Today’s Forecast

47º | Mostly cloudy | 7% chance of rain
Sunrise 8:00 a.m. | Sunset 5:39 p.m.

Hang with sloths at the LOU Zoo

Try this: Sloth encounter at the Louisville Zoo

Lennie petted Sunni, a four-year-old Linnaeus’s two-toed sloth. | Photo by LOUtoday

Hi, City Editor Lennie here.

When I heard the Louisville Zoo was offering Sloth Encounters, I made sure I was online as soon as the experiences went on sale back in August. Fortunately, my quick clicking paid off and I was able to snag tickets. Since then, time has seemed to move as slow as a sloth, but March finally arrived and I got to hang with Sunni, the zoo’s four-year-old, two-toed sloth. The experience consisted of three parts:

🦥 Orientation

An educator took our group of four into a room to talk all things sloth. We discussed how they hang onto branches for so long (their holds are skeletal, not muscular), and how they have the slowest digestive rate of any mammal. Zookeepers track their poops on a calendar to make sure they’re taking care of business about once every three weeks.

🦥 Meal prep

Next, we made a salad for Sunni by slicing and measuring out half-ounce portions of squash, carrots, apples, and more.

🦥 Meet and greet

Finally, the part everyone had been waiting for. The zookeeper offered Sunni the meal we’d made, waiting for her to “signal” that she was open to seeing us. Luckily, she gradually made her way to her special branch for receiving guests, and one by one, we slowly and quietly gave her gentle pets while she noshed on fruits and veggies.

A sloth the at Louisville Zoo enjoys her salad. — Sunni enjoyed her salad, made with freshly cut fruits and veggies.
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Video by LOUtoday

I loved learning that meeting people is up to Sunni — if she’s not feelin’ it, no one is forcing her.

The experience was the most fun I’ve had at any zoo, and word on the street is penguin encounters might be next. I’ll be following @LouisvilleZooOfficial for updates.

Sloth Encounters are sold out through August, but you can spot Sunni and her friends in their enclosure across the flamingos.

Asked

How long do sloths usually spend hanging motionless every day?

A. 5-10 hours
B. 10-15 hours
C. 15-20 hours
D. Up to 30 hours at a time

See the answer in The Wrap.

Events

Tuesday, March 28

The Moth StorySLAM | Tuesday, Mar. 28 | 7 p.m. | Headliners Music Hall, 1386 Lexington Rd., Louisville | $15 | Hear five-minute stories about make-or-break, all-or-nothing situations.

Friday, March 31

Laugh Louisville Grand Opening | Friday, Mar. 31 | 1 p.m. | Laugh Louisville, 441 S. 4th St., Louisville | $29 | The festivities kick off with a ribbon cutting, followed by an open house for a first look at the space.

Saturday, April 1

Hometown Music Kids Cruise | Saturday, Apr. 1-Sunday, Apr. 2 | 1 p.m. | Belle of Louisville, 401 West River Rd., Louisville | $12.99 | This family-friendly cruise features engaging children’s programs — all themed to hometown music.
Holi Festival of Colors | Saturday, Apr. 1 | 2-7 p.m. | Holi Gin, 1110 Wilson Ave., Louisville | Free | Dance, play with colors, and make new memories while drinking Holi Gin cocktails and other beverages.
“Mary Cassatt: Painting in the Modern World"| Saturday, Apr. 1-Sunday, Apr. 2 | Times vary | Speed Art Museum, 2035 S. 3rd St., Louisville | $8-$12 | Watch a 93-minute film about Mary Cassatt, who made a career painting the lives of women around her.

Sunday, April 2

The Price Is Right Live - Stage Show | Sunday, Apr. 2 | 7 p.m. | Louisville Palace, 625 S. 4th St., Louisville | $29.50-$65 | See TV’s longest-running game show live — just be sure to arrive three hours early if you want to sign up to participate.

