Your Favorite Things
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Last week, we began our list of our 100 Favorite Kentucky Things. We listed our favorites in cities and small towns, from the mountains to the Purchase. We learned that the HerKentucky team likes the Seelbach, Cheapside, and horse races a whole lot!
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Le Relais: a Delicious Flight to a More Romantic Time.
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| Image via KAHS/ Bowman Field |
Louisville's Taylorsville Road is hardly a romantic stretch. I've always thought of it as a bridge between the Highlands and the East End, with few remarkable sights of its own. There are a lot of ranch-style houses.
But, just past a strip of Taylorsville Road gas stations and liquor stores, lies Bowman Field, Kentucky's first commercial airport which dates back to 1922. Charles Lindbergh once flew the Spirit of St Louis there. Scenes from Goldfinger were filmed there. It's a charming testament to the glamor and romance of the early days of flight.
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| Image via Le Relais. |
Nestled inside the Art Deco terminal building is Le Relais, a charming French bistro with a decidedly nostalgic feel. Sometimes, on just the right day, you feel like you've stepped into a scene from Casablanca. It's almost impossible to believe that you're still a stone's throw away from everyday Louisville as you order fromage, escargots, and tarte aux pommes. Rather, you feel that you're in a magical way station, fueling up on delicious French food as you prepare to board a plane for a more romantic time.
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| Image via Le Relais |
Le Relais is my favorite Valentine's Day dinner destination. The beautiful location, extensive wine list, and delicious French fare provide a truly romantic backdrop without the overwrought gimmicks that so often arise with the February holiday. Instead, Le Relais can provide you with a fantastic crème brûlée and the off-chance of seeing Lindbergh's ghost. That's a pretty special Valentine's Day in my book.
Kentucky is for Lovers
In honor of Valentine's Day, I thought I would honor some of the most romantic spots in the state.
1. Paducah! Last year, Paducah's downtown was named one of the five Most Romantic Main Streets by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. You can stroll down cobblestone streets, have a romantic dinner, or take a horse drawn carriage with your significant other all the with the beautiful moonlit Ohio River a few blocks away.
2. The Moonbow Nothing could be more romantic than rainbow created by the reflection of the moon and there are only a few places in the world you can see one. One is at Cumberland Falls in Corbin, Kentucky.
3. Stay at Castle Post It's a CASTLE. Enough said.
4. Spend the night in one of Wildwood Inns themed suites. Wildwood Inn Tropical Dome and Themed Suites has it all. You can sleep in a treehouse, a cave, a pirate ship. However, as far as romance, nothing compares to the Champagne Suite with a two-story champagne glass-shaped spa!
5. Mammoth Cave Recently named by HotelClub as the number 2 most romantic destination, I can see how being in the dark, breathtaking cave could make you feel love appreciation for your nearest and dearest.
Did I miss any? What do y'all think are the most romantic spots around the Bluegrass State?
~ Sarah Stewart Holland
Megan's 20 Things
20 Random Things I love about Kentucky:
1. William T Young Library- spent many days and nights in this beautiful library.
2. Chevy Chase Starbucks- I absolutely love this area and spent a lot of time at this establishment.
3. Woodland Arts Festival- lovely little festival
4. Arboretum Walking Trail- so many mornings and evenings spent strolling this walking trail.
5. Freeman Lake- one neat thing about Elizabethtown
6. Bellini's- love their food
7. AJ's Casuals- super cute clothes
8. Elizabethtown Swim and Fitness Center- many memories here
9. Cheapside Bar and Grill- no explanation needed!
10. Harvey's- their jukebox is dangerous.
11. McCarthy's Irish Pub- does the guy with the Russian hat still work the door?
12. White Hall Classroom Building- University of Kentucky
13. Keeneland- no explanation needed.
14. Charlie Brown's- love their cheese poppers
15. Churchill Downs- a Kentucky staple
16. SDF- always excited to go on trips.
17. Elizabethtown Baptist Church- reppin' my hometown!
18. Common Grounds Coffee House- lovely little nook to study or hang out
19. Rosebud- so many memories here
20. Austin City Saloon- one word: karaoke ... maybe another word: popcorn
Sarah's 20 Things
- Patti's Boat Sinker Pie
- The Judds
- Wide open Western Kentucky sky
- The Kentucky Derby
- Kentucky Lake
- Leigh's Barbecue
- Old Morrison
- bell hooks
- Bluegrass music
- Abraham Lincoln
- Transylvania University
- Kern's Kitchen Derby Pie...and the fact that they serve it in the cafeteria at Transy.
