CONTEST! Dining Discovers & More Vouchers for GREAT retailers!

Our friends are Dining Discoveries & More have sent us a bunch of certificates to give away! It's an awesome prize pack for one of our readers. You know all of those daily deals sites, they are great but Dining Discoveries & More gives you a video so you can see what the place/service is like, makes the certificates readily available continuously on their site and runs special discounts and contests all of the time!

Like their Facebook page to keep tabs on the giveaways and discounts.
Plus, I know them, and they are just pretty darn great people!

Here's what you can win!

$15 certificate to Yang Kee Noodle YUMMY!
$75 certificate for Hwang's Martial Arts (4 classes + White belt)
$170 certificate for Everlasting Beauty Medi Spa (to use for 3 microdermabrasions or 3 custom facials or 2 chemical peels, your choice!)
$15 certificate for F.A.B.D. Smokehouse


That's a $275 prize!!! YIPPEEE! Remember, these certificates and MORE are available on DiningDiscoveries.com for half off.

note: some of these certificates expire on 7/18/12 so you must use them prior to that date!

GOOD LUCK!

FREE (or cheap) Family Movies this Summer in Louisville

There are two local theaters participating in the Rave Cinemas Free Family Film Festival this summer!

It's totally free, show start at 10am and feature G or PG movies and there's even a coupon for concessions online.

In Louisville, it's Preston Crossing and Stonybrook.

June 4 & June 7 - Cats and Dogs
June 11 & 14 - Legend of the Guardians
June 18 & 21 - Yogi Bear
June 25 & 28 - Happy Feet Two
July 2 & 5 - Journey 2 the Mysterious Island
July 9 & 12 - Dolphin Tale
July 16 & 19 - Shorts
July 23 & 26 - Inkheart
July 30 7 August 2 - Happy Feet


Great Escapes Theaters in New Albany and LaGrange also have a GREAT summer movie series for kids.
The shows begin at 9:30 and in New Albany, they start on June 6 and run Wednesdays and Thursdays for 10 weeks.  In La Grange, shows start on May 29th and run Tuesdays and Wednesdays for 8 weeks.

You can see the details for movies for New Albany by clicking HERE. These are $5 for the entire summer or $1.50 per movie.

 You can see the details for movies for LaGrange by clicking HERE These are FREE all summer


Cinemark Tinseltown has a Summer Movie Clubhouse! It's 10 shows for $5 or $1 per show.  The movie dates and times are HERE, even a coupon for concessions!






Perfect for a super hot day or a rainy day!

Stephanie

Parent's Night Out! Review of Bourbon Tasting at The Oakroom

What a great night of Bourbon tasting! Not knowing any of Bourbon’s history or craftsmanship and being new to Louisville, my husband and I were invited to use a prize won by a friend to attend the April 20, 2012 installment of the Fun with Wine & Food Series at the five diamond restaurant, The Oakroom, in the Seelbach Hotel in downtown Louisville. We sat in the Capone Room for an introduction to Kentucky bourbon, which began at 6pm. Ben Smith, a local distributor with Brown-Forman, gave a wonderful history lesson on Kentucky Bourbons and talked about some of the offerings. The Bourbons featured were: Early Times; Old Forrester; Woodford Reserve; and Woodford Reserve Double Oaked. We had almonds to cleanse our pallets between tastings, as well as very light snacks of a small piece of cheese and a bacon wrapped fig.

The atmosphere was beautiful, elegant, nostalgic, and extremely inviting! The Oakroom had a great ambiance and the staff was top notch and will definitely bring my husband and me back. The parking was great as there were options to park along the street where you do not have to pay after 6 p.m. or using the complimentary valet parking, where they validate your normally $20 valet ticket as part of the cost for the event.

Coming straight from work on a Friday evening, I would like to have seen a little more appetizers or receive an invitation to stay and have appetizers and bourbon because we walked away feeling a little hungry. It was great to go out with my husband and learn the history of Bourbon but there wasn't much time to visit with him after the tasting, which lasted about two hours.

