Pizza in Paducah

I love pizza. If given the choice, I would eat it for lunch and dinner everyday. I love it that much. I developed and nurtured my love of pizza growing up in Paducah. My parents and I would order pizza every Sunday night before we sat down for the latest episode of Lois and Clark. (Don't judge me!) My best friend and I would save and scrounge for the $7 it took to order a medium cheese pizza on weekends.

Due to my long and dedicated history of pizza consumption, I count myself as a Paducah pizza expert and here are my top picks if you're looking for a delicious slice while in River City.

1. Pizza by the Pound They don't deliver and they don't have to. It's that good. Pizza by the Pound, a local institution since 1964, is home of the eight pound pizza. If you can eat it in one hour and in one setting, they'll give you $100. I just prefer a few slices of pepperoni that will only make you feel like you've gained eight pounds. 
2. Pizza Inn Recently crowned the #1 Readers' Choice in the Paducah Sun, Pizza Inn is the best pizza buffet I've ever had. It was also our choice on Sunday nights growing up. They have the best thin crust pizza and the most amazing chocolate chip dessert pizza you've ever tasted. 
3. Michael's New York Style Pizza The runner-up for Readers Choice, Michael's is great for big, saucy slices just like they sell in the Big Apple. I love the spiciness of their sauce and their crust is delicious. 
4. Italian Village Pizza You can get a large pizza for $7. Enough said. (I have NOTHING to say about the music on their website.)
5. Max's Brick Oven This is what I call fancy pizza. There is a time and place for fancy, brick oven pizza and when that time comes, you want to be at Max's. 

What's your favorite pizza in Paducah?

HerKentucky Business: Authentically Social

The HerKentucky team is thrilled to present HerKentucky Business, a monthly spotlight on female entrepreneurs in the Bluegrass State. In this edition, I answer questions about the business I recently launched, Authentically Social. 

My "official" third person bio: Emily is a marketer with over eight years of corporate marketing, brand management, communications, and social media experience. Whether through traditional marketing, social media management, email marketing, or writing, her passion is connecting great brands with fans. Emily lives in Lexington, KY and holds a MBA in Marketing and BA in Advertising from the University of Kentucky.

1. Are you a native Kentuckian? Why have a Kentucky business?

I am not a native Kentuckian, but moved here when I was thirteen. It took about twenty years of being here to stop being so stubborn about how awesome this state is. The quality of life is great, people are friendly, and the cost of living is low. Having a Kentucky business means my costs to operate aren't exorbitant and I can provide great value to companies particularly from out-of-state who might not be able to explore social media marketing with agencies in their particular markets.

2. Many younger people say they can't find many corporate-type jobs in Kentucky, so they leave the state. What was your experience?

I will admit that I was one of those people who said that as soon as college was done, I'd go to a larger city like Chicago or New York City so I could find work with some awesome company and become a big-shot city girl. No idea where those idealistic visions came from, but I'm glad that I met a Kentucky boy who didn't want to give up his roots here. I've worked for several Kentucky companies doing brand marketing and working on projects that I didn't realize existed here until I looked. There are amazing companies doing amazing things all across the state. The companies have contributed to my ability to be able to start a business, and thrive here in the Commonwealth.

3. What was the hardest part of starting a new business?  What do you wish someone had told you before you started Authentically Social?

Honestly, the hardest part was telling myself I could do it. There wasn't anything overly logistical that held me up, it was all self-doubt. Could I find clients? Would people help me spread the word? Would I fail miserably and have to crawl back to a corporate desk job? I never though I'd leave the comfort of the corporate office, and then it became all consuming. I built my business up on nights and weekends. While that was what I needed to do to get some courage up, I would suggest that others not wait so long (and not tire yourself out)! Be confident in your abilities, and take the leap.

4. What is the most rewarding part of entrepreneurship/small business ownership?

I'm still pretty new at it, but what has been most exciting so far is the response that others in the community have given me, and the enthusiastic reception I've gotten from prospects (now clients). To know you built something based on your hard work is incredibly rewarding --  of course monetarily, but more so emotionally.

5. What suggestions do you have for women who want to start their own business?

Meet with other women business owners: take them out for coffee or lunch and ask them about their experiences. I did this with someone I didn't know from Junior League and it was so refreshing to be able to hear about her experience. It then made me more confident to approach others and ask about their experiences, and now I have a little network of women supporters that I can turn to when needed.

Also, if you are unsure about a functional area of your business (for me it was legal contracts and accounting), call in professionals. You don't have to know how to do everything, so focus on what you are good at, and have others help you with the rest.

Logistically, the Kentucky Secretary of State office has lots of resources on how to search for a company name and file your business structure.

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