On the most recent episode of CBS’s Undercover Boss, William C. Carstanjen worked “undercover” at Churchill Downs. In the video below, he learns that his “boss” has an angel named Megan – a daughter he recently lost. If this video doesn’t choke you up, check your pulse.
Unfortunately, the video cuts off before the sweetest part. Each episode of Undercover Boss ends with the big reveal, when employees discover they’ve been working with the boss. The boss in question generally tries to do what they can to make life a little better for these employees. Great stuff.
Willaim Carstanjen bestowed raises, promotions, and he even stepped up employee security. In the case of the jockey valet in the video below, Carstansjen named a memorial race at the track after his much beloved daughter. The grieving father was also invited to come to the winners circle, and bring any family members he chose to and present the winner’s trophy.
And they say there’s nothing good on tv anymore. Horse feathers.
Click HERE to see a video that actually shows the father’s reaction.
If you’re anything like us (us being my family and myself), you love the outdoors so much that you sometimes resent the walls of your house and the windows of your car. It’s darn near impossible not to feel this way when you live in such a beautiful place, right? The birds, the squirrels, the trees, the flowers – all that Kentucky and this area have to offer keep outdoorsy people craving more.
Get Out! Outdoor Adventure in the Ohio River Region is right up our alley. If you recognize yourself in the words above, you really have to check out their wonderful online magazine.
From Get Out’s About Page:
The editorial mission of Get Out! Outdoor Adventure in the Ohio River Region is to inform, entertain and inspire all citizens of the Ohio River region to pursue an active, healthy lifestyle through outdoor adventure and to learn more about how to be stewards of our natural environment.
GO! is a web magazine by and for people in the region who participate in outdoor adventure activities such as hiking, cycling, paddling, climbing, skiing, backpacking, wildlife watching, photography and so on.
2010 GO! Readers’ Choice Awards
Kentucky was beautifully represented in Go!’s Readers’ Choice Awards.
- Cumberland Falls, Kentucky was chosen Best Overall Destination
- Louisville, Kentucky was chosen Best Adventure Town
- E.P. Tom Sawyer State Park in Louisville, Kentucky was chosen Best Urban Park
- Pine Mountain Trail, Kentucky was chosen Best Backpacking Trail
- Mammoth Cave was chosen Best Cave
Congratulations to all of the people involved in keeping these remarkable places remarkable. We have a lot to be grateful for and proud of here in Kentucky and a lot of work goes into our landmarks, parks, and tourist attractions. It’s not much, but I for one want to offer a HUGE thank you to all of the workers. You all rawk, man!
Read more about the Readers’ Choice Awards. Each destination sounds like a place worth spending some quality time, if you ask me!
Image Credit: The beautiful picture of the Magical Moonbow of Cumberland Fall’s State Resort Park is courtesy of http://www.parks.ky.gov.
One of the most popular and beautiful Classical ballets of all time, “Swan Lake” – along with its incredible score by Tchaikovsky – have left audiences breathless for years. The costumes, the music, the sets, the performances… in a word, Magical.
The Louisville Ballet will conclude its 2009-10 season with performances of Swan Lake on Friday, April 9 at 8 pm and Saturday, April 10 at 2 pm and 8 pm in Whitney Hall at the Kentucky Center.
Tickets start as low as $25 and are available at the Kentucky Center.
What a super cool idea for all of you mad hatters! Kentucky Derby hats is one of Kentucky’s most beautiful and popular traditions, dating back over 100 years!
Now, thanks to Dee’s in Louisville, you can wax creative and create your very own, highly unique and original Kentucky Derby hat. By taking a “Derby Hat Decorating Class” at Dee’s Crafts in Louisville, Kentucky, you can ensure that your hat turns out exactly how you want it to.
Dee’s own designers will help participants create awe-inspiring and head-turning hats for Oaks, Derby, Easter, and other special spring occasions.
Apparently these hat decorating classes were so popular last year that the Shelbyville Road store (5045 Shelbyville Road) is holding three classes this month. Future hat designers can choose from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. March 13th, or 6 to 8 p.m. March 17th or March 24th.
