KFC YUM! CENTER ROOF PROJECT TO BRING MONTHS OF ROAD CLOSURES ON SOUTH THIRD STREET
South Third Street between River Road and Main
Street will be closed through 2025 as crews replace the KFC Yum! Center’s roof.
BY CALEB STULTZ
Drivers in Louisville who are going downtown should be ready for diversions near the KFC Yum! Center as work begins on a big roof replacement project.
Beginning Monday, a portion of South Third Street between River Road and Main Street will close to traffic to make place for a massive crane needed for the project. The shutdown is planned to remain in place through December this year.
According to the Louisville Arena Authority, parking garages at the Galt House Hotel and the Yum! Center will stay open, though drivers will need to use Main Street
for access. Entrances will remain clear, and the street will temporarily reopen for major arena events.
Safe Zone Services will handle traffic control, and officials say additional closures may be announced as construction progresses.
The KFC Yum! Center is honoring its 15th anniversary with the roof replacement, a project the arena authority considers a “critical investment” in the facility’s safety and future.
LOUISVILLE
Fall Festival GUIDE 2025
BY CALEB STULTZ
Louisville shines in the fall with bourbon, art, music, and plenty of spooky fun. Here’s your guide to the city’s best festivals and seasonal happenings, in chronological order.
September
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1 – ALL MONTH
National Bourbon Heritage Month
Citywide | Louisville
Celebrate Kentucky’s signature spirit with tastings, tours, and special bourbon-themed events across the city.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5 –
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 7
Kentucky Bourbon Festival
Bardstown, KY | kentuckybourbonfestival.com
One of bourbon country’s biggest festivals, with tastings, dinners, and the legendary barrel relay race.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5 –
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6
Middletown Family Fun Festival
Middletown, KY
Small-town charm with vendors, live entertainment, and a community parade.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5 –
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6
Oktoberfest at the German-American Club
German-American Club | Louisville German beer, brats, and live polka bands bring Bavaria to Louisville.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6
Greater Louisville Hamfest
Louisville area
Kentucky’s largest gathering of ham radio enthusiasts.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6 –
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 7
Big Four Arts Festival
Big Four Lawn, Waterfront Park
Juried art from over 150 artists, plus music and food along the riverfront.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6 –
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 7
Fleur de Flea Vintage Urban Market Waterfront Park
A treasure hunter’s paradise of vintage goods, retro finds, and quirky collectibles.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6 –
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 7
Trimble County Apple Festival Trimble County Courthouse | Bedford, KY
Apple pies, ciders, crafts, and a classic smalltown fall vibe.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6
Louisville Pride Festival
Bardstown Road | Highlands
A vibrant celebration of Louisville’s LGBTQ+ community with music, food, and parade.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11 –SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 14
Bourbon & Beyond
Highland Festival Grounds | Kentucky Exposition Center
A multi-day festival pairing world-class bourbon tastings with headline music acts.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13
Bike to Beat Cancer
Norton Cancer Institute Brownsboro | Louisville Cyclists ride to raise funds for cancer care and research.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13
Simpsonville Fall Festival
Simpsonville, KY
Local crafts, music, and seasonal family activities.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18 –
UNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21
Louder Than Life
Highland Festival Grounds | Kentucky Exposition Center
The nation’s largest rock festival with huge acts, bourbon, and food trucks.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 –SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 28
Pumpkins at Kentucky Kingdom
Kentucky Kingdom | Fairgrounds
Family-friendly Halloween fun with pumpkin displays, trick-or-treating, and live shows.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 28
Madison Chautauqua Festival of Art Madison, Indiana
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 28 –
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30
Boo at the Zoo Louisville Zoo
A beloved tradition with costumed characters, trick-or-treat paths, and glowing pumpkin displays.
October
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3 –SUNDAY, OCTOBER 5
St. James Court Art Show Old Louisville
One of the nation’s premier art shows, with hundreds of artists lining the historic streets.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2 –
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1
Jack O’ Lantern Spectacular
Iroquois Park
Thousands of artist-carved pumpkins light up a glowing forest trail.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3SUNDAY, OCTOBER 5
Field N’ Folk
Fox Hollow Farm
A weekend event series.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4SUNDAY, OCTOBER 5
Artists & Afros
Norton Healthcare Sports and Learning Center 3029 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd.
A celebration of art, culture and community
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10 –SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11
Belknap Fall Festival
Douglass Loop | Highlands
Live music, art vendors, and family fun in a historic neighborhood.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10 –
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11
Garvin Gate Blues Festival
Garvin Place & Oak Street | Old Louisville
Two nights of live blues in one of Louisville’s most atmospheric districts.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18
Urban Bourbon Half Marathon
Downtown Louisville to Cherokee Park
A scenic 13.1-mile run followed by bourbon tastings and post-race celebrations.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18 –SUNDAY, OCTOBER 19
Via Colori Street Painting Festival
Big Four Bridge | Waterfront Park
Watch artists transform pavement into massive chalk masterpieces.
OCTOBER (DATES TBA)
Louisville’s International Festival of Film Muhammad Ali Center & Louisville Slugger Museum
Independent films from around the world, screened at iconic Louisville venues.
November
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13 –
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23
North American International Livestock Exposition & Championship Rodeo Freedom Hall, Kentucky Exposition Center
The world’s largest all-breed livestock show with rodeo competitions and family fun.
The Zoo features a wide breadth of events, especially during spooker fall months. Aprilmirandacox, Instagram
Waterfront Park hosts a variety of fall festivals this season. Waterfrontparklou, Instagram
EAT, DRINK AND SEE IN THIS WEEK’S STAFF PICKS
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4-14
Gaslight Festival
10434 Watterson Trail | 3-5pm | All ages | FREE
What started as a small street party in 1969 has grown to become the 5th largest festival in the region, and has taken its place as one of the top 20 festivals in the Southeast. The Gaslight Festival, produced by the Jeffersontown Chamber, brings an estimated 150,000 visitors to Jeffersontown every year. Over 135 arts and crafts vendors travel nationwide to showcase their talents, and over 130 area businesses, civic organizations, and nonprofit organizations come to spread awareness at this multiday event. Centered in the smalltown ambiance of Gaslight Square, the festival has evolved into a time-honored tradition of Jeffersontown.
—LEO Weekly Staff
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6
Louisville Pride Festival 2025 1500 Bardstown Rd., | 11am-10pm | All ages | FREE
Louisville Pride Festival Turns 10: Get Ready to Celebrate “Decades of Resistance & Hope!” This year’s theme, “Decades: Resistance and Hope Through The Years,” honors the incredible journey of our community. We’ll come together to recognize our past struggles, celebrate our resilience, and look forward to a future filled with hope and equality. Highlighted this year are: Two Stages Packed with Entertainment, 100+ Vendors to Explore, Wellness & Family Fun, and Delicious Food & Drinks.
—LEO Weekly Staff
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6
Louisville Veg Fest
Mellwood Art Center | 12-6pm | All ages | FREE
Louisville VegFest—Kentucky’s premier celebration of all things vegan—has over 19,000 sq ft of air-conditioned indoor space, most of the festival takes place indoors—with additional food trucks and select vendors bringing the fun outside, too! Formerly known as Bluegrass VegFest, this all-vegan, community-focused event highlights the joy of plantbased eating and conscious, sustainable living. Enjoy delicious food from regional restaurants and food trucks, craft beer and cocktails, inspiring speaker talks, a live cooking demo, an amazing lineup of vendors, indoor and outdoor seating, kids’ activities, educational exhibits, and so much more.
—LEO Weekly Staff
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6-7
Big Four Arts Festival
1001 River Road., Waterfront Park | 9am -5pm | All ages | $5
The Big Four Arts Festival has been the most attended (20,000) two-day Event ever held in Louisville at Waterfront Park on the Big Four Bridge Lawn. The weekend following Labor Day, the 9th annual festival, September 6th & 7th 2025, will be held on the lawn which consists of four acres of tree-lined walks overlooking the Ohio River, located at the Big 4 Walking Bridge. Featuring over 150 juried Fine Artists, Craftsman, Jewelers, Artisans and Demonstration Artists, Live Music Concert Stage on the River all day, Hands-On Art Activities for all Ages, Wide Open Shady Tree Lines aisles for strolling, Festival Favorite Food and Food Trucks, Beer, Wine, Cocktails and Mocktails for Adults and Fully accessible sidewalks throughout the park.
—LEO Weekly Staff
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6
Old Lou Brew: Craft Beer Festival 1340 S. 4th St., Central Park | 6-10pm | All ages | $15
Come enjoy craft brews right in the heart of Old Louisville! Live music with Indie band Bridge 19 and Little Band, 16 local brewers, four food trucks, and summertime outdoor entertainment. It’s the perfect time to kick back and enjoy the beauty of Central Park with your favorite brew. Family and pet friendly – bring an ID, and a leash for your dog. $15 gets you in the gate to enjoy live music, unique beers from some of Kentucky’s finest indie brewers and great food from local food trucks. Tickets can also be purchased at the event. Have fun and support the work of this historic community!
