Still Confused Over The Derby..............

I honestly believe everyone should see and experience Thunder once. I have lived here for 10 years and didn't understand the hype until I saw it for the first time.

And the best way to get around is to ride a bicycle.

I second the bike idea. TARC is a great option too.

Unfortunately, because of the bridge closer, interstate cycling is not an option.Well it would be, if they'd allow bikes on the interstates. That's really my major complaint with the bridge closing. I can't take an end-of-the-week bike ride to somewhere nice like say, the Bank Street NABC. Or, ride my bike up to Skyline Drive, which is by far the best place to see the fireworks.

[Robin Garr]

Smack me all you want. For $125 my taste buds *must* be tickled.

Leah, with all respect, you asked if your priorities are off. I tried to give you a kind yet direct reply. You said you love Farmington. Would you ever consider making them a cash donation? So what's the difference if the set up a social event and serve you a Kroger's buffet? It is NOT compensation for your donation. In fact, any value you receive in a charity event cannot be held deductible from your taxes. If they offered a $100 meal for a $125 donation, the numbers wouldn't work.

If you don't care enough about Farmington to donate to them one way or another, then so be it. But the simple answer remains, it's a charitable event, not a $125 meal.

Wow! Thank you one and all for your input. Thunder is out because my friends are returning from Florida and stopping here on Saturday before returning to Wisconsin. After ten hours of driving, they are not going to deal with the crowds and action too well.

What is Farmington? That does sound interesting.

I do believe, paying the money for Oats or the Derby, unless you're doing it with friends or a group, is probably not worth it.

Although I'm sure it is a wonderful promotion for the city, we just may leave town that week-end and either return to Wisconsin or head down to Nashville for a short holiday.

Milwaukee had its Harley Fest, Summerfest etc. and once we were into our forties, we stopped going unless we were invited by someone and received VIP seating and parking. I know we're spoiled, but that kind of happens when you get old and decrepit like myself.

Thanks for all your input.

I went to the Farmington Brunch one year; but, I believe it was when it was an event set up for the media. It was a beautiful back drop for a pre-derby gathering. The gardens were beautiful and in full bloom as were the women in their stunning spring hats and the men in their seer sucker suits. Everyone was hobnobbing and drinking mimosas before the big race. Peter Jennings was even there. It was a perfect way to start Derby day.

Now if it would have rained, that would probably have been a different story.

.

Oh my! I wandered off to go buy cat food before Feeder's Supply closed for the day..... then stopped by Seidenfaden's for a beer. Got caught caught up in checking out Norbie's tomato seedlings..and had no idea that I would start a "thing".

.....So let me say that I fully realize that $125 is A LOT for any normal breakfast. I was merely suggesting that the Derby Breakfast thing is fairly reasonable amount to pay in comparison to many of the other Derby parties.

Under any normal circumstances would I pay $125 for a breakfast catered by Kroger? The answer is... Nope. But it's Derby. The money goes to a cause. Honestly, I won't be there regardless....because I won't be able to get up that early on Derby day. (The bars stay open til 6am afterall)

But if someone is looking for an event where they might be able to rub elbows with the beautiful peoples, this is a pretty good option for a 'fairly' reasonable cost.

Count me in as a Derby Scrooge. especially as it relates to Thunder. I work in Indiana and it's a total pain in the butt. Move it to a large unobstructed field in Shelby County but shutting the whole city down for fireworks is insane IMO.

Everyone should once spend the dough for the Barnstable-Brown Party. You might see a drunk Pam Anderson with Kid Rock. I thinks the proceeds go to the Diabetes Foundation.

wow.....cool thread.....this "discussion" is going on in my home lately......i have been with my now husband for almost nine years.....i am not a Louisvillian....a texas transplant.....i DO NOT get the derby......didnt say i dislike it.....just dont get it....jeez....i barely learned what a fillie (sp) was when i read the explanation here....

my now husband is from Louisville.....been to the Derby....worked at the Derby....his boss worked with the televising of it... something like that.... so my husband got to do some interesting work.....he has been to Thunder.....as a chlild and as an adult....

at first i was just freaked out by everything.......my first year here i worked on 2nd and Muhammad Ali and dear God i didnt know what had happened down there before Derby.......just plain out crazy to me.....same thing with Thunder......chaos......but.....as the years have passed.....i have warmed up to it.... for the past couple of years i have been telling my husband that i would like for us to go to Thunder with the children....he says it is no place for babies.....we have two older girls (13 and 11) but our babies are both under 2 ......21 months and 5 months..... i think it will be a great family outing...... he says that it is too much for the babies.....maybe he is right.....i dont know..... i do know that i would like to experience it at least once.......i mean i dont even know what the chowwagon is......lol....... i dont know what all the festivities are.....or why they are......but i like to learn and read about them......and i have alot to learn......i barely got the hang of pronouncing Louisville "normally" lol......i used to say Lewis - ville....lol

do i hate it......no.....is it crazy.....yes......but its one of those things....you live in Louisville......you deal with Derby and Thunder........

