Hurricane Katrina Turns 11 as Louisiana Continues Climate Change Battle

Posted on August 28, 2016 by theurbanllama

dscn1061Today marks 11 years since I packed up my wife, cat and belongings from our condo on Poeyfarre Street in the Central Business District of New Orleans and evacuated. Some 20 hours later, on August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina made landfall on the Gulf Coast. I haven’t lived in New Orleans since 2011, but any time I hear storm announcements my first thought is encroaching water.

Katrina is permanently a part of my being, like it is for hundreds of thousands of others from the Gulf Coast region. No matter whether you returned to New Orleans to rebuild or opted for a new life in a different city, Katrina was a difference maker and it exposed vulnerabilities that couldn’t be overlooked – and that stays with all in America.

Proponents of big government or small, it mattered not, both failed the residents of the impacted region. A new low in malfeasance and ineptitude from public institutions was set. Bush/Cheney, Chertoff, Brownie, FEMA, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Gov. Blanco, Mayor Nagan and the individual levee boards – all are synonymous with terms like corruption, greed, graft, incompetence and political chicanery.

Some 50 plus breaches were recorded in the improperly installed levee system protecting New Orleans; at least 1,245 people were killed; and property damage was estimated at $108 billion – yet no one was to blame. Talk about too big to fail.

dscn0408Going forward I carry with me the knowledge that when Mother Nature intends to unleash her wind and rain, it’s best to heed that warning and get out of her way. I also am left with the realization that our government is prejudiced in who it chooses to assist and at what speed. There is no other excuse for why water and provisions took so long to reach the stranded in New Orleans. Yes ineptitude was involved, but the disregard and dismissal in this instance draws a similar parallel to why the underprivileged are continually left to subsist with subpar education, limited job opportunities, high crime and unfair treatment from law enforcement.

I’m encouraged by the progress the city of New Orleans and surrounding locations have made since 2005. Residents in the coastal regions of Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi and Texas are strong, proud and resourceful individuals. For New Orleans, the city has retained its originality, its soul, but the social landscape was transformed significantly post-Katrina. Politicians love to chat up economic prosperity and rejuvenation, but less about accountability. It makes no sense why public officials allowed all those areas that were hit the hardest during Katrina, that remain high risk and in harm’s way, to once again be built upon, predominantly by low income residents.

I realize many didn’t have great options to rebuild elsewhere, but this was a time when the government should have taken a leadership role and intervened to prevent high-threat flood zones from being re-occupied. It’s merely a matter of when the next storm comes along that all these same conversations are revisited, and families again lose loved ones to a preventable disaster.

Ironically this anniversary comes as Baton Rouge and large swaths of southern Louisiana are currently witnessing historic flooding after more than 30 inches of rain fell in a few days starting Aug. 11. Search parties went door-to-door to locate survivors as 13 were confirmed dead. This is the worst natural disaster in the U.S. since Superstorm Sandy in 2012.

These folks really did some amazing work in the Lower 9.

These folks really did some amazing work in the Lower 9.

The initial four parish disaster area was expanded to include 20 counties by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Waters have begun to recede, but at least 40,000 homes were impacted. Many didn’t have flood insurance, either because the properties were not considered to reside in a high risk flood location, or the banks that owned the original mortgages sold them off to new providers and those financial institutions failed to carryover the flood insurance option. Once again across Louisiana there are temporary shelters filled with folks wondering whether they will ever get to return to their former houses.

I heard a report on NPR recently detailing the cleanup process in Prairieville, a suburb of Baton Rouge. I spent some quality evacuation time in Prairieville after Katrina. Exactly one month after the storm, my law firm acquired temporary housing for staff in Prairieville to allow us to work in Baton Rouge at a loaned office space. You couldn’t get into New Orleans without a Governor’s Pass for a couple months, so Prairieville was home until storm cleanup allowed our return.

dscn0167Baton Rouge was a hot mess. Its population grew by 100,000 overnight when the levees broke and New Orleans flooded. It was a survivalists landscape back then. Any available housing was snatched up by the independently wealthy from New Orleans. Stores like Best Buy looked as if they had been looted, as all appliances were in high demand.

Storm damage and the extra population made driving anywhere an agonizing adventure. It could take hours to go 10 miles. Accidents and car fires were everywhere, but no law enforcement or EMS were available to respond. As you can imagine getting ahold of any insurance agent was nearly impossible anyway.

My thoughts and prayers are with all across Louisiana, as folks struggle to clean out damaged interiors and avoid mold infestations, but with temps in the 90s, it’s tough work for weary residents. Some tens of thousands of cars are also out of commission from water submersion. I’m hearing the closest place to find a rental car is over in Alabama.

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Coldplay Delivers Big Set with a Soft Touch in Louisville

Posted on July 28, 2016 by theurbanllama

img_4024The British band Coldplay brought its current A Head Full of Dreams Tour to the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville on July 27. After a couple of less than well received discs and the demise of lead singer Chris Martin’s marriage to actress Gwyneth Paltrow, the group managed to regain some fire in producing a more positive and upbeat recording with the tour’s namesake release in December 2015.

I remained a skeptical attendee. The band’s high water mark for me came in 2002 with A Rush of Blood to the Head. Much of their work since has migrated into the universe of chick pop. Still, Coldplay doesn’t frequent neighborhoods like Louisville often. They also happen to be a favored band to Maia & the boys, who lived in Europe for many years and hold Coldplay in lofty regard. I checked my preconceived notions at the door and went in ready to have a good time.