There will be unadorned hats in many shapes and sizes to choose from or you can bring one of your own. The decorations, of course, must be purchased at Dee’s and will include a gorgeous selection of feathers, ribbon, and flowers.
The fee is $20, plus the cost of materials. Class size is limited, so call to register asap. Call (502) 896-6755.
Dee’s is at 5045 Shelbyville Road – Louisville, Kentucky.
It’s a girl!
The first baby gorilla born in North America this year was at the Louisville Zoo. The adorable bouncing baby is a girl.
She was born February 6, 2010, to Louisville Zoo’s 20-year-old western lowland gorilla Mia Moja. While the baby continues to cling tightly to mom nearly all the time, ZooKeepers have been able to get several close looks to determine and verify the baby is a girl.
A naming contest for the baby is being planned and I’ll post more about the contest when I get more information.
Below is an excerpt from the Louisville Zoo’s press release:
“I’m excited, either way—boy or girl,” Gorilla Forest Keeper Michelle Wise said. “On the night the baby was born, Mia Moja made a big fluffy nest out of hay and a soft, pink blanket and settled herself and the baby into it. I think maybe she was giving us a hint at the time with the pink blanket!”
This is the second gorilla ever born in the Zoo’s 41-year history. (The first was male Azizi born to Makari on December 4, 2003, a year after Gorilla Forest opened in May of 2002.) The father is 22-year-old silverback Mshindi. It is Mshindi’s first offspring and Mia Moja’s second. She proved herself a good mother with the birth and subsequent raising of Olympia, who was born in 1996 at Zoo Atlanta and still resides there.
Mia Moja and baby are continuing to bond and baby is staying awake longer, looking around and being very observant with her big, brown eyes.
Since there are only 354 western lowland gorillas in 52 zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, each birth is a celebration of life and a step toward preserving the species.
“We hope the community will come and see the precious baby,” Louisville Zoo Director John Walczak said. “This remarkable baby girl is engaging and inspiring—a true ambassador for her relatives in the remnant wild. Because of her, we hope visitors will be motivated to learn more about conservation and preservation, which are at the core of our mission to better the bond between people and our planet.”
Western lowland gorillas are a critically endangered species and the wild population has declined rapidly over the past decade. According to the World Wildlife Fund, there are approximately 100,000 western lowland gorillas in the wild. However, there is no truly accurate census as these elusive apes inhabit some of Africa’s densest and most remote rainforests.
Mia Moja became pregnant as part of a recommendation from the Gorilla Species Survival Plan (SSP), a collaborative effort of North American zoos designed to encourage a healthy gorilla population in captivity and to ensure that the population remains viable, genetically-diverse and self-sustaining.
Female western lowland gorilla Kweli (pronounced “quay lee”) is also housed with the baby, Mia Moja and Mshindi. She arrived at the Louisville Zoo in 2008 from Cincinnati.
This birth brings the total gorilla population at the Louisville Zoo to 12. For more information on the Louisville Zoo’s gorillas in Gorilla Forest, visit www.louisvillezoo.org/collection/exhibits/gforest/gf-meet.htm.
Even during cold weather, visitors can view the gorillas inside Gorilla Forest’s comfortable, climate-controlled sanctuary. But note, in Gorilla Forest the animals rotate through the exhibit spaces on a daily basis so baby, mom Mia Moja, father Mshindi and Kweli will not always be visible.
Starting Monday, March 1, the Zoo will be operating on its spring and summer schedule. You will be able enter the Zoo daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (exit by 6 p.m.) For more information, visit www.louisvillezoo.org.
GORILLA BIRTH INFORMATION
* A gorilla’s gestation period is about 8-1/2 months
* Labor can range anywhere from 20 minutes to 2.5 hours
* Gorilla babies usually weigh at least 4 pounds and are about the size of human babies
* Nursing usually occurs in the first 24 hours
* The baby will begin eating solids at 2 months of age
* The mother may first put her baby down for extended times at 3 months of age
* The baby may begin weaning as early as 4 months of age
* A baby begins to crawl away from mom and starts exploring at 4-5 months of age
Friday night, my Husband (Michael) and I took his brother and his wife to Badgett Playhouse in Grand Rivers, Kentucky. We see shows at Badgett on a regular basis and wanted them to see what they were missing out on. Some of our favorite Badgett Playhouse shows have been (you can click each title for my review)…..
