The Voice of Louisville by The VOICE

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Marilyn Hoffman THE ONE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLAR REALTOR Marilyn Hoffman’s expertise in selling extraordinary estates and farms attracts a clientele that reads like a Who’s Who of business, sports, entertainment and the social register. Golfer Lee Trevino, a Saudi Prince, sports legend Deion Sanders, transportation secretary Milo Bryant, a billionaire Texas oilman, cosmetics queen Mary Kay, Merv Griffin, the CEO of the country’s largest corporation, and a major sports team owner have all been her clients. Marilyn sold a 35,000 sq. ft. waterfront estate for the full price of $20,000,000 in only 24 days. This home is believed to be the largest waterfront estate sold in the country. This estate was previously listed with another international broker for $13,000,000 and did not sell. Marilyn was also the first broker to list a $100,000,000 home. Her Kentucky sales include the Summer Wind Farm, with a 25,000 sq. ft. mansion, sold for James Thornton, and Dr. Bruce Jackson’s Paris Pike farm. Her sale of a $9,995,000 Penthouse in Dallas was the most expensive penthouse ever sold in Dallas and was sold to the most famous Texas oilman in only 79 days after it had been listed with other brokers for 807 days. Marilyn also sold a $13,500,000 estate to the owners of a Scottish castle after she met them at the Keeneland sales where they were buying Thoroughbreds. Marilyn does the most unique marketing in the world, with real estate exhibits at such prestigious events as the Cavallino Classic Yacht Hop in Palm Beach, the Cattle Barons Galas, the Bal de la Mer in Monte Carlo, the Yacht Extravaganza at Fisher Island, the Saddlebred World Championship Show, the Military Ball in New York, the BarrettJackson Classic Car Auction, the Breeders World Cup, the Rolex Three Day Event, the Winter Equestrian Festival, and at a charity gala at Mar a Lago, Donald Trump’s Palm Beach estate.

Marilyn Hoffman and National Champion Stallion, Ultimate Bey.

Not too many brokers can claim they have sold the largest home in multiple states, but Marilyn certainly holds the record. Marilyn sold one of the most famous Texas ranches, with 2,000 acres, 20 homes and an exotic game preserve. She sold a 20,000 sq. ft. home in Oklahoma for Cowboy Bill Watts, the world champion wrestler and a 28,000 sq. ft. Tulsa estate. She sold the Fox Ranch in Colorado, home of a 150,000 sq. ft. log home, reported to be the largest private residence in the country. Her most recent sale was an $11,000,000 farm that she sold to the CEO of the most famous Japanese corporation for $10,875,000

Marilyn sold Bloomfield Manor, the largest sale in Lexington

82 acre 13,000 sq ft. Kentucky Mansion, Guesthouse , 48 stalls, indoor arena $3,900,000 www.Meadow-land.com

Historical Stonecote Estate Louisville, Kentucky

A rare opportunity to live in a historical estate. Built in the 1920s and restored to perfection, this estate is timeless, beautiful and inviting. Stonecote Estate is ideal for entertaining and family life. Huge rooms work in concert, flowing together to offer the utmost in entertaining and family living. The main home is a stone manor with a first floor master wing, offering a total of five bedrooms and seven baths- four full and three half. There are hardwood floors throughout, decorative moldings, 10 foot ceilings, updated baths, five fireplaces, four stone terraces, French doors, three staircases to the second level, copper gutters, a slate roof and four separate heating zones. This home has a fantastic chef ’s kitchen with builtin refrigerator, two wall ovens, two warming drawers, two dishwashers, Advantium microwave oven, six-burner Viking Professional gas cook top, wine cooler and plenty of work space on gorgeous Carrera marble counters. Included is a true butler’s pantry featuring a third dishwasher and

MARILYN HOFFMAN Hoffman International Properties 214.698.1736 marilynhoffman@sbcglobal.net www.MarilynHoffmanRealtor.com www.RiverRoadEstate.com

second built-in refrigerator, plus an ice maker. An impressive 50’ x 25’, heated, salt water pool that showcases lovely fountains, is surrounded by mature perennial gardens and has a baby pool “enclosure” and a swim lane for laps. Stonecote Estate offers additional living space for guests, a nanny or family in the pool house, cottage and carriage house - both complete living quarters. There is even a place for your prized equine friends in the five-stall stable. Included is a detached 3 car garage. Make these desirable five+ acres nestled between Cherokee and Seneca Parks and the Lexington Road corridor your own and you will have great access and easy commutes to preferred schools, downtown Louisville, shopping and excellent eateries- all the places people love about Louisville! All furnishings included. $2,500,000.

Dallas, TX 214.698.1736 Lexington, KY 859.523.2812 Greenwich, CT 203.325.1281 Atlanta, GA 404.414.0620 International Offices: Monte Carlo, Monaco 800-93498 Saudi Arabia 966.8111.04.4807 London, UK 44.203.05.14025

J. FERNANDO DAVILA Principal Broker First Realty Group Louisville, KY 40207 502-426-9292 realty@jfd.net

The River Road Estate

www.RiverRoadEstate.com An opportunity to own and live in an historical landmark estate. Only 8 miles from Downtown Louisville and Churchill Downs Racetrack, this estate is the perfect setting for your Derby Party. Built in 1904, the main house, one of 4 on the 158 acre property, boasts 14,000 sq ft and was lovingly restored by one of the country's foremost developers for his own personal home.

MARILYN HOFFMAN Hoffman International Properties 214.698.1736 marilynhoffman@sbcglobal.net www.MarilynHoffmanRealtor.com www.RiverRoadEstate.com

The property closest to the main house includes a 3,500 sq. ft. carriage house, two-900 sq. ft. caretaker houses and an indoor pool area. A beautiful historical barn as 20,000 sq. ft. with 24 stalls and an apartment. A large outdoor arena completes the equine area. Offered at $16,000,000

J. FERNANDO DAVILA Principal Broker First Realty Group Louisville, KY 40207 502-426-9292 realty@jfd.net

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Letter from the Publisher ’Tis the season of giving, gathering and celebrating. The holidays are always such a special time. Everyone seems joyful and appreciative, and Louisville really comes together as a community during this time of year. Since our town is ramping up for the holidays and getting pretty chilly, we thought we’d give you a little sunshine for this winter edition of The Voice of Louisville. As you probably know, Cuba has had somewhat stringent travel restrictions for U.S. citizens; however, with the new policies put in place by President Obama, Americans now have a bit more freedom to travel the short distance to Cuba. In fact, earlier this fall, I was lucky enough to venture to Cuba with a writer, photographer and other key team members to make this issue full of Cuban lifestyle, fashion and culture. In our featured story, writer Remy Sisk recounts his experience traveling to Cuba with The Voice of Louisville. His mother is from Cuba, so his close family ties to the country make his story especially moving. While he was there, he was surrounded by breathtaking architecture, astounding history, spectacular food and friendly locals. His experience was absolutely one-of-a-kind, and I encourage you to read it closely to get a sense of what life is like in a country that has been steeped in mystery for so long. To get a more visual taste of Cuba, peruse our fashion spread that follows the story. While in Cuba, we worked with Cuban models, stylists and designers to create the perfect looks for these stunning individuals. We had a great time traveling around Havana to shoot these photographs that showcase not only the beauty of Cuba but also the wonderfully unique fashions from this beautiful island. To complement these two central pieces, we also have filled the magazine with other Cuban stories. Rafael Hernández, for example, is a Louisvillian who came from Cuba by winning the Cuban Lottery and

is a true testament to the importance of the restored relations between the countries. Ingrid Hernández – not related to Rafael – is a local Cuban graphic designer who has honed her artistic skills to make her business, InGrid Design, the best it can be. Finally, Havana Rumba, Louisville’s premier Cuban eatery, has been wowing the community with its unparalleled flavors ever since it debuted in 2004. Meanwhile, back in our own hometown, we’ve got a lot of exciting things to celebrate. First, we feature the reopening of the Speed Art Museum. I am so anticipating seeing all the new and exciting architectural features the museum has put in place, and I know they will only amplify the already magnificent culture the Speed offers the community. Check out our story to learn more about what you can expect when the Speed reopens in March 2016. We also are thrilled with the new Butchertown Grocery! The design alone is absolutely incredible, as it was done by the president and COO of Bittner’s and my dear friend Douglas Riddle. The eatery is sophisticated and swanky but still accessible for folks of all walks of life. Douglas has done a truly tremendous job making the restaurant feel comfortable and local but also elegant and cosmopolitan. The luxury is only increased by Chef Bobby Benjamin’s to-die-for food! Since it’s the holidays, you may find yourself staying in to entertain instead of going out. If that’s the case, never fear. We talked to Brittany Gilbert, The How-to Hostess, to get the lowdown on how to make every holiday gathering from parties to brunches unforgettable and easy as can be on the host or hostess. As she mentions, sometimes, the easiest way to entertain is just to pop a few bottles of champagne! So pour yourself a glass of bubbly, grab a seat by the fire and wrap yourself up in this issue.

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FEATURES 22 40

DE CUBA, CON AMOR Y PASIÓN LA MIRADA DE BELLEZA

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TRUE MEANING OF RESTORED RELATIONS WITH CUBA

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SMOKE SHOPPE WELCOMES ALL

HER GRAND DESIGN

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ICE T HE HOLIDAYS WITH HELP FROM THE HOW-TO HOSTESS WINTER 2015

Executive Assistant to the Publisher

Hollis Gargala VOL. 4 â&#x20AC;˘ NO. 4

Style Editor

Lori Kommor

Production Director

Joanna Hite Shelton

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TRACY A. BLUE Publisher HOLLIS GARGALA, Executive Assistant to the Publisher

Creative Director

Wil Heuser

Designer

Malissa Koebel

Hannah Krill

Staff Writer

Advertising Operations Director

EDITORIAL LORI KOMMOR, Style Editor JOANNA HITE SHELTON, Production Director WIL HEUSER, Creative Director MALISSA KOEBEL, Designer HANNAH KRILL, Designer REMY SISK, Staff Writer BEN GIERHART, Staff Writer NADIA LONDON, Style Assistant CARLA SUE BROECKER, Columnist JOHN HARRALSON, Photographer NICHOLAS MOORE, Contributing Writer WESLEY KERRICK, Contributing Writer BREANNA PRICE, Contributing Writer CLAY COOK, Contributing Photographer ROBERT BURGE, Contributing Photographer

ADVERTISING BRIDGETTE RHEA, Advertising Operations Director SHARI BAUGHMAN, Account Executive JULIE KOENIG, Account Executive KAREN PIERCE, Account Executive ASHLEY BECKHAM, Account Executive JUDY ROYCE, Account Executive

Staff Writer

Remy Sisk

Ben Gierhart

Account Executive

Julie Koenig

Karen Pierce

Account Executive

Distribution Sales Coordinator

Shari Baughman

Bridgette Rhea

Account Executive

CIRCULATION ROCKO JEROME, Distribution Sales Coordinator JOHN AURELIUS, Circulation Administrator CLARENCE KING, Newspaper Deliveries

Ashley Beckham

Judy Royce

Rocko Jerome

BLUE EQUITY, LLC JONATHAN S. BLUE, Chairman & Managing Director of Blue Equity DAVID M. ROTH, Vice Chairman JUAN REFFREGER, Executive Vice President

