Franchise Opportunities in Louisville, KY

For the first time, a Broadway show will launch its tour out of Louisville.

PNC Broadway in Louisville, in partnership with Kentucky Performing Arts, announced the upcoming Louisville premiere of "Jagged Little Pill," running at the Kentucky Center Aug. 31 and Sept.1. Tickets to the Tony- and Grammy Award-winning production's two performances will go on sale July 27.

The show is inspired by the seminal rock album of the same name by seven-time Grammy Award winner Alanis Morissette. Directed by Tony Award winner Diane Paulus ("Waitress," "Pippin") "Jagged Little Pill" is about a perfectly imperfect American family. The Hollywood Reporter called it "electrifying, visceral and stunning."

“We are so fortunate to have our amazing partners, PNC Broadway in Louisville, who bring the most exciting shows on Broadway right here to our own backyard,” said Kim Baker, president and CEO of Kentucky Performing Arts. “Working together, we were able to attract the launch of the 'Jagged Little Pill' tour, providing the opportunity to shine a national spotlight on the Commonwealth.”

Leslie Broecker, president of PNC Broadway in Louisville, said the Kentucky Center has been "instrumental" in making the opportunity a reality.

"Jagged Little Pill" originally opened on Broadway on Dec. 5, 2019. Prior to Broadway, the show completed a record-breaking sold-out run at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The A.R.T. premiere marked the longest-running and highest-grossing production in the theater's history. "Jagged Little Pill" completed its Broadway run on Dec. 17, 2021 and launched an Australian tour later that month.

Jagged Little Pill's creative team includes choreography by frequent Beyonce collaborator Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui ("Apesh*it", "Love Drought/Sandcastles") and an onstage band supervised by Tom Kitt ("Next to Normal," "American Idiot"). The team also includes scene design by Riccardo Hernandez ("Parade") costume design by Emily Rebholz ("Dear Evan Hansen") lighting design by Justin Tomsend ("Moulin Rouge!") sound design by Jonathan Deans ("Waitress") and video design by Lucy Mackinnon ("Spring Awakening") and hair, wig and makeup design by J. Jared Janas ("Sunset Boulevard.")

Casting for the "Jagged Little Pill" tour will be announced at a later date. Fans can visit JaggedLittlePill.com to sign up for updates on the upcoming tour and announcements. Tickets to the performances at the Kentucky Center can be found at kentuckperformingarts.org.

'Jagged Little Pill'

WHAT: The show is inspired by the seminal rock album of the same name by seven-time Grammy Award winner Alanis Morissette. Directed by Tony Award winner Diane Paulus ("Waitress," "Pippin") "Jagged Little Pill" is about a perfectly imperfect American family. The Hollywood Reporter called it "electrifying, visceral and stunning."

WHERE: Kentucky Center, 501 W. Main St.

WHEN: Aug. 31 and Sept.1

TICKETS: Fans can visit JaggedLittlePill.com to sign up for updates on the upcoming tour and announcements. Tickets to the performances at the Kentucky Center can be found at kentuckperformingarts.org.

If you're out late at an event, chances are it's been a minute since you've eaten. Unfortunately, most Louisville restaurants close by 10 p.m.

Most of them, but not all of them. Some, like Insomnia Cookies or Jeff's Donuts, even have business models set around staying open late.

Here are 15 locally-owned places around Louisville with kitchens open after 10 p.m.

21st in Germantown

This Germantown bar and restaurant is located in a historic building and serves burgers and sandwiches, wings, tenders, mac & cheese balls, sides and two desserts. The bar serves beer and cocktails, and the venue hosts regular live music and karaoke events.

21st in Germantown is open Monday to Thursday 4 p.m. to 2 a.m., Friday and Saturday 4p.m. to 4 a.m. and Sunday 4 p.m. to midnight.

The Back Door

This watering hole has 13 TVs and is a favorite spot for fans of the University of Louisville and University of Kentucky sports teams. The bar has a separate pool room and arcade room with games. Back Door serves boneless and traditional wings with a variety of sauces, appetizers like hot pepper cheese balls and chicken tenders, sandwiches, quesadillas, nachos and a build-your-own burger.

The Back Door is open Monday to Friday from 2 p.m. to 4 a.m. and weekends from 1 p.m. to 4 a.m.

