National Coffee Day
Today is National Coffee Day. At first, I thought I'd talk about my favorite cup of coffee in Kentucky. Then, I realized that asking a writer to choose one favorite cup of coffee is like asking a mother to choose her favorite child. Each cup is unique and beautiful and loved. Some days, you want a pour-over, or a French press, or a latte.
As a freelancer, I spend a lot of time in coffee shops. I write in coffee shops, I take meetings in coffee shops. I drink coffee in coffee shops. Here in Louisville, I have so many opinions:
- Best coffee shop for a meeting: Starbucks at Shelbyville and Hurstborne. Where else can you sit in a renovated bank vault?
- Best coffee shop for a strong latte and a dose of hipsters: Sunergos in Germantown. Amazing coffee. Hipstery hipsters.
- Best coffee shop for a long conversation: Quills in the Highlands. Great coffee, awesome staff.
- Best coffee shop when you really want a cookie: Please & Thank You. Those chocolate chip cookies, though.
Latte from my own kitchen; cream puff from Plehn's Bakery.
As for the best in the Commonwealth, we here at HerKentucky have done some extensive research. Here are our favorites:
- Best espresso drink: Sunergos cappuccino from Atlantic No. 5. A locally brewed roast served up with perfectly steamed, milk, you're in luck, but make sure you can handle big flavors and a serious caffeine jolt. This isn't for amateurs.
- Best French press: Ghyslain. I'm really into French presses and pour-overs these days. You get so much more flavor from the coffee oils and packs a powerful punch. My favorite is the dark roast French press from Ghyslain, the fabulous bistro with two Louisville locations.
- Best cup of drip: (tie) Coffee Times. I adore the artisanal blends from this Lexington coffee shop. The blends are smooth, subtle, and inviting. You'll always see somebody you know. You'll love it, I promise. Lizzie B's: Glory be! I can finally get a great cup of coffee when I visit my hometown. Prestonsburg's favorite cafe serves up an amazing cup of drip. Don't miss out!
- Best Newcomer: Paducah Coffee Company roast at Piper's Tea & Coffee. I don't know if y'all have heard, but HerKentucky contributor Sarah Stewart Holland is shouting from the rooftops that Paducah is Having a Moment. Everywhere you look, there's artisans and renovations and locally made products. Sarah suggests the Turkish Coffee at Piper's, in the fabulous Coke Plant building.
What's your favorite cup of coffee?
The New Appalachia
During a recent trip to my Appalachian hometown, I had a revelation:
Everything looks the same, more or less, but there are some substantial differences.
We attended a ceremony at Alice Lloyd College, where I saw the building that once housed my great-grandmother's office still standing and put to new use.
We visited a fancy, newish restaurant in my home county, where I was delighted to find a delicious menu and a healthy appreciation of our native spirit -- a far cry from the dry county votes of my childhood.
And, as I left the mountains on Sunday morning, I ran across a barn -- formerly, the Appalachian countryside's in-house billboard service for tobacco branding -- advocating smoking cessation.
It's clear, the place that we've been told will never change is changing. It's retaining the best of the old mountain ways while adapting to the times. And, here at HerKentucky, we're thrilled to partake in the best of the new Appalachia. We'll be bringing you our newest city guide, HerAppalachia, on a semi-weekly basis, celebrating our favorite places and events. And we'd love to hear what you're loving about Appalachia lately!
Yellow and Green Grandmother's Flower Garden Quilt
Every Thursday, I show y'all one of the beautiful quilts that my grandmother has made for me over the years. This week's Quilt of the Week is a yellow and green Grandmother's Flower Garden pattern.
I love the interlocking hexagons that form this pattern. It looks deceptively simple, but my granny assures me that it takes a great deal of concentration and precision!
It's easy to see why the Grandmother's Flower Garden has been a favorite for decades.
Pink and White Double Wedding Ring Quilt
Every Thursday, I share photos of a quilt my grandmother has made for me. They're such gorgeous works of art -- and such an important part of my Appalachian heritage! Today's quilt is the popular double wedding ring pattern.
This is one of those patterns that everyone has seen. Because the interlocking circles represent wedding bands, it's the quilt that a lot of people undertake to present as a wedding gift. And, according to my granny, it's a hard one to make. Every piece has to be cut just perfectly. The seam allowances have to be precise. It's not a quilt for a newbie, nor is it one that you can make in a hurry. But it sure is gorgeous.
