The Radiators "Last Roundup" Farewell Tour

Last night I saw the Radiators for the first and last time. I can’t believe it took me this long to see them and it was their farewell tour. The Radiators are a New Orleans born rock band that has been together since 1978. I wish knew how good they were long ago. One of the stops on this farewell tour was Havana’s in New Hope which is one of my favorite venues for shows.

Tea Time

 Last week I was invited to Tea at the Historic Tate Farm located a short distance from Gettysburg in the town of Hunterstown.  The Tate Farm was built in 1740 and was the family home for 250 years. The home has been restored along with 

Kentucky Derby

The Derby
  After the Oaks  we were doing a few things different,one a derby tote bag to put our stuff in. Two forget the heels. I know it was the big fashion day but there is just to much walking. Three bring snacks its a long day.  There is food, hot dogs, BBQ pork, but expensive. Four take a bag to bring home all our glass ware. Last make sure we had everything before leaving the room.

The Fashion Show - Hats & fashion of the Kentucky Derby

Kentucky Oaks

 In the car heading back home with 402 miles left to go so a great time to reflect back on our 2 days at Churchill Downs.

Kentucky Derby Traditions

		The Kentucky Derby holds many traditions from the song they sing to the drink of the day.
		The Early Times Mint Julep Recipe  2 cups sugar 2 cups water Sprigs of fresh mint Crushed ice Early Times Kentucky Whiskey Silver Julep Cups Make a simple syrup by boiling sugar and water together for five minutes. Cool and place in a covered container with six or eight sprigs of fresh mint, then refrigerate overnight. Make one julep at a time by filling a julep cup with crushed ice, adding one tablespoon mint syrup and two ounces of Early Times Kentucky Whiskey. Stir rapidly with a spoon to frost the outside of the cup. Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint. "My Old Kentucky Home" By Stephen Foster The sun shines bright in the old Kentucky home, Tis summer, the people are gay; The corn-top's ripe and the meadow's in the bloom While the birds make music all the day. The young folks roll on the little cabin floor All merry, all happy and bright; By'n by hard times comes a knocking at the door Then my old Kentucky home, Good-night! Weep no more my lady. Oh! Weep no more today! We will sing one song for my old Kentucky home For the old Kentucky home, far away.

Around Town

We arrived Louisville, Kentucky yesterday after a very long but not to bad drive, 687 miles.  We were just in time for the Pegasus Parade. We watched some of it and than headed down to Fourth Street.  Fourth Street live is an area that is closed off to traffic with restaurant's, bars, and entertainment venues in an open air complex. A few of the places you will find there is, Hard Rock Cafe, Red Star Tavern, T.G.I. Friday's, Friday's Rocks!, Sully's Irish Pub, Lucky Strike Lanes (bowling alley and restaurant), a British style restaurant The Pub, and the first-ever Maker's Mark Bourbon House & Lounge. Fourth Street Live! also has a wide variety of bars and nightclubs including Howl at the Moon, the Felt billiard lounge, Saddle Ridge and Tengo Sed Cantina.
They even hold concerts there. Yesterday Easton Corbin was there, tonight the Barenaked Ladies will be playing at 8:00pm.

For dinner we went to Eddie Merlots which was outstanding.  The restaurant is beautiful inside and the food was great. We dined on filet & rack of lamb. If you want a great local steak house this is the place.

      Now its time to get ready for the Kentucky Oaks. Weather is not to bad high of 68 and only 30 percent rain. Can't wait to get to Churchill Downs today and experience this tradition that has been going on for so many years.

  

Run for the Lilies

The Kentucky Oaks is held on the Friday before the Kentucky Derby and has its own set of traditions. The feature race of the day is the Run for the Lilies, making the Lilies the official flower. There is also a  signature cocktail, the Oaks Lily. In addition they have teamed up with Susan G. Komen for the Cure ®and now the official color of the Oaks is Pink. There is even a  fashion show held the day of the race. This years Chambord Kentucky Oaks Fashion show will be held between races 7 & 8 at the Aristides Garden.

The Oaks Lily® ingredients include:

• 1 oz. Vodka
• 1 oz. Sweet and Sour Mix
• 3 oz. Cranberry Juice
• Splash of Triple Sec

When the ingredients are mixed, place the pinkish cocktail in an official Oaks Lily® glass (stem-less wine glass) with crushed ice, add a straw and garnish with an orange wedge and cherry.

The 23rd Barnstable Brown Gala

      The “premier” party to attend on the Eve of the Kentucky Derby is the Barnstable Brown Gala. This star-studded bash is held at the home of Patricia Barnstable-Brown, who co-hosts the event with her twin sister Priscilla Barnstable. The Gala is counted among the “Ten Best Parties in the World” by Conde Nest. The Gala was founded by the two sisters with all donations going to the Barnstable Brown Diabetes and Obesity Research Center.

This year’s gala will be held Friday, May 6. The celebrity lineup for the 23^rd annual gala has been announced. Among the stars will be:

4 Days to the Derby! Betting the horses

      Now I am not what you would consider to be a big gambler.  I enjoy going to the casinos now and then but what I really love to do is to go the races.  Again it’s not something I do often but certainly enjoy it when I am there. Part of the fact is I feel there is more involved in picking a horse to win than to sit in front of a slot machine hitting a button.  The minimum bet is only $2.00 with a race every 20 minutes making your money least a lot longer.

One of my favorite Kentucky Derby Moments, Remembering Eight Belles

        For the past couple of years we have gone to Philly Park to watch the Kentucky Derby. There is a big picnic grove where you can watch the races plus bring in your own food & drinks.  Post time is around 11am so you get all day racing and then watch the Derby right there. Each year it gets bigger and really is great fun.

   The race I will never forget is the 134th Kentucky Derby, 2008. The week before the race I just loved Eight Belles. She was the only filly running but not a favorite to win, in fact the odds were 13 -1. Big Brown was the favorite 5-2.  Still Eight Belles was my girl, she had the look.  Eight Belles was racing #5 and Big Brown #20 which is my birthday. I had to play an exacta, along with a few other bets. The race itself wasn’t the most exciting one as Big Brown had the lead winning by 4 ¾ lengths but coming right behind him for second was my girl Eight Belles making me very happy. I was jumping up and down, yelling like crazy, it was the most excited I had been in while. With that came the heart break, Eight Belles broke both her ankles and they put her down right there on the track. The place got silent and I started to cry. The wonderful feeling of winning disappeared with the pain of watching this beautiful animal get put down. All this emotion in a matter of seconds, made  for a race I will never forget. 

What was your most memorable Kentucky Derby?  I would love to hear your stories.

he 134th Kentucky Derby Payout Schedule

Program Number	Horse Name	Win	Place	Show
20	Big Brown	$ 6.80	$5.00	$4.80
5	Eight Belles	-	$10.60	$6.40
16	Denis of Cork	-	-	$11.60

Road to the 137th Kentucky Derby

         In just 6 days I will be wearing my hat, sipping a mint julep, and watching the horses all thanks to a wonderful husband and social media. Yes that’s right, Twitter is reasonable for making our dream of one day going to the Kentucky Derby come true. Right before Christmas he got a tweet about a chance to get grandstands seats for this year’s Derby and now we are off to the races. 

There will be plenty of updates along the way and of course we will be tweeting.