Welcome to Card nation

Get acquainted with Louie the Cardinal in Louisville, KY

Bright red cardinal bird mascot with a large yellow beak bearing big white teeth stands in front of a team of football players.

Louie wears a jersey to match which Louisville Athletics sporting event he is at. | Photo by Louisville Athletics

The University of Louisville’s mascot, Louie the Cardinal, is said to have been hatched in 1913 after the wife of Liberal Arts Dean John Patterson suggested the athletics department adopt the state bird as its own — sorry, Wildcats.

However, the first recorded sighting of the bird didn’t appear until 1953.

The story goes

In 1953, three cheerleaders asked the home economics department to make a cardinal head for cheerleader T. Lee Adams to wear with his red uniform sweater. Enter the first iteration of the mascot — which was then just a black bird head with a yellow beak.

This version was short-lived, but in 1958 the marching band flew Louie home for good. This time in a handmade paper mache costume.

Bright red cardinal bird mascot wearing a No.1 white basketball jersey high fives a man on the basketball court. — Originally, the cardinal mascot was just a black bird head with a yellow beak.

A bird of many feathers

Here’s a timeline of Louie’s look through the years.

1958-1960 | UofL drum major Dick Dyson is the first student to portray Louie in a full costume made of paper mache created by students at the Speed School of Engineering.

1967-1971 | Louie’s look gets an upgrade + features a round belly, large yellow feet, and long, red fake fur.

1990s | The bird head is changed to more closely resemble the printed logo and Louie loses his belly in favor of shoulder pads for a more athletic physique.

Today | A toothsome, fighting smile spreads across Louie’s beak + his figure is redesigned to be even slimmer for mobility — he also switches out his jersey to fit whichever sporting event he’s supporting.

See the different eras of Louie in this documentary about Louisville’s beloved mascot.

Meet Louie

You can catch Louie skydiving into Cardinal Stadium at each home football game — the next game is Sat., Oct. 22 — or watch him rappel into the YUM! Center during the upcoming basketball season.

Need a little team spirit? Book Louie for your event.

Bonus: Learn why Louie the Cardinal has teeth.

QUESTION

How closely do you follow Louisville sports?

A. Very closely
B. Somewhat closely
C. Not at all

TELL US HERE

Click here to have your event featured.

Today

The American Horrorplex | Fri., Oct. 7-Sat., Oct. 8 | 8 p.m.-1 a.m. | American Horrorplex, 2012 Northwestern Pkwy. | $25+ | Walk through this award-winning haunted house with live performers + escape room experiences.
Beer Garden | Fri., Oct. 7 | 5-8 p.m. | Tyler Park, 1501 Castlewood Ave. | Free to attend | Sip West Sixth beers + listen to music, play lawn games, and grab a bite from a local food truck. 🍺
Harvest Homecoming | Fri., Oct. 7-Sun., Oct. 9 | Downtown New Albany, IN | Free to attend | Dig into an Indiana-style pork sammie, hear live music + shop vendor booths in this historic downtown.

Saturday

Asian Night Market | Sat., Oct. 8 | 7 p.m. | Fourth Street Live! | Free to attend | Hosted by the Asia Institute – Crane House, experience a traditional night market with vendors, Asian street food + Asian-themed dance and performances. 🏮
Emo Night Brooklyn | Sat., Oct. 8 | 9 p.m. | Mercury Ballroom | $15+ | Jam out to your favorite emo + pop punk bands at this DJ-based dance party.
Movies in the Park: Goosebumps | Sat., Oct. 8 | 7-9 p.m. | Brown Park, 1000 Browns Ln. | Free | Bring a chair or blanket to catch this screening of the 2015 “Goosebumps” movie. 🎃
Tree Week | Sat., Oct. 8-Sun., Oct. 16 | Various locations | Various prices | Celebrate Louisville’s trees through plantings, giveaways, movies + more, all week long. 🌳

Sunday

City of Hillview Food Truck Invasion | Sun., Oct. 9 | 12-5 p.m. | Government Complex, 283 Crestwood Ln. | Free to attend| Grab lunch or dinner from 10+ food trucks, like Made in Brazil and Hot Buns.
NFL Sunday Ticket | Sun., Oct. 9 | 12 p.m. | Tin Roof Louisville, 3921 Shelbyville Rd. | Free to attend | Watch all the NFL games all day long + dig into its epic Game Day Platter and $3 shots of Fireball. 🏈

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

Enter to win the second Fly Away Friday Giveaway 🛫

Spirit airplane at Louisville Regional Airport

You could be one giveaway entry away from a trip to Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Orlando, Boston, Charleston, or New Orleans. | Photo provided by Louisville Regional Airport Authority

Got the travel bug? We’ve got just what you need. We’re launching our second Fly Away Friday Giveaway, in partnership with Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF). ✈️

LOUtoday readers have a chance to win two roundtrip airline tickets out of SDF to their choice of a nonstop destination from a list provided by the airport.