—LEO Weekly Staff
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8-14
Louisville Wing Week
All Around Kentuckiana
In an effort to showcase all that this great city has to offer in the chicken wing department, restaurants will be serving up their take on savory wings with whatever seasoning, sauces, or dips they please! 2025 PARTICIPATING RESTAURANTS INCLUDE: 1st Turn Sports Bar, 80/20 at Kaelins, Agave & Rye, Beargrass Creek Tavern, Blind Squirrel, BoomBozz, Brass Social, CM Chicken, Country Boy Brewing, Doc Crows, Four Pegs SmokeHouse, HighFoods, Hop Atomica, Joella’s, La Suerte, Momma’s Mustard Pickles & BBQ, Parlour, River City Drafthouse, Rubbies Southside Grill & Bar, Spring Street Bar & Grill, The B.A. Colonial, and more to be announced! Restaurants subject to change.
—LEO Weekly Staff
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13
2025 Asian Night Market
411 S. 4th St., | 5-10pm | All ages | FREE
The Night Market is a cool collaboration between Asia Institute – Crane House, Louisville Downtown Partnership, Korean Business Gateway, and Fourth Street Live! It’s going to feature awesome Asian food, cultural shows, and unique retail items. This is a big chance to really celebrate Louisville’s Asian-American entrepreneurs and small business owners. Kelsey Hamm, the Program Coordinator, says “Like many Asian Americans, I’ve often felt the absence of spaces where our cultures are truly seen and celebrated. Being part of the Asian Night Market feels deeply meaningful, not just as a way to enjoy Asian cuisine and performance, but as an expression of identity and community within Louisville.”, per the press release.
—LEO Weekly Staff
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27
NuLu Fest
616-618 E. Market St. | 11am-8pm | All ages | FREE
For the 15th year, NuLu is hosting its well-known street festival celebrating the continued growth and revitalization of Louisville’s East Market District. Enjoy live music, regional micro-brewed beers, and numerous food and retail booths by local vendors. There will be activities for all ages. The event is free, family-friendly, and open to the public. They shut down the street for a good ‘ole block party, featuring local food, craft beers, bourbons, local and regional vendors, and live music. For the safety and comfort of all guests, we strongly recommend leaving pets at home. Large crowds, loud noises, and high temperatures can create a stressful and potentially unsafe environment for animals. Only service animals, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), are permitted. All service animals must remain on a leash and under the handler’s control at all times.
—LEO Weekly Staff
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20
Spooky Sprint Run
10700 Broad Run Pkwy., Broad Run Park | 8-11am | All ages | $17+
Join us for the annual Spooky Sprint 5k/10k & Half Marathon! A fun, Halloween-themed event that is perfect for the whole family. The fun includes Great Swag - designer shirt & custom medal, Chip-timing with live results and awards, Free photos, Delicious Treats waiting at the finish line The kid’s dash is a fun, untimed dash for our kiddos ages 10 and under. Registration includes a mini bib, youth-sized shirt, and a specifically crafted medal for our kids’ dash event! (If your child wants to run the kid’s dash, and doesn’t want the SWAG, they are welcome to run with us on race day for free!) Grab your friends and family, you are not going to want to miss this one!
—LEO Weekly Staff
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27-28
Nunnlea Craft Fair
1940 S Hurstbourne Pkwy. | Times Vary | All ages | FREE
ArtSpark Productions is so incredibly honored to be producing the Nunnlea Craft Show!
For over two decadews, this remarkable event has been held on the grounds of the historic Nunnlea house, showcasing the exceptional talents of local artisans. The fair offers a unique opportunity to explore a wide array of handcrafted treasures, from exquisite jewelry and stunning artwork to beautifully crafted textiles and one-of-a-kind home goods. The Nunnlea Craft Fair truly embodies the spirit of creativity and community, and we encourage you to experience it for yourself! For more information visit their website: https://www.eventeny.com/ events/nunnlea-17152/
—LEO Weekly Staff
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20
Steps for Safe Water 5K
350 Adams Street, Lynn Family Stadium | 8am | All ages | $25
Join us for a powerful new 5K event benefiting WaterStep, dedicated to raising awareness and support for the 2.2 billion people around the world who lack access to safe water. Every step you take honors the daily journey millions make, often more than 3 miles, to collect water that’s still unsafe to drink. This burden falls most heavily on women and children, limiting their access to education, opportunity, and hope. Run in solidarity. Walk with purpose. Help bring safe water and lasting change to communities who need it most. Hosted by The WaterStep Teen Board, a group of highly motivated high school students dedicated to supporting WaterStep’s mission of providing safe water solutions to communities in need around the world.
—LEO Weekly Staff
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 AND INTO OCTOBER
Pumpkins at Kentucky Kingdom
937 Phillips Lane, Kentucky Kingdom | 6-10am | All ages | FREE with Season Pass, or $95+
The annual family friendly fall festival, Pumpkins at Kentucky Kingdom is returning this fall! Look forward to over 1,000 bright orange pumpkins appearing all over the park, inviting you to play all day on world-class rides and explore fall-themed fun like games, street performances, and colorful characters. When the sun goes down, everyone will discover larger-thanlife glowing delights at Kentucky Kingdom! Our family-friendly dance party is always a big hit, how glow can you go?
—LEO Weekly Staff
A VEGGIE’S GUIDE TO LOVING DISTRICT
6’S VIETNAMESE STREET FOOD
BY JOE DESENSI
Louisville has had a wonderful Vietnamese food scene for decades, with many great eateries having come (and some gone) from the Southside of the city around Iroquois Park. The East End also boasts my favorite Vietnamese hotspot, District 6 (actually named after a neighborhood in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam... formerly Saigon). If you’re not familiar with Vietnamese street food, then it’s a good place to bring several friends and order a little bit of everything and eat family style. So many great flavors with some reasonably priced cocktails too to wash them down.
If you are a fan of exploring Louisville’s tasty food scene and you have some high-maintenance food peccadillos like me, you might worry about what has wheat or what poor animal was bludgeoned in the making of a dish. District 6 has you covered; they have a whole vegetarian section and have marked very well what is gluten-y and what is spicy.
The restaurant has this effortlessly cool vibe, like it knows it’s awesome but doesn’t need to brag. It’s got just the right balance of modern and cozy, with dark wood accents, pops of greenery, and warm lighting letting you see all the vibrant colors in your meal. Even the upbeat playlist added to the experience—energetic without being so loud you can’t have the exact same argument on whether or not Die Hard is a Christmas movie or not (spoiler alert, it is).
Ordering drinks first, Hope went for a Napa Valley, Sauvignon, Blanc, and being in a bourbon mood, I ordered off of their specialty cocktail menu with the Maker’s Mark Manhattan served in a short glass rather than a stemmed cocktail glass, making it much harder to spill… But let me make this very clear: not impossible.
Foodwise, we started with a few shareables, including the summer rolls and the tofu and mushroom lettuce wraps. The summer rolls were vegan with tofu and large slices of avocado, and a great sweet and savory dipping sauce… Tip: you will want to save any remaining sauce for the rest of your meal. The tofu and mushroom lettuce wraps included noodles, slaw, peanuts, and cilantro. A little messier to eat, but we weren’t trying to win a Miss Manners Fancy Pants Eating Award either.
For the main course, it was hard to choose between the red curry dishes and some other Vietnamese specialties like their version of spicy street corn. I opted for the Sweet and Spicy Cauliflower (crunchy fried cauliflower drizzled with sweet and spicy sauce
and topped with green onions), a unique specialty to District 6. I remembered the cauliflower having a bit of zip, but I forgot that the “moderate” heat was partially from avoiding the small, spicy red chili slices that are sprinkled on top. The rest of my cocktail and a full glass of water later, I was ready to jump back into the meal.
Hope selected the salmon with pineapple and tomatoes (pineapple and tomatoes sauce and topped with green onion and Thai chili), which she ate with the demure of a killer whale tossing a seal around before gobbling it down.
For the carnage consumers out there,
District 6 - Pho Restaurant
3930 Shelbyville Rd, Louisville KY 40207
(502) 873-5561
eatdistrict6.wixsite.com/district6
they have a short rib pho, baby back ribs, and Amity’s rice, fried rice with chorizo, bacon, egg, and cheese. Also drunken beef, fish served on banana leaves, and so much more.
Two more specialties to mention. District 6 is known for its pho: a large bowl of flavorful broth with beef or tofu and what can only be described as a garden full o’vegetables with some rice noodles for added texture. Second, if you have a really authentic Vietnamese joint, they are going to have a proper coffee— sweet, creamy, and packed with caffeine... just like me.
Also, so many places aren’t open for lunch these days, but being in the heart of Saint
Matthews, they have great lunch specials and combination plates with parking conveniently located right out front. If you’re coming in the evening, I recommend a reservation, and parking may be a little harder to find, but it’s worth the journey.
