12.15.2023

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Today’s Forecast

58º | Partly cloudy | 5% chance of rain
Sunrise 7:56 a.m. | Sunset 5:26 p.m.

🍹 Never Say Die

Never Say Die cocktail bar celebrates 3 years in St. Matthews

Never Say Die turns three this month and is hosting a Nightmare Before Christmas pop-up market with Krampus to celebrate. | Photo by Hard Times Collective

Three years ago this month, Never Say Die opened on a popular stretch of Shelbyville Road. From the outside, you might think the art bar was a tattoo shop nestled in Saint Matthew Station based on its logo. And while the bartenders undoubtedly have no shortage of ink, their artistry lies in a shaker tin rather than a tattoo machine.

After years of working in fine dining and upscale bars, owners Michael Railey and Matthew Brown decided to open a bar that pushed boundaries, through playful ingredients and unlikely garnishes. Take for instance this tropical rum drink garnished with a toy soldier.

“We aim to bring people into a realm that wouldn’t necessarily be in their comfort zone,” said Railey. “And show them something authentic and real.”

Railey and Brown took the pretentiousness out of high-end drinking and added ~~a little~~ — wait, who are we kidding — a lot of spray paint. Across the two-level space, creativity flows from the local artworks on the walls to the house-fabricated furnishings, like the painted tables held up by steel drums and hubcaps. Pinball machines ding under the glow of neon lights and the bar features a grim reaper overlooking the liquor shelf.

And If you’ve never (say die) been, the bar is hosting a Nightmare Before Christmas Holiday Popup Market on Saturday, Dec. 16, in partnership with secondhand clothing retailer Hard Time Collective to celebrate its anniversary.

From 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. you can:

Snap a professional photo with Krampus
Sip holiday-themed cocktails
Jam to a live DJ
Shop from 50+ local vintage vendors and artists

Events

Friday, Dec. 15

December After Hours | Friday, Dec. 15 | 5-10 p.m. | Speed Art Museum, 2035 S. 3rd St., Louisville | $17.50-$25 | Dance through the decades, make your own corsage, and snap a tacky photo during this prom-themed night at the museum.
Ugly Sweater Pawty and Holiday Shopping Bazaar | Friday, Dec. 15 | 6-10 p.m. | Club K9 Dog Park & Bar Venue, 9316 Taylorsville Rd., Louisville | Free for humans; Dogs $11.40-$16.70 | Enter your festive-dressed pooch into the sweater contest + shop from a dozen doggy vendors.
Candlelight: Holiday Special Featuring “The Nutcracker” & More | Friday, Dec. 15 | Times vary | Actors Theatre of Louisville, 316 W. Main St., Louisville | $31.80 | Hear holiday music scores performed by the Listeso String Quartet under the glow of 100+ candles.
Shawn Phillips | Friday, Dec. 15 | Headliners Music Hall, 1386 Lexington Rd., Louisville | $35 | This American singer-songwriter, known for his 1960s + 1970s folk rock, will perform with Tyrone Cotton.
“The Brown-Forman Nutcracker” | Friday, Dec. 15-Sunday, Dec. 24 | Times vary | The Kentucky Center, 501 W. Main St., Louisville | $39.20 | Join Marie and her Nutcracker prince as they journey to the magical world of the Sugar Plum Fairy in “The Brown-Forman Nutcracker,” a delight for all ages with a distinctly Kentucky flavor.*

Saturday, Dec. 16

Hot Buns Pop-up Brunch | Saturday, Dec. 16-Sunday, Dec. 17 | 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. | Perso, 741 E. Oak St., Louisville | Dig into a spam and egg sandwich and other Korean-style dishes during this first-come, first-served brunch.
Pictures with Krampus | Saturday, Dec. 16 | 12-4 p.m. | Caufield’s Novelty, 1006 W. Main. St., Louisville | Free | Snap a pic for the naughty list + get 10% off an in-store purchase with your photo — plus, pets are welcome.
Eraoke | Saturday, Dec. 16 | 8 p.m. | Miki’s Karaoke Bar, 2230 Frankfort Ave., Louisville | Free | “Shake It Off” with other Swifties during this 21+ karaoke party.

Sunday, Dec. 17

Walk with a Doc | Sunday, Dec. 17 | 8:30-10 a.m. | EP Tom Sawyer Park, 3000 Freys Hill Rd., Louisville | Free | Meet with a healthcare professional to learn about healthy lifestyles before walking around the park.
3rd Annual “A Charlie Brown Christmas” Live | Sunday, Dec. 17 | 7 p.m. | The Merryweather, 1101 Lydia St., Louisville | Free | Vince Guaraldi’s seminal soundtrack will be performed by local musicians in this Schnitzelburg bar.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

Development

The new upgrade making it easier to navigate SDF

a bag sits in a container on a tsa screening line next to a pair of shoes

Keeping the passenger experience top of mind, these efforts provide a more efficient process, reduce wait times, and facilitate continued passenger growth. | Photo provided by Louisville Regional Airport Authority

If you didn’t wait as long going through security at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) recently, you can thank the additional screening lanes that were added over the summer (going from five to seven screening lanes). This small change expanded TSA’s screening capacity by 40%.

