COVERSTORY

Summer in the City
A sampler of Bluegrass happenin’s


Anyone who whines that there's nothing to do this summer just isn't looking. There's something in store for everyone-from athletes to couch potatoes to cineastes to artists and music loversas this small sampling indicates.

(Dates/times subject to change. Call ahead to confirm.)

ANIMALS

Bluegrass Animal Welfare League

The Bluegrass Animal Welfare League hosts its primary educational event Sunday, June 1 at Dunbar High School. There will be a blessing of the animals at 1:30pm and at 4pm. The arson dogs and mounted police will be on hand. Activities include a household cat show (crated please); dog training; agility; info booths; vets; groomers; etc. Admission is $5/adult. Proceeds benefit Bluegrass Animal Welfare League's spay/neuter and humane education programs. The League's mission is "dedicated to responsible pet ownership."

Home at Last Animal Sanctuary

Home at Last Animal Sanctuary has a series of summer adoption days and other activities planned to promote adoption. (You can also schedule an appointment to meet your next companion animal out at the Sanctuary. Email Margie at halrescue@kih.net for more information.)

June 14: 10am to 2pm, adoptions at Good Foods Co-Op,

June 21: Wag Fest, Frankfort, KY A day of fun for all animal lovers

July 12: 10am to 2pm, adoptions at Good Foods Co-Op

July 20: 1pm to 5pm Member Appreciation Day. Come out to the sanctuary and meet all your favorite animal friends.

August 9: 10am to 2pm at Good Foods Co-Op

PAWS for Pics

The Paris Animal Welfare Society is hosting its second photo contest for amateur photographers. Deadline is August 1. Photos should be pet-themed, and prize-winners will star in the 2004 PAWS calendar. Entry fee is $5 for each photo. Info and rules, 859/484-2349.

ART

Paint the Walls

Muraling is catching on in Lexington, in a happy marriage of art and commerce.

Under the direction of Bruce Burris and with the artwork of many clients from Latitudes, the side and back of the building at Third Street Stuff is a growing, developing, work of art.

It will soon be joined by a new art project by AVOL on the rear or Lowell's garage nearby. More mural art is developing in this corridor, says Pat Gerhard, of Third Street Stuff, and "garden art is also in the works."

She also adds, "On Water Street on June 29th at 7am we will once again be 'painting the street!!' everyone is invited to join in! bring a brush, paint is provided. The block behind the library will be closed off for several hours early that day, Sunday, so we can paint away."

This is part of July 4th activities.

FAIRS, FESTS, & EVENTS

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church's County Fair begins May 29 and runs through the weekend at 1750 Summerhill Dr. Lexington. Admission and parking are free.

Celebrate the 4th of July with Lexington's 27th annual Fourth of July parade beginning at 2pm. The parade begins at Midland Ave., heads down Main St. to Broadway, then to Vine and ends on Midland Ave. Join the parade by designing a float around this year's theme-United We Still Stand, or play in the Independence Day Maching Band. Anyone can participate. Pre-registration is required. To enter the parade, contact Maureen Watson at 859/258-3112. For more information, call 859-258-3100.

The Lexington Shakespeare Festival at the Arboretum opens its 22nd season with Twelfth Night July 9-13, Robin Hood July 16-20, and Othello July 23-27. Pre-show at 8pm, shows begin at 8:45pm. Admission TBA. For information visit www.lexingtonshakespeare.org.

Ballet Under the Stars is back at Woodland Park, August 7 – 10. Bring lawn chair and/or blankets along with a picnic (or purchase concessions onsite).

Woodland Arts Fair is Saturday, August 16, 10 - 6pm, and Sunday, August 17, noon to 6pm. Brought to you by the Division of Parks and Recreation and the Lexington Art League, the Woodland Arts Fair is one of the most anticipated events of the summer. Celebrating its 28th year, this festival offers a showcase of 160 juried artists and craftsmen from across the United States selling their original artwork. Voted one of the top 100 fine arts and top 100 fine craft fairs in the country by Sunshine Artists Magazine, this event typically attracts 75,000 people over a two-day period. Other attractions include live entertainment on two stages, children's activities and a variety of food vendors selling concessions. Admission is free.

