65th Annual Home, Garden and Remodeling Show February 28th - March 2nd

Spring is in the air which makes it the perfect time for the 65th Annual Home, Garden and Remodeling Show presented by Window World. The Kentucky Expo Center South Wing B and C at 937 Phillips Lane in Louisville will be hosting this event on Friday, February 28th and Saturday, March 1st from 10:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m, and Sunday, March 2nd from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. General admission tickets are $10, Seniors ages 62 and older pay $9 and children ages 15 and younger are admitted for free with an adult. Expo Center parking is $8.

The Home, Garden and Remodeling Show in Louisville is one of the largest gatherings of its type in the nation. This event has the top exhibitors for home, garden and remodeling from around the country all collected in one area for your convenience. Anything a homeowner is considering for their house can be found among the over 400 exhibitors that will be present during the festivities. There will also be a host of free “how to” presentations, giveaways, coupons, discounts and professionals available to answer any questions patron’s may have.

Window World’s 65th Annual Home, Garden and Remodeling Show at the Kentucky Expo Center is a must-attend event for homeowners. The festivities take place this Friday through Sunday starting at 10:00 a.m. and you will not want to miss this professionally presented home show designed to showcase the latest in new ideas and trends.

About the Author:  Joe Hayden is the Team Owner and Manager of the Joe Hayden Real Estate Team - Your Louisville Real Estate Experts!

The 3 Top-Rated Wine Bars in Louisville

As a city that is full of great restaurants for dining in addition to some good drinking establishments, finding the right kind of wine bar might not seem easy in Louisville. The next time you're heading out for a good glass and the right atmosphere, look no further than one of the 3 top-rated wine bars in Louisville to suit your fancy!

Sip the Night Away at Brix Wine Bar

Named after the wine term that references the sugar content of grapes when they are harvested, this east end Louisville establishment on LaGrange Road is one of the city's premiere destinations for the connoisseur. Featuring a fine wine selection, the upscale and sophisticated Brix Wine Bar offers the ideal appetizers to go along with your beverage of choice, including Brie encroute, a roasted hummus platter, pan seared crab cakes, and Brix house chips. With a long bar, comfy plush chairs, and dark wood that will make you feel like sipping the evening away, Brix also features a variety of entrée items to choose from if you and your friends end up staying for a while. You can even head back for Happy Hour on weekdays where you can get half-price on selected wines from 4-6 PM!

Indulge in French Flavors at La Coop Bistro à Vins

With a name that gives it all away, this classic French bistro offers up an extensive selection of French wines that are an ideal accompaniment to the fine food. The perfect place to go for a glass or two and dinner, La Coop Bistro à Vins was voted the Top New Restaurant of 2013 by the readers of Louisville Magazine. Featuring decorative bird cages and an open kitchen concept, you can choose from traditional specialties like Steak Frites, Coquilles St. Jacques, or Aubergine Farcie, a roasted eggplant dish with vegetables and melted gruyere. If you’re looking for a good time to try a new French wine, head down on Tuesday evening for the Prix Fixe Menu, which features a salad, an entrée, and a dessert, all for $25.

Try Before you Buy at Taste Fine Wines and Bourbons

Located in the trendy NuLu East Market District that is filled with cool shops and some of Louisville's favorite restaurants, Taste is a different kind of wine bar than what you might be used to. While Taste is a great place to pick up wine by the case, this tasting lounge gives you the option to try everything before you buy it. With options from smaller wineries and many hard-to-find bottles, make a visit to the Taste lounge so you can sip on the wine of your choice and find some new favorites. You might even want to stop in for happy hour, which goes from 5-7 PM every Thursday and Friday. With many great but inexpensive bottle options, you might even take one or two home!

If you're looking to indulge in a great night out with a group of friends or your significant other, there are a few wine bars in Louisville where you can get your drink on. With highly rated food and a discerning selection of wine to choose from, you'll probably be planning another night out soon!

About the Author:  Joe Hayden is the Team Owner and Manager of the Joe Hayden Real Estate Team - Your Louisville Real Estate Experts!

