KENTUCKY DERBY '09- in "Lou-a-vull "

Got a assignment to shoot the Kentucky Derby '09 in Louisville, ( but we pronounce it 'Lou-a-vull ' ) KY this year, making it my 26th Derby.  I can't believe I've been to that many, and I really can't believe that I'm that old.  I've still not been to as many as my friends Bill Luster ( we still joke that he rode a horse in the 1968 race and got bumped ) or Dan Dry, (Mr. Winners Circle himself )  though. It was great to shoot the Derby, with it's pageantry, colors, tradition and pure speed of the horses. My favorite part of covering this event year-after-year is still going out to the track at predawn the week of the Derby to photograph the horses training and working out on the track, it's the best.  Of all of the major sporting events that I've shot in my career ( which includes everything from the Olympics to The Masters ) the Derby is by far my favorite sporting event.  The fact that I grew up in Kentucky and Indiana, is a part of it, but it still is so loaded photographically that you can't put your camera down. So the 'Greatest Two Minutes In Sports ' always holds a special place for me.

   Louisville is much more than Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby though.  There is a vibrant downtown life, with restaurants ( two of my favorites are 610 Magnolia and the old classic- The Bristol on Bardstown Road , with new more trendy spots always popping up ) and a terrific nightlife ( Phoenix Hill Tavern was always fun ) and any of the bars along '4th Street Live' (http://www.4thstlive.com) and you'll find what you're looking for.   

   A trip to the River City wouldn't be complete though without a visit to the Muhammad Ali Museum ( www.alicenter.org) , for those of you who didn't know that Louisville is the home of the GREATEST OF ALL TIME !  , and the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory ( www.sluggermuseum.org) where you can see a bat used by Joe DiMaggio during his 56-game hitting streak of 1941 and other bats used by the games superstars- past and present.  It's a must-do, for all baseball fans out there.  Just a short drive from Louisville to Loretto, KY is the Makers Mark Distillery, and well worth the price of admission, and the bourbon is considered by many to be the finest around ( www.makersmark.com) .  They have a great tour, and make sure you try the bourbon candy in the gift shop., it fantastic.

    There are many fine hotels in Louisville to stay ( The Seelbach Hilton - www.seelbachhilton.com and The Brown Hotel - www.brownhotel.com are all highly rated ) along with all of the chains, but if you want something a little more personal- go across the Ohio River ( 10 mintues ) to the Admiral Bicknell Inn ( Bed & Breakfast ) in New Albany, IN.

You can find their information at www.admiralbicknell.com  

    So the next time you are thinking about a trip to "Lou-a-vull" take in all of the flavor of this wonderful southern river city., and you will be impressed.   For racing schedules at Churchill Downs go to www.churchilldowns.com and about an hour drive to Lexington, KY ( home of the Kentucky Wildcats ) is Keeneland Race Course ( www.keeneland.com ).  Don't wait til next year's Kentucky Derby to visit.   Visit my website at http://www.garybogdon.com 

Anguilla- A Jewel in the Caribbean

   I was very lucky to travel to the island of Anguilla recently to photograph this over-the-top resort villa , called 'Rum Punch Villa '.  You can see some of my work on their new website: http://www.rumpunchvilla.com

  Anguilla is one of my favorite islands in the Caribbean for a lot of reasons.  It's very easy to get to ( JetBlue now flies nonstop from Orlando to San Juan, Puerto Rico, and very reasonable prices) and then you're just a puddle jumper flight away to Anguilla from San Juan, PR.  I normally fly on American Airlines from San Juan to Anguilla, but on this most recent trip I tried a new charter service that was awesome. It's called Anguilla Air Express, and my flight had only the two pilots, myself and one other passenger, giving me room for all of my gear and luggage with no problems at all. And they treat you like a first class passenger.  As always I slept the entire flight, which was great. 

     It goes without saying that Anguilla is full of fabulous beaches ( like most of the Caribbean ) but one of the things that makes it stand out from the pack is it's great food and great people .  Topping the list for my money:   Breakfast ( coffee and authentic french pastries  ) at Le Bon Pain French Bakery, ( don't let the outside look fool you , the food is awesome ) and dinner at my two favorite restaurants on the island:  Straw Hat Restaurant (www.strawhat.com ) which recently moved to the Frangipani Beach Resort and is owned and operated by Peter and Anne Parles (they are the best) with a super staff, and my other fave is ' Veya ' Restaurant ( www.veya-axa.com ) owned and operated by Jerry and Carrie Bogar ( Carrie is the magician in the kitchen here ) . These restaurants are family owned , and you can't go wrong with either one ,  so try them both .  For a very unique dining experience , you should try ' Scilly Cay ' (pronounced like 'silly key' ) owned and operated by Eudoxie and Sandra Wallace.  You can get to it only by boat (it's on a private island, just a few hundred yards off of the beach in Anguilla) and everything they serve is grilled fresh on the spot. Did I mention they only serve lobster  , crayfish , chicken and rum punch .  Don't miss the boat here, order the lobster, it's the only way to go.  While you wait for your grilled lobster, sip ( and I mean sip ) a rum punch and chill out to the sounds of the acoustic guitar man . 

   I couldn't talk about Anguilla without mentioning the funky music scene (and my encounter with the one and only Bankie Banx is a story on it's own ) .  Some describe Bankie as a cross between Bob Dylan and Bob Marley , which is fair. He is certainly unique, and the music and atmosphere at his place 'Dune Preserve' ( http://www.bankiebanx.net) are worth the trip.  Oh, and don't get there early, because Bankie is a creature of the night and when I was there, didn't come on stage to play until about 11pm , so relax and take in the vibe.  I think of Bankie's as what you would get if you put the Swiss Family Robinson treehouse , some Berkeley, CA flavor and toss in some reggae music ,  then shake it all up , and pour it on the sandy beach in Anguilla.  For another evening adventure (especially on Thursday nights , when it's rockin' ) try The Pumphouse ( which is actually the old pump house they used in Anguilla to pump the water for salt ) .  If you haven't had enough ( drinks and fun )  after they close, then meander across the street (on the beach) to Elvis' bar (which is actually an old boat , converted to a beach bar ) and say hello to Elvis himself .  And everyone thought Elvis died in 1976, well the bar and Elvis are alive and well in Anguilla- http://www.elvisbeachbar.net

  I've personally experienced (and photographed) all of the above mentioned places., as well as many others on the island.  It's truly a memorable location , both for the stomach and the eyes and ears.   I would add Anguilla to my top ten list for sure , and the rum punch !

     You can view some of my work on my new website at http://www.garybogdon.com