10 Things You Probably Didn't Know about Happy Chandler
Observing the 117th anniversary of Kentucky Governor A.B. "Happy" Chandler's birth.
Albert Benjamin Chandler was born July 14, 1898 in Corydon, Kentucky. Three years later, Chandler's teenaged mother, Callie, fled the state, abandoning her husband Joseph and their young sons. Chandler worked his way through college and law school, going on to achieve memorable careers in both politics and sports. An ambitious and often polarizing figure in his chosen fields, Chandler never failed to show his deep love for the Bluegrass State. In honor of the inimitable Kentucky politician and perhaps the most famous singer of Kentucky's state song, here are 10 things you probably didn't know about Happy Chandler.
- Chandler earned his undergraduate degree at Transylvania College, where he was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, captain of the football and basketball teams, and quarterback of the football team.
- At Transylvania, Chandler earned the nickname "Happy", because he was always jovial and pleasant.
- After earning a degree from Transylvania, Happy considered a career in professional baseball (he even threw a no-hitter in a development league game!), but chose instead to attend Harvard Law School.
- While matriculating at Harvard, he scouted the University's football team; many credit this intel as a factor in Centre College's famous 1921 victory over Harvard.
- After one year of Harvard education proved too financially draining, he completed his law degree at the University of Kentucky. Throughout law school, he worked as a high school baseball coach and a football scout and assistant coach for Centre College.
- Chandler's political career spanned over sixty years. He was named Chairman of the Woodford County Democratic Party in the 1920s, and master commissioner of the Woodford County Circuit Court in 1928.
- Happy served as the 44th (1935-1939) and 49th (1945-1951) Governor of Kentucky and the 2nd Commissioner of Baseball (1945-51). Innovations attributed to his terms included a free textbook program, participation in the federal rural electrification program, establishment of a teachers' retirement system and an old-age assistance program, and the start of a special rural roads program
- As Baseball Commissioner, Happy approved the Brooklyn Dodgers' contract with Jackie Robinson, paving the way for African-American players in baseball.
- Other jobs held by Chandler included newspaper publisher, Senator, and Commissioner of the Continental Football League.
- Chandler was named to the Baseball Hall of Fame, Man of the Year by both The Kentucky Press Association and the Kentucky Broadcasting Association, and was the longest-living Kentucky governor.
Here's to Happy on the 117th anniversary of his birth! He wasn't always right, but he always loved the Commonwealth!
The 5 Kentucky Festivals That'll Make You Look Forward to this Weekend
This weekend's top summer festivals!
Here in Kentucky, we love to celebrate things. Any old excuse will do, really. It seems that this weekend, we've got lots to celebrate. There are festivals all over the Commonwealth this weekend, celebrating everything from Corvettes to Corn. Here are five upcoming Kentucky-based Festivals that will make you look forward to this weekend.
- Forecastle. The rock star of Kentucky festivals. Three days of music, local art, and general hippie fun. Headlined by hometown heroes My Morning Jacket and jam band favorites Widespread Panic, Forecastle is Louisville's very own answer to Bonnaroo. July 17-19, Louisville.
- Shriners Bluegrass Festival. Love old-timey bluegrass? Want to camp out in Carter County? This one's for you. July 16-18, Olive Hill
- National Corvette Homecoming. The Corvette is Kentucky's car. This weekend, a whole bunch of Corvette owners are driving to Bowling Green, where it all begins. Vendors, parades, car shows and more. July 16-18, Bowling Green.
- BreyerFest. You know those Breyer horses that were always at the toy store when you were a kid? They looked neat, and you always knew that SOMEBODY SOMEWHERE collected them. Well, this weekend at the Horse Park, all of those somebodies are in one place. July 17-19, Lexington.
- Augusta Riverfest Regatta: Everything from a 5K and beauty pageant to live music. Oh, and of course, boats. It is a regatta, after all. July 17-18, Augusta.
The ultimate festival accessory: The Barbour Picnic Rug.
Of course, you can't just wear anything to a festival; you need a look that incorporates layers, protection from the elements, and a sense of effortless chic. Fedoras and maxi dresses, wellies or sneakers, funky tees and of course sunglasses are in order. We've put together a festival style guide below! (And, if you'll be in Louisville on Thursday, don't miss Kentucky for Kentucky's festival gear pop-up at Hound Dog Press!)
Shop the Look: Summer Festival Style
Are you taking in any fun Kentucky festivals this summer?
The 5 Best Bourbon Tours for People Who Really Don't Drink Bourbon
Kentucky's distilleries offer so much more than just bourbon!
Now and again, I find myself singing the praises of a bourbon distillery tour, either to a fellow Kentuckian or an out-of-towner,only to be met with an unenthusiastic "Oh, I'm not a big drinker" or "I don't really like bourbon." I'm always taken aback by these responses. Sure, distilleries produce bourbon, which is often quite delicious, but they also tell so many authentically Kentucky stories.
The thing that makes Kentucky's bourbon distilleries so very special isn't just the product that's being made. It's the timelessness, the history, and the community spirit that surround the Kentucky spirits industry. The master distillers still carry a little jar of their secret recipe home every night so that the original mash bill can never be lost, in a throwback to the earliest days of bourbon-making. When tragedy strikes a distillery, Kentuckians are concerned. We don't just worry about the lost booze or the hit to the Commonwealth's tourism industry; every distillery contains friends, relatives, and colleagues who are directly impacted. This week alone, when the site of the upcoming Brown-Forman Whiskey Row visitors center was destroyed by fire and the Heaven Hill warehouse was damaged by storms, our thoughts turned immediately to the safety of our friends who work in the spirits industry. It often feel that even those of us who don't choose to imbibe are connected the bourbon family.
