J.P. Davis, with his parents, Bob and Peggy Davis.

Even in the extreme heat of July, cocktails on the patio is still a chic way to celebrate a birthday, especially if the birthday boy is widely known as the life of the party.

Friends of J.P. Davis flooded into the large patio at Avalon on Bardstown Road last week to hang out and help him celebrate his 29th birthday. J.P., director of strategic initiatives at the University of Louisville, has a strong reputation as both a very loyal friend and go-to guy.

Aside from his day job working primarily for the U of L Foundation, J.P. is extremely involved in a long list of philanthropic causes unrelated to work. Closest to his heart is The March of Dimes, for which he began volunteering at age 11 with his mom, Peggy, on numerous fundraisers in their hometown of Ashland, Ky.

After graduating from U of L and pursuing many successful career moves – he worked at The White House in Staff Secretary Harriet Miers’ office and then took a position in London to work for Parliament Member Philip Davies – he returned to Louisville in 2007 to work for Owsley Brown Frazier as his senior personal executive and then moved on to his current position as professional fundraiser for U of L. J.P. has made countless friends and gained the respect of his colleagues since moving back to Louisville.

Whatever accomplishments J.P. has already fulfilled in his young life, one thing is for sure: He is one of the most genuine and sincere people in Louisville, and by the look of the turnout at his impromptu birthday celebration, I’m certainly not the only friend who thinks so.

Tammy Goodwin and a friend.

Bombay Sapphire Bazaar

Speaking of patio soirees, The Marketplace at Theatre Square entertains patrons in grand fashion on the enormous outdoor lounge and party space during the summer and fall months. Most recently, the multi-functional restaurant and nightclub held the Bombay Sapphire Bazaar, an interactive and internationally-flavored event featuring specialty cocktails made with Bombay Sapphire Gin, complemented by a tasty internationally inspired menu.

Besides great eats and a relaxing atmosphere, guests were treated to beautiful henna tattoos by professional artists, interactive tastings to explore the complexities of the featured gin and live music by DJ Syimone.

For more info on future patio parties, visit www.theatersquaremarketplace.com

On the hot list …

The Voice Tribune’s Third Thursday After-Work Party: Of course, everyone’s asking the location of the next party. We are excited to be hosting the Aug. 18 Third Thursday at Porcini. Watch for more exciting details.

Alzheimer’s Association’s Walk to end Alzheimer’s 2011: Thousands of people will unite as teams or individuals at Waterfront Park (The Great Lawn) on Saturday, Sept. 10, at 8:30 a.m. Local celebrity champions Coyote Calhoun and Joe Arnold invite Voice-Tribune readers to join in the movement to provide care, support and research efforts for those impacted by Alzheimer’s disease. To start or join a team, visit www.alz.org/walk or call 502.541.5266.

Maria Lockard, chef Anthony Lamas of Seviche and Johnna Kelly.

Chef Anthony Lamas, owner of Seviche Latin Restaurant on Bardstown Road, held a private “soft-opening” reception to debut the popular hotspot’s newly-expanded and updated facilities.

The new design, which took about four weeks to complete, features a very open floor plan with a fresh, modern Latin vibe. Using a mix of textures and materials, including copper and leather furnishings, upholstered and draped walls and hand-hewn wooden beams and columns, Lamas incorporated lots of modern details to lend balance and comfort to the established and respected traditions of Seviche.

The main bar area, still one of the primary focal points of the eatery, has been redesigned and updated with top-of-the-line equipment, including a temp-controlled wine storage system. The bar’s warm color palette, along with gold granite counters set off with rich wood and hand blown glass fixtures, accentuate the welcoming atmosphere of Seviche.

The biggest addition that Seviche fans will notice is the expansion of the main dining room with 30 additional seats and a new lounge area set with sofas and big comfy chairs and big screen TVs.  Lamas will offer a full menu in both areas, and plans to add a lighter menu of bocaditos, which are tasty Latin-style snacks, in the near future.

Fun at  Theater Square Marketplace

As the summer heats up, the patio at Theater Square Marketplace is hosting some special events to cool things down. The gorgeous and sprawling restaurant on Fourth Street held the first of three events, The Grey Goose Soiree, on Thursday, June 23.

Patrons enjoyed complimentary appetizers and featured cocktail specials on the Grey Goose Fresh Berry Lemonade and the Grey Goose L’Orange Summer Tea.

The next event will be held Thursday, July 28, (do I see a pattern here?) and will feature Bombay Sapphire Gin. No reservations are necessary.

Stu Pollard, director, writer and producer.

The third annual Flyover Film Festival flew into town recently, bringing with it many new, provocative and exciting films, shorts, music videos and programs. While this may not be Park City, Utah (Sundance), Telluride, Colo., and especially not Cannes, France, the Derby City has been gaining huge momentum in the eyes of the international world of independent film.

