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Eiderdown is one of the many restaurants offering carryout. Here are its fried spätzle and kraut fest balls. | PHOTO BY ROBIN GARR.
WHERE TO GET CARRYOUT FOOD — FILL UP AND HELP LOCAL RESTAURANTS Go to leoweekly.com’s Food and Drink section to find out where in town you can satisfy that craving for something you didn’t cook with what’s left in your pantry. This is an evolving and growing list. And… some places are offering beer and wine to go in sealed containers, including cocktail kits. Thank you, Gov. Andy!
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KEEPING LOUISVILLE WEIRD like a cat beard
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LOUISVILLE ECCENTRIC OBSERVER
Volume 30 | Number 21 735 E. MAIN ST., LOUISVILLE, KY 40202 PHONE (502) 895-9770 FAX (502) 895-9779 FOUNDER
John Yarmuth EXECUTIVE EDITOR
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ON: EDITOR’S NOTE, MITCH MCCONNELL GETS RE-ELECTED BECAUSE YOU ALL FORGET
A lot of this happens because whoever runs against him tries to run to his right and doesn’t even mention this stuff. —Going Deep Radio @GoingDeepLou No, the people voting for him know exactly what they are doing. They don’t forget what he has done — they adore what he does. I think we are kidding ourselves if we believe people are just forgetting. —Michael Benton
ON: DAN CANON, GROWING UP IN ISOLATION
I’m not a fan of Trump, and I have my criticisms about the man. Nevertheless, the way the left have become completely deranged over every little thing he says and does has made me dislike them far more than Trump. The latest was the way they pounced all over him and Mike Lindell (the My Pillow CEO), simply because he mentioned God and the Bible at the press conference. He was there because his company is dedicating 75% of its production to masks for hospitals. He deserves praise for this. And yet all I heard from the left was an avalanche of mockery and hate. And this from people who call Trump “divisive.” I could never stand with these people. I’m an atheist myself, but I don’t live in the same universe as people who wish harm and even death on those they disagree with politically. I won’t ever vote with people like that. —James Bean James Bean, so you’re either being dishonest, or you didn’t actually watch the press conference. —Jess George
COVID-19 AND INCARCERATED PEOPLE
Thank you for running this important piece LEO! If people want to do more, there is a Freedom Fridays Caravan vs. COVID calling on officials to free more folks from jails, prisons, detention centers. Caravaners meet up, STAY in your car or on your bike for health protocols, at 8 a.m. Fridays at Sixth Street and West Broadway. —Carla F Wallace
ON: GOV. ANDY, LIQUOR IS ‘LIFE-SUSTAINING,’ BUT SO ARE GUNS
If he closed those businesses, it would create a panic buying situation and further spread the virus. —Eric Moore Andy Bashear is an amazing person who cares far more for his people than any other Governor in this country. Your choice to,bash a good man due to your ignorance of the situation is sad. Reach up out of the bowl and flush yourself you pile of crap. —Dusty Isaacs Dusty Isaacs, it’s Beshear. —William Shelby Simpson I personally think our gov is doing an awesome job, and I appreciate that alcohol is still available to buy. —Tanya Nelson
ON: PHOTO ESSAY, DANCE THE DISTANCE GETS BUTCHERTOWN MOVING
Such beauty, joy and hope! Thank you, Dance the Distance! —Pamela Jay
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NOT MUCH WINNING IN THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION By Aaron Yarmuth | ayarmuth@leoweekly.com
IT MIGHT HAVE TAKEN a global pandemic, but the Kentucky state legislature came together to act responsibly and, in some cases, sensibly to pass a budget and several bills. Of course, in other cases, Republicans couldn’t help themselves to push through some bad, partisan legislation. The best decision made by the legislators was to amend the rules of the legislature and allow remote voting. Most legislators voted remotely by texting a picture of a paper ballot. It might be the most sensible, responsible decision in history for the Kentucky legislature. Who are the winners and losers of the truncated 2020 legislative session? The most important piece of business was the passing of a budget — keeping the state open, at least relatively, and operating. The haste and uncertainty created by the coronavirus forced lawmakers to compro-
UNDERCOVER
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mise and proceed in a nontraditional manner. Most notably, legislators passed a one-year budget instead of a two-year one. One month ago, it would look as though the Republican-controlled legislature had steamrollered over Gov. Andy Beshear, public employees and progressives interested in more revenue generation. The legislature did pass a vape tax but no medical marijuana orsports wagering. The budget comes in $231 million beneath Beshear’s initial proposal. Gone are proposed pay raises to teachers and public employees. No additional funds will be available to hire social workers. In that sense, many people and groups “lost” in this budget. But a lot has happened in the last month. The impact of the coronavirus on the state’s economy and, in turn, state revenues will be profound.
Legislators’ forecast for next year predicts the unemployment rate will rise to 5.8%, resulting in $88 million less than expected the rest of 2020, $115 million less in 2021 and $174 million less in 2022. And even the legislature’s “pessimistic” forecast could prove to be foolishly optimistic in a few months. A recent estimate from Goldman Sachs forecasts unemployment nationwide could rise to 15% by the middle of the year — a number not seen in the U.S. since 1939. A report from the Economic Policy Institute estimates Kentucky could see 16.3% unemployment by July. For context, the unemployment rate in Kentucky has been between 4.2% and 4.4% since December 2017, and the last time it was at or above 5.8% was in September 2014, on the long climb back from the height of the The Great Recession, when
unemployment in Kentucky reached 10.7%, which was above than the national average. The fact that a budget was passed that largely maintains spending levels from a year ago makes the whole state a winner. This isn’t just calling a glass of water “half full,” describing a splash of leadpoisoned, unflushed toilet water as Dom Pérignon and telling underpaid, overworked teachers that they should be happy about it... Why?
