Down And Derby 2010

The sun broke out just before the start of the 2010 Kentucky Derby. I watched jockey Calvin Borel hit the inside rail and guide Super Saver to his third Kentucky Derby win in the last four years.

With that bit of Louisville business concluded, the post Derby partying can being in earnest. The one that Dawn, Polar and I are headed to is Down and Derby Party which kicked off at 8 PM and is running until 4 AM.

Madame Party Animal has to go to church in the morning, so I'm not going to even attempt to hang out until this party shuts down.

The Down and Derby Party is the successor event to another GLBT derby event the Louisville GLBT community used to have at the Olmstead and I attended a few times.

That one had a few more celebrities that used to attend it. The one I hit in 2003 I was walking out of the place when Anna Nicole Smith was walking in. I also had a blast talking to Tammy Faye Bakker and The Lady Chablis.

I even got my copy of the Lady Chablis' book 'Hiding My Candy' autographed.

Despite the lack of celebrity star power (for now) since the event is in its second year, it's still a worthy one to attend. It serves as a fundraiser for two AIDS-related organizations in Louisville — the WINGS Clinic at the University of Louisville Health Sciences Center, and the Louisville AIDS Walk.

They are two organizations near and dear to my heart because I have lost friends and extended family members to AIDS.

The Water Tower is also a cool place to have it as well.

Oh yeah..time to bounce. Polar's here. See y'all at the Water Tower.

Nothin' But A Derby Party

photos-Louisville Courier-Journal 'The Buzz' columnist Angie Fenton wearing a derby hat, Gabrielle Union and Shaun Robinson at the Derby, the Lady Chablis

One of the interesting things about life in Louisville is the two week period that this town throws itself a party in advance of its signature event, the Kentucky Derby. During that two weeks, Da Ville gets celebrities winging in on private jets from all over the planet to attend the numerous derby parties being thrown all over the area. It's also fun for me since Derby always falls either on or around my May 4 birthday.


We rush all over town trying to find that perfect hat or dress for Derby, getting hair done, and spend the day in the nail shop getting manicured and pedicured. If we're not checking out the various events connected with the Kentucky Derby Festival, or standing outside the Barstable house along with the paparazzi trying to get a glimpse of the celebs arriving for the Barnstable-Brown party, or feel like shelling out the big bucks for the African-American community's signature event the Grand Gala, we're watching the all day coverage of the Kentucky Oaks or Derby or making sure we've got other things to do.

The Louisville GLBT community gets in on the fun as well. If we're not attending the parties at a gay-centric nightclub or at a friend's place, we're getting ready for the Derby party that serves as a fundraiser for the Fairness Campaign along with our GLBT friends from Lexington and the rest of the state.


It hasn'r been around as long as the others, but it's one in which GLBT celebs or GLBT friendly ones pop in and show some love to our community. One that's definitely gonna be missed this year is Anna Nicole Smith, who made it a point to stop in and treat us to her over the top wild and crazy personality. She was arriving just as I was leaving the 2003 event. At that same 2003 one I ended up talking to the Lady Chablis, and made her night when I pulled out my copy of her autobiography for her petite self to autograph. Speaking of cute, petite women, Angie was sporting a pink derby hat to go with the pink suit she was rocking while reporting on the party for the C-J.

That one sticks in my memory for another reason besides the Lady Chablis. I got into a fascinating conversation with Tammy Faye about faith, and she told me something that has stuck with me ever since: Never let anyone tell you that God doesn't love you.

Damn, gotta go make a run to Walgreen's and pick up a disposable camera and another pair of hose for the party tonight.