Lexington-Horse Capital of the World

Overview

Lexington is the largest city closest to me. Although far from a major metropolis, it does have a great restaurant selection for a town of its size. It also has a really good theatre, the Kentucky, which plays host to lots of independent and arty films.

The biggest thing that Lexington has going for it is that it is the “Horse Capital of the Bluegrass.” If you’re a horse lover, then this is definitely place to be. We have Keeneland (setting for “Seabiscuit”), the race track, the Kentucky Horse Park, and lots and lots of horse farms that you can get private tours of. I’ll try to add things as they come to me.

FYI: Lexington has been the filming location for several movies. The most recent movies are "Seabiscut" and "Elizabethtown." We try to forget that "Simpatico" with Sharon Stone was also filmed here. :-)

Quick Tips:

Favorite Restaurants (and what to eat)
1) Atomic Cafe- chicken stuffed with shrimp and spinach, covered in Hollandaise sauce and served with black beans and rice.

2) Natasha's Cafe- Hungarian goulash wrap with a bowl of the soup du jour

3) Carraba's- penne arrabiata with dessert rosa and a chocolate martini

4) Bellinis- 4 cheese pasta, caprese, and tiramisu for dessert

5) Metropol- open-faced vegetarian lasagna

Great things to do in the evening...
1) Dinner at a downtown restaurant-especially in the summer since a lot of places have al fresco dining now, too

2) A film at the Kentucky Theatre- gorgeous old theatre that shows everything from new releases to independent movies made by local people

3) An Opera House show- We've seen lots of good things at the Opera House- "Phantom of the Opera", "Jekyll and Hide", "the Full Monty", "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever", "Miss Saigon"...

4) Joseph Beth bookstore- they have a nice cafe, or you can get a pile of books and sit down in one of their cozy chairs. They encourage you to read!

5) Regal Cinemas at Hamburg Place- do the traditional-dinner, shopping, and a movie!

6) Horse and carriage ride through downtown and around Gratz Park

Best Way To Get Around:

Lexington has an airport, the Bluegrass Airport. There aren't that many non-stop flights, but the prices aren't bad. I find them a little cheaper than Cincinatti. When I fly international I usually do Delta and connect either in Cincinatti (which is about a 25 minute flight) or Atlanta.

The website usually has some good deals posted on it.http://www.bluegrassairport.com/

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Hyatt Regency Lexington

Hotel | "Hyatt Regency"

We stayed at this hotel over Easter (2005) and had a wonderful time. It was almost eerily quiet, which is different considering that I am usually there during concerts at Rupp Arena when the place is packed and rocking, but I welcomed the almost dreary silence of the place. It IS a little dated and could use a renovation to the rooms, but the bathrooms are nice and the views of Triangle Square and Victorian Square are amazing. DeShae's restaurant is right across the street, as well as some great shopping, and it is within walking distance to several other great venues like Bellinis, the Dame, and the Opera House.

The hotel has an indoor pool and a fitness center, as well as a fabulous atrium bar. The staff were incredibly attentive and the highlight of our stay was the enormous Easter dinner buffet in the restaurant. I could have eaten for days off of it-fantastic! They also do nice buffets for Mother's Day and Christmas.

The rooms are fairly standard size and have regular bathrooms-no deep tubs or jacuzzis unless you want to pay more. You get basic amenities but don't stay here if you're looking for robes and house slippers. The beds are comfortable, as are the pillows, but there's not anything outstanding about them.

The best part of the hotel is definitely the location, which is right in the center of downtown. It means everything downtown has to offer is easily accessible and you're only a stone's throw away from some great restaurants and nightlife.

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by bledpub on December 6, 2007

Hyatt Regency Lexington
401 West High Street Lexington, Kentucky 40507
(859) 253-1234

Radisson Plaza Hotel Lexington

Hotel | "Radisson "

I've stayed at the Radisson several times, the last being in the fall of 2005. It's a basic hotel, mostly built for business travelers, and the one thing that really stands out for it is its location. It sets on the corner of Main Street and is right across the road from Victorian Square. A ped walkway connects it to the Rupp Arena, as well, so you don't even have to step outside if you're going to a concert or convention. The rooms are large and pprovide great views if you get on one of the upper floors. (I always tell them to put me as high as they can.) A cafe, Cafe on the Park, is in the lobby area and there is also a popular bar called the Big Blue Martini. Sometimes they have live music on the weekend. The hotel has an indoor pool and office center. Parking garage is onsite, and they provide valet parking as well. The parking garage is for other people in the city, too, but they validate the tickets for Radisson guests. The staff has always been friendly and helpful and the hotel clean and comfortable.

