Marsha & John
Things To Do
The Frazier History Museum
Current exhibit: "West of Ninth" photography exhibit featuring the nine neighborhoods of West Louisville. . Plus tons of cool weapons. It used to be called the "Frazier Historic Arms Museum" until a few years back. Near Flame Run, the glass blowing spot
Muhammad Ali Center
GOAT museum!
Flame Run Art Glass Foundry
blow your own paperweight!
Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory
They make bats!
Caesars Southern Indiana
Less than 30 minutes from our front door
21c Museum Hotel Louisville
Modern art museum/hotel. Proof on Main, the bar and restaurant, is a very very hip scene
The Speed Art Museum
Within minutes of the house. Open Sundays as well. On exhibit: Ralph Eugene Meatyard's "The Unforeseen Wilderness" - Red River Gorge Photography exhibit. There is a small cafe ("Wiltshire") that serves the BEST pastries. Treat yourself to one of their Boston Creme Donuts or their blackberry-lavender PopTart
Kentucky Derby Museum
Adjacent to Churchill Downs
COFFEE
For Collins Ct guests your fastest cup of coffee is likely the Starbucks on Third Street at the front of the Central Station shopping center. There's also a Starbucks inside the actual Kroger grocery store in Central Station. There are many wonderful independent coffee shops in Louisville, but they haven't thrived in our end of town. Nearest Collins Ct (but not very) and nearest to our house/wedding venue, Sunergos Coffee on West Woodlawn is your best bet. If you're going to Iroquois Park for the car show or disc golfing, Sister Bean's on New Cut Road across from the park is a good choice. Heine Brothers' Coffee at several locations all over the city is a local chain roaster that provides a great cup at all of their shops. For those staying at The Columbine, I'm sure Rich and Bob still serve decent coffee in the mornings, and if you want more elaborate coffee near there, there's always North Lime Coffee and Donuts on South 7th St (listed separately)
BEER, WINE & SPIRITS
There is a Kroger liquor store within the lobby/foyer of the Planet Fitness end of the Kroger Building in Central Station. There is a fine independent liquor store swankily named "Beverage Liquors" on South Third Street near the Watterson Expressway (264) ramp, which lies between the Collins Ct accommodations and the wedding venue. AVOID Ice Liquors at Southern Parkway & Woodlawn when possible; it's sketchy and HELLA overpriced Please note that in Kentucky, no wine or liquor is sold in the grocery stores, convenience stores, or gas stations - only beer. However, many retail drug stores like CVS and Rite Aid Pharmacies have a liquor license and do offer all three.
Central Station Shopping Center
Large shopping center less than a half mile from the Collins Ct. accommodations. There's a big Kroger grocery/superstore, (including a doc-in-the-Box and a liquor store), Planet Fitness, several restaurants including a decent gyros spot (Sam's), the Chinese/American restaurant I recommended separately for takeaway (Double Dragon II), a Starbucks, a FedEx Office, a UPS store, a vape shop, a gas station, a Supercuts, a nail salon... Please remember that you are very near the university's greek community houses and athlete accommodations, so if you walk there, be alert; it's a pretty lively and diverse neighborhood.
Logan Street Market
Indie shopping mecca with multiple vendors within and nearby
Work the Metal
CLOSED SUNDAYS Boutique decor/clothing/gift/art work space with multiple vendors in the "Nulu" neighborhood. Near Bourbon Barrel Foods (where they make soy sauce aged in bourbon barrels) and Copper and Kings Distillery.
Wagner's Pharmacy (Restaurant)
BREAKFAST restaurant, near the track, populated by owners, trainers and jockeys. It's the original old pharmacy with an expanded lunch counter. But only eat breakfast there, lunch is meh. Cheap and crowded and loud and steeped in greasy atmosphere. $
Pizza Donisi
Delivering delicious gourmet artisan pizza (both whole pies and by-the-slice) to both Collins Ct and The Columbine. Open for lunch at noon and delivering until midnight! YES, you could use Door Dash but please call them directly instead and add that money to your driver's tip!
Back Deck BBQ
Chef Chan Nelson has a smoker as big as a dump truck named "The Patriarch". Do not miss out on the Flintstone sized beef ribs (sorry, Wren - there are loads of good sides though!) Near our house and near Iroquois Park. $$ Best BBQ in Beechmont
Faces Bar/Bistro
Chef owner here is one of our wedding photographers and a culinary mad scientist. His hours and days open have changed often as he opened during the pandemic, so check the website or FB page. Cool space, always playing interesting music in their dining room. Don't sleep on his mac and cheese $$ Vegetarians and vegans heavily considered in menu planning here
Four Pegs
Beer and wings, best of both $$ Also any meat can be made into a grilled cheese sandwich sorry Wren
Dragon King's Daughter
Hip affordable asian fusion food devoted in large part to plant-based menu items. Tacos, sushi, beer. FORBIDDEN RICE RISOTTO $$
Bandido Taqueria Mexicana
Solid Mexi-merican food with an authentic slant. We've never dined in the restaurant, but this is your GrubHub go-to to get mexican delivered. $...and a half
Kentucky Hot Brown Sandwich
What's not to love about Louisville's iconic Hot Brown Sandwich, invented here at the English Grill in the historic Brown Hotel? Toast points, a pile of roast turkey, sauce Mornay, thick slices of ripe tomato, crisp bacon. Many, many independent restaurants have their own version. You can find one almost anywhere!
