Above: 2013.
Below: 2012.
Thursday, April 18, 2013
From house to garden
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Top photo via GR; bottom one by the senior editor. The badly decayed house came down in the summer of 2012, and the East Spring Street Neighborhood Association is making the vacated space into a park and garden.
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Boz Scaggs finds "Love on a Two-Way Street." But can New Albany?
Tricentennially speaking, the Culbertson Mansion is "the jewel of New Albany."
I'm delighted to confirm NABC's official partnership with the Culbertson Mansion for its Garden Party on June 1, at which we'll debut NABC Tricentennial Ale: I'll see your bicentennial, and raise you a Tricentennial. Whatcha got?
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The Culbertson Mansion - Jewel of New Albany (uncredited; at the city of New Albany's web site)
If you grew up around New Albany in the 70’s, chances are you had an opportunity to take a class field trip to the Culbertson Mansion State Historic Site at some point during your school years. But have you been back since? If not, you’re missing out as this historic landmark is not only an architectural masterpiece; it is an integral part of New Albany’s rich heritage, as were the Culbertsons.
“It was saved by New Albany, and it’s for them. If they feel ownership, they're more inclined to get involved,” said Jessica Stavros, program developer, Culbertson Mansion.
In the 1960s, New Albany almost lost the Culbertson Mansion when developers attempted to bulldoze it to make room for a gas station. Thankfully, a group of historic-minded individuals saved it. By saving the mansion, all can continue to learn about its legacy and the early philanthropic efforts of William Culbertson.
“William Culbertson took life experiences and he used the privilege of his money to improve the quality of life for New Albany,” said Stavros. Among the many contributions that William Culbertson made, he was the benefactor for much of New Albany’s infrastructure, as well as a philanthropist, establishing the Widow’s Home and an orphanage.
As we celebrate New Albany’s Bicentennial year, the Culbertson Mansion is a perfect stop because William Culbertson played such an integral role in the early history of New Albany. The interpretive staff and seasonal, hard-working docents, offer tours throughout the week, and there are a variety of special events during the year. Mayor Jeff Gahan met with Stavros earlier this year to discuss the upcoming events held by the Culbertson during New Albany’s Bicentennial Year.
"We are very fortunate to have such dedicated group of individuals working to keep this rich piece of history alive," stated Mayor Gahan. “I encourage everyone to stop by the Culbertson for one of their upcoming events.”
The Culbertson Mansion will hold its annual Derby Murder Mystery on April 26 and 27. This year, the setting will be the roaring year of 1929, and will feature Sam Culbertson, the son of William Culbertson. (Sam Culbertson once served as the president of Churchill Downs, and he will always be remembered as the person who started the Garland of Roses tradition.)
“Sam changed the Kentucky Derby forever,” said Stavros.
During the Annual Herb Sale on May 10 and 11, there will be a special herb workshop featuring certified herbalist Jenny Boice. This will be the perfect time to learn about different traditional herbs and the variety of uses.
“Herbs have many uses beyond the kitchen. Most homes during this time would have had a home apothecary, and the lady of the house would know what herbs alleviate headaches, which herbs bring down fever, and so on.” said Stavros.
This year, we’re all looking forward to the Garden Party. This will be the first Garden Party since the Culbertson Mansion became a museum in 1976, although the Culbertson Family held such parties regularly. During the original parties, the Culbertsons decorated the yard with Chinese lanterns, and brought the Oriental rugs from inside to the lawn. Stavros is excited to announce that they will do the same for this party. The Garden Party will feature live music, and in an official partnership with the New Albanian Brewing Company, they plan to debut the new “Tricentennial” beer. Roger Baylor, the owner of the New Albanian Brewing Company, will give a talk about the history of beer in New Albany, and the Culbertson Mansion will showcase bottles from local historic breweries along with Culbertson family letters that reference beer.
“This will be our celebration of New Albany’s Bicentennial,” said Stavros.
The Garden Party is open to those 21 and over. Events at the Culbertson Mansion may require an RSVP by calling 812-944-9600.
The museum is open Tuesday-Saturday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and on Sunday from 1 pm to 5 p.m. The tours occur on the hour, with the last one commencing at 4.
•Derby Murder Mystery: Friday, April 26th & Saturday, 27th. 7:00 p.m., cost: $20 per person, $35 per couple. Reservation & advance payment required.
•24th Annual Herb Sale: Friday, May 10 & Saturday, 11th from 9 a.m.-4 p.m., workshop both days: 2 p.m., $7. Reservation & advance payment required.
