Monthly Archives: September 2011

Friday Night Lights

Fall is always sure to bring us one thing, the Friday Night Lights of high school football. I, like most socially accepted human beings in America, haven’t been to a high school football game since I graduated. Strangely, the city of Louisville does not follow this social norm and on that last Friday of September the highly coveted St. X vs. Trinity football game is held.

This isn’t just some high school football game were talking about here. This is a clash of the titans. The two powerhouses of the state of Kentucky duke it out with their fists of fury in Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium for 4 quarters.

For those who don’t know, St. X and Trinity are the two main private, all male, Catholic schools in the city. The teams are always ranked very high for the state and often times very high in the national rankings. It just so happened, that for tonight’s game, I would be so fortunate to watch the number 1 nationally ranked high school football team play ball.

So we parked in the packed parking lot of Papa John’s Cardinal stadium only to find out that we were late. Late for the tailgating. I kid you not. People actually tailgate for a high school football game. And they do it big too. Rows and rows of grills, corn-hole and beer.

I couldn’t wrap my head around the idea that two high school teams could fill a college football stadium, but they did. And they did it with style. In fact, I think there might have been more in attendance then some UofL football games that I’ve attended in my day.

Once we were in the stadium, the harsh reality finally sank in… I went to public school. Compared to all the sweater vests and button downs around me, I looked like the number 1 draft pick for the newest member of The Clash.

But this was it. This is what the indigenous people of Louisville live for. This rivalry is bigger then us. The atmosphere can not be described with simple words. This game must be what football in Texas is like.

During the game, the people around me told tales of games going back at least 20 some years.This was a big deal to them.  I guess you and I are not the social norm when it comes to high school football in Louisville. Maybe its because I didn’t grow up in Louisville. Maybe its because I didn’t go to either school. Maybe its because I played soccer. Who knows? What I do know is that my futile attempt of assimilating to the atmosphere with a green and yellow jacket made me cringe the entire time. (Please blame my roommate who is a St. X alumni). So please wake me from this high school dream that I left 5 years ago because September has ended.

I know, I know. Not another Louisville entry. Sorry followers, but it’s been a rough month for escaping the city with school starting back up and working 9 to 5 for the man.

For dinner tonight, my roommate and I felt a bit adventurous so we decided to try this pizzeria we’ve been hearing so much about. I know that I’ve mentioned coming here before but after fully trying the dining experience I knew this was an entry I had to write.

The Garage Bar is a former auto service garage located right in the heart of downtown Louisville on Market Street. Its actually across the street from Joe Ley Antiques so you probably wont miss it.

The bar has some of the finest options in draft and bottled beers but the real deal here is the specialty pizzas which are baked in a wood-fired brick oven visible to all. I’ve never had a country ham pizza before tonight but I know now that it wont be my last.

Its hard to forget that your eating dinner in an auto service garage with all the reminders that surround you. One one side of you is the original garage doors that cars would pull through while the other wall has a rack full of tires hanging above a dinner table.

SLOW INEVITABLE DEATH OF AMERICAN MUSCLE

Let us not forget we are still in the weird and artsy metropolis known as Louisville. Outside of the Garage Bar is a piece of art you wont soon forget. Slow Inevitable Death of American Muscle is a ‘sculpture’ of two American Muscle cars slowly being drawn towards each other using machinery to simulate an automobile accident in slow motion.

How have I driven past this place everyday and not thought twice about stopping and figuring out exactly what it is? From the outside you might think its just an old abandoned factory that some hoarder owns and has acquired too many statues to look aesthetically pleasing in the front yard. But it is sooooo much more.

Joe Ley’s is probably one of the most amazing antique stores you will ever step foot inside. When you walk past the statues in the front door you’re immediately greeted and given a piece of paper for deciphering codes.

Deciphering codes?!? That’s right. You’re in for an adventure with this one. Every item for sale in this store is encoded with this key and it is up to you to decipher it if you really want to buy something. I don’t know why they do this. I presume its because your brain would probably be overwhelmed with if you had to look at the price tags of some of the more valuable things in this one.

You can literally find anything you want in here. Whether it be missing doorknobs from that 1930’s door in your house, that missing derby glass from your collection, or even a coffin.

Stuff is practically anywhere and everywhere. You can’t go in here expecting to randomly find something. Be advised, you should know what you are looking for BEFORE you enter. Otherwise, you might leave a few thousand dollars lighter..

Another local Louisville favorite. Lynn’s is a quirky little establishment that can never be forgotten. Even though it is located inconveniently in the center of Louisville, its fame has not gone unrecognized. The Food Channel, Southern Living Magazine, The New York Times even Oprah have raved on and on about this place, and so should you.

The screenshot above shows you what to expect, trees coming up right through the tables, decor everywhere, and that same weird Louisville artsy feel that we’ve come to love so much.

The art is everywhere but don’t let it take away from the dishes. The food is fantastic! Not only that, but the cooking time is unbelievable. We probably had the food on our table less then 5 minutes after ordering. The server’s hospitality reminded us that we were definitely in the South. Overall, it was a great experience!

Ahh. The newly famous 21C that I’ve heard so much about. What was supposed to start out as an event night utilizing the First Friday Trolley Hop in the Louisville Downtown Management District turned into a couple of beers at the Garage Bar on Market Street and then a short, yet under .08, drive to one of the finest gems in downtown Louisville.

This place has it all. Its a museum, bar, restaurant and a hotel. Better yet, you can carry your drinks through the museum. What is unique about this hotel is that the rooms are located within the exhibits of the museum.

At first, this may just seem like an original exhibit, but when you look more closely, you’ll notice a door to a hotel room is located right dab in the middle.

After roaming the stomping grounds for a while with a few drinks you may think to yourself, man this is a good time to go to the bathroom. And the adventure only gets better.

I’ll spare my readers some of the more hilarious photos that I captured but will inform you that the picture above is actually a functional part of the men’s lavatory.

Finally, I’ll recommend that you visit the attached Proof restaurant. I didn’t place an order for dinner on this particular night but I can only assume that it is of the highest quality of fine dining. That is if you enjoy art exhibits surrounding you while you eat. The exhibit of the month happened to be a cryptotaxidermy exhibit. If you don’t know, look it up.