Queer Bourbon Week, Exploring NuLu, and More-Your weekend in the Bluegrass

By Bill Malcolm*

Louisville is an interesting mix of unique neighborhoods with a truly one of a kind brand and a Southern regional feel. Despite being just hours from Chicago, you are in the gateway to the South, y'all (yes, they have an accent), Southern charm, Bourbon, horseracing and more.

Bardstown Road (in the Highlands) features two LGBTQ bars (Chill and Big Bar) while you will find the dance bar / drag bar, Play just a short distance away. Fabulous Cherokee Park is also nearby.

Bardstown Road is one of the most interesting neighborhoods in the U.S., full of unique and independent shops and restaurants. Even better is the new NuLu neighborhood just east of downtown which is also packed with interesting independent shops and great restaurants many with an LGBTQ+ flair.

And it is remarkably diverse and inclusive. Coming up is a brand new event called Bourbon & Belonging this October. Kentucky's Queer Bourbon Week, a state-wide LGBTQ+ inclusive event, is set to take place October 2-6, 2024.

What To Do

Explore NuVu and its interesting shops including:

Woman-Owned Wallet (803 E. Market) which also features a walking tour of NuLu.
LouABull, a quirky gift and novelty shop full of Kentucky gay ware.
Feminist Gift Shop genuinely nice
And don't miss the Bill Goat Strut for a taste of history.

Take a cruise on the Belle of Louisville, the oldest Mississippi-style steamboat in the world.

Check out Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby. They feature a gift shop and museum.

Take a walk on Bardstown Road. Don't miss Carmichaels Books.

Walk or jog over the Pedestrian Bridge to Indiana just across the Ohio River.

Enjoy a bourbon drink including a Mint Julep or an Old Fashioned. I like Makers Mark and Woodford Reserve. 95 percent of the world's Bourbon is made in the Bluegrass (aka Kentucky). They also have an amazing selection of local craft breweries including great IPAs.

Check out Cherokee Park

Visit the Frazier History Museum and learn why Kentucky is a Commonwealth instead of a state. They even feature daily bourbon tastings. You will learn about the state and its interesting history including:

Birth of the No Nothing Party which opposed immigration
Lewis and Clark Expedition
Kentucky, slavery, and the Civil War
Home of the Corvette
The Bourbon industry
The native peoples
Kentucky and the War of 1812.

Baseball fans will love the Slugger Museum across the street.

The Hotel 21C also has a lot of art work and is very LGBTQ friendly.

Stay

The fabulous new Omni downtown is built on a former Water Works Plant site. The service is top notch as is the rooms which incorporate the history of the city. It's the best hotel in which I have ever stayed at with incredible customer service. Parking at the nearby Hyatt garage is just $12 a day. Amenities at the hotel include a free drink or breakfast delivered to your door every day. The gym is top notch as is the pool scene. They also have a food hall attached with great breakfast tacos, fresh croissants, a microbrewery bar, a Heine Bros. Coffee, and more. The Library Bar is fun for a libation. They clean your room every day without asking and the rooms are spacious with a historical flairincluding 4 bourbon bottles (under lock and key) near the TV. Plus they don't tack on an annoying resort fees or other onerous surprise charges. It's walkable to everything downtown, NuLu, and the Riverfront areas.

The Marriott is nearby and also nice. Have a great breakfast at the Patio Kitchen. Try the breakfast nachos.

The Myriad Hotel is housed in a building that once manufactured disco balls.

The Tempo by Hilton in NuLu just opened. Don't miss the High Stakes Grill on the rooftop. It's in NuLu.

Eat and Drink (and Drink Some Bourbon)

Quill in NuLu has micro roasted coffee, food, wine, beer, and more. You can sit outside. They even roast their own coffee. Nearby is Biscuit Belly where they have southern dishes with a new flair. La Bodeguita de Mima Cuba Restaurant and Rum Bar is the best. Meesh Meesh (also in Nulu) is a new Mediterranean restaurant also in NuLu. You will find them at 636 E Market.

Pick up a salad or grain bowl at In Season Farms which uses local foods. Prepare to wait in a line though for this popular fast casual restaurant.

Try a hot brown sandwich. Wash it down with an Ale8, a ginger ale/caffeine concoction with a touch of citrus. It's a Kentucky soft drink not found outside of the Commonwealth.

Enjoy a Heine Brothers Coffee, Louisville's own.

Play

You will find Big Bar and Chill Bar on Bardstown Road in the Highlands (close to each other). The Play Bar is not too far away and has drag shows and dancing. All three are worth a visit. (You will also find a Play in Nashville.)

Travel Tips

You are in the South, y'all. Expect a Southern accent.

Try a mint julep or other Bourbon drink or a local IPA of which there are many.

Visit Old Louisville to see the beautiful red brick Victorians.

Check out the restaurants and shops in downtown's 4th Street Live. I liked the Tavern on Fourth (427 S. 4th).

Visit Angels Mist bourbon distillery for a free tour.

For More Information

Stop by the Visitors Center downtown at Fourth and Jefferson which highlights Louisville's unique style (Bourbon, Muhammad Ali, equestrian touches) and a customer Bourbon bar for extraordinary events.

Queer Kentucky is the on line LGBTQ +publication. Check out the upcoming Queer Bourbon festival. Details at QueerKentucky.com.

LEO Weekly is the excellent alternative weekly and is full of upcoming event ideas. It is professionally written and includes lots of local news.

Whether in town for the Kentucky Derby, Pride, Thunder over Louisville, or whatever, there is always something happening in the Bluegrass.

Check out these travel tips from Go To Louisville:

https://www.gotolouisville.com/things-to-do/history/lgbtq/

Louisville is the most under-rated tourist destination in North America. You owe yourself a visit.

*Bill Malcolm is an award winning travel writer who authors a syndicated LGBTQ+ travel column which appears in publications (on line and in print) throughout North America and on the IGLTA Travel Blog.