•Community Open House, Saturday, June 1 & Sunday, 2nd from 1-5 p.m. cost: $2 for adults, $1 for children
•Garden Party, Saturday, June 1st from 8-11 p.m., 21 and over. cost: $10
Daily Tours: $5 for adults, $4 for students and seniors, $2 for children, children under 3 are FREE. For more information, please visit: www.indianamuseum.org
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The Culbertson Mansion - Jewel of New Albany (uncredited; at the city of New Albany's web site)
If you grew up around New Albany in the 70’s, chances are you had an opportunity to take a class field trip to the Culbertson Mansion State Historic Site at some point during your school years. But have you been back since? If not, you’re missing out as this historic landmark is not only an architectural masterpiece; it is an integral part of New Albany’s rich heritage, as were the Culbertsons.
“It was saved by New Albany, and it’s for them. If they feel ownership, they're more inclined to get involved,” said Jessica Stavros, program developer, Culbertson Mansion.
In the 1960s, New Albany almost lost the Culbertson Mansion when developers attempted to bulldoze it to make room for a gas station. Thankfully, a group of historic-minded individuals saved it. By saving the mansion, all can continue to learn about its legacy and the early philanthropic efforts of William Culbertson.
“William Culbertson took life experiences and he used the privilege of his money to improve the quality of life for New Albany,” said Stavros. Among the many contributions that William Culbertson made, he was the benefactor for much of New Albany’s infrastructure, as well as a philanthropist, establishing the Widow’s Home and an orphanage.
As we celebrate New Albany’s Bicentennial year, the Culbertson Mansion is a perfect stop because William Culbertson played such an integral role in the early history of New Albany. The interpretive staff and seasonal, hard-working docents, offer tours throughout the week, and there are a variety of special events during the year. Mayor Jeff Gahan met with Stavros earlier this year to discuss the upcoming events held by the Culbertson during New Albany’s Bicentennial Year.
"We are very fortunate to have such dedicated group of individuals working to keep this rich piece of history alive," stated Mayor Gahan. “I encourage everyone to stop by the Culbertson for one of their upcoming events.”
The Culbertson Mansion will hold its annual Derby Murder Mystery on April 26 and 27. This year, the setting will be the roaring year of 1929, and will feature Sam Culbertson, the son of William Culbertson. (Sam Culbertson once served as the president of Churchill Downs, and he will always be remembered as the person who started the Garland of Roses tradition.)
“Sam changed the Kentucky Derby forever,” said Stavros.
During the Annual Herb Sale on May 10 and 11, there will be a special herb workshop featuring certified herbalist Jenny Boice. This will be the perfect time to learn about different traditional herbs and the variety of uses.
“Herbs have many uses beyond the kitchen. Most homes during this time would have had a home apothecary, and the lady of the house would know what herbs alleviate headaches, which herbs bring down fever, and so on.” said Stavros.
This year, we’re all looking forward to the Garden Party. This will be the first Garden Party since the Culbertson Mansion became a museum in 1976, although the Culbertson Family held such parties regularly. During the original parties, the Culbertsons decorated the yard with Chinese lanterns, and brought the Oriental rugs from inside to the lawn. Stavros is excited to announce that they will do the same for this party. The Garden Party will feature live music, and in an official partnership with the New Albanian Brewing Company, they plan to debut the new “Tricentennial” beer. Roger Baylor, the owner of the New Albanian Brewing Company, will give a talk about the history of beer in New Albany, and the Culbertson Mansion will showcase bottles from local historic breweries along with Culbertson family letters that reference beer.
“This will be our celebration of New Albany’s Bicentennial,” said Stavros.
The Garden Party is open to those 21 and over. Events at the Culbertson Mansion may require an RSVP by calling 812-944-9600.
The museum is open Tuesday-Saturday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and on Sunday from 1 pm to 5 p.m. The tours occur on the hour, with the last one commencing at 4.
•Derby Murder Mystery: Friday, April 26th & Saturday, 27th. 7:00 p.m., cost: $20 per person, $35 per couple. Reservation & advance payment required.
•24th Annual Herb Sale: Friday, May 10 & Saturday, 11th from 9 a.m.-4 p.m., workshop both days: 2 p.m., $7. Reservation & advance payment required.
•Community Open House, Saturday, June 1 & Sunday, 2nd from 1-5 p.m. cost: $2 for adults, $1 for children
•Garden Party, Saturday, June 1st from 8-11 p.m., 21 and over. cost: $10
Daily Tours: $5 for adults, $4 for students and seniors, $2 for children, children under 3 are FREE. For more information, please visit: www.indianamuseum.org
I'll see your bicentennial, and raise you a Tricentennial. Whatcha got?
Consequently, it would have been nice for more of the citizenry to be included at the big kids’ table.
