Original. And Extra Original — Louisville Originals, the organization of local, independent restaurants, now has more than 10,000 members in its 7-month-old rewards program.  Members of the program accumulate points each time they eat at Louisville Originals restaurants and can exchange those points for gift certificates.  To celebrate the milestone, Louisville Originals restaurants are offering two double-points days, on Sept. 15 and Sept. 22.

Ray’s gets political, again — Nimbus Couzin, the Louisville mayoral candidate and owner of Ray’s Monkey House Café, hosted peace activist Cindy Sheehan for a talk and book signing at Ray’s on Sept. 10.  Couzin said the event in his café as well as Sheehan’s appearance at Bellarmine University were both very crowded. Depending on one’s opinion of Ms. Sheehan, who became a national figure when she mounted a month-long protest outside then President Bush’s Texas ranch, her appearance at Ray’s may or may not have helped Couzin’s chances in the mayoral race.

Unwelcome Publicity – A story in the Courier about Sergio’s World Beers’ recent relocation to Story Avenue from Shelbyville, Ky., led to a strongly-worded, unequivocal denial that the bar and restaurant was officially open. A post on Sergio’s website says that they prefer to serve only an exclusive group of literate food and beer connoisseurs. The post also says that the entire 1,000-beer collection will soon be available. If you have the cojones, Sergio’s can be found in a shotgun-style building on Story Avenue.  It doesn’t have a sign, so look for a window with flags in it.

Ham it up with Derby Pie — The deadline for submitting photos for the 2010 Derby Pie calendar is only three weeks away. Kern’s Kitchen, the exclusive bakers of Derby Pie, are hoping you have some shots of you and your friends posing with your favorite early-May dessert.  The best photos will be included in the calendar; as if that weren’t prize enough, winning photographers will receive a Derby Pie as well as a copy of the calendar.

BLU celebrates award with ½ price promo — To celebrate its status as one of the country’s best restaurants to go to for wine, the BLU Italian Grille is offering half-priced wine bottles every Wednesday.  Wine Spectator magazine honored BLU with its Award of Excellence in its August issue.  “We are extremely proud to be honored with the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence,” said Mehdi Spadavecchia, Marriott’s Food & Beverage Director.  “Our wine list includes over 200 selections and we are very excited to be considered as one of the best wine lists in the country,” he said.

To participate, you simply select the participating restaurant of your choice and select from the special three-course menu for only $25 or $35. (Price is per person, meal only. Beverages, tax and gratuity are not included.) And, there are no passes to buy, coupons to carry, or cards to punch during Fleur De Licious. Participating restaurants include; Bistro 301, Blu, Bristol Bar & Grill, Caviar, Hard Rock Cafe, Los Aztecas, Mayan Cafe, Melillo’s Italian Restaurant, Proof, Red Star Tavern, Road to Morocco, and Vincenzo’s.  If the Fleur De Licious menu doesn’t do it for you, the regular menu will also be available.

And just when you thought slipping someone a Mickey was a bad thing, Blue Mountain Coffee House Wine & Tapas Bar (400 E. Main Street) creates two new cocktails with Mickey Finn Schnapps. 

The Mountain Hike blends pineapple and orange juices and Mickey Finn’s Sour Raspberry Schnapps. And the Hammock Swing twists mango nectar, pineapple juice and Mickey Finn Cranberry Orange Schnapps. Swiggin’ either Mickey will cost you eight bucks.