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Murray’s Creole Pub is a place for community and storytelling
Weeks said he wants Murray’s to be a place where people come together for community, not just food and drink. | Photo courtesy Murray’s Creole Pub
James Beard semifinalist Lawrence Weeks has a new restaurant, and now he’s taking it to the next level.
Murray’s Creole Pub opened late last year on Bardstown Road, with an atmosphere melding Louisiana hunting lodges and European pubs on its ground floor. Next month, the restaurant’s upper floor, called The Dining Room, will begin serving three to five course fine dining tasting menus.
Weeks said fans of his work at North of Bourbon will certainly find some familiar dishes on the menu at Murray’s, and he’s pushing the southern Louisiana influence even further, serving dishes informed by his family’s history in St. Landry Parish.
Cooking has been part of Lawrence Weeks’s life since early childhood. He spent a lot of time in the kitchen with his grandmother, learning basics like milk gravies and rues. When he went to culinary school, many of the dishes were already familiar to him, though maybe by a different name — the chefs call milk gravy a bechemel.
Weeks chose to honor that family legacy of cooking with the new restaurant’s name — his grandfather Lawrence Xavier Murray and great grandfather Lawrence Ignatius Murray were both cooks in Louisiana at a time when Black people couldn’t become head chefs.
“If you believe in reincarnation, a piece of them found its way into me.”
Norae Bar, which closed last year, has announced it’s back in business with a new location on Baxter Avenue. Stay tuned to the karaoke joint’s social media for info on a reopening timeline.
Eat
Speaking of bygone businesses. Chik’n & Mi may be closed, but chef Jason McCollum has started a website to share the restaurant’s recipes with the world so you can recreate your favorites at home. (WHAS11)
Try This
Derby week starts here. Biscuits & Bourbon returnsbigger than ever, now across two days. Enjoy Southern-inspired brunch, specialty bourbon cocktails, live music, and reserved track seating. This fan-favorite tradition at the Kentucky Derby Museum is sponsored by Angel’s Envy, with events offered Tuesday, April 28 + Wednesday, April 29. Grab tickets.*
List
Inc. Magazine’s 2026 Female Founders 500 list is out, and one business owner from Louisville made the cut. The list highlights women leading companies and nonprofits across the US, including House of Marigold founder Adrienne Cole.
Mansion Monday
This Colonial-style home sits just off Cherokee Park + features an in-ground pool, a formal dining room, and a full in-home theater. Take a step inside.
Drink
More Louisvillians might be grabbing a bar stool (and maybe a mocktail) instead of stocking the home bar. Liquor store sales in the US dipped roughly 5% last year while spending at bars rose 4%, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics. (NBC News)
Trending
Soft-serve margaritas are the latest TikTok trend, and it seems they’re hard to find. I finally found a local spot that’s teasing them: Veronica’s on Poplar Level Road. Know of another spot swirling out this trend? Reply to this email and let me know. (The Takeout)
Outdoors
Researchers at the University of Oxford in England have discovered a new planet — approx. 60% larger than Earth, 35 lightyears from our solar system, and boasting a “magma ocean” with “large amounts of sulfur.” A bit closer to home, check out an upcoming event with the Louisville Astronomical Society. (LEX 18)
Real Estate
Looking to get more eyes on your listing? Feature a property with a strategically-placed blurb right here in this section that guides readers straight to your listing. Try it out.
The Buy
Sometimes it’s the little things that make the biggest difference. These five products offer easy + effective ways to level up your sleep hygiene for more restful nights.
🧴 Lather sore muscles with this magnesium lavender lotion to help ease tension + wind down before bed.
💤 Don’t let the sun or other bright lights interrupt your sleep thanks to these top-rated blackout curtains.
👁️ For even more light-blocking, try this breathable cotton eyemask that’s designed with cooling fabric.
🍬 Try these science-backed meltaway sleep mints that are crafted with melatonin and calming herbs.
🌜 Get this best-selling white noise machine to block out unwanted noises thanks to 20+ sound settings.
No foul play here. I’ve got good news if you’ve been hunting and pecking about owning chickens within Louisville’s city limits. You don’t need a permit to keep a limited number of chickens for personal use. Read up on the local ordinances and get your flock started.
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