<FILM>
Thursday, Sept. 25
‘Jane: An Abortion Story’
The popular image of 1960s feminism is of academic feminism: middle-class women sitting around and critiquing patriarchy. But in many places, feminism was far more practical: magazines on sex education, shelters for battered women, inexpensive home birthing and, in Chicago, an abortion underground. “Jane: An Abortion Story” documents the organization that served as a go-between for patients and safe, inexpensive and willing doctors. Now 25 years since Roe v. Wade, it serves as a reminder of life in the era of criminalized contraception. Discussion and live entertainment follow. Proceeds go to local self-care and herbalist activists. — CONTACT _Con-419CB26F8 c s l Alan Abbott
The Rudyard Kipling
422 W. Oak St.
636-1311
$5-$20 suggested donation; 7 p.m. (doors)
<ART>
Sept. 25-27
Art at IdeaFest
The IdeaFestival has many of events geared toward the visual art lover. Since I’m a member of the Mayor’s Advisory Committee on Public Art, I think one of great importance is Thursday, when Mark Beasley of Creative Time presents “Creative Space” on art in public spaces. Sponsored by Louisville Metro Government/MACOPA, it follows the recent announcement of the hiring of Creative Time as Louisville’s public art consulting firm.
UK’s College of Design has sponsored two programs. On Thursday, the winner of this year’s Curry Stone Design Prize, Emiliano Gandolfi, will talk. Artist Arne Quinze will speak on Friday about his many projects, including a proposal for Louisville.
“BIG: Designs on the Future City” is also on Friday. BIG is the architectural firm founded by Bjarke Ingels, who ICON magazine considers to be one of the most influential young architects today. The International Contemporary Art Foundation is sponsoring Ingels.
Daily art events include the exhibition of Christopher Hauck’s Berlin Wall project “construction.” The 21c Museum Hotel is displaying Stefan Sagmeister’s outdoor installation at Seventh and Main streets. —Jo Anne Triplett
Kentucky International Convention Center
221 S. Fourth St.
966-4607
www.ideafestival.com
<MUSIC>
FRIDAY, SEPT. 26
Play me that mountain music
Friday night finds The Rud building a bridge between Appalachia and the Andes: 2-year-old local outfit Appalatin (www.appalatin.com) count Buena Vista Social Club, Manu Chao and Bill Monroe among their influences, and it’s easy to see why: Half of them are from Latin America, and their instrumentation features a cajon, a charango and a guitar. They join Nora, Ben and Eli (www.norabenandeli.com), a trio who found one another by way of the Louisville Leopard Percussionists, and mix jazz, Irish and Appalachian folk, as well as originals. —Mat Herron
The Rudyard Kipling
422 W. Oak St.
636-1311
$5; 7:30 p.m.
<MUSIC>
SEPT. 26-27
Gabba gabba
The days of shock treatment and KKK kidnappings are long gone, but Tommy Ramone isn’t. The last surviving member of The Ramones shed his punk aesthetic somewhat to form Uncle Monk, his project with Claudia Tienan (The Simplistics), and he’ll appear at the 6th & Oak Space on Saturday. On Friday, Ramone stops by to guest DJ on 91.9 WFPK for an hour beginning at 5 p.m. Thomas A. Minor & The Picket Line, which backed Bonnie “Prince” Billy’s slate of impromptu shows back in July, opens, as do The River Rats. —Mat Herron
6th & Oak
530 W. Oak St.
www.myspace.com/6thoak
$8; 9 p.m.
<GREEN>
Saturday, Sept. 27
Kermit was wrong: It’s easy being green
Despite popular belief, there are more ways to be environmentally friendly than recycling and tree hugging, and many of them are easy and can save you money. On Saturday afternoon, Rainbow Blossom will offer you a chance to become educated in the ways of greenness.
“Greening Your Life,” the store’s second annual “go green” event, will include advice from environmental experts and organizations on how to live a more eco-friendly life. Topics will range from the large — converting your car to run on vegetable oil — to the small — making food choices that minimize your carbon footprint. And while learning how to “green-up” your daily life, you can also munch on locally grown organic foods, sample eco-friendly products and sign up for raffles.
