walden. It's being directed by Alex Volz, whose work at Walden is consistently fantastic. Really, people, I promise I wouldn't lead you astray-- you should really check out this show. Supporting Walden is so important for the future of arts in this city. And someday you might just be saying, "Hey I saw that actor when he/she was a teenager..."
- And speaking of supporting the arts (and in decidedly ungood news...), Gabe Bullard's Edit post about the Louisville Orchestra's financial woes and likely cutbacks made me powerful sad. Who's going to save the day??
- QUICK! I NEED SOME GOOD NEWS FAST! ::deep breath:: Right, so the reason I can't go to the Walden Play is that I will be someplace that rhymes with Whizney Girled. And while the trip is 95% business, and it won't be all that much fun, it is very possible that I will be spending this coming Sunday at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter! (yeah, I couldn't figure out how to rhyme that one...) Seriously, I am so excited that I haven't even allowed myself to look at the website. I mentioned it to a group of teenagers today, and one of them brought up the fact that there is an Olivander's wand shop there, and all five of us-- zombie-like-- intoned "swish and flick, swish and flick" in unison. Good news for the rest of you: Deathly Hallows. Two days. Need I say more? #mynerdinessisstrongerthanmypride
- Did anyone catch Louisville's own Nichole Scherzinger on tonight's How I Met Your Mother? Who knew there was a "Jessica Glitter" counterpart to Robin's "Robin Sparkles"? No, I don't think she's the "mother."
- As we speak, Roommate is gearing up for ESPN's 25+ hour NCAA hoops marathon that starts at midnight. Yes, he intends to stay up for it all. Yes, he stocked up on snacks and beverages. U of L plays Butler at "Pitino's Palace" (aka, the Whale, the Fish, the Bucket) tomorrow night at 8pm on ESPN. GO CARDS! Roommate wants me to tweet Dickie V and invite him over for drinks...
- Did you happen to catch Louisville Life this weekend? If not, you missed a great show-- I'm so glad that Casa Lou now gets local channels again. This week's episode featured a really nice story on River City Canoe & Kayak. AND, if you were paying attention, Lou herself was featured in a lot of nice footage of paddling on the river. (My 15 minutes of fame are dwindling quickly.)
- Reminder: Actors Theater is currently showing "A Christmas Story"-- which I saw last year and is fabulous. AND is starting Neil Simon's "Barefoot in the Park"-- which I can't wait to see.
That's all for me for now. If anyone has any secrets about how to scrape your windows with minimal elbow grease, let me know. I have a feeling it's going to be another bad morning tomorrow. But with all this GOOD NEWS... naw, it's still going to suck. Bah humbug, winter!
Sunday, November 14, 2010
We have a winner!
Thanks so much to everyone for entering the Cirque Dreams Holidaze ticket contest. I loved reading all of your comments about the holiday decorations that have meaning to you.
I went to www.random.org and had the randomizer pick a number for me, and the winner is #8-- that means JULES wins!
Jules said: I have done many theme trees over the years- but my current theme is....the New England Patriots! So actually- as soon as football season starts, I start getting into holiday mode. As for ornaments, I took silver and blue globes and put Patriots uniform parts that I found in the scrapbooking section of Michael's on them. They are my favorite- more so than the actual "official" Pats ornaments that I bought just before we left New England.
I think this will be the last year for that tree- but I will be keeping those ornaments to give to my son when he gets a new place.
I went to www.random.org and had the randomizer pick a number for me, and the winner is #8-- that means JULES wins!
Jules said: I have done many theme trees over the years- but my current theme is....the New England Patriots! So actually- as soon as football season starts, I start getting into holiday mode. As for ornaments, I took silver and blue globes and put Patriots uniform parts that I found in the scrapbooking section of Michael's on them. They are my favorite- more so than the actual "official" Pats ornaments that I bought just before we left New England.
I think this will be the last year for that tree- but I will be keeping those ornaments to give to my son when he gets a new place.
I have to admit, I used to be a HUGE Pats fan too... but now my heart belongs to the Saints.
Jules, please email me at lou at loueyville.com with your full name and let me know whether you want two or four tickets!
Thanks again for entering, folks. I hope to have more contests soon!
Friday, November 12, 2010
(If You Can Afford To) Buy Nothing Day
Two weeks from tonight is Black Friday: the day that every big box retailer under the sun offers huge discounts; the day many folks haul their turkey-stuffed bellies out of bed at the crack of dawn or earlier for doorbuster sales; the day that-- inevitably-- some poor soul gets trampled underfoot of a $5-crockpot-crazed Walmart crowd.
As reliable as Black Friday is, so are the emails, blog posts, posters, and websites reminding us it is also Buy Nothing Day.
