Louisville Pizza

Yesterday, Megan posted about those awesome breadsticks from Papa John's.  What she said is so true; sometimes it's hard to remember that the big national pizza chain started in Louisville.  They're simply everywhere!  Megan got me thinking about the first time I ever ate at a Papa John's.  In a very Kentucky moment, I was spending the summer at Centre College for the Governor's Scholars Program.  When I "discovered" the Danville Papa John's,  I didn't realize that the next twenty years of meetings, study groups and ball games would feature orders from Papa John's, nor did I realize the Louisville connection.  I simply loved that garlic butter.

Louisville has always been a pizza town to me.  In addition to the ubiquitous Papa John's empire, some of my all-time favorite slices of pizza can be found along Bardstown Road.  Now, Louisville doesn't have a signature pizza style, like New York or Chicago.  It does, however, have a well-established foodie movement and an unwavering commitment to local foods and products.  You can always find high-quality ingredients and a well-constructed slice.  Here are a few of my favorites:

Wick's Pizza, Baxter Avenue.

Wick's Pizza
Ask any true Louisvillian, and they'll tell you that Wick's is the place to go for huge, deep-dish pizza smothered in quality ingredients.  Their pepperoni is so fresh and spicy that you'll wonder if you've ever eaten pepperoni before.  A funky, laid-back atmosphere (there's often a live band).  Five locations across the Louisville area, but the Highlands location is where you want to go.  

Fat Jimmy's Pizza

The Douglass Loop location -- located next to a Graeter's, just in case you're still hungry -- is one of my favorite pizza places in town.  Fat Jimmy's offers a light, delicate slice of pizza with a sweetly tangy tomato sauce.  This is a fantastic lunch pizza.  

Impellizzeri's Pizza

Impellizzeri's has the best true Sicilian-style pizza in town.  A  Louisville staple, Imp's is an amazing place to dine al fresco with a chalice of Stella.  (The salads, breadsticks, and dining room are all pretty nice, too!)

Spinelli's Pizza

Spinelli's offers big Brooklyn-style pizzas, and has distinguished itself in the fun Highlands neighborhood by offering late-night delivery (until 4:30 a.m.)  and even later dine-in options (until 5 a.m.).  Everybody's ordered Spinelli's at some point, even if everyone hasn't been brave enough to try their signature fried Oreos.

What is your favorite Louisville Pizza?

Papa John's Pizza

I often forget that Papa John's Pizza is a Kentucky based company.  I will find myself craving their bread sticks and dipping sauce just about every week.  In my opinion, their bread sticks are the best out there!

Papa John's Pizza was actually started in Jeffersonville, Indiana (right across the river from Louisville) by John Schnatter.  

I have a friend who worked at the Papa John's Corporate office in Louisville, KY.  I went to visit her one day and she treated me to lunch at the PJ corporate headquarters.  They have free pizza and bread sticks for all of the employees.  It's actually pretty cool if you think about it, and could probably be dangerous working there. 

Papa John's also funded the Papa John's Cardinals Stadium in Louisville, Kentucky.  I have been to many games there where I would scarf down some breadsticks (are you seeing a theme yet).

Okay, gotta go order some bread sticks now! Until next time ...

Southland in the Springtime

And there's something 'bout the Southland in the springtimeWhere the waters flow with confidence and reasonThough I miss her when I'm gone it won't ever be too longTill I'm home again to spend my favorite seasonWhen God made me born a yankee he was teasin'There's no place like home and none more pleasin'Than the Southland in the springtime

 ~ Sarah Stewart Holland

Hey y'all.

As you know, so many of our friends and neighbors across Kentucky and Southern Indiana have lost their lives, their homes, and their possessions in the wake of last night's storms.  We ask that everyone please consider donating to the Bluegrass chapter of the American Red Cross.  Many churches, schools, and businesses are conducting drives for food, clothing, and essential items.  Your collection of hotel shampoos could mean a bath to someone who hasn't bathed in a day or two; your never-worn yoga pants could mean clean, dry pants for someone who lost her home. Please consider "paying it forward" by helping out our fellow Kentuckians.

Here at HerKentucky, we're sending our many thoughts and prayers for everyone affected by these horrible storms.  It won't take a day or a week to rebuild the homes, businesses, and lives that were torn apart this weekend. Our help will be needed for the foreseeable future.  A little help goes a long way.