- The Fabulous 50’s Show
- Bus Stop (I still smile when I think about this one – outrageously good)
- The Variety! Show Christmas Spectacular
- The Greater Tuna Shows (only for people who want to laugh so much their sides ache)
- The Variety! Music, Memories & More Show
- It’s a Wonderful Life (loved it!)
I’m certain I have other reviews floating around the site (along with the standard praises for catfish at Willow Pond and our State Park system). What can I say, we love to smile, laugh, and have a great time. We also love (make that LOVE) the concept of supporting fellow Kentuckians and businesses in our beautiful state. Why take our hard-earned money to other states on a regular basis?
Outrageous!
The fact that there are so many wonderful places to eat, smile, and laugh within the Bluegrass helps our cause considerably. The men and women at Badgett Playhouse 
take a great deal of pride in the shows they produce and the building in which they perform them. You can tell in each and every detail that there is a great level of pride and integrity. From the musicians, singers and dancers to the uncommonly friendly women at the ticket office, the usher, and concession stand workers… each individual obviously has one goal: To make this particular night one that each guest will remember with a smile on his or her face.
Like my car driving to Starbucks, they hit their mark every time.
Here’s just a tiny illustration. After the four of us sat down Friday night, we were looking around – taking in the beauty of the theater and the decorations. An older (I mean, older, older, older) gentleman came through a side door. The usher went directly to him to help him find his seat. That might be kind of expected, but then he offered to let the little guy hold onto his arm. I thought that was very considerate, very friendly, very Kentucky.
I have to tell you this quick little story: As the usher and the little old (old, old, old) man were passing in front of us, I caught the older gentleman’s’ eye and gave him my biggest, “By gosh, you’re cute!” smile. He returned it. Then, he stopped in front of me and my husband and said in a voice that started off faint, then rose at the end, “Whoever said these were the golden years…. didn’t know what the hell he was talking about!”
Some things, I’m convinced, only happen within the state borders of Kentucky.
Something else I’m convinced of – If you have never been to a show at Badgett Playhouse, you MUST head directly to their website, view their schedule and order your tickets right away. If the trip is one you can make in a day, go early and eat at one of the spectacular nearby restaurants. Another one of my favorite things about having Genuine Kentucky is that I get do a lot of restaurant reviews. If you click the link, you can find plenty of restaurants in the vicinity – I have pages of restaurants reviewed, so you’re sure to find one you’ll love.
If you can make it to one of the Always, Patsy Cline shows, you won’t be disappointed. The story is a beautiful and emotional one and the two ladies (Erica Delkou as Patsy Cline and Sara Minihan as Louise) who make up the cast do a wonderful job – they’ll make you sing along, laugh, smile, cry, and leave with a heart filled with wonderful memories.
You can read my original review of the Always, Patsy Cline show at Badgett Playhouse in Grand Rivers, Kentucky. The only things that have changed between that particular show and this one was the singer portraying Patsy Cline (Patsy is now brought to life by Erica Delkou – pictured on the left) and the wonderful addition of Eddie Dunlap on the steel guitar (he did an outstanding job and I hope he’ll be featured in many upcoming shows).
Sara Minihan (pictured above – on the right) was outrageously hilarious, as always, but don’t let her comic talents take attention away from her voice. She has an outstanding singing voice. In Always, Patsy Cline you only get a hint of this talent, so you’ll have to grab tickets for some of the other shows as well! She’ll blow you away in the Variety! Music, Memories, and More Show, Pickin’ and Grinnin’, as well as The Fabulous 50’s Show with her singing and dancing. If you ever get a chance to see her in Bus Stop, you won’t want to miss that either. I know there are only so many shows they can put on at the Badgett Playhouse, so I’ll try to ease up with my campaigns for more Greater Tuna shows and the return of Bus Stop. (Do you think the airplane banners, megaphones, and Goodyear blimp were overkill?) One of my other absolute favorites, The Fabulous 50’s Show, is featured prominently on the schedule. You can’t miss this one.
