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/283499
4.14 LOUISVILLE MAGAZINE 1 4 9 LOOK OUT FOR (FINGERS CROSSED) A-LISTERS THIS YEAR. It's the last day of February, and I'm pre- paring for a photo shoot in the directors room in the Churchill Downs clubhouse. This is home to the Derby trophy on the frst Saturday in May and one of the spots where the Queen of England sat prety when she visited during the 2007 Derby. Rick Sneed, a Louisville native and director of lifestyle communications at Churchill Downs, tells visitors that if they use the suite's restroom, they can say that they have sat on the same throne as the queen. As the crew of models, stylists and photographers turn the directors room into a dressing room, Sneed catches up on work from his laptop and makes phone calls from his cell. For some 30 years Sneed worked in PR all over the country before joining Churchill last fall. "Hi, may I speak with the publicist for Jake Gyllenhaal?" he says into his phone. My ears perk up like a horse's at the sound of the word oats! Minutes later: "May I speak with the publicist for Charl- ize Theron?" As Sneed continues making calls (Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen) I feel giddy, thinking about the stars who may come to town. I used to write "BSB4EVA" on notebooks (that's "Backstreet Boys for- ever"; my concept of forever might have been a litle of) and once stood outside the Barnstable Brown Gala decked out in boy-band merchandise, hoping to touch the sleeve of BSB members who were re- portedly atending. But repeated appear- ances by Kevin Richardson (BSB4EVA!) just aren't as exciting as they used to be, or on the same level as a Gyllenhaal or a Theron coming to (and falling in love with . . . and moving to . . .) weird ol' Louisville. It's one thing to go star-scouting in L.A.; it's another to be seated at a bar in your hometown and see Beyoncé or Mat- thew McConaughey walk in. Sneed, I'm pullin' for you on this one! — Mary Chellis Austin www.komenlouisville.org www.old502.com www.shaheens.com 137 TIP 138-160 BACK.indd 149 3/20/14 12:46 PM