Friend of Lou I Louisville's Ambassadors of What's Possible Here

Blood, Sweat, and Tires in Possibility City

admin — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 21:41:47 +0000

Attention: Gear Heads and Gutter Bunnies
Calling all gear heads and gutter bunnies, vultures and BSGs. This weekend, the gnarliest mud boggers from around the globe will descend on Louisville to shred the trails, catch some air, negotiate around baby heads and death cookies, and avoid the dreaded bonk. (In other words, the Masters Cyclocross World Championships are coming to the U.S.A. for the first time, at Eva Bandman Park’s world-class cyclocross course.)

Cyclocross — a combination of mountain biking, road biking, and trail running — has skyrocketed in popularity during recent years. Riders tackle several laps on a short course that could be pavement or wooded trails or steep grassy hills. And to keep it interesting, some obstacles are so freakin’ arduous that the rider may have to carry his or her bike. We’re talking muddy slopes and boulders here, dudes.

A Different Type of Tailgating
So all you sportsmen and bike commuters, spectators and Bike Store Guys, come check out the world-class competition this weekend. Eva Bandman Park is just down River Road from the KFC Yum! Center. Racing starts on Saturday and Sunday at 9:30 a.m., giving you plenty of time to get to the UofL basketball game.

But don’t get too inspired. The last thing you want is an involuntary dismount leading to an endo and crash rash. That would suck.

Did you know?

Cyclocross probably began in Europe in the early 20th century, when riders would cut across fields racing from town to town.
The Nulu neighborhood recently unveiled a really cool bike rack sculpted from bourbon barrel wood and steel.
Looking to join a racing team? Louisville has many.
Baby heads and death cookies are nicknames for small, dangerous rocks along a bike trail.

Global Warning Issued for Louisville!

admin — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 21:01:55 +0000

Four Seasons, One Possibility City
Here in Louisville, we’re fortunate to enjoy the four seasons in their full splendor. And while winter is one of our most beautiful seasons, sadly, it doesn’t last long. That lovely blanket of snow will melt before you can calculate how much rock salt you’ll need to make the sidewalk safe.

The Louisville Snow Globe
But not anymore! This year, you can experience the beauty of new snowfall whenever you like. Even when you’re on the go! Introducing the new miniature Louisville snow globe, fresh off the Possibility City snow globe manufacturing line, featuring all of Louisville’s famous landmarks! (This snow is guaranteed not to melt.)

Shop in Your Jammies
While we’re talking about seasons, another big season is just around that snow-covered corner. And what better way to celebrate than kicking it off from the comfort of your own home? Both snow globes are available at these Web sites: www.GoToLouisville.com, or www.ItsPossibleHere.com, or www.ATasteofKentucky.com. The big one is $29.95. The miniature one is only $9.95, making it a perfect stocking stuffer for your favorite Louisville lover.

Christmas at the Galt House Hotel
Speaking of sparkling holiday finery, check out something on a much larger scale: Christmas at the Galt House Hotel. A display of lighted holiday sculptures, the KaLightoscope Attraction is bigger and better for 2011, and shouldn’t be missed. It runs through January 3, 2012.Read more about it here.

Did You Know?

Last year, nearly 50% of Cyber Monday (Monday following Thanksgiving) sales were made from computers at offices. (It wasn’t us though. Promise. We were busy. Working.)
Mayor Greg Fischer declared the city “ready for snow” on November 15, 2011.
Average yearly snowfall in Possibility City is 18 inches. (Really? Can that be true?)

Dream Another Season, Win Prizes
What would YOU name a season? Not to suggest greed in the face of such seasonal riches, but have you ever wished for a season with only your favorite things? Like Derbyus, when it’s Derby all the time. Or . . . or . . . Hoopivus, when it’s always basketball season! Give us your suggestions in the comments section below and we’ll set the winner up with a prize package including both sizes of the Louisville snow globe, or a Christmas Pack from the Louisville Bats. Keep them for yourselves, or give them as gifts. After all, ’tis the season.

Thanksgiving Eve Celebration @ Molly Malone’s

admin — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 18:39:19 +0000

Happy Best Day of the Year!

What’s better than Thanksgiving? (Not being hungover on Thanksgiving doesn’t count.) That’s right! The night beforeThanksgiving.

Join Friends of Lou to celebrate the beginning and best day of the holiday season. No parents, no in-laws, no cousins, no uncles. Just pure Louisville goodness and our grand tradition of hooking up with friends old and new for this special night.