Stu Pollard, film producer, writer, director and Louisville native, has been putting his faith in Louisville as a fabulous filmmaking locale for more than a decade. Pollard made his first feature film, “Nice Guys Sleep Alone,” in various locations around Louisville in 1998-99 and returned in 2004 to shoot “Keep Your Distance” starring Gil Bellows and Jennifer Westfeldt.

Pollard, who moved out to Hollywood to pursue a career in the film industry way before it was the hip thing to do, makes Louisville a frequent stop in his travels as an adjunct professor at University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts, for which he presents and lectures at dozens of festivals, universities and film organizations nationwide. His award-winning production company, Lunacy Unlimited, also keeps him coming back to his hometown on a regular basis.

Pollard was thrilled to participate in the third annual Flyover Film Festival and hosted an opening screening at the Speed Art Museum on Friday, June 10. The preview party was a sneak peek into the world of indie films and featured impromptu interviews with cast and crew, improv comedy short film sketches, mock commercials and documentary-style shorts, with a few music videos from Pollard’s upcoming debut album sprinkled in.

True to his commitment to the Louisville entertainment industry, Pollard’s projects featured an ensemble of very talented Louisville actors and production crew who kept the audience in stitches and on the edge of their seats.

And true to his commitment to having fun, a lovely and lively reception followed the screening.

photos by SHARI BAUGHMAN | contributing photographer

Paula Grisanti and Bob Micou worked together on a National Stem Cell Foundation project.

“Stem cells may stave off transplant rejection”

“U of L researcher may hold key for a cure for sickle cell disease”

“Stem cells hold promise in treating retinal degeneration”

These are some of the headlines generated by research funded and supported primarily through the National Stem Cell Foundation, which was established in 2005 to provide major support to a partnership between University of Louisville’s Institute for Cellular Therapeutics and Duke and Northwestern universities. Located right here in Louisville, the NFCTR runs like a well-oiled machine under the guiding hand of foundation chair, Dr. Paula Grisanti.

Grisanti, known to many in the community as a caring and compassionate community leader with a real zest for life, is wife of 29 years to Michael Grisanti and mother to three sons: Michael Kyle, 24, John, 20, and Alex, 18.

Her passion in the community extends well past her tight circle of family and friends and is readily evident in her role as the driving force behind the success of such an important foundation for medical research as NFCTR. Grisanti works full-time – for a token $1 per year salary – as a way to make a difference.

Paula Grisanti is chair of the National Stem Cell Foundation.

“All of us who serve on this board are either personally affected or have a family member who is affected by one of the broad spectrum of diseases or conditions that may be helped by adult stem-cell research (such as kidney transplants, regenerative disease, sickle cell disease and other inherited blood disorders; multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune disorders). I’ve been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis for 21 years. It is my hope that one day there will be a cure for all of us who have chronic illnesses.”

Paula’s husband, Mike, has a kidney transplant. Even though it was remarkably successful, he still must take a handful of anti-rejection drugs every day – and will for the rest of his life. The research funded by the foundation will hopefully eliminate the need for anti-rejection drugs with future kidney transplant patients.

Grisanti has raised close to $6 million over the last five years, with 90 percent going directly toward clinical trials and research. The research has been very successful.

“The field is advancing so quickly and moving forward so successfully that I think it will be a handful of years before treatment options will be readily available to people in need and also be covered by insurance.”

Here’s another news headline: “NFCTR fundraiser hosted by Old Louisville Meets New Louisville raises $197,000 for adult stem cell research.” That happened in 2009 as a result of the second annual charity event of what was then an upstart organization of young professionals who believe in searching out and providing support for local non-profits that may go unnoticed by the general public, but whose causes affect multiple generations with amazing results .

Old Louisville Meets New Louisville has continued to grow by expanding its efforts in uniting multiple generations of Louisvillians to provide support for these unsung nonprofits.

Old Louisville Meets New Louisville continues to support the National Stem Cell Foundation and will hold a benefit cocktail reception on Wednesday, June 22, at 6 p.m. at 21c Museum Hotel, 700 W. Main St. The event promises to be lots of fun with an element of information about stem cell research and clinical trials sprinkled throughout. Cosa Seria, an eight-piece Latin band, will entertain, and cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, are included in the $50 ticket price.

To register for the fundraiser at 21c, call 502.379.8544 or visit www.OLMNL.com. For more information on the foundation, visit www.nfctr.org

• 1 1/2 oz. Woodford Reserve
• 2 oz. Lemonade
• 1 oz. Pomegranate juice

Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Strain over ice into a rocks glass. Garnish with a lemon wedge or cherry.

Bacardi Mojitoc

Try this delicious fresh version of the Mojito at The Voice-Tribune’s Third Thursday After-Work Party June 16 at Captain’s Quarters.

• 2 parts Bacardi Superior Rum
• 12 fresh mint leaves
• 1/2 lime in wedges
• 2 tablespoons Master of Mixes simple syrup
• club soda
• crushed ice

In a large glass, muddle fresh mint leaves and lime. Cover with simple syrup, top with ice. Add BACARDI Rum and top with club soda. Stir well. Garnish with sprig of mint and lime wedge

He was brought on board to direct and oversee The Parklands of Floyds Fork, one of the largest and most ambitious park projects in the nation.