Kentucky Burgoo
Burgoo is a spicy Kentucky hunter's stew made with game meat, tomatoes and vegetables. One of those recipes that was developed to utilize leftover game, its authentic form includes venison, wild boar, and squirrel. Contemporary restaurant versions are more likely composed of a mixture of pulled pork, turkey and brisket. Excellent examples are to be had at Against the Grain (microbrewery, 2 locations), Shack in the Back BBQ in the Fairdale neighborhood, and Mark's Feed Store restaurants (several locations), as well as many other local eateries.
Seviche A Latin Restaurant
Old favorite of ours. Chef's a magician. Modern Argentinian Latin/Southern Soul fusion food. (that sounds ridiculous when you read it aloud but it's what they do!) Excellent seafood work. I ALWAYS order the churrascos, though. Fancy, swank, tony and pricey - but worth every dollar. In The Highlands neighborhood near Faces Bistro and several other spots on this list. $$$ Great wine list
Old Louisville Tavern
Solid pub food and atmosphere, Pool, darts, tvs. Walking distance from The Columbine (Sterns accommodations). Say hello to your new fish sandwich. $...and a half
Dizzy Whizz Drive-In
Best diner in Louisville. Still offers curb service, if you're so inclined - but they ditched the roller skates long ago. Cash only, so bring cash. BUTTERSCOTCH MILKSHAKE. In Old Louisville, very close to The Columbine. Ancient but clean and consistent. $
Proof On Main
So hip it hurts, but authentically so, if there is such a thing. Not poseurs. Contemporary fancy southern food. $$$...$ Fantastic bourbon list. Within the 21c Museum Hotel downtown, near several other museums
Porcini Restaurant
They are Italianing very hard and very well here. Where the Sopranos would eat if they lived in Louisville. If you're a Knicks fan, this is the restaurant where Rick Pitino got himself into a little trouble. No matter how it's garnished or flavored this week, GET THE CHEESECAKE $$$ another great wine list
Volare Italian Ristorante
Chef Owner Josh Moore won his episode of Chopped with a bowl of sea urchin ice cream. It's not on the menu at Volare, but the foodie community breathlessly awaits the announcement of his fish special every Friday evening. I know it seems weird for me to pimp seafood restaurants in a landlocked state like Kentucky, but Louisville is the Midwest UPS hub. That means we get fresh caught fish and shellfish the same day they do in New York City and Hollywood! $$$ but worth it
Double Dragon II
Standard, serviceable Chinese-American food. Very nearby Collins Ct accommodations $
El Molcajete
Some of the most mexican mexican food in Louisville. A++ one of our favorites. Minutes from The Columbine and even closer to Collins Ct. $ .... and a half
North Lime Coffee & Donuts
If you bring me a Cardinal Dozen I will save you and let the others perish
Maker's Mark Distillery
Quite a jaunt out into the country, but the very prettiest, most picturesque little jewel box of a bourbon distillery. Might be hard to get in wedding weekend, as it's Bourbon Festival weekend. If you ever get to go, you can dip your own bottle in their signature red wax.
Tickled Pink Memorabilia Mall
Want to pop some tags? Cubic miles of stuff from your grandma's house. Need a pair of bronzed baby shoes? they've got 'em. Tupperware from 1950? Check! Crocheted zig-zag sofa throw from 1975? Of course! An indie vintage bonanza.
Nitty Gritty
Two stories of vintage used clothing and costumes, beautifully curated. Near Better Days Records
Better Days Records East
Owner Ben "Ben-Man" Jones used to be a house dj and provided the soundtrack to a lot of Marsha's misspent youth. This is a great record store.
Electric Ladyland
Vinyl (records) and blacklight posters in The Highlands
The Great Escape
Old school comic, vinyl and memorabilia store in The Highlands neighborhood, which is a super boho/hippie/coachella-exploded-here locally-owned shopping area. Seviche and Faces are nearby, along with many many other restaurants.
Matt Anthony's Record Shop
more vinyl, lower Highlands
Iroquois Park
One of 18 Frederick Law Olmsted parks in Louisville. STREET ROD CAR SHOW both days wedding weekend. Only 2.5 miles from the house. Disc golf course, too!
Purrfect Day Cat Cafe
Have bubble tea and scritch a bunch of adoptable cat-strangers. Just try and leave without one.
Cave Hill Cemetery
Extensive Victorian era National Cemetery and Arboretum. Peacocks, swans, geese, the tomb of Colonel Sanders and the grave of Muhammad Ali. It's a labyrinth! In the lower Highlands neighborhood.
Churchill Downs
This link takes you to the racing schedule for wedding weekend https://www.churchilldowns.com/calendar/2021-09
MEDICAL NEEDS
The nearest EMERGENCY ROOM to COLLINS CT is a 10-minute drive to U of L Sts Mary and Elizabeth Hospital, 1850 Bluegrass Avenue 40215 The nearest EMERGENCY ROOM to THE COLUMBINE is a 9-minute drive to U of L Hospital at 530 South Jackson St 40202 There is a "Little Clinic" walk-in doc-in-the-box in the Kroger at Central Station, 3165 S 2nd St, Louisville, KY 40208. The hours are Monday thru Friday from 8:30 AM to 7:30 PM, Saturday 8:30 to 5, Sunday 10 to 5. The phone number is (502) 883-7275.
Fourth Street Live!
This is an anti-recommendation. 4th St Live! is our Times Square, and it doesn't have one percent of the character. The businesses in it are largely not locally owned, and the development company received the land for $1 and no taxes for the next 50 years or something ridiculous, and we're all still salty about it. It sucks, anyway - you're not missing anything but $14 cocktails and a lot of popped collars on polo shirts. The businesses in 4th St Live! will have an address in the 400 or 500 blocks of South Fourth St. C a v e a t E m p t o r y'all