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Circulation Administrator

John Aurelius

Photographer

John Harralson

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Columnist

Carla Sue Broecker

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ADVERTISER INDEX Angel’s Envy – www.angelsenvy.com �� 73 Baptist Health/Milestone Wellness Center – 502.233.1500 �� 98 Bill Etscorn & Sons Auto & Collision Centers Inc. – 502.491.2639 �� 12 Bittners – 502.584.6349 �� 6-7 Blue Grass Motorsport – 502.894.3428 ��194-195 British Custom Tailors – 502.897.1361 �� 162 Brown-Forman – www.brown-forman.com �� 8-9 CaloSpa – 502.814.3000, 859.269.2256 �� 11 Consider Boutique – 502.409.6300 �� 168 Delta Dental – 800.955.2030 �� 2 Elmcroft Senior Living – 502.251.4642, 502.716.7262 �� 193 Etcetera – 502.425.9277 �� 20 Evan Williams Bourbon Experience – 502.272.2611 �� 56 Fourth Street Live – www.4thstlive.com ��84 Gross Diamond Co. – 502.895.1600 �� 105 Havana Rumba – 502.897.1959, 502.244.5375, 502.749.4600 �� 169 Hilliard Lyons – 888.278.2061 �� 107 Ingrid Design – www.ingriddesign.com ��87 J Wagner Group – www.nye2015louisville.eventbrite.com �� 180 Jeff Ruby’s – www.jeffruby.com �� 161 Jefferson County Clerks Office – 502.569.3300 �� 162 John Seelye Furs – 502.423.8555 �� 86 Kroger – 844.260.2495 �� 106 Liv Boutique – 502.654.7337, 502.419.7686 ��79 Luxury Estates – 214.698.1736, 502.426.9292 �� 3-5 Mall St. Matthews – www.mallstmatthews.com �� 171

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Massage Envy – 502.895.2007, 502.253.2980, 502.992.0701, 502.425.0000 �� 66 Merci Boutique – 502.893.4252 �� 99 Merkley Kendrick Jewelers – 502.895.6124 �� 19 Momma’s Mustard, Pickles & BBQ – www.mommasbbq.com �� 142 Nanz & Kraft – 502.897.6551 �� 162 Nu Yale – 812.285.7400 ��72 Over the 9 – 502.252.6671 �� 144 Oxmoor Center – www.oxmoorcenter.com �� 171 Oxmoor Smoke Shoppe – 502.426.4706 ��78 R.J. Corman Dinner Trains – 866.801.3463 �� 170 Rodeo Drive – 502.425.8999 �� 21 Rodes – 502.753.7633 ��13 Salzman Cosmetic Surgery & Spa – 502.425.5200 �� 85 Sassy Fox Upscale Consignment – 502.895.3711 ��67 Seng Jewelers – 502.585.5109 �� 133,196 Skyn Lounge – 502.894.3335 ��57 Speed Art Museum – www.speedmuseum.org �� 132 St. Matthews Jewelers – 502.896.2707 �� 163 Sunny Daize – 502.244.5580 �� 10 The Brown Hotel – 502.583.1234 �� 134 The Outlet Shoppes of the Bluegrass – www.theoutletshoppesofthebluegrass.com �� 135 The Shirt Shop – 502.744.6001 �� 160 The Ville Taqueria – 502.721.8226 �� 104 The Willow Tree – 502.423.9822 �� 181 Two Chicks & Co. – 502.254.0400 �� 145 UPS – www.upsjobs.com �� 143

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De Cuba,

Con Amor y Pasión

General Director - Jorge Luis Frías Finance - Anarlyn Oliva and Ivo Zuaznávar Written by Remy Sisk Photography by Clay Cook Photography by Angelos Salas 22 T H E V O I C E O F L O U I S V I L L E |

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“Although espresso is now almost universal, there used to be a tradition called carretero coffee, where people who lived in the more rural areas would pour boiling water over coffee grounds.” My tour guide while I was in Cuba, Alexander Nodarse Konnorov, shared this information with me while he and I sat at the Cafe el Escorial in the Plaza de Armas in Havana Vieja or Old Havana. This carretero coffee he was explaining to me is essentially a version of pour over coffee, quite common in the U.S. and even viewed as elite at certain coffee shops. This shared custom between these two nations only served as another reminder of what I’d already picked up on after being in the country for only 24 hours: Cuba is so much closer to the U.S. than anyone can imagine. Due to the United States’ strict rules on traveling to Cuba, the country has been perceived as being far away and distant, completely inaccessible and almost mythic. However, it is only 90 miles from the coast of Florida – a shorter distance than that from Louisville to Indianapolis. Thanks to loosened travel restrictions recently put in place by President Barack Obama, those 90 miles have never been closer. My mother left Cuba in 1971. She was just 13 years old. For me, Cuba has been wildly intriguing my entire life, partially because of my heritage and also because of its remarkable mystique. When U.S.-Cuba relations went sour in the 1960s, Washington made it nearly impossible for U.S. citizens to travel to Cuba. Therefore, during nearly my entire life, I, along with countless others, have felt completely cut off from that part of the world unlike any other despite the link through heritage Perhaps nowhere else in the world is one unable to travel. Would I travel to Antarctica? Probably not. Could I? Yes. That’s the difference. Like a teenager being told, “No” by his parents, the very impossibility of Cuba has made me all the more enticed by it – my desire to go there only amplified by the government restrictions put in place so long ago.

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My only knowledge of Cuba has come from textbooks, documentaries and some faint memories my mother has related to me over the years. When The Voice of Louisville got the opportunity to travel to Cuba in conjunction with Blue Equity, I was exhilarated and, admittedly, intimidated. This nation has been so supremely shrouded in mystery, what could I possibly expect? What would I see? How accurate was my educated though equivocal perception of the country? As it turned out, wholly inaccurate. Cuba is not a place of sadness, poverty and oppression but one of exuberance, color and overwhelming vivacity. From the moment I stepped off the plane at José Martí International Airport, I was engaged more than I ever have been – like a person without vision suddenly obtaining sight. Everything

Like a teenager being told, “No” by his parents, the very impossibility of Cuba has made me all the more enticed by it – my desire to go there only amplified by the government restrictions put in place so long ago. was interesting: the plants, the roads, the signage, the people, the food, the entire aura of the country. It was Cuba, a place so previously unknown and unobtainable, so formerly laden with obscurity that everything, even a simple souvenir shop, became a striking point of interest. As one might expect, it was hot. Very hot. A welcome relief from the quickly approaching Louisville winter and indeed another contributor to the wonder of my location. I felt the sun harshly on my tank top draped shoulders as I was enveloped completely in this place, this era, this world. My total immersion was only reinforced on the drive to our place of lodging. Though we motored along the narrow and

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bumpy streets in a large, modern van, the other cars that passed us by were literally from another time. Vintage Fords and Chevys from mid-century America zoomed past us, creating blurs of color in all directions. This wasn’t just some of the cars – it was nearly all of them. I learned from Alexander that, following the U.S. embargo on Cuba, new cars became extremely difficult to acquire; therefore, vehicle-owners clung to what they had: brightly-colored retro rides that are now, in present day, evocative of drive-ins and movies like “Grease” and “Muscle Beach Party.” 26 T H E V O I C E O F L O U I S V I L L E |

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The sun reflected off the vibrant violets and resplendent shamrock greens of the other cars as we stopped at a red light. Ahead of us was a monument to Calixto García – a leader in the Cuban War for Independence – and, to our right, the Straits of Florida. The air outside was thick, but the sea breeze coming through the open car window made it more pleasant than stifling. It smelled of citrus, salt and exhaust, rich with elements indicative of Cuban culture. The next morning, I met with Alexander, who was to guide me through the streets of Havana and WINTER 2015

help me discover the flavor of this enormously enigmatic culture. I met him on the Paseo del Prado, a public promenade that divides the two neighborhoods of Centro Havana and Havana Vieja. One of the first things he said to me was that if I were to get any sort of grasp on Cuban culture, then I would need to understand first that Cubans are a very outdoors-oriented people. Indeed, simply looking around the Prado, I saw two older men sitting in the shade playing chess on an old, weathered board. I saw schoolchildren in knee socks and red suspenders enjoying a respite from WINTER 2015

their classroom. I saw a man in a straw hat on a bench painting an impressionist rendering of the gorgeous Gran Teatro de La Habana. The indoors, as I learned firsthand on multiple occasions, arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t always comfortable in Cuba. Airconditioning is rare, and homes, for the most part, are small and crowded. So Havana turns itself inside out and the population lives life in the street when possible. Crime is miraculously low, and because of the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s strict weapons policy, violent crimes are almost nonexistent. So the people are free to meet and gather on street corners and in W W W.V O I C E - T R I B U N E . C O M

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public spaces like the Prado and El Malecón – a wall that runs along the shore of the city and a popular nighttime hangout. We started our journey on the section of the Prado directly across from La Escuela Nacional de Ballet, the Cuban National Ballet School. Not only is it one of the most architecturally breathtaking buildings – complete with a magnificent colonnade at street-level and rich, soaring complexities above – but it is also the largest ballet school in the world with approximately 3,000 students. Participation in the arts, particularly ballet, is robustly encouraged in Cuba, and education in that discipline, like all education in the country, is free. Although the architecture along the Prado is superbly stunning, we eventually meandered off the promenade into the Parque Central, where I overheard conversations that did not quite speak to the friendly tone I’d come to expect. We were in the Esquina Caliente, the Hot Corner. As Alexander explained it, the locale has become famous as a meeting place for men to gather and feverishly argue about one thing: baseball. Though soccer is undoubtedly the primary sport of Latin America, when Cuba gained its independence from Spain at the end of the 19th century, it strived to sever all ties with the country. Consequently, it turned its attention to the development of the great American pastime.

modality of speaking is simply part of the culture. Yes, they are impassioned, but life in Cuba generally is a bit more animated than it is in the U.S. With limited telephone access, neighbors would often call to each other off their balconies – a practice that still remains today. Friends hail each other from a block away, and conversation groups form in the middle of a busy street. Alexander and I eventually found our way to Havana Vieja, Old Havana, the city’s most popular and, arguably, most beautiful neighborhood. Located on the eastern side of the city, Havana Vieja is the centermost remains of the primary settlement of Havana. Cars are minimally allowed, and pedestrians flood the small cobblestone streets. The scent of cigar smoke is palpable as newcomers discover the magic of Cuban cigars, which are perhaps so perfect due to the combination of the government painstakingly regulating their production, the components being entirely local, and the soil and climate conditions in Cuba being so wonderfully prime for the growth of tobacco.

Though the men in the Esquina Caliente may seem, at first glance, vehemently aggressive, this

It was Cuba, a place so previously unknown and unobtainable, so formerly laden with obscurity that everything, even a simple souvenir shop, became a striking point of interest.

