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SEIZE THE NOW
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THE BOURBON CLASSIC
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FEBRUARY 2026
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SEIZE THE NOW
AN 82-YEAR-OLD FORMER PASTOR FINDS PURPOSE THROUGH PRESENCE & TRAVEL Writer / Carrie Vittitoe
In the 1989 film “Dead Poets Society,” actor Robin Williams, as English teacher Mr. Keating, urges his students to “carpe diem” as they examine photographs of the young men who preceded them at a New England boarding school. Seizing the day is of the utmost importance since one day these boys, like the ones in the pictures, will become food for worms. It is a sentiment we should all be reminded of periodically.
were some drawbacks to the career.
The ability to be present in the moment is something Peter Tremain, 82, has tried to do throughout his life. That task can feel pretty easy when he is adventuring across continents and seeing awe-inspiring beauty, which he has done as a solo traveler for the past 15 or so years. But being present has also been heartbreaking when he worked 70 hours a week as a Lutheran pastor while his late wife, Mary Ann, struggled with Parkinson’s disease and Lewy body dementia.
After his first year of college, he met and began dating Mary Ann Mizel, and they married in 1965. Together they started a family, and Peter began his long career as a pastor, largely in various Kansas cities, but also in Oklahoma. When their children were in high school, Mary Ann began experiencing symptoms that were eventually diagnosed as Parkinson’s disease. Her condition worsened, but Peter still had almost a decade until he could retire. For eight years, female members of their church congregation volunteered in twoto three-hour shifts, seven days a week, to provide caregiving for Mary Ann so Peter could continue his pastoral caregiving for the church.
Originally, Peter thought he might want to be a farmer when he was a boy in Illinois, but eventually he decided ministry was his path, in part because his oldest brother — 14 years his senior — was a minister in Wisconsin. Peter had a feel for what the profession entailed. He recognized there 6 | February 2026 | TownePost.com
“I was terrified of talking in front of people, and I knew that pastors didn’t make any money,” he says. But he saw some positives, too. In addition to having a flexible schedule and having music be part of his life, he thought, “If I become a pastor, God has got to like me.”
When Peter retired from ministry in 2008,
he began two new journeys: one as primary caregiver for his wife and the other as a writer. Every evening, once he got Mary Ann settled in bed, he wrote a blog post on his site, thecaregivercalling.com, an effort that was therapeutic for him as well as comforting for other caregivers who read his words. Two years later, when Mary Ann died, Peter was left largely unmoored. They had been married for nearly 45 years, and he had been completely immersed in his caregiving role. What would he do with himself now? What he did was venture to Australia and New Zealand. Peter had been inspired by a congregation member who had posted photos of a visit to the region, but he was going mostly to escape. “I couldn’t imagine my life without Mary Ann,” he says. A big adventure gave his mind something to do besides wallow in grief, which is really all he felt like doing. A trip across the world would give him a sense of purpose he had lost when Mary Ann died.
Top of Mackinnon pass on the Milford Track
“It was my attempt at finding an identity,” he says. Since that time, travel has continued to be a life-sustaining part of who Peter is, as well as an inspiration for others who follow his journeys and consider what their post-retirement lives could be. Since 2011, he says, “I have traveled to 30 different countries and have visited 16 of them more than once.” When he leaves the U.S. to travel, he is gone anywhere from two to five months at a time. His home base in the U.S. is now with his daughter and son-in-law in Middletown. Peter’s experience as a pastor has come in
handy in his travels.
an important learning experience. He says he has learned to be less apprehensive. If he goes the wrong way on a train or gets off at the wrong bus stop, he has learned that he will figure it out.
“I spent my career tuning in to the nonverbals — body language, facial expressions and tone of voice — so that I could understand what people were feeling,” His idea to write a book about his travels — he says. “I learned how to help people feel safe and secure talking with me. As a result, the first of which was published in 2025 and is titled “The Destination Is Now: New Zealand I was able to make connections quickly.” and Australia” — began shortly after that initial trip, but it took many years to come to Peter has met countless people during his travels and has become close enough friends fruition. He connected with Walt Wangerin, a professor at Valparaiso University and prolific with some of them to stay in their homes writer, who mentored him briefly, but it wasn’t when he visits. until Peter joined a writer’s workshop while living in Missouri that the bug to write for Many people travel in retirement, but not everyone is a solo traveler who isn’t part of a publication truly bit him. group. Being literally “on his own” has been
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“From the moment I walked in and was greeted warmly by the leader, poet Jen Harris, also known as Frances Story, I felt as if I had found my people,” he says. Harris later became his writing coach and editor. As a pastor, Peter did his fair share of sermon writing, but the content shifted when he began composing his caregiver blogs. It changed again as he began writing his memoir. Peter continues sharing his
writing on his Substack, also called “The Destination Is Now,” and another book is likely in the future. While the topics Peter writes about change depending on where he is in the world, who he is with and what he is doing, some themes have remained constant throughout his life. “I wrote in a way that intended to bring people with me into each moment I was writing about,” he says. “The moment we are
in — the present — is the essence of life.” He reflects on the trajectories of his life and says, “I was fully present in the moment as a kid playing in the swamp, fully present in the moment when singing in choirs, fully present when interacting with parishioners immersed in their lives at important times, fully present each moment of each day when taking care of Mary Ann, and now I try to be 100% engaged with the people I meet in my travels.”