Thursday, April 13

Louisville Ballet’s La Sylphide with Balanchine’s Scotch Symphony | Thursday, April 13-Saturday, April 15 | Times vary | The Brown Theatre, 315 W. Broadway, Louisville | $35-$110 | Made new for 21st-century audiences, “La Sylphide” tells this romantic story of humanity colliding with the magical, unattainable love, and the destructive power of desire and envy.*

Plan ahead with our community events calendar

More events here

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Weather

53° | Mostly cloudy | 11% chance of rain

Open

Bandido Taqueria Mexicana is celebrating the grand opening of its St. Matthews location with a taco Tuesday opening featuring $1.99 tacos, elotes + chips and queso. We know where we’ll be having lunch today.
Mama Shadia, a new halal Middle Eastern restaurant at 2300 W. Market St. is celebrating its grand opening this Friday, March 31 at 2 p.m. It is currently open 10:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday through Friday, serving chicken masala, hummus, shawarma, and more.

Biz

Kroger is bringing more groceries to LOU by way of two new stores. The first is expected to open this fall in Buckner, and the second is a new Kroger Wine & Spirits planned for 10010 Ballardsville Rd. in northeast Louisville (no ETA on opening yet). (Louisville Business First)

Development

The former Ramada by Wyndham at 1041 Zorn Ave. is slated to become a new mixed-use development, complete with outdoor seating and a fountain feature. Louisville-based Quadrant Magnetics plans to construct four two-story buildings for retail, office + restaurant space. (WLKY)

Outdoors

Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Uranus, and Mars are lining up — and you should be able to see them after sunset tonight. Jupiter, Venus, and Mars will be bright enough for the naked eye to see, but you might need binoculars to peep Mercury and Uranus. (WHAS11)

Drink

Tickets are on sale for Summer Beer Fest at Frazier. The 3rd annual festival will be back on Saturday, July 29, from 5 to 8 p.m. The Main Street block party will feature 200+ specialty beers, food, retail, live music, and a fun zone with games and activities.

Sports

Atherton High School senior Lillian Bridget is a rising star in the professional wrestling world. The 18-year-old began training when she was 13, and has now wrestled in 23 states, as well as Japan. You can catch her in the ring on the new “Derby City Wrestling” TV series. (WDRB)
We’re ready for another season of the beautiful game. Are you? Single game tickets are now available to LouCity’s 17 home games, plus matches outside of the regular season, including LouCity’s Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup showdown with Lexington SC (Wednesday, April 5) and the club’s first-ever international friendly vs. Germany’s FC Kaiserslautern (Wednesday, June 21).*

Feel Good

There’s a new furry face at Norton Children’s Hospital. Two-year-old labrador Luna is the new companion for cancer patients. In addition to offering comfort to kids undergoing treatment at the hospital, Luna will provide therapeutic support and interaction for patients at the Novak Center for Children’s Health. (The Courier-Journal)

Eat

Looking to add some new dinner recipes to your weekly rotation? We’re bookmarking these fish taco bowls, this sheet pan gnocchi with sausage, and this chili cornbread casserole.*

Shop

The spring season is the perfect time to treat yourself. We’re eyeing this six-piece bonbon gift box by Marble & Steel Craft Chocolates. What’s even sweeter? These chocolates are made fresh without preservatives.

Travel

Trying to talk someone into an April vacation? Just show them these hotel deals on Expedia. We love: The Islander Resort that’s on a private beach in the Florida Keys.

Vote

🍕 Pick your final favorite slice

LOUtoday best local pizza bracket

Who will be the LOU pizza champion? | Graphic by LOUtoday

Things are heating up in Louisville. Impellizzeri’s + Danny Mac’s are going head-to-head to be crowned the champion of pizza.

See your pick to the finish by voting in our final poll now through Thursday, March 30.

The Wrap

Today’s Edition By:
Lennie

From the Editor

I would enjoy a slice or two from any of the places on our pizza bracket. But so as not to influence votes, I’m going to offer my reccos for two restaurants that didn’t make the cut: The Stockyards from Jake and Elwood’s, which is a meat lover’s deep-dish dream; and the Bacon & Brussels from bar Vetti.

Pro tip: Order some spicy Calabrian aioli on the side for the Bacon & Brussels. It is fire.

Missed our last newsletter? Get all the details on spring break camps around town.

Quiz Answer C. 15-20 hours

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