Louisville, KY

One of the great things about living in the Louisville area is that we do have wonderful public parks. Louisville has over 123 city parks including Jefferson Memorial Park, which is the largest municipal urban forest the United States. Seneca Park is a 333 acres recreational park that is located between the Highland and St. Matthews neighborhoods.

You will find plenty of people most weeknights and weekends using Seneca Park if you drive by. The roads around the park have a separate lane marked for walker and runners and the slow speed limit makes it safer for the numerous bikers. Many sports teams schedule practice at Seneca Park, while others meet up for impromptu games.

There are both paved and unpaved paths for walkers and runners, including a three mile cross-country trail and a 1.2 mile walking path. Seneca Park includes four ball fields, two basketball courts, ten tennis courts, and a golf course. Near Rock Creek Riding Club there is a bathroom facility, playground, picnic tables, and volleyball areas.

Seneca Golf Course has been voted “Best of Louisville” for several years and has 18 holes with a 72 par. There is a chipping green, a driving range, and carts are available. Fees range from $7.00 to $14.00.

The Metro Parks Athletic League coordinates year round sport and recreation leagues for both kids and adults. Some of the athletics leagues at Seneca include adult kickball, and adult flag football. Soccer, field hockey, ultimate Frisbee, baseball, and softball games are just some of the amateur sports that are played in this park many nights and weekends.

If you are looking for some outdoor fun, then check out Seneca Park or one of Louisville’s other unique parks. The many activities are fun, great exercise, and most are free.

What parks do you like to visit?

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Stars of Disney’s High School Musical Movie

One of the hottest kids movies to be released in the last few years was Disney’s High School Musical. It is your typical high school story of finding your own way despite peer pressure, set to catchy songs and dancing. However, the Disney Channel movie took off in popularity and the DVD and CD’s sales have been setting sales records.

In case you and your kids had not seen enough of this movie, Louisville’s own Music Theatre Louisville is currently performing the staged version. Disney’s High School Musical opened last Friday night to 1700 fans. Ticket sales for the whole event exceed 11,000 before the first show opened, and MTL hopes that this performance will break their own ticket sales records.

The majority of the actors in this play are teenagers that auditioned from over twenty-three area high schools. They have rehearsed and are prepared to present a great show even in this hot weather. New Albany High School also produced the show last November to rave reviews.

Music Theatre Louisville produces five shows a year at the Iroquois Amphitheatre, which was completely renovated in 2003. MTL is in its 26th season and produces a range of Broadway musicals during the summer, has site based programming during the school year, and offers three musical theatres camps throughout the year. MTL has also just recently merged with Stage One and the Louisville Theatrical Association, who presents PNC Broadway Across America.

MTL has already produced Frog and Toad, Hello Dolly, and 42nd Street. The last performance after Disney’s High School Musical will be Oliver on September 7-9, 12-16, 2007.

MTL has just added extra shows for Disney’s High School Musical so you still have a chance to go if you have not already bought tickets. Shows still available are 8/7 at 8pm, 8/8 at 8pm, 8/9 at 8pm, 8/10 at 8pm, 8/11 at 11am & 8pm, and 8/12 at 8pm. MTL is also hosting a PEP Rally before the performances on 8/9- 8/12 with the cast of Disney’s High School Musical. You can meet the cast, take a tour backstage, and get a limited edition High School Musical 2 poster.

Ticket prices are as follows and can be bought at the ticket office, www.ticketmaster.com., or by calling 502-589-4060.
Adults - $23.00
Students (ages 6 – college ID) - $17.50
Seniors (60 plus) - $17.50
Child (5 & under) - $6.00

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The Kentucky State Fair is just a week away so this is it, folks. Your official warning to find an alternate route to work if you have to drive anywhere near Crittenden Drive, Preston Highway, Grade Lane or the Fairgrounds in general.

Besides the obvious annoyance of driving in and around the fair while it is going on, the Fair itself is better than ever this year! 2007 is going to feature everything from Homeade Pie Competitions to Alice Cooper and even a real-live alligator wrangler. That’s right, nobody parties like Kentucky!

Those of you who know you are going to the Kentucky State Fair can purchase advance tickets at a discount.

Kroger stores are offering $5 adult admission prices and $2 children / senior tickets (regular price is $7 for adults and $3 for children / seniors) and $14 for 22 Thrillway ride tickets (price during the fair will be $20 for 22 tickets).
Most rides take two or more tickets.

To take advantage of this deal, just stop off at any Kroger location and show your Kroger plus card. To find a Kroger near you you can go here.
For full details on the Kroger Admissions Savings Program you can go here.

Caveats and Addendums:

Parking is NOT included in the gate admission price and is $5 per car.
Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom season passes won’t work during the Kentucky State Fair, and the Kentucky Kingdom Water Park will be closed as well.

