Thursday, June 21
7th annual Lester Grinspoon Appreciation Day
Dr. Lester Grinspoon’s name is not a household word, but perhaps it should be. The Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry at Harvard and former chairman of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) has been absolutely tireless in his efforts to recast cannabis as a serious tool for general medical practice. We all know that pot has been proven effective at the very least in treating glaucoma and the nausea that accompanies chemotherapy. Grinspoon’s claims for the herb go much further. His analysis is lucid at all times.
This year’s program features a premiere of sorts, clips from a documentary film about Grinspoon’s long illustrious career and interviews with the film’s director, New Yorker Danielle Franco. If there is any justice in the world, Franco’s film will shine a light on medicinal marijuana as bright as the one Al Gore shone on climate and Michael Moore on health insurance. —Paul Kopasz
Louisville Late Night TV Show
Cable Channel 98
2, 8 & 11:30 p.m.
June 22-July 15
Shakespeare in Central Park
Kentucky Shakespeare Festival’s 47th season of Shakespeare in Central Park opens Thursday (with a sneak preview on Wednesday). The season opener, the Bard’s tragicomedy “Measure for Measure,” has enjoyed three other Central Park productions since 1969. Disturbed by the decline of morals in Vienna, Duke Vincentio bestows his absolute power of both retribution and mercy on his deputy, Angelo, a man of structure and abstinence. Duke Vincentio assumes the disguise of Friar Lodowick to spy upon his Viennese subjects. (Shadow Sign performances for the hearing impaired are available on July 13 and 14.)
New this year is the “Greenshow” pre-play entertainment and activities, beginning at 6:30 on certain nights. Arrive early for madrigal singers, jugglers, sword fighters, music, Shakespeare Youth Academy performances and Shakespeare spoofs. Greenshow performers will include Highland Renaissance Festival performers, Shakespeare Youth Academy actors, the Sacred Heart Madrigal Singers, the U of L Community Band, and Freewheelin’ Theatre Company. This Friday, enjoy pre-play shows by Camp Shakespeare and Freewheelin’ Theatre Co. Saturday, Camp Shakespeare will perform during the Greenshow.
The Globe Players (the Festival’s high school troupe) will perform the Festival’s second production, “The Taming of the Shrew,” July 10-12. —Sherry Deatrick
Central Park’s C. Douglas Ramey Amphitheatre
Fourth & Magnolia streets
637-4933
www.kentuckyshakes.org
Free; 8 p.m.
Friday, June 22
Over the Rhine
From folk to jazz to cabaret to ragtime and all points in between, Karen Bergquist and Linford Detweiler — aka Over the Rhine — throw a lot at the listener without sounding inconsistent. The Cincinnati duo’s newest album in its 17-plus-year career, The Trumpet Child, won’t be out until Aug. 21, but if you cannot wait to see ’em rhyme enchilada with Prada or name-drop Sodom and Gomorrah and author Shel Silverstein, the 930 gig is your shot. —Mat Herron
930 Arts Center
930 Mary St.
635-7053
www.the930.org
$15; 8 p.m.
All ages
June 22-24
Go Greek!
Opa! It’s time for Louisville’s annual Greek Festival, now in its 19th year. The motto, “Nothing but Greek. Nothing but the best,” has held true over the years, so make plans for a weekend of food, fun and festivities at this year’s event. Cincinnati’s Lee Nourtsis and his Neo Ehos Band are back with live bouzouki music, and the authentically costumed Pegasus Dancers will perform routines from several regions of Greece. Want to take a piece of Greece home? The Agora market offers art, pottery, gold and silver jewelry, clothing and cookbooks. Don’t leave without trying an item or few from the varied menu of Greek fare — complete dinners of soutzoukakia, baked chicken and lamb will be at the ready, and a la carte bites such as gyros, moussaka and tiropita will satisfy any appetite; top it off with a taste of baklava or ouzo cake. Don’t worry about the weather — the festival comes rain or shine. —Mary Q. Burton
The Belvedere
Fifth & Main streets
246-6036
$2; 11 a.m.-10 p.m. (noon-7 p.m. Sun.)
Saturday, June 23
Road Rally for Kosair Charities
Poker and motorcycles go together like peanut butter and jelly, and charitable causes fit in pretty well, too. Mortensen Family Dental will use those natural matches when they host a Motorcycle Road Rally to benefit Smiles For Life and Kosair Children’s Hospital.
