bridges — project blog — 10,000 Hours Photography

According to Wikipedia, the technically correct pronunciation is Lou-ee-ville, as in King Louis XVI. But all the locals I've talked to all pronounce it "Lou-a-vulle" or "Lou-vulle" when they're talking real fast. As they say, when in Rome... or in this case, when in Louisville...

I spent my morning exploring Museum Row, which is a fantastic segment of Downtown Louisville that has several museums and shops within a 3 block radius. Highlight of my morning was definitely checking out the Louisville Slugger Factory where I went on a factory tour (sadly, no photography allowed inside) and got a souvenir mini bat. Apparently, the mini bats are the single most confiscated item from carry-on luggage out of SDF. Fortunately, I always check luggage since I need all of my creature comfort make up, hair products, and shoes when traveling and have never mastered the art of packing light.

From there, I...
...ambled down to the Muhammad Ali Center and took in some culture and history
...waved across the Ohio River at Indiana
...met up with my sorority sister and hospitable hostess Ashley for lunch at Proof on Main
...took in all the modern art in the gallery at 21-C
...watched glass blowing and sculpting at the Mark Payton Glass Center

Thus far, I'm loving the home-town feel of this city and the absolutely amazing food and drink... and I've only really experienced one meal so far! For lunch, I had a grilled cheese with cheddar, green apple, and bacon jam with truffle fries paired with this tart grapefruit cocktail. Such a random combination of ingredients, but they just worked - the tang of the apple and sharp cheddar cut through the fatty savory bacon jam for a perfectly balanced bite. Good thing I don't live in the South or else I would definitely blow up.

It's going to be an awesome weekend of explorations and eats.

I had to crouch down awkwardly next to this trashcan for this shot, but it ended up being one of my favorites from today

Louisville Sluggers in various finishes. Official bats of the MLB - apparently it takes ~40,000 trees to supply ONE season's worth of bats!! Good thing they source the wood from managed forests.

Incredibly detailed Lego model of Wrigley Field - 57,960 bricks and 27 days to piece together.

Ohio River - Indiana to the right, Kentucky to the left

Red penguins atop 21-C

Sculpting glass

Active Shooting Hours: 3
Review Hours: 1

Total Hours to Date: 45

More Downtown Louisville

The coolest quote Mark Twain never actually said... though it's a pithy witticism that would be so characteristic of one Samuel Clemens. It was seriously cold though, a brisk wind the entire morning and a gloomy fog hanging over the city that never fully lifted.

I love visiting this city though I would never want to live here... like other great American cities of old, I find a lot of inspiration and room for reflection when surrounded by buildings and monuments that have seen the best and the worst of things - if only the walls could speak, what would they say?

We began our morning with coffee at Four Barrel and breakfast at Tartine in the Mission and then found our way in Russian Hill at Lombard & Hyde among the tourists to look at the 8 hairpin turns of that crooked street. From there, we headed to Fisherman's Wharf & Pier 39 and waved across the bay at the Campanile, which we only found through the haze by finding The Claremont Hotel first. After lunch at Boudin's to have the famously tart sourdough (apparently unique because of the humidity & weather in the Bay - the starter dough was actually brought from Europe, but after being exposed to SF weather, it developed that characteristic sourness), we made a quick jaunt to Fort Point to get pictures of Golden Gate before heading back. I also made a detour to Bi-Rite before jumping on BART back to the East Bay.

I'm behind in posting since I also took pictures in Napa and brunch in the Castro, but those will come soon when I get a free moment from taking pictures to actually update and post!