Whether you’re coming back to Louisville for the weekend, or just starting the weekend early, join us for a Lou-Lovers Celebration on Wednesday, November 23, from 9 p.m. – 12 a.m. at Molly Malone’s in the Highlands.

We’ll be hanging out by the Snapshot Photo Booth at the front door. Stop by, say hello, and get some sweet Louisville swag:

“Chillin’ Like a Lou-ville’n” koozies
“I Heart Louisville” and “That’s Not the Bourbon Talking” T-shirts
Gift certificates to local places including Louisville Originals, WHY Louisville Store, Molly Malone’s, and more!

One lucky Friend of Lou will also win Louisville’s Signature Bourbon Package from Bourbon Country. (Don’t tell anyone, but the main ingredient of the package is bourbon.)

So grab your friends or call your friends or come make new friends. Come on down to Molly Malone’s to win prizes and kick off the holiday season the way we do it here in Possibility City!

Molly Malone’s in the Highlands
933 Baxter Avenue
Louisville, KY 40204-2046
(502) 473-1222

Great News, Possibilitators! The Bridge Is Closed!

admin — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 19:26:41 +0000

Because Nothing’s Impossible Here
You know, when one of your city’s greatest assets is accessibility, losing a main artery between states could make thing impossible.

Unless, of course, one of your other greatest assets is your ability to overcome the impossible . . . in which case, it would be another opportunity to show the world how incredibly cool Louisvillians are.

Possibility City comes by its name honestly: Our community is strong because instead of saying “No” we say “How?” Instead of saying “Or” we say “And.” And instead of hanging our heads and kvetching, we roll up our sleeves and keep making sure things happen. Not only that, but we get things done with a smile.

Hoosier Buddy?
So when, in early September, the Sherman Minton Bridge closed, it was only a matter of days before the resourceful folks of Kentuckiana began figuring out ways not only to work around the giant lemon they’d been handed, but to make some city-sized lemonade.

For a start, it drew attention to how close Southern Indiana and Louisville’s needs are — we truly are one community separated by a river. It fostered relations and communication between us, and both sides of the river are now actively engaged in finding ways to support each other.

It’s made people realize how lucky we are to have so few traffic headaches — heck, even with this closure, most of us are still only looking at a 20-minute commute to anywhere in town. And unless it’s rush hour, getting across the bridge still isn’t that time-consuming or difficult.

Small Business, Big Deal
One of the things that makes us special is that we’ve got an incredibly robust and diverse community of small businesses that all happily coexist with the big businesses. But with the bridge closure, these little community jewels are seeing fewer visitors. And there are no prizes for guessing that this is about the worst time of year for that to happen. From Huber’sto Derby Dinner Playhouse and from Bearno’s by the Bridge to Bunbury Theatre, small businesses can always use your patronage. So make an extra effort over the next few months to pay them a visit and keep it local.

Another great way to do this would be to check out Small Business Saturday, a national initiative dedicated to supporting small businesses on one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year.

Are You a True Possibilitator?
If you can see opportunity where others see barriers. If you can see the light where others only see the tunnel. If you can stand in front of a mountain and wonder where the mole is. If you can see a slightly bruised sprig of mint, some sugar, and a shot of bourbon and think . . . “Now there’s a good idea!” Then you, my friend, are a bona fide Friend of Lou Possibilitator.

Here are some things a Possibilitator would say about the bridge:

In the time it takes me to merge onto Hurstbourne on Saturday, I could already be at the Target in Clarksville.
It buys us six more months before we need to repaint it.
It draws attention to the word “Kentuckiana” — and that we need to find a better one.
IU fans are now more likely to buy Rick Pitino T-shirts.

If you feel a kindred spirit of positivity, how about sharing your thoughts by clicking here and writing them in the Comments section.

Better yet, if you’re not already an OFFICIAL Possibilitator, sign up here. (Or if you are, send the link to someone in Southern Indiana and tell them Lou wants to be their friend.)

Did You Know?
Local businesses are what help keep Louisville and Southern Indiana so cool. If you want more information about this valuable sector, check these links out:

Give It Up for Possibility City

admin — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 14:06:19 +0000

Everyone <3 Louisville
There are many reasons Louisville’s an exceptional place — a terrific quality of life, affordable housing, brilliant logistics, a genuine sense of can-do-it-iveness, an awesome park system, a commitment to education, and a host of others too numerous to list (although you can be sure we will sooner or later).

