LEO Weekly May 19, 2021

THE NEED FOR A MEDICAL BUFFER ZONE | PAGE 4

THE LOUDER THAN LIFE LINEUP | PAGE 14

LEOWEEKLY.COM // MAY 19, 2021

1

LOUISVILLE ECCENTRIC OBSERVER

Volume 31 | Number 23 974 BRECKENRIDGE LANE #170. LOUISVILLE KY 40207 PHONE (502) 895-9770 FAX (502) 895-9779

ON THE COVER

COVER BY TALON HAMPTON

FOUNDER

John Yarmuth EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Aaron Yarmuth, ayarmuth@leoweekly.com PUBLISHER

Laura Snyder, lsnyder@redpinmedia.com OFFICE MANAGER

Elizabeth Knapp, eknapp@redpinmedia.com MANAGING EDITOR

Scott Recker, srecker@leoweekly.com A&E EDITOR

Erica Rucker, erucker@leoweekly.com

CONTRIBUTORS

Robin Garr, Kevin Gibson, JoAnne Sweeny, T.E. Lyons, Melissa Chipman, Dan Savage Writer Illustrations by Yoko Molotov ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Marsha Blacker, mblacker@leoweekly.com Lisa Dodson, ldodson@redpinmedia.com DISTRIBUTION MANAGER

Megan Campbell Smith: distribution@leoweekly.com

REPORTING/PHOTO INTERN

Carolyn Brown

STAFF WRITER

Danielle Grady, dgrady@leoweekly.com ART DIRECTOR

Talon Hampton, thampton@redpinmedia.com GRAPHIC DESIGNER

LEO WEEKLY PROMOS Sign up to win tickets: leoweekly.com/promos

Lane Levitch, lane@redpinmedia.com CONTRIBUTING VISUAL ARTS EDITOR

Jo Anne Triplett, jtriplettart@yahoo.com

LEO Weekly is published weekly by LEO Weekly LLC. Copyright LEO Weekly LLC. All rights reserved. The opinions expressed herein are exclusively those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the position of the Publisher. LEO Weekly is available free of charge, limited to one copy per reader. No portion may be reproduced in whole or in part by any means, including electronic retrieval systems, without the express permission of LEO Weekly LLC. LEO Weekly may be distributed only by authorized independent contractors or authorized distributors. Louisville Eccentric Observer (LEO) is a trademark of LEO Weekly LLC.

2

LEOWEEKLY.COM // MAY 19, 2021

May 28 - Nick Dittmeier & The Sawdusters with Wolfpen Branch (Outside & Socially Distanced) May 30 - Carly Johnson Album Release (Outside & Socially Distanced)

VIEWS

EDITOR’S NOTE

IT’S OK TO BE PRO-ISRAEL AND PRO-PALESTINE

By Aaron Yarmuth | leo@leoweekly.com AS A HALF-JEWISH MILLENNIAL, it’s clear to me that peace and long-term security of Israel must be led by Jews — both Israeli and American — which dovetails with Israel’s unbreakable relationship with the United States. Palestinians and Palestinian supporters share responsibility, as well, but their role is much simpler. But the only “wrong” position is to claim absolute righteousness on either side — without, at least, respecting the complex history and “wrongs” of each side.

We’ll get to that, but I want to start with how we got here, today.

Recently I was watching a Washington Capitals hockey game. They were playing the New York Rangers for the second time in only a few nights. Long story short, there was some tension that carried over from the previous game, and, as they lined up for the puck drop, both teams gave the other that look: “Are we going? … Yep.” As the puck dropped, so did the players’ gloves, and fights ensued across the ice. In the first period (only 20 minutes), 100 penalty minutes were served for players fighting and taking shots at each other.

That’s what is going on in Israel right now — planned, almost scripted fighting. One side claims they’re fighting back because of evictions, unlawful settlements and oppression, while the other side argues it’s retaliating because of constant attacks, and they have a right to defend themself. But the origin of every grievance, for each side, has a history going back to the early 2000s, then the early 90s, then wars in 1973 and 1967, and Israel’s founding in 1948 (then the Ottoman and Roman empires hundreds and thousands of years ago).

This complicates the narrative when telling the story of today’s conflict. The media can’t recount the entire history of the state of Israel for every story or report — which, in turn, leads to abbreviated, incomplete narratives, and people taking sides based on incomplete information: “Free Palestine” or “Israel has a right to defend itself.”

The real reason (at least, the only one that matters) for why there has been fighting in recent weeks, is that the leadership of both sides — Israel Prime Minister Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu and Hamas — decided it is in their own interest to drop the gloves and fight. Forgive my crude hockey analogy, but that’s what Tom Friedman wrote in the New York Times: “No, Hamas and Bibi don’t talk.

They don’t need to. They each understand what the other needs to stay in power and consciously or unconsciously behave in ways to ensure that they deliver it.”

That is the problem we’re trying to solve — when two sides just want to fight, it’s hard to incentivize peace.

So how do we create peace? Both an immediate ceasefire, as well as a long-term, sustainable peace?

Peace has to begin with Jewish Israelis and pro-Israel Americans allowing for a new, honest debate to occur. Those who question Israel’s actions can’t be labeled, “antiSemitic,” or ostracized simply as, “you don’t understand,” or “Israel has a right to defend itself.”

Israel’s place in the world has changed since the ‘60s and ’70s, and so, too, must the debate.

An older generation of Jews had family members who survived — or didn’t survive — the Holocaust. They remember the importance of founding a Jewish state. And, for most of their lives, the state of Israel was David, while the Arab world was Goliath.

But that’s not the world we live in today.

Israel, today, is Goliath. Gaza and Arab Israelis are David. And while Israel might have been defending itself in the past, it isn’t just defending itself today. Today, under Netanyahu, Israel is bullying a weaker minority and cultivating another generation of violence. Israel is even bullying us, the U.S., and abusing the “blank check” of support we have provided them for decades.

Israeli Jews and pro-Israel Americans must also distinguish between Israel and Netanyahu.

It’s clear that Netanyahu’s interests are not necessarily Israel’s interests. His antiquated ideology, which allows for disproportionate retaliation and killing of children, is the problem on the Israeli side.

In no world can it be right — or tolerated — that defending oneself includes killing children. Netanyahu deserves a date in an international court for war crimes (after he’s done with his current criminal trial in Israel), but nothing will improve until he is out of power.

Which brings us to the U.S.’ relationship with Israel.

Netanyahu has a keen understanding of U.S. politics and how to exploit U.S. leaders into serving his purposes. It’s what I think of

as the “blank check” — the U.S. will support Israel first, no matter the cost, even at the expense of our own interests.

This is why the U.S. needs to reset its relationship with Israel and create one that fits the new, modern paradigm. Sure, when Israel was David, facing Goliath from all sides, the U.S. could blindly support Israel — that was simple. But the situation today is not so simple, and U.S. leadership is stuck in the past.

It reminds me of the movie “Love Actually,” when Hugh Grant, playing Britain’s Prime Minister, says to the U.S. president (Billy Bob Thornton), “I fear that this has become a bad relationship. A relationship based on the president [Israel, in this analogy] taking what he wants and casually ignoring all those things that really matter to Britain [United States, in this case] .… And a friend who bullies us is no longer a friend.”

With its “blank check” of support, this has become a one-way relationship, and Israel is the bully. There is no incentive or accountability for Israel to support our interests (when we want to, say… denuclearize Iran).

Netanyahu knows this, and he is savvy enough to manipulate American politics to serve his purposes — like a bully.

The U.S. needs to make it clear that our “unbreakable friendship” with Israel is a twoway relationship — and one that puts this country’s interests first, always. Otherwise America is just a very powerful, somewhat autonomous, yet wholly-owned subsidiary of the Knesset — and Netanyahu is the CEO. Failure to reclaim balance in this relationship further enables older, hardline-Netanyahu supporters and risks alienating support among younger generations of Americans — Jews and non-Jews, alike — which is more dangerous to Israel’s long-term security than the rockets.

On the other side, for Palestinians and pro-Palestinian supporters, the answer is simple: Give Israeli-Jews and pro-Israeli Americans a reason to feel safe. And denounce Hamas.

There is room for calls to “Free Palestine,” but those calls should include: “Free Palestine — from Hamas and Israel.”

Hamas is an internationally-recognized terrorist organization, full-stop. You cannot be pro-Hamas and anti-Taliban — both are as corrupt and as oppressive as any regime in the world.

They use Palestinian civilians, women and children, as human shields — or worse, as propaganda martyrs: “The tactics of Hamas are to house its arsenals in schools and mosques, set up headquarters in the basement of hospitals and fire its missiles from sites next to crowded apartment buildings and hotels housing foreign journalists,” Bret Stephens wrote in the New York Times last week. “The idea is either to keep Israel from returning fire or, if it does, reap the propaganda benefits from televised and tweeted pictures of wrecked buildings and human casualties and ‘disproportionate’ Israeli-Palestinian death counts that obscure the fact that one side is doing what it can to protect civilian lives and the other side is doing what it can to endanger them.”

Sure, Israel has a right to protect itself, as do Palestinians. Here’s the question, though: Should Israel care more about protecting Palestinian lives than Hamas? (Yes, Israel should care… a lot. Again, it’s in their long-term interest.) If you believe Israel is defending itself, that’s an unanswerable question. And that is the fault of Hamas as much as it is Israel.

Finally, stop using exaggerated language.

Inflammatory language creates further division by drawing incorrect dividing lines between sides — creating a false choice.

There is a place for being pro-Palestine and pro-Israel. However, calls to “Abolish the Settler State,” to Israelis, sounds like Hamas’ sworn mission to destroy Israel.

Someone once told me: “When you mix politics and religion, it makes for bad politics and bad religion.” As a half-Jewish, half-Catholic millennial who spends both the Sabbath and Sundays (hopefully) on the golf course, this quote is as good as gospel.

If there is going to be an end to this current conflict — as well as long-term peace — all sides need to allow for a new conversation on Israel and Palestine. One that reflects and respects the long, complex history. One that acknowledges wrongdoing on both sides.

Instead of continuing to fight the battles of the past, we need to fight the battles that will ensure a more peaceful, more free future.