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FEED LOUISVILLE LOCAL ORGANIZATION TURNS SURPLUS FOOD INTO COMMUNITY SUPPORT Writer / Julie Yates
grocery stores and food distributors, it transforms surplus food into hundreds of healthy meals. The meals, made in the Feed Louisville commissary kitchen, plus rescued pantry staples, are picked up or delivered to agencies and programs such as women’s shelters, temporary housing facilities, street outreaches and smaller pantries.
Feed Louisville is an organization with a twofold mission. While alleviating hunger in the community, the nonprofit fights food waste. Working with community partners such as restaurants, caterers, bakeries, farms, 10 | February 2026 | TownePost.com
than 700,000 meals for the community and has prevented more than 1 million pounds of food from being dumped in landfills. In addition, it has distributed more than 400,000 pounds of foodstuffs and snacks to at least 24 human service partner agencies.
The organization began in March 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic forced soup kitchens and other resources to shut down. According to Rhona Bowles Kamar, After a conversation Kamar had with street executive director and founder, up to 40% of outreach volunteer Donny Green, the two food produced goes to waste in the United co-founded an initiative with the goal of States, yet 16% of Kentuckians don’t know supplying meals to the food-insecure and where their next meal is coming from. Since unhoused population in the Louisville area. it began, Feed Louisville has prepared more
“At the time I was renting out kitchen space in Douglas Boulevard Christian Church and running my own catering company,” Kamar says. “Donny and I talked about how people living on the streets were hurting. Everyone has the human need for food and the right to have access to it. I asked what would be helpful, and he said 500 hot meals.” Initially, a few hundred meals a week were provided and delivered by Green. Then, as the former co-owner of Ramsi’s Café on the World, Kamar was able to reach out to several contacts in the hospitality industry. Within two months, 16 restaurants were on board supplying meals for the organization to distribute. Money was raised, and
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the participating restaurants were paid $2 a meal, although some did it for free. Eventually, excess food from farmers, bakers and others began to be donated, and the initiative shifted to a food rescue model. In 2023, the operation moved to an 8,000-square-foot space in the Butchertown neighborhood. Around the same time, Green moved on to work in a separate street outreach program, which continues to grow. “We are an intersection between food rescue
and hunger relief,” Kamar says. “On one side is the hospitality industry with an incredible amount of surplus food that is still viable. We have a crazy array that gets donated to us. Our partners are health department-certified, and our chefs are safe food handling experts. The meals produced are 70% from scratch and 30% sourced from catering donations. On the other side are community feeding partners, which include domestic violence shelters, human service agencies and street outreach.”
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A typical day at Feed Louisville starts about 8 a.m. Chefs arrive and start planning for the day; they already have a rough idea of what is in the freezer and what produce is on hand from farmers markets. At the same time, drivers and volunteers start picking up food from roughly 100 restaurants, caterers, farmers and bakers. Throughout the day, they continue their scheduled runs plus a few random stops at caterers who have surplus, traveling all over town.
laundry detergent, broccoli and frozen chicken. First, it is determined what is there that chefs can make a meal from. Second, what partner needs a particular item the most. For instance, baby formula would go to a women’s shelter.”
look at what we have and what we can do with it. For instance, we can freeze the zest of limes and use the juice to make sauces. We recently moved from composting to feeding pigs; it was more cost-effective and a huge benefit to the pig farmer.
During the day, meals are delivered, and others are picked up by community feeding partners. Later in the afternoon, chefs assess what is available for the next day. They may remove hamburger from the freezer and place it in a refrigerated space to thaw. Vegetables are prepped and chopped. It all concludes between 4 to 5 p.m.
