Archive for the ‘Summer Happs’ Category

Picnics and Flicks 2009 Schedule announced

Posted by chaska on May 11, 2009

PF09 posterWoohoo! I’m very excited about this year’s line-up and think you will be too. Not only have we changed venues, we’ve also added food, beer and much more merriment! Plus, the local charity will change monthly to spread the wealth and awareness of great local non-profits around the area. Charities have yet to be fully scheduled, so if you’d like to promote yours, let me know and we’ll see what we can work out.

This summer, we’ve moved our outdoor movies to BBC Taproom, downtown at Main and Clay. So, we’re now a true Brew and View and will be watching rain or shine. Should it rain, we’ll just move inside the brewery. J Gumbo’s will provide the food all year as well. Bring your chair, air mattress, comfy sitting unit, your own food/non-alcoholic drink or buy it there. Looking forward to a great, movie watching summer!

CHARITIES:
May 16 – Louisville Creative Center
June 20 – Neighborhood House Gardening Project
July 18 – Falls of the Ohio (in discussion)
August 15 – Still Open
September 19 – Still Open

To schedule your charity, become a sponsor or to ask questions, call: 502.287.2772

Posted in Events, Movie Night, Summer Happs | 2 Comments »

august – it’s not the heat, it’s the humidity

Posted by chaska on August 2, 2008

At least that’s what you hear most people say (myself included) in these dog days of summer around here. But it’s not just the weather that’s heating up, our calendar and our original series just keep getting bigger and better! August finds us with our second Nibble & Sip, the fourth movie in our Picnics & Flicks series (E.T. – I can hardly wait), as well as the first of our Supper Speakeasys! As always, contact information for making reservations is on the sidebar to your right. Enjoy the pool for one more month, have a picnic and sip some yummy lemonade!

In this edition:

  • Membership special continues
  • BVS Events
  • Lou’s To Do’s
  • Tempt the tastebuds
  • Hot links & Coming Attractions

MEMBERSHIP SPECIAL OFFER

Friends, like wines, come in all varieties and flavors. And that is a perfect way to describe our members too. So far, I’ve had a few people take me up on my special offer for being among the first 100 and I’m still looking for more to join the ranks of lifetime members. Among the new features on its way is a forum for members only and I hope to have that launched by September… fingers crossed! Check out our ‘belonging’ page for all member benefits.

Thursday, August 14
Supper Speakeasy
6:30pm
$65 – only 25 spots.
I’m so excited about our first Supper Speakeasy I can hardly wait. We selected our first location (think red) and our first chef willing to head the challenge is Charlie Owen, known by you perhaps as Executive Chef and owner of Leander’s on Oak as well as the Exec Chef from Steam, Fire & Ice. People still talk about his amazing seabass from there! Our menu includes four courses, plus a cocktail hour. Once you have made reservations and paid, you will be contacted within 48 hours of the event to let you know where we will be dining.
If you want to know a little more about underground dining, check out this article which has some other good links as well.

Saturday, August 16
Picnic ‘n’ Flicks Under the Stars
EP Tom Sawyer State Park 3000 Freys Hill Rd 40241
“E.T. The Extra Terrestrial” with band Weber
7pm – midnightish
Members (M) – Free, Non-Members (NM) – $5

Join us for our 4th 80s classic, “ET” as we enjoy another movie under the stars. This family fun event features free popcorn, live music and some good ol’ fashioned fun with cornhole and other games. Music starts at 7:00, movie at sundown, roughly 9:30. Pack your picnic, blankets, chairs, dogs, kids and come have a relaxing evening under the stars. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Screen and sound provided by Louisville Audio Xterior.

Thursday, August 21
Nibble & Sip

Jarfi’s Bistro
1543 Bardstown Rd (the old Lentini’s)

Reservations are highly recommended
6:00 – 8:00pm
Ticket Price in Advance includes 2 complimentary Raffle Tix:
M – $20 NM – $25
Ticket Price at the Door includes 1 complimentary Raffle Tix:

M – $20
NM – $30

This KY Happy Hour will feature 2-3 complimentary KY Nibbles prepared by one of Louisville’s favorite, Chef Jeff Jarfi. Chef Jarfi will spin his Mediterranean flair and presentation on KY grown summer veggies as the main ingredient mixing them with several surprises. Nibbles will include: Chicken Drummettes stuffed with local corn & herbs, Bruschetta with local tomatoes, guacamole and local goat cheese and KY ham on local cucumber rounds with Benedictine. Guests will receive two complimentary special lemonade cocktailsGuava Mojitos and Basil Rosemary Lemonade (both with or without alcohol). There will also be a cash bar. To get the crowd grooving while enjoying fabulous food, delicious lemonade and outstanding atmosphere-local artist, Maestro J, will provide entertainment with his blazin electric violin.This summer celebration will also highlight a raffle. The prize is a Year Free Membership to Bon Vivant Savant and an in-home mixology party!