But the thing that brings it all together . . . that people and outside businesses leave here marveling at . . . is our openness to helping folks out coupled with our boundless capacity for hospitality.

Big City, Big Hearts, Big Shout Out
Because Louisville is such a giving place, it’s no surprise there are umpteen different ways to give. From the Arts Council of Louisville to Youth Build Louisville, Metro United Way to the Home of the Innocents, there’s a group out there in our community in need. Here’s your chance to be their biggest fan. Click here to share your favorite cause and a story of how that group has made a positive impact in making more things possible here.

“Frankly, My Dear, I Do Give a Day”
Beginning on October 17, Louisville is going to experience its first ever “Give A Day” week.

Over thirty non-profit agencies, faith-based institutions, and other organizations are getting together to make a difference. And whether you wield a paint brush or a rake, help serve meals to kids or the elderly, or sort clothing for needy families, you too can join in this community initiative to make our city a better place.

Individuals, companies, and groups can volunteer online for the Give A Day service projects by clicking here. If you can’t volunteer you can still make a difference by donating new or gently used clothing, shoes, or non-perishable canned goods: items can be dropped off at any of nine Metro Parks’ golf course clubhouses between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., Oct. 17–23. For golf course locations, click here. And for those more social media inclined, the fine folks at Louisville Digital Association will be doing their part. Check out their Web site for upcoming details or follow @PossibilityCity on Twitter.

Give Today. Give Tomorrow. Give Everyday
Think about it: By harnessing Possibility City’s natural resources of generosity, hospitality, compassion, and industriousness we can make our great city even greater.

Big City, Big Hearts, Big Shout Out

admin — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 14:05:22 +0000

Because Louisville is such a giving place, it’s no surprise there are umpteen different ways to give. From the Arts Council of Louisville to Youth Build Louisville, Metro United Way to the Home of the Innocents, there’s a group out there in our community in need.

Here’s your chance to be their biggest fan.

Share your favorite cause and a story of how that group has made a positive impact in making more things possible here in the comment section below.

Louisville: Where Big Ideas Are a No Brainer

brettj — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 14:42:29 +0000

You Don’t Have to Be Alfred Einstein to See What a Smart Idea This Is
The IdeaFestival is a celebration of innovation, imagination and cutting-edge ideas from around the world. And there’s no better place to hold such an event than Louisville. A city where ideas flourish in the fertile soil of “can-do,” and dreams grow into reality. It’s why they call this place possibility city. And why the IdeaFestival calls it home.

For the past six years this incredible event has been attracting and feeding an ever-growing number of minds from across the globe.

Speakers this year range from: Aneesh Chopra, United States Chief Technology Office who reports directly to the President; Cesar Millan, host of the show “The Dog Whisperer”; physicist and author Leonard Mlodinow, co-author with Stephen Hawking of the recent best-seller The Grand Design; Sam Graham-Felsen, a new-media strategist who was Barack Obama’s chief blogger; and Aubrey de Grey, a scientist and editor-in-chief of the journal Rejuvenation Science and co-author of the 2007 book Ending Aging.

For a full schedule of the mind-enhancing, brain-expanding, imagination-boosting events, click IdeaFestival.com.

IdeaFestival
September 21 — 24
Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts

If you want to get tickets with a special (wink, wink) Friend of Lou discount, click here and then enter the ticket discount code IF10 to receive 10% off.
*Some restrictions apply.

Louisville: So Much Food. So Little Time.

admin — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 14:25:13 +0000

Here’s the deal: There’s so much going on in Louisville’s food scene, we’d rather be eating than writing, so we’re just going to abbreviate it all and then head out for a nosh-up.

Hot Rods, Art Cars, and Food Trucks
The biggest news on four wheels in Louisville isn’t the Ford Truck, it’s the Food Truck. Here’s a partial list of the rapidly multiplying mobile eateries:

Busta Grill: More an itinerant sausage cart than a truck, but it can be found at First and Washington Streets.
El Rumbon’s Cuban food truck can be found at suburban auto dealerships.
Holy Mole — a taco truck — will hit the circuit soon.
Las Gorditas trailer stationed at the Eastland Shopping Center in Buechel serves authentic Mexican fare.
Lil Cheezers: Offering gourmet grilled-cheese sandwiches.
Morels Food Truck: This vegan-fare business began on Kickstarter and has a handy-dandy truck-tracker on its site.
MozzaPi: Serving a modern take on Napoletana wood-fired pizza, prepared on site in a mobile oven.
San Diego Sandwich Works: A California mobile sandwich café in a turquoise bus that brings “a taste of sunshine to your day.”

