Friends, it's time for me to hang up my pom poms and turn over the role of "Head Cheerleader for Louisville." I am just one woman supremely passionate about this city and really wanted to get the word out about so many of the great things here. I've done my best to do that with this site and hope you've enjoyed the content along the way. I don't have as much time to devote to this site anymore and the Friend of Lou campaign does an awfully good job talking about awesome stuff here in Louisville so I feel pretty good about putting this site to bed. That being said I hope if you love Louisville you'll sign up to be a Friend of Lou, send the Friend of Lou link to one person or really just tell someone something you love about Louisville today in honor of this transition. 

IdeaFestival has announced the lineup for the 2009 festival and one of the biggest names on the bill  is Anthony Bourdain. I can only imagine how much fun he's going to have visiting Louisville and Kentucky in general with all the local meat producing farmers we have. That man enjoys a carnivorous diet like no one I've ever seen. I'm quite curious to see what he actually talks about during his Friday September 25 presentation. The food industry? A specific country/culture he's visited? Whatever it is I'm sure he'll be smart and entertaining. 

So Kiplinger's ran a poll about best cities and we kind of ran away with it. While we'd like to say "it's an honor just to be nominated" truthfully it's just delicious to win. 

Of course that doesn't mean I can understand a word they're saying in this video but I'm happy to have the flavor they add to Louisville.

Batter up. The first Louisville staycation on our agenda is one for the sports lovers among us. It was hard to choose which great sports attraction to tell you about first, I mean do we go with The Greatest or the place that houses the greatest two minutes in sports? Or do we go with the place with the giant baseball bat?

As hard as it was I decided on the Ali Center as being the number 1 sports attraction on our Louisville staycation agenda. Why? Well he's the greatest for one, for two it's a gorgeous building and for three it's got a variety of things to do, see and learn. Plus it has a very convenient downtown location in walking distance to lots of other great attractions and great restaruants. Park once and walk to lots of great things. Like what?

Well you'd do well to tour the Ali Center and then walk a few blocks down Main Street to the Louisville Slugger Museum. You'll know you've found it when you see the absolutely gigantic baseball bat. Lots of awesome baseball stuff here and you just know you want to buy one of those miniature Louisville Sluggers for yourself.

If you've timed it right now is the time to take a nice long walk down Main Street in the other direction to Slugger Field, home of the minor league Louisville Bats for some live baseball If it's lunchtime grab some fried macaroni and cheese at Browning's at the park before settling into your seats. I promise you won't regret it.

Last but not least hop in the car and head to Churchill Downs and Kentucky Derby Museum. Or, if you've planned a two day staycation (highly recommend by the way) you should make a day of it at Churchill Downs and reserve a spot on the Barn and Backside Van Tour and the Behind the Scenes Walking Tour.