June 5, 2024

Today’s Forecast

78º | 80% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 6:19 a.m. | Sunset 9:03 p.m.
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🥊 Where “The Greatest” grew up

the exterior of a pink house with a white door and a plaque reading "the clay family" 3302

Neighbors say the house was pink back in the days when Muhammad Ali was a kid. | Photo via Christie’s International Real Estate Bluegrass, Rusty Underwood + Donna H. Mattox.

In a pale pink, single story home on 3302 Grand Ave. — that’s where it all began.

Muhammad Ali moved into this house at around age two with his parents Odessa and Cassius Clay, Sr. shortly after his brother Rahaman Ali was born. He lived here when he first crossed paths with his first boxing coach Joe Martin. He lived here while attending Central High School, running the three miles to school alongside the bus. He lived here when he won his first gold medal at age 18 in the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome.

If Ali floated like a butterfly, this house was his chrysalis — and now its on the market.

a single story pink house with white trim, the childhood home of Muhammad Ali — The Clays lived at 3302 Grand for all of Muhammad Ali’s childhood.
|
Photo via Christie’s International Real Estate Bluegrass, Rusty Underwood + Donna H. Mattox.

Turning back the clock

Back in 2016, Pennsylvania trial lawyer and former boxing commissioner George Bochetto partnered with investor Jared Weiss to convert the house to a museum. They, along with Rahaman Ali, restored the house to how Muhammad would have seen it as a child. The Muhammad Ali Childhood Home Museum opened in May, shortly before Ali’s death.

The museum remained open to the public for just under two years before suffering a TKO in Sept. 2017. Bochetto and Weiss cited a lack of investment by the city. There were several fund raising efforts, but the museum never reopened.

the historical marker in front of Muhammad Ali's childhood home — The house bears an informational plaque by the Kentucky Historical Society.
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Photo via Christie’s International Real Estate Bluegrass, Rusty Underwood + Donna H. Mattox.

On the market

Now, the house is preparing for its next bout, as it goes up for sale for $1.5 million. The lot includes the iconic pink house, plus the houses on either side. One was purchased from Ali’s neighbors, the Montgomerys, and converted to a gift shop, while the other was intended to be a short-term rental. Ali’s house is still in the same condition it was as a museum, and Bochetto hopes to find a buyer who will continue to share the historic location with the community that raised “The Greatest.”

Asked

Muhammad Ali won his first Olympic gold medal in 1960. Who took silver?

A. Anthony Madigan
B. Giulio Saraudi
C. Zbigniew Pietrzykowski
D. Francesco de Piccoli

Try your left hook

Events

Wednesday, June 5

Wednesday Wonders at The Parklands of Floyds Fork | Wednesday, June 5 | 10:30-11:30 a.m. | Ben Stout House, 8630 Turkey Run Pkwy., Louisville | $0-$5 | An interactive program for elementary-aged learners with the theme: “Why are helicopter seeds shaped like that?”

Thursday, June 6

Mary M. Miller - Afternoon Leisure | Thursday, June 6 | 12-2 p.m. | Belle of Louisville, 401 W. River Rd., Louisville | $25.99-$38.99 | Enjoy a relaxed cruise on the Belle’s sister ship with activities for all ages — plus a boxed lunch.

Friday, June 7

Zoofari 2024 | Friday, June 7 | 6-11 p.m. | Louisville Zoo, 1100 Trevilian Way, Louisville | $150-$400 | Celebrate the 43rd annual gala, this year’s theme is “Red Panda-monium” in honor of the zoo’s new red panda Sundara.
Magic Night at The Nevermore | Friday, June 7 | 6-10 p.m. | 1234 S. 3rd St., Louisville | $25 | Attend one of two sittings for close-up magic + tarot readings before the main show.

Saturday, June 8

“Ferdinand & Friends” | Saturday, June 8 | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | 21c Museum Hotels, 700 W. Main St., Louisville | Free | Join Squallis Puppeteers and the Louisville Academy of Music for a performance, then have your kids design a puppet of their very own.
Spring Rolls, Bowls, and Sauces Class | Saturday, June 8 | 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. | Rainbow Blossom Springhurst Wellness Center, 3608 Springhurst Blvd., Louisville | $42.45 | Learn to create two kinds of spring rolls + three sauces, all while being vegan and gluten free.

