Staffpicks

LECTURE

Thursday, Jan. 26
‘Conquering the Great Wall’
“I mean, do you really think they will hike to the Great Wall?” It’s a notion that has floored many, but the underlying fact is, they conquered that voyage in spite of physical, mental and emotional distractions. In 2002, Gayle Hall, better known as “Iron Woman,” began her journey as a long-distance hiker at Yumengguan, at the western end of the Great Wall in China. Two Chinese companions assisted her. They hiked 174 days, covering more than 4,000 kilometers and eventually reaching the eastern end, making Hall the first woman to walk the entire length of the Wall. Hall will be in Louisville this week to present an illustrated discussion about “Conquering the Great Wall: One Woman’s Journey Across China.” The lecture is sponsored by the Crane House and the Louisville Free Public Library. —Tytianna Wells
Louisville Free Public Library
Fifth & York
574-1644
Free (tickets required); 7 p.m.

THEATER/COMEDY

Jan. 26-28
‘Toe Roaster’ musical
A threesome of modern-day cowboys shooting the breeze around a campfire. No, it’s not the sequel to “Brokeback Mountain,” it’s actually the set-up of the comedic musical “Toe Roaster,” penned and performed by three Nashville notable song-writers, making its way this weekend to ATL’s Bingham Theatre. Playwright Bryan Kennedy — a buddy of Garth Brooks whose credits include “Beaches of Cheyenne” and “American Honky Tonk Bar Association” — first performed this play opening up for the Garthster in the late ’90s, and has since paired with friends and cohorts Wynn Varble and Troy Jones, the former who wrote Daryl Worley’s hokey hit, “Have You Forgotten.” The topics of conversation range from how to please a woman to what role Wal-Mart plays in today’s redneck society. Singer-actor Jerry Reed had this to say: “I haven’t laughed that hard since the sneak preview of ‘Smokey and the Bandit.’” See how cowboys were meant to bond. —Sara Havens
Bingham Theater, Actors Theatre
316 W. Main St.
584-1205
$28; 8 p.m.

ART

Friday, Jan. 27
Demonstration by Craig Kaviar
Craig Kaviar is making a horse’s head out of iron during January’s FAT Friday. This is where you’ll want to be, because it will be warm; he’ll be working with 3,000 degrees of heat!
Kaviar will also be presenting his new copper repousse relief sculpture for its first local public showing. Displayed in the U.S. Pavilion at the World’s Fair in Aichi, Japan, the work can be interpreted in two ways: horizontally, it’s “In the Eye of the Beholder,” of the earth and moon in an eye; vertically, it’s the “Origin of Man,” featuring a woman birthing the earth and moon. —Jo Anne Triplett
Kaviar Forge & Gallery
1718 Frankfort Ave.
561-0377
www.craigkaviar.com
Free; 7:30 p.m.

ART

Friday, Jan. 27
New FAT Friday art locations
There’s now more to see and experience along Frankfort Avenue on the last Friday evening of the month. The League of Women Voters is opening its space to artists; the inaugural showcase features jewelry, oil paintings, T-shirts and prints. At their request, TARC has added a trolley stop at Ewing.
The Greenhouse Arts Project, an experimental gallery and studio, is celebrating its grand opening with paintings by David Louis Carter and musicians from U of L’s School of Music. Co-directors and resident artists are Shannon Stelzer and Willie Tash. Both of these events are one-night only. —Jo Anne Triplett
League of Women Voters
Lang House, 115 S. Ewing Ave.
895-5218
Free; 5-9 p.m.

Greenhouse Arts Project
1708 Frankfort Ave.
797-5855
Free; 6-11 p.m.

BLACK HISTORY

Jan. 27-29
Zora Neale Hurston celebration
Black History Month celebrates inventors, musicians, visual artists, authors — an abundance of achievements by prominent individuals of African-American descent throughout history. One legendary celebration lauds Zora Neale Hurston, the author, poetess, anthropologist, “Queen of the Harlem Renaissance” and member of Zeta Phi Beta sorority. The Zora Neale Hurston Arts Festival, hosted by the Eta Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta, is a public, cultural and literary event within “Celebrating Youth Arts,” promoting understanding and an in-depth explanation of her achievements. The festive performances will be held Jan. 27-29 at different locations and prices. All proceeds will help fund scholarships for young people in Louisville. —Tytianna Wells
Friday: Brown School, 546 S. First St., 7 p.m.
Saturday: Fifth Street Baptist Church, 1901 W. Jefferson, 5:30 p.m.
Sunday: Actors Theatre, 316 W. Main St., 7:30 p.m.
569-5271

CONTEST

Saturday, Jan. 28
Kentuckiana Idol ’06
It’s insane to think that one of the best songs of last year (“Since U Been Gone”) came from a TV gameshow winner. Five years ago, Kelly Clarkson was singing into her hairbrush in her small-town Texas home, dreaming of a life of fame and fortune. She took a chance and auditioned for a new TV concept called “American Idol,” and is now topping the pop charts two albums later. Now it’s your turn. If you think you have an inkling of vocal talent, the folks from WDRB-TV’s “Fox in the Morning” are once again holding their own competition. Participants must be at least 16 years old. Open auditions are Saturday at the Spalding University Auditorium, and those interested can pre-register by Thursday night at Sam Swope Suzuki, 4120 Bardstown Road. —Sara Havens
Spalding University Auditorium
Fourth & York streets
562-5746
Free; 9 a.m.

MUSIC

Saturday, Jan. 28
Black Cross returns
Apparently, Ryan Patterson doesn’t have enough to do.
So he and his brother, Evan, are putting on a monthly, all-ages concert series called “Last Saturday” at the Keswick Democratic Club.
“We just chose to do what we have always done — put on all-ages shows,” he said, “but do it on a specific day each month and reach out to a wide variety of Louisville musicians and bring in great bands from out of town.”
The first installment features Black Cross, which hasn’t played in more than a year because of other priorities. He and Evan’s other bands, Breather Resist and Coliseum, respectively, were busy bees. The Cross will show off three new songs Saturday night that will likely be recorded later this year. Perhaps he’ll run for mayor? —Mat Herron
Keswick Democratic Club
1127 Logan St.
637-9639
$5 adv. (available at ear X-tacy )/$6; 6 p.m.

BOOK

Sunday, Jan. 29
Free pain advice!
Physician Robert Cochran Jr. has treated chronic pain sufferers in Nashville for more than 40 years. Promoting his new book, “Understanding Chronic Pain: A Doctor Talks to His Patients,” Cochran will sign copies and field questions during his visit to Borders Sunday afternoon. The book examines the relationship between mind and body, arguing (among other things) that chronic pain can be linked to mental factors such as stress and depression. Whether you’re a weekend warrior, born-again gym rat or just suffer from recurring pain, the session is bound to expand a few horizons. —Matt Mattingly
Borders
2520 S. Hurstbourne Gem Lane
495-6640
Free; 1-3 p.m.

CONTEST

Through Feb. 2
‘Bad Dates’ — let’s hear about ’em
In anticipation of Actors Theatre’s newest show, “Bad Dates” by Theresa Rebeck, as well as “the loneliest holiday ever for singles” (aka Valentine’s Day), LEO and Actors Theatre want to hear about your worst dates. We know you have the stories — so quit being so selfish and let others relish your misfortune. The best two will win tickets to “Bad Dates,” which runs through Feb. 25, as well as dinner and even more tickets to the 30th Annual Humana Festival of New American Plays. Start typing, and e-mail your submissions to ATL’s Kyle Shepherd at kshepherd@actorstheatre.org. —Sara Havens

This article appears in January 25, 2006.