Note: When we stayed there the last time we walked down to Bellini's for dinner. Great restaurant, but make sure you have reservations on the weekend.

www.radisson.com/lexingtonky

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by bledpub on December 6, 2007

Radisson Plaza Hotel Lexington
369 WEST VINE ST Lexington, Kentucky 40507
859- 231-9000

Atomic Cafe

Restaurant

I LOVE this place. It's Carri bean food at its best. Although the service is a little slow, and the food pricey, the taste all makes up for it. There isn't another place like it in miles. You should definitely go in the summer when you can sit outside on the patio. They usually have live reggae bands on the weekends.The menu is varied and eclectic and they have several sampler platters, both as meals as appetizers, so if you haven't been there before you can get a good overview of the food.

It's a "happening" place on the weekends and really popular. If you have a group you'll need reservations. It can get noisy and busy and isn't a good place to go for a romantic dinner, but rather a good place to go to meet friends and hang out. They have a full service bar as well as a restaurant and make all sorts of fun, tropical drinks.

Favorite Dish: Let's see...the coconut shrimp? Or the chicken breast stuffed with shrimp and spinach? The black beans and rice? Or the macaroni and cheese? No, no, the rum berry cake. Oh, heck. It's all good. PS- try the B-52 as a shot fave. Not made with absinthe like in Czech, but still pretty darn good.

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by bledpub on December 5, 2007

Atomic Cafe
557 North Limestone Street Lexington, Kentucky 40507
(859) 254-1969

Natasha's Cafe

Restaurant

Oooh, oohhh, ohhh. This is the place that you eat at when you want to forget that you're in Kentucky. VERY European. Could have something to do with the fact that the owner is Russian. The menu changes quite frequently and is filled with inspired fare, a sampling of which I have added below. Natasha overseas the cooking while her husband works the room, so to speak. The food is always fabulous. The restaurant's decor is very interesting, incorporating objects from around the world. It could be a nice place to have a romantic dinner, but sometimes on the weekends they have performances from everything from musical groups to belly dancers so you might want to check before you go. Check out the gift shop with lots of international stuff from amber jewelry to exotic clothing.

A SAMPLE OF DISHES:
Baked Brie & Fruit Chutney
Little Italy SB--Fresh mozzarella, roma tomatoes, basil with a touch of olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
Hungarian Goulash--Traditional braised beef, tomatoes, peppers, paprika (also served as a wrap)
Gypsy Stew--Colorful stew of chicken, beef, and lamb, with mushrooms, olives, peppers, squashes, tomatoes, and herbs on a bed of brown lentils.

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by bledpub on December 5, 2007

Natasha's Cafe
112 Esplanade Lexington, Kentucky 40507
(859) 259-2754

De Sha's Restaurant & Bar

Restaurant | "De Sha's"

This is a great place for regional food in a beautiful, Victorian setting. The decor is very elegant and subdued and you can definitely find a quiet dining area on one of the two floors.

In the evenings, it might help to have reservations as it can get crowded. They also have a small bar area that is fully stocked.

Food wise, this is Kentucky-food, but not of your Mom 'n Pop variety. My mom likes the Kentucky Hot Brown and claims that it's the best to be found. I personally like the fried shrimp. For brunch you can have a great Hawaiian chicken salad, complete with little banana nut bread muffins.

Some of the other dishes include:
The famous Kentucky Hot Brown (what my mom always orders):
A Kentucky tradition. A lunch portion of sliced breast of turkey smothered in a rich cream sauce, topped with cheddar cheese, crisp bacon and tomatoes broiled to a golden brown.It's rich, so be warned!!

Coconut Chicken:
Strips of chicken in a coconut breading, served with honey mustard sauce for dipping. Not really comparable to Atomic Cafe's coconut shrimp though.

Golden Fried Shrimp:
Select shrimp, butterflied and lightly breaded then deep fried. Served with cocktail sauce and steak fries. This is pretty good. Had it a couple of times. My friend Bobbie Sue claims it's the best she's ever had.

deSha's Sampler:
Sampler includes potato skins, stuffed banana peppers, and coconut chicken. I'd go for this if you weren't sure what you wanted. The stuffed banana peppers are pretty good, too.

Filet Mignon:
Cerified Angus Beef tenderloin filet char-grilled in a garlic butter with sauteed mushrooms and a Cabernet bordelaise. But then again, I love filet mignon so I am a little biased.

