Creative Diversity Studio & Gallery is holding its Third Annual Pasta Bowl Fundraiser on Saturday, May 18 from 4-8 p.m. at City Cafe, 505 W. Broadway. For more information, call 502-212-9474 or email creativediversityart@yahoo.com.

St. Francis School is hosting its 17th Annual Imagine! Scholarship Fundraiser on  Friday, Feb. 1.  It will take place at the Kentucky Center for African American Heritage. It will feature works by artists such as Bryce Hudson, Julius Friedman and Valerie Fuchs. Tickets are $75 for the dessert reception and $150 for the dinner. Tickets can be purchased through the school’s website or calling the reservation line at 502-736-1005.

The Arts Council of Southern Indiana is presenting Bal Masque Gala on Saturday, Oct. 20 from 8 p.m.-1 a.m. at the Masonic Lodge, 805 E. Market St. in New Albany. Advance tickets are $50 per person and $80 per couple (on the day of the event: $60/$90). Cash bar, Fall treats, live music by Field of Kings and The Horizontal Boogie Band. Costume contest, silent auction, performance by The Drama Studio and tales by the Bicentenial Living History Committee. Tickets can be purchased at the Arts Council, by calling 812-949-4238 or online at www.artscouncilsi.org.

Friday, July 13

Jazzyblu Café and Lounge
815 W. Market St. • 435-9908
$10+; 8 p.m.

Slow … mellow … thorough … how’s your flow? The “Let It Flow” Poetry Slam is now celebrating its fifth anniversary. So if you’re thinking it’s time for your spoken word to be heard, perhaps you’ll be lured. And if you’re just looking to listen, this should be a great party benefiting a fine cause. This year the event, held at Jazzyblu Café and Lounge (the lower level of the Glassworks building), supports West End School’s work with at-risk young men in west Louisville. Today is the last day to register as a poet ($30 fee if any spaces are still available — with $500 to the winner). For a few dollars on top of the basic ticket price, audience members can sample VIP perks — but all paid attendees get admission to a 10 p.m. after party being held at The Venue at 510. —T.E. Lyons

Friday, June 22

Louisville Slugger Field
keeplouisvilleweird.com
Free; 4-10 p.m.

There’s really no excuse to drink PBR. That’s especially true in a town like Louisville, home to an impressive array of quality local beers, from longtime favorites like Bluegrass Brewing Co., New Albanian and Cumberland to recent additions Against the Grain, Falls City and Apocalypse Brew Works. All these tasty beers will be on tap to quench your thirst at the fourth annual Brewfest, sponsored by the Louisville Independent Business Alliance. And if beer isn’t your beverage of choice but you don’t want to miss out on Brewfest fun, there will be local wines and Heaven Hill bourbon. Given imbibing is the focus of the evening — with some food, giveaways and live music thrown in for good measure — CityScoot will be on call to provide safe rides home beginning at 8 p.m. —Sarah Kelley

•Elizabeth Cook

Saturday, June 2

Uncle Slayton’s

1017 E. Broadway

uncleslaytons.com

$13; 8:30 p.m.

Florida-born singer-songwriter and Sirius XM radio host Elizabeth Cook will once again have the opportunity to provide a fortunate Kentucky audience with her unrivaled blend of country music tradition and outlaw spirit. Cook’s latest offering, Welder, successfully pays tribute to her father’s trade of choice while providing enough musical variety to appeal to both traditional country purists and pop music devotees. An artist with several hundred Grand Ole Opry performances under her belt, Elizabeth Cook has definitely become a recognizable figure in country music worth checking out. Tim Carroll, Cook’s husband and current touring partner, will also be featured, demonstrating his effective combination of country music songwriting sensibilities and punk rock attitude. —Jordan Bennett

•‘Along the Ohio River’

Through June 2

Jane Morgan Gallery

4838 Brownsboro Center • 592-7835

janemorgangallery.com

Most of us Louisville city folk view the Ohio River from that large patch of green grass known as Waterfront Park. Yet the mighty Ohio stretches 981 miles from Pennsylvania to Illinois. The Plein Air Painters of Kentucky, those artists who love to paint outdoors, stretched out from Louisville a bit. Although the 25 painters didn’t go out of our general region, the works include scenes from Madison, Ind., Otter Creek in Meade County, Ky., as well as throughout the Louisville area. “(It’s) probably one of the best exhibits yet of plein air work,” gallery owner and plein air painter Jane Morgan says, “because it is so strong and colorful and has wonderful compositions of the river and its surrounding.” —Jo Anne Triplett

•Waggin’ Trail

Saturday, June 2

E.P. “Tom” Sawyer State Park

3000 Freys Hill Road

kyhumane.org

Free; 8 a.m.

