What do you have planned for the weekend of June 24-26th?  Coming to the VineMeet?

This is our last week to register for discount tickets for the VineMeet Activities!  After this week, tickets will be regular price, if I can get them, and only modified gift bags will be available!  This is your chance to save up to $15 per ticket!

Visit our Web Site to register--

VineMeet 2011, Louisville KY

Our registration is by PayPal, but you can pay via credit card, as well!  Or, visit the Contact page, and send me a check to our P.O. Box number!

I look forward to seeing you there!

Activities:

Friday, June 24th

Check-in begins at 2:00 pm, Gift bags!

Meet and Greet at 5:00 pm

Dinner at 6:00 pm, catered by Bootleg Barbeque!

Make Your Own Derby Hat Activity and Prizes at 10 pm

Saturday, June 25th

Kentucky Derby Museum at 9:00 am

Millionaire's Row at Churchill Downs with buffet lunch at 12:00 pm

OR Louisville Zoo at 10:00 am.

Dinner reservations at 6:30 pm

Louisville Ghost and Historic Tour at 8:30 pm

Sunday, June 26th

Golf Game at 8:00 am

Louisville Slugger Museum at 12 pm

Belle of Louisville Cruise at 1:30 pm

Door prizes include special Kentucky Bourbon Cake, Mint Julep cups with Bourbon, and many other Kentucky-themed gifts!

Register TODAY for your tickets!

Reserve your room at the Wingate by Wyndham Hotel in Louisville! 

12301 Alliant Court - Just off I64
Call here to make reservations: 502-261-0644
This is the Louisville VineMeet block of rooms!

Thanks for coming by!  I look forward to seeing you!

Glacier Run is the newest exhibit at the Louisville Zoo, slated to open this spring! The exhibit is modeled after the town of Churchill, Canada, the polar bear capital of the world, and contains the 26 year old polar bear Arki. Also within the exhibit is the zoo's grizzly bear and her two cubs!

Visit the Louisville Zoo during the VineMeet, June 24-26, 2011!

Register for your ticket to a weekend of fun at the Louisville VineMeet, June 24-26, 2011!  Registration closes May 1, 2011, so be sure to sign up for a gift bag, register for door prizes, and purchase tickets to the FUN GROUP ACTIVITIES!

Get details of our fun group activities at our web site! 

Louisville VineMeet 2011

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Hotel Accommodations

The official VineMeet hotel is the Wingate by Wyndham hotel, located at Blankenbaker Crossings on the east side of Louisville.  Close to many services and some of Louisville's finest dining experiences, the Wingate offers many amenities at the hotel, both for hotel guests, and for our VineMeet!

We have a special group rate!  To take advantage of the special group rate, please CALLto make your reservation, and let the desk know that you are booking a room as a part of the block reserved for the Louisville VineMeet.  That phone number is:

502-261-0644

If you prefer other accommodations, there are other hotels in the immediate vicinity that are within walking distance of our official hotel.  These other accommodations may be found on our web site:  Louisville VineMeet 2011

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FUN Group Activities

We have all kinds of fun things to do!  We can get discounted group rates for many activities, but we must reach a minimum of registrants to take advantage of the discounted rates.  We can not make reservations, (with any guarantee of success), after May 1, 2011, so please, register as soon as you can to participate in the group fun!  All activities are handicap accessible!

Check In - Check In begins at 2:00 pm at the Bluegrass room at the hotel.  When you check in, you'll receive a lovely GIFT BAG, with Kentucky-themed gifts!  You'll also receive an official VineMeet T shirt, tickets to the activities that you've purchased, and will be registered to win some of our wonderful door prizes!  Feel free to hang around until the official Meet and Greet below, as I love company!  Special music will be played for the duration of the day and evening, (got to get some use out of all that music on my computer...), AND our theme will be Horses and Horse Racing-- so be prepared for lots of roses, horses, jockies, and even games with a horse-racing theme!

Meet and Greet - Our fun time starts at 5:00 pm on June 24, 2011 at the Wingate by Wyndham hotel!  We will be in the Bluegrass Room-- which can accommodate up to 80 people, so we will have plenty of room.  Wifi is available in the room, and the hotel has two computers available for guest usage.  Snacks and soft drinks will be served, and you are welcome to bring your own beverage if you prefer something a little stronger.  A Kid's Kamping Section will be provided, so that children who attend the VineMeet will have their own games and other activities!  Kids will also receive a gift bag suitable for their age!

Make Your Own Derby Hat- Attendees will be able to design their very own Derby Hat for the festivities!  We'll have base hats, ribbons, flowers, and other unique goodies to glue to your hat, glue guns, inspirational posters, and lots of accouterments for your hat!  At 10:00 pm, we'll have a contest and award prizes for the best hats!  Will you win?  Lots of awards and lots of fun to be had!

