Thursday, May 23

Brown Hotel

335 W. Broadway • 873-4400

Free; 6:30 p.m.

Celebrated author appearance: As part of Spalding University’s semi-annual Festival of Contemporary Writing, Tim O’Brien, author of the classic Vietnam War story collection “The Things They Carried,” will give a reading/signing at the 16^th-floor gallery of the Brown Hotel. Sena Jeter Naslund — no slouch herself — will introduce O’Brien, whose works also include the National Book Award-winning “Going After Cacciato.” “The Things They Carried” earned recognition by The New York Times as one of the 20 best books of the last quarter-century, and O’Brien’s books have sold more than 3 million copies worldwide. The festival will continue on Friday and Saturday afternoons with readings of works by alumni of the Spalding MFA in Writing Program (all events are ticketless, but locations vary). —T.E. Lyons

Thursday, May 23

ZaZoo’s

102 Bauer Ave.

$5; 9 p.m.

Since achieving international fame in the mid and late ’90s, Danielle Howle has remained comfortably just beneath the radar of mainstream America. She has been regarded as “South Carolina’s best kept musical secret,” accompanied only by the powerful chords of her guitar and a strong, nimble voice. Although she has lately ventured into acting, scoring roles in “Army Wives” and an independent film, Howle has never lost sight of her musical passion, writing and recording music for various independent productions and TV shows. She returned to touring this May, now with all sorts of new merchandise, particularly of the food-related variety. Be sure to stock up on branded beer koozies and homemade hot sauce before her concert! —Natalie French

May 23-25

Bomhard Theater, Kentucky Center

501 W. Main St. • 584-7777

$45+; 8 p.m.

Just like Rihanna, chains and whips excite me. So you would think I would have read E.L. James’ popular “Fifty Shades of Grey” series that made housewives horny from sea to shining sea. It’s on my summer reading list, so don’t get your panties in a wad. Or do. Whatever turns you on. “Spank! The Fifty Shades Parody” is coming to town this weekend to bring naughtiness to the Kentucky Center stage. A parody of the best-selling book, the show mixes musical numbers, sexy striptease performances and lots of spanking in what Chicago Public Radio called “a hilarious satire of practically every trope in popular culture.” Sometimes it just feels good being bad. —Sara Havens

May 23-26

Kentucky Center

501 W. Main St. • 584-7777

kentuckycenter.org

$11-$16; 8 p.m. (2 p.m. on May 26)

Take six sexual deviants looking for a good time and place them in a laboratory for a secret sex study — that’s the basic premise of “Great American Sex Play,” a racy romp that will make you laugh and blush in equal measure. The Louisville Repertory Company first put on this production in 2006 to rave reviews, with LEO Weekly describing the play as “a fascinating study of sexual polarity” and praising director Gil Reyes for challenging the audience “to examine themselves through theater.” For this rendition, Reyes has once again teamed up with playwright Brian Walker to close out LRC’s season with this titillating comedic undertaking, replete with nudity, explicit language and sexual situations. —Sarah Kelley 

May 23-27

Belvedere

500 W. Main St. • arotr.com

$15-$120; various times

Abbey Road on the River was founded in Cleveland, Ohio, with the simple hope of honoring The Beatles’ legacy: make the world a happier place. Throughout the past 13 years, the festival has hosted more than 250 tribute bands, each with equally diverse backgrounds — Europe, America and Asia are all well accounted for. This year, the festival boasts Leon Russell and a total of 61 tribute artists, three of which are ensemble groups from Louisville’s Youth Performing Arts School. Abbey Road on the River has grown and matured over the years and has come to be the signature Memorial Day weekend activity — representative of peace and an encouragement of compassion and nonviolence. Talk about a revolution. —Natalie French

May 23-June 9

Vault 1031

1031 S. Sixth St. • 312-316-8158

lilliantix@gmail.com

$15; 7:30 p.m.

Who is Lillian Baxter? If you knew the answer to that, it would defeat the purpose. “An Evening with Lillian Baxter” is a one-man-as-one-woman show about the brief but vivid career of a fictional D-list actress in the early ’60s. Don’t expect too much of the typical drag shtick, though. John Vessels, the Louisville-theater regular who plays the titular character, originally wrote the show for a female actress in Chicago. The drag element was added later. The character, in addition to the mix of well-known and hidden gems from The Great American Songbook, is what’s supposed to shine in this “cabaret memoir” about living on the outskirts of celebrity. If you go, come prepared to ask Lillian something during the interactive Q&A segment. —April Corbin

Local resident Kris Applegate is currently compiling a book of legendary locals of Louisville and is looking for your help. She is assembling images of the newsworthy and noteworthy individuals and groups who have built and shaped Louisville and the stories that go with them to include in an upcoming book to be published by Arcadia Publishing in their new Legendary Locals imprint. To share your photographs and stories, please contact Kris Applegate at 812-725-2723 or kris@louisvillelegendsbook.info by August 31. If you’d like more information about the book please visit www.louisvillelegendsbook.info.

The Cave Hill Heritage Foundation is presenting its next Twilight Tram Tour on Saturday, May 25 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. $35 per person. Call 502-451-5630 or email cavehill@bellsouth.net for more information.

These workers, most of whom also live on the backside, access educational and other services through the Backside Learning Center (BLC), which is located on the backside of the track. For more information, contact Karen Peace or Sherry Stanley at 502-574-1720.