Alas, quite a lot of bright local folks who might have contributed immeasurably to New Albany’s birthday have instead been effectively excluded from planning and implementing it, and sadly, lots of great ideas have gone unheard because the usual civic pillars have hoarded the process to ensure it proceeded according to their own narrow viewpoints, and while that’s a damned shame, the way this bicentennial has gone down to date is a perfect metaphor – a fitting distillation – of two hundred years of social stratification.
It’s disappointing, but here’s the good news: Craft beer can be a wonderful leveler.
For this reason, I decided that NABC will sit out this year’s “official” commemoration, better to honor “next,” or the more hopeful, forthcoming party we’re all guaranteed to miss – not because we were not invited, as was the case in 2013, but because each and every one of us will be dead as door nails in 2113.
Hence, it is my pleasure to announce NABC’s Tricentennial Ale … because in another hundred years, who knows?
NABC Tricentennial Ale is a slightly revamped formula previously released in 2011 as Steamboat Common, which was meant to observe the 200th anniversary of the first steamboat journey on the Ohio River. It's a malty ale on the strong side (circa 7% abv), with sorghum and/or molasses deployed as a fermentable.
Tricentennial’s official draft debut will be at the Culbertson Mansion’s Garden Party on Saturday, June 1. Immediately afterwards, there’ll be a limited amount of draft Tricentennial for sale at NABC’s two locations in New Albany.
On June 3, a limited run of 300 hand-numbered 22oz “bomber” bottles will go on sale at both NABC locations in New Albany, and at Keg Liquors.
Can you say “renegade collector’s edition”?
The label art by NABC’s graphics authority-in-residence Tony Beard depicts the city of New Albany in 2113, when our city’s future generations will have yet another chance to get it right, assuming they can hack a pathway through the inevitable phalanx of wagons circled by the descendants of the usual suspects even in that far-off era to come.
Draft Tricentennial then will make a cameo appearance alongside other NABC brands at the July 4th fireworks party at the Riverfront Amphitheater, which in New Albany is held on July 3, not July 4.
A second Tricentennial wave will occur during the 2013 edition of Harvest Homecoming, when draft Tricentennial will pour at NABC’s 6th annual Fringe Fest at Bank Street Brewhouse. At this time, we’ll also make kegs of Tricentennial available for purchase by six local draft accounts, hopefully affording festival attendees a final chance to drink to New Albany’s future.
Perhaps by then, we’ll have evaded our past. But only time will tell ... and that’s why we drink today.
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
John Gonder forcefully advocates two-way streets and traffic calming.
I considered planting this link in the preceding story, but CM Gonder's firm advocacy of two-way streets, traffic calming and a progressive stance with respect to streets for all the people and not just their cars deserves the marquee.
Like any citizen of this battered city, as continuing to be beaten until morale improves, I'll be skeptical about two-way plans until I see them implemented. Conversely, the council (assuming its approval is necessary) seems to have sufficient support to push the reform. Will it?
Who possibly could be opposed?
Er, never mind.
As noted earlier, the trick will be for the extent of the change to match the need for it.
One Way, Out
...It's good to look toward removing the one way signs around town. But, maybe the one way should refer not simply to a street direction or traffic pattern but to THE single way we look at ordering society. And that one way is, how can we, as humans, placate the motorized beings which dictate how our cities are gutted to make more room for the resting oil-eaters, how can we reorder our lives to make not only spatial but psychological room for our internal combustion buddies, how much more of here will be written off because we can so easily drive to there? ...
... So, mark me down as a firm "aye" vote on any attempt the administration makes toward eliminating one way streets. Further mark me down as a solid and enthusiastic "aye" on any attempts the administration may offer on helping New Albany take a progressive stand in reordering our city away from automobile-centric development and toward human-scale development.
Two-way streets, and whether at long last we might finally get them back.
These administration responses to Daniel Suddeath's questions admittedly push most of the right buttons, and that's promising.
Two-way streets still a topic in New Albany; Gahan: Council may soon be asked for input about converting one-way streets.
At the same time, color me wary. Can you imagine the number of senior Democrats alone who are likely to resist?
There's also a well documented and long-standing tendency in this town to make small gestures, refer to them as major moves, strike the things-to-do tent, issue a "mission accomplished" statement, and then fail to finish much of anything at all.
Witness Mayor England's ballyhooed dual bicycle stripes on Spring Street. Three years later, sans any effort at maintenance, and as the paint inexorably fades, we await the reversion to two-way traffic that just might make sense of them. As it stands, they're connected to nothing, part of no network, and ignored by distracted drivers as they roar past on an uncalmed street designed for misuse.
Starting?
