June at the Golden Pond Planetarium
May 25, 2008
June’s a pretty magical month at the Golden Pond Planetarium (click here for a map).
Far Out Space Places Visit the most extreme destinations in our cosmic neighborhood. Scale cliffs on Mars, chill on Neptune and visit the original landing site of the Apollo astronauts. See “Far Out Space Places” daily at 10am and Sat. & Sun. at 4pm. $2/$4.
Explorers of the International Space Station If you’ve always wondered what it’d be like to live on a space station, here’s your chance! See “Explorers” daily at 11am. $2/$4.
Kentucky Skies I love this one. You can find out what to look for in that night’s sky! You’ll earn the constellations, lore of night sky, and a lot more. See “Kentucky Skies” daily at 1pm. $2/$4.
Search for Life in the Universe Host Leonard Nimoy (Spock from Star Trek!) narrates the ingredients necessary for life on our planet, as we consider the possibility of life on other planets. See “Search for Life in the Universe” daily at 2pm. $2/$4.
Blown Away: The Wild World of Weather See views of our earth’s weather through spectacular footage that’ll take your breath away. See “Blown Away” daily at 3pm. $2/$4.
Greek Mythologies and the Night Sky This one’s pretty much what you’d expect it to be….fascinating! See “Greek Mythologies and the Night Sky” Fridays at 8pm, doors open at 7:30pm. $2/$5. Evening program only.
Summer Nights See one of the daytime shows, then go outside to the observatory for a look at the real night sky. Show Schedule: Search for Life 6/7; KY Skies 6/14; Blown Away 6/21; Explorers 6/28. See ” Summer Nights” Saturdays at 8pm, doors open at 7:30pm. $2/$5. Evening program only.
You’ll want to find a way to see each of the events listed. They’re incredibly fascinating for people of all ages. The wonderful thing about the Golden Pond Planetarium is that children think they’re just having an awesomely fun time, we know they’re also learning! But shhhhh… we won’t let them in on the secret.
Kentucky Afield Radio Program with Tim Farmer
March 31, 2008
To learn more about Tim Farmer and Kentucky’s Fish and Wildlife, visit The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. You’ll also want to Sign Up for the Kentucky Afield Newsletter.
*** To get a great “feel” for the one-of-a-kind Kentucky Afield experience, watch today’s Featured Video to the right. Turtle man…. I now know fear.
The Kentucky Lake Bluegrass Festival 2008
March 11, 2008
The Bluegrass Blog has a great post about The 2008 Kentucky Lake Bluegrass Festival. You’ll want to read every word so you can get as excited and worked up as we are.
June 13th and 14th are marked on my calendar and it’d take two acts of God to keep me from this festival. No, God, that wasn’t a challenge….just a comment. Just a small, little observation as it were.
Kentucky’s Lincoln Bicentennial
February 4, 2008
Kentucky will kick off the national Lincoln Bicentennial in February. Below is a partial list of events. The exact dates for some haven’t been released.
For details on each event as well as a full calendar, visit http://www.kylincoln.org/events.
Feb. 10: Lexington’s Abraham Lincoln Gala, Singletary Center for the Arts on the University of Kentucky campus
Feb. 11: National Lincoln Bicentennial Celebration, Kentucky Center, Louisville
Feb. 12: National Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Kickoff, Hodgenville
Feb. 12: Unveiling of the Lincoln Heritage Trail, Hodgenville
Feb. 12: Debut of the Historical Society HistoryMobile, outfitted with a Lincoln exhibit, Hodgenville
Source: Kentucky Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission
Sweeney Todd Slashes His Way to a Stage in Kentucky!
February 2, 2008
“One Helluva Show! Thrilling and ferociously inventive.” - The New York Times
Owensboro, Kentucky’s own, Johnny Depp, helped make Sweeney Todd a phenomenon in movie theaters across the country. But what a lot of people may not realize is that it actually originated on Broadway.