I assumed the special effects would be top-notch and was not disappointed. Each patron entering was given a souvenir LOVE pin, and a chunky white LED bracelet that staff cinched on everyone’s wrists. This turned out to be a great alternative lighting element throughout the show. Thousands of bracelets could be activated remotely, with multiple color schemes, speed variations and patterns. Kudos on that one boys!

[COLDPLAY | Adventure of a Lifetime (Live in Louisville)]

img_4047Coldplay opened dramatically with A Head Full of Dreams and followed strong with Yellow. I was pleased to also hear The Scientist, Paradise, Clocks and In My Place. The strongest new tune was Adventure of a Lifetime. The companion video with humanesque dancing primates was ecstasy-fueled brilliance and the critters’  club-dance moves melded hypnotically with the song’s guitar refrain.

The set was a robust 24 songs. The problem for me being that there is a definite theme in Coldplay’s subject matter. Martin is inevitably always singing about longing for someone, trying to reach them, fix them, love them or in general yearning about something. Combine that with his stark piano playing and mourning vocals – and even the uptempo tunes eventually morphed into serious chick rock.

And then there was the skipping. Martin spent “considerable” time skipping about, like some amalgamation of Huck Finn and Goldilocks, usually with an oversized bandana or flag hanging out of his back pocket. On the overtly slow tunes Martin most often could be found playing a jilted teenager, writhing about on the stage floor amongst fallen confetti.

img_4018His portrayal left me with an overwhelming urge to smack him and scream “Get ahold of yourself man and pull it together.” I also found it odd that Martin and guitarist, Jonny Buckland, felt it necessary to change outfits, or perhaps costumes is more accurate. It was a tad metrosexual for me, but whatever. Obviously I was in the minority with this opinion, as the boys and girls were both hot for these Brits.

This made Martin’s cover of the Johnny Cash favorite, “Ring of Fire” all the more tragic. Few dudes are less like the Man in Black than Martin. Nor did Coldplay do any favors to David Bowie’s “Heroes.”

I will offer mad props to their technical ability. Coldplay is exceptional at what they do. Those cats can play amazingly well in a complicated atmosphere and hold a large crowd’s attention. Their sound was pristine.

[COLDPLAY | Paradise (Live in Louisville)]

Three separate stages were utilized during the concert. The main one had an extended runway (often used for Martin’s skipping) that protruded out into the floor area, and at the end had a rounded space large enough for the band to perform a mini three song acoustic set.

img_4011Toward the end of the show the band was escorted from the floor into the lower arena level, where a tiny black stage was erected into the front of a seating section. Here they proceeded to jam with crowd members surrounding them for several songs. That was a smart change of location because it brought the band up close and personal to several other sections of the arena that wouldn’t otherwise get such an opportunity.

There’s no argument that Coldplay has earned its status as a premier musical act, but I’m not sure I would call them a rock-n-roll band. To find out the truth patrons had to ante up. Like many acts these days, tickets were progressively priced based on seating location. Our lower level mezzanine seats were over $100 a pop, but again, they’ve earned the right to charge top end prices.

Overall, Coldplay delivered a finely performed concert, and seeing them on their current tour was about the best it could get for a fan such as myself. All the same, I’m happy to have this one checked off my list.

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Forecastle 2016 Goes VIP Hitting Occasional High Note

Posted on July 18, 2016 by theurbanllama
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Sipping bourbon and lemonade as Dan Auerbach and The Arcs played.

Honest truth, I wasn’t planning to attend the 2016 Forecastle music festival. Several of the scheduled headliners played Louisville recently, and the bottom of the lineup wasn’t swaying me to spend a valuable weekend sweltering under an overpass.

My plans changed after a pair of VIP passes were kindly offered by my good friend Dennis for Saturday and Sunday. I’m going to say right at the start, once you go VIP there is no going back. It’s simply a more pleasant way to attend such an outdoor event.

The big sell here was climate control. I can’t overstate the recovery impact a few minutes of air conditioning made on the entire weekend. It was hot folks, sweltering. Inside the VIP Lounge it was cool and dark, with funky colors and party treatments throughout. A full service bar had short lines and served ice-cold bourbon slushies.

The lounge was the hub of the VIP world and centrally located on a rise left of the Mast main stage area. It was a bustling spot, as folks were rolling in to cool off after shows as others were getting their drinks straight before heading off to hear the next set. It radiated fun and positive energy. There was a surprising amount of networking going on. Many of Louisville’s elite, entrepreneurs and oddities all shared amenities with one another for three days. It had a progressive vibe, and expensive festival fashion was on full display.

I would be remiss in not mentioning the bathrooms. There were two air-conditioned trailers parked on the expansive patio surrounding the VIP Lounge. They were large, clean, had functioning sinks and beat the hell out of a port-a-potty.

I can already hear folks scoffing about how this was no way to attend a music festival, and there is a certain merit to that. Regardless, I played hard same as always from this privileged vantage point. The primary benefit was having a recovery crash pad for in between sets instead of camping in the warm shade beneath trees or the expressway.

Hudson Mohawke heated things up.

Hudson Mohawke heated things up.

Amenities aside, there was music at Forecastle, and VIP access provided reserved field sections for easier viewing on the Mast main stage and Boom stage. We opened festivities Saturday with The Arcs around 5PM. This was guitarist Dan Auerbach’s side project while off from the Black Keys. It was good not great. The Mariachi Band aspect was compelling. Inevitably I  found myself hoping a Black Keys’ concert would break out.

With artificial energy coming on I headed for the Ocean stage under the overpass for Hudson Mohawke. It was bombastic and those who attempted to drink their way through an already brutally warm day reacted poorly to the intensity and heat generated from manic EDM enthusiasm.