“The event will be revised and bigger than last year,” promises organizer Summer Auerbach. There will be something for everyone, whether you are a tried-and-true environmentalist, or someone who is eager to learn how to live harmoniously with Mother Earth. —Brittany Tracy
Rainbow Blossom Natural Food Market
3738 Lexington Road
896-0189
www.rainbowblossom.com
Free; noon-4 p.m.
<ART>
Saturday, Sept. 27
Five0Two Party
Five0Two formed nearly nine months ago as a way to unite Louisville artists with the community. Mostly an online organization, co-founder Brett Jeffreys explains that each month, a local artist is selected, and their piece, which expresses their love for the city, is distributed on postcards, posters, MySpace, etc. “Louisville has so many great artists, we wanted to create a community that benefits them as well as the city,” Jeffreys says. “It’s a way for people to know about these artists.”
Saturday night’s party features work from all nine artists (including Jeral Tidwell, Leslie Lyons and Ashley Cecil) selected thus far and a poem unveiling by Ron Whitehead, as well as live music, snacks and libations. It’s also an opportunity to snoop around the Green Building, the first commercial building in Louisville to be LEED-platinum certified (the U.S. Green Building Council’s designation for a sustainable building). —Sara Havens
The Green Building
732 E. Market St.
five0two.com
Free; 5-9 p.m.
<BENEFIT>
Saturday, Sept. 27
Art Auction & Carnevale d’Arte
The Louisville Visual Art Association and U of L Hite Art Institute are gearing up for their annual art auction. Why do I like this event? Because 100 percent of the money raised goes toward two highly beneficial programs: LVAA’s Children’s Free Art Classes and U of L’s Mary Spencer Nay Scholarship Fund. More than 130 works will be featured in the one live and four silent auctions.
This year’s theme is party, Italian style, with plenty of masks and costumes. The Venetian carnival theme also carries over into the event’s environment, with roaming opera singers, street artists and magicians. Bello! —Jo Anne Triplett
Fleur de Lis on Main
324 E. Main St.
896-2146
www.louisvillevisualart.org
$100 ($75 members); 6:30 p.m.
<80s>
Saturday, Sept. 27
Sheena Easton!
We all know her baby takes the morning train, works 9-5 and takes another home to find her waiting for him. But did you know this Scottish pop star still holds the record for having a top 3 hit on each of Billboard’s key charts — Adult Contemporary, Dance, Pop, Country and R&B? And did you know her 1980 hit “Morning Train” was originally released as “9 to 5” in the UK but changed over here because of the success of Dolly Parton’s song?
Easton joins the Louisville Orchestra Saturday night at the Palace. What do you say we pay homage to a songstress who kept us strutting through the ’80s? Hell, I may even put some pink in my hair and throw on a pair of ripped fishnets. —Sara Havens
Louisville Palace
361-3100
www.louisvilleorchestra.org
$30-$75; 8 p.m.
<BOOK>
Wednesday, Oct. 1
What the hell is a Pitini?
Rick Pitino — U of L basketball coach, great defector, second coming — arrives at Carmichael’s Bookstore next Wednesday for a Socrates, reading from (and signing) his new book, “Rebound Rules: The Art of Success 2.0.” The book is described as a deeper, more personal look at how to emerge from darkness to find meaning and advantage in something greater than you. Naturally, there’s also some good first-person hoops stuff in there.
Before, Pitino holds court at his favorite spot, Porcini Restaurant, for a private, ticketed fund-raiser for the Daniel Pitino Foundation, which benefits needy kids. Which (somewhat awkwardly) brings us to the Pitini: a blend of vodka and passion-fruit juice. I’d figured The Rick to be a bourbon guy. S’pose Pourbon isn’t quite as catchy. —Stephen George
Porcini Restaurant
2730 Frankfort Ave.
894-8686
$100 (book inc.); 5:30-6:30 p.m.
www.porcinilouisville.com
Carmichaels Bookstore
2720 Frankfort Ave.
896-6950
Free (must get a line number in advance); 7 p.m.