April 25, 2023
The new issue of LEO is here with features about a local boutique owner and veteran who became a TikTok star and Black Horse Owners.
Cover Story
‘Let’s Check The Board’: Louisville Fashionista Becomes TikTok Star
RaeShanda Lias-Lockhart has built a huge following for her tough love — and approachable style “A lot of you have said, ‘RaeShanda, you’re not Mrs. Garrett, but you stay giving us the facts of life.’” If you’re a fan of TikTok, chances are you’ve “been to the board” with RaeShanda Lias-Lockhart of All is Fair in…
10 Things Under $10 To Do in Louisville This Week (5/8-5/11)
MONDAY, MAY 8 Mix It Up Monday Louisville Free Public Library, St. Matthews, 3940 Grandview Avenue Free | 10:30 – 11:00 a.m. Mark your calendars for the library’s “Mix It Up Monday” the second Monday each month, where children ages 3-8 enjoy songs and stories from around the world. Spring 2023 BFA Thesis Exhibition Schneider…
Join the Kentucky Nonprofit Network for the 11th annual Kentucky Gives Day
Kentucky’s nonprofits could always benefit from a philanthropic donation, big or small! Connect with the causes you support and show your love by making a tax-deductible donation during Kentucky Gives Day on Tuesday, May 9. Then use the hashtag #KYGIVES23 to boost awareness of your chosen organization on social media. The day of giving officially…
Headbanger’s Ball Ex-Host Riki Rachtman Is Bringing His ‘One Foot In The Gutter’ Tales To Headliners
If you grew up in the ’80s and ’90s, you remember MTV as a place that actually showed music videos. The video hours were often hosted by folks called Video Jockeys or VJs. Late Saturday nights on MTV were Headbangers Ball hours and one of the hosts — the host that most folks remember —…
Tim Sullivan: Derby Day Deaths Underscore Racing’s Continued Risks
The morning was marked by the scratch of the morning line favorite. The afternoon was tinged with tragedy, two horses dying during the Kentucky Derby undercard. The evening ended amid joy and widespread relief, the improbable Mage winning America’s most prestigious race with a strong finish and without further fatalities. For the moment, the…
Tim Sullivan: If American Horse Racing Is Doomed, Churchill Downs Will Be The Last Stand
If American horse racing is doomed, Churchill Downs will be the site of its last breath. While the sport’s decline has been steady and is steepening, the Kentucky Derby endures, evolves and expands. It is the outlier to obsolescence, the exception that annually proves a bourbon-fueled bacchanal can continue to prosper in the face of…
Louisville Selected As The Top Trending Domestic Travel Destination For Summer 2023 By Airbnb
Right in time for Derby weekend, Louisville has racked up another accolade. This time, it’s from Airbnb: The nomination for the top trending summer domestic destination was based on “the massive surge in search and demand,” the company noticed — compared to this same time last year, according to a recent press release. The Kentucky…
London Bridge Might Be Falling Down, But Non-Stop Flights To London Are Taking Off From Cincinnati Starting June 5
Do you know where the term Derby comes from? It isn’t Kentucky! It probably comes from England when the Earl of Derby started his also famous horse race. Well even though the Derby has to end, the fun does not. British Airways is launching non-stop flights to London from Cincinnati starting June 5. To celebrate…
3 Concerts To Catch In Louisville This Weekend (5/5-5/7)
FRIDAY, MAY 5 The Skinny — Kentucky Oaks Concert Bash The Enchanted Forest & Music Hall, 45 W. First Street, New Albany $10 | 8 p.m. Celebrate Cinco de Mayo and watch the Kentucky Oaks on Indiana’s THIRST AND MAIN Entertainment block. Then, ring in Derby eve with groovy originals and covers by Floyd County,…
5 Things To Do In And Around Louisville This Weekend (5/5-5/7)
FRIDAY, MAY 5 Imprints and Abstraction: Paintings by Shawn Marshall Capacity Contemporary Exchange, 641 W. Main Street Free | 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. There’s only three more days to view Shawn Marshall’s abstract paintings at this contemporary art gallery and handmade market. Marshall uses her background in architecture and urban planning to explore our…
Places In Louisville To Grab A Non-Alcoholic Beverage This Weekend
It’s tough out there in Louisville’s bars this time of year. Louisville is partying — and with a massive influx of like-minded out-of-towners celebrating the infamously recognized ‘greatest two minutes in sports.’ While the liquor may be flowing for many, we’re bringing our sober readers and drivers a few NA-friendly watering holes where everyone comes…
