The HerKentucky Guide to the Nashville Hot Chicken Festival
Tips and tricks for getting the most out of the Nashville Hot Chicken Festival.
One of my very favorite Independence Day celebrations has to be the Nashville Hot Chicken Festival. I mean, our forefathers risked life and luxury so that we could enjoy liberty and impossibly spiced fried food, right?
Well, that may be a stretch, but it's a fun time and a good excuse to make a little trip down to East Nashville, where vendors from the Music City's favorite hot chicken restaurants set up shop in East Park. We went last year, and it was a blast!!
If you're thinking of making the trip this year, here are a few little tips to keep you from winding up in a line like this all day.
- Skip the 9 AM free samples. Yes, I know the first 500 people get free samples. Trust me, it's not worth it. It's going to be a zoo. Head between 10 or 10:30; you'll miss the first surge of foot traffic, be able to see the parade from inside the park, and still beat the stragglers to the various booths.
- Eat before you go. I know it doesn't make a lot of sense, because you're going to a festival that's all about food and drink. But, trust me on this one. You'll be waiting in long lines in the heat. You'll be eating spicy foods and, likely, drinking beer. A biscuit or sandwich to soak all that up is not the worst idea.
- Don't waste your time with the hot fish. It's just fried fish with cayenne powder. Skip the fish and focus on comparing the various restaurants' chicken. That's what you went for, anyway.
- Don't expect sides. I love hot chicken, but I also love the amazing, Southern-style sides that are served up with it. I try to hit up Hattie B's every time I go to Nashville, and I love the collard greens and the pimento mac and cheese just as much as I love the chicken. Just a word of warning, the chicken strips meal looks like this in-restaurant at Hattie's,
but the chicken strips look more like this at the Hot Chicken Festival.
Both are delicious, but they're a different experience.
- Break up the duties. Assign everybody in your group with a different line responsibility, then meet up. That way, you can enjoy samples and cold beverages at once!
- Stay hydrated! It's going to be a hot day, and you'll be eating spicy food. Don't forget to drink plenty of water! (You won't be allowed to bring outside beverages into the park, but there will be plenty of places to buy a water or soda!)
- Don't forget your sunscreen! Tomorrow's weather forecast calls for scattered thundershowers, which should break up in the afternoon. It's easy to get sunburned in a hurry in the Nashville sun!
- Don't forget to try some local brews. Yazoo is good stuff.
- Leave the souvenir shopping till the end. Nobody wants to have to carry t-shirts and posters around all day. That said, you probably want to pick something up. The designs are always quite cool, and trust me when I say that a "hot chicken" t-shirt is a conversation starter wherever you go! Your Southern Foodie cred is pretty much cemented.
Most of all, have fun and enjoy the Music City's signature fast food!
Five Things That Kind of (Maybe a Little) Connect Tom Cruise to Kentucky
Thomas Cruise Mapother IV was born on July 3, 1962, in Syracuse, NY. But, anybody who's lived in Kentucky any time knows that, before he became the superstar actor Tom Cruise, he spent some time around here. There was a period in the '90s where it felt like every Louisville native I met had an older brother who'd attended high school with Tommy Mapother. In the spirit of exceptionally large classes at St. X and my general belief that I can put a Kentucky spin on just about anything, here are five factoids that connect Birthday Boy Tom Cruise to Kentucky.
- The same model of U.S. Navy "Tomcat" fighter plane that Cruise's character Maverick flew in Top Gun is on display at the Aviation Museum of Kentucky, located beside the airport. So, the next time you're catching a cheap flight out of the LEX, you can take a photo of that plane, sing the chorus of "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling" and pour a little out for Goose before you board. Everybody knows you don't need to be early for a flight out of Lexington, and you're basically commemorating a seminal piece of Kentucky history.
- Even if it was only for a brief time, Tom Cruise attended Louisville's St. Xavier High School. If you've lived in Louisville (or even visited for more than 5 minutes), you know that going to St. X is The Most Louisville Thing Ever. There you go: Tom's a Louivillian.
- Tom's grandfather, Thomas Cruise Mapother Jr, founded the Louisville bankruptcy law firm Mapother & Mapother. So, if you went to law school and hated studying the bankruptcy code, or even if you've ever gotten a collection letter from Mapother, you're basically a cousin to Tom, right?
- Speaking of cousins, Tom's cousin and Mission Impossible 2 co-star William Mapother is also an actor, and a full-on Louisville native.
- Before matriculating at St. X, Tom also attended St. Francis Seminary in Cincinnati, a city which everyone knows is just an extension of the Northern Kentucky Metro Area.
So, there you go. Tom Cruise's Kentucky roots run deep.
Happy birthday, Tom, you Crazy Kentuckian!!