RYAN DAVIS AND THE ROADHOUSE BAND LIGHT UP THE WHIRLING TIGER WITH ‘NEW THREATS FROM THE SOUL’ ALBUM RELEASE SHOW
BY JAY WELLS
It was a little after Ryan Davis and the Roadhouse Band finished their sound check for the night when I arrived at the Whirling Tiger. I caught the last moments of the affair in the dimly lit performance hall, sitting on a stool at the bar near the entrance to the venue. Davis laughed lightly at an unheard remark as he unwound a cord. Dressed in a comfortably fitting plaid shirt and jeans, he appeared relaxed as he interacted with his bandmates.
Davis eventually made his way over to me and sat briefly at the bar, short on time. He said he was excited to play that night, adding he had performed at the Whirling Tiger several times before. The band only plays in Louisville a few times a year because its members live in different states between gigs.
“It’s the calm before the storm,” he said, describing the anticipation before a show. The group would soon launch a Midwest and European tour. Davis then got up, laid out band shirts at the merch table and left with his crew for dinner.
The opening act, Phantom Family Halo—old acquaintances of Davis—began their sound check. Their auditory landscape was an eclectic kaleidoscope, from the electronic whirl of the keyboard to the strumming of electric guitars to the shake of maracas. I caught stray highpitched lyrics from keyboardist and vocalist Dane Waters, who, with long brunette hair and a black shawl, seemed to blend into the darkness. My ears perked up at phrases such as “atomic bomb,” punctuated by the drummer’s cues to launch into another brief rendition. The music
struck me as heavy, leaning toward stoner rock. Lead singer and guitarist Dahm Majuri Cipolla wore a bucket hat that shadowed his eyes as he harmonized with Waters. His lyrics carried a sense of weight and dread: “I used to think I was an unlucky man … lost in the dust,” followed by the repeated refrain “fly” in harmony. As their rehearsal wrapped, a longhaired, bearded figure carried tables out of the hall to clear space for the incoming audience.
The band dispersed, leaving Cipolla alone on stage to sing “Wand’rin’ Star,” with the chorus carried by a prerecorded Lee Marvin track. That closed the sound check.
Cipolla later told me it was the first time Phantom Family Halo had played a show in seven years. Best known as the drummer for the Japanese band Mono, Cipolla had spent 14 years in New York City before returning to Kentuckiana. He recently bought a home in New Albany with his wife and daughter, happy to leave behind the bustle of New York. Touring half the year, he admitted it felt strange playing guitar after so much time behind a drum kit. Their set list, he said, was all new material for a forthcoming project about halfway finished. When the doors opened, the crowd began trickling in. From my spot on the elevated
landing to the right of the stage, I watched as Phantom Family Halo opened the show with “Wand’rin’ Star.” The exotic keyboard tones stood out, blending with Waters’ high-pitched vocals into a dissonant mix. Their final number swelled into a crescendo, each instrument roaring at full volume for a climactic finish.
After intermission, Ryan Davis and the Roadhouse Band took the stage, delivering a vigorous, enthusiastic performance. Davis’ vocals were joined by Catherine Irwin on “New Threats from the Soul” and “Learn 2 Re-Luv,” and by Jenny Rose on “Monte Carlo/No Limits,” “Simple Joy,” and “Freedom from the Guillotine.” Local musician Grace Rogers, whose recent album Mad Dogs was released under Davis’ Sophomore Lounge label, sang “Better If You Make Me.”
That track in particular sounded heavier and faster than the album version. While I struggled at times to catch the lyrics—perhaps due to my positioning or a recently discovered auditory processing issue—the band’s tight, symphonic sound was undeniable. Their hard-driving set resonated with the audience, who ended the night chanting, “One more song!” Davis and the band obliged, closing the evening on a literal upbeat note.
(L to R): Member of Phantom Family Halo 6 strums along to the beat.
Grace Rogers takes the stage.
Ryan Davis leads the band’s vocals. Jesse Hollon
LISTEN LOCAL: NEW LOUISVILLE MUSIC TO CRUSH YOUR SEPTEMBER BLUES
New releases by Hannan, Turn3, CROP, Turner, and more!
BY JEFF POLK
Bug Bot
Metalmorphosis - album
I had the opportunity to meet the guys and gal in Bug Bot when we all appeared on episode 3 of The Whenever Show with Donnie Vagrant, (which you should go watch, it’s on YouTube). Although I’ve seen their band name on a lot of local shows, I had yet to hear them. Turns out they were yet another band that I let slip under the radar for far too long, as I was very impressed with their musical chops and unique sound. Initial impressions were heavy 90’s post-grunge sound along the lines of L7 and Babes in Toyland, but Bug Bot’s sound runs deeper than that.
Opener “Mournings” sets the pace for the album. Heavy without being metal, definitely punk influenced, and features a great walking bass line throughout. Following track “Walking Away” has a heavy blues groove swagger to it. “Abuser” hits hard with a bit chaotic riffs and catchy as fuck hooks. “Caterpillar” slows it down for a breather with a 90’s-ish indie/alt-rock backbone. “Stabbed” kicks it all back up a notch with a 90’s SoCal punk feel not far removed from early Rancid. A cover of NOFX’s “Dinosaurs Will Die” keeps the 90’s SoCal punk vibe rolling along. The final three songs are from a 2022 recording session that was never released until now and give a glimpse into the band’s earlier sound. “Witch” is far more along the grunge lines. “Clark Kent” is a punk rock banger that brings to mind Descendents. “SugarMeat” closes out the album with a great flowing alt-indie rock feel. With catchy songs that stick in your head and excellent musicianship, Metalmorphosis needs to be on your playlist!
facebook.com/p/Bug-Bot-100078766463068
Cell Intruder
Den of Deformity - EP
It’s hard to believe that it’s been 40 years since death metal, black metal, and grindcore burst forth from the depths of hell to spread its plague amongst the metal and hardcore scenes. What’s even harder to believe is that there is still such a vibrant scene for these styles of music, (ok, maybe “vibrant” isn’t the best term to use). But there are still tons of bands out there making their mark on these scenes worldwide, with more forming every day.
Describing themselves as “a modern brutal death metal band with an old-school edge” that draws inspiration “from the barbarity of bands like Devourment and Mortician,” Louisville’s Cell Intruder is an excellent example of the youth keeping these scenes alive. Seeing words such as “exsanguination,” “mandibulectomy,” and “pharyngeal” used in their lyrics alongside brutal blast beats, guttural vocals, and bone-crunching riffs immediately brought to mind Carcass’ 1989 morbid masterpiece Symphonies of Sickness, (to this day, it’s hard for me to sit behind the drums and not start playing the intro to “Ruptured in Purulence” out of habit). And with song titles like “Algal Asphyxiation,” “Blunt Force Cranial Dissection,” “SWARMED. DISMEMBERED. DEVOURED.” “Homicidal Drug Trance,” and “Regurgitivore,” it’s not hard to tell what you’re in for before the first note is played. Five songs and less than 15 minutes in length, Den of Deformity keeps things short and bullshit-free. No filler, just meat. But make no mistake; this is highly skilled songwriting here. Time changes come fast and furious, keeping things from getting stagnant while numerous song hooks dig into you like the Cenobites’ chains from Hellraiser. Gore-obsessed, brutally heavy, and expertly played, Cell Intruder is here to rip you apart in the best way possible!
linktr.ee/cellintruder
CROP
S.S.R.I. - album
Unsettling. Uncomfortable. Emotional and disturbing. Lexington’s CROP have not only created one of the deepest, darkest, sickeningly sludgy and uncompromisingly heavy sounds I’ve ever heard, they’ve fucking mastered it! Building on the doom metal foundation developed on their 2021 self-titled EP, S.S.R.I. is full-on blackened, extra-crispy, greasy, Southern fried stoner sludge at its best! A true masterpiece of misery. Kicking off with the mood-setting instrumental “Flatline,” things escalate quickly with “Formaldehyde,” which hits with all the subtlety of a brick to the face. Things don’t get any lighter with “Goddamn,” “10-56,” “Alone,” the aptly-titled instrumental “Breath,” which gives a quick breather before the powerhouse closer “Break.”
This isn’t heavy in a death metal, brutal way, it’s fucking heavier! Slow, plodding, dirgy, dirty, ugly, suffocation music with depressive, self-loathing lyrics dealing with heartbreak, loneliness, addiction, and suicidal contemplation brought to life by vocalist Marc Phillips’ raw, strained, grit and gravel-style, yet emotive and powerful-as-fuck vocals. Lines like “When no one cares you’re alive, you’ll never die” (“Formaldehyde”), “Depending how you feel about livin’, yeah you might be wasting time” (“Goddamn”), “Sick and tired of being sick and tired. Sick of being at all” (“10-56”) leave little to the imagination.