Kentucky Governor’s School Alum Colton Ryan Earns A Tony Nomination 2023 Tony Award Nominee
Colton Ryan, a graduate of the School for the Creative Performing Arts in Lafayette, Kentucky, as well as Kentucky Governor’s School for the Arts (GSA) was recently nominated for a 2023 Tony Award for his work in Broadway’s ”New York, New York.” The category is for the “Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading…
Fifth Third Bank Surprises Local Babies Born On 5/3 With Gifts
In honor of Wednesday’s date, May 3 (that is, 5/3), representatives from Fifth Third Bank visited babies born that day at a number of local hospitals to give them and their families gifts to celebrate the occasion. Each baby received a $1,053 gift card for a 529 savings account, a DoorDash gift card, a onesie,…
One Last Chance To See Over 75 Shepard Fairey Pieces AND Ralph Steadman Works At fifteen-TWELVE Creative Complex
It’s a scavenger hunt of sorts: the local “buzz” is that several community members are spotting Shepard Fairey pieces around Louisville. Fairey — who was in town recently to create a 7-story mural of legendary Louisville boxer Muhammed Ali on the side of the Chestnut Street YMCA — gifted the city with ten additional wheatpaste…
May The Fourth Be With You Louisville! Here Are Four Events To Celebrate
May 4 is well-known, maybe even across galaxies, as a day to celebrate the Star Wars franchise. In the spirit of the event, May the Fourth be with you today as fans everywhere celebrate the joy lightsabers, droids, and, of course, Grogu (known to some as Baby Yoda) have brought them. Here are four events…
![[Updated] After 2 Recent Horse Deaths, Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. Suspended ‘Indefinitely,’ Lord Miles Scratched From 149th Kentucky Derby](https://i0.wp.com/www.leoweekly.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/horse-race.webp?resize=800%2C600&ssl=1)
[Updated] After 2 Recent Horse Deaths, Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. Suspended ‘Indefinitely,’ Lord Miles Scratched From 149th Kentucky Derby
LEO reported this story in May, 2023. Saffie Joseph Jr. was reinstated by on Friday, June 30. Update: Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI) has announced the suspension of Lord Miles trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. “until further notice.” Effective immediately, suspension bars Joseph Jr. (or any trainer employed directly or indirectly by Joseph Jr.) from entering horses…
At A McDonald’s In Kentucky, 10-year-olds Worked Past Midnight, Department Of Labor Finds
This story is by the Kentucky Lantern, which is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. More of Kentucky Lantern’s work can be found at kentuckylantern.com. Follow them on Facebook and Twitter. WASHINGTON — Children as young as 10 were found working past midnight at a…
Nitpicks And Whines: Dining Annoyances
I was excited to go to one of my favorite upscale eateries recently. I was full of happy smiles until I sat down at our table and picked up a menu, ready to peruse its tasty delights. D’oh! Thanks to an overhead light that blasted down from behind my head like an airport runway beacon,…
Local Puppet Collective Receives Jim Henson Foundation Family Grant
The Mary Shelley Electric Co., a local award-winning puppet collective, will debut their new play “Time & Energy: A Puppet Show About Thermodynamics & Rabbits” on Saturday, May 13 at 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. The play is one of a few national puppet projects chosen for the 2023 Jim Henson Foundation Family Grant. This…
The SUPERLIST Of Louisville Comedy For May 3
A list of the upcoming comedy shows and open mics in the Louisville area. If we missed your event, let us know. (Information on how to sign up for open mics at bottom). UPCOMING SHOWS AND OPEN MICS Wednesday, May 3 7:30 p.m. — Laughs In The Lounge Comedy Open Mic with host Creig Ewing and…
America’s Best Restaurants Will Visit FaiDodos Of Sellersburg, Indiana
National media and marketing company America’s Best Restaurants (ABR) will visit Sellersburg, Indiana, fast-casual restaurant FaiDodos May 10. The eatery, named for the Cajun term fais do-do (a term referencing a dance party), serves a rotating menu of “street food” influenced by various international cuisines. The episode will highlight FaiDodos’ popular dishes and relay owner…
Not Today Kentucky! Join Forces To Fight Anti-drag And Anti-trans Legislation At Play Louisville
Later this month, Play Louisville will host a benefit show for the ACLU of Kentucky and The Fairness Campaign to fight anti-drag and anti-trans legislation. “Not Today Kentucky! A Benefit for ACLU KY and The Fairness Campaign” will be held on Tuesday, May 16 with RuPaul’s Drag Race season six winner and comedian Bianca Del…