The Carl Casper Custom and Louisville New Car Show is Gearing Up for February

The Carl Casper Custom Auto Show is an annual Kentucky institution that celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2013. In 2014, the tradition takes place at the Kentucky Exposition Center located at 937 Phillips Lane in Louisville. The Carl Casper Custom and Louisville New Car show will be in town for three days, from February 21 to the 23, giving you ample opportunity to explore the over 750,000 square feet of vehicle exhibitions and displays arranged for automotive fans.

The Custom Creations of Carl Casper

As a builder of custom high-end vehicles, Carl Casper has created an incredible variety of cars, including the Batmobile, the General Lee, K.I.T.T., the A-Team vehicles and even "1965 America's Most Beautiful Roadster". He has also built Top Fuel beasts that have performed well on the racing strip. Carl Casper has kept every single car he has ever created, and this show is a reflection of his passion for vehicles.

Featured Creations, Contests and Exhibitions at the Carl Casper Custom Car Show

For the first time in 46 years, Carl Casper is bringing out Renegade, his 1932 Ford Sedan Street Rod and D-Gas Drag Car, for a public showing. Nostalgia race cars, import tuners, custom low riders, custom competitions and some of America's most popular custom motorcycles are part of the exhibition, alongside famous vehicles such as "Wildman" Jeff Cook's Shotgun Harry! monster truck and John Nowacki's "Top Fuel Beetle", a dual-engine, hot-rod style custom racer. Carl Casper also hosts the Lowrider Hopping Nationals and the Miss Auto Show contests.

Celebrity Appearances During the Weekend

This custom car show has attracted a variety of celebrities who are coming out to the event in order to meet fans and sign autographs. Disney actress and singer Olivia Holt is appearing on Saturday, February 22, from 12 PM to 5 PM and then again from 6 PM to 8 PM. Sonequa Martin-Green, who plays Sasha on The Walking Dead television series, will make an appearance on the same day. She will be at the show starting at 1 PM and ending at 8 PM, with a break between 4 PM and 6 PM. The WWE makes a splash with an appearance by superstar Big Show on Friday between 6:45 PM and 9:45 PM. A legend in his time, Ted DiBiase, is scheduled to appear throughout the weekend.

All Major Manufacturers at the Louisville New Car Show

On the south wing of the Kentucky Exposition Center, the Louisville New Car show will feature sixteen different major manufacturers under one roof. A variety of representatives from the Greater Louisville Automobile Dealers Association will be on hand to help compare prices and specs. This event is a great place to window shop for a new ride. The Louisville New Car Show takes place at the same time as the Carl Casper show, from 6 PM to 11 PM on Friday, 10 AM to 10 PM on Saturday and 12 PM to 6 PM on Sunday.

The Carl Casper Custom and Louisville New Car show attract car enthusiasts from all walks of life, giving them the opportunity to get together in Louisville and talk cars for three days straight. These shows have something for everyone, including the beginners, casual viewers and passionate aficionados of car culture. 

About the Author:  Joe Hayden is the Team Owner and Manager of the Joe Hayden Real Estate Team - Your Louisville Real Estate Experts!

Everything You Need to Know About Indiana University Southeast

Residing in New Albany, the Indiana University Southeast serves students who seek higher education in the Greater Louisville Area. The overall vision of the Indiana University Southeast is to transform the region by developing students into local leaders. This campus ranks 7th in the Midwest for their MBA program and has been ranked among the top business schools in the United States for the past nine years. This school was also named one of the top ten places to work in the Greater Louisville Metropolitan Region. If you’re considering attending this institution, here’s everything you’ll need to know before you enroll.

A Brief History of the Indiana University Southeast

Local businessman Floyd McMurray founded Indiana University Southeast as an extension of Indiana University. The campus was initially created to allow freshmen and sophomores to attend classes closer to residence before transitioning to the Indiana University Bloomington campus. This took place in 1941, while World War Two fomented violently overseas. Starting with a budget of less than seven thousand dollars, classes were initially held in middle and secondary schools. The student body quickly grew to 291 by 1945 and the institution finally moved into a location of their own. Until 1968, freshmen and sophomores attended what was known as the Indiana University Jeffersonville Extension Center before moving to the Bloomington Campus to finish their degrees. Afterward, the Indiana University Southeast was granted the ability to confer degrees, eventually moving in 1970 to New Albany.