It was perfect timing for learning about and tasting Bourbon, since it's Derby season.  We ended with a crafted bourbon cocktail. My husband and I look forward to going back to enjoy a whole meal and sampling some of the more than 40 Bourbons offered at this fine restaurant. The next installment in this Food and Wine Series is on May 18, 2012 and covers Rosé, what they are calling the ultimate wine of summer. Sounds great! See  The Oakroom's website for more details on their food and wine series.

By guest contributor: Tammy

CONTEST! Day Out With Thomas at the Kentucky Railway Museum

One of our sponsors, The Kentucky Railway Museum, has a great prize for you! I have 4 family 4 packs of tickets to A Day Out with Thomas! All of these tickets are for June 9th with train rides at a variety of times (11:30,12:20, 1:10 and 2pm).  We will be giving away all 4 packs across the next two weeks! Winners will be selected at random from the contest form entries and bonus entries and announced over the next 2 weeks via THIS post.

WINNERS ANNOUNCED: HERE...will it be you?!?!?!?!

If you follow this website regularly, this contest will be a little different, so read it closely.

Entries
1) Enter the contest via the form entitled "A Day Out with Thomas contest"

2) @ mention Louisville Family Fun on Twitter or Facebook, post the link to our page on your social networking accounts or email people to encourage your friends and family to participate.  They can enter too and/or they can earn you bonus entries by completing the form called "Referral Bonus Entries" (@mentioning does not earn bonus entries, they must fill out the quick referral form to earn the bonus entries for you!)

3) Louisville Family Fun pass holders can email a photo of their fun pass to bonus@louisvillefamilyfun.net for 6 bonus entries (essentially 3 per week).  Put THOMAS in the subject. Fun Passes are available for $5 HERE with discounts good at a bunch of places though the end of Sept.







Want to purchase tickets??? Here's a code that will save you!


 A Day Out with Thomas! at the Kentucky Railway Museum.  Use code lvillefamilyfun12 to save $2 per ticket!


GOOD LUCK!

Louisville Children's Museum Fundraiser - Vendor Fair

Please join me at this event for the Louisville Children's Museum effort! 

**I will be there with Louisville Family Fun Gear for $8 per shirt! 

**I will also have a limited quantity of Fuzziwig's Candy Shop gift cards for sale for HALF off.  All of the money from the sale of the gift cards is a donation to the LCM endeavor!

Things to do this weekend around Louisville May 11,12,13

Here's my picks for great things to do this weekend! I'll be checking in all weekend from ORLANDO as I visit the Nickelodeon Hotel and Resort thanks to Vacation by V to tell you all about this, hopefully, fabuLOUs vacations destination.

Friday Night is a great night to head to a Louisville Bats game! They have a tailgate party in honor of hometown tourism week from 5-7pm with prizes and fun things planned! Details HERE

Fleur De Licious kicks of on Friday so maybe find a restaurant on the list that you haven't tried and head out with the family for a wonderful meal with savings! Details HERE about participating restaurants and their deals.

It's DIRTFEST on Saturday at the Parklands at Floyds Fork. This is a free educational event from 10am-2pm to teach people all about dirt and it's components, in conjunction with the Louisville Science Center.

Stage One Family Theatre has two shows this weekend for Lyle the Crocodile at the Kentucky Center. They are both on Saturday, 10am and 2pm. Tickets at under $15 and it's a great show! Here's my review.

Sunday is MOTHER'S DAY!!!!!! GOOOOOO MOMMIES! What a great day to spend at Art in the Arbor. (It's all weekend). Sunday, it runs from 10am to 5pm and it's a family friendly festival in the Prospect area across from the Holiday Manor shopping center. It's free :)

Have a wonderful weekend

Stephanie


Tribute to my very own mommy, I love you!


Wife




Mother





Grandma!



And, my friend.

WINNER! 4 tickets to see Apassionata at Freedom Hall

Here's a Mother's Day surprise for one of our readers!  Maleah Stroud has won 4 tickets to see Apassionata this weekend at Freedom Hall!  Please email info@louisvillefamilyfun.net to claim your prize and let me know which day you prefer, Saturday or Sunday, for the matinee!


