Many Louisville home owners will be watching this Saturday’s Kentucky Derby from Churchill Downs. Some will wear their best suits, summer dresses, high heels, and Derby hats on Millionaires Row while others will be in shorts and tee-shirts in the infield. But a lot of us will be at home this Saturday watching the Run for the Roses on TV with friends around. Derby parties here run the gamut from backyard barbeques with cold beer and horseshoes to high-dollar black tie galas complete with caviar, pâté, and celebrity sightings. Either way, a Derby party is the best way to celebrate the pinnacle event in thoroughbred racing without actually being at the track.

Hosting a Derby party can be a daunting experience, especially if you don’t know how to apply a theme to your party in ways that are fun without being over-the-top. Fortunately, there are a few easy things you can do that will ensure that this Saturday’s Derby-themed shin-dig will actually make your guests glad they didn’t make it to the Downs!

     • Think about having a race pool ready when your guests arrive. Every Derby Day, the Courier-Journal prints a list of the horses racing in large type so that they can be cut out for those purpose at home. Ask your guests to throw in a couple bucks for each horse they draw. Having a horse to pull for in the race makes it all the more fun! You might consider having a loser’s pot too where the person who draws the horse who finishes last gets his/her bet back. If your crowd doesn’t like to bet money, that’s no problem at all - you can still have everyone choose a horse. Some Derby parties that start early in the afternoon have pools on all the races that run during the day, not just the big one that goes off on the first Saturday in May each year around 6:00 p.m. 

     • Even if a mint julep isn’t your drink of choice the other 364 days of the year, it’s fun to serve this classic cocktail on Derby Day. A drink made of only three ingredients - bourbon, mint, and sugar - sounds hard to mess up, but unfortunately, people often do. And a bad mint julep is, well, really bad. But you can make sure the ones you serve will have folks coming back for more by closely following good directions for this famous drink. Click here for a sure-fire recipe. 

     • Don’t even think about serving those mint juleps in plastic cups. Only traditional mint julep glasses will do. These sterling silver or silver plated glasses will add an air of elegance to any gathering, and they are must-haves at Derby parties. But they don’t just have to be used only to serve the drink after which they are named. They also make wonderful small vases for fresh spring flowers that can be used all year round. 

     • Don’t forget about the “other” Derby glasses. For well over a hundred years, a commemorative Derby glass featuring a unique design and the list of all of the past winners on it is issued annually, and party hosts and hostesses can buy them almost anywhere in town. Many long-time Louisvillians have quite a collection of these glasses and serve drinks in them each year on Derby Day. 

The great thing about a Derby party is that it comes with a ready-made theme. By simply using a few of these easy party tips, Louisville home owners will turn what might otherwise be a ho-hum Saturday get-together into a fun and memorable Derby event. What better way could there be to experience the greatest two minutes in sports?

Louisville home owners will be enjoying more than just the spring weather over the next couple weeks. The Kentucky Derby Festival is under way, and the dizzying array of amazing events will have us Louisvillians—and our many out-of-town guests—stepping out to enjoy the fun. Last weekend’s big event, Thunder Over Louisville, set the tone for the coming three weeks of events and activities designed to delight folks of every background, with every interest, and from every walk of life.

After weeks of balmy, beautiful weather, last Saturday took a surprising turn with temperatures in the low 50’s and winds that made it feel even colder. But that didn’t keep the 405,000 people who braved the weather from enjoying the air show and fireworks. Because of the low cloud cover, the originally planned air show was curtailed slightly, but even with these adjustments, nearly 90 aircraft displayed their power and speed with aerial acrobatic stunts that wowed the crowd.

Of course, the highlight of the evening was the magnificent fireworks display. This year’s theme was “A Star Spangled Blast,” and the spectacular light show was set to an eclectic musical backdrop that included songs popular during American wars as well as anti-war tunes, and from George W. Bush’s words and lyrics from Lady Gaga mixed in. Nearly 70 tons of fireworks were launched from the Clark Memorial Bridge to the amazed oohs and aahs from crowds on both sides of the river.