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Things are about to get much worse, so maybe what they passed is the best they could have done. Or not. Speaking of Dom Pérignon and winners, House Bill 415 is a huge win for the wet counties. Kentuckians (in alcohol-selling and -serving counties) will finally be able to purchase and have shipped to their front door bourbon, beer and wine directly from producers inside and outside of the state. This is also a major win for Kentucky distilleries, breweries and vineyards, which can now ship to customers around the country. Direct shipment also provides a new revenue opportunity for the state, according to Republican Senate Majority Leader Damon Thayer. Parents and future generations are also winners for Senate Bill 56, prohibiting the sale of tobacco and vaping products to people under 21. And, House Bill 351 imposes a new tax on vaping products, which is expected to raise $25 million in state revenues over the next two years. These anti-tobacco, anti-vaping measures will have enormous positive economic impacts in future years, as each will result in a healthier, more productive population — a healthier population will be more productive contributors to society, for longer and will be less expensive to care for later in life. The biggest losers have to be proponents of legalized medical marijuana and sports betting: The state needs the revenue more than ever, which may be what drives passage next year during The Greater Recession. And, of course, despite providing no evidence of a single case of in-person voter fraud, Republicans pushed ahead with Senate Bill 1, requiring voters to provide a government-issued photo ID at the polls in order to vote. This is a tested GOP strategy to keep people (read: Democrats) away from the polls. Beshear vetoed the bill, but there should be zero resistance between Republicans and a veto-override next week, as they hold super-majorities in both chambers. This creates an unnecessary, disenfranchising hurdle for those without an ID, and it disproportionately impacts poorer, sicker and minority communities — communities that tend to vote more Democratic. So, I guess, Democrats are losers, too, as well as democracy. This just skims the surface of the expedited, last-minute activity hurried through Frankfort. There is much more to be irritated about. But it’s important to recognize that things could be a lot worse... Matt Bevin could still be governor. •
MAYOR FISCHER — WHERE DID THE HOMELESS GO? By Huntress Thompson | leo@leoweekly.com From the Political Affairs Desk of the Kentucky Derby Motor Speedway. IF THERE’S TO BE a clear thesis to this piece, I’ll just go ahead and ask the pressing question of the moment: Mayor Fischer, where did the homeless go? They are a regular mechanism of the Downtown Machinery of the Universe, neither good nor bad in any way other than the city refuses to do anything about the issue, so I am obligated to ask again — where did the homeless go? In this Universe, there ought to be safe spaces available to all when things haven’t taken a turn toward the Strange Days of Corona. They include Houses of Knowledge such as public libraries. Louisville Free Public Library located downtown is a model example of this philosophy because you might not like all the homeless and other assorted folks who hang out in front of the library, but it is their right to be there. The library is a neutral space that doesn’t exist to sell anyone anything outside of the love of learning and with heat and air conditioning, depending on the temperatures. If that means the downtown library and the surrounding grounds are constantly occupied by those that have nowhere else to go, then so be it. As long as their activities aren’t the kind that bring the ambulance or LMPD, I can’t see another option until the city of Louisville pulls its thumb out and finds a solution during regular operating status. But now the libraries are closed. The sudden and rapid decrease of one regular working mechanism is something to be immediately noted, as the Office of the Political Affairs Desk keeps close tabs on the Downtown library grounds. While it’s understandable that the sudden disbursement of the usual gathering of persons was related to everything else having been closed over this Corona business, the question suddenly shifts from Where did they all go? Now it is: Why don’t they have anywhere else to go? So, I ask, again, in the wake of the eerie quiet where the sound of church bells echo in the absence of the usual drone of background noise — Mayor Fischer, where did all of the homeless go? This is not to say that they all have disappeared. There are some who still hang
around one spot or another favored off of the once all of this Coronarama is over with but library grounds, and there are still a few who that time is Not Now. I’ll be right out there with you in full form and fashion once this push shopping carts up and down the sidewalks, but by and large, the vast majority are is all over with but, Really, Not Now. Uncle Andy would be disappointed with you. no where to be found. If your pastor/preacher/priest/whatever I am left asking this question after reading around the internet to see if there were states that going to service right now is a test some unified solution or response from the of your faith, the only thing they’re testing city that caused is their ability an entire portion to shake you Either the Salvation of downtown down through Army and/or the city to vanish. The the collection Courier Journal plate. Read your could have already reports of the Book at home, story of one man, provided some kind of whatever that Ricky Freeman, book may be, but relief for the homeless At Home. A great facing homelessness, but to start on of Louisville before the place aside from the how to behave Salvation Army pandemic or, I’m going oneself right offerings, the now, if you don’t to ask again, clearly article doesn’t have a particular state clearly and angrily, where did book in mind, is where all of the anything by Kurt the homeless go, Mayor Vonnegut with homeless went or if the Salvation particular attenFischer? Army has enough tion paid to “A space to make Man Without A sure everyone is safe and properly socially Country” or “The Silmarillion” by Tolkien. distanced. In order to make a logical argument to If not, there’s nothing worse than a the last few of you that don’t want to listen crowded gym full of people, and it takes just or question the personal rights issue of a one of them, coughing, before there’s a full #HealthyAtHome mandate — I am presenton outbreak. ing this to you an equation of why we all There’s an additional moment of revelahave to #TeamKentucky really, really hard tion at work in the wake of Corona: Either right now and not as a means of panic but of the Salvation Army and/or the city could sobering reality. have already provided some kind of relief Corona reportedly has a 1% to 2% morfor the homeless of Louisville before the tality rate, right? pandemic or, I’m going to ask again, clearly Take your number of Facebook friends and angrily, where did the homeless go, and multiply it by .01 and then .02. Mayor Fischer? Take the number of homeless sheltering And while this is entirely related but in an old gym and multiply that by .01 and a second part of the story this week, but I .02. (Again, I ask Mayor Fischer, where did also have to ask — what in the actual FK all the homeless go?) is wrong with y’all on 13th Street? What in Take that number, and Stay The FK the blue hell possessed all of you to go out Home, please, Stay Home. there? Look at that number and Stay Home. • Despite all of the evidence presented, despite all of the stay home orders from Huntress Thompson is a poet and philosGovernor Beshear the Younger who’s turnopher who’s #HealthyAtHome in Louisville. ing blue in the face from the pure Stupid, Special thanks to Guestroom Records for its there were reports of a hundred people out magical delivery service during these trying there having themselves a good time. times. #WashYourHands There is a time to party in the streets LEOWEEKLY.COM // APRIL 1, 2020
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MCCONNELL: HIT WITH A PEBBLE, RESPOND WITH A BOULDER By Al Cross | leo@leoweekly.com IT’S A TIME for us to be apart literally and a time to be together figuratively. But politics long ago moved mainly to the figurative battlefield, and we shouldn’t expect its divisiveness to take a holiday even in a deadly pandemic. And now the crisis itself is an issue. Two weeks ago, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s campaign manager was calling on his likely Democratic opponent, Amy McGrath, to stop her “deceitful” ads because it was “tasteless and shameful” to air “negative political advertising” during such a historic crisis. And this space said it wasn’t a good look for her. But McGrath raised the ante, saying in a radio ad that McConnell “shut down the Senate in the middle of a pandemic and disappeared.” Then, she said likewise in tweets, one citing a point made by Washington Post columnist Jennifer Rubin. But Rubin’s point was off base, giving McConnell an opening. He replied with a TV ad saying, “Amy McGrath uses this crisis, spending millions on false, partisan attacks. McGrath fuels fear with lies even liberal newspapers call false.” As documentation, it listed “The Washington Post, 3/17/20.” That was the date of the Rubin column that said the Senate’s failure to vote immediately on an early coronavirus relief bill “was emblematic of the sloth and irresponsibility” of McConnell. The Post deleted that line and topped the column with a correction: “The bill was delayed due to procedural issues in the House and a vote on an amendment sought by Sen. Rand Paul.” So, Rubin, and McGrath were off base, but so was McConnell. His documentation hung “millions of dollars” and “newspapers” on one tweet, citing one newspaper correcting its own error. Long ago, McConnell liked to dispense this advice for candidates: “When you’re hit with a pebble, respond with a boulder.” But not too long after that, he perfected the art of transforming a pebble into a boulder. That ad was just the latest of many from him that has done so. They seem to work. (McGrath has backed off, running ads about her efforts to help with the crisis.) Now McConnell is making political hay with the latest virus-relief measure. His latest ad declares that he “brought our country together in a unanimous bipartisan vote”
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for “the biggest economic rescue package in history.” He deserves credit for doing his job, but credit for that very heavy lift is to be shared with Democratic leaders and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. It’s no surprise that McConnell is playing politics, but it was somewhat surprising to hear him say that President Trump’s impeachment trial “diverted the attention of the government” from the threat. It was an implicit admission of Trump’s mismanagement, which is killing people. And it was also surprising to hear Trump say, “It probably did,” though he said it didn’t hurt his performance. McConnell’s excuse is lame — the buck stopped with Trump and he had plenty of warning — and it doesn’t wash. Trump’s trial ended Feb. 5; on Feb. 10, he said “We’re in great shape” with the virus. We weren’t, because there were problems with the test developed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration wouldn’t allow private labs to provide tests and Trump didn’t seem to know what was going on. On March 6, he falsely claimed that anyone who wanted a test could get one. The list of perfidy goes on and is long enough for a whole column. We don’t know how this will play out come November, but McConnell seems to see vulnerability for Trump, which translates into vulnerability for Republicans’ Senate majority. Politics aside, governments at all levels must deal with the crisis and those who run them are having to make some tough decisions. Leaders of the General Assembly have put off a tough decision: which pending bills they will pass when the legislature returns April 13 to reconsider. They stuck to budget matters last Wednesday, but several worthy bills are hanging fire. One that shouldn’t wait is a constitutional amendment to lengthen terms of prosecutors and district judges to facilitate a redrawing of judicial boundaries. The next chance to do it, due to the current election schedule, is 2030. And a remap is already long overdue. Take care of business. • Al Cross is a former Courier Journal political writer and is professor and director of the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues at UK. He writes this column for the Kentucky Center for Public
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HANNAH L. DRAKE IS THE #ANGERTRANSLATOR By Hannah L. Drake | leo@leoweekly.com 23-hour lockdown! I’m the man up in this piece! You’ll never see the light of..... who the fuck do you think you’re fucking with? I’m the police, I run shit around here. You just live here! Yeah, that’s right, you better walk away! Go on and walk away...’cause I’m gonna’ burn this motherfucker down. King Kong ain’t got shit on me! That’s right, that’s right. Shit, I don’t, fuck. I’m winning anyway, I’m winning... I’m winning any motherfucking way. I can’t lose. Yeah, you can shoot me, but you can’t kill me.” Gov. Andy Beshear: Healthy at Home talks about all the things you can do! Me: What he is really saying is: “Call It What You Want! Shelter at Home, Healthy at Home, Netflix and Sit Still, Home and Working, Home and Eating, Chilling at Home, Posted Up At Home... I Don’t Give A Damn!! Just Stay At Home!!!” Gov. Andy Beshear: This week is really important. It is Passover. It is Holy Week. We can’t do that this year. We know. We have evidence where this is spreads in a house of worship. Where people are putting people in harms way, we will be taking action. Me: What he is saying is, “I have warned y’all about having church services 50 million times. I am done warning you. I aint telling you one more time. The church building needs to be empty just like the tomb or you will feel my wrath.” Gov. Andy Beshear: Have a nice weekend. Don’t gather. Stay healthy at home. Me: What he is really saying is, welp, Denzel said it best. “Awww, you motherfuckers. OK. Alright. I’m putting cases on all you bitches! Huh. You think you can do this shit...Jake! You think you can do this to me?! You motherfuckers will be playing basketball in Pelican Bay when I get finished with you! SHU program, n*gga.