Indiana University Southeast by the Numbers

For fall 2013, tuition for resident undergraduates is $203.89 per credit hour while non-residents pay $572.97 per credit hour. Graduate student rates are $255.96 per credit hour for residents and $603.02 per credit hour for non-residents. For graduate business students, the rate for residents is $371.79 per credit hour and for non-residents $765.64 per credit hour. During the 2012-2013 school year, 65 percent of students received financial aid that totaled $43,671,292, including scholarships. The general education fund for the Indiana University Southeast spent $923,600 for student financial aid, $6,995,643 on academic support, $3,756,144 for student support, $12,810,367 on institutional support, $4,858,954 on physical plant services, $74,502 on research and $28,333,282 on instruction.

Academic Offerings at the Indiana University Southeast

The Indiana University Southeast offers a plethora of degrees, diplomas and certifications for students of all persuasions. Four-year programs include Bachelor of Science degrees in subjects such as chemistry, biology, mathematics, criminology and psychology, while Bachelor of Arts degrees include French, English, Spanish, sociology and political science. Graduate degrees offered are Liberal Studies, Strategic Finance, Business Administration and Education. Two-year associate of arts degrees are available in economics, English, music, physics, mathematics, biology and communication studies. Certificates for business, information technology, medical coding and transcription, and women & gender studies are also available. The Purdue School of Technology offers students the ability to earn degrees in mechanical engineering technology, industrial technology, electrical and computer engineering technology, computer graphics technology and organizational leadership and supervision.

Athletics at the Indiana University Southeast

The basketball and cheerleading squads at the Indiana University are among the most competitive in their divisions. In 2012, the cheerleading team won their fourth straight national championship, finishing first among 27 colleges with a score of 124.05. The men's basketball team was recently voted the number three squad within the NAIA Division II, in a top 25 poll determined by coaches around the country. Intramural recreational sporting activities are also offered for students who wish to stay fit while enjoying the pleasure of sport, without worrying about being too competitive.

The Indiana University Southeast is constantly expanding. As of May 2013, this institute of higher learning had its largest graduating class ever, awarding 1,254 degrees to 1,189 students. This shows that they are succeeding in their mission to provide the Greater Louisville Area with the opportunity to engage in higher education. For a local university with strong academic and extracurricular offerings, Indiana University Southeast is a prime choice. 

About the Author:  Joe Hayden is the Team Owner and Manager of the Joe Hayden Real Estate Team - Your Louisville Real Estate Experts!

Drink Local! Amazing Louisville Breweries You'll Kick Yourself for Missing

The kind of beer you might only have found in small, niche markets just a few years ago is becoming more commonplace, as microbreweries and craft beer distributors in the United States are on the rise. According to a recent article on CNBC.com, craft brewers experienced a 15 percent increase in retail sales and a volume increase of 13 percent in 2011, resulting in a total barrel increase of approximately 1.3 million. This means that in larger American cities such as Louisville, there are more options for beer drinkers. Here is some information about two of the most popular and innovative Louisville breweries in the area that you may not have heard of, but you'll surely want to try!

Looking for a Unique Brewery Experience? Visit Against The Grain Brewery (401 East Main St.)

Located in the southeast corner of Louisville Slugger Field at the corner of Jackson and Main Street is one of the busiest, most productive, and most celebrated breweries in Louisville. Against The Grain Brewery gets its name from the eclectic mix of art and architecture that the building offers, as the site used to be a train station, giving patrons some fantastic beer options as well as a unique venue to visit. The site holds one of the only Victorian-styled, three-story "showpiece brewhouses," where all 15 of their copper clad brewing barrels are on display to visitors. This space is also complimented by artwork provided by local artists. On their website you will find a staggering list of almost 100 original beers that the brewery has made in the past, and the website also lists those original beers that are currently on tap, so if you're in the area or thinking of making a trip to the brewery, you could actually plan on trying a few beers you've never had before. Against The Grain Brewery promises to be a brewery experience you will kick yourself for missing when you're in Louisville.

