RESTAURANTS

Combine reading, beer and coffee at Get Lit Lou

Dana McMahan

Special to the Courier-Journal

Cup of coffee and coffee beans on wooden table

The Louisville Free Public Library has partnered with local businesses, including brewers, bakers and coffee makers, in their new Winter Reading Program for adults, dubbed Get Lit Lou (short for Get Literary Louisville).

This is the first time they've offered a reading program for adults in 10 years or more, says LFPL's communications director Paul Burns.

Now through Feb. 28, participants who read three books and attend three programs will earn coupons redeemable for prizes and discounts at local places, including Heine Brothers’ Coffee and Scarlet’s Bakery. And everyone who completes the program will be entered to win weekly drawings which feature prizes such as Copper & Kings distillery tour tickets, a swag assortment from LIBA, and more.

The next program event, At the Roast, takes places at Southwest Regional Library, 9725 Dixie Highway, from 7-9 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 13 with Against the Grain Brewery and Heine Bros.' Attendees (limited to ages 21 and up) will learn about the roasting and smoking (malts and beans) processes, two techniques that are integral to both brewing beer and a good cup of coffee, Burns says; taste ingredients and try samples from Heine Bros. and hear from Amelia Pillow, Against the Grain brewer, Alec Risch, head roaster for Heine Bros.’, and Joe Dininger, lead drink trainer for Heine Bros.’ Pre-registration is required; call 502-933-0029.

It just makes sense to partner with local food and drink businesses, Burns said. “One of the things we find is if people don't have kids or they're out of school, they don't always connect with their library. So we go out in the community and find where they are. Especially for the 20 and 30 somethings, if they're at the coffee shop or the bar, that's where we need to be. It's a natural fit. People read anyway, and we just want to make it fun and rewarding.”

Learn more or register at LFPL.org/GetLitLou.

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