Very important, but finishing is even more important.
The newspaper's sidebar makes the case, and quite well, just as we've been doing here for so very long.
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According to a research report by Vikash V. Gayah, an assistant professor at Penn State University, the current literature on urban street network design stresses that two-way streets create higher levels of economic activity and improve the livability of downtown areas. For example, two-way streets are better for local businesses that depend heavily on pass-by traffic, Gayah wrote in his report.
Additionally, traffic signal timing on two-way streets forces vehicles to stop more frequently than on one-way streets, giving drivers more exposure to local businesses. Two-way streets have also been found to be safer than one-way streets, for several reasons.
Although intersections of two-way streets have more conflicting maneuvers, one-way streets correlate with decreased levels of driver attention. One-way streets also allow higher travel speeds since signal timing results in less frequent stops for vehicles. Gayah received his Pd.D. in transportation engineering from University of California Berkley. The report is available at http://uctc.net/access/41/access41-2way.pdf
Curtis Morrison and the curious case of adult supervision at Insider Louisville.
Seriously?
Might a wee bit of this "adult supervision" be advisable for some of your other Insider Louisville writers?
Hint: I'm thinking of this fellow named Tierney.
Full disclosure: I've known Curtis for ten years or so, ever since I was a tenant during his in real estate days.
Can't say I have a dog in this fight; just curious as to your selective application of the supervision doctrine. Tierney's beer blather in the Forecastle series was about as wrongheaded as you're accusing Curtis of being.
Just saying.
R
Terry Boyd: The curious case of Curtis Morrison
Curtis Morrison
Last night, I got emails from Ruby Cramer, a reporter atBuzzFeed.
Cramer wanted Curtis Morrison’s contact information.
All I could tell her is, “Curtis is no longer a contributor to Insider Louisville.”
Which is a shame.
Curtis has the makings of a solid reporter, under adult supervision.
Exceptional when it comes to getting public documents under the Freedom of Information Act, then squeezing out all the data and nuances on the way to documenting an important story.
Unfortunately, Curtis is also an overt and dedicated political activist, and you can’t be both at the same time at Insider Louisville.
It was my mistake to keep Curtis without an explicit guarantee he wouldn’t indulge in politics.
A painful lesson we’ll never repeat.
Monday, April 15, 2013
Lots to consider in the Merchant Mixer/Downtown Business Owners minutes; next meeting is on April 24.
Thanks to Larry Ricke for taking notes. If you're doing business downtown, please come to the breakfast meeting at Bank Street Brewhouse on the 24th.
Updates: The food and drink subcommittee is being launched, and Live at 5 is being reimagined and moved to Bicentennial Park for 2013.
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Merchants Mixer Meeting 04/03/2013
The meeting was called to order by acting chairman, Larry Ricke.
Businesses in attendance were: Ricke & Associates, Colokial, Sweet Stuff, River City Winery, YMCA, New Albanian Brewing Company, the Gallery on Pearl, the Fire Museum and Develop New Albany Inc.
A submitted report was read from Mike Kopp outlining the construction progress on 234 Pearl Street, 109 E. Market Street, 153 E. Main Street and 155 E. Main Street. In addition, Mike is working with the owners of the La Rosita site to possibly add several businesses and storefronts to this location. Also, Mike is working to bring a business into the Southside Restaurant location and trying to find a developer to develop the Riverfront.
Stefanie Griffith sent a report regarding the Hop & Shop Downtown. Hours are 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. Stefanie requested help in pulling together the downtown restaurants so shoppers could eat lunch before the Hop & Shop and dinner afterwards. Also, restaurants may want to run specials during the Trolley Hop & Shop to get shoppers into their restaurants.
Joe LaRocca, the president of Develop New Albany Inc., gave a report from DNA and outlined coming events. Exclusive New Albany, a fund raiser for DNA, will be held this year on Thursday, June 21st from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. at the home of Larry and Ann Ricke (917 E. Elm Street). Plans are to close 10th Street between Elm and Oak Streets for the booths featuring our local restaurants and merchants. A house tour will be available. Tickets can be purchased on Develop New Albany's website.
There was no report from the Mayor's office, however, the progress of Bicentennial Park was applauded by those in attendance. Discussion was held about the Mayor's "Live at 5" concerts and those in attendance thought Bicentennial Park would be an excellent location for this concert series. It was also suggested that a 6 p.m. start may be better attended than a 5 p.m. start. Use of the Riverfront Stage was also encouraged to attract larger events or concerts to our downtown area.
New business discussion centered around the following:
1) Changing the name of our group meeting from Merchants Mixer to Downtown Business Owners Meeting.
