Louisville Magazine is Louisville's city magazine, covering Louisville people, lifestyles, politics, sports, restaurants, entertainment and homes. Includes a monthly calendar of events.
Issue link: https://loumag.epubxp.com/i/131459
ER! ·DAY·EV BEST SaE Cafe (2012) Downtown The bike lane ends at Broadway, but I pedal on, enter downtownís concrete maze of buildings. I slept in today and the morning commute is hours behind me, with only freedom and a light breeze ahead. Iím listening to Trampled by Turtles and the singing strings have me in the mood for something down-home, something light and sweet. I pedal to Hillbilly Tea. Today's iced tea favor is "Red Bush." Sounds delicious; Iíll take it to go. Herby and fruity. Itís a quick ride from there to Waterfront Park. On the Great Lawn, I pull my Mexican falsa blanket from my backpack, spread it out and relax with Barbara Kingsolver. Over the top of my book, I see couples strolling, some kids breakdancing on the stairs and some shirtless guys playing ultimate Frisbee, Me-ow. I look north, toward the Ohio. The Belle of Louisville is there, paddle-wheeling hungry sightseers. Most know the boat as the oldest operating river steamboat, the most widely traveled, but I know it best as a Forecastle after-party spot. EOTO, 2010. My friend Kyle and I danced so hard to that bandís electronic jams that people recognized us the next day. It's noon and getting hot, and I'm hungry. Riding down East Main Street, I spy Lindsey, an old anthro buddy, through the Cressman Center's windows. She spins a pole horizontally, one end in the furnace, fring glass. I glance into the next window before I ride off. Itís empty of people now, but I remember it flled during the Writer's Block Festival. Spoken word artist Anis Mojgani read, said to "speak every time you stand so you do not forget yourself." Whiskey Row is on fre with the fume of food. My mouth waters for Doc Crow's pulled pork, Bearno's cheese sticks and a Sol Aztecas chimichanga. Iíve just landed in front of Manny & Merle, a little honky-tonk Tex-Mex joint blaring Johnny Cash and smelling like heaven. I go in, order a "Mannyrita" (the house margarita; hey, it's never too early), the pollo empanado torta and a couple of crispy fsh tacos. And on el séptimo día she ate the food and it was muy bueno. Tipsy now, I decide to make it a party. I call my friend Nataley and she meets me at BBC for a beer. Or two. Or three. Itís 2 p.m. and as hot as a biscuit from the oven when I have a great idea. "Let's cool down at the Science Center!!!" We bend our bodies in the broken refections of the mirror out front; we pull bubbles around ourselves; we explore the terrasphere, think about how seasons change us and how change seasons us. The pace of the day picks up quick. We grab a cocktail at Proof, then walk-stumble through 21c's art exhibit, catch letters in our hands, hug a red penguin. Hungry again, we stop by Dish on Market, split a bourbon-sauced barbecue burger — we drink the bourbon, we eat the bourbon. We end the day with music at Stevie Ray's. Or was that Uncle Slayton's? — Arielle Christian 48 LOUISVILLE MAGAZINE 6.13 200 S. 7th St. // 585-3400 saecafe.com Breakfast options (parfaits, muffns and "The Piper," which is white bread, peanut butter, bananas and honey), plus lunch sandwiches that SaE will deliver. Saffron's (2001) 131 W. Market St. // 584-7800 saffronsrestaurant.com A collection of Persian favors — from kebabs to khoresht — make this a popular lunch and dinner spot. Try the rack of lamb kebabs. Safer Mediterranean Deli (2005) 641 S. Fourth St. // 585-1125 saferdeli.com This downtown deli specializes in Persian and Lebanese food (the chicken shawarma is delicious) and offers free lunch delivery on weekdays. Sapporo Sushi and Sake (2010) 649 S. Fourth St. // 589-3333 sapporojapanese.com What's this location have over the original Highlands location? For one thing, its sheltered and expansive patio. Smokey's Bean (2011) 1451 S. First St. // 749-6900 This coffee shop is popular with U of L students, which probably explains the hookah smoking on Friday and Saturday nights. Nice patio out front, too. Sol Aztecas (2011) 129 W. Main St. // 583-5505 One good reason to get Mexican food at Sol Aztecas before the U of L game is that, well, that means you don't have to eat at the Taco Bell that's inside the nearby