Gov. Andy Beshear: Farmers Market... this is something that we can do if people Follow The Rules!! You gotta spread out!! You can’t go to one if you are sick! If you touch it, you buy it!! Me: What he is saying is: “These are the damn rules! Period! You touch it, you fucking buy it. I don’t care if you decide you don’t want it. Oh you buying that shit! Period!” Gov. Andy Beshear: We busted two gyms in Frankfort that were letting people in the back door. Me: What he is saying is: “What The Entire Hell?! Work Out At Home!!! You tried to be slick, and we shut that shit down! And we will do it again!” Gov. Andy Beshear: The question is about Senate Bill 2 that I vetoed today. The fact people would need something in order to vote — but that they can’t get because of the coronavirus — is not right. Me: What he is really saying is, “Y’all was trying to be Slick with that one, huh? Disenfranchising people. Not on my watch! I would have been against that bullshit anyways virus or no virus.” Gov. Andy Beshear: Pop-up sites charging $250 in cash in Louisville. Any testing going on in Kentucky should be working with
our Department of Public Health. Our Public Health should Know about any testing.
building. For now, get used to going to Bedside Baptist. Next question.”
Me: What he is really saying is, “Where Is The $250!!! Where is the people’s money? Bueller? Bueller? Anyone! Show Me The Money!!!”
Gov. Andy Beshear: Let’s start with these graphs again. Social distancing is the key. Look at what happened in Philadelphia.
Gov. Andy Beshear: My comments on a representative trying to sue me. I’m not concerned about that. I’m focused on saving lives. Me: What he saying is, “Bitch please.” Gov. Andy Beshear: Pop-up testing sites. It is a Scam! We cannot tell you the validity of any of them unless they are connected to a healthcare facility! Any pop-up, drive-up testing I’d be Very hesitant about. Me: What he is really saying is, “Now y’all know good and damn well! These people are Preying on people’s fear! Popping up in damn gas station parking lots! Asking people do they want a damn side of fries and a shake with their test. Hell No! Scam!”
Me: What he is really saying is, “I don’t give a damn if you are sick of looking at these charts. We are gonna look at them Every. Single. Day. Because some of y’all Still don’t understand to Stay Your Ass At Home!! Burn this graph into your Mind!!” Gov. Andy Beshear: One of the best things we can do is model good behavior. Positive, social peer pressure. Me: What he is really saying is, “Do the Right thing, or people will tell on your ass, and I will shut you down! Period!” Gov. Andy Beshear: We are going to be looking at this week about recommendations about closing the school or extend being out a couple more weeks, still wanting to see because none of us knows… it’s not out of the realm of possibility.
Gov. Andy Beshear: Get ready for this weekend. It’s gonna be beautiful outside. I need your help.
Me: What he is really saying is, “Y’all gonna have your kids at home for the rest of the damn school year.”
Me: What he is really saying is, “I Don’t Give A Damn How Warm It Is This Weekend!! How many times do I Have To Say This?! Don’t have me bring the storm!! Stay In The Damn House! Let me catch you jogging in packs and watch what happens! Try me!”
Gov. Andy Beshear: Every decision we make impacts other people.
Gov. Andy Beshear: If someone says it isn’t in their county. It is.
Gov. Andy Beshear: We can’t have any yard sales until this is over.
Me: What he’s saying is, “Please STFU if you are saying that. Don’t mislead people when I’m trying so hard to get them to stay the course! Please don’t pay anyone saying that Any Attention! It Is Everywhere! Period!”
Me: What he is really saying is, “Really?! A Yard Sale?! In The Middle Of A Pandemic?! Where does that make Any Sense! Out of Everything I have said tell me where that would make Any Damn Sense. A damn yard sale. Wheeeeewwwww…” •
Gov. Andy Beshear: In regards to having church services — please don’t do it.
Hannah L. Drake is an author, poet and spoken word artist. Follow her at writesomeshit.com and on Twitter at hannahdrake628.
Me: What he saying is, “God isn’t the
Me: What he is really saying is, “Don’t be a selfish a$$hole. Think about someone other than yourself!! Your actions can Kill Other People! Think!”
LEOWEEKLY.COM // APRIL 1, 2020
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NEWS & ANALYSIS
LOCAL SYNAGOGUE ZOOM MEETING HACKED BY ANTI-SEMITES PART OF A GROWING, NATIONAL TREND By Danielle Grady | dgrady@leoweekly.com
THORNS & ROSES THE WORST, BEST & MOST ABSURD THORN: IS THIS JUST THE START? A prickly thorn goes to the jackwad who allegedly attacked young adults in Norton Commons because, allegedly, they were not social distancing. A video shows a man pushing three young women and grabbing another by the neck. John Rademaker has been charged with strangulation and other crimes, The Courier Journal reported. A police spokeswoman (and former CJ police reporter) told the paper that people concerned about “large gatherings” should call 311 or 911: “Obviously, we do not advise individuals concerned about social distancing to take matters into their own hands and confront people about it, especially in any physical way,” Jessie Halladay wrote. Right... But you know these incidents will happen increasingly as the epidemic continues. Update: The jackwad is a doctor.
Hackers broke into a recent Zoom meeting like this one at Congregation Adath Jeshurun.
