April 27th – May 2nd
Welcome back to The Louisville Plug.
Derby Week is finally here and we're not talking about the race. We're talking about the week of only in Louisville chaos that leads up to it.
Bed races. Wine pours. A steamboat rivalry dating back to 1963. This is the stuff you can't explain to people who aren't from here, and that's exactly what makes it worth showing up for.
On the food side, we've got a local creator with 38K followers telling us exactly where she and her husband keep going back for date night and it did not disappoint.
Inside this issue:
🌯 The Local Rec: Stephanie Richie's go-to date night spot in Lou
⚜️ What's Happening in Lou: Bed Races, WineFest & the Great Steamboat Race
💸 Insider Perks: Derby Pin is still holding it’s weight and a great opportunity for tourists wanting food
🌯 The Local Rec
A Louisville local’s food rec, every week.
This week’s rec comes from:
Stephanie Richie @ she.stewards
If you're not following Stephanie, you are really missing out! She's a Louisville based digital creator and stay at home mom with 38K followers who built her audience by keeping it completely real. She is all about mom life, style, wellness, and the kind of humor that makes you feel like you're texting a friend. Between chasing her boy around and squeezing in trips whenever real life allows, her rec’s come from someone who actually lives in this city and knows what's worth the time. This week's is no exception.
Their Rec: Guacamole
Why they love it:
"If you know me, you know I’m a creature of habit when it comes to good food and Guacamole is the place we keep going back to over and over again. Living in New Albany, it’s just such an easy go to for us.”
“My husband and I love doing date nights there. The atmosphere is fun and welcoming, the service is always great, and the drinks are seriously out of this world. It’s one of those places where you sit down and immediately feel like you picked the right spot.”
“We’re such foodies and this place just hits every time. Fresh food, great energy, and a vibe that keeps us coming back.”
Photo of Stephanie at Guacamole
The go-to order:
“My favorite dish is the chicken tinga tacos and I order them almost every time. The flavor is so good and everything always tastes so fresh. I love how colorful the plates are too, it just feels different and more elevated than your typical dinner out.”
Large and colorful dinner spread
Be sure to follow @she.stewards on Instagram and let Stephanie know if you make it out to Guacamole this week!
⚜️ What’s Happening in Lou? (Beyond the racetrack)
Derby week has plenty going on away from Churchill Downs, Here is where else to be!
🗓️ Monday | April 27th | Tailgate @ 1pm / Parade of Beds @ 6pm / Races @ 7pm
📍 Kentucky Exposition Center
💸 Free to spectate / $15 parking
If you only make it to one Derby Week event you've never been to before, make it this one.
The Great Bed Races are exactly what they sound like: teams of five build a bed on wheels, throw on the most ridiculous costumes they can find, and race in front of thousands of screaming spectators. Over 30 teams compete this year under the theme "Festival on the Move: Ticket to Ride" and the energy in that parking lot is something you genuinely cannot replicate anywhere else.
The Parade of Beds kicks off at 6pm before the races get going at 7pm. Free to watch, $15 to park, and absolutely zero reasons not to go.
🗓️ Tuesday | April 28th | 6pm – 9pm (VIP early entry @ 5pm)
📍 Mellwood Arts Center, Mellwood Ave
💸 GA $75 / VIP higher
One hundred plus wines from around Kentucky and the world, light apps, a souvenir etched glass, and a WineFest event pin, all inside one of Louisville's coolest event spaces on a Tuesday night in Derby Week.
GA gets you plenty to work with, but the VIP upgrade is worth a look: early entry at 5pm, a private room, Kentucky inspired cuisine, a VIP gift, and an exclusive barrel tasting from Old 502, the Derby Festival's Official Wine. If you're doing 502'sDay racing at Churchill earlier that afternoon, this is the perfect way to keep the Tuesday going. A sneaky great night hiding in the middle of Derby Week.
🗓️ Wednesday | April 29th | Boarding @ 4:30pm / Race begins @ 6pm
📍 Belle of Louisville Wharf, W River Rd
💸 Free from Waterfront Park / $200 to ride the Belle
Since 1963 the Belle of Louisville has raced a rival riverboat down the Ohio River for the coveted Silver Antlers trophy, and this year she is coming back for revenge after losing to the Mary M. Miller in 2025.
You've got two ways to experience it: grab a blanket and a spot on the banks of Waterfront Park and watch for free, or splurge on a Belle ticket and get the full ride experience with an open bar, grab-and-go dinner, and live entertainment included on the water. Either option is a legit Derby Week memory. This is one of those events that has been happening since your grandparents were young and still somehow never gets old.
💸 Insider Perks
Exclusive deals only for Louisville Plug readers.
🏇 The 2026 Pegasus Pin: Still Worth Grabbing
Derby Day is Saturday and the Pegasus Pin is still pulling its weight.
For $7 at PegasusPins.com or $10 at the gate you've got access to dozens of Derby Festival events through the end of the week, plus local business discounts, partner coupons tucked inside the envelope, and a shot at the $20,000 Gold Pin Grand Prize.
If you've been putting it off, this is your last real window before the season wraps.
💸10% Off Louisville Food Tours
If someone's visiting from out of town this week, stop scrambling for ideas. Louisville Food Tours already did the work, just show up hungry.
Louisville Plug readers get 10% off any booking with code LOUISVILLEPLUG10. Works for the visitor crowd, the date night you've been meaning to plan, or honestly just you wanting to see this city through fresh eyes.
👉 Book at louisvillefoodtours.com and drop the code at checkout.
Quick one, what keeps you opening The Plug every Sunday?
What's your favorite part of The Louisville Plug?
Takes 1 tap. Helps me make this better for you.
🔁 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!
Go make this week great!
— The Louisville Plug