Dinner - Our dinner will be catered by Bootleg Barbeque, one of Louisville's favorite Barbecue Joints, specializing in the closest thing to Daviess County Barbeque, (my home county, and, frankly, THE BEST), that you can get outside of Daviess County!  The meal will include two barbeque meats, (chicken, pork, or beef), vegetables, salad, and deserts! 

Entertainment - If I can possibly arrange it, we'll have entertainment that evening!  Don't worry, I'll come up with something neat!  But, all activity ceases at 10 PM for our Derby Hat Contest!  So don't forget-- Be There or Be Square!

Kentucky Derby Museum - The Kentucky Derby Museum is a fascinating insider's look at the world-famous Kentucky Derby, and the perfect prelude to our afternoon of fun!  The museum offers many unique and interactive exhibits about the Derby-- you can 'call' your own race, 'ride' a winner, and immerse yourself in Kentucky's multi-million dollar horse racing industry.  There are three very special tours available, as well-- the Historic Walking Tour, which takes place around the museum, and explains some of the wonderful buildings, statues, and famous memorabilia of the Derby, the Behind-the-Scenes Walking Tour, which takes you to the tracks back side to see the inner workings of a day at the races, (with HORSES), and the Barn and Backside Van Tour, which takes you to the back side of the track to see horses, the barn, the farriers, and many other goodies from the comfort of a van!  I guarantee that you'll have lots of fun!  Admission tickets are only $9.00 per adult, and we need 20 people to take advantage of the group rate.  Tour tickets are $10 per person, and no minimum is required, as this is a part of the regular museum activities.

Churchill Downs Skye Terrace on Millionaire's Row - After the museum, we're going to the famous Millionaire's Row at Churchill Downs.  A lovely buffet-style luncheon will be served, and you can place your bets, see the races, and hopefully, collect your winnings in the comfort and style reserved for genuine millionaires during the Derby.  (These seats sell for upwards of $5,000 to $10,000 each during the Derby.)  A once-in-a-lifetime experience, you can go down to see the horses before the run, watch the race from the balcony, or from the closed-circuit TV, enjoy your favorite beverages and snacks, and have a wonderful time!  Tickets for this activity are only $33.50 per person, and we need 20 people to take advantage of the group rate!

Louisville Zoo - Not interested in horses?  Feel that it isn't suitable for children?  You and your family and friends can go to the Louisville Zoo at a discounted rate, available through the Louisville Water Company, my employer, (thank you LWC).  The zoo offers a full day of activities, or, you can attend the Kentucky Derby Museum in the morning and the zoo in the afternoon.  There are over 1,000 animals at the zoo, all cared for in habitats that are similar to their native habitats!  A fabulous NEW feature is Glacier Run Exhibit, dedicated to animals that live in Arctic and Antarctic areas.  There are also exhibits of Australia, Africa, mountains, and a fabulous herpetarium!  Admission tickets are only $10 for adults and $7.50 for children! 

Saturday Dinner - Make a reservation on Friday Evening for a place at one of Louisville's finest restaurants!  You can go whole hog, and experience the finest of gourmet dinners, or dine in a more modest setting.  Sign-up sheets will be availabe at Check In, and we'll make reservations for groups of 12 or less.  Restaurants will include:

Lynn's Paradise Cafe- A unique dining experience!  Lynne's specialty is gourmet Bourbon French Toast, but there are plenty of other menu items, as well!  Lynn's decorating is a bit, uh, different, but absolutely fascinating and entertaining, to boot!  (Like to eat with manequin legs dressed in wild and crazy pants with a 70's flare?  Like riotous flowers?  Like Ugly Lamps?  Lynn's got 'em!)

Kingfish Restaurant - Located on the beautiful Ohio River, Louisville's Kingfish Restaurant offers fabulous seafood and a wonderful ambiance along the river.  Be sure to sit on the patio in fine weather, to watch the pleasure craft and barges as they travel along the magnificent Ohio River!  A large open area is available for kids to play in while you wait!  You'll enjoy the many seafood treats, as well as other non-seafood menu items, as well!

Captain's Quarters Riverside Dining - Captain's Quarters is one of Louisville's most famous restaurants!  Located at the mouth of Harrods Creek on the Ohio River, Captain's Quarters offers a wonderful menu of seafood, steaks, and other dishes.  Take your pick of eating on their famous tiered patio or inside the open-style dining room.  While dining, you can see the fabulous yachts and boats dock, disgorging hungry Louisville residents at the restaurant!  The lights and the view of the river in the evening is truly fabulous-- and you'll be able to relax and enjoy the river ambiance!

Cunnigham's Creekside Inn - For more modest prices, yet just as much fun, Cunningham's Creekside Inn at Harrods Creek is a wonderful place to relax and enjoy delicious food!  Yachts and other pleasure craft frequently tie up at the dock on the lower level, and another level of deck is available, too.  The food is truly delicious, more down-home cooking, and their fish sandwich is wonderful!  Or try their famous bratwurst and bean soup!  Alcoholic beverages are also available! 