“Zest, a line of grab-and-go meals, is our revenue initiative,” Kamar adds. “Nonprofits need to find ways to raise and earn their own money to create sustainability. The food is fun, globally inspired and has no dairy, gluten or soy. It is sold in Rainbow Blossom Natural Food Markets, Nori inside Story Louisville and Shawnee Public Library, 721 Mint It Herb & Juice Bar inside Logan Street Market and ValuMarket Highlands– Mid City Mall. Zest also produces two
“After the trucks come in, the dock manager unloads and weighs the load,” Kamar adds. “It is assessed and triaged. There might be two pans of brisket, a couple pans of mashed “We are committed to not wasting food,” potatoes or a beautiful casserole from a Kamar says. “We get creative with it. We catering company. Groceries could include
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varieties of Bro-itos, which are sold by Heine Brothers Coffee.” In the future, Feed Louisville would like to provide workforce training for the people they are serving by sourcing candidates through their partner agencies. Funding is being sought, and planning is slowly moving forward. A three-month, hands-on curriculum will be developed and tested carefully on a small scale. Kamar stresses that the program would be more than just training; it would ensure students are taught other skills, such as resume building, to be successful. The Louisville community can assist Feed Louisville in several ways. Besides
donations, volunteers are always needed, and typically 60 to 70 individuals give their time each week. To sign up, visit feedlouisville.org. Supporting the organization’s food rescue partners by frequenting their establishments is another way to help. Each has made the commitment to supply Feed Louisville with its surplus of viable foodstuffs when it would be easier to throw it in a dumpster. Partners are listed on the organization’s website. “Feed Louisville started as a response to a crisis,” Kamar says. “I never imagined we would be where we are today. Unless the obstacle of hunger is removed, people can’t think or focus. By removing hunger,
relationships can be built and people can move to the next level of life. Our niche is needed and unique. “This work belongs to the community. We can’t do it without our many volunteers who are in the kitchen chopping, peeling, packaging, taking in donations and organizing the walk-in, and our drivers. We have incredible community partners, committed local food producers who help keep perfectly edible food out of landfills, donors and supporters.” For more information, visit feedlouisville. org. Feed Louisville is located at 1334 Story Ave. in Louisville.
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BRINGING HISTORY TO LIFE
KENTUCKY BLACK TRAILBLAZERS PUSHES TOURISM INTO A NEW REALM Writer / Helen McKinney
Years ago, when Janette Marson discovered 19 Crimes wine bottles, she was intrigued. What caught her interest was the fact that the bottles integrated augmented reality onto the actual wine label — technology she had always wanted to use for the tourism industry. Marson is president and CEO of ShelbyKY Tourism. “The technology, of course, is hugely expensive and cost-prohibitive,” she says. That is, until ARPA grants came along. In the wake of COVID, Kentucky State Tourism received ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) money to be used for projects that included at least six cities or counties and were transformational in nature, she says. “In order for a project to actually be ‘transformational,’ it would have to be different and deeply meaningful.” That’s when the idea for Kentucky Black Trailblazers was born. Once Marson devised the initial concept for a Black history trail, she remembered the augmented reality technology of the wine bottles and wanted to integrate the two into a groundbreaking new concept for the tourism industry. She says she reached out to “the company that actually created the technology behind the 19 Crimes wine bottles, as well as Pokémon GO, and they told me that such 14 | February 2026 | TownePost.com
technology had come a long way. They asked approached six tourism partners in her if I would like to try something that had never region — ShelbyKY, Louisville, Oldham County, Bardstown, Elizabethtown and been done before — of course I said, YES!” Shepherdsville-Bullitt County — and asked if they would like to partner with her on The AR experience used in Kentucky Black the project. The next step was to submit the Trailblazers was created by an innovation project idea to Kentucky State Tourism. studio, Tactic. Peter Oberdorfer, CEO and CCO of Tactic, says tourism offices reached out to his firm stating they were interested in “They approved and gave us the go-ahead,” using AR for a series of activations at specific Marson says. locations around the state of Kentucky. Tactic It took approximately six months, including is an immersive creative and production design, casting and production, to complete studio based in San Francisco, California. the project. Tactic has worked on similar projects, as they “It’s a way to bring history to life, with a specialize in augmented reality. fully dimensional 3D reenactment that is in the context of the sites in which the history “We had worked with this sort of 3D occurred,” Oberdorfer says. performance capture before (called volumetric video) on projects, using The goal was to honor and preserve the these sorts of assets in our AR projects,” extraordinary contributions and stories of Oberdorfer say. local heroes. The project includes 19 stops, three in each county, with a fourth added He says volumetric video is the equivalent in Louisville. With just a tap of a phone to of recording real actors performing launch the experience, users can see and hear, reenactments of historical figures on a via AR, stories of Muhammad Ali, Lyman T. holographic stage consisting of 110 sensors and cameras surrounding the actor in a green Johnson, Mattie Owens, General Braddock, Dorsey Wickliffe and many more. sphere. The data is then processed into a moving 3D scan of the original performance After learning about the potential of the that is streamed over the web. Kentucky Black Trailblazers project from ShelbyKY Tourism, Kim Hydes, executive The result was a first-of-its-kind immersive experience that tells the stories of influential director of Oldham County Tourism and Conventions, “spoke with Shelby County Black Kentuckians using cutting-edge Tourism about being included, and they were augmented reality. When laying the initial thrilled to have Oldham County participate groundwork for the project, Marson
