ANOTHER Mainer looking at Louisville (Frankfort, Bardstown: real estate, condominiums, broker)

[JazzLobster]

I hope you all don't mind a few questions from some OTHER Mainers looking to relocate to Kentucky.

My wife and I are headed to Louisville in a couple of weeks to check out your fair city as a possible place to live. Yep, you guys have winter down there, but I guarantee it doesn't last 8-9 months a year like it does up here.

Anyway, we're looking for advice. We're middle-aged, working (computers and retail), no kids. We'd like an area that's walkable or bikeable, and fairly reasonable on the house price scale (I know, that's relative, but let's say $250k max). Though we're not spring chickens, we enjoy culture and music and a nice place where you could get to know at least a few of your neighbors. Oh, and of course we'd like an area that's reasonably safe, but having grown up in Chicago, that's relative as well.

And while I'm in questioning mode, we'd love to hear about some restaurant picks for our visit. We like all kinds of food, not picky eaters and kind of adventurous. We're used to walking into local restaurants up here dressed very casual, and are curious about the protocol down there as well.

[tomocox]

You can live in ne Louisville which should meet your needs.

Irish Rover (Frankfort Ave & LaGrange), Jack Fry's, Del Frisco's, Wick's Pizza, Goose Creek Cafe (beans & potatoes) and all the chains..

[stx12499]

Originally Posted by JazzLobster

I hope you all don't mind a few questions from some OTHER Mainers looking to relocate to Kentucky.

My wife and I are headed to Louisville in a couple of weeks to check out your fair city as a possible place to live. Yep, you guys have winter down there, but I guarantee it doesn't last 8-9 months a year like it does up here.

Anyway, we're looking for advice. We're middle-aged, working (computers and retail), no kids. We'd like an area that's walkable or bikeable, and fairly reasonable on the house price scale (I know, that's relative, but let's say $250k max). Though we're not spring chickens, we enjoy culture and music and a nice place where you could get to know at least a few of your neighbors. Oh, and of course we'd like an area that's reasonably safe, but having grown up in Chicago, that's relative as well.

And while I'm in questioning mode, we'd love to hear about some restaurant picks for our visit. We like all kinds of food, not picky eaters and kind of adventurous. We're used to walking into local restaurants up here dressed very casual, and are curious about the protocol down there as well.

First thing first. Join the forum at LouisvilleHotBytes.com Its a very friendly group there and you will see that Louisville has bar none one of the best restaurant scenes in America, right up there with the top 20 largest cities. For example, I lived a short while in Atlanta, but Louisville has a better scene even though it is much smaller (and cheaper). You need to join that site and ask them for recs.

You guys sound ideal for the Highlands/Bardstown Road. The area around Frankfort ave as well as downtowon and Old louisville would be options. Downtown Louisville is growing fast and is a very nice option for empty nesters. PM me with any questions, and I will eventually move this thread to the Lville subforum.

[larryreaves]

You will want to condiser the areas of Clifton, Crescent Hill, or Highlands. They are all urban in nature with lots of opportunities to enjoy resturants, shop and galleries that are unique to Louisville.

The metro park system is also great for walks near all of the areas above.

Louisville is also increasing the number of condominiums opportunities near the river front.

Enjoy your stay

[censusdata]

Lynn's Paradise Cafe is supposed to be good

Lynn's Paradise Cafe - Menus

[sstotz]

[quote=stx12499;3179355]First thing first. Join the forum at LouisvilleHotBytes.com quote]

Hey there! Just wanted to say thank you for that website!!

I am a Realtor with Keller Williams Realty, and always have relocation buyers asking the same question!! I usually just say all the places I've been that I really like (top on my list is Sapporo)..I never heard of that site before, and it's awesome!

)

Shanny
The Young Group- Louisville's Real Estate Agents

[JazzLobster]

Thanks for the tips so far.

It sounds like we have plenty to choose from in neighborhoods. We'll probably just arm ourselves with a map and tour around the city. And since we'll be there over a weekend we'll scope out some real estate open houses.

Thanks for the pointers to LouisvileHotBytes. And Lynn's looks like the quirky kind of place we might enjoy.

I assume that most restaurants are dress casual, right? Jeans or dockers okay?

