by Nancy Hinchliff, writer/Innkeeper

“Actor’s Theater of Louisville is announcing their 36th Annual Humana Festival of New American Plays at a Kickoff Party on Thursday, March 1 at 6 p.m. in the Sara Shallenberger Brown Lobby. The free event, featuring delicious fare from local restaurants, Humana Festival memorabilia, giveaways and more, will bring in the Festival with much-deserved fanfare.” (posted by Actors Theatre of Louisville
Actors Theatre of Louisville)

It’s that time again. Time for Louisville’s wonderful Actor’s theater to present it festival of new American plays. If you’ve never been before, you’ll be in for a real treat. Actor’s is a top notch playhouse and the festival is one of the nation’s best. Started by Jon Jory, actor/director  in 1976,  it has continued to delight and surprise theater-goers with it’s amazing selection of plays written by upcoming and talented playwrights.

The Humana Festival has premiered the Pulitzer Prize-winning plays Dinner with Friends (Donald Margulies), Crimes of the Heart (Beth Henley) and The Gin Game (D.L. Coburn) and Pulitzer finalists Becky Shaw (Gina Gionfriddo), Keely and Du (Jane Martin) and Omnium-Gatherum (Alexandra Gersten-Vassilaros and Theresa Rebeck) as well as Getting Out (Marsha Norman), Agnes of God (John Pielmeier), Lone Star (James McLure), In the Eye of the Hurricane (Eduardo Machado), Courtship (Horton Foote), Extremities (William Mastrosimone), My Sister in this House (Wendy Kesselman), Tales of the Lost Formicans (Constance Congdon), Danny and the Deep Blue Sea (John Patrick Shanley), Marisol (José Rivera), One Flea Spare (Naomi Wallace), Slavs! (Tony Kushner), The Batting Cage (Joan Ackermann) and Y2K (Arthur Kopit).

Actor’s Theater has received the three most prestigious awards given to regional theaters. In March 1979, they won the Margo Jones Award, presented for the encouragement of new playwrights. In May 1979, they received the Shubert Foundation’s James N. Vaughan Memorial Award for Exceptional Achievement and Contribution to the Development of Professional Theater. And in June of 1980, they became the second theater to receive the Special Tony Award as an outstanding non-profit resident theater.

If you decide to experience a night or week-end of unique and exciting  theater, treat yourself to an overnight stay or two at one of Louisville’s exemplary bed and breakfasts. Choose from a variety of styles and atmosphere, while assuring yourself that which ever selection you make, you will find an immaculate place of lodging, comfortable/beautiful rooms, friendly hospitality, and a wonderful gourmet breakfast. The Louisville Bed and Breakfast Association has nineteen members, with nineteen beautiful Inns for you to choose from. Most are within  fifteen minutes of  Actor’s Theater, some even closer. You may make your reservation on-line.

For names and descriptions of play, performance times, and ticket prices, you may check on-line at Actor’s Theater.

by Nancy R. Hinchliff,  inn-keeper/freelance writer

Valentine’s Day at most bed and breakfasts is usually very busy. They fill up with couples looking for a romantic get-away to celebrate the day or week-end with someone they love. The Inns offer Sweetheart Packages, Spa Packages and the like. They fill their rooms with red roses, champagne and chocolates. Louisville is no different than most cities. Our bed and breakfasts are exemplary and really outdo themselves on special holidays, especially the romantic ones like Valentine’s Day

Many of the inns like to serve a special sweetheart’s breakfast of Belgium Waffles with fresh strawberries and real whipped cream. Or, decadent chocolate waffles with whipped cream and a luscious ribbon of chocolate sauce dribbled across the top.  Strawberries and chocolate seem to be very popular on Valentine’s Day, so many of the Innkeepers make chocolate-covered strawberries. They’re really not difficult to make.  Below  are a couple of wonderful recipes.

Be sure to make your reservations early. Some of the Inns have Sweetheart packages during the entire month of February.  But, in case they don’t,  call your favorite one and reserve as soon as possible.

Recipes for Chocolate Covered Strawberries

DIRECTIONS

Prepare cookie sheet by placing wax paper on bottom of it.

