Local pick:“Birds of Kentucky” by Stan Tekiela | $14 | One of the best birders in the biz walks you through all the flocks of the Bluegrass State in this full-color photographic guide.
Gifts for students
Fidget toy pen | $16.99 | A great stocking stuffer, this chromatic pen can be stacked into various shapes when it’s not in use as a writing tool or stylus.
Gifts for holiday parties and gift exchanges
Local pick: Muth’s deluxe chocolate assortment | $17 | This deluxe assortment from one of Louisville’s oldest chocolate shops is a nutty, creamy, and crunchy variety pack.
Frustrated golfer socks | $12.99 | This No. 1 best-selling pair of men’s novelty socks is sure to get a laugh.
Gifts for people who have everything
Olive oil mister | $9.99 | A handy gift they can use to turn oil into a fine mist or a steady drizzle.
Gifts for book lovers
Local pick:Louisville Library Foundation donation | Any amount | Donate in the name of your loved one to help spread literacy to all here in Louisville.
A winter weather advisory was issued last night, effective through this morning for Louisville and much of the surrounding area. Be prepared for posible snowy conditions on the road this morning. Check out the city’s guide to snow safety.
Cause
Kentucky Performing Arts is hosting a toy drive during two upcoming performances. Bring a toy to either “Under the Streetlight” or the screening of “A Christmas Story” featuring Ralphie himself, Peter Billingsley.
Shop
This way, adventurer. Logan Street Market is hosting a Magical Midwinter Market starting today and running through Sunday, Dec. 21. The high-fantasy themed market features vendors, quests, and more. Tickets are $25.
Biz
A new event space is coming to the Highlands early next year. True North Catering is expanding into the next door building in order to host pop-up shops, photo shoots, and more. (Louisville Ballet First)
Holiday
This Sunday marks the beginning of Hanukkah — the Jewish Festival of Lights. Celebrate with the Temple Brotherhood Annual Hanukkah Celebration or attending the Derby City Chamber Music Festival’s production of “Judas Maccabeus.”
Derby
The 2026 Pegasus Pin is here. Next year’s pin features a horseshoe shape in a teal color designed to harken back to designs from the 1970s. It’ll hit stores in March, but you can preorder yours now. (WHAS11)
Sports
Can Jeff Brohm’s “any team, anytime, any place” mantra keep Louisville in the national spotlight? Get game coverage, analysis, insights, interviews, and more from local experts of the Cards with Locked On’s daily podcasts.
Older Adults
Are you taking advantage of these stellar senior discounts? From savings with Walgreens to a discounted Amazon Prime membership, we found 20 hacks all older adults should know about to continue saving and building wealth.*
Shop
Your glasses called — they’re ready for retirement. Shop Zenni’s durable frames + advanced lenses for an upgrade, with most pairs under $80. Bonus: Take an extra 10% off with code TWW.*
Category
History
Flashback Friday: Louisville’s first skyscraper
Seen here in ~1920, the Columbia Building stood at a height of 10 stories, towering over its neighbors. | Photo courtesy ASC, UofL
Built in 1890, the Columbia Building was Louisville’s first skyscraper, standing as the tallest structure in Derby City for a decade.
Located at the northwest corner of the intersection of 4th + Main streets, the building was constructed at a cost of $1 million — that’s ~$35 million in today’s money. It was built just five years after the world’s first skyscraper, the Chicago Home Insurance Building.
Designed by Cornelius Curtin — who also designed City Hall’s annex in 1909 — its red sandstone Richardsonian Romanesque facade towered over everything around it.
It stood at a height of 10 stories and 162 feet. Louisville’s current tallest building, 400 West Market, is 549 ft, and 35 stories tall.
In its heyday, the Columbia Building was a focal point of Louisville’s bourbon industry, home to distillery offices, stave manufacturers, grain companies, and whiskey brokers.
Did you know? When you send an email to LOUtoday’s email or reply to this newsletter, you’re messaging me, Declan, directly. So, if you have questions, recommendations, or just want to share your thoughts on a recent newsletter, my inbox is open. Always feel free to say hi.
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