#TravelKY Nash Bash
Kentucky Tourism Pop-up in Nashville!
For the next few days, HerKentucky is going country with a few Nashville-themed posts. Now, I know Nashville is technically in Rocky Top. But, I've got to say that, when I lived in NashVegas, I felt perfectly at home. I'd even go so far to say that I saw almost as much UK Blue on an everyday basis in Nashville as I saw UT Orange or Vanderbilt Black and Gold. (Well, almost...)
Anyway, I jump on every opportunity I can find to travel down I-65 for a day or two, between the fact that I have some dear friends there, I'm addicted to hot chicken and Parnassus Books, and, well, you get the idea... If you find yourself in the same boat of constantly looking for a trip to Nashville (or if you're one of the legions of Kentuckians I seem to remember running across in the Nashville Metro area...), then Kentucky Tourism has a fun event for you this week!
This Thursday, June 4 from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m., a really cool group of Kentuckians will gather in Nashville's awesome 12 South Neighborhood for an evening of bourbon, music, and fun. The event will be hosted at the awesomely hip boutique Imogene + Willie (which is owned by Henderson, KY natives!) and will feature music from The Watson Twins and Ben Sollee and plenty of Bulleit Bourbon. Entrance and drinks are free and food will be available for purchase.
What an awesome celebration of the Bluegrass State in the Music City!
{Oh, and follow our friends @KYTourism, @Tifforelie and @TheKentuckyGent on instagram for a chance to win a Kentucky getaway!}
The Search for Kentucky's Best Burger
Our readers' favorite hamburgers from local Kentucky joints!
Y'all aren't kidding about burgers, are you?
Yesterday, I posted my five very favorite hamburgers in Kentucky. For me, nothing will ever top that bison burger at Proof, or the Billy Ray's Poolroom hamburger of my youth. But, some of the combos y'all described paint a pretty compelling picture that I don't know what I'm talking about! I thought I'd pass along the suggestions we got on Facebook, Instagram, and here on the blog. It seems that Kentuckians really love their hamburgers!
Eastern KY
- Pat's Snack Bar, Manchester
- Goofy's Pool Room, Hyden
- Weaver's, London
- McGuire's Brickhouse, Prestonsburg
- Chimney Corner Café. Ashland
- Country Cookin, Ashland
- L and J Restaurant at Fannin Toyota Summit
- The Corner Cone, Worthington
Central KY
- Fairgrounds in Anderson Co
- Heirloom, Midway
- The Windy Corner Market, Lexington
- County Club, Lexington
- A&W Concept Restaurants, Lexington
- Lexington Diner, Lexington
- Tolly Ho, Lexington
- Proud Mary BBQ, Lexington
- Wallace Station Deli and Bakery, Versailles
- Erma’s Dairy Bar, Owingsville
Northern KY
- Zola, Covington
- Herb and Thelma's, Covington
- Jewell's on Main, Warsaw
Louisville
- Grind Burger Kitchen, Louisville
- Bullitt’s, Louisville
- WW Cousins, Louisville
- Mussel and Burger Bar, Louisville
Western KY
- Ferrell’s, Cadiz, Madisonville or Hopkinsville
- Laha’s Red Castle, Hodgenville
- The Station Burger Company, Paducah
So, do we have it right now? Or is there still someplace missing?
The Five Best Burgers in Kentucky
It's National Burger Day, y'all! I thought it would be fun to count down my five favorite hamburgers from Kentucky's local restaurants.
5. Pool Room Hamburger, Billy Ray's (Prestonsburg) This classic has been my family's favorite for generations. The hardest choice is whether to get fries or onion rings!
Crisp's Menu
4. Pimento Burger, Pine Mountain Grill (Whitesburg): A healthy dollop of house-made pimento cheese
3. The Revro, Stella's Kentucky Deli (Lexington): fried green tomatoes and bacon with locally-sourced and hormone-free Colcord Farm beef.
2. Cheeseburger, Crisp's Dairy Treat (Ashland) It isn't summer until you have a burger from a roadside diner!
Proof on Main Bison Burger
1. The Bison Burger, Proof on Main. Probably my favorite hamburger anywhere. So rich and delicious. Order it medium, with truffle fries, obvs.