The rally starts rolling at the practice’s Outer Loop location and will hit five stops throughout Louisville, where each rider draws a playing card. The best five-card poker hand at the final Middletown stop wins a $200 Best Buy gift card, in addition to the free T-shirt and door-prize chances every rider gets with registration.
The $35 entry fee (with $15 per additional biker) goes to the Smiles For Life fund, which assists children worldwide with education, food and medical care. Half of those proceeds benefit Kosair Children’s Hospital.
Who doesn’t like charity? Plus, the rally may be the final chance for that dog-eared, dusty copy of “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance” to come in handy. —Ryan Real
Various locations
244-9595
$35; 10 a.m.
Saturday June 23
Doggy Hop at the Barret Zone
Are you one of those dog people? Do you love your dog so much that you dress it in clothes? Take it everywhere you go? If so, you should know about this — the Barret Zone gallery hop is holding its first Doggy Hop on Saturday. During this event, to benefit Metro Animal Services and The Shamrock Foundation, Barret Avenue will be blocked off while you and your pooch enjoy the various vendor booths and events throughout the afternoon. Every bit of the proceeds will be donated to both charities, and as an even better incentive to attend, there will be a “Doggy Style” fashion show and parade! Other events include a silent auction, multiple raffles, people and pet psychic sessions, pet-related art at Chez Moi Art Gallery and live music. Metro Animals Services will have pet adoption there as well, so if you don’t come with a dog, you can leave with one. Or, if you come with one, you might leave with two … or four. —Meghan Wiggs
Barret Avenue (between Highland & Winter)
www.doggyhop.com
Free; 3-7 p.m.
Saturday, June 23
Flaw
Chris Volz, Ryan Jurhs, Lance Army and Micah Havertape have made a home for their band in the increasingly blurry line between the genres of heavy metal and hard rock. The foursome, which cites Slayer, Randy Rhoads, Metallica and Megadeth among its key influences, has sold 300,000 copies of its Universal Republic debut, Endangered Species, but after two years, you’re bound to hear some new material at this show. Marc Rizzo of Soulfly opens. —Mat Herron
Phoenix Hill Tavern
644 Baxter Ave.
589-4957
$10 (adv.), $12 (door); 8 p.m.
21+
Sunday, June 24
15th annual Taste of Frankfort Avenue
The Frankfort Avenue corridor is well known for its dining options and culinary diversity, and for the 15th year, the Clifton Center will play host to Taste of Frankfort Avenue. For those unfamiliar with the event, it is just what it sounds like — a chance to taste the best cuisine on Frankfort Avenue at one time and under one roof. This year’s event will include Irish, Italian, Vietnamese, Mediterranean, Filipino, American, Middle Eastern, Japanese, French and vegetarian cuisine from dozens of mainstays such as Irish Rover, Volare, Café Emilie and Zen Garden, and newcomers Crave Café, Basa Modern Vietnamese and Shiraz Mediterranean Grill. The event will include a raffle to win a full year of free dining on Frankfort Avenue in the form of gift certificates to selected area restaurants. And don’t forget all the tasty samples. Arrive hungry. —Kevin Gibson
Clifton Center
2117 Payne St.
896-8480
www.cliftoncenter.org
$40; 4-7 p.m.
Through July 28
‘Visions of the Edge’
Moving works from noted photojournalist David Burnett will be spending some time in Louisville in a show entitled “Documenting Loss and Hope in the Gulf Coast Region,” now at the Kaviar Forge & Gallery. His most recent collection focuses on capturing the beauty of life even in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Burnett’s work has been featured in publications such as Life and Time, with his photographs capturing real moments in time and a “silent pain that feels almost forgotten,” according to the artist’s statement.
The show promises to be an enlightening way to help us remember the tribulations of these victims to our south, and a reminder that they are still struggling to overcome extreme devastation. Hopefully through these photographs, we may gain a deeper understanding of what it is to be a living part of such tragedy. —Erin Clephas
Kaviar Forge & Gallery
1718 Frankfort Ave.
561-0377
1-6 p.m. (Thu.-Fri.), 11 a.m.-5 p.m. (Sat.)