Thunder and for what it is worth, the entire Derby Festival -- is a celebration. I plan to celebrate as often as possible. The weather reports are looking great for Saturday. I'm showing property until about noon, then I'm meeting up with some friends in the Highlands and we are going to make our way down towards the river. We are going to make a day of it. I won't be in a hurry to escape the company of good friends, so the traffic isn't going to bother me. Slow down and take advantage of the CELEBRATION happening in your home town.

Jay M.
I'm sorry I called it Oats instead of Oaks. I was probably thinking about my idea for a race involving circumsized horses called the "Kreplach." It would be a grand event with bins from Filene's basement in the Infield for a hunt and purchase game. A grand event would be held the night before called the "Schmaltz and Schmear."......................................

As for that Barnstable - Brown Party some of you suggested; That would be the one that cost close to $2000 grand each. Are you telling me its worth it!??????????????

Thanks. Phil

Jay M.
I'm sorry I called it Oats instead of Oaks. I was probably thinking about my idea for a race involving circumsized horses called the "Kreplach." It would be a grand event with bins from Filene's basement in the Infield for a hunt and purchase game. A grand event would be held the night before called the "Schmaltz and Schmear."......................................

As for that Barnstable - Brown Party some of you suggested; That would be the one that cost close to $2000 grand each. Are you telling me its worth it!??????????????

Thanks. Phil

Although the proceeds supposedly go to a good cause (Diabetes), personally I don't think it's worth $2,000 pp...if you harbor illusions about dancing the night away with some Hollywood celebrity, I believe most of those people are sequestered in a "VIP" section for much of the evening, so your access to them would be very limited at best...save your money.

Jay M.
I'm sorry I called it Oats instead of Oaks. I was probably thinking about my idea for a race involving circumsized horses called the "Kreplach." It would be a grand event with bins from Filene's basement in the Infield for a hunt and purchase game. A grand event would be held the night before called the "Schmaltz and Schmear."......................................

As for that Barnstable - Brown Party some of you suggested; That would be the one that cost close to $2000 grand each. Are you telling me its worth it!??????????????

Thanks. Phil

Phil-I understand you live in the Bonnycastle area of the Highlands. I'm not going to weigh in on the party itself, but start taking a peek at the Barnstable-Brown house as they're preparing for the party the week before Derby. THAT's worth looking at for free.

[Robin Garr]

As for that Barnstable - Brown Party some of you suggested; That would be the one that cost close to $2000 grand each. Are you telling me its worth it!??????????????

I wouldn't personally get within 10 miles of that place on party night, Phil.

But let's do keep perspective here, as I tried to point out in Leah's discussion about the $125 Kroger buffet at Farmington: Louisville is in many ways a giving town, and virtually ALL of these high-ticket events are charity benefits. You have to decide whether you want to write the check, or donate in some other way, or not donate at all. But you can't make a cost-benefit analysis of the event without considering that at the end of the day, someone is going to carry a bag of money down to a worthy cause. It's part of the equation, and it's also part of Louisville at Derby time.

Do something creative. I have been several times, and really don't care to go to the Downs on Derby day again. I much prefer a nice quiet afternoon at almost any other time during the spring or fall meets. We are going to the Kentucky Horse Park on Derby day. It works nicely with the spirit and mood of the event, but I also completely avoid crowds, high costs, and excessive amounts of tourists. For me it should be the perfect time to enjoy this magnificent place.

I'm a newcomer here (7 years). My first Derby party was at an employee of mine's house in Tucson Arizona. Matt Zoeller (anyone know him? Yeah, one of those golfer relatives).

Here in town, we pretty much avoid derby stuff. The influx of tourists are good for sales, but I don't join in on the mania. Being from Chicago, I've had my share of crowds (taste of Chicago, Blues fest, etc).

I know I'm not alone. A lot of locals leave town for derby.

But enjoy. To each his own.....

Cheers!!! I'll be in Berlin for Thunder

How funny that you should mention MY BROTHER in the same post with wanting to get out of town for Derby, because I plan to drive up to Indy on Derby weekend to spend it with Matt and Janice.

Some years I love to be in town for Derby, but this year I'm laying low.