06.02.2023

Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Bluegrass Lexington

Today’s Forecast

71º | Partly cloudy | 24% chance of rain | Sunrise 6:14 a.m. | Sunset 9:00 p.m.

🎸 Keep on rockin’ in the free world

Your guide to Railbird Music Festival

People laying and standing on a lawn in front of a stage.

This marks the return of Railbird after it took a break in 2022. | Photo courtesy of Charles Reagan

Tomorrow is the day Railbird returns. If you’re heading to the Infield at Red Mile (1200 Red Mile Rd.) tomorrow + Sunday, good news — we’ll be there with you.

Follow along on Instagram for live coverage of the festival. In the meantime, here are a few things you can do to ensure you have a groovin’ good weekend.

Before you get there

Festival season is fun, but with temperatures expected to reach the 90s, it’s essential to prepare. Consider increasing your water intake the day prior, wearing loose + airy clothing, and slathering on the sunscreen.

You should also double-check that any personal belongings you plan to bring (think: medication, handbags, etc.) are permitted on festival grounds. Pro tip: You can bring one unopened factory-sealed water bottle + a refillable one.

Getting there

We won’t sugarcoat it — traffic will be a doozy this weekend. If you managed to grab shuttle transportation passes before they sold out, you can safely park your car at Kroger Field and take a shuttle to Red Mile.

If you’re up to adding some extra steps into your day, KSBar & Grill is also selling parking passes, which will include a $20 gift card to Tilted Kilt, KSBar, Jalapeños, and Sumo Sushi.

For those who don’t have those passes, your best option is to use a ride-sharing service, such as Lyft or Uber, or have a brave acquaintance drop you off + pick you up.

A map detailing the layout of Railbird at Red Mile, including where stages and water stations are located. — Map out your day before heading into the Infield at Red Mile. | Map courtesy of Railbird

Arrival

Have your wristband in hand? You can activate it, then register for cashless options by linking your preferred payment. Pro tip: Don’t put your wristband on too early and tighten it, because once they’re on, they’re on.

If you’re a pre-planner, you can also take a look at the festival map + schedule to figure out what your day will look like.

Asked

What are you most excited to experience at Railbird?

A. Losing myself to the music
B. Trying out different foods
C. Checking out all the merch
D. Bourbon, bourbon, and bourbon

Get festival ready

Events

Friday, June 2

LUNAFEST | Friday, June 2 | 7 p.m. | The Lyric Theatre & Cultural Arts Center, 300 E. Third St., Lexington | Free | Attend the last iteration of this traveling film festival, featuring thought-provoking short films created by and for women.
The PROM: The Musical | Friday, June 2-Sunday, June 4 | Times vary | Pam Miller Downtown Arts Center, 141 E. Main St., Lexington | $18-$25 | Follow along on the musical tale of a group of Broadway actors who travel to an Indiana town to make one girl’s prom dreams come true.

Saturday, June 3

Tie Dye Party | Saturday, June 3 | 3-6 p.m. | Mirror Twin Brewing, 725 National Ave., Lexington | $15-$20 | By purchasing a shirt and making your own tie dye creation, you’ll help save dogs and puppies from area animal shelters.
Y2K Adult Prom | Saturday, June 3 | 6-10 p.m. | Lyric Theatre & Cultural Arts Center, 300 E. Third St., Lexington | $50 | Shake it like a Polaroid picture at this millennium party featuring live music, vendors, DJs, photo opportunities — with a portion of sales supporting the Lexington Humane Society.
Swingin’ On Main | Saturday, June 3 | 7-11 p.m. | Triangle Park, 400 W. Main St., Lexington | Free | Learn to jump and jive while enjoying food and drinks from local vendors like West Sixth and Wise Bird Cider.

Sunday, June 4

BrickUniverse | Sunday, June 4 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | Central Bank Center, 430 W. Vine St., Lexington | $15 | The building blocks of a good weekend, head downtown to explore the massive world of LEGOs, meet fellow collectors, and let the kids flex their imaginative muscles.
LexTalks | Sunday, June 4 | 2-3 p.m. | Thomas Hunt Morgan House, 210 N. Broadway St., Lexington | Free | The Lexington History Museum invites you to learn from a panel about the past, present + future of the LFUCG Human Rights Commission.