Plans are also underway to begin work within a year to construct a new, state-of-the-art security checkpoint with the ability to accommodate up to 10 screening lanes.

Learn more about the SDF Next Program, which will see $400+ million invested in the terminal in the coming years.

What's next

News Notes

Civic

Mayor Craig Greenberg released the final version of his strategic city plan, Growing Louisville Together. After collecting public feedback on the draft unveiled in November, new language was added related to safety, homelessness, sustainability, and more. Next, the city will identify role responsibilities, budget needs + a timeline for each initiative.

Biz

Gary Cobbs is the new president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Louisville, which operates 11 branches in the area. Cobbs was the former CEO of a YMCA system in Montgomery, AL and will replace the outgoing president Steve Tarver, who is retiring after 23 years, in January. (Louisville Business First)

Featured

Clark Griswold isn’t the only one known to go a little overboard on the holiday lights. These 17 streets have been deemed the best in the US for Christmas lights — and Lights Under Louisville on the list. We know because we checked it twice.

Development

Progress Park, an airstream resort in West Buechel, is adding a 10,000-sqft venue on its property to host weddings and events year-round. Expected to open in late spring, the new center will have open air capabilities, two lounges, a catering area, and a wraparound porch.

Eat

All aboard the gravy train. The 11th Gravy Cup tasting event is rolling in on Saturday, Feb. 17. Hosted at the Mellwood Art Center, the fundraiser is the world’s largest biscuits and gravy competition cooked up by 30 professional and home chefs. Tickets start at $30 + benefit the Boys & Girls Haven.

Travel

Two Louisvillians, James Beard-nominated chef Alison Settle + travel writer Dana McMahan, are leading an insider’s trip to the City of Light Saturday, April 6-Friday, April 12. The trip is limited to 10 people and includes hands-on cooking classes and adventures outside tourist traps.

Drink

Add this to the cal, Louisville. On Thursday, Dec. 21, Angel’s Envy will host their annual Holiday Open House, and you can bet that the bourbon will be flowing. See more events.*

Network

Calling all Louisvillian professionals and entrepreneurs: Tickets are now available for the 2024 LeadingBetter Summit, aka the region’s largest communication + collaboration event, happening on May 22, 2024. Pro tip: Register today and save $100.*

Finance

This no-annual-fee balance transfer offer now lasts until 2025. Transferring your existing balance to a no-interest card could be the simple solution you’re looking for to finally get ahead of your payments. (Oh, and it offers cash back rewards on everyday purchases.)*

Active

🧘 Let it flow

Find your zen with our Louisville yoga guide

The Speed Art Museum offers free monthly movement classes in its atrium. | Photo by Speed Art Museum

Whether you’re a novice on the mat or an experienced yogi, Louisville has plenty of places to practice. Find your zen at these 13 yoga studios around Derby City.

Outside the studio

Movement in the Atrium, Speed Art Museum, 2035 S. 3rd St.
Free, rotating classes — from pilates to yoga — are held on the second Sunday of each month inside the art museum.

It’s getting hot in here

Bend and Zen Hot Yoga, 1301 Herr Ln.
Voted as the LEO Readers’ Choice for “Best Yoga Studio” eight years in a row, Bend and Zen offers four classes multiple times a day, seven days a week.

30 day specials

Yoga on Baxter, 1611 Eastern Pkwy.
Get 30 days for $30 and access to this Highlands’ studio’s mix of practices, like flameless candle yoga, meditation, and restorative flow. Bonus: The studio also offers massage therapy.

10 more studios

Asked

How frequently do you practice yoga?

A. Weekly
B. Monthly
C. Occasionally
D. Rarely
E. Never

Stretch it out

The Buy

The Buy 12.15.23 (Affiliate + Six & Main)

This smart mug warmer that keeps beverages the temperature of your choice and has automatic shut-off.

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Katie

From the editor

I was today year’s old when I learned that opossum and possum are two different species. The opossum was named by Captain John Smith in the 17th century and is based on the Algonquian word that means white dog or beast. We typically see the Virginia opossum running around this time of year in Louisville.

On the other hand, the possum is found in Australia and other countries. It is also a marsupial, but unlike opossums, they have furry tails + give birth to typically only one young, while opossums will have many.

Thanks for the lesson Bernheim Forest.

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