May 3rd – May 9th
Welcome back to The Louisville Plug.
Congrats to Golden Tempo, Cherie DeVaux, and Jose Ortiz on their derby win and becoming the first Derby winner trained by a woman!
This week has something for everyone. We've got the International Food Truck Festival taking over the Big Four Lawn, Maifest kicking off biergarten season, and a Thai restaurant that's been flying under the radar for too long.
Inside this issue:
🍜 The Local Rec: A Thai place bringing authentic flavor to Lou.
⚜️ What's Happening in Lou: Food from 15 countries, Biergarten season opener, and Broadway's most controversial musical.
💸 Insider Perks: A budget friendly night out you can’t miss.
Quick question before we dive in!
We're always looking for ways to make the Louisville Plug better for you. Take two seconds to tell us what you want to see more of:
What would make the Louisville Plug even better?
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:
Guy Williams @ thatshamuguy
Guy is a Louisville based content creator who's been documenting the city's best spots, hidden gems, and things to do one post at a time. When he's not exploring Lou, he's traveling and using those experiences to sharpen his eye for what's actually authentic versus what's just hype. Whether it's a hole in the wall restaurant or a weekend adventure, Guy takes you along for all of it. We tapped him for this week's Local Rec because when a guy who's eaten his way through cities across the country points to something in Louisville, you listen.
Their Rec: Time4Thai
Why they love it:
"Time4Thai is authentic and consistent. Everything you try here is going to be packed with flavor and the interior feels homey.”
“As someone that’s been to Thailand, the flavors are authentic and their menu is enormous - there’s something for everyone.”
Time 4 Thai Exterior
The go-to order:
“Pad See Ew or Crispy Chicken Fried Rice. If you do the fried rice, you’re going to want to ask for a side of peach sauce. This is very important, just trust.”
Pad See Ew - No peach sauce :(
Be sure to follow Guy on Instagram and TikTok! Make sure to let him know if you try some Pad See Ew at Time4Thai this week and let this be a reminder… Get the peach sauce!
⚜️ What’s Happening in Lou?
We curate 3 events worth your time each week.
🗓️ Saturday, May 9th from 11am – 8pm
📍 Waterfront Park, Big Four Lawn
💸 Free to enter!
Travel the world without leaving Louisville. The 5th annual International Food Truck Festival takes over the Big Four Lawn for one of the most fun, low effort Saturdays of the spring. Cuisine from over 15 countries, local artist and craft vendors, and zero cover charge.
Bring the family and graze your way through the afternoon while soaking in one of the best outdoor spots in the city. This is the kind of event Louisville does better than anywhere else, and it costs you nothing.
🗓️ Saturday, May 9th from 2pm – 11pm
📍 German American Club, Trumps Mill Rd
💸 Free to attend!
Outdoor biergarten season is officially open. Maifest is Oktoberfest's lesser-known sister and one of the most underrated traditions in the 502. Expect stein holding contests, polka from the Rheingold Band and River City Polkatz, a ceremonial keg tapping, the Maifest royalty coronation, and a full German dinner starting around 5pm!
Wear your finest German tracht and you actually have a shot at the crown. Pair it with the Food Truck Festival earlier in the day and you've built yourself a full Louisville Saturday with one foot in two countries. Free to walk in, German beer flowing all afternoon, polka playing into the night.
🗓️ Tuesday, May 5th – Sunday, May 10th | Multiple showtimes nightly
📍 Whitney Hall, The Kentucky Center
💸 Tickets from $81+
The nine-time Tony Award winning Best Musical lands at Whitney Hall for a six night run. Created by the South Park guys, The Book of Mormon has been running on Broadway since 2011 and is genuinely as funny as everyone says it is. The New York Times literally called it "the best musical of this century."
Six nights, multiple showtimes, easily the best date night option of the week. Heads up: the show contains explicit language and adult themes, so 18+ is recommended.
💸 Insider Perks
Exclusive deals only for Louisville Plug readers.
$2 Beers & Live Racing at Churchill Downs Every Thursday Night
Derby Week gets all the glory, but Twilight Thursdays might be Louisville's best kept secret. Every Thursday from May 7th through June 25th, Churchill Downs opens its gates for an evening of live Thoroughbred racing under the lights and the deal is almost unfair. $2 Miller Lite and Coors Light all night, live music on the grounds, food trucks, and the Twin Spires at sunset as your backdrop.
No Derby crowds or dress code pressure. No $22 mint juleps. Just a laid back Thursday night at one of the most iconic venues in the world for the cost of a couple of dollar beers.
🔁 Share This Newsletter
Know someone in Louisville still figuring out what to do?
Forward this email to them! It helps the newsletter grow and we greatly appreciate it!
Thanks for reading!
— The Louisville Plug