Jack Fry's Restaurant and Piano Bar - For a taste of "Old Louisville", visit Jack Fry's!  The restaurant is one of Louisville's finest, and has been voted Louisville's Best Restaurant for a Romantic Dinner!  The walls are decorated by famous guests that have dined there in the past-- including Bert Lahr, the Cowardly Lion, Mohammed Ali and other boxing greats, and many Old Hollywood personages.  The food is gourmet, but most are priced under $20.  The ambiance is special-- you'll have a wonderful time! 

KT's Restaurant and Bar - Also known as the old Kentucky Tavern, KT's is a great place for family dining, as well as a place for special celebrations!  Their specially baked croissants with honey butter are To Die For, and their steaks are tender, juicy, and, frankly, wonderful!  You'll enjoy the ambiance, as well as the good food!

Ghost and Historic Tours of Old Louisville - Saturday evening!  Ghost and Historic Tours of Old Louisville - Two tours will be offered to VineMeet registrants-- and they are by special reservation, so be sure to REGISTER and PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS!  The walking tour requires 20 people.  This tour begins in Old Louisville and is a walking tour of Louisville Landmarks downtown, as well as a Ghost Component, as our tour guide has a reputation for being a bit spooky-- but not frighteningly so!  The Van Tour requires 12 people.  This tour is by van, and will include sites of Old Louisville architecture and areas populated by recorded ghosts...  But don't be scared!  Tickets for the Ghost Walking Tour are $6 per person.  Tickets for the Historic Ghost Van Tour are $25 per person.  We may be able to arrange a special stop for Louisville Famous Chocolate Bourbon Balls!

For Kids! Puzzle's Fun Dome and Babysitting Services -  A special 'field trip' of Puzzle's Fun Dome will be arranged for kids, with a baby sitter, if you wish to attend the Skye Terrace, but don't wish to take your children!  Also, a baby sitter will be available Saturday Night, if you want to partake of more 'adult' activities.  More information is available at our web site, linked above!  Puzzle's Fun Dome and Baby sitting is limited to 10 children.  The baby sitter is my daughter-- who will have graduated from college with a specialty of Play Therapy.  Don't worry, no one will be analyzed, but all will be highly entertained!  Tickets to the Fun Dome are $35 per child, and babysitting rates are $5 per child, per hour. 

Louisville Slugger Museum - Visit the museum and factory of the famous Louisville Slugger Sunday afternoon, beginning at noon and ending at 1:30 pm!  The museum has many fun and interactive exhibits, art work, and all kinds of baseball memorabilia-- Fun for everyone!  You can even purchase your very own full size Louisville Slugger bat at the museum!  (I plan to provide a miniature slugger bat in our gift bags, if enough of us register!)  We need 20 people to qualify for the group rate, and tickets are $9 for adults, $8 for seniors, and $4 to $6 for children!

Golf Outing at Long Run Golf Course - Early Sunday morning, "goofers" are invited to play 9 holes of golf at the lovely Long Run Golf Course in just about 5 miles from the hotel!  Long Run Golf Course is a lovely course, designed for both relaxing fun and challenging shots!  The group will be led by my dear husband, who loves to golf.  Tickets are $14.25, and cart rental, (recommended), is $24 for a double and $14 for a single!

Belle of Louisville Afternoon Cruise - Spend a wonderful, relaxing afternoon cruising on the famous Belle of Louisville!  The oldest steam boat in the US, and the ONLY boat powered soley by steam, the Belle of Louisville offers a step back in time, to easier days, when travel was by riverboat!  The afternoon excursion can include lunch, or just the cruise-- whatever your pocketbook prefers!  The 2 hour cruise travels from the downtown dock, past the historic Louisville Water Company water tower, all the way upstream past Prospect, KY.  You'll have a wonderful afternoon, watching the river and the pleasure craft!  Tour the workings of the boat in small groups, too!   

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How to REGISTER for fun activities!

Click this link to sign up for group activities and purchase tickets for the events you wish to attend!

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DON'T FORGET -- Last Day to Register is May 1, 2011!

After this date, most group activities will be closed for further registration, unless we can buy more tickets!  And gift bags will be severely curtailed, due to the restrictions on ordering gift bag items!

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Gift Bags and Door Prizes

What I want to put in the gift bags, and what I can buy, based on the number of people registering, may be subject to change!  This is part of what your registration fee pays for!  You will get a Derby Hat to decorate!  However, this is what I'd like to put in the gift bags:

• Genuine Bluegrass Seed Bag - √
• Wildflower Seed Packet - √
• Louisville Slugger Mini Bat
• Official VineMeet, 2011 T-shirt
• Official Dirty Old Horseshoe from Churchill Downs
• Kentucky Magnet
• Ramekin from Bybee Pottery
• Special Kentucky Fruit Jelly
• Other surprise gifts!