{Lest you doubt the veracity of these claims, please note that much of this article was influenced by Kentucky for Kentucky's blog post Tom Cruise Briefly Attended High School in Louisville," which, in turn, references "multiple biographical sources gleaned from the Internet in a great haste.' Never let it be said that the HerKentucky girls don't do their research.}
HerKentucky's Guide to an Extraordinary Independence Day!
Happy Fourth, y'all! Independence Day is a great holiday. There's cookouts, and fireworks, and cookouts and fireworks...
But this year, why not do a little more? Celebrate the nation while doing something fun and memorable! Here are some great ways to celebrate the holiday around the Commonwealth.
- Start the day off right with a run! Owensboro's Independence Bank is holding a Freedom Day 5K on July 4th. You'll get your exercise in for the morning and feel a little better about splurging on some good holiday food the rest of the day!
- Hot Chicken Festival! Nashville's Hot Chicken Festival is always fun! You can sample the Music City's very own fast food delicacy, take in some great local beer, and meet some really cool new friends.
- The Flea off Market With great vendors and even better food trucks, Louisville's Flea off Market in Nulu is a fun way to see everybody and find some unique treasures.
- Peaches from The Peach Truck! Catch The Peach Truck, Nashville's mobile source for the most amazing fresh peaches, is bringing its Freestone Tour to Kentucky and Ohio over the next few days. At noon on the 4th, they'll be at Brownsboro Hardware. On Monday, they'll be in Somerset and Danville. Check their website for the full schedule, then take a look at Garden & Gun's recipe for Bourbon Brown Butter Peach Ice Cream.
- Take in a Reds Game! Baseball is America's pastime, after all. Why not catch a game in the Cincinnati Reds' series against the Brewers? Sign up here for a free Mustache Appreciation Glass with your ticket purchase.
- Ice Cream Social! Take in the 4th of July Pie Contest and Ice Cream Social in Lexington's Cheapside Park.
- Local Celebrations! Of course, the best party of all is the one that includes your own family, friends and neighbors! Take in your hometown fireworks with friends. Celebrate Elizabethtown's birthday. Celebrate freedom!
- Wear a patriotic tee with a Kentucky twist! I've already planned my outfit with a little help from My Kentucky Tee.
What are y'all doing for the 4th?
B.You July Challenge
Those of y'all who've been reading HerKentucky most of this year know that I fell in love with B.You fitness studio. I quickly found relief from my back injuries through barre classes. I was feeling great, looking great, and then...
And then I hit that point. Everyone who's ever signed up for a gym membership knows exactly the point I mean. The point where, all of a sudden, it doesn't feel like quite as much of a necessity to go to fitness classes. The point where long workdays, or a touch of the flu, or a million other excuses mount up. I was still going once or twice a week, but I was no longer devoted. My form in class suffered. I went up a pants size. My back started to hurt again.
It's like B.You specifically had me in mind when they designed the July challenge. 21 classes in 31 days -- that will certainly get me back to where I need to be. It'll be nice to win a tank top. It'll be much better to lose a few inches and get back in the groove of health and mindfulness.
Meet me at the barre! There's still time to sign up for the B.You July challenge, and I guarantee you'll feel better for it! Visit B.you's Facebook page for more information!
Five Things You Probably Didn't Know About The Corvette
Celebrating the 62nd birthday of the Corvette!
On June 30, 1953, the first Chevrolet Corvette was completed. Conceived as the "dream car" of GM Chief Designer Harley Earl, the original Corvette was crafted by hand.
The Corvette quickly became THE American luxury sports car. The body styles have changed throughout the years, but the Corvette brand remains a cult favorite for folks who love classic American styling, big motors, and speed. Famous Corvette owners include John Wayne and Matthew McConaughey. Seriously, does it get any cooler than that?
The Corvette is also one of Kentucky's most famous exports. The Bowling Green GM plant has produced every single 'Vette for the past thirty-four years. If you've ever taken a trip from Louisville to Nashville on I-65, you know that Corvette owners from across the country love to drive their cars to festivities at the plant and the museum next door. It's a really cool, surreal experience to see a caravan of Corvettes heading down the highway!
In honor of the Corvette's birthday, (and just because I love any opportunity to drop a little Matthew McConaughey and Steve Sanders into a HerKentucky post), here's some fun Corvette trivia:
- The name "corvette" comes from a small, highly maneueverable naval warship. The Middle French term is derived from the Dutch "corf", meaning "small ship."
- The 1953 Corvette had a base price of $3,498.00; optional accessories were a heater ($91.40) and an AM radio ($145.15). The model came in one color combination: polo white with a black soft top, red wheels, and a red interior.
- In 1981, production of Corvettes was moved to Bowling Green. New 'Vettes from Bowling Green included clear coat paint and the fiberglass-reinforced rear monoleaf spring.