Did I get it right? Or are there better burgers in the Bluegrass State?
Honoring a Family Hero on Memorial Day
Remembering a family hero.
Yesterday, my family laid to rest a true hero.
My great-uncle, Warren G. Watson, was born in a holler in Knott County in 1923. From those humble roots, he'd go on to lead a big, big life. At the age of 19, he began a career in education. Soon after, he was called to serve his country in European Theater of World War II. At the Battle of the Bulge, Uncle Warren caught sniper fire in the throat, and was left for dead. A member of his battalion disobeyed orders and rescued him; upon returning home to the mountains, he had to re-learn to talk and eat. For his bravery in battle, my uncle was awarded the Silver Star, the Purple Heart, the Validi Milites, and the Croix de guerre, although he'd always humbly shrug and say "yeah, I got some medals in The War." This Memorial Day, I mourn my uncle the World War II soldier, a heroic man who made unbelievable sacrifices for the sake of worldwide freedom. It's hard to imagine what it must have been like for him -- barely more than a boy himself and having never left the remote corners of Eastern Kentucky -- being sent to the European battlefields to liberate France. Even for the most patriotic and fair-minded, it must have been terrifying and surreal and invigorating. And, even for someone who believed as strongly in God, and freedom, and a general sense of what's right as my uncle did, I can't imagine how hard the road to recovery must have been, both physically and emotionally.
As a native Appalachian, with the strong sense of family as tribe that my heritage entails, I mourn my uncle as the last of my grandfather's siblings. With his passing, our family loses so many ties to the old-time mountain culture that once defined us. My granddaddy and his brother were incredibly talented musicians who played what they called "mountain music." There was a distinct regional variation that separated their genre from traditional bluegrass, they'd argue. Bill Monroe's sound was a musical dialect of Western Kentucky, while our family made the music of Kentucky's Appalachian towns. It's a distinction that, two generations removed and totally devoid of my family's signature musical gift, I can't begin to understand. My uncle loved music; he carved his own elaborate fiddles and he possessed the rare gift of perfect pitch.
In passing, my uncle takes with him his time-tested recipe for white corn liquor (Any Appalachian-American who claims to not have moonshiners in their family tree is, quite frankly, lying...) and the method his own father (a WWI veteran and fellow educator) taught him for extracting cube roots by hand.
This Decoration Day, as we mourn my family's loss, I also think of Uncle Warren's contemporaries among America's World War II veterans -- those often known as the Greatest Generation. I think not only of their sacrifices of safety, well-being and even their own lives; I think of the way that, as the last few members of this generation pass on, they take with them knowledge and insights from a pre-digital world. Like Uncle Warren, they possessed knowledge of a world we can't begin to imagine.
To my uncle and all who sacrificed health, comfort, safety, and their lives fighting for freedom and justice, there aren't sufficient words to express my gratitude and respect. I hope we all pause to remember the veterans in our own lives today.
Rosemary Clooney
Remembering Kentucky-born singer and actress Rosemary Clooney on the anniversary of her birth.
On May 23, 1928, Andrew and Frances Clooney of Maysville, Kentucky welcomed a daughter named Rosemary. Performing was in the Clooney kids' blood; Rosemary and her sister Betty were talented singers and their brother Nick would go on to be an anchorman and television personality.
At the age of 10, Rosemary played the witch in her school's talent show production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Rosemary and Betty began to sing at their grandfather (the Mayor of Maysville)'s political rallys. By 1945, the Clooney sisters had a spot on Cincinnati radio station WLW as singers, earning $20 a night. The next year, Rosemary recorded a song called "''I'm Sorry I Didn't Say I'm Sorry When I Made You Cry Last Night.'' She was known for her recording ''Come On-a My House'' and her performance in the classic movie White Christmas.
