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Discover New Authors at the Louisville Free Public Library

December 10, 2015 by greystar

If you’re looking for a way to really immerse yourself in the Louisville community, becoming a member of the Louisville Free Public Library is a great option. This longtime area resource is home to thousands of books and other types of reading materials, from periodicals and research books to magazines and historical documents. There is a large children’s section that the little ones will love, and it frequently hosts story times and other family-friendly activities that you’ll have access to with a library card.

The building itself is very large and architecturally beautiful, as Tachau and Pilcher Architects of New York City designed it way back in 1906. There are stone columns out front and intricate décor throughout the inside, while the contemporary North Building, designed by Louis and Henry Architects of Louisville, added on to the library’s campus later on in 1969.

Experience a piece of Louisville history while fostering a love of learning at the Louisville Free Public Library.

Louisville Free Public Library
301 York St
Louisville, KY 40203
(502) 574-1611
www.lfpl.org/branches/main.htm

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr Magnus MWW

Filed Under: Things To Do Tagged With: Louisville Attractions, Louisville Free Public Library, Things to Do in Louisville

Make These DIY Holiday Gifts

December 3, 2015 by greystar

If you’re strapped for cash this holiday season or a bit burned out from all of the crowded malls, you may want to make gifts by hand for your loved ones instead of purchasing them. Here are three great ideas for handmade holiday gifts that are much more special than something store-bought.

Mason Jar Soup Mixes
If you’re searching for the perfect gift for a foodie friend, try making homemade soup mixes in adorable mason jars. This tutorial offers more than 30 different types of soups to choose from, and the various ingredients will look decorative and colorful when layered inside of the jar.

Snuggly Shawl
This stylish shawl is easy to make as a gift no matter your level of knitting expertise. It’s so simple that you can work on it bit by bit while you relax at home, and the end result is so fashionable and functional that your loved one will wear it all winter long.

Peppermint Candy Sugar Scrub
For the beauty product enthusiast, this DIY sugar scrub is a luxurious and deliciously scented holiday gift. All of the ingredients are entirely natural and safe to use, and the lovely pink and white colors look adorable when poured into the glass jar. Best of all, the peppermint scent is perfect for the winter season.

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr/Sarah

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: Crafts, DIY, Gift Ideas, Holidays

Fill Up on Mexican Fare Without Emptying Your Wallet at El Taco Luchador

November 27, 2015 by greystar

Stroll through Louisville’s hip Highlands neighborhood and you can’t miss El Taco Luchador, a colorful Mexican eatery that almost always draws a crowd on its outdoor sidewalk patio. Once you get inside, you’ll find an equally colorful dining room filled with neon green stools a rainbow-hued chalkboard menu boasting the day’s current selection.

True to its name, El Taco Luchador specializes in tacos in all styles; barbacoa, carnitas, Baja fish and marinated chicken all make an appearance, and there are even vegetarian options for meat-free diners. In addition to tacos, you’ll also find Mexican torta sandwiches topped with the same meats and veggies, and you can add your own additional toppings to any torta or taco. Add a side of sweet potato fries, plantains or Mexican street corn to your meal, and be sure to order a basket of salty tortilla chips and homemade guacamole to go along with it.

El Taco Luchador
938 Baxter Avenue
Louisville, KY 40204
(502) 583-0440
www.facebook.com/eltacoluchador
www.yelp.com/biz/el-taco-luchador-louisville

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr Rusty Clark – On the Air M-F 8am-noon

Filed Under: Restaurants Tagged With: El Taco Luchador, Louisville Dining, Restaurants in Louisville

3 Interior Decorator Secrets Everyone Should Know

November 19, 2015 by greystar

So you’re not an interior decorator by trade? No sweat! When it comes to decorating your rental, all it takes are a few tricks from the professionals to make your home look like it belongs on the pages of a design magazine. Here are a few secrets that interior decorators don’t mind sharing.

Arrange furniture in the way that makes the most sense. If you’re constantly tripping over furniture or struggling to reach things on shelves, you likely don’t have your room arranged in the most functional way. Don’t be afraid to rearrange the room until it works — or even to get rid of pieces that you don’t really need.
Add good lighting. If you’re lucky enough to have lots of windows in your apartment, play up the natural light with sheer curtains or neutral-colored blinds. If you don’t have much natural light, fake it with daylight-imitating light bulbs.
Use light or neutral colors. Choose furnishings in light or neutral colors to create an airy, open feeling.
Add art. Adding framed art to every wall is a great way to decorate your apartment without taking up precious space. Create an eclectic gallery wall or add a series of three large frames to create the illusion of depth. Don't forget to add mirrors!

11 Foolproof Decorating Tips [This Old House]
20 Decorating Secrets [House Beautiful]
9 Interior Decorator Secrets [Woman’s Day]

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr Artondra Hall

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: Apartment Decoration, DIY, Home Decor, Interior Design

4 Tips for Serving a Safe Food Buffet

November 5, 2015 by greystar

If you’re hosting a large party, you’re likely concerned with serving tasty foods, but your goal should also be to keep those foods safe for your guests. Here are a few helpful tips that will keep your food buffet just as healthy as it is delicious.

