Cover Story
35 ways to make your Kentucky Derby memorable
We know your attention span is limited this time of year to about two minutes long… So here is a quick list of what all y’all need to know to make your visit to Louisville, the River City… Derby City… the most fun and memorable… before and after the Big Event on Saturday. YOU’VE ARRIVED…
The Kentucky Derby, a day of contradictions
There’s something to be said for Hunter S. Thompson’s iconic quote, and the title of his article featured in a 1970 issue of Scanlan’s Monthly, “The Kentucky Derby is Decadent and Depraved.” Over the years, as a Louisvillian, I’ve always simply thought he was talking about how debauched we all get in our pricey duds,…
Rabbit Hole, NuLu’s newest distillery is like Willy Wonka’s factory for the 21-plus crowd
I’m not that original, so my initial idea was to do a Hunter S. Thompson gonzo-style take on my Derby-related assignment for the LEO this year, the Rabbit Hole Distillery Grand Opening. I mean, it’s not really a good look to get banned from a venue three blocks from your home, but I was willing…
Derby Coverage 2018: Photos from the neighborhood surrounding Churchill Downs
Every year, friendly faces greet you on the walk into Churchill Downs, as area residents and others sell food, clothes, rides and other items. Hanging out in the surrounding neighborhood is a good way to get quality barbecue and hear interesting stories. This is who we met this year. “Every year during Derby time we…
10 under $5 – What To Do This Week In Louisville (5/7)
MONDAY Watch A Show With Friends Various locations Free | Times vary Looking for somewhere to chill while watching an interesting flick? Starting at 7 p.m., Kaiju is showing anime’s about muscular people, including episodes of “One Punch Man,” “Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure Stardust Crusaders” and “Dragon Ball Z.” OPEN Community Arts Center is screening Hayao Miyazaki’s…
Derby Coverage 2018: Notes from the Infield
Right after the ninth race, on the hill that descends to the Infield betting line near the entrance, two guys squared off like they were going to mud wrestle. They circled each other for a few seconds, and then both stepped back and walked away, more or less deciding that it was too cold,rainy and…
5 Things To Do This Weekend In Louisville (5/4)
FRIDAY Butchertown Race Days Copper & Kings No cover | 11 a.m. Forget horse racing — Copper & Kings is hosting tricycle races for adults. We shouldn’t have to say any more to convince you, but, just in case, the distillery is also hosting a Kentucky Artisan Market with local artists, food trucks and music…
10 concerts you shouldn’t miss in May
Dwight Yoakam Friday, May 4 Iroquois Amphitheater One of country music’s most under-the-radar stars, Dwight Yoakam has a throwback Bakersfield-leaning honky-tonk sound that’s breezy and sharp. The Messthetics Tuesday, May 8 Zanzabar The rhythm section of Fugazi joined up with experimental guitarist Anthony Pirog, forming an instrumental, atmospheric and winding indie band harpy Saturday, May…
What you can and can’t bring into Derby and Oaks
A few years back, a stumbling, drunk stranger asked me if I had any pizza in a bag, as we walked across the highway bridge heading toward the Derby. I laughed, and then asked her why someone would carry around pizza in a bag. Five minutes later, she tapped me on the shoulder and pointed…
Drag Queen Stevie Dicks: ‘You could see beauty, camp or pure filth’
Remember that captivating drag queen on the cover of the latest issue of LEO who is wearing the silver mask? That’s Stevie Dicks, a drag queen who loves to keep you guessing. While other drag queens are rhinestoning their outfits, Dicks is figuring out how to make her fingers look like octopus tentacles. You can…
Derby has become predictable, but…
Picking the winner of the Kentucky Derby has been a relatively easy undertaking the last five years. It’s been as simple as looking at the tote board, identifying the horse with the lowest odds and sprinting to the betting windows to place a wager. Forget intricate handicapping methods. Just follow the money to the winner’s…
…our readers know best
…You’ve heard from us about where we like to go Derby week, but here is a taste of what our readers said in LEO Weekly’s 2017 Readers’ Choice Awards. Dining Best BBQ 1. Feast BBQ 2. Momma’s Mustard, Pickles & BBQ 3. Mark’s Feed Store Best Breakfast 1. Wild Eggs 2. Highland Morning 3. North…
Tired of so much winning: Bevin and the Courts
Gov. Matt Bevin lost another court battle last Tuesday, failing to convince the Franklin Circuit Court that Attorney General Andy Beshear had violated legal ethics. The claim was flimsy. Beshear, who has a statutory obligation to advise the legislature, had warned the legislators that a pension bill they were considering was unconstitutional. When they passed…
Thorns & Roses: The Worst, Best & Most Absurd