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Photo by Angelos Salas

We began on Obispo Street, lined on either side with shops, cafes and snack stands. It was here, surrounded by locals and tourists alike, that I truly began to notice the absolutely stunning architecture of Havana. It’s been said that, due to Cuba’s location and its astounding multiculturalism, Havana, particularly Havana Vieja, showcases every known style of Western architecture. I don’t know if that’s actually true, but it certainly seems possible. Ice cream-colored accents of apartment buildings speak to the Art Deco movement. Opulent plazas with exquisite detail represent the undeniable influence of the Iberian Peninsula. Gorgeous decorative moldings and relief sculptures attest to the influence of Art Nouveau. The beauty is awe-inspiring, yet I don’t know that I would have noticed the diverse and dazzling styles had Alexander not told me perhaps the best advice I received while in Cuba. “Look up,” he had said. Prior to his saying that, I had been looking only straight ahead, so taken with the people and businesses that I was moving quickly forward, looking for more, more, more. He took my shoulder and told me to slow down,

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admire the multi-story buildings for the artworks they were and observe the history that resides in every edifice. Many of the ground levels of these buildings weren’t particularly beautiful, but the floors above showcased magnificent architectural grandeur. Alexander explained that this dichotomy exists because homeowners often capitalize on their home’s location, converting the first floor into a business while leaving the rest of the stories above to the residences. While the first floors are the modern present with Cuban-themed merchandise and souvenirs spilling through the doorways, the upper levels are the gorgeous past, steeped in diversity and unadulterated elegance. When passing some of the open cafes, the air was absolutely saturated with the smells of Cuban food, constantly teasing me with my next meal. At home, I love Cuban food. Havana Rumba is one of my absolute favorite restaurants, and the food my mother and grandparents would prepare when I was a child was always something to anticipate. Cuban food in Cuba, however, is not exactly the same. The basic flavors are indeed comparable – citrus, garlic, tomato – but the elaborate

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dishes that are popular here in the U.S. are not quite as common there. Instead, people rely on the staples of rice, beans, pork and some sort of chip made from a fried vegetable – though rarely potato. Beverages, however, are indeed what we Americans have come to expect. Mojitos and Cuba Libres are popular, as are vodka-based drinks due to the influence of the Soviet Union. Without question, though, rum is the liquor of choice for the nation, particularly Havana Club, a world-renowned rum as famous for its scarcity as for its flavor. In Cuba though, there’s no shortage of the stuff, as many an afternoon can be spent sitting at Hemingway’s preferred bar, El Floridita, sipping on the seven-year variety of Havana Club. However, not many will be able to Instagram their tropical cocktail, as technology is the one area where the country falters. Before the advent of smartphones, very few Cuban citizens had regular access to Internet, and while that has increased WINTER 2015

with the number of mobile phones in the country, still less than half of the population has regular Internet access. Indeed, Internet at home is a luxury, and access exists for most only at certain hot spots. Hotels, for example, attract crowds of locals who must first visit a telecommunications store to purchase a username and password before finding a spot to sit within a hotel’s Wi-Fi range. As they are not allowed in the hotels themselves, they must sit just outside its doors, perched on ledges and stoops for the short amount of time they’re able to connect. On my journey, throughout the day, I was glad to be without Internet access and pleased to have my eyes on the sights as opposed to a screen. The next day though, when I had my own freedom to explore, I needed my phone’s help to get me to the only place I knew I had to visit while in Cuba: the Hotel Nacional. My mother, who remained eminently jealous she couldn’t go on the trip with me, told me it was the place that she, her parents and two siblings

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had stayed the night before they left the country almost 45 years ago. I absolutely had to see it in person. While connected to Wi-Fi, I wrote down the directions and started on the half-mile walk. I wandered through the streets, less magnificent than Havana Vieja but just as distinguished – due not to the architecture but to the color. From stunning ceruleans to pastel pinks, the colors permeated the facades of the homes. This cultural aspect, I discovered, can be traced to a past Spanish regulation that dictated every building must be light-colored. While that originally meant lots of whites, tans and beiges, it has since grown to include every color imaginable – on every surface imaginable. Vibrant colors exist on buildings, as well as benches and fences, stoops and doors. I was so captivated observing the wealth of color just as Alexander had instructed – by looking up – that I nearly stumbled over a table that had been set up on the sidewalk. Around it, four men sat playing dominoes. Noticing the picture created by the street scene and the sight of the sea in the background, I stepped back and simply watched. The sounds of nearby car horns could be heard mixed with the clacking of the game pieces to create an absolutely singular sensory experience. I wanted to stay and watch, just to soak up the flavor of the culture, but I told myself I had to move on and quit rudely staring. After walking a few more blocks, I thought I had gotten lost and wouldn’t be able to find the hotel. Just as I was giving up hope, I rounded a corner, and it came into view. Massive, stately and elaborate, the Hotel Nacional de Cuba sat perched on a hill overlooking the ocean. I climbed the incline to the entrance and felt absolutely transported through time. The lobby was glittering with its decoration, featuring glamour reminiscent of Old Hollywood. Framed photographs hung on the walls, celebrating the history of the hotel. I stood in the middle of the lobby and closed my eyes. I imagined my mother at the time, 13-years-old, trepidatious about the journey ahead but nonetheless

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taken with the majesty of the hotel. I found myself getting a little too emotional and decided to best remedy this by finding my way to the bar. Refreshed with some Havana Club, I thought back to my first impression of the closeness of the U.S. and Cuba that was confirmed at the Cafe el Escorial. In this very hotel, my mother had begun the seemingly impossible journey of getting to the United States. It took two countries and one year, but for me, just two airplanes and about six hours total from door to door. It is truly so very, very close. I gazed past the billowing red curtains that draped the archways of the covered lounge to the fountain, where a group of American visitors were seated, when I realized – it’s not just me who can come here now; it’s everyone, to some extent. Though tourism is still not a government-approved reason to travel from the U.S. to Cuba, the restrictions on traveling to the island have been loosened, and now, if one wants to go to Cuba, it is entirely possible. The veil, in a way, is being lifted. The gates that have been sealing this Caribbean country from the U.S. are slowly being pushed open, and hopefully soon, Americans will have unrestricted travel access to Cuba and experience the wonder that resides there. Inevitably, they’ll have the same revelation that I did – Cuba is not a small, poor country where the people are unhappy and stuck in the past. Rather, it is a city so richly dense with culture that pays just as much respect to the past as it does the future. Locals are kind and friendly, happy to engage with tourists of all nationalities. Though the country may not be the wealthiest, it has an ineffable amount of value that has nothing to do with money. If you get the chance to go someday, seize the opportunity. You will see everything that you always hoped you would. From sunbathed moorish balconies evocative of paintings of women in white sundresses to staggering monuments of the country’s past leaders – it’s all there in more three-dimensional splendor than you could ever imagine.

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Cuba is not a small, poor country where the people are unhappy and stuck in the past. Rather, it is a city so richly dense with culture that pays just as much respect to the past as it does the future.

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Gown - Ismael de la Caridad Location - El Malecón de Havana Model – Yéssica Borroto 40 T H E V O I C E O F L O U I S V I L L E |

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La MIRADA de BELLEZA

General Director - Jorge Luis Frías Finance - Anarlyn Oliva and Ivo Zuaznávar Artistic Production - Clarissa Pérez, Antonio Hernández, Jessie Fraga and Grises Escobar Stylists - Leo León and Oscar González Pulido Assistants - Yeny Rodríguez and Bárbara Gisela Rodríguez Creative Director and Style Editor - Lori Kommor Photographer - Clay Cook

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Dress – Jacqueline Fumero Location – Loma del Angel Model – Laura Pupo

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Outfits – José Luis González Location – Catedral de Havana Model – Laura Ortega & Jorge Pérez

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Dress – Juan Carlos López Location – Bar Benny Moré Model – Ivis González

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Top & skirt – Carmen Fiol Purse – RYO (Roly Rius) Location – Paseo del Prado Model – María Karla Herrera

Guayabera dress – Emiliano Nelson Shorts & shirt – Mario Freixas Necklace & Bracelets – RYO (Roly Rius) Location – Loma del Angel Models – Ivis González & Miguel González

Guayabera shirt – Emiliano Nelson Location – El Malecón de Havana Model – Jorge Pérez

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Dress & necklaces – José Luis González Location – Paseo del Prado Model – Yéssica Borroto

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Dress & necklaces – José Luis González Location – Calle San Lázaro Model – Naivys Fernández

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Top, skirt & jacket – RYO (Roly Rius) Location – Calle Amargura Model – Yéssica Borroto 50 T H E V O I C E O F L O U I S V I L L E |

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Guayabera shirt – Emiliano Nelson Location – Lomo del Angel Model – Jorge Pérez

Blouse & shorts – RYO (Roly Rius) Shirt – Mario Freixas Location – Parque Central Models – Ivis González & Miguel González

Jumpsuit – Mario Freixas Location – Callejón del Chorro Model – María Karla Herrera 52 T H E V O I C E O F L O U I S V I L L E |

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Blouse & skirt – Ismael de la Caridad Shirt & pants – Mario Freixas Necklace – RYO (Roly Rius) Location – El Malecón de Havana Model – Laura Pupo & Miguel González

Blouse & pants – Carmen Fiol Location – Cristo de Havana Model – Naivys Fernández

Dress – Juan Carlos López Location – Cristo de Havana Model – Yéssica Borroto

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Blouse & pants – Carmen Fiol Bracelet – RYO (Roly Rius) Location – Hotel Conde de Villanueva Model – María Karla Herrera WINTER 2015

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Dress – Carmen Fiol Earrings – RYO (Roly Rius) Location – Escuela Nacional de Ballet Model – Naivys Fernández 56 T H E V O I C E O F L O U I S V I L L E |

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Body Scrubs CARITA Paris Chemical Peels Cosmetics Bar Dermafile Dermaplane Eye Brow / Lash Tinting Face and Body Waxing Gentleman’s Facial LED Light Therapy Make-up Application Massage Therapy OBAGI PCA Skin SkinCeuticals SkinMedica TRUFFLE Therapeutic Facials ZenSKYN Color Collection

Louisville’s Premiere Boutique Spa 227 Chenoweth Lane 502.894.3335 skynlounge.com | zenskyn.com Gift Cards Available

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The True Meaning of Restored Relations with

CUBA Written by Ben Gierhart Photography by Clay Cook Childhood Photos Courtesy of Rafael Hernandez

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Rafael Hernández

olitical or personal, large or small, longstanding rifts are notoriously difficult to repair and become even more difficult to manage with time. The United States’ uncertain relationship with Cuba has led to just this sort of rift. However, when the Obama administration changed its policies in 2014, officially re-establishing diplomatic relations with Cuba, it signified something important. The strained political relationship between the two nations that had been festering for over 50 years began the healing process. Of course, the ramifications of the policy change affect more than just senators and ambassadors – they affect people as well. One of these people is Cuban-native and current Louisville citizen Rafael Hernández. Now 36, Hernández has fond memories of growing up in the Pearl of the Antilles and recalls that his grandfather was a veterinarian: “Yeah, he had dogs, alligators and tigers. I had a pretty good childhood. I was just like any kid, running around playing baseball, soccer.” When the United States placed an embargo on Cuba, effectively stopping all commerce with the nation, technology on the island more or less came to a standstill. Everything, including automobiles, essentially froze in time. Hernández says that, even now, “95 percent of cars [in Cuba] are from the ’50s, and 95 percent of them aren’t running on their original parts.” This embargo took a toll on Cuba’s economy, one that Rafael has experienced firsthand. “My mom was a pathologist, the head of her department, and she made $39 to $43 a month. This was the early-mid-’90s, but you could make more money selling sandwiches out of your house.” Rafael’s experience was hardly unique. The stories of desperate immigration, people literally swimming to their dreams to the U.S. and spending life