But Thunder is just one of the big events that makes up the Kentucky Derby Festival which will culminate in this year’s Run for the Roses on Derby Day, May 5. Other big attractions include the Hole-In-One Golf Contest and Pro-Am Tournament, the Fillies Derby Ball, Fest-a-Ville Concerts, Chow Wagons, Great Balloon Race, Mini-Marathon, Steamboat Race, Pegasus Parade, and the Kentucky Oaks. Some silly events are thrown in to show our crazy side, like the Bed Races and Run for the Rosé, but Louisville also takes time during the festival to show its more serious, civic-minded side by doing volunteer work during the Mayor’s Week of Service. Naturally, these are only a few of the many Derby Festival events that captivate our city and attract so many visitors to town.

Although the Brad Long team will be working hard match those looking for a new residence in Derby City with the perfect home this spring, we’ll be joining many Louisville home owners by stepping out to enjoy many of the Derby Festival events. What a great time to live in Louisville!

Complete List of Kentucky Derby Activities

04/19/2012 $1 Million Dollar Hole In One Golf Contest
04/21/2012 Kentucky Derby Festival Volleyball Classic
04/23/2012 King Southern Bank Kentucky Derby Festival Foundation Pro-Am Golf Tournament
04/25/2012 Kentucky Derby Festival "Taste of Derby Festival"
04/25/2012 $1 Million Dollar Hole In One Ladies Day
04/26/2012 Pajama Party & Bed Making Competition
04/26/2012 Chow Wagon at Waterfront Park
04/26/2012 U.S. Bank Derby Festival Great Balloon Tour
04/26/2012 U.S. Bank Derby Festival Great Balloon Glimmer
04/26/2012 U.S. Bank Kentucky Derby Festival Great BalloonFest
04/26/2012 Kroger's Fest-a-Ville on the Waterfront
04/26/2012 Fourth Street Live! Kentucky Derby Festival After Party
04/26/2012 BB&T Kentucky Derby Festival Running Wild Expo
04/27/2012 U.S. Bank Derby Festival Great Balloon Rush Hour Race
04/27/2012 U.S. Bank Derby Festival Great Balloon Glow
04/27/2012 BB&T Running Wild Pasta Dinner & Expo
04/27/2012 APASSIONATA "The Beginning": April 27-29, 2012 at Freedom Hall
04/27/2012 Zumba Fitness Jam
04/28/2012 Marathon/miniMarathon presented by Walmart
04/28/2012 U.S. Bank Derby Festival Great Balloon Race
04/28/2012 Da'Ville Classic Drum Line Showcase College Fair
04/28/2012 TheSlice: Spice, Style & Soul
04/28/2012 Sonic Saturday Featuring Eddie Money
04/28/2012 NPC Kentucky Derby Championships Fitness * Figure * Bikini *Bodybuilding *                            Physique
04/28/2012 Kentucky Derby Festival- ACO DerbyHole Classic
04/29/2012 $1 Million Dollar Hole In One Semi Finals
04/29/2012 Louisville Youth Orchestra Concert
04/29/2012 Children's Tea with the Derby Festival Princesses presented by Goldberg Simpson
04/29/2012 Celebration Sunday with 88.5 WJIE
04/29/2012 GospelFest
04/29/2012 Derby Brunch On the River
04/30/2012 Stock Yards Bank Kentucky Derby Festival Great Bed Races
04/30/2012 AT&T Derby Festival Morning Line
04/30/2012 Don Fightmaster Golf Outing for Exceptional Children
04/30/2012 Discovery Day Presented by PNC
04/30/2012 HappyTail Hour at Kroger's Fest-a-Ville
04/30/2012 Knights of Columbus Charity Dinner
05/01/2012 $1 Million Dollar Hole In One Finals
05/01/2012 Republic Bank Parade Preview Party
05/01/2012 WineFest
05/01/2012 Texas Hold'em Tournament
05/01/2012 Ramble for the Roses
05/01/2012 Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Healthy Lifestyle Showcase
05/01/2012 RhythmFest featuring George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic
05/02/2012 Great Steamboat Race
05/02/2012 Battle of the Bounce
05/02/2012 Wednesday Evening Concert Featuring Walk The Moon with special guest Ha Ha                        Tonka
05/03/2012 Celebrity Day at the Downs
05/03/2012 Republic Bank Pegasus Parade
05/03/2012 100 Black Men of Louisville Derby Gala
05/03/2012 Tune It Up Thursday Concert featuring AWOLNATION
05/04/2012 Derby Eve Jam featuring The Charlie Daniels Band with Guest the Hillbenders