Otherwise, we’ll end up right back here, saying, as Friedman wrote: “Once again, the past buried the future.” •

LEOWEEKLY.COM // MAY 19, 2021

3

VIEWS

PROPOSED BUFFER ZONE AROUND EMW CLINIC MAY BE CONTROVERSIAL, BUT IT IS CONSTITUTIONAL JoAnne Sweeny | leo@leoweekly.com ON MAY 20, Louisville Metro Council is content-neutral because it does not restrict speech will consider a proposed ordinance that based on the subject matter would create a 10-foot buffer zone outof the speech or the viewside of healthcare facilities in Louisville. point expressed; it restricts An obvious focus of this ordinance is the all speech within a particular EMW Women’s Surgical Center, which is place regardless of what the the only licensed abortion clinic in Kenspeech is about. Even though tucky. the ordinance is likely to EMW is always under attack by the affect anti-abortion protestKentucky legislature, which continues to ers more than other groups, find new ways to make it harder to get an the law is still content neutral abortion, and it was almost shut down by because the intent of the ordiformer Gov. Matt Bevin. But, even without nance is not to restrict what those obstacles, EMW has consistently dealt protesters can say and instead with the problem of protesters outside its is intended to prevent physical doors. The problem has become so bad that there is a force of volunteer escorts that have harassment of patients and staff. helped patients get inside the building, but, Second, the ordinance during the pandemic, the escort volunteers serves a significant governhave had to stay home while protesters have ment interest: patient safety continued to impede access to the clinic, and access to healthcare usually without observing social distancing facilities. In a prior 15-foot or wearing a mask. As a result, the EMW’s buffer-zone case — Schenck patients have been exposed to increased v. Pro-Choice Network of W. safety risks and Metro Council is therefore N.Y. — the Supreme Court reconsidering creating a buffer zone. noted that there is a significant governA similar proposed ordinance was ment interest in “ensuring public safety and rejected last year, largely due to concerns order, promoting the free flow of traffic on that the ordinance would violate protesters’ streets and sidewalks, First Amendment protecting property rights. This new rights, and protecting proposed ordinance A similar proposed a woman’s freedom has raised similar to seek pregnancyconcerns but the ordinance was related services.” In Supreme Court and addition, as the docuseveral other federal rejected last year, ments attached to the courts have generlargely due to proposed ordinance ally approved of show, the governbuffer zones around concerns that the ment’s interests here abortion clinics are not imaginary; and other venues as ordinance would patients have been valid “time, place or violate protesters’ repeatedly harassed manner” restrictions by protesters, neceson speech. Based First Amendment sitating multiple calls on these cases, it is to the police. clear to me that this rights.

Third, the proproposed ordinance posed ordinance is constitutes a lawful narrowly tailored time, place or manner because it creates a very small buffer zone restriction of freedom of speech and expresthat allows protesters to still speak and sion because it (1) is content-neutral, (2) be heard by the people entering or exitserves a significant government interest, (3) ing healthcare facilities. In addition to the is narrowly tailored, (4) and offers ample 15-foot buffer zone case mentioned above, alternative channels of communication. the Supreme Court, in 1994, upheld a First, the proposed 10-foot buffer zone

4

LEOWEEKLY.COM // MAY 19, 2021

JoAnne Sweeny.

36-foot buffer zone around an abortion clinic and explicitly found such a buffer zone to be narrowly tailored to the government’s interest in “protecting access to the clinic and facilitating an orderly traffic flow on the street.”

Further, this buffer zone is necessary here. As noted in the proposed ordinance, several healthcare facilities have indicated their support for the buffer zone. More importantly, existing efforts to curtail the excessive tactics used by protesters have been insufficient. The police have frequently been called to intervene when conflicts arise between protesters and clinic patients, and they have had difficulty doing so without a clear demarcation of where protesters are permitted to be outside the clinic. The creation of a 10-foot buffer zone would directly address this issue and make it easier for the police to do their work and protect patients while respecting the rights of protesters.

Finally, the proposed ordinance does provide ample alternative channels of communication for protesters. A 10-foot buffer zone will still allow protesters to speak to the public and individuals who pass by as well as hold signs to indicate their views.

Accordingly, these protesters will be able to

be seen and heard by their target audience, which, according to the Supreme Court in Madsen v. Women’s Health Ctr., is all that is required. The only thing the protesters will no longer be able to do is physically block or touch patients, which is not protected by the First Amendment.

In all, based on existing Supreme Court cases, the proposed buffer zone is an extremely modest and, more importantly, constitutional, restriction on protesters’ freedom of expression. The Supreme Court has previously, and repeatedly, permitted much larger buffer zones around abortion clinics in cases that presented less evidence of a need for patient protection.

Abortion is still a very controversial issue and it is therefore difficult to say whether the proposed ordinance will pass. If it does not, however, that will not be due to an accurate reading of the First Amendment or Supreme Court cases. • JoAnne Sweeny is a UofL law professor.

VIEWS

WILL METRO PARK ROADS REOPEN SOON? THE ARGUMENT of whether or not to lift the coronavirusrelated road closures in Iroquois and Cherokee parks has been boiling for a while now, but it heated up this past week, as several Metro Council members have released statements or have proposed ordinances. The ordinances are on the agenda for the Council’s Thursday meeting, all of which

aim to lift the current closures and create strict limits on temporary park road shutdowns in the future. The debate itself has mainly revolved around the idea of increased safety from no motor vehicles being on the park roads versus that people with health issues and disabilities have lost access to the parks by not being able to drive in them. Plans have

emerged to partially reopen park roads as a compromise, and park officials said earlier this month that they were reviewing feedback and would have a decision by month’s end.

Here are a few of the statements and survey results that have recently fueled the debate.

Councilmembers Amy Holton Stewart (D-25), Cindi Fowler (D-14) and Kevin Triplett (D-15) issued a joint statement on reopening Iroquois Park’s Rundill Road.

“In representation of all our constituents and in the interest of equity for all our Louisville citizens whether young, healthy, elderly or disabled, we implore Mayor Greg Fischer and Louisville Metro Parks to reopen Rundill Road to vehicular traffic, immediately.

Now closer to the summer solstice than the spring equinox and after over a year since the road was closed to anyone but able-bodied, pedestrians & cyclists, it is imperative that we restore equal access to the population that has been prohibited from enjoying the beauty of our majestic Southend gem, Iroquois Park.

To the countless that have called our offices asking why they are not permitted to utilize the park because they are unable to walk or bike, to those asking when they will be able to enjoy a Sunday drive with their parent or grandparent, to those that have patiently waited after constantly being told an announcement was coming soon, to those that fear that they will never again have equal access to Iroquois Park, we stand with you, and we choose this fight for you.”

A graphic from the Cherokee Park study.

A graphic from a non-scientific survey that the city did on Iroquois Park.

A recent Tweet from Republican Councilman Anthony Piagentini.

From the Cherokee Park study.

A graphic from a non-scientific survey that the city government did on Cherokee Park.

A graphic from the Iroquois Park study.

LEOWEEKLY.COM // MAY 19, 2021

5

NEWS & ANALYSIS

GRASSROOTS GROUP HELPS RENTERS NAVIGATE EVICTION COURT

By Danielle Grady | dgrady@leoweekly.com WHEN Tracey Langdon entered virtual eviction court for the first time back in November, she was scared and confused.

She had received eviction notice for the rental she had lived in for 17 years and wasn’t sure yet of the reason why.

Her case was scheduled for the 11 a.m. block, but she arrived at 9. She listened to the cases of the people coming before her — those who couldn’t find work or who had family members with disabilities.

Their situations seemed worse than hers, but they were still being evicted. Langdon grew more frightened.

But, the judge kept saying one name over and over: “Phelix,” the judge said — she’ll help you. The judge gave out a phone number. Langdon wrote it down and called it.

“Don’t worry about anything,” Phelix told her.

Phelix is Phelix Crittenden, the creator of the BO$$ and Blacktivist eviction court sit-ins, which she launched at the encouragement of Root Cause Research Center and Black Lives Matter Louisville.

She and her group of 10 or so volunteers have been guiding tenants through the confusing eviction court process since hearings started back up during the pandemic. It is one of several organizations helping people who are at risk of eviction, but what sets it apart is its grassroots nature, which gives the group flexibility in who it can help. Its core functions are to maintain a presence in eviction court, showing the judges, landlords and their attorneys that they are watching; to record data about cases they deem problematic; and to reach out to people who are being evicted who they think could use their help.

“Some people burst into tears when we do our outreach with them and connect with them outside of court and uplift them and try to provide them with as many resources as we can,” Crittenden said. “So, it’s really been a powerful experience for me personally to just be able to connect with people on that level and really build that community.”

Judge Anne Delahanty, one of two Jefferson County District Court judges assigned to eviction court, said that she and Judge Jennifer Leibson have worked

6

LEOWEEKLY.COM // MAY 19, 2021

with nonprofits to take several steps to ensure that the fewest number of people possible are evicted during the pandemic, including rescheduling court dates a month in advance to give people more time to figure out how to stay in their homes.

But, the eviction court process is still fast-paced and confounding to many of those who end up in the Zoom courtroom, Crittenden and her volunteers say, and there are loopholes that Delahanty can’t close, like lease Phelix Crittenden is the organizer of a grassroots eviction court terminations and sit-in and outreach program. | PHOTO BY MARY HELEN YORK NUNN. expirations. The federal or eight times in every case that you’ve and state government have both created moratoriums on evictions for nonpayment heard before your name is pronounced, of rent, and Metro Government is dispers- then you have to believe that there is something either special about this ing millions of dollars in eviction prevenperson, that they’re a powerful person or, tion assistance. But, some landlords and you know, maybe they’re gonna give me tenants are not applying for the money, the runaround,” said Langdon about Critand evictions for other reasons are still tenden. “And it was none of those things, allowed. it was just someone that actually gave a Court proceedings, which have been virtual since the start of the pandemic, are fuck about my situation.”

When eviction court went virtual, shifting again. On Tuesday, the Kentucky it made the process more accessible in Supreme Court reopened courtrooms some ways and complicated it in others, across the state to in-person business, particularly for tenants who are less although the order also encouraged the tech savvy. Every day, Monday through continued use of remote technology.