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savings only to find themselves huddled together in crowded boats (partly because of so many people in the limited space and partly to keep warm from the unrelenting spray of the sea) are not exaggerated. In an attempt to gain a modicum of control over the situation, the United States and Cuba devised the Special Program for Cuban Migration (SPCM), more commonly known as “The Cuban Lottery.” The newly operational United States Embassy in Cuba had this to say: “Because the total number of persons qualifying for immigrant visas and refugee status does not normally reach the 20,000 that the U.S. has agreed to authorize each year pursuant to the joint U.S.Cuban Migration Accords of 1994, the U.S. has adopted a lottery system by which persons who do not qualify as refugees or immigrants can seek to enter the U.S. This system is unique to Cuba and separate from the worldwide diversity visa lottery for which Cubans are also eligible.” According to Hernández, there are a few rules and caveats to the lottery. In order to enter, one must be at least a high school graduate, possess no criminal record, undergo a medical examination and interview and, upon selection, pay all travel accommodations up front. Any spouse may travel with the selectee, as well as any dependent under the age of 21. Hernández’s mother and father were 16 and 20 years old respectively when they had him, and they separated shortly thereafter. It was his mother who entered and won the lottery, ensuring her and her son’s future in a new country. “We got to choose three different cities to move to. One was Louisville, one was Syracuse, and I don’t remember the other one. We didn’t know much, but we knew that Syracuse was too cold.” Hernández knew no English upon arriving in Louisville, but he and his mother used their

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immigrant statuses to take free English as a second language courses at Jefferson Community and Technical College. Kentucky Refugee Ministries, an organization affiliated with the Cuban Lottery to help with immigrants’ transition to America, offered food and shelter to Hernández and his mother. Eventually, both graduated and were able to secure work and residences of their own. His mother worked as a nursing assistant and for a late-night office cleaning service. Hernández himself worked for a company

that cut and supplied lumber for hardware stores, eventually adding to his list of employment Kentucky Fried Chicken and the same office cleaning service as his mother. Soon enough, Hernández completed his associate degree in culinary arts at Sullivan University and began working as a sous chef at Mojito Tapas Restaurant. Working diligently, he climbed the industry ladder and even served as the executive chef and manager at Rails Restaurant and Bar in La Grange while simultaneously

working on his bachelor’s in management at Sullivan. “It used to be that if you were from Cuba, you could only visit once every three years. Under Obama, it was once a year. My mother’s side is here [in the United States], but all of my father’s side is there. Now I can go see my family whenever I want,” he says. Due to a complicated combination of the policy changes and Rafael’s grandfather being of Spanish descent, Rafael was finally able to reunite with his father in the United States within the last six months. “I always knew my mom and dad as friends more than anything. We all used to hang out every day, so it’s been nice to return to how things used to be.” In truth, this policy change is nothing more than a more large-scale attempt to return to how things used to be. If Hernández’s story is any indication, however, it seems that the change is moving down to the families and people who matter. An old divide is finally being removed, and people like Rafael, the country and the world are all the better for it. Be it deserved or not, the United States has a reputation for being the “Land of Opportunity,” for being a place where people can achieve their dreams, regardless of the adversity in their background or the loftiness of their goals. Hernández is one of hundreds of thousands, with similar aspirations, who immigrate to the United States every year. When asked what Rafael first thought when he finally arrived in America, he said, “When I first came to America, it was like being a kid in Disney World. Something sparked my mind. I remember thinking that I might have a chance to do something here.”

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People argue about the wisdom of Obama’s actions and whether resuming a political relationship with Cuba is a good idea. But seeing families reunited with the ability to honor their homeland and culture at any time makes it difficult to imagine any other alternative. This change in policy simply affords more people the ability to earn the life they deserve. In fact, in regards to the United States and its own core values, this decision ultimately makes the United States even more “American.” WINTER 2015

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Fashion Fashion Forward Forward without without spending spending aaFortune. Fortune.

Hours Hours Mon–Sat Mon–Sat 10–5 10–5 pm pm Thurs Thurs 10–8 10–8 pm pm

502.895.3711 502.895.3711 150150 Chenoweth Chenoweth Lane Lane

Oxmoor Smoke Shoppe Welcomes All Written by Nicholas Moore Photography by Clay Cook 68 T H E V O I C E O F L O U I S V I L L E |

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aul “J. Paul” Tucker is one of the top cigar aficionados in Louisville and well-known throughout his industry. His Oxmoor Smoke Shoppe sits unassumingly in the center of the mall near Dick’s Sporting Goods. He is the only original standing tenant in Oxmoor Mall, enjoys what he does and doesn’t have plans to stop anytime soon. Before sitting down to write this story, I decided to do some first-hand research. J. Paul gave me a package with a few cigars and said, “Now, these are very mild, perfect for guys like yourself just starting off.” I brought the package home, then, one night, I took one out for myself and gave one to my father. We lit a bonfire we had been meaning to tend to for weeks, sat in some rocking chairs around the fire and lit up our cigars. I recalled what J. Paul told me – “Puff slowly as you’re lighting it and turn the cigar slightly while you light it to get an even burn on all sides.”

I was admittedly skeptical. I had never smoked cigars before and didn’t really get it. But I was curious! So I blocked out the time and found myself sitting with my father, each of us with a cigar in mouth. Here, I was following one of the most important components of cigar culture J. Paul had imparted to me. “Make sure you have the time to sit down and enjoy a cigar if you are going to smoke it,” he said. The reason for this is two-fold. The first is relaxation. Cigars symbolize a time to step back from life and take a breath, both metaphorically and literally. The second is taste. Cigars have as much nuance of taste as bourbons and even wines. Hints of vanilla, mint and more can roll across your tongue as you let the smoke swirl, creating a full sensory experience.

“Cigar culture neutralizes things. You can have people from many different walks of life sit down and enjoy cigars together.”

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As I sat smoking cigars with my father, we were more relaxed around each other and had better conversation than we had had in years. This reminded me of something else J. Paul had said: “Cigar culture neutralizes things. You can have people from many different walks of life sit down and enjoy cigars together.” The photos on the walls of Oxmoor Smoke Shoppe exemplify this communal aspect of cigar culture. J. Paul has shots of himself with Rick Pitino, Jeb Bush and Rudy Giuliani. When asked how he met Giuliani, he smiles and says, “He

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walked into my store and said, ‘Coach Pitino sent me.’” J. Paul then had cigars with Giuliani when visiting New York. He has also met John Travolta, Terry Bradshaw, Muhammad Ali’s daughter – the list goes on. J. Paul doesn’t display these photos to boast, however. They simply stand as testament to his skill in the cigar industry and his friendly disposition. J. Paul enjoys the people he meets in the cigar business, famous or not, and recognizes that it is they who keep his business successful. “I love this business. The people are great!” he exclaims. The numbers suggest that the people love him just as much in return. When Jefferson County passed its county-wide smoking ban for businesses in 2008, for example, J. Paul expected at least a 30 percent drop in business. This did not turn out to be the case. In fact, his numbers were not affected much at all, and he credits this to his customer-focused strategy. Oxmoor Smoke Shoppe carries more than just cigars. J. Paul sells pipes, different flavors of in-house blended tobacco and many smoking accessories such as humidors, lighters and more. When the store opened in 1973, pipes and pipe tobacco accounted for most sales. This changed in 1992 with the publication of the first issue of Cigar Aficionado. Celebrities and other well-known faces were continually featured in the magazine, bringing the love of cigars into common culture and conversation. J. Paul said he noticed a 33 percent hike in cigar sales nearly overnight, and for the most part, this trend has remained steady. From the admitted novice to the experienced smoker, J. Paul talks with every customer who enters his store. He enjoys chatting with people to help them find what they’re looking for and, above all, enjoy their own personal smoking experience. The man has spent decades building his knowledge of cigars and tobaccos across multiple countries and continents and uses everything he has learned to help each customer. This knowledge, combined with his welcoming and genuine disposition, is clearly the recipe for his success. You can discover more about Oxmoor Smoke Shoppe at oxmoorshokeshoppe.com and facebook.com/Oxmoor-Smoke-Shoppe. 70 T H E V O I C E O F L O U I S V I L L E |

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Written by Wesley Kerrick Photo by Clay Cook Product Photography Courtesy of InGrid Designs 74 T H E V O I C E O F L O U I S V I L L E |

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Her Grand Design G

rowing up in Puerto Rico, Ingrid Hernández was immersed in art. She often found herself in museums, where her parents instilled in her a deep appreciation for it. Her mom was talented at drawing. Her grandfather had designed shoes, and her grandmother, clothing. But for all that inspiration,

blood, that my family is Cuban,” Hernández says. As a child, she picked up both the Puerto Rican and Cuban cultures, as well as the Spanish and English languages. Hernández was in eighth grade when she saw her own artistic light. That’s when she entered a poster competition her school was holding to promote a production of “Fiddler on the Roof.” Out of all the middle school and high school entries, her poster won. “That was my ‘aha’ moment,” she recalls. She had discovered her thing. And, with the encouragement of those around her, her confidence began to rise. “I started studying art a lot,” she says, “and I really, really liked it.” After high school, Hernández returned to the U.S. to study graphic design at Rhode Island School of Design – a college so prestigious that only 350 freshmen were allowed in each year. Once she’d earned her degree, she worked for a couple years in Massachusetts until she could find the job she really wanted. “I was working with a headhunter, and I said, ‘I’ll just move wherever ... I just want a good job.’ And the first company they talked to me about was this company here in Louisville.”

Hernández somehow didn’t see herself as an artist and certainly didn’t know her destiny would be to run an award-winning graphic design firm. Hernández was born in Maryland, simply because her parents chose to travel there for her birth. Her parents and grandparents hailed from Cuba. Her great grandparents came to Cuba from Spain. “It’s always going to be in my roots, in my

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That company was graphic design firm Stewart, Lopez-Bonilla & Associates. In 1992, she moved to Louisville and took the job. And for 23 years now, Louisville has been her home. After about five years, Hernández switched to another Louisville firm, Weber Shandwick – which is now New West – where she put in another five years or so.

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She then temporarily moved back to Puerto Rico to take care of her grandmother. When she returned to Louisville, she started her own company that is still growing 13 years later. As a play on her first name, she called it InGrid Design, and as the president of the new company, she picked up where she had left off with her clients at Weber Shandwick. The clients were happy to stick with The InGrid team.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;When we start working with a client and we give them quality work and good customer service and good creative solutions, they stay with us forever.â&#x20AC;?

