History books 📖

• 1923 | Located at 545 N. Upper St., this building was completed on Feb. 15, and was home to the original Dunbar High School (now known as Paul Laurence Dunbar HS and located at 1600 Man O’ War Blvd.). It was the first Black high school in Kentucky to be admitted into the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools.
• 1967 | The school closes due to desegregation.
• 1973 | The building was acquired by Parks & Recreation which began renovations, keeping some portions intact like the original cornice above the entrance.
• 1978 | The rest of the building was renovated and the community center opened.
• Today | The space is now a haven for youth sports, home to Parks & Recreation offices, and a true example of connection to the community through its exterior art.

Significance of sports 🏀

The details 🗓️

• Jazz at the Library | Thursday, Jan. 12 | 7-9 p.m. | Central Library, 140 E. Main St., Lexington | Free | Enjoy free, live music from the UK jazz greats of The Osland/Dailey Jazztet.
• The Emo Night Tour | Thursday, Jan. 12 | 8 p.m. | The Burl, 375 Thompson Rd, Lexington | $20 | One night featuring songs from all your favorite rock bands — Taking Back Sunday, Fall Out Boy, and more.

• Excite Night | Friday, Jan. 13 | 6 p.m. | Rupp Arena, 430 W. Vine St., Lexington | $0-$10 | The UK gymnastics team hosts LSU in a night full of twists and turns that is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat.

• Citywide Trash Disposal Day | Saturday, Jan. 14 | 6 a.m.-1 p.m. | Bluegrass Regional Transfer Station, 1505 Old Frankfort Pike, Lexington | Free | Fayette County residents can bring up to one pickup truck, car, or SUV load of non-hazardous household waste like mattresses, small indoor household furniture, or tires.

• Voice of Chicago | Sunday, Jan. 15 | 10:45 a.m. | Southern Hills Baptist Church, 2356 Harrodsburg Rd., Lexington | Free | This concert will feature the inspiring sounds of the youth choir, Voice of Chicago.

• Lighting Candles of Hope Against The Threat of Darkness | Monday, Jan. 16 | 2 p.m. | Central Bank Center, 430 W. Vine St., Lexington | Free | Following the Freedom March, the program will feature keynote speaker Dr. David Hall and a performance from Uniting Voices Chicago.

• 60º | Thunderstorms | 88% chance of rain
• Comet C/2022 E3 ZTF reaches its closest point to the sun today, Jan. 12. For your best odds of catching this once-in-600-lifetimes spectacle, watch northwestern dark skies during the Saturday, Jan. 21 new moon, or on the night of Wednesday, Feb. 1, when it’s closest to Earth. (Space.com)

• Porterhouse BBQ announced that as of last week, it has closed the doors of its brick-and-mortar location at Greyline Station. The owner said that its food truck will be back up and running in March and will still be accepting catering orders. 🍗(Lexington Herald-Leader)

• Pull out those planners because Lexington Sporting Club has released the schedule for its inaugural season. The USL League One team will play 32 games, kicking things off on Saturday, March 18 on the road against One Knox SC. ⚽

• Lexington Parks & Recreation is seeking the public’s input on what new activities and offerings you’d like to see at the Kenwick Community Center. Share your thoughts in person at Kenwick Table on Friday, Jan. 13 from 8 to 10 a.m., and Thursday, Jan. 19 from 3 to 5 p.m., or take this survey. 📋

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bluegrass has 10 children in Fayette and surrounding counties that have been waiting 200+ days for a mentor. If you have one free hour a week, you could help make a difference in a local child’s life. Learn more.

• Applications are due Monday, Jan. 16 for the two Senior Planner vacancies within the city’s Division of Planning. One position will focus on the transportation planning process while the other will aid in long-range planning projects. Both help to improve the quality of life through developing urban and regional plans. 💼

• Who doesn’t love a food-themed week? Mark your calendars, because dates have been announced for two popular celebrations of restaurants. Crave Taco Week returns March 20-26 and Lexington Vegan Week will be here April 23-29.
• To help you work smarter, not harder in 2023, here’s a list of go-to, easy-to-make, healthy recipes from Kroger. Pro tip: Read now and bookmark for later. 💡*

• We recently met with the mortgage team at Central Bank for a one-on-one to chat about mortgage loans + the borrowing process. Learn how Central Bank can help you during the homebuying process. 🏡 *

• Oh hey, January. The key to keeping your spirits up and avoiding seasonal affective disorder this time of year? Sunlight. Magic up more sunshine indoors with a light therapy lamp. This glare-free mood light is height and angle adjustable, while this subtly designed lamp lets you adjust light warmth and brightness. ☀️*