Your News and Notes - September

Make plans now to join local historians on a nostalgic walking tour through the historic Schnitzelburg neighborhood in October. The walk will cover a loop through the neighborhood, focusing on Schnitzelburg’s historic businesses, churches and distinctive German heritage. Don Haag, a longtime resident and local historian, will lead the tour, which takes place Saturday, October 8. The tour begins at 11 a.m. at the front steps of the Louisville Cotton Mill, 946 Goss Avenue, now known as Goss Avenue Antiques. Parking is available behind the building, where the walk will conclude.

 

Group size is limited, so participants are encouraged to reserve their spot before October 1. For tour reservations or more information, call Steve Cambron at (502) 636-4287. You may also register at the front desk of Goss Avenue Antiques or sign up online by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . 

 

The Alley Theater, 1205 E. Washington St., is accepting play submissions for the inaugural “Inhuman: A Festival of New American Undead Theater.” The alternative theater plans to offer a month of mayhem with goblins, ghouls and other undead monsters. Submissions of new works are being accepted until October 31. The festival line-up will be announced in January 2012. For more information, call (502) 713-6178 or visit www.thealleytheater.org. 

 

A recent obesity-prevention grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has enabled the Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness to launch a new initiative to give consumers more information on the number of calories in the food they are eating at Louisville restaurants.

 

Local restaurants are taking advantage of the voluntary program by joining the Louisville Healthy Hometown Restaurant menu labeling initiative. Establishments that sign on to become Healthy Hometown Restaurants get free technical assistance and recipe analysis from chefs and registered dietitians, as well as financial assistance to reprint menus and menu boards. In return, the restaurants agree to list the calorie count of each menu item next to the price, and also to have additional nutritional information – including total fat, sodium and carbohydrates – in writing on premises upon customer request. 

 

The federal health care reform bill that passed in March 2010 will require menu labeling by national chain restaurants with 20 or more locations. The Louisville initiative is aimed at helping smaller local restaurants remain competitive by giving their customers the necessary information they need to make healthier choices when dining out. 

 

Participating restaurants in and around the Highlands include City Cafe, Zen Garden, Bristol Bar & Grille, Nancy’s Bagel Grounds, Ramsi’s, J. Gumbo, Shiraz and Morel’s Vegan Food Truck. Though most are currently in the recipe analysis stage, printed menus or menu boards with calorie counts are expected later this year. 

 

Louisville restaurants with fewer than 20 locations may take advantage of financial help and free technical assistance by contacting Patrick Rich at (502) 574-6690. To learn more and see a complete listing of Healthy Hometown Restaurants, visit www.facebook.com/HealthyHometownRestaurants.

 

Reservations are being taken for Preservation Louisville’s popular workshop series, Hands on History, which will be held on the second Saturday of each month from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., September through April. Throughout the series, participants learn practical, hands-on techniques for working with original materials and finishes to maintain, restore and preserve historic elements such as plaster, windows and gutters. Adapting “green” concepts for historic structures and winterizing your historic home will also be explored.

 

The registration fee is $20 for Preservation Louisville Members and $30 for non-members. For a complete schedule of workshops and additional details, call (502) 540-5146. For more information on Preservation Louisville, visit www.preservationlouisville.org.

 

Highlands Community Ministries is offering a variety of enrichment classes that begin in early September and last seven weeks. Classes will be offered in oil painting, intermediate watercolor, yoga (beginning and continuing), sun tai chi for health, and ballroom dancing for couples. The cost for each class is $34 per person. Reservations and advance payment is required. To register, or for more information, call (502) 451-3695.