May 31st – Jun 6th
Welcome back to The Louisville Plug.
This week Louisville is in full festival mode. We've got 100 years of Greek culture hitting Ormsby Lane, a free blues street festival in Germantown, the 52nd Portland Festival in West Louisville, and a wine walk downtown on Saturday afternoon.
Most importantly: a boutiuqe wine bar on Frankfort Ave that Kaitlyn Shive says you need in your rotation immediately.
Inside this issue:
🍷 The Local Rec: A boutique wine bar on Frankfort Ave worth every visit.
⚜️ What's Happening in Lou: Greek Festival, Schnitzelburg Blues Fest, Portland Festival, and the Wine Walk at Fourth Street Live.
💸 Insider Perks: $12 Fish & Chips and a drink at The Village Anchor every Tuesday.
Okay, now let's get into this week. 👇
🍷 The Local Rec
A Louisville local’s food rec, every week.
This week’s rec comes from:
Kaitlyn Shive @ kshive
Kaitlyn Shive is a Louisville based content creator, Emmy nominated producer, and award winning reporter who has built a following by documenting the city's best finds one post at a time. Between market hauls, city guides, and lifestyle content across Instagram and TikTok, she has a sharp eye for what's actually worth your time versus what just looks good on paper. When someone with a journalism background and a genuine love for this city points you toward a spot, that's not just a rec. That's a vetted opinion. This week's is no exception.
Their Rec: The Wine Room by JBell Wine Co.
Why they love it:
“Not only is it great wine, but the food?! It’s delicious. It’s a family-owned boutique wine bar and tasting room that’s only been open for about a year.”
“I went for the first time in October and have been obsessed ever since. The inside is cozy, but it also has a super cute patio that is perfect for the summer.”
“I really love this spot because it’s a small business, the owners are super sweet, the food has been a hit every time and it’s just a fun spot to bring your girlfriends and have a nice relaxing night out.”
The go-to order:
“There is only one chef, Chef Chris, and he changes the menu often, so it’s a new experience every time you go, which I love. They typically serve tapas style but also have weekly chef specials.”
“I would have to say my favorite dishes that I have tried so far would be butternut squash arancini, polenta with grilled shrimp, polenta fries and bolognese crostini.”
Be sure to follow Kaitlyn on Instagram and TikTok and let her know if you make it out to The Wine Room this week. If Chef Chris happens to have the butternut squash arancini on the menu when you go, do not think twice about it.
⚜️ What’s Happening in Lou?
We curate 4 events worth your time each week.
🗓️ Friday, June 5th 6pm – 10pm / Saturday, June 6th 11am – 10pm
📍 Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, Ormsby Ln
💸 Free admission & parking
OPA! The Louisville Greek Festival is back and this year it's a milestone: 100 years of the Greek community in Louisville. Two days of live Greek music, dance performances from the Kefi Dancers and youth groups, cultural demonstrations, and an outdoor marketplace to browse. But let's be honest about the real reason to go: gyros, souvlaki, spanakopita, and baklava made the way it's supposed to be made.
Free to get in and park and one of the most authentic cultural festivals the city puts on all year. Come hungry and stay for the energy. Cash and card both accepted, rain or shine.
🗓️ Friday, June 5th 7pm / Saturday, June 6th 4pm
📍 Corner of Hickory St & Burnett Ave (plus inside Check's Café)
💸 Free
This is Louisville neighborhood character at its absolute finest. The Germantown Schnitzelburg Blues Festival is a free street festival hosted by the Kentuckiana Blues Society and the legendary Check's Café, with four acts Friday and seven more Saturday on the outdoor stage. Even better, a portion of the proceeds goes to charity, and there's additional live blues happening inside Check's both nights.
Grab a lawn chair, post up on Burnett Ave, and soak in one of the most community rooted events in the entire city. This is the kind of night that reminds you why Germantown/Schnitzelburg is one of Louisville's best neighborhoods.
🗓️ Friday, June 5th – Saturday, June 6th | Daytime into evening
📍 Historic Portland Neighborhood
💸 Free
One of Louisville's longest running neighborhood celebrations hits its 52nd year, and it's still 100% volunteer run, which tells you everything about the heart behind it. Two days of live music, great food, family activities, local vendors, and genuine West Louisville pride. New this year is a Community Stage spotlighting youth groups, emerging performers, and community contests alongside the main stage.
Add in a curated lineup of artisans, handmade goods, small shops, and local food vendors serving festival favorites and you've got a real slice of Portland history. Free to all and worth the trip out to one of the city's most historic neighborhoods.
🗓️ Saturday, June 6th | 2pm – 6pm
📍 Fourth Street Live, S 4th St
💸 Ticketed event
If festival hopping isn't your speed this weekend, slow it down with a glass in hand downtown. The Wine Walk at Fourth Street Live is a relaxed Saturday afternoon winding through the district's venues with curated wine pours, local vendors, food, and live music from 2pm to 6pm.
It's the perfect low key date afternoon, friend group outing, or just an easy excuse to spend a Saturday downtown sipping something good. Four hours, plenty of pours, zero stress. What is not to love.
💸 Insider Perks
Exclusive deals only for Louisville Plug readers.
$12 Buck Tuesday at The Village Anchor
Every Tuesday, head down to The Sea Hag at The Village Anchor for Chef Chase's $12 Buck Tuesday. This week's featured entrée is Anchor Fish & Chips, and it comes with your choice of a glass of house red or white wine or a bottled domestic beer included. One of the best weekly deals in Louisville, full stop.
Louisville Food Tours is giving Plug readers 10% off any tour when you use code LOUISVILLEPLUG10 at checkout.
They've got two worth knowing about:
Beyond the Barrel is an evening walking tour through NuLu hitting 4 stops with 6 food tastings, 2 bourbon pours, and 3 cocktails over 3 hours. Think fat washed, river aged, and clarified bourbon pairings you're not finding anywhere else. Wed-Fri at 5 or 5:30 PM, max 12 guests, 21+.
Louisville Legends is a daytime walk through downtown along Whiskey Row and Museum Row. Grab a Hot Brown, Derby Pie, Modjeskas, bourbon truffles, and the stories behind all of it. Great for first timers or if you've got people visiting. Wed-Sat at 11 or 11:30 AM, all ages, wheelchair and stroller friendly.
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— The Louisville Plug