2) Asking all downtown business owners to respond to the following question: In your opinion, what should our Downtown Business Owners group be doing to not only help you and your business, but collectively help all of our downtown businesses?
3) Consider splitting our group into subcommittees under the following business headings:
a. Food and beverage establishments
b. Retail shops and stores
c. Professional services and banks
d. Hospitality and museums
Each subcommittee would meet and discuss their issues, concerns and opportunities, and then each subcommittee would share with the entire group. The entire group could then be more informed and we could all work together to create a more vibrant and informed downtown.
4) Roger Baylor shared a book titled "The Walkable City" to get the group thinking on how to make our downtown easily accessible for traffic and parking, and attractive for people to walk and shop and enjoy being in our downtown area.
5) Gary Humphrey and Roger Baylor emphasized the need to slow traffic down on Spring Street and Main Street by possibly considering two-way traffic on Spring Street and placing stop signs in strategic locations along the streets to slow traffic down.
6) Roger Baylor brought up the idea for our group to consider a marketing campaign promoting our downtown as "Toll Free New Albany". Those in attendance liked this idea as tolls are likely to be added to all of the other bridges between Louisville and Southern Indiana.
Our next Downtown Business Owners meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 24th at 8:00 a.m. at the New Albanian Brewing Company's Bank Street Brewhouse on Bank Street. If you are a business owner in downtown New Albany you are encouraged to attend and lend us your voice. We all need to help each other.
Updates: The food and drink subcommittee is being launched, and Live at 5 is being reimagined and moved to Bicentennial Park for 2013.
---
Merchants Mixer Meeting 04/03/2013
The meeting was called to order by acting chairman, Larry Ricke.
Businesses in attendance were: Ricke & Associates, Colokial, Sweet Stuff, River City Winery, YMCA, New Albanian Brewing Company, the Gallery on Pearl, the Fire Museum and Develop New Albany Inc.
A submitted report was read from Mike Kopp outlining the construction progress on 234 Pearl Street, 109 E. Market Street, 153 E. Main Street and 155 E. Main Street. In addition, Mike is working with the owners of the La Rosita site to possibly add several businesses and storefronts to this location. Also, Mike is working to bring a business into the Southside Restaurant location and trying to find a developer to develop the Riverfront.
Stefanie Griffith sent a report regarding the Hop & Shop Downtown. Hours are 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. Stefanie requested help in pulling together the downtown restaurants so shoppers could eat lunch before the Hop & Shop and dinner afterwards. Also, restaurants may want to run specials during the Trolley Hop & Shop to get shoppers into their restaurants.
Joe LaRocca, the president of Develop New Albany Inc., gave a report from DNA and outlined coming events. Exclusive New Albany, a fund raiser for DNA, will be held this year on Thursday, June 21st from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. at the home of Larry and Ann Ricke (917 E. Elm Street). Plans are to close 10th Street between Elm and Oak Streets for the booths featuring our local restaurants and merchants. A house tour will be available. Tickets can be purchased on Develop New Albany's website.
There was no report from the Mayor's office, however, the progress of Bicentennial Park was applauded by those in attendance. Discussion was held about the Mayor's "Live at 5" concerts and those in attendance thought Bicentennial Park would be an excellent location for this concert series. It was also suggested that a 6 p.m. start may be better attended than a 5 p.m. start. Use of the Riverfront Stage was also encouraged to attract larger events or concerts to our downtown area.
New business discussion centered around the following:
1) Changing the name of our group meeting from Merchants Mixer to Downtown Business Owners Meeting.
2) Asking all downtown business owners to respond to the following question: In your opinion, what should our Downtown Business Owners group be doing to not only help you and your business, but collectively help all of our downtown businesses?
3) Consider splitting our group into subcommittees under the following business headings:
a. Food and beverage establishments
b. Retail shops and stores
c. Professional services and banks
d. Hospitality and museums
Each subcommittee would meet and discuss their issues, concerns and opportunities, and then each subcommittee would share with the entire group. The entire group could then be more informed and we could all work together to create a more vibrant and informed downtown.
4) Roger Baylor shared a book titled "The Walkable City" to get the group thinking on how to make our downtown easily accessible for traffic and parking, and attractive for people to walk and shop and enjoy being in our downtown area.
5) Gary Humphrey and Roger Baylor emphasized the need to slow traffic down on Spring Street and Main Street by possibly considering two-way traffic on Spring Street and placing stop signs in strategic locations along the streets to slow traffic down.
6) Roger Baylor brought up the idea for our group to consider a marketing campaign promoting our downtown as "Toll Free New Albany". Those in attendance liked this idea as tolls are likely to be added to all of the other bridges between Louisville and Southern Indiana.