Rosemary Clooney was far more than an iconic singer and actress or the doting aunt of superstar George Clooney. She was a beloved Kentucky legend -- at the height of her fame, she chose Maysville's Russell Theatre for the premiere of her film The Stars are Singing. In her later life, she founded her hometown's Rosemary Clooney Festival with proceeds going toward the renovation of the Russell.
Rosemary was outspoken about her own difficulties -- her family's history of addiction (including her own battle with pills), her lifelong struggle with bipolar disorder, and Betty's sudden death of a brain aneurysm. Her memoirs provided a candid account of life as a young starlet, memorably saying "I felt trapped and fabricated in the fifties living up to other people's expectations."
Today, HerKentucky salutes the fabulous, one-of-a-kind singer and actress who put Maysville, Kentucky on the map. Here's to Miss Rosemary Clooney, Kentucky's biggest star!
Day Trip to Nashville!
Must-see attractions for a quick road trip to Nashville
Nashville is an easy day trip from most any corner of Kentucky. Six hours from the farthest corners of Eastern Kentucky and less than three from most parts of the Commonweath, Nashville offers a unique brand of glitz and Southern hospitality. My beau and I have been known to head down to NashVegas for the day to take in a quick appointment or a bite of hot chicken!
Nashville-style hot chicken
Where to stay:
The Hermitage Hotel, located in the heart of Downtown, is one of my very favorite places to stay. The rooms are luxurious (the bathrooms are huge and outright decadent!), and you'll be within walking distance of anything you could hope to visit.
Where to go:
No trip to Nashville is complete without a visit to Broadway. The Ryman Auditorium, Tootsie's Orchid Lounge, Hatch Show Print, and the Ernest Tubb Record Shop are must-sees for music fans.
Provence
Where to get breakfast:
Nashville is home to my very favorite breakfast spots in the world. The Loveless Cafe has the best biscuits and hash brown casserole you'll ever eat. The Pancake Pantry makes these sweet potato pancakes that are simply amazing. And the Donut Den serves apple fritters that you'll actually dream about. (Don't forget to stop by the Colbert-famous Parnassus Books in the same shopping center as Donut Den!)
Image via Spirit of Nashville
What to do:
Whether your day trip includes an event at Vanderbilt or LP Field, a shopping trip to the Green Hills Mall and the West End boutiques, or a show at the Bridgestone Arena, there's always something to do in Nashville!
Hattie B's Hot Chicken
What to eat:
I recommend a trip to the funky 12 South neighborhood for Brooklyn-style pizza at Mafiaoza's and gourmet popsicles at Las Paletas for a low-key dinner. Other must-visits are Provence Breads & Cafe (pick up some Dancing Goats coffee beans for the road), Noshville Deli(Order the Silver Dollar Potato Cakes), Bread & Company, (You can bring me a gallon or two of fruit tea, please!), and Hattie B's Hot Chicken!
Nashville is one of my very favorite cities. I love that there's always something to do. I adore that you may just see a celeb in the mall or at the next table, and that nobody makes a thing of it. The country-club-meets-honkytonk vibe is fun and original. I can't wait to take my next road trip there!
Day Trip to Memphis!
Top five attractions for a quick trip to Memphis
Memphis is just a short drive from most cities in Kentucky. You can be there in anywhere from 1-6 hours time from the Bluegrass State.
Take it from this Kentucky girl living in Memphis, these are the Top Five places you must experience!
1. Graceland- This one is a given. Graceland is such an experience and definitely plan a whole day (or half) for the full Graceland tour!
2. Civil Rights Museum- This Memphis tourist attraction is a must-see! Again, plan a few hours for this historical museum, located partially inside the famous Lorraine Motel, where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assasinated
3. Peabody Hotel- this hotel is a Memphis landmark. Go during the duck march and see the ducks switch shifts at the duck fountain!
4. Central BBQ- this is my personal Memphis BBQ favorite. A lot of people will tell you to go to Rendezvous, and while it's a great experience, Central BBQ (with three locations in the Memphis metro area!) gets my vote for the tastiest pig.
5) Gus's Fried Chicken- get yourself some authentic southern cooking at Gus's Fried Chicken.
Hope to see y'all in Memphis soon!