Valentine's Day Dates You'll Actually Enjoy!
St. Valentine's Day, named for a martyred 3rd Century Roman who may or may not have actually existed, is celebrated every year on February 14th as an expression of romantic love. The symbols of hearts and flowers and candies are everywhere. And, as we all know, it can actually also be a little stupid.
But, you know, it doesn't have to be. There are fun activities this weekend in every corner of the Commonwealth that let you celebrate with your sweetie in unique ways!
Louisville
- B.You Fitness offers a chance to show the guy in your life exactly what you do in barre class. Enjoy Barre with your Beau 6:15 tomorrow night at the Chenoweth Square location. Try Silque Cardio with your Sweetie 6:00 tomorrow night at B.You's Springhurst studio.
- Louisville has the best pizza. THE BEST. I suggest the 2 topping heart-shaped 14" pizza for $15 at Wick's. Sunday only. Or the $30 dinner for two at Impellizzeri's, including salad, a 12" heart-shaped pizza, and an amazing-sounding molten brownie.
- How about an '80s dance party that supports equality? Modern Love: A Valentine's Day Dance Party is Sunday night at Louis's "The Ton." If you're planning a wedding, Fair Event Vendors Alliance™ (FEVA) representatives will be there. FEVA aims to connect the LGBTQ community with Louisville and Southern Indiana area wedding and event professionals, who welcome them as clients and believe in their equality and fair treatment. The event will feature some rare specialty beers from Flat12 Bierwerks, Goodwood Brewing, and West Sixth Brewing, and pints of the featured beers come with an 80s fandom Valentine’s Day card and a chance to win swag and prizes.
- The Four Roses Flower Hour at Nanz & Kraft Florist combines hearts and flowers in the best possible way. This special Valentine's Day shopping and bourbon tasting event benefits the American Heart Association. Tomorrow night, 5:30-8 p.m. $10 cash only at the door.
- Corner Bar is one of my favorites. They're offering special cocktails, small plates and chocolate + champs pairings now through Valentine's Day and enforcing a screen-free environment.
Paducah
- Flower + Furbish is hosting a Valentines pop-up shop at the Coke Plant Saturday and Sunday. These gorgeous, unique arrangements are far from your traditional dozen roses!
Image via Flower + Furbish
- If kickass-Kentucky-girl-with-guitar music is your thing, check out local musician Jessica Lee Wilkes in concert at Maiden Alley Cinema Friday night.
Lexington
- Let's go ahead and acknowledge that UK basketball is your first love. Order takeout and watch UK @ South Carolina on ESPN Saturday at noon.
- So, Romeo & Juliet set to ballet probably is the most conventionally romantic thing on this list. It still sounds pretty fun. Saturday and Sunday at the Lexington Opera House.
- If Kentucky is your BAE, and seriously, it should be, visit the Market 301 at Manchester Music Hall Friday night from 6-10 at Manchester Music Hall and shop with some of Central Kentucky's best artisans and vendors. The first 100 guests receive a free tote bag!
Pikeville
- The special Saturday menu at The Blue Raven sounds amazing.
Owensboro
- Why not meet your bestie at the barre? Book a Valentine's Day class at Pure Barre Owensboro and get a special gift bag! You'll receive $10 in barre bucks if you bring a friend!
Happy Valentine's Day, y'all!
Shop Local for Valentine's Day!
Great Valentine's Day presents from local Louisville artisans!
Happy almost-Valentine's Day, y'all!
If you're still looking for an amazing gift for your sweetie, here are some absolutely gorgeous pieces made by local Louisville artisans that are fun, romantic, and unique!
Louisville Stoneware Mug
I debated putting this one on the list, because I want one myself, and I've heard a rumor that there are only a few remaining. But, these are absolutely the most adorable pieces of locally-made pottery! If your Valentine really, really loves coffee, this is the perfect gift. Available in-studio only at Louisville Stoneware.
