Josh, Bella Grace and Shana Merideth.

More often than not, we don’t get to see the man behind the camera. So for this week’s In Tandem, wedding photographer Josh Merideth lets us hold up a figurative lens to his marriage so we could get the full picture of  how creativity can co-exist with organization.

How did you meet?
After graduating from the University of Louisville, Shana moved to Washington D.C. and then to the Big Apple. The year was 2001 which put Shana right in the middle of the September 11 tragedy.

“After September 11 happened, I thought, ‘I need to go home,’ ” Shana said. So she packed up and without hesitation moved back to Louisville. Even though Shana was coming home her big-city taste had not changed. “I was thinking, I don’t want to move home and date a Louisville guy,” but as luck would have it, her sister introduced her to Josh Merideth, and the rest is picture perfect.

Almost immediately the two hit it off. “I thought to myself, ‘Wow, here’s this guy who is cultured, loves art  and dresses well.’ We went on a few dates and I think after the third we just both thought ‘well, this is it.

“It was never a question after that, we never broke up or had any relationship hiatus. It was instant,” Shana said.
“We dated for about a year in a half and that was it,” Josh added.

How did he propose?
So a little over a year later Shana’s birthday happened to fall on Derby, and in true Derby weekend fashion, Josh took quite the gamble.
“We had plans to go to a couple Derby parties that year so I had told everyone of my plan beforehand, so she was the only person not in on it,” Josh said.

Josh, who played college baseball at Bellarmine University, had a game that day. “I had my buddies fill up helium balloons with Scrabble letters in each one. As she popped the balloons, she began to unscramble the letters which spelled out ‘marry me?’ Josh said.
“And here we are,” Shana added.

How do you make it work on a day-to-day basis?
The couple tend to feed off their “opposites attract personalities” but came together on a book due out this summer titled, “The Original Makers Club.” The guide to locally-owned businesses will be on display in every room at 21c Museum Hotel.

“We are very much a yin and yang couple,” Shana said. Josh who owns his own studio and thrives on creativity does not share the same ‘type A’ organization strategies as Shana, who is an analyst at Liberty Mutual.

“His weaknesses are my strengths and vice versa. We bring it all together, and our kid’s really get the best of both worlds. I’m very structured and he is artsy and plans fun projects for them to do and they get a lot from our differing personalities,” Shana said.

“We take them everywhere with us whether its brunch at Corbett’s or dinner at Proof they’re definitely a huge part of our everyday lives,” Josh said, “and it really works for us because she brings the stability which allows me to be creative.”

Bella Grace and Emma Caroline.

How do you divide up household chores?
“I do everything,” Shana said without missing a beat. Laughing Josh knowingly shook his head.

“True, I designed the house and she cleans it!” Josh added.

“But that is purely by choice,” Shana said “I’m total ‘type A’ so he is very big picture and I am detailed oriented. I like to clean because I can do it my way. If he does laundry it would be a disaster,” Shana added.

“I’ll offer to help but she will just be right there behind me to fix it,” Josh laughed.

Where do you like to go when you’re out ‘n’ about?
“We are all over the place,” Josh said. But the couple did admit they love Louisville originals such as Hillbilly Tea, Proof on Main, 732 Social and Please and Thank You, a new Louisville locale.

What is one thing you always do as a couple?
The couple were on the same page with this answer when they both affirmed “travel” as their go-to activity.

“We love to travel,” Josh said. “We did quite a bit of traveling as a couple when we were dating and first married, so we got out a lot of our bucket list on the honeymoon. Now, the majority of our vacations are family-based. We love bringing the kiddos along, we’ll go to Disney World and try to make it out to Napa every couple years.

What is some advice you would offer for couples new – or – old who desire to walk through life in tandem?
“It is hard to say without being cliché but a lot of the clichés are pretty accurate,” Shana began.

“I would say always be honest with each other, always mean what you say and say what you mean,” Shana added.

“I think sharing is huge,” Josh added  “the more you share with each other and not just co-exist the more attached you are.”

“We’ve tried the whole ‘he does his thing, I do mine’ but we found that, at least for us, the more we do together the more we feel connected,” Shana added.

“You have to connect to make it work,” Josh said.

Anniversary

May 14, 2005.

Kids

Bella Grace, 5 – yes, Josh’s studio is named after his first-born daughter – and Emma  Caroline (3).

Residence

Norton Commons.

Occupation

Josh owns Bella Grace Studios and Shana is an analyst for Liberty Mutual.

