Portland Pride Project in Louisville

The Louisville government is turning their attention to the Portland neighborhood through the Portland Pride Project, which aims to renovate homes and revitalize the neighborhood. Seventy five homes in the historic neighborhood have been selected to receive renovations as part of the initiative, which is focused on preserving home ownership, strengthening the neighborhood and increasing economic development opportunities.

The revitalization effort is funded by $2 million in federal Community Development Block Grant funds that were awarded when Portland was selected to be Louisville's first Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Area in 2011.  This award came as a result of Portland meeting federal criteria as a distressed neighborhood. The NSRA focuses on rehabbing the exteriors of homes and making facade improvements, resolving property code violations and reducing lead paint in homes.

To find other interesting articles about community development, please visit our Louisville Homes page.

WorldFest 2013 at the Belvedere in Louisville

See the world without leaving town at the 2013 WorldFest! WorldFest is one of the region's largest international festivals and is celebrating its 11th anniversary with four days of expanded world food, music, dance, culture and education this Labor Day weekend.

Guests can look forward to multiple performances on three stages of local and international talent, a world of cuisine, shops around the world and a parade of cultures. There will be delicious samples of authentic food from nations around the world, including Germany, Thailand, Jamaica, Ethiopia and more. Additionally, there will be a plethora of shops so you won't leave empty handed! There will be craft booths selling handmade products with styles from Africa, Asia, Europe and Central and South America.

To find other events in the area, please visit our Louisville Real Estate website.

Events at the Yew Dell Botanical Gardens

There are several events happening at the Yew Dell Botanical Gardens in Crestwood this late summer and early fall! The first is the Hummingbird Festival, which takes place on Saturday, August 24th. This event is an opportunity to learn about these amazing little birds, how to attract them, how to keep them coming back and a whole lot more. Local experts will catch and band birds, offering an excellent opportunity to see them up close. Hummingbird plants will also be sold, along with several kid's activities, refreshments and tours. Tickets are purchased at the door with prices being $7.00 for adults, $5.00 for seniors and free for kids under 12.

Another highly anticipated Yew Dell event, Twilight in the Garden, is happening on September 25th and has become one of the most anticipated fundraising events of the year. Additionally, there are teaching classes all year long with Dividing Perennials occurring on October 12th. You don't want to miss this workshop - come for a class and go home with an armful of great plants!

To find other fun community events in the area, please visit our Louisville Homes website.

The Wizard of Oz at Derby Dinner Playhouse

If you're in the mood for dinner and a show, consider attending a show they have playing at the Derby Dinner Playhouse. Located convenient to Louisville, the Derby Dinner Playhouse is situated just across the river in Clarksville, IN, and is proud to be one of the oldest and largest continually operating professional dinner theaters in the country.

Currently playing is one of MGM's grandest and most beloved musicals, The Wizard of Oz. Follow Dorothy and her friends down the yellow brick road to the land where dreams really do come true. Guests of the show are treated to a lavish buffet of Classic American Cuisine, with several food choices, as well as pre-show entertainment by the "Footnotes" - the Playhouse's talented vocal ensemble.

To find other fun events in the area, please visit our Louisville Homes website.

12th Annual Antique Tractor, Car and Engine Show

This Saturday is the 12th Annual Antique Tractor, Car and Engine Show at Dale and Betty Rich's 60-acre farm benefiting Kosair Charities. At the event, guests can enjoy an abundance of antique tractors, cars and motorcycles. In addition to this, there will be a live auction, live music, barbecue and a wealth of family fun! All of the proceeds raised by the event benefit Kosair Charities.

This event, which happens every year, was started by Dale and Betty Rich and has raised almost $140,000 since 2002. They invite guests to their farm to check out vintage farm machinery and automobiles, plus bouncy houses, tractor rides, a dunking machine and much more!

To find other fun events in the area, please visit the website of the Joe Hayden Real Estate Team.

Forecastle Festival 2013

Forecastle Festival 2013 is kicking off this weekend with a great mix of music! Founded in 2002 by Louisville native JK McKnight, Forecastle has grown from a community event to one of the country’s most anticipated summer festivals. The festival now draws tens of thousands of fans from across the world to Louisville’s scenic 85-acre Waterfront Park.

