the lexington project

Busy weekend, if you want it to be. Start with Devine Carama and a slew of local poets tonight at the Dame. Follow that with warehouse bike racing and smores making fun at Old Tarr tomorrow. Pull together a Santa suit and hit the town for SANTACON Saturday. Sunday, celebrate the fall of a blue law – pick up a bottle and head over to the Outside the Spotlight 5th Anniversary concert/celebration at the Pepper Distillery warehouse on Manchester. Then, hustle over to Champs for the Rock-A-Bout rollerderby bout. Pause. Breathe. Maybe even stay in on Monday and Tuesday nights. Save yourself for film night at the Icehouse next Wednesday. It’s gonna be a fun week.

Hope all are well.
Luv, Ross

:::::::::::::::::::::::: Announcements :::::::::::::::::::::::::::

** TONIGHT! Thurs/December 13 – Reading & Writing Workshop by Jim Tomlinson @ Carnegie Center
Tomorrow (Thurs/Dec 13th) at 6:30pm, the Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning (251 W. Second St) hosts FREE reading and signing by Jim Tomlinson, author of “Things Kept, Things Left Behind.” Following the reading, at 7:30, Tomlinson will conduct a hands-on writing workshop entitled “Point of View in Fiction: Who’s Telling This Story Anyway?” The workshop fee is $25. For more information, call 859-254-4175 or visit www.CarnegieLiteracy.org.

** Fri/December 14 – “Bourbon, Bikes, & Hobo Barrels” @ Old Tarr Distillery
“Bourbon, Bikes, & Hobo Barrels,” the first of the Winter Warehouse Bike Race Series, jumps off Friday, December 14th at the Old Tarr Bourbon Distillery, 899 Manchester St (at the intersection of Manchester and Pine Sts). Race registration begins around 7, with racing beginning at 8pm. Registration for racers is $5. Divisions include Hard-Core-Racers, Cruisers, Tandems, Crazy Bikes, etc. There will be prizes for all categories. Admission is FREE for spectators. Hot drinks and refreshments provided by Stella's & Al's Bar (including smores over the hobo barrels!!!). Beer provided by KY Ale. Following the races, roll over to the free after-party at Al's bar – corner of N. Limestone & 6th St – which will feature music by Big Maracas. The fun is sponsored by WRFL 88.1FM, Al’s Bar, Stella’s Deli, press817, Pedal Power, Kentucky Ale, and the Alleycat community. For more info, call 243-0000 or 502/767-6477.

** Sat/December 15 – Lexington’s 1st SANTACON!
From Santa Jeffries …

Holiday Howdy!

Looking for the next freaky thing to do? Let me help you out. Be a part of Lex history! The 1st Annual S A N T A C O N L E X ! THIS SATURDAY!!

What is SANTACON, you ask? http://www.santacon.com/

Well, it takes place in major cities all over the world, involving thousands of SANTAS. It's non-profit, non-political, non-religious, and nonsensical celebration of holiday cheer, goodwill and fun.

There's really no good reason to dress up in cheap or homemade Santa suits, run around town, sing songs, drink drinks, have strangers sit on our laps and decide who is naughty or nice, but it sounds like a LOT OF FUN, doesn't it?

Really, it's a bunch of Santas getting together to have a good time. EVERYONE LOVES SANTA AND SANTA LOVES EVERYONE!

HOW: Dress up like Santa - proper or variations welcome! Or be an elf a reiindeer or ?? (PS: Don't just wear a Santa hat, tho. Unless you wear *just* a Santa hat, knowhatImsayin)

HISTORY: Santacon is big action in cities all over the world! http://www.santacon.com/
and LEXINGTON, STARTING THIS YEAR!!! BE THERE!!

SANTACON LEX! THIS SATURDAY DECEMBER 15
CONVERGING AT: HYATT BAR @ 5PM
From there, Santa will lay siege to a trail of bars and public locations for who knows how long!

HO! EVERYBODY HO HO HO!

** Sat/December 15 – Sabi Diri “Community Blow Out Party”’ at Mecca
This Saturday from 7:30-10pm, everyone’s invited to Sabi Diri’s Community Blow Out Party at Mecca: Live Studio and Gallery, 451 Chair Ave (off S. Broadway). The “reception, drum/dance jam, potluck” is FREE and open to all ages. For more info, email info@meccadance.com.