Cats or Cards

100 percent Cats. No fair-weathered fans here.

My most recent “aha!” moment came one night as I was driving down Frankfort Avenue, most likely heading to whatever drive-through offers decent chocolate, when I saw it – Sweet Surrender. How I had missed this tasty locale is beyond me, but I went in and indulged. Thank goodness they were open past 6 o’clock or it would have been me and a stale Hershey bar.

Owner Jessica Haskell bakes up mouth-satisfying delights to cure late-night cravings or just your everyday sweet tooth. From mint julep to banana split cakes, if you ever allow yourself a cheat day, you absolutely MUST head to Sweet Surrender. But don’t think just because sugar is the main ingredient there can’t be some health-conscious backbone. Sweet Surrender offers a full menu of sugar-free, gluten-free and vegan cakes and pies.

Having never thought of myself as a coffee house lounger, I definitely fit right in as a dessert café regular. With the smell of fresh-baked goods and warm, dim lights, this place is like Willy Wonka meets grandma’s kitchen. With desserts made from scratch, Sweet Surrender proves that cafes are not just for coffee beans and laptops. And the shop has been honored with eight Best of Louisville Awards.

But you don’t have to have a sweet tooth to enjoy a little Sweet Surrender. Since 2007, it has served up vegetarian lunch fare such as paninis, salads, soups and the best part, a “you-pick-two” comes with a slice of cake. With items such as a hummus platter ($5.25) and gluten-free, vegan chili ($5.59), you’ll have money left over to come back for seconds … or thirds.

So if cozying up to a box of bon-bons and reruns doesn’t light a fire under you, consider going out for dessert and sweeten up your date night. No longer should you be confined to the back of your freezer or scraping for last year’s Halloween candy.

Sweet Surrender is located at 1804 Frankfort Ave. Hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Closed Sunday and Monday. Call 502.899.2008 or visit www.sweetsurrenderdessertcafe.com.

Setting

Located in a refurbished shotgun house, the cozy ambiance helps put you at ease and fully indulge in your treat du jour.
Must-have indulgence: Traditional carrot cake with a buttercream and bourbon caramel walnut filling. You can tell yourself you’re getting a full serving of vegetables with each bite.

Interesting arcana

The entire café menu has been approved dairy kosher.

Having never been a huge fan of certain aspects of the zoo (ahem, the smells that creep from the elephant exhibit), the newest feature, Glacier Run, hits all the right senses.

Designed as an imaginary mining town on the edge of the arctic wilderness, the polar bear capital of the world makes its way to Louisville. And where exactly was this concept modeled after? Churchill, of course … the town of Churchill, Canada, that is.

Based on the notion that humans and nature must coexist, the exhibit offers a truly unique experience where guests can connect with the otherwise unapproachable polar and grizzly bears while interacting with zookeepers who host training and enrichment demonstrations daily at 11:15 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.

At Glacier Run, you may introduce your kiddos to Ariki, a 26-year-old polar bear from Chicago, and three grizzly bears from Montana: 6-year-old Inga and her two cubs, Otis and Rita.

The 80,000-gallon, 16-foot bear pool is kept at a cool 65 degrees and proof that everyone needs a little pool time during these summer months. You might just call it the Glacier Run Country Club for Bears.

A 22-foot-tall window allows visitors to watch the bears both above and below the waterline. Or you may sit inside the bed of a broken-down truck while bears rummage through the goods (all from your very own glass barrier, of course).

This is also a great chance to sneak in some mid-summer education and teach your kids about current challenges to existing arctic environments and discover how incremental changes in everyday life can make a difference for our planet.

Bring the cubs (and even the grizzly bear in your life) and head to the zoo to experience all things Glacier Run. After all, once it officially heats up in this town, it might be refreshing.

Setting

The tiny town of Glacier Run set in our own backyard.

Must-See

Aside from the obvious polar bear appeal, it’s worth it to make the trek over to the Sea and Seal Lion Amphitheater where a crowd of 200 can gather for animal demonstrations held daily in the 108,000-gallon salt water tank.

Interesting Arcana

In 2012, the zoo will open the Glacier Run Arctic Ambassador Center, which will include animals like the snowy owl and the arctic fox.

Contact writer Lauren DePaso at ldepaso@voice-tribune.com or 502.897.8900.

Brian & Tracy Merkley.

