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Eight Establishments in Louisville Named among America’s 80 Best Bourbon Bars

makersmarkbarrelsBourbon industry publication, The Bourbon Review, has released its annual list of America’s 80 Best Bourbon Bars. During National Bourbon Heritage Month, The Bourbon Review will partner with Four Roses Bourbon for a nationwide “toast” to each of the 80 establishments selected.

Eight Louisville bars were selected as part of the list, including: Bourbons Bistro, Charr’d Bourbon Kitchen and Lounge, Derby Café, Doc Crows, Down One Bourbon Bar, Haymarket Whiskey Bar, Proof on Main, and Silver Dollar

Louisville has the most recognized bourbon bars than any other city in America.  All eight of the establishments honored are also a part of the city’s Urban Bourbon Trail, a “pub crawl” that celebrates Louisville’s bourbon heritage and culture.

The nationwide “toast” will take place on Friday, September 30, when The Bourbon Review and Four Roses Bourbon will encourage fans to take part by tagging their favorite bourbon bar from the list using the hashtag #80Toast.

In addition to the toast, on-site visits to select winning Bourbon bars across the country by Four Roses Bourbon and The Bourbon Review are planned for September and October.

“We are proud to once again partner with The Bourbon Review to help celebrate its Top 80 list,” said Brent Elliott, master distiller, Four Roses Bourbon. “It’s an honor to recognize and toast these establishments who take their Bourbon as seriously as we do.”

To see the full list of America’s 80 Best Bourbon Bars, please visit www.gobourbon.com/best-80-bourbon-bars-2016.

200_years_flyer_-_2016_image_0The free family event, 200 Years On the Ohio: A Living Timeline Event, will take place this weekend, Saturday 17 September and Sunday 18 September.

The event will feature exhibition of clothing, tools, pastimes, weaponry and cooking from Louisville’s historic timeline.

Highlights of the educational event include a late 19th century “base ball” game on Sunday, September 18 at 1:00 PM between the Cincinnati Red stockings and the Cincinnati Buckeyes.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to meet Mr. Lincoln as portrayed by Dennis Boggs as well as a “fashion show” featuring the clothing from various periods throughout Louisville’s history.

 

Iroquois Park North Overlook Dedicated

$1.4 million project features new stone seat wall; landscaping updates

iroquoisparknorthoverlookAfter years of planning and months of work, the revamped and freshly-completed North Overlook project in South Louisville’s Iroquois Park was unveiled to the public today by a group that included Mayor Greg Fischer, Councilwoman Marianne Butler and officials from Metro Parks and Recreation and the Louisville Olmsted Parks Conservancy.

“The view from the top at the North Overlook is as spectacular as ever, and once the surrounding native grasses and other plantings have a chance to grow in, the whole experience at the summit will really be enhanced,” Mayor Greg Fischer said. “The work cements Iroquois Park’s position as one of the premier tourist destinations in the South Points Scenic Area.”

“The opening of this serene and scenic overlook is a testament to the dedication of the employees at Metro Parks and Recreation and the Olmsted Parks Conservancy.  Living in the shadow of the park for over two decades, I understand the draw and the majesty of the park,” said Councilwoman Marianne Butler (D-15).  “The park users, my neighbors and future generations will benefit and appreciate this view for years to come.”

Feedback gathered from the public during two public meetings in summer 2014 resulted in many of the improvements. A meandering, wheelchair-accessible path now takes the park user to a spectacular area with improved vistas of downtown Louisville and the Indiana Knobs, where the panorama is widely acknowledged as the best in the area.

Visitors will enjoy sitting on a rustic stone bench or in the grassy picnic areas. Native trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants populate the walkway and several stormwater retention basins, which help control erosion. The vegetation likely won’t begin realizing its true potential until next spring, according to officials.   Continue reading

KSF2015_8810The opening weekend of the Kentucky State Fair may be in the books, but there is a lot of Fair left to enjoy.

The Midway is open throughout the fair, which lasts through Sunday, August 28th.  The midway is open for the duration for fair visitors who wish to try their hand at games of skill or seek some thrills on the rides.  The indoor exhibits, including Main Street Kentucky, Health Horizons, Pride of the Counties, Heritage Hall, Gourmet Garden, the Product Showcase, and the Performing Arts Showcase also last through the end of the fair.

Also at various time throughout the fair are numerious free shows, which include Miller’S Border Collies, The Buck Trout Show, Cuzzin’ Grumpy’S Porkchop Revue, Neecha’S Amazing Dobermans Show, Lady Houdini, Chinese Acrobats Of Hebei, a simulated Trial By Jury, and The Magic Of David Garrard.

If those acts don’t satisfy your appetite for entertainment, there are also still several free Turf Concert Series shows left, including Newsboys with special guest 7eventh Time Down tonight, the Happy Together tour tomorrow, and Chris Janson, Brooke Eden, Dylan Schneider; Blood, Sweat & Tears, Bo Bice, Stephen Bishop; American Authors, Public; Rachel Platten, Jeffrey James; Francesca Battistelli, Building 429, Lauren Daigle, and Finding Favour later in the week.  On the main stage, Chris Young and Brett Eldredge will be performing with special guest Chris Lane on the 28th.KYSF2016_8739

For the animal lovers, different animals will be rotating into many of the spaces in the West Hall and Pavilion on changeover day today.  Dairy goats, dairy cattle, poultry, pigeons, mules, and rabbits will be on display through tomorrow while today is the last day to see the meat goats.  Tomorrow and throughout the week, visitors will have the opportunity to see the sheep, swine and beef cattle.  This Thursday will feature the 4-H & FFA Sale of Champions and the Draft Horse and Mule Pull will be on Sunday the 28th.