** Sun/December 16 – Rock-A-Bout at Champs
The Rollergirls of Central Kentucky (ROCK) make their debut this Sunday night at Champs. Here’s the full scoop from our friend Meg Marquis aka Rainbow Smite -

What better way to kick off your holiday season than with knee socks, rollerskates, and maybe a little blood?

Come out to watch the Rollergirls Of Central Kentucky (ROCK) take on the Rollergirls of Southern Indiana in December 16th's "Rock-A-Bout"!

This is the first bout for Lexington's very own rollerderby league, and to celebrate, admission is being offered for a one-time VERY LOW price of only $5! The doors open at Champs Skate Center (297 Ruccio Way, beside Meijer on Reynolds Road) at 7:00 pm and
Support your local rollergirls! Friend us on MySpace at www.myspace.com/rockandrollergirls or www.rockandrollergirls.com. the bout begins at 8:00. After-party at Champs is from 10:00 pm - Midnight.

What: Rock-A-Bout
When: Sunday, Dece. 16th, Doors 7:00/Bout 8:00 pm
Where: Champs Skate Center (297 Ruccio Way)
How Much: $5
Why: Because it's going to be a great time!

** Through December – Photo Exhibit by Jonathan Hampton at Third St Stuff Coffee
Take time out of the holiday craze to peep our friend Jonathan Hampton’s photo exhibit at Third St Stuff Coffee, on Limestone near the corner of 3rd St. The photos come from across the United States and all pieces use only recycled frames. All are for sale and limited reprints are available, but the show is, of course, FREE and open to the public.

** Wed & Thurs/December 19 & 20 - Balagula Theatre Baby Shower at Natasha’s Café
A baby shower/benefit for Balagula Theatre. Here’s the full info from a recent Natasha’s Café email:

“Its a theatre! In honor of the Balagula Theatre Company’s achievement of non-profit status and as Lexington’s newest theatre, a Baby Shower will be held. Natasha’s Bistro will host the event with an encore performance of “Power Plays” by Elaine May and Alan Arkin, an art exhibit and silent auction. A portion of all proceeds will be donated to the Balagula Theatre Company.

The performance consists of two one-act plays: The Way of All Fish, about a bizarre office exchange between a business executive and her meek secretary, and the darkly absurd Virtual Reality, a comical glimpse into the seedy lives of two men pantomiming an illegal warehouse transaction. Both one-acts are farcical examinations of the reversal of power in two seemingly opposite worlds of business culture. Starring Shane Brakefield and Ryan Case.

If you missed the first performance this is will be your chance to see it before the two take the show on tour throughout Kentucky. If you say it, this performance will be full of surprises with Shane and Ryan’s holiday flare thrown into the mix.

Showdates: Wednesday and Thursday 12/19 and 12/20
Seating: 7-7:30pm (menu ordering-portion of ALL sales donated to the theatre)
Admission is FREE. Reservations REQUIRED. 859-259-2754.”

** Bellydance for hipsters
Hipsters, here’s your entry into the world of bellydance. This month, Mecca (451 Chair Avenue) is offering a class teaching choreography by international bellydance super star Rachel Brice set to Man Man’s “Engwish Bwudd” (perhaps you saw Teresa and Susie of Rakadu Gypsy Dance rocking it at the Vampire Weekend show). The class fee is $45 for UNLIMITED class attendance. Class times are Tuesday, 5:30-6:30pm and Saturday, 2-3pm. For more info, drop a line to info@meccadance.com.


:::::::::::::::::::::: THE PICKS ::::::::::::::::::::::
::::::::: Wednesday, December 12 – Sunday, December 23 :::::::::::

:: Thursday, December 13 ::
THREE LEGGED RACE w/CABOLADIES, WES MEEK, and CLIFTON KELLER @ Busters, corner of Main and Upper - 10pm, ages 21+, FREE – part of the A Void Busters series

Another of the FREE Thursday shows at Busters sponsored by The Void Skateshop. This time solo acoustic (young guns Wes Meek and Clifton Keller, whom you may recognize as a member of The Nastys) squares off against mesmerizing abstract psychedelia (two of my favorites – Robert Beatty, aka Three Legged Race, and Caboladies). http://myspace.com/mountaain (Three Legged Race), http://myspace.com/caboladies, http://myspace.com/wesmeek, http://myspace.com/cliftonkeller.