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her. They knew they had something special – an exceptionally artistic designer who could create content in both of the two major languages of their audiences. After about five years, the business had outgrown Hernández’s home, so she bought a building on Baxter Avenue. “It killed me to have to say no to a big client, a big project,” she says, “and that’s when I knew that I needed to grow.” Since InGrid’s second year of operation, the firm has been creating

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nationwide marketing campaigns for the Girls Scouts’ annual cookie program. “It’s really fun,” Hernández says. The firm’s longest-standing client is Yum! Brands; Hernández started working with Yum! before launching her own company. Another major client is Louisville-based SVS, which provides gift cards and stored value services around the world. “When we start working with a client and we give them quality work and good customer service and

good creative solutions, they stay with us forever,” Hernández claims. While InGrid has kept its long-term clients, it’s also won new ones. The continuous accumulation of work can only mean one thing for the size of the firm’s staff: growth. Including Hernández, the firm has 15 employees now. “I feel that my team is my family,” she says, “and that this business is my baby.” For more information, visit ingriddesign.com.

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Written by Breanna Price Photography by Clay Cook 80 T H E V O I C E O F L O U I S V I L L E |

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Flavor That’s Always in Style I

t’s been said in the fashion world that black never goes out of style. The little black dress, or LBD, has its own acronym for a reason. No matter how many times you wear it, no matter who sees you in it or how old it is, it shall forever be considered classic. The same can apparently be said for Havana Rumba, Louisville’s Cuban culinary locale.

expand the business.”

Friends coming into town? Craving the perfect mojito? Havana Rumba’s the Louisville go-to, the what-do-you-mean-you-haven’t-been-there-wehave-to-fix-that-right-now venue of choice. Odds are you’ve been to one of their three locations at least once – if not three times in one week.

Depending on your timing, the day of the week and maybe a little luck (or lack thereof ), you could find yourself with a similar wait. But with a full bar, an energetic crowd and brassy background rhythms to keep you occupied, the wait will feel shorter than you’d expect.

And while it’s unclear just how many locations it will take to satisfy Louisville’s appetite for the succulent glory of the masas de puerco or the ropa vieja, it’s clear the number hasn’t been reached yet.

Moreover, a longer wait gives you more time to scope out dishes and pick the perfect one, which is easier said than done when every two minutes a new bouquet of savory goodness finds its way to you and your nostrils. But if you still end up being undecided, don’t stress too much. It’s hard to order wrong on a menu where everything is made from scratch at dawn each morning by each location’s chefs.

It’s been over a decade since the original location opened in St. Matthews, but owner Marcos Lorenzo, who immigrated to the U.S. from Cuba in 2000, remembers its very first night. “We only had 16 tables. Very little space. We were all a little afraid, but then we got busy and there was no time to be afraid,” Lorenzo recalls. “We just are very, very happy and proud to be part of the Louisville community. By seeing the success of the first one, it was a force to keep going. From the beginning it was a success, so we decided to

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Within weeks, patrons were waiting up to two hours for a table. It can be easy to say this was beginner’s luck, that the initial introduction of a good restaurant into a city can be like that. But what does it say about a restaurant when the same can be said 11 years and two additional locations later? I like to think it says something delicious.

“Some recipes are my mother-in-law’s,” Lorenzo explains. “It’s very traditional. It’s what we do every day at home. But it’s just fresh ingredients. It’s nothing really fancy; it’s just very simple home-cooking.” Lorenzo, who studied civil engineering before

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transitioning into the restaurant business after moving to the U.S., recommends the chicken fricassee – his personal favorite. “I just love it from when I was a child,” he affirms. “I don’t ever get bored with it. It’s tomato wine sauce, potatoes, capers and a little bit of rice … It’s like a chicken stew. It’s just so savory and intense that I love it.”

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lot of time and hours to make sure everything works,” he says. “When the business is new, it takes a little bit more energy and time, but that’s the reason we take it one step at a time, opening a new location every two or three years.” It’s been about two years since the most recent location opened on Bardstown Road.

He’s not the only one loving the food. Louisville has certainly illustrated its support over the years, so much so that Lorenzo has had the opportunity to open multiple locations, a taxing endeavor in its own right.

“Usually we make that decision right now at the end of the year or beginning of next year,” Lorenzo relates. “There are four or five of us and we get together every year and decide, and I think we’re ready.”

“Every time I open a location, I get really, really busy because you have to dedicate a

For more information, please visit havanarumbaonline.com.

Hint hint, wink wink.

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Written by Nicholas Moore Photos Courtesy of The Speed Art Museum 88 T H E V O I C E O F L O U I S V I L L E |

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he new Speed Art Museum is unlike anything this city has ever seen. From sneakers to Cezanne to cinema, it truly will hold more than one could imagine. It will move Louisville into the realm of other major metropolitan cities like Paris and New York, boasting cutting-edge art museums fit for the times we live in. The project has been seven years in the making, moving along largely without problems. Louisville, her neighborhoods and her visitors will be not only inspired by the new Speed Art Museum but also drawn in to have fun, become curious and, through the art, learn something about themselves and each other. Then, they will come back for more. The original Speed Art Museum was founded in 1925 by Hattie Bishop Speed as a memorial to her husband, James Breckinridge Speed. For all of the 20th century, it enjoyed consistent growth, success and support from the community. It acquired works of art by masters such as Rembrandt, Matisse and Picasso and saw numerous expansions necessitated by the growing collection (approximately 800 pieces to date, which will increase to around 1,000 when it reopens). However, by 2011, the Board of Trustees had come to realize that a few things needed to happen to continue its growth and success. “Most museums [not on the West or East Coast] are typically like the Speed – 90 to 100-years-old, a couple of additions in the ’60s and ’70s,” explains Ghislain d’Humières, director of the Speed since 2013. “Either they need to reinvent themselves or they’re just going slowly toward becoming less and less attended.” D’Humières is an incredibly engaging man with an enthusiasm for his work, the museum and its mission that is palpable when you’re with him. If there was anyone perfect for unveiling the new Speed Art Museum to the world, ensuring its success, inspiring those around him and loving every moment of it, it is him. And reinventing itself is exactly what the Speed has done. Most reports of the cost of the complete overhaul of the museum claim the total to be $51.1 million. But that is not exactly accurate. The original plan was to complete the project’s

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renovations and construction in multiple phases with breaks in between. The total cost of all phases – the master plan – is actually closer to $79 million. With the $60 million raised by the Speed’s capital campaign and its continued fundraising plus the unexpected $18 million gift of the family of the late Owsley Brown II in 2013, the Speed has been able to complete the master plan in its entirety all at once. On March 12, 2016, the Speed Art Museum will open the doors to its new campus, which includes a new three-story north building, the renovated original three-story museum building and a new two-story south building. All of these will be connected, allowing visitors to move between them without going outside. 92 T H E V O I C E O F L O U I S V I L L E |

The best way to visualize this new art oasis is to go from the outside in. When asked what he thinks will surprise guests the most when the museum reopens, d’Humières had this to say: “The building. It’s stunning. The space, the transparency, the light, the welcoming aspect, the two acres of park … The whole campus will be very welcoming.” Site-specific art from artists around the world will be brought in for the park, which will also include a shallow 8,000-square-foot pool. The “transparency” d’Humières mentions alludes to one of the most celebrated architectural features of the new buildings: the glass walls. They can be seen in the project renderings

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and, as they are already partially erected, are easily visible when driving by the site on Third Street. They represent one of the strongest strategic focuses of the project – that the museum feel welcoming to the community. These transparent walls will fill the space with light and literally open the museum to the public. Other notable features include concrete walls poured to look like wood grain, wooden floors and archways, exterior walls made of champagne-colored corrugated metal and a floating grand staircase in the original building with a large skylight above. Another new and exciting element of the new Speed Art Museum is its stateof-the-art cinema. Trustee Owsley Brown WINTER 2015

“The building. It’s stunning. The space, the transparency, the light, the welcoming aspect, the two acres of park ... The whole campus will be very welcoming. WINTER 2015

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III, a film enthusiast, contributed funds to support the building of the 140-seat theatre, which will run 16mm, 35mm and digital films. With a talented curator coming from the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, the program will be comprised of international independent movies, art movies and more. This is expected to bring a completely different crowd to the museum. There will also be a new space for contemporary art, a Kentucky Gallery featuring art from around the state, a floor specifically dedicated to housing international exhibitions and an event space available for entertainment, receptions and symposiums, complete with in-house catering from the cafe’s chef, – Susan Hershberg, owner of Wiltshire Pantry catering company. This eclectic mix of new elements reflects the diverse demographic the Speed is strategically focusing on bringing into the museum; they want the museum to speak to the whole of Louisville’s diverse community. Before, the Speed Art Museum might have been seen as a somewhat formal-feeling place, mostly for seasoned artlovers. When asked if that would continue when the Speed reopens, d’Humières was quick to respond, “No. We are completely changing that. We are going to be across the board into the community, any kind of socioeconomic background. Our programming, exhibitions and outreach programs into the community will help this.” An exciting example of such an exhibition is September’s sneaker show, “Out of the Box: The Rise of Sneaker Culture.” Chronicling 150 years of sneaker culture, it is but one of many symbols of the new feel of the new Speed. The Speed will also offer free admission on Sundays to ensure its affordability for anyone who wishes to venture in. This program is funded in full for the first year, and they are working to continue funding it moving forward. D’Humières wants to celebrate the rich diversity of the Speed’s patrons and have its art serve as the mechanism for this. “Having a common conversation can enhance culture through art,” he claims. “We really want to create a space that’s beautiful, transparent and welcoming, where you can really feel the creativity. The creativity is through the art. Painting, sculpture, poetry, music, creative writing – name it. We are not religious, we are not political. We 94 T H E V O I C E O F L O U I S V I L L E |

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“We are going to be across the board into the community, any kind of socioeconomic background.” WINTER 2015

are neutral. We are the place where you can really understand and feel 6,000 years of creativity and understand for yourself that there is something there inherently meaningful.” The Speed will offer many new phenomenal programs to the community, further diversifying its offerings. Global Speed is a lecture series of art talks featuring speakers from all over the art world. The new Social Speed offers a series of events the second Thursday of every month, including creative art-making activities, fun tours and games, lively music, a cash bar and more. Wall Together will work with

community educators, organizations and nonprofit groups to create original works of art over several visits and then display the art in the museum. Without question, there is much to look forward to once the Speed at last opens. Its reintroduction to the community not only will redefine the museum itself but also raise Louisville up to a whole new cultural level. The Speed Art Museum will open its doors to the public on March 12, 2016. You can find out more about the museum and its trove of exciting offerings at speedmuseum. org.