Our next Downtown Business Owners meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 24th at 8:00 a.m. at the New Albanian Brewing Company's Bank Street Brewhouse on Bank Street. If you are a business owner in downtown New Albany you are encouraged to attend and lend us your voice. We all need to help each other.
Food and drink, restaurants and bars: Meeting on Monday, May 6.
A few independent downtown food and drink purveyors got together last week to discuss steps toward a more formal arrangement -- perhaps an organized association.
Restaurants and bars have been driving downtown revitalization, and the next logical step is to work together more closely to help ourselves in a professional sense (the ATC, the health department, day-to-day business matters, event promotion), as well as continuing to promote forward progress in terms of infrastructure and other future concerns.
Our next meeting will be at The Exchange (118 W. Main Street) on Monday, May 6 at 3:00 p.m. We'd like to see owners or representatives of as many New Albany establishments as possible, and we'll be spreading out to try to contact everyone in the coming weeks. Thoughts or ideas? Please send them to me, or call. We genuinely want to know what our peers are thinking as we move into the summer.
Restaurants and bars have been driving downtown revitalization, and the next logical step is to work together more closely to help ourselves in a professional sense (the ATC, the health department, day-to-day business matters, event promotion), as well as continuing to promote forward progress in terms of infrastructure and other future concerns.
Our next meeting will be at The Exchange (118 W. Main Street) on Monday, May 6 at 3:00 p.m. We'd like to see owners or representatives of as many New Albany establishments as possible, and we'll be spreading out to try to contact everyone in the coming weeks. Thoughts or ideas? Please send them to me, or call. We genuinely want to know what our peers are thinking as we move into the summer.
"Jubilee Street," by Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds.
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Live at Five to be reinvented and moved to Bicentennial Park for 2013.
The Green Mouse has learned that the city's Friday evening concert series will undergo a few changes for 2013.
The shows will remain on Friday evenings, but move to a 6:00 p.m. starting time and run until 9:00 p.m.
Site rotations will cease, and this year's fixed venue will be the spanking new $1.5 million dollar Bicentennial Park. The vending scheme will be similar to last year's.
The 2013 debut of "Live at 6" currently is slated for June 7.
The shows will remain on Friday evenings, but move to a 6:00 p.m. starting time and run until 9:00 p.m.
Site rotations will cease, and this year's fixed venue will be the spanking new $1.5 million dollar Bicentennial Park. The vending scheme will be similar to last year's.
The 2013 debut of "Live at 6" currently is slated for June 7.
Rosen visits River City Winery and is quite pleased.
The C-J's free-lancing food writer Marty Rosen likes River City Winery. The Confidential household does, too.
The crab cakes aren’t quite as big as a baseball. But they’re close. And they make much better eating.
In fact, the crab cakes at River City Winery are the best you’ll find in the Metro region. They’re formed of good-quality lump crabmeat, lightly packed, pleasantly seasoned and fried to a toasty brown finish. Then they’re sluiced with a light, creamy sriracha-lime aioli that’s studded with black-eyed peas, kernels of corn, herbs and other goodies (market-priced, recently $7.50 per cake). A couple of these and a salad would make a fine meal.
From The March to Fear Itself.
E. L. Doctorow’s 2006 novel The March is historical fiction, a genre I tend to avoid, having always preferred my history straight, not imagined.
However, my wife recently bought a copy for me, and truth be told, I actually enjoyed it. The upper-case March in question is William Tecumseh Sherman’s, along with tens of thousands of his troops. It began in the autumn 1864 after the capture of Atlanta, and ended in springtime in North Carolina with the surrender of the Confederacy in 1865.
In some quarters, it was considered sheer lunacy for an army of this size to plunge unsupplied and blind into hostile territory during wet and cold months considered the least suitable for movement, much less combat itself – and given that Sherman was prone to a measure of psychological imbalance, it probably was.
One factor that astounded foreign observers of the day was the improvisational ability of Sherman’s engineers to improvise solutions to mobility hindrances such as flooded rivers and vast swamps. Corduroying muddy roads and building pontoon bridges also provided outlets for the labor of freed slaves, who followed Sherman’s army in huge numbers, confounding the Union leader’s fragile patience.
The novel can be criticized for a handful of clichéd characterizations, and perhaps there is a certain absence of depth, but then again, Sherman’s March was not an exercise in subtlety. It was an extended, months-long exercise in calculated destruction, state-sanctioned search and confiscation, and the relentless daily bludgeoning of the South’s will to remain in a state of rebellion.