Door prizes will, I hope, include specially designed gift baskets:

• Kentucky Bourbon Cake
• Kentucky Bourbon with Mint Julep Cups
• Kentucky Rock Collecting Tools and Samples, with MAP
• Handmade Kentucky Soaps and Bath Gear for women and/or men
• Kentucky Cookbook with Maker's Mark Specialty Barbeque Sauce
• Horse and Jockey Art
• Other Kentucky and Horse Themed Gifts

Financial Data--

We have, currently, about $1000 in our account.  I have not purchased anything with our money, and we have about $350 to purchase food, drinks, Derby Hat items, door prizes, etc.  Most of the registration money paid is reserved to buy tickets to the events!  So far, I am about $400 out of pocket, but that's fine!  I am paying to maintain the web site, (about $30 per month), and the fees for the registration form, (about $40 per month).  However, I need help from all of you to continue to purchase the things we need for the VineMeet, like door prizes!  If you would like to donate, even a small amount is appreciated.

You can donate any amount you wish by Clicking HERE -- this will take you to our Contact Page on the web site, that includes a PayPal button for a donation!

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Thank you for coming by to see me!

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We have loads of fun things to do on Saturday! Our day will start early, about 8:30 am-- in true race style, "We're Off!"

First on our agenda, we will visit the Kentucky Derby Museum! The museum offers many wonderful exhibits about the Kentucky Derby-- you can 'ride' a Derby Winner, announce a race, place bets, and experience all the history and pagentry of the Kentucky Derby! Admission is only $9 for adults, children up to age 12 is $4. You can take the historic walking tour, which really isn't much walking, visit the exhibits, and enjoy the gift shop! While there, you can also take either the Back Lot walking tour, or take a van tour of the back lot! You'll get to see all the happenings behind the scenes at the Derby and other races. We'll visit the barns, and see the beautiful thoroughbreds in their daily life! (Tours are only $10 per person.) We need a group of 20 people to qualify for the group rates!

Second, we will go to Churchill Downs, and enjoy an afternoon of races at Millionaire's Row! The Skye Terrace offers a climate controlled, lovely restaurant/lounge type setting to watch the races and enjoy a fabulous buffet lunch! There is a viewing balcony, and you can see all the happenings at the races! Tickets are $33.50 per person, and it is a bargain! (These same seats sell for upwards of $10,000 on Derby Day...) This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience! Again, we need 20 people to qualify for the group rate!

While the Skye Terrace is suitable for children 8 years old and older, some attendees may prefer a day at the zoo instead! So, we'll have a group leaving for the Zoo when it suits them! Tickets are $10, and children at $7.50-- for a lovely day at one of the country's premier zoos! The Zoo has over 1,000 animal species, and specially featured areas include the Gorilla Forest, Lorikeet landing, (Australian Outback), Tiger Tundra, and Glacier Run! You'll enjoy the exhibitis and all the animals, which are well cared for in natural habitats!

Need a sitter? Well, while you enjoy the Skye Terrace, we have an activity just for kids: Puzzle's Fun Dome! The Fun Dome is an indoor playground with inflatable slides and play areas, Art Studio, Masterpiece Theater, Mini golf, Jigzone, and more! Lunch will be served at Nobel Roman's Pizza-- and a very qualified babysitter will be available to take care of your child! Lunch, babysitter, and admission costs are only $35 per child for a fun afternoon! This activity is limited to 10 children, so be sure to sign up early!

Once back from the track or the zoo, we'll eat dinner at one of Louisville's famous local restaurants! I will be making reservations for groups of 12 or less at several of Louisville's finest restaurants-- and finest does not mean the most expensive! We'll make reservations at Lynn's Paradise Cafe, Captain's Quarters, Kingfisher Restaurant, Cunningham's Creekside, Jack Fry's or other historically wonderful restaurants! Just be sure to be back in time for the next Fun thing!

Leaving about 8:30 pm, our attendees will have the choice of taking a Historic Ghost Tour of Louisville, or a Van Tour or Historic Louisville! The Walking tour only costs $6.00 per person, and the Van tour is only $25 per person! The Ghost Tours are some of the best in the nation, and visit Louisville's historic neighborhoods, which are lovely! We'll need a group of 20 for the Ghost Walking Tour and a group of 15 for the Van Tour!

Babysitting services will be available for Saturday Evening, as well! Again, we'll have a very qualified sitter to watch your children and they'll have some fun activities, as well! Limited to 10 children, so sign up early!

We'll return to our meeting room, and finish the evening together, if you wish! Again, snacks and soft drinks will be provided!

Only 25 days left for Pre-registration!

