University of Louisville – Closing Celebrations
It has been three years since Ayrielle and Krista have been to the University of Louisville, and so much has changed. Ayrielle had a baby, Krista moved to Indianapolis, and both started graduate school. Louisville had its own changes as well; Covid has rolled through like the fog from the river and the streets were filled with the pain of people from injustice. Yet with all these changes, the city still held onto its routine celebrations like the University of Louisville’s commencement and it was natural for bad good friends to take a trip to see the newly alum in their black gowns and caps.
We found a new friend Jen, an education alum, sitting on the steps of Grawemeyer Hall with her friend taking some snapshots to capture this monumental achievement in front of one of the few original castings of Auguste Rodin’s The Thinker. Her eyes sparkled and her smile was big. She looked so beautiful. She should be proud, as we are sure she is, after all those years of studying and student teaching as she walks across the Cardinal Stadium next Saturday as she accepts her diploma.
Typically these celebrations will bring friends and family from all corners of the state to share in this moment of pride. If you plan to do something to celebrate, we would recommend that you plan ahead. The Sunday we came to town students were moving out, a citywide marathon happened in the morning, church bells ringing, and the first warm wave came about. We didn’t plan ahead and were starving as we waiting in a never-ending brunch line. We eventually gave up and forged for cheeses, meats, and fruits at Cultured [Link1]. We had a plate that could feed four but it’s was devoured in minutes. Bourdon spiced pecans were a win for Krista and a stinky cheese for Ayrielle. There is another cheese that had beer in it, which we had to resist purchasing a block. While we enjoyed every bite, waiting for hours to grab lunch only to forfeit to go to another location could have led to a terrible decision. We don’t always make the best choices when hungry beyond the point of angry. We were lucky. You should make reservations.
Even plan ahead for free activities. We had planned to revisit the SPEED. It was a free Sunday and it was a packed exhibit for viewing Promise, Witness, Remembrance which reflects on the life of Breonna Taylor and the relationship of Black Americans within the country. In the first gallery – Promise – the doors were flagged (actually, two very large and long flags) of stars against a blue backdrop, much like the corner of the American flag. Each star represented a victim of gun violence. Five galleries in all, one dedicated to taking a moment to pause, and the SPEED provided a number to test to have a guided meditation. While we wouldn’t recommend attending an activity so heavy, many other free activities like the galleries at the SPEED can be secured online ahead of time. In the case of the SPEED, parking can also be arranged ahead of time and for free.
Parking is certainly an issue at any campus or any city the size of Louisville. When the weather is lovely, a bike-share is a great idea. Bike-share programs, or a public bicycle system, is a transportation service in which bicycles are made available to use by individuals on a short-term basis for a small fee or even free. If you can park for free near campus, look for a bike station. It won’t be hard as many of the bikes that are part of the program are usually bright in color. Campus and Cities will tend to have high-tech bike racks with a kiosk, but apps may also help you find a bike that is available but not docked. Bike-shares typically have two systems of payment. The first is a flat-fee membership (generally longer-term) or pass (generally shorter-term) that grants access to the program’s bikes for a specific period of time. You must buy either a membership or pass before you can start riding. While you may find an undock bike to ride it is recommended that you do find a dock to return them as some cities do charge a hefty fine if they cannot find their way back to a station (because someone will need to be hired to find the bicycles). But often if you’re visiting a city or a campus with a bike-share for a few days, it is likely to be cheaper than using public transit or an Uber. If you’re serving as a liaison in your city for out-of-town friends, your local bike-share program could be less stressful than driving or taking public transit, particularly in congested areas. Louisville has made excellent efforts to make the city friendlier to bike traffic. The University of Louisville should have a high of 74 degrees on commencement day – perfect for a bike ride.
Congrats to all the recent graduates! Best wishes in all of your future endeavors.