Wash your hands. The first thing you should do when preparing a food buffet is wash your hands. This prevents you from spreading germs to your guests, but it also helps to keep you safe from food borne illnesses caused by raw meat, eggs, and other ingredients. Be sure to wash your hands each time you refill the buffet, as well.
Cook foods completely. It’s safe to keep foods out on a buffet, provided that they’re cooked properly beforehand. Meats like beef and pork chops should be cooked to at least 145º F, while chicken and poultry should reach at least 165º F.
Use the proper serving tools. If you’re serving hot foods, be sure to store them in a chafing dish, slow cooker, or warming tray to keep them from changing temperature. Cold dishes can be served in nesting bowls over bowls of ice, and they must stay at 40°F or lower in order to stop the growth of bacteria.
Abide by the two-hour rule. Finally, never let foods sit on a buffet for more than two hours. Tossing food that’s been at room temperature for too long will ensure a safe and healthy party.

Serving Up Safe Buffets [FDA]
Serving Prepared Foods Safely [Whole Foods]
Holiday or Party Buffets [USDA]
Buffet Safety [NSF]

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/Phil Hawksworth

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: Cooking, Entertaining, Food Safety, Health

Enjoy Global Dishes at Pesto’s Italian & Persian Cuisine

October 29, 2015 by greystar

If you’re looking for a quick lunch in downtown Louisville that’s still fresh and delicious, you’ll find it at Pesto’s Italian & Persian Cuisine. This eclectic eatery blends Italian and Persian cooking styles in a way that is completely seamless, offering two different menus for each type of cuisine. Choose from the menu of Italian fare if you’re in the mood for hearty pastas, chopped steaks, and eggplant parmigiana, or browse the Persian fare menu for specialties like the Koobideh wrap, tender gyros, and grilled, marinated kebabs.

While the atmosphere at Pesto’s is quick and convenient on weekdays, if you stop in for dinner on the weekends, the vibe is much more elegant and relaxed. Admire the local artwork on the walls and enjoy a unique blend of global dishes at Pesto’s Italian & Persian Cuisine, a longtime favorite in downtown Louisville.

Pesto’s Italian & Persian Cuisine
566 S Fifth St
Louisville, KY 40202
(502) 584-0567
www.pestositalian.com

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr Au Kirk

Filed Under: Restaurants Tagged With: Louisville Dining, Pesto's Italian and Persian Cuisine, Restaurants in Louisville

These DIY Halloween Decorations Are So Easy to Make, Itâ€™s Scary!

October 22, 2015 by greystar

Making your own Halloween decorations is a whole lot more fun than buying them at the store, and there are many projects that might be easier that you'd expect. No matter how artistically inclined you are, you’ll love these simple ideas for decorating your home for Halloween.

Candy Corn Centerpiece [diyncrafts.com]
Turn an old wine or beer bottle into a candy corn-inspired centerpiece that’s perfect for Halloween parties. Simply spray paint shades of yellow, orange, and white onto unused glass bottles and arrange them however you please. As a bonus, you can even set out bowls of real candy corn for guests to snack on.

Tissue Paper Jack O’Lanterns [countryliving.com]
Instead of carving a messy pumpkin with sharp knives, create an equally festive jack-o’-lantern out of some simple tissue paper balls from the craft store. Cover them with construction paper facial features to make an entire army of adorable faux pumpkin faces.

Recycled Paper Bats [treehugger.com]
Do a bit of good for the environment by using recycled construction paper to create these sweet and scary hanging bats. Since they use an easy origami pattern, you can even construct these realistic bats without any cutting or gluing.

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/Andrew Malone

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: Apartment Decor, DIY, Halloween, Seasonal

Dairy Kastle: Sundaes For Any Day of the Week

October 15, 2015 by greystar

For more than 35 years, Dairy Kastle has been serving soft serve ice cream and chili cheese dogs to residents of Louisville and beyond. This old-fashioned ice cream shop is reminiscent of the malt shops of years gone by, making it makes a cute, retro date spot or even a fun and simple place to spend an afternoon with the family.

Stop in to the colorful shop and order a classic vanilla cone from the convenient ordering window, or grab a seat at one of the outdoor patio tables to enjoy a casual lunch (before having ice cream for dessert, of course). The menu includes hot dogs, bratwurst, nachos and barbecued pork sandwiches, as well as ice cream in just about any form you can imagine.

Whether you prefer a twist cone with sprinkles, a hot fudge sundae or a milkshake that you can take with you to go, there’s something to satisfy anyone’s sweet tooth at Dairy Kastle.

Dairy Kastle
575 Eastern Parkway
Louisville, KY 40217
(502) 634-8990
www.dairykastle.com

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr Asher Isbrucker

Filed Under: Things To Do Tagged With: Dairy Kastle, Louisville Attractions, Things to Do in Louisville