Ready to hit the skies? Enter below by Wed., Oct. 26 at 11:59 p.m.*

ENTER THE FLY AWAY FRIDAY GIVEAWAY

Weather

66º | Partly cloudy | 10% chance of rain
Bundle up, Louisville. Jack Frost might be here before Jack Skellington. It’s early autumn, but the first freeze of the cold weather season could be here in the next couple of weeks. According to the Midwest Regional Climate Center, on average, Louisville’s first freeze occurs on Oct. 21. ❄️ (WHAS11)

Opening

Louisville’s forthcoming Topgolf at Oxmoor mall has set an approximate tee time. The sports + entertainment venue — which is occupying three floors of the former Sears building — is hoping to take its first swing before Thanksgiving, just in time for holiday family outings. 🏌️ (Louisville Business First)

Biz

Editorial offices, a photo studio, TV broadcasting space + shopping and event experiences are all part of Today’s Woman Media’s new, 7,800-sqft headquarters in the former Bourbon Raw restaurant located in Fourth Street Live! In the future, the media company hopes to open a retail space for its We See You Sis merch.

Community

Shel Silverstein might rethink “Where the Sidewalk Ends” as Louisville has received $1 million in federal funding to repair run-down sidewalks around the city. The money comes from the House Appropriations Committee’s Community Project Funding program led by Congressman John Yarmuth. (WLKY)

Award

Highlands private school St. Francis of Assisi has been awarded a National Blue Ribbon from the Department of Education. The ribbon is given to schools based on their overall academic excellence or progress in closing achievement gaps. It’s the only school in Kentuckiana to receive one. 🏵️ (WHAS11)

Festival

The free Garvin Gate Blues Festival will take place tomorrow, Oct. 8, starting at 1 p.m. on Garvin Place and Oak Streets in Old Louisville. The annual celebration of arts and blues music will feature national + local performers. See the lineup. 🎷

Outdoors

Also tomorrow, the Louisville Nature Center will host its annual fundraiser Birds, Brews, and Bluegrass from 8-10 p.m. at TEN20 Brewery in Butchertown. Regular admission is $10 in advance, but VIP tickets, which include a wildlife meet-and-greet, free drink, and nature center swag, are available for $40. 🐦

Gallery

While it hasn’t set a reopening date, Oriental House in St. Matthews is teasing its new look — and the elaborate arches with golden dragons and cranes appear to be staying. The eatery has been closed for renovations since June and just before closing, it was named the best Chinese restaurant in the state.

Asked

Sure, we love chili, soups, and stews this time of year, but we’re looking to spice things up. That’s why we want to mine your minds for the eateries in the 502 for curry. Don’t delay, curry up and tell us and not to worry, the green curry from Time 4 Thai is already on the list. 🍛

Drink

Sip, sip, hooray! Buffalo Trace has announced its annual fall release of Pappy Van Winkle bottles and it promises more availability than in previous years. The coveted bottles of bourbon will range from 10-year-old Old Rip Van Winkle to a 23-year Family Reserve. Suggested retail pricing starts at $69.99. (WDRB)
Getting groceries delivered is great, but getting your favorite beer, wine, and liquor delivered is even better. With Drizly, you can order your go-to libations as well as mixers, party supplies, and snacks + they’ll be delivered to your door in under 60 minutes. Order now. 🥂*

Travel

Who’s planning on traveling out of SDF for the Thanksgiving holiday? Pro tip: It’s never too early to book those flights. Pro, pro tip: Scott’s Cheap Flights Elite Plan gets you up to 90% off premium economy, business, and first class seats. ✈️*
In addition to beignets aplenty, New Orleans is home to a spectacular showcase of Creole cuisine, lively jazz bars, stunning French architecture, and historic ghost tours. Escape to the city for a weekend and experience it all while staying in this renovated condo complete with a charming private courtyard.*

Content marked with an * is brought to you by our advertising partners and helps make this newsletter free.

It’s a chili big deal 🌶️

Louisville’s Great Chili Cook-off is this weekend

Check’s Famous Chili is served overflowing from the bowl with smashed saltines. | Photo by @theloutoday

Louisville’s Great Chili Cook-off is this Sun., Oct. 9 in NuLu, and guess who entered the contest. You guessed it, me, Katie. 👋

My partner Jerry and I are in the individual category and are hoping to bring home the prize money for the best chili and best booth. A lofty goal, but the taste of success is almost better than the taste of chili itself.

I don’t want to share our secret blend of herbs and spices in their entirety, but I will say that our house-made fermented chili powder might be our X factor.

A panel of chefs + foodies will determine the overall winner, but you can vote in the People’s Choice Awards. Vote tickets are $5 each + all the proceeds go to charity.

The cook-off takes place from 12-5 p.m. on E. Market St. and is free to attend, so come say hi and taste some chili. We’ll be in the fully decorated chili booth named “The Devil’s Cumin.”

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Senior City Editor Katie.

Editor’s pick: I definitely didn’t watch “The Notebook” too many times in middle school, which is why I definitely don’t think my toxic trait is thinking I could rehab this house like Noah did in the movie.

Okay, so I watched it a lot and luckily it was just a phase. However, I would still love to buy this historic blue house — aka the The Wilkins House — listed for less than $50,000 in Southern Indiana and turn it into the homestead mansion of my dreams. The wooden staircase is everything.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Find out who the top employers are in Greater Louisville.

Connect with us.

Editorial: Sarah Shadburne, Katie Molck, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Kaylee Holland, Ashlea Hearn, Emily Shea | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Mandey Lee | Advertise with us.

Content marked with an * was created in partnership with 6AM City’s advertising partners. Paid content helps keep this newsletter free. 6AM City may also receive a commission on purchases made through affiliate links in this newsletter.

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