Here’s your chance to see Sweeney Todd in person. The national tour of John Doyle’s recent Tony Award®-winning Broadway production of Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler’s SWEENEY TODD, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, will play Louisville’s Kentucky Center from February 12-17, 2008. Even without the Depp, this is said to be an absolutely mind-blowing show.
The touring production of Doyle’s revolutionary re-imagining of the musical – considered to be Sondheim’s masterpiece – will star Judy Kaye (Phantom of the Opera, Mamma Mia!) as Mrs. Lovett and David Hess as the demon barber himself, Sweeney Todd.
Tickets go on sale December 14 and can be purchased at the Kentucky Center box office (502-584-7777, 800-775-7777), at any Ticketmaster outlet (502-361-3100) or online at kentuckycenter.org or ticketmaster.com.
Owensboro’s Residents Encouraged to Learn About Chinese Culture
February 1, 2008
The kickoff for Owensboro’s event ”The Big Read” is just around the corner. The focus is on Chinese culture as people in the community are encouraged to learn all the can about China, it’s people, and it’s history. Those behind ”The Big Read“ have suggested that residents all read “The Joy Luck Club” by Amy Tan. Brenda Hauser, a planning committee member, told the Messenger-Inquirer:
“From my standpoint, The Big Read is about getting people excited about reading and tying to bring an entire community together around one book. In our case, it’s an avenue for learning more about a different culture and for learning how far reading can take you and how it can enrich your life.”
The Big Read is a National Endowment For the Arts project in which communities across the country are encouraged to read and discuss the same book.
The kickoff for the Owensboro Community event will be from 1:00 - 5:00 pm February 9, 2008 at the RiverPark Center.
If your interest has been sparked to learn more about Chinese Culture, Chinese Wisdom is a great place to start.
2007 Moonbow Dates
June 8, 2007
2007 Moonbow Dates
January 1st - 5th, 31st
February 1st - 4th
March 1st - 5th, 30th
April 1st - 4th, 30th
May 1st - 4th, 30th - 31st
June 1st - 3rd, 28th - 30th
July 1st - 2nd, 28th - 31st
August 24th - 28th
September 24th - 28th
October 24th - 28th
November 22nd - 26th
December 22nd - 26th
If you aren’t familiar with Cumberland Falls or its treasured Moonbow, you should check your calendar without further delay and make an appointment to get familiar.
Imagine a wall of water falling 60 feet into a boulder-strewn gorge, a whispering mist that kisses the face and a magical moonbow visible on a clear night under a full moon. Known as the “Niagara of the South,” the 125-foot wide curtain of water is dramatic day or night. But it’s only at night during a full moon that you can see the moonbow, a phenomenon not found anywhere else in the Western Hemisphere!
The area is a natural choice for water-sports enthusiasts, offering white-water rafting and canoeing among other water activities. A professional outfitter is just 5 miles east of the resort.
As spectacular as the setting that surrounds it, the historic Dupont Lodge, built of massive hemlock beams and knotty pine, offers a spectacular view of the Cumberland River Valley. It’s the perfect retreat after a day of hiking, rafting, swimming or horseback riding. - Kentucky Dept. of Parks
Land Between the Lakes Activity Calendar for June
May 10, 2007
The Land Between the Lakes is THE place to be for lovers of nature and wildlife. This is never more true than in the month of June. In addition to ongoing activities and year-round splendor, the Land Between the Lakes region offers the following special events for the month of June:
June 1-3 Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (10 am-5 pm). Drag Boat Races at Pisgah Bay. Blown alcohol, hydros, jets, and flat bottom boats go in excess of 150 miles per hour! Test and tune on Friday, with time trials on Saturday and racing on Sunday. For more information, contact George or Chris Onnybecker. Kentucky Drag Boat Association at 1-800-732-0088 or www.kdba.net. Pre-registration and medical release require for racers.
June 2 Saturday (9 am-4 pm). National Trails Day. All across the country, people 
will celebrate the great outdoors on National Trails Day, America’s largest annual single-day trails and outdoor celebration. At LBL, celebrating the great outdoors takes on a whole new meaning! Contact Kristy Jobe at 270-924-2007 for more information.