Discount tickets will only be available at Kroger stores until midnight August 15th, 2007.

What are YOU going to do at the Fair this year? Did you enter something? Tell us about it! Leave us a comment below.

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The weather forecast for the next week in Louisville can simply be summed up in one word- HOT. The current temperature this afternoon is 98 degrees at the Louisville International Airport with a heat index of 102 degrees. There is a heat advisory in effect which means that you should stay out of the sun, avoid strenuous activity, and drink plenty of water. The rest of the week is only supposed to get hotter. Check out John Belski’s weather blog to keep updated.

So what can you do to keep cool in Louisville’s August weather? The most obviously answer is to stay inside in the air conditioning. If you don’t have air conditioning you can always go to a public place such as a mall, movie theatre, or restaurant during the hottest part of the day. Louisville and the surrounding areas have several large malls including, The Mall St. Matthews, Oxmoor Center, Green Tree Mall, and Jefferson Mall. There is also the Bass Pro Shops that took over most of River Falls Mall in Indiana.

The Louisville area has many pools and other water attractions that can help you stay cool. The Louisville Zoo has just opened their water feature called Glacier Run. Tickets are $11.95 for adults, $8.95 for kids 3-11 years old, and free for kids under 2. Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom has Six Flags Splashwater Kingdom, which is included with the price to the park. Tickets are normally $24.99 for kids less than 48” and $39.99 for adults, but there are usually coupons, season passes, and online specials that can reduce the cost. The Atlantis Water Park is just right over the bridge in Clarksville, IN. Tickets are $8 on weekends and $7 on weekdays. Mary T. Meagher Aquatic Center is part of the Jefferson County Metro Parks system and is open year around. There is no membership and daily fees are $2.25 for kids 12 and under, and $4.50 for everyone else. The Louisville Waterfront Park also has areas where you can frolic in fountains and water for free.

In this type of weather it is also important to remember you friends and neighbors who are sick, elderly, or who have small children. These people are even more likely to suffer from heat related illness and death. Check on them often and make sure they have fans and water if they are not in air conditioning. Pets, especially dogs, can suffer from heat exhaustion so if they are outside make sure they have some shade and plenty of water also. If you see a pet or child in a car make sure to call the police since cars can get to fatal temperatures very quickly even with the windows cracked.

So how do you keep cool in this type of weather?

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Anyone who has seen Meredith’s art cannot doubt the truth of her statement.
Reminiscent of Georgia O’Keefe and Monet, Meredith’s art is somehow more transcendent than O’Keefe’s, more tranquil than even Monet’s.

I have been to Giverny, the home of Monet, and walked through the gardens that were the subject of his paintings. And now, when I look at Meredith’s paintings, I believe that Monet painted his gardens for much the same reason that Meredith painted her flowers.

” I always use live flowers for my inspiration. It is so inspiring to see the flowers on their journey to open, and when they wilt, I love to bring them back to life with vibrant colors. ” -M. H.

The beauty of art is that it means different things to each individual. When I view Meredith’s work, I see strong themes of resurrection, tranquility, and the power of possibility that is inherent in each moment.

Perhaps her paintings are so powerful because Meredith’s flowers are rooted deeply in her spirituality.

“These paintings show the ways my life has blossomed in this city. I have had the privilege, support, supplies, time, will, and faith to enter the Louisville art community. I appreciate all the people in my life that have supported me in my creative endeavors. ” -M.H.

Meredith’s Art has been featured virtually all over Louisville. At Chez Moi Art Gallery, The Women’s Club of Louisville, Art for the Animals, Starbucks, League of Women Voters, and the Hopscotch House (Kentucky Foundation of Women), just to name a few in her long list of credits.

With all of these showings it is hard to believe that Meredith would have time for anything else.

Hayden is truly a rare bloom however, because not only is she devoted to her own art, but she is devoted to teaching the beauty and possibility of art to the younger generation as well.

Meredith is bringing the flower of her mission to bloom in a big way by working for Young Rembrandts here in Louisville.

When I asked her to tell me about it she said:
“Young Rembrandts is an after-school program in which we teach how basic shapes the kids already know can be put together to create a masterpiece. We teach art history, and art terms that many of the children need to know for their standardized tests in school.”

“The thing I like the most about Young Rembrandts is that I am constantly learning as I watch the students grow and improve. “

Heartbreakingly beautiful, Meredith’s flowers are poised in the very moment of their glory, perfectly painted, perfectly tranquil.

But there is so much more to her paintings than that. She paints with a clarity of purpose, and a skill that will not soon be forgotten.

If you would like to view more of Meredith’s works, her paintings are on display at Heine Brothers Coffee House at 2200 Bardstown Road “Douglass Loop” now through September 5th 2007.