Bluegrass Brewing Company (BBC): The Popularity of Microbreweries Can't Be Denied (3929 Shelbyville Rd.)

The address listed above is actually the address of the first BBC site, founded by Pat Hagan and his father in 1993 after Hagan discovered different varieties of craft beer during his extended travels through the United States. He eventually convinced his father that a brewery was a lucrative opportunity. The company has since opened two other locations, which not only speaks to the success of the brewery, but also to the popularity of microbreweries in Louisville. The BBC location at Theatre Square on 4th St. offers its patrons the opportunity to dine and drink alfresco in the heart of the city, while their newest location at 3rd and Main St. is three floors and is across from the new KFC Yum Center Arena, so you can grab a beer before the big game.

The brewery offers original beer flavors such as Luna De Miel: Raspberry Meade, Dark Star Porter for those who like darker beer, and the Light-Hearted IPA for those looking for that distinctly bitter but refreshing pale ale taste. BBC is another Louisville brewery that is not to be missed!

Though there are only two breweries on this list, there are plenty of other breweries and microbreweries in the area that are waiting for your patronage, and that are brewing some of the most unique beer in the area. Bluegrass Brewing Company has three locations available to you and Against The Grain is one of the most unique and interesting breweries you'll find in Louisville, making a trip to a Louisville brewery a must for locals and tourists alike. 

About the Author:  Joe Hayden is the Team Owner and Manager of the Joe Hayden Real Estate Team - Your Louisville Real Estate Experts!

Bag a Bargain: Cool Louisville Flea Markets Worth Checking Out This Weekend

Flea markets are not only a great place to find the best deals on secondhand goods, but visiting flea markets can also become a fun and exciting opportunity to develop a hobby that will bring valuable items into your home. Are you looking to bag a bargain this weekend, or are you simply a Louisville local looking for something fun to do on your day off? Check out these cool Louisville flea markets in your area for something worthwhile to do this weekend, and give yourself the chance to find some unique gems to call your own.

The Biggest in Kentucky: Derby Park Flea Market

A popular weekend destination is the biggest flea market in Kentucky, located in the Taylor Berry neighborhood just a short drive south of Downtown Louisville. On your day off, you may want to consider making the drive to this longstanding gem, which has been a flea market since it opened with just eight dealers in 1985. Now that they have a wide variety of nearly 600 dealers in their indoor facility, Derby Park Flea Market is a common favorite amongst secondhand shoppers.

Aside from their incredible shopping opportunities which take place each Saturday and Sunday from 9 am to 5 pm, this association is also responsible for putting on many fun and exciting events throughout the year. With the Derby Celebration, the Derby Park Dealers Appreciation and Potluck Event, the Three Ring Circus, and the Derby Park Community Drive to name a few, once you start shopping here, you'll be likely to have many events to attend throughout the year.

The 135,000-square-foot facility that makes up the Derby Park Flea Market is located at 2900 7th Street Rd, Louisville, KY 40216.

A Modern Twist on Flea Markets: Peddlers Mall

This chain of stores puts a modern twist on flea markets, while still providing the ultimate advantage: great deals on unique secondhand items. Dixie Peddlers Mall, located at 4420 Dixie Highway in Louisville, is a store that includes many different vendors in a similar set up to a traditional flea market, with 70 to 75 percent of their goods for sale being secondhand. With longer hours than the traditional flea markets, Peddlers Mall gives you the opportunity to shop both on weekends and during the week, by day or night. Dixie Peddlers Mall is open from 10 am to 8 pm, Monday to Saturday, and on Sundays from 12 pm to 6 pm. Many of the Peddlers Mall stores have up to 100 booths with a variety of items for sale. The vendors get their items from different sources, including store liquidations, auctions, and yard sales.

