Hey y’all. It’s hard to believe that Derby is almost here!

With Kentucky Derby tickets severely limited, most of us are sticking pretty close to home over the next week. Fortunately, there are still fun ways to observe some of Louisville’s best parties. This year’s Sliks Bash has transitioned to a #partyinabubble format — you can stream the festivities, enjoy delicious drinks and snacks, and, most importantly, support Operation Open Arms!

Operation Open Arms is an incredible local charity that provides clothing, housing, transportation, and food as well as a safe and loving environment to children whose mothers are incarcerated. Operation Open Arms serves as a state-licensed private child-placement agency and seeks to offset the difficulties that often arise from parental incarceration, including financial difficulties, instability in relationships, school behavior, performance difficulties, low self-esteem, and feelings of shame. The statistics are staggering, y’all. Seventy-five percent of incarcerated women are mothers. The average age of children with an incarcerated parent is 8 years old; 22% of the children are under the age of five. The likelihood of parental reunification for children of incarcerated mothers is 21%; the average for other children in foster care is 40%. This charity is doing amazing work to give children a stable and loving foundation, and some tickets to Silks Bash are as affordable as $50!

(My dogs have been fascinated by this horse balloon for days!)

The folks at Operation Open Arms were kind enough to share a Party in a Bubble kit with me, and it is so fun! There’s everything you need to throw your own little gala at home, from a 2021 Woodford Reserve Kentucky Derby Commemorative bottle to snacks from Wiltshire Pantry to julep cups!

The virtual Silks Bash includes a cocktail lesson from Woodford Reserve Assistant Master Distiller Elizabeth McCall (one of my very favorite people in the bourbon industry) and music by celebrity DJ James Kennedy (I’m told by people who are less out-of-touch than me that he’s on a Bravo show…). The event will be held Oaks Night, Friday April 30, from 8 - 10:30 pm. Tickets are available here. Today, April 23rd, is the last day to order the party kit for shipping; you have until the 27th to order for local pickup!

Thanks so much to Operation Open Arms and Lemonade PR for the Silks Bash kit and for inviting me to spread the word about this amazing event!