And the part of me that abhors abject consumerism, Walmart, and the idea that people actually get mauled-- sometimes to death-- on their way to grab an XBox for their kid really wants to throw my support behind Buy Nothing Day. In fact, for years I did buy in. Spent the day after Thanksgiving nursing an over-full tummy and just generally chilling out.
But then came the year that I decided to buy Big Mama Lou a dvd player for Christmas. And Radio Shack had a sale... a really good sale... like 50% even its best sale prices.
See here's the thing-- and I know I'm hardly the first person to voice this opinion-- the idea of Buy Nothing Day is a good one, but it comes from a place of privilege. I totally support you if you decide to abstain from Black Friday and subscribe to the Buy Nothing Day ideal, but I don't endorse it. And I likely won't embrace it myself.
Most of you know that my Meatspace Workplace job is teaching. And I'm sure ALL of you know that educators (noble profession, helping the chirren, paving the road to our collective futures... blah blah blah) get shit for pay. (I won't even honor that statement by adding my usual asterisk-- "sh*t"doesn't do it justice.) But many, many millions of folk out there make do with significantly less than my salary, and often have children, spouses, and extended families to support.
And the hard truth is: stuff is cheap on Black Friday. Plain and simple. And I know many people who do the bulk of their Christmas/Holiday shopping on Black Friday for that reason. I'm related to many of those people. And heck, some years I am those people.
If you want to buy your mama a dvd player for Christmas and can get one on Black Friday for $29, you shouldn't be made to feel morally and spiritually and culturally inferior for saving $20 the day after Thanksgiving.
Now, I'm not the least bit adverse to the idea that we've turned these winter holidays into crazy fraking STUFF-GIVING shells of the spiritual occasions that they are SUPPOSED to be. Amen. I hear ya. And I'm with ya. But I do know that if I am the lone relative to show up at the Lou Family Christmas sans gifts, I will not be thought of as the "Lou who gave the family the gift of her love and presence" but rather as the "Lou who was a stingy bitch this year."
Yes, it would be lovely if there were a culture shift. But that hasn't happened.
Yes, I solemnly swear that if there ever is a Baby Lou, I will raise him or her differently.
But no, I'm not going to trumpet the Buy Nothing Day cause. That being said, I will wholeheartedly encourage you to bring a winter coat to the Green Building at 9am on Buy Nothing Day. From the press release:
As reliable as Black Friday is, so are the emails, blog posts, posters, and websites reminding us it is also Buy Nothing Day.
And the part of me that abhors abject consumerism, Walmart, and the idea that people actually get mauled-- sometimes to death-- on their way to grab an XBox for their kid really wants to throw my support behind Buy Nothing Day. In fact, for years I did buy in. Spent the day after Thanksgiving nursing an over-full tummy and just generally chilling out.
But then came the year that I decided to buy Big Mama Lou a dvd player for Christmas. And Radio Shack had a sale... a really good sale... like 50% even its best sale prices.
See here's the thing-- and I know I'm hardly the first person to voice this opinion-- the idea of Buy Nothing Day is a good one, but it comes from a place of privilege. I totally support you if you decide to abstain from Black Friday and subscribe to the Buy Nothing Day ideal, but I don't endorse it. And I likely won't embrace it myself.
Most of you know that my Meatspace Workplace job is teaching. And I'm sure ALL of you know that educators (noble profession, helping the chirren, paving the road to our collective futures... blah blah blah) get shit for pay. (I won't even honor that statement by adding my usual asterisk-- "sh*t"doesn't do it justice.) But many, many millions of folk out there make do with significantly less than my salary, and often have children, spouses, and extended families to support.
And the hard truth is: stuff is cheap on Black Friday. Plain and simple. And I know many people who do the bulk of their Christmas/Holiday shopping on Black Friday for that reason. I'm related to many of those people. And heck, some years I am those people.
If you want to buy your mama a dvd player for Christmas and can get one on Black Friday for $29, you shouldn't be made to feel morally and spiritually and culturally inferior for saving $20 the day after Thanksgiving.
Now, I'm not the least bit adverse to the idea that we've turned these winter holidays into crazy fraking STUFF-GIVING shells of the spiritual occasions that they are SUPPOSED to be. Amen. I hear ya. And I'm with ya. But I do know that if I am the lone relative to show up at the Lou Family Christmas sans gifts, I will not be thought of as the "Lou who gave the family the gift of her love and presence" but rather as the "Lou who was a stingy bitch this year."
Yes, it would be lovely if there were a culture shift. But that hasn't happened.
Yes, I solemnly swear that if there ever is a Baby Lou, I will raise him or her differently.