Also noteworthy: the stuffed mushrooms as a starter.

Website: http://www.deshas.com/html/lexington.html

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by bledpub on December 5, 2007

De Sha's Restaurant & Bar
101 N Broadway Lexington, Kentucky 40507
(859) 259-3771

Jonathan's At Gratz Park

Restaurant

Had been meaning to try this place for awhile now and finally had the opportunity to have brunch there not long ago. I love the Gratz Park neighborhood in Lexington. It's one of my favorites-full of old houses and quiet streets and a hop away from some great restaurants like the Atomic Cafe and a la lucie's. In the evenings they sometimes have horse and carriage rides and it reminds me a lot of Washington Square in New York City. But I digress. The Gratz Park Inn is on the list of historical hotels and it's a quiet little place right off the square. Jonathan's isn't your typical hotel restaurant and is a notch above many of the area restaurants that seem to cater to college students and the young yuppie crowds. It's quietly elegant and subdued and upon entering the dining room you feel as if you have stepped back in time. It's a little pricer than most, but on par with a la lucie's and Bellini's and Metropol.

I was there for Sunday brunch and therefore had a different menu than what I would have had for dinner or lunch. I ordered the omlette filled to the brim with brie, mushrooms, and sweet onions. It had a little too many onions for my taste, but it wasn't bad. It came accompanied by homefries and my only complaint with them was that I didn't have enough of them. For a starter course I had the fruit and yogurt parfait that was absolutely wonderful. My dining partner had the dried apple and cinnamon oatmeal for a starter and the Kentucky hot brown (the biggest I have ever seen in my life) for a main course. For dessert we shared a slice of apple spice cake topped with slivers of green apples and smothered in caramel sauce. It was divine. The cost for two for brunch was $48, not including a tip.

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by bledpub on December 5, 2007

Jonathan's At Gratz Park
120 West Second Street Lexington, Kentucky 40507
(859) 231-1777

Chili's

Restaurant | "Chilis"

I’m usually not up for chain restaurants, but Chili’s is typically my exception. I really have a thing for their southwestern egg rolls and their garden burgers aren’t bad either. Usually, the only time we end up eating there is after we’ve been to a concert or late movie showing in downtown Lexington and most other places have started closing. Let’s face it, Lexington has no shortage of good restaurants and we like to frequent them as much as possible. But for a late night eatery, I have never gone wrong at the Chili’s on Richmond Road. Consistency says something.

The last time I ate there I had a tomato basil penne pasta dish with grilled chicken strips. It was wonderful. I was there during happy hour so my guest and I both had strawberry margaritas. For dessert we split a chocolate volcano type of cake. In Austria it would be called a “mohr imd.” I love them. Everything was really good and we left so full we could barely walk.

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by bledpub on December 5, 2007

Chili's
2851 Richmond Rd. Lexington, Kentucky 40509
(859) 269-1979

Anna Belle's

Restaurant

It’s nice to see the continuation of the revitalization of downtown Lexington. I enjoy the downtown area and like to support the local businesses-especially when they are not chains. Anytime a new restaurant opens up I always make an effort to check it out, even when the reviews are not entirely favorable. This is what happened with Annabelle’s. The first review I read on it wasn’t exactly in praising of it. The food was said to be mediocre and the atmosphere more of a place to “see and be seen” as opposed to a comfortable dining experience. Well, I was pleasantly surprised to find that this was not true in my dining experience. It is a fashionable restaurant and there were many young people dining, but they appeared to be more of the young professional set than the young college kids type. I actually found the restaurant (which has dining both upstairs, downstairs, and outdoors) fairly European in décor and menu.

We ate there for lunch and split a caprese, one of my favorite dishes. It is difficult to find a Lexington restaurant that can make it adeptly but in this case it turned out great. The mozzarella wasn’t rubbery, which happens a lot, and the tomatoes were fresh. I also had an order of the chicken quesadilla stuffed with salsa and cream cheese. It was very good and not too heavy. For dessert we ordered a sampler of crème brulee. It came with coconut, vanilla, and chocolate varieties and was excellent. A problem I have with creme brulee is that sometimes the top layer can be overcooked and too sugary. This one was near perfect.