Place chocolate chips and shortening in medium microwave-safe bowl. Microwave at MEDIUM (50%) 1-1/2 minutes or just until chips are melted and mixture is smooth when stirred; cool slightly.

Holding strawberry by top, dip 2/3 of each berry into chocolate mixture; shake gently to remove excess. Place on prepared tray.

Refrigerate until coating is firm, about 30 minutes. Store, covered, in refrigerator.

*Butter, margarine and spreads contain water which may prevent chocolate from melting properly; oil may prevent chocolate from forming a coating.

by Nancy Hinchliff, Innkeeper/freelance writer

Stick to your New Year’s resolutions without a pricey gym membership, fancy equipment, expensive classes or other budget-busters. Rest assured, you can stand pat in your resolutions throughout the year without spending a bundle. Here are the most popular New Years resolutions, along with tips on following them when you’re on a tight budget.

Exercise more

Instead of buying an expensive gym membership, put on a pair of sneakers and walk! Walk in the park, walk in town, walk in the city. Borrow a neighbor’s dog and walk. Park your car at the far edge of the parking lot and walk. Forgo the elevator and walk the stairs. If you think about it, you’ll find lots of ways to work more walking into your day.

Eat healthy foods

Pursuing a healthy eating program can easily bring down your food costs because healthy eating starts with fresh produce and basic ingredients that don’t cost a lot. See Healthy Eating, for Less for tips, hints and ideas for healthy eating for the budget-minded.

Stop smoking

Instead of expensive medical programs, hypnosis and/or nicotine patches, check out the many free programs and websites that can help you kick the habit. Start with the Centers for Disease Control How to Quit Smoking page: www.cdc.gov/tobacco/quit_smoking/how_to_quit

Take up a hobby or learn a craft

You don’t necessarily need to invest money in materials, books and classes to take up a hobby—why don’t you revisit a pastime that you used to love? Go on and find those knitting needles, or retrieve the roller blades from the back of the closet, or dust off the stamp collection. You just might fall in love again.

Read more

Instead of breaking the bank at the bookstore, visit your local library and check out a new book every week. Most libraries also have magazines for perusing, along with computers with fast Internet connections and lots of helpful advice for finding what you need online.

Learn something new

There’s no need to enroll in expensive college classes if you are looking to expand your horizons and learn something new. Look into “auditing” a class at your local university or community college. Many schools will allow you to sit in on classes (and participate!) without paying tuition (and without earning credits—but you just want to learn, right?). You can also inquire at your local library, community center or bookstore about free or low-cost classes or reading groups covering a huge variety of topics.

Take a vacation

Instead of flying or driving to faraway destinations and spending your hard-earned money on a motel and meals out, take a “staycation.” Stay at home during your time off, but make a commitment to sightsee, visit museums and generally get to know your hometown all over again.

Visit a Louisville bed and breakfast!

We are a short drive from Indianapolis, Chicago, Cincinnati, and St Louis. Although a little longer travel distance, it is still easy to get here from Nashville and Georgia. And, of course, Kentuckians, for the most part, have a doable weekend getaway spot. The bed and breakfasts all have Valentine’s Packages to satisfy your romantic mood. Do come and visit us, but call ahead of time.

Other options

There are lots of popular resolutions that don’t cost a cent to begin with. You don’t need a lot of money to pursue these resolutions:

• Cook more
• Get organized
• Spend more time with family and friends
• Help others or volunteer

by Nancy Hinchliff, Innkeeper/freelance writer

Enjoy the holiday

During this time when most of us are cutting back on our spending and trying to find ways to beat the economic slump, entertaining family and friends may be quite a challenge, especially during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. Americans love to eat. Some wait all year for that one day they can “pig out” and feel okay about it. Everyone stuffs themselves with all manner of food and drink on Thanksgiving. It’s been a tradition since the pilgrims sat down with the Indians for the first Thanksgiving in Plymouth in 1621.

Keeping the cost down

Even if you are out of work, on unemployment or temporarily living with your parents, it is still possible to create an incredible Thanksgiving dinner if you give it some thought. The secret is in the planning and in doing most of the work yourself. Rather than rushing out and buying up expensive bags of ready made dressing, cans of cranberry sauce and canned gravy, you might want to consider making these things from scratch. It is much cheaper and, in most cases, costs less and tastes better.