Monday, June 5

Monday Funday at District 7 Social | Monday, June 5 | 11 a.m.-9 p.m. | District 7 Social Hall , 1170 Manchester St., Ste. 160, Lexington | Free | Shake off the Monday blues with trivia, drink specials, and a delicious meal.*

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

Finance

Tip or Mistake? 5 ways to withdraw investments

Portrait of businesswoman standing against a wooden wall in office.

SmartAsset’s no-cost tool makes it easy to find vetted financial advisors who serve your area. | Photo by Dean Mitchell

Whether you’re almost ready to retire or just (wisely) planning ahead, there are five tips that can help optimize savings when withdrawing your investments.

Test your knowledge:

Don’t dive straight into your 401(k) or IRA — you could cost yourself years’ worth of income in retirement savings. Tip or Mistake?
Don’t automatically claim Social Security benefits at age 62. Tip or Mistake?
Do start auto-withdrawing money from your 401(k) when you turn 59-and-a-half. Tip or Mistake?*

Find out the real pro tips (vs. the pitfalls)

News Notes

Civic

The city council added $3 million to Mayor Linda Gorton’s proposed budget. The money will go towards general improvements around the city, including a new roof for the Pam Miller Downtown Arts Center, small area planning, elevator replacements at golf courses, and more. (Lexington Herald-Leader)
The city council has approved a plan that will expand Lexington’s growth boundary by 2,700 to 5,000 acres. While development could take a while, a planning commission has until December 2024 to come up with a master plan. (Lexington Herald-Leader)

Community

Governor Andy Beshear announced that a special election will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 7 to fill the seat of Representative Lamin Swann, who died last May. (WKYT)

Tech

Looking to polish your software skills or pivot careers? Local coworking space Awesome Inc is inviting community members to apply for its three-month Web Developer Bootcamp beginning this fall. Applications are open until Friday, July 14, and the course begins Monday, August 21.

Opening

Weeks after opening its first location in Lexington, 7 Brew Coffee has literally dropped the building at its newest spot — 2895 Richmond Rd. — expected to open in late July. To celebrate, the company is giving away free T-shirts for anyone who buys a large drink at the Harrodsburg Road location.

Eat

Black Soil KY and The Living Arts & Sciences Center are teaming up to host a variety of programming and events that focus on all things culinary. The partnership provides Black Soil with a home base for its monthly Heal Over A Meal Series, its cooking classes, and more.

Concert

GRAMMY award-nominated Christian rock band NEEDTOBREATHE is heading to Rupp Arena on Tuesday, October 17 along with opening act Judah + the Lion. Tickets go on sale next Friday, June 9 at 10 a.m.

Trending

The buzziest deodorant in the beauty scene right now: Lume whole body deodorant. Yup, whole body. It’s aluminum and baking soda-free and offers odor protection for any and everywhere. Try it in Toasted Coconut or Fresh Alpine.*

Eat

🍩 Donut stop us now

How to celebrate National Donut Day in Lexington

Please, refrain from licking the screen. | Photo courtesy of @north_lime

Do you go nuts for donuts? Then, like us, you probably know that today is National Donut Day. If you knead a rundown of the best shops to snag a sweet treat, we’ve got you covered.

Donut Days, 185 Southland Dr.
Travel into town for a donut-palooza, featuring flavors like blueberry + apple cider. Plus, buy 10 donuts and get two free.

North Lime Donuts, 3101 Clays Mill Rd. + 101 W. Loudon Ave.
Head to either location to try out a blackberry-filled, gluten-free fruity pebbles, sprinkle explosion, or vegan blueberry cake donut.

OMG Donuts, 3449 Buckhorn Dr.
Not only can you snag a delicious cookies + cream smoothie here, but add a dozen donuts to that order, and you’ll get a glazed one for free.

Spalding’s Bakery, 760 Winchester Rd.
Yeast the day at this nearly century-old institution known for its iconic glazed + specialty cake donuts.

Shoutout

Your voice is valuable, and so are the special moments in your life. | Graphic by 6AM City

Shoutouts allow us to celebrate job promotions, anniversaries, and exciting experiences right here in Lexington.

Become a LEXtoday member today to reserve your shoutout and celebrate with tens of thousands of locals.

Become a member, get benefits

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Aayat

From the editor

Happy Friday, y’all. If you’re still not sure what the weekend holds for you, our events page features tons more events that — as much as we’d love to — we can’t feature in every newsletter. Plus, add your own events and they could be featured in a future newsletter with just a few clicks.

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