<DERBY>
Friday, April 28
Unstable Barn Party
 So your chances of sneaking into the Barnstable Brown Derby Eve Gala are even more remote than winning Powerball? Just hit the Mellwood Arts & Entertainment Center, where you can eat and drink and dance off the rejection. Unlike its $1,200 counterpart, the Unstable Barn Party is free and the celebrities are look-a-likes. The best Derby hat wins a prize, which you may promptly exchange for drinks at the cash bar. Food from A Little Peace Café and DJ Woody Chancy round out the second annual bash. Stop by and reinvest some of those Oaks winnings in the community. —Matt Mattingly
Mellwood Arts & Entertainment Center
1860 Mellwood Ave.
895-3650
Free; 6-11 p.m.

<BALLET>
Friday, April 28-Saturday, April 29
Louisville Ballet’s ‘Giselle’
 “Giselle,” the tale of a beautiful young village girl who falls in love with a deceptive nobleman, comes to Kentucky Center for the Arts this weekend, courtesy of the Louisville Ballet. The Romantic-era ballet, which premiered at the Paris Opera in June 1841, revolves around the themes of love, deception, betrayal and, in the end, madness. In the story, young Giselle is wooed by the nobleman Albrecht, who is bored with his life of luxury and hides his class and engagement to another woman. His betrayal ultimately leads to Giselle’s death from a broken heart and seals her fate as a “Wili” — which is a jilted maiden who exacts revenge from beyond the grave by making men like Albrecht dance themselves to death. However, Giselle’s love for Albrecht, even after death, eventually saves him in the end — a classic notion from the Romantic period. The production features choreography by Jules Perrot and Jean Coralli. Bruce Simpson and Helen Starr staged it, and the score is by Adolfe Adam. The Louisville Orchestra will play for all three performances. —Kevin Gibson
Whitney Hall, Kentucky Center
584-7777
www.louisvilleballet.org
$20-$75; 8 p.m. (Fri.), 2 & 8 p.m. (Sat.)

<MUSIC>
Saturday, April 29
‘Last Saturday’ thrashing
 In the fourth installment of Auxiliary Records’ “Last Saturday” show series — which features a new variety of local and visiting bands at the Keswick Democratic Club on the last Saturday of each month — Virginia thrash band Municipal Waste and New Jersey’s Black Spoon Brigade perform along with Louisville bands Coliseum, Lords, Ganthet and Camps. Bloomington’s Holy Bible rounds out a night of punk and metal from the East Coast to the Midwest. —Anthony Bowman
Keswick Democratic Club
1127 Logan St.
637-9639
www.lastsaturday.net
$6 adv./$8 door; 5 p.m.
All ages

<GRAND OPENING>
Saturday, April 29
Wise Guys grand opening
Unlike many of the other “custom” builders in town who claim a particular emphasis on “homemade” products, Wise Guys Fabrication is handling their business on customizing bikes and cars, while emphasizing an interest in metal fabrication and powder-coating. Everything the company builds is made primarily by hand or from scratch. Not only is the business one of a kind, but the employees also love having a “damn good time,” as owner Johnny Jenkins puts it while explaining the business’ Grand Opening party on Saturday.
The event will consist of live music, car and bike shows and various contests, including the always-popular bikini contest, where participants are able to win prizes as well as donate half of the proceeds to foundations such as the XYZ Charity. Local restaurants will provide food and drinks. —Tytianna Wells
Wise Guys Fabrication
519 Huron Ave.
773-5453
www.wiseguyfabrication.com
noon-?

<ART>
Saturday, April 29
‘Inhale’ art and music event
 Art + music + wine = a good time. The new Ground Floor organization of emerging artists is hosting its first event, “Inhale.” The 29 artists (including Chad Balster, Lisa DuPree, Casey Hyland, Sarah Lyon and Wilfred Sieg) have work in all media, created around a seemingly simple theme: air.
 Four DJs (Kim Sorise, Billy Petot, Rob Wooten and Nico) will also be on hand to keep the place moving. Wine will be $1 off from 7-9 p.m. A portion of the proceeds will go to the American Lung Association’s Camp Superkids, a summer camp for children with asthma. Contact Sara Robinette at [email protected] for more info. —Jo Anne Triplett
River Bend Winery
120 S. 10th St.
540-5650
$5; 7 p.m.-midnight

<PUB CRAWL>
Saturday, April 29
Get caught J-Walking
 The timing of this event was in no way coordinated with our Bar Guide, we swear — great minds think (and drink) alike, I suppose. But since we’re on the topic, we thought we’d share the details of the first ever Jeffersonville pub crawl, titled, appropriately enough, the J-Walk. “Why should Louisville have all the fun?” asked coordinator Roxanne Parido. So she came up with this 10-bar shuffle through the streets of Jeffersonville. Beginning at the Lighthouse and ending at Ernesto’s, participants not only get drink specials at each establishment, but also a free T-shirt. Take that, Bambi Walk! Of course, the supply is limited, so RSVP ASAP to [email protected]. Other bars included: Slammers, Jimmy’s, Third Base and Johnny D’s. And there will be free transportation from bar to bar, if you don’t feel like mixing “exercise” with your drinking.
 If you’re wary of crossing the bridge after 10 drinks, though, I’ve got two suggestions: 1) The J-Walk ends at Ernesto’s for a reason. All J-Walkers will get a special discount at the Ramada Inn, to which it is attached. And 2) The Germantown Schnitzelburg Walk is on Saturday, too, so if you’re worried about cab fare, this may be a little closer to home. —Sara Havens
Lighthouse
202 Main St., Jeffersonville
[email protected]
Free; 7 p.m.-?

<BENEFIT>
Saturday, April 29-Sunday, April 30
Insight Africa
 The hundreds of people who flock to this weekend’s Cherokee Triangle Art Fair will have an opportunity to see more than just creations by regional artists. They will also be able to find African art, jewelry, beads, textiles, food and music just around the corner on Bardstown Road at Insight Africa, an educational fair organized by the Louisville-based non-profit group Ball for All. The organization supports educational and development activities in Africa through sports, including providing balls, uniforms and sports equipment to soccer teams. Insight Africa will feature not only the art of Africa but info about how to get involved with many local organizations that work with African communities. Visitors also can sample the sounds and tastes of Africa through performances by African musicians and Senegalese food by Teranga restaurant. —Elizabeth Kramer
National City Bank parking lot (corner of Bardstown & Longest)
609-7409
www.ballforall.org
Free; 1-6 p.m. (Sat.), 10 a.m.-6 p.m. (Sun.)

<ART>
Through May 13
‘New Paintings’ by Shayne Hull
 What’s new with artist-about-town Shayne Hull? New materials, for one. His latest exhibition includes digital photographs that have been painted or manipulated. He’s also used enamel on panel; the resulting portraits have a “poster-like quality to it, very graphic, tight and controlled,” he says. “That’s the opposite of the way I usually work.”
 Then there’s his new imagery: 1) His son Ben got the royal kid treatment with his own series. 2) And his take on Karl Rove. “It’s not political,” Hull explains. “There’s something about his image that’s fleshy and malleable, like the Pillsbury dough-boy.” Take that, puppet-master. —Jo Anne Triplett
Swanson Reed Contemporary
638 E. Market St.
589-5466
Free; 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Wed.-Sat.