E is for Eggcellent Brunches: Part 5 of 26 of Louisville's Best

On weekend mornings, I'm a devoted member of the Church of the Brunch. What's better than that? You only have to cook two meals a day and you get to eat waffles alongside mashed potatoes. I can't imagine anything better. Here are a few of Louisville's best brunch spots:

Lynn's Paradise Cafe: A veritable madhouse, this Louisville landmark proudly boasts the area's ugliest lamps, spray painted cement animals, a lobster mural made of corncobs and the area's very best omelets. Make sure to call ahead and get a reservation; the Sunday morning crowd in particular is very vicious when it comes to getting their bloody marys and biscuits and gravy.
Close to: the Highlands, Downtown, Cherokee Triangle, St. Matthews
Toast: Here's a brunch joint after my own heart! They specialize in (you guessed it) French toast. This isn't your grandma's french toast, though. Stuffed to the point of breaking with all kinds of delicious fixins', there's sure to be something for everyone. May I recommend The King (peanut butter and banana)?
Close to: Southern Indiana, Old Louisville, Downtown, River Road, Butchertown Germantown, Portland
Brendan's: I've never actually enjoyed the Sunday Brunch at Brendan's, but a fine-cooking friend of mine recommended it to me and she's never yet steered me wrong. They specialize in Irish-ish food, and she says their Belgian waffles are to die for. I'm planning on going this weekend with my family!
Close to: St. Matthews, Lyndon, Middletown
Rivue: The floor. Rotates. Do I need to say more about how dizzyingly fun this place is? The food's great, but the view is spectacular. Located 25 floors up in the historic Galt House Hotel, the recently totally renovated Rivue is sure to be one of your most-frequented weekend destinations.
Close to: Old Louisville, Germantown, Downtown, Portland, Butchertown
The Bristol: If the Louisville brunch spots were a family, the Bristol would be the matriarch who still knows how to throw a good party. Featuring homemade omelets, Belgian waffles, fried chicken, great service, and a live jazz band, the Bristol remains a Louisville favorite.
Close to:
Bardstown Road Location: Cherokee Triangle, Buechel, the Highlands, St. Matthews
Hurstbourne Lane Location: Springhurst, Middletown, Lyndon, Eastwood, parts of Jeffersontown
Downtown Location: Germantown, Old Louisville, Downtown, Portland, Butchertown
Proof: This modern, arty gem is certain to be a big hit with anyone who goes. Ultra sleek and very fun, the innovative cuisine, great service, and gorgeous decor got it listed on Esquire Magazine's best new restaurant of 2006 list. Make sure to have a bellini at the bar and explore the 21C Hotel lobby/art museum; the ever-changing collection is to die for.
Close to: Downtown, Butchertown, Old Louisville, Portland

Did I miss anything? Is there a new one I don't know about? Let me know...I don't want to miss a single brunch!

D is for Derby: Part 4 of 26 of Louisville's Best

When you think Louisville, you think Derby. While the rest of the nation thinks about the fastest two minutes in sports for, well, about two minutes, natives think about it almost all year. Ladies order their hats months in advance, and gentlemen look for sharp new white suits well before the first Saturday in May. Even if you're missing the race, there's a good chance you can get in on the Derby action all year round.
You can start by heading to the Kentucky Derby Museum, where you can take a peek at antique jockey silks, learn more about past winners, or even try out racing a little yourself.
Catch a race during the fall meet or the spring meet (going on now!). Churchill Downs is a fun place to visit every day! For even the most seasoned spectators, a daily race still provides the same adrenaline rush as The Big One.
If you're here during the month leading up to the Race, don't miss out on the Kentucky Derby Festival events! Thunder Over Louisville, the nation's largest fireworks show, always delivers a bang. The Steamboat Race and Derby Parade draw huge crowds. The Balloon Glow, a childhood favorite of my girls, is yet another not-to-be-missed event.

C is for Colonel Sanders: Part 3 of 26 of Louisville's Best

As soon as you tell your friends and family you're moving to the Bluegrass State, you're bound to have more than one person ask you about one of Kentucky's most famous sons, Colonel Harland Sanders. Although he's dead now, you'll see reminders of him around the city. There are posters, statues, and even a downtown museum in his honor, not to mention that YUM! brands is one of Louisville's biggest employers. If you have some extra time or some extra hunger, head on out to Claudia Sanders' Dinner House in Shelbyville. It's classic Kentucky hospitality, delicious chicken fried in the famous eleven herbs and spices, and bountiful family-style fixins' that are sure to please the whole family.

Check this out!

Before I get back to our regularly scheduled Louisville alphabet, I wanted to give you a heads-up about my friend and co-worker's blog. Jeffrey Greenberg, an area Realtor, is profiling fun things to do this Memorial Day weekend on his blog. Go look! Maybe I'll see you at some of the places he's recommended.

B is for Bardstown Road: Part 2 of 26 of Louisville's Best

One of the first things everyone wants to do upon moving to a new city is to check out the shops, restaurants, and nightlife. There's absolutely no better place for that than Bardstown Road! Chock full of independent clothing outposts, record stores, coffee bars, restaurants, and art galleries, it's the heart of Louisville's creative set. It boasts the best people-watching in town as well as a bohemian spirit that's impossible to describe or replicate.

Here is a hardly exhaustive lists of greats on Bardstown (more to follow in later posts)!
Heine Bros. Coffee- Serving Louisville's best coffee since 1994, it now has five locations, three on Bardstown Road alone!
Lilly's Restaurant- One of our finest fine dining restaurants, Lily's offers delicious "Southern Bistro" cuisine that has been featured in Bon Appetit magazine.
Carmichael's Books: This is the original great little bookshop! They have hundreds of local interest titles as well as best-sellers. Their well-read staff will find anything for you; if they can't, they'll promptly order it!
Mark's Feedstore- Even though their original location is out in the East End, this satellite location dishes up the same award-winning pulled pork sandwiches, onion straws, and finger-licking barbecue sauce.
Amazing Grace- The self-proclaimed "best little health food store in Kentucky" offers more than just healthy groceries! They also serve up delectable to-go lunches and offer clinics and seminars in healthy living.
Wild and Wooly Video: Former rock star Todd Brashear has every single video known to man in his well-organized and well-staffed video store. He has things Blockbuster never dreamed of and Netflix can't even get. Stop in for cheap rentals and great recommendations.

Natives, tell me what your favorites are in the comments!

A is for Abramson: Part 1 of 26 of Louisville's Best

One of the first things you'll see pulling in to Jefferson County is a welcome sign, with a special howdy from longtime mayor Jerry Abramson. He's been our mayor for nearly twenty years worth of terms and he's hugely popular with Louisvillians and outsiders alike. He lives in Crescent Hill with his wife Madeline and is considered a fun and friendly guy. When you move here, you're sure to see him around town, whether he's riding his bike or attending the opening of an area business or restaurant.

Louisville Lately

Thanks for stopping by to learn more about one of America's best cities! Here, I'll be telling you all about great properties currently on the market, amazing things going on right now in our city, and tips on the best restaurants, gyms, theaters, bars, and museums the city has. I'll also offer you resources for buying your Metro Louisville home, whether it's your first or fiftieth! Stay tuned for a whirlwind guide to the Derby City!