Something else that’s fascinating about Sara…get this, the lady makes the gorgeous costumes that you see in these shows. No wonder she dances as well as she does, with that much talent coursing through your body, it must be hard to stand still.
I was also very impressed with the singer portraying Patsy Cline – native Texan Erica Delkou. Erica has a beautiful voice and I would absolutely love to hear her sing more. She made the Patsy Cline classics seem contemporary, like you could hear them on the radio today. Walkin’ After Midnight and Stupid Cupid were a few of my favorites, though they were all memorable and beautiful.
The band -Thomas Michael, Eddie Hall, Scott Durham, and Eddie Dunlap – made the evening complete. I wish I had a cd of the evening right now to listen to, actually!
Always Patsy Cline will be running through March 20. Pickin’ and Grinnin’ will run from March 27 – May 1. Click the link for more information on Pickin’ and Grinnin’.
I’ll keep you informed on upcoming shows and announcements. I do know there are upcoming dates for The Big Band Show, The Fabulous 50’s Show, Pickin’ and Grinnin’, and the Variety! Memories, & More Show. Smoke on the Mountain will be back in September. Also, at the risk of getting way ahead of myself, It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play will return in November and, yes as a matter of fact, I’m already looking forward to it. It’s another CAN’T MISS show.
The beautiful weather we’ve been enjoying the past few days has everyone thinking about grilling out, baseball, and summer fun in the sun. Fortunately, we have plenty of places to choose from here in Kentucky to enjoy all the fun we can handle. Green Turtle Bay in Grand Rivers, Kentucky is a great option. Resorts and Lodges.com didn’t just rank Green Turtle Bay in their Top 10 Kentucky Family Resorts, they ranked them #1.
If you’ve never had the opportunity to visit Green Turtle Bay, watch the video above to get an idea about what you’ve been missing.
If you’ve never had the privilege of seeing Always, Patsy Cline performed at Badgett Playhouse in Grand Rivers, Kentucky, here’s your chance. Always Patsy Cline returns to the Badgett Playhouse February 26 through March 20.
Always Patsy Cline is an outstanding and very touching story that the talented performers of Grand Rivers Variety turn into an outstanding and very touching show. I strongly urge you to go – more than that, I strongly urge you to fill your car up with others and give them a night they’ll long remember as well. You can read my own personal review of Always Patsy Cline by clicking the link. I wrote this review on July 4, 2008 and titled it “Always Patsy Cline Will Never Be Forgotten!” Two things stand out to me about the title of the review:
- I seldom ever use exclamation points in the title of my articles or posts. I use them freely in my writing (lots, actually!) but hardly ever in titles. I just rarely, rarely, rarely ever do it. However, there’s a big old exclamation mark at the end of this article’s title. I was… as we say in Kentucky… worked up when I wrote it. Great food, great coffee, and/or great entertainment work me up and the exclamation points fly like arrows from an bow.
- I was right. It’s been nearly a year and 7 months and I still recall what a wonderful experience it was. We go to Grand Rivers Variety Shows often enough to know that the music, the costumes, the singing, the dancing, the popcorn, the coffee, the performances…. everything… will surpass our hopes and expectations every single time. Everyone associated with Grand Rivers Variety seems to subscribe to the concept of giving their guests more than they paid for. They do it each and every time and no one ever leaves thinking otherwise. We expected that, but we didn’t expect for the show to be so funny! It’s hilarious – in addition to being very moving. And the singing… exceptional.
Visit Grand Rivers Variety for more information. You can launch your own exclamation points!
In between football games yesterday I read the Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer. There was a story that especially caught my eye (and stomach). A retro ’50s diner is coming to downtown Owensboro and plans to open in time for Barbecue Fest (May 7-8). Is anything cooler than ’50s decor or the type of delicious food served in these types of diners?!
There’s a real buzz of excitement about our downtown area here in Owensboro, Kentucky. While we’re all still emotionally smarting over the Executive Inn, we have plenty to look forward to on our beautiful waterfront and downtown area. Bee Bops is the latest in a string of promising good times headed our way.