Visit our website for more information, and to sign up for fun!
Louisville VineMeet

Also, you can join our VineMeet group here on NewsVine to stay up to date on all the latest information!
Louisville VineMeet, 2011

There is more fun on Sunday, too!

Thanks for coming by to see me!

I’ve been thinking about Dowser’s Vinemeet the weekend of June 24^th thru the 26^th, in Louisville, Kentucky (shameless plug!) and about horseshoes, tying right into the gang spending that Saturday at the world Famous Churchill Downs racetrack. And the practice shoes in our gift bags! They’re what actually got me to thinking about horseshoes in general.

After just a couple of minutes of “research” I am officially shoeless! (a bad reference to “speechless”!) There is so much to the art, the business, the industry, the history of horseshoes, that I honestly didn’t know the depth and breadth of!

I’m not all that unfamiliar with horses in general, and I learned early on to pay attention to all four ends of a horses legs while I’m in the saddle, for their feet are terrific barometers of a number of things going on with the mount. But just what a wide array of shoes there are was a subject I wasn’t aware of to any great degree. So I thought I'd share a little learnin'!

So here goes, with some help from the Wiki folks, and a couple of other sources!

From Wiki:

A horseshoe is a U-shaped item made of metal or of modern synthetic materials, nailed or glued to the hooves of horses and some other draught animals. Like a shoe on a human, it is used to protect the animal's feet from wear and tear. Professional horseshoers, also called farriers or blacksmiths (more commonly used in the UK), attach horseshoes on the palmar surface of the hoof, usually by nailing through the insensitive hoof wall, which is anatomically similar to the human toenail, though much larger and thicker.

Ok, we’re all probably familiar with this explanation, and it’s a good, solid, basic intro to your basic horses’ basic horseshoe. But that’s just the beginning, oh legion of the curious about horseshoes!

Did you know, for example, they are not just made of iron any more! They come in a very wide array of materials, just a few are, copper, iron, plastic (which I never knew of!) aluminum (most practice shoes and racing shoes will be aluminum because they’re lighter) rubber (I knew that!) even steel and titanium.

Different sports demand the use of different shoes. Not all are all alike. A stronger shoe is needed where a longer lasting shoe is needed, polo and dressage, and jumping are examples of these. And as I mentioned, a lightweight shoe is preferred in racing, obviously to help with the horses’ overall speed is a prime factor for the design of the shoe.

To help provide additional traction, some horseshoes have "caulks", or "calks" which are the nubs sticking out at the toe and/or heels of the shoes.

And of course, we’re all familiar with the game “Horseshoes” pitching horseshoes at stakes for fun and sometimes profit! These shoes are actually stylized shoes, the shoes packaged in game formats anyway. Did you ever take a close look at them? It would have to be one heck of a large, large horse to wear those babys!

Shoes also are popular in the good luck versus bad luck arena too. Hanging them with the points facing up is supposed to collect and keep in any good luck floating by your way, and conversely, with points down, the good luck that was going to head your way and collect about you will spill out and be lost forevermore. So be advised and forewarned!

A bit more from the Wiki:

Many changes brought about by domestication of the horse have led to a need for shoes for number of reasons. Overall in captivity, horses' hooves harden much less and are more vulnerable to injury. In the wild, a horse may travel up to 50 miles per day to obtain adequate forage. While horses in the wild covered large areas of terrain, they usually did so at relatively slow speeds, unless being chased by a predator. They also tended to live in arid, steppe climates. The consequence of slow but nonstop travel in a dry climate is that horse's feet are naturally worn to a small, smooth, even and hard state. The continual stimulation of the sole of the foot keeps it thick and hard. However, in domestication, the ways horses are used differs from their natural environment. Domesticated horses were moved in large numbers from the arid steppes to colder and wetter areas. These softer and heavier soils soften the hooves and have made them prone to splitting, making hoof protection necessary. Consequently, it was in northern Europe that the nailed horseshoe arose in its modern form.

So it’s not just because a horse is a horse is a horse that all horses need shoes, but their working and living environments play a huge part in choosing shoes, their selections and designs.

Horseshoes and their specific designs are also used as a therapeutic tool too, both in correcting many faults or injuries, but possibly more so as a preventative measure as well. Alignment issues between the hoof and ankle, proper bone alignment and muscle and ligament structures all are affected by the proper choices of horseshoes. Many stresses can affect the proper development, and continued development that horses’ hooves can be subjected to, each of which can require different designs.

Abnormal stress: Horses' hooves can become quite worn out when subjected to the added weight/stress of a human, pack loads, cart, or wagon. These bar shoes are commonly used in corrective shoeing, to help support the heels.

Corrective shoeing: The shape, weight, and thickness of a horseshoe can significantly affect the horse's gait. Farriers trained in hot shoeing can make custom shoes to help horses with bone or musculature problems in their legs.[12]

Traction: Traction devices such as borium for ice, horse shoe studs for muddy or slick conditions, calks, and rims are useful for performance horses such as eventers, show jumpers, polo ponies, and other horses that perform at high speeds, over changing terrain, or in less-than-ideal footing.

