It’s Derby Time! - Derby season brings so much excitement and energy to Louisville you can practically feel it in the air.  The Kentucky Derby Festival brings an amazing lineup of outdoor events that is unlike anything else in the world.  Thunder Over Louisville kicks off the festival on April 16th with one of the best firework shows in the nation.  There is also live music, airshow and the famous Chow Wagon.Thursday, April 28th begins the spectacular lineup of events called Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville on the Waterfront which carries on all the way to the big race on May 7th.  Some of the events include the Great Balloon Glimmer & Glow, the Marathon/mini Marathon, Chow Wagon, Pegasus Parade, Great Steamboat Race and a variety of live music throughout the week.  The main events are the Kentucky Oaks and Derby which are tons of fun that everyone should attend at least once.

Waterfront Wednesday - Waterfront Wednesday begins April 27 and runs until September.  This event is presented by 91.9 WFPK and is held on the last Wednesday of the month.  The show is on the Harbor Lawn at Waterfront Park and usually features two to three acts from around the country.  This event is fun and casual, great for socializing and best of all its FREE!

Louisville Bats Games - The Louisville Bats open their 2011 season on April 7th with the first of many Thirsty Thursday’s aka Budweiser Happy Hours, which offers $1 Budweiser and Bud Light from 5:30-7:00.  During happy hour you can enjoy live local music on the Overlook Deck.  Tickets for Bats games cost $7-$11.

Shakespeare in the Park - This annual, free event takes place at Delacorte Theater in Central Park, which is located in Old Louisville on 4th Street. Classic Shakespeare plays are reenacted in the evenings in June and July.  'All’s Well That Ends Well' and 'Measure for Measure' are the two classics on the line-up for the 2011 year, which feature Tony Award Winners John Cullum and Tonya Pinkins.  Enjoy your summer nights supporting your Louisville art scene in its 51st year by attending Shakespeare in the Park. 

Jefferson Memorial Forest - Did you know Jefferson Memorial Forest is the nation’s largest urban municipal forest?  With over 6,000 acres this is a great place to spend the day or the weekend.  Some outdoor activities include hiking, camping, fishing, birdwatching, horseback riding and picnicking.

So on a nice spring day there is no excuse, get out and find something to do.  Get out in your back yard and plant some flowers or play corn hole with some friends.  The options are really endless on a sunny day in Louisville.

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Cycling has always been a part of Louisville’s culture.  In 1890, Louisville formed a cycling club called the Louisville Wheelman which led structured rides around the city.  Today this club, currently called the Louisville Bicycle Club, is one of the most dynamic and advanced cycling clubs in the country.   Their website is very informative and has any and everything you would need to know about cycling in Louisville.

Louisville has developed many cycling organizations over the years to promote and develop this sport in the city.  Bike Louisville is a community program to progressively make Louisville even more bike friendly.  In 2005, Mayor Abramson held Louisville’s first annual bike summit which set out a plan for Louisville to be awarded the gold-level status as a cycling city by 2015.  In order to reach this cycling status the city will be judged in five categories and demonstrate advancements in each.  The categories include engineering, education, encouragement, enforcement and evaluation and planning.  At this rate, by 2015 Louisville might be in the top 10 in the nation of the best cities for cycling.

Louisville has cycling options for every type of rider.  Whether you want to ride around your neighborhood, ride to work or in one of the cities lovely parks, Louisville works hard to give its riders safe and diverse options.  A large reason Louisville is a premier city for cycling is the abundance of bike lanes and paths currently in use; there are many paths currently under construction as well.  Louisville also has organized rides throughout the year such as the Memorial Day and Labor Day Mayor’s Hike and Bike.  Last year over 7,000 people participated in this event.

The city of Louisville also contains some smart and savvy bike shops for its cycling citizens.  St. Matthews in particular is home to some of the local favorites like Scheller’s Fitness and Cycling off Shelbyville Road, Bicycle Sport on Breckenridge Lane and Mountain Bike Depot in the new Westport Village Shopping Center.  Cycler’s Café located off Lexington Road in the Highlands is a unique shop in that it is also a diner/deli which offers delicious homemade meals like burritos, BBQ and salads.  After a long weekend ride, stop into the Cycler’s Café, check out their gear and enjoy a quesadilla and cold beverage on their deck.

With spring just around the corner, this is a great time to learn more about cycling in Louisville and why Louisville is the 21^st best city in the nation for cycling.  The Bike Louisville page on the Louisville.gov site is full of helpful information, maps and routes, safety tips, and cycling events.  Ride the City of Louisville is another helpful tool to map the safest bike route for your next ride.  With all the cycling opportunities the city of Louisville has to offer get ready to dust off your bike, strap on your helmet, get out on the road and enjoy!

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Less is more— right?

   People today are quickly realizing they don't need as much space in their home or on their property. More space equals more to take care of, more to dust and more to move from A to B. It means more to store, more to label and more to give away or sell eventually. Having more may also mean a commute from the suburbs or a surrounding county far from urban life. So far everything we've talked about takes more time for sure. It takes time away from the truly meaningful things you'd like to do with your life. For each of us this is different. For you, maybe it's more time with your friends and neighbors. For others, it could be more time for leisure or hobbies. To some, it's more time to relax and enjoy a good meal or some entertainment. It could be more time to exercise or more time outdoors. Well a home in St Matthews may not promise you all these things, but it's a good start.

   If this 'less is more' mantra or life philosophy characterizes you, then a home in St Matthews could be for you. Homes in St Matthews offer lots of positives and we'll be presenting them here on at home in St Matthews.

   A home in St Matthews gives you that cottage feel (there are tons of cape cod's in the area) with less to take care of but tons of community options. It's also superior to living in a condo or town home when it comes to control. You still have a yard to mow, and take care of— just not one that takes all day to finish. A home in St Matthews also puts you close to some of the most popular parks in the city of Louisville. Many in the area are within walking or biking distance from Seneca Park. We'll do a future post talking discussing the activities available at one of Louisville's most noted parks.

   Stay tuned for many other reasons why you need a home in St Matthews.

To search for all properties for sale in St. Matthews click: http://www.allhomesinlouisville.com/louisville-real-estate/st-matthews-ky-homes-for-sale/

   P.S. In the meantime you can follow @loumetroparks on Twitter to get lots of great information like: ideas, promotions, contests and activities going on at Louisville's Metro Parks.