Cherokee Park

"As I walk through the hills of Kentucky,

the trees begin to turn red, and I think of you,

the prettiest tree on the mountain."

-Ben Sollee

Sunergos

The new location surpasses all my expectations. Great job guys.

The Week in Review

Awesome things that have happened this week:

Hung out with my brother Paul in Sultanahmet. Had probably the coolest meal I've ever had, which literally involved setting food on fire and breaking pots with hammers. I'll get to show him the rest of the city after he returns from traveling the Turkish countryside.

Passed my final exam for level 1 Turkish. Level two starts Tuesday!

Visited the Istanbul Museum of Modern Art with several friends. I especially liked an installation piece by Serkan Özkaya and after researching him discovered he has a particular connection with my beloved city of Louisville (Proof on Main has featured Özkaya's work and he hand-illustrated an actual Courier-Journal issue).

Encountered 40+ zombies in Taksim Square dancing to Michael Jackson's Thriller.

Intended to visit Boğazaçi Üniversitesi's Sport's Fest, but was thwarted by the weather. Thankfully, Iron Man 2 was an apt contingency plan. I thought it was a great sequel, just as charming and entertaining as the first with very little plot to get in the way of explosions and one-liners.

Home

Home for two weeks.Home in two weeks.

Barista Bash

Get excited.

I may not exist right now

I tried to get a new driver's license and social security card yesterday. Epic fail on both accounts. This was largely because I got city hall (pictured) confused with the court house, which closed before I could get there. Silly, I know, but as a law-abiding citizen I do not frequent the court house.

Well at least the picture is pretty cool.

Regina Spektor

About a year ago, I was terrified that after releasing "Begin To Hope" Regina Spektor was going to slip into female singer-song writer obscurity. Thankfully, my fears were fallacious as her third LP, "So Far", is a remarkably mature album that has been well received by a wide audience.

Amazingly, Regina decided to finish her North American tour in Louisville, and I was fortunate enough to see her perform tonight at The Palace with a few friends. Granted, we had to brave an onslaught of adolescent girls whose existence is somehow given meaning by Regina's quirky lyrical imagery and wistful-yet-optimistic arrangements, but it was an obstacle/annoyance we were willing to face.

The set list:

The Calculation

Eet

Folding Chair

Ode to Divorce

Machine

Laughing With

One More Time With Feeling

Blue Lips

On The Radio

Dance Anthem of the 80's

Silly Eye-Color Generalizations

Bobbing for Apples

That Time

Apres Moi

Poor Little Rich Boy

Man of A Thousand Faces

Encores:

Samson

Us

Fidelity

Sailor Song

Hotel Song

Love You're A Whore

Sans "Musicbox", the concert was everything I expected and hoped. In fact, I think I would have been happy with just the encores. I was also glad to discover Regina spent most of the day exploring Louisville and informed us that is was a "$@*&ing awesome city."

That it is.

Ville Be Jammin

Tonight was the first ever Louisville Barista Jam hosted by Java's own Sarah W (of Cabin fame). Toto brought over his syphon/siphon set up and gave a very educational and tasty demonstration. Kenny gave some pointers for aspiring latte artists which led to a throw-down, which I believe was won by a well-infused rossetta poured by Darren Jennings, Sunergos's newest employee. Chuck led a blind taste testing which included local roasts and beans from leading shops all across the U.S., notably Intelligentsia and Velton. At least five shops were represented and clearly everyone had a great time.

Hopefully the first of many more to come!

Shoes Tied Tight

Toms has released a shoe with laces. We all knew this was inevitable after seeing Blake Mycoskie on an AT&T commercial. Not everyone can be convinced to pay $50 for a slipper. It looks good, but I feel it would just serve to replace my Sperrys... and I don't want to replace my Sperrys.

It was some time ago now that my friend Peter pointed out to me that shoes were a reoccurring image in many songs by Sufjan Stevens. I have begun compiling a list of songs that reference shoes, any assistance in this project would be appreciated. So far I have:

"Happy Birthday" from A Sun Came

"Worried Shoes" (with Danielson)

"To Be Alone With You" from Seven Swans

"Vito's Ordination Song" from Michigan

"Casimir Pulaski Day" from Illinois

"That Was the Worst Christmas Ever" from Songs For Christmas

In non-shoe related news, I am starting a new job at Java Brewing Company on Monday. I am very excited to get this job and I am looking forward to being part of the team.

Winners Sometimes Quit

I started a new job as a barista yesterday.

I have decided that today was my last day.

Without disclosing too many details, I discovered this ostensibly progressive Bohemian coffee house was not the sort of business with which I want to be associated.

Assertive Cycling

The latest issue of the Leo has a very good editorial by Jackie Green, co-owner of The Bike Courier, an area favorite bike store and courier service.

I found his recommendations for surviving in Louisville traffic very beneficial:

"Ride 4 feet away from parked cars. The sudden opening of a door from a parked car will either take you down immediately or cause you to swerve away from it and into oncoming traffic that did not expect you to be sharing the travel lane.

Don’t let local bike lanes lull you into a false sense of security — they are often poorly designed and full of debris.

Adopt a controlled yet unpredictable riding style to keep motorists alert to your presence and maneuverability. Riding predictably lulls drivers into thinking they know what a cyclist is going to do. Cyclists often swerve quickly and without notice to dodge glass, roofing tacks, potholes, missing utility caps, squirrels and pedestrians.

Ride within your comfort zone. If you must ride the sidewalks, ride slowly, carefully, courteously and watch out for motor vehicles traveling alleys, drives, parking lots and intersecting streets. Many accidents and deaths happen when cyclists are hit from behind. At times it is safer for cyclists and wheelchair users to ride against traffic.

Focus on the threats — motor vehicles and road conditions — not the signs and the lights. Lights and signs do not kill cyclists, motor vehicles do. "

Mini-documentary on the 930

Sojourn Community Church from The Austin Stone on Vimeo.

Some kids from Austin threw together this little documentary/video tour of The 930.  Great introduction to what we're all about at Sojourn and how we view our city and our facility.  

I was there!

Aaron Weiss at The930 from Sojourn/The 930 Art Center on Vimeo.

Here is the entirety of Aaron Weiss's solo performance that kicked off Cultivate Beauty Month at Sojourn. Thanks Drew for posting this unforgettable show!