For links to all of the events go here: http://kdf.org/search.cgi?category=events

From the talented group that brought you Basa on Frankfort and Doc Crow’s on Main Street comes the latest addition to the fast growing foodie scene in Louisville’s NULU area. La Coop Bistro a Vins. Set to open Tuesday April 24 at 732 E. Market Street ( formerly 732 Social).

This new concept restaurant designed by Brett Davis, Michael and Steven Ton and Chip Hamm transports you to Paris.  From the moment you walk in the door, you are greeted with the aroma of French cooking and a cozy, intimate atmosphere. You will want to settle in for the evening. The French country menu includes such favorites as onion soup smothered in Gruyere cheese, escargot and cog a vin. The wine list is stellar and eclectic and the cocktails are lovely and very French. Surprisingly affordable with the most expensive item on the menu costing $20.

Bobby Benjamin ( Oak Room ) is the executive chef along with Michael Ton ( Basa and Doc Crow’s). They developed the menu for La Coop.

No detail has been overlooked in the décor.  From the adorable chicken wire lining the inside of the bar cabinets to the waiter’s striped aprons to the light fixtures encased in cages, the name La Coop( Chicken coop referring to the limited space in the restaurant)  is represented well.  The color scheme is warm and inviting with tan and black tones and a refreshing splash of citrus green on the barstools. There will be al fresco seating on the sidewalk lining E. Market.  

Thank you Kelly Valenti for your observations on this exciting new dining spot.

Sure, it’s only a few weeks until Louisville’s big day celebrating the “greatest two minutes in sports” at historic Churchill Downs for the running of the Kentucky Derby, and yes, we are all very excited and ready for all the fun. But to think for even half a second that thoroughbred racing is the only sport on the minds of Louisvillians right now would be about as accurate as predicting that the Pope will leave his current job and become a rapper with his own fragrance line. No, Louisville is big on sports of EVERY kind, and we don’t just like to watch the professionals. We love to get in there and play, watch, cheer, coach and talk endlessly about them all too. We play volleyball in the neighborhood church league during the winter and summer league softball when it’s warm. And our kids play absolutely everything whether or not they are any good: ice hockey, soccer, baseball, golf, basketball, tennis, field hockey, lacrosse, gymnastics, swimming...and many, many more.

There’s no question that we love our sports, but we let’s be honest. We don’t always love dealing with all of our sports gear and equipment. We love seeing our daughter hit a homerun, but we swear under our breath when we trip over her bat and cleats left lying in the hall. We rejoice when our son hits the three-pointer to win the basketball game at the buzzer, but we want to choke him when we find his dirty uniform all balled up in his closet only 10 minutes before it’s time to leave for the next game. But during this season of spring cleaning and organizing, Louisville homes will be able to love their sports with a clear conscience by following just a few simple tips that will help them score big when it comes to athletics.

    • When it comes to sports equipment, the key is to have one place for all of it. The lacrosse sticks, catcher’s mitts, goggles, and footballs all need to stay in one designated area of the house. Some prefer that this space be in the garage; others like to keep it just inside the back door to the house. Either place is fine, but don’t let your kids – and your spouse – keep their sports equipment in their own rooms. Tennis balls and batting helmets have a way of disappearing when they could be anywhere in the house.

     • If the garage is your designated location, consider using some old kitchen cabinets for sports storage. This is a practical way of repurposing a storage solution that is no longer functional in your kitchen. If your equipment will be inside the house, consider purchasing some inexpensive ottomans that can serve as both storage and extra seating.

     • Uniforms and other athletic attire also need to have their own space separate from other clothing. When a tennis skirt gets put away in a drawer with all the other shorts or football pants gets folded up alongside a couple pairs of jeans, they tend to be hard to find right before the big game. Instead, have either a drawer dedicated only to athletic attire, or if drawer space is limited, designate a portion of the closet for these items only, and hang them all there. Then everyone knows exactly where to look when it’s game time.