Planning your dinner

You first have to decide whether or not you can afford to buy a turkey. That might depend on the size of your family and the amount of money you have to spend. Turkeys are more expensive than chicken or other fowl and are usually quite large, so you might consider buying a chicken instead or Cornish game hens, if you’re cooking for a smaller group. Chicken goes just as well with all the thanksgiving trappings. However, if you absolutely have to have a turkey, remember that if you buy one a little bigger than what you’ll need for the big day, you can have at least three meals out of it by making wonderful dishes with the left overs.

Food and Drink

After the meat, probably the easiest and least expensive dishes to include in your meal are potatoes (white or sweet), vegetables, dinner rolls, and pumpkin pie. The first two items will probably be on sale at your grocer during the season. Vegetables vary in cost from inexpensive green beans, corn, and broccoli and zucchini to more expensive mushrooms, artichokes and asparagus. A big cost saver would be to make your own dinner rolls or biscuits and pie, as well as the cranberry sauce, the dressing, and the gravy. They really are not difficult to make and you can actually have fun doing it, if you allow enough time. Figure your schedule out ahead of time and make some of your food and drink items the day before.

While the kids most likely will drink milk, and some of the adults, too, for something a little more festive, you might try a cranberry punch or serve a lovely white wine with your turkey. Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, and Pinot Grigio all go well with turkey , as does Pouilly Fuisse (which is a little more expensive, but might be an interesting choice if you are a guest and want to bring something special to the host or hostess). And, of course, after the main meal, lots of delicious strong coffee to keep everyone from falling asleep from the tryptophan in the turkey.

Making a fabulous pie

If you don’t like pumpkin, apple pie goes well with this type of meal. And if you have children, they really enjoy helping in the kitchen and can be assigned various jobs to help you out. Making pie crust seems to strike terror in the hearts of many cooks. So, buying them ready made has become common place. However, they are more expensive than homemade and, in most cases, don’t taste as good. For those of you who are adventurous, here is a video with exact instructions (see below). Once you have your crusts made, you can decide whether you prefer pumpkin pie or apple.

Nancy Hinchliff”s blog: A Memorable Time of My Life

Recipes:

Pie crust (video), Apple Pie, Pumpkin Pie

And for something very special
Fabulous Pumpkin Cheesecake

CHEESECAKE FACTORY PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE

Crust:

1 1/2 cups graham crumbs
5 Tbsp. butter, melted
1 Tbsp. sugar

Filling:

3- 8oz.pkgs. cream cheese, softened
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup canned pumpkin
3 eggs
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. allspice
Whipped Cream

Instructions:

Mix crust ingredients together, just till coated and crumbly. Press onto the bottom and 2/3 up the sides of an 8″ springform pan. Bake for 5 min. at 350. Set aside.

Combine cheese, sugar and vanilla in large bowl, mix until smooth with an electric mixer. Add pumpkin, eggs, and spices, beat till smooth and creamy. Pour into the crust. Bake for 60-70 min. or till the top turns a bit darker. Remove from oven and allow to come to room temperature, then refrigerate. After it has thoroughly chilled, remove the pan sides and cut. Serve with whipped cream.

Happy Thanksgiving!

by Nancy Hinchliff, Innkeeper/free-lance writer

If you’re looking for fun things to do while you’re in Louisville, here’s a unique idea. Cooking at the cottage opened in

The Gourmet Cottage, Louisville, Ky

November of 2010. It’s a cookware retail shop that carries of variety of items that any cook would love to have in their kitchen.  But what is so unique about this establishment is that they conduct cooking classes right on the premises.  As a retail store, they specialize in cookware, bakeware, decorating supplies, gadgets, coffee/tea/chocolate, and bridal & gift registries.

Classes are held at the retail store which is with ten minutes of any one of the member bed and breakfasts of the Louisville Bed and Breakfast Association. You can book your cooking class at the same time you make reservations at your favorite Inn.  Louisville has wonderful local restaurants. The chefs who teach at the Cottage are all owners and/or executive chefs at one of Louisville’s fine restaurants. Many of them also teach at the local  Culinary Arts School at Sullivan University.