Scott shared with us his journey during the past 18 months of creating and finally bringing to fruition plans for The Parklands, a $113 million project being developed by 21st Century Parks,  that will create a swath of recreational and natural greenspace along the Floyds Fork watershed in eastern and southeastern Louisville. When all is said and done, The Parklands will encompass nearly 4,000 acres offering a wide array of natural facilities.

Phase I of the construction began on May 31 at a groundbreaking ceremony at Beckley Creek Park, one of four major parks planned, which begins at Shelbyville Road, east of Middletown to South English Station Road and Echo Trail. U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell and Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer led the charge, hammering in wooden stakes marking the future site of one of the park’s focal points, The Egg Lawn.

The Egg Lawn at Beckley Creek Park.

Construction of Beckley Creek Park will cost approximately $16 million, funded entirely by a public-private partnership of local donors, federal, state and city governments. Highlights of Phase I, expected to be completed sometime in 2012, will include 5 of the 20 total miles of biking, hiking and cycling paths planned throughout the park system.

Several entertainment and educational facilities will be revealed during Phase I in Beckley Creek Park. The Egg Lawn, a 23-acre “great lawn” for public and private events, will serve as a focal point of the park system. There also will be a canoe launch, 150-person picnic pavilion and a bark park for dogs and their owners, nearby.

The PNC Achievement Center for Education and Interpretation.

Also in Phase I, the PNC Achievement Center for Education and Interpretation has been planned to serve as the hub for educational and interpretive programming for The Parklands. The 3,500-square-foot center will include a welcome center with display and exhibit areas, classrooms and resource areas able to accommodate groups ranging from school field trips to weekend programs.

The Gheens Foundation Lodge, a third multi-purpose edifice planned for this phase, is an indoor-outdoor event facility with views from the bank of Floyds Fork Creek and a variety of meeting and banquet spaces to accommodate up to  350.

The Parklands will be constructed in similar phases over the next several years by 21st Century Parks, a nonprofit organization established to create and preserve new unexcelled parks that serve as city-shaping infrastructure. The organization’s dream is to provide Louisville with a natural gem that will be utilized by families and individuals for generations to come.

The Gheens Foundation Lodge.

“Louisville has long been a first-class city when it comes to parks, and the 21st Century Parks Project will give our city an innovative system of parks unmatched anywhere in the country,” said McConnell during the ceremony. “Upon completion of the project, Kentuckians will be able to enjoy access to quality parks and open spaces throughout Louisville.”

courtesy of 21st Century Parks

Brette turned 13 this year, and she was honored by her mother, family and friends with a lovely girls’ tea at Whitehall on May 2. Whitehall was a far cry from “real quiet,” as it was filled with the chatter and laughter of Brette’s friends. More than 20 girls from Holy Trinity, Collegiate, Our Lady of Lourdes and Holy Spirit filed into the gorgeous historic home to take part in a fun afternoon of dressing up and acting grown up.

Brette’s mom had gathered vintage gowns dating back to the ’70s from friends and family members, and the girls chose their favorites for the tea. After a hair and makeup session conducted by cousin, Lexi Baughman, and friend, Amy Broyles, the girls made the descent down the beautiful winding staircase of Whitehall to join Brette for a lively tea and cake party in the parlor.

In lieu of presents, Brette had requested gifts and gift cards from her friends to be taken to an 8-year-old patient Brette has “adopted” in the Norton Cancer Unit.

Happy birthday, Brette. We are so glad you are anything but “real quiet!”

Among those who laced up their sneakers and joined the cause were friends and family of Rebecca Meyer, and her parents, Ashley and Andy Meyer, who collectively formed the walking team, Rebecca’s Rockstars. Rebecca, now a beautiful 6-year-old, was born with a congenital birth defect that threatened her life as an infant and toddler.

“Rebecca’s presence on this earth is nothing short of a miracle, as there were multiple times in her first year of life that we were told she would not make it,” said Ashley Meyer.

Ashley says that she and her family participate in The March of Dimes Walk because without the doctors, nurses, medical equipment, experienced surgeons and medications made available to her through the March of Dimes, Rebecca might not be here today.

Rebecca walked with 15 team members at her side and raised $775 (more than twice her original goal) to help The March of Dimes continue its fight against prenatal birth defects and premature births in the state of Kentucky.

Way to go Rebecca!

Red Bull NASCAR Showcar visits

The Red Bull NASCAR Showcar visited the River City during Derby week and made stops all around town for photo opportunities.
DJ Vice arrived in style in the showcar at PRIME Lounge for his Thursday night gig.

photos by FRANKIE STEELE | contributing photographer

Turf Club Tea

• 1 ounce vodka
• 1/2 ounce peach schnapps
• 5 ounces sweet tea

Mix ingredients and serve in a tea glass.