Thursday, 9 a.m. to noon, judges blast In Langdon’s case, Crittenden’s words through cases. were what she needed to hear: AssurOn Thursday, May 13, there were 106 ance that she would be all right. When cases on the docket. Blacktivist volunthe judge reached Langdon’s case, she teers sign up for one hour shifts of court gave her a new hearing date, giving her observation, and from 10 to 10:44 a.m., the time to prepare for her eviction and two observers watched on mute as 30 to arrange a move out with Crittenden. cases moved through the system.

Langdon learned that, even though she Delahanty, who was on duty that day, was behind on rent, that was not why she started with a quick speech, outlining was being evicted. Her landlord said they everything that tenants need to know: were selling the building and terminating her lease — leaving her, her daughter, her How to unmute themselves (everyone is muted upon entry), how to appeal a case, granddaughter and her cat to find a new what happens if an eviction is granted, place. how to apply for eviction prevention “If you hear someone’s name, seven

THORNS & ROSES

THE WORST, BEST & MOST ABSURD

THORN: WHATEVER FITS THE NARRATIVE

U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie, the 4th District wildcard who is basically just a walking thorn for his antics — and usually just whatever exits his mouth — wrote a letter with his Texas pal Rep. Chip Roy about the Insurrection. They wrote that: “hyper-politicization of the events on January 6th may incentivize prosecutors to use overly aggressive tactics, overcharge, and abuse the power of the federal government in order to satisfy favored political groups.” In the letter they did vaguely denounce the worst of the actions, but let’s remember: in the days after Jan. 6, Massie talked to the media about being there, grabbing a gun and having to lock himself and his staffers in his office, plus the sad series of events that led to it. He was highly critical at the time. Now, he’s softening along party lines. You know what that seems like: hyper-politicization.

ROSE: BOURBON IS BIPARTISAN

A toast — and rose — to Democratic Congressman (and LEO founder) John Yarmuth and Republican Andy Barr for brokering a pause on a forthcoming tariff hike on European imports of Kentucky Bourbon. Since 2018, American whiskey exports to Europe have been taxed 25% — a casualty of the previous President’s ludicrous, dumb-ass trade war. On June 1, the tariff was set to double, rising to 50%. “As Louisville’s Congressman and the Founder and Co-Chair of the Congressional Bourbon Caucus,” Yarmuth said in a press release, “I’m pleased to see the agreement announced today to suspend this looming increase on EU tariffs that would have been disastrous for our Bourbon industry in Kentucky.” Hopefully, this pause turns into a complete repeal of the tariff, and the bourbon industry can resume sending Kentucky’s finest to Europe for free. Now, this won’t help you find any more Pappy Van Winkle, but the state could really use the business.

ABSURD: RUSH TO GRANDSTAND

Several Metro Council members have introduced ordinances to reopen two Metro Parks to motor vehicle traffic. Last year, as part of the city’s emergency response to COVID-19, the city closed the roads in Iroquois and Cherokee parks in order to safely accommodate the influx of pedestrian traffic. This was an understandable, laudatory move, but it came at the expense of some who need physical assistance or special consideration to access the park. So, should the roads be reopened? A totally reasonable debate, and one that has been ongoing — responsibly — in recent weeks and months. Enter the Metro Council. After two public surveys, Louisville Parks and Recreation announced last week, “The Olmsted Parks Conservancy is gathering data regarding park usage in Cherokee and Iroquois parks pre and post COVID-19 which will take a couple of weeks. A decision on the future usage of the loops is expected to come by the end of the month.” Instead of waiting for the experts to weigh-in with data and analysis, several Metro Council members decided they couldn’t wait and filed ordinances this week. Is this to tie the Fischer Administration’s hands on a decision? Is this to steal the spotlight and take credit for the eventual outcome? Regardless, it doesn’t make sense. Then again, the Council rarely does.

NEWS & ANALYSIS

Crittenden and activists at a Cancel The Rent rally in January. | PHOTO BY SKYLAR DAVIS.

assistance funds, options for those being evicted for something other than nonpayment of rent, how to receive legal advice and services for youth being evicted.

From there, she gave a member of the Legal Aid Society — a nonprofit that provides free legal services to people under a certain income level — the opportunity to speak, before plunging into her caseload. (Also on the call was a representative from the Metro Office of Housing, there to help with rental assistance funds.)

Over 44 minutes, 10 of the eviction cases were dismissed and the majority, 15, were moved to June 17 — mostly so tenants could apply for and receive rental assistance. But three ended in eviction judgements: one for lease violations, including claims from the property manager of disturbing the peace and defacement of property. The tenant also had not been paying their rent. The second and third evictions were for nonpayment of rent, but the tenant did not show up to court, and a lawyer for the landlord said that they had been sent a notice of eviction without any response or attempt to apply for assistance. In the remaining two cases, the tenants were also on the path to eviction, but they were given chances to move out before a judgment ended up on their permanent record.

The landlords did not have to provide evidence beyond testimony for lease violations. If a landlord is claiming violations, and the tenant is not present in court, an eviction will be granted, Delahanty told LEO. But, if the tenant is present, they can request a hearing with a full presentation of evidence on both sides, which take place on Mondays. The court also has a docket she calls the “oopsie docket” on 11 a.m. on Fridays, at which tenants who had Zoom issues can appear before the court again.

In two of the cases on May 13, tenants were not able to unmute themselves until after their case was addressed. But, after they were able

Crittenden and another volunteer at the home of a tenant, “Ms. Mary,” bringing her Thanksgiving dinner. | PROVIDED PHOTO.

to get Delahanty’s attention, they were told their cases could also be moved to June 17.

Delahanty ended her 10 a.m. cases by asking if anyone hadn’t been heard for any reason.

Crittenden said that this 44 minute-long peak into Jefferson County eviction court was representative of a typical session.

“No matter how we try to explain it to people who don’t go, it never justifies everything we see and how traumatic that really is to keep putting ourselves through without the proper resources or proper amplification of our work,” she said. “You know what I mean like, It’s so hard to show up every day, be there to support these people.”

Crittenden said there was one case on the call that she would typically single out for extra help by Blacktivist: One of the women who was heading toward an eviction but who got extra time to move out. Besides Langdon, Crittenden estimated that Blacktivist has assisted several hundred people who have faced eviction or been evicted in Louisville with whatever they need. Sometimes, they’ll reach out to people who just need housing aid.

Recently, Crittenden and his volunteers raised rent for a mom and her son who lost his legs in a car accident so that they could escape a bad living situation at a boarding house. Now, they’re raising money to help furnish their new home.

There are other groups in Louisville helping people who are evicted. As a grassroots group, though, Blacktivist can operate with fewer barriers. The Legal Aid Society, for example, can only help people under a certain income level. But Blacktivist requires nothing from the people it helps out.

Delahanty said she thought Blacktivist was “a wonderful thing,” and she said she supports any group that wants to get involved in housing aid.

“I would welcome any and all participation

from any organizations whether they’re governmental or grassroots or not for profits,” she said. “Every human that can help another human “#CancelRent Demonstration” digital art by I’m all for.”

Corbin McGuire and Sunny. | ORIGINAL IMAGE BY SKYLAR DAVIS. The information that Blacktivist collects from sitting in on court “Every court date is much more, I’m sure has also helped Root Cause Research Center’s I’ve already said this, but, like, kumbaya than efforts, which has been tracking evictions in I thought,” said Delahanty, who said she was Jefferson County since the start of the paninitially dreading being assigned to eviction demic. By observing court, Crittenden said she court. “I mean, the people, as long as they’re was able to realize that some of the property willing to participate in the process, are really management companies that were receivbeing helped. And it’s kind of amazing. And ing the most money in rental assistance were so, it’s been less painful than I thought it still evicting people. This has informed Root would be, but yes, there’s still some heartCause’s Eviction Lab reports. wrenching things but the cool thing is, is that And, Crittenden’s volunteers like Taylor we do have some flexibility.”

U’Sellis hope that their presence has some There are remaining gaps that Crittenden impact on the eviction proceedings. would like to see filled, including a wish for “I feel like our presence, I like to think, caseloads to be capped at a lower amount keeps people a little bit honest,” she said. each day, so the judges don’t have to move as “Knowing that other folks are in the courtroom quickly through cases. Another improvement, watching what’s going on, puts a little bit of Crittenden said, would be if the court could do pressure on them. And bad stuff still hapsomething so that tenants’ names are always pens, you know: this is America, and this is listed on their Zoom call if they are calling capitalism and this is white supremacy, but it from their phone, instead of just their numbers. is definitely, I think, a good outlet to help folks Or, the court could create a pre-application get involved.” so that it could match tenants’ names with During the pandemic, there has been more their phone numbers. This might cut down on community involvement in the courts than judges accidentally skipping tenants. ever, said Delahanty, and those community Langdon, the renter that Crittenden and groups have been asking for change. The Legal her volunteers helped, said she is happy about Aid Society and the Louisville Urban League where she is now. When she was evicted, Critboth gave her and Judge Leibson a list of tenden and her crew showed up at Langdon’s demands, most of which the court has adopted. home and helped her take her stuff to a new Among those have been: A new rule that home. She now lives in a home where she landlord attorneys must take sworn testimony is within walking distance to amenities and from their clients if they are claiming that tencloser to her job. And she said she knows she ants are behind on payment or are still on the can still call Crittenden if she needs anything. property; if a tenant asks a community partner “I’m not gonna say eviction is the best organization for assistance with their eviction, thing that happened to me, I’m gonna say their case will be passed an extra month even if meeting someone that gave a fuck about me they don’t appear in court; and Legal Aid now possibly being evicted made a big difference,” gets to speak at the beginning of each docket. she said. • LEOWEEKLY.COM // MAY 19, 2021

7

Beer Festivals Are Back

The Return Of The Kentucky Craft Bash Thrills Brewers, Beer Enthusiasts Alike 8

LEOWEEKLY.COM // MAY 19, 2021

By Kevin Gibson | leo@leoweekly.com WITH THE CDC SHIFTING its guidelines to allow more public activities, particularly for fully vaccinated people, the Kentucky Craft Bash is just one of many returning events in 2021 that portend a return to some semblance of pre-pandemic normalcy.

But, for those involved in the brewing industry in Louisville, and around the state, it’s about more than selling beer — it’s about the ability to come together as a collective. And it’s the first beer festival in Kentucky in well over a year.

