Kentucky Mule
A Kentucky twist on the beloved Moscow Mule cocktail!
I've discovered the perfect no fuss cocktail for fall. The Kentucky Mule is so simple to make, yet tastes amazing and looks festive for cozy fall get-togethers.
Everything about this cocktail makes you think "Kentucky in a glass."
Ingredients:
1 1/2 shots bourbon
5 fl. oz alcoholic ginger beer
Juice of 1 lime
Ice
Garnishes optional - apple slices, thyme and/or cinnamon sticks are personal favorites
Spooky Transylvania University Trivia
Transylvania University doesn't, to our knowledge, claim vampires among its notable alumni. However, it does have some spooky trivia!
Every year, around this time, my alma mater, Transylvania University suddenly becomes a whole lot more popular.
Is it because TU is the oldest university in Kentucky and, indeed, the first college west of the Allegheny Mountains? Well, that's true, but it's usually not the first thing you hear...
Is it because the school has an extremely impressive medical and law school acceptance rate dating all the way back to the days when Transy established the second law school in the nation? Try again..
Image via Transylvania University.
Is it because Transy's Greek system is known for promoting excellence among its member chapters, with the Delta Sig chapter becoming a bit of an internet meme earlier this year? Not this time.
Maybe it's because the school's name sounds awfully spooky this time of year. In honor of the spookiest college in Kentucky, and their amazing annual Pumpkin Mania display, here's a little bit of Transylvania trivia, Halloween-style!
Transylvania isn't named for vampires. The school was named for the short-lived Transylvania Colony. Keep in mind, Transylvania was established before Kentucky became a state. Both the Transylvania Colony and the Transylvania region of Romania are named for their geographic locations -- the word Transylvania means "Land beyond the forest."
Transylvania Colony
Transylvania is, they say, cursed. 19th Century Botanist Constantine Rafinesque was a professor at Transylvania for a brief time. When he was terminated -- some say for lazy work habits while others say he was having an affair with the wife of University President Horace Holley -- he placed a curse on the school. The curse is often cited in the two occasions in which Old Morrison, the college's administration building, burned. No word on whether the 1833 cholera epidemic which delayed construction on the building is also linked to Professor Rafinesque.
A professor is buried on campus. Rafinesque again. He died in Philadelphia in 1840 and was buried in an unmarked grave. In 1924, his grave was located and remains thought to be his were reinterred at Transylvania, in a tomb in Old Morrison. Every Halloween, a raffle is held for a group of Freshman students to spend the night in Raf's Tomb.
Transylvania is a lot like Hogwarts. The Harry Potter-reading youngster in your life will surely be delighted to know that Transy offers a quidditch team.
Transylvania celebrates its spooky heritage with a gorgeous jack o'lantern display every Halloween. If you're in Lexington this week, you should definitely stop by!
The HerKentucky Guide to Speakeasy Louisville: The Seelbach
Louisville's Seelbach Hotel was a famous gathering place for mobsters and flappers alike.
Welcome to the latest installment of the HerKentucky Guide to Speakeasy Louisville! On Thursdays throughout the fall, we'll travel back to the Jazz Age in the Derby City, when the nation's Prohibition laws didn't quench the collective thirst for Kentucky Bourbon. We'll channel our inner Daisy Buchanans and dance the Charleston at Louisville's finest establishments. And, of course, we'll take a sip or two of the native drink that kept the city's spirits high. Today, we'll visit the famous hotel that served as a playground for some of the nation's most notorious mobsters and inspired one of the seminal novels of the generation.
Seelbach Hotel, circa 1910, Library of Congress holdings of the Detroit Publishing Company Photo Collection.
The Seelbach Hotel -- "the only fireproof hotel in the city" -- was built by Bavarian brothers Otto and Louis Seelbach in 1905 at the corner of Fourth and Walnut Streets in Downtown Louisville. The hotel design was of the Beaux Arts Baroque style and reflected turn-of-the-century opulence, but the Seelbach's lasting legacy would be its ties to the Jazz Age.
Postcard view of the Seelbach's Rathskeller, the basement level restaurant and bar.
Underworld figures like Lucky Luciano and Al Capone frequented the hotel in the 1910s and '20s, drawn by clandestine high-stakes poker games and Kentucky bourbon whiskey. Cincinnati mobster George Remus found that there was a lucrative business in bootlegging the city's native spirit. The hotel's secret passageways famously helped these guests elude police and move liquor. Remus's exploits stood out to a young serviceman named Scott Fitzgerald who'd recently dropped out of Princeton, enlisted, and been stationed at nearby Camp Taylor.
F. Scott Fitzgerald's Battalion, from the May 30, 1917 issue of the Daily Princetonian. Uniforms were custom-made for the soldiers by Brooks Brothers.