Aside from Brian and Tracy Merkley being an obviously attractive couple, one fact that makes them so much more adorable is that they are high school sweethearts. He was a Trinity basketball player while Tracy cheered for Assumption. Now ain’t that the stuff Louisville is made of.

Brian knows a thing or two about longevity. His family’s store dates back to 1832 and is the third oldest in the United States. The fact that his marriage to Tracy has lasted through an impromptu proposal at Derby to a ring in a parking lot and everything in between just makes sense.

How did you meet?
“We have two different versions of that story,” Brian said. But what the couple can agree on was the meeting place: the Chow Wagon.
“It was our senior year of highschool, so 1991,” Tracy said.

“I was down at the Chow Wagon with a group of my friends and Tracy was there with hers … it’s much funnier when Tracy tells the story,” Brian added.

“So I’m standing there with my girlfriends, and this guy kept coming over saying, ‘Let’s dance, come on people let’s dance.’ I thought maybe he was slightly intoxicated – or just bored, so I was like fine, I’ll dance with him,” Tracy recalled.

“She basically felt sorry for me, but we danced and then exchanged numbers,” Brian added “About a week later, I invited her to go to the Derby festival and a concert later that night thinking it would be a great first date.”

“He picked me up to go on our very first date WITH HIS PARENTS, which he didn’t tell me about beforehand, so our first date was with his mom and dad,” Tracy said.

How did he propose?
Tracy hit it off with Brian, and the couple soon became an item, dating through the remainder of their senior years until going to different colleges – Tracy to Tulane University and Brian to the University of Dayton.

“We agreed we’d see other people but still kept in contact,” Brian said.

The two dated on and off through college until Brian transferred to Loyola University for basketball, which was coincidentally closer to Tulane. Once the couple returned home to Louisville, the proposal came, sort of.

“It was a long day at Derby, and we were hanging out in the Paddock, and I got down on my knee and just asked him,” Tracy said as she recalled their “unofficial proposal.”

“We agreed we would get married, but were fresh out of college and poor, so we also agreed to not get rings,” Brian added. “Little did she know I had been scraping to buy her a ring and propose on bended knee the right way.

“We had made plans to go to dinner, but I didn’t want her to suspect anything, so I wasn’t immediately going to drive somewhere super nice. I asked her where she wanted to eat and she said Texas Roadhouse.” The couple bursted out laughing in unison thinking back to Brian’s panic state.

“He kept asking, ‘Don’t you want to go somewhere nicer?’  but I just thought we were grabbing a quick bite to eat,” Tracy said.

Tracy won that argument, and as the couple pulled into the parking lot, Brian decided that was the moment.

“I didn’t have much planned and was so anxious to just ask her, so I told her to open the glove compartment,” Brian said.

“I had no idea. We were in a parking lot and when I opened the glove compartment he had hidden the ring in a bracelet box, so I was totally caught off guard,” Tracy said.

“So in my 1963 Corvair in the parking lot of Texas Roadhouse we got engaged,” Brian added.

The proposal might not have been the ideal setting, but the marriage has been on track ever since, with a ring Brian picked out at Merkley Kendrick, of course.

How do you make it work on a day-to-day basis?
“We are very much partners at home,” Brian said, “Sometimes when I first come home after a long day I take 20 minutes or so just to decompress from work, that is if she doesn’t intercept me on the way,” Brian said with a laugh.

“But I also understand that if she’s had a trying day and needs to unload, I just have to remember that she needs to have discussions on a parental level,” Brian added.

“There are some days whether he’s busy or I am, but I won’t have an adult conversation all day long, so when he comes home I need to unload too,” Tracy agreed. “ We try to carve out date nights but not nearly enough as we should.”

How do you divide up household chores?
“We agreed when we first got married he mows the grass, and I do the laundry,” Tracy said.

“I would agree,” Brian added, “very traditionally for better or worse that I do the maintenance and outdoor work and she takes care of the domestic household duties.

“After our third child when she started staying at home, we  both agreed that she’d take care of all that,” Brian said.

“ But he is good about running up to the grocery store to grab milk if I forgot. He is always just so calm, cool and collected, so it helps keep balance,” Tracy said.

What is one thing you always do as a couple?
“We make an effort to have dinner every night. Whether it’s at 6 or 9 o’clock at night, it’s our time to sit as a family and talk. We go to church as a family every Sunday,” Brian said.

The couple, who despite Tracy’s diehard loyalty to the University of Kentucky, have season tickets to both U of L basketball and football games.

