Wednesday, Nov. 28
WFPK Winter Wednesdays
Clifton Center
2117 Payne St.
Free; 7:30 p.m.
Considering the great success that WFPK’s Waterfront Wednesday series has had this year and in summers past, it is no surprise that the radio station has now begun a winter version, starting in November and running through February, once a month at the Clifton Center. Kicking off the first show tonight is Cory Chisel and the Wandering Sons, an Americana folk act who has been keeping busy with a recent tour spot opening for Norah Jones and an appearance last month on “Conan.” Their most recent album, Old Believers, released this past June, was recorded with Brendan Benson of The Raconteurs. Similar in sound to acts like Ha Ha Tonka and The Milk Carton Kids, these troubadours do delicate folk rock well. Von Grey opens. —Kelly Kettering
Thursday, Nov. 29
Daniel Higgs
Quills
930 Baxter Ave.
$6; 10 p.m.
An artist in every sense of the word, with a career spanning three decades of numerous books of poetry, albums and collections of drawings, former Lungfish frontman Daniel Higgs is a self-made renaissance man. For his latest project, Higgs blends simplicity and repetition in instrumentation to create an almost trance-like environment and vehicle for his poetry. With the release of Atomic Yggdrasil Tarot, one of his earliest solo albums, Higgs established a cosmic aesthetic that, when combined with the acoustic drone of his music, suggests an almost spiritual wisdom inherent in his musical offerings. Rounding out the evening are the instrumental ruminations of Trotter-Riles, the duo comprised of Tyler Trotter (formerly of The Children and The Phantom Family Halo) and Zach Riles, guitarist for Grails. Given both acts’ pedigree, this promises to be an interesting, if contemplative evening. —Syd Bishop
Friday, Nov. 30
Cassian
Zanzabar
2100 S. Preston St.
$5-$8; 10 p.m.
Compromises are made all week — with coworkers, clients, families and significant others. A decent society needs its subjects to be amiable so we don’t all just shout at each other constantly. A club, on the other hand, relies on members to remain unified around a common goal with unflinching dedication. The weekly meeting of a shady clandestine cabal at Zanzabar on Fridays plays host to guest chair Australian electro/disco DJ Cassian, who makes no compromises whatsoever in his musical mission to blend the catchy hooks of classic disco with the sensibilities of modern dance-floor oriented electro and house. Check out his latest release, The Love Cuts EP, on New York’s arbiter of fast-rising talent, Nurvous Records, for a preview of this young, famous-to-some producer. —Jon Paul Hill
Nov. 30-Dec. 2
‘Clara’s Dream’
Margaret Comstock Concert Hall
U of L School of Music • 852-6878
$10-$15; various times
Everybody has that one movie or show they absolutely must watch in order for it to really feel like Christmastime — for many (like me), it’s “The Nutcracker.” Just hearing the music makes me want to do piqué turns through the mall. Thankfully, there are multiple productions of it in town every year so we can get our fix, and the University of Louisville Dance Academy’s production of it is a gem that may surprise you if you’ve never seen it. Their shortened version of Tchaikovsky’s holiday ballet begins with the gorgeous Snow Scene and goes right into Clara’s dream of the Land of Sweets. In its 17th year, the production is under the direction of Cynthia Bronner and Chuck Bronson, and will feature guest artist Robert Dunbar. —Jane Mattingly
Nov. 30-March 30
‘The Art of Repoussé’
Kaviar Forge & Gallery
1718 Frankfort Ave. • 561-0377
This is an art exhibition for people who like “Game of Thrones,” “Le Morte d’Arthur” and any other tale involving knights. Sculptor Craig Kaviar has created works in repoussé, the same method used by medieval blacksmiths to decorate armor. The history is in the details. Repoussé is a French phrase meaning “hammering from front and back.” The low-relief images require artists to hammer heated metal over sandbags and into molds. An example of Kaviar’s copper work is “Origin of Man: In the Eye of the Beholder,” which was featured in Expo 2005, a World’s Fair held in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, in 2005. More portable are the pewter address books and journals featuring a fleur de lis or animal. The opening reception is during the Nov. 30 FAT Friday Trolley Hop. —Jo Anne Triplett
Saturday, Dec. 1
Bardstown Road Aglow
Highlands
Free; 5-10 p.m.
The reindeer have the night off, so Santa and his elves will be cruising the streets via the Thirsty Pedaler — you know, that long bike thing that looks like a moving bar. For the past 27 years, the first Saturday of December is when the holiday season officially hits the Highlands. Knock out some Christmas shopping or just enjoy the merry sights and sounds, as all of the local shops along Bardstown Road, Baxter Avenue, Barrett Avenue and Douglass Loop will be open with special treats like discounts, food, drinks and music. The lighting of the Highlands Holiday Tree is at 5:30 at Bardstown and Grinstead, and Santa will arrive at Bearno’s at 6. Two trolleys will be rolling through with live entertainment aboard all night, and there’s a holiday decorating contest sponsored by Four Roses bourbon. —Jane Mattingly
Saturday, Dec. 1
Stanton Warriors
Diamonds Pub
630 Barrett Ave.
$15; 9 p.m.