The thing is, this isn’t just heavy for the sake of heavy. There is true emotion behind all of it. The band is capable of riffs that rip you apart from the inside out, yet also skilled enough to wrap it in delicate, darkly beautiful textures in a way that no other band playing sludgy doom metal are quite capable of. S.S.R.I. is an all-out assault mentally, emotionally, and even physically. The kind of music you need to prepare yourself for before hitting play. But it is a hell of an experience!
https://linktr.ee/legalizecrop
Hannan
“Deliver Me” - single
Although there are a hell of a lot of great bands in Louisville, I don’t know of any that come close to bringing the level of professionalism to every aspect of their music quite like Hannan does. The musicianship, songwriting, recording, production, stage presence, all of it right down to the smallest details of the artwork, no expense is spared and no effort is rushed. It’s always top-tier excellence with these guys at a level that a majority of major label, worldwide touring bands aren’t even at.
Obviously, their latest single, (and first release since 2024’s full-length Last Disguise), is no exception. In fact, they’ve even managed to top themselves! “Deliver Me” is their catchiest tune yet with rock-solid hooks, outstanding musicianship, and thanks to producers Paul Bartolome (Asking Alexandria) and Marshall Bastin (3 Doors Down), their richest production to date. Graham Hannan’s vocals are smoother, Kris Kerr’s guitar is crunchier, Josh Smart’s bass is thicker, and Dean Dufresne’s drums are punchier than ever before; giving a truer representation of what you experience when you hear these guys live, (and it is most certainly an experience).
This is tight-as-hell, highly polished, top-notch professional, arena-ready, modern alt/hard rock with roots in early 80’s metal that sinks its fangs into you from the moment it starts and holds you there until the last note. I don’t normally point out guitar solos, but when Kris Kerr shreds his all-tooshort one at the 2:13 mark, visions of Randy Rhoads hit me. That, my friends, is spectacular work! The band plans on releasing a few more singles over the coming months, culminating in an EP release sometime in the near future. In the meantime, turn this all the way the fuck up! hannanmusic.us
JT Leon and Cyntrix
Make Believe (& More Sounds) - single/EP
When Cyntrix (Richard Stottman) of Louisville shared a demo with JT Leon of Liverpool, UK back in 2012, the two teenagers had no idea at the time that it would kick off a 13-year journey of friendship, loss, growth, and artistic evolution. Over the years, the two artists would return to the track again and again, reshaping it with new perspectives. Now, in 2025, that journey culminates with the release of the finished product; the queer alt-pop anthem “Make Believe,” a slow-burning track about queer defiance and holding onto hope in a collapsing world.
“This is a song about survival. About choosing to keep going when everything tells you to give up. About dissociation, queerness, and the power of imagining a better version of yourself” said vocalist and lyricist JT Leon. “The lyrics resonate even more with what’s going on in the world. The most recent, ongoing pushbacks on LGBTQ+ rights, the emboldening of fascist politics, and the ever-present climate breakdown, they all underscore the anxiety here - an anxiety that could drown you in a sea of inaction, if you let it take too much hold.”
For the music, composer Cyntrix said “I focused on building a dynamic sonic landscape, one that starts small and intimate, then swells into an atmospheric climax. I wanted it to feel like the walls were closing in and opening up at the same time.”
And it works! The blend of lush ambient synths with emotionally raw vocals and a swelling electronic backdrop that fuses bedroom-pop intimacy with cinematic atmosphere that combines elements of dreampop, electronica, and EDM to create an intense, immersive, wonderfully beautiful soundscape.
cyntrixproductions.com/music
LEO Weekly has Spotify playlists for each Listen Local column featuring selected tracks from each reviewed release. Search Spotify for LEO Weekly and have a listen!
Want to see your music reviewed in LEO Weekly? Louisville and Southern Indiana-based bands/artists, send a link to your music along with a band/artist bio, (lengthy bios are highly appreciated), a high-resolution pic of the release’s cover art, and any additional information that may be helpful for the review to music@leoweekly.com.
Plague IX
“Oh Fuck Who Cares” - single Subtlety has never been one of Plague IX’s strong suits. Clocking in at 1:38, (not sure if that’s a Misfits nod or just a happy coincidence), “Oh Fuck Who Cares” takes exactly 8 seconds before pummeling you with an old-school punk rock assault that is as equally as pissed off as it is fun.
The thing I really love about Plague IX is that while they are punk rock through and through, there is an underlying influence of proto-punk bands like The Stooges and MC5, and a hint of early metal in the vein of Motorhead. Mix that with a bit of garage punk like New Bomb Turks and The Pagans, and top it off with a hefty dose of hardcore punk such as Black Flag and Misfits, and you’ve got yourself an idea of Plague IX’s sound.
The track, with its Skibidi Toilet-esque cover art, (I have a 13-year old son, I know about these things), lyrics revolving around gun culture in America, unironically released on July 4th, and (I think) will be on their upcoming album The Fine Art of Denial; Or How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Love the Gun - which I learned about by watching their performance and interview on episode 4 of The Whenever Show with Donnie Vagrant, which you can watch for yourself on YouTube right now, (yes, I’m name-dropping that show for a 2nd time in this round of reviews) - is nothing short of a great way to spend a minute-and-a-half of your life.
plagueix.bandcamp.com
Turn3
I’m Getting’ There - album
I’m a big fan of bands putting out albums that are overall cohesive, yet every song stands on its own with its own groove, own style, own pace, and own identity. And this is precisely why I keep coming back to spin Turn3’s debut full-length album I’m Getting’ There. And don’t let the word debut fool you, these guys have been jamming together for over 2 decades, although they’ve only started releasing their original material over the past five years with two EPs and a handful of singles.
Made up of veteran Louisville music scene musicians, Turn3 features former members of Whatever Will, (if you were around Louisville in the 90’s, then you definitely remember that band), and Lava/Atlantic Records recording artists Outspoken, among others. Overall, their sound bridges the gap between classic rock and modern alt-rock, but there is so much more to it than that.
From the throwback radio rock of album opener “Savor,” the acoustic power ballad “Time Goes On,” the blues rock groove of title track “I’m Getting’ There,” the pop punk-ish “Favorite Band,” hard rock stomper “Fall From Grace,” 80’sish rocker “On My Way,” the mid-90’s alt-rock flow of “Right Amount,” the soulful funk groove of “Joyfield,” the modern alt-rock kicker “Wound,” and the R&B meets country rock of closer “Three Simple Words,” I’m Getting’ There is an album that doesn’t let up for a second. Not a single filler song to be found here; every one of these 10 tracks could be rock radio hits right now if there were still a music industry left.
Exemplary musicianship and songwriting skills, powerful storytelling, heartfelt lyrics, and soaring melodies make I’m Getting’ There an album you can’t ignore.
turn3.rocks
Turner
“Hooking Up” - single
Future legendary Louisville band Turner returns with the follow up to their debut single “Jump In,” and damn, you are in for a hell of an earworm here! The band’s sophomore single, “Hooking Up,” is just a big, bouncy, upbeat, ball of fun that’ll have you smiling at the lyrics, nodding your head to the rhythm, humming along, and by halfway though, up on your feet and dancing. It’s infectious in the best way.
My first thoughts on hearing this were to draw comparisons to Harvey Danger’s “Flagpole Sitta” and Spacehog’s “In The Meantime,” (even if you don’t recognize those band names, you know the songs, trust me). Not so much in how “Hooking Up” sounds, but in its spirit. It’s that carefree, bubbly, youthful energy in this song that brought me back to that mid-to-late 90’s post-grunge movement where a whole slew of alternative rock bands with pop sensibilities were snatched up and churned out one after another by the major labels looking for the next big thing, resulting in a ridiculous amount of one-hit wonders.
But I digress. This isn’t that. With influences of alt-rock, indie rock, grunge, emo, punk, and a penchant for writing catchy-as-fuck tunes, Turner brings to mind everything great about music from the 90’s through today. It’s nostalgic yet modern; the kind of sound that appeals to all ages from 15 to 50. And above all else, they’re just flat out goddamn fun! You need this in your life.
instagram.com/turner.online
HYPHEN FILM CENTER CREATES THIRD SPACES FOR LOUISVILLE FILM LOVERS
A collective of artists brings the global majority to local screens
BY ARIA BACI
In 2021, local artists Naveen Chaubal, Bryn Silverman, Demi Gardner, and Fitzgerald Junior conceived of a third space for film lovers in Louisville. Their passion—fortified by mini-grant funding and in-kind support from local art and culture organizations—became Hyphen Film Center.
As a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, in-person gatherings had become fewer and farther between than ever before. To help limit exposure to coronavirus, community engagement transitioned to online spaces. Business meetings, family visits, friend hangs, and even movie nights became livestreaming experiences. The comfort of physical togetherness was, for a long moment, lost.
“Remember going to the movies on a Friday night?” Hyphen Film Center’s founders asked in a statement. “You’d call up some friends and meet at the theater. You might not even get into your film of choice, but it didn’t matter—you were there with your people.” Naveen Chaubal, Bryn Silverman, Demi Gardner, and Fitzgerald Junior came together as filmmakers and cinema lovers to find a solution in Louisville. “We shared stories of what cinema meant to us and how it had shaped our identities.”