“Our goal at the Cottage is to offer our customers old fashioned, personal service with a smile!  If there is anything you need, just ask one of our staff members and we will be happy to help you find it or if you want, try to special order it for you. Remember, we have gift certificates available, for any amount,  which can be used on merchandise and/or cooking classes.  These make a wonderful gift for that special foodie in your life!

Participation in a Cooking at the Cottage hands-on class places you in a typical cooking environment with inherent risk. By registering for a Cooking at the Cottage event, you agree to release Cooking at the Cottage and its staff, employees and contractors, from all liability arising from direct or indirect damages or injury.” (Mark & Linda Kunz Bayens).

We are living in the time of pumpkins. Great boxes are filled with them at the local farm market–gone now to jack o’ lanterns, many of them and unceremoniously tossed out after their night of drama.

Some go on to be cooked and used now or saved for special holiday recipes. Many will go into pies, the iconic Thanksgiving dessert. Some will go to lovely warming soups or pumpkin bread or muffins. A few will go inmore exotic culinary directions. And don’t get me started on the squashes–so many varieties, from mirlitons to sweet dumplings, butternuts to buttercups.

I’m tempted and bewildered by my imagination as my table, loaded down with all manner of squash and pumpkin can testify. What to make and write about? Pumpkin ravioli–buttery, tender and delicious? Or a butternut soup, fragrant with saffron and rich with cream and ghee? I ponder long over a delicate pumpkin roulade, filled with sweetened mascapone. Then I think about swiss chard wrapped around sausage, pumpkin and barley mixture, or mirlitons filled with highly seasoned shrimp stuffing.

These, along with pies and cakes, muffins and breads, will be welcomed in my home as we travel the calendar into the holidays, to the winter solstice and on to a new year. But one special dish–an ultimate comfort food–comes first.

We’d gather around the table like baby birds, waiting our turns. Hot stacks piled onto our plates as they got done, never one by one, so you’d have enough to pile together with butter pats. We buttered them up and ate them down with Steen’s Cane Syrup–thick, dark and smoky flavored–or a lighter syrup my mother made with maple extract added to simple syrup.

The ettiquete was to use your knife to cut the stack into eight triangular wedges and load as much as you could get onto your fork. The fork became a mop and the hotcakes became hot, tender butter-and-syrup delivery devices. Wow.

Mamma’s hotcakes were always pristine and plain. No blueberries or pecans, no bananas or walnuts. But I remember my grandma making us pink and blue and green hotcakes at Eastertime. They didn’t taste any different, but they were crazy fun.

The pumpkin was not a familiar part of our lives and certainly didn’t find its way onto our table for hotcake mornings. The Louisiana yam filled its place in pies and cakes and anywhere else a pumpkin might be. They must have been somewhat available, though. On the road between Baton Rouge and Hammond a little sign indicated the turn off to Pumpkin Center, Louisiana–pronounced “punkin.” The sign actually gave the turn for Baptist, Louisiana and then Pumpkin Center so it looked like all the Baptist pumpkins must gather at the Baptist Pumpkin Center to do who knew what. This was a hilarious joke at the time and still makes me smile.

Many recipes for pumpkin pancakes are dense and heavy from the added pulp. Leavening agents like baking powder and baking soda are too wan to carry pumpkin up to the lightness a pancake deserves. The secret is to beat the egg whites and delicately fold them in to assist with the rise. This batter, as a matter of fact, is very similar to an airy roulade recipe, frothy and tender. The pancakes must be baked quickly or the egg white advantage deflates. The optional sprinkle of pumpkin seeds gives a satisfying counterpoint. If you’re not fond of pumpkin seeds, try my favorite chopped and toasted pecans, which is not to say that they aren’t perfect without nuts of any kind.

The pumpkin butter–oh lordy, what can I say? A touch of rum for breakfast? Let the good times roll, dawlin’. I prefer a thick spread, particularly for my pancakes, but adjust the liquid to suit yourself once the cooking is done.

