The Louisville MLS Blog

The Weekend Buzz: What's Happening Around Town? 8/10-8/12

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Heading into every weekend, I’d like to do a little post about some things that are happening locally that may be of interest. This could be concerts, festivals, races, and just any activity. There is so much happening in Louisville that this will just be a glimpse of some things you can do this weekend. Enjoy!

Friday, August 10

*St. Joe’s Picnic for the Kids - The largest picnic in Kentucky. All proceeds support children who have experienced severe neglect and abuse. Takes place at St. Joseph Children’s Home on Frankfort Avenue beginning at 5:00 p.m.. Admission is $10.

*Derby City Jazz Festival - Two-day outdoor smooth jazz festival held in the Paddock at Churchill Downs. There will be food trucks, retail vendors, cigar bar, and a selection of wine and spirits. Event begins at 3:00 p.m..

*Seven Sense Festival - Taste-making festival that is held at Gravely Brewing Company. Nearly 40 local, regional, and national acts. There is also local food, arts & crafts, visual art performances, and specialty beer and cocktails. Begins at 6:00 p.m..

*New Albany Bicentennial Park Concert Series - Live bands performing in downtown New Albany. Tonight will feature Southern Avenue and Shannon Vetter. Event is free and will be from 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, August 11

*Paws for a Cause 5K - A run/walk to benefit The Arrow Fund. Obviously, this is a family/dog friendly event. It begins at 9:00 a.m. at Cherokee...

Local Spotlight: Belle of Louisville

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Photo: gotolouisville.com

Every week, I would like to spotlight something in our great city that people may or may not know about. Maybe it’s a park, a museum, a restaurant, or another attraction. For this one, I chose to highlight the Belle of Louisville. I assume everyone has heard of it or seen it, but maybe you don’t know everything that can be done on the steamboat or what the schedules for cruises are. Hopefully this will shine some light on those things.

The Belle of Louisville was built in 1914 and is the oldest operating Mississippi River style steamboat in the world. It can hold 650 passengers. It is fully heated and air conditioned. It has a concession stand and a bar, as well as a dance floor. You can sit indoor or outdoor, and there is no smoking anywhere on the boat.

There are several different types of cruises that you can take on the Belle. You can go during the day or at night. They offer stargazing, musical, and historical based cruises. You will want to check the schedule on belleoflouisville.org to plan your perfect cruise. Advanced reservations are needed if you would like to have lunch or dinner on the boat, and this does guarantee inside seating.

Want to have a special event on the Belle of Louisville? That is certainly an option. You can actually reserve the entire boat for you and your guests. What do you want to celebrate? You can have a birthday party, anniversary celebration, graduation party, class reunion, and even...

VA Loan: An option for Veterans

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There are all kinds of loan programs out there when you are searching for your perfect house. But did you know that there is a loan that is specific for veterans? That’s right. The VA loan has been around since 1944 and it could be exactly what you are looking for if you qualify and meet the eligibility requirements. So let’s talk a little bit about this particular loan.

What is it?

This is a loan that was created in 1944 by the US Government to help our service members buy a home without the help of a down payment or a great credit score. The loans are issued by private lenders.

Who is eligible?

Not just veterans. This also extends to active duty service members, select military spouses, National Guard members and reservists. The Department of Veterans Affairs must ultimately approve eligibility.

You may be eligible if you meet at least one of the following

-You have served 90 consecutive days of active service during wartime.

-You have served 181 days of active service during peacetime.

-You have more than 6 years of service in the National Guard or Reserves.

-You are the spouse of a service member who has died in the line of duty or as a result of a service-related disability.

Advantages over a traditional mortgage

There are a few things that make the VA loan stand out over a traditional mortgage. First, no down payment for a VA loan and up to 20% down payment for a traditional loan. Also, you are not required to have PMI (Private Mortgage Insurance) with a VA...

The Weekend Buzz: What's Happening Around Town 8/3-8/5

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Photo: Louisvillezoo.org

Heading into every weekend, I’d like to do a little post about some things that are happening locally that may be of interest. This could be concerts, festivals, races, and just any activity. There is so much happening in Louisville that this will just be a glimpse of some things you can do this weekend. Enjoy!

Friday, August 3

*Movie Night at the Zoo - Bring blankets or lawn chairs and come on out with the family to watch a movie on the big inflatable screen. There will be games for all ages and a meet-and-greet with Iron Man. Event is from 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

*Brew at BU - Come out and sample a wide variety of local beers, wine samples, and food. This takes place at the Bellarmine University Quad. Tickets are $37.50 per person, but if you are a designated driver, your ticket is only $10.60! This begins at 7:30 p.m.

*The Little Mermaid - Broadway musical will be at Derby Dinner Playhouse all weekend.

*New Albany Bicentennial Park Concert Series - Live bands performing in downtown New Albany. Tonight will feature With Wild Adriatic and Anemic Royalty. Event is free and will be from 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, August 4

*PurpleStride Louisville 2018 - Fundraising walk to benefit the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. Walk starts at 8:15 a.m. at Beckley Creek Park.

*Splash ‘N’ Dash Walk/Run - This one supports the kids of Norton Children’s Hospital. You can choose a 5k or 1k course...

Local Spotlight: Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory

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Photo: sluggermuseum.com

In today’s blog, we will spotlight another local attraction in the city of Louisville that can be found downtown, and that is the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory. If you watch Major League Baseball and see players using bats that say Louisville Slugger on them, they came from this factory right in our town. The headquarters have been located at 800 West Main Street since 1996.

If you are in the area and can’t seem to find it, just look for the 120 foot tall baseball bat out front. It is 68,000 pounds. Fun fact: the bat was built at Caldwell Tanks, where my mom works, and when they were constructing it, we got to go out and write our names inside of the bat.

If you go to the museum, go ahead and take a tour. They depart every 10-30 minutes, depending on the season. You will get to see how a bat is made, from start to finish. The amount of work that goes into making just one bat is incredible. Players in the major leagues are very meticulous about their bats, so they have to be made just right. You have a chance to see how that is done. After the factory tour, you will receive a free souvenir Mini Bat!

Any fans of The Sandlot? Until September 9, there is an exhibit titled “Legends Never Die!” which celebrates the movie’s 25 year anniversary. There are some pretty awesome props on display from the movie, such as the Babe Ruth baseball that the kids try to get back from The Beast, Squints’ eyeglasses, Louisville Slugger bats swung by the team, and more.

“Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory is a great place to celebrate The Sandlot 25th Anniversary,” said writer-director...