This week was a monstrous run of great meetings with interesting Louisvillians. I visited three places I rarely frequent: Wiltshire Pantry on Barret, Payne Street Bake House and TEN20 Anchorage Taproom and a great stop at Haymarket, which I always like.

I attended the Venture Connectors luncheon, where Lisa Bajorinas from KSTC announced 31 startups have raised $60M year-to-date.

I also attended Dr. Meredith Sweeney’s open house for Sano Longevity (see photo here).… if you care about extending the quality years of your life, she’s worth a look.

Hot job 💼: Senior Project Manager at Appleton Finn ($110K–$150K). Lead high-impact construction projects with full ownership of budgets, schedules, and client delivery. 7+ years of project management experience required.

Birthday Cheers 🎉: Big cheers to my friend Jeremy Jarvi, one of Louisville’s top fundraisers and a genuine force for good. His work with local nonprofits has made a lasting impact on our community.

-Todd

We have covered several great side hustles locally and we have two great ones today… in the same space! Two local candlemakers with two different approaches are finding success.

Candles can be quiet storytellers. For two Louisville creators, they’ve become something much bigger... a reflection of who they are and what they love. One found meaning in sustainability and memory, the other in creativity and scent design. Meet the makers turning bourbon bottles into keepsakes and cocktails into candles.

🔥 The Origin Story

Spirit Scents (SS): Nina and Joe Martinez were inspired by Kentucky heritage and sustainability. Their love for bourbon and craftsmanship led them to transform empty bottles into something that could be enjoyed again.

Lendenwood (LW): For Megan Mulloy-Huhn, it began as a creative escape from digital life. She wanted to make something with her hands and found that blending fragrance was as satisfying as designing art.

🍃 The Craft

SS: Each candle is poured into an upcycled bourbon or wine bottle, hand-cut and polished to perfection. It’s part art, part recycling... every one is unique.

LW: Megan crafts “cocktail candles” that mimic the aroma of classic drinks like the Old Fashioned and Mint Julep. She experiments with scent balance until the candle smells like the cocktail tastes.

❤️ What Keeps Them Going

SS: Their joy comes from the emotional connection. Customers bring bottles from weddings, anniversaries, or lost loved ones to be turned into keepsakes.

LW: Megan lights up when customers say, “This smells exactly like my favorite drink.” For her, it’s about sparking nostalgia and happiness with every scent.

🕯️ Best Sellers & Local Flavor

SS: Their “Kentucky Bourbon” candle captures the comforting mix of bourbon, vanilla, and caramel. “Kentucky Woods” is their love letter to Louisville, with mahogany, orange, and sandalwood.

LW: Megan’s “Old Fashioned” candle leads her line, while her “Mint Julep” scent keeps Derby season alive year-round.

⚡️ Spark Take: Both makers started small, learned through trial and error, and built something people love. One reimagines old bottles, the other redefines familiar scents... and together they show that a little curiosity can still light the way.

👉 Your Turn: Explore the full story and learn about their full origin stories, their best-selling candles, the bottles they transform, and the scents that inspire them.

Real Opinions. No Filters. No Names. [Submit yours here]

The UFL announced Louisville is getting a football franchise for the first time in decades called The Louisville Kings. We beat out more than 30 other cities for a spot in the United Football League. The deciding factor was clear… Lynn Family Stadium.

Top 3 things to know:

1️⃣ Thankful For Soccer
Lynn Family Stadium wasn’t just a benefit, it was the reason Louisville was chosen. The UFL wanted an intimate, energetic fan experience and we have that. Kudos to the folks who backed soccer so hard to give us this opportunity.

2️⃣ National TV Exposure
Every UFL game will air nationally on FOX Sports and NBC, giving us consistent national visibility throughout the spring season. That’s a win.

3️⃣ Rooting For Our Own
The Kings have first signing rights to players within 100 miles of Louisville, creating a built-in local connection. We are very good at cheering for our own.

⚡️ Spark Take
Doing more of the same will not help us grow. The success of this league or venture isn’t even the critical point. Our community loves sports and it could work, so let’s reserve judgement. The one looming question I do consider is how dependent is local corporate dollars (vs national) to drive local success?

👉 Here’s the best summary about the announcement I could find.

We found the fun, so you don’t have to.

🎭 Dracula
Louisville Ballet’s haunting take on Bram Stoker’s classic returns to the Brown Theatre with gothic sets, eerie elegance, and unforgettable choreography.

🏡 2025 AIA CKC Home Tour
Explore some of Louisville’s most stunning homes and architectural gems while supporting Habitat for Humanity of Metro Louisville.

🍻 Beyond the Brews
Sip unique craft beers and chat with local brewers in this relaxed tasting event celebrating Louisville’s craft beer scene.

⛳ ChipIns Opening Weekend
Kick off golf season with community play, clinics, and fun competition at ChipIns’ new local course at Different Strokes.

🎨 The Adele and Leonard Leight Series: Garth Johnson
Ceramic artist and curator Garth Johnson leads an inspiring discussion on creativity, design, and the future of contemporary craft at the Speed Museum.

🍽️ 10 Taste Salute
A five-course dinner and cocktail celebration at The Olmsted honoring Louisville’s restaurant community. All proceeds benefit APRON Inc.’s mission to support local hospitality workers.

Development Manager at CTH Recruiting ($100K–$125K). Own fundraising strategy, donor growth, and partnerships.

CRE Banking Relationship Manager at Old National ($62K–$199K). Grow a CRE portfolio, structure deals, and deepen client relationships.

Concrete Project Manager at Powerwell ($80K–$100K). Run concrete projects end to end… schedules, budgets, subs.

Senior Project Manager (Water/Wastewater) at Jacobs ($130K–$185K). Lead multi-disciplinary water and wastewater programs. PE preferred.

State Manager – Kentucky at Sazerac ($129K–$193K). Lead KY market sales and distributor strategy for a fast-growing spirits portfolio.

Shout out to Tim Meredith for capturing this great shot of Gatehouse at Crescent Hill Reservoir! 😍 🌆

It’s a good mix this week... creative makers doing what they love, a big football story giving fans something to cheer about, strong job opportunities across the city, and a weekend packed with events worth getting out for.

Louisville feels full right now in all the best ways. Whether you build, cheer, hire or just show up, it all adds to the same story.

Have a great weekend.

–Todd