Cover Story
Lessons from the influenza epidemic of 1918
Below is a fascinating essay from the Influenza Encyclopedia about an alarmingly similar outbreak — the Influenza of 1918 — and how it affected Louisville (spoiler alert: We did a really good job). J. Alexander Navarro, co-editor in chief of the digital archive/encyclopedia and author of the essay on Louisville (and many others), told LEO…
Where to get carryout food — fill up and help local restaurants
Now that the state has shut down dine-in restaurants, many have broken their business models to offer carry-out and delivery exclusively. Many have special deals and menus designed to feed your family. Some will even bring the food to you while you wait on the curb. (FYI: If you have to run inside to get…
Five Louisville albums to buy on Bandcamp today
For one day — Friday, March 20 — the online music service Bandcamp is waving its revenue share for all albums, meaning more money goes directly into the pockets of your favorite artists. Below, we’ve compiled a short, non-comprehensive list of local albums that are great options, mostly from artists who had to recently cancel…
Comic Book Reviews: ‘Mirka Andolfo’s Mercy’ & ‘Strange Academy’
‘Mirka Andolfo’s Mercy’ No. 1 Writer and artist Mirka Andolfo Review by Ashley Cornell, The Great Escape Louisville It’s the anniversary of a horrible mine explosion and the Victorian mining town of Woodsburgh has fallen victim to a series of vicious murders. Rumors are spreading that they’re the work of the Devil of Woodsburgh, and…
Life in the age of coronavirus: no, really, please stay home
First and foremost, we Introverts have had it right well before the Age of Corona came down upon us. Other People are gross generally for any number of reasons, giving Introverts an ethos of Social Distancing as their default. I’m not saying that the Introverts have been right all along, but I am saying you…
Savage Love: Quickies
DEAR READERS: I live in Seattle, the US epicenter of the novel coronavirus epidemic, with my family. A lot of my readers wrote this week to wish us well. We are fine—scared, but fine—washing our hands compulsively and staying close to home. I’m going to keep churning out the column and recording my podcast, while…
Service industry survival guide
We are all frightened. We’re in uncharted territory right now, and the world feels like it’s truly collapsing under the weight of the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s hard not to feel like the bar and restaurant industry will be completely gutted, and perhaps it already is. It’s estimated that the Louisville tourism industry has already suffered…
Dine out as a Vegetarian. . . on a Diet.
As I get ready for short, short croptop season, I am one of the great number of Louisvillians attempting to diet. Most of the popular ones are similar: HCG, South Beach Diet, keto, intermittent fasting or Atkins, if you are a Rob Lowe fan (he seems to be single-handedly bringing it back). They limit calories…
You can’t beat the pho at NamNam Café
[Ed. note: This review was written before the state-ordered closure of restaurants. NamNam says it is offering carryout orders and can be reached through Postmates and DoorDash.] It’s easy to overlook NamNam Café. It’s tiny, and it’s off on a St. Matthews side street. But you really shouldn’t miss it. It’s one of my favorite…
Coronavirus shutters theater shows across Louisville
The world of theater is full of superstitions and dramatic turns of phrase. We call our days off “dark days.” In Louisville, theater company after theater company has announced that they are either canceling or postponing their shows due to the coronavirus outbreak. Some are trying to use digital streaming and are working to raise…
Sonic Breakdown: The Kentucky Cowhands — ‘Cowhand Boogie’
[LEO’s biweekly Sonic Breakdown column deconstructs a single song from an area musician or band.] Andrew Brown of The Kentucky Cowhands said his band swipes a lot of their visual and musical aesthetics from classic country-era tropes, but he also admitted that, in reality, they aren’t very “good” at being cowboys. “I’d argue that the…
Coronavirus hits Louisville’s music scene: Shows and tours postponed, venues closed, people out of work
When the local thrash metal band Belushi Speed Ball took the stage at Kaiju on Saturday night, singer Vinny Castellano put his head through a piece of cardboard to break the “fourth wall” and deliver a “public service announcement” about the coronavirus. The band’s manager, Señor Diablo, was wearing a makeshift hazmat suit. Hula hoops…
Thorns & Roses: The Worst, Best, & Most Absurd
Roses: Why local journalism matters The Courier Journal’s reporters and editors get roses for their tireless, comprehensive coverage of The Big Story. WFPL gets in on that, too, not just providing good coverage but also for doing what radio does best: airing live reports and press conferences from state, local and national officials. Rose: Why…
Coronavirus and Kentucky: So, you are stuck at home with your, gasp… family
Have you got the illness? No, not the novel coronavirus. The other one — the pandemic panic, the isolation insanity. We’re being told to stay home from work and school with only ourselves — or worse, our families — for company. And it could last for months. How do we survive this, let alone the…
The official LEO Weekly Quarantine Activities
Because You can’t spell coronavirus without Corona The LEO Coronavirus 2020 Drinking Game You know how drinking games work. You get the pleasure of a good buzz or blackout drunk while satisfying that need to justify why you are getting a good buzz or blackout drunk. The LEO Coronavirus 2020 Drinking Game is similar to…
I may have it… is this Mother Nature’s hard reset, or do we get another chance?
I am pleased to announce that I have, or may have, or am probably about to have, the novel coronavirus. I acquired it, or potentially acquired it, from exposure to more than a few hours of news about: the novel coronavirus. As I understand it, it’s that easy to catch. It’s an honor, really. I…
We are the descendants of the voting rights movement
This is from a Facebook post I wrote after the South voted resoundingly for Joe Biden: The following are thoughts and things I can say because I’m a descendant of Black folks and will be one for future generations. If younger generations are telling me that they are voting for a particular candidate, I’m going…
McConnell fiddles while we…
U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell is treating the coronavirus pandemic like he does everything else that comes before him in the Senate: politics as usual. Science and expert advice: optional. Democrats in the U.S. House last week passed an emergency relief package to support those most affected by the pandemic’s economic toll, including guaranteeing paid sick…