If you're feeling up to the challenge, click here to download a pattern of your own.
Sophie just had to be part of the photo shoot; she jumped on the bed when I wasn't looking!
10 Things That Every Bourbon-Loving Kentuckian Knows (But Might Not Admit)
The secrets of bourbon-loving Kentuckians.
This is National Bourbon Heritage Month. Or, as we call it here in Kentucky, September. In the spirit of bourbon celebration, I thought it would be fun to round up a list of some of the things that every bourbon-loving Kentuckian knows, but might not admit.
1. There's a reason there are so many cornfields in Central Kentucky. It has nothing to do with food for humans or livestock.
Cornfields near Maker's Mark Distillery, as seen through the passenger's side window. As you can tell, I was wearing seersucker that day.
2. We take a lot of "bourbon history" with a grain of salt. Most labels are relatively new, and a lot of claims of novelty and history come from marketing departments.
3. Most of us secretly mix a bourbon and coke from time to time. It's easy and it goes down smoothly.
Maker's Mark warehouse
4. We like to stick with basic cocktails. A Manhattan, a whiskey sour, or an old-fashioned are about as adventurous as we get.
5. Most of us have an economy-priced favorite, too. Real bourbon lovers know there's a time and place for Old Grand-Dad or Early Times. We aren't above drinking what's in front of us.
Woodford Reserve Master Distiller Chris Morris and Master Taster Elizabeth O'Neill char a barrel.
6. Few things are as lovely as the aroma of a barrel that's being charred. It's like a gossamer mix of the cleanest vanilla and a delicately toasted homemade marshmallow wafting delicately through the air.
7. We know people who work at different spirits companies. We tend to change our orders when they're around.
8. We're just as sick of all these bourbon-flavored food products as y'all are. A few of them are good; a lot aren't.
9. We're all about trying new flavors, but we aren't afraid to stick with what we know. Sometimes you choose a label because it reminds you of the holidays, or because it's what you always take to a tailgate.
The Liquor Cabinet at Jim Beam. Every one of these has their purpose.
10.Pappy is delicious. Nobody is claiming otherwise. But when y'all come in from out of state and want to wow us with your purchase, we secretly know that there are a lot of other tasty, more moderately-priced labels on the menu.
What are your bourbon-loving secrets?
Maiden Alley Oktoberfest: Paducah’s Celebration of All Things Fun
Day drinking?
Live music outdoors during the peak of amazing fall weather?
Food prepared by very capable hands, including an array of sausages, tons of pretzels, cheeses, strudels, kraut, potato salad, beef tongue (maybe), homemade buns, and so much more?
Five craft breweries?
An art fair?
A German car show?
Dirndls?
Lederhosen?!?
If you can’t help but exclaim a resounding “HELL YES!” to all these questions, then you are truly ready for the Paducah event that is Maiden Alley Oktoberfest!!!
It is our 5th year, which means it is time to add more fun stuff to the agenda. Up until now we have only highlighted the beer from our amazing friends at Schlafly Beer. They have been the signature beer of Maiden Alley Cinema from the beginning and they have been with us through it all. A big hats off to this amazing company!!!
BUT it is time to expand the event as we have more people to please! Starting in 2011 we were over the moon to have around 130 attendees. In 2014 we had over 600. The word is spreading!
So... we needed MORE beer. It was a no-brainer to reach out to our two new breweries located right here in Paducah, KY - Dry Ground Brewing Company and Paducah Beer Werks!
Dry Ground even took it a step further and partnered with Schlafly to make a collaboration beer that will be revealed at this year’s event. Done in the Kentucky Common style and aptly named Common Ground, this beer will offer a blast from the past.
Kentucky Common Beer is a once-popular style of ale from the area in and around Louisville, Kentucky from the 1850s until Prohibition. This style is rarely brewed commercially today. In addition, we will also have the amazing beer of West Sixth out of Lexington, KY and Tin Man out of Evansville, IN.
This event really is about 4 things; great beer, great music, great food, and a great cause.
By joining with the amazing crew at Kirchhoff’s Bakery & Deli you know the food will be top notch and of the highest caliber. Louie doesn’t mess around when it comes to a Bavarian spread.
