Phil and Donna's Derby Primer

Phil,

Oaks and Derby day are also magic days for us drinkers. The bars get to stay open until 6am! Holy cow!

For Thunder be sure to take a sweater or jacket - sometimes it's down right cold- and one of those fold up into a pouch rain thingys is a must.
My only other piece of advice is this...
You're in Kentucky now so whenever My Old Kentucky Home is played remember to stand.

For Thunder be sure to take a sweater or jacket - sometimes it's down right cold- and one of those fold up into a pouch rain thingys is a must.
My only other piece of advice is this...
You're in Kentucky now so whenever My Old Kentucky Home is played remember to stand.

...and avoid singing the original lyrics, as composed by Mr. Stephen Foster.

Yeah that might be embarrassing.

Phil and Donna:
We are having open house for Thunder from 3:00 pm on. You are both quite welcome to stop in either before the fireworks or to kill time waiting on the traffic to die down afterwards. Note to forumites: everyone on this forum is welcome to stop in for a drink and potty break, just pm me for the details. We live at The Crescent Centre on Third between Chestnut and Broadway. You will still need to find parking; I might suggest somewhere the south side of Broadway. If the weather is nice, the air show is fun to watch and it's always just a hoot to cruise along the waterfront (walking) and take in the sights!!! LOL You never know what you might see!

For a complete list of the Kentucky Derby Festival events visit http://www.kdf.org

One common misnomer is that the Kentucky Derby Festival has anything to do with churchill Downs or the Derby itself. They are two separate entities.

Never, ever refer to the pins that are being sold in Kroger and various other places about town as "Derby Pins". they are "Pegasus Pins". (It's a bit of a sore spot with the KDF)

The Pegasus Parade is a great event, especially when the weather is cooperative. I might have a Parade open house also, but that one is still in the air. We actually have to work until about 2:30 or so that day so I haven't decided yet.

We used to go to Oaks every year until churchill got "corporate" and took our seats away to give to a business. I tried boycotting them, but I went back anyway. Some of my friends have actually started a tradition of going on opening day with seats in the Eclipse Room. The group is getting bigger each year and it's loads of fun! Just remember, when you go to the track on Oaks and Derby, they search all bags and pat down all the men. There are a lot of rules about how and what you can take into the track with you. Some of the local restaurants pack amazing track friendly box lunches. definitely worth checking into.

Yeah that might be embarrassing.

For awhile, during the 1960's, KFC actually imprinted their "buckets" and other packaging with the original non-PC lyrics to, My Old Kentucky Home (which Foster originally entitled, Poor Uncle Tom, Goodnight!)

My best recommendation for "Thunder" is to contact the Louisville Science Center. they cordon off the riverside parking at turn it into their own little village, they will sell you a parking pass as well for one of the nearby parking structures, because parking can be a bear, and anybody that can will sell you a spot for the shirt off your back.

http://www.louisvillescience.org/site/e ... blast.html

My best recommendation for "Thunder" is to contact the Louisville Science Center. they cordon off the riverside parking at turn it into their own little village, they will sell you a parking pass as well for one of the nearby parking structures, because parking can be a bear, and anybody that can will sell you a spot for the shirt off your back.

http://www.louisvillescience.org/site/e ... blast.html

Rob,

Have you personally been to the Science Center thing recently? We went many years ago ( 6-7?) when it was relatively new. It sounded like a great idea with two kids in tow, but unfortunately we had a very bad experience. The $50 tickets were supposed to include kids activities ( which were totally over-run) and a full dinner. We waited in line ( with antzy kids) for a long time ,and when we got to the head of the line, they were totally out of food- with no plans to get more. We were forced to try to find some place to eat on that end of town with two very hungry kids. Not fun to say the least.

I'd love to hear that it was a one time problem and that someone has enjoyed the experience since. It's a great idea and locale if they can pull it off.

Deb

Phil, I was wondering how your weekend in Milwaukee was? I am a former Milwaukean and I too go to Sobelman's for their great burgers. I cannot pass up their Bloody Mary's when I go home for a visit. Louisville reminds me a whole lot of Milwaukee and I haven't missed it too much over the years.
L

Rob Summers wrote:
My best recommendation for "Thunder" is to contact the Louisville Science Center. they cordon off the riverside parking at turn it into their own little village, they will sell you a parking pass as well for one of the nearby parking structures, because parking can be a bear, and anybody that can will sell you a spot for the shirt off your back.

http://www.louisvillescience.org/site/e ... blast.html

Rob,

Have you personally been to the Science Center thing recently? We went many years ago ( 6-7?) when it was relatively new. It sounded like a great idea with two kids in tow, but unfortunately we had a very bad experience. The $50 tickets were supposed to include kids activities ( which were totally over-run) and a full dinner. We waited in line ( with antzy kids) for a long time ,and when we got to the head of the line, they were totally out of food- with no plans to get more. We were forced to try to find some place to eat on that end of town with two very hungry kids. Not fun to say the least.

I'd love to hear that it was a one time problem and that someone has enjoyed the experience since. It's a great idea and locale if they can pull it off.

Deb

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Deb,

its prolly been 3 or 4 years, and the last time I went they had a number of those large inflatable things for kids, as well as making available several spaces available for several wagon concessioners, the food was good and seemed fairly plentiful.

My wife's favorite thing was being able to wander the science center after they closed it to the general public, it was fairly quiet inside, that and the indoor bathrooms. I liked the IMAX movie after the fireworks, it gave plenty of time for the people that felt they had to be the first home time to sit in traffic.