Topping Off
Browse a huge selection of handmade Derby chapeaus at the “Hats & Hpnotiq” party hosted by the Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft, 715 W. Main St. Four top hat designers will set up their trunk shows throughout the museum for your viewing or purchasing pleasure. A variety of Hpnotiq cocktails will be offered — because feather plumage always looks better when imbibing. Admission is free for museum members and $10 for non-members. The event takes place April 19 from 5-8 p.m. However, if you miss the party, the hats will be on display at the museum till the first Saturday in May.
Going Native
Gather your tribe for the Kentucky Derby Festival’s First Annual American Indian Pow Wow, to be held at Waterfront Park April 27-29. Four special drum circles will be in attendance — from Minnesota, Okalahoma, Ohio and Kentucky — as well as competition dancers from around the country. More than $20,000 in prize money will be up for grabs for dancers grouped in age brackets that range from five and under to 55 and up. Admission ($2 discount with Derby pin) is $7 for adults, with children six and under free. Proceeds benefit the Kentucky American Indian Resource and Community Center.
The Kong Is Your Friend
King Kong, the legendary Louisville band, can be as misunderstood as its 50-foot-tall ape namesake. The group’s sound requires a quirky ear and intelligent dancing shoes, but one thing all will agree on: The best way to experience the Kong is live. Catch them April 12 (Thunder Over Louisville night) at the Quonset Hut, 599 Rubel Ave. This show culminates King Kong’s East Coast tour in support of their new release, Buncha Beans. The new CD is being described as a more mature album with a little extra rock and less funk. “It’s more straightforward, not as experimental, with loud guitars for a deeper, bigger sound,” says Ethan Buckler, frontman extraordinaire.
I Scream, You Scream
Available in just 16 states, yet ranking third in the nation in sales, the ice cream from a Texas creamery with a cult-like following has opened a distribution center in its newest territory, Louisville. That means Blue Bell Ice Cream — a favorite of President Bush (the ice cream has a much higher approval rating than he does) — is now available at Kroger and other chain grocery stores in the metro area, ready to be discovered by both Derby hosts and guests. Blue Bell also is celebrating its 100th anniversary with a contest inviting participants to create a name for a new flavor that will later be developed as a take-off on a state’s dessert traditions. Past examples have included Georgia Peach Cobbler and Mississippi Mud Pie. Do we hear any votes for Bourbon Ball?
