Kristen Graves Made a Big Change

By Megan Willman

Kristen Graves faced a defining moment when running a 5K in 2011. Thirty feet from the finish, her Achilles tendon snapped, and she couldn’t take another step. When doctors informed Kristen she wouldn’t run again for nine months, she made a positive change out of the disappointing news.

Arts Insider interview with Vanessa Williams: Saved the Best for Now

 Prophetically, Vanessa Williams’ parents put on her birth announcement: "Here she is: Miss America” // Photo by Mike Ruiz

At the top of this year’s Miss America’s televised competition Miss America CEO Sam Haskell declared to the beautiful singer/actress Vanessa Williams on camera that just because some Miss America officials were furious in 1984 after Penthouse bought and published nude photos of Williams (without her consent), that had been shot two years before- and given the then 21-year-old 72 hours to either resign her title *ten months into her being the reigning Miss America, or be stripped of her title, doesn’t mean that Williams should have been made to feel “any less than the Miss America you are and the Miss America you always will be”.

It's Happening Again!

We had such a good time at our last event that we are bringing our readers another Sweat & Sip for a chance to workout with some of the best from Milestone, mingle with other ladies and cool down with a glass of wine! We extend a big thank you to all who came out last month to support both Today's Woman and Milestone Wellness Center and to those of you who weren't able to attend, register for your spot now!

Best Bite- Brendon's Catch 23

Seared Yellowfin Tuna with the cocktail The Bachelor Fix.

The next time you are downtown Louisville on South 4th street, check out Brendon's Catch 23 Restaurant in the new Embassy Suites Hotel.  Brendon's Catch 23 is a historic, hip, and contemporary restaurant featuring seafood and steak.  Enjoy a world class and beautifully crafted seafood meal, such as this one, the Seared Yellowfin Tuna with roasted Yukon potatoes and asparagus, finished with a Bearnaise sauce.  Served here with the cocktail The Bachelor Fix, a blend of vodka, cointreau, lemon, and Prosecco.

An Outdoor Excursion Fit For Girl Time!

Grab your girls and get outside this summer! In and around Louisville you can find an array of places to explore your outdoorsy side- even if that means just lunching al fresco. Try visiting one of these places for some fresh air, sunshine and quality time with friends.

Explore Your Artistic Side!

Don't just look at art with your gals, create it! Grab your creative friends or even ones who aren’t and attend an artistic class. Try one of these places!

4 Unique Things to Try With Your Friends

While shopping, spa days, quick getaways and quaint lunches might be perfect for you and your girlfriends, try mixing it up and doing something a little out of the ordinary. We've come up with four fun and different things for you and your gal pals to try together this summer. 

Looking For an Overnight Stay?

If you and your girlfriends need more than just a spa day or a few hours shopping, try an overnight stay together at one of these quaint, unique places that are close to home but not too far for a perfect weekend getaway!

Girlfriends Who Pamper Themselves Together, Stay Together

Sometimes life can have us stressed and bogged down so why not finally make those plans to unwind and be pampered. Of course a day of beauty and serenity is always better with a girlfriend so round up a friend and treat yourselves to one of these six pampering places.

11 Places to Experience With Your Girlfriends

If you and your girlfriends are looking to give back to the community, experience something new or just enjoy a night out together, we have an array of things Louisville offers for you and your gals to do. Try visiting one of these places to volunteer or test your biking skills while sipping on spirits.

Best Bite: Manny & Merle

Manny & Merle's Hot Chicken!

Are you looking for great southern inspired cuisine in a Honky-Tonk setting?  If so, then head downtown to Manny & Merle in the Whiskey Row district of Louisville. Try this dish, Manny & Merle's Hot Chicken! This quarter sized piece is coated with a house-made hot sauce and fried in a

Arts Insider Pick of the Week: Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo 35th Anniversary Tour

"My dream was to be the singer in a rockin' band, like Robert Plant was to Led Zeppelin or Lou Gramm to Foreigner," the former Patricia Mae Andrzejewski wrote in her 2010 memoir: Between a Rock and a Hard Place. "I wanted a partnership, like Mick Jagger and Keith Richards had, an unrelenting back-and-forth between talented musicians. The sound I heard in my head was raucous, with hard-driving guitars speeding everything forward. I was a classically trained singer with a great deal of musical knowledge, but I had no idea how to make that visceral, intense sound happen. I had to evolve, but I didn't know how to make that evolution happen."

Will You Be There?

Come to the first Sweat and Sip on July 22 at 6:30pm hosted by Today’s Woman and Baptist Health/Milestone Wellness Center. The event starts with one hour of exercise with Jeffrey Howard and Annie Locke followed by wine and snacks at Over the 9 (120 S 10th St - home of Old 502 Winery). Limited space. Deadline: July 15.

"Anything Is Possible"

She's not afraid of a challenge and she loves to stay active. Patricia Henry of Kindred Healthcare tells us more about herself and her personal motto. Read more about this Most Admired Woman winner!

Arts Insider Pick of the Week: Earth, Wind & Fire

Earth, Wind & Fire has been one of the world's most reliably transcendent party bands for more than four decades-VH1 ranking them #60 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of Rock & Roll.

Don't Miss These Upcoming Garden Tours

As spring and summer come into bloom, take this time to tour some of the city's beautiful green spaces. Throughout the rest of the month and into the month of June there are several garden tours to look for in some of Louisville's oldest and most well known neighborhoods.

Our November Issue is Out!

Our guide to finding Hollywood luxury right here in Louisville:
• Sophisticated places to shop
• Our Luxe Winners for 2014
• 27 gift ideas for the season

Plus ~ Don't have a turkey tantrum! Follow our step-by-step Thanksgiving Tutorial, complete with recipes and where to find the freshest turkeys in town.

For Hire: One hunky wedding date, please!

Now that spring is in full bloom, your schedule suddenly starts getting busy with weddings, graduation parties, barbecues, high school reunions, your second cousin’s daughter’s eighth birthday party – you name it, when the weather is warm, people start doing things.

Of course, when you start doing things, you might need a date for an event or two. Single? No problem. We came across an interesting option you might not have considered: Renting a date. This trend is becoming more and more popular among professional women. Don’t freak out - we don’t mean Richard Gere in American Gigolo.

Betsey Johnson Takes Louisville

By Alissa Hicks

Energetic and ever-creative fashion designer Betsey Johnson paid Louisville a visit this past week. Von Maur shoppers and visitors got a chance to meet and take photos with the icon, and we at Today's Woman also got a chance to catch up with Betsey. See how she got her career start and where it has led her thus far.

Have a safe Derby Eve!

Derby is a big time of year – a lot of events, a lot of fun activities, and a lot of socializing, which usually means a lot of drinking. Drinking and driving is dangerous; not to mention the city will be extra packed with many visitors and guests, and locals will be out more than usual. But don't let that put a damper on your Derby spirit. For the sixth year in a row, Miller Lite Free Rides will return to Louisville on Derby Eve, providing safe transportation to help residents and visitors celebrate responsibly.