Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport officials say that direct international flights could be coming to SDF soon. | Photo provided by Louisville Regional Airport Authority
Traveling by plane is fun — jet-setting over beautiful blue waters or rolling hills, taking in cloud formations, and landing in a completely different location in a matter of hours is unlike anything else.
The whole navigating the airport part? Not as much fun. To help make your time at SDF as smooth as possible, here’s our guide:
What to know
TSA | According to the SDF website, officials recommend arriving 1.5 hours prior to a domestic flight and 2 hours for flights to international destinations. Pro tip: Register for TSA pre-check, and make the security lines a breeze.
Map it out | If you’re like us and need to completely visualize a place before you step foot inside, these maps of the entire airport will be your saving grace.
Food and drink | Get a sip of Kentucky comfort with one of over 85 bourbons on the menu at Book & Bourbon Southern Kitchen — it is the first stop on the Urban Bourbon Trail, after all — located before the security checkpoint line. Pair that sip with the house steak with fork-smashed potatoes for dinner or the buttermilk fried chicken sandwich for lunch. In for an early flight? Try the fried green tomato benedict for breakfast. It’s one of 12 food + beverage options at SDF.
The SDF Next Program will see around $400 million worth of improvements to the SDF terminal.
|
Photo provided by Louisville Regional Airport Authority
Nonstop flights
SDF offers 52 nonstop flights — all domestic flights offering direct service to 37 destinations across the US.
Bonus: Get lower fares by making a free account on Going. Add the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport to your notification list (you can add up to five airports on the free plan), and you’ll get emailed when flights are 40-90% cheaper than usual.
Boston, MA | American + Delta | Daily | Multiple times
Austin, TX | Allegiant | Twice weekly | Times vary
Sly’s Steaks Pop Up Event | Wednesday, May 15 | 5:30 p.m. | Good Belly Sandwich Shop, 2216 Dundee Rd., Louisville | Free | Take a bite out of a cheesesteak sandwich at this pop-up event.
Thursday, May 16
“Sex n’ the City: A (Super Unauthorized) Musical Parody” | Thursday, May 16 | 7 p.m. | Kentucky Center for the Arts, 501 W. Main St., Louisville | $55.87-$79.27 | Hang out with Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte, and Samantha during this spoof of the 1990s HBO series.
David Feherty Live Off Tour | Thursday, May 16 | 7:30 p.m. | The Brown Theatre, 315 W. Broadway, Louisville | $99.45-$215 | With the PGA Championship in town, laugh along to the sharp wit of the offbeat + irreverent golf analyst on stage.
Friday, May 17
After Hours at the Speed | Friday, May 17, Friday | 5-10 p.m. | Speed Art Museum, 2035 S. 3rd St., Louisville | $0-$25 | Calligraphy, a Henna station, origami, karaoke, and fan-making are all on the agenda at this collab between the Speed + the Asia Institute Crane House.
FORE! the Horses | Friday, May 17 | 6-10 p.m. | Chorleywood Farm, 12501 W. U.S. Hwy 42, Prospect | $150 | Golf and horses collide at this event, where fans will sip bourbon, hear live bluegrass music, and chat with Valhalla Golf Club course designer Randy Hoffacker.
Saturday, May 18
Garden Photography Basics with Murphy’s Camera | Saturday, May 18 | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | Yew Dell Botanical Gardens, 6220 Old Lagrange Rd., Crestwood | $30-$40 | Learn photography basics, like framing and lighting, as you snap pics of Yew Dell’s spring blooms.
Sunday, May 19
Orchestral Redition of “Dr. Dre: 2001" | Sunday, May 19 | 7 p.m. | Mercury Ballroom, 611 S. 4th St., Louisville | $45-$135 | Hear a European orchestra perform a complete rendition of the classic hip-hop album.
Saturday, June 1
An Evening with Ira Glass: Seven Things I’ve Learned | Saturday, June 1 | 8 p.m. | The Brown Theatre, 315 W Broadway, Louisville | $40.25-$115 | Join the creator, producer, and host of iconic weekly public radio program “This American Life” as he shares lessons from his life and career in storytelling.*
$80 million. That’s the estimated impact that the PGA Championship’s 200,000 spectators will have on the local economy this week. The tournament tees off tomorrow, May 16, but the pros have been at Valhalla practicing this week, including Tiger Woods.
Featured
Please and Thank You is up for “Best Cookie Shop in America” — again. The shop was nominated for USA Today’s 10 Best Cookie Shops in America, and last year it was voted the top choice. Vote once per day through Monday, June 10 at 12 p.m.
Arts
Bourbon With Heart, a nonprofit supporting the local art community, is looking for artists to live paint a white 2015 Nissan NV200 during Cars in the Commons, on Saturday, June 29. Between one and four artists will be selected + will receive a $1,000 stipend. Apply by Saturday, May 18.
Eat
We hope you’ve learned a thing or two from “Hot Ones.” Spring Street Bar and Grill is looking for contestants for its hot wing-eating contest on Saturday, May 18, part of the Spring Wing Fest. Anyone 21+ can message the bar with their contact info to enter.
Shop
The Phoenix Hill NuLu Farmer’s Market returns for its 18th season next Tuesday, May 21. Shop local vegetables, fruits, baked goods, and meats from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at 1007 E. Jefferson St. Check out 16 other Louisville farmers markets.
Film
The first Downtown Drive-In of the summer is just over two weeks away. Bring your blanket or lawn chair to the Brown-Forman Amphitheater at sunset on Friday, May 31 for a screening of “Barbie.” Beer from Ten20 Craft Brewery + “movie boxes” from Pig Beach BBQ will be available.
Sports
Could a second big man from BYU join the Louisville men’s basketball program? Get game coverage, analysis, insights, interviews and more from local experts of the Cards with Locked On’s daily podcasts.
Try This
Ready for your next girlfriends getaway? Enter: Clarksville, TN — a charming river city brimming with Instagram-worthy destinations. From adorable Airbnbs and fun group activities to upscale eateries and shopping galore, there’s something fun for all the ladies. See our picture-perfect recs.*
Wellness
Cornbread Hemp’s CBD Sleep Gummies are available in two strengths and made with high-quality USDA organic CBD extract. Get 30% off with code CBDSLEEP30.*
Home
Did you know you could finance your fixer-upper with home equity? You could get up to $50K with a HELOC — calculate your payment.*
Louisville’s nightlife scene just won’t be the same without The Back Door. The popular Highlands bar, located in Mid-City Mall, announced its permanent closure earlier this week.
In business for 39 years, The Back Door was the the site of memorable moments for many Louisvillians — and LOUtoday’s Instagram followers.
Perhaps the most iconic part of the bar was its mural-covered walls. Even if The Back Door was empty — which was rarely true when it was open — the place looked full, the walls filled with the faces of loyal customers.
The tradition started in 2007, when Back Door regular Bill Page — a painter — filled one wall with a group of familiar faces, including his own. Since then, Page has painted over 1,000 faces, filling almost every wall.
Once upon a time, I was a fairly regular customer of The Back Door — just not regular enough to warrant a place on its walls.
It truly was a full taste of Louisville — every type of Louisvillian would stop in there. You were just as likely to bump into a doctor or lawyer as you were a server or college student.
Content marked with an * is paid advertising. Content marked with an ^ is created by our content studio. The company may also generate commission from affiliate links in the newsletter.