In honor of National Trails Day, The Nature Station will offer a staff-led, 1-mile hike on one of the park’s favorite nature trails. Program free to all LBL visitors. Meet at Nature Station.
June 2 Saturday (10 am-12 pm; 1-4 pm). The Blacksmith visits the Farm at The Homeplace. Invited Artist: Layne Hendrickson - Blacksmith. From the LBL website: At a time when most things were made from iron, blacksmiths were one of the most important tradesmen in the community. In the 1850s, blacksmiths made everything from fireplace tools to plow shares to horseshoes, many specializing in specific products. Although iron is rarely used in modern products, the art of blacksmithing is kept alive by modern blacksmiths like Layne Hendrickson. Visit with Mr. Hendrickson as he demonstrates age-old blacksmithing techniques. Mr. Hendrickson’s handmade iron creations will be available for purchase. Program free with Homeplace admission.
June 9 - 10 Saturday, Sunday (9:30 am -5 pm). Pickin’ Party at The Homeplace! A weekend that all music lovers will want to circle on the calendar, the Pickin’ Party offers workshops, pickin’ sessions, and performances of old-time fiddle, banjo, and bluegrass music. Musicians can even bring their own banjo, guitar, fiddle, or harmonica and join in on the fun during open mic sessions. Everyone will enjoy the weekend performances of Mark Dvorak, specializing in banjo, guitar and timeless folk songs, and The Dixie Volunteers, a traditional string band.
On Saturday, enjoy the bluegrass band Carefree Highway and the always exciting and entertaining Dan Knowles. Sunday’s line up features bluegrass band, The McKendrees and Celtic band, Red River Breeze. The weekend includes demonstrations of handmade hammered and mountain dulcimers and psalteries by Amsden Handcrafted Instruments. These handcrafted instruments will be available for purchase. You can realize a life-long dream by learning to play a traditional instrument during one of the mini workshops: Saturday, Banjo and Sunday, the mountain dulcimer.
Join in the fun and we’ll all make beautiful (mountain) music together!
Of course, during the hours when music isn’t being made, you can stroll through the historic buildings, fields and gardens, and talk with the 1850 farm family as they go about their daily chores. We’ve learned so much about this particular time in history simply by talking to the actors/actresses playing these roles. 1850-themed children’s activities will be provided throughout the weekend, meaning they’ll learn while thinking they’re just having a great time! Amazing Festival food and ice-cold drinks will be available for purchase. $4/$5.50. Includes same day HP admission. For more information, call 931-232-6457.
Pack your lawn chairs, picnic blankets and come make some beautiful memories….all set to music!
June 9 Saturday (7:30 - 9:30 pm). A Night to “Hoot” About at the Nature Station. Get up close and personal with one of the Nature Station’s most mysterious residents, a gorgeous owl. Discover the secret night world of owls and go for a guided night walk to listen for owls and other nocturnal wildlife. Bring a flashlight! $2/$3. Evening program only. Reservations and full deposits required. Call 270-924-2020 to reserve your space.
June 12 Tuesday (2 pm). Creature Feature: Deer at the Nature Station. Get to know the two types of deer found in Land Between the Lakes. Discover how the exotic fallow deer came to live in LBL and why hardly any whitetails lived here when the fallows first arrived. Program free with NS admission.
June 16 Saturday (1:30 pm). Slithery Snakes at the Nature Station! Even people 
who are scared senseless of snakes can’t help being fascinated with them. Take it from me, I should know!
On June 16th, you can get to know these mysterious creatures much better by meeting a few of LBL’s resident slippery sliders. Program free with Nature Station admission.
June 19 Saturday (10:00 - 11:30 am). Shoreline Birding Walk at the Nature Station. How does a morning walk along the water’s edge as you watch for birds sound? It sounds like a Bird Lover’s paradise, right?! Visit a beautiful scenic shoreline area that offers countless opportunities to see an amazing variety of birds. Dress for getting off the beaten path and, by all means, bring your binoculars. $3 per person. Program only. Reservations requested because space is limited. Call 270-924-2020 to reserve your space.