:: Thursday, December 13 ::
DEVINE CARAMA presents “Poetry in Motion” @ The Dame
10pm, ages 21+, $3

This Thursday, December 13th at the Dame, Devine Carama Presents Poetry in Motion, an evening where hip-hop gets back to it's lyrical roots with performances by some of Lexington best spoken word artists: William "Quin" Cowan, Bianca Spriggs, Black Falcon, Eric Sutherland, Royce, and Venkat. Supreme lyricism will be emanating all night long! And to top it all off, Lexington hip-hop champ, Devine Carama will be spitting some poems and accapellas mixed in with tracks from his new mix tape. I can assure you, mad knowledge will be dropped. – Chuck Clenney
[Full Disclosure: Chuck, owner of a magical beard and healing hugs, is one of the poets who’ll be performing at the show.]


:: Friday, December 14 ::
“Bourbon, Bikes, & Hobo Barrels” @ Old Tarr Distillery, 899 Manchester St (at the intersection of Pine and Manchester)
registration 7pm, races begin at 8pm, all ages, FREE

Wild, wonderful, winter warehouse racing on a fixed course that runs inside and out of Old Tarr. Beer from Kentucky Ale. Smores over hobo barrels. Hot drinks courtesy of Stella’s. Gonna be some fun. Find full details up top in the Announcements section.


:: Sunday, December 16 ::
Outside the Spotlight 5th anniversary concert/party with performances by ENGINES and THE FRODE GJERSTAD TRIO @ Pepper Distillery, 1200 Manchester St - 7pm, all ages, $5 – sponsored by WRFL 88.1FM

A celebration of out sounds and persistence – the Outside the Spotlight jazz and improvised music series turns five with it’s 100th concert featuring one of Chicago’s best young free jazz ensembles and a heavy European trio. The setting, the fifth floor penthouse of the rough and tumble Pepper Distillery warehouse on Manchester, may steal the scene though. UK architecture student Patrick Fromm and friends are working to transform the wide open space into something more intimate (perhaps even cocoon-like). Get out, enjoy a freight-elevator ride to the show space, and enjoy cake, wine, coffee, and hot sounds.

Engines = intense Chicago fire-jazz quartet featuring saxophonist Dave Rempis (of the Vandermark 5, Triage, Rempis Percussion Quartet), trombonist Jeb Bishop (formerly of the Vandermark 5 and Brotzmann Chicago Tentet - making his first Lexington appearance in three years), bassist Nate McBride (of FME, Powerhouse Sound, Spaceways Inc), and drummer Tim Daisy (of the Vandermark 5, Triage, Wrack, Dragons 1976, Festival Quartet).

The Frode Gjerstad Trio = exciting Norwegian trio led by reedist Gjerstad and featuring percussionist Paal Nilssen-Love (of FME, The Thing, Atomic).

[Full Disclosure: I helped organize this show.]


:: Sunday, December 16 ::
Rock-A-Bout Rollerderby @ Champs Rollerdome, 297 Ruccio Way (just off Reynolds Rd next to Meijer)
Doors open at 7pm, bout starts at 8pm, all ages, $5

The Rollergirls of Central Kentucky (aka ROCK) take on the Rollergirls of Southern Indiana. Expect fast, occasionally brutal flat track action, halftime entertainment by Rakadu Gyspy Dance, and an afterparty that runs from 10pm – midnight. More info – http://www.rockandrollergirls.com, http://myspace.com/rockandrollergirls.


:: Wednesday, December 19 ::
Film Night – Lightheartedly at War With the World: an evening of situationist films by Guy Debord and video art @ The Icehouse, 412 Cross St (just off W. Maxwell) - 7pm SHARP!, all ages, FREE

The Winter Coat film series that I’d envisioned for the Icehouse hasn’t come together. Maybe this one-off film night will give the idea a kickstart. Don Antenen unearthed a couple of films made by French Situationist Guy Debord. He and Nick Warner came up with the idea of a public screening (perhaps the first screening of Debord’s films in Kentucky). About the same time Bill Santen had the idea of screening a few seminal video art pieces by artists such as Vito Acconci, William Wegman, William Kentridge, and Sadie Benning. So, the ideas merged into a single night of provocative cinema. The evening will start with the video art pieces. The Situationist films will follow. FREE popcorn for everyone!