Anchal Project Scarf
The Anchal Project is an AMAZING Louisville-based company that trains and employs former sex workers in India to create stunning, one-of-a-kind textiles. I had the good fortune to hear Anchal founder Colleen Clines talk about empathy a few months ago. After watching her speak, I'm OBSESSED with Anchal and their mission!
Elva Fields Necklace
Elva Fields is one of my favorite, favorite local companies. Owner/ designer Emily Wheat Maynard is one of the sweetest ladies you'll ever meet, and she is crazy talented. She scopes out lovely antiques and one-of-a-kind gemstones to make every piece an experience. Check out this Elva Fields necklace and this necklace!
Cellar Door Chocolates
This may be my all-time favorite take on the perennial "sweets for your sweet" gift. It's Phoebe Buffay's lobsters, reimagined in locally-made chocolate.
Just as a reminder of why this is so awesome,
A piece from Cuteopia!
Revelry Boutique Gallery in NuLu has some of the most fabulous pieces every day, but their Cuteopia exhibit is over-the-top fabulous. Who could say no to these declarations of love?
Here's to a perfect Valentine's Day with your sweetie!
Kentucky's 8 Best Pizzas
Today is National Pizza Day, so we thought we'd celebrate with Kentucky's very best pizza.
OK, maybe Papa John's isn't the Commonwealth's best pizza, but it probably is our most famous.
Here are HerKentucky's favorite Bluegrass State pizzas by region.
Paducah
- Pizza by the Pound They don't deliver and they don't have to. It's that good. Pizza by the Pound, a local institution since 1964, is home of the eight pound pizza. If you can eat it in one hour and in one setting, they'll give you $100. I just prefer a few slices of pepperoni that will only make you feel like you've gained eight pounds.
- Pizza Inn Recently crowned the #1 Readers' Choice in the Paducah Sun, Pizza Inn is the best pizza buffet I've ever had. It was also our choice on Sunday nights growing up. They have the best thin crust pizza and the most amazing chocolate chip dessert pizza you've ever tasted.
- Michael's New York Style Pizza The runner-up for Readers Choice, Michael's is great for big, saucy slices just like they sell in the Big Apple. I love the spiciness of their sauce and their crust is delicious.
(Paducah picks compiled by HerKentucky's resident Paducah enthusiast, Sarah Stewart Holland of bluegrass redhead.)
Louisville
Impellizzeri's Pizza Impellizzeri's has the best true Sicilian-style pizza in town. A Louisville staple, the Highlands Imp's is an amazing place to dine al fresco with a chalice of Stella Artois. The Whiskey Row location is a fun spot to hang out before an event at the Yum Center.
Spinelli's Pizza Spinelli's offers big Brooklyn-style pizzas, and has distinguished itself by offering late-night delivery (until 4:30 a.m.) and even later dine-in options (until 5 a.m.). Everybody's ordered Spinelli's at some point, even if everyone hasn't been brave enough to try their signature fried Oreos.
Wick's Pizza Ask any true Louisvillian, and they'll tell you that Wick's is the place to go for huge, deep-dish pizza smothered in quality ingredients. Their pepperoni is so fresh and spicy that you'll wonder if you've ever eaten pepperoni before. A funky, laid-back atmosphere (there's often a live band). Five locations across the Louisville area, but the Highlands location is where you want to go.
Coal's Artisan Pizza Coal-fired artisan pizza with amazing ingredients, a very decent wine list, and an always-full dining room. Two Louisville locations, and pizzas named for the city's favorite neighborhoods. I recommend the St. Matthews, the Brownsboro, or the Waverly!
Eastern KY
Giovanni's Pizza Anybody who has spent any time in Eastern Kentucky has eaten plenty of Giovanni's pizza. It just seems like there's always been a Giovanni's location in every town along U.S. Route 23. Giovanni's is known for big ol' pizzas that feed a crowd, making them a favorite for birthday parties and sporting events. Their pizza buffet is a lunchtime staple in most everybody's hometown, offering all-you-can-eat breadsticks, pizza and pasta. Giovanni's sandwiches are a perennial favorite as well. The stromboli sandwich (a steak hoagie with pizza sauce and cheese) and the Big Red (steak hoagie with cheese and red French dressing) are classic menu items.
Lexington
Joe Bologna's Joe B's is a Lexington institution. Located just off UK's campus in a church-turned-synagogue-turned-pizzaria, Joe Bologna's offers hearty deep-dish pizza and famous breadsticks smothered in garlic butter.
Happy Birthday, American Pharoah
Sports fans are, as a general rule, a superstitious group. Horse racing fans are the most notoriously superstitious of all. Before most every race I, and almost every other horse racing fan I know, will stop to do two things: We say a little prayer that all the jockeys and horses make it though the race safely, and we hope that this year, we'll see a once-in-a-lifetime horse. The horse who'll win the Triple Crown. The horse whose name everyone -- not just the people at the track -- will remember.
Image via bobbaffert.com
In 2015, we saw a once-in-a-lifetime horse. Foaled on February 2, 2012 at Lexington's Stockplace Farms and subsequently acquired Zayat Stables, by American Pharoah's name was misspelled when electronically submitted to the Jockeys Club. By 2015, his list of wins amazed the world. In his three-year-old season, he won th Rebel Stakes, the Arkansas Derby, the Haskell Invitational, all three races of the Triple Crown, and the Breeders' Cup Classic.
The excitement at this year's Breeders' Cup is hard to describe. I'd never seen a racetrack so crowded, not even on Derby Day. The crowd spilled farther down the rail at Keeneland than I even imagined possible.
We all just wanted to say that we saw the final race of the Greatest Horse of Our Lifetime. He certainly didn't disappoint.
Happy birthday, American Pharoah!
Sweetgrass Granola
Sweetgrass Granola is a Kentucky Proud snack you can feel good about eating!
Sweetgrass Granola was gracious enough to send me a few samples of their amazing granola.
In case you haven't heard of them before, Sweetgrass is small-batch, handmade granola that is made on a farm in Central Kentucky, using local ingredients. It's non-GMO and wheat-free, with no refined sugars added, so you can rest easy about what you're eating. And, it's delicious.
The figgy chai, this winter's seasonal flavor, is a rich blend of 7 chai spices with chunks of dried figs. It's a really filling snack by itself or with Greek yogurt.
And then, there's my absolute favorite, the Germantown Chocolate. Y'all, this is so, so good. Cocoa, coconut and seedling pecans mixed in with sorghum granola. A handful makes a great dessert. (If you can keep yourself from eating the whole bag at one sitting, that is...)
Look for Sweetgrass Granola at specialty grocers like Lucky's Market or order online.
January Book Club Part II: The Undertaker's Daughter
Thanks to everyone who's been reading along with The Undertaker's Daughter by Kate Mayfield! Two weeks ago, we talked about the Kentucky themes in the novel. Today, I thought I'd share the Simon & Schuster Reading Group Questions, to get your opinions on these themes. If you're new to the Book Club, please feel free to refer back to the first post, and we'd love to hear your comments on both sets of questions!
1. In what way does the prologue story of the bridge game set the tone for the book? What themes are foreshadowed here? Discuss specific examples and how they relate to later scenes.
2. On page 14, Kate contrasts her father’s appearance and comportment with the stereotypical view of “mortician” or “undertaker.” What images do those words conjure up for you? Did Kate’s father live up to your expectations? Why or why not? Can you imagine yourself in that profession?
3. Discuss Kate’s descriptions of her father’s reverence for death, the dead, and the paraphernalia of death. When did this reverence cross the line to affect his family? In what ways was Frank both selfless and selfish in the sacrifices he made for his business?
4. On page 24, Kate describes a typical family dinner, at which she was admonished not to talk about death at the table, even as her parents “spoke of nothing else.” How was death a taboo in Kate’s family, even as it permeated all aspects of their lives? What other taboos were there among the Mayfields and in the town of Jubilee? What are Kate’s contributions to these secrets, and how do they later lead her to feel as if she is “two people” (page 249)? Are there any ways in which you similarly lead a secret life?
5. Kate experiences funerals from evolving vantage points as she grows up, beginning with her secret perch on the stairs, and later as the organist. Describe the things Kate notices most at different points in her life. What details stand out to you from funerals you’ve attended? What is the main reason Kate agrees to fill in as the organist?
6. Much of what Kate knows about her father’s secrets she learns from family members, friends, and, later, historical records. Why doesn’t Kate simply ask her father these questions? What is the reason Kate eventually learns her father chose his profession? What other events impacted his choice?
7. Kate had several hiding places while growing up. Describe these getaways. What was the most unusual, and why was that her favorite? Share your own secret getaways as a child and why they were important to you.
8. Kate describes only one close childhood friend, a girl named Jo who moves in two doors down from the Mayfield funeral home one summer during their early teens. Why are she and Jo are drawn to each other? How is Jo different from other girls in town? What deeper secrets do we later learn Kate and Jo share? Why does Kate feel she is closer to Jo than to her own siblings?
9. How does the “business of death” (page 43) differ from how we experience death as mourners? How is this underscored by Frank’s description of the different views people have on selecting a casket? How is money sometimes just as much a taboo as death?
10. Frank spends “thirteen years toing and froing” (page 94) Miss Agnes around town, taking her meals on holidays, and seeking her counsel. What effect does this relationship have on the Mayfield family? Why does Lily Tate agree to their arrangement? How does Miss Agnes help Frank’s business, particularly concerning the Old Clan? Why do you think Miss Agnes chose to develop a special relationship with Kate, out of all the Mayfield children?
11. Kate weaves stories of the lives and deaths of the townspeople of Jubilee into her memoir. How do these stories contribute to the flow of the book and our understanding of Kate’s experiences with death? Which one evoked the strongest feelings for you? Choose your favorite of these stories and share the reasons why with your group.
12. The strong reaction to desegregation displayed by adults in her life was incomprehensible to young Kate. Discuss the differences between how blacks and whites in Jubilee lived, died, and grieved. What were the consequences of the intersection of these two worlds? Identify some of the ways that both Frank and Kate cross over this line.
13. Kate first feels the contrast between the smallness of Jubilee and the “great expanse of America” (page 175) during a family trip to the beach. How does Kate’s desire for the freedom of a larger world manifest? Revisit the afternoon where Kate and Jo discover the musician Charles Mingus (page 209). How does this experience solidify Kate’s idea that she might visit or even live in a place far different from Jubilee?
14. On page 274, Kate calls the funeral business “the most segregated business in Jubilee and in the whole of the South.” Do you agree with this claim? Why or why not? Identify other social institutions that Kate observes as heavily segregated in Jubilee during her time there.
February's book club selection will be Whiskey Women by Fred Minnick!
Shrimp and Grits
If you follow HerKentucky on Instagram, then you know I made shrimp and grits for dinner the other night. I usually make this dish Cajun-style, but this time I wanted a lighter flavor profile, so I went with a Lowcountry version. I basically doubled this Bobby Flay recipe and added a shallot.
- 6 cups water
- Salt and pepper
- 2 cups stone-ground grits
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 4 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 2 pounds shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 12 slices bacon, chopped
- 2 lemons, juiced
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
- 1 cup thinly sliced scallions
- 1 large clove garlic, minced
- 1 large shallot, minced
Bring water to a boil. Add salt and pepper. Add grits and cook until water is absorbed, about 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in butter and cheese.
Rinse shrimp and pat dry. Fry the bacon in a large skillet until browned; drain well. In grease, add shrimp. Cook until shrimp turn pink. Add lemon juice, chopped bacon, parsley, scallions and garlic. Saute for 3 minutes.
Spoon grits into a serving bowl. Add shrimp mixture and mix well. Serve immediately.