First Louisville International Film Festival: October 1-4, 2009

The first Louisville International Film Festival is due to open in Louisville this year on October 1st. With 200 entries already secured, it will run until October 4th and feature thirty five films of all lengths and styles. Competing for prizes the films, which are from all over the world, will be screened at several local venues including the Kennedy Center and the Mohammad Ali Center in Downtown Louisville.

Most of the films will have fairly large budgets and bring in some well-known directors and stars. Of eight non-competing films at the festival, one of them: "The Burning Plain", stars Charlize Theron, Jenifer Lawrence and Kim Basinger. Guillermo Arriaga, who wrote the screenplays for "21Grams" and "Babel" is the director. Two of the film's stars, Theron and Lawrence, will attend the festival. (pictured is Charlize Theron)

The ghosts of Old Louisville

Old Louisville, located in the nation's 16th largest city, is the third largest historic preservation area and has the largest collection of Victorian mansions in the country. It's streets are lined with beautiful late 18th and early 19th century mansions. A National Preservation District, Old Louisville has more than 1,400 homes in a forty-eight block area.

These grand homes, built in seven major architectural styles of centuries past, sit along miles of tree lined streets, courts and avenues. According to legend, many of Old Louisville's mansions, buildings and churches are inhabited by a variety of ghosts, mostly friendly.

Locals are convinced that a young girl with black hair haunts the neighborhood to this day. Although she died 90 years ago, it is said that she still waits for her betrothed on the steps of the First Church of Christ Science, only three blocks from where I live.

And on the next street east of me, is the "phantom of Brook Street", a young girl attacked and murdered by two vagrants in the very home where she was employed. Although that home was demolished years ago, it is said her ghost comes to work daily. Other ghosts, such as the Widow Hoag and the Iceboy can be seen from time to time lurking in the shadows.

Get in the spirit, come take a tour of this beautiful, ghostly neighborhood and experience it for yourself. And while you're here, spend the night in our beautiful bed and breakfast, in the heart of Old Louisville
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How to make fabulous scones from a mix

I didn't even know there was such a thing. I'd seen mixes for just about every other kind of baked goods; but never had I ever seen a mix for scones. That is , until I met the Victorian scone lady. She called me one day, when she was in town for a trade show. She had brought some samples of her mixes, which she intended to drop off at the local bed and breakfasts.

She stopped by later and left a small bag, which sat on the shelf next to the nuts and raisins for weeks. Then, one day a guest ask if I would make some scones for breakfast. I decided to use the dried cherries in the cupboard. When I opened it, out fell the bag of scone mix, right into my mixing bowl.. This had to be a "sign" , I thought.

The bag made 6 scones and had a recipe for mixing & baking, and directions for freezing. "You freeze the cut out dough, not the finished scone". I read the directions, mixed in some dried cherries and baked the scones, all six of them. When they were done, I slathered some lemon curd on one of them and popped it in my mouth. It was absolutely the best scone I'd ever tasted! Not dry, not tasteless, not doughy, but fabulous. "Scone mixes from Victorian House Scones http://victorianhousescones.com/ taste like home made...[all you do is ]add butter and buttermilk to the mix, and bake".

I had made hundreds of scones from scratch, but never tasted any better than Victorian House Scones. After trying the first one, I went right to the phone and ordered several big bags of their mix. To find out how good they are for yourself, click on the link above and see what they have to offer.
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Special July Events in Old Louisville

Louisville hosts a variety of interesting and fun events both in-door and out, from sports, to theater, to music, to nature. When the weather is pleasant, during all but the winter months, there are many out-door festivals to keep you occupied during your visit. Offering wonderful accommodations and restaurants, Louisville makes a great homebase, while you attend some of the local events and travel the countryside and tiny villages.

Shakespeare in Central Park

June 10 - July 19, 2009

Hidden Treasures Garden Tour

July 11 and 12, 2009

Purchase advance Old Louisville Hidden Treasures Garden Tour Tickets online before 5 pm, July 11, 2009 by clicking the button at bottom of page.

Garden Tour tickets are $12 in advance, $15 day of tour. Children 12 and under may attend free when accompanied by parent or guardian. Your ticket will be available for you in front of the Conrad-Caldwell House, and is good for either day of the event.

Each ticket allows you one entry into each garden. After you click the Buy Now button it will open an integrated, secure PayPal shopping cart page.

Select the number of tickets you would like to purchase, and then Proceed to Checkout to complete the transaction and pay with your credit or debit card.

You do not have to have a PayPal account to complete the purchase.

Once your order is complete, you will receive an email confirmation, and your tickets will be available for you to pick up table on the median in front of of the Conrad-Caldwell House Museum, 1402 St. James Court, on the day you choose to attend the Old Louisville Hidden Treasures Garden Tour

To purchase advance tickets by mail, send a check or your credit card info, and your contact information to: Old Louisville Information Center, 1340 South 4th St. in Central Park, Louisville, KY 40208, or phone 502 635.5244.


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You deserve a break: Summer Travel

Summer travel this year is all about the bargain. You might consider a trip to a lovely, historic bed and breakfast, where getting more for less could mean you have the best room at the Inn, more personal attention, and lots of extras. Most B&Bs, across the country, feeling the economic crunch, are reacting by offering discounts, valuable packages, additional services and more. It's definitely a win win situation for travelers looking for a great deal. So, now is the time to plan that great escape!

