West End School expands

The West End School is located at 3628 Virginia Ave. | Photo by LOUtoday

After getting its start with three students in a small house on Chestnut Street, the West End School will soon be instructing 300 co-ed students on its 6-acre campus at 3628 Virginia Ave.

The tuition-free, boys-only private boarding school announced on Friday that it would begin a $10 million fundraising campaign to construct a new building for female students — which the school looks to add to its educational roster as soon as September 2024.

Thus far, the school has raised $6 million + looks to raise the other $4 million by the end of the year to begin construction on the new facility in early 2023.

While the girls’ program will begin as a daytime-only endeavor, the school may add female dorms in the future — the program looks to serve 150 local girls.

In April, Brown-Forman Corp. made a $20 million pledge to the West End School that will be allocated over the next 10 years to help with the school’s operating costs — with $10 million each going toward the boys’ school + introducing the girls’ school.

Founded by Robert and Deborah Blair in 2005, the West End School works with male students from pre-K to eighth grade + currently serves more than 140 students. It offers athletic, music, and enrichment programs for its students in addition to providing on-campus housing for alumni who go on to attend high school, but still want to reside in a structured and safe environment.

In the school’s early days, its class of three students would commute to a former JCPS building for class until the Blairs were able to purchase the facility and renovate one of its wings into a dormitory.

Want to support the school’s mission? Check out its wish list for items you can contribute — including sponsoring a field trip — donate directly, or sign-up to volunteer.

Share this story with three friends who are excited about educational expansion.

EVENTS

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Today

Monday Evening Yoga at Christy’s Garden | Mon., Sept. 26 | 6-7 p.m. | 720 Brent St. | Free to attend | Start your week with a flow benefitting the Kentucky Yoga Initiative.

Tuesday

The Moth StorySLAM | Tues., Sept. 27 | 8 p.m. | Headliners Music Hall | $15 | Listen to local writers tell stories on the topic of crossroads.

Wednesday

WFPK Waterfront Wednesday | Wed., Sept. 28 | 6 p.m. | Big Four Lawn at Waterfront Park | Free to attend | See the final installment of this free summer concert series featuring Yonder Mountain String Band, Hot Brown Smackdown + Houseplant. 🎸

Thursday

Japanese Garden Groundbreaking | Thurs., Sept. 29 | 10-11 a.m. | Waterfront Botanical Gardens, 1435 Frankfort Ave. | Free | Enjoy cookies and green tea as you commemorate the groundbreaking of the Japanese garden with special guest + garden designer Shiro Nakane. 🌳
Nerd Nite Louisville | Thurs., Sept. 29 | 7-9 p.m. | Gravely Brewing Co., 514 Baxter Ave. | Free to attend | Hear three Louisvillians present on tourism, alternative energy + Louisville Beer Week. 🧠
Spelling + Spirits | Thurs., Sept. 29 | 7-9 p.m. | TEN20 Craft Brewery, 1020 E. Washington St. | $15 | Raise funds for the Decode Project while you participate in a spelling bee, bid on a bookish silent auction + eat food from Happy Belly Bistro and MozzaPi.

Friday

Burger Night | Fri., Sept. 30 | 5-9 p.m. | Full Stop Station, 1132 E. Saint Catherine St. | Free | Eat burgers, sip on beer from Apocalypse Brew Works + shop local vendors. 🍔
St. James Court Art Show 2022 | Fri., Sep. 30-Sun., Oct. 2 | 10 a.m.-6 p.m. | St. James Court, 1387 S. 4th St. | Free | Peruse artwork from around the country at this 66th annual art show in historic Old Louisville. 🖼️
UnFair Art Show 2022 | Fri., Sept. 30 | 10 a.m.-6 p.m. | Mag Bar, 1398 S. 2nd St. | Free | Shop from local artists + enjoy live music.