“I’ve been in this business now for 15 years,” Scott Shreffler, a co-owner of Mile Wide Beer Co., said. “I’ve done hundreds of beer festivals, and I don’t know if I’ve ever looked forward to a beer festival as much as the [2021] Craft Bash.”

Shreffler noted that the last beer festival Mile Wide participated in was March 2020 at Tailspin Ale Fest just before the world shut down, and said, “In my adult life, I haven’t gone this long without being at a beer festival. It means a lot to do it with our brothers and sisters from Kentucky breweries. It makes it even more special.”

In that spirit, the Kentucky Guild of Brewers is celebrating the big reunion by adding a brand new feature to the event.

Once the gates close at Craft Bash on June 26, a trolley will fire up to take VIP attendees on a roundabout tour of eight breweries. The bar crawl on wheels then drops riders back at the Omni Hotel, with which the guild is partnering on rooms and the trolley concept.

Of course, this won’t be the only difference from previous years’ events, as COVID protocols will be in effect. For starters, the VIP portion of the event, which is held annually at Waterfront Park, will run at just 15% of the venue’s capacity, while general admission will be at 50%.

In addition, tables will be at least six feet apart, hand sanitizer will be provided for all attendees, beer will be served in disposable (and recyclable) cups, and there will be no live music, just a DJ, among other precautions. But the mask mandate in Kentucky is set to lift June 11, and Guild Executive Director Derek Selznick describes the state’s brewing community as being “a mostly vaccinated group,” so A beer being poured at Mile Wide Beer Co., a brewery that will be at the 2021 Kentucky Craft Bash.

LEOWEEKLY.COM // MAY 19, 2021

9

expect a lot of hugs and reunions between people who essentially haven’t been allowed to see each other for well over a year.

That’s not to say brewers haven’t kept chugging along in the meantime — it just hasn’t been quite as personal. The duration of 2020 was largely about survival for many breweries, who in lieu of packed taprooms instead moved growlers, crowlers and kegs out the doors to keep the boilers lit. It’s impressive to also consider that four new breweries opened during the height of the pandemic’s social shutdown: Gallant Fox Brewing Co., West Sixth Nulu, Atrium Brewing and TEN20 Craft Brewery.

Opening a new business — one that relies on inperson consumers and on-site consumption — during a pandemic wasn’t an easy proposition, according to Larry Horwitz, head of brewing at TEN20, which officially opened last October.

“It was fraught,” he said. “We were excited to be able to open, but it also was about, ‘What’s COVID going to do to our business?’ We just needed to hang on until spring, really.”

One advantage, he noted, was that hiring staff during COVID meant bringing fewer people on board initially, which in turn meant not having to lay people off, which many most established businesses had to do. And since then, TEN20 has added staff as needed. Meanwhile, business has doubled this spring.

Another aspect of opening during a pandemic, Horwitz noted, is that promotional traditions like a grand opening were off the table. “What do you do?” he said. “Yay, we’re open.

Please don’t come.”

For Gallant Fox, which opened in the early weeks

10

LEOWEEKLY.COM // MAY 19, 2021

design, Selznick said, and has been since the event was of the COVID shutdown, it was an uncharted journey. conceived.

Co-owner Roger Huff said that, because he and his business partner Patrick Workman Of course, this design also pairs had never owned a business like nicely with the COVID protocols Another aspect of in place. So, while the festival a brewery, they didn’t know what to expect. And in that way, they opening during a will look a bit different than in had almost no gauge as to whether previous years, by that point the to be encouraged or discouraged pandemic, Horwitz mask mandate will be lifted and by the community’s response the feeling of relative normalcy noted, is that pro- will be in effect. And the return of in a time in which the business couldn’t open its doors other than beer festivals will mean a chance motional tradifor carry-out. to get together and share a beer tions like a grand with friends and with like-minded “It was definitely an experience,” Huff said, “but we just kind while also meeting the opening were off strangers, of rolled with it. We didn’t have people behind the beer. anything to compare it to. Fridays Selznick said it was in Februthe table. “What and Saturdays now don’t look ary that the Brewers’ Guild board do you do?” he anything like Fridays got together and “took a leap of and Saturdays last faith” that holding a beer festival said. “Yay, we’re summer. To us, it’s would be possible this summer, so just what we’ve open. Please don’t planning has been squeezed into a known.” short amount of time. But that leap come.”

But even if is about to pay off, and brewers — a pandemic and Kentucky beer lovers — are could or going to get what they want. The possibly even should have ended Jeffersontown Beer Fest returns July 17, the Highlands a small, fledgling business like Beer Festival is slated to also return in August (although Gallant Fox, Huffman said dates aren’t yet confirmed), and don’t be surprised if he and Workman are in the Tailspin Ale Fest and others sneak events into 2021. process of opening a second “Our brewers got into this because they wanted to location in Mt. Washington. share their beer with other people,” Selznick said. “We “The Louisville beer haven’t been able to do that in 16 months. It’s time to community has been incredstart getting back to normalcy while doing it responsiible,” he said. “It really was bly.” • a humbling experience for us. We could have easily VIP tickets, while available, are $60 in advance; genopened and not been suceral admission tickets are $50 in advance and $55 at the cessful because people were gate. Tickets can be purchased online at kycraftbash. not going out, and that was com. not the case.”

All that taken into consideration, expect the Louisville — and statewide — beer community to welcome back the Kentucky Craft Bash, and beer festivals in general, with open arms and open mouths. They’ll be welcomed in return by more than 60 breweries, up from 42 in 2019, the last time the event was held.

For those holding the precious VIP tickets, that’s about nine people per brewery, meaning you won’t experience long lines. And, at less than half capacity overall, general admission attendees likely won’t be waiting a lot either. This is by

STAFF PICKS THURSDAY, MAY 20

Silent Reading Hour Virtual | lfpl.org | Free | 6 p.m.

It’s so easy to tell yourself that you’re going to read more this week than you did the previous one, and it’s even easier to not follow through. Clear some time for this READING virtual reading group, which will dedicate an hour to silently reading — although pianist Jeannie Eberenz will be proving some light background sounds by way of covering classic Disney tunes. This will be the last silent reading party until Books & Brews starts back up this winter. Dust off that book you’re been halfway through for two months, and join in. —LEO

SATURDAY, MAY 22

Transmit 014: DJ Sam-Me & Trevor Lamont

Virtual | mixcloud.com/ttransmitt Free | 8 p.m. – midnight If you’re not ready to go back to an in-person club yet, we don’t blame you. After all, you can get some of the fun at home for free, thanks to Nashville’s DJ Sam-me and his LIVE Louisville friend Trevor Lamont. They’ll be hosting a live audio party for at-home listeners this Saturday night. Feel free to forgo the club attire — you won’t have to worry about cameras (paparazzi or otherwise), but you’ll be able to text-chat with other party guests in real time. Still, if you’re really craving the Legitimate Club Experience, don’t let us stop you. Set up your own neon lights.

Overcharge yourself for drinks. Drunkenly compliment another girl outside your own bathroom. The DJs will do the rest. — Carolyn

SATURDAY, MAY 22

Garden, Lawn, & Plant Swap Logan Street Basin | 967 Logan St. Search Facebook | Free | 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

FRIDAY, MAY 21

DJ Reece Presents: It’s The Jokes For Me!

Nirvana | 1047 Bardstown Road | Search Eventbrite | $15-$25 | 7-10 p.m.

Not sure if you’ve heard the news, but we’re told people are beginning to have fun again: shows, food, drinks, music, laughs… all of it. We all deserve it… and this show FUNNY brings it. Lajuan Bell hosts a lineup including Louisville comedians SlowYourRoll and Meech Dog. Ric Sexton is in town from Cincinnati for “a dope musical performance,” as well as “a very special performance from the lovely ladies of RUDE Burlesque.”

Nirvana’s kitchen will be open for food, its bar keeping glasses full… and good times all around. Doors open at 7 p.m., show starts at 8 p.m., and organizers request you bring a mask. —LEO

If the grass really is greener on the other side, it’s probably because the other side’s caretakers are veterans of the Garden, Lawn & Plant Swap! This event is a swap meet GROW for gardening experts and newbies alike. Everything –– and we do mean everything –– is completely free. Donate or trade your old items for “new” ones –– that includes plants, seed packets, wheelbarrows, tools, bulbs and more. You don’t even need to bring anything to go; if you’re just starting a garden, you can pick up items to create your first green-thumber summer project. On-site eco-experts will offer their sage advice to guests who take the thyme to chat, so make sure to say aloe. (And remember, it’s a community event, so don’t be prickly.) If you’ve bean meaning to turn gardening into your quarantine habit, take a leaf of faith. Please just go to the event before I run out of plant puns. –– Carolyn Brown

LEOWEEKLY.COM // MAY 19, 2021

11

STAFF PICKS

SATURDAY, MAY 22

MONDAY, MAY 24

Billy Strings Pre-party: Captain Midnight Band

Brooke Lauren Davis In Conversation With Anne Bogel

The Mellwood Tavern | 1801 Brownsboro Road | Search Facebook $10 | 4:30-7:30 p.m.

Unsurprisingly, people are hyped to see touring bands again, so Billy Strings’ stop at Waterfront Park this Saturday is sold out. But whether you are or aren’t lucky enough PARTY to be seeing the jamgrass genius in person, you can still celebrate the return of live music with this pre-performance by Captain Midnight Band outdoors at Mellwood Tavern. Captain Midnight plays something called “waterbed rock & roll,” which features “crunchy rock guitar riffs, thick R&B grooves and Soaring Vocal Harmonies” combined with “jammy anthems, sci-fi imagery, and humorous adult situations.” Whatever it is, it sounds fun. —LEO

Carmichael’s Bookstore | 2720 Frankfort Ave. | carmichaelsbookstore.com/event | Free | 7 p.m.

What a way to experience Carmichael’s new event space: an intimate conversation between READ two authors. Author and host of the podcast What Should I Read Next?, Anne Bogel sits down with Louisville’s own Brooke Lauren Davis to discuss Davis’ debut book, “The Hollow Inside.” “Davis explores the murkiness of right and wrong, of choices and consequences and heroes and villains, in an eerily compelling and wholly satisfying small-town saga,” say organizers. “A gripping, twisty, thought-provoking YA debut about a girl caught in a web of betrayal and revenge, for fans of Sadie.” The event is free, but limited, so RSVP quickly to attend (masks are required). If space fills, you can still register to receive a link to watch the live broadcast. “The Hollow Inside” is available for pre-order for $17.99 and will be released later this month. — LEO

THROUGH MAY 31 SATURDAY, MAY 22

Heart Behind The Art Vol. VII ‘Wearable Art’ The Root | 110 E. Market St. | Search Facebook | $10 | 6-9 p.m.