“Brian loves basketball, so it’s our chance to get away and just do something fun together,” Tracy said.

Where do you like to go when you’re out ‘n’ about?
“We bounce around a lot and like to try new things, but one of our all time favorites is Buck’s Restaurant. It is chill, old school always very romantic and private, the food is always good and for the past couple years we have spent our anniversary there,” Brain said.
The couple is also a little biased to paying Texas Roadhouse a visit every now and then.

What is some advice you would offer to couples new or old who desire to walk through life In Tandem?
“I would say try to refrain from silent expectations,” Tracy said. “I’ll have an idea of how I think something is going to go but won’t voice it to him and then we get lost in translation but he doesn’t know because I never told him, and it just goes back and forth. So always expressing what you are thinking is so important, and just makes things easier and flow better.”

“And be flexible,” Brian added. “Sometimes I’ll come home when we’ve planned a date night and expect her to be ready and waiting for me, but I don’t know how her day has gone; it could have been awful – whether one of the kids got in trouble at school, or the dog got sick. So just being understanding of where that person is coming from is helpful in a relationship.”

Wedding date

Oct. 11, 1997

Family

Three children: Blake (15), Alex (12) and Samantha (10).

Residence

The couple have resided in the St. Matthews area for the past nine years, close to Merkley Kendrick Jewelers.

Cats or Cards

“Cats – I bleed blue!” said Tracy.  Brian, on the other hand, will let her win this battle, pointing out that Tracy earned her masters degree from U of L.

Occupation

Brian is the third generation president and CEO of Merkley Kendrick Jewelers.

A portion of the track reserved for famous folks during Derby, the Turf Club at Churchill Downs is ours, and we couldn’t be more excited.

Never been inside the Turf Club? Now’s your chance, and the first 50 guests will receive swoon-worthy swag bags The Voice-Tribune gives out at each event. And just to keep the momentum going, there will be specialty drinks such as Turf Club Tea and wine with Levy Restaurants on-hand preparing appetizers to cure any lingering libations.

Guests will be encouraged to network and check out what a membership to the Turf Club is really all about. You might just decide the Infield isn’t your thing anymore. And while there are various levels of Turf Club memberships, almost all are worth it to gain mere admittance, a season box and the opportunity to purchase a third floor Clubhouse box for Oaks and Derby.

Still hesitant about making the trip back to Churchill Downs a second week in a row? Maybe free parking in the Longfield lot near Gate 10 is enough to soothe your leftover road rage from Derby and Oaks traffic.

With a unique floor plan and state of the art amenities, the Turf Club has become one of the most coveted spots to watch the ponies, so come join us and see why this makes the perfect location for this month’s Third Thursday.

Setting

The exclusive Turf Club at historic Churchill Downs will play host to this week’s after-work party, and this time you won’t go home empty handed.

Dress …

To impress. This might not be the Derby, but Turf Club dress code is still very much enforced. No jeans or shorts – stick to race track fashion and you’ll be a sure winner.

Parking

Free parking in the Longfield lot – so come out and make the best of it.

Contact writer Lauren DePaso at ldepaso@voice-tribune.com or 502.498.2051.

For those who are trackside vets, this Derby City roundup will be just a glimpse into your calendar for the coming weekend. But for Oaks and Derby newbies, prepare for the time of your life (and bring flip-flops).

There’s nothing quite like discovering why we’ve been coined the land of beautiful horses and fast women than by doing it like the locals do. Here’s how:

21c Museum Hotel

Where to stay:

21c Museum Hotel

If you haven’t already booked your hotel arrangements, you might as well pick up a tent on your way in because everywhere will be booked, especially 21c Museum Hotel, which has been voted the No. 1 hotel in the U.S. twice by Conde Nast readers.

And why not? Music royals such as Lady Gaga and Elton John both stayed at 21c when they performed this year at the KFC Yum! Center, and “Project Runway” winner Christian Siriano did too.

Need any more proof 21c is a hotspot you’ll want to frequent? Make sure to bring your best jammies – you never know when there will be a celeb sighting in the lobby.

21c Museum Hotel
700 W. Main St.
502.217.6300
www.21chotel.com

Jack Fry's

Oaks eve eats:

Jack Fry’s

For many locals, enjoying the calm before the storm on Thursday night before Oaks has become somewhat of a last supper before the weekend gets underway – and where best to do this? A restaurant as old as the Derby tradition itself, Jack Fry’s.

