Located in the historic district of lower Frankfort Ave, the Vernon Club is a turn of the century building but it's turned into quite the entertainment destination for bowling leagues and parties, concerts and other events, meeting rooms and even a coffee shop is part of the facility.
This mom and pop renovation has been made possible by proprietors Dale and Rosi McCall The special element of their relationship to BCN is that they had midwife and doula supported births. Kudos to mom/doula/keyboardist Nancy Sherman! The Vernon Club is thriving under their direction and hosts performing artists on a local and national level. Have a tour of the place by visiting www.vernonclub.com.
Hard to believe that guests abandoned the crisp, sunny fall afternoon for the dark nightclub environment but they did. Burgers and bowling upstairs and rock music below were complimented by several info booths including Kentucky Midwifery Taskforce, ICAN, the Birth Care Network table and LaLeche League. Event support included La Leche League - Highlands and Babyology, WFPK, Pam Yenawine and WomanCare, Louisville Family Chiropractic, Susan's Corner Creations, Sav-A-Lot. Thanks to volunteers Deb and John Bruns, Mary DeWitt, Clare Gervasi and Margaret Martin.
The latest gorgeous and empowering bumper stickers are available as are the handsome canvas bags. Keep in touch with BCN through the year with purchases and keep the fundraising alive.
This year's line-up of performing artists included Doulapalooza vet and WFPK favorite Leigh Ann Yost and her band nearly bringing down the house with new words to "Busta Move" that changed it to a birth rap. As she had done the morning before on WFPK, Yost did a delicious cover of "Be My Baby" with the Doulettes - Susan Linville, Nancy Sherman and yours truly-- on back-up vocals for a finale. (Special thanks to Susan for accompanying Leigh Ann to the studio visit. Her client, WFPK host Kyle Meredith conducted a great interview and offered a heartfelt testimony.)
Heidi Howe returned to Doulapalooza with vocalist-keyboardist Margarette Evans as The Gutter Girls to perform what they call "Eclectic covers sung by spunky chicks!" Belting out "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" set the party tone. The Sirens brought harmony and power into the mix with some incredibly moving songs about sisterhood, parenthood and how to bring change about in your neighborhood with their self-describe genre of "porch-hip hop. Seven women strong, The Dirty Dishes cranked out heavy duty, grease busting rock 'n' roll. I always thought "Superfreak" needed a feminine touch.
Husband and wife existential pop-folk rockers IamIs, are new to the Doulapalooza stage performed songs from their upcoming CD, "Trance Inducer." For two people they pulled an arena strength sound to close out the festivities. As he has done every year, John Gage opened the festivities with some lively acoustic tunes for kids of all ages.
Bowling was a new experience for a few kids who were used to the ease of the family Wii game at home. Yes, Sam Yost, a ball in real life weighs about as much as you do when you were born.
Raffle prizes and items for the musician's gift bags were provided by Mama's Hip, ear X-tacy, Commonwealth Bank & Trust, Graeter's Ice Cream, DONA, Mothering magazine, Amazing Grace, KAIRE, My Morning Jacket, John Gage, Marion Dries, and Feidler Farms. Yes, this was our first year of raffling off bacon. The yummy butter creme sheet cake was donated again this year by the Highlands Valu-Market. Special thanks to icing artist Carmen as always.
Thanks for coming out everyone! See you next fall for Doulapalooza 6. Date and location to be announced in the spring.
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Sept. 28, 2004