Whether you're a beginner or an experienced secondhand shopper, you are bound to find many flea markets to fill up your weekends. And with these two well-known establishments on the list, you can choose to go with the traditional or the modern flea market route to scout out your new, used gems. 

About the Author:  Joe Hayden is the Team Owner and Manager of the Joe Hayden Real Estate Team - Your Louisville Real Estate Experts!

Five Great Neighborhoods to Raise a Family in Louisville

When you're looking for real estate in Louisville, and you have a family to think about, you will be looking for a home in a safe and clean neighborhood to ensure peace of mind as a parent, while still having access to a wide selection of local amenities and parks for the kids. Here are five different neighborhoods that will give you a better idea of where you will find the right Louisville neighborhood for your family.

Two for One: The Cherokee Triangle and The Highlands

Because the area is so popular in real estate, many adjoining streets or small neighborhoods have taken up the name The Highlands in order to attract young, professional parents, thereby making the boundaries of the neighborhood harder to define. Following Bardstown Road, Cherokee Triangle is considered the centerpiece of the Highlands area, and it extends from Cherokee Park and Cave Hill Cemetery and Arboretum to the southeast. The neighborhood is almost entirely made up of large and well-preserved Victorian homes that were built in the 1890's. In the 1960's, homeowners in the Triangle divided many of the houses into apartments, but these spaces have mostly been restored to single-family homes, making them the ideal dwelling for young professionals or wealthy urbanite families.

Given that the Triangle is located in the heart of the historic Highlands neighborhood, you're just a few blocks over from Louisville's commercial district, giving you access to a major American city's downtown amenities. Though you will be in the heart of the city, the Highlands area is known for its preservationist efforts to keep expansion at bay in the community, while holding local events at Cherokee or Willow Park to exhibit the community's eclectic and historic culture.

Want To Be Even Closer To Downtown?

If you're not a family of wealthy or established young professionals, but you still want to be closer to downtown, try looking for homes on Frankfort Avenue in Clifton. A neighborhood named for its position on top of a small cliff above the Ohio River Valley, Clifton first experienced development in the 1820's and is one of Louisville's first suburbs. Clifton's narrow streets are lined with sturdy New Orleans-style shotgun houses, and the neighborhood is noted for its arty and diverse culture. This is the ideal neighborhood for young parents looking for good restaurants, trendy boutiques and galleries.

Norton Commons is Ideal for Urban and Rural Living

Norton Commons is a new community on the far northeastern edge of Louisville. This brand-new traditional neighborhood development was made to look like an old-fashioned urban community, giving you modern amenities and lots of green space. Norton Commons offers potential homeowners houses on small lots, with front porches made for sitting and talking with neighbors as you would in a more rural setting. The neighborhood also features a village center with shops and restaurants, making it a unique alternative for families looking for safer and quieter urban living.

The Quiet Advantage of a More Rural Home

Brownsboro Farms is a small community in Louisville's more rural east end. Less than a 25 minute commute from downtown, Brownsboro Farms has the advantage of being completely removed from city life. Here, you can immerse yourself in farm and rural culture, while still having a major city center extremely close by. Also, because of its location outside of the city, home prices in the area have become very reasonable, and your kids will always have a safe place to play.

Finding the perfect spot to raise your children isn’t easy. Luckily, Louisville offers a wide variety of neighborhoods that families with children will love. Start your search for your family's next home with these family-friendly Louisville neighborhoods – chances are, you’ll find the perfect house for your growing family. 

About the Author:  Joe Hayden is the Team Owner and Manager of the Joe Hayden Real Estate Team - Your Louisville Real Estate Experts!

Sochi Dreaming: Catch the 2014 Olympics Coverage at These Sports Bars in Louisville

The 2014 Winter Olympics will take place from February 7 to 23 in the Russian city of Sochi. During this time, over 5,000 athletes and team members from 85 countries will be competing for 98 sets of medals. The medal events include 15 different specialties from the seven official categories of Winter Olympic sports, including skiing, skating, ice hockey, curling, luge, biathlon and bobsleigh events. Not everybody has the free time and discretionary income to attend the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. If you’re looking to catch the action from home, there are a number of great venues where you can do just that. Here are three of the best sports bars in Louisville where you can cheer on your favorite American Olympic athletes with your family and friends.

