The entrance to the Original Highlands is home to a sculpture called “Turrets” on a strip of land known as the Highland Island. | Photo by LOUtoday.
Louisville’s Highlands is comprised of a number of neighborhoods, including Phoenix Hill, Cherokee Triangle, Tyler Park, Bonnycastle, and Belknap. But the oldest, as the name suggests, is the Original Highlands.
This neighborhood as a seamless mix of quiet residential streets, dense shopping strips, and bars + restaurants for day and nightlife. If you haven’t explored it in a while, it might be time to rediscover why so many people love to call it home.
The early days
The neighborhood is called “The Highlands” because it sits on a high point between the north and south forks of the Beargrass Creek. The Original Highlands was the first part of the area to be developed, going back as far as the early 1800s.
Construction on the Louisville and Bardstown Turnpike — aka Bardstown Road — attracted German immigrant farmers to the Original Highlands, which was then called New Hamburg. The farmland was subdivided after the Civil War, and a street car line extended from the city to the Highlands in 1871.
Try your choice of sweet or savory popcorn at Froggy’s.
Photo by LOUtoday.
Eat
Froggy’s Popcorn: Popcorn, cinnamon nuts, chocolate, licorice caramel, and more are all on offer at this snack shop. The gift baskets + boxes are perfect for the holidays.
Kebab House: This Mediterranean restaurant serves falafel, shawarma, and kebabs, plus salads + baklava for desert. Pro tip: Try the lentil soup + hot sage tea.
Derby City Market goes all-out for Halloween.
Photo by LOUtoday.
Shop
Butcher Cabin Books: It’s all horror all the time at this bookstore. Shop mystery, horror, sci-fi, and more — look for the building with the bloodstain paint job.
Derby City Market: Midcentury furniture, clothes, and oddities are all on offer at this resale store.
Unorthodox: This oddities, antiques, and art shop has everything from incense to local art, to tea and tarot cards.
Allergy Friendly Night at Boo at the Zoo | Wednesday, Oct. 23 | 5-8:30 p.m. | Louisville Zoo | $11.50+ | Bring the kids for a night of peanut-free treat booths as well as non-food treats like stickers, tattoos, and more — it’s the last week for Boo at the Zoo, btw.
Thursday, Oct. 24
Halloween Trivia Night Fundraiser | Thursday, Oct. 24 | 6-9 p.m. | Brickhouse Tavern + Tap | $20 | Flex your trivia knowledge for a good cause, benefiting animals whose owners need help with medical costs.
Piano Men: Generations | Thursday, Oct. 24 | 7:30 p.m. | Kentucky Center for the Arts | $55+ | See a tribute to Elton John and Billy Joel played out on the ivories.
Friday, Oct. 25
Night of the Undead | Friday, Oct. 25 | 7 p.m. | Howl at the Moon | Price of purchase | Wear your Halloween best and enjoy all-night drink specials and costume contests at this dance party.
Candlelight: A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics | Friday, Oct. 25 | 9-10:15 p.m. | Actors Theatre of Louisville | $31.80 | Hear Halloween-themed music like “Funeral March of a Marionette” and “Thriller” performed live under candelight.
The Louisville Metro Council’s Public Safety Committee will hold a special meeting next Wednesday, Oct. 30 at 5 p.m. at the Newberg Community Center to collect community feedback on the recent re-enforcement of a mask ordinance. Sign up starting at 4:30 p.m. to speak, or submit written comments online.
Development
Kentucky Performing Arts has started structural replacement work on the front plaza of the Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts. The sidewalk in front of the Center, and at least one lane of Main Street, will be closed for the foreseeable future.
Eat
The French bistro Le Relais has a new owner. Amy Zinner purchased the restaurant from its founder, Anthony Dike, late last month. Zinner, a former waitress at the restaurant and Dike’s girlfriend, has added a French brunch experience on Sundays and lunch service the last Friday of each month. (Louisville Business First)
Watch
Don’t say his name three times. Naive is hosting a showing of “Beetlejuice” — the original one from 1988 — the day before Halloween. Stop by on Wednesday, Oct. 30 at 8 p.m. for a free showing, complimentary popcorn, and dinner + haunted cocktails until 9 p.m. — reserve tickets to secure your spot.
Seasonal
If you missed the “Dream Within A Dream” night of Edgar Allen Poe readings aboard the Belle of Louisville, here’s a bonus ghoulish tale. Relief engineer Stephen Settles and communications manager Heather Funk Gotlib told the Courier Journal of the many paranormal experiences they’ve had aboard the 110-year-old steamboat.
Listen
Can Tyler Shough’s impressive performance and the Cardinals’ offensive strategies overcome their defensive lapses? Get game coverage, analysis, insights, interviews, and more from local experts of the Cardinals with Locked On’s daily podcasts.
Sports
The 2024 USL Championship Playoffs are headed to Lynn Family Stadium. LouCity will kick off their playoff run on Saturday, Nov. 2. See the full playoff schedule — and grab tickets to the Eastern Conference Quarterfinal.*
Number
$278. That’s a real flight deal from Louisville to St. Thomas this year. Sign up for Going’s Premium plan + never miss a great deal again.*
Travel
For a limited time, save up to 50% on a AAA Membership — and add an additional driver for free or at a discounted rate. Members access AAA Roadside Assistance 24/7/365, plus savings on flights, hotels, rental cars, cruises, and more with AAA Travel. Join AAA before this deal ends.*
Finance
It’s time to take a break from your high-interest debt. For one of the longest no-interest periods on a balance transfer card experts have seen in a while,check this out.*
Category
Arts
See a skeleton live
Sugar Skull is Vita’s guide through the cultural celebration that is Día de Muertos.|Photo by Geri Kodey
A multilingual, multicultural musical for young audiences is coming to the Kentucky Center’s Bomhard Theater this Saturday, Oct. 26 at 7 p.m.
“Sugar Skull” tells the story of Vita Flores, a 12-year-old girl who goes on a magical, musical journey with a candy skeleton to learn the true meaning of Día de los Muertos.
Once you’ve seen the show, check out these other Día de los Muertos events in LOU — which is Friday Nov. 1-Saturday, Nov. 2.
See a procession from the UofL Cultural Center to the Speed museum, plus dancing, storytelling, face painting, and a community altar on Sunday, Oct. 27 from 12 to 4 p.m.
This free, family-friendly event will have music, altars, and more at the Los Azteca’s restaurant on Saturday, Nov. 2, 4-11 p.m.
The Buy
The Buy
This 4-in-1 car charger. It plugs into your car’s auxiliary power outlet and includes retractable USB-C and Lightning cables as well as USB-C and USB-A ports so you can charge up to four devices at once.
Maybe skip this house if you’re afraid of dolls.|Photo by LOUtoday.
A few weeks ago, we asked you your favorite neighborhoods for trick or treating in LOU. Hillcrest and Norton Commons were the standout favorites, but the Original Highlands knows how to get in the Halloween spirit.
Pro tip: Take a walk in the neighborhood right now to some of the best-decorated Halloween houses in LOU, including graveyard scenes, flying witches, and giant skeletons.