Tuesday Tracklist: My Morning Jacket, Sarah Vaughan, 1200, BulletBoys And More (5/2)
In this weekly feature, a different LEO staff member will share 7-10 of the songs they’ve got on repeat right now with one caveat: about half of those songs have to be by local artists. (Songs by Louisville artists are marked with an asterisk.) Got a track that you think we’d like? Let us know…
Despite Having Scratched His Best Horse From The Kentucky Derby, Mike Repole Has The Dollars To Keep Dreaming
Mike Repole is undeterred. He is determined to enjoy the Kentucky Derby, “despite the race,” despite his failure to be a factor in seven previous tries and despite the lingering anguish associated with the best horse he’s ever had. “If you can scratch the Derby favorite the day before the Kentucky Derby, how much…
Artist Shepard Fairey Leaves Louisville With A Significant Pop Culture Replica
Shepard Fairey recently visited Louisville to paint a seven-story mural of legendary boxer and activist Muhammad Ali. The mural is now complete and can be seen and selfied on the east side of the Chestnut Street YMCA (930 W Chestnut St) in the Russell neighborhood. To the surprise of many, Fairey also left another work…
It’s A “Sleeper Hit”: Kentucky Derby Festival’s Annual Great Bed Races Happens Tonight
The Kentucky Derby Festival (KDF) is hosting its annual Great Bed Races event tonight inside Kentucky Exposition Center’s Broadbent Arena. The event begins at 6 p.m. with a pre-race parade; the first race begins at 7 p.m. For people ready to get started early, there is a parking lot tailgate beginning at 4 p.m. Of…
Challenges To Books In Kentucky Libraries Tripled In 2022 Amid National Jump In Attempted Bans
This story is by the Kentucky Lantern, which is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. More of Kentucky Lantern’s work can be found at kentuckylantern.com. Follow them on Facebook and Twitter. Kentucky libraries are seeing a surge in challenges to books, most having…
10 Things Under $10 To Do In Louisville This Week (5/1-5-4)
MONDAY, MAY 1 Kentucky Derby Festival HappyTail Hour Fest-A-Ville, Waterfront Park Free | 5-8 p.m. Bring your furry bestie to this “pet inclusive” cocktail event (leash required) featuring music and mingling. Adult Game & Puzzles Night Bon Air Library, 2816 Del Rio Place Free | 7:30-8:30 p.m. Gather with fellow game enthusiasts for a rotating…
Catch the Kentucky Derby Festival’s GospelFest Tonight At the Waterfront
Several choirs from across the region will take the stage tonight during Kentucky Derby Festival’s GospelFest on the Waterfront. The show runs from 6-9 p.m. and will be performed on the Fest-a-Ville stage. The concert is among several lineups planned this week on the stage. Local church choirs, praise teams and solo acts include performers…
3 Concerts To Catch In Louisville This Weekend (4/28-4/30)
FRIDAY, APRIL 28 MOJOTHUNDER $15 | Doors at 7 p.m.; show at 8 p.m. Zanzabar Four-piece high-energy southern alt rock band MOJOTHUNDER will perform with blues-driven rock and roll band Sweet Lady. SATURDAY, APRIL 29 Elvie Shane with Special Guest Abby Hamilton Kroger’s “Fest-A-Ville,” Louisville Waterfront Free admission with a 2023 Pegasus Pin | 7:30…
The Louisville Orchestra Gala Gives Taste Of Yo-Yo Ma’s Sold-Out Mammoth Cave Performances
Thursday, April 27, The Louisville Orchestra hosted a gala event with a special performance by Yo-Yo Ma, who has been in residency at the orchestra for the last four days. After the gala cocktail hour and dinner at the Frazier Museum, guests traveled to Whitney Hall at the Kentucky Center for Performing Arts to hear…
Join The Fun! Kentucky Derby Festival Celebrates Its Annual Great BalloonFest Friday And Saturday
A colorful patchwork of hot air balloons will float through the skies this weekend as the Kentucky Derby Festival hosts its annual Great BalloonFest. The lineup includes three events, beginning with a “Rush Hour Race” tomorrow, April 28, at 7 a.m. at Bowman Field (3345 Roger E Schupp St.). The family-friendly weekend lineup will continue…
5 Things To Do In Louisville This Weekend (4/28-4/30)
FRIDAY, APRIL 28 Cigar Lounge Night on the Walker’s Exchange Patio The Galt House Hotel, 140 N South 4th Street Free | 6 p.m. Overlook the Ohio River on The Galt House Hotel’s Walker’s Exchange Patio, with live entertainment and drink specials. Charlotte’s Web The Russell Theater at New Directions, 516 S. 17th Street Louisville…
Holy Smokes! The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile Is In Town!