But no, I'm not going to trumpet the Buy Nothing Day cause. That being said, I will wholeheartedly encourage you to bring a winter coat to the Green Building at 9am on Buy Nothing Day. From the press release:
The event will be hosted and coordinated by The Green Building and Ted Loebenberg, of Brokers Unlimited Inc Professional Auctioneers. Ted coordinated several years of successful coat drives in his native Rhode Island, and is now excited to bring the initiative to Louisville.
Anyone wishing to donate a winter coat, or many winter coats, as often churches and community groups collect coats to bring to the event en masse, is encouraged to bring it to The Green Building, 732 East Market Street, on November 26th, 2010 at 9a.
Anyone who needs a winter coat, or winter coats for their family, is most welcome to come to the event between 10 AM and 2 PM on the 26th and take what coats they need.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Delivery is my Favorite Food Group: Papalino's & Papa John's
My dear longtime, loyal readers (all two of you-- hi friends!) know that way back in 2008 during Hurricane Ike (September 14, but who's counting, right?) a big ol' honking tree leveled a full one-third of Casa Lou-- BOOM! CRASH! right down to the foundation. Roommate (who, lucky devil, had himself a lady friend in another hemisphere and was gone most of the time) and I were forced to live in a hotel for 8 months while the bathroom and kitchen were rebuilt from the ground up.
Ah... the good old days at the ResInn. Good, good people there. Made a bad situation much more bearable.
I mention this only because the silver lining to that particularly heinous hurricane cloud (made all the more heinous because I was undergoing chemo at the time) was that Lou got herself a brand spanking new, top of the line kitchen. (Well, maybe not TOP of the line... but you know, somewhere in the upper regions of the line). And I thought-- I hoped, at least-- that having a beautiful new kitchen would change me. That my slate countertops and stainless steel appliances would help me morph into Martha Stewart or Giada DeLaurentiis (RIP, btw, to Giada's grandpa Dino).
Alas, it was not to be.
And delivery remains my favorite food group.
So good news everyone! Especially me. I have two great new delivery pizza scoops for you.
#1-- PAPALINO'S IS NOW DELIVERING. Oh yeah, baby, you heard me right. Only whole pies and 2 liter drinks. Only within a one mile radius (woo hoo!). And only during the winter months. But it's a good start, my friends. Call 'em at 502-749-8525. Check out the website (linked earlier) for a menu and specials (and I assume eventually a delivery map). If you follow me on Twitter (@loueyville), you'll know that Papalino's November special (whole pies only) is a roasted turkey, gravy, and potato pie. Yum!
#2-- I know a lot of us are anti fast food, but I have to admit, my go-to delivery pizza has always been Papa John's. And at least they're a local company. But now I have a BIG reason to support Papa John's. At least on Tuesdays. Pardon me as I cut and paste a little here: Starting Tuesday, November 16th and continuing every Tuesday throughout the next year, when you place an order at any Louisville area corporate run Papa Johns and tell them you want your order to credit the Derby City Film Festival, a portion of your order will be donated to the festival. This promotion is good for in store orders, phone orders and online orders. If you order online you will need to enter "DCFILMFESTIVAL" in the PROMO CODE box before completing your order.
I'll say it again: good news, everyone!
Yew Dell Third Thursdays
Are you dragging from Ye Olde Thyme Change too? Since we "fell back" on Sunday, I have been plum tuckered out by 7p or 8p. Which is so weird, right? I'm a night owl. It's not like pre-Thyme Change, I was packing it in by 8p or 9p. Someone explain the biology here. It sure can't be the weather-- is it okay to call this an Indian Summer? Today's high is 78-- and it's mid-November. LOVE IT.
Well, I love the weather except the part about not knowing what the heck to put on my body when I wake up in the morning. It's 40 degrees when I leave for work and in the high 70's by the time I get home. Not to mention that the Meatspace Workplace switched over from all-AC-all-the-time to all-blowtorch-all-the-time a few weeks ago. It's a pickle, let me tell you. Upon seeing people walking down Bardstown Road in everything from a tank top and jeans to a wool coat and boots, Roommate said: "It looks like a thrift store exploded out there." Amen.
Despite the glorious weather out there (just last weekend I was in Cleveland, and it was SNOWING), this is the time of year where I start to need a big ol' dose of joy on a fairly regular basis. And when I think of Harry Pickens, joy totally pops into my head. Love the music. Love the way he occupies his keyboard space with his, like, ten foot tall body folded up and making anything less than a GIANT grand piano look like the baby piano Schroeder plays in the Peanuts. Love that man.
I wish I had a better website to send you to, but Yew Dell Gardens is sponsoring concerts every third Thursday of the month, and next week the featured performer is the Harry Pickens Trio. Click on that link, but unfortunately the Yew Dell site only says it's $12 for members and $15 for non-members, and it starts at 7pm. Here's an article from the CJ about the redone barn that the musicians play in. Looks gorgeous. And joyful.
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