Saturday

Bowman Fest | Sat., Oct. 1-Sun., Oct. 2 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Bowman Field, 2815 Taylorsville Rd. | $15+ | Run in the IPA 5K, see historic planes and cars, and look up for the CAT3 acrobatic airshow + veterans and first responders get free entry. ✈️

We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

For tickets to local and regional events, check out our 6AM Tickets resale marketplace.*

100+ MORE EVENTS

WELLNESS

Grind your coffee, not your teeth

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STOP GRINDIN’

NEWS NOTES

Weather

73º | Sunny| 0% chance of rain

Coming Soon

Sunergos Coffee is opening a fifth location at 3922 Willis Ave. in the former St. Matthews Community Pharmacy building, according to permits filed with the city. While there’s no opening date set, the new spot will have at least 30 seats, a standing bar + covered patio out front. ☕ (The Courier-Journal)

Eat

502 Black Eats Week is back for another week of deals beginning on Sat., Oct. 2. Local restaurants including Chicago’s Jerk Tacos, Joe’s Palm Room, Saucy Seafood + more will be participating. Check out the website for the full list and be sure to mention 502 Black Eats Week to enjoy discounts. (Louisville Business First)

State

Kentucky was recently awarded $400,000 in state trade expansion program funding. This funding is designed to help small businesses export products globally. Businesses here in Louisville looking to ship products worldwide could be eligible for $10,000 in grant funding to help.

Active

The Louisville Zoo’s annual 5K, Throo the Zoo, is taking off Sat., Nov. 12 — and registration is now open. Registration starts at $30 and you can participate both in-person + virtually. Come in costume because there will be a contest sponsored by Swag’s Sport Shoes. 👟

Legacy

The Tyler Gerth Memorial Photography Contest is open through Fri., Oct. 7. Celebrate this local photographer’s memory by capturing scenes from Olmsted Parks and Parkways. Submissions must be emailed + the first place winner will receive a $100 gift card to Murphy’s Camera. 📸

Try This

Vegan Week returns to Logan Street Market on Tues., Sept. 27-Sun., Oct. 2 + will feature vegan creations from the market’s 15 food and beverage vendors. We can’t wait to see what delectable offerings will be coming out of the kitchen at FOKO.

Watch

Five years ago Friday (Sept. 23), a squirrel scored a touchdown in the Cardinals’ game against the Kent State Golden Flashes. The crowd erupted into applause as it crossed into the end zone + commentators remarked, “Oh, that’s my favorite squirrel.” Catch the Cards’ next home game on Sat., Oct. 22. 🏈

Shop

Encore Vapes & Smokes, a local-to-LOU business, offers a wide selection of CBD + Delta products to help with anxiety, improve sleep, relieve pain, and more. Find a nearby retail location.*

Health

Did you know? Our allergy triggers change and evolve over time as we age. Read: You might have new allergies you don’t even know about. Curious about yours? Take this quiz and find out.*

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ANSWERED

Let’s play real estate developer

The Louisville Gardens is a Beaux Arts style building with columns and three stories. Its mezzanine is a bit run down as the title "The Gardens" across the front is missing the "ar" in "Gardens."

Many readers said they’d like the Gardens to reopen as a concert venue. | Photo by LOUtoday

We asked you last week what you’d like to see become of the Louisville Gardens at 525 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd. — and y’all are full of great ideas.

Of the 16 responses we received, many of you would like to see it become a concert venue again. We heard the acoustics were great.

Here are a few other bright ideas from our readers on what Louisville Gardens could become next:

💡Reader Denise H. suggested an ice rink — and the revival of the Louisville RiverFrogs — to support the city’s hockey programs.

💡Reader Arvetta G. proposed the venue be turned into an apartment building.

💡Reader Mary Ann P. envisions the space as a downtown market like the North Market in Columbus, OH (Hi, CBUStoday).

💡 Reader Pat H. wants to see the space converted into a facility for JCPS to use for graduations and events.

THE WRAP

	Today’s issue was written by City Editor Sarah. Editor’s pick: I had a great time at NuLu Fest this weekend. I sipped a delicious pumpkin pie sour from Butchertown Brewing, had an Oreo-stuffed cookie from Bae’s Baekery + shopped the tables from Red Tree NuLu. If you missed it, recap the sunny festival with this Instagram reel I made. Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Peep our extensive guide to Butchertown here.
Read More

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Editorial: Sarah Shadburne, Katie Molck, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Kaylee Holland, Ashlea Hearn, Emily Shea | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

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