When I say “art,” do you think about stuffy museums and paintings in gilded frames? The Root co-working space explores art through multiple angles: food and drink, HEART a live performance and visual art. And the artists at its latest installment in its Heart Behind The Art event series see clothing, hair and the body as art. The result is an evening featuring the work of Bdelliom clothing; Blown, a blowout bar; and Isabella Siebert, a painter of bodies and other things. Watch a live body painting, sip some cocktails and stay for a live interview with all the featured artists. —LEO

‘One Thing Is Certain’ By WASP

Revelry Boutique + Gallery | 742 E. Market St. | revelrygallery.com | Free Revelry is featuring the first solo exhibition of Louisville artist WASP. Once a graffiti artist (in other words, he painted outdoors), WASP has switched to painting on wood PAINT panels. That enabled him to exhibit in a gallery (aka indoors). To highlight this move to a new location, he decided to paint houseplants. The flat, graphic compositions borrow from his graffiti skills. —Jo Anne Triplett

‘One Thing is Certain #1’ by WASP. Acrylic bucket paint, spray paint, clear gloss varnish, wooden pane.

12

LEOWEEKLY.COM // MAY 19, 2021

STAFF PICKS

THROUGH JUNE 5

‘About Convergence’ By Heather Jones

Moremen Gallery | 710 W. Main St. | moremengallery.com | Free When you read a work of art is quilt art, you think you know what you’ll see. Not if the work in question is by Heather Jones. She adds in feminism, geometric shapes and ART history to get a broader narrative. Being “interested in the historical and sociopolitical relationship between women and textiles, including women’s work and issues of domesticity” led her to African art. “My current body of work investigates the influence of African traditional patchwork on American patchwork from the South and how traditions connect us with our ancestors.” The gallery is also featuring new work by Lexington artist Patrick Smith. —Jo Anne Triplett

@leoweekly

‘All That’s Left To Hold On To’ by Heather Jones. Sewn cotton.

LEOWEEKLY.COM // MAY 19, 2021

13

MUSIC

NINE INCH NAILS, METALLICA, KORN HEADLINE LOUDER THAN LIFE 2021

By Scott Recker | srecker@leoweekly.com

AFTER A YEAR OFF due to the pandemic, the four-day, hard rock, metal and hip-hop festival Louder Than Life is back this fall with Nine Inch Nails, Metallica and Korn headlining.

Taking place Sept. 23-26 at the Highland Festival Grounds at the Kentucky Exposition Center, the Danny Wimmer Presents event will also feature Snoop Dogg, Judas Priest, Jane’s Addiction, Machine Gun Kelly, Staind, Mudvayne, Rise Against, Cypress Hill and many more artists. Tickets are currently on sale and start at $99.50 for a single day pass and $249.50 for the entire weekend.

“DWP has always considered Louisville home, so to be able to bring America’s Biggest Rock Festival back in 2021 means everything to us. After a year filled with challenge after challenge, we worked incredibly hard to curate a lineup worth the wait for our fans,” Danny Wimmer, founder of DWP, said in a statement.

Last year, DWP canceled all three of its fall Louisville festivals — Louder Than Life, Bourbon & Beyond and Hometown Rising — because of the pandemic. This year, Louder Than Life, the company’s oldest fest in Louisville, will be the only one that will be held.

Metallica was initially scheduled as a headliner for 2020, before the coronavirus caused the festival to be canceled.

Nine Inch Nails was supposed to be a headliner in 2018, but flooding in the then-location of Champions Park caused Louder Than Life to have to shut down early, which meant calling off the iconic band’s set. So, fans who were bummed about missing out on those shows will have an opportunity to catch those acts.

According to a press release, Danny Wimmer Presents will spend the next few months working with local officials to meet pandemic safety measures.

Here’s where the daily lineups currently stand:

THURSDAY, SEPT. 23

KORN, Staind, Cypress Hill, Anthrax, Beartooth, Sevendust, Knocked Loose, Wage War, Helmet, Escape The Fate, Zero 9:36, Hyro The Hero, Teenage Wrist, Currents, Jeris Johnson, Another Day Dawns, Blame My Youth

FRIDAY, SEPT. 24

Metallica, Jane’s Addiction, Rise Against, Gojira, Killswitch Engage, Starset, Avatar, Fever 333, Turnstile, Cleopatrick, Dead Sara, ’68, The Blue Stones, South Of Eden, Tallah, Joyous Wolf, Contracult Collective

14

LEOWEEKLY.COM // MAY 19, 2021

SATURDAY, SEPT. 25

Nine Inch Nails, Snoop Dogg, Machine Gun Kelly, Ghostemane, The Distillers, Asking Alexandria, Grandson, Code Orange, Ice Nine Kills, Spiritbox, Red, Butcher Babies, Bones UK, Diamante, Siiickbrain, UNITYTX, Dana Dentata, The Messenger Birds

SUNDAY, SEPT. 26

Metallica, Judas Priest, Mudvayne, Seether, Pennywise, Skillet, Sabaton, The Hu, Badflower, Mammoth WVH, Fozzy, Red Fang, Ayron Jones

GET YOUR

Republic Bank Bus Stop • 10100 Brookridge Village Blvd Party Center - Fern Creek • 5623 Bardstown Rd Street Box @ Piccadilly Square • 5318 Bardstown Rd Jay “Lucky” Food Mart #1 • 5050 Billtown Rd Cox’s - J-Town • 3920 Ruckriegel Pkwy Bearno’s Pizza - Taylorsville • 10212 Taylorsville Rd Louisville Athletic Club - J-Town • 9565 Taylorsville Rd Cox’s - Patti Ln • 2803 Patti Ln

PICK-UP LOCATIONS

L.A. Fitness • 4620 Taylorsville Rd Habitat ReStore - Taylorsville • 4044 Taylorsville Rd

Third Street Dive • 442 S 3rd St

Feeders Supply - Hikes Point • 3079 Breckenridge Ln

Jeffersonville Public Library • 211 E Court Ave

Street Box @ Heine Bros • 3965 Taylorsville Rd

TAJ Louisville • 807 E Market St

Paul’s Fruit Market - Bon Air • 3704 Taylorsville Rd

Climb Nulu • 1000 E Market St

Jewish Community Center • 3600 Dutchmans Ln

Come Back Inn • 909 Swan St

Street Box @ Marathon Frankfort Ave • 3320 Frankfort Ave

Stopline Bar • 991 Logan St

Boone Shell • 2912 Brownsboro Rd

Logan Street Market • 1001 Logan St

Ntaba Coffee Haus • 2407 Brownsboro Rd

Metro Station Adult Store • 4948 Poplar Level Rd

Beverage World • 2332 Brownsboro Rd

Liquor Barn - Okolona • 3420 W Fern Valley Rd

Kremer’s Smoke Shoppe • 1839 Brownsboro Rd

ClassAct FCU - Fern Valley • 3620 Fern Valley Rd

Big Al’s Beeritaville • 1743, 1715 Mellwood Ave

Hi-View Discount Liquors & Wines • 7916 Fegenbush Ln

Mellwood Arts Center • 1860 Mellwood Ave

Happy Liquors • 7813 Beulah Church Rd #104

KingFish - River Rd Carry Out • 3021 River Rd

Bungalow Joe’s • 7813 Beulah Church Rd

Party Mart - Rudy Ln • 4808 Brownsboro Center

Full list at LEOWEEKLY.COM/DISTRIBUTION LEOWEEKLY.COM // MAY 19, 2021

15

FOOD & DRINK

RECOMMENDED

JASMINE ASIAN BISTRO OFFERS FIRST-RATE CHINESE FARE

Bimbim Bom beef rice pot appears to be the Chinese version of Korean bibimbap, right down to the fried egg on top.

By Robin Garr | LouisvilleHotBytes.com IF YOU’VE GOT a hankering for Chinese food, you can take comfort in this statistic: According to the trade journal Chinese Restaurant News, there were more than 43,000 independent Chinese restaurants in the United States in 2019.

The pandemic has surely seen closures, but still, that was triple the 13,443 U.S. McDonald’s locations in 2021. I’d much rather have a bowl of Jasmine Asian Bistro’s Sichuanese cucumber salad than a Big Mac anyway.

Still, when we parse that 43,000 tally, the number of really first-rate Chinese sit-down restaurants does start to shrink. There are the old-school Chinese-American spots that go all the way back to the Gold Rush, specializing in culturally blended dishes that immigrant restaurateurs developed.

You’ve got the more modern neighborhood Chinese restaurant with a vast menu that seems the same everywhere, designed primarily for takeout. There’s a ton of Chinese buffets, although buffet dining took a pounding during

16

LEOWEEKLY.COM // MAY 19, 2021

the pandemic.

Finally, we come down to a handful of comfortable, sit-down Chinese restaurants with table service, a comprehensive menu that covers the basics of the Chinese canon and ideally a menu that offers mysterious, yet enticing items like hong shao, whole yellow croaker or, wait for it, intestine with tofu hot pot.

By the time we get to this final category, we’re down to just a handful of candidates locally, and Jasmine Asian Bistro tops my list right now. Sibling of the larger Jasmine Chinese Cuisine in the far East End, it’s my go-to when I’m hankering for a serious Chinese meal.

That hankering has mostly had to be satisfied by takeout, of course, since Jasmine Bistro opened in its Lime Kiln Lane shopping center space just a few months before the pandemic closed local eateries to dining in.

So I was doubly happy the other day to take a seat in a comfortable, enclosed booth well

Twice-cooked tofu, a Sichuanese dish, presents tender tofu crisp-fried and bathed in spice.

FOOD & DRINK

UPCOMING PARKING LOT CONCERTS AN EVENING WITH

KELLER WILLIAMS SATURDAY, MAY 29 HEADLINERS MUSIC HALL

OUTDOOR * SOCIALLY DISTANCED * PODDED CONCERT

PRESENTS

Fresh, floral jasmine tea comes in attractive white pots and cups.

removed from other tables.