Drake's

2651 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy, 3909 Shelbyville Road, 3921 Summit Plaza Drive; drakescomeplay.com

This Lexington-based restaurant chain has three Louisville locations open and a fourth on the way to Jeffersonville, Indiana by the end of 2022. The restaurant serves smashed burgers, steaks and combos, sandwiches, sushi, salads, chili and more. The bar serves both seasonal cocktails and zero-proof cocktails.

Drake's Louisville locations are open Sunday to Thursday 11 a.m. to midnight and Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. The kitchen closes one hour prior.

Goodfellas Pizzeria

This long-awaited Lexington-based pizzeria opened a Louisville location on Baxter Avenue at the new year. Goodfellas serves classic New York-style pizza by the slice and in pies as well as breadsticks, signature meatballs, a meatball sub, a calzone, salads and desserts. The restaurant has ample lounge space and an outdoor patio.

Goodfellas is open Sunday to Thursday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.

High Horse

This neighborhood bar was designed to be open late for service industry workers in particular. The 1970s themed bar serves affordable drinks and throwback cocktails, while the connected restaurant, Lucky Leopard Pizza, serves three Neapolitan pizzas, four sandwiches and two desserts. One of the sandwiches, "The Late Night McLeopard," features house-made sausage, scrambled egg, cheddar cheese, arugula and chile mayo ($13). Finish your night with some classic or blackberry curd beignets ($7-$9).

High Horse is open daily from 2 p.m. to 4 a.m.

Highlands Tap Room Grill

This Highlands bar and restaurant is known for it's spacious outdoor patio, which sits right on Bardstown Road and is a great spot for people watching. The restaurant also has weekly specials of items like pulled chicken sliders, slow roasted beef and cheddar sandwiches and a breakfast burger.

Highlands Tap Room is open weekdays from 11 a.m. to 4 a.m. and weekends from 10 a.m. to 4 a.m.

Hilltop Tavern

This neighborhood hangout has a full bar, foosball, shuffleboard and arcade games plus a menu of comfort food. (Bonus: it's also haunted). The tavern serves a dozen appetizers, burgers, sandwiches, quesadillas and affordable beers. Try the beer cheese burger made with a half-pound fresh-ground chuck patty, spicy Two Hearted beer cheese and bacon on a brioche bun with fries ($13).

Hilltop Tavern is open Tuesday to Thursday 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. and Friday and Saturday 5 p.m. to 4 a.m.

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Jeff's Donuts

Nothing beats a place that's open 24 hours a day. Jeff's Donuts, which has been operating in Jeffersonville, Indiana for more than 20 years, opened a Louisville location in St. Matthews last year. The shop makes more than 40 varieties of doughnuts fresh daily, from fritters to Long Johns, zingers, chocolate glazed doughnuts and honeybuns. The zingers, doughnuts topped with raspberry jelly and coconut cream filling, and tiger tails, doughnuts rolled with chocolate fudge to look like a tiger's tail, are particularly popular.

Jeff's Donuts is open seven days a week, 24 hours a day.

La Bamba Mexican Restaurant

This burrito restaurant is one of Louisville's go-to destinations for a middle-of-the-night meal. La Bamba serves build-your-own burritos, tacos, nachos, tamales, quesadillas, combos and some vegetarian options. The area chain has several locations in Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and Louisville.

La Bamba is open Monday and Tuesday from 10:30 a.m. to 3 a.m., Wednesday and Thursday from 10:30 am to 4 a.m., Friday and Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 5 a.m. and Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 a.m.

O'Shea's Irish Pub

This Irish pub in the Highlands has two sister properties in downtown Louisville and downtown Jeffersonville, Indiana. The bar sells a variety of starters, burgers, patty melts, quesadillas, fish and chips, salads and soups. There's also a simple cocktail list, boozy milkshakes and wine by the glass and bottle.

O'Shea's is open Wednesday and Thursday 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m., Friday and Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 3 a.m. and Sunday 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m.

The Post

This pizzeria serves New York style pizza in pies and by the slice, plus calzones and hot subs. There's more than a dozen options for 12-inch, 16-inch and 20-inch pies, including "The Lone Wolf" pizza with pepperoni, sausage, ham, bacon, green pepper, red onion, mushroom and olives. The bar serves a variety of local beers, cocktails and bourbons.

The Post is open weekdays 4 p.m. to midnight and weekends 2 p.m. to midnight. The kitchen serves slices only after 11 p.m.

