Welcome to spooky season

Three spooky things about the Seelbach Hilton Hotel in Louisville, KY

The Seelbach Hotel opened in 1905. | Photo by LOUtoday

It may have been the only fire-proof hotel in the city when it opened in 1905, but the Seelbach Hilton Hotel at 500 S. 4th St. sure wasn’t ghost-proof.

It was recently named one of the 27 Most Haunted Hotels in America, so we’re highlighting three chilling things about this local institution — whose 117-year history has seen nine presidents, 14 GRAMMY-winning musicians + one duchess in its Beaux Arts Baroque grandeur.

Lady in Blue

Perhaps the most famous Seelbach ghost is the Lady in Blue — aka 24-year-old Patricia Wilson. Patricia jumped to her death in July of 1936 down the hotel’s number three elevator shaft wearing a long, blue chiffon dress after her ex-husband was killed in a car accident on his way to meet her at the hotel.

Her ghostly calling card is the scent of lilac perfume. Visitors say they’ve felt a presence in the elevator touching their shoulder. Read an alternative theory about her death.

Gangster tunnels

Al Capone, the notorious Prohibition-era gangster, frequented the Seelbach for blackjack and poker, which he typically enjoyed in The Oakroom. Capone even had a giant mirror installed in the room (that still stands today) so he could “watch his back” while playing cards.

But bootleggers gotta bootleg, and Capone used tunnels connected to the hotel to evade police. See the remnants of the tiny passage he used + watch the full “Secrets of the Underground” episode on Capone to learn more.

The Rathskeller

Built in 1907, not long after the hotel first opened, this subterranean room isn’t principally known for its haunted past, but its archaic spookiness is felt in its Gothic design elements.

Now an events venue, The Rathskeller is the world’s only room made from Rookwood Pottery — and its designs were hand drawn on the soft clay before firing. Other ornamentation includes depictions of all 12 zodiac signs + ominous pelicans, which could be a symbol of death.

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Today

Nikki Lane | Tue., Oct. 4 | 8 p.m. | Zanzabar, 2100 S Preston St, Louisville | $20.00 | See this American country music singer-songwriter on her Denim and Diamonds Tour.

Thursday

Harvest Homecoming | Thurs., Oct. 6 - Sun., Oct. 9 | Downtown New Albany, IN | Free | Dig into an Indiana-style pork sammie, hear live music + shop vendor booths in this historic downtown.

Friday

2022 Belknap Fall Festival | Fri., Oct. 7 | 6-11 p.m. | Historic Douglass Loop | Free | Shop vendor booths + live music, a family fun zone, and food trucks.
Beer Gardens | Fri., Oct. 7 | 5-8 p.m. | Tyler Park, 1501 Castlewood Ave. | Free | Sip West Sixth beers + listen to music, play lawn games, and grab a bite from a local food truck.
October Spooktacular: Showing “Hocus Pocus” (1993) | Fri., Oct. 7 | 7:30 p.m. | Louisville Palace, 625 S. 4th St. | $8 | Enter the world of the Sanderson sisters on the big screen during this screening of the 1993 Halloween movie classic. 🎥

Saturday

Asian Night Market | Sat., Oct. 8 | 7 p.m. | Fourth Street Live!, 411 S. Fourth St. | Free | Hosted by the Asia Institute – Crane House, experience a traditional night market with vendors, Asian street food + Asian-themed dance and performances. 🏮
Bernheim at Night: Forest Giants Aglow | Sat., Oct. 8 | 8-10 p.m. | Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest, 2075 Clermont Rd. | $10+ | See Mama Loumari, Little Nis, and Little Elina sparkle in the moonlight as they light up under the stars. ⭐
Paristown Fall Art Fair | Sat., Oct. 8 - Sun., Oct. 9 | 10 a.m.-7 p.m. | Paristown Arts & Entertainment District, 731 Brent St. | Free | Peruse artists + vendors throughout the outdoor spaces of Paristown. 🍂

Sunday

Louisville Chili Cook-off 2022 | Sun., Oct. 9 | 12-6 p.m. | NuLu, 807 E. Market St.| Free | Louisville chili makers are bringing the heat in this culinary cook-off with cash prizes + live music from Five Below and Soul Circus.