The extensive menu includes about 220 Chinese dishes, including about 90 in the “Authentic Chinese Jasmine Specialties” section, which is tilted toward the spicy fare of China’s Sichuan region but goes beyond to include other regional favorites. There are also about 60 sushi options including rolls and nigiri sushi bites and combo platters. Main dishes are divided among many categories — poultry, pork, beef, seafood, vegetable, fried rice and noodle dishes — and range in price from $7.99 (for some veggie and noodle entrees) to a still thrifty $13.99 (for a few fancy seafood dishes). Most individual sushi items are $4-$6; rolls range from $5-$15.

I like to order hot tea with Chinese meals, and to be honest, I like strong black Chinese restaurant tea best. But I can’t fault a restaurant named Jasmine for offering jasmine tea ($2 each). Better yet, it was clean, fresh, and floral, and — given time to steep in its attractive white teapot — strong and hot.

A Sichuanese appetizer, cold cucumber salad ($5.99), got us off to a great start. The idea of a cucumber salad may sound like something delicate, even bland, but this garlicky, spicy dish was nothing short of spectacular. A generous portion of cucumber had been peeled end-to-end to make stripes, then sliced lengthwise and cut diagonally to make long rounded wedges. These were casually plated in several circular layers and drenched in a thin, fiery red dressing that lifted up the dish with complex flavors of chile oil, rice wine vinegar and more, that made every bite of cucumber a delight.

Twice-cooked tofu ($8.99) is the meatless version of the Sichuanese classic twice-cooked

pork, with the obvious substitution. The protein ingredient is indeed cooked twice, first marinated and baked, then seasoned further, deep-fried, and plated with crisp stir-fried vegetables including bok choy cabbage, sliced carrots, snow peas and water chestnuts. About a dozen hefty triangles of tofu were creamy within an appetizing crisp skin; they were dotted with hot pepper flakes and coated with a spicy sauce that clung to the surface. I ordered it hot, the top rating on Jasmine’s four-step scale and found it pleasantly warming but not fiery.

Bimbim Bom beef rice pot ($11.99) presents a Chinese take on the classic Korean dish bibimbap. A large portion of finely-ground beef studded with bits of carrot, onion, green pepper and crisp cucumber in a thick brown sauce, was ladled atop plenty of rice in a clay pot. The rice at the bottom had started to become appetizingly crisp and tan. An easyover fried egg was dropped on top with the yolk left soft enough to mix in with the beef and rice as you cut into it.

A take-home dish of cold sesame noodles ($6.99) was thoughtfully packaged with sauce and noodles separate to keep the thick wheat noodles from getting soggy. Once assembled, it was a treat, with the long noodles properly chewy and deliciously wheat flavored, while the spicy sauce added flavor and umami.

A hearty and exceptionally delicious lunch for two rang up a $40.32 tab, plus a $10 tip.

OUTDOOR * SOCIALLY DISTANCED * PODDED CONCERT

CARLY JOHNSON ALBUM RELEASE

WITH SCOTT T. SMITH

SUNDAY, MAY 30 HEADLINERS MUSIC HALL

TICKETS AVAILABLE AT HEADLINERSLOUISVILLE.COM

JASMINE ASIAN BISTRO 2420 Lime Kiln Lane 618-3000 jasmineasianbistroky.com

LEOWEEKLY.COM // MAY 19, 2021

17

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

THE KIDS HAVE IT

A BRIEF ROUNDUP OF YOUTH-CENTERED ACTIVITIES

By Erica Rucker | erucker@leoweekly.com YOUTH ACTIVITIES ARE REBOUNDING in a big way this year. There are loads of camps and other ways for youth to participate in the world again. For a lot of our kids, this past year has been extraordinarily challenging.

From limited contact with friends and ways to channel their excess stress and energy, the kids were among those who suffered the most during this pandemic. This week, I wanted to highlight a short list of youth events that might inspire young people to find some light through expression. As the world returns to something that looks more normal, opportunities for kids to commune with others and to express themselves will grow.

The school year is coming to a close, finding positive outlets for kids should be in no short supply.

Annual Ali Festival: Youth Poetry and Art Contest It has been five years since the passing of Muhammad Ali. To commemorate another year without the Louisville Lip, the Ali Center is inviting student poets and artist to submit pieces based on provided themes related to Ali’s life and legacy. To submit, students must have parental permission and use the form on the Muhammad Ali Center website: alicenter. org/ali-fest.

The contest is open to all students from kindergarten through high school.

Creative prompts for the contest range from creating artwork from something you know about Ali’s life to giving kids the opportunity to reflect on his six core principles (Confidence, Conviction, Dedication, Respect, Giving and Spirituality) to how his activism can inform their own.

The deadline for submission is June 13, 2021.

Louisville Ballet Spring Dance Festival Each spring, the Louisville Ballet hosts a dance festival that includes performances by

18

LEOWEEKLY.COM // MAY 19, 2021

the Louisville Ballet Youth Ensemble, Classical Ballet Program, Complementary Program, Pre-Professional Program, Mind Body Balance, and the Louisville Ballet Studio Company. This year the showcase is digital.

The festival runs from May 21-22 but will be streaming until June 21. Tickets are available for the full weekend or for just the performance days you’re most interested in.

In addition to the Spring Festival, the offerings of youth beginner classes and camps might be a great way to get the younguns moving again. Safety protocols are in place.

There are four preschool dance parties and the summer program, which includes classes for ages 3–12. No previous dance experience is required Speak Your Truth This event isn’t until the end of June, but young women ages 13-17 have plenty of time to ready their words for Lipstick Wars and the BAYA Center’s Speak Your Truth open mic and poetry slam.

BAYA’s mission statement says the goal of the organization is to “encourage, inspire, and develop youth to find their inner voice; impacting families and communities everywhere.” BAYA stands for Beautiful As You Are and was started by Tanisha Frederick in May of 2014. The organization opened its first learning center in 2020 and offers empowerment workshops, dance, art and other opportunities for young girls to grow and express themselves in a safe, nurturing environment.

Partnering with Lipstick Wars, founded by spoken-word artist Rheonna Nicole, the BAYA center will bring an evening of poetry and other open mic performances to its older youth audience. The event will happen on June 26 from 4–7 p.m.. All youth that want to participate should email: lipstickwarzpoetry@gmail. com. This might be the perfect opportunity for youth to express some of those difficult feelings that have popped up over the last year during the pandemic. •

STUDIO VISIT: SHAUNTRICE MARTIN

By Melissa Chipman | leo@leoweekly.com community collaborations.

THE SPEED ART MUSEUM has recently cre“The Community Connections Residency ated a new residency position with the aim of Program is part of the Speed’s desire to reach encouraging activism and bringing the arts of out, amplify and empower the people by colunder-recognized communities to the fore by lectively creating a platform for artists of all featuring them in the hallowed halls of Louisville’s premier art museum. kinds to share their stories and Community activist, eduexpress perspectives on social cator and artist Shauntrice and personal topics,” said Martin has been selected Toya Northington, the Speed’s to be the Speed Museum’s community engagement stratefirst Community Connecgist. “Our intention is to cotions Artist-in-Residence create a self-sustaining comand will serve until the end munity art program that can be of October of this year. The critical, uplifting, progressive residency is funded by the and transformative for the National Endowment for the Russell Neighborhood.”

Shauntrice Martin is the Speed Art Arts Our Town Grant. Martin In service of that intenMuseum’s Artist-in-Residence. tion, Martin is co-hosting free will collaborate with the residents of The West End of art workshops and classes Louisville and the Russell neighborhood with with the Speed Museum and Play Cousins a focus on highlighting Black female artists.

Collective. She said, “My final exhibit will “Shauntrice’s work within the Russell be a celebration of Black life in Russell. This community continues to evoke the joy, passion will include stories, portraits and monuments and love she has for the Black community,” dedicated to the residents’ stories.” said Brittany J. Thurman, the Speed’s comSo far, her classes have been successful. munity relations manager in a press release.

The first class was the weekend of May 8 “There is truth within her art, and it is a truth and had 20 participants. “Over the course of that tells a history. This is the perseverance the residency, I expect to engage at least 100 of Black elders and youth. We are eager to residents,” Martin said. embark upon this work with Shauntrice, wit“My teaching background makes is easy ness what she not only brings to Louisville’s for me to incorporate culture and history. My Harlem, but how the community works with goal is to make sure I teach both our youth and her to share and impart their own wants for elders how to create, promote and sell their Russell.” artwork. I am bringing almost two decades of Martin’s activism extends to being the teaching experience.” director and the founder of #FeedTheWest, When asked how the Community Conneca food justice program sponsored by Black tions Artist-in-Residence position serves her Lives Matter Louisville and Change Today, activism, Martin said, “Whether I try or not, Change Tomorrow. She is also a founder all my work tends to lend itself to activism of Black Market KY, a store in the Rusand advocacy. Through this residency, I’ve sell neighborhood that is focused on selling been going door to door in The West End Black-owned goods and healthy produce at listening to stories and grievances. I’ve been affordable prices. able to share resources (eviction prevention, Martin has previously studied food apartyouth programs, utility/rent assistance, free heids in Belize, Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, groceries, bail-outs and more). Art and activand across the U.S. She has earned awards ism are inextricably linked for me.” including Louisville Forty Under 40, The Martin is encouraged about what her postCoalition of Black Excellence Impact Award, ing as the inaugural Artist-in-Residence for and Silicon Valley Business Journal Woman of the Community Connections program could Influence. mean to the city.

According to a news release on Martin’s “This is the first time the Speed has ever appointment, the four-year old Community had a position like this. The residency speaks Connections program at the Speed aims at to a serious shift in Louisville,” Martin said. giving a platform to marginalized voices “I appreciate the recognition of Black voices through art-making. The program’s goal is to and I hope the rest of the city takes meaningbring contemporary art from diverse experiful steps to follow the Speed Art Museum’s ences into the Speed Art Museum through lead.” •

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

WHAT TO SEE

GALLERY ROUNDUP This list is only a selection of the art shows open or opening in Louisville for the month of June.