It was between the close of this set and All Them Witches kicking off on the WFPK Port stage that I made my favorite discovery of the weekend, Party Cove. In the valley between tree covered hills, a yacht was placed on blocks at the far end. Artists spent three days painting the hull with funky designs, as DJs spun tracks on the upper deck and scantily clad mermaids jiggled to the beats.

IMG_2085Below was carnage on the highest order. There were disco balls hanging from the trees and streamers, beach balls, costumes and lots of smoke (dry ice and otherwise). The revelers in the valley were completely splashed on God knows what, but all had far away eyes. I stumbled upon this hot mess at 7:45PM in broad daylight. I had to chuckle and took a seat in the grass to observe the madness.

All Them Witches had talent but spent the entire set muddling about, never making a point. I departed early and waded into the water canals to splash some liquid over my body and cool down, then made my way over to the Alabama Shakes. Intense emotion on display with these cats, but too soulful to give me the energy needed in a closing act as the hour grew late.

IMG_2079We headed back to my friend’s for sleep, but I got none. Gary Clark Jr. was in the house Sunday, and I was itching to worship.

After some serious pre-gaming, our crew arrived at Waterfront Park around 3PM, just in time for the Heartless Bastards. They were better than advertised, and their tune, “Down in the Canyon” was amazing.

[HEARTLESS BASTARDS | Down In The Canyon]

I stuck around for White Denim at 4:45PM. They were killing it, but the bell tolled for Gary Clark at 5PM.

Not a cloud was in the sky and the sun pounded the open field. VIP or not, the only option was to wade out into it and suck up the heat. Dressed all in black with a white fedora, the Austin, Texas guitar slinger menaced the stage as he slowly worked up the opener, “Bright Lights, Big City.”

If Samuel L. Jackson played a musician, Gary Clark Jr. was looking the part. The drummer kept a close watch on the guitarist, appearing to be fearful for his life if he missed a beat.

[GARY CLARK JR. | Bright Lights Big City]

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The Heartless Bastards perform on the Boom stage Sunday.

The band was tight and they delivered what I would consider the set of the festival. Folks tend to gloss over how rare it is to find a blues guitarist with the magnitude to break out of the blues circuit and cross over to the massive alt-music festival scene. Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimi Hendrix. That’s the list. It’s like finding a purple unicorn.

Gary Clark Jr. is just that bad a man.

I didn’t envy Death Cab for Cutie having to take the stage next but they got their crowd installed and played clean, with passion. It was a set where Maia and I were content to sit on the pavilion by the lounge above the crowd. There you could listen, see the video screens and a slight breeze was available. The big song for me to hear was “I Will Possess Your Heart,” which got me running down onto the field. That was a huge tune to witness live.

[DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE | I Will Possess Your Heart]

That’s about it. There were a few surprises along the way: Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Blackberry Smoke and Femi Kuti & The Positive Force. Someone was always playing that was worth checking out, but it was thin, and in the heat, the lineup started to lose its zest by late Sunday afternoon.

Maia catches some shade and cool water before we made our exit from Forecastle 2016.

Maia catches some shade and cool water before we made our exit from Forecastle 2016.

It had been a long pull, 42 straight hours up. It would soon be Monday morning, so we made the call to skip the festival closing performance from Ryan Adams. I’ve seen him. The guy has a massive catalog, but ain’t the most cheery bloke, and he has a distinguished reputation for not playing what you want to hear anyway. We took a final dip in the water, heard a bit of Brandi Carlile in the 8:30 slot on the Boom stage, then headed out.

Again, our friends and the VIP passes made the weekend, the music was acceptable. I wish Forecastle would look at bringing more uptempo bands to play. This profile of hipster, Emo, vintage, shoe gazing, loner-rock, with a sprinkle of adrenaline, makes it hard to maintain energy. Crank the intensity up just a little and all would be most excellent.

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Orlando Weeping

Posted on June 16, 2016 by theurbanllama

PulseI want to pass along my sincere apology to Orlando for its subjection to the senseless gun violence that took place at the Pulse nightclub on June 12, 2016.

That night 49 people were gunned down in the worst act of American terrorism since 9/11.

Acts like this are not supposed to happen, and certainly not in Orlando, home to the happiest place on earth, Disney World.

I can’t reconcile the depth of savagery and depravity on display inside Pulse. Whether gay, str8, queer, trans, butch, queen, curious or whatever – this was nondenominational, just a safe haven where folks could gather, play and love. Bullets have no place there.

I know Orlando some. I’ve spent time there. I have people there I love. It’s a bustling resort city, full of vibrant, creative individuals that bask in the glow of the Mouse.

My heartfelt condolences go out to those impacted directly and to all residing in the city. Guns, terrorism and a commitment to death have unleashed an unprecedented wave of idealistic carnage that serves to destabilize America’s fabric.

Let this be the moment when common-sense citizens declare enough is enough, and requires its elected officials stand against the NRA and demand enhanced gun control.

It will not fix everything magically, not with so many guns already flooding U.S. streets, but our government doesn’t need to stand by idly. There is no argument to make for not requiring background checks on everyone purchasing any kind of firearm at any location.

There is no need to market or sell assault weapons to the general public. Expanded magazines and military-grade hardware have no business being made easily available to untrained civilians.

There needs to be tougher standards and responsibilities that come with being a lawful gun owner. Anyone conducting themselves properly will have no problem purchasing a weapon. It just might not have armor-piercing capabilities.

The world is standing with Orlando and residents are bonding together regardless of orientation, as a means to cope and recover. Orlando will grow stronger, but with that will come another major city that has lost its innocence.