Look for Value: We're all uneasy about these economic times and a great many of us have decided to cut back, spend less and save more. But that doesn't mean we must continually deprive ourselves of the very things that can revive and recharge our batteries. We still need that occasional manicure, trip to the health club, massage or get away. This year more than ever, travelers are looking to get the best get-aways they can afford. Bed and breakfasts, all over the country, are plugging into that need by offering affordable relaxing and fun week-end packages.

Travel in the US: With airfares still fairly high, traveling in North America instead of Europe or other far away destinations is a cost effective. Leisure travelers might consider travel by car, since gas prices have remained down. Business travelers, flying into town, may find prices and amenities are to their advantage. If you wont be traveling this summer and plan your trip for sometime in January (slowest accommodations month of the year) and February (Valentine's Day), you'll find plenty of interesting and reasonable packages and things to do.

Explore Kentucky: Kentucky is rich in history,. It is jam packed with beautiful scenery and lots of towns and cities with lovely Inns, bed and breakfasts and working farm Stays to accommodate your overnight and breakfast needs. Week-end rates are a great value and most major attractions are free or minimal in price.

Plan Your Trip with the help of an innkeeper: Innkeepers are great concierges. They know the area. They can suggest ideas for sight seeing and entertainment, restaurants and can make reservations for you. They can help you get the most for your money; a popular travel trend every year.

Going green in Louisville

Litter is the most visible sign of pollution. Litter creates ugliness in public places including streets, parks and waterways and impacts real estate values. It can cause injury to people and wildlife. It encourages pest animals as well as the spread of germs and disease.

How long does litter last?

Glass bottles 1,000,000 years Aluminum cans up to 100 years Plastic bags up to 20 years Cigarette butts up to 5 years Orange/banana peels up to 5 weeks What can I do?

As an individual citizen…
- Make sure your trash is securely placed in the proper receptacle. This means putting cigarette butts in an ashtray, securing paper and other items so that they don’t blow out of your vehicle and properly sealing
your garbage containers.
- Recycle materials to save landfill space, energy and natural resources. Most litter is recyclable!

As a business…
- Start a recycling/waste reduction program at your company.
- Educate your employees by placing anti-litter articles in your
newsletters or other corporate communications. Encourage your employees to take pride in their workplace by keeping it litter-free.
- Make sure your dumpsters are closed and provide cigarette/litter receptacles at the entrance to your building.

To report litter, or illegal dumping…
- http://www.louisvilleky.gov/MetroCall/report_a_litterer.htm
- Call MetroCall at 311 or 574-5000

For more information click here.

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Edible Aphrodisiacs

For thousands of years, people have been using so-called aphrodisiacs — herbs, spices, fruits, vegetables, insects, animal organs, and so on to enhance their love lives. How effective are these stimulants, really, at increasing sexual desire and drive? According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), not very effective at all. In 1989 the FDA asserted that there was no scientific evidence that aphrodisiacs have any effect on libido whatsoever. Still, many people claim that certain foods put them in the mood.

Legendary, edible "aphrodisiacs" that are safe and healthy:

Oysters Some say it's because they're high in zinc, and are among the world's oldest reputed aphrodisiacs.

Chocolate In most countries chocolate is associated with romance, and with good reason, it was thought by the Aztec's to have aphrodisiac qualities, invigorating men and making women less inhibited. So when it was first introduced to Europe, it's small wonder that chocolate quickly became the ideal gift for a man to bestow on a loved one.'

Wine A properly paired red wine will enhance the taste of your food and, hopefully, get the two of you in the mood for love, since moderate amounts of alcohol can lower people's inhibitions and help them relax

Ginseng Studies have shown that ginseng may sexually stimulate animals, but there is no conclusive evidence that it has any effect on a human's sexual response

chili peppers might be your best bet for heating things up. Chilies contain capsaicin, a compound that makes the peppers spicy. Capsaicin will also raise your heartbeat, cause you to perspire, and release endorphins that may trigger feelings similar to those experienced during sexual arousal.

Avocados has long been considered an aphrodisiac. Its ancient Aztec name, ahuacatl, actually means "testicle," and the fruit was associated with fertility.

Strawberries Known in the world of erotic foods for its phallic form. multiply the strawberries' "aphrodisiac" powers, dip them in warm chocolate and feed them to your lover

Honey They don't call it a "honeymoon" for nothing! Ancient customs encouraged newlyweds to drink mead, a fermented drink made with honey, to increase fertility and add sweetness to the marriage.

Many experts attribute the mythical properties of aphrodisiacs to the power of suggestion. In other words, if you believe a certain thing will turn you on, it probably will. And it isn't just foods that can put you in the mood — according to researchers at the Chicago-based Smell and Taste Foundation, studies reveal that certain smells can also be sexually arousing. They cite as examples lavender, pumpkin pie, and licorice. Ultimately, though, the best aphrodisiac is a healthy diet combined with regular exercise. Eating healthfully and staying in shape will keep your body, and your libido in top form.