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Mayor Fischer, the Southwest Dream Team and Metro Council members were joined by local business owners and residents to unveil the 2018 edition of the South Points Scenic Area Map. It is the fourth rendition of the map, which has expanded its outreach year over year to include more local businesses and attractions, including this year, Kentucky Kingdom and Hurricane Bay.
Also new to this year’s map is an inaugural food district, called “Dine South Points,” which highlights the cultural eateries of the South Points Scenic Area, near Iroquois Park and south to Fairdale. Some new restaurants to be featured in the food district are: Vietnam Kitchen, Binh Phuoc Market, Cocoberry Pops, Shack in the Back BBQ, Golden Wall, La Riviera Maya, Sunergos Coffee and Vietnam Oriental Food Market.
The diverse range of businesses included in the map shines light on the wealth of cultural diversity that lies within the South Points Scenic Area. Louisville Metro and the Southwest Dream Team are proud to support these businesses and invite new businesses to consider participating in next year’s map.
“South and southwest Louisville continues to experience positive economic development, and is a tremendous source of pride for our entire community,” said Fischer. “The number of locally owned businesses and attractions continues to grow, with attractions serving residents and visitors from near and far.”
It is the mission of the Southwest Dream Team to promote economic development in south and southwest Louisville. The South Points Scenic Area was created in 2013 to promote the many tourism-related business and cultural and natural attractions that the area has to offer.
”The Southwest Dream Team is celebrating 10 years of continued efforts to make Southwest Louisville a healthier and more prosperous region of Louisville, and is currently in a strategic planning period,” says Vince Jarboe, President of the Southwest Dream Team. Jarboe also announced their recent hiring of an Executive Director, Charlotte Caldwell, who has extensive experience in nonprofits through her service as an AmeriCorps VISTA and volunteering on several committees for various nonprofits. “The Southwest Dream Team thanks the sponsors and Metro Council members who have been supporting us since the inception of the South Points Scenic Area.”
A mobile version of the map can be viewed at www.southpoints.org, and @SPScenicArea on Facebook and Twitter. For more information and to join the conversation visit www.swdreamteam.org, and follow @SWDT on Twitter to stay updated on the work of the Southwest Dream Team
Mayor Greg Fischer proclaimed that Friday will be Wear Red Day in Louisville to support the Louisville Cardinals women’s basketball team in the Final Four.
The Mayor is asking citizens across the community to wear Cardinal red on Friday, when the team takes on Mississippi State for a spot in the women’s NCAA Tournament championship game. If UofL wins, the Mayor asks that citizens again wear Cardinal red on Sunday to support the team as they play for the national championship.
“What the Cardinals have achieved this season is absolutely extraordinary — an ACC Championship, No. 1 seed in the Big Dance, a first team All-American in Asia Durr, and now a spot in the Final Four,” Mayor Fischer said. “Let’s show UofL women’s basketball that we stand with them and are ready to cheer like crazy this weekend.”
The Cardinals play Mississippi State at 7 p.m. Friday. The winner faces Notre Dame or Connecticut for the National Championship on Sunday.
Thunder Over Louisville fans making plans for a place to park their cars or pitch a tent have an option that’s close to the action. Louisville Parks and Recreation is selling passes for Thunder weekend at Eva Bandman Park, 1701 River Road.
Eva Bandman Park is located along the Ohio River near Frankfort Avenue, less than a 10-minute stroll from the eastern edge of Waterfront Park.
- Recreational Vehicles – $200 for Friday and Saturday nights; all parking on the pavement and trailers with up to 40-foot awnings are allowed.
- Tents – Campers bringing tents may stay in Eva Bandman Park on Friday and Saturday nights for $50. This includes space for one car, not necessarily next to your tent. Additional cars are $15 each for both RV’s & Tents.
- Parking – On Saturday, April 21, parking spots at Eva Bandman Park will be available as long as space permits, at a cost of $20 per vehicle. Cash only, paid at time of arrival.
Overnight visitors in tents and RVs can stay through Sunday morning. Metro Parks’ staff will be available around the clock. A reservation form can be found here. After staging their site on Friday, those not wishing to camp overnight may exit the park using their extra vehicle and return on Saturday. Previous parking spaces are not guaranteed. Spaces may become limited as Saturday progresses; no other re-entry is authorized.
Advanced registration is highly recommended as the Louisville Police Department will be organizing street closures in the area.
For more information call 502/574-7275 (PARK).
Jay Neubacher of Louisville is taking home the title of Derby Burger Champion, in the 7th Annual “Derby Burger Challenge” sponsored by Kentucky Beef Council and coordinated by the Kentucky Derby Festival. Neubacher’s recipe for his “D to the Double B” Burger (Derby Bourbon Burger) was selected as the overall winner after a cook-off this morning at the Kroger in Middletown. It features ground beef, a five spice rub with bourbon smoked paprika, hickory smoked bacon, baby bella mushrooms, onions, chipotle peppers in an adobo sauce, and melted provolone cheese, all served on a brioche bun.
Tailgating at UofL’s football games last season helped lead to this year’s winning burger. “I brought a different burger to each home game and asked my friends to sample and tell me which one they liked best,” said Neubacher. “At the end of the season, the Derby Bourbon Burger was their top choice. The five ingredient spice rub is what makes it unique and helps marry all the flavors together.”
