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Jack’s back

Jack Harlow visits Louisville after new album release

Giant black and white photo of Jack Harlow on the side of a red brick building.

Jack Harlow is one of six new people getting a Hometown Heroes banner in 2023. | Photo by LOUtoday

Jack Harlow’s new album “Jackman” is the focal point of his recent hometown presence. From the viral album artwork to his Hometown Heroes banner + visits to local schools, Jack has been busy making the rounds in LOU.

🎒 Back in school

On Thursday, April 27 Jack made a surprise visit to his 2016 alma mater Atherton High School, as well as several other JCPS schools including Ballard, Fern Creek, Central, and Highland Middle.

Jack posed for photos, of course, but he also helped one student dissect a grasshopper.

💿 The new album

In true Jack fashion, his new album happened overnight — just like his partnership with local beverage brand Phocus.

Jack announced the new 10-track project just two days prior to the release on Friday, April 28 and the album artwork went viral.

The cover features a shirtless Jack in front of a weathered garage with a basketball hoop. Louisvillians recognized the Highlands location and flocked to the alleyway to snap photos. Parodies of the cover art also popped up on social media by local brewery Against the Grain and UofL.

The cover photo isn’t the only nod to Louisville. The self-titled album has several mentions of Derby City — including a shoutout to Bryson Tiller and Carmichael’s Bookstore in the song “They Don’t Love it.”

Jack also left copies of “Jackman” in random places along Bardstown Road for fans to discover.

📸 Jack’s Louisville

The day after his album release, Hometown Heroes hung its latest banner featuring the 25-year-old GRAMMY-nominated rapper. You can see the larger-than-life photo of Jack on the side of the Louisville Office Furniture building at the corner of East Broadway and Barret Avenue in the Highlands.

So what’s next for Jack? The rapper is making his acting debut in the remake of “White Men Can’t Jump,” which premieres on Hulu Friday, May 19.

Asked

Which Jack Harlow song was nominated for “Best Rap Song” at the 2023 GRAMMY Awards?

A. “Churchill Downs”
B. “First Class”
C. “Nail Tech”

What's poppin'

Events

Tuesday, May 2

Robert Plant & Alison Krauss: Raising The Roof Tour | Tuesday, May 2 | 8 p.m. | Louisville Palace, 625 S. 4th St., Louisville | $149-$250 | See the former Led Zeppelin frontman perform with a Bluegrass-country music singer.

Wednesday, May 3

Great Steamboat Race | Wednesday, May 3 | 6 p.m. | Waterfront Park, 131 River Rd., Louisville | $165 | Hop aboard 2022 winner The Belle of Louisville as she competes against other vessels in this race that has been taking place on the Ohio River since 1963.

Thursday, May 4

Julep Soul Experience | Thursday, May 4 | 6-9 p.m. | Canary Club, 1247 S. Shelby St., Louisville | Free | Sip juleps on the lush patio of this Shelby Park wine bar.

Friday, May 5

Kegs and Eggs | Friday, May 5 | 9 a.m.-2 p.m. | Lou Lou Food + Drink, 108 Sears Ave., Louisville | Start your Oaks day with a Cajun breakfast + special bar menu with proceeds from the event benefitting APRON Inc.
LOUtoday After Oaks Meet + Greet | Friday, May. 5 | 7-9 p.m. | The Local Seltzery, 828 E. Main St., Louisville | Free | Meet Katie, Lennie, and Mandey while enjoying 50% off seltzers and cocktails + complimentary charcuterie from Cultured and other snacks.

Saturday, May 6

5th Annual ‘A Horse Walks Into a Bar’ Derby Party | Saturday, May. 6 | 12 p.m. | The Merryweather, 1101 Lydia St., Louisville | Free | Watch horse races on the big screens, grab a bite to eat from Con Aji y Cafe, and sip mint juleps at this neighborhood bar.
AfterGlow Late Night Derby Silent Disco | Saturday, May. 6 | 11 p.m.-3 a.m. | The Whirling Tiger, 1335 Story Ave., Louisville | $12-$15 | Bust a move at this late-night, 21+ dance party.

Sunday, May 7

Hot Buns Brunch Pop-up | Sunday, May. 7 | 11 a.m.-3 p.m. | Perso Restaurant, 741 E. Oak St., Louisville | Free | End your Derby weekend with an Asian-inspired brunch.

Events calendar here

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News Notes

Number

$90 million. That’s the price tag of Churchill Downs’ First Turn premium seating project at the south end of the track. The new three-story, white brick building houses a 2,000-seat, climate-controlled club + has an additional covered stadium seat section with food and drink concourses, restrooms, and betting windows. (The Courier-Journal)

Award

Last Saturday morning, 21 hot air balloons took to the sky for the annual Great Balloon Race. Piloted by Shawn Raya, the Sullair balloon won the competition by landing closest to the finish target by half an inch. Shawn’s win included free entry to the 2024 Great BalloonFest. (WAVE)

Tech

Louisville father-son duo Stephen Carrithers and Dr. Aaron Carrithers are behind the launch of a rapid, single-assessment test for chronic kidney disease. The tests could be available within a year or the next six months depending on how quickly their biotech startup company PrognostX Health can reach $5.3 million. (KY Inno)

Featured

The director of the Speed Art Museum, Rapheala Platow, was featured in The New York Time’s “Increasingly, Women Are Running the World’s Great Museums,” article. Rapheala joined the Speed in 2021 after a 14-year tenure at the Contemporary Art Center in Cincinnati.

Try This

May the fourth be with you. On Thursday, May 4 at 7 p.m. Logan Street Market is hosting a performance of all three “Star Wars” movies in 60 minutes with five actors. VIP tickets are sold out, but general admission seats are available for $15.

Learn

Applications are open for Chefs for Success’ free culinary arts training program. Accepted students (18+) will get hands-on experience learning basic cooking skills, knife handling, food safety, and more. The next session begins on Tuesday, May 9.

Fact or Fiction

If you’re traveling with a furry friend, they need a boarding pass at the airport gate. See the answer.*

Real Estate

On the hunt for the perfect residential community? Louisvillians can explore the Showcase of Residential Communities (happening now-Sunday, May 7), which offers new and existing homeowners the opportunity to discover and design their new home. Get inspired, Louisville.*

Community

Whether you’re headed to the Kentucky Derby this Saturday or watching the sporting event from home, keep your eye out for the famed “Garland of Roses.” Since 1987, Kroger has crafted the winning-thoroughbred prize, which contains 400+ roses and weighs 40 pounds. See how the Derby icon is made.*

Eat

Travel around the world one bite at a time

Waterfront Park to host 2nd Annual International Food Truck Festival

Entry is free into the International Food Truck Festival. | Photo courtesy of Waterfront Park

Mark your calendars, LOU — more than 20 food trucks representing 14 different nationalities will converge at Waterfront Park’s Big Four Lawn on Saturday, May 13 for the International Food Truck Festival from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Entry into the festival is free + cultural performances will take place throughout the day with a headlining evening concert (TBA) rounding out the event.

The 2023 food truck lineup hasn’t been announced yet, but last year’s fest brought out Hot Buns, Con Aji y Cafe, AL Prince, All Thai’d Up, and more. Be the first to know who will be there by following the event on Facebook.

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Katie

From the editor

I remember writing about Jack Harlow back when he wore glasses.

One of my first stories with Louisville Magazine was about his “Ice Cream” music video in 2016, which features a high school-aged Jack riding around Louisville in a purple ice cream van.

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