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3911 CHENOWETH SQUARE • LOUISVILLE, KY 40207 • 502.893.4252

Written by Breanna Price Photography by Clay Cook 100 T H E V O I C E O F L O U I S V I L L E |

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Shopping Locally,

Considered S

tanding at the helm of a new, part boutique and part gallery in Louisville is Casey Emrich, a photographer and graduate from the University of Cincinnati’s College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning (DAAP). You could say her store is a collection of the authentically original; every piece inside Consider Boutique is either handmade, one-of-a-kind or both. And the decision to open it was a passionate albeit savvy one. “I’ve always wanted to own an art gallery, but art galleries often don’t make money until they’re open for a long period of time,” explains Emrich. “So I figured if I could sell handmade goods but still have the gallery going then it would kind of balance everything out and I would have more income than just the gallery.” Before her brainchild even came to mind, Emrich spent the years between graduating with her B.F.A. in photography and opening the gallery boutique similarly to how the inside of her store could be described: eclectic but methodical. She worked in printing at a photography lab, in management at another local retail store and as a receptionist at an architecture firm, all before opening Consider Boutique’s doors for the first time on November 1, 2010 in the Highlands. Then, last year, Emrich made the decision to relocate to Bayly Avenue, just off of Frankfort Avenue in Crescent Hill – a move that’s already paying off. “Before, I was more in the drinking and eating area of the Highlands, so the reception has

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already been so much better here,” Emrich describes. “It’s kind of a destination shopping spot.” But on the first Saturday of each month – barring May and July for Derby and Independence Day respectively – the inside of Consider is transformed from a boutique to a gallery, showcasing the artist of that particular month’s work. While October featured a local photographer, November’s opening will feature Sarah Tidwell, a local artist who paints on both canvas and natural materials, vibrantly illustrating creatures with feathers, fur or fins. December will follow with Lizzie Gulick, a local artist who works in textiles to create intricate tapestries. This mix of mediums and artistic style is exactly what Emrich is aiming for.

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“I think that diversity is what makes our city original, and I love that about Louisville.”

“I try to get different things. I think that diversity is what makes our city original, and I love that about Louisville. This past year, I had a printmaker, a couple different painters; I had a woman who did fiber work where she stitched, kind of like quilting, except she did pictures of things like bicycles and buildings,” Emrich elaborates. “There have just been some really amazing artists that I’m really proud to have had in the store.” That pride may come in part from the fact that Emrich, even with finding success, still happily does a large majority of the work herself, having chosen not to hire any employees, or at least, not yet. Emrich’s friend and Emrich’s mother 102 T H E V O I C E O F L O U I S V I L L E |

volunteer to take her spot running the store on Wednesdays and Sundays in order to give the boutique owner some deserved time off. Any other day of the week, patrons can easily find Emrich should they ever have a question or interest in a particular artist.

really try to sell things on all of the pricing scales.”

And with customers flocking to the shop daily and gallery showings booked all the way through to the end of 2016, it’s looking like the business model Emrich designed for herself is working.

Inside, customers will find anything from $3 greeting cards to $500 works of fine art, allowing those of us without a considerable shopping budget to own something that’s completely ours and ours alone. We can keep things local and keep Louisville weird without keeping things overpriced. So whatever you’re looking for during your holiday shopping, consider Consider.

“I think everybody loves the idea of having something that’s one-of-a-kind,” she muses. “But sometimes, the economy doesn’t really allow people to have that free money that they could spend. So I

Consider Boutique is located at 107 S. Bayly Ave. For more information, please contact Casey Emrich by phone at 502.409.6300 or by email at consider. something@gmail.com.

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Big City

DESIGN in a Quiet Way

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Douglas Riddle President & COO, Bittners

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A Revolution in Design

ouisville is without a doubt a foodie paradise. In this wonderful oasis of flavors and dining destinations we call home, there’s something for every inclination your palette might have. Louisville continually births these amazing options; it is part of the great culture of the city. As part of the ritual of “going out,” more often than not, we ask ourselves, “What should I wear to this place?” Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to go experience the exquisite tastes of fine dining, in all of its breadth of food, drink and atmosphere, and not have to worry about what to wear? Furthermore, what if this fantasy restaurant had an unassuming back door, which led you up an oxblood red stairwell with deep red walls, past a charcuterie and cheese kitchen, to an entirely different destination? What if it had a speakeasystyle lounge with big, comfortable couches, a swanky bar, dimmed lighting and a charming stage for pop-up performances by some of the best in the business passing through our city? Well, this place is here. It’s Butchertown Grocery, and it is open and ready for you to come through its doors to explore, dine and enjoy. In the heart of the Butchertown neighborhood, accomplished attorney and businessman Jon Salomon, famous executive chef Bobby Benjamin, My Morning Jacket drummer Patrick Hallahan and an unassuming creative designer turned the shell of an old grocery store building into the city’s hottest new dining destination. Casual fine dining is what this place is all about. But don’t be fooled. The atmosphere was meticulously created by Douglas Riddle, president and COO of Bittners, and his team, Chad Cobb and Sara Robinson. Bittners is an award-winning, nationally

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renowned design firm that we are fortunate to have located right here in Louisville! The nuances of Butchertown Grocery’s design subtly sneak up on you, like good design should. Riddle didn’t want anything to really stick out individually; he wanted it to blend together seamlessly. The fact that Riddle was the designer of the project is enough alone to make headlines. He only takes on about two projects a year, and they’re almost always out of town. He was excited to create the design for Butchertown Grocery because of the great personal relationships he already had with its owners. Riddle knew they would trust him to get creative and do what he does best. However, Riddle is quick to make clear that this was absolutely collaborative. “The project has really been a team thing from the beginning because all of the owners are very passionate about this project,” Riddle expresses. “You know, one’s a rock star, one’s a celebrity chef, and the other is a big-time lawyer. We’re not short of opinions! But they’re great guys, and I love their input and their passion for it. And we all worked really well together. We all sort of got where each of us was coming from, and I think, from that is why it’s turned out so great.” The inspiration for the space came while Riddle, along with the partners, visited The Odeon restaurant in Tribeca, a famous eatery many may recognize from their red neon sign featured in the opening credits of old “Saturday Night Live” reruns. Its unique decor, cozy banquettes, chrome accents and overall vibe started the creative design process for Butchertown Grocery. The space is unbelievably rich in multi-layered textures. When you enter the first floor, there are so many different feels to the space. The first thing you notice is the floor itself. Old World porcelain

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Photo by Baron at Circle Star Theatre, San Carlos, CA 12/1967

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mosaic flooring can be seen throughout. Modern Cab Chairs, recognized as one of the significant chair designs of the 20th century, are matched with Carrera marble-top tables, creating the perfect canvas for showcasing Butchertown Grocery’s culinary delights. A u-shaped “chef ’s bar,” where friends can sit and watch the chef create his masterpieces, features a custom reclaimed wood bar handcrafted by Bittners’ own master craftsmen. The rich, dark wood used to make the bar came from historic Whiskey Row in Louisville, and the bar itself is flanked with comfortable leather stools. When you look up, you see the exposed brick walls, original to the building, and old majestic wood beams. These wonderful elements pay homage to the beauty of this historic building. One of the most spectacular elements of the space is that you can see directly back into the restaurant’s kitchen – you have a front-row seat for all of the action. And finally, bringing everything together are the glorious original art pieces and resplendent gobo light designs that adorn the walls. The show continues as you ascend the oxblood back staircase to the second floor lounge, bar and performance space. It’s got a swanky feel, with plenty of comfort and style, and feels like a hip social club where famous rock stars might hang out. Deep hues of dark browns, reds and grays abound. Natural wood, comfortable couches and a completely new, enlarged bar set the mood – with help from the perfectly placed stage in the corner. Also tucked away upstairs is the VIP room, which features a large red velvet banquette. Its cozy feel and closeness creates the perfect space for engaging conversation. “We wanted to keep the downstairs approachable but elegant and keep the upstairs rustic with notes of elegance,” says partner Patrick Hallahan. “It’s focused on cocktails and hanging out, with a charcuterie and cheese program. We wanted it to feel like you’re in your friend’s living room listening to your favorite records.” While you are waiting for a table downstairs, you can enjoy a drink upstairs, or after you have dined, you can hop upstairs to enjoy a completely different experience. Owners plan to have performances of music, comedy, spoken word and

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more upstairs. “So many times I’ve been asked, ‘Where’s a small place I can try out new material?’” says Hallahan, “And we’re going to be able to offer that at the turn of a dime.” As Riddle reiterates, the space is about living. It’s about the food and the drink, the performance space upstairs and the neighborhood feel. And he hopes everyone who comes in feels comfortable. “Someone said to me the other day, ‘What do I wear? Do I need to get something nice?’ And I said, ‘No! Wear what you have! I will be here a lot, and I will be in jeans and a t-shirt!’”

“The space has moodiness to it, a great feel and vibe. A place where you would expect to see a rock star, a poet, a politician, an artist. The space reaches for people from all walks of life ... It’s all about the community and neighbors.” Douglas Riddle, President & COO, Bittners Butchertown Grocery is open for brunch, lunch and dinner. Their delicious and diverse menu is on the website, butchertowngrocery. com, along with information on reservations, special events and more. Riddle’s vision sums it up best. “The space has moodiness to it, a great feel and vibe. A place where you would expect to see a rock star, a poet, a politician, an artist. The space reaches for people from all walks of life. From power lunches to family dinners to partying with your friends, it’s all about the community and neighbors. It’s big city design in a quiet way.”

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Bobby Benjamin Executive Chef & Partner

Joseph (from Men in the Cities), lithograph by Robert Longo, 1979

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Smiles Under

SPOTLIGHT

elta Dental of Kentucky is creating smiles due to more than just oral health and care. They’ve teamed up their charitable initiative, Making Smiles Happen, with Fund for the Arts to form an entirely new initiative aimed at improving arts programming across the state. Making Smiles Happen strives to promote oral health to the residents of Kentucky by contributing to a variety of non-profit partners. It would be easy to write this off as another campaign by a company more interested in good press than actually doing something good for the community, but anyone asserting that wouldn’t have listened to Tammy York-Day, chief operating officer at Delta Dental of Kentucky, speak so passionately about what she believes in. It is a business that views giving back as a core component of its company culture, and Making Smiles Happen allows them to do just that by supporting and partnering with any organization that encourages a healthy lifestyle. This is where Fund for the Arts comes in. As a national leader in corporate partnerships, it currently provides over 400,000 arts experiences to children throughout the region, and its latest partnership with Delta Dental of Kentucky’s Making Smiles Happen will only serve to grow that number as much as possible. “Delta Dental of Kentucky has supported the arts for many years, and we felt it was time to expand our commitment to provide greater statewide impact,” says York-Day. “Fund for the Arts programs bring the opportunity for creativity and culture to so many youths who might not have had previous exposure. Personally, I believe creativity is crucial to not only our youth but to thriving communities.”

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The Initiative in Action Beginning next year, the Delta Dental Making Smiles Happen Arts in Education Initiative will provide arts programming to Jefferson County and 25 Eastern Kentucky counties. Through the initiative, teachers will have the chance to apply for grants that bring arts experiences and programs to students, which will supplement what students are already learning in the classroom.

“This funding will make possible additional arts programming for thousands of students, especially those students who might not otherwise have access to the arts.” “Fund for the Arts is committed to inspiring student success and engaging creative minds through the arts. Delta Dental Making Smiles Happen Arts in Education Initiative is a bold step toward leveraging the arts to help drive academic attainment and a well-rounded education for Kentucky students,” says Christen Boone, Fund for the Arts president and CEO. “We are grateful to partner with Delta Dental of Kentucky to ensure that our students not only continue to smile but also learn crucial 21st century skills through innovative arts programming.”

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Tammy York Day and Christen Boone present a check to Fund for the Arts.