A LOUISVILLE SYNAGOGUE has fallen victim to a new form of harassment called Zoombombing. Rabbi Robert Slosberg was five minutes into a virtual Zoom service last Thursday for Congregation Adath Jeshurun with about 30 people watching when multiple hackers commandeered the feed, broadcasting pornographic videos and shouting and drawing racist and anti-Semitic slurs. “It was like they overwhelmed me,” said Slosberg, “And I felt like I was in a street fight and overwhelmed by half a dozen people.” Slosberg kicked out the hackers, but they kept streaming back into the video conferencing app he was using, forcing him to stop the service. “It happened so fast,” said Slosberg. The attack is similar to those chronicled by news media around the country. The hackers are exploiting vulnerabilities in Zoom, the app, prompting a warning to the public from the FBI. It’s happened as Zoom’s daily use rate has surged by the millions, prompted by the coronavirus pandemic forcing most public gatherings online. Hackers can look through social media to find Zoom links to open meetings. Some hackers solicit them from others. On April 1, Zoom’s CEO responded to security concerns in a blog post,
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saying that the company would freeze work on new features to focus on patching security holes. In the meantime, Zoom users can prevent unwelcome guests by taking several steps outlined by the company, including setting up a waiting room to screen participants who want to enter the meeting. Zoombombers have crashed meetings including high school classes, Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and dissertation presentations, often subjecting viewers to pornography and expletives. And there’s been a particular focus on Jewish virtual gatherings. The Anti-Defamation League wrote a blog post “What is ‘Zoombombing’ and Who is Behind It?” about hackers hijacking Zoom conferences at Jewish schools, synagogues and nonprofits . In at least two cases, a lone hacker performed an anti-Semitic rant and exposed a swastika tattoo that was inked onto his chest. Slosberg didn’t want to speculate on the motivation of Thursday night’s hackers. “It’s hard to get in the mind of people who feel hatred,” he said. Regardless, he described the event as “ugly,” and he reported it to the Secure Community Network, a nonprofit that collects reports of security threats to the American Jewish community. “It’s shameful,” he said. “You know, we need to come together as a nation, and the real enemy in our lives is this
virus, and I just don’t think we have room for hatred.” Adath Jeshurun has implemented extra safety measures to make sure another hack doesn’t happen. Slosberg now lets congregation members into the Zoom session one by one. He thinks the measures have already prevented one hack. On Sunday, Slosberg saw an oddly long username in his Zoom waiting room. When he asked the user to identify themselves, they did not respond, so Slosberg decided not to let them in. Since March 31, the congregation hasn’t posted a Zoom link to its Facebook page as it was doing regularly before. Beside the incident last Thursday, Slosberg has embraced virtual synagogue gatherings since Gov. Andy Beshear advised all Kentucky houses of worship to halt in-person services in March. Currently, the congregation streams 12 services a week alongside educational presentations from experts as well as performances by comedians and musicians. Slosberg thinks that Adath Jeshurun may be reaching more people now virtually than the congregation did when all of its gatherings were in person. “It’s been amazing,” he said. “I mean, we didn’t stop it. In our race to learn how to protect ourselves, it never dawned on me, ‘Oh, we can’t do this.’” •
ROSE: BEWARE COVID-19 PIRATES So... now, the city will require written approval for popup COVID-19 testing sites that are not part of a health facility or have previous city approval. You might recall that two companies had set up shop, charging $200 to $250, before being run out of the city.
ROSE: CAN DOING THE RIGHT THING BE INFECTIOUS? These are times that challenge people’s beliefs. Like Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams, a conservative Republican who told The CJ’s Phillip Bailey he may allow mail-in ballots instead of in-person voting. “I ran during the campaign opposed to a vote-bymail system, but I’m a realist,” Adams said. “The most important thing for me is ensuring we have a free and fair election.”
ROSE: GET READY FOR LINES
Good on Kroger for deciding to limit the number of shoppers allowed in the store at any one time. It also will experiment with one-way aisles (it was not clear whether that will happen in Louisville). Maybe the carts should get turn signals and poles that jut out six feet on each side to ensue proper distancing!
ROSE + THORN: SAY IT AIN’T SO, JOE CJ columnist Joe Gerth tweeted: “Today, 25% of my Courier Journal colleagues are taking a week of unpaid furlough. I’ll be taking a week later this month, in May and in June. This is a tough time for newspapers as it is for all businesses. Please, if you can afford it, subscribe. Local journalism is important.” The CJ gets a rose for continuing to do great work writing the first draft of history, but Gannett gets the thorn for mismanaging the chain and putting shareholders ahead of readers.
NEWS & ANALYSIS
EVEN AS THE WORLD SELF-ISOLATES, MCCONNELL THE ROBOT CONTINUES TO PACK COURTS By Keith Stone | kstone@leoweekly.com
What we imagine Justin R. Walker and his mentor U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell might have said to each other after the nomination.
SENATE MAJORITY LEADER Mitch McConnell abandoned his fellow senators last month to travel here during the epidemic to party with Justin R. Walker who was being sworn in as a judge for the Western District of Kentucky. Last week, President Trump announced he is nominating Walker to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia District, which some refer to as the nation’s second-highest court. Wowza! Walker, only 37 or 38 years old and a judge for just over five months, and now this… Even a pandemic is not going to slow the robotic efficiency in which McConnell is filling the nation’s courts with right-wing, dogmatic, sycophantic judges, many of them like Walker who are unqualified. Who says Walker is not up to the job? For one, the American Bar Association deemed him “not qualified.” Before Walker won his current judgeship,
the ABA pointed out that he did not have the requisite 12 years of experience practicing law (sound familiar, under-qualified Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron?). “Nominees with less than 12 years at the bar, but with substantial trial or courtroom experience and/or compensating accomplishments in the field of law, can and have been found qualified by our Committee. However, Mr. Walker’s experience to date has a very substantial gap, namely the absence of any significant trial experience,” the ABA wrote when the Senate considered Walker for the Western District seat. “In addition, based on review of his biographical information and conversations with Mr. Walker, it was challenging to determine how much of his ten years since graduation from law school has been spent in the practice of law.” Walker took a page from Trump’s (and Matt Bevin’s) Playbook of Petulance to defend himself. After last month’s oath ceremony, The
Courier Journal reported that Walker lambasted the ABA, saying, in part, “although we celebrate today, we cannot take for granted tomorrow or we will lose our courts and our country to critics who call us terrifying and who describe us as deplorable.” To be fair (because what are we if not fair?), it isn’t like Walker graduated from the Offshore Drilling Rig School of Law. His pedigree includes Duke University and Harvard Law School. And he clerked on the D.C. Circuit for then-Judge Brett Kavanaugh and for Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy. That alone should disqualify him. (In 2018, he wrote for the National Review “Judge Brett Kavanaugh: A Warrior for Religious Liberty.”) But there is more to hate. First, he was born in 1982, which means he would conceivably hold his judgeship for 40 or 50 more years. He has been a member of the Federalist Society since 2006.
Yes, the same Federalist Society that McConnell has relied upon for his long game to seed the courts with young judges getting lifetime appointments. It is his legacy, or his “judges project,” as The Washington Post explained in its story: “Conquerors of the Courts: Forget Trump’s Supreme Court Picks. The Federalist Society’s Impact on the Law Goes Much Deeper.” McConnell, we can imagine, just about wet himself as he waxed pathetically about Trump’s choice of Walker: “He has chosen a rising Kentucky star, born and raised in Louisville, to refresh the second-most-important federal court in the country.” So, while we all huddle in our houses, line up for unemployment and wonder why the Trump administration has so badly bobbled this epidemic response, we can be comforted by knowing that the McConnell the robot is working to make it all worse.•
LEOWEEKLY.COM // APRIL 1, 2020
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NEWS & ANALYSIS
AS KENTUCKY LAGS BEHIND IN DRIVE-THRU TESTING, POP-UP SITES CAUSE CONFUSION
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By Scott Recker | srecker@leoweekly.com
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What Kentucky needs: Hundreds of COVID-19 tests are administered daily in Pennsylvania with help of the National Guard there. PHOTO BY SENIOR AIRMAN WIL ACOSTA.
