Photograph (far left) courtesy of the Brown Hotel; (left and right) courtesy of the 21c Museum Hotel; (above far right) by Erin Trimble, coutesy of Butchertown Grocery; (below far right) courtesy of Mayan Café
Urban Bourbon Trail Bourbon connoisseurs and wannabes can explore classic tastes and modern takes at more than two dozen bars and restaurants, some with up to 150 bourbons behind the bar. Track your journey with a passport from the Visitors Center or any participating business. Louisville Visitors
SHOP Clay & Cotton In the business of household happiness, Clay & Cotton offers a variety of apparel and home goods. Why buy any old gravy boat when you could purchase one that feels like a gift to yourself? 1341 Bardstown
Rd. (502) 456-5536, clayandcotton.com
Center, 301 S 4th St. (502) 379-6109, bourboncountry. com/things-to-do/urbanbourbon-trail/
Discoveries Adventurous souls, take note. Oneof-a-kind jewelry and conversation starters for the rest of the wardrobe make nearly everything in this shop feel like the first step on a personal quest.
The Kentucky Derby The horse race is now in its 144th season, continuing at the famed Churchill Downs racetrack. The fashion, fanfare, and big betting at the official event are accompanied by lively tailgating and unofficial outfield events that are also part of the tradition. 700 Central
Scout Although the store claims to peddle “whatnots, knickknacks, tchotchkes, thingamajigs, and doolollies,” many of the gifts and home décor are smart, understated, and well-crafted. Modern and quirky live happily side-by-side at Scout. 720
Ave. (502) 636-4400, kentuckyderby.com
1315 Bardstown Rd. (502) 451-5034, discoveries.cc
E Market St. (502) 584-8989, scoutonmarket.com
Fare Play: (clockwise from left) Proof on Main offers an ever-changing menu at the 21c Museum Hotel; Butchertown Grocery's Bobby Benjamin crafts scratch-made fare; Mayan Café brings Yucatán flavors to the Louisville lineup.
Famed distilleries such as Jim Beam and Woodford Reserve strip things down to the essentials, and have helped define the regional economy and culture for more than two centuries. Today, however, the Urban Bourbon Trail offers a spirited romp across neighborhoods to distilleries, bars, and restaurants with at least 50 bourbons on the list. A classic spot for respite after long days or nights exploring “The ’Ville” is the centuryold Brown Hotel, a monument to perfectly appointed luxury. The hotel prides itself on past guests including figures such as the Duke of Windsor and Queen Marie of Romania, as well as hometown “royalty” boxer Muhammad Ali. Louisville is decidedly its own, except for one time of year, when the atmosphere is unabashedly Southern—The Kentucky Derby. The horse race and official events last only one day, but for the entire first week of May, offices close early and the mint juleps flow. Out come the vibrant flowers and front-porch affairs. Fedoras and bowlers for gents, widebrimmed hats or sculptural fascinators for the ladies. It’s a time when old-fashioned ways are celebrated with modern panache and uninhibited self-expression. In other words, it’s perfectly Louisville.
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