Second Lt. Fitzgerald had his share of fun at the Seelbach -- he was even thrown out of the hotel after a night of merrymaking -- and drew upon his experiences in the late 1910s when writing The Great Gatsby. The title character's shadowy past is based at least in part on George Remus's bootlegging exploits, and his paramour, Daisy Buchanan, was a Louisville debutante. Of Daisy, Fitzgerald wrote:
“She had a debut after the Armistice, and in February she was presumably engaged to a man from New Orleans. In June she married Tom Buchanan of Chicago, with more pomp and circumstance than Louisville ever knew before. He came down with a hundred people in four private cars, and hired a whole floor of the Seelbach Hotel, and the day before the wedding he gave her a string of pearls valued at three hundred and fifty thousand dollars.”
Over the years, the Seelbach has changed hands and even briefly closed before it was restored to its original opulence. The hotel manages to retain the elegance of bygone days while providing modern amenities. And, as you walk the halls of the grand old hotel, it's easy to imagine that, just for a moment, you caught a glimpse of days gone by -- perhaps a Big City mobster, a flapper debutante, or a young soldier with a story to tell...
Wine-Down Wednesdays at Old 502 Winery
This week, we've been talking about "Me Time" here on HerKentucky -- little ways to stop, recharge your batteries, and get a better perspective on life. On Monday, Jennifer talked about finding peace at the yoga studio.
Every other Wednesday (including tonight!), Old 502 Winery in Louisville offers a yoga class that takes relaxation to the next level. For $15, you can enjoy a yoga class with your choice of either a full wine tasting or a glass of wine. How fun does that sound?
Classes start at 6 p.m. I hope to see y'all there sometime!
Give Yourself Permission to Be Here.
Sometimes, being in the moment is a gift we give ourselves.
At the beginning of every meeting, our President, Mary, would start us off with the six most powerful words I've ever heard:
“Give yourself permission to be here.”
Now, in part, Mary was telling us to mind our manners in the gentlest way possible. It was a reminder to put away our smartphones and our day planners and act like our mamas raised us a little better than all that. But, her words have always stuck with me.
"Permission to be Here" is a great phrase. You're truly allowing yourself to be in the moment -- to devote all of your attention to the matter at hand. You're fully listening to the person who is speaking; you're fully engaged in the dialogue. And you don't have to feel guilty about doing so.
So often, we find ourselves over-committed. We take on too many responsibilities with the greatest of intentions. We join clubs, we start new projects, we do things for others, and we want to do it all.
I'm pretty sure that when scientists finally unlock the chemical and physiological differences between men and women's brains, they'll learn that it comes down to this: Men Compartmentalize; Women Multi-Task. Think of your father, beau, or brother's ability to Actually Be Watching TV rather than having the TV on while he does three other things. It's a trait I'm trying to emulate a little bit. Sometimes, I take Saturdays to let the laundry go and JUST watch football. I try not to jot down notes about other tasks during meetings. I try to be where I am, and not a million miles away. I give myself permission to be here.
I've since moved to another town and Mary has, sadly, passed. I think so often of the legacy that Mrs. Mary Rigby left with her Junior League of Nashville members -- not just the legacy of voluntarism, fundraising, and community service, but giving ourselves a little more peace and self-awareness in everything we do. It truly is the greatest piece of advice I've ever been given.
Me Time: Finding Happiness in the Yoga Studio
Jennifer's yoga practice brings peace and calm to her life.
For a long long time, I believed, like many people do, that to take some time for yourself was selfish; that you could spend that time cleaning, running errands, visiting family, hanging out with friends, etc. However, like so many people, I would run and run and run until I would hit a wall. Then I would need to take a “mental health” day for myself; A.K.A. do nothing but what I wanted to do which was usually to laze on the couch all day long. After indulging in a mental health day, I would feel incredibly guilty because my to-do list would come smack me in the face the next day. My mind would start chiding that I could have gotten SO MUCH done while I was just lying on the couch. My brain goes 24/7 with to-do lists, ideas, errands, strategic plans on how to get everything done in as little amount of time as possible, etc.
Sounds like you?
That was me.
I began taking yoga in February 2013 with my mom because she wanted to get into shape. I had been “practicing” yoga with a DVD. (Not even CLOSE to the real, live yoga class—just saying) I went about 4 times a week on average. I didn’t realize it, but I was carving “me” time. During those yoga classes, I allowed myself to really get into everything the instructor was talking about, and not just the exercise aspect that I came to class for in the first place. Believe me—I thought all their talk was completely hippie and stupid the first few months I went to class.
After a few weeks, my mind would clear as soon as I hit the studio, and I experienced silence for the first time in my life; I was hooked. After three months, yoga became more than just exercise. I didn’t have to have “mental health” days because I was carving out about 5 hours a week to let go of all my worries and cares; to feel my body and breath and how it felt just to be alive! (Yes—I know I now sound like a hippie… But really, when was the last time you actually thought about your ribs, let alone felt them, and what they do to support you? ) After six months, my body aches and pains were gone; I am not the most flexible by any means nor in the most pain, but it was liberating to not think “OW that hurts” all the time. I learned to breathe and be present in all emotions and feelings like discomfort, learned patience, and to listen to and honor my body. I was also the happiest that I had ever been in my life; I was actively living yoga as much as I could with my limited knowledge.