Be sure to stay with Louisville Dispatch for more about the 2016 Kentucky State Fair online and on our Facebook Page – where you can see our photos from the fair and share your own.

Learn about the neurobiology behind pain at Beer with a Scientist, August 17

Rau_pictureAt this month’s Beer with a Scientist, Kristofer Rau, Ph.D., researcher at the University of Louisville School of Medicine, will discuss the neurobiology of why we feel pain. He’ll give an introduction to the neuroanatomy involved in pain processing and explain why the “funny bone” hurts so often, why we get ice cream headaches, why amputees feel pain in a lost limb and other painful topics.

Rau is a senior research scientist in the UofL Department of Anesthesiology and a member of the Louisville Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience. His work focuses on the neurobiology of pain and the electrophysiological and molecular changes that occur following tissue injury and spinal cord trauma.

The program begins at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, August 17 at Against the Grain Brewery, 401 E. Main St. A 30-minute presentation will be followed by an informal Q&A session.

The Beer with a Scientist program began in 2014 and is the brainchild of UofL cancer researcher Levi Beverly, Ph.D. Once a month, the public is invited to enjoy exactly what the title promises:  beer and science.

Admission is free. Purchase of beer, other beverages or menu items is not required but is encouraged.

Organizers add that they also encourage Beer with a Scientist patrons to drink responsibly.

For more information and to suggest future Beer with a Scientist topics, follow Louisville Underground Science on Facebook.

COMING UP:   Andrea Behrman, Ph.D., UofL Department of Neurological Surgery,September 14.
Beer with a Scientist founder, Levi Beverly, Ph.D., will speak at the event during Research!Louisville, October 12.

“SPECTRE” brings to a close another great season of Free Summer Movies at Iroquois Amphitheater on Saturday, August 13th

James Bond, Agent 007, returns to fight a takeover of the world by one of the most sinister and terrifying organizations as “SPECTRE” closes out another great season of Free Summer Movies at Iroquois Amphitheater on Saturday, August 13th at 8:00pm.

“This is a great movie to wrap up another successful summer of films. We invite everyone to come out and have some fun as summer winds down,” says Councilwoman Marianne Butler (D-15). “Once again, Iroquois Amphitheater has seen a great response and people are enjoying all the amenities of Iroquois Park.”

Actor Daniel Craig returns as the famous MI6 Agent in the 24th movie of the Bond Series. He encounters an attempt to create a worldwide surveillance network of control around the world by the criminal organization known as SPECTRE. He also meets the group’s leader Ernst Stavro Bloefeld.

The 2015 film also stars Christoph Waltz, Ralph Fiennes, Léa Seydoux, Ben Whishaw, and Naomie Harris.

“We’re grateful for the support of Councilwoman Butler and the Metro Council,” said Seve Ghose, Director of Parks and Recreation. “It’s a pleasure to be able to offer free, quality programming the whole family can enjoy in the historic setting of the Iroquois Amphitheater. We’re looking forward to another great year in 2017.”

The Free Summer Movies program is made possible by several Metro Council members. For the 2016 movie season, more than 7,000 people attended the free films that were shown on Monday and Saturday nights.

Concessions are available. No outside food is permitted.

 

JeffersonMemorialForestHiking_7916We are well into summer 2016 and the weather has been, for the most part, wonderful.  School is ready to start back up, pools are filled, barbecues are lit, bike paths are bustling, and vacations are being planned – but you do not need to go on vacation to get away from it all.

The Louisville Metro Parks department affords outdoor enthusiasts from across the region many great opportunities to get out and enjoy nature on the various hiking trails in the area.  No matter where you are in Kentuckiana, the opportunity to connect with nature is not far away.

Jefferson Memorial Forest contains dozens of miles of hiking trails with trailheads at Horine Reservation, Tom Wallace Recreation Area, Paul Yost Recreation Area, and Scott’s Gap.  Other scenic nature hiking trails are available at Waverly Park, Beargrass Creek, Kapertown Swamp, Fairmount Falls, and Kulmer Reserve.  Note that some of the trails in Jefferson Memorial Forest can be quite strenuous and details about the trail should be researched before heading out.

If you prefer a more leisurely stroll to climbing the wooded hills of Jefferson Memorial, other area parks such as The Parklands – which has already reached 1 million visits for the year – offer easier trails.  To find a park near you, visit the Metro Parks website.

When hiking area trails, a few basic rules should be followed:

  • Stay on trails walking single file and do not shortcut corners.
  • Dispose of waste properly by carrying out litter.
  • Practice “negative trace” by picking up trash left by others when possible.
  • Respect wildlife – Do not try to attract or approach wildlife and never feed human food to animals.
  • Keep pets on a leash at all times and clean up after them.
  • “Leave nature in nature” – Avoid moving rocks, picking plants, and disturbing cultural/historical artifacts. “Take only photos, leave only footprints.”
  • Carry a trail map with you. Maps are available at the Jefferson Memorial Forest Welcome Center and the park website.
  • Carry water, snacks, and a small first aid kit to stay hydrated, ensure that you have plenty of energy, and can tend to small cuts and scrapes.
  • Let someone know where you are going and when you plan to return.

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