An ESPN Favorite: The Sports and Social Club

ESPN Magazine recently listed The Sports and Social Club as number 21 out of the “29 Greatest Sports Bars in the Known Universe” in a recent article that looked at the great sports bars around the world. This facility serves lunch and dinner, and has an eclectic nightlife, making it an ideal place to take in the 2014 Winter Olympics. Their ultimate sports viewing room is equipped with a pair of giant, hundred-inch high definition projectors with full, booming digital surround sound. This bar also features live entertainment, bowling alleys and The Eagle, a private party room with every variety of modern amenities necessary for a great party.

Take the Family to Bungalow Joe's Bar and Grill

An excellent choice to take in the 2014 Winter Olympics is Bungalow Joe's Bar and Grill. This is another Louisville sports destination that has received excellent reviews, featuring 23 high definition televisions. Bungalow Joe's is a bar that is friendly to families, even offering free food for kids on Wednesdays when a parent purchases an entree. Fridays and Saturdays offer live music and karaoke. They have over a dozen different draft beers to choose from, as well as more than fifty different types of craft brews. For those who wish to enjoy different types of fine beer while taking in the Olympics, Bungalow Joe's offers membership in their beer club as well as a VIP program that gives gift certificates for signing up and points that result in a loyalty gift certificates.

Watch the Games at Buffalo Wild Wings

One of the best franchises to catch the 2014 Winter Olympics is Buffalo Wild Wings, located at 4600 Shelbyville Road in Louisville, Kentucky. This establishment offers domestic, import and craft beer on tap. They boast that their bartenders are trained in the art of serving beer correctly, including the perfect pours, garnishes and appropriate glasses, maximizing the flavor of the brew. Buffalo Wild Wings specializes in boneless and traditional chicken wings with five different types of seasonings and 16 different types of sauces, ranging from mild to blazing hot. They have more than thirty high-definition televisions that allow you to catch all the action.

As with most big sporting events, the Winter Olympics are best enjoyed in a social setting with friends and family, quality beverages and delicious food. All three of these sports bars cater specifically to sports fans, featuring dozens of high definition televisions, excellent food and drinks as well as a friendly atmosphere and comfortable ambiance.

About the Author:  Joe Hayden is the Team Owner and Manager of the Joe Hayden Real Estate Team - Your Louisville Real Estate Experts!

It’s That Time Again…What’s Happening This Groundhog Day in Louisville?

Though its American roots are in Pennsylvania, Groundhog Day is one of those quirky holidays that everyone approaches from a different angle. Whether it’s screening classic cinema, holding celebrations among aficionados, or using the event as an excuse for a very unusual office party, Louisville is full of creative ways for citizens to mark the day.

A Celebration With Roots

Originating in Europe, Groundhog Day emerged out of medieval prognostication – the practice of making weather predictions based on observation of natural phenomena. The observation of whether or not a creature who pokes his head out of his hole sees his shadow becomes a predictor, on Groundhog Day, for whether or not winter will stretch on for 6 more weeks. The first groundhog was probably a bear or a badger, though when the German settlers to Pennsylvania brought along their traditions to the New World, the groundhog became the animal to observe on February 2nd.

Nuts about Groundhogs? Join the Club

While 20,000 people flock to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania on Groundhog Day to witness Phil the groundhog poking his head out of his burrow, Louisville has traditionally been able to muster a fraction of that number together to commemorate, and celebrate, the occasion. The Louisville chapter of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club is known as the "Bluegrass Chapter".

This year marks the 36th annual Groundhog Day Celebration: last year, 280 people gathered to mark the day. This year, the event won't take place as usual because, according to club leader Kevin Ryan, "we can't compete with the Super Bowl" which is also that same weekend.