Conceptually, Sherman’s March reflected the grim certainty of its progenitor and his immediate military superior, Ulysses S. Grant, that the best way to bring the destruction of civil war to a halt was to apply maximum force to bear, as violently and incessantly as possible, whatever the misery and human cost.
After the rebels were beaten, it then would be left to the skills of the philosopher president, A. Lincoln, who fully approved of Grant’s and Sherman’s strategy of attrition – of bleeding the Confederacy dry – to re-stitch the national fabric. As we know, Lincoln did not live to participate in the aftermath.
Had he survived, it might not have altered the sad course of Reconstruction. In the end, the American Civil War resolved everything, and it resolved nothing, and the reason for this length prelude is a review in last Sunday’s New York Times of a book that explores a little-discussed aspect of Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s New Deal.
However, my wife recently bought a copy for me, and truth be told, I actually enjoyed it. The upper-case March in question is William Tecumseh Sherman’s, along with tens of thousands of his troops. It began in the autumn 1864 after the capture of Atlanta, and ended in springtime in North Carolina with the surrender of the Confederacy in 1865.
In some quarters, it was considered sheer lunacy for an army of this size to plunge unsupplied and blind into hostile territory during wet and cold months considered the least suitable for movement, much less combat itself – and given that Sherman was prone to a measure of psychological imbalance, it probably was.
One factor that astounded foreign observers of the day was the improvisational ability of Sherman’s engineers to improvise solutions to mobility hindrances such as flooded rivers and vast swamps. Corduroying muddy roads and building pontoon bridges also provided outlets for the labor of freed slaves, who followed Sherman’s army in huge numbers, confounding the Union leader’s fragile patience.
The novel can be criticized for a handful of clichéd characterizations, and perhaps there is a certain absence of depth, but then again, Sherman’s March was not an exercise in subtlety. It was an extended, months-long exercise in calculated destruction, state-sanctioned search and confiscation, and the relentless daily bludgeoning of the South’s will to remain in a state of rebellion.
Conceptually, Sherman’s March reflected the grim certainty of its progenitor and his immediate military superior, Ulysses S. Grant, that the best way to bring the destruction of civil war to a halt was to apply maximum force to bear, as violently and incessantly as possible, whatever the misery and human cost.
After the rebels were beaten, it then would be left to the skills of the philosopher president, A. Lincoln, who fully approved of Grant’s and Sherman’s strategy of attrition – of bleeding the Confederacy dry – to re-stitch the national fabric. As we know, Lincoln did not live to participate in the aftermath.
Had he survived, it might not have altered the sad course of Reconstruction. In the end, the American Civil War resolved everything, and it resolved nothing, and the reason for this length prelude is a review in last Sunday’s New York Times of a book that explores a little-discussed aspect of Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s New Deal.
The President Proposes . . . ‘Fear Itself,’ a book by Ira Katznelson, reviewed by Kevin Boyle (New York Times)
... One connection, though, Katznelson considers utterly Faustian: to push their legislative programs through Congress, the New Dealers sold their souls to the segregated South.
The calculation was simple enough. Thanks to the disfranchisement of blacks and the reign of terror that accompanied it, the South had become solidly Democratic by the beginning of the 20th century, the Deep South exclusively so. One-party rule translated into outsize power on Capitol Hill: when Roosevelt took office, Southerners held almost half the Democrats’ Congressional seats and many of the key committee chairmanships. So whatever Roosevelt wanted to put into law had to have Southern approval. And he wouldn’t get it if he dared to challenge the region’s racial order.
Katznelson spends much of “Fear Itself” detailing the dismal results ...
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Because someone needs to do it, Terry Boyd explores "U of L, the public school with no sense of civic responsibility."
By now, you may have guessed that I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with Insider Louisville. Some of the pieces are entirely appropriate and well-executed, while others are amateurish to the point of consternation.
On the other hand, I'm sure the same is said of NA Confidential. Maybe I'm a sucker, too. But make no mistake: Terry Boyd's calling out of the University of Louisville is the sort of thing that gives on-line journalism a good name.
Brilliant. Thank you. It's a must-read.
On the other hand, I'm sure the same is said of NA Confidential. Maybe I'm a sucker, too. But make no mistake: Terry Boyd's calling out of the University of Louisville is the sort of thing that gives on-line journalism a good name.
Brilliant. Thank you. It's a must-read.
Terry Boyd: U of L, the public school with no sense of civic responsibility
... The mayor’s civic instincts were good, but in the end, his political instincts were way off.
Greg Fischer the politician should have known that U of L officials would never go for anything that benefited the community at large. They rarely have.
There’s more than enough precedent ...
Your Israel "La Rosita" Landin update for April.