 

Voted as 1 of the 31 Coolest Tours and Festivals of 2012 by Rolling Stone magazine and in the top 15 Outdoor Festivals by Outdoor Magazine, Forecastle is looking forward to having artists such as Old Crow Medicine Show, Young the Giant, The Pass, The Black Keys, plus many more. Additionally, there will be a Bourbon Lounge for bourbon enthusiasts. Several other activities will be available as well, making for an awesome 2013 Forecastle!

To find other local events, please visit our Louisville Real Estate page.

Crescent Hill's Fourth of July Celebration

Crescent Hill will host a two day Independence Day event this year, the Crescent Hill 4th of July Celebration. The party takes place on Thursday, July 4th and Friday, July 5th with a wide range of activities

The antique car parade will take place on Thursday, beginning at the Masonic Home at 11:30 a.m. and will travel down Frankfort Avenue to the Peterson-Dumesnil House. Guests will be treated to various activities after arriving, including an art fair, music festival, pet show and beer and food booths. There is something fun to do for everyone. Additionally, there will be a fireworks display beginning at 10 p.m. on both nights!

To find other events in the area, please visit our Homes in Louisville website.

My Old Kentucky Home State Park

Debating between a vacation and a stay-cation? Consider visiting My Old Kentucky Home State Park this summer! Located a short drive from Louisville in Bardstown, Kentucky, My Old Kentucky Home offers visitors a great vacation experience.

Guests can admire the beautiful grounds in the 39-site campground, which offers convenient utility hookups, a central service building housing showers and rest rooms, and a dump station. Additionally, the park offers a grocery store and laundry which are nearby across the street. Pets are also allowed if restrained. If you're a golfer, test your golfing skills on the Kenny Rapier Golf Course, an 18-hole regulation golf course. A fully equipped pro shop caters to the golfer’s every need with rental clubs, pull carts, and riding carts.

There is also a chance to experience the tradition of Kentucky's longest-running outdoor drama, the Stephen Foster Story. This celebrated musical features colorful period costumes, lively choreography and more than 50 Foster songs, including his most famous ballad "My Old Kentucky Home."

To find other great summer activities, please visit our Louisville Real Estate website.

The Clifton Center Aims to Raise $150,000 for Capital Improvements

The Clifton Center, which serves as a gathering place for art, culture and ideas that enrich the community, has recently announced the launch of a fundraising campaign aimed at raising $150,000 before the end of 2013. The title of the campaign, Setting the Stage, highlights the fact that this relatively small campaign is intended to address the Center's short-term needs, while setting the stage for major improvements that the Center hopes to undertake in several years. The funds will be used for facility improvements including new lighting, carpet, and paint in the Reception Hall and Clifton Room, renovations to the Eifler Theater stage and theater infrastructure, and the purchase of equipment and furnishings. The goal is to raise $75,000 by August 1st, and the remaining $75,000 by the end of the year. Currently, more than $39,850 had been committed!

In 2010, the Clifton Center's Board of Directors adopted a new vision for the organization and began pursuing an ambitious new course that would position the Center to become one of the region's leading cultural institutions. Over the past two years, the Center has presented an eclectic series of concerts, films and lectures, as well as established new arts education and outreach programs, and more than 15 events are already booked for the 2013-2014 season. The current campaign will address the much needed improvements to the Eifler Theatre, thus raising the quality of productions and programming the Center can offer and furthering its mission. 

To find other current events happening in the Louisville areas, please visit our Louisville Homes website.

21st Annual Taste of Frankfort Avenue

On Sunday, June 23rd, head down to The Clifton Center for the 21st Annual Taste of Frankfort Avenue! This is the organization's biggest fundraiser and will feature food tasting from more than twenty of Frankfort Avenue's finest restaurants. Outside, there will be a cash bar, a stage with live music and a silent auction! Those interested in advanced tickets, they're now on sale for $50 and will increase to $60 on the day of the event.

New this year, the event will include an "After Taste", which will begin at 7:30 p.m. with a $5 suggested donation to the Clifton Center's Setting the Stage campaign. The Taste of Frankfort Avenue is sponsored by MINI of Louisville, Brown-Forman, D.D. Williamson, Bluegrass Brewing Company, plus many more!

To find other fun events in the area, please visit www.JoeHaydenRealtor.com.