Museum Go Round, Woodland Park. A day of hands on arts & crafts for the whole family. September 20, 2003.

GREEN & GROWIN'

Be a B.U.G.

Do you have a sunny patch of grass in downtown that's going to waste? Radical B.U.G.S. can put it to good use.

Bruce Burris says, "Radical B.U.G.S [began] as a way to begin to develop interest/dialogue around community gardening downtown. We (Latitude) began trying to find some community gardening space about a year ago-and have really struck out-despite the fact that there is plenty of available space-we just can't access it."

He says, "We do already have what amounts to downtown's first-and perhaps the world's smallest community garden." Unfortunately, that effort is already faltering because of a poor (heavily shaded) location.

Burris adds, "size doesn't really matter-in fact for intensive French like gardening-small is good! We think people just don't understand that we are not looking for their entire parking lot-just a corner of a corner."

Some of the legwork on this initiative has already been done. "Latitude in partnership with Department of Vocational Rehab-actually came up with a plan and funding to grow food locally (very locally, like in the center of downtown) and then to sell it directly to local restaurants (Chef Sonny Sizemore of Bistro 147 signed on for example). The only problem is access to decent garden space. We want to lobby for city support as well."

Radical B.U.G.S. has several educational "actions" planned over the summer to keep the dialogue open, leading up to a Community Gardening Summit "sometime in September or October to really begin organizing/politicking."

One goal is a "gradual greening" of this part of the city.

Burris reports anyone is welcome to join Radical B.U.G.S. They can be reached via email at radicalbugs@yahoo.com.

Grow Locally, Shop Locally

Lexington Farmers' Market

The Lexington Farmers' Market continues to expand its presence downtown on Saturday (and on Maxwell on Tuesdays and Thursdays).

The Market is assisting the Lexington Summer Passport program by inviting the different passport sites to the market so the children can get their books stamped.

The market is also working with the UK Wellness Program; the "Cat's Bus" is picking up and delivering shoppers to the market on scheduled dates.

On the third Saturday of each month you will find a guest chef from a local restaurant preparing dishes made with in-season market produce and fruits.

The fourth Saturday of each month is the day to "talk dirt" with the Master gardeners.

At this year's market, you'll find everything including Amish baked goods, herb seasoning blends, gourmet dog biscuits; wine; organic beef and eggs; and more.

MUSIC

Big Band & Jazz

Tuesdays, through August 26, 7:00 – 8:30pm, Ecton Park; Admission: Free

Co-produced by Parks and Recreation, the American Federation of Musicians and WUKY-FM this weekly concert serious in Ecton Park has become one of Lexington's most beloved events. A summer tradition, Big Band & Jazz offers great jazz or big band music at no cost.

Thursday Night Live

Thursdays through August 28, 5:00 – 7:30pm. Free weekly concerts in Courthouse Square featuring live music, etc. as the perfect after-work happy hour.

June 5 Patty Butcher Blues Band

June 12 Mother Jane

June 19 Candace Lynn with Larry Ballard

Monday, June 23 BASEBALL NIGHT LIVE

featuring Hip Hop Nation

June 26 Eclipse

July 10 Blind Corn Liquor Pickers

July 17 G. Busy & The Blues Review

July 24 Timepieces

July 31 Royal Blue

August 7 Jimmy Roberts Blues Band

August 14 Zydegator

August 21 Timid Charm

August 28 The Johnson Brothers

Swingin' On Main

Hundreds of people filled the streets of downtown Lexington last year, as they enjoyed an evening of live music and dancing at Swingin' on Main. Dust off your dancing shoes, grab your best dance partner and try it this year from 7 – 11pm on Saturday, June 21. There will be swing dance demonstrations, free dance lessons, and even a dance contest. For additional information, call (859) 288-2925. Swingin' on Main is held at Main Street at Triangle Park.