United Methodist Church in Goshen at what used to be the site of the plantation she escaped from. Henry Bibb’s marker is beside the original 1800s courthouse in Oldham’s river town of Westport, where enslaved people were auctioned in a building that is now a church. Alex Beaumont’s marker is located on the Oldham County History For Oldham County, the project was a “creative way to educate visitors and residents Center campus, where the National Park Service designations are held. alike about the role African Americans played in Oldham County’s history and its importance. Visitors have come from all over Shelbyville’s contributions are civil rights leader Whitney M. Young Jr., Elijah P. the region to connect to stories that have Marrs and the Harlem Hellfighters. These been brought to life by the project. It has individuals were chosen when, “I got a given visitors a reason to visit three separate group of Shelby County Black historians cities in Oldham County, each with their together and asked them what stories own history, but a connection that makes us needed to be told,” Marson says. the same.” as one of only six communities in this project. Oldham County’s three stops are Underground Railroad-related, which further promotes these designations by the National Park Service Network to Freedom, given to the Oldham County History Center.”
Oldham County’s contributions include Henry Bibb, Eliza Brooks and Alex Beaumont. The markers for these pioneering individuals were placed in locations where the people actually lived or aided history. Eliza Brooks’ marker is located at Shiloh
Information for Oldham County’s three stops was provided by Nancy Theiss, executive director of the Oldham County History Center. “Nancy has written numerous books and
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articles about Oldham County’s past and its connection to Black history and the Underground Railroad,” Hydes says. “Extensive research has been done for Alex Beaumont and Henry Bibb, but when the opportunity came to add a third stop, we went with the little-known story of Eliza Brooks, who escaped with her babies and a friend to Indiana by swimming the Ohio River completely unassisted. Eliza Brooks’ story is an emotional one.” Choosing who to highlight and limiting it to only three individuals for each partner was difficult. The limitation was due in part to the cost of the project. “At this time, there are no plans to create additional augmented reality experiences,” Marson says. “We have thought about expanding the project to include additional Black historical sites and people — minus the augmented reality feature.” She says feedback has been incredible.
16 | February 2026 | TownePost.com
“This project has truly been transformational for people.,” she says. “There have been some people who did not realize that the Harlem Hellfighters were actually in their family, and it brought them to tears to find out that not only were they family, but they are finally being recognized for their incredible bravery.” Hydes says she has had many visitors comment on “the lifelike feel of each trailblazer and how they feel as though the trailblazer was standing with them. ‘I have chills’ has been the most common reaction to all three.”
people who did incredible things during their lifetime has been very meaningful.” Kentucky Black Trailblazers was recently added to the Kentucky African American Heritage Trail, a journey through courage, culture and contribution. With more than 50 remarkable sites across the state, the trail shines a light on the contributions of African Americans in Kentucky’s history. In February 2025, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear visited Shelby County, where he joined tourism officials and local leaders to highlight the multicounty tourism initiative. He says the Kentucky Black Trailblazers experience “honors the profound contributions of Black Kentuckians throughout history by showcasing the diverse narratives that shape the commonwealth.”
The project is significant for telling local history. Marson says that according to local Black historians, “most Black history was not written down. It was handed down generation to generation. So much of the history has been lost. This project has helped shed light on some very important figures in Louisville Tourism President and CEO history whose stories needed to be told. Just Cleo Battle says the project “is a powerful the telling of the stories and shedding light on tribute to the influential Black figures
THE 19 KY BLACK TRAILBLAZERS EXPERIENCES that have shaped our state’s history. This immersive journey not only honors their legacies, but also educates and inspires both locals and visitors.” “I think AR is the most natural progression with experience tourism,” Hydes adds. “The challenge for tourism offices is to create memories and emotional connections to our destinations. AR is the perfect, though expensive, way to accomplish visitor connection to your history. I think AR is an up-and-coming way to really experience history … by stepping into the past. It gives me chills thinking about it!” For more information, visit kyblacktrailblazers.com.