Recover or not, all residents will be forever changed. People will be more aware of their surroundings, observant of suspicious activity by others and cognizant of the closest exits near them when they are out at public events.

The NRA, it’s supporters and Republicans in large part like to argue that it’s the individual at fault in these incidences. That easy access to deadly weapons has no bearing, and that more people carrying guns would prevent acts such as the one at Pulse from having such high death counts.

It’s ludicrous. And they keep trying to sell this madness to people in their faces and many are stupid enough to keep buying it even though statistics indicate the more guns in a concentrated area the more crime occurs. The NRA argument is a more comfortable belief. If it were not to be true that would be complicated and scary.

This violence infects us all like a virus. The infection spreads and we are serving as our own hosts.

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Jurassic Quest A Dinosaur-ific Time

Posted on May 22, 2016 by theurbanllama

IMG_1515As winter crept along, the baby and I needed a day-trip to get outside the house for a little air. Isabella has a fondness of scary things in general and dinosaurs in particular, so when Jurassic Quest came to the Kentucky International Convention Center in downtown Louisville, we jumped at the chance to attend.

Having checked the event’s website, I got a sense of what this might be like, but each venue is different and it was difficult to fully appreciate the size and scope of 80 life-size dinosaurs, some 20 feet tall and 80 feet long.

Upon arriving it was apparent something popular was on display as parents and kids were streaming across the streets in varying arrays of discombobulation leading to the entrances. I will note, parents should fully charge their patience batteries before arriving at Jurassic Quest. It’s a lot of kids getting pulled in a bunch of different directions and some are melting down – along with their guardians.

If you can, get tickets before arriving. Even getting there near the event’s opening, the line inside was substantial and grew rapidly. Those with smart phones were busy attempting to purchase tickets online as they waited. It moved quickly, but by mid-morning it was ridiculous.

IMG_1469Upon entering the main exhibit hall the idea was to make it feel like Jurassic Park. There’s faux wood gates and torches, with the same signage, font style and color. It’s dimly lit and a cacophony of dinosaur growls fill the air at once.

A fossil area awaited guests coming out of the entryway. Dino-skeletons are partially submerged in sand and kids are offered paint brushes to play like mini-archeologists and uncover the skull and bones lying beneath. The brushes tend to get discarded, as the children really are more interested in digging in the sand with their hands.

Puppeteers manipulated baby dinosaurs for kids to pet adjacent to this, but with giant beasts roaring nearby, the adventurous spirit screamed to explore.

There was ambient directional lighting on all the big boys, and with the hall darkened, it accentuated their size and ferocity. Many of these are elephant-sized reproductions or full-scale to their true build. Each has its own soundtrack of growls and howls. Some have movement in their torsos and jaws, and gory representations of wounded prey is on full display.

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This offers interesting discussion topics for kids 3 and above. Some of what is on display can scare the younger set.

The different dinosaurs are strategically spread throughout the exhibit hall to help disperse the crowd and not logjam viewing for kids. Sometimes that works but not always.

While this is a cool environment to just hangout around, there are a ton of add-ons available that come a la carte, and it’s easy to spend a bunch of cash here.

There is a dinosaur riding area; a 3-D movie; green screen computer pics for adding jungle backgrounds and ferocious creatures to photographs; face painting; Dino-tours; a centrally located museum shop that is hard to resist; along with the obligatory food and snack options.

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It takes a lot of saying NO, but it can be managed with patience and misdirection. The Dino-bouncy castle stuff was included in admission (bring socks or you will have to buy them). Those lines were a bit long, but the kids lost their minds on that stuff. These were pretty cool as bouncy-stuff goes. They depict jungles and have dinosaurs, so when the kids are bouncing it makes the trees shake like a predator is coming. That created a sweet visual when factoring in all the dinosaur sounds echoing throughout the venue.

Isabella and I were there for hours until she was completely worn out. It’s an event that will leave an impression for kids of a certain age. Some of the exhibits show wear and tear, but for kids 9 and under it’s a pretty boss afternoon adventure. Much older than that and I doubt Jurassic Quest would hold their attention long.

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JURASSIC QUEST | Lexington Convention Center – Heritage Hall | July 29-31 | $15-$24

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Clinton Narrowly Wins Kentucky, Sanders Takes Oregon

Posted on May 18, 2016 by theurbanllama
Is Hillary "Feelin' the Bern" after winning close in KY and losing large to Sanders in Oregon.

Is Hillary “Feelin’ the Bern” after winning close in Kentucky and losing large to Sanders in Oregon.

It took most of the night to be decided, but Hillary Clinton was declared the narrow winner of the Kentucky Democratic Primary Tuesday. The lead swung back to Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders late, as eastern and western Kentucky penalized Clinton for her anti-coal statements. It was Jefferson County, where Louisville is located and the majority of the state’s African-American population, that came in strong for Clinton, pushing her back into the lead to finish the night victorious.

Clinton ended up winning by one percentage point, 47-46, 212,549 to 210,626 for Sanders. That nervous sigh of relief did not last long for Clinton as Sanders romped in Oregon, winning there 55 percent (264,151) to 46 percent (220,943).

These results increased the turbulence being felt on the Democratic side of the presidential nominating process. Clinton has a commanding lead in allocated delegates, 1,764 to 1,490. Even being extremely kind in looking at outcomes in the remaining states, the path is nearly impossible to navigate for Sanders to make up the deficit.

Yet Bernie spoke at a rally in California last night before more than 11,000 supporters. Through vociferous cheering, impassioned sign-waving and unflinching enthusiasm, his drive to stay in the race was resolute.