There will be a special Reception held on August 22, 6-8 PM.

If you happen to like art and cars this is a great weekend to be in Louisville. The Kentucky Museum of Arts and Crafts is hosting the 6th annual Kentucky Art Car Weekend event on August 3rd and 4th. An art car is a drivable vehicle that has been decorated or modified to express an artist’s vision. Check out artcars.com for pictures of some art cars.

There are various activities scheduled from Thursday to Saturday night for this event. Friday night the participating cars will be shown around the 700 block of West Main Street and owners and artists will be available to answer questions about their mobile artwork. This takes place at the same time and in the same area as the 1st Friday Gallery Hop. At 8:30pm the art cars move to Lynn’s Paradise Café for dinner and viewing of the cars.

The cars can be viewed again on Saturday morning in front of the Kentucky Museum of Arts and Crafts and workshop is scheduled for 10am. At lunch there is a lecture by Harrod Black, who is the creator of the camera van and writer of several books about art cars. After the lecture there will be a parade of art cars and then Saturday night is the KY Art Car Hoedown at the Mellwood Arts & Entertainment Center.

The Kentucky Museum of Arts and Crafts is a non-profit organization that has been working for twenty years to preserve and educate new artists about the arts and crafts heritage of Kentucky. The museum houses two exhibit galleries, a large sales gallery, and an educational center. The educational center hosts a variety of workshops, camps, and craft artist demonstrations throughout the year.

If you are looking for something different to do this weekend, go see the arts cars at any of the above-mentioned events and help support local and national craft artisans.

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Hanna & Irish

Tonight is the Shamrock Foundation’s 11th annual fundraising event called Art for the Animals. This event showcases work from various artists and the ticket price and auction proceeds go to support the animals the Shamrock Foundation helps. The event is being held at the Mellwood Arts & Entertainment Center and goes from 6:00 to 9:00 pm.

I went to this event last year and it was a great atmosphere and very entertaining. There is live music, food, and drinks available as you walk around and view the artwork. Most of the work is auction off in silent auctions where you right down your bid until a set time and the highest bid wins. There are usually several pieces that are of a higher value that are bid on during a live auction towards the end of the night. A team of Shamrock Foundation volunteers walk and show various dogs and cats that are available for adoption during the whole event.

The Shamrock Foundation is a non-profit charity whose main purpose it to end pet overpopulation and help animals in need in the community. It does not have an animal shelter but coordinates volunteer foster families to take care of animals that are in need of a home. This group will help spay and neuter animals and has often arranged for emergency medical care for pets whose owners cannot afford it. The Shamrock Foundation has helped spay or neuter over 17, 000 pets in this area since its start in 1992.

Various Feeders Supply stores have adoption days during which available cats and dogs can be considered for adoption into a permanent home. In was during one of these events that my German Shepherd, Hanna, fell in love with a beautiful white cat named Irish. Several days later after my application was approved Irish came to stay with us and became an integral part of our family.

If you would like to help out the Shamrock Foundation, check out their website for more information. You can volunteer your time, become a foster parent, adopt a pet, or donate money. Over 94% of their donations go directly towards pet care and assistance. The $75 ticket price to the Art for the Animals goes to spay or neuter an animal or to provide care.

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Wednesday tends to be a fairly quiet night of the week for me. After work there are always the options of staying home and getting some chores done, watching TV or a movie, or reading. However, I wanted to explore my possibilities if I actually want to get out of the house.

There are of course all the various parks in the city in which you can walk, bike, or play sports, or eating out at one of numerous restaurants is always an option that kills several hours. If you want a place to hang out and watch people or read there are coffee houses, dessert places, and bookstores to choose from. You can also go see a movie at one of the local theatres.

I checked out the “Plugged In” feature on Leo’s website and there was a surprisingly long list of music acts playing tonight at local bars and pubs. Two events tonight stood out with Third Eye Blind playing at Coyote’s and Phoenix Hill’s 31-Year Anniversary Party. Apparently thirty one bands are scheduled to play at Phoenix Hill Tavern between August 1st and August 5th.

If you like to laugh the Comedy Caravan is presenting J Scott Homan and Johnny Watson at 8pm and then at 10pm they have the improvisational group, the Indicators. If you like to dance the Saddle Ridge Saloon has a Down Home Dance Party tonight at the 4th Street Live location. Lastly, if you like to gamble then the Midwest Regional Blackjack Championship being held tonight at Caesar’s Casino in Indiana.
I have just proven to myself and hopefully my readers that there is no excuse to sit at home on a Wednesday night if you do not want to. There are plenty of events and activities to participate in, and many ways to have some fun before you head home to rest up for your Thursday.

Let me know what you like to do on your Wednesday nights.

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