BARDSTOWN NELSON COUNTY Daniel Arthur Rudd Dorsey Wickliffe Mack Rowan
ELIZABETHTOWN HARDIN COUNTY First Black Baptist Church General Braddock Margaret “Ma” Collier
LOUISVILLE Lyman T. Johnson Mary Cunningham Smith Muhammad Ali Center Oliver Lewis
OLDHAM COUNTY Alex Beaumont, CO E 116 USC Eliza Brooks Henry Bibb
SHELBY COUNTY Elijah P. Marrs Harlem Hellfighters Whitney M. Young, Jr.
SHEPHERDSVILLE BULLITT COUNTY Annie Reed Mattie Owens Reverend C.H. Parrish
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HISTORY FORWARD FRAZIER MUSEUM UNVEILS AMBITIOUS 2026 VISION Writer / Gavin LaPaille
connecting Kentucky’s past to its present.
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The Frazier History Museum has big and exciting plans for 2026, continuing its mission to inspire, engage and educate by
“Our brand is where the world meets Kentucky,” says Andy Treinen, museum president. “I say it all the time: There is no better place in the world to learn all there is about Kentucky culture, history, industry and people than here.” Three major initiatives are on tap at the nonprofit museum located in the heart of Museum Row on Main Street in downtown Louisville. This year marks the 250th
anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and the Frazier Museum is recognizing the milestone by highlighting important historical artifacts on display. Frazier is home to many significant pieces from a national perspective, including Teddy Roosevelt’s “big stick,” the 1875 arrest warrant for Mary Todd Lincoln and the nation’s oldest remaining Civil War monument, the Bloedner Monument. Each will receive a special decal with additional context on its place in history. Frazier is also creating several new exhibits TownePost.com | February 2026 | 19
to help educate the public during this special nationwide semiquincentennial. Pursuit of Happiness is a dynamic, handson experience based on the immortal words written by Thomas Jefferson in 1776. Through engaging activities such as secret
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I Too Am a Kentuckian opens in July and evokes words from Abraham Lincoln to celebrate 250 years of Kentucky spirit. In this powerful journey of the commonwealth’s ongoing pursuit of America’s founding ideals, visitors will feel the pride Kentucky embodies and see how the Founding Fathers’ spirit lives on in the Bluegrass State. Revolutionary Threads
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opens in August and also marks the 250th celebration by showcasing military threads throughout American history. “We have a lot of things in our collection that are significant nationally,” Treinen says. “We’re doing a lot of 250 stuff, and you’ll see that throughout the city as well.”
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Call 502-267-4249 to schedule a tour or visit www.providenceccps.com to learn more. TownePost.com | February 2026 | 21
In an effort to expand its brand statewide, the Frazier Museum is hitting the road to visit all 120 Kentucky counties and share stories from across the region. Currently located in the museum is 120: Cool KY Counties, an exhibit consisting of two touchscreen maps of Kentucky. When visitors touch a location, they are shown content specific to that county, including a text story, a video and a song by a local artist. Frazier hopes to share those stories statewide and help drive tourism to other counties. Treinen says only a small portion of the museum’s overall attendance comes from Kentucky residents who live outside neighboring counties, and he wants them to know Frazier is showcasing them as well. “We’re getting a vehicle and we’re going to every county fair and event,” Treinen says. “We want the rest of the state to understand we are sharing their story too. We met with five to six individuals in every county, and they helped us curate the story they
wanted to tell. Now we can take that out and way. She’s a brilliant woman, and she had to grind out there by herself.” show we are bringing people to their area. This was built to try to get more regional All of these new initiatives will run Kentucky people to know who we are.” alongside exhibits visitors have come to cherish over the years. Frazier remains Another new initiative highlights the home to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail accomplishments of Kentucky resident Welcome Center and continues to feature Tori Murden McClure, who became the special exhibits, events and programming first woman and first American to row that celebrate the history, craft and culture solo across the Atlantic Ocean in 1999. of bourbon whiskey. Cool Kentucky, McClure’s boat, American Pearl, has been which opened in 2020, is designed to on display at Frazier since 2020 and will bring the state to life while motivating be joined by an interactive exhibit where visitors to explore attractions across the guests can experience what it was like during her 3,300-mile journey. This exhibit commonwealth. The Lewis and Clark Experience is a hands-on exhibit for will be located outside the museum’s visitors of all ages, offering an immersive new education center and will include an educational adventure that puts guests faceartificial intelligence component allowing to-face with challenges encountered by the guests to ask McClure questions about her Corps of Discovery. adventure. “People will see what it’s like to row through the storm and feel the wind and rain,” Treinen adds. “They will get to learn her story and STEM-related aspects along the
“My only goal is that we mean more to more people every day,” Treinen says. “Every year, we’re thinking about what we can do to create cool experiences. I don’t
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think this museum will get away from what we do best, because it works. We found a place in the marketplace, and Frazier means something to this community.” Last year marked the Frazier Museum’s 20th anniversary, which ended on a high note. The museum was named best in the state by Kentucky Living’s Annual Best in Kentucky Awards, voted on by residents statewide. Treinen says the honor is significant to both him and his staff. “The fact that we were named best museum by people who live in Kentucky is a big deal,” he says. “I don’t take that lightly. I’m very humbled because there are so many amazing museums in this state. For our staff and the people who work here, I’m very happy for them. They’re proud, because I don’t know if we were always seen in that light.” For more information on the Frazier History Museum, visit fraziermuseum.org.
