Louisville Real Estate Blog | Brad Long Real Estate Group | Keller Williams Louisville East

Is Louisville a 'Big City'

For those of us who have grown up in Louisville, it is hard to think of our hometown as a “big city.” Louisville has always been our secret treasure; a town filled with diversity, culture, and a close sense of community; a town where everyone somehow is linked to one another. Within the past several years, with the growth of Downtown Louisville and the reincarnation of many of Louisville’s neighborhoods, Louisville has quickly become a popular place and dare I say it...”big.” 

When I say “big” I'm not referring to the population or the number of high-rise buildings in our downtown area, but I'm basing my judgment on national popularity, corporate interest, and travel statistics. In the last year, Louisville has been recognized in several top rankings, being called things such as “The Most Livable City In America” by the U.S Conference of Mayors, “The Best Place to Retire”...

I want to catch the robber

What started as an unhealthy interest level has quickly turned in to a severe case of what I like to call “voluntary agoraphobia.” For the past month, the Highlands has been the target of a high number of home break ins and burglaries. Living right in the middle of the Highlands, and with several neighbors who fell victim to these home invaders, I have reached ultimate lockdown and survey mode. My lifetime full of love for shows like Dateline NBC and 48 Hours Mystery are fueling my underlying interest in my neighborhoods misfortune and my supreme goal to be the one to “catch the predator.” Being at home with two young boys all day and writing from home gives me the opportunity to be the protecter of my street. I can keep a look out for the newest suspects, write down license plate numbers, and patiently wait for the joker who tries to mess with my house.

All kidding aside, I do find it my responsibility to look out for my neighbors. Innocent people are being...

Lynn’s is not the only place making their servers tip out

Louisvillians, foodies from far and wide, and visitors that come back often to become “out of town regulars” are enraged and confused after one of Louisville’s most popular and beloved restaurants has closed it’s doors for good. Lynn’s Paradise Cafe abruptly closed it’s doors at the beginning of the year and reports of wrong doing by the restaurant’s owner and management team have been spilling out ever since.

Lynn’s Paradise Cafe was one of a kind, never to be matched by any other restaurant in or out of town. Everything from the colorful decor to the kitschy art work and fun atmosphere made Lynn’s a local favorite and on every out-of-towner’s list of places to go. Not only were people visiting Louisville making sure they went to Lynn’s, but in some cases, visitors were visiting Louisville just for Lynn’s. Throughout the 22 years of the Cafe’s life, it appeared on multiple television shows such as The Oprah...

Pool Leagues in Louisville

Ilyse's Louisville
I believe with everything in me, that moms that give themselves a night out on a regular basis make themselves better moms in the long run. Now maybe this is just something I tell myself so that I don't feel bad for taking a night out here and there, but regardless,if i’m playing a mid trick on myself or not, it seems to be working for me. I seem to have fallen into a new hobby that has sucked me in to a weekly night away at the Back Door. I have successfully trained for and recruited my own team for the bar’s next session o the APA rule pool league. I grew up with a pool table in my basement but it had been years since I played the game, when I met a regular pool player at the bar named Jinx. Jinx took me under his wing, taught me a thing or two, and soon became my “coach.” I was hooked. My competitive spirit paired with the endless circulation of interesting characters that rotate through The Back Door keep me going...

Bootlegging Still Exists...And Right At My Back Door

Last night, while spending some much needed down time at my neighborhood bar, the Back Door, I was surprised to find a table full of folks that looked a little out of place. Upon further review and because of the whispers around the bar, I learned that excitement was brewing in the bar over a reality star in the building. Tim Smith, a moonshining legend and star of the Discovery Channel’s hit reality show Moonshiners was sitting right in the middle of our humble Back Door. Complete with overalls and his signature khaki hat, Tim was just as lively and passionate about ‘shining in person as he appears on the show. In town for two days on a promotional tour for the show’s new season, Tim came to the Back Door to watch the new episode of Moonshiners among friends and fellow distillers. 
Moonshine is part of our American heritage. Although it is considered illegal, in many parts of Appalachia, there are those that choose to distill their...

