June 11, 2024

Today’s Forecast

79º | 10% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 6:18 a.m. | Sunset 9:06 p.m.
Full Weather Report | Traffic Report

Let’s go to Flavortown, LOU

Guy Fieri raises a glass at his restaurant in Harrahs Cherokee Casino

Guy Fieri keeps coming back to LOU — maybe this is the real Flavortown? | Photo by Michael J. Bowen Photography

If you’re a fan of Food Network or just a devotee of spiky-haired, goatee-clad television hosts, you’ve probably seen an episode or two of “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” (also called “Triple D,” for those of us in the know). It’s been a staple of the channel since 2007 and boasts more than 400 episodes, with restaurateur Guy Fieri traveling the country searching for casual spots with delicious food.

Guy’s been to six different LOU spots in the past, including the pay-what-you-can restaurant The Table in Season 25’s Thanksgiving episode, and the Irish Rover. He even has his own spot in town.

We’d like to propose that the “King of Flavortown” make his triumphant return to Louisville and try out some more well-loved restaurants — including some that weren’t here when last he came.

Merle’s Whiskey Kitchen, 122 West Main St.
It’s not a trip to Derby City without some bourbon, and at Merle’s Whiskey Kitchen LOU’s favorite libation is paired with classic Southern comfort food. We’d point the “Triple D” host to the award-winning fried chicken, especially the chicken + waffles.

Cosmic Bird sandwich — Cosmic Bird’s Razzy sandwhich features chick’n-fried cheese atop a burger.
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Photo by Cosmic Bird.

Cosmic Bird, 619 Baxter Ave.
Guy loves his meats, but he’s no stranger to trying a plant-based restaurant, especially when it fits the show’s mission of highlighting “real food by real people.” Chef James Morier at the vegan chicken + burger shop Cosmic Bird delivers just that. With regular menu items like the Bourbon and Beyond (a bourbon-sauced burger with tomato and banana peppers) and the Hottville (spicy “chicken” with a sizable topping of vegan pimento cheese), and specials like Sushi Sundays, Cosmic Bird has everything a good Diner, Drive-in, and/or Dive needs. Plus, it wasn’t around last time Guy visited the 502.

You can order pizzas from Pizza Lupo every day from 5-10 p.m.
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Photo by @louisvillefoodlife

Pizza Lupo, 1540 Frankfort Ave.
At the corner of Butchertown and Flavortown lies Pizza Lupo. This wood-fired pizza place has classic pies, but we’d like Guy Fieri to sample the Sting Like A Bee pie as a tribute to “The Greatest.”

Asked

Where else would you bring the “King of Flavortown?”

Get cookin'

Events

Wednesday, June 12

Bubbles and Shells | Wednesday, June 12 | 4-6 p.m. | Hotel Genevieve, 730 E. Market St., Louisville | Price of purchase | Enjoy happy hour discounts on bubbles + oysters with a view of the Louisville skyline.

Thursday, June 13

Funniest Person In Louisville | Thursday, June 13 | 7:30-9 p.m. | Monnik Beer Company, 1036 E. Burnett Ave., Louisville | $12 | Help judge local comedians who are competing for the coveted title, with the audience helping decide who moves on to the semifinals.

Friday, June 14

Hot Country Nights: Warren Zeiders | Friday, June 14 | 8 p.m. | Fourth Street Live 411 S. 4th St., Louisville | $25 | See the rising singer-songwriter perform his hits — you might’ve heard him on TikTok.

Saturday, June 15

5th Annual Juneteenth Solidarity Ride | Saturday, June 15 | 8 a.m.-12 p.m. | Shawnee Branch Library, 3912 W. Broadway, Louisville | Free | Enjoy an all-abilities-welcome community bike ride up to 50 miles.
MELANnaire Marketplace Juneteenth Celebration | Saturday, June 15 | 12 p.m. | Fourth Street Live, 411 S. 4th St., Louisville | Free | Enjoy spoken-word + musical performances while you shop 25+ Black-owned businesses.

Events calendar here

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Plan Ahead

🍻 Kentucky’s largest local brewery festival returns this month

KentuckyGuildofBrewers_LOU_CraftBash_JUNE2024

Did you know? This festival is the single largest fundraiser for the Kentucky Guild of Brewers. | Photo provided by Kentucky Guild of Brewers

Mark your calendars, Louisville: The seventh annual Kentucky Craft Bash returns to Waterfront Park on Saturday, June 29.