[Ed. note: Since this piece was published, Kentucky has contracted with Gravity Diagnostics to provide as many as 2,000 tests day for next-day results.] KENTUCKY STATE government has yet to announce its plan for drive-thru coronavirus testing sites, but at least two medical marketing companies set up pop-up tents last week, promising results in 24 hours in exchange for $250, the legality of which is now being investigated by the metro police. Although these companies are claiming to have been in contact with local government officials, Metro Council President David James was blunt about the situation. He told The Courier Journal on Wednesday that the testing sites are “scams.” Mayor
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Greg Fischer also used the word “scam” in a livestream. The state’s inaction opens the opportunity for cowboy-capitalist sharks to prey on the sick and scared. Whether these particular pop-ups really are what they say they are or are fraudulent — or a mixture of the two — the reason they exist is that there’s a high demand for quick, convenient drive-thru testing. And Kentucky’s lag is creating a vacuum, allowing these companies to seem like a viable option. Seven states opened drive-thru testing sites four weeks ago. More have recently followed. Gov. Andy Beshear has said that Kentucky is working on an ambitious, statewide plan for drive-thru testing, but there have been delays and struggles. Some local
experts claim we already have an adequate amount of testing. But there’s little doubt that widespread testing has been drastically slow in Kentucky and nationally. Dr. Sarah Moyer, director of the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health, told The Courier Journal this: “Our hospital systems have the ability to test people that need it right now. I know one of the shortages has been both [personal protective equipment] and testing kits, and any extra resources for both of those that the city gets, we’re trying to coordinate with our systems. And then family health centers are also testing for people who don’t have insurance or aren’t connected to one of the systems.” Kentucky took early action to promote
and enforce social distancing. We’ve kept our numbers of cases low, as compared to other states. Beshear has been a dedicated, transparent, soothing presence. It seems we have composed adults making reasonable decisions, acting as a buffer between our state and the whims of President Apple-Sauce Brain Spray Tan Caligula. But, this is a fluid, unpredictable pandemic, and we could see a surge of cases at any time. The takeaway from this strange and depressing pop-up testing situation is that we need more results from our local and state leaders. •
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NEWS & ANALYSIS
GUILTY OR… GUILTY? CIRCULATED PHOTO OF CORONA GOLFERS TELLS ONLY HALF THE STORY By Keith Stone | kstone@leoweekly.com IT WAS A TEMPEST in the 18th hole cup, a Corona Controversy that exposed a collective, mob mentality that is only deepening as we enter day number… who knows, of Unhealthy at Home. That widely circulated photo of golfers at a private, Prospect golf club unleashed torrents of vitriol, class shaming and pronouncements of better-than-thou from high and low. The Courier Journal wrote in a front-page story with the photo saying it “depicts about a dozen or so golfers standing close to each other at Hunting Creek Country Club in Prospect.” CJ columnist Joe Gerth used the photo to
hear how he putted from 33 feet away and take swings at golfers: “In the coronavirus had his Titleist catch the rim and drop in the crisis, don’t be a self-absorbed jerk on the cup.” golf course.” It does not appear that The photo “Golf prompted a is fine,” he anyone talked with golfers recrimination wrote. “But your buddy in the photo after charging from Mayor Greg: “Golf can stand 10 them with Standing Too is one of the feet away from sports you you when he Close and then convening a few can play and brags about that drive he trial to determine whether maintain six feet distance. had on the 13th hole. Just they were guilty or… guilty. But, too many people are not tell him to talk complying. Please don’t put me in a position louder. Heck, I’m sure he wants everyone to
to shut our golf courses down.” Councilman Brandon Coan, apparently not a golfer, called for the city to close the golf courses and use the property as parkland. “Everyone has had to sacrifice some freedom,” he told The CJ. But wait… Seeing cannot always be believing, especially in this Age of Photoshop. One of those men in the photo, Joel Stanley, wrote in a CJ op-ed (published below Gerth’s sendup of golf) that the golfers had been following the rules for social distancing and using hand sanitizer… and the photo distorted the truth: “I can assure you the group of golfers in that photograph are all very aware and concerned about our current situation. I can also tell you that no one purposefully flaunted their actions, or in any way were trying to demonstrate that we are above the rules, or simply don’t care. In fact, it is quite the opposite.” “If you look closely at the picture you published, you can see that in almost every case the subjects are spaced out. What is not easily discernible — and understandably so since the photograph was clearly taken on a setting of maximum optical zoom, which distorts the image — is that some of the subjects were standing closer to or farther away from the green.” “I understand the pictures look bad. If I were just to glance at them and not bother with learning any details about the situation, I too might be inclined to call the group ‘disobedient,’” he said, adding, however, that, “This is a situation where someone has overreacted to a poor photograph without all the facts.” That is a central point. It does not appear that anyone talked with golfers in the photo after charging them with Standing Too Close and then convening a trial to determine whether they were guilty or… guilty. Tom Sanders, president of Hunting Creek County Club, told The CJ it was “disappointing” that members had not followed prescribed precautions. But… the story does not say whether he was there when the photo was shot or had talked with the golfers about the allegation. In the end, the Great Golf Coronaversy seems to have turned out to be yet another example of how the Hive Mind of social media (and the news media) can unleash a swarm of mistruths that ends up stinging all of us. Be safe out there. •
LEOWEEKLY.COM // APRIL 1, 2020
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PHOTOS
IT TAKES A CITY: FEEDING THE MOST VULNERABLE By Kathryn Harrington | leo@leoweekly.com FOR THE ELDERLY, this shutdown has been particularly hard — and dangerous. Jefferson County senior citizens came last week to several locations including the former Kroger on Second Street, Southern High School and the Newburg Community Center to collect free meals. Because elderly people are more vulnerable to severe complications from the coronavirus, Louisville Metro government has been providing free frozen meals to residents of Jefferson County who are 60 years or older so they did not have to go to grocery stores. Alas, the program has ended. The city says it is focusing its limited funding on those already deemed eligible including through Meals on Wheels and Senior Congregate Meals.
Cars of seniors lined up to receive free meals at the Newburg Community Center on Thursday. Louisville Metro government is providing the meals at several locations Mondays through Fridays to keep the population most at risk of complications from the coronavirus safe and fed.
Volunteer Sandra J. Davis carried meals to be given to seniors in their cars on Thursday at the Newburg Community Center.
Shavonda Pasha with Louisville Metro government smiled for a quick photo at the Newburg Community Center.
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Officer Randall Richardson and John Miles assisted two people crossing the parking lot after picking up their meals.
PHOTOS
Volunteer Chris Goodman unloaded boxes of meals to be given to seniors at the Newburg Community Center.
Volunteers shared a laugh with someone picking up her meals at the Newburg Community Center.
Sarah Teeters, director of the Office for Aging and Disabled Citizens, gathered meal items for seniors at Southern High School.
Metro Councilwoman Keisha Dorsey volunteered at Southern High School on Thursday to give free meals to members of the community who are 60 or older. LEOWEEKLY.COM // APRIL 1, 2020
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PHOTOS
PARK IT, AND THEY WILL WORSHIP By Kathryn Harrington | leo@leoweekly.com FROM NEED comes creativity, but the social-distancing rules still need to be followed. On Fire Christian Church on New Cut Road held a drive-in service on Sunday as a way of worshipping while staying safe. Parishioners were asked to remain in their cars while Pastor Chuck Salvo preached from a trailer equipped with large speakers. It might have been its last for now. On Tuesday and in time for Easter, Mayor Greg Fischer said he is “reluctantly, but emphatically, asking” churches to not hold drive-in services.
Some parishioners open their sunroofs to worship at On Fire Christian Church’s service on sunday evening.
Music is played before On Fire Christian Church begins its service on Sunday evening.
Congregants stay in their cars while listening to the service at On Fire Christian Church on Sunday.
Preaching is done in the parking lot of On Fire Christian Church while parishioners listen from their cars.
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PHOTOS
Pastor Chuck Salvo listens to music performed at Sunday’s service.