Although we ate there at lunchtime on a Saturday the restaurant got a little crowded. It has a lively bar in the downstairs area and I have seen it overflowing on the weekends. It is definitely a place well worth checking out.

http://www.annabellesbistro.com/

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by bledpub on December 5, 2007

Anna Belle's
127 North Limestone Lexington, Kentucky 40507
(859) 381-0900

Belle Notte

Restaurant | "Bella Notte's"

There are many good things to be said of Bella Notte’s. I am a huge lover of Italian food and honestly am really hard to please when it comes to eating it. That’s because I’ve eaten a lot of it and had the real thing in Italy and Croatia and tend to know what I like and how I like it. But Bella Notte’s almost always gets it right. Although it’s located on one of the busiest streets in Lexington and looks like an average chain restaurant from the outside, the quality of the food is always top notch. The minute you walk in the doors the aroma of freshly baked bread, light marinara sauce, and oregano hits you like a sledge hammer. If you’re not hungry when you go there, you will be as soon as your senses take over. The decorations are whimsy and tasteful, the service good, and the menu extensive and reasonably priced.

One of my favorite things is the free bread that comes with the meals. I usually end up taking an extra loaf home with me. It’s a little hard on the outside and really soft on the inside and I’ve never had a loaf that wasn’t warm. For main dishes I tend to either go with the pizza margherita or penne arrabiata. The arrabiata is too spicy for some people, but if you like a little kick to your pasta it will definitely add something. Sometimes I order plain penne pasta covered in tomato basil sauce which is a little like a mixture of alfredo and marinara. It’s only listed on the lunch menu, but if you ask for it they’ll fix it anytime of the day. The tiramisu is really good for dessert.

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by bledpub on December 5, 2007

Belle Notte
3715 Nicholasville Rd. Lexington, Kentucky
(859) 245-1789

Le Deauville

Restaurant

We recently went to le Deauville’s to celebrate a birthday. I didn’t know much about the restaurant before going, but after eating there and talking to other people our dining experience seemed to make more sense. To begin with, although we were dressed up it started to rain right before we got there and we got a little wet on the walk to the restaurant. I thought they weren’t going to let us in there for a minute. The waiter was fairly pleasant at first, but service got lax after the initial ordering and my drink was never re-filled. The tables all around us seemed to be taken care of well, but nobody ever really bothered to check on us. It took our food a little over an hour to arrive and I thought they had forgotten about us. After eating, it took the waiter even longer to come back and take our dishes and to check to see if we wanted dessert. We both ordered it, but the person dining with me ordered an apple pie that was definitely NOT apple when it arrived. It was rhubarb. I knew this and they knew it because neither one of us like it. After a bit it was clearly decided that it wasn’t apple and since rhubarb was on the menu it seemed logical that it had been mistakenly sent to us instead. When we told the waiter about it he took it back into the kitchen, only to return a few minutes later saying that he had talked to the chef and that the chef “definitely said it’s apple.” It was a weird experience. Later, I talked to some other people who had eaten there and they said the same thing had happened to them. Only it was with an entrée and not dessert. As a matter of fact, I haven’t spoken to a single person that has had a god experience at the restaurant.

However, the food was pretty good. I had some excellent trout and my dining partner had really good salmon. But it’s way too hoity toity for Lexington and there are far too many good places to eat downtown. I would skip it and try out Bellini’s or Metropol if you want something fancy.

http://www.kygallery.com/deauville/

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by bledpub on December 5, 2007

Le Deauville
199 N. Limestone Lexington, Kentucky 40507

Dame

Attraction | "The Dame"

What did we ever do without the Dame? It's only been up and running for a few years, but is already considered to be a mecca of music! They've managed to have Allison Moorer twice, Iris Dement, the Reverend Horton Heat, Hank Williams III, Scott Miller and the Commonwealth...You never know who's going to show up. There's always something for everyone. One night they might have jazz, another night hard rock...and then some bluegrass. In September alone they're having Southern Culture on the Skids, Goose Creek Symphony, and Chuck Prophet. Now that Lexington has a no-smoking law, it doesn't get as murky and thick in there as it used to, which was always one of the drawbacks. They always have a large mix of people. The people who own and operate it love music and it shows by the quality of acts that they have in there.

Website: www.dameky.com
Other Contact: coleskinner@dameky.com

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by bledpub on December 5, 2007

Dame
156 West Main Street Lexington, Kentucky 40507
(859) 226-9005

Hamburg Place Shopping

Attraction | "Hamburg Place"

Lexington has a love/hate relationship with Hamburg Place. On one hand, they took up some valuable farm land to build it on and we all wanted to hate it. On the other hand, well, it does have some nice shopping and restaurants. If only they had modeled it after some other good shopping districts, like the outlet malls in Pigeon Forge. This one is NOT user friendly. While you can park and walk, the store area really spread out and the traffic is not controlled very well. I think they would make a killing it they had a little trolley system at Christmas time.

