Illustration by Kendall Regan
Shaina is the promotions manager at the Kentucky Derby Festival and co-founder of the Poorcastle music festival. We asked the Germantown native 21 questions.
Describe the space you’re in right now.
“A cozy beer bar in Butchertown Market called Drinkswell, which is my favorite place for a pint.”
Earliest childhood memory?
“My grandfather worked for Disney most of his life. Growing up in Florida, most of my earliest memories took place at Disney theme parks.”
If you could be mayor for a day, what would you do?
“Make more bike lanes, so I’m no longer living in constant fear of hitting a bicyclist — and so more people can travel green without living in fear of drivers like me.”
The weirdest place somebody has recognized you in public?
“At South by Southwest, I bumped into Maryliz and Lacey of the band Twin Limb in the streets of Austin, Texas. You really don’t expect to run into friends from Louisville more than a thousand miles from home and in a crowd of 100,000 people!”
What is the most unusual benefit of your job?
“Being on the management side of events, you typically know where the cleanest restrooms are.”
Who’s somebody doing big things in Louisville and is flying under the radar?
“Dream Eye Color Wheel is one of my favorite local bands.”
Besides your current job, what’s the best job you’ve ever had?
“I worked as regional manager for a live trivia production company and got to host trivia nights throughout town at local bars and restaurants. I made some great friends, met my partner and learned to curb my stage fright.”
Favorite possession?
“A family heirloom I wear every day on my right ring finger. It was my great-great-great-GREAT-aunt’s wedding band. It has their initials engraved on the inside with their wedding date: G.E.C. to E.A.M. 6-3-1837. Hey, June 3 is today’s date!”
Favorite thing hanging on the walls of your home?
“A poster of Bosch’s triptych ‘Garden of Earthly Delights.’ It haunted me after learning about it in one of my first college courses. I still enjoy finding new oddities within it.”
Vices?
“Terrible, horrible, really bad B horror movies.”
What’s on your credit-card statement?
“Too many Please & Thank You transactions.”
What Louisville dish have you eaten more than any other?
“I don’t know if it can be considered a dish, but I’ve been known to crush El Mundo’s queso on occasion.”
What/who makes you laugh?
“Dry humor. My favorites are British comedies: Black Books, Spaced, The IT Crowd, Peep Show.”
Do you have a secret talent?
“I’m really good at pinpointing what two actors or celebrities someone looks like.”
What superstition do you believe in?
“Don’t trust a leftie.”
If forced to get a tattoo today, what would you get?
“A quote from the intro to The Twilight Zone: ‘You unlock this door with the key of imagination.’”
What three people would be on the guest list to your ideal dinner party?
“Twilight Zone creator Rod Serling, Frankenstein novelist Mary Shelley and Bernie Sanders.”
Where do you go to be alone?
“A steamy, hot shower to decompress.”
What makes somebody a Louisvillian?
“When you ask the question Where did you go to school? and actually mean high school, not college. I found that so strange when I moved here, but all Louisvillians do it!”
What would you do if you won the lottery?
“Build a tiny house in the States, then travel as much as I could with my winnings. I’ve never been outside the country. New Zealand tops my bucket list.”
If you could write it yourself, what would your headstone say?
“‘Loving daughter, sister, friend and dog mom.’”
Plus 8 More
What are you wearing right now?
“My typical uniform — a dress and boots.”
What do you collect?
“Ticket stubs.
Can’t-miss TV show?
“The Walking Dead.”
Least-favorite word?
“Just one? ‘Cream.’ Gross.”
What’s on your nightstand?
“Four cups of water and a dog toy.”
Favorite movie scene?
“‘Here’s Johnny!’”
All-time-favorite album?
“Townes Van Zandt’s self-titled album from ’69.”
What’s something nobody knows about you?
“Horses terrify me.”
This originally appeared in the July 2016 issue of Louisville Magazine. To subscribe to Louisville Magazine, click here. To find you very own copy of Louisville Magazine, click here.