One founder had a projector, and another had a pair of speakers. Together, they found some church pews on Craigslist and soon after that, set up a makeshift screening space. What started as informal gatherings flourished beyond their expectations. “People kept coming,” the founders said. “Not just for the films, but for the feeling. For the connection.”
Watching their initial idea flicker into something truly luminary, Hyphen Film Center created a third space between the living room and the movie theater. “We began to see that an accessible cinema experience could play a vital role in rebuilding our social fabric.”
In partnership with the Louisville Film Society, the Hyphen Film Center recently screened a program of short films as a part of the Flyover Film Festival. One of the films was “Maqluba” by Louisville-based Palestinian American filmmaker Mike Elsherif.
T he founders’ mission is “to engage, enrich, and educate diverse audiences through innovative and accessible
cinematic arts programming, while reducing social and economic barriers to participation,” they said. “We believe that film should be for everyone, and we strive to make space for stories that often go unheard or underrepresented.”
Hyphen Film Center sees itself as an extension of the Third Cinema movement, the aesthetic and political cinematic movement that began in the Global South as an alternative to Hollywood, considered First Cinema, and aesthetically focused Western European cinema, considered Second Cinema. Third Cinema films presented socially realistic portrayals of life, inclusive of the themes of colonialism, class, poverty, cultural practices, and personal identities. The term was coined by Argentine filmmakers Fernando Solanas and Octavio Getino in their manifesto “Hacia un tercer cine” (“Toward a Third Cinema”) in 1969.
Hyphen Film Center is a volunteer-run organization that has received funding and other support from Color Congress, Fund for the Arts, Kentucky Humanities, Kentucky Foundation for Women, Asia Institute—Crane House, Logan Street
Market, Louisville Public Media, KMAC, World Affairs Council, Speed Cinema, and the New Orleans Film Society. Donate to Hyphen Film Center and become part of the movement.
Still from The People Could Fly, directed by Imani Nikyah Dennison (2024).
Still from Ka ‘ā’ume’ume Navigating Home, directed by M. Kaleipumehana Cabral (2023). Courtesy photos
15+ VINTAGE AND ANTIQUE SHOPS IN LOUISVILLE YOU’LL LOVE EXPLORING THIS FALL
BY: CALEB STULTZ
Fall into Louisville’s vintage scene with these must-visit shops! From retro fashion and mid-century furniture to quirky collectibles and one-of-a-kind treasures, these local spots make exploring the city a stylish adventure. Whether you’re a bargain hunter, nostalgia lover or simply looking for unique finds, this guide will lead you straight to the coolest vintage gems in town.
1. The Odd Shop (New Albany, IN)
155 E Main St., New Albany, IN 47150
Hours vary—check in advance
Part of the Southern Indiana Fun Trail, this quirky offbeat store is filled with old toys, board games, records, VHS tapes—and features a photogenic CD wall. A fun detour that feels like stepping into someone’s nostalgic hoard turned selfie magnet.
2. Tickled Pink
3269 Taylor Blvd., Louisville, KY 40215 Thu–Sun: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
More like a vintage carnival than a shop, Tickled Pink is packed to the brim with clothing, oddities, home goods, and flea market-style booths. The bargains are unbeatable, and the sheer variety makes every trip an adventure. Whether you’re digging for retro Pyrex or a funky armchair, chances are you’ll leave with more than you planned.
3. The Flea Off Market
1007 E Jefferson St., Louisville, KY 40206
Seasonal Weekends: Hours vary Louisville’s favorite pop-up flea brings together
vintage clothing, antiques, handmade jewelry, and vinyl records in an outdoor festival atmosphere. Alongside rows of curated vendors, you’ll find food trucks, craft beer, and live music. Perfect for a weekend wander, it’s part shopping trip, part community gathering.
4. Book & Music Exchange
1616 Bardstown Rd., Louisville, KY 40205
Daily: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
A Highlands institution for over 40 years, this nostalgic shop offers a little bit of everything: vintage vinyl, cassettes, DVDs, video games, comics, and books stacked floor-toceiling. It’s equal parts retro archive and bargain-hunting paradise, where you might score a rare pressing or a cult-classic novel for just a few dollars.
5. Acorn Apparel
1605 Bardstown Rd., Louisville, KY 40205
Daily: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Chic, curated, and fashion-forward, Acorn Apparel specializes in timeless vintage denim, jewelry, handbags, and accessories. Their racks are thoughtfully selected with an eye for wearable trends, blending classic vintage staples with modern style. It’s a go-to for those looking to upgrade their wardrobe with sustainable, unique fashion.
6. The Nitty Gritty
996 Barret Ave., Louisville, KY 40204
Mon–Sat: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. | Sun: 12 to 5 p.m. Known for its playful spirit, The Nitty Gritty
bursts with racks of colorful vintage fashion, funky retro costumes, and statement accessories. Whether you’re searching for a one-of-a-kind Halloween look, groovy festival gear, or a standout jacket that sparks conversation, this shop makes dressing up an adventure year-round.
7. Fat Rabbit
1000 Barret Ave., Louisville, KY 40204
Daily: 12 to 7 p.m.
Part thrift store, part community hub, Fat Rabbit offers an eclectic mix of vintage clothing, records, quirky knick-knacks, and rotating art. With its friendly buy-selltrade model, you can bring in old favorites for quick cash or store credit. It’s a casual, welcoming spot that feels like visiting a friend’s funky living room.
8. Fleur de Flea Vintage Market
947 E Breckinridge St., Louisville, KY 40204
Wed–Sun: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
A vintage lover’s dream, Fleur de Flea blends retro bar vibes with mid-century modern furniture, home décor, vinyl, and
quirky collectibles. The sprawling indoor space feels like stepping into a stylish time capsule, with curated stalls from dozens of vendors. Expect bold statement pieces, cocktail-inspired décor, and endless treasures to browse.
9. Hey Tiger
730 E Market St., Louisville, KY 40202
Tue–Sat: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. | Sun: 12 to 4 p.m.
Equal parts art gallery and vintage shop, Hey Tiger mixes retro clothing with handmade goods from local designers. From bohemian dresses to industrial-chic furniture, the store leans modern while staying rooted in timeless style. Every corner feels curated with love, making it easy to stumble onto a statement piece you didn’t know you needed.
10. 2023 (Showroom)
2023 Frankfort Ave., Louisville, KY 40206
Thu–Sat: 12 to 5 p.m. | Sun: 1 to 4 p.m.
This boutique showroom offers a more refined approach to vintage, specializing in high-end statement clothing and luxury
accessories. The aesthetic is minimal and editorial, with pieces carefully displayed like works of art. For those who see fashion as investment, 2023 offers vintage that feels timeless, elegant, and runway-ready.
11. Nearly New Shop
1250 Bardstown Rd., Louisville, KY 40204
Mon–Sat: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
This nonprofit resale shop has supported Louisville charities for decades, offering gently used clothing, accessories, and home goods at accessible prices. Inventory changes daily thanks to community donations, so every visit feels like a fresh hunt. Shopping here means scoring deals while supporting a good cause—a win-win for bargain seekers with a big heart.
12. Mellwood Antiques & Interiors
1850 Mellwood Ave., Louisville, KY 40206
Daily: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Fri–Sat: open until 6 p.m.
Spanning over 45,000 sq ft in a former packing-house, Mellwood is Louisville’s largest antique mall—home to 100+ dealers and 200+ booths. From fine antiques and mid-century finds to art, books, records, and quirky collectibles, it’s a treasure trove that rewards deep digging and curious eyes.
13. What The LOU
1101 Goss Ave., Louisville, KY 40204
Hours vary—check social media
A cozy, carefully curated nod to 90s nostalgia and beyond. Think old-school rap merch, wrestling gear, VHS tapes, and vintage sportswear—alongside an atmosphere that skews playful, nostalgic, and delightfully niche.
14. No Direction Home
2509 Grinstead Dr., Louisville, KY 40206
Hours vary—check online
A standout for unique vintage furniture and home accessories—it’s where functional meets sculptural, with one-of-akind pieces that double as focal points in your space.
15. Evolve: The Men’s Re-Sale Store
2416 Frankfort Ave #2, Louisville, KY 40206
Hours vary—typically midday to early evening
A sharply organized men’s resale shop that feels like a chic throwback department store. Expect curated racks of vintage and gently used fashion—with just the right dose of personality.
16. Margaret’s Fine Consignment
2700 Frankfort Ave., Louisville, KY 40206
Hours vary—check ahead Your go-to for upscale consignment and derby-ready looks. From formal gowns to streamlined casual wear, this two-story gem blends savvy curation with stylish finds—especially for special occasions.
17. Aster Vintage St. Matthews area, Louisville, KY (exact address varies)
Hours vary—check Instagram @aster.vintage
A newer, heart-of-St. Matthews thrift boutique celebrated for welcoming firsttimer vintage shoppers. Expect friendly guidance, approachable selections, and a curated atmosphere that eases new explorers into the secondhand scene.