Some stores of interest: Kohls, Dick’s Sporting Goods (where I got my backpack), Marshall’s (where I get many things), Barnes and Nobles, Michaels, Meijers, Fashion Shop, Babies R Us, Talbotts, Target, Kirklands…Actually, the list goes on and on. There are quite a few stores.

There are also some good restaurants as well. We mostly eat at Carrabas, Max and Erma’s, and the ice cream place (can’t think of what it’s called at the moment) but there are also some fast food, bars and grills, and steakhouses. You won’t have trouble finding a place.

If you don’t feel like eating or shopping, there is also Regal Cinemas, the largest cinema in Lexington. They have stadium seating and student discounts.

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by bledpub on December 7, 2007

Hamburg Place Shopping
P.O. Box 12128 Lexington, Kentucky 40580
(859) 299-1515

Joseph-Beth Booksellers

Attraction | "Joseph Beth Bookstore"

Yes, it is a bookstore. And yes, it is huge. A lot of people are divided between JoBeth and Barnes and Noble, but I definitely prefer the former. It takes up most of what used to be the Lexington Green Mall (well, it’s still called that but the store bought out the entire atrium area) and extends over two levels. The host author events and readings on a regular basis and also have a nice café that serves café style food as well as regular meals. They recently added al fresco dining as well. The bookstore is littered with comfy chairs and reading areas and they don’t mind if you stick around all day. On the bottom floor they have a really nice travel section, although like most Kentucky stores the books cater to people who are either going to Italy, England, or Ireland. They also have a travel agency and some good travel items like earplugs, journals, and maps.

On the top floor you can find other interesting items scattered throughout the floor like bubble bath, magnets, and assorted Kentucky crafts. They have a really nice local section.In the local section they also carry local photography and stuff.

In a separate room they have a really good CD selection, as well as DVDs.

If you don’t want to eat in the café there is a Ruby Tuesdays downstairs and a really good seafood place called Regatta.

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by bledpub on December 7, 2007

Joseph-Beth Booksellers
161 Lexington Green Circle, Suite B1 Lexington, Kentucky 40503
(800) 248-6849

Plato's Closet

Attraction

I love Plato’s Closet-a really upscale second-hand store. Although they advertise it as “clothing for teens”, I am still the size that I was in high school (unfortunately at times because it’s difficult to find “grown-up” clothes) so I am able to find things here as well. I just have to make sure it isn’t too young looking. They supposedly only take brand name clothing (Tommy, Abercrombie, American Eagle, etc.) but will take other items if they’re in really good condition. All of their clothing has to do with the latest styles so if you’re into vintage you won’t find it here. The prices are not those of Goodwill or the Salvation Army, but they are still way cheaper than what you would find at the mall. What I really like about it is that they seem to be confused as to what good brands are. I love it when I find a Tommy Hillfiger shirt for $18 and a Bebe shirt for $5. (Bebe being way more expensive.) I’ve been able to find some good buys there.

You can count on spending anywhere between $5-$15 for a shirt, depending on the brand. Jeans go for around $12 on average. Purses are really cheap.

Directions: Platos is located in the Zandale Shopping Center on Nicholasville Road.
Website: www.platoscloset.com

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by bledpub on December 7, 2007

Plato's Closet
Zandale Center - 2220 Nicholasville Rd, Suite 116 Lexington, Kentucky 40503
(859) 278-6660

Third Street Stuff and Coffee

Attraction | "Third Street Stuff"

Third Street Stuff, located next door to the Atomic Café, has a little bit of everything. They’ve recently expanded and opened a coffee shop and although I haven’t tried it yet it always smells good. There’s an eclectic mix of things to buy at the shop-you can tell it’s going to be interesting just from looking at the bright colors from the outside. I have bought everything from henna mix to bumper stickers and bindis here. It’s a great place to go around Christmas time if you have someone who’s hard to buy for. And I’m all about shopping downtown.

It's not an expensive shop. Henna kits go for around $16. Jewelry starts at $10. Different prices for different objects, but definitely affordable.