Sunday, June 9

Waterfront’s Most Talented Open Call | Sunday, June 9 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | Bomhard Theater, 501 W. Main St., Louisville | Free | Bring your best song, dance, or tight five for a chance to perform at the Waterfront July Fourth celebration.

Events calendar here

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News Notes

Eat

Vegetarian restaurant Roots (1216 Bardstown Rd.) will reopen Monday, July 1. It closed in February after a car crash caused damage. Its sister restaurant in the same location, Heart and Soy, has remained open since the crash. (LEO Weekly)

Kids

The Louisville Ballet will host seven outdoor audition workshops this month in partnership with Olmsted Parks Conservancy. The workshop series will identify ~20 dancers ages 7-9 for the 2024-2025 Ballet Bound Community Class. The first auditions are this Saturday, June 8 in Shelby + Central Parks.

Watch

Progress continues on UofL Hospital’s West Tower expansion, which began construction last year. The new tower was originally planned to include four new operating rooms, but has since been expanded to six. UofL Health released a timelapse of the project, which is expected to be completed next spring. (WDRB)

Edu

The Kentucky Science Center is partnering with Purdue Polytechnic for a Maker and STEAM summer day camp called Technique Week this July. The five-day camp will offer college-level experiences in engineering and science for high school students. The camp starts Monday, July 8 and costs $200.

Older Adults

Keep your cool — Fan Fair 2024 is this Saturday, June 8 at the Edison Center (701 W. Ormsby Ave.) from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Anyone 60 years or older or with a documented disability can receive a free electric fan to help beat the heat this summer.

Number

14,500. That’s how many catch basins — those square outdoor drains — the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness treats each year to limit mosquito breeding + prevent the spread of West Nile virus. Pro tip: Call (502) 574-5000 if you notice an excess of mosquitos in your neighborhood. (WDRB)

Sports

Conference realignment is shaking things up in the ACC. Get game coverage, analysis, insights, interviews, and more from local experts of the Louisville Cardinals + Atlantic Coast Conference with Locked On’s daily podcasts.

Travel

In our opinion, you should always have a vacation booked on your calendar. Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) offers a range of low-fare options perfect for a summer vacation (think: Boston, San Francisco, and Los Angeles). Explore flights — and plan your next getaway.*

Finance

You know a restaurant’s good if other chefs eat there, and you can trust a gym where athletes train. So, we’ll trust this rec: This card recommended by The Ascent has no annual fee and offers up to 5% cash back, a sign-up bonus, and 0% intro APR into 2025.*

Arts

A step toward honoring the past

The footprints wind around the companion art piece to a quote by Maya Angelou. | Photo by LOUtoday

This Saturday, June 8, the 2021 art piece “On the Banks of Freedom” will be joined by a companion piece entitled “In Our Elders’ Footprints.”

The new piece, conceptualized by (Un)Known Project co-founders and lead artists Hannah Drake and Josh Miller, features footprints from Black elders, including State Senator Gerald Neal, sculptor Ed Hamilton + his wife Bernadette (a retired JCPS administrator), civil rights activist Mattie Jones, and more.

Last year, 20 Black Louisville elders took part in a celebration event at Roots 101 African American Museum, at which their footprints were painted and document in preparation for this project. The new piece will sit alongside “On the Banks of Freedom” on the Louisville riverwalk, between 9th and 10th Streets.

The unveiling will take place Saturday, June 8 at 11 a.m. Attendance is free, but an RSVP is requested.

The Buy

The ultimate summer grill accessory: a wireless smart thermometer. Stick it in your food, cook as usual, and the thermometer will notify your smartphone when your meat has reached the ideal internal temp. Hello, perfectly cooked steaks…

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Declan

From the editor

Tracy Corby, the volunteer coordinator at Wayside Christian Mission asked me to ask you a favor, LOU.

Wayside’s warehouse burned down last year, and they are in search of a place to store donations. If you have a storage unit or warehouse and are feeling generous send her a message — and tell her we sent you.

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