Hosted by the Kentucky Guild of Brewers, this five-hour event features 50+ breweries serving 100+ varieties of Kentucky-made craft beer, cider, and sake, plus:

Food trucks like Craft House Pizza + BobaBun
Music by DJ Sam Sneed
Vendors including Flying Axes + KY Wild
And more

General admission and designated driver tickets are available. Bonus: Snag $10 off with the code BEERWITHDAD2024 now through June 16.

This event is lager than life

News Notes

Ranked

Louisville ranked No. 8 on Forbes’ list of best cities for renters, with an 83.52 out of 100. The median monthly rent price ($1,350), rent as percentage of income (17.8%), and average monthly price per sqft ($1.34) are all below the national average.

Number

A kick right to the economy. Last Saturday’s UFC Fight Night at the KFC Yum! Center set multiple records: 19,578 people filled the seats, generating $2.5 million in gross revenue. It was the highest-grossing single-day sporting event for the arena + the highest-grossing US UFC Fight Night ever.

Traffic

A new sidewalk project on Cannons Lane is underway. The southbound lane from Willis Avenue to Winchester Road will be detoured to Breckenridge Lane, while the northbound lane will remain open at a reduced speed. The project, which is adding 3,000 feet of sidewalk, is expected to take three to four months. (WHAS 11)

Theater

The Va Va Vixens performance troupe is hosting a Cotton Candy CarniVal the next two weekends (Friday, June 14 and Saturday, June 15 + June 21-22) at the Art Sanctuary (1433 S. Shelby St.). Doors open at 7 p.m. for dancing, comedy, and circus performances starting at 8 p.m. (LEO Weekly)

Family

Need some more Father’s Day plans? Dads get into the Louisville Zoo free this Sunday, June 16. Be sure to visit Gibbs the zebra and wish him a happy Father’s Day.

Sports

A high-profile transfer target cancelled his Louisville visit over the weekend. Are the Cards still in the mix? Get game coverage, analysis, insights, interviews, and more from local experts of the Louisville Cardinals with Locked On’s daily podcasts.

Eat

Summer cookout, here you come. Level up your summer grilling, barbecue sides, and even homemade barbecue sauces that will kill it at your next summertime cookout with Kroger’s summer guide to grilling, chock full of recipes + party ideas (psst: we’re especially eyeing that grilled corn).*

Wellness

Hear us out: If you’re craving a quiet night of sleep without interruption from your partner, Fotona’s NightLase® therapy can help. This non-invasive treatment reduces the effects of sleep apnea + decreases the amplitude of snoring. Know a dad who needs this? It makes a great Father’s Day gift.*

Finance

Expert tip: During economic times like these, balance transfers can really make a difference. By simply transferring your existing credit card balances to this card, you’ll give yourself 18 months to pay it off — without interest. (Bonus: Earn 2% cash back on everyday purchases while you’re at it.)*

Shop

Looking for a game-changing night of sleep? Fall asleep + wake up rested with Cornbread Hemp’s CBD Sleep Gummies. Get 30% off a $55 minimum purchase with code CBDSLEEP30.*

Theater

Broadway in the park

Philip David Buckley stars as Joseph in this summer’s production. | Photo via WHAS11

Andrew Lloyd Weber and Tim Rice fans, rejoice. ACT Louisville is bringing “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” to the historic Iroquois Park amphitheater this weekend and next.

The 1970s musical, which premiered on Broadway in 1982, tells the Biblical story of Joseph from the Book of Genesis as he endeavors to follow his dreams.

You can catch the summer show this Friday, June 14 through Monday, June 17 and again Wednesday, June 19 through Sunday, June 23, at 7:30 p.m. each night. Tickets are on sale now.

If you know all the words by heart already, the Sunday, June 16 show is a sing-along.

Bonus: The team behind the production has a long history with the amphitheater. Assistant Director Alex Craig remembers performing there with Music Theatre Louisville in the mid 1990s.

The Buy

A cute swimsuit cover that combines the classic look of a button down shirt with extra length so everything’s covered.

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Declan

From the editor

I once stumbled upon a Guy Fieri get-together in my small Wisconsin hometown. I don’t know if it was officially sanctioned like Louisville’s own FieriCon, but there’s nothing quite like seeing a crowd of flaming shirts and frosted tips. It really makes you feel like a citizen of Flavortown.

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