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The initiative is being supported by Delta Dental of Kentucky’s $100,000 donation, which will go directly toward the teacher grants and programming that are chosen. While the deadline for Jefferson County teachers to apply for grants passed on November 30, educators in Eastern Kentucky will have until December 14 to submit their applications for consideration. As York-Day encourages, “Teachers in [these counties] can apply for grants online at the Fund for the Arts website. All grants will be awarded soon! Jefferson County will be announced in December, and Eastern Kentucky recipients will be awarded in January.” But what will these grants look like in action? Anything – and that’s the beauty of it. All awarded grants will be chosen because they will bring about new experiences in the arts, which come in many forms. Some classes will embark on field trips that they otherwise wouldn’t have had in order to experience art outside of the classroom. For others, the programming will come into their school, aiming to spark artistic creativity at students’ desks. “The goal of Making Smiles Happen is to give back to the communities we serve and help support causes that improve the lives of the citizens of the Commonwealth,” York-Day explains. She continues: “Fund for the Arts has been a partner with Delta Dental of Kentucky for many years, but we decided to go bigger this time and really think statewide. This program will be in place a full year, and while the number of students this will reach is impressive, we are particularly excited about the work the Fund for the Arts is doing to truly measure the impact of such statistics and tie them into a larger strategic plan to improve our Commonwealth.” Educational Impact Here’s where the significance of the $100,000 donation to Fund for the Arts becomes clear. First and foremost, the Delta Dental Making Smiles Happen Arts in Education Initiative will allow Fund for the Arts to broaden its reach by serving an additional 12,000 students in 200 classrooms across the state. “This funding will make possible WINTER 2015

additional arts programming for thousands of students, especially those students who might not otherwise have access to the arts,” says Dr. Donna Hargens, superintendent of Jefferson County Public Schools. “Studies show that exposure to the arts helps improve academic achievement, so we are grateful to Delta Dental and Fund for the Arts for making this funding available for teacher grants.” Additionally, as according to a 2005 article published by Critical Links – a collection of research studies that analyze how arts learning experiences affect academic achievement and social development in children and youth – “Critical Links has identified six major types of benefits associated with the study of the arts and student achievement: reading and language skills, mathematics skills, thinking skills, social skills, motivation to learn and a positive school environment.” This means that even students as young as elementary school ages can see notable, positive impacts on their overall level of education by participating in arts learning experiences. But beyond general academic achievement, increased participation in the arts has also been linked to higher test scores. As Critical Links found, “Studies have shown that arts participation and SAT scores co-vary, that is, they tend to increase linearly – the more arts participation and classes taken by students, the higher the scores.” York-Day explains: “We realize how crucial the arts are to the development and education of healthy communities as well as to an overall vibrant and thriving

community. Our hope is that this starts a larger conversation about the importance of arts in education.” In the increasingly competitive scholastic environment of today, it’s easy to default to focusing on the sciences and regard arts education as an afterthought or frivolous desire. “[But] it’s not just math and science that children need to learn,” York-Day contends. “It’s the creativity to bring out the best in them and see the world in a different way. When you look at the statistics in education when arts is integrated, you see that it complements and furthers not only quality of life but scholastic success as well.” Both Delta Dental of Kentucky and Fund for the Arts will be working collaboratively over the next year to continue to bring awareness toward the Delta Dental Making Smiles Happen Arts in Education Initiative. Hopes and expectations are high, but York-Day and the team at Delta Dental of Kentucky know that this is only the beginning. “We are proud of what the Making Smiles Happen program has accomplished in our first year,” she asserts. “In 2015, we will have supported over 70 organizations and plan to continue to further and grow our mission in 2016. As our president, Dr. Cliff Maesaka says, we live here, we work here, we succeed or fail here. It’s personal to all of us at Delta Dental because this is our home, and in our homes, the arts matter. The education of our children matters, and for our state to educate our children effectively, they need to be educated in the arts.” For more information please visit deltadentalky.com and fundforthearts.com.

Arts Participation Patterns and SAT Scores, 2005 VERBAL

MATH

4+ years arts

534

540

4 years

543

541

3 years

514

516

2 years

508

517

1 year

501

515

1/2 year or less

485

502

Average for All SAT Test Takers

508

520

Source: National Assembly of States Arts Agencies, Critical Evidence: How the Arts Benefit Student Achievement, pg. 9, http://www.nasaa-arts.org/Research/Key-Topics/Arts-Education/critical-evidence.pdf.

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Love Your Momma’s! Recently named the

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by the book “The Top 100 Barbeque Restaurants in America”

As of July 2015, Momma’s has donated over $86,000 to these 6 local charities through our 2% for Louisville Program. • Special Olympics of Kentucky • Dare to Care Food Bank • Sierra Club of Louisville • Olmstead Parks Conservancy • Home of the Innocents • The Healing Place MONEY IS GIVEN BY PERCENTAGE OF VOTES RECEIVED AT

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Shannon is wearing a J.O.A. Los Angeles double breasted plaid coat, available at Liv Boutique. Olive down military vest available at Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH. Blue plaid pants available at Brooks Brothers.

Creative Director and Style Editor, Lori Kommor Stylist, Nadia London Stylist Assistants, Nickoli Neville, Latora Schmidt Photography, Clay Cook Photographer Assistants, Zach Erwin, Kelsey Page Hair, Matthew Tyldesley, Ana Perez Makeup, Isidro Valencia, Casey Ritchie Models, Shannon Markesbery, Maria Bohn, Emilia Wladyka Goodman with Heyman Talent, Talia Blue 144 T H E V O I C E O F L O U I S V I L L E |

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WINTER WILDERNESS

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Talia is wearing a multicolored wrap, available at Rodeo Drive. Waverly Grey sleeveless satin trim wrap vest available at Liv Boutique. Black velvet bermuda shorts available at Sassy Fox. Maroon leather gloves available at Rodes.

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Maria is wearing an olive green embroidered overcoat, available at Sunny Daize. Free People long wrap wool sweater available at Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH. Brandon Thomas tan suede skirt available at Sassy Fox. Stone pendant necklace from Sassy Fox, and gold statement ring from Liv Boutique.

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Emilia is wearing Equestrian grey suede culottes, available at Rodeo Drive. Red fox fur jacket available at Seelye Furs.

Maria is wearing an emerald lace dress and Dana Stein black shawl with fur collar, available at The Willow Tree. Fur fingerless gloves available at Rodes.

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Emilia is wearing a Bryan Lars dress and blue quilted vest, available at Favorite Things Boutique. Hunter green jacket available at Brooks Brothers.

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Talia is wearing a blue Rachel Zoe faux fur from Sassy Fox and navy blue St. John knit pants available at Rodes. Grey Vince Camuto hat available at Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH. Scarf available at Mercí Boutique.

Maria is wearing a long sleeve navy McKenzie sweater dress available at Favorite Things Boutique. Grey suede Lui vest available at Mercí Boutique. Polo by Ralph Lauren denim jeans available at Macy’s. Brown suede Nine West hat available at Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH.

Maria is wearing a Vince olive green windbreaker and Union of Angels brown suede skirt, available at Sunny Daize.

Shannon is wearing a grey and olive plaid shirt and sleeveless emerald green knit turtleneck from Banana Republic. Free People ivory buttoned skirt available at Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH. Burgundy hat available at Rodeo Drive.

Emilia is wearing a Sophia Cashmere capelet with fox fur trim, Tory Burch ivory sweater, and Tory Burch printed skirt, all available at Rodes.

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Talia is wearing a Michael Kors maroon wrap dress, available at Macyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. Black turtleneck dress available at MercĂ Boutique. Black short sleeve sweater with leather detail available at The Willow Tree. Begg & Co. knit scarf available at Rodes. Purse available at Rodeo Drive. 154 T H E V O I C E O F L O U I S V I L L E |

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Shannon is wearing an olive Klark Twofer jacket and Stuart relaxed shirt dress, available at Favorite Things Boutique. Olive Blackley coat available at Liv Boutique.

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Emilia is wearing an olive leather J.O.A. Los Angeles skirt, available at Liv Boutique. Emerald Jocelyn faux fur available at The Willow Tree. Beylor sleeveless turtleneck available at Rodeo Drive.

Emilia is wearing an olive Polo by Ralph Lauren jacket and a Michael Kors ivory sweater with fur collar, both available at Macyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. Brown suede fringe skirt available at Rodeo Drive. Hand-carved and handstitched leather handbag from Seelye Furs.

Shannon is wearing a navy sheered and un-sheered chevron pattered mink jacket with fox trim around the hood, available at Seelye Furs. Navy and white plaid skirt available at Brooks Brothers. Design History grey cable sweater available at Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH.

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Written by Nicholas Moore Photography by Clay Cook 164 T H E V O I C E O F L O U I S V I L L E |

Owner Chad Cooley W W W.V O I C E - T R I B U N E . C O M

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Supporting the Community – One BBQ Sandwich at a Time

estled away on Bauer Avenue in St. Matthews, sending savory aromas rolling through the air, is an award-winning barbecue joint that serves some of the best barbecue in Louisville and some of the best in the nation. Venture inside Momma’s Mustard, Pickles & BBQ, and you are going to taste barbecue like you never have before. Now, maybe you don’t consider yourself a “barbecue person.” We all have our dining preferences. The good thing is that when it comes to Momma’s Mustard, Pickles, & BBQ, you will find yourself right at home, no matter what you’re looking for. “Barbecue is comfort food,” says owner Chad Cooley. “If it’s done right, it’s delicious comfort food, and that’s something everybody enjoys no matter what.” And the love extends beyond traditional barbecue offerings as well. Renowned barbecue cuisine author Johnny Fuggit, author of “The 100 Best BBQ Restaurants in America,” said Momma’s wings were the best in the country. Louisville’s own LEO Weekly voted them the best in Louisville. I can vouch for them as well. The dry rub on these wings is cooked and flavored into every last morsel of meat. The meat itself is just right, smoked over hickory wood, glazed with peanut oil and dusted with dry rub again for finish. It’s worth checking out indeed. Whether it’s the famous wings or the pulled pork, the menu at Momma’s really appeals to just about everyone, which is one of owner Chad Cooley’s favorite things about barbecue culture. “Barbecue doesn’t

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discriminate,” he says. “You’re going to have people in here who have been working construction next to people who own banks. Everybody likes barbecue the same, and barbecue likes everybody the same.” When talking more specifically about barbecue and its actual preparation, you really have to talk about dry rubs. A solid dry rub can make or break good barbecue. It adds something extra to the meat, something between the meat and sauce. And Momma’s Mustard, Pickles & BBQ has perfected the ultimate dry rub. “It’s in everything,” boasts Cooley. You’ll find it on the wings, on the

“BBQ is comfort food. If it’s done right it’s delicious comfort food, and that’s something everybody enjoys no matter what.” ribs, on the fries and even in the cole slaw. Speaking of other offerings, Momma’s has a menu that offers an array of dishes that are wonderfully customizable. They offer full or half-rack ribs – your choice of beef or pork. You can also just order barbecue by the pound. Choose from whatever type you like – pulled pork, pulled chicken, smoked turkey, spicy sausage or brisket. You can also get sliders with the same choice of meats or get a sample including them all. I’d definitely recommend the spicy sausage sliders. The meat is incredibly evenly spiced. Paired with

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some of the hot barbecue sauce, it melts in your mouth and pales in comparison to any kind of barbecue you’ve had before. And at the end of your meal, an incredible bread pudding awaits, topped with a sweet bourbon sauce. And if you’re in the mood for bourbon itself, Momma’s has plenty, as it was recently added to the city’s Urban Bourbon Trail. Strange as it may sound, Momma’s BBQ is not just about serving amazing food; it’s also about giving back to our community – $70,000 to six local charities, to be exact. And that’s just this year. Cooley explains he had read about restaurants giving back one percent of their net profits to local charities, and he wanted to take it up a level. Well, he certainly did. Momma’s BBQ now donates two

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percent of its gross profits to local charities. That means this business donates two percent of its income to charities before even looking at covering its own expenses. This is something Cooley is very proud of, and it speaks strongly to his character and outlook as a business owner. “I’m proud of what we do, and I hope it encourages others to do the same thing,” he says of his giving. The six recipients of this year’s funds are Greater Louisville Sierra Club, Olmstead Parks Conservancy, Dare to Care Food Bank, The Healing Place, Special Olympics of Kentucky and Home of the Innocents.“These are amazing groups. I’m honored to be giving to them,” he maintains. Patrons are not only enjoying amazing BBQ when dining at Momma’s but also helping to make a sincere difference in our community.