Parishioners listen to the service from their cars to practice social distancing due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Parishioners listen to the service from their cars to practice social distancing due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Musicians play songs of worship at the On Fire Christian Church service on Sunday. LEOWEEKLY.COM // APRIL 1, 2020
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PHOTOS
Congregants remain in their cars during the service due to the spread of the coronavirus.
Congregants stay in their cars while listening to the service at On Fire Christian Church on Sunday.
Pastor Chuck Salvo preaches at On Fire Christian Church.
Pastor Chuck Salvo listens to music performed at Sunday’s service.
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STAFF PICKS
FRIDAY, APRIL 10
Freedom Fridays
Sixth Street and Broadway | facebook.com/SURJLouisville | Free | 8 a.m.
THROUGH MAY 3
#KPAatHome
Facebook Live | facebook.com/kentuckyperformingarts Free | Times vary Coronavirus has hit the arts world hard, venues and creators MUSIC alike. So, Kentucky Performing Arts has started a free, daily concert series, streamed on Facebook, “to connect people through the arts in these uncertain times and provide Ben Sollee performing at a past Give-A-Jam will be among local artists with paying gigs as their those in the #KPAatHome sessions . livelihood is impacted.” The performers were selected by KPA’s Senior Programming Manager Erin Palmer, who selected such Louisville-area luminaries as fiddler Michael Cleveland and cellist Ben Sollee. The next performance is Brigid Kaelin on Wednesday, April 8 at 8 p.m. —Danielle Grady
FRIDAY, APRIL 10
Rocktails At Headliners Featuring Bridge19 Livestream
Facebook Live | facebook.com/headlinersmusichall | Donations welcome | 6-7 p.m.
What about people stuck in jails during this epidemic? Louisville Showing Up For Racial Justice and The Bail Project are protesting on their behalf by leading a car and RESIST bike caravan around Metro Department of Corrections and other downtown buildings every Friday. They’re asking for more prisoners to be released from jail out of coronavirus concerns, such as those who are older or who are being held only because they can’t afford bail. Last week, they added the Oldham County Detention Center as a caravan stop. You can join simply by showing up at the intersection of Sixth Street and Broadway. It’s a protest that requires unity, but it’s not a social event, so organizers stress that riders and cyclists not get out of their vehicles or off their bikes and that they maintain a safe distance from one another. —LEO
SATURDAY, APRIL 11
Biscuits With Biscuit Belly
Chibo | chibo.io/classes | $10 donation minimum | 10 a.m. and noon
Bridge 19. | PHOTO BY JESSIE KRIECHHIGDON.
The folks at Headliners Music Hall want to support local bands, as well as its own displaced staff, during this eventless time. So, it is bringing local bands on for its FaceSUPPORT book live weekends. Bridge19 takes over this weekend. And while every band sounds better live — in your favorite local music hall (i.e. Headliners) — with a decent bandwidth, Bridge19’s “rhythmic stylings of Nola jazz meets Americana” will still be worth a watch. All you have to do is follow Headliners Music Hall on Facebook. Again, the event is to support the local bands and Production Simple team, so the arts are here when the virus is gone. So while donating is not required, consider supporting the band via Venmo @ Audrey-Cecil-1 or Headliners’ staff on their GoFundMe page (gf.me/u/xuqwqx). — Aaron Yarmuth
Living in the era of self-quarantine can have its perks. Fresh-baked… well… anything tops that list. You can also learn a new trade… like baking biscuits! Join Chef Mateo YUM! Sullivan of Biscuit Belly in a biscuits and gravy cooking class, and no longer will you be limited to the ready-bake, pop-can biscuits. Register for the class on Chibo, an online platform for chefs and cooks to collaborate and cook and interact live from any kitchen in the world. (Chibo is a startup created right here in Louisville’s GE Appliance Park.) “Tickets” are a minimum of $10, and all proceeds from the event will go to Apron Inc., which supports service industry workers and local, independent restaurants impacted by the coronavirus. While you’re on there, take a look around Chibo for some of the other upcoming events: a “pantry only donuts” and food photography course, a session with bar Vetti Chef Andrew McCabe or Seviche Chef Anthony Lamas. —Aaron Yarmuth LEOWEEKLY.COM // APRIL 1, 2020
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MUSIC
RECORDING AN ALBUM DURING THE CORONAVIRUS: SAFETY MEASURES AND TECHNOLOGY HELP, BUT SOME PRESS PAUSE
Anne Gauthier at La La Land. | PHOTOS BY NIK VECHERY.
By Scott Recker | srecker@leoweekly.com JAXON LEE SWAIN and his band were supposed to start recording a new album this weekend at the Lexington Recording Co., but those plans were put on hold because of the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. The fivepiece hasn’t been able to rehearse for several weeks, losing the ability to prepare songs, but, more importantly, they thought there was too much of a safety risk. “From our perspective, it’s not responsible to all get in the room and practice,” Swain said. “At least I feel that way. All the work we were doing was put to a stop three or four weeks ago. It really affects every level of it. OK, even if we could get into the studio, we would all have to stay six to eight feet apart. Even then, we would have to
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drive separately to go to Lexington. There’s just no reasonable scenario where we can do this and maintain the social distance responsibilities that I think are important.” This dilemma faces Louisville musicians who planned to record this spring, and there’s not a universal answer or solution. Some professional local studios have stopped all in-person, live recordings, while others are still holding limited sessions with strict measures in place. Some musicians have postponed going into the studio, while others are moving forward. Some people have comprehensive home studios, while others are turning to technology, trying to find ways to digitally collaborate and build songs with limited equipment. Like every
other aspect of the music community right now, studio sessions have been negatively impacted — financially and creatively — but there’s also some innovation floating around. While Swain and company have put their time at Lexington Recording Co. on hold, the band is working on songs remotely, although, without members in the same room, it’s a lot more difficult. “I’m building a little studio here at my house to essentially make demos, and that might turn into something else — I don’t really know what will happen there,” Swain said. “I’m trying to figure out how to do some collaborations with some people. I know there are some apps that you can use
to sort of multi-track — so the bandmates can send parts back and forth.” Whether or not anything comes out of those home recordings, Swain, who is also the vice president of the local label sonaBLAST! Records, knows that musicians in town will successfully create during this time. “People will find a way, there’s no doubt about it,” Swain said.
WHAT ARE LOCAL STUDIOS DOING? The venerable indie rock studio La La Land — which has recorded Jim James,
MUSIC
Romell Weaver in the studio. | PHOTOS BY NIK VECHERY.
Joan Shelley, Strand Of Oaks, Ray LaMontagne and dozens of local bands — is still doing select sessions, but several rules were added. Right now, musicians can’t bring guests, bands members must position themselves six feet apart from one another and equipment must be disinfected after each use. “We’re doing limited in-person sessions, for now, but with a slew of extra safety precautions and doing things remotely as much as possible,” head engineer Anne Gauthier said. One advantage La La Land has is a massive amount of space. As a singlefloor, open-concept building, with barriers in-between the producer, the singer and the musicians, the studio has a lot of room to spread out in. “We are very lucky to be in such a massive space,” Gauthier said. “Our 2,500-square-foot tracking room has actually always been set up with stations more than six feet apart, so it hasn’t been that much of a challenge to implement these measures in running sessions.” Although some work is still being done inside La La Land, there have also been a lot of schedule adjustments. “Seems to be week by week right now as to what people are wanting or not wanting to do, also depending on what the different state guidelines are — all of my out-of-state
sessions for next month got postponed, but I still have some local things this month,” Gauthier said.
