ON THE ROAD LOUISVILLE
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hile exploring 10 miles of aisles and scoping out 900 exhibitors at the ABC Kids Expo will certainly keep buyers busy, attendees should save a little time to check out the city of Louisville outside convention hall walls. Here are the must-sees and dos in Louisville, from local industry insiders.
Mint julep
Fiona Starks, owner of Animal Crackers children’s boutique, part of the Louisville retail community for more than 40 years, with brands ranging from Bunnies by the Bay, Eeboo, and Kissy Kissy to Little Giraffe, Vineyard Vines and Lilly Pulitzer (www. animalcrackerschildren.com). Favorite spa: A tiny spot located in St. Matthews called Abeille. They do amazing facials, massages, manicures and pedicures. (www.abeillespa.com). Must sip: You couldn’t talk about Louisville without discussing the famed mint julep—the traditional drink of the Kentucky Derby. Bourbon, crushed ice, simple syrup and crushed mint make this a favorite of all visitors.
Lunchtime classic: The Benedictine and bacon sandwich. Benedictine spread is comprised of cucumber, cream cheese, onion, mayo and Tabasco. It was first whipped up by the late Miss Jennie C. Benedict of Louisville, KY, for dainty tea sandwiches in the 1890s. It’s now often served with a hearty slice of bacon on bread.
Jennifer Broaddus Jones, owner of JB and Me children’s store, which specializes in clothing, toys and gifts, with brands ranging from Hartstrings, Haven Girl and Wes & Willy to Melissa and Doug, Mudpie and Manhattan Toy (www.Jbandmeshop.com). Must try restaurant: Havana Rumba, serving Cuban food at its finest (www. havanarumbaonline.com).
5 2 E A R N S H AW S . C O M • S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 1
• Experienced thoroughbred horseracing • Been to the No. 1 hotel in the U.S. (21C, as rated by Condé Nast in 2010)
• Cruised the oldest operating
sternwheeler on the Ohio River
• Seen a Louisville Slugger handcrafted • Visited the museum of hometown hero Mohammed Ali
• Visited the only British Royal Armory
Favorite local cuisine: Anything made from farm to plate.
in the U.S.
• Stopped by the hotels that inspired
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby Notable hotel: The Brown Hotel is the essence • Picked strawberries off the vine, of Louisville. It’s leisurely paced with excellent peaches off the trees or made a food, and is the home of the original Kentucky BLT with garden fresh tomatoes Hot Brown, an open-faced turkey and bacon • Swung on the rope swing at 18 Mile sandwich with Mornay sauce. The Hot Brown Island dates back to the 1920s, when the hotel hosted opulent dinner dances that “...home of the original Kentucky drew nightly crowds Hot Brown, an open-faced turkey of 1,200 (www. and bacon sandwich.” brownhotel.com).
Look forward to: The people. People in Louisville are more apt to hold a door, ask how your day is or even smile at strangers. Louisville is friendly, warm and very family-oriented.
Eric V. Seemann, CEM, CMP All Baby & Child Inc. (www.theabcshow.com). Best thing about Louisville: Its authenticity. From the people to the accommodations, and from the eateries to the entertainment, what you see is what you get. It’s authentic without pretense, with straightforward honest people who genuinely welcome each visitor to the city.
You haven’t been to Louisville if you haven’t:
Churchill Downs
The Brown Hotel
Did you know: Louisville is home to more privately-owned restaurants per capita than any other city in the U.S., second only to New York City. A good place to find a listing of local restaurants in every flavor is www.louisvilleoriginals.com.
architect Frederick Law Olmsted, designer of New York’s Central Park, Biltmore Estate and the U.S. Capital Grounds. The parks, like Cherokee and Seneca, are all strikingly land- and plant-scaped with walking, riding and running paths.
Parks & recreation: Louisville’s park system was designed by famed landscape
Local libation: Kentucky Bourbon, hands down.