The math may be with Clinton in terms of winning the nomination, but Sanders, like Donald Trump, has captured the sour mood of the country. Clinton can’t draw the kind of crowds Sanders or Trump pull, nor does she generate the energy from her supporters these other candidates are eliciting.

Much of that may be explained by her demographics encompassing more of the 40 and above crowd. Many of these folks went to college, work and have family and professional obligations. They don’t have time to attend political events on a weeknight. But they will vote Hillary.

It makes one wonder how the Democratic Party is going to mend its fences and unify behind the eventual nominee, as now there are riffs down racial, income, education and age demographics.

Like Trump on the Republican side, Sanders has a base appeal within a discontented portion of his party that may not play so well in a general election.

But a new poll out of New Hampshire shows Bernie up 54-38 against Trump, while Clinton only leads Trump 44-42. Sanders currently is outpolling Clinton in every state against Trump.

Beyond Clinton’s baggage and believability issues, it’s her continued lack of a concise message for why she is running that brings a sense of apathy surrounding her campaign.

Trump claims he will “Make America Great Again.” That’s a powerful sentiment that resonates in times of economic instability. Likewise, Sanders’s identity is tied to the message of the economic system being rigged against the little guy. That too appeals to an angry electorate.

Clinton can list numerous issues needing improvement in terms of why she is running, but it’s never smooth, and there continues to be churn surrounding her on Benghazi and the use of her personal e-mail server.

Admittedly, 2016 isn’t a normal year. Many of the norms and customs for candidates and campaigns have been cast by the wayside. If this truly is a “throw the bums out” year, Hillary could have trouble, but she at least has a core base of support. After being politically active for decades she has a solid record and lots of friends.

Yes, enemies too. But once she is pitted against Trump alone, the devotion and passion likely will follow from establishment Democrats down to moms and pops across America.

Trump has few that actually support him on substance or character.

It’s all about negativity with The Donald. His candidacy is based upon voting against progress and change by casting a ballot for him. That is different from supporting him on his own merits.

It’s a regressive idea to return to a time when white men ran the show without question. I was never a big fan of George W. Bush’s administration, but as an individual, W was a stand-up guy, compassionate and respected strong female role models, such as his mother. He is light years beyond a better human being than Donald Trump.

Hillary-Clinton-primary-night-jpgThis may end up being a tight election, but the electoral map favors the Democrat heavily.

If the comments and intended policies by Trump concerning immigrants, Mexicans, Muslims, women, and African-Americans are considered, and how those voting blocks will probably respond in battleground states, it would lead a skilled better to wage that Hillary Clinton will win a similar number of electoral votes as President Obama did in 2012.

A forecast by Larry Sabato of the University of Virginia sees no toss up states this time around and favors Clinton 347 electoral votes to 191 for Trump. OUCH!

The Cook Political Report shows a similarly dire map for Trump: 304 electoral votes leaning or solid for Clinton, 190 leaning or solid for Trump, with 44 up for grabs.

The Rothenberg & Gonzales Political Report offers a more conservative estimate, but still grim: 263 leaning or solid for Dems, 206 for R’s and the remaining a toss up.

This possibility has Republicans running for down ballot offices concerned about a disaster at the top trickling down to the entire party. Or will this election ultimately be a referendum on the status quo and Trump is swept into office?

Stay tuned, as these candidates look prepared to exchange political body blows throughout the summer. It’s going to be bloody, but outstanding to watch.

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Kentucky Democrats Vote Tuesday

Posted on May 17, 2016 by theurbanllama

920x920It’s primary day in Kentucky for the Democrats finally. Tell me it doesn’t seem like forever ago that Iowa and New Hampshire first voted, and yet Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders remain locked in a nomination fight.

Clinton has run a solid campaign. It’s the baggage that brings her down. Whether old or new, there is always “churn” surrounding Bill & Hillary. Some is of their own doing, like using the private e-mail server at home while Hillary was Secretary of State. But there is plenty of malicious mud-slinging from nervous Republicans that fear her power and progressive policies.

The old boys network is nervous, and they should be. They’ve had things their way since the dawn of time, marginalizing minorities and women for far too long. White males in particular are fearful, as they are a dwindling power majority.

It will be interesting to see how this plays out in Kentucky tonight. Do conservative Democrats favor the stewardship of Hillary Clinton’s experienced hand, or is the Bluegrass “Feelin’ the Bern.”

Bill Clinton won Kentucky twice. Flash forward to 2008, and the choice was between a black man in President Obama or a white female in Hillary. Again a Clinton won Kentucky. Now eight years later it’s an old northeastern white guy in Sanders or Mrs. Clinton.

The saving grace for Hillary supporters may be that Kentucky has a closed primary. Independents can’t participate, and a vast majority of those votes likely would go to Sanders.

Clinton had a 43-38 percent lead in a March poll among likely voters, with conservatives for some reason throwing their support behind Sanders.

I don’t get that. Many of the hawkish policies Clinton holds would align her as a left leaning Republican in conservative states like Kentucky. Whereas Bernie Sanders is way left of anything the far right espouses.

This is about hate, bigotry and prejudice – and there is a lot of that remaining in Kentucky.

The good ol’ boys don’t like a strong female. They don’t know how to deal with that, and they certainly don’t like being told to hush up and sit down by a woman.

Clinton hurt herself here by stating she would, “bring economic opportunity, using clean, renewable energy as the key, into coal country, because we’re gonna put a lot of coal miners and coal companies out of business.”