We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

100+ MORE EVENTS

Weather

73º | Sunny | 10% chance of rain

Open

Chef Shaq Kitchen is now open at 612 S. 5th St. The family-owned eatery offers Nashville hot chicken sandwiches, burgers + Thunder Over Louisville Fries — they’re covered in white queso and topped with bacon, tomatoes, and green onions. The restaurant opens daily at 11 a.m. Order online for your lunch break. (WDRB)

Health

Baptist Health is offering curbside flu shot clinics on Saturdays from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. through the end of the month. Appointments are not required to get vaccinated + it’s open to anyone ages nine and up. Find your location. 💉 (WAVE)

Kids

Louisville-based nonprofit I Would Rather Be Reading has joined forces with Louisville Parks and Recreation to offer its new Read to Lead after-school camp. The free, reading tutoring program has 70 available spaces for students in K-fifth grade. Fill out this form to enroll your child. 📚
Calling all young artists. Toasty’s Tavern has opened its first annual Kids T-Shirt Design Contest for creative kiddos ages 12 and under. The winner will receive dinner and drinks for their family + their design will grace the bar’s next batch of T-shirts. Submissions must be emailed or DM’d to Toasty’s Instagram account. 🖍️

Civic

Louisvillians ages 16-24 can make a positive impact in local politics by joining the city’s new 26-member Youth Cabinet. Those interested must apply by Sat., Oct. 15 + serve a minimum one-year term. Participants will receive a $1,000 stipend for attending meetings and working on community projects. (WFPL)

Try This

91.9 WFPK and the Frazier History Museum will host an event exploring mental health called Stop the Stigma on Mon., Oct. 10. The event is free, but you must register to attend. Several local organizations including The Pete Foundation + Begin to Talk, LLC will facilitate the forum-style conversation. 🧠 (WFPK)

Eat

Oktoberfest may be over, but Royals Hot Chicken’s new sandwich special is keeping the celebration going. Available for a limited time, the Oktoberfest Fried Chicken Sandwich features black forest ham, sauerkraut, cheese, Kentucky honey mustard + a pretzel bun. Try it with Royals’ new salted caramel pretzel shake. 🍗

Plan Ahead

Waverly Hills Sanatorium is hosting a three-day spooky festival with horror movie actors and makeup artists, costume contests, psychics + more. Horrorpalooza Weekend kicks off Fri., Nov. 4 with tickets starting at $30. You can also upgrade to a VIP package which includes a night tour of your choice. 👻 (LEO Weekly)

History

The Cathedral of the Assumption at 433 S. 5th St. downtown — the third-oldest Catholic cathedral in continuous use in the country — was dedicated yesterday in 1852. The architectural feat is considered the fourth oldest public building in the 502.

Shop

Pumpkin spice lattes aren’t the only thing heating up this fall. Shop the hottest local fashion in our online retails store, all while supporting LOUtoday. We’re talking cozy sweatshirts, comfortable caps, and fashionable bags. Snag your favorite LOU gear now.

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New mural alert 🚨

See Louisville artist Jaylin Stewart’s new mural

The mural depicts on one side three children with their mouths open and hands raised like they're excitedly declaring something. In the middle there's a drawing of a globe with a lion head inside of it, and outside the globe are tons of small handprints. On the other side of the globe are four more children all sitting together and smiling.

The new mural is located at the Family & Children’s Place Service Center at 525 Zane St. | Photo by LOUtoday

Local artist Jaylin Stewart unveiled her new mural at the Family & Children’s Place Service Center at 525 Zane St. in the Limerick neighborhood yesterday.

Jaylin worked with students from Engelhard Elementary School to craft the mural, which helped them recognize their own creativity, too. A local artist since 2013, Jaylin was selected as the inaugural Artist Catalyst Program recipient, which looks to develop sustainable infrastructure for socially-engaged public art around the country.

In addition to her new mural, you can see Jaylin’s work outside of Black Market KY, the Floyd County Library + more on her Instagram page.

Founded in 1883, the Family & Children’s Place works to address and prevent child abuse — and its services include the HANDS program that helps new parents adjust to parenthood + school-based services, advocacy, and counseling.

6 ways to up your kitchen game

Shop the best of the best (read: highly rated, top-selling items) to cook up some kitchen magic.*

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Cut out 3D turkey cookies | 3D Turkey Cookie Cutter Set, $12.95
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THE WRAP

	Today’s issue was written by City Editor Sarah. Editor’s pick: Speaking of mental health, World Mental Health Day is coming up on Mon., Oct. 10 — the same day as Stomp the Stigma mentioned above — and we want to know how you enjoy mindfulness in the 502. Maybe you take a contemplative stroll through the Waterfront Botanical Gardens or maybe you attend a weekly yoga class with The Inner Warrior. Whatever it is, we want to know how you keep your mental tank full for some upcoming content. Let us know. Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Recap September’s top stories here.
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Editorial: Sarah Shadburne, Katie Molck, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Kaylee Holland, Ashlea Hearn, Emily Shea | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

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