Track down where any of these food trucks are at any time by clicking here.

Go East, Young Food Fan
Nulu, Louisville’s coolest new neighborhood, isn’t just raising eyebrows nationally, it’s tempting taste buds locally:

732 Social: American, Tapas, and Gastropub — 732 East Market Street
The Bodega at Felice: Coffee, Sandwiches / Subs, and Soups — 829 East Market Street
Cake Flour: Bakery, Coffee, and Organic — 909 East Market Street
Derby City Espresso: Coffee and Tea — 331 East Market Street
Garage Bar: Pizza and California — 700 East Market Street
Ghyslain on Market: French, Bakery, and Breakfast / Brunch — 725 East Market Street
Harvest: Modern American — 624 East Market Street
Jimmy John’s: Sandwiches / Subs — 301 East Market Street
Mayan Cafe: Mexican, International, and Latin American — 813 East Market Street
Mozz: Italian and Modern American — 445 East Market Street
Please & Thank You: Coffee, Breakfast / Brunch and Bakery — 800 East Market Street
Toast on Market: Sandwiches / Subs and Breakfast / Brunch — 736 East Market Street
Wiltshire On Market: Organic — 636 East Market Street

Coming soon to Nulu:

Decca: San Francisco-Style Dining — 812 East Market Street
Rye: Oyster Bar and Casual Dining — 900 East Market
Taco Punk: Brunch, Mexican, Vegetarian — 736 East Market Street

A World of Eatin’
Even in its reduced form, this email’s far too short to talk about how many different nationalities and ethnicities are represented in Louisville’s dining scene, so here’s just a quick shout-out to the upcoming Worldfest (September 2–4), which has just been extended to three days!

Just One Little Wafer-Thin Mint?
OK, last thing, we promise:

Seviche owner and chef Anthony Lamas has won the season finale episode of “Extreme Chef” on the Food Network, bringing home $10,000 and national attention to Louisville and his Bardstown Road restaurant. Yay you! Yay us! Read the juicy story by clicking here.

Now, We’re Done
Well, sorta. Since reading this email probably already added a few inches to your waistline, here’s a way to burn off some of the calories. Introducing The Louisville Sports Commission Half Marathon. And as the cherry on top, mention you are a Friend of Lou to get $10 off the registration cost.

Louisville: Where Ideas Come to Party

admin — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 00:58:56 +0000

Plausibility City
In theory, any city can call itself Possibility City . . . but in fact, unless you can demonstrate that you’re a place where imagination, hard work, and ability can all come continuously together to create remarkable change, you’re likely to have no more than a rhyming nickname.

So when you say stuff like “It’s Possible Here,” you’d better be able to prove it.

A Big City That’s Big, Big, Big on Big Ideas
One of the many ways Louisville exemplifies the spirit of possibility is through its commitment to entrepreneurism. And one of the best examples of this is at Nucleus, a new 180,000-square-foot downtown building . . . a rare (and all-the-more symbolic) occurrence in today’s economic climate. It represents an effort by the State, the University of Louisville, and the business community to advance Louisville as a center for groundbreaking research and development. The building will create a center for innovative young companies and give them access to a wide range of university resources.

Making Dollars from Sense
And remember, we’re not just talking about research. We’re talking about development. Which means we’re talking about ideas that have to not only survive in the real world . . . but flourish. We’re talking about the business side of entrepreneurism.

UofL has one of the top business schools in the nation, and its Entrepreneurship program is among the elite. Recently TNG Pharmaceutical, a team of entrepreneurship students from the University of Louisville’s College of Business, earned the grand prize in an international contest widely regarded as the “Super Bowl” of business competitions. Click here to get schooled.

You’re Only as Old as You Think . . .
Long-term care is one of the fastest growing sectors in the national economy, so it makes sense that a city known for its business savvy would want to get ahead of the curve.

Innovate LTC — the International Center for Long Term Innovation — is the nation’s first accelerator focused exclusively on the development of new technologies that accommodate an aging demographic and the proliferation of wellness solutions. It’s a not-for-profit branch tied to the academic institutions involved, and which, through its investment fund, will position Louisville and the state as the long-term care capital of the world.