She added, “We want to make clear we don’t want to forget those people. Those people labored in those mines for generations, losing their health, often losing their lives, to turn on our lights and power our factories. Now we’ve got to move away from coal, and all the other fossil fuels, but I don’t want to move away from the people who did the best they could to produce the energy that we relied on.”

The concept of what she implied is well-meaning. Nobody in coal country wants to admit it, but coal as an energy source and an employment opportunity is on its way out. Natural gas and other sustainable energy sources are on the rise, and are cheaper and safer. Politicians and corporate leaders never invested in upgrading the regions where coal was mined during its boom, so as these mines start to close there is no answer for how to rehabilitate the various small towns that lack any primary income sources.

Regardless of how the vote goes tonight in Kentucky and Oregon, Clinton has a nearly insurmountable delegate lead over Sanders – 2,240 to 1,473. This, along with her presumptive rival, Donald Trump, going on the offensive early, has led her to make the turn toward the general election.

The pro-Hillary superpac, Priorities USA, made a massive media buy focusing on the upcoming general election race that will begin running ads against Trump starting Wednesday morning and going through the November vote.

[First two ads from Priorities USA against Donald Trump]

Some argue that making this turn to focus on Trump is a bit presumptuous, and Bernie continues to be an unresolved matter, but the reality is unless something radical occurs Clinton has the nomination wrapped up.

It’s an exciting time. For those of us in Kentucky, today is the day we get to play our small part and be a focus on MSNBC and CNN this evening as the returns come in and Kentucky is called for either Clinton or Sanders.

Regardless of all the rhetoric surrounding this election, participate and have a say in our governance.

GET OUT AND VOTE!

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Plenty of fun to be had on Kentucky Derby Day

Posted on May 16, 2016 by theurbanllama

IMG_1702With blue skies and mild temperatures, all in attendance at the annual Governor’s Downtown Derby Celebration in Frankfort were free to enjoy the preamble to the 142nd Run for the Roses, and focus on food, drinks and fun.

The event started at 9AM, but my crew had been up late the night before and we all had athletic events scheduled for later in the afternoon, so I elected to wake Isabella up around 9:30 AM to get her ready and down to the event by 10:30.

For early risers, the new governor and his wife dropped by to kick things off downtown, and there were four different Derby Dash options for kids 2-12. That was a bit ambitious for Isabella, 4, and myself on this day. We felt like easing into things.

A solid crowd was in attendance and all attractions were well received. The lines for things like pony rides and bouncy castles could last 5 to 10 minutes, but nothing that wasn’t tolerable for the kiddos.

IMG_1712One of Isabella’s favorite stops was the craft area on the grounds of the Old Capitol, where kids could assemble their own Derby hats. Volunteers use pre-cut paper sheets and masking tape to form the hat, then kids can visit the decorating tables to customize their chapeaus. Each child was allowed one ribbon, one bow and up to four flowers. Drop all that by the folks running the glue guns and in no time Bella was sporting her own personal Derby hat creation.

The big attraction for adults was the opportunity to get your Derby celebrating off to an early start. There were plenty of like-minded individuals to help stoke that enthusiasm. With ideal weather and the prospect of another Triple Crown winner in the air, it’s easy to get carried away with the breakfast drinks.

Capital Cellars offers a prime spot on Broadway, where its loyalists gather to purchase top shelf beer, wine and spirits to go. There is the option to crack open purchases for consumption on the spot or the inside bar will mix a mean cocktail for patrons as well. With outside seating right in the heart of things, Capital Cellars was packed throughout the morning with folks getting their spirits enthused.

The other primary libation location is the Kentucky Coffeetree Cafe. Located one shop down from Capital Cellars on Broadway, this entire block, along with Serafini, Completely Kentucky and Poor Richard’s Bookstore, is jumping from start to finish of this celebration.

Isabella gets an assist from her brother Jacy.

Isabella gets an assist from her brother Jacy.

The Coffeetree takes its cocktail preparation seriously and offers premium cocktails, hearty ales and many other offerings to get spirits soaring. A jumbo barbecue smoker out front was cranking out ribs and pulled pork for diners to enjoy as they sat outside and soaked up the atmosphere.

This also was ground zero for the “Pedal for the Posies” midget bike race. Billed as The Most Ridiculous Two-Minutes in Sports, this annual event pits local merchants or their representatives, in costumes on decorated miniature bikes, for a scramble down Broadway.

The kids get into watching this as well, but there is plenty of competition for their attention. Most all the attractions at the Governor’s Downtown Derby Celebration are geared to kids 10 and under. In the parking lot behind the First Christian Church there were pony rides, face painting, and a bouncy obstacle course.

IMG_1732Across Ann Street in the train depot parking area was another bouncy house with a sliding board sponsored by the Kentucky Fire Commission. This was also a fine spot to score a steak sandwich or an all-beef hot dog from the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association.

Since I had a 4-mile run slated for later, alcohol was not on my list of options this morning, but snacks were fine, so I sampled a bunch of different eats as Isabella and her brother, Jacy, 11, bounced their way through the morning.

It was great to see La Fiesta Grande and Mai Saigon joining in the Derby celebration on St. Clair Street. I picked up a delicious order of shrimp & pork egg rolls from the Vietnamese restaurant.

IMG_1741The other hot spot up this way was Brick Alley. This joint mixes dangerous-sized Derby drinks and has plenty of indoor and outside seating. This year I tried their Burgoo, which came with a homemade corn muffin. Once I crumbled that muffin up into the stew and added a healthy dose of Louisiana hot sauce, this was a scrumptious offering.