CLASSIFIEDS
Crown Castle Fiber, LLC is proposing to modify telecommunications equipment at an approximate overall height of 34 feet above ground level on an existing 41-foot tall overall height small cell telecommunications structure near 2988 S 2nd Street, Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky (38¬∞ 12’ 22.2” N, 85¬∞ 45’ 46.9” W). Crown Castle Fiber, LLC invites comments from any interested party on the impact of the proposed action on any districts, sites, buildings, structures or objects significant in American history, archaeology, engineering or culture that are listed or determined eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places and/or specific reason the proposed action may have a significant impact on the quality of the human environment. Specific information regarding the project may be sent to Environmental Corporation of America, ATTN: Annamarie Howell, 1375 Union Hill Industrial Court, Suite A, Alpharetta, GA 30004 or via email to publicnotice@eca-usa. com. Ms. Howell can be reached at (770) 667-2040 x 108 during normal business hours. Comments must be received within 30 days of the date of this notice. 25-000202b/JET
Crown Castle Fiber, LLC is proposing to modify telecommunications equipment at an approximate overall height of 34 feet above ground level on an existing 42-foot tall overall height small cell telecommunications structure near 3013 S 9th Street, Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky (38¬∞ 12’ 24.0” N, 85¬∞ 46’ 23.2” W). Crown Castle Fiber, LLC invites comments from any interested party on the impact of the proposed action on any districts, sites, buildings, structures or objects significant in American history, archaeology, engineering or culture that are listed or determined eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places and/or specific reason the proposed action may have a significant impact on the quality of the human environment. Specific information regarding the project may be sent to Environmental Corporation of America, ATTN: Annamarie Howell, 1375 Union Hill Industrial Court, Suite A, Alpharetta, GA 30004 or via email to publicnotice@eca-usa. com. Ms. Howell can be reached at (770) 667-2040 x 108 during normal business hours. Comments must be received within 30 days of the date of this notice. 25-000198b/JET
Crown Castle Fiber, LLC is proposing to modify telecommunications equipment at an approximate overall height of 33 feet above ground level on an existing 42-foot tall overall height small cell telecommunications structure near 991 Homeview Drive, Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky (38¬∞ 12’ 15.4” N, 85¬∞ 46’ 37.7” W). Crown Castle Fiber, LLC invites comments from any interested party on the impact of the proposed action on any districts, sites, buildings, structures or objects significant in American history, archaeology, engineering or culture that are listed or determined eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places and/or specific reason the proposed action may have a significant impact on the quality of the human environment. Specific information regarding the project may be sent to Environmental Corporation of America, ATTN: Annamarie Howell, 1375 Union Hill Industrial Court, Suite A, Alpharetta, GA 30004 or via email to publicnotice@eca-usa. com. Ms. Howell can be reached at (770) 667-2040 x 108 during normal business hours. Comments must be received within 30 days of the date of this notice. 25-000194b/JET
Leo’s Towing & Recovery, LLC 715 S Jackson Street, Louisville, KY 40203, phone number 502-727-9503, has intention of obtaining title to a grey in color 2007 Honda Accord bearing VIN#1HGCM665487A080173 registered in the name PJ Louis Ray, last known address 618 W. Woodlawn Ave, Louisville, KY 40215. Lienholder: Southside Auto Sales, 3300 Taylor Blvd, Louisville, KY 40215. Owner or lien holder has 14 days from the last publication of this notice to object. Objections must be sent in writing to the above address.
Academic Specialist – LEC. Advise prospective & current graduate students regarding enrollment & course schedules. Provide academic & vocational support. Employer: Campbellsville University, Inc. This position reports to the University’s Louisville Education Center in Louisville, KY. May telecommute from any location in the U.S. Mail resume to J. Lawson, 1 University Drive, UPO Box 944, Campbellsville, KY 42718.
Leo’s Towing & Recovery, LLC at 715 S. Jackson Street, Louisville, KY 40203 Ph#502-727-9503, has intention to obtain title to a 2013 Ford Edge VIN#2FMDK3JC9DBB94520 registered to Coby Lee Cissell of 5326 Tahia Dr., Louisville, KY 40216. Lienholder: Western Funding, Inc. POBox 278897, Sacramento, CA 958270. Owner or lienholder has 14 days after last publication of this notice to object. Objections must be sent in writing to the above address.
ETC.
FREE WILL ASTROLOGY
September 1-30
ROB BREZSNY
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Austin Curtis was a prominent Black scientist whose work had spectacularly practical applications. Among his successes: He developed many new uses for peanut byproducts, including rubbing oils for pain relief. His work exploited the untapped potential of materials that others neglected or discarded. I urge you to adopt a similar strategy in the coming weeks, Aries: Be imaginative as you repurpose scraps and leftovers. Convert afterthoughts into useful assets. Breakthroughs could come from compost heaps, forgotten files, or half-forgotten ideas. You have the power to find value where others see junk.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): In Polynesian navigation, sailors read the subtle rise and fall of ocean swells to find islands and chart their course. They also observe birds, winds, stars, and cloud formations. The technique is called wayfinding. I invite you to adopt your own version of that strategy, Taurus. Trust waves and weather rather than maps. Authorize your body to sense the future in ways that your brain can’t. Rely more fully on what you see and sense rather than what you think. Are you willing to dwell in the not-knowingness? Maybe go even further: Be excited about dwelling in the not-knowingness. Don’t get fixated on plotting the whole journey. Instead, assume that each day’s signs will bring you the information you need.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): The umbrella thorn acacia is an African tree whose roots grow up to 115 feet deep to tap hidden water beneath the desert floor. Above ground, it may look like a scraggly cluster of green, but underground it is a masterpiece of reach and survival. I see you as having resemblances to this tree these days, Gemini. Others may only see your surface gestures and your visible productivity. But you know how deep your roots run and how far you are reaching to nourish yourself. Don’t underestimate the power of your attunement to your core. Draw all you need from that primal reservoir.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): To make a tabla drum sing, the artisan adds a black patch of iron filings and starch at the center of the drumhead. Called a syahi, it creates complex overtones and allows the musician to summon both pitch and rhythm from the same surface. Let’s imagine, Cancerian, that you will be like that drum in the coming weeks. A spot that superficially looks out of place may actually be what gives your life its music. Your unique resonance will come not in spite of your idiosyncratic pressure points, but because of them. So don’t aim for sterile perfection. Embrace the irregularity that sings.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): There’s a Zen motto: “Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water.” I hope you apply that wisdom in the coming weeks, Leo. Your breakthrough moments of insight have come or will come soon. But your next move should not consist of being self-satisfied or inert. Instead, I hope you seek integration. Translate your innovations into your daily rhythm. Turn the happy accidents into enduring improvements. The progress that comes next won’t be as flashy or visible, but it’ll be just as crucial.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): The Gross National Product (GNP) is a standard of economic success by which countries gauge their health. It reflects the world’s obsession with material wealth. But the Buddhist nation of Bhutan has a different accounting system: Gross National Happiness (GNH). It includes factors like the preservation of the environment, enrichment of the culture, and quality of governance. Here’s an example of how Bhutan has raised its GNH. Its scenic beauty could generate a huge tourist industry. But strict limits have been placed on the number of foreign visitors, ensuring the land won’t be trampled and despoiled. I would love to see you take a similar GNH inventory, Virgo. Tally how well you have loved and been loved. Acknowledge your victories and awakenings. Celebrate the beauty of your life.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): In Japanese haiku, poets may reference the lingering scent of flowers as a metaphor for a trace of something vivid that continues to be evocative after the event has passed. I suspect you understand this quite well right now. You are living in such an afterscent. A situation, encounter, or vision seems to have ended, but its echo is inviting you to remain attentive. Here’s my advice: Keep basking in the reverberations. Let your understandings and feelings continue to evolve. Your assignment is to allow the original experience to complete its transmission. The full blossoming needs more time to unfold.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): In the Australian desert, there’s a phenomenon called desert varnish. It’s a thin, dark coating of clay, iron, and manganese oxides. It forms over rocks due to microbial activity and prolonged exposure to wind and sun. Over time, these surfaces become canvases for Indigenous artists to create images. I like to think of their work as storytelling etched into endurance. In the coming weeks, Scorpio, consider using this marvel as a metaphor. Be alert for the markings of your own epic myth as they appear on the surfaces of your life. Summon an intention to express the motifs of your heroic
story in creative ways. Show the world the wisdom you have gathered during your long, strange wanderings.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): In Indigenous Australian lore, the Dreamtime is a parallel dimension overlapping the material world, always present and accessible through ritual and listening. Virtually all Indigenous cultures throughout history have conceived of and interacted with comparable realms. If you are open to the possibility, you now have an enhanced capacity to draw sustenance from this otherworld. I encourage you to go in quest of help and healing that may only be available there. Pay close attention to your dreams. Ask your meditations to give you long glimpses of the hidden magic.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Saturn is your ruling planet and archetype. In the old myth of the god Saturn, he rules time, which is not an enemy but a harvester. He gathers what has ripened. I believe the coming weeks will feature his metaphorical presence, Capricorn. You are primed to benefit from ripening. You are due to collect the fruits of your labors. This process may not happen in loud or dramatic ways. A relationship may deepen. A skill may get fully integrated. A long-running effort may coalesce. I say it’s time to celebrate! Congratulate yourself for having built with patience and worked through the shadows. Fully register the fact that your labor is love in slow motion.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): In Greek mythology, the constellation Aquarius was linked to a heroic character named Ganymede. The great god Zeus made this beautiful man the cupbearer to the gods. And what drink did Ganymede serve? Ambrosia, the divine drink of immortality. In accordance with astrological omens, I’m inviting you to enjoy a Ganymede-like phase in the coming weeks. Please feel emboldened to dole out your gorgeous uniqueness and weirdness to all who would benefit from it. Let your singular authenticity pour out freely. Be an overflowing source of joie de vivre and the lust for life.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): In 1932, trailblazing aviator Amelia Earhart made a nonstop solo flight across the Atlantic, steering through icy winds and mechanical trouble. When she landed, she said she had been “too busy” to be scared. This is an excellent motto for you now, Pisces: “too busy to be scared.” Not because you should ignore your feelings, but because immersion in your good work, mission, and devotion will carry you through any momentary turbulence. You now have the power to throw yourself so completely into your purpose that fear becomes a background hum.
