FABA Seeks Sponsor to Keep Annual Easter Parade Marching
For the first time in 22 years, the Frankfort Avenue Business Association (FABA) is actively seeking sponsors to help cover the cost of its annual Easter Parade. The family-friendly event is a neighborhood favorite amongst Clifton and Crescent Hill residents, but it may be in jeopardy if the business association cannot secure adequate funding. The need for support comes from the increased permitting and security fees from Metro Louisville. In 2011, FABA paid approximately $2,000 total to host the parade, which covered the cost of police security, city permits and barricade fees. Due to the parade falling on the same day as the Kentucky Derby Festival’s Mini-Marathon/Marathon this year, the cost for security alone will be over $4,000.
“While it’s part of FABA’s mission to enhance the quality of life in our community by organizing events like the Easter Parade, we want people to understand that these events are not free,” says Tim Koons-McGee, FABA President and Co-owner of The Comfy Cow. “It’s through the hard work of many volunteers that these events are made possible, but there is also a cost, and unfortunately that cost keeps going up.”
The 22nd Annual Frankfort Avenue Easter Parade is scheduled for Saturday, April 19. Beginning at 11:45 a.m., the parade will travel from Stilz to Haldeman Avenue, including floats of all shapes and sizes, an appearance by the Easter Bunny and tons of free candy. The judging booth will be located at The Irish Rover, 2319 Frankfort Avenue, to present the “Good Ears Awards” to the most creative float and the most outrageous Easter bonnet. This is a free, family-friendly event.
For more information about sponsorship, call Michaelle at (502) 419-6159.
Churchill Downs Opens Nominations for the 2014 Survivors Parade Presented by Kroger and Announces Bright Pink as New Charitable Partner
Churchill Downs Racetrack has announced the opening of public nominations and voting for participants in the 2014 Survivors Parade as well as a new partnership with Bright Pink, an organization that focuses on the prevention and early detection of breast and ovarian cancer while providing support for high-risk individuals.
The Survivors Parade is part of the sixth annual Pink Out festivities held in conjunction with the 140th running of the Longines Kentucky Oaks on Friday, May 2. On April 1, the 140 selected survivors will be invited to be the guests of Churchill Downs for Kentucky Oaks and to participate in the Survivors Parade before the race. For the annual Pink Out, the historic racetrack will be decked out in pink bunting and the 100,000-plus guests attending the Kentucky Oaks are asked to wear pink to show their support.
“The Pink Out has become an important tradition at Churchill Downs over the past several years”, said Ryan Jordan, general manager of Churchill Downs Racetrack. “And we are pleased to be able to include a major fundraising program that gives our company, business partners and racetrack guests an opportunity to support Bright Pink’s efforts to overcome the two most deadly of women’s health issues: breast and ovarian cancer.”
As part of the 2014 Pink Out and Survivor’s Parade, Churchill Downs Incorporated Foundation announced a $50,000 donation to launch a six-week fundraising program to benefit Bright Pink and its national breast and ovarian health programs. The company will also donate a portion of each Grey Goose Oaks Lily, sold during the Pink Out, to Horses and Hopes, a local breast cancer initiative that benefits people working throughout Kentucky’s horse racing industry. The fundraising program concludes on Sunday, May 4.
“Bright Pink is so grateful to be a part of the Kentucky Oaks in 2014,” said Lindsay Avner, Bright Pink founder and CEO. “To have the opportunity to spread our message of breast cancer and ovarian cancer prevention and early detection on such an international stage is invaluable and will undoubtedly have a tremendous life-saving impact.”
Any breast cancer survivor is eligible to be nominated to participate in the 2014 Survivors Parade, and nominations can be made by the survivor themselves, family members or friends at www.kentuckyderby.com/survivors. Once a nomination is published, friends and family are encouraged to vote for the nominee to be selected to walk in the parade. Voting is limited to once per day. Nominations and voting are now live and will continue until March 31 at 11:59 p.m.. The 140 survivors will be announced on April 1 and will receive two tickets to the 140th Kentucky Oaks.
South Louisville Residents Name Sought-After Businesses
The recent survey of south Louisville residents indicates a desire for more independent businesses in south Louisville neighborhoods.
The “Keep South Louisville Weird” survey, initiated by the Louisville Independent Business Alliance (LIBA), tallied responses from 515 respondents across 33 zip codes in south Louisville. Among the notable results:
The largest responses came from 40214, 40272, 40258 and 40216. These areas are (broadly) Iroquois, Valley Station, PRP and Shively.
The top requested categories were Restaurants, Clothing & Apparel, Entertainment and Bookstores.
The top specific requests were Heine Brothers’ Coffee, Bluegrass Brewing Company, Rainbow Blossom, Homemade Ice Cream & Pie Kitchen and Carmichael’s.
The survey was just one aspect of LIBA’s “Keep South Louisville Weird” campaign, which seeks to support independent businesses in the South End and to invite new, independent businesses to South Louisville. LIBA is using the survey results along with other information gathered in the last year to facilitate.
![]( "EARLY TIMES MINT JULEP KENTUCKY DERBY BOTTLE")
Early Times Mint Julep Releases Commemorative Derby Bottle
For the past 27 years, the Early Times Mint Julep has proudly served as the “Official Drink of the Kentucky Derby.” In celebration of this, Early Times Kentucky Whisky continues its tradition with the release of the 2014 commemorative Kentucky Derby bottle.
Available beginning in March, the one-liter pre-mix bottle will be available in limited quantities throughout the United States for a suggested retail price of $15.99.
The artwork on this year’s Kentucky Derby 140® bottle features the work of acclaimed artist and Louisville native Ashley Cecil. Ashley’s stunning work, “Time For the Roses,” celebrates the moment when the traditional garland of more than 400 red roses is presented to the Kentucky Derby winner. For more information, please visit www.ashleycecil.com.
The excitement of the Winner’s Circle is captured on the bottle with an image of the winning jockey sitting atop his horse draped in a garland of roses. Beside the horse is a woman presenting a bouquet of roses to the jockey and several other onlookers in the background.
“We are excited to feature a new artist this year and feel that Ashley’s work perfectly captures the most emotional moment for a winning jockey,” said Therese McGuire, brand manager for Early Times Kentucky Whisky. “Not only is the Early Times Mint Julep bottle a work of art, but also a must-have for every Kentucky Derby party to provide a quick and easy mint julep.”
During this year’s Kentucky Derby week, more than 120,000 Early Times Mint Juleps are expected to be served at Churchill Downs. Over the past 27 years, more than 2.5 million Early Times Mint Juleps have been served between Kentucky Oaks and Derby Days at Churchill Downs. This year’s Kentucky Derby is May 3.