I just love my weekend getaways…..and this trip was Louisville!  What a great time, filled with great food, bourbon, and shopping!

We headed on down on a Friday afternoon, checked in to the Seelbach Hotel (our Louisville resting spot of choice!), then headed over before the impending storms to 8UP Elevated Drinkery & Kitchen, an incredible indoor-outdoor all glass drinking and eating experience.  We were wowed!  Grabbed an awesome table outside to admire the skyline and have a cocktail and bites to eat.  Chef James Moran, the Executive Chef, greeted us with his innovative and scrumptious plates for the BEST happy hour. The drinks were wonderful, and his food……plate after plate of yumminess!  From the grilled octopus, the beef tartare, to the pizza, and the desserts.  AMAZING.  GO.  

After lounging at the hotel for a bit (splurge for the “Concierge Level” at the Seelbach….totally worth it!), we headed over to Le Moo, a famous Louisville spot known for the incredible cuts and varieties of beef.  We were seated in the Louis Vuitton booth, luxuriously surrounded by everything Louis, from the bench, to the wall, table…everything!  Way cool.  Dinner and desserts were delicious, and they do a great thing for birthdays!  Trust me on this, the older you are…the better!  

Saturday was the “Bourbon tasting” day.   We started at Rabbit Hole Distillery, a brand new, beautifully appointed facility right in Downtown Louisville.  Our hostess was informative and enjoyable, giving tons of info without overwhelming.  At the end of the tour it was tasting time.  Interactive and a definite favorite of all the Bourbon lovers at our table.

After a quick bite at Lilly’s Bistro (what a gem!  All farm-to-table…one dish better than the next!), we then headed over to Old Forester Distillery.  We had never been to a distillery that made their own barrels.  If you’ve never seen this, it’s super impressive!  Of course, the tour was finished with a tasting…great variety in Bourbons…don’t miss this tour!

Shopping.  There’s always time for it.  ALWAYS.  Our favorite gallery is CRAFT(s) Gallery & Mercantile at the corner of 4th and Chestnut…just down the street from The Seelbach.  The best collection of art and whimsical pieces!  There was an art opening the night before where we spied an awesome llama painting… came back on Saturday and purchased.  I’m in love.  He’s my new favorite animal and can’t wait to see him in all his glory hanging on the wall!

Food, food, food.  More food.  Off to Proof on Main, tucked away in the 21c hotel, surrounded by the incredible art of the hotel lobby and spaces around it.  Another incredible dining experience!  Course after course of great bites.

We got up Sunday morning and knew it was almost time to head back.  Brunch was a must, so we went to Harvest.  A repeat from years ago, and well worth it!  The restaurant is decorated with large portraits of all the farmers they buy product from.  All local and wonderful.  We all ordered something different so we could sample it all.  So much food.  Sooo good.

Another food and fun-filled weekend getaway.  Go to Louisville.  Be sure to save all my recommendations for your visit….you’ll be very pleased, I promise.

—Patty Youkilis, Publisher

 

The Skirball Museum on the historic Cincinnati campus of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion invites you to visit Jewish Cincinnati: A Photographic History by J. Miles Wolf, opening on October 11, 2018 at 5:30 pm. With this exhibition, Cincinnati native J. Miles Wolf brings his creative energy and discerning eye to illustrating the history of the Jews of Cincinnati. Focusing on current, former, and now extinct places of worship used by Cincinnati’s Jewish community, Wolf has culled synagogue and community archives, libraries, and personal local collections for historic photographs to combined with his stunning new photography. The resulting images illustrate the early days of Jewish Cincinnati in a style that has never been attempted before, bringing “back to life” some of the forgotten places of worship used by our ancestors. From its earliest days in the 1830s through the migration of the Jewish population from downtown to the West End and to Roselawn, Amberley Village, and beyond, the story is told by showing the chronological history of places of worship and by highlighting some of the community’s congregants and early leaders. This exhibition is part of FotoFocus 2018, a biennial celebration of len-based art that spans 70 museums and galleries across Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky, Dayton, and Columbus, Ohio.

 

Brooke Dorger was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) at the age of 13. Like Brooke, most people with T1D look perfectly normal and healthy, but have to work constantly to delicately manage insulin administration to stay alive since their pancreas produces little to no insulin. T1D is an autoimmune disease that can strike any one at any age at any time, and while many with the disease were diagnosed as children, as in Brooke’s case, approximately half of new diagnoses are in adults.

Despite the challenges of T1D, Brooke hasn’t let it stop her. In addition to a thriving career, Brooke has made time to give back to JDRF as part of its young professionals group, the Emerging Leaders Council (ELC). JDRF is a nonprofit organization with the mission to cure, treat and prevent type 1 diabetes, and on October 20 will host its wildly popular Bourbon & BowTie Bash, an event where the ELC plays a big role. As a “BowTie Baronness”, Brooke has helped with fundraising for the event. “People love this event because there’s so much to enjoy, whether it be the bourbon tastings, bites from local eateries, the auction and fashion show, photo booths, or the crazy dance floor – there is something for everyone. Most of all the best part is seeing how many people come out to help create a world without type 1 diabetes.”

