One of the things I’ve liked about Louisville since moving here is the international flavor. Before living here I’d suffer post-trip slumps when returning home from an overseas trip. Once in Louisville though, the slumps turned into minor dips as opposed to gaping black holes of ennui. With a trip to Valu-Market in Iroquois, some Italian gelato, a Blue Dog baguette or a visit to Oriental Supermarket, I could once again immerse myself, at least temporarily, in a different culture.
Sister Cities of Louisville is offering all of us the chance for an evening-long immersion in not one but multiple foreign cultures. This Monday, October 5, A Tasteful Affair [4] will provide food and drink, and art and music from our sister cities around the world as well as cultural demonstrations and the chance to connect with visitors from far-flung cities.
Louisville’s sister cities include Montpellier, France; Quito, Ecuador; Mainz, Germany; Tamale, Ghana; La Plata, Argentina; Perm, Russia; Jiujiang, China; and Leeds, England.
If all you happen to know about the Sister Cities program comes the signs you see when entering a participating city, it’s worth finding out more [5]. More than 50 years old, the program seeks to involve world citizens in diplomacy and peacemaking by making individual and city connections. Think global pen-pals or the high-school foreign exchange program that brought those interesting and sometimes peculiar kids to your homeroom, but for grown-ups. And at this special event we all get learn more and support the Sister Cities program, a great excuse to dress up, eat and drink exotic specialties cooked up by some of our favorite local restaurants -- and even bid for fabulous prizes in a silent auction.
See you there -- Monday October 5th 5-8 p.m. at the Jefferson Club, 29th Floor PNC Plaza 500 W Jefferson Street. Tickets are available at the door for $50; $25 for students.