A Movie to Watch, Over and Over and Over Again

Another annual Louisville Groundhog Day tradition is the screening of the classic Bill Murray comedy Groundhog Day. Last year the film played at a midnight screening at Baxter Avenue Theatre. Those who attend year after year may take delight in the deja vu they experience: in the film, a Punxsutawney weatherman relives the exact same day, again and again. It's too soon to know whether the Baxter will be showing Groundhog Day again in 2014, but visit their website to find out more about their midnight screenings of other cult classics at http://apextheaters.com/baxter_home.htm.

"Marty": a Southern Punxsutawney Phil?

An informal celebration will take place at Martco, where "Marty" the groundhog has been the unofficial resident mascot for the past few seasons. The adorable little furball comes and sits on a window ledge, enjoying bananas and trail mix offered to him by staff. This year, says marketing manager Libbie Martin, "You can count on us having a big celebration around here on Groundhog Day next year...hopefully he will come out and celebrate with us; I know we will have some of his favorite trail mix ready for him." 

The rich history and lore behind Groundhog Day combined with Louisville residents' sense of fun will make Groundhog Day a great reason to get out and about. Just like the groundhog who emerges from hibernation in early February, partygoers, movie fans, and even the workers at Martco all look forward to the portent of spring that Groundhog Day brings. While Punxsutawney Phil will never be overshadowed, in Louisville, anyhow, "Marty" and his Kentucky kin are the groundhogs of repute--as are the weatherman locals who will be keeping their eyes on the prognosticating marmots this February 2.

About the Author:  Joe Hayden is the Team Owner and Manager of the Joe Hayden Real Estate Team - Your Louisville Real Estate Experts!

New Kids on the Block? 3 Ways to Help Your Kids Make Friends When They're New to Louisville

Have kids? Then as you know, after moving to a new city and new neighborhood, children may have a hard time adjusting and establishing new friendships. Here are a few great ways to help them get started on the right foot in a new environment.

Sign Them Up for a Regular Extracurricular Activity

You're killing two birds with one stone with an extracurricular activity—you're getting the kids off the couch and active for one to two hours at a time, and also enabling them to have natural interaction with other kids their age in a setting ripe for bonding. What are your child's biggest interests? Whether it's arts and crafts, taking care of animals, or building houses out of Lego, there are lots of potential avenues where your child can participate as a volunteer on a regular basis in a setting they feel passionate about. Team sports are a good idea, because it helps develop their physical skills as well as gives them enough space such that Mom and Dad aren't standing over their shoulder monitoring them at every moment.

Louisville community centers, such as Sun Valley, offer all sorts of activities, from children's archery to Tae Kwon Do, on a weekly basis. Their open fitness rooms offer everything from scrapbooking, to basketball and line dancing, and kids of all different ages can attend. What's most important is that your child can find a positive area where they can interact with others—younger and older—to develop friendships important to their emotional maturity.

Arrange Play Dates Through Their School Network

If you've arrived in the new city intent on participating in school activities via the Parent Advisory Committee, getting to know other parents and arranging consequent play dates with your children and the children of other parents isn't a bad idea. You'll get to build your own network within the city as well as encourage your child to make new friends from their school. As a side benefit, getting a rehash of "what really happened" that day in school never hurts.

It's About Interacting With Others

The important thing to realize is that friendships ultimately can't be forced. For your children, it's about setting them up for success in non-threatening environments that allow them to interact with others in a real, non-digital setting to grow their social skills and social network. It can be as simple as time at the school playground; all you’ll have to do is take them there and let them play with other kids after school for half an hour, or give your child the permission and gentle encouragement to play with the neighbor's son in your backyard.

If your child is shy, it doesn’t mean they shouldn’t socialize. They'll gradually get used to meeting new people if they have been socialized to do so on a regular basis. Remember, the unlikeliest friendships have cropped up in all sorts of places. What's important is that on some level, you have your children real listening and speaking skills that will give them a positive launching pad off which they can develop their own friendships.

About the Author:  Joe Hayden is the Team Owner and Manager of the Joe Hayden Real Estate Team - Your Louisville Real Estate Experts!