Paying it Forward

Recently, both Sarah and Lydia blogged about a card they received in the mail.  Our sorority sister Becky sent the following message to each of them:

I have donated 2 nights of shelter in your name. I am doing this because I’m really tired of all of the negativity in the world. Everywhere you turn people are fighting over politics, religion, birth control, immigration, the economy and on and on. People behave in rude and disrespectful manners towards one another. 

Since I cannot force anyone else to change, I’m going to focus on trying to become a more positive force in this world. I’ve chosen 10 women (because we get shit done) to receive these cards. 

This is a “pay it forward” kind of deal. All I ask is that you do something nice and unexpected for someone else. I know I’m preaching to the choir, but I think you will actually participate in this.

I love the idea of "ten women who get shit done."  If you've ever worked on a Junior League or sorority committee, you know that ten women dedicated to getting shit done can transform an empty warehouse into a ten thousand dollar fundraiser, lobby the legislature to effect long-term change, or build a house in a day.  It can be an amazing sight to behold.

Here at HerKentucky, we ask that each of our readers consider themselves "tagged" by Becky's card.  Go out and do something today.  Be a positive force.  Tell us about it, if you like. And, above all, keep the chain going.  Ask others to do something wonderful today as well. And, just maybe, we can watch the world change for the better.

In case you're short on ideas, we've put together a list of shelters, missions and food banks that could always use your help:

Eastern Kentucky:
Christian Appalachian Project

Lexington/Central Kentucky:
Bluegrass Rape Crisis Centers
God's Pantry
The Hope Center
Lighthouse Ministries
Salvation Army

Louisville:
Wayside Christian Mission


Paducah: 
Community Kitchens

Senior night

Tonight is Senior Night, the final home game of the University of Kentucky's men's basketball team's season.  Tonight, the Big Blue Nation will celebrate two student-athletes who will be graduating as seniors in a couple of months.  Now, Eloy Vargas has certainly put in some hard work in the two years since he transferred to UK, but for most Kentuckians, tonight is all about Darius Miller.

Everyone who follows Kentucky basketball knows the story.  Darius Miller, the 6'8 guard from Maysville's Mason County High School, was named Kentucky's 2008 Mr Basketball.  He was recruited during the darkest ages of the Billy Gillispie era, and was Coach Cal's only hope upon reviewing the incoming 2009 roster.  For Kentucky fans, Darius represents a model of perseverance, hard work, and leadership.  He may not be a blue-chip freak of nature like Anthony Davis, but he's given us four great years, playing where and how he is needed.  And his contribution has been key to our dominance this year.

In an era of "one and done", it's refreshing to see a player whose top priority is completing his education.  In a sport that often seems  little more than a farm league for the NBA, it's a wonderful change of pace to see a player whose commitment is far more to his team than to himself.

Darius Miller is the type of player that Kentucky fans love -- homegrown and hardworking, he's given us four years of solid play.  He's the name on the lips of every blue t-shirt-wearing grandma at small town Wal-Marts across the Commonwealth and the heart of our team.

We'll miss you, Number One!

{all photos courtesty UK Athletics}

Emmie's 20 Things

Several weeks ago, the HerKentucky contributors each listed their favorite things about Kentucky. I am the turtle in the group, but figure this post is better late than never! There are so many things I love.

Here they are, in no particular order:

1. Awesome people
2. Lexington Athletic Club
3. The pedestrian-friendly Bardstown Road in Louisville
4. Missy's pies: Served at Lexington-based Ramsey's (not the Louisville Ramsi's) and also available out of their small Ashland Ave. store, these pies are amazing and there are dozens of flavors
5. Columbia Steakhouse Nighthawk: if you like steak, you must try this
6. Keeneland: Spring meet is during my birthday and fall meet is during my favorite time of the year
7. Woodland Art Fair in Lexington
8. Southern Lights at the Kentucky Horse Park
9. Graeters ice cream: yes, they're Cincinnati based, but they're coming back to Lexington soon. Raspberry Chocolate Chip is ridiculous
10. Bluegrass Tavern: nothing fancy about this bar, but it's near Cheapside and I've had great memories there
11. US60: The drive from Versailles Road to I-64. Gorgeous horse farms lining the drive.
12. Coffee Times: Lexington coffee house I've gone to for over 12 years
13. Bourbon
14. Kentucky basketball
15. Brunch at Winchell's
16. The Legacy Trail
17. Lexington Farmers Market on Saturdays when it's outside
18. Chrisman Mill Winery - where I got married
19. Lexington Corn Maze at Kelley Farms
20. (and 21.) Ramsey's (Lexington) and Ramsi's (Louisville).