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THE BOURBON CLASSIC A SIGNATURE CELEBRATION OF AMERICA’S NATIVE SPIRIT Writer / Jessica Able
26 | February 2026 | TownePost.com
When the Bourbon Classic returns to Louisville Feb. 25–28, it will once again affirm its place as one of the most distinctive lifestyle events in Bourbon Country. What began in 2013 as a bold idea — to give bourbon its own world-class celebration — has grown into a multi-day extravaganza that reflects both the remarkable evolution of the bourbon industry and Louisville’s enduring role as its cultural heart. The inspiration behind the Bourbon Classic was simple but ambitious, says Seth Thompson, one of the publishers of “The Bourbon Review.” While global whiskey festivals and food and wine events flourished around the world, bourbon — the only truly American spirit — did not yet have a singular, signature experience that celebrated it on its own terms. The founders envisioned something more immersive than a tasting event: a lifestyle gathering that honored bourbon’s authenticity while placing it in conversation with culinary and cocktail artistry. From its earliest days, the Bourbon Classic was designed to reflect the spirit’s heritage while embracing creativity, hospitality and excellence. “The Bourbon Classic is a celebration of bourbon’s authenticity as we closely marry America’s native spirit to the culinary and cocktail arts,” Thompson says. “We want the foodie and cocktail enthusiasts to leave just as wowed as the bourbon geeks out there.” Over the years, the event has evolved alongside the industry it celebrates. Since the Bourbon Classic launched, Kentucky alone has seen the number of distilleries grow dramatically, with dozens more operating today than in 2013. That expansion is mirrored in the festival itself.
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What was once a weekend event has grown into a multi-day experience through the addition of weekday satellite programming, transforming the Bourbon Classic into a true destination event. Attendees now arrive earlier, stay longer and experience Louisville not just as a host city, but as an integral part of the celebration, Thompson says. At its core, the Bourbon Classic defines itself by its ability to speak to multiple audiences at once. For seasoned bourbon enthusiasts, it offers depth, authenticity and access to the brands and stories that define
the industry. For first-time attendees, it provides an inviting entry point — one that emphasizes flavor, creativity and enjoyment rather than intimidation. By closely marrying America’s native spirit to the culinary and cocktail arts, the event ensures that food lovers and cocktail aficionados leave just as inspired as the most dedicated “bourbon geeks.” The 2026 Bourbon Classic promises several highlights that underscore this balance of heritage and innovation.
“Angel’s Envy is hosting a brunch, which will be fantastic,” Thompson says. “We now have bottle sales allowed for the weekday events at the Kentucky International Convention Center.” Central to the Bourbon Classic’s success is its careful curation of talent. Participating distilleries partner with elite chefs and mixologists, creating thoughtfully paired experiences that showcase the best of each discipline. “The supporting brands carefully choose
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their elite chef and mixologist duos,” Thompson says. “Friday night’s Culinary & Cocktail Competition features the city’s best talent all under one roof. It’s very powerful.” Louisville itself is inseparable from the Bourbon Classic’s identity. The city’s bourbon history stretches back generations, from the warehouses and storefronts of historic Whiskey Row along the riverfront to the modern distilleries and tasting rooms that now define its downtown and surrounding neighborhoods. Beyond its historical credentials, Louisville offers something equally essential: a thriving community of elite chefs and bartenders whose skill and creativity elevate every aspect of the event. This combination of authenticity and contemporary talent makes Louisville not just an ideal host, but the only place the Bourbon Classic truly belongs.
Behind the scenes, producing an event of this scale is a feat of coordination that most attendees never see. The logistics involved in aligning distilleries, chefs, bartenders, venues and schedules — particularly for complex events like the Culinary & Cocktail Pairing Competition — are immense. Each detail must be carefully managed to ensure that the guest experience feels seamless. Ultimately, the Bourbon Classic measures its success not only by attendance or programming, but by the lasting impression it leaves on its guests. The goal is simple and ambitious: for attendees to leave completely wowed, carrying with them the memory of an unforgettable experience and the feeling that they have enjoyed the ultimate stay in Bourbon Country, Thompson says. For more information on the Bourbon Classic, visit bourbonclassic.com.