Gait Manipulation: Some breeds such as the Saddlebred, Tennessee Walking Horse, and other gaited horses are judged on their high-stepping movement. Special shoeing can help enhance their natural movement.

And that’s just the beginning folks! I haven’t even touched upon their history, their development, or the sublime art of farrier, those folks who apply horseshoes as both an art and business. Stay tuned for more to come!

Next: The Art of the Farrier!

Visit the Vinemeet Website! Events, times, hotel and reservation information, maps, blogs, sights of Louisville, all available for all to see and join in on!

Join the Vinemeet group! Meet the 'meeters coming to Louisville!

Vinemeet Website

Louisville VineMeet Group

Hope to see you in Louisville!

In June!

The 24th thru the 26th!

Spend a day at Churchill Downs!

The Louisville Zoo!

Ghost Tours!

Cruise The Belle of Louisville!

And much, much more!

I gotta say right off the bat folks, Dowser has planned one heck of a Vinemeet! Actually, I should say is planning one heck of a Vinemeet! And you'll be sorry if you're not there!

But on to my Dilemma! It's a scheduling conflict on the same day!

Do I spend the day at the Louisville Zoo, world renown for their program for working with and studying extremely endangered species, their wonderful gardens, highlighted by their renewed Adopt-A-Garden program, their terrific polar bear program, a very engaging sea lion exhibit, there's just so much more to this Zoo that any zoo fan would think just one day or afternoon just may not be enough time to see all it has to offer! Whew! How's that for a run-on sentence! *grin*!

Personally, I have a special attraction for the big cats, tigers especially. Cheetahs are high on my list too. I've read this Zoo's tiger exhibit and program is not to be missed, by anyone, tiger affectionados or not. I've also been fascinated all my life with the big simians, the lowland gorillas, and the orangs, the orangutans. The old men of the forest as the locals refer to them. Fascinating creatures. I am so looking forward to visiting this Zoo!

Now on to Part Two of my dilemma!

Churchill Downs! What do I say about Churchill Downs? And the day that Dowser has planned for the 'meet? Well, I'm sure gonna try to say my two cents worth!

Thoroughbred racing fan or not, I think you'd be hard pressed to find anyone who hasn't at least heard of Churchill Downs! C'mon! The Run For The Roses! The Most Exciting Two Minutes In Sports! The Twin Spires! The history! The races! The horses! The jockeys! The owners and farms! The first leg of the Triple Crown! Pimlico and Belmont Park are their own icons of American racing, of course, but there really is only one Churchill Downs!

Even tho we who attend the 'meet won't be visiting the Downs on Derby Day, it is still going to be a very special day. Did I mention we're seating up in the Skye Terrace? Hoo boy, a treat that is going to be all in itself!

Not to mention the tours planned! The museum, the stables, providing a behind the scenes look at the Downs, with a little luck we may even see the every day routines besides being railbirds! How cool is that going to be!

It really is a very special place, certainly an American, and a world icon of racing. Its history reaches back to the previous century, a line unbroken by time, continued by tradition and the sport. And its fans. And I finally have a chance to be there! And I don't have a single excuse this time not to make it! Up until now, it was either work, or vacation scheduling, or work, or something with the kids or school, or work, I'm sure you all see where this is going! *grin*!

Tho I've never owned a horse, I did grow up around them, growing up on a farm it was almost a necessity back in those days, and have been a rider all my life. There's even been a couple of favorites, and dear friends, along the way. They're no longer with us, and I miss them to this day. I even have a couple of human friends in the racing industry, trainers both, hubby and wife. They're now in Hong Kong, working their circuit for the next year or so. There was even a time, before I got married, and definitely before the kids arrived, that I spent a lot of time, and I do mean a lot of time, at many a track. Yep, I was a railbird of the first order. I even worked a part time job at one for a couple of years when I was in school. And yes, I had my own personal shovel! *grin*!

So! My Dilemma! Which do I spend the day at? The Zoo, which I always get a treat out of, being a supporter and member of my own Zoo here in Cleveland notwithstanding, I enjoy visiting zoos no matter I find myself. My own track record, I don't have a definitive list, but it's got to be something like two dozen zoos across the country, maybe more, and even a couple in other lands as well.

Or do I spend the day at the world famous and always fun Churchill Downs, a place that's been on my list all my life! Either one with all my Vinemeet friends would be great. I suppose I should put up a "poll" but methinks I'm not going to. Personal choice!

By all means as well, for those planning on attending Dowser's Vinemeet, if you haven't registered yet, by all means do so! And soon if you can! There's gift bags and t-shirt sizes and group rates we can qualify for and such involved! Deadline is April First, so please! Register early!

