June 21st – June 27th
Welcome back to The Louisville Plug.
This week the city is bringing the heat with festivals, live music, and one perfectly retro night on the river. We've got the Kentucky Craft Bash pouring 175+ Kentucky beers at the waterfront, EDM icon Steve Aoki taking over Fourth Street Live, an '80s throwback cruise aboard the Belle, and the return of free Waterfront Wednesday.
Most importantly: a cozy coffee spot that Taylor Smith says you need on your list immediately.
☕ The Local Rec: A cozy Louisville coffee spot with seasonal drinks worth the trip via @taylorinthe502.
⚜️ What's Happening in Lou: The Kentucky Craft Bash, Steve Aoki, an '80s Belle cruise, and Waterfront Wednesday.
💸 Insider Perks: $40 toward food and drinks at Pizza Donisi for just $24 and a premium travel deal!
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:
Taylor Smith @ taylorinthe502
Taylor is the creative force behind The Highlight Collective, a Louisville based content studio helping events and businesses stand out online. Her feed is a go to for beautifully shot coffee, cocktails, and the kind of cool local spots that make the city feel alive. Equal parts aesthetic and authentic Louisville energy.
Their Rec: Hotel Marty
Why they love it:
“If you’re looking for a cozy coffee spot in Louisville, Hotel Marty is it.”
“Great coffee, lots of space to work, the friendliest staff, and seasonal drinks that are always so good.”
Her Go-To order:
She has currently been loving the seasonal menu featuring valentines based drinks.
She recommended the drink featured in the picture, the “Baklava” Espresso with honey, pistachio, and cardamom.
The “Baklava”
Thank you Taylor for the rec! I am excited to go check out Hotel Marty and try all of the seasonal drinks. Let us know if you go check it out and send a drink pic!
Be sure to follow taylorinthe502 on Instagram and let her know if you try out Hotel Marty this week.
⚜️ What’s Happening in Lou?
We curate 3 events worth your time each week.
🗓️ Saturday, June 27th | 5pm – 9pm (VIP early entry @ 4pm)
📍 Brown-Forman Lawn at Waterfront Park
💸 GA ~$55 / VIP ~$65 / Designated Driver ~$10-13 (21+)
If you love Kentucky beer, this is the one to circle. The Kentucky Craft Bash is the Commonwealth's largest craft beer festival featuring solely Kentucky breweries, and this year's 9th annual edition brings 50+ breweries and 175+ beers to the Brown-Forman Lawn. The best part? The brewers and brewery staff are the ones actually pouring, so you get to meet the people behind the beer while you sip. Every ticket also supports the Kentucky Guild of Brewers as their single largest fundraiser of the year.
The new evening time means riverfront sunset views to go with your tastings, plus food trucks to keep you fueled. VIP is capped at 500 and comes with a larger tasting glass, a snack bar, special tappings, and an hour of early entry. Come thirsty, leave inspired.
🗓️ Friday, June 26th @ 7pm
📍 Fourth Street Live!, S 4th St
💸 Ticketed (GA + VIP packages, 18+)
Global EDM icon Steve Aoki is bringing the DIM MAK 30 Tour to Fourth Street Live with special guest Jessica Audiffred, and if you know anything about an Aoki show, you know it's pure chaos in the best way. Explosive sets, genre blending sound, and yes, the legendary cake throwing. Louisville is one of just a few US club and festival stops on this leg before the tour heads off to Vegas and Miami, so this is a rare chance to catch him in an intimate downtown setting.
Want the full experience? VIP packages include the on-stage "Cake Me" moment, a meet and greet, a personal photo, a reversible tour towel, and more. Bonus: $1 per ticket goes to the Aoki Foundation supporting brain science and research. Dance for a good cause.
🗓️ Friday, June 26th
📍 Belle of Louisville, W River Rd
💸 Ticketed
Throw on your neon and tease that hair, because the Belle of Louisville is going full '80s this Friday. Step aboard the historic riverboat for a night of throwback tunes, drink specials, and a costume contest as the Belle paddles down the Ohio. Big hair, skyline views, and the kind of only in Louisville night you can't recreate at a regular bar.
It's the perfect move for a date night or a group of friends looking for something a little different, and a great counter program if EDM chaos isn't your speed on the same evening. Come ready to dance like it's 1985.
🗓️ Wednesday, June 24th | 6pm – 10pm
📍 Big Four Lawn at Waterfront Park
💸 Free
One of Louisville's most beloved free summer traditions is back. WFPK's Waterfront Wednesday returns to the Big Four Lawn on the last Wednesday of the month with three live acts spanning indie, Americana, rock, and roots, plus food trucks and those unbeatable riverfront sunset views. It's a reliable, friendly, big crowd kind of night that somehow never gets old.
Bring a blanket, grab a bite, and settle in for a perfect midweek reset by the river. Free, easy, and exactly the kind of night this city does best.
💸 Insider Perks
Exclusive deals only for Louisville Plug readers.
The family trip your kids will still talk about at 30
Intrepid just launched eight new Premium Family trips across Borneo, Morocco, India, Costa Rica and more — small groups, experienced local guides, elevated stays, and immersive cultural experiences designed specifically for families. All the logistics sorted so you can actually enjoy it.
$40 Toward Food & Drinks at Pizza Donisi for $24
Pizza Donisi in Old Louisville is serving up one of the most fun menus in the city, anchored by their ever-changing "Pizza of the Month," six house made hot sandwiches, vegan options, and special cannolis that rotate based on what's fresh. Right now you can grab $40 toward food and drinks for just $24 using code SUMMER at the link below. That's a serious discount on a spot worth getting to know.
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— The Louisville Plug