The Courier-Journal from Louisville, Kentucky • Page 34

ranriHiE'iBi IMnnllMUIHH A SELECTIVE GUIDE TO AREA NIGHTCLUBS AND ENTERTAINMENT BY JEFFREY LEE PUCKETT, STAFF COLUMNIST Float like a butterfly on down to the Ringside Cafe When you step into the Ringside Cafe, you step into the presence of greatness. Or, more accurately, The Greatest of aaaallll time. Everywhere you turn is Muhammad Ali in his glory. His fight posters in bold yellows Ringside "perfect." "There was a documentary on when he was here and he mocked every word he was saying on screen," Jeff Ramsey said. "He remembered every word." Ali also took a moment to mock Frazier.

It must have seemed just like old times. "He was looking at the menu and saw the Smokin' Joe Chicken Sandwich on there," John Ramsey said. "He leaned over to me and said, 'You ought to call it the Ugly Joe Chicken PUCKETT The Ringside Cafe is open from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. on weekdays and noon to 2 a.m.

on weekends. While there, be sure to request a screening of the hard-to-find "Skills, Brains and Guts," a marvelously entertaining look at perhaps the most famous person in the world. New Year's Eve at the Downs We're talkin' about rockin', rockin', rockin'. We're talkin' about scratchin', scratchin', scrat-chin'. But mostly, we're makin' bad jokes.

And the reason is the New Year's Eve Rock-n-Hip Hop Party, which is making its debut Monday night at Louisville Downs, where they're normally into trottin', trottin', trottin'. Doors open at 7:30 and tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door. This promises to be a nice little throw-down sponsored by Kentucky Harvest and Pepsi-Cola featuring 12 bands and all the free Pepsi you can knock back. But no beer; this is geared to the under-21 crowd, although everyone is welcome. Scheduled rap acts are Roche and the Vice Kings, Freestyle and Gangster Nation, Together, Anna Miranda Review, M.C.

Razor and the Lightfoot Posse and one more to be announced. Rock acts are Spanky Lee, Persistent Felon, Baby D'vine, Grind, Lunatic Child and one TBA. Tickets are available at the Disc Jockey record stores in the River Falls Mall, Louisville Galleria and Bowling Green's Greenwood Mall; and at NRM record store in the Festival on Jefferson Court at Jefferson Mall. Parking will cost $2, or $1 with a canned good to benefit Kentucky Harvest. For more information, call (502) 363-4594.

cash bar and music by Don Krekel Orchestra, $219 a couple. For reservations, call (502) 585-3200. In the Raths-kellar, cash bar, first-come, first-served, and music by Rukus (variety, dance), $12 per person. SplashThe Islands 201 W. River Road.

Tonight-next Saturday, DJ Mitch Brewer (top 40, dance, videos). Monday, New Year's Eve party, DJ (top 40, dance), party favors, $15 advance, $20 at the door. The Islands, tonight, Tuesday-next Saturday, patrons can take the stage and sing along with videos. Monday, New Year's Eve party, Mo Bear and Grizzly River Band (variety), party favors, $15 advance, $20 at the door. For reservations call (502) 584-2000.

Star of Louisville Second Street at River Road. Dinner cruise, Sunday-Thursday, 7-10, Friday and Saturday, $34.95. Rick Bartlett Quartet performs for dinner cruises. Lunch cruise, Monday-Saturday, noon-2, Sunday brunch cruise, 1-3 p.m., $20.95. Expressions performs for brunch cruise.

Call (502) 589-7827 for reservations. Monday, New Year's Eve party cruise, 6-9 p.m., $37.50, and 10-1 a.m., $50, includes, buffet, dance, cash bar, and music by Rick Bartlett Quartet. Wendell's Tavern 232 W. Jefferson St. Tonight, Thursday-next Saturday, Allen McCoy and the McCoy Boys (country).

Zona's Cafe 303 W. Market. Tonight, Monday and next Saturday, 11, Kush and the Sunstroke Blues Band with Smoketown Red (blues, rhythm and blues). Monday, New Year's Eve party, party favors, $5. Thursday, Scott Henderson Trio (jazz).

Friday, Walker and Kays (fusion, jazz). Zodiac Club 117 W. Main St. (all-ages club). Tonight, finals of rap contest.

Sunday, Average Life (rock), Tern-pus Fugit (variety), Traveling Mojos (rock), Love Jones (variety). Monday, New Year's Eve party, Oblong Box (rock), Big Wheel (rock), Soda Jerks (rock), $6. CENTRAL Cardinal's Inn 200 E. Lee St. Thursday, 8, Dave King and John Grammer (acoustic).

