January 13, 2022 - Meet Mary Millicent Miller + Noble Funk brewery opens

Hello Sunday.

January 23 2022

The Belle of Louisville Riverboats’ Mary M. Miller glides up and down the Ohio River year-round — thanks to its climate controlled decks.

Maybe you’ve caught a glimpse of the propeller-driven riverboat while driving across the Second Street Bridge or climbed aboard for a sightseeing or dinner cruise — but have you ever wondered about the woman those decks immortalize?

This month, 138 years ago, Mary Millicent Miller became the first woman to receive a master steamboat license after US Secretary of the Treasury, Charles J. Folger, made the decision to accept her application.

In 2017, the Louisville waterfront welcomed the Mary M. Miller. | Photo by Belle of Louisville Riverboats

Born in 1846 to a steamboat engineer at 2120 W. Main St. in the Portland neighborhood — then a major river port — Mary was immersed in life on the Ohio River, but it was a long shot to think one day she’d captain a boat herself.

HOW SHE GOT HER LICENSE

Use the buttons below to share Mary Millicent’s story with your best boating buddies.

EVENTS

Today

Michter’s Bourbon Dinner by Swizzle Dinner & Drinks | Thurs., Jan. 13 | 7-9 p.m. | Swizzle Dinner & Drinks | $150 | Chow down on a 5-course dinner with hand-selected bourbon + Swizzle favorites as the restaurant slowly rotates. 🥃

Friday

Savor the Season: Embracing Winter at Bernheim | Fri., Jan. 14 | 12-12:45 p.m. | Virtual | $12+ | Fill your lunch hour with this adult educational series where you’ll learn about winter wildlife + trees. 🌳

Saturday

Harlem Globetrotters | Sat., Jan. 15 | 6 p.m. | KFC Yum! Center | $23+ | See jaw-dropping moves + slam dunks from this globally-recognized team. 🏀

Sunday

OLB Sunday Run Club | Sun., Jan. 16 | 2 p.m. | Old Louisville Brewery | Free | Get your Sunday run + beer in one clean sweep.

Monday

Brunch N Bingo Party | Mon., Jan. 17 | 12 p.m. | 1619 Gathering Place, 1619 W. Main St. | $20+ | Spend Monday playing bingo and singing karaoke with complimentary wings.

Tuesday

Nita Strauss | Tues., Jan. 18 | 7 p.m. | Diamond Concert Hall | $22 | Hear the touring guitarist for Alice Cooper with support from Black Satellite, Abby K + Julius. 🎸

Wednesday

Patty Griffin | Wed., Jan. 19 | 8 p.m. | Old Forester’s Paristown Hall | $30+ | This guitar player + pianist brings a stripped-down style of folk music that gives listeners a new love for the sound. 🎤

We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

MORE EVENTS THIS WAY

SHOP

Meet your “I got 9 hours of sleep last night” secret

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NEWS NOTES

Weather

44º | Cloudy | 10% chance of rain

Coming Soon

The soft opening of Louisville’s latest brewery, Noble Funk, is slated for Friday + Saturday from 4-10 p.m. The brewery is located in the former 28,000-sqft Kroger on 2nd Street in Old Louisville — now called The 922. They will serve beers from 24 taps and sling craft pizzas.

Open

There’s a new shop to say yes to the dress or tux in. Sophia’s Bridal & Tux is open in St. Matthews as part of an expansion from its Indiana headquarters. The 6,000-sqft boutique will also be the only store in Derby City to offer The Disney Fairy Tale Weddings Collection. 👗 (The Courier-Journal)

Community

The Russel neighborhood is getting a $180 million investment program thanks to a partnership between Fifth Third Bank and Interapt, a technology services firm. Interapt will train 100 people in tech skills to be used within Fifth Third Bank’s career paths. (WDRB)

Travel

There’s something about a truck. According to a study by ISeeCars.com, the Ford F-150 was the best-selling vehicle in Louisville last year. The pickup truck accounted for 3.9% of new sales + 4.3% of used sales. With all those trucks on the road, we gotta ask, what are you picking up? 🛻 (Louisville Business First)

Sports

Babe Ruth’s official endorsement of the Louisville Slugger baseball bat is up for bid. The agreement — made in 1918 — allowed Slugger to produce bats with his signature on the barrel. Ruth was only paid $100 for the endorsement + the bid for the aged letter is currently $179,584. ⚾ (WLKY)

History

Fall down the chicken hole. According to the Hustle, the FBI’s FOIA Library has official files you can browse at whim — including one on our very own Harland David “Colonel” Sanders. The file includes docs from 1967, correspondence between Sanders and the FBI + a 1974 extortion threat against him. Happy sleuthing. 🕵️♀️

Eat

Get your checkbooks ready, it’s Girl Scout Cookie season and there’s a new cookie in town. The Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana are now taking orders and have released “Adventurefuls,” a brownie-inspired treat with caramel-flavored creme and sea salt. Order boxes online + support troops impacted by the December tornado here. 🍪 (WHAS11)
Eat your hearts out all you hopeless ramen-tics. Renshoku Ramen, a pop-up noodle shop, is selling vegan ramen kits this Friday at V-Grits from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. The kits feature a faux chicken stock, temomi noodles + spiced seitan for $13. 🍜

Holiday

Monday is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Celebrate the Baptist minister and civil rights leader at these events — including tree planting, a peace walk + a screening of his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. Did you know when Martin Luther King Jr. visited Louisville, he stayed on Southwestern Parkway where his brother lived? 🎂 (WHAS11)

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If you build it, they will come 🧱

📸 @liveinlou

Sure, stepping on a pile of LEGOs hurts worse than walking on hot coals, but luckily at the BrickUniverse Lego Fan Festival later this month, shoes are required.

See massive LEGO displays, meet professional LEGO artists + build your own masterpieces Jan. 22-23 at the Kentucky International Convention Center downtown. Tickets are $15 online + $18 at the door.

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THE WRAP

Editor’s Pick: On Tuesday I learned that Fun Tea on Bardstown Road was ranked as one of the best boba tea spots in the US. At that moment I realized, I’ve never had one.

Since I’ve never sipped giant tapioca pearls through a straw, I figured I better give it a go. Any suggestions are welcomed. Stay tuned for my first sip.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? See what’s developing in 2022 here.