Homework: Give yourself a second chance at a worthy goal!
Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology.com
freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com
BrezsnyAstrology@gmail.com
SAVAGE LOVE
LONG TIME!
BY DAN SAVAGE
Hey Dan: Long time reader! I’m a mostly straight boy in my early 20s with a new girlfriend. I say “mostly straight” because I’m into bondage and finding men who wanted to tie me up was always easier than finding women who wanted to tie me up. But I met a girl at a party this summer, and we started dating, and she’s beautiful and smart and really into me. But she isn’t into bondage at all. She’s not okay with me getting tied up outside our relationship. She said I should “stop being kinky” for her, as it makes her uncomfortable to think I have sexual needs she can’t meet. She also hates thinking about me being “abused by predators.” None of the half a dozen men and one woman who’ve tied me up since I became sexually active were “predators.” If anything, they were extremely kind to me, and I’ve had nothing but good experiences. But seeing my bondage photos deeply upset my girlfriend. (She asked to see them when we “laid our kink cards on the table,” which we did three months in, like you recommend.)
I know what you’re going to tell me — break up with her — but there aren’t lots of other girls lining up to date me. I’m tall and skinny and pretty in a twinky way that attracts male attention but turns off women. (Gay men are disappointed when I tell them I’m straight, but at least they believe me. When I tell straight and bi women I’m straight, they think I’m lying.) The last time I had a girlfriend was in high school, Dan, and I’ve really enjoyed having a girlfriend for the first time in my adult life. Finding another girl who is into me isn’t going to be easy.
Is this a case where I need to settle? (“Settling down requires settling for.” — Dan Savage) My very first sexual fantasies were about bondage. I don’t think I’ve ever had an orgasm when I wasn’t either thinking about being tied up or actually tied up. Do I give up my kink for now — or pretend to give it up (I’ll still be thinking about it) — in the hopes that my girlfriend gets more comfortable over time? Or do I break up with her even if it means I’ll probably wind up alone the rest of my life? I sometimes wish I wasn’t like this. It honestly feels like a curse. Finding a girl who is into me is hard enough. Finding one who is also into bondage feels impossible.
—Thai American Bondage Boy P.S. I’m only 24 but I count as a “long time reader” because mom told me to start reading you when she found the porn I was looking at online when I was 14. I’ve been reading and listening ever since.
She’s beautiful, she’s smart, and she’s wrong for you — she wasn’t a mistake, she was right for this summer, but she’s not right for the long haul. At 24, TABB, you’re too young to settle for someone who doesn’t respect your sexual needs. (Please note: I said, “doesn’t respect your sexual needs,” I didn’t say, “doesn’t satisfy every one of your sexual needs.”) But even if you were 64, you shouldn’t settle for someone who shames you for having sexual needs/interests/kinks they won’t or can’t meet. As a long-time reader, you’re no doubt familiar with my “price of admission” concept: we don’t
get everything we want from our sexual and/or romantic partners — some needs go unmet, everybody has their annoying shit, not two people are a perfect fit — and figuring out whether you wanna be with someone comes down to deciding whether you’re willing to pay the price of admission. Your partner is a slob and you’re a neat freak: Is being the one who keeps things tidy without (too much) complaining a price of admission you’re willing to pay to be with them? You’re into anal or bondage or watersports or whatever and your partner isn’t into anal or bondage or watersports or whatever: Is going without anal or bondage or watersports or whatever a price of admission you’re willing to pay to be with them?
Being the one who tidies up (the price of admission I pay to be with my husband) or going without anal or bondage or watersports or whatever are reasonable prices of admission that a reasonable person might be willing to pay to be with someone who makes them happy in lots other ways/ meets lots of other needs. But what your girlfriend is asking — what your girlfriend is demanding — is not reasonable. She’s not asking you to go without being tied up by her, TABB, something you might be able to live with if you were allowed other outlets, she’s asking you to reach into your erotic subconscious and rip out your kinks for her psychological comfort. That demand is equal parts unreasonable, disrespectful, and impossible, TABB; it’s not only a price of admission you shouldn’t be willing to pay, it’s not one you can pay (see: impossible).
That said, TABB, there are people out there with kinks they don’t get to act on because they fell in love with someone who doesn’t share their kinks and wants monogamy. But there’s a difference between a loving partner who says, “You can explore this through fantasy and solo play,” and a controlling lunatic who says, “You must cut this out of your erotic imagination like it’s some sort of tumor.” The loving partner’s ask (“I’m willing to make space for this”) demonstrates respect for your erotic autonomy. The lunatic partner’s ask (“I’m asking you to kill this part of yourself”) shows no respect for your erotic autonomy, TABB, and puts you in the impossible position of having to lie to your partner for the rest of your life. And since there’s no chemo for kink — there’s no cure — you’re gonna get caught looking at bondage porn again, TABB, and your awful girlfriend won’t be as understanding as your wonderful mother was.
Now, you could play the long game here — you could tell your girlfriend what she wants to hear and hope she comes around — and I’ve met people at kink events (enthusiastic participants) who weren’t into kink until they fell in love with someone who was and slowly warmed to their partner’s kinks. But they were the kind of vanilla people (or formerly vanilla people) who’d given their kinky partners permission to enjoy and explore on their own and not the kind of vanilla people who demanded that their partners take their kinks behind the barn and Old Yeller ‘em. (Google it.)
Finally, TABB, right now you’re telling yourself that this girl was a fluke and that she’s the only pretty girl you’re ever gonna pull. Why not tell yourself that you’ve turned a corner? You could be telling yourself that you’ve grown into your body and/or aged into your face and you’re suddenly attracting female attention, and this girl is proof. But instead of telling yourself a story that builds
your confidence (“Getting this girl proves I can get a girl!”), TABB, you’re telling yourself a story that tears it down (“This girl is the only girl I’m ever going to get.”). Tearing yourself down instead of building yourself up is a choice, TABB, and it’s a dumb one.
P.S. You’re a grown ass adult man. Get involved in the kink scene where you live. Keep going to normie parties where you’ll meet women who may or may not be kinky while also attending kink events where you’ll meet women who are definitely kinky. And you might wanna learn to switch, TABB, as most women into bondage are subs. A woman who’s just as turned on by bondage as you are — and they’re out there — won’t ask you to “just stop being kinky,” TABB, and she’s far likelier to be okay with you getting your submissive needs met elsewhere if she can’t meet them herself. (You and your subby girlfriend can go to play parties and get tied up together and think of how much fucking fun that would be!)
P.P.S. Listening to you say you wish you weren’t kinky made my heart hurt, TABB, because it reminded me of how I used to wish — when I was 14 — that I wasn’t gay. All the bad things came at once (disappointed parents, lost friends, crushing loneliness) and the good things took so long to come that I thought they never would. But by the time I was a little older than you are, TABB, I realized that I had gone places and done things (and people) I wouldn’t have gone and done if I weren’t gay. I realize the experiences of a gay boy and a kinky straight boy aren’t analogous, but the more you put yourself out there — the more people you meet — the sooner you’ll be able to see all the good things/people/experiences kink brought into your life. Your kink will take you places and introduce you to people you wouldn’t have met if you weren’t kinky. And if you’re lucky, TABB, one day you’ll be with someone you love and who loves all of you and it’ll be someone you wouldn’t have met if you weren’t at that shibari workshop together or you weren’t already strung up in that dungeon when she walked in. And you’ll look at her and your life together and you’ll think, “Holy shit, I have bondage to thank for all of this.”
P.P.P.S. Send my love to your mother.