The Festival received dozens of submissions for the annual competition. More than 9,000 beef lovers voted online to help pick the top 4 finalists. At the final cook-off, a panel of judges determined the overall winner based on points accumulated from four factors – Taste, Appearance, Creativity and Ease of Preparation. Alexis Rich of Louisville finished runner up with her Juicy Lou-cy Burger. Other finalists included Lori Poe of Mt. Sterling, Kentucky, with the Asian Burger and Gregory Schaad of Louisville with the Trifecta Burger.
Neubacher’s winning Derby Burger recipe will be available to try at Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville this year during its nine-day run, as well as sampled at BeerFest Presented by American Founders Bank, and recognized in Louisville-area Kroger stores. In May, it will be a featured menu item at Louisville’s Napa River Grill. It will also be featured as part of the grilling series at Turnip the Beet’s summer kids cooking classes.
Neubacher also receives VIP tickets to Thunder Over Louisville, VIP Experience at Waterfront Jam, tickets to BeerFest, as well as a $100 gift certificate to Kroger and a grilling package from Kentucky Beef Council.
From now to April 13, all purchasers of fresh ground beef at any of the 40 Louisville area Kroger stores will receive a coupon at checkout (on the bottom of the receipt). The message includes an entry code to register online at www.kdf.org/beef for a chance to win VIP tickets to a Waterfront Jam Concert at Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville or BeerFest Presented by American Founders Bank.
Photo: Louisville Forward
‘The Barrel,’ a creative urban attraction designating the intersection of Fourth and Main Streets as the center of the Bourbon District, was unveiled today. “The iconic Barrel will function as a gathering space for visitors to the Bourbon District, as well as serve as a new and exciting showpiece to celebrate the bourbon renaissance in Downtown Louisville,” said Rebecca Matheny, Executive Director of the Louisville Downtown Partnership (LDP). “We expect it will join the bat at the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory as a must-do photo opp. activity in Downtown.”
“‘The Barrel’, which launched the second phase of the Bourbon District, is meant to be walked through, as if one is passing through the entire history of the bourbon industry,” said Cynthia Torp, President and Executive Director of Louisville-based Solid Light, Inc. who designed, created and installed ‘The Barrel’. The piece has five hoops — the two smallest hoops are 9’3” in height, 11’3” in width, progressing to two larger hoops that are 10’3” in height and 13’4” in width, with the middle hoop reaching 11’3” in height and 15’4” in width. The path through ‘The Barrel’ is ADA compliant.
The materials used to create the enormous feature are meant to reflect those of an actual oak barrel. The hoops are made of cast concrete with a “stave wood” engrain. Actual reliefs of wood were pressed into the concrete to give it an authentic wooden texture. The outside is lined with corten steel, reflecting the metal hoops used on a bourbon barrel. The inside of the hoops are lined with a black powder coated aluminum, imitating the char found in barrels after they are fired, an essential step in the bourbon-making process.
At the entrance of ‘The Barrel’ is an interpretive sign that gives an overview of the bourbon industry in Downtown Louisville. The sign also includes a map showing all of the bourbon historical sites and attractions in the district.
Featuring historic signs, destination signs, banners and a pop-up event scape, the Bourbon District is a collaborative effort led by LDP, Louisville Metro Government, the Louisville Convention and Visitors Bureau (LCVB), and the Louisville Water Company, in cooperation with Downtown’s bourbon community.
The renaissance of bourbon has sparked tourism and development in Downtown Louisville. “While Louisville’s bourbon story originated in the late 1700’s, it’s only been in the last decade that bourbon tourism has become a defining point of our city’s authenticity. We believe the Bourbon District helps share this cultural heritage with locals and visitors, and enhances their appreciation of Louisville’s unique destination experience,” said Karen Williams, LCVB President and CEO.
“Bourbonism® is thriving in Downtown Louisville, with four distillery experiences already open, and three more slated to open within the year. Our hope is that ‘The Barrel’ becomes an iconic landmark photographed and shared all over the world, further defining Louisville as the home of the bourbon industry,” said Mayor Greg Fischer.
LDP drives economic growth in Downtown and adjacent central-city neighborhoods for the benefit of the entire region, as well as oversees multiple on-street enhancements that help establish Downtown Louisville’s distinctive character and widespread appeal. LDP believes the economic engine of any great city starts with a strong Downtown. For more information, go to: LouisvilleDowntown.org.
LDP can be contacted at 556 S. Fourth Street, Louisville, KY 40202; (502)584-6000.
The newly-created “ECHO Mobile,” which brings outdoor nature play activity to neighborhoods throughout Louisville, has been hitting the road and the full schedule of stops for this spring and summer has been released.
Children and families will play with everything from musical instruments to materials for creating imaginative natural Louisville ECHO will be visiting local parks and community centers.
For the full ECHO schedule, please click here.
More than 75,000 trucking professionals and representatives will park in Louisville March 22-24 for the Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS), the largest annual heavy-duty trucking industry event in the world.
The Kentucky Exposition Center has hosted MATS every year since 1972, and the show brings $26 million in economic impact to the Louisville region.
This industry-only event accommodates the entire trucking industry in one venue, so professionals can see new products and services; test drive new trucks and technology; connect with suppliers, distributors and customers; and stay up-to-date with changes in the industry.
More than 1,000 exhibitors will showcase everything from engines to electronics, tools to tires and sealants to sleeper cabs – plus a large number of recruiters will be in attendance. Numerous seminars offer educational opportunities for companies, fleets and trucking professionals.
For more information, visit www.truckingshow.com.