<SPORTS>
May 24-27
Beach Volleyball Tour
Men’s and women’s professional beach volleyball teams battle it out this week in Louisville, the sixth stop of the Association of Volleyball Professionals tour. Competing stars include Kerri Walsh, Stein Metzger, Misty May-Treanor and Karch Kiraly. This is Kiraly’s last tour; the three-time Olympic gold medalist retires at the end of the season. Also, there’s a free youth clinic (ages 12-18) from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday at Waterfront Park, led by Jake Gibb, Sean Rosenthal and Mike Dodd. Registration deadline is today, and you can do so by visiting www.avp.com/hiltonyouthclinic. Not that you need an excuse to hang out at Waterfront Park during Memorial Day weekend, but just remember there will be scantily clad men and women getting down in the sand all weekend.—Erin Clephas
Waterfront Park
$15-$35; 8 a.m.-7 p.m.
<MUSIC>
May 24-28
Abbey Road on the River
Back for a third year, the biggest Beatles festival in North America promises another great Memorial Day weekend on the Belvedere for lovers of the Fab Four and general music fans alike. This year’s special features include live performances of each Beatles album, a “Summer of Love” tribute concert, plus a 40th anniversary celebration of the release of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, the ground-breaking album that changed rock ’n’ roll forever. Visitors will find nine stages and more than 60 bands, as well as special film presentations, Beatles memorabilia, food and more.
Bands range from local to international, with performers coming from as far away as Japan, Germany and the Czech Republic, and a group of 20-plus performers will even recreate the Love soundtrack. The backside of the festival is also worth checking out — the spontaneous late-night shows that stretch into the wee hours provide the most rocking entertainment. During a brief rain delay last year, members of the bands Stockwood and the Jukebox gave impromptu performances in the Galt House bar. Hard not to love that, especially when the members of Stockwood are all under age 13. —Kevin Gibson
The Belvedere/Galt House
(216) 378-1980
www.abbeyroadontheriver.com
$15 and up; 4 -11 p.m. (Thu.), noon-midnight (Fri.-Sun.), 11 a.m.-8 p.m. (Mon.)
<MUSIC>
Friday, May 25
Brian McKnight
Brian McKnight is a family man. To prove it, he’s handing over the stage — briefly — to his 17-year-old son and 14-year-old daughter Friday night at Whitney Hall.
“It’s just amazing to watch how it just naturally happens,” McKnight said. “That’s what our parents did with us, but I didn’t see the perspective of the parental sort of side of it. Now my mother’s seen the show, my dad — the bloodline is sill good.”
McKnight has developed an insatiable appetite for the links — he’s played constantly for a year and puts his handicap at 13 — but he’s not ready to take on the likes of Tiger Woods. Never say never, though. “I’m getting close to having another major breakthrough. You have to play with people who are good.” Fellow R&B-soul artist Joe opens. —Mat Herron
Whitney Hall
501 W. Main St.
562-0100
$45-$75; 8 p.m.
<FILM>
May 26-Sept. 29
Saturday nights at Baxter
The ’Splodin’ Summer Series began earlier this month and continues until late September. As was the case last year, the program is heavy on cult films that put a premium on action and adventure. This year’s lineup is decidedly more mainstream, featuring some veritable blockbusters. All of the films were chosen as a result of voting by the theater’s regular midnight patrons. An interesting wrinkle is the presence of Widow’s Peak Designs, whose reps will be at every screening selling special commemorative T-shirts based on the night’s film.
Here’s the schedule: “Conan the Barbarian” (May 26); “Dazed and Confused” (June 2); “Batman” (1989) (June 9); “They Live” (June 30); “Jurassic Park” (July 14); “Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country” (July 28); “Robocop” (Aug. 11); “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” (Aug. 25); “Team America: World Police” (Sept. 15); “Aliens” (Sept. 29). — CONTACT _Con-419CB26F11 c s l Paul Kopasz
Baxter Avenue Theatres
1250 Bardstown Road
456-4404
$8; midnight
<HEALTHY>
Monday, May 28
Hike & Bike/Taste of Health
The time has come to put away the Twinkies. Don’t worry, it’s not as bad as it sounds. This summer Taste of Health (an organization dedicated to good health for people and planet) is teaming up with the mayor’s Healthy Hometown Hike and Bike annual event to encourage salubrious habits Monday at Slugger Field and Waterfront Park. With bike routes up to 15 miles and a 2.5-mile walk marked through the park, there is a challenge suitable for a variety of participants wanting to venture out.