Jack Fry turned his love for the ponies and gambling into a “sportsmen speak easy,” and the legend still lives on. This Louisville favorite is the perfect solace before the chaos of the track. Enjoy elegant dining, the best food Louisville has to offer and an upscale atmosphere to really get you in the mood for the glitz and glamour you’re sure to revel in at the track.

Definitely call for a reservation and absolutely dress to impress.

Jack Fry’s
1007 Bardstown Rd.
502.452.9244
www.jackfrys.com

Derby eve:

Barnstable Brown Gala

You know what they say: “When in Rome …”

It is a hard feat for anyone to take attention from Churchill Downs during Derby weekend, but one famous driveway does just that. For years, all eyes have been on Tricia Barnstable Brown and Priscilla Barnstable as they throw their annual Derby Eve gala. This much anticipated event is a testament for how Louisville throws a party. Couldn’t get “your people” to score you a ticket this year? No worries.

The public is welcome to star gaze as celebs make the walk up her driveway turned red carpet.

Rumor has it some pretty A-list stars will make that walk this year, so take your kids if you’ve brought them (just bring ear plugs) because teen heartthrobs Nick and Kevin Jonas will make their Barnstable Brown debut. You also might spot model Marissa Miller (a Derby alum) and Derby Festival guest Tracy Morgan.

Keep an eye out for our very own Voice-Tribune owners as they will have some pretty interesting guests of their own.

Barnstable Brown Gala
1700 Spring Drive

Jeff Roby's

Late Night Treats

After a long day, one might need to treat themselves to a no fuss dining experience, and where better to do it than an old fourth meal favorite – White Castle.

This blast from the past attracts a little more than just late-night cravings, it just so happens to be one of Lori Kommor’s favorite post-track eateries and celebs have been known to make the “WC Steakhouse” one of their stops also. One year, Jerry O’Connell paid a little visit to the slider maker and ended up leaving the cashier a $100 tip, not bad after a day of gambling.

High heels and hamburger’s not your thing?

Try a little different steak house and grab a cab over to legendary Jeff Ruby’s. This is a prime hot spot for celeb sightings and also the scene of the infamous booting of OJ Simpson (which made national headlines) by namesake owner Jeff Ruby.

White Castle
105 East Market Street

Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse
325 N. Fourth St.
502.584.0102
www.jeffruby.com

Lynn's Paradise Cafe

Libations Cure:

Lynn’s Paradise Cafe

For the day after Derby weekend, there is only one place to nurse your headache. Lynn’s Paradise Cafe has been a Louisville stable for breakfast and brunch for years. One look at the wacky decor will take your mind off whatever is ailing you. Too many mint juleps or maybe an empty wallet after betting? Whatever it is, Lynn’s has the remedy.

A reservation is the only sure bet to getting a table at Lynn’s, which was featured on The Food Network’s “Throwdown with Bobby Flay”

Lynn’s Paradise Cafe
984 Barret Avenue
502.583.3447
www.lynnsparadisecafe.com

Irv & Cathy Bailey with then Secretary of State Colin Powell and Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao at Cathy Bailey's swearing in as Ambassador to the Republic of Latvia.

When Irv Bailey moved to Louisville from Hartford, Conn., in February of 1981, he never dreamed he’d stay this long. When Cathy waltzed into his office 13 years later, he knew he was there for the long haul.

Together, the Baileys have accomplished international and local acclaim, but their biggest accomplishment is their 16-year marriage, their blended family and a charity that has touched their hearts.

I sat down with them at their Glenview home to learn all about how Cathy and Irv became the Baileys.

How did you meet?

“You know, I don’t really remember,” said Cathy as she grinned and looked to Irv for backup.

The year was 1994, and Irv was serving as the chairman and CEO of Providian Corp. when Cathy, a young PR mogul, swooped in and the rest is history.

“She was working for a public relations company and came into my office to meet with us on a proposal that I can’t even remember what it was about anymore,” Irv said.

“I can’t remember if she wrote me or I called her, but …”

“We had Dim Sum at the Jade Palace,” Cathy interjected.

“That was our first date right around Derby season. Our relationship really began to materialize – there were a lot of parties and functions going on and Irv needed a date,” Cathy said.

How did he propose?

“I proposed to her in a restaurant overlooking a mill race in Quechee Vermont on her birthday – July 7, 1995,” Irv recalled.

“With my kids at the next table,” Cathy added.

“The kids were off looking at something, so I had a small window of opportunity to pop the question,” Irv said.