LOU’s TO DO’s – HAPPENINGS IN THE ‘VILLE
Always happening (and super cool!): L&N Wine Bar and Bistro, Corks for Charity. Order a bottle of wine, write your name and number on the cork and wineers will have the bottle prices donated to the selected harity for the month and win a gift certificate to L&N.
Last chance for adventure and history buffs: This is the last month for Survivor Jamestown at the Frazier Arms Museum. It is 1607 and you have just arrived in the New World with the goal of surviving for one year! This summer find out if you can beat the odds and determine your fate in Survivor: Jamestown. It all depends on the choices you make and a bit of a”mazing” luck! Search for gold, climb over rocky waterfalls, slide down a zip line and crawl through logs to find food and lasso fish, meet unusual wildlife, see what awaits you when you spin the wheel of misfortune and much more while you explore this family-friendly maze full of twists and turns!
Just beginning and fun for all: Mellwood Arts Center.
Artists, architects, engineers, boy scouts, teachers, etc. will be called upon to create 18 fully functioning and unusual putt putt courses that will be open to the public for entertainment. This project is a perfect way of initiating contact between the public at large with art through an interactive relationship. The exhibition “18 Art Holes” will be hosted by the Mellwood Art Center in partnership with the Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft during the months of August through October. “18 Art Holes” will coincide with The Ryder Cup, which comes to Louisville, Kentucky September 16-21 bringing thousands of world wide golf enthusiasts to town. Through Oct 31.

For more Louisville Happenings, visit here.

TASTEBUD TREATS
Grilled Summer Salmon w/ Mustard and Herbs Source: © EatingWell Magazine and Cooking.com
Salmon cooks over a bed of lemon and fresh herbs to infuse it with flavor and keep the fish tender and moist. We like a blend of thyme, tarragon and oregano, but any of your favorite herbs will work. Make it a Meal: Serve with grilled new potatoes tossed in an herb vinaigrette and steamed green beans. For full recipe and side dish suggestions, click here.

HOT LINKS and COMING ATTRACTIONS
I love this new group of sites whose parent company and owners are Louisville based. Think myspace as far as creating an online community, but for a more adult crowd. Designed to specialize in interests and hobbies for all, each site focuses on pets, food, gardening, etc. More to come soon, but maybe you’ll want to start here: foodvu.com

SEPT/OCT:
Sept 9 – Red/Blue Wine & Wisdom Dinner with guest Anne Northup, Primo Restaurant
Sept 19 – Ghostbusters
Sept 26 – Ultimate Tailgating Nibble & Sip at Impellizeri’s on Bardstown Rd

Posted in dining, Events, Movie Night, Newsletter, recipes, Summer Happs, Unusual, Wine & Wisdom | Tagged: , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Flamenco Wine & Wisdom Dinner

Posted by chaska on July 20, 2008

I’m happy to post the menu and wines for the upcoming Flamenco Wine & Wisdom Dinner. Chef Travis Hall has prepared a delicious looking menu and I can hardly wait to sample each tapa! Come out and enjoy a beautiful presentation by Flamenco Louisville accompanied by tasty tapas & wines as well. Event details:

Saturday, July 26 6-9pm
Olivia’s Restaurant
Goss Ave Antiques Mall

Reservations Required. $55 pp incl. tax & gratuity

Price includes 12 tapas, 6 wines – 3 oz pours of each. Additional glasses available from cash bar. Non-alcoholic beverages also available, including a special NA Sangria.

Call 502.287.2772 to reserve your spot now.