And join the group as well to stay on top of any announcements or happenings too!

VineMeet Website!

Louisville VineMeet 2011 Group

All things Vinemeet you'll find at the Vinemeet Website! Come one, come all! Bring the kids too!

It's time to PRE-REGISTER FOR THE VINEMEET!

Pre-register now for your spot in the VineMeet Group Fun! Pre-registration forms are due by:

Deadline: April 1, 2011

Fill out your sign-up sheet, and pre-register for your selection of VineMeet group activities! Your sign-up and pre-registration fees will include:

• A gift bag!
• A Derby Hat to decorate as you wish!  Prizes will be awarded for the best hats!
• A VineMeet 2011 T-shirt!
• Door Prizes!
• Plus, use of the meeting room, computers, free WiFi, and other Fun Activities!

Payment is by PayPal, which also accepts major credit cards, or you can use your PayPal Account!  Here are the group activities that you can register for:

The Kentucky Derby Museum!  You can also sign up to take a walking tour of the back side/stall area and Millionaire Row, or a Van tour of the back side. 

Churchill Downs, Skye Terrace!  Join us on Millionaire Row for a buffet luncheon, and watch the races from our own viewing balcony!  Kids 8 and up are welcome to attend!

Puzzles Fun Dome!  A fun activity for kids, while their parents are watching the horses run!

The Louisville Zoo!  Come and see Louisville's award-winning zoo, that includes special areas such as Glacier Run, Lorikeet Landing, the Gorilla Forest, the Tiger Tundra and more!

Old Louisville Ghost Tour!  You can sign up for a walking tour of all the spooky spots, OR you can take the Van Tour through Old Louisville and all the spooky spots!

Golf at Long Run Park!  Play 9 holes of golf at one of Louisville's finest city golf courses!

Louisville Slugger Museum!  Visit the place where the famous Louisville Slugger is made, and enjoy many interactive exhibits!

The Belle of Louisville!  Sign up for the Lunch and Cruise, or the Excursion Only tickets for a relaxing afternoon on the historic Belle of Louisville!

Babysitting services will be available on Saturday night.  We'll be making reservations for dinner at some of the delightful restaurants in Louisville for groups of 12 or less, too-- and the hotels in the VineMeet area serve a complimentary breakfast!

The VineMeet will be based at the Wingate by Wyndham Hotel, at the junction of I64 and Blankenbaker Lane.  We have a group rate of $89 per night.  This gives us free WiFi, use of two computers, a large meeting room, a breakfast area, patio, pool, and plenty of other amenities!

Sign up and make your reservations today! 

(Your tickets, gift bags, T-shirts, and Derby Hats will be given to you at registration at the Wingate by Wyndham!)

All details about the VineMeet, and lots of other information is available on our VineMeet Website!

Join the Louisville VineMeet Group today and keep up with the news! Louisville VineMeet 2011 Group

I look forward to seeing you there!

Thank you for coming by!

Get in the Mood!  See the Video below!

We are On Our Way! Please visit our website: VineMeet 2011 for additional details!

VineMeet, 2011 General Information

The date of the VineMeet is June 24, 25, and 26, at Louisville, KY. We will be staying at the Wingate by Wyndham hotel at I64 and Blakenbaker Parkway, and there are plenty of other hotels in the area, so that you can price shop, or find a hotel that will accept pets. A Sam's Club is located next door for those who like to parking lot camp, as well. Area hotels are listed on our Website, as well as price ranges and amenities.

You will have to call the hotel directly to make your reservation to get the group rate of $89 per night. This information is now available on the website! There are a limited number of rooms and some, (3), adjoining rooms are also available!

We will have the Bluegrass Room, a meeting room/hospitality room available to us for the weekend. Among its many niceties, it offers free wireless and wired internet access, plus two computers for our use. We will use this area as a place to meet for group activities, and as a place where we can meet for conversation and fun!

Activites

We have a variety of activities planned, most with good group rates, so be sure to pre-register for activities when the time comes, and there will be simultaneous activities, as well, in case something does not suit your fancy. A qualified babysitter will be available to take kids to Puzzle's Fun Dome on Saturday afternoon, if you do not wish to take your children with you to the track at Churchill Downs, and there is an interest expressed.

All activities are handicapped accessible, and all activities are suitable for children, even the Downs. Maps and directions will be provided to shopping, liquor stores, pharmacies, grocery stores, emergency medical services, pet supplies, activities, etc. Most of this information is available on the website right now. Transportation will be by private car, unless an interest is expressed for a van-- then I'll rent one.

A detailed schedule of acvtivities is available on the Website! As a brief rundown:

Friday, June 24th
Registration- -- 2 pm to ?? with gift bag, tickets to events, name badges for the whole family

Buffet dinner- from 6 - 8 pm, catered by Bootleg Barbeque

Meet and Mingle- from 2 until midnight

Make Your Own Derby Hat- activity for kids and adults alike!