In the spirit of our Summer Fun Lists, here are the top 5 can't miss bourbon attractions for folks who aren't all about the bourbon. Click here to download.
5. The Speakeasy Experience at the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience. If you're interested in the history of Louisville or a fan of Jazz Age history, you absolutely MUST take this tour. It's quick (usually runs around half an hour) and cheap ($12). It's led by a bourbon historian who takes on the character of a Prohibition-era barkeep; he even infuses a fascinating little story from his own family into the tale. If you or your guests find yourselves in downtown Louisville on a weekend, you should make a point of stopping by this attraction on your way to the Slugger Museum or 21C. If you don't like bourbon, I can promise you that someone in the tour group will be happy to take the complimentary taste of 23 year Evan off your hands for you!
4. The National Landmark Tour at Woodford Reserve. This is an amazing experience for history and architecture buffs. It's about the evolution of Central Kentucky; it just happens to use a bourbon distillery to tell that story.
3. Jim Beam American Stillhouse. It's just so amazingly beautiful out at Jim Beam. It's like you've been carried back in time to a perfect little village amidst rolling foothills. As you pass the on-site fire department and the statue of Jim Beam, you feel more like you're in a really well-decorated theme than a distillery; don't miss barbecue from the on-site restaurant!
2. The Ghost Tour at Buffalo Trace. Spend an eerie hour or so on the historic riverbanks of our Commonwealth's capital city, looking for the ghost of Col. Blanton. If haunted mansions and ghostly lore are your thing, you must take this tour!
1. Dinner Series at Maker's Mark. Maybe you don't like bourbon, but you love good food in a gorgeous setting, right? Maker's Mark has some pretty incredible dinners lined up for the summer, including the Rick Bayless. That's right: Rick Bayless at Maker's Mark. That one is a foodie can't-miss!
Happy Touring, y'all!
The 10 Best Fried Chicken Places in Kentucky
Celebrate National Fried Chicken Day with Kentucky's most famous dish!
Happy National Fried Chicken Day, y'all!
The rest of the USA may have one day to celebrate this delicious dish. Of course, here in Kentucky, it's an iconic meal every single day, thanks to an enterprising Indiana-native businessman named Harland Sanders. (Fun fact: Colonel Sanders earned a law degree via correspondence course, and practiced law in Little Rock, Arkansas for a few years. His legal career ended when he punched a client during a courtroom brawl!)
Of course, my granny makes the absolute best fried chicken in Kentucky, but we may have to sweet talk her a little to get her to fry up enough for all the folks who read HerKentucky! So, in honor of fried chicken, the Colonel, and our awesome Commonwealth, here's our list of the 10 best Fried Chicken Places (that aren't my granny's house) in Kentucky.
10. Beaumont Inn, Harrodsburg. Classic southern-style dinner at this boarding school - turned B&B. Don't forget to ask for some of their house label Kentucky Owl bourbon.
9. Blue Heron Steakhouse, Lexington. A hip new restaurant in Lexington's up-and-coming Jefferson Street district that serves have a bird with gravy and two sides -- what a perfect fusion of Kentucky's culinary past and future.
8. Greyhound Tavern, Ft. Mitchell. This legendary Northern Kentucky eatery serves up a crispy, delicious bird as its Monday and Tuesday special, and with waffles on the weekend brunch menu.
7. Colonial Cottage, Erlanger. Built in the 1930s to feed workers from nearby tobacco farms, the Colonial Cottage has become an institution on the Northern Kentucky food scene. Their chicken is the stuff of legends.
6. Joe's Fried Chicken, Isom. Joe's is one of those Eastern Kentucky dives where you just have to go with a local. It's well worth the trip.
5. Parkette, Lexington. Lexington's 1950s drive-up diner serves what many people call THE REAL KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN. It's a must-visit for all Kentuckians!
4. Harvest, Louisville. This farm-to-table dining concept reimagines Southern cuisine with a few flourishes. Buttermilk-soaked chicken is served with a drunken pork biscuit hoecake, smoked peppercorn gravy, and seasonal hot sauce.
3. Claudia Sanders Dinner House, Shelbyville. Colonel Sanders' legacy was continued at this historic Shelby County mansion after the KFC chain was sold. Don't miss the Sunday buffet for all the fried chicken you could ever hope to eat!
2. Ramsey's, Lexington. I can't tell you how many weekend mornings I wake up and try to convince my beau to "just run over to Lexington" for the fried chicken at Ramsey's. This southern meat-and-three style diner is a Lexington classic, and the food never changes. You get great ingredients, huge portions, and you'll see everyone you know!
1. Merrick Inn, Lexington If you want to get fancy, it doesn't get better than this. Lexington's traditional "fancy restaurant" serves the best fried chicken you can find anywhere!
Did we miss anything? Who makes your favorite fried chicken?
(Here are the best and worst in Fried Chicken-themed goods. I have the Kentucky for Kentucky shirt; I think I'll skip out on the onesie, though.)
This Weekend in Louisville
Photos from around the Derby City
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.
My beau picked up this awesome t-shirt at last year's festival.
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.
Image via Kentucky for 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.}