Come Sat., May 14, the Main Branch of the Louisville Free Public Library will be more stacked than a wikiHow article with 50+ informational sessions as part of its annual How-To Festival.
This year marks the ninth How-To Festival at the library, which is a free, open-to-the-public event that teaches skills from tree planting to digital music creation — and it’s all thanks to the generosity of volunteers. Sessions begin at 10 a.m. + will be spread throughout 15 areas of the branch at 301 York St.
The event’s sessions are based on current trends and activities, though presenters from past years do return based on popularity — like how to do Tai Chi or homebrew beer. New topics this year include making and decorating dog treats + planning a cross-country road trip in an electric vehicle.
How-To Festival at the Main Branch of the library teaches 50+ skills. | Photo by LFPL
We’re lifelong learners here at LOUtoday, so here are 9 skillswe want to learn at the How-To Festival.
For City Editor Sarah
How to grow medicinal herbs | 10-10:45 a.m. | Garden Tent No. 1 | Madeline Marchal, Louisville Grows | I’d love to include medicinal herbs in my native plant garden that I’ll learn how to plant later in the day.
How to print like Gutenberg | 11-11:45 a.m. | York St. building lobby | Nick Baute, Hound Dog Press | I learned printmaking in high school — shout out to the Ballard art department — and I’m fascinated to know how the OG did it back in the day.
Learn how to train your dog with positive reinforcement at How-To Festival. | Photo by LFPL
For City Editor Katie
How to raise a herd of urban goats | 10-10:45 a.m. | Garden Tent No. 2 | Von Barnes, Kentuckiana Backyard Farms | As an amateur urban homesteader, raising goats one day would mean I’ve made it to “Alone” status.
How to milk a cow | 10 a.m.-2:45 p.m. | Library Lane | Haley Fisher, Southland Dairy Farmers | I grew up in Southern Indiana + at one point in time learned how to milk a cow, so really this all-day demonstration would be a skills test.
For Sales Executive Mandey
How to train your dog with positive reinforcement | 2-2:45 p.m. | North building, Centennial Room | Kathleen Kiefer, Wiserdog.com | I have two HUGE dogs that really need this.
Kentucky Science Center’s Dog Days | Fri., May 13-Sat., May 14 | 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | Kentucky Science Center | Free with admission | Meet local canine celebrity Ethan as you celebrate + learn about animal care careers. 🐕
Old Louisville LIVE! | Fri., May 13 | 8 p.m. | 1340 S. 4th St. | Free | Rock out at this family-friendly concert series featuring The Crashers. 🎸
Saturday
International Food Truck Festival | Sat., May 14 | 11 a.m.-10 p.m. | Waterfront Park | Free to attend | Sample a selection of local vendors dishing out worldly foods from food trucks like All Thai’d Up + the Celtic Pig. 🥘
St. Matthews Farmers Market | Sat., May 14 | 8 a.m.-12 p.m. | Beargrass Christian Church, 4100 Shelbyville Rd. | Free | Shop local vendors + visit The Arrow Fund, a local nonprofit that helps rescue animals.
Gardener’s Fair | Sat., May 14-Sun., May 15 | 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. | Historic Locust Grove, 561 Blankenbaker Ln. | $8 | Get gardening goods from local vendors + check out farm animal demonstrations like goat milking and sheep shearing. 🌱
Bluegrass PugFest 2022 | Sat., May 14-Sun., May 15 | 1 a.m.-4 p.m. | Kentucky Exposition Center | $8 | Raise funds for Pug Rescue organizations across the country as you enjoy educational sessions, pug races + a pug costume contest. 🐶
Mt. Washington Spring Festival | Sat., May 14 | 9 a.m.-5 p.m. | Downtown Mt. Washington | Free | Guests can enjoy rides, music, a car show, vendor booths, petting zoo + more. 🌼*
Sunday
Louisville Fitness Festival 2022 | Sun., May 15 | 9 a.m.-2 p.m. | Paristown – Christy’s Garden, 731 Brent St. | Free | This festival is bringing all of your favorite fitness studios + wellness centers to one place. 🏋️
Israeli Street Fair | Sun., May 15 | 12-4 p.m. | Trager Family JCC, 3600 Dutchmans Ln. | Free | Shop a market with 25+ vendors, nosh on local vegetarian food + take a tour of the newly-renovated JCC.
We have amonthly 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.
OLIPOP’s Best Sellers pack includes Strawberry Vanilla, Classic Root Beer + other fan-favorites. | Photo provided by OLIPOP
Answer: Yes — meet OLIPOP. OLIPOP is on a mission to craft healthier beverages that taste like traditional sodas and are actually good for you (they’re even Gwyneth Paltrow approved). The secret? Using plant fiber, prebiotics + botanicals to create a fizzy, flavorful beverage that actively supports your digestive health.