According to the story, Bee Bops will have a 32-foot counter with stools and counter service in addition to booths and table service. You can expect to see a lot of the colors and decor of the ’50s including walls decorated with James Dean, Marilyn Monroe, and Elvis Presley (for an example of how much I love these stars and others of their time, check out my Hollywood Yesterday blog). The floors will apparently be like something right out of Happy Days – black and white.
As for the main event… the food…. Bee Bops will serve old fashioned milk shakes, malts, root beer floats, limeade, and burgers.
I love the quote from the director of downtown development, Fred Reeves: “The downtown restaurants are anxious to have more places to eat down here. A rising tide lifts all boats.” The tide of anticipation is certainly rising in downtown Owensboro and the residents can’t wait to see it all play out.
Bee Bops will be located at 122 W. Second Street and I’ll be there drinking chocolate milkshakes as fast as they can make them.
Mark your calendars: Pre-historic creatures are set to invade the Louisville Zoo in March 2010.
A new adventure will be stomping into the city of Louisville and heading straight for the Louisville Zoo in March. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, we’re very lucky here in Kentucky for a great number of reasons and one of them is the outstanding Louisville Zoo. There’s always something extra-special going on at this amazing zoo. Just check out what’s coming in a few months!
From the Louisville Zoo:
Precautions are being taken as the Zoo prepares Dinosaurs Alive!, a temporary dwelling for a herd of 16 robotic dinosaurs never before seen at the Zoo—including the giant Brachiosaurus, the menacing Tyrannosaurus rex, the fierce Deinonychus whose name means “Terrible Claw,” and the Cryolophosaurus which is often referred to as the “Elvisaurus” because the large crest atop its skull resembles the iconic hair of Elvis Presley.
Through the magic of incredible, futuristic technology, the mammoth, life-like animatronic creatures that roar, snarl and move will offer a full-blown dino-reality experience to visitors as they travel back in time along a lush, winding pathway where these enormous primeval creatures lurk at every turn. There, guests will encounter adult dinosaurs, youngsters and even a nest with eggs and hatchlings.
The robotic dinosaurs are built on steel frames by Billings Productions of McKinney, Texas, and high-tech electronics and air pistons power the dinosaurs’ menacing claws and gnashing teeth while a booming sound system gives them their distinctive roars and chirps. One of the animatronic creatures can even be operated by visitors using a remote control box.
In addition, kids can excavate dinosaur fossils at a paleontologist dig site using brushes and sifters to search for clues about the lives of dinosaurs.
“Guests of all ages will be transported back in time as the world’s largest and most advanced collection of high-tech, life-size animatronic dinosaurs come to life here in Louisville,” Zoo Director John Walczak said. “This Dinosaur exhibit will be a fun and educational learning adventure for the entire family. We’ve lost many animals from this planet over the course of history, and unfortunately animals are still becoming extinct today. Conservation and preservation are at the heart of the Zoo’s mission and it is our hope that visitors will come away from this exhibit both excited and more aware of the need to conserve animal species living today.”
In a revenue-sharing partnership with Billings Productions, Dinosaurs Alive!, is similar to other new attraction partnerships at the Zoo like Sky Trail High Adventure Course and the 4-D Ride Theater.
Dinosaurs Alive! will open mid to late March and will continue through the end of September. A special attraction fee of $5 applies for non-members in addition to regular Zoo admission and $4 for Louisville Zoo members. Children age 2 and under are free. Groups of 15 or more may call (502) 238-5348 in advance for group discounts.
Shopasaurus—a new gift shop at the exhibit’s exit—will be fully stocked with “dinorrific” toys, games and souvenirs to help visitors take home a reminder of their amazing experience.
***
The Louisville Zoo, a non-profit organization and state zoo of Kentucky, is dedicated to bettering the bond between people and our planet by providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for visitors, and leadership in scientific research and conservation education. The Zoo is accredited by the American Association of Museums (AAM) and by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
*** Get up-to-date information about the Zoo’s upcoming Glacier Run exhibit by checking out our new Glacier Run blog. You can also show your love for the Louisville Zoo by becoming a fan on Facebook.