1/2 cup fresh cooked pumpkin or canned pure pumpkin (not pie filling)

3 large eggs, separated, room temperature

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

1 cup flour

1/2 teaspoon each cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

Vegetable oil, butter or non-stick spray for the griddle

1/2 cup pumpkin seeds, optional

Instructions

Whisk buttermilk, pumpkin, egg yolks, sugar, and vanilla in medium bowl to blend; whisk in melted butter. Sift flour, spices, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into large bowl. Add dry ingredients to buttermilk mixture and whisk to combine. Beat egg whites in medium bowl until soft peaks form. Fold whites into batter.

Lightly oil or butter heavy large skillet set over medium heat. Working in batches, pour batter by 1/3 cupfuls onto skillet. Sprinkle a few pumpkin seeds on each pancake and cook until bubbles form on top, about one-and-a half minutes.  Turn pancakes over and cook until second sides brown, about 1 minute. Transfer to plates. Sprinkle with nuts. Serve with Rum Pumpkin Butter and maple syrup.

Rum Pumpkin Butter

1/2 cup orange juice or apple cider

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup butter

1/2 teaspoon each cinnamon, cardamom and nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon dark rum, optional

Combine all ingredients in a saucepan and cook over low heat for 5 – 20 minutes or until blended, stirring frequently. Add more orange juice or cider if mixture is too thick.

The St. James Court Art Show ® is a juried fine arts and fine crafts show.  Always held the first full weekend of october,

St James Court Art Show Old Louisville, KY It hosts an impressive 750 artists from North America. Held in the heart of historic Old Louisville among the country's largest collection of Victorian homes, the St. James Court Art Show® has for over five decades provided our neighborhood, city and state with a rich cultural and artistic legacy."This Art Show is one of the largest art shows in the country. Booths and tents span over blocks and blocks of Old Louisville, displaying every kind of art object and craft imaginable. Our Inn will be filled with artists, two of whom are jewelry makers who have been returning to stay with us for the past five years.Centered on the picturesque fountain, the court was envisioned as a haven for turn-of-the-century upper class and was completely occupied by 1905. Slaughter set up deed restrictions to ensure that all houses on the court were constructed of either brick or stone. From its start, court residents established a homeowner’s association, one of the oldest in the country. Described as the epitome of Victorian eclecticism, the neighborhood included homes in such styles as Venetian, Colonial, Gothic and others. The Conrad Caldwell House on the northwest corner of St. James Court prominently features the turrets, towers and bay windows associated with the Richardsonian Romanesque architectural style. Through the years the court has been home to several city officials, judges, doctors, writers, poets, and business leaders. St. James Court residents are proud of the unique history and friendliness the neighborhood offers. When strolling through the tree-fringed court, you too will experience a vibrancy and vitality that no suburban neighborhood can match.

Rain or shine, the St James Court Art Show™ is free and open to the general public. To ensure everyone’s experience remains safe and enjoyable, all attendees must adhere to the art show’s rules and safety guidelines.

Respect Your Fellow Art Show Patron

• Pets are not permitted (only service animals with identification are allowed at the show)
• Bicycles, skateboards, and rollerblades are not permitted
• Musical instruments or other audible music devices are not permitted
• Solicitation is not permitted
• Inappropriate or unsafe activity will result in removal from the event premises
• Political candidates are asked to keep their “hawking” to a minimum

First Aid and Security at the Art Show

by Nancy Hinchliff, Innkeeper/freelance writer

Fall Foliage

Fall is a great time to jump in the car with the kids and head for our beautiful state. October is the most colorful month

turning leaves in Kentucky

of the year in Kentucky. The state parks are either at peak color or soon will be. Although the Oak trees are still green, a variety of trees, from Dogwood to Sourwood and Blackgum to Maples and Hickories, among others, are in full color. Trees are showing off their glorious reds, yellows and oranges all along the countryside. And hopefully there will be some color throughout the remainder of the month.

Old Louisville

Plenty of ghosts

It has been said that Old Louisville is one of the spookiest neighborhoods in the country. Why? Because, according to legend, there are ghosts on every block peering from many of the gardens and leaning against the mansion gates. They sit on the steps of the Christian Science Church and sob each night from the windows of the houses down the street. Seems as though they’re everywhere.

Old Louisville has beautiful tree-lined streets with turn of the century mansions built in seven major kinds of architecture. They are decorated with gargoyles, chameleons, serpents, swans, turrets, and towers and enhanced with a variety of wrought-iron fences, hand-carved doors, and stained-glass windows.