Yum! Center. Spinelli's Pizzeria (2006) 239 S. Fifth St. // 749-0919 spinellispizzeria.com See Butchertown/Phoenix Hill/Irish Hill entry. St. Charles Exchange (2012) 113 S. 7th St. // 618-1917 stcharlesexchange.com The restaurant occupies one of the oldest buildings off West Main. The menu? From the hors d'oeuvres, how about peanut butter-stuffed dates with bacon-wrapped, smoked banana vinaigrette (it's called "Elvis on Horseback"). Plus daily popcorn favors, scallops, "Carpetbagger's Steak" and "The St. Chuck Burger," which comes with lamb-fat fries. Sway (2012) 320 W. Jefferson St. // 581-1234 Inside the Hyatt Regency, with glass doors that open up to Fourth Street Live!, Sway is short for "Southern way," which means you can guess what's on the menu. Theater Square Marketplace (2009) 651 S. Fourth St. // 625-3001 theatersquaremarketplace.com The former Kentucky Theater now houses this popular restaurant whose dinner menu includes a section of fatbreads. Our favorite? The "3 Little Piggies," which showcases bacon, Italian sausage and roast pork conft. Troll Pub Under the Bridge (2011) 150 W. Washington St. // 618-4829 trollpub.com We enjoy this below-street-level bar before, during or after Cards games because it's about fve steps away from the Yum! Center. Vincenzo's (1986) 150 S. Fifth St. // 580-1350 vincenzositalianrestaurant.com The Sicilian-born Gabriele brothers Vincenzo and Agostino present Best of Louisville award-winning Italian cuisine in luxurious style. Yaching's East West Cuisine (1993) 105 S. Fourth St. // 585-4005 yachingsrestaurant.com You guessed it: East meets west at this upscale downtown restaurant, with dishes like seafood capellini and miso tilapia with Asian risotto. Yafa Cafe (2007) 22 Theater Square // 561-0222 The Mediterranean-favored menu is especially popular with the falafel-and-hookah-loving set. Z's Oyster Bar & Steakhouse (2009) 115 S. Fourth St. // 855-8000 zoysterbar.com Tender, all-prime Midwestern steaks and oysters shipped in from the West Coast are the namesakes and highlights of Z's. But don't forget its huge wine selection. Nightlife The Connection (1988) 120 S. Floyd St. // 585-5752 theconnection.net This nightclub features what some describe as the country's best drag show. Fun fact: After her 2011 Louisville concert at the Yum! Center, Lady Gaga performed her song "Born This Way" at the Connection. FIX (2013) 116 E. Main St. // 414-1349 fxnightclub.com This club is so exclusive that we can't say anything about it. Freddie's Bar (1962) 220 W. Broadway // 582-9123 Hope you're wearing scuba gear, 'cause this place is a dive — and a downtown fxture for longer than anyone can remember. Granville Inn (1931) 1601 S. Third St. // 635-6475 University of Louisville students (athletes, too) often head to this bar not too far from campus. Haymarket Whiskey Bar (2011) 331 E. Market St. // 442-0523 haymarketwhiskeybar.com The live music is the draw, plus the brews and bourbon. As the sign says out front: "Whiskey by the drink." JazzyBlu (2011) 815 W. Market St. // 992-3243 jazzyblu.com Said in a strong baritone: The music we enjoy here is in the place's name, baby. Magnolia Bar and Grill (1949) 1398 S. Second St. // 637-9052 Your drink is going to be stiff and may stick to the table. And FYI: The rocking jukebox is probably the best in town. Prime Lounge (2008) 106 W. Main St. // 587-7463 primeloungeky.com It's only a matter of time before Prime Lounge's extroverted owner, Joey Wagner, approaches to tell you about the next sponsored party his nightclub is hosting. Quattro (2013) 450 S. Fourth St. // 618-1904 quattrolouisville.com This recent addition to the Fourth Street Live! Block has some local foodie cred in co-operator Bim Dietrich, who owned the now-gone-butstill-beloved Dietrich's and Myra's restaurants. Quattro serves up solid Italian fare in a spacious, high-ceilinged room of booths and tables spread around an impressive central bar. The Rudyard Kipling (1984) 422 W. Oak St. // 636-1311 therudyardkipling.com "The Rud," a venerable venue that local musicians love to play, is located in a historic Oak Street home. Sidebar (2013) 129 N. Second St. // 384-1600 sidebarwhiskeyrow.com Sidebar is on the — you guessed it — side of the westernmost Whiskey Row building. Serves the three Bs: burgers, bourbon and beer. And you can't get any closer to the Yum! Center.