RP: Louisville, KY

[cransplash]

Earlier this year, I asked for recs for Louisville. DH and I booked our hotel and we're heading down 11/21-11/23 weekend. Our main trip is to see the musical Newsies (LOVE the movie, can't wait to see it on the stage). We will have a car and we've already booked our hotel.

Our agenda:
Friday- Arrive @ Hyatt Regency (downtown) around 7pm
Saturday- Evan Williams Distillery Tour (downtown) @ 10:20am (1 hour)
Saturday night- Newsies @ 8pm (The Kentucky Center)
Sunday- Leave for home (afternoon- pref around 4pm)

I know we don't have a lot of time down there, and based on the posts from earlier, these are where we are thinking of eating and seeing. I just don't know if it's feasible. Can you tell me what I should/shouldn't do based on our timeframe?

Sightseeing recs:
- Running through Cherokee Park (I run, DH doesn't. Is this something I can do in the morning on Sat before the bourbon tour? Not sure how safe the area is). Is it worth it?
- Churchill Downs (what is there to do? how long should we look around? is there a tour we should book?)
- (any other place that is a must?)

Food recs:
- Mark's Feed Store & BBQ- have heard good things about their buttermilk pie, BBQ, Burgoo Stew
- Havana Rumba- we don't have Cuban food here where I live so something different
- Brown Hotel- Kentucky Hot Brown
- Nord's Bakery- I LOVE doughnuts!

[cransplash]

Aug 14, 2014 19:15:44 GMT -5 mryrcn said:

You should page FormerCityGirl from over on S&B. I can tell you don't waste any calories on the hot brown. It's terrible. Eat derby pie though instead.

Seriously? isn't Louisville famous for it? 
tbh, it never sounded appetizing to me!

[librarygirl]

Just wanted to chime in that I tried a Hot Brown last summer for the first time when I was in Kentucky and really liked it. No, it's not something I could eat everyday (way toooo rich) but I enjoyed the taste all the same. Another Kentucky specialty I had that I liked was burgoo stew (it tastes better than its name).

[FormerCityGirl]

For really good food, I'd check out Milkwood or 610 Magnolia.   610 Magnolia is owned and operated by Ed Lee from Top Chef. Milkwood is his other restaurant that's a small plate restaurant.   We haven't made it to those, but mainly out of not spending time in that immediate area.  Ed Lee is usually in charge of the Forecastle Festival Bourbon tent's food.  We typically hang out in the Highlands and haven't had a bad meal there yet.   Jack Fry's is so good.   They had a Chef nominated for a James Beard award at one point.  The food is still outstanding.  We love the homemade ice cream and pie shops for desert.   The Silver Dollar in the Clifton area serves a lot of comfort food, makes all of their own sauces, cures all of their meats, and makes all of their drink mixers.  You can also find Pappy Van Winkle there (mryrcn).

We haven't done races at Churchill Downs, but have been to the museum.  They had Mine That Bird (2009 winner) there to promote the movie 50 to 1 and we wanted to see him.  We were seriously fascinated by him and I took a massive amount of pictures.  The museum is nice and the volunteers are great.  They actually have an exhibit where you can watch any Derby ever on a big screen.  You basically scroll through them and can watch whatever you want.  I watch the Derby coverage for the entire weekend and love the fashion and history.  If you like Derby, I'd check out the museum.  I think they have museum tours frequently. 

I haven't been to Cherokee Park, but by looking it up I think you should be safe unless something isolated happens.  Louisville is big on historic preservation and that's an area that has a lot going on.

[cransplash]

mryrcn and @libarygirl- Interesting... I'm kind of hoping DH will get it. That way I can just take a bite out of his.

FormerCityGirl- Thanks for the PM and your recs. I've added them onto my spreadsheet and will look up the websites. All we want to do it eat eat eat.