     • Keep in mind that you don’t have to keep your athletic clothing and equipment completely out of sight. In fact, some folks like to use their sports paraphernalia as an element in their décor. You just need to make sure it stays organized and doesn’t clutter your living space. Hooks are a great solution for hanging athletic attire on walls, and open shelving or cubbies can be an easy way to store equipment.

Our homes reflect our loves, interests, personalities, and passions. During this season of spring cleaning and organizing, Louisville home owners can pursue their love affair with athletics without worry. All we need to do is follow a few simple tips, and our Louisville homes will score big th

Louisville has always had a deep, abiding love for its unique neighborhoods, and Crescent Hill is certainly one its oldest and more revered. This adored geographic area of rich tradition, amazing restaurants, quirky shops, art galleries, and beautiful homes has now hit the pages of a recent new book that chronicles its rich history and powerful charm. 'Louisville’s Crescent Hill,' by John E. Findling, chronicles the story of Crescent Hill from its surprising beginnings to its present day status as one of Louisville’s most eclectic neighborhoods.

Many of us who have lived in Louisville for decades were surprised to learn about Crescent Hill’s beginnings. Believe it or not, it started as the original site of the state fairgrounds! But over time, the neighborhood evolved into the charming and eclectic — even edgy — area that attracts home buyers of all ages, incomes, and walks of life. Its proximity to the beauty of Cherokee Park make it ideal for people who want to be close to downtown for work but near nature for fun and recreation. Restaurants like Porcini, Varanese, Pat’s Steak House, Blue Dog Bakery, and dozens of others have made Frankfort Avenue into a real competitor with Bardstown Road in the unofficial “culinary street capital of Louisville” contest. Also, the old churches with their rustic charm and the beautiful Cave Hill Cemetery, where visitors go just to experience its quiet grandeur and feed the legendary ducks, add a touch of timeless elegance to the contemporary vibe that the restaurants and boutique shops provide.

A relaxing jaunt through the pages of Louisville's Crescent Hill is a visual treat that both Louisville natives and visitors to town should not miss. Author John E. Findling includes over 200 vintage photos that provide a rich visual history of Crescent Hill’s evolution from its early beginnings, through its challenges, like the devastating tornado of 1974, and its accomplishments, like the educational and charitable organizations it birthed, to its grandeur today. Carmichael’s Book Store, another Louisville landmark that begin as a small neighborhood book store frequently by Crescent Hill homeowner, held a book-signing on February 12, and autographed copies may still be available. The cost of the book in paperback is $21.99 at Carmichael’s or $17.15 on Amazon.com.

Louisville night life moved from lukewarm to red hot back in 2004 when 4th Street Live opened its doors. The entertainment and retail complex located on prime downtown real estate between Mohammad Ali and Liberty on 4th Street is home to a wide variety of restaurants, bars, and stores, and, as city officials announced this week, it will soon be welcoming one more. A bar to be called Tavern on Fourth, owned by East Coast Saloons who owns two other bars at 4th Street Live, will move into the second floor of the Kaufman Straus building after renovations are completed.

The city says that this new 4th Street live tenant will produce 80 new jobs and further contribute to the city’s economic development efforts, and because of this, generous lease agreements and other financial incentives have been offered to the developers. But some eyebrows have been raised about the deal. As detailed in a recent Courier-Journal article, some Metro Council members and other citizens aren’t pleased with the deal offered to the Baltimore-based Cordish Company who developed 4th Street Live and is now brining Tavern on Fourth into the complex.

Despite the controversy, 4th Street Live remains a great place for Louisville locals to meet after work or for visitors from out-of-town to eat out and have a good time. Restaurants include the Hard Rock Café, J. Gumbo’s, Marker’s Mark, Sully’s, Rengo Sed Cantina, TGI Friday’s, The Pub, Wet Willie’s, Ri Ra Irish Pub, The Sports and Social Club, Improv Comedy Club and Dinner Theater, and PBR Louisville as well as a food court. Many of these restaurants have live entertainment, and Angel’s Rock Bar and Howl At the Moon attract audiences as well. The retail part of 4th Street Live can’t claim quite as many offering though, just Foot Locker, T-Mobile, and CVS Pharmacy. But the site does host a number of concerts throughout the year which attracts people from all walks of life.

