08.17.2023

Today’s Forecast

79º | Sunny | 6% chance of rain | Sunrise 7:19 a.m. | Sunset 7:46 p.m.

A Lexington original

Made in Lexington: 13 things created in and around LEX

Bourbon barrels in front of a rick house. | Photo courtesy of @whiskeylore

Made in Lexington. Yep, that sure has a nice ring to it. From clothing and accessories, to snacks and other fun finds, we’ve rounded up 11 things homegrown in LEX.

While some of these brands have branched out beyond our city, one thing’s for sure — there’s some major inspo happening around these parts.

Snacks and drinks

Bourbon
Just after the American Revolution, a little place called Bourbon County, Kentucky became synonymous with a process already familiar with the European settlers of the region — taking corn, barley, or rye and aging it so it becomes whiskey.

Ale-8-One
When you walk into any Kentucky restaurant or grocery store, there’s no doubt that your eyes will instantly lock with these iconic green bottles. Invented in Winchester, Ale-8 has been the ginger ale-inspired staple of the area for nearly one century.

A large fan — No false advertising here. | Photo by LEXtoday

Fun Finds

Big Ass Fans
Look up in nearly any warehouse-style building, and you’ll likely see a huge fan spinning. That’s thanks to our very own self-explanatory Big Ass Fans, which is the largest producer of high-volume, low speed fans in the world.

Steam boats
In 1793, Edward West, a Lexingtonian, blacksmith + inventor, built a model steam boat that was tested on the Town Fork of Elkhorn Creek here in Lexington. A few years later in 1802, Edward received a patent for his steamboat invention.

A vinyl record of Tame Impala's "Currents" featuring the art of Robert Beatty. — If you’ve browsed through your local record store, you’ve likely seen Robert’s work on albums like this. | Photo by LEXtoday

Creatives

Robert Beatty
A staple in the Lexington music scene, you’ve likely also seen Robert’s work used in The New York Times, Rolling Stone, and as the cover art for some of the world’s most famous musicians. Think: The Weeknd, Tame Impala, and Kesha.

6 more inventions

Asked

How important is it to you to purchase products that are made locally?

A. It is very important to me
B. It is somewhat important to me
C. I am indifferent
D. It is somewhat less important to me
E. It is not important to me

Let us know

Events

Thursday, Aug. 17

Solar 101 | Thursday, Aug. 17 | 6-8 p.m. | West Sixth Brewing, 501 W. 6th St., Ste. 100, Lexington | Free | Learn about solar panel systems and whether it could be a good fit for your home.

Friday, Aug. 18

200 Block Yard Sale | Friday, Aug. 18 | 9 a.m.-5 p.m. | Mulberry & Lime, 216 N. Limestone, Lexington | Free | Spend an afternoon in NoLi as local businesses come together for a block party and yard sale.

Saturday, Aug. 19

Woodland Art Fair | Saturday, Aug. 19-Sunday, Aug. 20 | Times vary | Woodland Park, 601 E. High St., Lexington | Free | Explore one of the largest art festivals in Central Kentucky, featuring nearly 200 artists from all over the country.
AJJ (Indoor Show) | Saturday, Aug. 19 | 8 p.m. | The Burl, 375 Thompson Rd., Lexington | $27.40 | Rock out with these folk punk musicians from Phoenix.

Sunday, Aug. 20

Back To School Makers Market | Sunday, Aug. 20 | 2-6 p.m. | Rock House Brewing, 119 Luigart Ct., Lexington | Free | Get ready for a new school year by shopping from dozens of vendors.
Fall Charcuterie Class | Sunday, Aug. 20 | 2:30-4 p.m. | Harkness Edwards Vineyards, 5199 Combs Ferry Rd., Winchester | $56 | Choose from various meats, cheeses, fruits, and nuts to build your own fall-themed charcuterie board.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

Biz

Business

How exceptional employee benefits can help your business succeed

Presented by a LEXtoday Partner

Central Bank Wealth Management’s highly accredited and credentialed team can create custom solutions for your unique financial needs. | Photo provided by Jeff Rogers

In today’s competitive job market, the benefits offered by a business are crucial to employee recruitment and retention — and a robust 401(k) plan is a great differentiator. That’s where Central Bank Wealth Management† can step in and help support your business.