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When you’re looking for a place to go out next, try Momma’s Mustard, Pickles & BBQ. It’s good any day of the year. “Barbecue goes good with football, basketball, Sundays, days that you work hard, days that you have off and days that end in ‘y,’” Cooley reminds us. Momma’s BBQ also caters for private and office events, and they have a food truck you can spot around town. You can find Momma’s online at mommasbbq.com and facebook.com/MommasBBQ. Enjoy dining at either their St. Matthews or Jeffersontown locations. Editor’s note: The Momma’s BBQ St. Matthews location experienced a kitchen fire on November 15. This location will temporarily close and reopen for business in two months. The Momma’s BBQ Jeffersontown location remains open for business. WINTER 2015

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Jewelry from Seng Jewelers sengjewelers.com 172 T H E V O I C E O F L O U I S V I L L E |

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ICE Creative Director and Style Editor, Lori Kommor Stylist, Nadia London Model, Max Whelan Photography, Clay Cook

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Jewelry from Seng Jewelers sengjewelers.com Fashion from Rodes 174 T H E V O I C E O F L O U I S V I L L E |

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Jewelry from Merkley Kendrick Jewelers mkjewelers.com WINTER 2015

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Jewelry from Merkley Kendrick Jewelers mkjewelers.com Fashion from Banana Republic 176 T H E V O I C E O F L O U I S V I L L E |

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Jewelry from Gross Diamond Co. grossdiamonds.com WINTER 2015

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Jewelry from Seng Jewelers sengjewelers.com WINTER 2015

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DECEMBER 31 | 9PM - 2AM

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Written by Remy Sisk Photography by Clay Cook and Courtesy of Korbel 182 T H E V O I C E O F L O U I S V I L L E |

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he holidays are a time for being together, for appreciating each other and for giving thanks. But they are also a time for hosting. From holiday parties to New Year’s bashes, there seems to be some sort of gathering every weekend, and for the hosts and hostesses of these parties, that means things can get a bit stressful. Fortunately, Brittany Gilbert, The How-to Hostess and avid entertainer, is here to help. From Christmas brunch recipes to the perfect champagne bottle opening technique, she has plenty of advice to help entertainers throw parties that will not only dazzle guests but also allow the host to enjoy the party and togetherness as well. Although you can certainly count on annual gatherings and official holiday parties to fill your calendar, this is the time of year when you can expect friends and family to stop by at the last minute. So first and foremost, Gilbert recommends always stocking a few bottles of bubbly to make sure you’re prepared for a laid-back but festive evening at the drop of a hat. “I like to have a couple bottles of a great sparkling wine like Korbel on-hand for quick and easy entertaining,” she maintains. “If people happen to pop by, just grab a bottle of champagne out of the fridge and you’re good to go – champagne isn’t just for special occasions anymore, so it’s the perfect option for impromptu hosting with a bit more festivity.” In regards to more formal gatherings, Gilbert asserts that the most important thing is to plan ahead. “I always go back to making it easy on the host or hostess,” she affirms. “Anything you can do ahead of time is great. So thinking in advance, ‘What kind of food, drink and decorations will I have?’ will help you in the end. I think it’s important to ask yourself what you can do ahead of the party to get ready.” This is especially true when throwing a large party for several guests. It can be easy to get overwhelmed with so many people, but Gilbert advises pre-making things so that when it’s party time,

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you’re not stuck fussing over serving dishes and burning hors d’oeuvres. “Think about making things that don’t take hours to prepare because, at the end of the day, the holidays are about spending time with your family and friends and not being stuck in a kitchen,” she notes. “The last thing that I want, as a hostess, is to not be able to enjoy the guests at my party.” Another way to make sure you’re not stuck playing waiter all night is to put the drinkmaking in the hands of the guests. According to Gilbert, a drink station with fixings laid out for guests not only makes it easy on the host or hostess but also gives party-goers a fun activity to do that leaves them with their own personalized cocktail. “Guests like being able to get involved in the party, so I often try to set out interesting ingredients w ith step-by-step directions so that guests can make the drink themselves and personalize it, which can be a lot of funand a great way to introduce them to new things,” she explains. With a more intimate gathering, planning ahead is similarly important, but with smaller groups, you have the opportunity to add a personal touch not always possible at bigger parties. “It’s the special touches like focusing on festive glassware or festive straws or drink garnishes that really make an event,” she contends. “It’s those small elements that, if you can work them into your party – especially for that smaller group of people – your guests will see you took that extra step and went out of your way to make it special for them.” Sometimes, however, such planning is not always possible with the busy schedules of the holidays. If you find yourself hosting a party that you’ve waited until the last minute to plan, fear not. “A lot of it is about how you present the items that you have,” she expresses. “You don’t necessarily need to slave over a five-course meal all day. You can go to the store and offer store-bought items, but it’s how you display those items to

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your guests that will make an impression.” Indeed, no need to sweat over the stove to give your guests a good time. Focus instead on the presentation and how you can use resources already available to make a party both fun and memorable. “When you’ve waited until the last minute, think about what you already have at home that you could pull out and use as decorations or, for example, use mason jars as glassware,” she suggests. In addition to holiday gatherings, during this season, many choose to host a brunch, which is an occasion that allows a host to really get creative. Gilbert’s favorite way to offer a festive touch for brunch is to have a mimosa bar. Setting out colorful juices in glass carafes alongside fresh fruit, herbs and a couple bottles of champagne on ice not only looks great but creates fun for your guests and simplicity for the host. “When it comes to champagne, there is a wide range of styles, so set out a few options so people can sample and find their favorite,” Gilbert details. Korbel makes it easy with 11 different styles,

but Gilbert suggests offering guests three crowd-pleasers from driest to sweetest: Brut, Brut Rosé and Sweet Rosé. When New Year’s hits and larger parties are more the norm, Gilbert has an infallible quick and creative solution. “Batch recipes are a great way to, for example when you’re hosting for a bunch of people, not have to individually make cocktails,” she relates “Instead, you can batch something ahead of time, pull it out of the fridge, set it out and people can pour their own drinks. You’re still giving them that handcrafted element because you put it together, but at the same time, it’s easy on you and it’s one less thing you’re thinking about when you’re hosting.” With so many holiday get-togethers, it’s also important to remember to be a responsible host, which can still be done in a fun and festive way, Gilbert advises. Mocktails – cocktails made without alcohol – are a great way to keep guests happy as well as safe. “At any party, as the host, you have to think about responsibility,” she maintains. “Encouraging that through

mocktails is a great option. The thing with mocktails, too, is that they can be just as fun as alcoholic drinks, and I think that making sure that you’re still offering the fun straws or garnishes to go with these drinks is important to keep in mind. Those people who do not want to partake should still have just as much fun and feel like just as much of the party, and making sure there’s a festive drink in their hand is one way to do that – regardless of if there’s alcohol in it or not.” Above all though, Gilbert reminds hosts and hostesses to keep the holidays simple and not forget about the meaning of the season. Whether you’re a host at heart who’s already sent out six different kinds of invitations or someone who just likes to relax with a few friends for New Year’s, entertaining for the holidays can be easy on the host when done right. “I think it all goes back to being able to enjoy and celebrate those moments along the way,” she ponders. “It’s not just one specific day of celebrating but the entire season as a whole.”

step one

Make sure to chill the bottle for at least four hours before serving.

step two

Remove the foil cap, then turn the wire hood six half turns which allows the wire to easily come off.

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step three

Remember to never force a cork out of the bottle using your thumb. Instead place a towel over the cork, hold the cork firmly and slowly turn the bottle (not the cork). The cork should come out easily with a small pop making you look like a party pro.

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Mimosa Floater

Mini Frittatas

• 4 oz. Korbel California Champagne

• Ham

• Orange sorbet

Add scoop of orange sorbet to wine glass. Top with Korbel.

• Eggs

• Red Peppers, cooked • Goat cheese crumbles

Scramble eggs. Spray muffin tin with nonstick spray. Add eggs to each spot filling about half way. Top with remaining ingredients. Bake at 350 degrees for about 20-25 minutes.

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Mimosa Bar

Setting up a mimosa bar is a fail-safe way to wow partygoers and take some of the pressure off the host or hostess. Here’s what you’ll need: • Variety of fresh juices • Fresh fruits • Fresh herbs • Glassware • K orbel Brut, Brut Rosé and Sweet Rosé

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Antipasto Platter

Antipasto means “before the meal,” and this platter is perfect for keeping guests happy until the meal is complete. It also allows you as the host some time to enjoy your guests while preparing the main course. • 3 blocks of cheese (suggestions: Mozzarella, Pecorino, Goat) • Olives • Roasted red peppers • 1/2 lb. salami, thinly sliced • 1/2 lb. prosciutto, thinly sliced • Artichoke hearts

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Berry Smash

Holiday Sparkler

Make mocktails just as fun as cocktails by serving a signature mocktail and garnishing with festive touches like fruits or straws.

• 4 oz. Korbel California Champagne

• 5 raspberries

• Dried cranberries

• Single sprig of rosemary (leaves only) • 1 tbsp. Agave nectar • 2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice • Ginger Beer (non-alcoholic)

In the bottom of the glass muddle berries, rosemary leaves, agave nectar and lemon juice. Top with ice and ginger beer. Garnish with rosemary sprig.

WINTER 2015

• 1 oz. Finlandia Mango Flavored Vodka • 2 oz. pomegranate juice

Pour Finlandia Mango Flavored Vodka and pomegranate juice into a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a champagne flute. Top with Korbel and cranberries.

Punch Royale

Create a pre-batched drink ahead of time so once your party starts you have less to worry about as the host and your guests can easily grab a specially made drink themselves. • 8 oz. Chambord Liqueur • 8 oz. Cranberry juice • 2 - 750mL bottles of Korbel California Champagne, chilled

Pour Chambord, cranberry juice and Korbel into punch bowl, stir and top with berries.

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