Stanton Warriors have been on a streak ever since they released their first album, Stanton Sessions 1, back in 2001, and last year’s single “Turn Me Up Some” dropped the spotlight back on this talented DJ-producer duo. These days, they are prone to play with more than just hip-hop and funky breakbeats, having absorbed a fair bit of house and dubstep influence to keep things fresh. Jack of all electronica trades Jonathan “Oreo” Harris brings an effortless blend of banging styles to rage to. Hometown hero DJ Goast will be on hand, mashing and mixing sick beats into a raw collage designed for you to bust a move. Additional support by Rudeboy Prospects and Goodvibez. —Austin Weber
Dec. 1-2
Shamrock’s Annual Holiday Shoppe
Highlands American Legion
2919 Bardstown Road
Free; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (Sat.), 11 a.m.-4 p.m. (Sun.)
Assuming you aren’t insane enough to shop on Black Friday (dubbed American Retail Torture by the CIA), chances are you have a lot of gifts left to buy. Well here’s an opportunity to put a dent in that Christmas list without encountering droves of rabid shoppers in fluorescent-lit big-box stores. This annual holiday bazaar offers an eclectic array of gifts, from original art, jewelry and antiques to sports memorabilia, holiday decorations and pet-themed items. To further enhance your shopping experience, there will be plenty of hearty fare to nosh on while you browse. And if the food doesn’t warm you up, this certainly should: Because all inventory was donated, 100 percent of profits will benefit the Shamrock Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to ending pet overpopulation and enhancing the lives of our four-legged friends. —Sarah Kelley
Tuesday, Dec. 4
Dine Out for APRON
Various locations
With limited options like Spaghetti O’s and black beans in my cupboards, it’s fairly easy to twist my arm to get me to dine out. On Tuesday, however, there will be no twisting necessary. Local participating restaurants will be donating a portion of their day’s proceeds to APRON Inc., a nonprofit whose mission is to help Louisville servers, bartenders, chefs, bussers, etc., with emergency relief funds should they injure themselves or are unable to work. Restaurants include Bourbons Bistro, Silver Dollar, Uptown Café, Varanese, Irish Rover and lots more (check the website for the entire list). APRON was founded in 2011, and its supporters include owners, servers, chefs and others concerned about our local independent food and beverage service workers. Go ahead, order that dessert. —Sara Havens
Wednesday, Dec. 5
Sexy Time Trivia
Zanzabar
2100 S. Preston St. • 584-2471 ext. 1236
$5; 7 p.m.
I wonder if we can nickname this event “50 Shades of Alex Trebek.” It’s an event that’s mating trivia with sexy knowledge, and it’s all for a good cause — proceeds go to Planned Parenthood. There’s still time to get a team together (max of eight players), so gather both your nerdy and perverted friends, and head over to Zanzabar Tuesday evening. Hosted by trivia master Michael Hartman, Sexy Time Trivia promises to titillate your intellect and stimulate your big organ (brain, duh). To reserve space for your team, call 584-2471 ext. 1236 or email [email protected]. —Sara Havens
Through Dec. 31
Beatrice Guarneschelle-Holt
Lenihan Sotheby’s International Realty
3803 Brownsboro Road • 899-2129
Here’s another example of Louisville the city showcasing what Louisville the people have to offer. The local office of Lenihan Sotheby’s International Realty has a quarterly visiting artist series. The exhibition for the fall 2012 artist, Beatrice Guarneschelle-Holt, features her large abstract oil paintings. “(My) passion for pigment blossomed in (my) father’s art studio,” she says. “(He) taught portrait painting at the Louisville School of Art in the 1920s, ’30s, ’40s.” “The visiting artist series is a great chance for us to help the local art community,” says founder John Lenihan. “The previous shows have been very well-attended and give our professional real estate agents an opportunity to leverage the power of the Sotheby’s (auction house) brand and its storied 268-year history of representing the finest pieces of art.” —Jo Anne Triplett
Through Jan. 4
‘Scene on the Street’
Revelry Boutique-Gallery
980 Barret Ave. • 414-1ART
Revelry Boutique-Gallery continues its commitment to “accessible art” with its latest exhibit, the punnily titled “Scene on the Street.” Featuring the work of Judy Rodgers, the exhibit showcases Louisville’s urban landscape, from the Highlands to Crescent Hill and the downtown corridor. Rodgers’ paintings are vivid, rich in color and bursting with evident affection for the Derby City. The bright canvases display Rodgers’ love of and pride in our local landscape, her celebration of local landmarks unabashedly sentimental. “I enjoy creating paintings that are easily understood, ones that have a pleasant effect on people,” she says. “Every art show provokes discussions of favorite landmarks, restaurants and areas of town. My artwork is a definite conversation piece!” You can certainly feel the hometown love in each vibrant piece. —Jennifer Harlan