Congrats!

Do You Believe in Magic? It's coming to the Louisville Palace

I can't say enough good things about The Louisville Palace. I think I would pretty much go see anything as long as it's at the Louisville Palace.  It's such a beautiful venue and just the right size. Even better, they always have programming for everyone in your family. I have taken my daughter to see Max and Ruby and I have been there with my husband to see The Fray.  The acts and shows they line up are wonderfully diverse.  And, they have a new one coming for families!

Three of Las Vegas’ most prominent magicians are bringing their performances to Louisville to help raise money for Kosair Kids. Join them on May 20th, 2012 at the Louisville Palace for “The Magic and the Wonder” starring Vegas headliners Steven Bargatze, Ardan James and husband and wife duo Kalin and Jinger. All proceeds benefit Kosair Charities and Kosair Kids! The fun begins when the doors open at 4:00pm with ten magicians in the lobby. The show begins at 5:00pm. Ticket prices range from $26.50 to $35.50

All three Vegas headliners, coupled with Louisville magician Patrick Miller and wife Janice, promise a night of fun and laughter for the whole family. Each act brings something different to the table. Ardan James specializes in the mechanics of body illusion, Kalin and Jinger in illusion of psychology, and Steven Bargatze in motivationally speaking to kids through magic. To date, their annual magic show has raised over $100,000 for Kosair Charities and they don’t want to stop there.

Coupons good for $7 off the price of your ticket are available at participating Mejier and Wendy’s locations, code word Kosair for online orders. Tickets prices range from $26.50-$35.50 and are on sale now! Tickets are available at Livenation.com, Ticketmaster.com, the Louisville Palace Box Office and all Ticketmaster outlets. Call 1-800-745-3000 to order by phone.

Come experience an evening of magic and help them raise money for Kosair Kids!

Visit www.LouisvilleMagicShow.com for more information.

Stephanie

Daddy Date Night! at Salsarita's

My wife and I have always tried to spend time with each of our children individually. We call this time "Daddy Dates" and "Mommy Dates". We feel it's important to give each of our children our undivided attention every once in a while. So my wife will take my son while I take my daughter, and we'll do something that specific child will enjoy. Then the next time, we'll switch kids for the next "date." The kids have grown to love this time, and so do we.

For my most recent Daddy Date, I took my son to Salsarita'sFresh Cantina for dinner. We moved here from North Carolina several years ago, and back in North Carolina (where Salsarita's was founded), my co-workers and I ordered take out fromSalsarita's for lunch almost weekly. They have the BEST chips and queso. Luckily for me, the one Salsarita's in Kentucky is located right here in St. Matthews (285 North Hubbards Lane). Salsarita's has a kids eat free night (with the purchase of an adult entree) on Monday and Thursdays, so we went on a Thursday. I decided to try one of their new CasaRitos. You can choose either a Quesarito (burrito covered with creamy queso), Rancharito (burrito covered with a robust ranchero sauce), or a Tomarito (burrito covered with warm, spicy tomatillo salsa). Since I love the queso, I of course ordered a Quesarito. 

If you haven't been to Salsarita's before, what you need to know is that they pride themselves on having fresh food, a big selection, and they customize your order for you, right in front of your very eyes. You can choose from beef, chicken, shrimp, steak, or pork. Then you choose rice, beans, vegetables, sauces, and multiple other toppings to go inside your burrito, taco, or other item. The Quesarito was a HUGE burrito. I had them fill it with everything I like, and then they poured the creamy, warm queso over the top. My son ordered a pizza kid's meal which comes with chips, a drink, and a cookie. Of course I had to get a side of chips and queso to go with my Quesorito, but since my son's meal was free, I didn't feel guilty about getting the large order of chips. The Quesarito was DELICIOUS!  I'd love to try the other 2 varieties of CasaRito, but I don't know if I'm willing to go to Salsarita's and not order a Quesarito. I think I'll be taking my daughter to Salsarita's for our next Daddy date!

By guest contributor: Stefan (Hooray for our first Daddy post!)