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS
FEBRUARY
AROUND THE COMMUNITY, 2026
LOUISVILLE AREA EVENTS
1 DISCOVER BOATING® LOUISVILLE BOAT, RV & SPORTSHOW®
4 UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE MEN’S BASKETBALL VS NOTRE DAME KFC YUM! Center, 1 Arena Plaza.
5 BLACK VIOLIN: FULL CIRCLE TOUR 2026
Kentucky Exposition Center, 937 Phillips Ln. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Louisville’s favorite winter tradition is back.
KOSAIR SHRINE CIRCUS
Brown Theatre, 315 West Broadway 7:30 p.m. Step into Black Violin’s Full Circle Tour, where GRAMMY-nominated duo Wil Baptiste and Kev Marcus redefine the possibilities of music by merging classical depth with hip-hop’s pulse. This tour captures the essence of returning to where it all began—transformed and reimagined.
Broadbent Arena, 937 Phillips LN. 10 a.m., 2 p.m., 7 p.m., Kosair Shrine Circus
10–15 THE GREAT GATSBY MUSICAL
1, 7–8 THE LIGHTNING THIEF:
THE PERCY JACKSON MUSICAL
View All Local Events or Submit Your Own
Kentucky Center for the Arts, 501 W Main St. 2–4 p.m. When 16-year-old Percy Jackson discovers that he is the half-blood son of the Greek God, Poseidon, his life takes a dramatic turn as he is plunged into a world much bigger than he could possibly have imagined.
30 | February 2026 | TownePost.com
Kentucky Center for the Arts, 501 W Main St. Times Vary The Great Gatsby Musical
11–13 CHAMPIONSHIP TRACTOR PULL
14 DESTINATION SMOOTH JAZZ
Kentucky Center for the Arts, 501 W Main St. 6–11 p.m. Destination Smooth Jazz is a quarterly smooth jazz series (Feb 14th, June 6th, Sept 5th, Dec 5th) featuring Grammy Winning/ Grammy nominated and regulars on Billboard Hot 100 Jazz Chart.
SERIAL KILLERS WITH DR. SCOTT BONN
Freedom Hall At Kentucky State Fair, 937 Phillips Lane.
The Kentucky Center - Bomhard Theater, 501 W. Main St. 8 p.m. Spend a deliciously chilling evening with renowned criminologist and serial killer expert, Dr. Scott Bonn, as he takes you inside the minds of the world’s most savage and prolific murderers.
13 AN EVENING W/ MASTERCHEF
18 BERNHEIM FIRE TOWER TOUR
Cooking @ Millie’s, 340 W Chestnut St. 6:30–9 p.m. This year’s Valentine’s Day class will be done by FOX’s MasterChef Season 9 Winner Gerron Hurt.
Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest, 10–11:30 a.m. Perhaps you and your family have memories of climbing Bernheim’s Historic Fire Tower and taking in the forest from its bird’s-eye cab.
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS
20 SAXSQUATCH
21 THE SIMON & GARFUNKEL STORY
Mercury Ballroom, 611 S 4th St. 7-11 p.m. Saxsquatch is a 7’ tall multi-instrumentalist, producer, and electronic music artist from North Carolina. Saxsquatch’s live show is a mind bending experience showcasing his music production, stage plot, and saxophone skills over original music, remixes, and crowd participation.
The Brown Theatre, 315 W Broadway. 8 p.m.
27–28 LOUISVILLE BALLET - SWAN LAKE Kentucky Center for the Arts, 501 W Main St. 7:30 p.m.
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Artful Lives
LOCAL COUPLE BUILDS A LEGACY OF CREATIVITY & COMMUNITY Writer / Melissa Gibson
In 1975, Larry Shapin went on a date with a young lady who suggested they go to an art show. At the time, he wasn’t really sure what he was getting into, however, that evening launched a lifelong passion for art, artists and a future where local artists were recognized and appreciated for what they brought to Louisville. “I saw a piece that I really liked at the show. It was $500, and I didn’t have $20 to spend on art at the time, but after thinking about it for a week or so, I called the artist,” Shapin 34 | February 2026 | TownePost.com
says. “We became friends, and I ended up paying her $20 every month for years to purchase that piece. She became one of the most famous artists in Kentucky – Mary Anne Currier.” Shapin says he’s tried all different mediums of art but sees himself as a collector more than an artist. Still, he had found his passion, and every few months, he continued to add to his collection. When he met artist Ladonna Nicolas and brought her to his home, she immediately recognized
the bronze sculpture he had purchased nearly 10 years prior. Nicolas was the model for the piece. The two quickly became the go-to for local artists. They were calling Shapin and Nicolas to visit their studio in hopes there would be a piece they’d want to add to their collection. “I bought this house in 1975, and it was 3,000 square feet,” Shapin says. “Since then, I’ve added on nine times, and it’s now
20,000 square feet with more than 1,400 works of art displayed in the house.” Not only is their home full of unique artwork and their own personal artistic style, but there is also a two-story art gallery built on from the main house with large windows for natural light. Another large, open addition to the home features a bar, ping-pong table, pool table and fireplace, making the space perfect for hosting large community groups.