June 23 Saturday (6:00 - 8:00 pm). Hundreds of Herons Canoe Trip at Kuttawa Landing. You’ll never forget the sights and sounds of the night herons and cattle 
egrets. You’ll see these birds as well as other wildlife as you paddle down beautiful Lake Barkley. Bring binoculars, cameras, and drinking water! Needless to say, this activity goes under the heading, Weather permitting. $25 per canoe. Includes same day Nature Station admission. (Fortunately, this day also happens to be Nature Arts Day at the Nature Station. See Below.) Registration limited. Reservations and full deposits required. Call 270-924-2020 to reserve your space. Meet at Kuttawa Landing Lake Access Area.
June 23 Saturday (10:00 am - 4:00 pm). Nature Arts Day at the Nature Station. Come join in the backyard fun at this very popular annual event, Nature Arts Day. You’ll see how local artists and craftspeople use nature as inspiration for their unique creations. Visit with local artists and craftspeople as they display, demonstrate, and discuss their work. Art and crafts will be available for purchase. Program free with Nature Station admission.
June 24 Sunday (11:00 am - 2:00 pm). Puttin’ by the Garden at The Homeplace. Visit The Homeplace as we “put-by” summer’s harvest. You’ll see fruits and vegetables you won’t believe! Program free with Homeplace admission.
June 24 Sunday (4:00 pm). Busy as Bees at The Nature Station. Learn all about bees, their life cycle, and how a hive works through activities and games. Also check out an impressive honey bee colony and see if you can find the Queen. Program free with Nature Station admission.
June 26 Tuesday (10:30 am). Woodland Walk at The Nature Station. Enjoy a 1-mile guided hike as you take in the breathtaking beauty of this part of Kentucky. Program free to all Land Between the Lake’s visitors. Meet at Nature Station.
June 26 Tuesday (2:00 pm). Creature Feature: Red Wolf at The Nature Station. The beautiful red wolf - an endagered animal that we all hope is on its way to recovery. This viewing opportunity will allow you to get a good look at these elusive animals. Learn how these animals are fighting back from the brink of extinction! Program free with Nature Station admission.
Useful Links:
Land Between the Lakes - http://www.lbl.org
Kentucky Drag Boat Association - www.kdba.net
Layne Hendrickson, Blacksmith - http://oaklevelforge.com/
The Dixie Volunteers - http://turtleservices.com/The%20Dixie%20Volunteers.htm
Carefree Highway Bluegrass Band - http://www.carefreehighwayband.net/
Mark Dvorak - http://www.markdvorak.com/
Dan Knowles - http://www.danknowles.net/
The McKendrees - http://www.themckendrees.com/
Red River Breeze - http://www.redriverbreeze.com/
Trails and Hiking - http://www.trails.com/
The Kentucky Black Bear Festival
May 6, 2007
Hello, gorgeous!
The Fourth Annual Kentucky Black Bear Festival at Kingdom Come State Park will be held on May 11 & 12, 2007.
Some of this year’s events will include:
- Mayberry Memories with Barney and Gomer and the original police car
- Bearfest Car and Truck Show
- Carnival Rides
- Sugar and Spice Cloggers
- Bluegrass Music with Kentucky Rain, East Kentucky Tyme, Pine Mountain Grass, and Jason Scott
- Food and Craft Booths
- Fishing and Archery
- Music in the Park
- Passport to Black Bear Safety game
For more information, call 606-589-5812 or e-mail c tourism @ alltel .net (without the spaces)
Go Fly a Kite at Barren River Lake
May 5, 2007
May 12, 2007 is Go Fly a Kite Day at Barren River Lake State Resort Park. There will be sessions on building kites and a variety of other activities. Call 1.800.325.0057 for more information.
To learn more about Barren River Lake State Resort Park, click the link.