Hometown Tourist Celebration

I always feel like a tourist in Louisville! I treat my weekends and time with my kids as an adventure since Louisville has so much to offer. And, these adventures don't mean you have to travel far or spend a lot of money. You just need to take a different look at what you knew was always there.  So, during the Hometown Tourist Celebration, challenge yourself to try a new adventure in our fabuLOUs city.

From a press-release:
On the heels of Derby, Louisville continues the festivities with the month-long Hometown Tourist Celebration. Held in conjunction with the Travel Industry Association’s Annual National Tourism Week, the city has been encouraging Indiana and Kentucky residents to “be a tourist in their own hometown” for a decade. 2012 is no exception, in addition to the 2-for-1 discounts (valid May 7 to 31) at 42 area attractions, a dozen restaurants and 10 hotels, there are a half a dozen events that the public is invited.

Events include:

·         Wednesday, May 9 11:30-1:30PM is the Hometown Tourist Kick-Off Celebration and Attractions Showcase at Fourth Street Live!. Nearly two dozen local attractions will be on hand passing out information and answering questions.  Free to attend.

Have your picture taken with a medieval costumed character from the Frazier History Museum, Catfish Louie, Locust Grove Regency Era costumed character and the Glacier Run Bear family mascots. For a complete list of participants and offers, or for more information about these events, visit www.gotolouisville.com/hometowntourist.

·         Friday, May 11, 5PM-7PM is the Louisville Bats Baseball Game Tailgate Party. Held on Boy Scout night, the tailgate party is held just outside the stadium at the corner of Witherspoon and Preston and is free to attend. There are prizes for all kids and a grand prize drawing for the adults.

Look for Catfish Louie, the Glacier Run Bear family mascots, Churchill Charlie, the Kentucky Derby Museum’s miniature-pony – Winston, a Louisville Slugger Baseball Player from the 1880s and the Mega Cavern tour jeep. For a complete list of participants and offers, or for more information about these events, visit www.gotolouisville.com/hometowntourist.

·         From Whiskey Row to Theatre Square to NuLu – and everywhere in between – downtown Louisville has 70 fine dining and casual restaurants, 11 of them new in the last 12 months. Come sample a taste of what downtown has to offer during Fleur De Licious, May 11 to May 20. For a list of participating restaurants and the specials they will offer check out www.fleurdelicious.info.

·         The Louisville Visitors Center’s “Picnic at the Waterfront” themed open house on Thursday, May 17, 11:30AM- 2PM, features mascot Catfish Louie and book signings by Rick Bell, author of Waterfront Park A Riverfront Renaissance. Free to attend. For a complete list of participants and offers, or for more information about these events, visit www.gotolouisville.com/hometowntourist.

·         Saturday, May 19, 10AM-11PM, visit the CVB’s Hometown Tourist booth at the Old Louisville Spring Fest held in the 1200 and 1300 blocks of First Street. For a complete list of participants and offers, or for more information about these events, visit www.gotolouisville.com/hometowntourist.

·         Saturday, May 19, 9AM-11AM, is the Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau’s 101-style seminar “From Our Family to Yours: Family Reunion Workshop,” which includes a presentation by the CVB's Family Reunion Service Specialists and a "meet and greet" with hospitality industry partners who specialize in family reunions. Admission is free to anyone who is planning a family reunion in Louisville, but seating is limited to two guests per reunion. Reservations are required; contact Saundra Robertson at srobertson@gotolouisville.com or 502-379-6110.

·         Louisville is a city of inspired hope and creativity and of great pride in our uniqueness. PossibiliTours Walking Tours provide historical and architectural anecdotes about Possibility City while exploring the heart of downtown on foot. You’ll explore Fourth Street, Whiskey Row, Museum Row on Main, and the civic district. Held Fridays and Saturdays at 10:30AM and 2PM (May through October), a local volunteer leads you on a free, one-hour walking tour (weather permitting) departing from the Visitors Center at 4th and Jefferson. Call 502-379-6109 one day in advance to reserve your spot. Walk-ins are taken based on availability.

For a complete list of participants and offers, or for more information about these events, visit www.gotolouisville.com/hometowntourist.