“Between the entree and dessert he snuck it in!” Cathy added.

Ben Strass, Irv Bailey and his son Chris Bailey.

How do you make it work on a day-to-day basis?

“We had each been married before and had our own families and I think in our situation, what works for us – which might not work for everyone else – but we have tremendous respect for each other,” Cathy began.

“I have incredible respect for Irv and his accomplishments, what he has done as a CEO of a Fortune 500 company, and respect that through it all he has never let me lose who I am. We’ve never tried to rob each other of our identities.

“We’ve been able to grow the marriage, and we have a strong marriage because of the base of a strong family and faith. We are very fortunate our families blended well and naturally. I think allowing us each to have our own independence, and respect each other for that independence is key. But we also know the times when we need to come together,” Cathy said.

“No matter where we are in the world, we always communicate,” Irv added.

The Bailey’s stay busy – really busy. Irv has served on both international and U.S. boards and recently got back from Europe.

Cathy, who is also on several boards and served as the U.S. ambassador to the Republic of Latvia from 2005 to 2008, knows the importance of balance and appreciates the communication efforts.

“We are never remiss,” Cathy said.

Tell me your organization, Operation Open Arms?

The passion Irv and Cathy have for life and each other transfers flawlessly over into their philanthropic efforts. As one of the co-founders of the Ronald McDonald House in Louisville as well as a former first grade teacher, Cathy is no stranger to a challenge.

Operation Open Arms is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing care for children while their mothers are in prison.

While in town visiting with the Baileys, Larry Thompson, deputy secretary of justice under John Ashcroft, presented Irv and Cathy with a troubling issue in the United States.

“It was so interesting how it all developed,” Cathy started.

“We had Larry in town for Derby, and had done all the festivities, so we came back to the house and just collapsed on our back patio. Larry said to us, ‘As I enter into this new position, we have a lot of problems. I’ll go into more detail, but to simplify it, which is not a simple problem, we have 100,000 kids in the U.S. who have a mom behind bars.’ ”

So together, Larry and the Baileys set out to address the situation and have been doing their best ever since to provide a loving, caring environment for the children of inmates.

“We just sat there and thought if we can put something together, so these children can understand what it’s like in a good home, maybe we can create a model for other organizations as well. Currently we have 12 families and 12 children. We have not yet seen a cycle, which has been our biggest challenge, but if we can help even just one child, we will consider it a success,” Cathy said.

“Irv is the treasurer and I’m the chairman as long as they’ll have me,” Cathy said with a laugh.

What is one thing you always do as a couple?

“We go get Starbucks on Sunday morning and sit and read the paper,” Irv said without skipping a beat.

“If you take the big picture and then narrow it down it would simply be our passion for life,”  Cathy said.

“There is a lot of energy between us and so much we want to do. We worked on our calendar just the other day and sat down and talked about what I have going on and what he has and within that planning period, we always carve out times that we are together and things we want to do, places we want to be – whether its riding our bikes or taking a walk.

“He is an extreme skier, and I like the ski resorts. So while he’s out skiing, I’m by the fire,” Cathy added.

“And we will meet up for lunch!” Irv said with a charming grin.

Where do you like to go when you’re out ‘n’ about?

“Louisville is so blessed with many great options to choose from and this really shines during this time of year,” Cathy said. “There is nothing like seeing Kentucky during Derby time and what a great opportunity for us to all be ambassadors for this great town. We love trying new places, old places, we just love it here and love to have guests in town to show it off.”

What advice would you offer to couples new – or old – who desire to walk together through life in tandem?

“You continue to learn and relate to the person you love. One of the things we’ve learned is to be sensitive and in-tuned to each other’s needs. If not, you will make assumptions and get off track. Everyone needs to find their own way for their own relationships. I don’t know that there are any universal rules,” Irv said.

“Respect what the other person is about,” Cathy continued. “God put us here to be different. How dull would we be if we were all cookie cutters of each other? It’s about finding the best in that person.

“Irv and I are both products of former marriages, and we are not proponents of divorce; we are proponents of trying to work things out for various reasons that they didn’t.

“We’ve been married for 16 years, and there’s not a day that goes by that I don’t appreciate what he’s about and feel fortunate that I found someone who is not only a good match for me but a good role model for my children,” Cathy said.

Anniversary

Dec. 9, 1995.

Cats or Cards

Both. Cathy is originally from Indiana and her dad and brothers played basketball at Purdue. For her, it’s more about the love of the game.

