For the ultimate fan in your life. | Photo via Etsy
Pop quiz, Lexington. What’s better than shopping local? For 100 points: Shopping local from the comfort of your own home,of course. Not only is it one of the best ways to support the local economy, butlocally-crafted gifts tend to wow during the holidays (a big win in our book).
To kickstart your holiday shopping, we’ve rounded up 16 products we love from local Etsy shops — some of which hold the coveted Star Seller badge that’s given to sellers who consistently earn 5-star reviews, ship orders on time, and provide great customer service, aka less holiday stress for you.
Psst — Some of these items may sell out quickly due to limited quantities. Click on the link to the Etsy seller’s page to find something similar.
Wooden train($44.95) | A high-quality, handmade wooden train toy to offer something special to your kids’ toy collections. | Kaz Woodcraft
🎁 $50-$100+
Custom bamboo BBQ set($59.99) | Great for the grill-master in your family, this set has all the tools necessary to cook up something delicious. | Silly Susie Designs
Magnolia Boulevard & Wayne Graham | Thursday, Dec. 8 | 7 p.m. | The Burl, 375 Thompson Rd., Lexington | $15 | Local blues rockers Magnolia Boulevard are playing a hometown show to showcase some new tunes.
Friday, Dec. 9
Dominique | Friday, Dec. 9 | 7 p.m. | Comedy Off Broadway, 161 Lexington Green Circle, Ste. C4 | $16 | It’s been said that Dominque is “the new face of funny in America” — making a name for herself in standup, television, and radio.
The Hummingbirds | Friday, Dec. 9 | 7:30-10:30 p.m. | Old North Bar, 101 W. Loudon Ave., Lexington | Free | Kick off your weekend with the acoustic sounds of The Hummingbirds covering all the songs you forgot you loved.
Saturday, Dec. 10
North Lexington Family YMCA Fit Fest | Saturday, Dec. 10 | 9:30-11 a.m. | North Lexington Family YMCA, 381 W. Loudon Ave., Lexington | Free | Enjoy a fun morning workout and engaging rotational classes followed by refreshments, fellowship, and door prize giveaways.
Sip & Shop International Market | Saturday, Dec. 10 | 1-6 p.m. | International Book Project, 1440 Delaware Ave., Lexington | Free | Sip beverages from Pivot Brewing while you shop from handmade, sustainable artisans + of course, browse a selection of books.
Sunday, Dec. 11
Alltech Celebration of Song | Sunday, Dec. 11 | 4-5:30 p.m. | Kentucky Horse Park, 4089 Iron Works Pkwy, Lexington | Free | Celebrate the magic of the holiday season with the University of Kentucky Opera Theatre and winners of the Alltech Vocal Scholarship Competition.
We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.
Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council voted to expand the city’s License Plate Reader Program, also known as Flock cameras. The police department will add an additional 75 cameras around the city, increasing Lexington’s total amount of Flock cameras to 100. (WKYT)
County Council is also making plans to approve a $1 million resolution to expand parking at the Main Street Baptist Church, the church next to the Central Bank Center. The plan calls to add more parking near what was once the Jefferson Street bridge, which was torn down during Central Bank Center expansion. 🚙 (Lexington Herald-Leader)
Number
$2.5 million. That’s abouthow much money was raised during the annual GoodGiving Challenge in 2022, benefiting 200 different charity organizations around the Bluegrass. Thank you for your generosity, Lexington.
Edu
Lexington’s Carter G Woodson Preparatory Academywill be receiving a new name in order to fulfill a promise made 40 years ago — “when new schools were reopened, they would be named after segregated schools that closed.” See the proposed name. 📚 (Lexington Herald-Leader)
Sports
Will Levis — Kentucky’s starting quarterback this past season — announced he will not play in the Music City Bowl in Nashville, TN. Instead, he will take time off to recover from injuries sustained throughout the season with hopes of fully recovering for the 2023 NFL Draft. 🏈 (Lexington Herald-Leader)
The UK volleyball team will face off against No. 2 ranked San Diego tonight in the NCAA Sweet 16 tournament. Cheer on the Wildcats tonight by tuning into ESPNU at 8 p.m. as they look to advance to the Elite 8. 🏐 (Lexington Herald-Leader)
Cause
The Partners for Youth Foundation has announced that applications are now being accepted for its 2023 Grassroots Grant Allocations Program. Funds ranging from $750 to $3,000 are available for small grassroots programs that provide positive opportunities for under-served youth in Lexington. (City of Lexington)
Shop
‘Tis the season to shop items from our online shop Six & Main. Our gift guides feature shirts, jewelry, gourmet popcorn, coffee, and more. There’s no time to waste,let the shopping begin. 🛍️
Try This
Local artist Wylie Caudill will be on-site at a Verizon Wireless store on Sat., Dec. 10 from 12 to 4 p.m. customizing phone cases. Head to 3695 Nicholasville Rd. to have your phone case redesigned + stylized by Wylie, the artist responsible for dozens of high-profile murals around town.
Give the gift of a quality shave month after month with a Harry’s trial set and blade subscription. Choose your handle color, refill frequency, and let the good shave days roll in for as little as $5on sign-up (yes, you heard that right). 🪒*
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This is a sample of what Kentucky’s REAL ID look like. | Photo courtesy of the Kentucky State Government
It was recently announced that the US Department of Homeland Security has extended the REAL ID Act enforcement date by two years, with the new enforcement date set for May 7, 2025.
This now gives Kentuckians more time to to request a REAL ID credential, which will be required for air travel access and military base entry.
Currently, only 17% of Kentuckians with state-issued identification have a REAL ID.
Pro tip: Check the upper right-hand corner of your driver’s license or identification card. If there is a star icon there, it’s a REAL ID.
If you are looking to obtain a REAL ID for the first time, you must apply in person. Mail-in and online options are only available for identification renewal.
Editor’s pick: My first gifts of the year are wrapped and my son’s letter to Santa is on its way to the North Pole.
We went downtown last night to enjoy the festive lights and drop his letter into the giant red holiday mailbox. Triangle Park during the holidays really is magical, especially with the new glow of the redesigned Central Bank Center. Stay festive, Lex.
Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Read about the Railbird Festival’s lineup, here.
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