Show featuring works by artists Pamela Couch, Bill and Gean Bowen, Cathy Hillegas and Rachel Singel

Carnegie Center for Art &t History 201 E Spring St. New Albany, Indiana Gallery Hours: 10 a.m.–5 p.m. daily, closed on Sunday carnegiecenter.org “Form, Not Function: Quilt Art at the Carnegie” Now through July 17 Show features selections from juried quilt show Galerie Hertz 1253 S. Preston St. Gallery Hours: Thursday-Saturday, Noon–5 p.m.; Sunday, Noon–4 p.m. galeriehertz.com “Rainbows and Moons Over Prospect Park, Brooklyn” Now through June 19 Show features works by artist Emily Church Tim Faulkner Gallery 991 Logan St. Gallery Hours: Monday, 5 p.m. –Midnight; Tuesday-Saturday; Noon–Midnight; Sunday, Noon–10 p.m. tfgart.com “Group Show” June 4 through the end of the month A show featuring core artists of the Faulkner gallery and a few new additions.

Quappi Projects 827 E. Market St. Gallery Hours: Thursday, Noon–4 p.m.; Friday, Noon–8 p.m. (beginning June 25); Saturday, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. and by appointment quappiprojects.com Lori Larusso “Rogue Intensities” Through June 12, and then a group show “ostensibly about nature” will be opening June 25.

Pyro 1006 E. Washington St. Gallery Hours: Friday and Saturday, Noon–6 p.m.; Sunday, 1-4 p.m. pyrogallery.com “Natural Connections” June 4-27

Emily Church’s “North Lake Woods” which can be seen at Galerie Hertz through June 19th.

A work by textile artist Valerie Goodwin for the “Form Not Function” show at the Carnegie Center in New Albany.

Printmaker Rachel Singel’s “Nest with Egg,” showing at Pyro in the month of June.

CARMICHAEL’S RETURNS TO IN-PERSON AUTHOR EVENTS

By T.E. Lyons | leo@leoweekly.com truth heard.

IN EARLY 2020, author appearances at The pair of characters we come to know bookstores underwent a radical change.

Like family reunions, these turned from as Mom and Phoenix will stay with you. The warm gatherings of people and became a teenage Phoenix is our guide through most next-best-thing affair with online discussion. of the chapters — though author Davis puts The author had their place, with a publicist structural variety into how readers experisetting up cameras and ence the point of view, other tech. The readerbringing extra richness ship/audience was in to her characterization their place, hoping they and to plot backstory. had correctly configPhoenix recognizes ured their apps and got an emptiness that has all the link addresses become a part of her correct. recent years getting by And at some point as a vagabond. She’s we must have all been also sharp enough to wondering whether, see when other people and when, the twain go through the motions shall meet again. It’s of their own hollowednow starting to happen out lives. But when — but with changes Mom drops Phoenix wrought from the expeoff in a particular rural riences, good and bad, Ohio town, there’s a of the last year-plus. mission to be accomOn May 24 at 7 p.m., plished. It has to Carmichael’s is hostdo with this town’s ing an event that isn’t prominent citizens.

The cover of Brooke Lauren Davis’ branded with the label They might have their “The Hollow Inside” “virtual.” own hollowness and needs As Susan Norton of Carmichael’s and pain — but what they do with it brings described to LEO in email, “we are currently nothing but grief. As Davis puts it, they limiting attendance to under 50. Masks “…look so much like everybody else, but over nose and mouth, and social distancing there’s something vital missing, deep down. are required, and our folding chairs can be Something that’s supposed to tell them that easily arranged to welcome family groups the rest of us weren’t put on this earth to be and pods according to guests’ personal their collateral damage.” preferences.

There’s accomplished writing here, and “Guests, both virtual and in-person, it does well to support a very full plot. Surwill be required to register/RSVP: links are prises are served up generously — sudden, provided in the shows’ individual listings with friction and the potential for violence. on our website.” Those who are non-virtual Yet Davis maintains solid grounding to the will be the first to make use of a new event domestic relationships that bring focus to space just built at the Carmichael’s location a world of relatable hopes and strains as at 2720 Frankfort Ave. well as shocks. It all adds up to a successful So what’s the occasion to inaugurate this page-turner that leaves the willing reader new “live/virtual hybrid?” It’s the premier with more to consider at book’s end. Here’s of the debut novel by one of the store’s hoping that author, bookstore and live own booksellers. Brooke Lauren Davis’ and virtual audience are likewise ready to “The Hollow Inside” (Bloomsbury; 352 consider more — as Carmichael’s delivers pgs.; $17.99) is a very twisty psychological an event with safety precautions and other thriller about the bonds within families and options that build on recent necessities while across communities. It also has a gripping pointing to enjoyable future innovations. • breadth of concern for how those bonds can be made or broken by individuals’ needs to More information on the event is availhave their promises kept and to have their able at carmichaelsbookstore.com.

LEOWEEKLY.COM // MAY 19, 2021

19

ETC.

78 79 80 81 82 83 85 87 88 20

LEOWEEKLY.COM // MAY 19, 2021

51 52 55

5

18

6 19

23

21

38

39

40

50 57

85

95 98

99 106 111

112

75

103

104

81

90

105

77

68 74

84

94

76

64

80

89

43

60

73

83

88

42

36

59

67

79

82

17

53

63

72

78

16

48

58

66

71

35

52

62

70

15

41

51

56

65

14

30

47

61

13

22

34

46

55

12

29

33

45

54

119

11

25

32

49

110

10

28

37

116

9

20

27

31

69

8

24

26

44

7

86

87

91

92

96

97

100

101

107

93

102

108

113

109

114

115

117

118 120

56 Product once advertised with the line ‘‘The splendor of your skin’’ 58 Datum for a chauffeur, for short 60 Take in, maybe 62 Supporter of Roosevelt’s agenda 63 Actor whose breakout role came as a shirtless cowboy in ‘‘Thelma and Louise’’ 64 Singles 66 Hardly cheery 67 Hoppy request at happy hour 68 Enlighten 69 Wine barrel strip 70 Climate change, e.g.

71 Looked back on 75 Alphabetized, say 76 Wind farm output: Abbr.

77 Stink 79 Split open 80 Lorelei’s lure 81 May honorees 83 Mad (at) 84 ____ Hill (’90s R&B group) 86 Decoration at el Palacio Real de Madrid 89 Where livestock eat 91 Mastered 92 Divide into three parts 93 Pattern that’s hard to break 95 Nasty looks 100 Lento or allegro

121

102 103 104 105 107 108 110 111 112 114 115

Retreats Loggers’ competition Track Rap lyrics, in slang Post-O.R. destination, often Doesn’t just assume The Rockies, on scoreboards Day ____ Sail fixed to a bowsprit ‘‘Darn!’’ in Dortmund Baseball’s dead-ball ____ (around 1900-20)

A N S A C K P I C U R E E T I T O N S O W S T O U T H R N I A E N D A R G O L S E N T E P E R R U L E T E E R I C K U N T O R S R O C E D L E R E E N A R O T

65 69 72 73 74

4

L I Y M N A D Y A O E N D E I S F Y T R I S E C T

62 63 64

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 19 21 4 29 32 33 35 36 39 41 42 43 44 45 46

3

D E N S

49 50 51 53 54 57 59 60 61

ACROSS Advantage Tony, e.g.

Plunder Weighed in Cow : herd :: ____ : troop One with a discerning palate C-Span?

Start brawling Drink-name suffix Earth goddess Going from Point A to Point B Miss piggy?

Class acts?

Actress Gershon Put back on the market, as real estate Feel bad Champagne name P-trap?

G-force?

Union concern Setting for C. S. Lewis’s ‘‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’’ NPR host Shapiro Words said in passing?

Deliberate betrayal Butt Father figures?

Guam or the U.S. Virgin Islands: Abbr.

Surgeons’ professional org.

2012 Best Picture winner Anastasia ____, protagonist of ‘‘Fifty Shades of Grey’’ Make mention of Top supporter?

Susan who portrayed the youngest child on ‘‘The Brady Bunch’’ G-flat?

Deodorant type Be short Make music Like Crater Lake, compared with any other U.S. lake LeBron James in his N.B.A. debut, e.g.

Anheuser-Busch InBev’s stock ticker symbol Avocado pit, for one Cause for revolution, perhaps Escort’s offering ‘‘Yep, that happened!’’

[And like magic .?.?. it’s gone!]

First of ten?

Compete in pursuit of

2

R N E E G E A R R E O T T A Y R F I A M B R A R T M A Y D M P O O I R T T O H T E A R A S S C K H S

1 6 11 18 20 22 23 25 26 27 28 30 31 33 34 37 38 40 44 47 48

No. 0509

1

A W A R D B A B O O B R I D G A L I N G I N A O E T P R M Y P E S P E T E R R N O T E E N A P A W E P L D S E E E D I D A R R D L U E O E N T W R I S E N C O M P U N P A G O T

BY DAN SCHOENHOLZ / EDITED BY WILL SHORTZ

Abbr. on a flight board D-Con? E-bond?

Conversely, in brief Worry for a Great Depression bank Ladybug, e.g.

Cereal box abbr.

Strike-out specialists?

See 106-Across Out of 105-Across Son of Zeus Bird of legend Fast-food chain with Famous Star burgers C-sharp?

Black-and-white dessert Take care of some personal baggage Word after green or smoke Things consumed for psychedelic trips Men in black, say Deck originally known as ‘‘carte da trionfi’’ (‘‘cards of triumph’’) DOWN Kind of news often aired at 6 and 11 p.m.

Classical poem form Drives home, say French article Floral archway Pop group with a dedicated museum in Stockholm ‘‘____ is mainly a catalog of blunders’’: Churchill Means ‘‘The Burghers of Calais’’ sculptor Cruella de Vil, for one Beat oneself up over, say Mimic Little beef ____ kicks (ab exercise) Pitch-correcting devices Tribe of southern Montana Range of knowledge School administrator French for ‘‘born’’ Appalls Aesthetically pretentious, informally ____ card Ruby, e.g.

Carter who portrayed Wonder Woman Noncommittal response to ‘‘You coming?’’

Load off one’s mine?