Evening’s program:
6:00-6:40pm
Greet and Meet—Mix and Mingle
Cocktails and passed/stationed tapas paired with Spanish wines

6:40pm-6:45pm

Introduction of guest by Event Savant, Jo Self as well as info on Bon Vivant Savant & Olivia’s

6:45-7:30pm

Words of Wisdom from Guest speaker, Diana Dinicola. Q & A and possible crowd participation

7:30pm

Eating of tapas and drinking of wine

9:00p

First Wine & Wisdom has come to a close

Tapas

  • Marinated Olives
    Fennel-Rosemary, Coriander-Lemon, Chili-Lime
  • Breadsticks w/ Broad Bean & Roasted Garlic Spread
  • Anchovy Toasts
  • Blackened Salmon w/ Orange Yogurt Sauce
  • Marinated Sardines w/ Shaved Fennel, Lemon & Olive Oil
  • Albondigas (Spanish Meatballs)
  • Chorizo w/ White Bean Mash
  • Pinchos Morunos (marinated pork skewers)
  • Chicken Liver Pate
  • Chickpea & Chorizo Salad
  • Escalavida (roasted eggplant, tomato & red onion)
  • Cheese & Olive Empanada

Wines

  • Bosao Tinto
  • Auratus 2006
  • Altos de Luzon 2004
  • Ercavio Roble 2006
  • Viña Borgia
  • Burgan’s Albrariño

Posted in Announcements, Events, Summer Happs, Wine & Wisdom | Tagged: , , , , , | 2 Comments »

July is hot, hot, hot!

Posted by chaska on July 4, 2008

Bienvenidos to all guys, gals and gourmands! June saw the first of BVS’s original series and we just keep getting bigger and better in July! You’ll notice that the newsletter is here now and will be posted monthly for all to see. It’s all a part of the evolution as our universe expands. Hope you’ll keep coming along for the ride. Some new features will be added each month. This month, you’ll notice that event locations are linked to Google Maps for ease of finding directions. Also, contact information for making reservations is on the sidebar to your right. Keep cool and be cooler!

In this edition:

  • Member Thank You and membership special – Something for everyone!
  • My Hired Hands
  • BVS Events
  • Lou’s To Do’s
  • Tempt the tastebuds
  • Hot links & Coming Attractions

MEMBER THANKS & a SPECIAL OFFER

For all you wonderful people who have decided to join early and be a part of this adventure from the start, I am here to say thank you!! For being the first on the bandwagon and handing over your hard earned dollars, I am granting you lifetime membership. That’s right – one time payment, lifetime of fun. In addition, you will also be receiving a Highlands VIP card to tide you over while we build our own member perks. This is a great partnership with two companies who want to promote and encourage local business and local spending. Look for your card with your welcome pack… I promise, they’re coming! I’ve hired help…

Not a member yet? Not to worry. I’m extending the same special offer – a lifetime membership and a free Highlands VIP card – for the first 100 people to join BVS. And yes, I’m starting at zero. Why would I do this? It’s simple. I’m brimming with ideas for future members’ only events, but I can’t do any of them until I have members. Simple as that. And if you’re wondering who are current members are, they’re men, women, 30s – 60s, singles, couples, hetero and GLB. It’s nice mix and we’re brought together all for the reason of meeting new friends and sharing our passions. Think of it as a social networking group where food, beverage and the arts are often the binding elements.

MY HIRED HANDS

I would be remiss if I didn’t give a little shout out for my Right Hand and my Schmoozer! If you haven’t already met them, you will. My new Right Hand is Ms. Liz Spilman. She is going to be aiding me in a bit of organization as well as being, that’s right, my right hand at our events. And of course, my publicist, Caroline Knop AKA the Schmoozer. This woman has been such an integral part of getting the word out and creating such great buzz for our group. Without a doubt, BVS is benefiting from her wondrous ways! You can check out some of our press hits by checking out our press page.

If you haven’t heard about our new events, find a bit more out here. We’ve introduced the first ever Theatre Hop (a great success) and our Nibble & Sips… July heats up with more of our original series that showcase the ‘ville and the gems we have in it.