Woodland Jubilee

Saturday, July 12, 5 – 10pm (Rain Date: 4 - 9pm Sunday, July 13) Woodland Park, Admission: Free

For over 20 years, music lovers have celebrated Kentucky's rich bluegrass music history at the Woodland Jubilee. With the popularity of O Brother and the Down from the Mountain Tour, a whole new audience was introduced to the music Kentucky has become famous for. Join in. Info, 859/ 288-2925.

MOVIES

Free Friday Flicks

(June 6, 13, 20, 27) (Rain Date: July 11)

Jacobson Park. Bring the family once again for some great movies at Jacobson Park. We will show a different movie each week on a huge outdoor screen. Bring your blanket or lawn chair, relax and enjoy this free event. Concessions will be sold on-site. Free Friday Flicks is presented by WLEX-TV and Parks and Recreation. Info, 859/259-1818.

Escape from the Multiplex

BY Matt Mulcahey

As a respite from the multiplexes' "Summer of a Thousand Sequels," The Kentucky Theatre offers a classic movie every Wednesday night, beginning June 22nd, and continuing for the next 12 weeks.

Here are the alternatives to Legally Blonde 2.

North by Northwest (1959)

Alfred Hitchcock forgets his usual thematic obsessions and opts for pure exhilaration. Cary Grant plays an advertising executive who finds himself on the run after being mistaken for a dangerous spy, culminating in a legendary finale atop the noggins of Mount Rushmore.

To Have and Have Not (1944)

Long before Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones' became May/December romancers, Humphrey Bogart fell for 19-year old Lauren Bacall, 25 years his junior, on the set of this Howard Hawks-directed Casablanca rehash.

All about Eve (1950)

It's all about backstage backstabbing and the ruthlessness of ambition as deceptively naïve young actress Ann Baxter tries to steal the spotlight from aging Broadway star Bette Davis.

Glory (1989)

While World War II and Vietnam have seen their share of brilliant war movies, this story of an all-black Civil War regiment starring Denzel Washington and Matthew Broderick remains one of the few immortal explorations of the war between the States.

Singing in the Rain (1952)

Silent movie star Gene Kelly must contend with his growing contempt for co-star Jean Hagen and Hollywood's transition to sound in a musical that balances romance and biting satire.

Jaws (1975)

The original summer blockbuster, but don't blame Steven Spielberg for 2 Fast 2 Furious.

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)

Good-natured bank robbers Paul Newman and Robert Redford find themselves obsolete and on the run in what remains the best buddy movie ever made

Bringing up Baby (1938)

Master of many genres, Howard Hawks delivers the perfect screwball comedy as stuffy paleontologist Cary Grant trades verbal barrages with spirited Katherine Hepburn before predictably falling for her.

Grease (1978)

Though Grease's message is still suspect (Good girl Olivia Newton-John has to turn into a black-spandex wearing sex pot to win greaser John Travolta?), the movie is beloved by generations of women and loathed by men with sisters who still cringe every time they hear "Beauty School Dropout."

What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962)

Former child star Bette Davis terrorizes her more successful sister (Joan Crawford) after the latter is confined to a wheelchair by an auto accident. Two of the Golden Age's greatest stars (who hated each others guts) go slumming and deliver a camp feast of monumental proportions.

Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)

Popular enough then to inspire a fashion craze and popular enough still to inspire guilty-pleasure 90s rock songs, Breakfast at Tiffany's finds carefree New York socialite Audrey Hepburn falling for Hannibal from the A Team (AKA George Peppard).

Some Like it Hot (1959)

Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon make two truly ugly dames as musicians who hide out in an all-girl traveling band (which includes Marilyn Monroe) after witnessing the St. Valentine's Day mob massacre.

RUN FOR IT

The Bluegrass 10,000 (Friday July 4 at 8 am) is an annual highlight of the Kentucky running calendar. More than 3,500 men, women and children will run through downtown Lexington in this 10K run. Registration opens June 3 and forms are available at the Division of Parks and Recreation (545 North Upper Street) and at the Bluegrass 10,000 Office (1400 Gainesway Drive). Info, 859/ 288-2900.

August 16 is the 19th annual Midsummer Night's Run in downtown Lexington.


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