:: Also worthwhile in the December 13 – December 23 timeframe ::
Sat/Dec 15 RAKADU GYPSY DANCE @ Natasha’s Café, 112 Esplanade
Sat/Dec 15 IDAHO, ALASKA w/THE PHOTOGRAPHIC, and BEDTIME @ The Dame
Fri/Dec 21 THE RUDIES @ The Dame
Sat/Dec 22 THE NASTYS w/THE KOENIGS and I LIKE YOU @ The Void Skateshop, 518 E. High St - all ages
Sat/Dec 22 THE APPARITIONS w/THE POOR RICHARDS @ The Dame
Sun/Dec 23 TRYPTAMINE w/LAROMLAB and ROBOT COWBOY @ The Dame

:: Soon Soon ::
Thurs/Dec 27 THE SWELLS @ Natasha’s Café, 112 Esplanade
Fri/Dec 28 BIG MARACAS @ The Dame
Sat/Dec 29 CHRIS KNIGHT w/BLIND CORN LIQUOR PICKERS @ The Dame
Mon/Dec 31 SAME AS IT EVER WAS (Talking Heads tribute) @ The Dame
Fri/Jan 4 THE QUEERS w/BACKSEAT VIRGINS @ The Dame
Sun/Jan 6 POISON CONTROL CENTER @ The Dame
Sat/Jan 12 THE FEATURES @ The Dame
Fri/Feb 1 SIX ORGANS OF ADMITTANCE @ The Dame
Sat/Feb 2 HAIR POLICE w/TIGHT LEATHER and HANDICAPPER HORNS @ The Void Skateshop, 518 E. High St- all ages

:: Pertinent Resources ::

__Lexington__
THE DAME, 156 W.Main St, Lexington - http://www.dameky.com
THE ICEHOUSE, 412 Cross St (off W.Maxwell), Lexington - http://myspace.com/icehouselex
THE VOID SKATESHOP, 518 E. High St, Lexington - http://myspace.com/thevoidskateshop
CHARLES MANSION (a venue no longer, but the website's a good spot to find out about shows) - http://www.charlesmansion.org
MECCA dance studio/gallery, 451 Chair Avenue, off S.Broadway near Bolivar - http://www.meccadance.com
FROWNY BEAR, 208 Forest Park
THIRD STREET STUFF COFFEE, corner of Limestone and 3rd Street - ph. 859/255-5301
THE FISHTANK, corner of Woodland and Euclid Ave - http://www.thefishtankbar.com
NATASHA'S CAFE, 112 Esplanade - http://www.beetnik.com/
DOWNTOWN ARTS CENTER, 141 E. Main St, Lexington - http://www.lexarts.org
ARTSPLACE, 161 N.Mill St, Lexington
SINGLETARY CENTER FOR THE ARTS, corner of Euclid and Rose Sts - http://www.uky.edu/SCFA/
CRICKET PRESS (amazing local poster art) - http://www.cricket-press.com
WRFL 88.1FM (UK's student-run radio station) - http://wrfl.fm
YOU AIN’T NO PICASSO (great locally-produced music blog) - http://www.youaintnopicasoo.com

__Louisville__
LAVA (Louisville Assembly of Vanguard Artists) HOUSE - 927 Shelby Parkway, Louisville - http://www.lavahouse.org
HEADLINERS MUSIC HALL, Louisville - 1386 Lexington Road, ph. 502/584-8088 - www.headlinerslouisville.com
UNCLE PLEASANTS, 2126 S. Preston, Louisville - p.502/634-4147
THE POUR HAUS, 1481 S. Shelby Street (corner of Shelby and Burnett), Louisville
THE RUDYARD KIPLING, 422 West Oak Street, Louisville - http://www.therudyardkipling.com/pages/206999/index.htm
OLD LOUISVILLE COFFEHOUSE, 1489 S. Fourth St, Louisville - ph. 502/635-6660
PRODUCTION SIMPLE (produce many of the events at Headliners and Uncle Pleasants) - http://www.productionsimple.com

__Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky__
THE SOUTHGATE HOUSE, Newport, KY - http://www.southgatehouse.com
ALCHEMIZE, 3929 Spring Grove Ave, Cincinnati, OH - http://www.alchemizebar.com
THE COMET, 4579 Hamilton Avenue, Cincinnati, OH - http://www.cometbar.com
BOGART'S, 2621 Vine St, Cincinnati, OH - http://www.bogarts.com
NORTHSIDE TAVERN, 4163 Hamilton Ave, Cincinnati, OH - http://www.northside-tavern.com

Know of an upcoming event that others should get hip to? Let us know - email informationactivists@yahoo.com. All Picks by Ross Compton unless otherwise noted.

:::::::::::::: QUESTIONS/COMMENTS/SUBMISSIONS ::::::::::::::::::::::::
email thelexingtonproject@yahoo.com