Thursday, July 17
Shakespeare in Central Park – Twelfth Night
8:00pm
Free admission – RSVP kindly requested for saving space

Possibly my favorite of the bard’s plays. If you haven;t seen this one, you’re in for a treat. If you have, then treat yourself to seeing this performance by the Globe Players, the high school troupe of Kentucky’s Shakespeare Festival. This great comedy is a feast of love, mistaken identity, scheming, practical jokes, misguided advances, drunken clowns, and plenty of laughter and suspense. Follow Viola and Sebastian through the twists and turns that will, as in all Shakespeare comedies, end in all lovers reunited. We’ll have our own area marked off as well as a table to promote all things BVS. Bring a picnic, chairs or blanket and enjoy an evening of theatrical frivolity at its best.

Friday, July 18
WHAS Good Morning Kentuckiana
5am – 7am

Come join us if you dare (I know 5am is early for me) or just tune in to WHAS as Terry Meiners hosts GMK from the park with BVS as their special guest!

Saturday, July 19
Picnic ‘n’ Flicks Under the Stars
EP Tom Sawyer State Park 3000 Freys Hill Rd 40241
“Sixteen Candles” with band Identity Crisis from Mom’s Rock School
7pm – midnightish
Members (M) – Free, Non-Members (NM) – $5

Join us for our 3rd 80s classic, “Sixteen Candles” as we enjoy another movie under the stars. This family fun events features free popcorn and lemonade, live music by Identity Crisis and some good ol’ fashioned fun with cornhole and other games. Music starts at 7:00, movie at sundown, roughly 9:30. Pack your picnic, blankets, chairs, dogs, kids and come have a relaxing evening under the stars. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Screen and sound provided by Louisville Audio Xterior.

Saturday, July 26
Wine & Wisdom – The Beauty of Flamenco w/ Flamenco Louisville
Olivia’s at the Goss Ave Antinque Mall 946 Goss Ave 40217
6:00p – 9:00p
**Reservations Required**
Advance Reservations M: $50, NM $55 Week of M: $60, NM $65

Bon Vivant Savant has created another local original series –Wine & Widsom. The first event will kick-off at Olivia’s. This exciting new dining series will feature Spanish wine tastings; dancers, Diana Dinacola and Paula Collins as well as musician, Paul Carney of Flamenco Louisville will present the wisdom, history and beauty behind the baila of Flamenco and Olivia’s, Owner/Chef Travis Hall will present tapas tasting stations throughout the spacious and gorgeous restaurant featuring select foods of the region. Menu will be added to the website prior to the event, but you can expect a minimum of cocktail tapas (olives, cheeses cured meats), 6 main tapas and wines for pairing with all. ¡Vamos a bailar!

LOU’s TO DO’s – HAPPENINGS IN THE ‘VILLE
July 4 – Waterfront Festival, great live music, fireworks and it’s all free
July 4 & 5 – Italian Picnic Buffet at Primo Restaurant, $25pp, 6-10pm
July/Aug – “Howard Schatz Redux” Photo Exhibit, Paul Paletti Gallery Don’t miss out on these amazing under water shots… they will take your breath away! 713 E. East Market
For more Louisville Happenings, visit here.

TASTEBUD TREATS
Summer is here and I think about Lemonade. So I’ve been playing around a bit and here is my favorite mix so far: Start with an unsweetened lemonade and give it a twist – Basil & Rosemary Simple Syrup. This makes a really lovely savory drink that is light and refreshing. Just muddle fresh basil and rosemary with powdered sugar and water, then add to taste. You can also boil 1 c. sugar to 2 c. water with the rosemary and basil, then let cool. Depends on how much time you have. Add a splash of gingerale for some bubbles – and perhaps your favorite vodka should you prefer to spike it a bit! Enjoy!

Or if gin and tonic is your thing, try making your own by trying Jeffrey Morgenthaler’s recipe. I know I can’t wait to play around with this one!

HOT LINKS and COMING ATTRACTIONS
I think this may be my new favorite online news: www.topix.com It will automatically log you in to your local area and news is at your fingertips. I guarantee I’ll be utilizing this place a bunch!

AUGUST/SEPT:
August 14 – Our FIRST Supper Speakeasy. Check the Originals page to find out more.
Aug TBD – Nibble & Sip, Local Summer Veggies and Sweet ‘n’ Savory Lemonades
Aug 16 – E.T. the Extra Terrestrial
Sept 9 – Wine & Wisdom with guest Anne Northup! Primo Restaurant
Sept 19 – Ghostbusters

Posted in Newsletter, recipes, Summer Happs | Tagged: , , , , , | 3 Comments »