Their retirement plan experts, Sheila Parks and Terri Shaw, act as your relationship managers, working with human resources or your office manager to help educate your employees about the value of your 401(k) program.

Most importantly, they make the process easy and convenient. Not only are they available in-person and by phone, but they’ll also connect you with a world-class retirement platform for easy access to plan information for both you + your employees.

If you’re interested in learning more about Central Bank Wealth Management’s unique local approach to retirement planning and wealth management services, visit them online or contact Charlie Rush at (859) 253-6423.

Begin your retirement planning journey

†_{Disclosure: Wealth Management Services are provided by Central Bank & Trust Co. CBIA, Inc. dba Central Insurance Services (CIS) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Central Bank & Trust Co. Insurance products, investment products and securities. NOT FDIC Insured | NOT Guaranteed by the Bank | MAY Lose Value | NOT Insured by any Federal Government Agency | NOT a Deposit | Subject to Risk}

News Notes

Edu

Transylvania University is making national headlines once again. This time, the school was ranked among the top 15% Best Colleges according to the Princeton Review. The publication, which also surveyed students, cited Transy’s safe environment, small size, campus activities, and wide range of available courses. (1780)

Art

Visit the Central Library now through Friday, Nov. 17 to see its new exhibit “Undesign the Redline.” Redlining — a policy that determined which neighborhoods were considered “high risk” — nearly eliminated federal backing for these areas + still effects communities of color today.

Concert

Give my regards to Broadway. The 2023-2024 Broadway Live Season is back at the Lexington Opera House. Catch shows like “Pretty Woman,” “The Cher Show,” “Come From Away,” and “Little Women.” Eager to give them the old razzle dazzle? Full season subscription packages are available until tomorrow, Aug. 18.

History

Ashland, the Henry Clay Estate is hosting an event that tells the entire story about the historic grounds. On Friday, Aug. 18 + Saturday, Aug. 19, the public is invited to experience educational programming that remembers, honors, and commemorates the enslaved individuals that helped make the estate what it is today.

Cause

The Hope Center is hosting its annual Celebrity Golf Classic + Gala Dinner Sunday, Oct. 15-Monday, Oct. 16. Hit the links with Hall of Fame athletes to support the organization’s Veteran and Housing Initiative, which includes raising money for a new transitional housing center.

Sports

You just got served. Tonight, UK’s volleyball team is slated to take on Western Kentucky in their only exhibition match of the season. Starting at 6 p.m., head to Rupp Arena to catch the Cats and enjoy fan day events like meet + greets with the players and free posters.(UK Athletics)

Now Open

A few months ago, we shared the story of how Louisville native Chris Ratterman built Shady Ray’s, a sunglasses brand with an eye toward impact. Now, Shady Ray’s has opened its fifth brick-and-mortar location in Louisville. Check out their website for details.*

Opening Soon

Who doesn’t love waffles? Sweet Iron, District 7 Social Hall’s newest eatery, is slated to open soon, and will feature a European and regional waffle-inspired menu of classics. Give them a follow on Instagram to stay up to date on interior sneak peeks and their official opening date.*

Civic

Blinded by the (street) light

Are your property taxes about to go up?

The Lexington Skyline | Photo by Jeff Rogers

In its first session since returning from summer break, the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council gave a first vote to move forward on a property tax increase that could impact 100,000+ homeowners.

The why

The tax hike aims to offset the $2 million deficit the city has experienced over the last decade. Up until now, the city has been funding street lights through general revenue, rather than money generated from current street light taxes.

Who is impacted

According to the Lexington Herald-Leader, the portion of homeowners’ property tax bills that goes towards streetlights could go up ~35%. For instance, if your assessed home value is $235,000, the increase would go from ~$47 to ~$63.

However, this doesn’t mean that all properties will be see an increase. Only those in specific districts — totaling ~100,230 homeowners — will be impacted by the hike. A final vote is expected Thursday, Aug. 31.

Want to know if that’s you? Head to the Property Valuation Administrator’s website and use its tax districts calculator.

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Aayat

From the editor

I’m spending the next few days in Washington DC, which means I’m on the hunt for some of the best eats. I already have George’s King of Falafel and Cheesesteak on my list. What are your favorite spots in our nation’s capital?

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