[tomocox]

Originally Posted by JazzLobster

Thanks for the tips so far.

It sounds like we have plenty to choose from in neighborhoods. We'll probably just arm ourselves with a map and tour around the city. And since we'll be there over a weekend we'll scope out some real estate open houses.

Thanks for the pointers to LouisvileHotBytes. And Lynn's looks like the quirky kind of place we might enjoy.

I assume that most restaurants are dress casual, right? Jeans or dockers okay?

Lynns is a "come as you are" place. Enjoy. Most other dining in Louisville is casual, too.

Remember nearly all open houses are presented by the listing broker or agent. I recommend you always have a buyer broker other than the listing firm to represent you.

[stx12499]

Originally Posted by JazzLobster

Thanks for the tips so far.

It sounds like we have plenty to choose from in neighborhoods. We'll probably just arm ourselves with a map and tour around the city. And since we'll be there over a weekend we'll scope out some real estate open houses.

Thanks for the pointers to LouisvileHotBytes. And Lynn's looks like the quirky kind of place we might enjoy.

I assume that most restaurants are dress casual, right? Jeans or dockers okay?

Not totally...many of the top tier restaurants are fine dining on the scale you'd find in any large city. At 90% of the places you'd feel fine, but I would call and ask about attire at the restaurants after looking at the menu/pictures. Most places where entrees average in the upper 20's or low 30's will be at least business casual if not upscale dress. I can think of at least a dozen places where you would feel like a redneck in dockers and loafers on a Saturday night (but that also leaves hundreds where you'd feel fine). Here are more sites for you:

Louisville Originals

Consuming Louisville

Some examples of very high end restaurants where you'd feel weird dressed to0 casually (I would imagine you'd have to go to Boston to find this caliber of restuarants close to Maine) :

Louisville Kentucky dining - The Oakroom - Seelbach Hilton Louisville hotel

Dining | The Brown Hotel, Louisville, KY

Welcome to 610 Magnolia

Welcome to Jeff Ruby's Louisville! | Jeff Ruby Online (broken link)

Rivue, Louisville’s newest upscale restaurant | NOW OPEN!

Lilly's - Kathy Cary's Restaurant in the Heart of the Highlands

Le Relais restaurant - serving fine French cuisine in Louisville

And there are many more in this very high end class!

[JazzLobster]

Originally Posted by stx12499

Not totally...many of the top tier restaurants are fine dining on the scale you'd find in any large city. At 90% of the places you'd feel fine, but I would call and ask about attire at the restaurants after looking at the menu/pictures. Most places where entrees average in the upper 20's or low 30's will be at least business casual if not upscale dress. I can think of at least a dozen places where you would feel like a redneck in dockers and loafers on a Saturday night (but that also leaves hundreds where you'd feel fine). Here are more sites for you:

Louisville Originals

Consuming Louisville

Some examples of very high end restaurants where you'd feel weird dressed to0 casually (I would imagine you'd have to go to Boston to find this caliber of restuarants close to Maine) :

Louisville Kentucky dining - The Oakroom - Seelbach Hilton Louisville hotel

Dining | The Brown Hotel, Louisville, KY

Welcome to 610 Magnolia

Welcome to Jeff Ruby's Louisville! | Jeff Ruby Online (broken link)

Rivue, Louisville’s newest upscale restaurant | NOW OPEN!

Lilly's - Kathy Cary's Restaurant in the Heart of the Highlands

Le Relais restaurant - serving fine French cuisine in Louisville

And there are many more in this very high end class!

Thanks for pointing out the fancy places - we'll probably take a pass on them this trip. The one place on your list I considered was Lilly's, but we'll visit them some other time.

Actually, we don't have to go to Boston for fine dining. There's one restaurant in particular up here, Hugo's, that I would rate as highly as you might find in any big city. I might wear a sport jacket there, but I've seen diners wearing nicer blue jeans and nobody really thinks twice about it. A few others, notably White Barn Inn and Arrows, would expect the gentleman to wear a jacket and tie, but they seem to be the exception rather than the rule in Maine.

At any rate, thanks to you here and the many suggestions on LouisvilleHotBytes we have plenty to choose from.