. . . And You’re Only as Young as the Last Census Says You Are
Over the past decade, the 25-to-34-year-old group in Louisville grew better educated, with 36 percent holding a bachelor’s degree or advanced degree (up from 31 percent in 2000 and 23 percent in 1990). The city’s economic-development leaders have targeted the 25–34 age group in response to the “brain drain” of the ‘70s and ‘80s. And in addition to special trips to other cities in order to entice young professionals here, events like IdeaFestival and Forecastle and attractions like 21c Museum Hotel and the KFC Yum! Center have raised awareness of the city among young adults nationwide. Click here to feel young again.

Smart Thinking, Louisville
Is it any wonder that six years ago Louisville attracted one of the top events of its kind in the world? The IdeaFestival is a world-class venue that attracts leading and highly diverse thinkers from across the nation and around the globe to explore and celebrate innovation, imagination, and cutting-edge ideas.

This year the Festival takes place from September 21–24, and Friends of Lou get a special chance to score two free passes. All you have to do is tell us the best idea anyone ever had in Louisville. Was it showing the first electric light bulb? Adding cheese to a burger? Writing the theme music to birthdays?

Just add what you think the best idea anyone ever had in Louisville, in the Comments section below.

Let us know, and we’ll make sure your imagination is richly rewarded . . . although that sorta comes with living here anyway.

UPDATE: Congrats to Gloria Edwards for winning the two all-access IdeaFestival passes.

Louisville Is Extremely Cool

admin — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 01:25:35 +0000

Harmonic What?
There are few cities where quirkiness and culture collide as perfectly as they do in Louisville.

A few years ago we did some research, and we discovered something special, something our eggheads called “Harmonic Convergence.” Harmonic Convergence describes a situation where two seeming-extremes exist in balance. (Think of the Skate Park next to the Louisville Ballet, or the contemporary Humana Building nestled against our famous iron-faced Victorian architecture.)

Wherever this phenomenon happens you’ll find a wide range of opportunities that are characterized by a community spirit of openness, tolerance, and creativity.

We discovered it’s actually quite unusual for cities to have this quality, but Possibility City seems to exemplify it. Which is why Louisville is such a great venue for a wide selection of contrasting gatherings — or at least gatherings of people with wildly different interests.

For Example . . .
From July 16–22 the National Association of Pastoral Musicians National Convention is meeting at the Kentucky International Convention Center, Louisville’s world-class 300,000-square foot facility. The NAPM fosters the art of musical liturgy, and its members serve the Catholic Church in the United States as musicians, clergy, liturgists, and other leaders of prayer.

Meanwhile, a few blocks away on July 15, Halfway to Forecastle— a nationally acclaimed celebration of music, art, and activism — will feature acts such as Pretty Lights, Big Boi, RJD2, Twin Shadow, and Boombox. Forecastle is rapidly becoming one of the most celebrated music venues in the region.

Simultaneously (not surprisingly), the KICC is also hosting the Derby City Comic Con, the first all comics-centric convention in Louisville, with dealers setting up selling everything from rare comics to local music to toys and original art, and over 100 creators attending from all over the country. Some local creators include: The Louisville Cartoonist Society, The Pantheon, Jenevieve Broomall, and many others.

While on the other end of the spectrum the Speed Art Museum is hosting Quilts from Kentucky and Beyond: The Bingham-Miller Family Collection, featuring 30 incredible quilts that demonstrate the visual arc of American quilting from the 1830s through the 1940s.

Not harmonically convergent enough for you yet?

How about some movie-inspired convergence? On July 15 and 16, the ever-so-cool-and-funky Lebowski Fest (an event celebrating the Coen brothers’ cult comedy The Big Lebowski) comes back home for the tenth time . . . featuring music by J. Roddy Walston and The Business, Those Darlins, The Seedy Seeds, How I Became The Bomb, and Broken Spurs, and others. Click here for details and locations.

About the same time, based on the Ingmar Bergman film Smiles of a Summer Night, The As Yet Unnamed Theater Presents A Little Night Music at the MEX Theater in the Kentucky Center. Click here for details about this universal-love-themed Stephen Sondheim classic.

Can This City Get Any Cooler?
We could go on (and undoubtedly will in upcoming emails), but for now we’ll end with another one of our irresistibly nifty surprises:

Give us your example of Louisville Harmonic Convergence, and we’ll give the best answers one of five prize-packs that contains an autographed show poster and a lifetime pass to Derby City Comic Con!

Click here to post your response of the Friend of Lou facebook page.
Five winners will be chosen by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, July 15.