Anyone looking for a good meal, time to party with friends, or a fun place to bring out-of-town guests will find that 4th Street Live has a little something for everyone. And now that Tavern on Fourth will soon be a new option for good times with its newly acquired downtown Louisville real estate, 4th Street Live will get even livelier.

Search all Louisville Real Estate for sale by area, price,  year built, square footage or any other detail on Louisville's superior MLS search engine.

Everyone knows what a fabulous area of Louisville the Highlands is. The stunning homes brimming with character on tree-lined streets, the Highlands’ proximity to downtown, its easy access to Seneca and Cherokee Parks, and all the nearby restaurants and galleries on Bardstown Road make it one of Derby City’s most sought-after addresses. But it’s not just the parks and dining that make the Highlands such a unique residential area. It’s also the fact that it’s home to the 92-year-old Bowman Field, Louisville’s airport for small aircraft.

One of the oldest continuously operated airfields in the country, Bowman Field has been an important part of local corporate air travel and a key source of flight time for amateur aviators. Among other services, this Louisville landmark provides a way to keep smaller aircraft away from the big commercial jets at Louisville International Airport, and it serves as a major site for pilot training in Kentucky. But you don’t have to be in the business to appreciate Bowman’s magic. Anyone who’s ever sat out on the deck at Bistro Le Relais to sip a glass of wine while watching the planes land at dusk knows quite a bit about Bowman Field’s charms. Its rich history dates back to 1919 and includes a landing by Charles Lindbergh in the Spirit of St. Louisville in 1927. From 1928 until 1947, Bowman was the city’s main airport until commercial operations moved to Louisville International Airport, then known as Standiford Field.

Now, though, the future of this classic airport may be in question. Business has decreased considerably in recent years resulting in significant deficits. In 1998, there were 195,000 takeoffs and landings. In 2011, there were just 72,000. Additionally, the FAA has started enforcing a larger zone of protected airspace that is required for airports that house the kind of modern instrument landing guidance systems that Bowman has. Some Highlands residents fear that this will mean losing ancient trees in beautiful neighborhoods like Kingsley and Seneca Gardens.

The debate over Bowman Field’s future is far from over. Many believe that despite large deficits, Bowman plays an important role in freeing Louisville International from potential entanglements caused when large commercial jets share space with smaller planes, and that regardless of the number of flights it has, Bowman is needed as a key aviation training site. But others worry that their Highlands homes may be adversely affected if neighborhoods lose many of the old, beautiful trees that are so much a part of the area’s charm. For now, only time will tell.

Search all Highlands Homes for sale by area, price, year built, square footage or any other detail on Louisville's superior MLS search engine.

Louisville has long been known for its vibrant arts community. Thanks to the J.B. Speed Art Museum, the innovative downtown gallery scene, the Louisville Ballet and first class dramatic arts at Actors’ Theatre, Louisville has become a prominent player on the national arts stage for a city of its size. Now, in an effort to cut arts costs while maintaining high performance quality, some prime Louisville, Kentucky real estate will take center stage as it becomes home to visiting Actors’ artists.

The historic building at Third and Main streets downtown now houses 18 one-bedroom and studio apartments on the third through fifth floors for visiting performers. Because Actors’ draws talent from far and wide for its cutting edge mix of classic and progressive theater arts, Actor’s houses roughly 170 visiting performers each year. In the past, most stayed at an apartment complex on Broadway that the theater rented, but now artists will be able to live in the heart of downtown right next to the theater.