- There was no 1983 Corvette. 1982 was the last year for the C3 model. Although a handful of prototypes were built in 1983, the focus was on the redesign for 1984's C4, which included a one-piece removable roof panel and digital instruments. 1982 was the last year you could purchase the optional eight-track tape deck in a Corvette.
- In February 2014, a sinkhole measuring 40 feet across and 25-30 feet deep damaged the National Corvette Museum, which is located across the street from the Bowling Green plant. Several special edition cars, including the one millionth Corvette, were impacted.
Happy Birthday to the Corvette! If Steve Sanders loves you, then you must be legit.
The 10 Bourbons We're Drinking This Summer
Everybody knows that, when asked "what are you drinking, a real Kentuckian will never just say, "bourbon." We take our brands seriously. True Kentucky women don't keep one bottle of bourbon on hand any more than we own one pair of shoes: we know that you keep a bottle for drinking, a bit for cooking, and some to savor. You use different brands for cocktails than for sipping. You serve your guests something a little nicer than you'd drink on a regular day. Today's HerKentucky Summer Fun List was a fun experiment -- I asked our writers what they're drinking right now. Click here to download. The list may surprise you.
- Basil Hayden's. I sipped some Basil the other day when I visited Jim Beam. I'd forgotten how ridiculously smooth and full-bodied it is. 80 proof, rye-heavy, and aged 8 years, it's a lovely sippin' whiskey.
- Bulleit. This is another rye-heavy mixture. Very bold and spicy. And, as I learned at the Original Maker's Club Pimento Cheese Social this year, it makes a fantastic Old Fashioned or bourbon punch! Great for mixing, great for tailgating; the flavor is complex yet clean.
- Four Roses: If it was good enough for William Faulkner, it's good enough for me. The yellow label is good for everyday use -- clear and clean with high caramel notes; the Small Batch is fantastic for tastings.
- Maker's Mark: The iconic red bottle symbolizes so many good things for me: Christmas, football games, and basically every chocolate-flavored baked good I've concocted in the past 10 years or so. Maker's Mark is the "house wine" at my house, and we completely ignored the know-it-all from the New York Times who called it the "Volvo of bourbons." The high-wheat mash bill provides a smooth, sweet, drinkable bourbon with up-front notes of caramel and vanilla. You know it's delicious.
- Woodford Reserve: This is a great sipping whiskey. High-rye, lots of vanilla and oak notes. Basically, the creme brûlée of bourbon. Makes a great sweet cocktail, like an Old-Fashioned!
- 1792: Mellow and sweet, slightly spicy, with a brown sugar note. Named for the year that Kentucky became a state. Just a lovely whiskey with a very complex palate. Great for mixing or for an end-of-the-day drink.
- W.L. Weller 12: So, while people are running around paying zillions of dollars for Pappy Van Winkle, folks around here know that this well-aged wheater delivers a huge punch. In fact, it's what Pappy's own grandson, Julian Van Winkle, recommends when he can't drink his family's famous product. I've even heard it called "The Poor Man's Pappy" due to its similar smoothness, super-high wheat content, and intense age. Toasty notes of oak and toffee; unbelievably smooth.
- Elijah Craig: Heaven Hill's 12 year has a mash bill that's overwhelmingly corn, with nearly equal parts of rye and wheat. The result is a spicy, balanced whiskey named for the minister who,as legend has it, first produced the spirit we know as bourbon. Whether that's the stuff of fact or marketing, it's a smooth, fine drink of bourbon.
- Old Forester: Mark my words, y'all: This is the next big thing in bourbon. Now, that sounds a little odd, given that OlFo has been around since 1870. But, "America's Guest Whiskey", as it was marketed during WWII, is poised to make a huge comeback. It's the official bourbon of the Kentucky Derby, it will soon have an opulent new visitor's center in Downtown Louisville, and it's, simply put, as delicious as ever. If you don't believe me, head down to St. Charles Exchange for the world's best Old Fashioned.
- Evan Williams 23: They say that Evan Williams was the first commercial distiller in Kentucky. If you visit the Evan Williams Experience, you'll get a little taste as part of the cost of admission. A bottle runs in the $400 range retail, and climes near $900 in the aftermarket. It's smooth, oaky, and mellow, and quite drinkable!
What are y'all drinking this summer?
Red White & Blue Picnic Outfit
Several of y'all asked about the apron I wore on the WTVQ Grilling Segment this week. It's Martha Stewart for Macy's! I thought it was perfect to go with the Red Gold Tomato theme. In fact, I put together a little Independence Day picnic getup for the show. It was fun, and everything is on sale right now! You can shop the look below, and don't forget to visit the Red Gold Facebook Page to enter to win a Big Green Egg.