When it comes to collecting artwork, they don’t discriminate. Shapin says they have artwork from artists as young as 3 years old to 90 years old. Most are from contemporary (living) artists, but a few are deceased, such as Harvey Joiner and Pablo Picasso. Most are artists who have yet to hit their prime, however, many of the works in Shapin and Nicolas’ home are consistently increasing in value. “It’s neat to have known them when they first started out and to see how they progressed,”
Shapin says “There’s a number of artists we’ve worked with over the years, and now, they are teaching students in schools.” Artwork is often subjective. How do they determine “good” work for their collection? Shapin says for starters, they almost always come with a good story. “Good art causes you to think,” he says. “These are not landscapes or portraits. Some might even call them weird. It causes
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you to think, and it’s interesting, and it moves you in some way.” It was important to Shapin and Nicolas that the artwork was displayed and it was enjoyed by not only them but by the community too. Shapin says most museums keep 97% of their inventory in storage and are only rarely shown. At Shapin and Nicolas’ home, they want the work to be seen. “We like to live with the art,” Nicolas says. “We like having groups over because so many people don’t know it’s back here.”
Shapin-Nicolas Art Project (S.N.A.P.) Foundation. They want to be sure their life’s work is protected and the artists continue to receive support.
“We don’t have children, and we wanted to be able to keep these 12 acres of property, The pair get phone calls from local artists the house and the galleries the same so nearly every day of the week. They spend a day the community was able to enjoy it. We or two per week on what they call an “artist want this experience to be here for future adventure,” seeking out the next budding artist generations,” Nicolas says. “The foundation and unique work they’re producing. was also created to help local artists. We want to give them a platform to showcase “We enjoy going to studio visits and inviting their work.” friends to come with us, and we like to partner with our local art galleries and the As the nonprofit develops, Shapin and schools,” Nicolas adds. Nicolas says they intend to host art shows, In 2020, Shapin and Nicolas formed a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization, the
36 | February 2026 | TownePost.com
“Most artists are poor promoters. They are shy about their work and don’t know the value of their work,” Shapin says. “We have more than 800 different Louisville artists in this house, and other than 20 or so, the rest all have second jobs to make ends meet. They need support. We have a guest house on the property and have talked about an artist-in-residence program and raising funds for an artist development grant. It’s a work in progress.” Shapin and Nicolas are also supportive of many different art forms: hosting events for the local orchestra or theatre production and plan to open their art galleries to the public in the future. “We’re open to the public by appointment right now,” Nicolas says. “We often have groups of people come in, but hopefully, in the future, we’ll be able to offer public hours.”
fundraisers and events such as Cocktails and Conversations to bring the community and Visit shapinnicolasartproject.com for more information. artists together.
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Locally Owned and Operated Owners
PE R F ECT I O N B U I L D E R S
LOVE WHERE YOU LIVE Homes designed for comfort, connection, and ease. Thoughtfully designed, low-maintenance homes in welcoming neighborhoods— created for how you live today and where life is headed next..
Discover this lifestyle at The Courtyards at Curry Farms and our newest community, The Courtyards at Oakland Hills. Contact Our New Homes Specialist
Michelle Heareth 502.503.5125
Michelle@PerfectionBuilders.com
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For advertising information, contact: COREY BOSTON
corey@townepost.com (502) 407-0185
PATRICIA, Valve Replacement
We help hearts keep dancing. Welcome to the only area hospital dedicated to comprehensive heart care. With a network of world-renowned experts, we are passionate about saving lives and improving heart health. Built on the legacy of Jewish Hospital, our innovative academic research translates into life-saving medical firsts. And our leading-edge advances and less invasive treatments meet your heart’s needs with lifechanging results. Here, hearts are expertly healed, revived, protected and even replaced. And our world-class expertise is with you, every step of the way. That’s the Power of U.
Here, your heart is in the right place.
Visit UofLHealth.org or call 502-587-4000.
The Area’s Most Preferred for Heart Care — NRC HEALTH