Gergana Dinkova has lived in various cities in both Europe and South America. Three years ago, the 30-year-old native of Bulgaria and her Ghanaian boyfriend were living in New York City when they decided to move to a less hectic environment. Dinkova's boyfriend suggested Louisville because he'd visited once and found it beautiful. Dinkova agreed, but with one condition—they had to live downtown.

"Basically, it was the best choice I made because we didn't have a car for a long time," Dinkova explained. "Everything is downtown. You have a grocery on Second Street and you have all the traffic and the people. Coming from such an urban place, it was an easier adjustment. It has kind of the urban feel, just on a smaller scale."

Dinkova and her boyfriend arrived in Louisville on Derby Day 2006, so her first impression of the city was a festive one. The couple had intended to stay in a hotel until they could find a place to live, but a man they met at a Derby party put them up in his home until they were approved for a place at the Barrington Place Apartments, a 17-story high rise building on South Third Street. The Derby Festival became an even greater time of celebration for Dinkova and her boyfriend in 2007 when their first child, a girl named Aeiris, was born just after the Thunder Over Louisville fireworks display.

Dinkova, a drafter/designer for the Louisville Electric & Gas Company, said living downtown has been a godsend for her as a new mother. "The first year, it was just me, the stroller and the baby—we went everywhere," she said. "One time I remember, I went out and I didn't know where to go. I'd been to the Belvedere a lot, so I was like, 'lets go East this time.' But then I heard music. I followed it and there was an international festival going on. It led us back to the Belvedere where they had food and performances. It was all right there."

As Aeiris grows older, the opportunities for fun downtown increase each year. Dinkova said she looks forward to the time when they can go biking together or when Aeiris, now two, can appreciate the quality of the restaurants downtown. Right now, they spend most of their time exploring Waterfront Park and Central Park. Dinkova, who seems determined that her daughter will be an art lover, also takes Aeiris with her to the 21c and the Swanson Reed Gallery on East Market, and the Louisville Science Center is another frequent destination.

"When we go to places like the science center, Aeiris sees lots of other children," Dinkova said. "Downtown is like a magnet for kids. The teenagers in my building are always grabbing their bikes and heading to the skate park. I know that'll probably be my daughter one day."