Homonym of 39-Down Trace of color Wore Gallivants (about) Part of Q.E.D. Ralph who founded the American Museum of Tort Law Got ready (for) Mosque leader Launched

P E D R E D G A I O N S L M A N A A Y O D S L E A R D Y O B U S U R O R R S G E T L A S J R P I E A B S

INITIAL IMPRESSIONS

90 91 94 96 97 98 99 101 105 106 108 109 110 113 116 117 118 119 120 121

L E G U O P I N C O V E A D E L E S S A I G E R M A R I D A D B S T E E G S P R A T E E N A R M V I E F E L M E B E B E D C A R L O R E O L S D T

The New York Times Magazine Crossword

PHOTO BY RACHEL ROBINSON

ETC.

SAVAGE LOVE

By Dan Savage | mail@savagelove.net @fakedansavage

SHAFTED

Q: I’m an European heterosexual girl and reading your column from afar has been a good way for me to better know the sex world! I am wondering if you have advice for me about a “faster” way to do blowjobs. Or rather a way to make my boyfriend come faster from them. I like doing them but after some time my mouth begins to hurt and I’d like him to finish. My partner is “slower” to come than other men I’ve been with. During intercourse sex I don’t mind. I usually come first but is not a problem to wait for him to finish. But during oral sex, it is harder to wait. Sometimes I say no to giving him a blowjob because I know the effort it will take. I don’t want to talk with him about this because I don’t want to make him self-conscious. I know how good it is to receive oral sex without thinking about having to rush my own orgasm and I don’t want to make him feel rushed. In the years of our relationship I haven’t found a trick that gives me the power of to make it faster. I need some button to push.

Maybe you have some tips for me?

Sex Tips Inducing Faster Finish Easing Discomfort A: I have some good news: there is a button. It’s doesn’t work on all men, sadly, but for many men a little pressure on this button can speed up an approaching orgasm considerably. While this button isn’t hard to find, STIFFED, you can’t see it with the naked eye… because it’s inside a guy’s ass.

The prostate is a walnut-shaped gland that produces seminal fluid; it’s located inside and up a man’s bum. If you’re facing your boyfriend—which you would be while blowing him—his prostate the same side of his body that you are. Slip a finger in his ass, make a gentle “come here” motion with your finger, and you’ll be hitting that button. Keep gently pressing on his prostate as his orgasm approaches and you should feel it harden, swell, and contract.

But you’re gonna need to get your boyfriend’s consent before sticking a finger in his ass, STIFFED, which means you’re gonna have to talk to him about trying this— and I think you should level with him about why you wanna try it. You don’t frame it as a problem (“You take too long!”) but it isn’t a problem. He has amazing stamina, right?

And while that stamina is great during PIV (you always come first), it’s a challenge when you blow him. Figuring out what you can do to get him there a little faster without making him feel rushed is something you should be able to talk about. You need to be

able to talk honestly with your partner about sex in general, STIFFED, and it’s particularly important that you’re able to freely give him feedback when sex is physically uncomfortable.

While there’s an obvious upside for you to speeding up his orgasms during oral, e.g. less wear and tear on your face, there are two big upsides for him: you’re gonna get him there faster by making blowjobs more intensely pleasurable for him and he’s gonna get more of those more of those more intensely pleasurable blowjobs once they’re less physically taxing for you. And if a finger in the butt is a no-go for your boyfriend (or you), STIFFED, there are some other tricks you can try. Some guys get there a little faster during oral if you cup, squeeze, or gently pull on their balls; some guys get there a little faster if you play with their nipples (or they play with their own). And you can always use your hands to speed things along, i.e. pull his dick out of your mouth, give him a few good pumps, get him a closer to the finish line, and then dive back down on his dick.

Q: My wife and I just celebrated our 34th anniversary. For the first year it was great. We shared many intimate moments. But on her 26th birthday (33 years ago!) she got “it.” A vibrator. Ever since I feel like I’ve been bumped down to a distant fourth in our relationship. Her priorities: family, job, “it,” then me. She thinks everything is fine and that we’re soul mates, friends, lovers, etc., but I feel like her lowest priority. I’ve read articles where women can be become addicted to these devices, essentially snubbing their significant others. I know it’s complicated, but what can I do to win her back? I’ve tried romancing her but I always competing with “it” for intimate attention. How many others have been replaced by “it” in their relationships? What can I do?

Vanquishing “It” Becomes Essential Quest A: Stop trying to compete with “it.” Sex is not a competition, VIBEQ, and “it” is not your competitor. “It” is a tool, VIBES, and “it” could and should be your friend and collaborator instead of your nemesis.

First, your wife is not broken and her clit does not have addiction issues. Your wife is most likely one of the many women out there who can only come with the help of a vibrator. Some women (and some other people with clits) need sustained deep-tissue vibrations in order to get off. Remember: dicks and clits are made up of the same starterpack of fetal tissues; a dick is a big clit, a

clit is a small dick. But most of the clit—the “shaft” of the clit, e.g. the erectile tissues and chambers that anchor the exposed glans of clit to the body—is internal. You probably haven’t seen many men jerk off, VIBES, but I have. Some men (and other people who have penises) focus all of their efforts on the heads of their cocks—working the glans— while others barely touch the head and focus most of their efforts on the shaft. Basically, there are women out there who need the “shaft” of the clitoris stimulated in order to come—not the exposed glans, but the majority of the clitoris, which is inside the body.

The sensations provided by a powerful vibrator is the best and, for some women, the only way to hit their shafts with the sensations required to get them off.

So my advice… after all these years… is to finally learn to love “it.” Invite your wife to incorporate “it” into your sex sessions; don’t make the mistake (or continue making the mistake) of forcing her to choose between sex with you that don’t get her all the way there and masturbation sessions with “it” that do. Let her use “it” on/with herself when you’re having intercourse and ask if you can use “it” on/with her when you’re not, e.g. every once in a while leave your dick out of it and focus on your wife’s pleasure. Hopefully you’ll come to see “it” as an extension of your body when “it” is in your hands and as your loyal wingman when “it” is in hers.

Good luck and happy anniversary.

Q: My son, a 15-year-old straight guy, occasionally enjoys dressing in girls’ clothing. When he was little it was his sister’s tutus and painting his nails. These days he does it more to be funny. I have noticed, however, that once the joke is over he keeps the makeup and dress on longer and longer. This has never bothered me or his dad. We don’t encourage or discourage it. We have never gendered things in our very liberal house (no girls/boys toys, etc.).

He is a pretty open kid with friends across the spectrum of sexual and gender identities so I don’t get the feeling he would hide it if he is struggling with gender issues. I think he just likes to wear a dress around the house sometimes. I’m wondering if we still refer to a guy dressing in women’s clothes as a “cross-dressing” or is it now just “wearing a dress”? Is there a more modern term/name? Cross-dressing feels derogatory for some reason. We have no intention of trying to change his behavior but I’d like to use the right words if he wants to talk about it.

Demonstrating Respect Exposes Sincere Support No one is more up to date on the right words than the word cops at GLAAD, which used to stand for the “Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation” and now just stands for GLAAD… because coming up with a catchy

acronym that incorporated B (bisexual), T (trans), Q (queer), Q again (questioning), A (asexual), A again (ally), I (intersex), 2S (twospirited), P (pan), P again (polyamorous), K (kink), etc., etc., prompted several dozen supercomputers to threaten suicide if they weren’t immediately reassigned to bitcoin-farming duties.

Anyway, DRESS, GLAAD says the term “cross-dressing” is fine: “While anyone may wear clothes associated with a different sex, the term cross-dresser is typically used to refer to men who occasionally wear clothes, makeup, and accessories culturally associated with women.” GLAAD recommends people use “cross-dressing” instead of “transvestite” and notes that most crossdressers identify as both male and straight and “have no desire to transition and/or live full-time as women.” But your son is only 15 years old; he may be a straight male crossdresser, DRESS, or he may be exploring his gender identity under the guise of wearing dresses for laughs. Give him time, give him space. And just as you’re keeping an open mind about your child’s gender identity, DRESS, I would encourage you to keep an open mind about his sexual orientation. My mom thought I was straight when I was 15 years old and look how that turned out. mail@savagelove.net Follow Dan on Twitter @FakeDanSavage. www.savagelove.net

CLASSIFIED LISTINGS LEGAL NOTICE OF PUBLIC AUCTION TO OWNERS OF THE WITHIN DESCRIBED ESTATE AND ALL INTERESTED PARTIES: SSK Communities / Barrington Pointe Will expose at public sale to the highest Bidder on MAY 20th 2021 At 10:00 am. Location of the sale will be 1321 Glengarry Drive. Mobile home only, 1983 Liberty, VIN: LL1462BFKDU, Located At: 1477 Glengarry Drive Fairdale, KY 40118.

Leo’s Towing & Recovery, 510 E Broadway, Louisville, KY 40202 (502)-7279503, has intention to obtain title of a 2005 Merz E320 gold VIN #WDBUF26J15A561383, Owner Holly Popham of Louisville KY Lien Holder: none Unless owner or lien holder objects in written form within 14 days after the last publication of this notice.

Leo’s Towing & Recovery, 510 E Broadway, Louisville, KY 40202 (502)-7279503, has intention to obtain title of a 2010 Cadi SRX VIN #3GYFNAEY1AS546553, Owner Jasmine Oliver of Louisville KY Lien Holder: none Unless owner or lien holder objects in written form within 14 days after the last publication of this notice.

Leo’s Towing & Recovery, 510 E Broadway, Louisville, KY 40202 (502)-7279503, has intention to obtain title of a 2006 Dodge Durango Blue VIN #1D4HB48N86F115197, Owner Tiffiney Frazier of Louisville KY Lien Holder: none Unless owner or lien holder objects in written form within 14 days after the last publication of this notice.

Leo’s Towing & Recovery, 510 E Broadway, Louisville, KY 40202 (502)-7279503, has intention to obtain title of a 2007 Lincoln MKX white VIN #2LMDU88C87BJ07731, Owner Raven ErvIn of Louisville KY Lien Holder: none Unless owner or lien holder objects in written form within 14 days after the last publication of this notice.

LEOWEEKLY.COM // MAY 19, 2021

21

“We carry LEO because..... our customers love it!!

We have several patrons that come on delivery day to eat and pick up the new LEO for the week.”

Ciao Ristorante

1201 Payne St, Louisville, KY 40204 Ciaolouisville.com (502) 690-3532

If you'd like a LEO Weekly rack at your business, email distribution@leoweekly.com 22

LEOWEEKLY.COM // MAY 19, 2021