The first performers begin arriving this week in preparation for the 36th annual Humana Festival of New American Plays that will begin performances at the end of the month. The $1.15 million dollar project is funded primarily by FBM Properties, which has owned the building for many years. Additionally, in-kind contracting services were provided by Cardinal Services, and in-kind design expertise and contemporary artwork came from Kevin Troxall Design.While the project’s main goal was to provide a way for Actors Theatre to reduce their housing expenditure by having visiting artists stay next door to the theater, it accomplishes other objectives as well. It allows performers to be more closely in touch with the heart of downtown, contributes to the significant downtown revitalization already going on, and marries two of the cities greatest loves–Louisville, Kentucky real estate and the city’s dynamic arts scene.

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Although winter weather has descended upon Louisville and will almost certainly be around through February, the temperature here is surprisingly high. In fact, it’s 55,000 degrees! An innovative public-private partnership launched last year, 55,000 Degrees is a collaborative effort in the Louisville area to raise the number of college degree holders in town by 55,000 by 2020. Specifically, the goal is to have 40,000 more bachelor’s degree holders and 15,000 more with associate’s degrees. Another objective is for 15,000 of the total number to be earned by African-Americans.

Why the target of 55,000 degrees?  In partnership with the Brookings Institution, the Greater Louisville Project released the first of its annual Competitive Cities Reports in 2005, which compares Louisville with peer cities of similar size in the three key areas referred to as “deep drivers” for economic competitiveness:  education, jobs and quality of place. Despite Louisville’s other high rankings, Louisville was in the unique position of ranking low in the number of degree holders but had the most residents of any peer city with some hours of college credit. Community leaders could see the amazing potential if those adults who began college but left to raise children, care for elderly parents or accept full-time employment were encouraged to return to school and earn their degrees.

At the end of its first year, 55,000 Degrees published its first progress report, and the results are very encouraging. From 2008–2009, the last year for which numbers are available, the number of working-age adults with degrees jumped by roughly 7,000. This represents a 14 percent jump in associate’s degrees and a seven percent jump in bachelor’s degrees in just one year. All 21 of the institutions of higher education in the Greater Louisville area reported an increase in degrees awarded, and there was a 20 percent increase in the number of working-age adults in Louisville who chose to go back to school. 

Despite the exciting numbers, community leaders recognize that even similar gains each year won’t get us to the 55,000 benchmark by 2020. Even more needs to be done. A partnership between 55K, Jefferson County Public Schools and Louisville Metro Government is expanding the Close the Deal initiative that helps high school seniors apply to, access financial aid for and prepare to enter college. Likewise, 55K is working with Greater Louisville, Inc., our local chamber of commerce, to implement a new program to assist businesses in helping their employees go back to school. Yes, the future looks bright . . . and the temperature in Derby City is definitely rising!

Search all Louisville Real Estate for sale by area, price, year built, square footage on Louisville's best MLS search site.

If you live in Louisville and have been on Facebook lately, you’ve likely had pleas from your local foodie friends encouraging you to vote for Louisville on Southern Living’s website as the “Tastiest Southern Town.” The Derby City right now ranks a close second place to – of all towns – LaFayette! We’re way ahead of the rest of the pack, including cities better known for their restaurant scene, like New Orleans, Charlestown, Raleigh, and Birmingham. But LaFayette? Most of us born and bred here are scratching our heads and saying, “Are you kidding me?”

Nothing against LaFayette, of course, but we all know what an amazing town Louisville is for lovers of fine cuisine, unique fare, and eclectic dining experiences. And this year marks a big anniversary for a key player in the restaurant renaissance downtown and the revival of the East Market Distract, known to locals as NuLu. The Mayan Café, at 813 East Market Street, which traces its roots to the food truck that Chef Ucan started in 1997 and then became a brick-and-mortar restaurant called The Myan Gypsie, features authentic Mayan cuisine and is celebrating its birthday with a special menu that runs from now until February 18. Having recently added liquor to its beer and wine offerings, the Café is featuring tequilas during this time as well as some inventive ceviches. But Café regulars, take heart! Many traditional favorites, like the ever-popular Tok-sel, made with Great Northern beans instead of the usual limas, will be on the menu as well.

By offering its Mayan Market Mondays the past three years, the Mayan Café has become a central restaurant in the local food movement. Featuring genuine far-to-table meals every Monday night from June through August, the Café highlights a different local farm each week by preparing its meats, cheeses, or vegetables. Chef Bruce Ucan, who learned growing up in the Yucatan that the best food is that which grows outside your door, is at the Famers’ Market every weekend. Creative and always ready for a challenge, he looks for “the vegetable that no one wants to buy” and invents amazing dishes with it.

