Happy birthday to LOU. Cha cha cha. 🎶

Today is our first birthday here at LOUtoday — and we’ll cry if we want to — as we reflect on our favorite stories from the last 365 days + give you the scoop on where to get local freebies on your birthday.

After all, we’ve come a long way since our first newsletter.

City Editor Sarah’s favorite stories:

Louisville Zombie Attack: A buffet delayed | Was it the most hard-hitting piece of my career thus far? No. But I couldn’t resist covering this beloved local event despite it being canceled due to COVID-19 + your zombie pics from years past rocked.
Where to find the best chicken tenders in Louisville | Chicken tenders have been a lifelong passion of mine + I loved this story because so many people responded to my request for tenders with equal passion.
5 reasons the Louisville Free Public Library is the coolest | This one speaks for itself because our library is simply the coolest + it was a pleasure to delve into the commonwealth’s largest public library system.

City Editor Katie’s favorite stories:

The Great Ice Cream Debate: Dairy Del vs. Dairy Kastle | While this seasonal ice cream debate is longstanding, the article was one of my very first pieces with LOUtoday and therefore it holds a special place in my heart — also, team Dairy Del forever.
A sitting tour of Louisville | Back in February, our parent company, 6AM City, presented all 24 markets with a video innovation challenge, so I decided to take everyone on a tour of Derby City, sitting down. Watch the accompanying reel.
Louisville’s most missed businesses | I've been writing about Derby City for nearly a decade. I've seen a lot of places come and go, but it was really cool to hear + share your stories about what Louisville businesses meant so much to you.

Where to get local birthday freebies:

Le Moo | Celebrate one more year by taking your age in dollars off the price of your steak dinner, and if you’re looking to kick it up a notch, book the Vintage Louis Vuitton® Booth — made with 17 pieces of vintage LV luggage.
I Love the 90s Bash Bar Crawl | Leos rise up. If your birthday is between now and Sat., Aug. 13, you can get a free ticket to the 90s bar crawl + discounts for your friends.
The Comfy Cow | Download this birthday coupon + get a free scoop of ice cream up to four weeks after your birthday.