Saturday, June 25th
Kentucky Derby Museum and Tours- a variety of walking and van tours are available.

Churchill Downs, Racing--Lunch at the Skye Terrace at Churchill Downs, (a private room with a viewing balcony), dress is business casual, so don't panic!

Louisville Zoo- in the late morning, all afternoon

Puzzles Fun Dome for kids- an exceptional play park with chaparone provided, so you can go and have fun!

Dinner on your own or with a group- reservations for smaller groups will be available for local restaurants

Ghost Walking Tour OR Ghost & Historic Van Tour- both are 90 minutes long and offer a unique look at Louisville's history

Mingle until midnight- Hospitality Room

Sunday, June 26th
Golf Outing- morning, probably at Long Run Park Public Golf Course, one of my husband's favorites.

Lunch- on our own

Louisville Slugger Museum- in combo with:

Frazier International History Museum OR

Belle of Louisville Afternoon Cruise*

*combo tickets are available for both activities at a reduced rate.

Please Help Me Plan

Our website has a form for you to fill out if you are interested in attending. It does not mean that you WILL be there, it just means that you are wanting to be there and will be there if you can. With this information, I can plan the group activities and can make arrangements-- AND, I'll know if I need to buy 30 gift bags or 100...

The information on the form will be seen by no one but me. I'm not good at web site design, but I have up-graded, and the whole site is Members Only. Please log in to see the rest! Also, our security is so good, even I can't find it, so you're safe! :-)

You can contact me in three ways at this time, either by the Contact Author button here on NewsVine, the Contact section of the website, or via the Vinemeet forum. Additional contact information will be available at a later date. Questions may be asked and answered, as quickly as possible! Please give me a few hours to get back to you-- I'm working, taking care of my family, getting calls and emails from our activities, etc. I'll do my best to respond in a timely manner!

Details and questions about specific activities may be answered by their web pages, which are referenced in the articles pertaining to them on our VineMeet group page. These pages are also referenced from our website, so you can find them quickly and easily. You may notice that some of their web pages linked to the articles are not up to date to June, which has been frustrating for me, too!

Don't forget our website and information form: VineMeet, 2011. Please fill out the form so I have an idea if you're planning to attend! Again, please submit the form if you are interested in coming, even if you're not sure you can make it! The information will be kept strictly private, and it is very necessary for planning purposes. You will receive an email confirmation that the form has been received.

Screen Name vs Real Name-- it is very important for me to be able to put a screen name with your real name, so I know with whom I'm communicating. If you want to have email updates, as well, please let me know, and I'll set it up!

Other Information

I will be setting up a bank account for us as soon as possible-- and will have a PayPal number set up as quickly as possible, as well. Donations will be solicitied, to get us started! There will be a financial page with a current financial statement on the web page, available for your view. We will use PayPal as it costs only $.30 per transaction, versus $3-5 for other credit card transactions. At the time of pre-registration, you will also be able to send in your money to a P.O. Box, if PayPal is too complicated.

The website is growing, and I will be linking to articles here on the Vine, so please keep checking back!

Thank you for coming by!
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For 38 years, the Louisville Zoo has been dedicated to education, conservation, and scientific study of some of the most diverse habitats and animals. Currently exhibiting 1,300 animals in naturalistic habitats that represent both geographical areas and biomes.

The specific biomes exhibited here include The Islands, The African Veldt, North and South American Panorama, Aquatics and the Australian Outback. There are over 100 species of reptiles, amphibians, and fish from around the world exhibited in the HerpAquarium, and there is a new 4 acre Gorilla Forest exhibit that features Pygmy hippos and Western lowland gorillas.

The Zoo has received international acclaim for its long-term Woolly Monkey propagation, and is one of the six institutions in the world to house a captive breeding population of Black-footed ferrets, North America's most endangered mammal.

By summer, a new section titled Glacier Run should be up and running. This area will allow guests to visit the animals, talk to the keeprs about conservation, and become immersed in life on the tundra. This section of the zoo will recreate habitat for polar bears, seals, sea lions, otters, and bird species, like the Stellar's Sea Eagles.

Special collections include Lorikeet Landing and the Tiger Tundra, both fascinate and entertain adults and children! Visit the newest addition to the Zoo, the baby giraff named Crosby, and watch the elephants at play!

Groups are welcome at the Zoo-- Admission prices are as follows:

Adults -- $12.95
Children and Seniors, (3 - 11, 60+) -- $9.50
Children under 3 -- Free
Discounts are available for groups of 15 or more!

Visit the Louisville Zoo at The Louisville Zoo

Visit our VineMeet group at Louisville VineMeet, 2011

Visit our Website at marshasplace.com

Please don't forget to take the poll!
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Thank you for coming by!
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