Recbar

10301 Taylorsville Road, Jeffersontown, Kentucky; 336 Pearl St., New Albany, Indiana; recbarlouisville.com

Louisville's largest arcade bar has two area locations and is perfect for a game night with friends. The bar has 16 beers on tap and more than 100 bourbons and whiskeys available, while "pub grub" fare includes pretzel bites and beer cheese and sliders, totchos (a mountain of tater tots with toppings), tacos, burgers, sandwiches, salads and some desserts.

Recbar is open Monday to Thursday 11 a.m. to midnight, Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. and Sunday noon to midnight.

The Silver Dollar

This historic Frankfort Avenue bar and restaurant is a "reimagining of a 1950s California honky tonk," according to its website. Start out with fried pickles, then try a chili, smash burger or steak frites. A variety of sides, dipping sauces and two desserts fill out the menu. The Silver Dollar also serves bourbon flights, classic cocktails, wine, beer and non-alcoholic drinks.

The Silver Dollar is open Monday, Thursday and Friday from 5 p.m. to 12 a.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to midnight. Closed Tuesday and Wednesday.

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Spinelli's Pizza

Spinelli's Pizza is open until 5 a.m. and serves 12-inch and 18-inch pizzas in classic flavors and off-the-wall flavors like chicken and waffles, cheesesteak and Korean barbecue. The restaurant also serves appetizers like cheesy bread and mac & cheese bites, a handful of sandwiches, salads, some vegan items, pizza by the slice and stromboli.

Spinelli's St. Matthews is open Wednesday to Sunday 5 p.m. to 5 a.m. Spinelli's in the Highlands is open daily 11 a.m. to 5 a.m.

Tin Roof

This live music bar offers a weekday happy hour, daily specials, and two separate food menus. The evening menu is packed with tacos, quesadillas, tenders and wings, burgers and sandwiches, while the weekend brunch menu offers a small selection of chicken and donuts, a Kentucky hashbrown play on the famous Hot Brown, a breakfast burger and eggs. Don't forget to check the website for a calendar of music events, too.

Tin Roof is open Tuesday to Thursday 4 p.m. to 2 a.m., Friday 4 p.m. to 3 a.m., Saturday 11 a.m. to 3 a.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.

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Features reporter Dahlia Ghabour covers food, dining trends and restaurants in the Louisville area. Send tips on new places or story ideas to [email protected] or follow on Twitter @dghabour.

Portions of Southern Indiana and Central Kentucky have been under a flood watch, according to the National Weather Service of Louisville, as wet weather has blown through the region recently.

The flood watch began Tuesday and was set to stay in effect through Wednesday evening. It could be extended into Thursday as well, according to a Wednesday morning update from the weather service.

Flash flooding was believed to be possible in Jefferson County and the surrounding region, and portions of Indiana near Louisville — including Clark, Floyd and Harrison counties — were under a flood watch as well.

Local meteorologist Jessica Lee said on Tuesday a frontal boundary, a separation of air masses which often results in rain, has stalled over the area. Humidity in the region has been high lately and a lot of water is in the air, she said, creating conditions ripe for heavy rain.

Still, Kentucky was expected to fare better than some nearby states. Lee said while a flood watch is in effect, she does not expect flooding near the levels that St. Louis is experiencing Tuesday morning. In a Wednesday morning update, meanwhile, the weather service said that "several inches of rainfall" are still possible through mid week, and flooding is possible as well if the heavy rain pours over wet or saturated soil.

The update said Louisville could expect 1.5 to 2 inches of rainfall, but higher amounts are possible for the areas that see repeated showers.

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Over the course of the week, Lee said Tuesday, Louisville could see between 3 to 5 inches of precipitation.

Still, other areas around the state appear to have been hit harder than Jefferson County. In Floyd County in far Eastern Kentucky, officials declared a local state of emergency due to significant rainfall and flooding, according to a Wednesday post from Gov. Andy Beshear. State assistance was not requested, he said, but emergency management personnel were sent to the county to assist.

Louisville may be spared the worst of the storm system, but Lee said drivers should still exercise caution. Be aware of flooded ditches, creeks, streams, and roadways, she said — and of course, if you see a flooded street, don't drive through it.

In the meantime, Lee said, take heed of weather warnings. The local weather service will monitor conditions, and for more up-to-date information, Lee suggested following the IEMBot LMK, which issues the most current watches and warnings in real time.

Thursday's Louisville forecast, according to the local weather service, calls for showers and the potential for storms throughout the day, with a high temperature near 84 degrees. Chances of rain are expected to dip by Friday.

