Frankfort Avenue celebrates MARDI GRAS N’AWLINS style

Mellwood to Host Mardi Gras Ball, Kaviar Forge to Host Fire Breather and Forging Demos. Historic Frankfort Avenue will host a Mardi Gras-themed F.A.T. Friday Trolley Hop on Friday, January 30th from 6:00pm to 10:30pm. The highlight of the evening will be the Mardi Gras Ball, which will be held from 8:00pm to midnight at the Mellwood Art Center and sponsored by Margaret’s Consignment. The Ball will include Reva Deveraux as MC, dancing to the Cajun sounds of Crushed Velvet, a best mask contest, and door prizes including a trip for two to New Orleans. Admission to the Ball is only $3, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the United Crescent Hill Ministries.

Additional activities happening during the F.A.T. Friday Trolley Hop on January 30^th are:

• Kaviar Forge & Gallery, located at 1718 Frankfort Avenue, will host free fire-breathing performances by Aaron Morris at 7:00pm and 8:00pm, and a live, free forging demonstration by Craig Kaviar at 7:30pm.
• Eyedia, located at1631 North Mellwood Avenue, will have a beading event (demonstration with hands on opportunity and free mardi gras beads for all), in cooperation with Katherine Autin from EYECANDY (a beading shop), from 6:00pm to 7:00pm. Refreshments will be served and Katherine will return on Saturday the 31^st from 10:30am to noon to do more beading!
• Many of the retail shops, galleries and restaurants along the Avenue will feature live entertainment, and food and drinks specials.

The F.A.T. Friday Trolley Hop, on the last Friday of each month, provides FREE parking and transportation to participating shops, restaurants and galleries along the Frankfort, Mellwood and Story Avenue corridor. Transportation is provided by TARC.

F.A.T. Friday Trolley Hops are sponsored by Anheuser-Busch, Maker’s Mark, Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards and the Mellwood Arts & Entertainment Center, along with 30 local sponsoring businesses on Frankfort, Mellwood and Story Avenues. Transportation is provided by TARC. For more information about specific F.A.T. Friday events, the trolley schedule, and the participating businesses, please visit www.fatfridayhop.org.

Mayor’s Community Conversations Continue in 2009

Mayor Jerry Abramson announced that his monthly meetings designed to make city government accessible to citizens will continue in 2009. The first “Mayor’s Community Conversations” is scheduled for Monday, January 26, beginning at 6:30 p.m., at Westport Middle School gym, 8100 Westport Road.

At Mayor’s Community Conversations, Abramson, along with department directors from most Metro Government agencies, Metro Council members and other government representatives are available to meet one-on-one with citizens and answer questions about any issues and concerns. MetroCall’s customer-service representatives also attend to log citizen requests into city government’s tracking system to ensure timely follow up and response.

“Community Conversations are a great opportunity for citizens to bring their suggestions and concerns directly to me, the department directors that report to me and to Metro Council members,” Abramson said. “With the economic challenges we all face, it’s more important than ever that residents can connect with the services and information they need from city government.”

Since the Mayor’s Community Conversations began in 2003, thousands of citizens have attended the monthly sessions to discuss topics ranging from planning and zoning, drainage, and crime prevention to parks, retail development and animal regulations.

Special accommodations are available, by calling MetroCall 311 or 574-5000 in advance.

Community Conversations are scheduled on the third Monday of the month* at 6:30 p.m. at rotating sites throughout the community. * Mayor’s Community Conversations in January is on the fourth Monday due to the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

February 16	Moore High School theater room, 6415 Outer Loop
March 16	Iroquois High School gym, 4615 Taylor Boulevard
April 20	Stuart Middle School gym, 4601 Valley Station Rd.
May 18	Newburg Middle School gym, 4901 Exeter Ave.
June 15	Ramsey Middle School gym, 6409 Gellhaus Lane
July 20	Carter Elementary School cafeteria, 3600 Bohne Ave.
August 17	Fairdale High School small gym, 1001 Fairdale Rd.
September 21	Atherton High School small gym, 3000 Dundee Rd.
October 19	Southern High School large gym, 8620 Preston Hwy.
November 16	Central High School large gym, 1130 W. Chestnut St.

For more information, visit Louisville Metro’s website, www.louisvilleky.gov or call MetroCall at 311 or 574-5000.