I unexpectedly ran into Israel Landin earlier in the week. Israel told me he's navigating the bankruptcy waters and trying to get debts and financial affairs in line in the wake of his closing La Rosita in February. For the short term, he said he'd be working at the soon-to-open Cafe 27 on Main Street (it should be getting close), and that possible opportunities in California and Las Vegas failed to materialize.
Israel is not ruling out a return to his small eatery roots at some point in the future, and that's the best news of all. I wish him luck, and we miss his food. Keep your fingers crossed.
Israel is not ruling out a return to his small eatery roots at some point in the future, and that's the best news of all. I wish him luck, and we miss his food. Keep your fingers crossed.
"It Starts and Ends with You."
An early contender for my official "sweeping hooks" song of Spring, 2013, and a big thanks to Bluegill for directing my attention to Bloodsports, this wonderful new album by Suede. Italics below are mine ... and boy, does that solitary sentence fragment speak volumes.
... But if Bloodsports stays faithful to Suede’s signature sound, it represents a refreshing evolution in spirit. This is not the place to go to indulge your student-disco nostalgia; rather than try to swagger back onto the scene and try to out-snort men half their age, Suede shrewdly draw our attention to those youthful indiscretions-- ego, insecurity, obsession-- that we never seem to outgrow. -- review by Stuart Berman in Pitchfork
Friday, April 12, 2013
"Indiana-centric" merchandise coming to downtown, courtesy of Regalo.
Hmm, perhaps that's why Hoosier Daddy didn't sell so well in Louisville?
Construction has resumed at the corner of Pearl and Market, where Steve Resch's continues to deconstruct in order to reconstruct the building we all know as Jim's Gun Room.
Except that Jim's Gun Room wasn't the most recent business to operate there, as suggested by Insider Louisville's correspondent, below.
Let's rewind to February, 2006, right here at NAC.
Okay, so this is a minor quibble, but just for the hell of it, here's another:
Italics are mine. It's actually four or five blocks, depending on how on counts. I'll spare you my rant as to how minor factual inaccuracies can add up to major skewed gists. At any rate, Kaufman's piece still quite helpfully explains the back story of the Regalo gift shop, future occupant of the building being rebuilt by Resch.
Construction has resumed at the corner of Pearl and Market, where Steve Resch's continues to deconstruct in order to reconstruct the building we all know as Jim's Gun Room.
Except that Jim's Gun Room wasn't the most recent business to operate there, as suggested by Insider Louisville's correspondent, below.
Let's rewind to February, 2006, right here at NAC.
Sometimes, downtown actually benefits from addition through subtraction, as is the case of the forthcoming shutdown of Von’s Place, the wretched Budweiser & karaoke den located on the southeast corner of Market and Pearl in the 146-year-old (1950’s-era exterior remodeling) Bank of Salem building.
Okay, so this is a minor quibble, but just for the hell of it, here's another:
The store will be on the corner of Pearl and Market streets, right off the Sherman Minton Bridge exit.
Italics are mine. It's actually four or five blocks, depending on how on counts. I'll spare you my rant as to how minor factual inaccuracies can add up to major skewed gists. At any rate, Kaufman's piece still quite helpfully explains the back story of the Regalo gift shop, future occupant of the building being rebuilt by Resch.
Regalo opening two more locations – South Fourth Street and New Albany, by Steve Kaufman (Insider Louisville)
... As for Indiana, he says, that will be for all those Hoosiers who somehow never go across the bridge. “I grew up there,” (owner J.D.) Dotson says. “My mother still lives there. I know hard it is to get people to cross the river.”
For them, he says, the merchandise will be more Indiana-centric. “They don’t care so much about the fleur-de-lis over there.”
Kotkin versus Florida.
Good reading in this point-counterpoint from the Daily Beast.
Richard Florida Concedes the Limits of the Creative Class, by Joel Kotkin
The so-called creative class of intellects and artists was supposed to remake America’s cities and revive urban wastelands. Now the evidence is in—and the experiment appears to have failed.
Did I Abandon My Creative Class Theory? Not So Fast, Joel Kotkin, by Richard Florida
Joel Kotkin says I’ve turned my back on the idea that the creative class spurs economic growth and reinvigorates cities. My response? Bollocks.
Richard Florida Concedes the Limits of the Creative Class, by Joel Kotkin
The so-called creative class of intellects and artists was supposed to remake America’s cities and revive urban wastelands. Now the evidence is in—and the experiment appears to have failed.
Did I Abandon My Creative Class Theory? Not So Fast, Joel Kotkin, by Richard Florida
Joel Kotkin says I’ve turned my back on the idea that the creative class spurs economic growth and reinvigorates cities. My response? Bollocks.
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