It’s a 27-foot long “coast-to-coast weenie roast” for Oscar Mayer wiener truck driver Sauerkraut Kat and her partner, “Jumbo Dog Jacob.” Follow the two while they’re in town through Monday, May 9. Find the entire Wienermobile crew at Kroger’s Kentucky Derby Meet and Greet events, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., on the following dates (unless…
Kentucky Derby Festival’s “Fest-a-Ville” Starts Today
Join in Derby-themed festivities at Louisville’s Waterfront Park for food, fun, and an all-around good time. Enjoy a midday lunchtime respite or head downtown later for the family-friendly event and local food fare at the “Chow Wagon,” including a music stage featuring local and regional entertainment such as jazz, R&B, country, rock and blues. The…
Patients Still Call Kentucky Abortion Providers As Advocates Struggle To Find A Legal Path Forward
This story is by the Kentucky Lantern, which is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. More of Kentucky Lantern’s work can be found at kentuckylantern.com. Follow them on Facebook and Twitter. LOUISVILLE —With Kentucky’s abortion ban now in its 10th month, advocates have returned to…
Happy Birthday To Frederick Law Olmsted, Who Made Louisville The Ultimate Park City
“A park is a work of art.” — Frederick Law Olmsted, in his “Address to Prospect Park Scientific Association,” May 1868. Get outside on this beautiful, sunny day and celebrate the legacy of Frederick Law Olmsted, who was born on this day in 1822. The 19th century landscape architect grew up in rural New England…
Tracy Likes This This One: “Joyland” At The Speed And “Going Nowhere” On Demand
The debut feature from writer-director Saim Sadiq, “Joyland” tells a story of family, love, and identity in contemporary Pakistan. That this is Sadiq’s first film is remarkable because his camera is confident, the acting natural, and together cast and crew convey an openness of experience that is refreshing. This is a neon film full of…
Authors Turning To Face The Worst
A Kentucky novelist and a Louisville poet engage in acts of will, exposing vulnerability in memorable ways while subverting some fan expectations. For W. Loran Smith, a change in his nom de plume; for Silas House, a turn toward dystopian fiction. (The Last Confessionalist by Billy Lee; Cheek Press, 42 pgs., $18) Bill Smith no…
Gustavo’s Gives Good On Tacos
I hope everyone enjoyed Louisville Taco Week last week and ate your fill. There’s a lot to like about a promotion that brings you tacos for $2.50 a plate at close to 20 local Mexican-style eateries! I had big plans, but peaked too soon. All the advance advertising gave me such a powerful taco crave that…
Five Decades Strong: Alice Cooper Talks Longevity
sold over 50 million records during a career spanning over five decades, (and still going strong), Alice Cooper certainly needs no introduction. He’s written some of rock’s all-time greatest anthems; (“I’m Eighteen,” “School’s Out,” and “No More Mr. Nice Guy,” among many others). And his over-the-top stage show, which is as much campy horror theater…
Sandbox VR Is Opening Its First Kentucky Location
On Friday, April 28 Oxmoor Center will host the grand opening for its first Kentucky location of Sandbox VR. Sandbox VR is a full-body virtual reality experience that immerses users in whatever game they choose to play. Games include — but are not limited to — “Deadwood Valley,” a zombie apocalypse townscape, and “Curse of…
Louisville Laughs: The SUPERLIST Of Louisville Comedy (4/26)
The SUPERLIST of Louisville Comedy A list of the upcoming comedy shows and open mics in the Louisville area. If we missed your event, let us know. (Information on how to sign up for open mics at bottom). April 26, 2023 | Creig Ewing A list of the upcoming comedy shows and open mics in the Louisville…
Bring Your Own Chair: How Black Horse Owners Are Working To Reclaim Their History