“I mean if you want to watch exciting basketball, look no further,” Cathy said. “

“What we offer here in this state as far as sports is remarkable. And hats off to Jim Host and the amazing job he has done with the KFC Yum! Center and really putting us on the map.”

SILKS IN THE BLUEGRASS

Silks in the Bluegrass, a Derby night celebration benefiting Operation Open Arms, will be held Saturday, May 7, at 7:30 p.m. at Crowne Plaza Louisville. The event will feature Grammy-winning duo Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr.

For information, visit www.oparms.org or call 502.777.6300.

David Son

Attorney by day, legend in the making by night, David Son will help bring a new reason to gather this Derby Season as he hosts the inaugural Rose Collar Derby Soiree Thursday, May 5, from 7 p.m. to midnight at Majid’s St. Matthews.

The event will shed light on a good cause and bring everyone together for yet another reason to celebrate.

What is the Rose Collar Foundation?

Rose Collar Foundation is an independent nonprofit charity incorporated in Kentucky, and our mission is to combat sex trafficking globally by enabling families to achieve economic security through investing resources, sharing skills and facilitating education. The co-founders and presidents of Rose Collar Foundation are Kevin Loman and Sage Loman.

How did you become passionate about this cause?

Kevin heads up the Malaysian office of Bedford Biofuels, an alternative energy company. While living in Kuala Lumpur and traveling through Asia, he and Sage witnessed this epidemic firsthand and continue to volunteer time to visit as many of these affected areas and do field research. At the 2010 Clinton Global Initiative annual meeting, Kevin Loman round tabled this issue with the attendees, who shared the same passion to find solutions to this problem. Kevin and Sage are dear friends of ours and family of my business partner Peter Bassett Jr. While reconnecting this past spring, we found that we all shared an interest in being agents of change for this issue.

Why the name “Rose Collar”?

“Rose Collar” was coined by Kevin and Sage to humanize the people involved with the industry. It’s a term they felt was as easy to say and remember as blue collar and white collar workers.

What can people expect from the Rose Collar Derby Soiree?

During the spring, we felt that the Derby spotlight on Louisville was a great platform for us to bring awareness to Rose Collar Foundation and an opportunity for us to throw an annual event. We also know that Derby week is crazy and on Thursday night, all you want is a great cocktail with friends.

The inaugural Rose Collar Derby Soiree is that and much more. We partnered with Majid and Debbie Ghavami of Majid’s St. Matthews in Chenoweth Square and the entire restaurant will be transformed for the evening. We will have outdoor seating, indoor bistro tables and a dance floor. We know that people also want to be taken care of that night, so we will have three open bars, 25 staff members and one bar exclusively for our signature cocktail “The Rose Collar” featuring Four Roses Bourbon.

The cocktail is a blend of lavender syrup, fresh squeezed lemons, a dash of orange bitters and saffron infused rose water, all shaken with Four Roses Bourbon and served chilled in a martini glass.

Bobby J and jazz ensemble will play the first half of the evening and the second half will be a DJ playing all the songs you want to hear to start Derby weekend off right.

We will also have a silent auction with great items such as a private dinner for eight with wine pairings from celebrity chef Edward Lee at 610 Magnolia, private dinner for six with wine pairings from, Majid’s St. Matthews, UPS Flight simulator for four, a drawing donated by local artist Douglas Miller, three pieces of art from the artist Schwan donated by Art without Borders, Four Roses bourbon package and much more.

Tell us about your special guest.

We are honored to also host our guest of honor, Ruchira Gupta, founder of APNE AAP Women Worldwide and the 2010 Humanitarian Award Winner at the Clinton Global Initiative annual meeting. She is coming from New Dehli to support our event and will speak that evening about our very important cause and what we can do to be a part of the solution.

What do you hope comes from this event?

Our main goal is to bring awareness to this epidemic and raise funds to support our charity’s mission. We also want to make this an annual event that kicks off Derby weekend.

How can we make a difference here in Louisville?

From the Red Cross to the Center for Women and Families, we hope that we begin the dialogue in Louisville and Kentucky to work together as partners to bring awareness to all of our worthy causes.

How did you decide the Board Members?