And if you’re trying to cut back on sugar, OLIPOP helps with that, too. Each can contains just 2-5 grams of sugar. Bonus: Use code 6AM20 for 20% off sitewide, plus free shipping.*
The shack is back, baby.Shack in the Back BBQ — which was previously a food truck — has traded in the wheels for a brick-and-mortar home at 10706 W. Manslick Rd. in Fairdale. It opens to the publicSat., May 14 and the new digs feature a rustic log cabin vibe inside + a spacious outdoor patio. 🍖
Civic
The city is sponsoring a $30 million proposal to add a pedestrian + cycling path to the Kentucky & Indiana Bridge — which is still an active train crossing. The shared-use path would connect the Portland neighborhood to New Albany, IN and would open by 2040. 🌉 (WDRB)
Outdoors
This area is closed until further notice. Metro Parks staff has closedHogan’s Fountain Pavilion at Cherokee Park due to structural concerns. An adjacent playground + swings are also closed, though guests can still use the larger playground farther from the pavilion as well as the spray pad. (WDRB)
Number
27,600. That’s how many travelers flew into the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport for Kentucky Derby festivities last weekend. Travelers immediately got a taste of the city as the airport passed out 30,000 complimentary Woodford Reserve bourbon balls upon arrival. There were also selfie stations + Derby greeters to welcome them. ✈️ (WDRB)
Louisvillian
Louisville photographer Jon Cherry, along with four other Getty photographers, won the Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Photography for photos he captured at the US Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. It was Jon’s first assignment outside of Louisville. Catch up with Jon in this Q&A. 📸 (LEO Weekly)
Chris Fischer, a Louisville native + founder of OCEARCH, will be Kentucky to the World’snext speaker on Mon., May 16 at Bomhard Theater. Chris works alongside researchers to discover new ways to protect sharks and their ecosystems. 🦈 (The Courier-Journal)
Try This
Flutter down to the Louisville Zoo on Sat., May 14 to check out its new exhibit, Butterflies n’ Blooms. The exhibit is a collaboration with Shelby Park’s Idlewild Butterfly Farm + guests can expect to see monarchs, red admirals, painted ladies, swallowtails, and more. Wings will be flapping through Sun., Sept. 18. 🦋
Arts
The (Un)Known Project, which tells the stories of enslaved people and hidden figures in Louisville, will host its inaugural public art presentation, “On the Banks of Freedom,” on Sat., May 14. The event will be hosted by IDEAS xLab Chief Creative Officer + (Un)Known Project Co-Lead Artist Hannah Drake. 🖼️
Edu
The Kentucky College of Art + Design will graduate its first cohort of BFA students this year, and to celebrate, it’s putting on an exhibition of student works at the 849 Gallery on 3rd Street. It opened to the public on Monday but will be on displaythrough Fri., July 29. 🎨
Regional
It’s no secret that gas prices are high. Kentucky’s average gas price has officially reached an all-time high according to AAA Blue Grass. If you’re fed up with filling up, check out the TARC bus schedule + routes, or check out this map to learn how to explore our city by bike. 🚴 (WAVE3)
Sports
Kentucky Oaks winner Secret Oath will be running in the 2022 Preakness Stakes on Sat., May 21 at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, MD. The Preakness is a 9.5-furlong race — or 1.875 miles. Positions will be announced on Tues., May 17. 🏇 (WLKY)
Tech
Did you know Louisville has almost 2,000 tech companies in the region? The LouTechWorks program brings together K-12 institutions, local and regional higher ed institutions, employers + nonprofit organizations to create a deep pipeline of tech talent.*
Content marked with a * is brought to you by our advertising partners and helps make this newsletter free.
Don’t be a loaf. The Grainwright is opening a second bread shop in Norton Commons’ North Village Market this weekend. Stop by the local bakery for organic breads, local farm goods + products.
Check it out during Norton Commons’ weekly Farmers’ Market on Sun., May 15 from 12 p.m.-4 p.m., or rise early and get your goods on Friday from 3-7 p.m. + Saturday from 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
#DYK that your photos and quotes could be featured in our newsletter?
Editor’s pick:I went to my first Louisville Bats game in years this week, and boy did I forget how much I love the experience of a baseball game.
My besties and I enjoyed sunny seats, hot dogs, and ice cream + discovered that Slugger Field is still offering itsBeer Bats — which is 26 glorious ounces of beer poured into a translucent, Bats-branded baseball bat.
Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Goetta in on this local sausage + where to have some.
Content marked with an * was created in partnership with 6AM City’s advertising partners. Paid content helps keep this newsletter free. 6AM City may also receive a commission on purchases made through affiliate links in this newsletter.