A range of plant-based food samples from Louisville restaurants will be available at Slugger Field for $1 and $2, along with several guest speakers who will talk about a number of health-related topics including heart disease, human health and animal suffering, healthy food alternatives and informative cooking demonstrations. —Mary Burton
Waterfront Park and Slugger Field
569-1876
www.tasteofhealth.org
Free; 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
<MUSIC>
Tuesday, May 29
Chris Cornell
Honestly, we were feeling Minnesota about the RageGarden mismatch, especially after Cornell’s fantastic solo record, Euphoria Morning — the man is good enough he should’ve forged ahead on his own.
Now that Audioslave is over, Chris Cornell, who has left the pine trees of Washington state for the couture of Paris, is giving audiophiles a retrospective look at his career on a whirlwind solo tour, in addition to new material from Carry On, his new solo album features a cover of Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean.” —Mat Herron
Palace Theatre
625 S. Fourth St.
361-3100
www.chriscornell.com
$29.50-$34.50, 8 p.m.
<COMEDY>
May 23-27 & May 30-June 3
Comedian Greg Hahn
Unquestionably, the U.S. military is brave. Who knew it also could be funny? Case in point: ACTIVE OR FORMER?Marine Capt. Greg Hahn, who gets a nice two-week run at Comedy Caravan that starts today.
“I love coming to Louisville,” Hahn told LEO. “That place is one of my favorite clubs to perform at. Last time after I was there, I lost my voice and had to recover for a week.”
He was an English major — he says “CliffsNotes” was his favorite author — and then joined the Marine Corps. He’s found his calling in comedy.
Lest you fall for the blue-talking Marine stereotype, Hahn notes his material is “squeaky clean,” fast-paced and extremely physical. He also prides himself on customizing his show to the audience, which means we should probably expect some repartee about horses, bourbon, women and things you can smoke. He’s been known to riff on pets, cars, college, showbiz and oatmeal.
He did make a rather interesting pitch to get folks to come out to Comedy Caravan: “Come out to the show, you freaks! We’re all gonna make out!” —Erin Clephas
Comedy Caravan
1250 Bardstown Road
459-0022
$8-$12; 7 p.m.
<ART>
Through June 30
Recent paintings by Madison Cawein
Realist painter extraordinaire and former Louisvillian Madison Cawein has a new exhibit of works painted from his current residence in Santa Fe. Lucky for us, he sends the magnificent paintings to Louisville’s B. Deemer Gallery, his only art dealer.
This group continues the highly detailed, close-up, hyper-realistic nature studies for which he is best known. Cawein’s oil-on-canvas or board paintings are impressive for many reasons; one not easy to miss is their monumental size (for example, “Marriage” is 4 by 6 feet).
The gallery will not be open late during the F.A.T. Friday Hops of May 25 and June 29, but you can still give this show a peek during the Hop hours. Cawein’s canvases will pop right out at you through the gallery’s large windows and well-lit interior. (By the way, B. Deemer Gallery celebrates 17 years in business, which is worthy of some kudos.) — CONTACT _Con-419CB26F17 c s l Jo Anne Triplett
B. Deemer Gallery
2650 Frankfort Ave.
896-6687
www.bdeemer.com
<ART>
Through June 30
‘Tested by Fire: Suffering, Death & Transformation’
Martyrs are typically envisioned as religious and historical figures. Unfortunately, they’re not passé. People still die horrifically in the 21st century. Sister Glynis Mary McManamon is a member of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd and an artist who specializes in feminine and multicultural religious art. Her recent body of work focuses on 14 historical and contemporary female martyrs, including two historic Catholics — North African noblewoman Perpetua and her pregnant slave Felicitas. Killed by wild animals, these early Christians died during a series of gladiator games because the religion was illegal in ancient Rome.
Women who die in “honor killings” are unnecessary martyrs. These murders happen when a female is thought to bring dishonor to her family and culture (the killer is usually a male relative). The United Nations estimates there are as many as 5,000 victims annually. The most famous honor killing may be that of Misha’al bint Fahd al Saud, a Saudi Arabian princess ordered executed by her grandfather in 1977 because of her secret marriage to a commoner. She was killed in a parking lot. — CONTACT _Con-419CB26F17 c s l Jo Anne Triplett
Shepherding Images
1910 Bardstown Road
645-6909
www.shepherdingimages.com