Board Members come from around the world and began with Kevin and Sage. I was honored to be asked to be a part of the board and am acting secretary. My biggest role this year is to be a part of the host committee of Peter Bassett Jr., Kate Kimsey and myself. Kate Kimsey is our event coordinator and has been responsible for all of our wonderful auction items and, along with Debbie Ghavami, will be transforming Majid’s into the home of the inaugural Rose Collar Derby Soiree. We would like to thank all of our friends and supporters in this community who have stepped up to be a part of this event.

We hope you can join us Thursday, May 5, from 7 p.m. to midnight at Majid’s St. Matthews in Chenoweth Square. Tickets are $100 and can be purchased online by going to www.rosecollar.org.

For questions, please feel free to contact David Son at 502.540.1211 or e-mail at dsonatty@600westmain.com.

Satterwhite Temple

It seemed odd at first when I sat down to do my Out ‘n’ About on Cave Hill Cemetery. With all do respect, I think we can all agree that no one there is necessarily the life of the party. Fast forward to this week, and the loss of a dear friend’s father made this week’s column all the more relevant.

Unfortunately, having been to a number of funerals in my day, as weird as it sounds, the most memorable one just so happened to be at Cave Hill. The grounds somehow have a way of bringing beauty to sorrow. And while most cemeteries seem impersonal and cold, this one gives you a warm feeling (well, as much as being at a cemetery can). After spending leisure time there, I learned that Cave Hill was indeed supposed to do just that.

Chartered in 1848, Cave Hill is one of the most historic and revered locales in our own backyard. It displays a Victorian elegance with natural settings for burials.  As personal wealth increased, the garden cemetery became the repository of symbols of success in the form of truly monumental art.

No longer were shabby plots and confined yards good enough for deceased loved ones. Instead, picturesque natural landscapes were worthy gathering sites to contemplate the collective accomplishments of its inhabitants. And when you put it like that, it makes everything a bit less scary.

Chapel Columbarium

The land that once was used as a rural farm, soon was transformed into one of the most beautiful cemeteries in Louisville.

Now, thanks to the Cave Hill Heritage Foundation, you don’t have to wait for an untimely death to experience this lively history. From now through October, you can experience a variety of different tours all led by local historians.

The first one up is led by local architect and historian, Steve Wiser. Uncover the history of Cave Hill on the Historical Walking Tour that features a 1 1/2 hour walk through roadways and sections of the cemetery.

For the Civil War buff in your group, there is the Civil War Walking Tour, led by Civil War author, Bryan S. Bush.

Bush will lead discuss soldiers and military and civilian leaders from Louisville who contributed and influenced the outcome of the Civil War such as Union Maj. Gen. Lovell Rousseau, Joshua and James Speed, Confederate Lt. John B. Castleman and many others.

Together, J. Michael Higgs, Cave Hill Heritage Foundation coordinator, and Steve Wiser, will lead the twilight tours of the cemetery. A two-hour journey through the meandering roadways of the entire cemetery will reveal information about the history of the cemetery, its residents and the works of art presented through the monuments. Cemetery topography, botanical highlights and connections between the cemetery and state, local and national history also will be discussed.

Whether you are drawn to Cave Hill for the beauty, history or unfortunate circumstance of a funeral, it is a place of refuge for some and can elicit feelings of spiritual elevation and tangible roots for you to come back to at any given moment.

For more information regarding tours, call 502.451.5630 or visit www.cavehillcemetery.com.

Setting

Historic Cave Hill Cemetery is located at 701 Baxter Ave.

Tour Dates & Times

Historical Walking Tour: May 1, May 22, Sept. 25 and Oct. 9. All tours take place on Sunday afternoon from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Cost is $15 per person.

Civil War Walking Tour

9 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 22. Cost is $15 per person.

Twilight Driving Tour

May 15, June 19, July 16, Aug. 13, Sept. 11, Oct. 9 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Cost is $35 per person.

Famous Cavehill Residents

As the English poet John Keats (1795-1821) lay dying and destitute, his brother George Keats (1797-1841) had his funds tied up in Louisville investments. George made a fortune in lumber, shipping, flour and real estate only to lose it, too. He was reinterred in 1879, Section O, Lot 73.

It is always a labor of love when planning an event, from late nights perfecting guest lists to countless hours spent debating over exactly what shade of bubble gum pink we want the carpet, but nothing is more gratifying to us as when it all comes together and our great town can enjoy something that is sure to be truly original.

If Derby season wasn’t already exciting enough, it’s about to get that much more interesting when our guest of honor Betsey Johnson makes her mark on this town.

We can’t wait to see you there!

photos by Shannon Sinclair