- Loretta Lynn
- Blue Moon of Kentucky...as sung by just about anyone.
- Barbara Kingsolver
- The Appalachian Mountains
- Wendell Berry
- Paducah
- Grater's ice cream
- Kentuckians
~ Sarah Stewart Holland
Heather's 20 Things
1. Kentucky basketball. Not just the storied Wildcat program-- the sheer love for the game that transcends race, gender, geography, and socioeconomic lines across every little corner of the Commonwealth. From the way everyone congregates at the Hyatt before UK games to the way every high school ball game is a sellout.
2. Maker's Mark.
3. Dwight Yoakam. He's from Floyd County, and so am I. Even if you don't enjoy his glam-country rockabilly sound (a position I can't personally imagine, but whatevs), you have to love his brilliant acting turns as the husband attending divorce mediation in Wedding Crashers or the abusive drunk in Slingblade.
4. These two houses in Gratz Park. My favorite houses anywhere in the world.
6. The recently departed Gatewood Galbraith -- a true gentleman whose unique voice will be sorely missed in the state political arena.
7. The Oaks.
8. George Clooney. He's a beautiful man.
9. Jenny Wiley Theatre. (We're not going to discuss the whole "moving to Pikeville" thing. I can't talk rationally about it.)
12. The New Year's Day Pajama Party at Lynn's Paradise Cafe.
13. The Seelbach.
14. Discovering Kentucky with my dogs. From Cherokee Park to Ashland's Central Park. From snowy days in the Eastern Kentucky mountains to sunny Saturdays on Molly Malone's patio.
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| Baby Max in Cherokee Park, 2007. |
16. The Kentucky Governor's Scholars Program. Where I met my future husband, though it would take me more than a decade to figure it out. Where so many friendships, partnerships, and relationships were sealed. Where at least one friend's husband learned to crochet.
18. Kentucky politics. Hilarious. Fascinating. Infuriating.
19. Cheapside.
20. Derby Glasses.
HerKentucky Charities: Charity League of Paducah
The Charity League of Paducah is a vital, active and integral part of our community. It was organized in March 1932 with 16 members for the purpose of starting a lending library. The Charity League now has 48 active members and more than 280 associate members.
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| The ladies of The League presenting a $1,500 Donation to the Community Kitchen. |
The volunteer organization’s mission is to raise funds for Easter Seals West Kentucky and assist other local non-profits for the health, welfare and general care of children, women and others in need. Its foremost purpose is in financially assisting ESWK and other charities, while secondarily creating a legacy of friendship and community between members and those we serve.
Countless volunteer hours are poured into annual projects such as Snowball, Follies, Bargain Fair, Golf and Giving Classic, “Get Set to Serve” Tennis Classic, and Thyme to Entertain cookbook sales. Through the success of these events The Charity League has been able to donate in excess of $327,000 over the past six years to ESWK, directly impacting those benefiting from its services. Monies raised from such events have also enabled the League to provide funds to additional community charities that support the children of our area including; the Noble Park All-Inclusive Playground ($25,000), Child Watch Children’s Advocacy Center, Inc. ($12,000), Lourdes Hospital Nursing Scholarship ($6,000), City of Paducah Special Camp Donation ($4,000), Star Fish Orphan Ministry ($2,600), and Community Ministries ($1,500).
The Charity League is located at 1921 Broadway in a home generously donated by League member Mrs. Gus T. Smith. This home holds precious memories of years past, including popular weekly luncheons open to the public. According to League records, this home became one of Paducah’s most popular entertainment places. Current League members work diligently to preserve this special home and create memories for future League members.
~ Sarah Stewart Holland