Ghost stories galore

There are also hidden balconies, secluded courtyards, and secret passageways. All of this dark and spooky ornamentation sets the scene for our ghostly reputation. I keep thinking there must be some explanation for all these creepy decorations … some reason why they’re here … and why so many of them? It certainly is something to ponder. The many ghost legends and the historical accouterments make Old Louisville one of the most interesting areas in Kentucky.

The Spirit Ball

The Spirit Ball, a wonderful Masquerade Ball in Old Louisville, will be held on Saturday, October 30, 2010 from 8:00 p.m. to midnight. This will be the fifth annual Spirit Ball and will be held in one of Louisville’s most opulent Victorian mansions, a 1890s masterpiece known as the Conrad-Caldwell House. Gourmet fare and expertly mixed cocktails amidst the backdrop of costumed splendor will be served. Join us and keep the past alive as you enjoy a one-of-a-kind masquerade ball that is sure to be the highlight of your Hallowe’en season for years to come. Tickets are available online now

A magnificent Richardsonian Mansion on St. James Court, it is the finest example of this architectural style in the city.

ghostly Conrad Caldwell house in Old Louisville

Also known as “Conrad’s Castle,” this is one of the most stunning of Old Louisville’s houses and defines Richardsonian Romanesque architecture.

Hallowe’en

You don’t have to stay home to celebrate Hallowe’en. Bring the kids, stay in Old Louisville, and go trick or treating in the spookiest neighborhood in the US.

Hallowe’en, “celebrated each year on October 31, is a mix of ancient Celtic practices, Catholic and Roman religious rituals and European folk traditions that blended together over time to create the holiday we know today. Straddling the line between fall and winter, plenty and paucity and life and death, Hallowe’en is a time of celebration and superstition. Hallowe’en has long been thought of as a day when the dead can return to the earth, and ancient Celts would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off these roaming ghosts.” … “The more secular community-based Hallowe’en has become a children’s holiday. Although the superstitions and beliefs surrounding the holiday may have evolved over the years, as the days grow shorter and the nights get colder, people can still look forward to parades, costumes and sweet treats to usher in the winter season.”

The American Hallowe’en tradition of “trick-or-treating” probably dates back to the early All Souls’ Day parades in England. During the festivities, poor citizens would beg for food and families would give them pastries called “soul cakes” in return for their promise to pray for the family’s dead relatives. The distribution of soul cakes was encouraged by the church as a way to replace the ancient practice of leaving food and wine for roaming spirits. The practice, which was referred to as “going a-souling” was eventually taken up by children who would visit the houses in their neighborhood and be given ale, food, and money.

celebrating haloweenl

The tradition of dressing in costume for Hallowe’en has both European and Celtic roots. Hundreds of years ago, winter was an uncertain and frightening time. Food supplies often ran low and, for the many people afraid of the dark, the short days of winter were full of constant worry. On Hallowe’en, when it was believed that ghosts came back to the earthly world, people thought that they would encounter ghosts if they left their homes. To avoid being recognized by these ghosts, people would wear masks when they left their homes after dark so that the ghosts would mistake them for fellow spirits. On Hallowe’en, to keep ghosts away from their houses, people would place bowls of food outside their homes to appease the ghosts and prevent them from attempting to enter.

Other Attractions

October is a great time to visit one or two of the wineries and distilleries for samples of superb Kentucky wine and Bourbon, and makes a great day trip from Louisville. A drive down the Bluegrass Parkway to the horse farms or a trip down a country road to the Huber Farms, just across the bridge in Indiana, for fresh apple cider makes an enjoyable fun day of fall fun for the whole family. There are also plenty of Fall festivals and outdoor concerts going on.

Accommodations

The Louisville Bed and Breakfast Association has twenty member bed and breakfasts. Their Inns are beautiful, comfortable, and clean. Rates vary according to room sizes and amenities. All of them serve wonderful breakfasts each morning and will be happy to accommodate your dietary needs.

If you decide to visit, be sure to book a Ghost Tour with the Old Louisville Visitor’s Center.

