08.24.2023

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Today’s Forecast

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

🌿 A fusion of art and nature

Speed Art Museum is expanding its galleries outside

A rendering of Speed Art Museum's Community Garden and Sculpture Park.

The community green space and sculpture park will be ungated. | Rendering by Reed Hilderbrand Landscape Architecture

The Speed Art Museum is transforming three acres of its grounds into the Speed Outdoors, a public sculpture park + green space that will be open for free 24/7.

The inaugural installations will include 13 large-scale sculptures gifted to the museum by the late Al and Mary Shands from Crestwood, KY. The pieces include works from world-renowned artists such as Sol LeWitt, Deborah Butterfield, and Zaha Hadid.

A large outdoor sculpture of a bench constructed by Zaha Hadid. — Zaha Hadid’s “Bench” sculpture.
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Photo courtesy of Speed Art Museum

Here’s a little bit about three of the sculptures to come:

“Bench,” Zaha Hadid | Futuristic, 45-foot-long lacquered cast aluminum bench
“Progression,” Sol LeWitt | Neutral-toned geometric sculpture that was completed in 1997
“Modified Social Bench,” Jeppe Hein | Circular white bench made of powder-coated galvanized steel

The Speed Outdoors will also display the Speed’s growing collection of outdoor sculptures + host creative programming like yoga classes, concerts, and outdoor learning activities.

Speed Outdoors seeks to connect people with art and nature.
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Rendering by Reed Hilderbrand Landscape Architecture

The three-acre park will also include the following elements to support our local ecosystem:

Pollinator-friendly native flora
Advanced water management systems
A shade canopy constructed by planting 150 native trees

Construction has already started on Speed Outdoors, but a $22 million capital campaign is underway to help fund future installations + ongoing operations.

Once open, Speed Outdoors will provide equitable access to outdoor areas for the surrounding UofL campus and Old Louisville neighborhoods. The estimated opening date is late 2025.

We’ve got some time before the Speed Outdoors officially opens, so check out these other museums in town in the meantime.

Events

Thursday, Aug. 24

Bourbons Bistro Bar of the Years Party | Thursday, Aug. 24 | 6 p.m. | Bourbons Bistro, 2255 Frankfort Ave., Louisville | Free | Celebrate this bar’s recent achievement with complimentary appetizers, live music, and bourbon tastings.

Friday, Aug. 25

Downtown Drive-In | Friday, Aug. 25 | 7 p.m. | Brown-Forman Amphitheater, 1301 River Rd., Louisville | Free | Bring a blanket or a lawn chair and catch a screening of Disney Pixar’s “Cars.”
WWE Friday Night SmackDown | Friday, Aug. 25 | 7:45 p.m. | KFC YUM! Center, 1 Arena Plaza, Louisville | $20-$120 | See wrestling superstars hit the ring and show off their athleticism — and dramatic skills.

Saturday, Aug. 26

Gatsby Garden Gala | Saturday, Aug. 26 | 6-10 p.m. | The Conrad-Caldwell House Museum, 1402 St. James Ct., Louisville | $150-$1,000 | Costumes are welcomed but not required to this 1920s-themed gala, which includes dinner, an open bar, and live swing music.
Savage Saturdays with DJ Champagne Bangers | Saturday, Aug. 26 | 8-11:30 p.m. | Hi-Wire Brewing, 642 Baxter Ave., Louisville | Free | Hear cool funk, hip hop, and more while sipping a frosty pint.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

Plan Ahead

How to experience Kroger’s Ultimate Tailgate this football season

You might be a fan of UofL, but Kroger is a fan of you: The free VIP event is just for Kroger customers who complete a qualifying purchase. | Photo by LOUtoday

Ah, football season — the thrill of the game, the change of the seasons, the cheering fans at Cardinal Stadium. But the most exciting thing of all? Yes, the tailgating.

When it comes to tailgating, Kroger proves they believe in going big and going home by providing an Ultimate Tailgating Experience for football fans at every UofL home football game.

The all-out, pre-game tailgating event — complete with free food, two free drinks (beer, seltzers, or non-alcoholic bevs), music, corn hole, and giveaways — is free + open to Kroger customers who:

(New this year) Show a $35 Kroger receipt within the seven days prior to the game

The tailgating tent opens two hours prior to UofL home football games and is located near the tunnel of Cardinal Stadium.

Bonus: We attended an Ultimate Tailgating Experience last year and had a blast.

Get in free: Shop Kroger

News Notes

Real Estate

Real estate firm The Agency is setting up shop in Louisville at 4940 U.S. Hwy. 42. The firm is owned by reality TV star Mauricio Umansky from “Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles” and “Buying Beverly Hills.” The Derby City office is piloted by Managing Partner Jason Farabee. (Louisville Business First)

Announced

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission approved sports betting licenses for in-person sites and mobile service providers. In-person betting launches on Thursday, Sept. 7 and approved sites include Churchill Downs + Derby City Gaming. Mobile betting with providers like Fanatics and DraftKings starts on Thursday, Sept. 28. (WLKY)

Community

Creative Mornings Louisville — a monthly breakfast lecture for local creatives — returns on Friday, Aug. 25 at 8:30 a.m. for the first time since 2020. The event will be held at the Germantown Gables + Louisville Creative Connect’s co-founder Sage Delaney will be the guest speaker. Tickets are free.

Arts

The Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory is hosting four interactive art workshops with Artists for Trauma on Sunday, Aug. 27 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. The sessions are free + explore the healing power of art through sculpture, visual art, poetry/spoken word, and music.

Cause

Help TreesLouisville spread its roots into a new office space during a Give For Good Louisville Happy Hour on Thursday, Sept. 14 from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Logan Street Market. Can’t make it? Bookmark this link so you can donate online the day of the event.

Learn

Black Americans were at the forefront of the fashion transformation in the early 20th century. Explore these metamorphic trends tonight at the Louisville Free Public Library’s Black Fashion in Early Photos of the Western Library from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Western Library branch. It’s free to attend.

Family

Calling all new and expecting parents: You’re invited to the Bullitt County Community Baby Shower happening Wednesday, Sept. 27. Local professionals will be on hand to answer parenting questions, and attendees can enjoy refreshments, enter giveaways, and more. Interested? RSVP here.*

Sports

Calling all Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fans: Louisville City is celebrating the release of the new movie, “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem” on Saturday, Aug. 26. Fans can expect turtle-themed fun in the Fan Zone at Lynn Family Stadium’s Waterfront end starting at 6 p.m. Grab tickets.*

Drink

Did you know that bottled water costs more than 1,500 times the cost of tap water? Read: You can fill up an 8-oz. cup with high-quality Louisville Pure Tap® 107 times for just a penny. Save your money and help protect the environment when you drink like a local.*

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The Wrap

Emily Shea wearing a black shirt next to houseplants

Today’s edition by:
Emily

From the editor

Did you know that The Local Seltzery hosts a Pups on the Patio event every Sunday and donates 10% of its sales to the Kentucky Humane Society? Bring your furry friend + enjoy a seltzer for a good cause. Psst — on every third Sunday of the month The Beauty Boost Louisville is also there offering a yoga class. Attend the next one on Sunday, Sept. 17.

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