‘ONE OF THE MOST INTIMATE OCCUPATIONS’ Downtown Recording is currently doing no in-person music sessions. Leon Russell, Willie Nelson and Cat Power have recorded at the Fourth Street studio, but the company also specializes in commercial and other advertising work, much of which can be worked on remotely. Since the middle of March, Downtown Recording has been mostly chipping away at long-term projects, because owner Nick Stevens feels there’s too much danger bringing people in. “Working in studio with people is very intimate, probably one of the most intimate occupations there is — everyone is playing an instrument in very close quarters,” Stevens said. Stevens said that he’s received numerous requests from people to record, sometimes solo, but he thinks it’s best to wait until things settle down. “We’re all anxious for everybody to get back to work and everybody to get back to normal,” he said. “We just have to be patient, I’m afraid.”
THE COMING MONTHS
Dave Chale, owner of DeadBird Recording Studios, also suspended in-person recordings about two weeks ago. Currently, he’s catching up on mixing a few albums, which he can do by himself, but he worries that after those projects, it’s going to be hard to generate income. The implications of the larger economic downturn is going to trickle into local studios, especially since a lot of local musicians work in the service industry, he said. “After the peak goes through, maybe at that point — we obviously can’t have a huge band in here — but we might be able to do a three-piece, as long as we’re obeying whatever the rules are [at that time],” said Chale. “The other half is that most of the people that are paying for studio time are generally working at restaurants, bars and a lot of them don’t have jobs now. Actually, one of the bands had to pay me less than what they owe because one of the guys lost his job. All of that kind of stuff is going to be more impactful in the coming months.”
HOME STUDIOS: EFFECTIVE, NOT THE SAME
Romell Weaver, who records under Rmllw2llz, has been building his home studio for a while now, and it’s allowed him to be extremely productive during the pandemic.
He finished a new album that he’ll release in July, and he also recently completed several feature verses for songs by other artists scattered all across the country. He even started another, unplanned EP. He understands that it’s not possible for everyone to have access to top-tier equipment, but he encourages other artists to have something that allows them to create and share. “I highly recommend that if you’re an artist, and you’re doing any genre of music, you should have some way to record vocals, even if you go out and spend $500 on a little setup, to make sure you can record some vocals and send them out,” Weaver said. “You don’t have to spend $5,000, or $100,000, you don’t need all that.” Weaver has also experienced setbacks. He had to postpone a six-day tour in California. And while he’s been able to work on some solo and group projects, Weaver also said “it’s kind of wrecking the collaboration train.” “I’m just really trying to stay productive in the midst of not being able to get together with people and actually create and draw their passion and energy and ideas,” Weaver said. “You can still do it to some degree, remotely, but it’s such a better vibe when we’re all together in one room, or one space, creating.” •
LEOWEEKLY.COM // APRIL 1, 2020
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FOOD & DRINK
RESTAURANT INTERRUPTED: THE STORY OF ONE CHEF, HIS NEW RESTAURANT AND COVID-19 By Danielle Grady | dgrady@leoweekly.com ERIC MORRIS HAS LIVED through many an opening day, both as a restaurant employee and as an owner. Usually, he’s “running around, stressed out,” according to the Louisville chef and former owner of Gospel Bird and Hull & High Water in New Albany. But on April 1, the day when Morris’ third restaurant, Faces Bar/Bistro on Bardstown Road was supposed to open its doors, he instead stood in an empty building, mopping the floors by himself.
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The coronavirus pandemic had shut down the dining rooms of all restaurants in Kentucky and pushed back Faces’ opening day indefinitely. Morris was petrified. “I’m not working, and I have a silent partner, and between him and I, we’ve put a lot of money into this,” said Morris. “No loans — it’s all personally funded, and then to have to sit back and go, ‘Oh, OK, now I have to budget for my own bills and my own being, existing and children, on top of what
I just put into the restaurant space, is, yeah, it’s terrifying.” Faces, a small plates concept with a focus on lighter fare, is not the only local establishment in this position. NoraeBar, a NuLu karaoke spot was supposed to open two weeks ago as was Barn8, a swanky, farmto-table concept in Goshen, Kentucky that is owned by 21C Museum Hotels founders Laura Lee Brown and Steve Wilson. In some ways, Morris is in a better position than many of his restaurateur compatri-
ots who are already open, he said. “I feel a lot worse for them — just kind of, how are they going to survive, how are they going to keep their employees, paying their own bills,” Morris said. “I guess we all have our problems in this for sure, but I definitely feel for them a whole lot more than me right now.” Morris hopes that Faces could open as soon as June. Unlike other businesses that have turned to carryout and delivery, including NoraeBar and Barn8, Morris must keep Faces closed. All of the boxes he needs to check to open his restaurant — a health inspection, liquor license and his own certification classes — have been delayed or are infeasible for now. Even if Gov. Andy Beshear lifted Kentucky’s ban on in-person traffic to non-life sustaining businesses, it would take at least another month for Faces to open. Morris refuses to entertain the idea that Faces may never be. “No,” Morris said, “our landlord here, he owns two separate, very successful restaurants, a restaurant group here in Louisville, so he gets it. He understands. He’s been really cool so far.” That landlord is Chad Coulter, the owner of LouVino and Biscuit Belly, who said he is not asking for any payment from Morris in April. Plus, there is the money that Morris and his partner have invested — at least $20,000, estimated Morris. “With the amount of money that we’ve both put in, there’s no turning back,” Morris said. He won’t reveal who his partner is, but Morris assured that the mystery investor is financially well off. Still, there could be a point in time when Morris, who is currently not working anywhere else but the empty Faces, might have to reevaluate. “I mean, if this were to last two, three more months, then I don’t know what we would do,” he said. Coulter, a landlord and a restaurateur who rents space from other companies, is experiencing both sides of the problem. And he doesn’t know how long all parties in the restaurant industry — the owners, the landlords and the banks — will be able to make accommodations. “Everyone’s, at this point in time, helping each other and being friendly,” he said. “Now, if this thing goes on for several more months, and we can’t reopen, I think it might get really interesting to see are people, can they even help anymore? And it might get a little ugly to be honest.”
FOOD & DRINK
EVENT GOERS... EVENT HOSTERS...
LEO DOES TICKETS. Amid the Covid-19 closures, local businesses are doing all they can to continue providng their services to faithful customers everywhere. Faces Bar/Bistro was on its way to opening when the virus hit. | PHOTO BY ERIC MORRIS.