Carpetbagger go home | Rose Mayor Greg Fischer gets a rose for clearly stating his opposition to a state takeover of Jefferson County Public Schools, which appears is being pushed by carpetbagger, we mean Gov. Matt “I’m Not Sorry” Bevin. In a short video, the mayor said he told the governor’s henchman, er.. interim state…
Fugazi’s rhythm section has a new instrumental band, The Messthetics
The instrumental music of The Messthetics is a change of pace for drummer Brendan Canty and bassist Joe Lally, otherwise known as the rhythm section for long-missed indie titans Fugazi. A trio made complete with virtuosic guitar player Anthony Pirog, The Messthetics present a blank canvas for the listener, unlike with Fugazi, which, for better…
Three concerts on Derby Eve
It’s the night before Derby, and everyone’s looking to get out, and there’s a ton to do. Street festivals. Black tie galas with celebrities that people fawn over for some reason. And music. If you’re looking to catch a concert, there are plenty. Here are three suggestions. Dwight Yoakam Iroquois Amphitheater | $50-$70 One of…
Sonic Breakdown: Howell Dawdy — ‘I’m Done’
[LEO’s biweekly Sonic Breakdown column deconstructs a single song from a Louisville musician or band.] Alexander Smith’s sharp, satirical solo project Howell Dawdy bounces from pop to hip-hop to country. He isn’t your average wordsmith and “I’m Done” is a prime testament. The song concerns itself with the shared and universal reality that life can,…
New voices sing… park it for Shakespeare
A parent-teacher conference is the subject of Safietou Gueve’s 10-minute play “Kids, They Say the Darndest Things,” directed by Janelle R. Dunn.” The teacher, Mrs. Alexander (Rigel Harris), tells the mom, Erin (Alaina Kai) that young Lola (Cadence Diggs) is an excellent student. Although Lola is having problems writing the letter “E,” her recent paper…
Justin Golak: ‘Comedy is not real life’
Comedian Justin Golak wants to know why we all don’t talk about sex more with each other. The Chicago-based comedian compares it to eating. “You wouldn’t think twice about telling your friends you’re hungry. Why can’t you tell them you’re horny?” Last year, Golak released his third album, “American Apathy,” and Tuesday he brings his…
Comic Book Reviews: ‘The Best We Could Do’ and ‘The Wilds’
‘The Best We Could Do’ Writer and artist Thi Bui Review by Kyle Thompson, The Great Escape Louisville Both of my grandfathers fought in the Vietnam War, yet I know hardly anything about it. Thi Bui’s illustrated memoir, “The Best We Could Do,” is a thrilling story of Bui trying to understand how her parents…
Jamaican deliciousness at Roof Top Grill
Let’s tear down that wall, the imaginary one along Ninth Street that some people think separates The West End from the rest of the city. I can’t think of a better time than Derby season to do it, and I’ve got a great destination in mind: Roof Top Grill, a friendly eatery that turns out…
The Swiss Hall dream has died
Too good to be true? Apparently. Word in the local beer community at the end of last year was that Against the Grain Brewery and Smokehouse was poised to purchase the Meriwether building, aka Swiss Hall, with the idea of turning it into a German-style beer garden and community center. At least one news outlet…
Ask Minda Honey: Sex in the city… finally
In a relationship or life jam? Lemme unstuck your life — send your questions to: AskMindaHoney@leoweekly.com or reach out to me on Facebook.com/AskMindaHoney Hey y’all, I’m fresh out of questions. Send Me Some. While I wait for that to happen, I thought I’d catch you readers up on what I’ve been doing with my life…
Savage Love: Quickies
Q: I wish I had a better question, but this is all I have: My friends and I were discussing the nuances of a straight orgy (a roughly equal number of male and female participants) versus a gang bang (one woman, many men), and we observed that there is no proper name for a one…
Derby shade, America’s Dumbest Criminals and bad tailoring
Derby time! I can’t wait! Tally ho! Must we act out this tedious charade year in, year out? The one where you pretend to love the nags, while at least I remain true to form by wallowing in apathy? Meh, I’m not a lover, but definitely not a hater. Brings out the best in Louisville,…
West of Ninth: People, in their own words… (5/2/18)
“I’ll be 60 this year. I was raised up in a time where there was a lot of jazz being played. So, jazz led me to play the trumpet and other instruments. When I was 5 years old, I seen jazz musicians on TV. Watching them make the sounds with the instruments, using their hands,…
School state takeover a ploy
“Public schools all over the country have problems, charter schools have problems, independent schools have problems, private schools have problems. They have problems with curriculum, they have problems with race, they have problems with gender, they have problems with history. It’s up to us to fix those things,” Dr. Ricky L. Jones said, explaining why…