The following post is part of a series of things to do in and around Louisville during the months of September and October. All of my suggestions center on fun day trips to sites within an hour or so from Louisville so that booking accommodations in one of our Louisville Bed and Breakfasts is the best option. Our Inns are comfortable, reasonable, and you will be sure to have a wonderful breakfast. Check out the Inn of your choice and call for reservations. (Nancy Hinchliff, Innkeeper/free lance writer)

There is always something for visitors to do when they come to Kentucky, all year around and especially in the Fall. The weather usually continues to be warm right into October and visitors are still privvy to the scenic Kentucky countryside, our small villages and towns, and the city with all it’s interesting attractions and events.  Most people like outdoor festivals and even more so when they are on a get-away and have time to enjoy them.

I have described in depth a few of my September and October  favorites and then listed more at the bottom of the page with links. The first few mentioned are either in Louisville or close by.

MainStrasse Village OctoberFest in Covington, KY, Sept 9, 10 & 11, 2011

Celebrate fall with great German and American food, arts and crafts, entertainment, a Kinderplatz for young children and an Amusement Midway for the young at heart. Located in an historic neighborhood in downtown Covington, Kentucky, Oktoberfest fills 6 blocks with fun and entertainment for the entire family.  Named as one of Southeast Tourism Society’s Top 20 Festivals for September 2011, one  of the Top Ten 2011 Events in Kentucky and one of Kentucky Tourism’s Top Ten 2010 Fall Festivals, MainStrasse “invites families and travelers from throughout the Midwest to join with local crowds in enjoying this festival. A great mix of German and international foods, music and arts and crafts attracts approximately 125,000 people to this popular festival in historic MainStrasse Village”, Covington, Kentucky. FRI. 5 p.m.-11:30 p.m, SAT. noon –11:30 p.m,  and  SUN.noon – 9:00 p.m. For directions and info, call:  859-491-0458 View MainStrasse Upcoming Events

Kentucky Bourbon Festival, Bardstown, Sept 13-18th

Bardstown, Ky is hosting  a 6-day Kentucky Bourbon Festival, with the best Bourbon you can find, , delicious food, great entertainment and, of course,  Kentucky hospitality. “From black tie galas to historical tours, there is something for all ages and interests. It’s a wonderful six-day event full of activities for the whole family.”  If you go to Bardstown, again only an hour away from Louisville and  east on I-64,  you will find “…shops, fine restaurants, trains, museums and of course the distilleries that have made Bardstown famous the whole world over.”  For a list of participating distilleries, click here.  For info and directions, call 1-8oo-638-4877

Vine Grove Bluegrass Music Festival, Sept 22, 23, & 24

During the 4th weekend in September, in Vine Grove, the Blue Grass Music festival will be underway with three nights of continuous Kentucky-style music.  Six fantastic Bluegrass bands will take to the open air stage and play to an excited audience of Blue Grass enthusiasts seated in bring-you-own lawn chairs under what they hope will be a clear sky.   It begins on Thursday night at 6:00 PM and goes on through Friday night at 5:00 PM, and Saturday at 11:30 AM.  Advanced 3 day ticket purchase is $40.  Regular admission is Thursday $15, regular admission Friday & Saturday (Each day) $20.  Tickets can be purchased at any Cecilian Bank location beginning August 1st.  Admission is free for children 12 and under if they are accompanied by an adult.  Tickets can also be ordered. Vine Grove is approximately one hour from Louisville. For more information and to learn about the featured bands and camping visit www.vinegrovebluegrass.com or call 270-877-5636.

Madison Chautauqua Festival of Art, Madison, Indiana, Sept 24 and 25, 10-5 pm

The Madison Chautauqua Festival of Art welcomes artisans from across the nation and features artwork that is handmade and individually designed by the artist. Come and see fine selections of paintings, drawings, photography, sculpture, weaving, folk art, jewelry, fiber, wood, baskets, clay, glass, paper, leather and wearable art. I’ve been to this festival and it is amazing. One thing I enjoyed a lot were the musicians who played every kind of instrument from Dulcimer to Banjo…charming! The small town of Madison, situated on the other side of the Ohio River from and close to Louisville , is magical place…so many antique shops, gift shops, and historic sites. You can also visit their winery, vineyards, and wild life refuge. For info and directions, call 800-559-2956.