Our last stop was to check out the series of activities hosted in the parking lot of the YMCA. Most importantly there was a H-U-G-E bouncy castle inflated, along with music, dance instruction, basketball shooting contests, popcorn and cable rope exercises. I couldn’t get Bella out of the bouncy castle. It wasn’t until she tired herself out that she came stumbling over to me in need of liquids and air-conditioned relief.

Many thanks to the organizers, and all the folks performing on the Jim Beam stage. Particularly the jazz ensemble from Kentucky State University. They played some hot notes.

IMG_1748As for the actual Kentucky Derby, it’s a spectacle all its own that must be experienced in person to fully appreciate. There was a significant weather outburst around 5ish that brought a momentary downpour and strong wind gusts that sent expensive Derby hats flying across the grandstand at Churchill Downs, but by then most attendees were numb from imbibing Mint Juleps all day. Whats a little rain, right?

For those that live in this area, Derby has now morphed into a multi-week extravaganza. There are free concerts at the waterfront nightly leading up to the Derby Eve Jam, there’s a steamboat race that dates back 150 years between the Belle of Louisville and the Belle of Cincinnati, the U.S. Bank Great Balloon Race, the Pegasus Parade, cooking contests, a mini and full road race marathon, a slew of special events & Derby bottle unveilings from the bourbon industry and of course horse racing.

The spring meet at Churchill Downs opened April 30, the week before the Derby, and runs through July 2. It used to be locals not wanting to deal with the hassle or expense of wading into the Kentucky Derby would visit Churchill on the Friday before to take in the Kentucky Oaks. This is a $1 million Grade 1 stakes race, and is America’s premier and most lucrative contest for 3-year old thoroughbred fillies dating to 1875.

The Oaks is massive these days, and for longtime attendees, every bit as committed an adventure as the Derby used to be back in the 1980s. This year the Kentucky Oaks set an attendance record of 124,589 to see Cathryn Sofia take the $600,000 victory and her garland of lilies.

Lately, a marketing campaign has grown up around the idea of locals day being pushed back to the Thursday before the Derby, and calling it “Thurby.” Those attending Thurby, Oaks and Derby, can experience the trifecta of Kentucky horse racing pride.

The big winner Saturday was the No. 13 horse, Nyquist. Coming into the Kentucky Derby he was undefeated and a prohibitive 2-1 favorite amongst the 20 contenders. Any superstition about drawing the No. 13 post disappeared when the chestnut colt, which stalked the lead throughout, broke loose under jockey Mario Gutierrez on the outside coming down the home stretch to victory.

IMG_1187His final Derby time for 1 1/4 miles measured a respectable 2:01.31 and did so in front of 167,227, the second-largest crowd in Churchill Downs history – just under the record of 170,513 in 2015.

Wagering from all sources on Saturday’s Kentucky Derby was the second-highest in history, totaling $192.6 million, only 1 percent off the record set in 2015.

NBC and the horse racing industry were hoping for a big bump in interest for the Derby after American Pharaoh’s Triple Crown victory last year, the first in 37 years, but the audience dropped 3.1 percent. NBC announced that the Derby averaged 15.5 million viewers with a 9.0 rating and 21 share. American Pharoah’s Derby drew an average of 16 million viewers and a 9.6/23, which was a 2 percent increase over California Chrome’s 2014 Derby win.

Nyquist looked impressive and talk of a Triple Crown contender this year is inescapable. Next up is the Preakness Stakes, but nothing beats the Kentucky Derby for prestige, pageantry and history.

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Lunch Vietnamese Style at Cafe Thuy Van in Louisville

Posted on May 14, 2016 by theurbanllama

IMG_1801With another interview this week in Louisville, I had the opportunity to again sample some Vietnamese cuisine and I was not going to be denied. For anyone seeking authentic Vietnamese fare make the time for a visit to Cafe Thuy Van.

Located in an easily overlooked strip mall at 5600 National Turnpike #3, between Southside Drive and the Outer Loop, keep a sharp eye out for New Venture Drive, where you need to turn for parking.

It doesn’t look like much from the outside admittedly, nor does the surrounding territory, but park and venture in. The staff is friendly and will get you seated. Playing on a large flat screen television in the back of the restaurant by the kitchen entrance was the Vietnamese equivalent to an American variety show. It featured young, vibrant and colorful singers, offering a fusion of traditional and contemporary Vietnamese music that played as a soundtrack throughout the space. Apparently synchronized boy band moves transcend countries and political ideologies.

IMG_1795Up front there looks to be room for a DJ, and “Happy Birthday” wishes remain strewn across a mirror, from the looks of it for some time now. There’s a Buddha or two, several shrines with fresh offerings and a couple lightbox photos on the side wall showing pictures of the unique countryside found in Vietnam.

It’s low key, but a cool decor, clean and pleasant. It doesn’t take long to notice the native language is still spoken here mostly, which makes sense as the predominance of folks walking in are Vietnamese. I take that as a great sign I’m in the right place.

As I looked over the menu the Pho, noodle bowls and other dishes are prepared in a more traditional style than what is often found in Vietnamese joints around Kentucky. Instead of westernizing its selections to perhaps appeal to broader local stereotypes, there remains blood sausage or fermented shrimp paste to set these offerings apart.

IMG_1797The Bun Bo Hue (rice vermicelli bowl) has Central Vietnamese broth served with rice vermicelli, pig’s feet, beef flank and pork patty. The Hu Tieu Nam Vang (rice noodle bowl) offers rice noodles served in a pork broth topped with sliced pork, quail eggs and shrimp.

One special that jumped out at me was the Ca Kho To, a Vietnamese clay pot braised catfish in special sauce. Another was more of a curiosity. The Lau De is a special goat hot pot served with egg noodles and various vegetables. It costs $80 for a regular serving and $100 for a large. That is some “special” goat.

