<BENEFIT>
Wednesday, Nov. 21
Eat for charity
Zen Garden offers its annual Thanksgiving meal today. Diners eat for free, and any money they donate goes to charities such as the local Hand in Hand Ministries, Earthsave Louisville and Oxfam. The menu includes tomato-basil soup, egg roll and garden salad, followed by the main dish of curry vegetable stir fry with white or brown rice and more.
The homey Asian restaurant prides itself on vegetarian cuisine that reflects Zen philosophy, which includes balance, calm and an eye toward the spiritual. The Thanksgiving meal is simply a hyperbolic example of a charitable mission that characterizes the restaurant, a portion of whose regular profits go to charity. —Jennifer Oladipo
Zen Garden
2240 Frankfort Ave.
895-9114
www.zengardenrestaurant.org
Donations accepted; 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
<COMEDY>
Wednesday, Nov. 21
Fart on Bush
Admit it: You’ve dreamed of this. It has kept you up nights. What is the best possible way you could personally retaliate against President George W. Bush for our presence in Iraq, his bumbling idiocy and that damn halting way in which he speaks? It’s obvious: You FART on the jackass. Well, now’s your chance to make good. Tonight the Pink Door plays host to comedians Dario Konjicia, Will Hardesty, Bobby DiPasquale and Brad Lanning for a charity roast that is sure to be a gas. A life-sized Dubya mannequin will sit in for the real president at this comedic blowout, and each guest at the event will have the opportunity to drop an air biscuit on the prez, kind of a single-gun salute in honor of his honor. With all the blowhards in our government today, this is a great opportunity — Louisville, it’s time to stand up and toot your own horn. Ah, the sweet smell of freedom. —Kevin Gibson
The Pink Door
2222 Dundee Road
413-5204
www.myspace.com/dariocomedy
$5; 8 p.m.
<THEATER>
Nov. 21-Dec. 31
‘White Christmas’
Derby Dinner Playhouse gets into the Christmas spirit this year with an adaptation of the 1954 holiday film classic “White Christmas,” which starred Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye. Two WWII Army buddies/entertainers decide to join forces after the war, and end up making it big, eventually becoming producers. Two sisters end up wrangling an audition, and par for the course of romantic musicals, end up wooing the men. They all travel to a ski lodge in Vermont for Christmas, but discover there’s no snow, and thus no visitors. The men decide to put on their old show to draw in guests. Wonder if it ends up being a white Christmas? Regardless, Derby Dinner promises a show “more romantic than mistletoe.” —Rebecca Haithcoat
Derby Dinner Playhouse
525 Marriott Dr., Clarksville
(812) 288-8281
www.derbydinner.com
$31-$37
<PONIES>
Nov. 22-24
Racing at Churchill Downs
We understand the Indians will be dropping by to see the Pilgrims on Thursday, and they’re bringing food — but many Louisvillians will celebrate Thanksgiving at Churchill Downs. With the traditional large holiday crowds expected for the final three days of the 2007 Fall Meeting — Thursday, Friday and Saturday — the track will move up first-race post time to 11:30 a.m., with 12 races carded each day. General admission is $2. Clubhouse reserved seats $5-$12.
Racing action is highlighted by The Falls City Handicap on Thanksgiving Day, with the Clark Handicap and River City Handicap slated for Friday. On Saturday, 2-year-old stars step into the spotlight, with all 12 races carded for rookie runners, including the Golden Rod Stakes for juvenile fillies, and the Kentucky Jockey Club for 2-year-old colts.
Advice? Sensible shoes, warm jacket, limit yourself to two trips to the money machine per day, and avoid all hot tips and “inside information” like the plague. Your guess is as good as theirs. Probably better. —Bill Doolittle
Churchill Downs
700 Central Ave.
636-4400
www.churchilldowns.com
<MUSIC>
FRIDAY, NOV. 23
Emerson Hart
The former frontman for the band Tonic has relocated to Nashville and recast himself as solo artist while continuing in the tradition of the heartbreak rock that could make thousands of teenage girls weep. This intimate acoustic show at Phoenix Hill could bring more of the same behavior. Bring a handkerchief. —Mat Herron
Phoenix Hill Tavern
645 Baxter Ave.
589-4957
www.phoenixhill.com
$12; 8 p.m.
<ART>
Saturday, Nov. 24
32nd Holiday Pottery Sale
The long weekend after Thanksgiving is one of the busiest shopping times of the year, so here’s a way to get crackin’ (pun intended). For the past three decades, this pottery sale has jump-started the holiday buying frenzy with ceramics that range from functional to sculptural, hand-built to wheel-thrown.
The artists featured this year are Amy Elswick, Wayne Ferguson, Suzy Hatcher, Rand Heazlitt, Tonya Johnson, Terry King, Davie Reneau, Laura Ross, Michael Tiller, Maggie Towne and returning guest artist Yerger Andre. In the spirit of the season, all artists donate a portion sales to local charities. —Jo Anne Triplett
Clifton Center
2117 Payne St.
345-6419
Free; 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
<LECTURE>
Monday, Nov. 26
Author of torture exposé speaks at U of L
Alfred McCoy, the author of “A Question of Torture,” an investigative piece that traces the CIA’s use of torture techniques from the Cold War to the present, will be in Louisville next week to discuss the current state of torture in U.S. foreign policy. McCoy, a professor of history at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, will talk specifically about Guantanamo Bay, the so-called War on Terror and the use of psychological torture. He’s here on the initiative of Interfaith Paths to Peace and the departments of Anthropology, Political Science and History at U of L. —Stephen George
U of L Playhouse
Third Street & Cardinal Avenue
852-6814
Free; 7:30 p.m.
<BUBBLY>
Wednesday, Nov. 28
Colbie Caillat
The genes are there: Los Angeles singer-songwriter Colbie is the daughter of Diane and Ken Caillat, a record producer known for his work with Fleetwood Mac. But the 22-year-old is making quite a career for herself. Her Universal Records album COCO has gone platinum, and she’s appeared on MTV’s “Total Request Live,” “The View” and NBC’s “The Today Show.” Colbie’s voice has a hint of soul and R&B (no surprise, since Lauryn Hill’s “Killing Me Softly” inspired her to start singing), but her demeanor and countenance is pure California pop: sunny, bright and magnetic. —Mat Herron
Headliners Music Hall
1386 Lexington Road
584-8088
www.headlinerslouisville.com
$22 (adv.), $25 (door); 8 p.m.
<ART>
Through Nov. 30
‘Come Be a Part of the Art’
The opening of Rayluma Gallery was so grand that it was accompanied by tornadoes. Thankfully things have calmed down, leaving visitors to focus on the artwork.
The two-section gallery is part art gift shop/part art exhibition space. Their opening show features a mix of media and styles by a large group of artists, such as oil on board paintings by Don Carlos Thomas and low-relief leather sculptures by Andrea Becker. Glass artist Steve Heine is showing his first retail art glass piece, what promises to be the first in a series. His studio, Cranium Glass, used to specialize in commissioned work only. The Frankfort Avenue Trolley (F.A.T.) Friday Hop, usually on the last Friday of the month, has been moved to Nov. 23 for your shopping pleasure. —Jo Anne Triplett
Rayluma Gallery
2214 Frankfort Ave.
618-2787
www.rayluma.com