There are positives to Morris’s situation. He’s been given more time to tinker with ingredients and work on the flow of the restaurant, he said. Every restaurant owner, depending on what stage of life their project is in, is experiencing their own kind of pain, said Coulter. Restaurants that have just opened are missing out on those crucial first few months when they can make back much of the money that was lost in getting started, like a LouVino location of Coulter’s near Indianapolis. Those that have been open for multiple years are seeing the layoffs of longtime employees. Morris’ situation is different, said Coulter. “Obviously, the anticipation and all the work you put into something, doing a concept and spending money on the space itself to renovate it how you want it for that specific concept, and then to be told you can’t open it, It can be, it can be pretty devastating,” he said. And Morris has been working on getting to this point in his career longer and harder than most. Gospel Bird, his first restaurant, closed in 2018 so that he could take care of his mother, who was diagnosed with cancer. Morris kept his second restaurant, Hull & High Water, open, because it was more profitable, he said. But, in 2019, Morris’ mother died, and Hull & High Water, never Morris’ passion project, languished and eventually closed. “I wanted to take a year off. I wanted to go work again for someone else, kind of get back into the kitchen for a while,” Morris said. “I don’t care if I have to work entry level, I just wanted to get back into a kitchen
and just cook for a while and kind of get back to what I love.” But, then, he got a call from Coulter and toured the future spot of Faces, which was previously the burger-and-beer restaurant Stout. It was a small space, easy to handle and in Louisville, which Morris, a native, understands better than he ever did Southern Indiana. Morris got to work on a concept, something healthier and less meat focused to set Faces apart from the greasy food that appeals to Bardstown Road bar hoppers. Morris found that Asian cuisine suited his preferences well, and he developed a menu with dumplings and khao soi (a coconut, curry dish), as well as some Western items like a shrimp cocktail with jumbo Patagonia shrimp. Morris plans to be in the kitchen constantly, working 50-hour weeks. “It’s made it way more exciting to say, okay now I can just finally for the first time in my life do something that I’m very, very passionate about,” he said. But Morris’ past experiences make the fear of failure just as intense as his excitement. “I’ve swung and missed twice, and I don’t want to do that again,” he said. •
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K O D A A L I E Y E S N T E S Q U A O U R S B I B D I S B A P L A A G R C E T K T A B O N A R F W I F I S O A N S P B A H A A D O R M O T T
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SAVAGE LOVE
By Dan Savage | mail@savagelove.net @fakedansavage
THE NO-PANDEMIC CHALLENGE
Your last two columns and your last two podcasts were all about the pandemic. Everything everywhere is all about the pandemic right now. Can you give it a rest? For maybe a week? Could you answer some questions that aren’t about pandemic? Any fun kink questions come in this week? I could all use a break from the pandemic, Dan, and I’m not alone. —Columnist’s Oeuvre Vividly Instills Dread Some kink questions did come in this week, COVID, and I’m happy to answer them. But the pandemic does come up in the second one, which you should feel free to skip. Q: I have a kink/fetish that’s been giving me a lot of anxiety over the last few years. I inadvertently discovered that I’m turned on by big bellies, weight gain and stuffing. It’s actually been there since I was a little kid, though I didn’t understand it until now. If it’s relevant, I’m a female in my mid-20s, in a heterosexual monogamous relationship. My problem is that I have a lot of trouble getting off without looking at pictures or at least thinking about my kink. I believe the common guidance is, “If it’s not hurting anyone, it’s fine.” But I feel super gross and ashamed. Neither my partner nor myself is large, and we both value our health and fitness. I have absolutely no desire to participate in this activity with a real person. Every time I finish masturbating, I feel embarrassed and disgusted with myself. Some part of my brain obviously craves the kink, but the rest of my brain HATES it. I keep telling myself I will stop, but I have such a hard time getting off with other porn (or without porn) that I always return to it. I genuinely enjoy having vanilla sex with my partner. I feel turned on, and I have fun. But I’m often not able to come. It sometimes makes him think he isn’t doing a good job, when in reality he’s doing great, and I’m just frustrated with my body. So I guess I’m wondering: Does continuing to watch belly porn reinforce the kink in my brain? Should I stop watching it and force myself to find other ways to come? Should I somehow find a way to embrace the kink instead? —Big Belly Woes
Six years ago, I roped Dr. Jesse Bering, author of “Perv: The Sexual Deviant in All of Us,” into answering a question from a dad who was worried about his teenage son’s sexual interest in Pokémon. (Yes, Pokémon.) Dad wanted to know if there was anything could done about his son’s “pathetic” sexual obsession. Bering explained that his kid’s kinks — that everyone’s kinks — are hardwired. “Nobody knows why some people are more prone to developing unusual patterns of attraction than others,” Bering said. “But whether it’s a penchant for Pokémon, feet, underwear, or spiders, the best available evidence suggests that some people— mostly males — have a genetic predisposition for being ‘sexually imprinted’ during development.” And once our erotic imaginations have seized on something, once we’ve imprinted on Pokémon characters or big bellies or wrestling singlets, there’s not much we can do about it. Before we’re adults — before we hit puberty — our kinks, as Bering put it, are “pretty much fixed, like it or not.” For all we know the teenage boy with the Pokémon fetish was completely comfortable with his own niche sexual interests. The dad wrote in, after all, not the kid. (But if you’re a 23-year-old Pokémon fetishist, and your dad routinely invaded your privacy when you were a teenager and heaped shame you about your kinks, please write in with an update!) But I have heard from people who, like you, weren’t comfortable with their own kinks, BBW, and desperately wanted to know what could be done. Most sex scientist and researchers agree with Bering: There’s really nothing you can do and masturbating to the porn that turns you on doesn’t “reinforce” your kinks. You can’t starve out your kinks by refusing to think (or wank) about them, BBW, and you can’t pray your kinks away anymore than I could pray my gay away. Embracing your kinks and exploring them with other consenting adults — or if your kinks can’t be realized for ethical reasons, enjoy them through solo or partnered fantasy play only — is the only realistic option. That said, some doctors have prescribed selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), aka anti-depressants, to people who were uncomfortable with their kinks. Those drugs don’t selectively eradicate kinks,
BBW, they crater a person’s libido. Taking SSRIs would mean sacrificing the vanilla sex you enjoy with your partner on the same altar with the kink that stress you out. I can’t imagine you want to go down either of this route, BBW, which brings us back to embracing your kink and coming clean with your partner. The risk you run telling a partner about your kink is no doubt the forefront of your mind, BBW, because the consequences could be immediate, i.e. he might dump you. But not telling your partner about your kink — and leaving him to wonder why you can’t get off with him but have no trouble getting off alone — isn’t risk free either. If he feels inadequate, if he feels like you’re hiding something from him, if he feels like he can’t satisfy you… he might dump you. So share your kink with your boyfriend, BBW, and kinks should always be presented as crazy and endearing — and potentially really fun — quirks, not as tragedies. You have a thing for big bellies, BBW, you don’t have leukemia. And you can explore your kinks without gaining weight or stuffing your partner until he does. A little big belly dirty talk could help you get off with your partner, BBW, and even the fittest person can push their tummy out and create the illusion of a rounded belly. Have fun!
which is usually transmitted through the air (by people with the virus coughing, sneezing or even exhaling), can survive for hours or days on different kinds of surfaces, including clothes. The virus can live for up to 24 hours on cardboard, VAG, which mean it’s the package, not the panties, that are potentially a danger here. If the last person who handled your care package — think the UPS guy who dropped it on his porch — had COVID-19, your boyfriend could wind up exposing himself by touching the box and then his face before washing his hands. But I think you should send him that package — but wear gloves while you pack it, don’t send it overnight (your scent will keep for a couple of days), and make sure your boyfriend immediately washes his hands after opening and discarding the package.
Q:My boyfriend and I live in San Francisco where we’ve been sheltering in place. We are unfortunately unable to shelter together, which means that we cannot have physical contact, especially since he lives with a parent who’s at heightened risk. (It’s not an option for him to stay with me for the duration.) We’re as frustrated about having to abruptly end the physical aspect of our relationship as you might expect. We go for (distanced) walks during the week, we talk everyday, and we jerk off in front of webcams together, but that only goes so far. I was thinking about giving him some of my worn panties for him to do whatever he wants with. My question is this: If I were to wash my hands and be cautious while putting together a pervy care package, is there much of a risk of spreading the virus around by doing this? I’m currently in good health but I know that people can be infected but asymptomatic and we’re being really careful to keep both of our households as safe as possible. Can the virus be spread via pussy juice? V—ery Aromatic Gift
CLASSIFIED LISTINGS
COVID-19 hasn’t been detected in vaginal fluids, VAG, so your pussy juice by itself doesn’t constitute a threat. But the virus,
On the Lovecast, comedian Pete Dominick: www.savagelovecast.com mail@savagelove.net Follow Dan on Twitter @FakeDanSavage www.savagelovecast.com
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PURDUE POLLINATOR DAY - April 25, 2020 from 10 a.m.- 3 p.m - Pollinator Day is a free, family-friendly event packed with hands-on activities for all ages. Activities include beehive tours, ‘pollinators made by sundae,’ building your own hummingbird feeder, native bee nest, and butterfly feeder, planting for pollinators, crafts for the kids, and more. There will be classes on planting for bees and butterflies, native pollinators, citizen scientist opportunities, and our forgotten pollinators. Local vendors also will be present selling garden and nature related items. Attendees will receive a free t-shirt or tote, a native tree, and a complimentary lunch, while supplies last.
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