I was here to try the Pho (beef noodle soup). That is always a good comparison dish to see how a place stacks up against others. I’ll tell you Cafe Thuy Van is top flight.

IMG_1784Before I could order though I realized this was a “Cash Only” establishment. It was no biggie, as the food is modestly priced and there is an ATM inside the Marathon gas station/Dongar Food Mart & Deli on the corner of the strip mall. That place smells kind of funky and it stocks quite an odd assortment of merchandise, but it served its purpose.

Back at Cafe Thuy Van I ordered the Pho, with Vietnamese noodles served in a beef broth with thinly sliced beef, meat balls and brisket, topped with cilantro and scallions. Tripe is also available in this combo, but it’s not my thing.

My order of egg rolls came out first with a side of fish sauce. The pork, shrimp and vegetables were encased in a thin, crispy outer skin fried to a dark brown. Each roll broke crisply in my mouth and sprang with vibrant flavors. These are some tasty suckers.

IMG_1786The steaming bowl of Pho arrived, accompanied by a side dish of fresh mint, bean sprouts and a lime wedge. I added all this to the bowl along with Sriracha hot chili sauce, chili paste, fish sauce, hoisin and soy, turning the broth into a deep, rich brown color as it mixed with the fats from the meats. It was glorious!

There is a depth and richness that came with each spoonful. This broth is sufficient to be consumed by itself, but using chop sticks I fished up vermicelli noodles with chucks of beef and the other fresh ingredients that had me exclaiming its virtues out loud and sweating by bowl’s end.

Sadly, no beer is sold here, but the sweet tea was an able compliment to this spicy goodness. Check out the full assortment of interesting teas and specialty beverages available.

Next time you need a little adventure from the ordinary, take a short drive out to Cafe Thuy Van for an authentic dining experience.

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CAFE THUY VAN | 5600 National Turnpike #3 | 502-366-6959 | Menu

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Lunch at Havana Rumba Makes My Monday

Posted on May 10, 2016 by theurbanllama
The Hemingway Daiquiri at Havana Rumba.

The Hemingway Daiquiri at Havana Rumba.

Having driven to Louisville around noon Monday for a job interview that concluded by 1PM, the timing worked out perfectly to score a late lunch before heading back to Frankfort.

I plotted my course to Bardstown Road in search of Banh Mi Hero, where I was hoping to sample some fresh, crisp Vietnamese sandwiches.

Unfortunately I waited too long to explore this option. The sign outside remained, but a notice of “For Lease” could be seen through the front window. I learned its owner, Lee Tran, whose mom is Annie from Annie’s Cafe, intended to reopen a PanAsian noodle bar in the same space earlier this year, but it doesn’t look like that happened.

As often transpires, when one door closes another opens.

As I made the block I noticed Havana Rumba had opened a Highlands location at 2210 Bardstown Road, with a tapas bar. This would allow me to stay with my sandwich theme, because they do amazingly tasty creations involving pressed Cuban bread.

Parking is easy here. There is a small lot attached to Havana Rumba, with a more expansive lot across the way behind the CVS.

Just walking into Havana Rumba makes one feel better. The splash of yellow and red colors, the spirited Cuban music and a bustling lunch crowd breathes of energy.

IMG_1769No menu was necessary, I started with a Hemingway Daiquiri, to soothe over any residual interview vibe. It’s tall, refreshing, not too sweet with a sneaky punch by the time it’s gone.

I went with the namesake sandwich, the Havana Rumba for my entrée. This doesn’t look huge at first, but it’s a dense and rich offering. It features succulent roasted pork (that could stack up with any barbecue around), Spanish chorizo, Serrano ham,  Provolone cheese, another ham, mustard, pickles and aioli, served on hot pressed Cuban bread.

It tastes even better than it sounds. This sandwich is hard to put down. It’s a flavor explosion. The bread has a crisp exterior from being grilled, with a supple, delicate interior that holds its own with the substantial filling.

IMG_1771The Havana Rumba is served with sweet potato fries that include a wonderful honey dipping sauce. I will say if you eat all the fries, which is difficult not to do, then half the sandwich is probably coming home with you.

Like everything at Havana Rumba, whether overt or not, the portions are plentiful, and priced economically.

I ordered two empanadas to take home with me, a ground beef and a chicken, as more is always better with Havana Rumba. These are some of the best meat pies around. I’ll give the nod to the chicken. It could have been bland but it was moist and full of Cuban flavor.

There isn’t a bad meal on the menu. Always check the specials and house specialties. The wait staff is top-notch here, observant and attentive. Anyone unsure of what to order can rely on the staff to steer them in a desired direction. Trust me, they do this a lot, as many are unfamiliar with these dishes.

IMG_1777The Parrilla Habanera, with Palomilla steak, roasted chicken, grilled Spanish chorizo, served with tostones (smashed, fried green plantains), rice, black beans and sweet plantains, is an excellent way to sample a few of the delicacies offered here, and at $33.99 for two – a steal.

The original Havana Rumba in St. Matthews is my favorite location. Opened by Marcos Lorenzo in 2004, it remains a star on Louisville’s restaurant scene. He now has a large Middletown location to go with the Highlands spot, along with his themed Mojito Tapas Restaurant at Holiday Manor Center.

Visit any of the Louisville area Havana Rumba ventures. The staff will take great care of all who enter and your taste buds will thank you for coming.

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HAVANA RUMBA | 2210 Bardstown Road | Louisville, KY | 502-749-4600

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