Glendale Crossing Festival,  Oct 15, 8-5 pm

I absolutely love Glendale. It’s a charming small country village with a couple of restaurants, a few antique and gift shops, a post office, and original railroad tracks running right through the middle of it.  For the past 33 years, they have held their annual Crossing Festival on the third Saturday in October.  And it’s barely an hour from Louisville right down I-65 south. With hundreds of booths featuring food, crafts, antiques and more, the Glendale Crossing Festival is a shoppers paradise. Be certain to mark this on your “don’t miss” list for 2011. There’s even a parade! For info and directions, call 270-369-6188

The next three or four posts will all be part of a series of things to do in and around Louisville during the months of September and October. All of my suggestions center on fun day trips to sites within an hour or so from Louisville so that booking accommodations in one of our Louisville Bed and Breakfasts is the best option. Our Inns are comfortable, reasonable, and you will be sure to have a wonderful breakfast. Check out the Inn of your choice and call for reservations. (Nancy Hinchliff, Innkeeper/free lance writer)

Wine Tasting and Apple Picking

Wine tasting

Broad Run is a local Winery and vineyards conveniently located in Louisville at 10601 Broad Run Rd. An estate winery, Broad Run is  a classic Old World family winery and planter of European vinafera vines that yield high quality grapes resulting in the finest of balanced wines. A trip to their 25 acres of beautiful vineyards where you will can taste a variety of wines from Cabernet Savignon, Chardonnay, Riesling to Pinot Noir, Carmine,  Chambourcin, and Muscat will satisfy even the most meticulous wine taster. Join their open table wine tastings where you meet interesting and fun-loving  people and be introduced to the lovely wines of Kentucky!

Originally the winery remained on the original homesite and the tasting room was housed in the old farm house on the new property. In 2003,  construction of the new 8000 square foot winery and tasting house was completed.

Winery Hours

• Wednesday thru Saturday from 12pm ~ 6pm
• Sundays from 1pm-6pm
• Open table wine tastings

Call for wine tasting reservations and directions: 502-231-0372 .

Apple picking and Winery

Just over the bridge from Louisville is Indiana. If you drive around 40 minutes to the west and a little north you’ll be in the Vicinity of the Family Huber Farms and winery; 600 acres of orchards & vineyards where you can pick your own vegetables from the fields of the largest farm in Southern Indiana.

Huber's Farm and Wineries

Have you ever gone apple picking at a real topnotch apple orchard? If not, you’ll be amazed at how much fun it is, with or without the kids…..not to mention the delight of eating just ripened apples right off the tree. I did it several years ago with my grand kids and had as much fun as they did. It was a day I will always remember.

“Once we reached the orchards, Farmer Joe loaded the four of us into the back of an old wooden dump truck and drove us around a bit through the trees, kids squeeling the whole way. When we stopped and jumped out,  we were handed baskets to plop our precious finds into. We proceeded to grab at the low lying branches pulling off the sweet smelling fruit and dropping it into our baskets, which got heavier with time and laughter……The laughter is still ringing in my ears.”

If you’ld like to try it yourself, I highly recommend it. Call Huber’s Apple Orchards  reservations and directions. They also have restaurant with delicious country stye dishes, a winery, a market, an animal farm.
Best dates for picking specific kinds of apples:
Early september: Golden and Red Delicious, Jonathon Gold, and Mutzu.
Late September: Winesap
Early and mid October: Granny Smith, Fuji, and Goldrush

For information on the Huber wineries, go to: Huber Orchard and Winery – Starlight, IN

There are many other wineries near Louisville. You can check them out by clicking on any of the following links:

Wineries / Vineyards Near Louisville, KY

 Best Vineyards Winery – Elizabeth, IN
 Broad Run Vineyards – Louisville, KY
 Brooks Hill Winery – Brooks, KY
 Chateau de Pique – Clarksville – Clarksville, IN
 Felice Vineyards – Louisville, KY
 Huber Orchard and Winery – Starlight, IN
 Indian Creek Winery – Georgetown, IN
 MillaNova Winery – Mt. Washington, KY
 River Bend Winery – Louisville, KY
 River City Winery – New Albany, IN

*Next post: Outdoor festivals