Have you ever wondered what breed that weird-looking mutt you brought home really was? You can get Fido DNA tested at the 18^th annual Waggin’ Trail, a Kentucky Humane Society fundraiser. If you arrive by 8 a.m., you can register to run with him in a 5K (which kicks off at 9). If you’d rather move at a slower pace, there’s a 1-mile walk that begins at 10 a.m. After exercising with your buddy, you can get him micro-chipped for $25 and check out the tons of other animal merch offered. All animal-lovers are invited to this paw-ty (see what I did there?), so even if you don’t have a dog, you can join the fanfare. Of course, if you are on the market for a furry friend, there will be an Adoption Option Pet Parade at noon. —Simon Isham

•Americana World Fest

Saturday, June 2

Americana Community Center

4801 Southside Dr.

americanacc.org

Free; 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

If you’re not in the 1 percent, chances are your bank account won’t allow for a summer trot around the globe. Lucky for you, the 22^nd annual Americana World Festival will once again bring worldly culture to the Beechmont neighborhood. The free, family-friendly event will feature Burundian drummers, a Bollywood dance troupe, face painting, and international food and crafts galore. The Americana Community Center, which hosts this event, is a nonprofit that works with individuals and families from nearly 90 countries. Not only does this day allow some of our neighbors to showcase their heritage, it gives us a chance to learn a thing or two. Win, win. Also, there’s a raffle with a $500 cash prize. Bonus win. —Anne Marshall

•Shadows Fall

Saturday, June 2

Phoenix Hill Tavern

644 Baxter Ave.

ticketweb.com

$15; 7 p.m.

Shadows Fall is probably the world’s best-known Rastafari-influenced metal band from Massachusetts we can think of right offhand; actually, they might be the best known in the world! Though singer Brian Fair’s swinging dreads might suggest otherwise, their progressive power metal isn’t very reggae-sounding at all. It’s lyrically where the inspiration comes. They’ve been rewarded with Grammy nominations and Billboard chart appearances for their ability to balance accessible melodies with more typically metallic anger and thrash, and their latest album, Fire from the Sky, is the seventh in 15 years for the mostly stable band. With the perhaps more interestingly named Trumpet the Harlot, Howitzer, and IIATTATIME. —Peter Berkowitz

•Butchertown Art Fair

Saturday, June 2

Butchertown — E. Washington St.

Free; 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

Each year, this event draws artists and crafters from around the region to one of the most diverse historic neighborhoods in Louisville. The event takes place along the tree-lined streets among historically rich architecture and features great art, music, food trucks, beer and wine and more.

Preservation Louisville is having an ice cream social at The Comfy Cow to announce Preservation Louisville’s 2012 Top 10 Endangered Places, and Preservation Successes – including the Comfy Cow – on Saturday, May 26 at 2 p.m., 2221 Frankfort Ave. Enjoy a new flavor created just for this occasion. Preservation Louisville ice cream will be unveiled at the ice cream social. It will be carried at all three Comfy Cow locations for six weeks and 20% of all sales will go toward supporting Preservation Louisville’s education and advocacy efforts.

Saturday, May 5

Water Tower
3005 River Road
LouisvilleDownAndDerby.com
$40; 8 p.m.

All the locals know the party doesn’t stop after the last horse crosses the finish line. Derby night in the ’Ville will be teeming with parties, including the fabulous Down & Derby at the Water Tower. This open-bar event benefits the Louisville Youth Group and has a handful of celebrities who will make you dance off the day’s winnings … or forget about the losses. Reichen Lehmkuhl from Logo’s “The A List” will be a guest, as will Latrice Royale from season 4 of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and DJ Brynn Taylor. Let your hair down and kick off those heels — this casual attire party is the perfect way to keep that track buzz fueled into the wee hours of the morning. —Sara Havens