Bourbon Makes Me Feel Like Home

Over the holiday season, I was lucky enough to reconnect with several of my friends that currently live all over the World. Home for the holidays, and often away from the warmth and comfort of the things that remind them of home, most of my friends were eager to jump back into their old habits and looked to me to show them the way. Not surprisingly, bourbon was at the top of many of their lists. Bourbon is relatively easy to find in most places, but good bourbon and several varieties of bourbon are only found here at home. Of course, being a bourbon lover myself, I was happy to lead my friends around to some of my favorite new spots.
  
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'Happy Birthday' has Louisville Roots

One of my favorite go-to gifts to give my close family and friends is a personalized calendar complete with meaningful photographs and reminders of special events. My family in particular is so large that before my calendars no one could remember each other’s birthdays. Embarrassing belated birthday calls had become the norm for my family, and it was becoming a problem. Now, every New Year, my family members look forward to receiving the newest edition of my calendar because without it they would be lost.  

These calendars are not only excellent gifts to give someone else, but make personal organization beautiful enough to hang on the wall. There are several websites that make creating calendars like mine, very simple and inexpensive. My favorite website is Shutterfly.com. All you need to know before starting your calendar are the special dates you want to include and what photos you would like to feature in your calendar. Shutterfly will walk you through step...

Why Are There Fleurs-De-Lis Everywhere Anyway

Everywhere you look in Louisville, whether it be in our local boutiques, at our various art fairs, or throughout our historic architecture, a similar theme can be noted; the fleur-de-lis. The fleur-de-lis is the city of Louisville’s official seal and more importantly, has become our cultural icon for Louisville’s close knit community. 

Most Louisvillians know the importance of the fleur-de-lis to Louisville, but may not necessary know why. In the United States, the fleur-de-lis is most famous for being the official seal of New Orleans. Following Hurricane Katrina, the fleur-de-lis took on another job as promoting grassroots support to the recovery. So how did the fleur-de-lis become the official seal of Louisville then?  The fleur-de-lis is a french symbol with it’s earliest uses in the French Monarchy. It’s questionable whether or not the fleur-de-lis is modeled after an iris, a lily, or it could be a holy trinity. The fleur-de-lis became the official seal after...

Now is the Time for Discounted Christmas Decor

The Holiday season is over. Christmas has come and gone and our hangovers from New Year’s have finally subsided. Right around this time, at the beginning of the new year, most folks are huddled in two categories; those that couldn't be happier the Christmas season is behind them and those feeling a bit of yule tide separation anxiety. Depending on which category you fall under, what I am about to propose will either be cringe worthy, or welcomed with delight. Although the holiday season is technically over with, right now is the best time to shop for next year’s Christmas decor. For those of you that are al “Christmas’d out,” just give me a chance to make my point. Most stores discount their Christmas merchandise 50% off and higher this time of year. You don’t even have to take what you purchase out of the bags when you get home, just throw your bags in storage with the rest of your decorations. It will all be worth the extra day surrounded by glitter reindeers and singing snowmen...

Warm Up With Trivia Nights in St. Matthews

Do your friends always say that you are filled with useless knowledge? Are you a movie buff, know all your state capitols, or a master of the periodic table? If you answered yes to any of these questions or just enjoy an atmosphere filled with a hearty competitive spirit, then you may be a natural trivia buff. Many Louisville pubs hold weekly trivia nights, where one night a week depending on the location, either a live host or television screen, will announce questions and teams of various sizes are challenged to get the correct answers. These trivia nights are becoming increasingly popular among bar-goers of all various age groups and will be an excellent excuse to get out of the house this cold and lonely winter.  

St. Matthews’ own Molly Malone’s Irish Pub holds one of the most popular trivia nights. Tuesday nights from 8pm to 10pm Molly Malone’s Pub Quiz is free to anyone who wants to join in. Along with the trivia, Molly Malone’s offers excellent Irish...