Club 21 1481 S. Shelby. Tonight, Friday and next Saturday, 10; Sunday, 8, Free Spirit (variety). Monday, New Year's Eve party, Free Spirit (variety), party favors, $6. Patty's Place 316 W.

Ormsby Ave. Tonight, Herman Anderson and the Derby City Blues Revue (blues). The Rudyard Kipling 422 W. Oak St. Tonight, 6:30, Peter McGrath (piano); 8, Guyland Witt Players present "The Owl and the Pussycat," $5.

Tonight, 11, Tempus Fugit (variety). Monday, 6:30, Peter McGrath (piano); 10, Tempus Fugit (variety), $4. Tuesday, 10, Serpent Wisdom (variety). Wednesday, 8, Peter and Sheila (sing-along); 10, Danny Flanigan (acoustic). Friday, Irish Music Jam Session.

Next Saturday, Louisville Area Songwriters showcase. Uncle Pleasant's 2126 S. Preston. Tonight, Women Who Love Candy (original rock). Monday, New Years Eve party, Rain Chorus (rock), Shaking Family (alternative rock), $5.

Willie's 537 Lounge 404 E. Oak St. Tonight, the Conductors (top 40, rhythm and blues). Sunday, 6, Tanita Gaines (variety); 11, Ramon Howard (top 40, rhythm and blues). Monday, New Year's Eve party, party favors, champagne toast at midnight, dinner.

For reservations, call (502) 637-9331. EAST Air Devil's Inn 2802 Taylorsville Road. Tonight, Steve Ferguson and the Humanitarians (blues), Foree Wells and the Walnut Street Blues Band (blues), $4. Monday, New Year's Eve party, Pond Creek Blues Band (blues), party favors, buffet and breakfast, $5. Wednesday, open stage.

Friday and next Saturday, Murphy Law (rhythm and blues). This guide to nightlife can't list every dub, but we are interested in hearing comments about the places we do list. If you have suggestions or recommendations, call Gege Reed at (502) 582-4667 before 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. DOWNTOWN Anthony's By the Bridge 131 W.

Main. Tonight, 8, David King (acoustic pop). Friday and next Saturday, 8, Michael McGrath (acoustic pop). Tonight, Tuesday, Thursday-next Saturday, 7:30, Madam Zelda (palm readings). Fridays and Saturdays, 9:15, Captain Squirrel-ly's Magic Tea Room show, $5.

In the Blues Room, tonight, Friday and next Saturday, Danny Flanigan (acoustic, variety). Bentley's LoungeHoliday Inn Louis vllle Downtown 120 W. Broadway. Monday, New Year's Eve party, Gail King (variety), $15 a couple includes party favors, champagne toast at midnight and continental breakfast. Monday-Friday, 5-7, Gail King (piano).

Monday-Friday, tree buffet. The Brown Hotel Fourth Avenue and Broadway. In the Thoroughbred Lounge, tonight and Sunday, 4-9, Monday-Friday, 11-2, Keith Montross (piano); Monday-Friday, 4-9, Allen Dale (piano). Monday, New Year's Eve party: In the Crystal Ballroom, five-course dinner, music by Pendulum big band, open bar, champagne toast at midnight, party favors, room, late checkout, $289 a couple. In the Bluegrass Room, buffet, cash bar, champagne toast at midnight, music by Mickey and the Mustangs ('50s, '60s, rock 'n' roll), party favors, room and late checkout, $189 a couple.

For reservations, call (502) 583-1234. Cafe Society 725 W. Main. Tonight, Friday and next Saturday, Bob Douglas and Jo Ann Hale (jazz). Cafe Napoll 117 N.

Seventh St. In the lounge, tonight, Friday and next Saturday, 8-midnight, Chris Fitzgerald and Ken White (jazz). Charleys and the Brasserie 530 W. Main. Monday-Friday, noon-2, Friday and Saturday, 6-9, David Barrickman (piano).

Monday, New Year's Eve party, open bar, music by David Barrickman (piano), dinner, party favors, champagne toast at midnight, room at Quality Inn with transportation to and from the hotel, $195 a couple; without the room, $155 a couple. For reservations call (502) 585-3838. Downstairs, Tuesday-Friday, 6-9 and 10-midnight, Ed Jackson (acoustic). Cunningham's Downtown 900 S. Fifth St.

In the Piano Lounge, tonight, Friday and next Saturday, 7-11, Helen Bums (piano). Gait House 140 N. Fourth St. In the Flagship Room, tonight, Monday-next Saturday, 7-10, Tim Murner (piano); Sunday brunch, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., J. D.

Folsom (pianist). The Hyatt Regency 320 W. Jefferson St. Monday, New Year's Eve party; Bobby Lanz Band in the ballroom; Eddie Miles presenting "A Salute to Elvis" in the Atrium. Tickets, $25; two tickets and a room for the night are $159.

