Bright Lights, Great City

Broadway-worthy shows and eye-popping artwork await you in Louisville, Kentucky.

Kentucky's largest metropolis loves company, inviting visitors to enjoy its array of artistic activities that take place as the weather begins to warm. Come join in the fun.

Showtime

Celebrating its 31st anniversary, The Humana Festival of New American Plays hosts a selection of original scripts performed at Actors Theatre February 25-April 7. Full-length plays-and some as short as 10 minutes-fill this yearly acting marathon that rivals any in the country.

Head to the The Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts for a bit of Broadway. Louisville's largest venue features New York casts in such favorites as The Lion King.

For a great night of music, the Brown Theatre is the place to be. The superb musicians of the Louisville Orchestra accompany famous guest artists such as Art Garfunkel.

If you are drawn to visual arts, make your way to the Speed Art Museum. Their special exhibit, "Building Books: The Art of David Macaulay," and their wonderful permanent collection of American paintings and sculptures are sure to please.

Grab a good time at Fourth Street Live, a downtown block of restaurants, bars, shops, and music venues. Check out the entertainment on weekends, and don't miss the Maker's Mark Bourbon House & Lounge for your bourbon fix.

Dining Delights

Louisville overflows with an abundance of terrific local restaurants. Theatergoers can't beat Jarfi's Bistro at The Kentucky Center. They offer a delicious preperformance menu that will have you in your seat before the curtain rises. Try the Bistro Steak Frites, a New York strip steak with fries ($26). Or have a quick bite at Actors Theatre, where their cozy eatery, Intermezzo Café & Cabaret, offers meals starting at 5 p.m.

If you want to dine in other artistic surroundings, have lunch at Café Bristol in the Speed Art Museum. Their chicken pot pie, with big chunks of tender chicken in a flaky crust ($6.95), is delicious. Enjoy a hearty breakfast (surrounded by more wonderful works of art) at North End Cafe. Go early for the orange-spice French toast ($5.59).

Sweet Dreams

The two grandes dames of Louisville lodging are The Brown Hotel (www.brownhotel.com; see "What a Deal!" on page 24) and The Seelbach Hilton (www. seelbachhilton.com; $199). Both are located on Fourth Avenue and feature opulent lobbies, helpful staffs, and lovely rooms. The Brown's English Grill serves flawless cuisine. And you won't want to miss the Sunday brunch at The Seelbach.

But the new kid in town, 21C Museum hotel, is an artistic masterpiece with avant-garde artwork everywhere. A warning for those with conservative tastes: Exhibits in this hotel, including the poster in each guest room, lean toward the risqué. Rates start at $199.

Purchasing Power

Galleries and antiques shops, such as the Louisville Antique Mall, abound here. But from a purely artistic point of view, you can't beat the Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft for great shopping. Don't miss the finely woven chenille scarves by renowned Churchill Weavers ($108-$250). On Market Street, Glassworks Gallery features blown-glass ornaments ($25 each). Another great spot, Louisville Stoneware, offers hand-painted and handcrafted tableware.

Enjoy Being Outdoors

The Louisville Zoo bursts forth in daffodils this time of year. You'll also find stunning redbuds in bloom in beautiful Cave Hill Cemetery, where Colonel Harland Sanders was laid to rest. One thing's for sure: There won't be much rest for visitors to Louisville in the spring. There's just too much good stuff to do. -WANDA MCKINNEY

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Mar 2007
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved