7 Things That Make Louisville Genius

If your life leads you to Louisville, Kentucky someday and you find yourself wondering what Louisville could possibly offer someone like you, there are a few things that you need to know.  First and foremost I would have to say that Louisville doesn’t quite fit the standard Kentucky stereotypes.  Second, don’t tell everyone that we don’t fit the standard stereotypes; we like to keep this sweet city a bit of a secret.  And, if you’re wondering whether or not we wear shoes in Louisville, the answer is… sometimes.  The truth is that there are too many incredible things about this city to name so I figured, why not pick 7 things that make Louisville genius!

Seviche, a Latin Restaurant | Chef Anthony Lamas | Highlands

1 | Restaurants

“Foodies” everywhere tend to be a little snooty anyway, but foodies in cities larger than Louisville and/or coastal cities tend to think that they have the best food and that no one else could possibly have anything to offer on this matter.  I am here to let you know that not only does Louisville have some of the best restaurants in the country, but that these restaurants let their food do the talking. They don’t dish out extra attitude.  With a multitude of award-winning chefs in our city and plenty of fresh ideas, there is no shortage of creatively delicious meals to be eaten here. So come hungry.

This scooter folds up and fits in your trunk.

2 | City Scoot

You grab an appetizer and a drink with a few friends after work.  You end up having more than one drink and you know that you shouldn’t drive.  You need your car in the morning, so taking a cab just won’t cut it.  Never fear.  Dial an easy-to-remember phone number and City Scoot arrives at your location on a motor scooter.  They then fold up that motor scooter, place it in the trunk of YOUR car, and drive you home… in YOUR car.  Once you arrive safe and sound at your home with your vehicle, they leave on the scooter that was folded up in your trunk.  This service is only about $10 more than a cab and definitely worth it.

3 | Parks

Baringer Hill at Cherokee Park

In 1891 a group of prominent Louisville residents invited Frederick Law Olmsted to survey some land that they had acquired for parks.  Olmsted, known as the father of American landscape design, was already renowned for designing New York City’s Central Park, the grounds of the U.S. Capitol, and the grounds of the Biltmore Estate.  On his trip to Louisville he was commissioned to design Cherokee, Shawnee, and Iroquois Parks, and later came back to add more inner-city parks and cap everything off with dramatic parkways that interconnect.  In all, 18 parks and 6 parkways combine to make up Louisville’s historic park system, which is one of only four Olmsted systems in the world.  The beauty is unsurpassed, and through our park system, Olmsted’s social vision is embraced providing a serene retreat in the midst of a hustling city.  Our parks are truly genius.

4 | Red or Blue

Whether you like either one of these colors or not, you had better prepare yourself to be inundated with red and blue when you move to Louisville.  You see, we don’t have a professional sports team here in Kentucky, and even though we can drive to Nashville, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, or Chicago in no time, we choose to embrace our in-state NCAA rivalry between the University of Louisville Cardinals and the University of Kentucky Wildcats.  You must root for only ONE of the two.  Nobody likes a ‘tweener.  Pick one and don’t look back.

5 | Farmers Markets

Douglass Loop Farmer’s Market | Highlands

Louisville is alive with Farmers Markets.  The surrounding areas of Kentucky are stocked with farms and rich with farming culture.  Multiple farmers markets in numerous neighborhoods across the city gives everyone easy access to the freshest produce, meat, and a plethora of other items you can buy at the most modest of costs.  Weekday or weekend; summer or winter; Louisville has great farmers markets!

6 | Trolley Hop

Photo by Derek Cashman

There is an assortment of exciting, unique social events that take place throughout the year in Louisville.  One of the most outstanding recurring events in our city happens twice a month and revolves around two very special areas of town.  The Trolley Hop is exactly what it sounds like.  You take a trolley from point A to point B stopping at all the shops, boutiques, restaurants, art galleries, and pubs along the way.  On the first Friday of each month the Trolley Hop travels along the newly restored NuLu district, through downtown and the Fourth Street district.  On the last Friday of each month the Trolley Hop takes place up and down the historic Frankfort Avenue corridor.  Try them both!

7 | Music

The main stage at Forecastle Festival 2013

The secret is starting to get out about this one.  Louisville’s emerging music scene has been thriving for over a decade now, and prior to that, our underground sound was top notch.  We have national artists that claim Louisville as home base, we have local artists that are due to be picked up nationally any time now, and we have a whole slew of in-between-ers that fill the local stages daily.  No matter what day of the week it is, you are sure to find some good live music.  Louisville has a wide variety of music venues too: The historic yet recently renovated Iroquois Amphitheater, Headliners Music Hall, The Brown Theater, The Palace Theater, The Diamond Pub Concert Hall, Waterfront Park, The KFC Yum! Center, a mob of breweries and pubs, and as of Spring 2014 we have the latest project from The House of Blues moving in downtown.  Lest we not forget Forecastle Festival; one of the best music festivals in the country is right here in downtown Louisville on the Ohio River at Waterfront Park.  Topping it all off is the coolest listener supported local radio station (91.9 WFPK) collaborating efforts with Waterfront Development Corporation to bring us the finest, FREE summer concert series right on the Ohio River called “Waterfront Wednesday”.  Moving to Louisville sounds a lot better now.

These are seven of the things that make Louisville, KY genius.  There are a lot more than seven, but this list should get you started.

Ready to move to Louisville? I would love to speak with you about it. 502.509.9278 – justin@metrolouisvillemls.net

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