What do you do if you can’t secure a place at a table in which important decision-makers and business titans are gathered? You bring your own chair. Representation matters. Diversity, equity, and inclusion aren’t always prioritized in the horse racing industry. White men have historically dominated every facet of the fabled sport of kings, including…
Flamboyance Is On Display Today At The Louisville Zoo During International Flamingo Day
A flock of 89 “marching” Chilean flamingos and a crowd dressed in pink? What more could we ask for on a beautiful, sunny Wednesday? Wear your brightest shades of pink — and receive $2 off admission for your attire — to celebrate International Flamingo Day at The Louisville Zoo (1000 Trevilian Way), today, April 26.…
Gawking At Greatness: On Seeing Secretariat In The Flesh
We were standing near the rail as the horses emerged for the post parade, a pair of racetrack rubes poised to gawk at greatness. It was May 19, 1973. Preakness day at Pimlico. A chestnut colt won the Kentucky Derby in record time and, having never before attended a horse race, a couple of curious…
TUESDAY TRACKLIST: HALSEY, MILEY, LADY GAGA, AND MORE (4/25)
In this new weekly feature, a different LEO staff member will share 7-10 of the songs repeating in their playlists right now. (Songs by Louisville artists are marked with an (*) asterisk.) Got a track that you think we’d like? Let us know at leo@leoweekly.com or click the author’s name for email. Melanie Martinez — “EVIL” Since…
‘Round The Fire: Running to Standstill
It’s hard to bloom in the shadows with little nurturance and parents who struggle just to survive. My maternal grandparents barely obtained sixth-grade educations and lived with cousins, uncles, and aunties on the same street and often in the same houses, not much different from my father’s childhood story. They found one another amidst…
Pause…
Poet, writer, and activist Hannah Drake said something on Twitter, two weeks ago, during the moments after the mass shooting that is on my mind today. She said, “Louisville it’s okay to just pause for a minute. The meeting will still take place. The email will get sent. The phone call will be made. All…
Party In The Street On Cinco De Mayo At ‘Tacos, Tequila And Turntables’
Olé Hospitality Group will host its second annual Cinco de Mayo street party, “Tacos, Tequila and Turntables,” on Friday, May 5 at Guacamole, 900 E. Market St., from 5-10 p.m. The blocked off and tented street fest will feature food and drink specials, record spinning, a 360-degree photo booth and giveaways. Among the items up…
Cincinnati Fringe Festival To Host World-Premiere Play, “The Highway Woman”
This June, the 2023 Cincinnati Fringe Festival will feature the world premiere of a new play, “The Highway Woman,” written by Hannah Gregory and directed by A.J. Baldwin. The play is a PG-13 comedy about Katherine Ferrers, a legendary highwaywoman in Renaissance-era England. According to a press release, “The Highway Woman” is “a slapstick show…
What To See: A Roundup Of Local Gallery Shows To See This April
jtriplettart@yahoo.com A gallery roundup of art shows to see in Louisville this month. Note: This list is a selection of current exhibitions. “ROBERT MORGAN: MYTHS AND STORIES” Through December Solo show by Lexington artist Robert Morgan. “FRAGILE FIGURES: BEINGS AND TIME” Through December A group exhibition of portraits. KOREA FIBER ART 2023 LOUISVILLE…
Kentucky Author Crystal E. Wilkinson To Deliver Kentucky College Of Art + Design Commencement Keynote
Kentucky College of Art + Design recently announced Crystal E. Wilkinson as its keynote speaker for its 2023 commencement ceremony and the dates for its Senior Thesis Exhibition. A recent fellowship recipient of the Academy of American Poets and award-winning teacher, author and member of Kentucky’s Affrilachian Poets (a socially conscious group of writers of…