P.P.P.P.S. In case I wasn’t clear: dump your fucking girlfriend
Hey Dan: Long time reader here, Dan. Cis man, happily married to a lovely woman more than twenty years. I’m probably something like a Kinsey 2-3 (and unconflicted about it), and I’ve concluded it’s high time I sucked a dick or two while I’m still hot enough for it to be fun for the other parties. I don’t really need to process any of that and understand the importance of informing my wife beforehand and working with her limits about sexual safety, etc. What I’d like to hear from you is your practical advice about the best way to have a good first time.
I live in a large city where more or less every option is possible — bars, spas, sex clubs, apps, etc. — and all of these seem like they would lead to such different experiences. I believe in the value of in-person chemistry, so identifying people in real-world spaces seems good. On the other hand, it sounds like everyone is finding each other online these days. I also like a bit of badinage and socializing, but the idea of a gay sex club or bathhouse — where I understand there isn’t a lot of chatter — seems exciting. Dicks get sucked without condoms and suspect I’m more of a swallower
than a spitter, so STIs are going to be an unavoidable risk. What’s the best way to manage that risk to protect my wife’s health? Looking forward to your inside-baseball advice.
—Cocksucking Rookie Asking For Tips
If you want dick right away, CRAFT, go to a bathhouse or a sex club or get on Sniffies, the app for pop-up sex parties in private homes, and then go to a bathhouse or a sex party or a house party. If there’s a dick you want to suck, suck it. If there isn’t, don’t. It’s better to wait for someone you’re genuinely attracted to than to start your cocksucking career with a dick you could take or leave. And relax. No one cares that it’s your “first time” — bathhouses and sex clubs are full of dudes at every imaginable level of experience and, you’re right, there’s not a lot of chatter in bathhouses and sex clubs. So, you don’t have to announce yourself as a rookie or explain why you’re there. You just have to be polite, hygienic, and friendly — same as you would at any other kind of party. If you get on Grindr to look for someone one-on-one, you might want to tell them it’s your first time, as that will definitely turn some guys on.
As for risk: if you’re only sucking dick (and not bottoming), you don’t need to get on PrEP, the daily medication that protects gay and bi men from HIV infection. HIV transmission via oral is vanishingly rare, even for swallowers. But oral is a great way to pick up gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis, CRAFT, so to protect your wife (and yourself), you’ll want to…
1. Get on doxy-PEP. That’s 200mg of doxycycline taken within 72 hours of a risky encounter… and pretty much all sexual encounters in bathhouses and sex clubs should be seen as risky. Taking doxyPEP dramatically lowers your risk of contracting bacterial STIs.
2. Get tested regularly. You should be tested every three months if you’re sexually active with more than one partner. And don’t wait for symptoms to appear to get tested — a lot of STIs are asymptomatic, and you can pass them on (to your wife or some nice guy off Sniffies) without realizing you’re infected.
3. Talk about this shit with your wife at great length. If she says, “Condoms for oral,” then it’s condoms for oral. (Though I suspect she’ll be more concerned about condoms if/when you have anal down the road.) And if you’re only going to suck a dick once in a great while, you could take your doxy after and then waiting a few weeks — and getting tested — before you have fucked your wife again. That doesn’t mean you can’t meet your wife’s sexual needs (vibrators, penetration toys, outercouse) while you wait for the all-clear.
Finally, the very first blowjob you give could be good but it’s unlikely to be the very best blowjob you give — it might be good, but it’s not going to be great — because first-time experiences rarely best-ever experiences. Low expectations are easier to exceed, CRAFT, so don’t put too much pressure on yourself (or the first guy you blow) to get it right. Just enjoy. Then circle back and tell us how it went.
Got problems? Yes, you do! Email your question for the column to mailbox@savage.love! Or record your question for the Savage Lovecast at savage.love/askdan!
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FORCE PLAY
BY BRANDON KOPPY
Brandon Koppy, of Dripping Springs, Texas, is a performance director for an ad agency. This is his 21st crossword for The Times. He thought of its time-sensitive theme in late January, constructed the puzzle on a Sunday, wrote the clues on Monday and Tuesday and quickly submitted the result — just in time for us to say yes and schedule it for today. — W. S.
ACROSS
1 Things hidden after purchasing a premium account, maybe
4 Follower of a bit?
8 Bank robber’s accessory
12 ‘‘The Wild Duck’’ playwright
17 Egg ____ yung
18 Big name in deodorant
20 Contents of a blog
21 Handle
22 Product that ‘‘can cut a slice of bread so thin you can almost see through it!’’ in old ads
24 Try to open, as a gift
25 Toon fighter of Skeletor
26 French name that’s an anagram of a mostly German river
27 Features of jalapeños and piña coladas
29 Coach Lasso on TV
31 Confirmation, e.g.
32 Brand with a line of ‘‘Calm + Restore’’ products
34 Bunless cookout entrees
37 Land
38 Natl. economic stat
40 Spirit for a spritz
41 Moves one’s butt (over)
44 Book reviews of sorts?
47 Reason to take iron supplements
49 Concave umbilicus
50 Gives one’s all
52 Given reluctantly
54 The Aztecs of the N.C.A.A.
57 Damning info
58 Some hosp. workers
59 Texter’s ‘‘Bye!’’
60 It squirts on a squid
63 Royal house of Mary, Queen of Scots
67 Many air travelers’ texts, for short
70 Sci-fi-inspired greeting that’s a hint to eight squares in this puzzle
76 Gives a hand
77 ‘‘Au ____ les Enfants’’ (1987 film)
78 Apparel for wizards and thieves
79 Bad spot for a tear, in brief
82 Saison avant l’automne
84 Possible cause of insomnia
86 2017 Pixar film inspired by el Día de los Muertos
87 Companion who might take your breath away?
91 Camp inspection after lights out
94 Ballet handrail
95 ‘‘Grand’’ things
97 Over and over
101 All mixed up
103 They contain brains
105 Sorority member, endearingly
106 Org. with a tip line
107 Famous Leonardo da Vinci drawing with four arms and four legs
109 Turns down
111 Little feud
113 Contracted
114 Like organic food products, for short
Droops
118 Invasive Japanese vine
120 Alphanumeric component
122 Steaminess
124 Drinks that get slushy over time
125 Places for some braces
126 Senator Baldwin or Duckworth
127 Prefix with -lithic
128 Alternative name for our planet
129 Goes from 0 to 60?
130 Some summer babies
131 ‘‘Despicable Me’’ character voiced by Steve Carell
DOWN
1 Currency unit of Kabul
2 Enthusiastic reply to ‘‘Want to?’’
3 Poems also fancily known as quatorzains
4 Barely managing
5 Coffee holder
6 Lit ____ (rhyming class nickname)
7 Antique purchase for an audiophile
8 Dew, for example
9 A nemesissssss to Indiana Jones?
10 More dignified
11 Lead actress in the ‘‘Twilight’’ movies, in tabloids
12 ‘‘More or less’’
13 Game you likely get worse at the longer you play
14 Band with the 1998 hit ‘‘Closing Time’’
15 Coup d’____
16 Zip
19 Gospel/jazz singer Reese
20 Make believe
23 ‘‘Well, OK’’
Exodus 30 Practice group?: Abbr. 33 Drooling pooch of the comics
35 Tool for grooming
36 What vinegar or lemon juice adds to a dressing
39 Focus of some psychotherapy, for short 42 Lilliputian
43 Company behind the Saturn and Dreamcast consoles
45 The Masters host city
46 Minty herb used in Japanese cuisine
48 Veep from 1969 to 1973
51 Boxer Beterbiev
53 Countrylike
54 ____ card
55 Kendrick Lamar title that completes the lyric ‘‘I got power, poison, pain and joy inside my . . ’’
56 Where to see contrails
61 Tuna type
62 Handed over
64 Dune buggy, e.g., in brief
65 ____ Ridgeback, dog breed originally from Zimbabwe
66 Classic sports car, familiarly
68 Hub code for Delta
69 Necessity for off-roading
71 Photog’s setting
72 ____ Kane, longtime role on ‘‘All My Children’’
73 Chairman ____ (old N.B.A. nickname)
74 The N.B.A.’s Thunder, on scoreboards
75 Grp. with so-called ‘‘camp shows’’
79 ‘‘Money, Money, Money’’ group
80 Attired
81 Term of address aboard the Death Star
83 Bringing forth
85 Third degrees?
88 Big name in organs
89 Amanda of film
90 ‘‘____ Croft: Tomb Raider’’
91 Witticisms
92 Wednesday Addams’s werewolf roommate on TV’s ‘‘Wednesday’’
93 Routes across low waters
96 Baby monitors
98 TurboTax activity
99 Getaway driver, for instance
100 Sentiment in a letter from home
102 Just what the doctor ordered?
104 Perturbation
108 Screwdriver component
110 Zip
111 Piece of improv
112 Hue of a dry bloodstain, maybe
115 Cafeteria offering
116 ‘‘I’ve got this one’’
119 Women’s soccer powerhouse
121 ‘‘Who knew?!’’
123 Sport that takes place in a dohyo
