One local resident is working to turn an overgrown and overlooked alley — one located behind Muhammad Ali’s childhood home — into a park and outdoor art gallery.
You can stay updated on the project + stay tuned for future cleanup opportunities in collaboration with Brightside Louisville via social media.
The Jeffersontown Ampitheater is expected to begin hosting shows in March, though there’s no official opening date quite yet. The new venue has the ability to host everything from local gatherings to larger, national touring acts. (WHAS 11)
Arts
Take advantage of free admission Sundays while you can. Speed Art Museum will introduce a new model for “select Sundays” this spring, saying that it is no longer feasible for the museum to offer a day of free admission every week. Members will still receive unlimited free admission. (WHAS 11)
Closing
St. Matthews breakfast and burger joint Kayrouz Cafe will close its doors on Saturday, Jan. 31 — but the closure may give way to something new. “I mean, we definitely would like to do another project here in the future,” manager Tyler Conway said. (WLKY)
Number
More than $830,000. That’s how much money has been raised for Metro’s Million Dollar Match, according to a release. For every dollar donated, the city will match it to work towards a total of $2 million going towards adding books and materials to the LFPL collection. By the looks of it, that number has already increased significantly.
Sports
The Cardinals’ star running back, Isaac Brown, is returning to Louisville in 2026. Get the scoop on what this means for the team from local experts of the Louisville Cardinals with Locked On’s daily podcasts.
Try This
Pinterest is predicting a pen pal renaissance in 2026. Online searches for cute stamps, letter inspo, and snail mail gift ideas have all seen a recent increase as folks look for new ways to create meaningful connections in an increasingly digitized world. Find some inspo of your own at a local spot like Artist & Craftsman Supply.
Travel and Outdoors
Our 2026 travel recommendations
Pro Tip: The Freehand’s cozy lobby is a nice spot to get work done during the day. | Photo by LOUtoday
Airbnb recently released its 2026 travel predictions, and we’re sharing how you can take part from Louisville. We’ve paired each prediction with a travel recommendation that’s easy to get to from Derby City + pro tips for each spot.
Quick trips
The predicted trend: Quick, 1-2 day trips to “vibrant cities filled with music, dance, historic sites, and authentic cuisine”
Our recommendation: Chicago, IL. It’s a ~5-hour drive from Louisville, and you can also get there via FlixBus or Greyhound. Managing Editor Brianna is based in Chicago and recommends staying with friends in a private quad at The Freehand for a more cost-effective stay.
Touching grass
The predicted trend: National Park travel
Our recommendation: Knoxville, TN. Here, you’ll be within a ~45-minute drive of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Plus, our sister market 865today shares exactly where to get the best biscuits in town while you’re visiting.
Click the button below to read our argument for traveling to Louisville; feel free to share with your cross-country friends who never visit.
Has anyone taken a Flixbus between Louisville and Chicago? I’m thinking of making a trip, and tickets don’t look bad — but the trip length is giving me pause. If you’ve made the trek via bus, let me know how it went + if I’m better off renting a car and driving myself.
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