22 year old in Louisville

My daughter graduated from college and is on her way to visit with a group of her college friends. She has been here twice but the others have never visited Louisville. I really want them to have fun but I just don't know what to tell them. Should they go to 4th street live or something close to home such as Gerstles? What does the 22 something crowd do for fun in this city. I want them to walk away and think, hey, this town is pretty cool.

Can't go wrong with Gerstles, Diamonds, Molly's, BBC, and Drakes.

Dance/night club - Drakes
Pool, darts, GT, ping pong - Diamonds
Molly's - food and beer, dance club late
BBC - food and beer

Maybe a stop in Majid's if they are looking for a lounge and cocktails.

Downtown

Proof/21C
St Charles Exchange
ATG

Some additional suggestions:

Night racing at the Downs is going on now- many nights have bands

When are they coming?- a number of the Louisville summer festivals are coming up.

MEAT for Cocktails and food downstairs at Blind Pig

Check Velocity and LEO on-line editions for what's going on in town

Trolley Hops are fun if they are going to be here for one- if Market Street hop, go to Taco Punk for cheap eats, and many of the galleries have things going on ( There was a hypnotist at Red Tree last time).

Drive down Bardstown Road, then park and walk. Depending on their interests. there are all types of unique stores that appeal.

I would also suggest a late evening trip to the Silver Dollar and/or a trip to Holy Grale.

Some additional suggestions:

Night racing at the Downs is going on now- many nights have bands

When are they coming?- a number of the Louisville summer festivals are coming up.

MEAT for Cocktails and food downstairs at Blind Pig

Check Velocity and LEO on-line editions for what's going on in town

Trolley Hops are fun if they are going to be here for one- if Market Street hop, go to Taco Punk for cheap eats, and many of the galleries have things going on ( There was a hypnotist at Red Tree last time).

Drive down Bardstown Road, then park and walk. Depending on their interests. there are all types of unique stores that appeal.

To add to all of Deb's wonderful suggestions, The Garage Bar on Market is quite the hipster spot right now too. They have the outdoor ping pong tables and good eats. Their pizza, while not as good as yours isn't bad.

Actually Dan.. Garage bar is not a bad idea. It has a great vibe which I think these hipster students from Brooklyn would find appealing. The group is here on a Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. What about listening to music? Zanzabar??

Also, a stop into 3rd Street Dive would be cool, depending upon thier style. Monkey Wrench and Nach Bar too...

Hipsters from BK? My speciality.

I'd personally keep them far away from anything 4th Street, St. Matt's, or East End related. They won't probably won't enjoy many of the irish bars this town has to offer. Unless they're looking for an experience they won't find in Brooklyn.

I'd send them to places like Nachbar, Eiderdown, The Holy Grale, MEAT, Magnolia Bar and Grill (There is no grill) on Wednesday night, Zanzabar has some good music nights (this really depends on what Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday they'll be in town for), maybe even Bank St. Brewhouse if they want to head into New Albany. Also the shops on Market St. like Salvo, Red Tree, etc are very cool to check out and very Louisville.
Food wise Rye, La Coop, Hammerheads, Blind Pig, Seviche, etc.

Also like Deb said I'd check the LEO/Louisville.com/Consuminglouisville.com and see what festivals/events are going on that week. I know the Louisville Visual Arts Association is doing a lot of cool events at the Water Tower this summer (including a tattoo art work event this Thursday http://www.facebook.com/events/285845821502741/)

I agree with nachbar and zanzabar

This band called Murals plays Thursday night every week at the Monkey Wrench...they are pretty young guys and real good, your daughter and friends might enjoy them

So some 25 or so years ago I was an unwashed art school dropout in ill-fitting clothes too (I guess I still am, though I live on a cul-de-sac now and drive a minivan) and would make semi-regular excursions down here from my hipster digs in Wicker Park. I actually did not seek out people like me when I was down here and wanted more local flavor and hit spots like the Dew Drop Inn (sadly gone) and Freddie's on Broadway (happily still with us and largely unchanged). You will still occasionally find some mopeds parked outside Freddie's, so that might appeal to your crew. Some years on we started hitting Seidenfaden's as well, which also seems to have some hipster appeal, and it's a stones throw from Hammerheads, which should fit nicely into their program. I would guess that though it is close to the Phoenix Hill/Bardstown Rd scenery that might turn them off, Holy Grale would be appealing, and now that it is warm out, The Beer Store's back patio should provide a more relaxed Nulu version fo the same scene. Bartenders at either (as well as the previously mentioned MEAT, Nachbar and Eiderdown) could probably provide suggestions for music, dancing etc. Also, if you are looking for some daylight activities and these young 'uns are plugged into the art/design scene, they might want to check out Land of Tomorrow gallery and the Salvo space. Cool stuff to look at at both and the show up at 21C/Proof right now is pretty awesome. Oh, of those three, Salvo has represents locl stuff rather than the more cosmopolitan bent of the other two. Forum member and independent rock promoter Joel H runs this blog, which might point them towards some music they would dig: http://othersideoflife.wordpress.com/ and if you or they are on facebook, check into this page for other stuff: https://www.facebook.com/MUSICulture If you have specific dates and want to pm me, I'd be happy to provide more specific suggestions, but it looks like this thread has given you a fair bit to feed them with.

So some 25 or so years ago I was an unwashed art school dropout in ill-fitting clothes too

Ha! They are "BK Art Student Hipsters" so your suggestions are spot on. I am just going to hand over the thread and let them figure it out. On second thought my daughter will kill me if I called her a hipster in public. I think I will just make suggestions.

Thank you all!

I'm 24 and for conversation sake I'll say I'm a 'hipster.' I'd second most of what Ryan said. Nachbar, Meat, Zbar, holy grale, or beer store for drinks. Maybe even Seidenfadens or Cahoot's if they're into 'ironically hip' places. Food wise, anywhere on market would be a solid option.