Stella’s Kentucky Derby Party

Angela Panzica, Bill Read Steve Apt, Peyton Parker, Barry Davis

Stella’s Elixir Lounge’s Kentucky Derby Watch Party

Photos by Steve Babin

Guests gathered to watch the run for the roses on May 1 at Stella’s Elixir Lounge, Huntsville’s premier rooftop cocktail spot downtown. Around 200 attended the first of what will become an annual event.

Tim Cannon sang My Old Kentucky Home before the main race and later provided entertainment for the attendees who were dressed to impress in their big hats, bow ties and best Derby attire. Derby drinks flowed including the Mint Julep, Horse’s Neck, Kentucky Mule, and Oaks Lily; and Maker’s Mark swag was raffled off. Flowers and décor were arranged by 333 Designs, featuring a rose-covered bar.

“Growing up an hour and a half north of Louisville, Ky., the Derby was always a big event for my family. It’s also the longest running sporting event in the United States, dating back to 1875. Stella’s wanted to honor the long running history and traditions. The Derby party proved how much people were looking forward to celebrating again, and that really made it a special day!” said Owner/General Manager Angela Panzica. n

Patrick Temple, Sonia Kropf Christy Beck, Kim Savage, Glenda Davila

Rachel Granger, Fern Brazda, Angela Panzica, Nancy Waldron, Michelle Nash, Kellie Donaldson, Mia Myers

TJ Paysinger, Cody Sowell, Stephen Hardiman, Angela Panzica, Bill Read, Sara Bayles, Angelique Hangartner, Lee Logsdon

Written by Judy S. Ryals, Pres./CEO

Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau

Summertime is a great time to get out and experience all that our community has to offer! You can visit four of the top ten paid tourist attractions in Alabama right here in Madison County. The Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, U.S. Space & Rocket Center, Huntsville Botanical Garden and the Huntsville Museum of Art were all included in the 2020 top ten list recently released by the Alabama Tourism Department. Memberships to these and other attractions are a great way to show support, and many times can pay for themselves with just a couple of visits. An added benefit is the discount offered for great shopping in attraction gift shops.

Head out to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center for a day of family-friendly fun. See exhibits like Drones: Is the Sky the Limit? and Space Craze: A Space-Age Journey Through Pop Culture. Don’t forget that you can add a Mission Experience to your admission for an even more memorable visit. The Intuitive® Planetarium is the perfect place to stay cool and marvel at the wonders of our galaxy.

It’s peak butterfly season at the Huntsville Botanical Garden. The Purdy Butterfly House is alive with the fluttering of delicate wings for all to enjoy. The garden is offering some great events like Uncaged: Birds, Nature & You along with the breathtaking Night Blooms: a botanical dreamscape where flowers glow from within, and light transforms the landscape into a new world, waiting to be explored! Night Blooms takes place from July 21 through September 26 on Wednesday through Sunday evenings. Take it all in and immerse yourself in nature at the Huntsville Botanical Garden.

Burritt on the Mountain’s GeoQuest is a great family-friendly activity that uses clues and GPS technology to lead you on a hunt to collect sets of Quest Cards. Their City Lights and Stars Concert Series features performances from some of the area’s most popular musicians. Enjoy the great outdoors, fantastic view, and cooler temperature, at Burritt on the Mountain!

Huntsville Restaurant Week is August 13-22. This is the perfect way to show your support for the locally owned and operated restaurants that have faced so many challenges over the past year. Get out and sample the culinary offerings available. Check out our website www.huntsville.org/restaurantweek for a list of participating restaurants.

The Rocket City Trash Pandas are playing their inaugural season at Toyota Field in Town Madison. Catch AA baseball at its finest and cheer for the Trash Pandas in their beautiful new stadium. The Von Braun Center is hosting numerous sporting events, performances and shows for our enjoyment. The Huntsville Museum of Art galleries are filled with a variety of exhibitions including WE THE PEOPLE: Portraits of Veterans in America by Mary Whyte. WhistleStop Weekend is back! This perennial event will be held at a new location, John Hunt Park, on August 13-14. Come out for the food, fun and music. The events and activities listed below are scheduled for July and August. Please use this list as a starting point and visit huntsville.org for updates. Invite your friends and family to visit, so they can experience the true southern hospitality that’s so much a part of this community.

Ongoing events: Drones: Is the Sky the Limit?; Space Craze: A Space-Age Journey Through Pop Culture and Summer STEAM in the Park, U.S. Space & Rocket Center Rocket City Trash Pandas (AA Baseball) inaugural season at Toyota Field in

Town Madison – Now - September Madison County Marker Challenge, countywide Rocket City Civil Rights Driving Tour Tweetsville & Purdy Butterfly House, Huntsville Botanical Garden Spotlight on the Collection: Buccellati; Impressionist Landscapes from the

Sellars Collection (through July 11); Jack Mitchell: Artists (through August 8);

Encounters: Greely Myatt (through August 29); WE THE PEOPLE: Portraits of Veterans in America by Mary Whyte (through September 26), Huntsville Museum of Art GeoQuest (through September 9), Burritt on the Mountain Rooted in History: Interpreting Alabama’s Folk Art Traditions (through September 7),

Harrison Brothers Hardware From the Onyx Lens – featuring works by Huntsville Black Photographers (through August 31), Von Braun Center, Arts Huntsville Gallery (between the

Mark C. Smith Concert Hall and the VBC Playhouse) Night Blooms, Wednesday through Sunday nights (July 21 – September 26),

Huntsville Botanical Garden Toys: The Inside Story (through September 10), EarlyWorks Children’s Museum

Recurring events: Concerts in the Park, Big Spring International Park – Mondays (through August 9) Rocket City Rover Mixer Rides, downtown Huntsville – weekly on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays Cocktails at the View, Burritt on the Mountain – weekly on Wednesdays $5 After 5, Huntsville Museum of Art – weekly on Thursdays Greene Street Market at Nativity – weekly on Thursdays Friday Night Art Walk, downtown Huntsville – weekly on Fridays Bikes & Brews, downtown Huntsville – monthly on the first Friday Rocket City Improv Presents, Shenanigans Comedy Theatre – monthly on the first Friday Trucks vs. Trailers food truck events, downtown Huntsville – first and third Fridays Downtown Walking Tours presented by Scenethat Walking Tours – weekly on Saturdays and Sundays Outdoor Market, Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment – weekly on Saturdays The Market at Leigh Acres – weekly on Saturdays The Market at MidCity – weekly on Sundays

One-time events: City Lights and Stars Concert Series, Burritt on the Mountain, Eric Essex, July 2; Lamont Landers, July 23; Calypso Vision, August 13; Huntsville in the Mood Band, September 10 Rumours: A Fleetwood Mac Tribute, Mars Music Hall, Von Braun Center, July 24 Art Tour of Homes, August 21 North Alabama Twickenham Doll Show and Sale, Jaycee Community Building, August 21 Huntsville Coffee & Tea Festival, August 29 Cotton Row Run, downtown Huntsville, September 6 n