Reporters Ana Alvarez and Lucas Aulbach contributed. Reach reporter Eleanor McCrary at [email protected] and follow her on Twitter @ellie_mccrary.

Housing is one of the most pressing issues in Louisville today. Just ask around. Odds are, you’ll hear there’s not enough housing or that what’s available is often too expensive, especially for the people who earn the least. Homelessness is rising in Louisville and the country, driven by inflation and rent increases. Meanwhile, private investment and gentrification in the predominantly Black west Louisville area have renters worried they’ll be priced out.

At the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting, we understand that housing issues intersect with so many social problems hurting Louisvillians, from inequities in health, safety and education to environmental injustice and poverty. That’s why we’re launching a project aimed at shedding light on how various housing issues in Louisville are widening inequity between communities and what is or isn’t being done to fix things. The project will debut in August and run through the end of the year.

But first, we’re asking you to share your housing-related thoughts, questions, and experiences with the KyCIR team and Louisville Public Media. We want to hear from renters, homeowners, housing advocates, realtors, organizers, lenders, city officials and others who can help us understand the systems that define the city’s housing market and how it influences people’s lives.

We’re looking at who owns property, who can’t own property and how this shapes the city. We want to know who is taking advantage of people, and who wants to stop it. We’re reviewing who gets public money to operate housing, who is tasked with enforcing property codes and if these groups are doing what they’re supposed to.

But we’re counting on you to help us tell stories that matter and make Louisville a better home for everyone. Please answer the survey below and share it with your family, friends, neighbors, and anyone in your network who lives in Louisville and has something to say about housing. We’ll report back on what we learn from our listening campaign and incorporate it into our work.

FYI: Our reporters will also be reaching out in person and at community events and discussions over the next several months to hear from you. Follow us on Twitter or subscribe to our weekly newsletter to be among the first to know about our community engagement plans.

By Kris Eldridge

How does your church show love to area schools, teachers, and students?

In late summer for the last eight years, Northeast Christian Church in Louisville, Ky.—known as the Love the ‘Ville church—has done so with thousands of bags of mulch and hundreds of volunteers.

Last year, NECC partnered with 33 schools to spruce up their campuses so they were ready to welcome back teachers and students. The annual project fills a need the schools identified—getting their campuses ready for classes—while also building pride and camaraderie. About 20 to 30 volunteers at each school trimmed shrubs, pulled weeds, put down fresh mulch—about 5,000 bags—and spiffed up the grounds.

This year’s School Blitz will be even larger and include more collaboration because more churches will be serving even more schools. Over the last three years or so, Northeast’s leaders have felt the call to work toward citywide church unity. Co-lead pastor Jason Shreve, specifically, has sensed this call and has been praying through John 17, where Jesus prays for “complete unity.”

As Jason has prayed for unity, he has heard from others in the Louisville church community who have felt this same call, or burden, pushing them to pursue unity with other churches.

Church leaders met and began exploring how to build relationships with one another. As a solid first step, church leaders decided to serve in the School Blitz together, as many of them were already serving area schools in various ways. It was a natural first step.

The prayers and collaboration will bear fruit this weekend as 10 Louisville churches serve 41 schools in Jefferson and Oldham counties. Church leaders have been connecting with each school to assess the top three needs of that building, and will supply 20 to 30 volunteers to meet those needs. Although each church will participate in different ways, every single church is valued and important. Church leaders say that collaboration among the houses of worship is just as important as what they can accomplish this weekend.

Through the School Blitz and other outreach efforts, Northeast Christian Church has sought to emulate Christ by reaching out and showing love to its neighbors with no strings attached.

“Live an exemplary life in your neighborhood so that your actions will refute their prejudices,” Peter wrote. “Then they’ll be won over to God’s side and be there to join in the celebration when he arrives” (1 Peter 2:12, The Message).

It’s those small acts of love (one after another) and those bold acts of kindness (time after time) that are opening people’s hearts to God.

NECC has seen evidence of that as it has gained the reputation as the Love the ‘Ville church. Time and again, people have renewed their faith in Christ because of the way Northeast loved them . . . not as a project, but as beloved children of God. One of the most consistent sources of those renewing of faith stories has come via their school partnerships, including the School Blitz.

Kris Eldridge serves as local outreach pastor at Northeast Christian Church, Louisville, Ky.