☕️ Good morning, sunshine

• Wake up with Bluegrass Baking Co. — a quaint bakery in the Southland neighborhood that has been reviewed by Food and Wine for having the best bread in Kentucky. Think fruity scones, tarts, and savory pastries.
• Or, head to Keeneland to walk its historic grounds and order a hearty breakfast from its Track Kitchen.

🏙 Activities for everyone

• Shopping at the Summit at Fritz Farm offers something for everyone. This outdoor shopping plaza has everything from boutique shops to high-end retailers.
• Take a hike through McConnell Springs or Woodland Park. Both of these city parks are conveniently located close to downtown but still offer respite from the hustle and bustle of the city.

🥪 Tuck into lunch

• If you’re looking for a filling meal in a quaint spot, check out Stella’s Kentucky Deli. We suggest pairing a cup of its famous burgoo with an Apple and KY Bleu Cheese sandwich.
• Broomwagon is also a fun spot to sit for a spell. Connected to a bike shop, it serves up delicious sandwiches and artisanal coffees — lots of vegan options are also available here.

👀 Tour the region

• The Kentucky Horse Park is a working farm dedicated to celebrating Kentucky’s unique history with horses.
• Consider visiting Ashland, the Henry Clay Estate to get a glimpse into what life in Lexington was like during the early 19th century.

• The Muppet Christmas Carol | Tuesday, Dec. 20 | 7:30 p.m. | The Kentucky Theatre, 214 E. Main St., Lexington | $6.50 | Head to Lexington’s historic downtown theater to watch Kermit and the gang reenact Charles Dickens’ famous holiday tale.

• Amateur Hour: An Art Club for Adults | Wednesday, Dec. 21 | 6-7 p.m. | Northside Branch, 1733 Russell Cave Rd., Lexington | Free | This art group is open to anyone in the community looking to tap into their creative side while meeting new people.

• Lexington’s Hannukkah Celebration | Thursday, Dec. 22 | 5:30 p.m. | Triangle Park, 400 W. Main St., Lexington | Free | Celebrate the festival of lights with other community members in downtown.

• The Mistletoes: A Caroling Calamity | Friday, Dec. 23 | 7 p.m. | Wildside Winery, 5500 Troy Pike, Versailles | $50 | The holiday-themed murder mystery dinner features a guided sampling of four different wines and a barbecue dinner.

• Christmas Storytime | Saturday, Dec. 24 | 11 p.m. | Joseph-Beth, 161 Lexington Green Circle, Ste. B, Lexington | Free | Kids can enjoy special holiday readings at this local bookstore.

• Christmas Day | Sunday, Dec. 25 | All day | Locations vary | Free | Happy holidays from all of us at LEXtoday.

• Red Mile’s $75,000 New Year’s Zoom Ball | Saturday, Dec. 31 | 10 a.m. | Red Mile Gaming & Racing, 1101 Winbak Way, Lexington | Free | End the year winning at Red Mile with live entertainment, food and drink specials, and a $75,000 New Year’s Eve Zoom Ball Drawing.*

• 46º | Partly cloudy | 3% chance of rain

• The Urban County Planning Commission has voted to change the zoning of the property located at 125 Turner Commons Way to a Planned Unit Development Zone. This decision paves the way for Turner Commons, a mixed-use development expected to house restaurants, bars, and retail space. (Lexington Herald-Leader)

• A new convenience store chain is getting ready to open up in the Hamburg neighborhood. Huck’s Market will be opening at 2450 Polo Club Blvd., next to Freddy’s Frozen Custard and Steakburgers. In addition to gas, Huck’s offers fried chicken, pizza, grab-n-go salads, and donuts. The owners have not yet announced an exact opening date. (Lexington Herald-Leader)

• Kentucky Living Magazine recently released its list of “Kentucky’s Most Christmassy Towns.” Georgetown, Versailles, and London all made the list and were cited for their quaint downtowns and stunning holiday-light displays. 🎄

• Sending out a few holiday cards is a tradition for a lot of Lexingtonians, but one family is going the extra mile this year. Sue McAffee and her daughter have been creating hundreds of holiday cards to send to veterans and nursing homes across the country. (WKYT)

• Habitat for Humanity will be continuing its revitalization efforts in downtown Winchester heading into 2023, working to build six different homes for families. A local real estate company is asking for donations to help families move into these new homes. 🏡 (WTVQ)

• The city of Lexington has released its waste collection schedule for the upcoming holidays. Carts will not be collected on Friday, Dec. 23, Monday, Dec. 26, and Monday, Jan. 2. 🗑

• 8 million. That’s how many barrels of bourbon Buffalo Trace Distillery has filled since prohibition. In the past couple of years, Buffalo Trace has invested $1.2 billion in expansion efforts and hopes to be filling its nine-millionth barrel in the next few years. 🥃(The Bourbon Flight)

• No time to shop for holiday groceries (or just don’t want to get out of your PJs)? Becoming a Kroger Boost member comes with big perks — like free grocery delivery. Learn more + join. 🛒*

• This Princeton grad’s startup raised $161 million to help people plan for retirement — its free tool can match you with up to three vetted financial advisors serving your area who can help you work towards financial freedom. Try it out for yourself.*

• You haven’t seen turquoise until you’ve seen this Turks and Caicos oceanfront pool. Top it off with walks on the beach, horseback riding, locally-caught seafood, and a five-star review for the property, and you’ve got yourself a dream Vrbo vacation. 🐬*

• “The Gorge That Almost Wasn’t”
• “Leestown Coffee House”
• “Tee Dee Young”
• “Rocky the Dog”