Then in February 2014, I stopped going to yoga classes. There were several factors, most of which are too personal to share. I was fine for a few months, but then the stress and worries began to creep in again. I tried to practice on my own, but it just wasn’t the same. I began taking mental health days again; my body began to get tight and achy again, and I lost the calmness of my mind that came with the practice.
I couldn’t take it anymore.
I talked with The Hubby, and he encouraged me to go back. He said he could tell that I enjoyed it, and I was a much better person when I went, much more calm and happy. (I wasn’t sure how to take that.….) We had to make some hard decisions like the fact that he would have to make dinner more often and help out a bit more with chores; he didn’t mind.
I started back in August 2014, and I was welcomed with open arms. In fact, the owner said, “Hey! You’re back! We missed you!” (I was seriously there 5 times a week for a year; I joked that I could just move in.) I felt like I was home again.
My beautiful yoga mat along with the studio props.
It hasn’t been easy; my body is stiff, and I want to push it to do what it could do after one year of practicing yoga. I know that I must be patient. My mind went to it like water flowing downhill. I am not able to go as often as I would like since I now work out of town, but I am going about 3 times a week. I can already tell a difference in my attitude and demeanor.
Just like a flight attendant tells you before you fly that you have to put YOUR mask on first BEFORE you help others; you have to take care of yourself before you can take care of others.
That’s a fact.
I learned that early in my life, and I hope that you realize it soon for your own health. It’s not selfish to put yourself on the same level of attention you give to your friends and family. Sharon Tessandori says it beautifully when she stated —“You are equally deserving of your time, energy, and love”.
My advice to you is do something at least once a week for YOU. Not something that you think you have to do (like exercise), but something that makes YOU feel happy and alive, that rejuvenates YOU—read, go to church, volunteer, take zumba classes, stroll through your neighborhood, go to the gym, paint, quilt, practice yoga, collect stamps, take a nap, play computer games, join a fan club, go to an art gallery, take some classes at the extension agency, listen to symphonies (large colleges usually have a few free concerts a month), play with your pet, etc.
I practice yoga.
You can. I promise. You have the time; you just need to make it a priority.
Your to-do list can wait; I promise. Mine does.
Jennifer is the chef behind the website, a girl eats world.
The HerKentucky Guide to Speakeasy Louisville: The Belle of Louisville
The Belle of Louisville turns 100!
Welcome to the latest installment of the HerKentucky Guide to Speakeasy Louisville! On Thursdays throughout the fall, we'll travel back to the Jazz Age in the Derby City, when the nation's Prohibition laws didn't quench the collective thirst for Kentucky Bourbon. We'll channel our inner Daisy Buchanans and dance the Charleston at Louisville's finest establishments. And, of course, we'll take a sip or two of the native drink that kept the city's spirits high. Today, we'll visit one of the steamboats that kept the River City booming.
Louisville has a lot of nicknames -- the Derby City, the Falls City, The Ville -- but the River City is a moniker that gets at the heart of the city. It never stops being a river town whose history and fortune is intimately tied into the river that defines its northern boundary. On October 18, 1914, a steamboat known as Idlewild was launched in Pittsburgh; the Idlewild's original mission was to serve as a ferry between Memphis, Tennessee and West Memphis, Arkansas. One hundred years later, we know this boat as The Belle of Louisville, one of the most familiar sights of Louisville's downtown waterfront.
While the Belle didn't make it to Louisville until the 1930s, steamboats played an important role in Jazz Age Louisville, bringing businessmen, bootleggers, and even the occasional mobster to the city. (And perhaps even exporting a few barrels of our finest spirits, despite Prohibition laws...) The 1920s would see steamboat travel give way to modern highways, but the Belle's history -- at various times and under various names, she's served as a cargo ship, a ferry, and even a floating USO nightclub -- provides a fascinating glimpse of riverboat culture.
Louisville celebrates Belle's 100th birthday with the six-day Centennial Festival of Riverboats, which kicked off Tuesday. The festival includes cruises, free concerts, steamboat races, and even a calliope competition! Check out the Festival website for more details.
If, like many Kentuckians, you haven't been aboard the Belle since taking a trip with your middle school class, I highly recommend going back. I had the opportunity to take the cruise last year as part of my beau's work outing, and I have to say that it's a lot more fun when libations are served. You get an amazing view of the city, and it's a fun way to imagine traveling to the city in the era before automobiles were the primary mode of transportation! It's also pretty cool to realize that the Belle is the oldest Mississippi-style steamboat still in operation.
From all of us at HerKentucky, Happy Birthday, Belle!