Just as Kirchhoff’s is a Paducah tradition, we like to think that Maiden Alley Cinema is one as well. Through expanding our programming to include live music as well as film, we have found that our audience has become more diverse and broad. This event helps us to raise much needed operating support for the non-profit cinematic art house. Our mission is film, which allows us to bring a new independent/foreign film or documentary to the big screen every weekend, offer several films series (i.e. Faith in Film, Movies for Me and Film Brew), host rotating art exhibits in our lobby and keep amazing music on our stage through Music@MAC.
Photo by MAMC Photography
Speaking of music, we have a stellar line-up this year and as well as one additional hour to enjoy the festivities. Starting the day with local favorites Chris Black & the Eagles of Unemployment and then on to the Paducah Jazz Ensemble Polka Band for some traditional music to match the theme of the day.
Then, we have the Solid Rock’it Boosters - who always bring down the house. After that, we venture outside our great city to bring in Curio of Chicago, IL, and then the Loot Rock Gang of St. Louis, MO. To headline the day, we have Paducah’s own Jessica Lee Wilkes.
There will also be an after party at JP’s Bar & Grill, featuring live music by The Swamp Tigers, Commander Keen, and a few others to be announced.
And if you are feeling frisky and want to kick off the weekend in style, don’t miss our Maiden Alley Oktoberfest Beer Dinner Friday, October 16 at 7 pm. With food being prepared by German chef we can’t wait for a truly authentic meal. There will be 4 courses with a beer pairing for each course. Anita White of Gold Rush Café is even bringing her mother in from Germany to help in the process.
Tickets and more information can be found at www.maidenalleycinema.org
Also, you can purchase tickets for both events with CASH or CHECK ONLY at any of these fine Paducah establishments: Roof Brothers Wine & Spirits (Park Ave. location), Kirchhoff’s Bakery, Dry Ground Brewery, Etcetera & Etcetera Squared, Bricolage Art Collective, Gold Rush Café, Max’s Brick Oven, and of course Maiden Alley Cinema.
Bear Bryant and the Kentucky Wildcats
Remembering a legend of college football.
On September 11, 1913, Paul William Bryant was born in Munro Bottom, Arkansas, the eleventh of twelve children born to Wilson Monroe and Ida Kilgore Bryant. From a young age, he was undertaking legendary things, like the time when, at age 13, he agreed to wrestle a bear at a carnival. The nickname "Bear" stuck.
Kentucky Coach Bear Bryant with Team Captains Vito Parilli and Doug Mosely, 1953. Image via KDL
By 1930, Bear was a high school football player whose team won the Arkansas state championship, but he didn't quite make it to graduation. In fact, when the Bear was offered a football scholarship to the University of Alabama, he had to finish up his degree at a Tuscaloosa-area high school while undertaking fall practice with the Tide.
January 1, 1951 -- Bear Bryant's Wildcats win the Sugar Bowl
Now, here in Kentucky, we know Bear Bryant as the Coach who toughened up the Wildcat football team for eight seasons and reinvented the way we recruited our players. He took the 'Cats to their first Bowl game in 1947 and on to their first SEC Conference title in 1950.
Sugar Bowl Champion Kentucky Wildcats. Image via Big Blue Fans.
The 1950 Wildcats went on to upset the #1 ranked Oklahoma Sooners in the Sugar Bowl, with a final score of 13-7. That Sugar Bowl game is considered one of the greatest upsets in college football history, as the Wildcats ended Oklahoma's run for an undefeated season.
Now, as we all know, Coach Bryant stayed in Lexington through 1953. The stories are murky about why he left us to coach the A & M Aggies. Some say it's over a fight with Coach Rupp over a Cadillac, a watch, or maybe a cigarette lighter. Others say that the rivalry between the two legendary Kentucky coaches has been over-dramatized. In 1966, Bryant himself told Sports Illustrated: "The trouble was we were too much alike, and he wanted basketball No. 1 and I wanted football No. 1...In an environment like that one or the other has to go."
When you have the two best coaches ever to coach their respective sports, the stakes are high.
I hear that, after his 8 seasons at Kentucky were over, he tried his hand at coaching Down South and took to wearing a snazzy hat. I'll leave the stories of those years to our friends in Alabama who can tell them way better than I ever could.
Here's to Coach Bryant and the 1951 Sugar Bowl. Go Big Blue!