Brooke will share her story in front of 2,000 guests at the event, which will be held at the Duke Energy Center. While the Bourbon & BowTie Bash has already sold out of admission tickets again this year, a limited number of sponsorships are available. For more information, visit www.jdrfbourbon.org. To learn more about JDRF, visit swojdrf.org. 

 

This according to a recent proclamation in German newspaper Allgemeine Zeitung Mainz. First held in 1976, Oktoberfest Zinzinnati has grown to be this nation’s largest Oktoberfest celebration with more than 650,000 people attending each year. The 2018 event will showcase the rich German heritage of Southwest Ohio, including German-style food, oom-pah music and nearly 100 varieties of beer. Oktoberfest Zinzinnati will run Friday, September 21 through Sunday, September 23 on Second and Third Streets in downtown Zinzinnati.

Speaking of running, Oktoberfest Zinzinnati kicks off September 21 at 11 a.m. with the Running of the Wieners. This annual showdown features 100 racing dachshunds, competing to be the fast and the furriest on Cincinnati’s Freedom Way at The Banks. 

Roll out the barrels! 2,000 barrels of beer are expected to be consumed at Oktoberfest Zinzinnati along with 25,000 potato pancakes, 24,000 soft pretzels and 225,000 bratwurst, mettwurst and sausages!

Joey “Jaws” Chestnut will do his part, Sunday, September 23 at 2 p.m. at the Oktoberfest Zinzinnati World Brat Eating Championship. Major League Eater Joey Chestnut is the eight-time champion and holds the world bratwurst eating record, inhaling 70 brats in 10 minutes at Oktoberfest Zinzinnati, 2013.

Hungry for more? 

Throughout the weekend, you will experience Oktoberfest Zinzinnati favorites, including the World’s Largest Chicken Dance. In 1994, the Crown Prince of Bavaria was Grand Marshal of Oktoberfest Zinzinnati, helping set the world record for the World’s Largest Chicken Dance, with nearly 50,000 participants. Other past Grand Marshals include Al Hirt, Weird Al Yankovic, Davey Jones, Verne Troyer, Eddie Money, Vince Neil, George Takei, Cincinnati’s own Nick and Drew Lachey, Cincinnati Bengals Andy Dalton and A.J. Green, and the newest Major League Soccer (MLS) team, FC Cincinnati.

Official opening ceremonies are Saturday morning, September 22, 11:30 am, with a ceremonial keg tapping by Sam Adams founder (and Cincinnati native) Jim Koch. Oktoberfest Zinzinnati is presented by Sam Adams and Amazon and produced by the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber.

Need Oktoberfest Zinzinnati information on hours, directions, beers, brats, chicken-dancing or wiener dogs? Get details at OktoberfestZinzinnati.com. 

Prost!

Summer concert season isn’t over yet – there are still plenty of amazing concerts coming to Riverbend throughout September!

Kicking it off are the Counting Crows, bringing their 25 years of rock music to the Riverbend stage. With so much music to choose from, every concert is unique and exciting!  The band is excited to be touring with multi-platinum rock band +LIVE+; when old friends come together to perform, the result is an auditory explosion.

Do you like your rock music Southern-style?  Don’t miss South Carolina rock   band NEEDTOBREATHE!  Widely acknowledged by music devotees and media tastemakers for their anthemic, alt-rock dynamic, NEEDTOBREATHE has a unique sound that has “carved out a niche in rock music” (Billboard) and had Rolling Stone dubbing the group “an anomaly in the pop music landscape.” NEEDTOBREATHE was championed by People magazine as “easy to love” for their unique mix of “infectious pop melodies to their signature Southern rock.”

Pentatonix will take the stage in early September…do we even need to explain who they are?  A world-wide phenomenon, Pentatonix is an a-cappella singing group that has sold out concert after concert, year after year.  Their unique takes on pop music (as well as original tunes) make for an amazing musical experience.

Country music fans will be happy to spend a night out listening to Lady Antebellum and Darius Rucker (formerly of Hootie & the Blowfish).  And of the country’s most successful independent bands, Dispatch, will be sharing their brand-new sound at Riverbend as well. 

Tickets for these shows are on sale now at www.riverbend.org.  Don’t miss out on the chance to see these incredible performers live!

 

Marvel fans, assemble for this live, legendary battle to defend the universe from evil. The Avengers, the Guardians of the Galaxy and Spider-Man join forces with Doctor Strange, master of the mystic arts, in a race against time to recover the Wand of Watoomb before it falls into Loki’s hands in this all-new, spectacular arena stunt show.

Produced by Feld Entertainment, Marvel Universe LIVE! is performing at U.S. Bank Arena from Sept. 20 to Sept. 23 for seven performances. Tickets are on sale now.

Show times are: Thursday, Sept. 20, 7 p.m.; Friday, Sept. 21, 7 p.m.; Saturday, Sept. 22, 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.; and Sunday, Sept. 23, 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Audiences will join in the quest that sparks new feuds with old foes, pitting student against mentor, sister against sister and brother against brother. Witness cutting-edge special effects, aerial maneuvers, pyrotechnics, martial arts, motorcycle stunts and vast 3D video projection mapping in this completely new thrilling adventure. 

Tickets for Marvel Universe LIVE! start at $20. All seats are reserved, and tickets are available at Ticketmaster by phone at 800-745-3000, and online at www.ticketmaster.com.