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by bledpub on December 7, 2007

Third Street Stuff and Coffee
257 North Limestone Lexington, Kentucky 40507
(859) 255-5301

Rupp Arena

Story/Tip

Rupp Arena has been a vital part of Lexington culture. Many things happen here. The UK Wildcats play here, the ice hockey team Thoroughbreds USED to play here, the Lipizzaner stallions make a stop here once a year as well as the circus, and we get dozens of big name concerts. In the attached Heritage Hall there is ALWAYS some kind of convention or sale or meeting or seminar. Very rarely is there nothing going on at Rupp Arena. I’m actually impressed by the musical acts that they get. In one month it seemed like we had Kid Rock, Norah Jones, and Big & Rich. Okay, so we didn’t really have them in one month, but they all did come in the same year.

There’s a food court in the bottom level with regular fast food places, and the Hyatt Regency is attached if you’re looking for something a little more upscale restaurant-wise. The civic center shops are also part of the building and you can find some really neat Kentucky-inspired crafts and buys. (There’s also a good store that sells Waterford crystal items if you’re into that.)

The best concert I ever saw at Rupp Arena was the Down from the Mountain concert. They had their first show at Rupp and it was phenomenal. I almost died of joy when I heard Emmylou Harris sing "Red Dirt Girl" live.

http://www.lexingtoncenter.com/
430 West Vine Street
Lexington, KY 40507
(859) 233-4567

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Sqecial Media

Story/Tip

I originally went to Sqecial Media for candles, incense, and stones. (Don’t ask.) I had always been a little intimidated by it because whenever I drove past I would see odd looking people standing outside. Well, after finally venturing in I was really impressed. Yes, they have many New Age items and shelves and shelves of incense and candles, but they also have a lot of other things. Their New Age and alternative religion book selection is really outstanding and they also have a good selection of used books for very low prices. It also works as a gift shop and you can find funny little trinkets for hard to please people, as well as international gifts such as handmade Indian purses and other nice items.

The prices aren’t bad at all and it’s definitely worth going in and having a peek. On a side note, check out their magnets. The person who was with me bought one that said: “I’m sorry I didn’t go to church: I was too busy practicing witchcraft and becoming a lesbian.”

I have found their items to be quite cheap. Incense starts at about 10 cents a stick and stones around 75 cents. The used books are a great bargain.

Phone: (859) 255-4316
Address: 371 South Limestone St.
Directions: Across from UK and right before you get to McDonalds.
Website: http://www.sqecialmedia.com/
Other Contact: you.rang@verizon.net

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Old HWY 25

Story/Tip

I love taking Old 25 from Lexington to Richmond. One of the reasons is because it's an excellent way to view the Kentucky River Palisades. As you can see, I am a big fan of bridges. Most all of these were taken from under the new interstate bridge. (Well, it's been there for 20+ years so I guess technically it's not NEW anymore.) I prefer the old one lane bridge myself. :-)

Driving along country roads is one of the best ways to sees Kentucky. We have several scenic byways and old 25 between Lexington and Richmond is considered to be one of the best. You won't see horse farms on this route, but you will see some great countryside. The interstate is more convenient, but taking the old route really only tack on an extra 15 minutes so it really isn't that far out of the way.

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Horse Mania Around Lexington

Story/Tip

Horse Mania was inspired by Chicago's "Cows on Parade." The horse was an obvious choice to represent the Lexington community because Lexington is in the center of "Horse Country." Seventy-nine life-size fiberglass horses were made by various local artists and then set up around downtown for people to view. Eventually, they were auctioned off and art buyers came from as far away as Miami and Orgeon to bid on them. These photos were some that I took when the horses were still downtown. Since then, they have moved to their respective owners' dwellings, although you will still see a few downtown.

The horses shown below are:

Night Mare
Night Mare was created by Ken Wesley and Peggy Sherry, owners of Somerset's Riverstone Gallery. It's kind of difficult to tell in the picture, but the constellation shapes are vinyl and had to be attached with adhesive. They used rhinestones to represent the stars which is what gives it the glittery effect. It's one of my favorite horses.

Mirrored Horse
Mirrored Horse is one of my favorites. I like shiny things. :-) He, I'm pretty sure it's a he, was done by Hunter Guyon and Chesney Turner. In order to get the mirrors to be different shapes and sizes they approached it scientifically-they put the glass in a pillow case and smashed it on a rock. It took more time applying the glass then they thought it would so on the last night they invited friends over and had a party to finish it.

Parrot Dize
Parrot Dize was designed by Anna Hall. Her inspiration stemmed from where she thought a horse went when he died. Paradise. Get it? I thought so. A picture of Anna is in one of the horse's eyes and on the stomach she placed a picture of her husband and dog.

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IgoUgo

Lexington

Travelers' Takes

Rates and Deals

Lexington-Horse Capital of the World