For reservations, call (502) 587-3434. Jam Factory 501 W. Broadway. Tonight, Friday and next Saturday, DJ Disco Lady (top 40, dance). Monday, New Year's Eve party, DJ Total Control (top 40, dance), party favors, champagne toast at midnight for the ladies, $7 a couple, $4 single.

Kunz's 115 S. Fourth Ave. Tonight, Tuesday-next Saturday, Greg Lambert (tableside magic). Lucketts Downstairs at Actors 316 W. Main.

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 1 1 Reid Jahn (piano). Wedneaday, 1 1 John Gram-mer (guitar). Seelbach Hotel 500 S. Fourth Ave. In the Old Seelbach Bar, tonight, 10-1, Ben Ingram (piano); Tuesday-Friday, 5-7 and 10-1, Ben Ingram (bass) and Dick Sisto (vibes and piano).

Monday, New Year's Eve party: In the Grand Ballroom, five-course dinner, hors d'oeuvres, favors, champagne toast at midnight, room, brunch the next day, and reds and stark black and white line the walls. Ali vs. Norton, Frazier, Foreman, Shavers, Patterson. Even Ali vs. In-oki, a somewhat ludicrous matchup with a Japanese wrestler.

On the big-screen television set, there's film of Ali in the early '60s as he clowns, mugs, fights and talks, all in the brilliant cadence that marked his brash youth. Imagine the gently maniacal look he once affected and that smooth, rhythmic voice: "The fans didn't believe when they put down their money That they would see a total eclipse of the Sonny." Those are the final lines of one of Ali's most famous poems, written before he beat Sonny Liston in 1964. It's included in the classic documentary, "Skills, Brains and Guts," which is played often at the Ringside Cafe, 2222 Dundee Road (the old location of Gib's Bar-B-Q and Bar, which moved across the street). John Ramsey, who owns the Ringside with his brother Jeff, can recite the poem word for word. It's only a small reflection of his obsession with Ali.

That obsession culminated in the Ringside Cafe's Dec. 8 grand opening. John Ramsey calls it his "shrine" to the three-time world heavyweight champion. It's the brothers' first foray in the world of taverns, but John Ramsey thought it was time a local nightspot paid tribute to Louisville's most famous son. "When I was a kid I thought he was the perfect athlete," said John Ramsey, a WRKA disc jockey.

"It always amazed me that he took a brutal sport and made it graceful. I loved the way he bragged too." Ramsey has collected Ali memorabilia for years. Most of it is in the bar, and much of it is impressive. The crown jewel of the collection is the robe Ali wore when he went into the ring against George Foreman in 1974. On nights when one of the area's college basketball teams isn't playing on television, old films of Ali run constantly.

They are a grainy reminder that when Ali was in his prime, no one could touch him. "I can sit all night, drinking cold beer and watching Ali fight films," said John Ramsey, 29, who has known Ali casually for six years. "He's almost like the Elvis of sports. He transcends sports." But the Ringside has more going for it than Ali. There's a friendly atmosphere and good service.

The Ramseys have retained the coziness of Gib's, and the menu features some tasty items. The bread sticks, especially, are a delight, stuffed with your choice of six fillers and mozzarella. A good chicken sandwich topped with smoked provolone is also offered; it's called the Smokin Joe, named after Ali's nem-esis, Joe Frazier. Some nights, bottled domestic beer will only set you back $1. "We didn't want to be known as a sports bar," Jeff Ramsey said, "but as a sports restaurant." The Ringside was given Ali's blessing on Dec.

14, when he paid an unexpected hour-long visit. He performed a little magic, kissed all the ladies, sighed a few menus and pronounced the Short takes Few things soothe the blues like reggae and that includes post-holiday blues, which are some of the toughest. Let Identity help you lively up yourself Wednesday through Saturday at Dutch's Tavern, 3922 Shelbyville Road (10 p.m., $5). Wednesday, check into the Funny Farm's Second Annual Practically Perfect New Year's Eve Party, with host Kevin Hughes. It's a party for everyone who has to work on New Year's Eve nurses, firemen, bartenders, whoever.

Appropriately 1,000 Midnight Steaks (White Castle hamburgers) will be served up. Doors at the Farm, 1250 Bardstown Road, will open around 7:15 p.m. for those with reservations and a faux midnight will be observed around 10:15. Cover is $8. Hopscotch Army is returning to town after spending a couple or three weeks touring the region.

Catch it tonight at Dutch's Tavern (10 p.m., $4) and Friday at Snagilwet, 1047 Bardstown Road, for a completely original show opened by Lexington's 7 Zark 7 (11 p.m., Page 20 the Courier-Journal SCENE Dec 29, 1990.