In the humble opinion of those of us who call Louisville home, our city is definitely the “tastiest southern town,” whether or not someone else unjustly wrests the distinction from our grasp (or just wins with more votes). And one of the reasons for this is the Mayan Café, now celebrating five wonderful years of authentic Mayan cuisine, a farm-to-table approach to dining, and an atmosphere of fun and clever invention. With any luck, the Mayan Café will be around for many more years to make sure that there’s never any doubt in anyone’s mind which southern town is the tastiest.

Team night out at doc Crow's

Here at the Brad Long Group, we sell Louisville real estate, however when we aren’t helping our clients buy and sell homes we have been known to cut loose and enjoy some of the fine establishments the city of Louisville has to offer.  On this occasion we got the whole team out for a fun night at Doc Crow’s.

 Doc Crow’s Smokehouse and Raw Bar is located on Main Street, less than a block from the new KFC Yum Center on Whiskey Row.  Located in a historic 140 year-old building which use to be Bonnie Brothers distillery, Doc Crow’s has a fun and modern atmosphere while still letting its patrons enjoy the original shotgun architecture, hardwood floor and wood wainscoting.  Doc Crow’s is owned by Steven and Michael Ton who also own Basa, and Brett Davis who is a Master Sommelier, one of only about 115 in the country.  As you may imagine, Doc Crow’s has an interesting and diverse wine list which offers customers half bottle and by-the-glass options as well as over 60 types of bourbon.

The food at Doc Crows is southern chic, modern, costal, eclectic and delicious!   At our table we tried crab cakes, fried green tomatoes, pulled-pork tacos, mac and cheese and of course the oysters.  Our group was in agreement that Doc Crow’s oysters are the best we have ever had, one of the reasons for this being the oysters we ate came straight from Virginia and had only been out of the water for two days.  

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2011 Halloween Events and Happenings in Louisville, KY

So you spent the last 6 months finding all the trinkets and finishing touches to get your costume perfect for Halloween, but now you have nowhere to go.  No fear.  Check out some of the chilling events going on in Louisville this Halloween.

What:  Bardstown Bound Boofest.  Celebrate Halloween Highland style with Trolley Rides, Trick or Treating and special Halloween themed indulgences offered at participating businesses along the way as well as scary special offers.
Where:  Highlands-Douglas Loop to Lexington Rd.
When:  Saturday October 29th 12:00pm-?
*Proceeds benefit Gilda’s Club.

What:  “The World’s Largest Halloween Party” at the Louisville Zoo.  This not-too- scary event is great for the little ones featuring storybook scenes and characters, talking pumpkins, trick-or-treating, and of course zoo animals.
Where:  Louisville Zoo.  1100 Trevilian Way Louisville, KY 40213
When:  October 7-9, 13-16, 20-23 and 27-30 from 5pm until 8:30 pm. 
Cost:  General Admission is $8 but only $6.50 at Meijer Stores.  If you have a Zoo membership, admission is free until the 20th where it will be $4.  Parking at the Zoo is $5.

What:  Frankenstein at the Walden Theatre
Where:  1123 Payne Street
When:  Oct. 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22 at 7:30 and matinees on the 15th and 22nd at 2pm.
Cost:  Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 or students and seniors.  Matinees tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for students and seniors.

What:  Gaslite Tavern Halloween Bash.  Come in your best costume for a chance to win a cash prize.  Live music and drink specials.
Where:  Gaslite Tavern at Stonybrook and Six Mile Lane.  9119 Galene Drive
When:  October 29th 9:00pm-3:00am

What:  Evil Dead:  The Musical.  This bloodcurdling musical is based on the Evil Dead movies from Sam Raimi. 
Where:  The Alley Theater at The Pointe.    1205 East Washington Street
When:  October 13-15, 21, 22, 27-29 and 31st at 7:30pm. 
Cost:  General Admission tickets are $20.  “Splatter Zone” Tickets are $25.