November 17, 2023

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Today’s Forecast

57º | Rain | 96% chance of precipitation | Sunrise 7:34 a.m. | Sunset 5:18 p.m.

🔮 We see your foodie future

Grilled cheese sandwiches featuring spiced onions and mayo.

The Duke is a Sri Lankan spin on a grilled cheese sandwich. | Photo courtesy of Tuk Tuk Snack Shop

Some people make to-do lists — we make to-dine lists. Many hot new Lexington restaurants have opened over the past several months, from Koren-style hot dogs to a pop-up shop-turned brick-and-mortar Sri Lankan restaurant.

To satisfy those who are really hungry for fresh dining options, we’ve got details on several more LEX restaurants coming soon, too. Grab your forks as we dig right in.

Two plates of food, one that has a Dutch Baby Pancake and the other with a chopped salad. — The Dutch Baby Pancake and Market Chop Salad are what brunch dreams are made of. | Photo by LEXtoday

Newly open

Beau’s Cafe, 3191 Beaumont Centre Circle, Ste. #150 | Healthy brunch | Reservations: No
From their already-iconic Dutch baby pancakes, endive-topped avocado toast (which can be made gluten-free), and fresh-pressed juices, Beau’s meets at the intersection of healthy and comforting food.

Chung Chun Rice Corn Dog, 3101 Clays Mill Rd. #102 | Korean-style street food | Reservations: No
Hidden in the grocery store Dong Yang Market is a gem that offers Korean-style hotdogs. But these aren’t your grandma’s dogs — they’re covered in a sugar-coated, rice flour batter filled with your choice of cheese and/or sausage.

Tuk Tuk Snack Shop, 124 Malabu Dr., Ste. 110 | Fast-casual Sri Lankan | Reservations: No
Owned by James Beard finalist Sam Fore, this bright and cheery spot delights the senses with fresh spices + unique takes on dishes like rice bowls and sandwiches.

A restaurant with teal booths and a mural that says "desperados" — Taco about a delicious new addition to the Distillery District. | Photo by LEXtoday

Coming soon

Carson’s, 3450 Todds Rd. | Elevated Southern | Projected opening: 2024
Another East Main Street staple, Carson’s will open a second location in the Hamburg area next year within the former Andover Country Club.

Desperados Cantina, 1228 Manchester St., #100 | Tacos and Latin cuisine | Projected opening: Dec. 2023
The Distillery District’s newest resident is serving up scratch-made tacos, dozens of salsa + hot sauce options, and delicious unique cocktails like a frozen Paloma, frozen espresso martini, and all kinds of margaritas.

City Guides are presented by VisitLEX.

20+ more spots to try

Asked

How many new openings did we help you discover?

A. Barely any — I’m the first to know everything
B. There were a few I hadn’t heard of
C. Most of them
D. These were all news to me

Let us know

Events

Friday, Nov. 17

Exhibition Opening Reception | Friday, Nov. 17 | 5 p.m. | 21c Museum Hotel, 167 W. Main St., Lexington | Free | See the opening of the museum’s newest exhibit “Labor & Materials” which features 73 pieces of work from 42 international artists.
Home for the Holidays Tour | Friday, Nov. 17 | 5-6 p.m. | West Sixth Brewing, 501 W. 6th St. #100, Lexington | $6 | Learn about the history of this beloved brewery, tour its facilities, and sample holiday specials such as Christmas Ale.

Saturday, Nov. 18

$20 Art Market: Holiday Edition | Saturday, Nov. 18 | 11 a.m.-3 p.m. | Greyline Station, 101 W. Loudon Ave., Lexington | Free | Knock out some holiday shopping by exploring 20+ local artists selling their work for just $20.
An Evening with Geraldine Brooks | Saturday, Nov. 18 | 6-8 p.m. | Keeneland, 4201 Versailles Rd., Lexington | $20-$45 | The Keeneland Library proudly presents an evening with Pulitzer Prize-winning author Geraldine Brooks who will discuss her newest novel, “Horse.”

Sunday, Nov. 19

45th Anniversary Celebration | Sunday, Nov. 19 | 2-6 p.m. | John’s Run/Walk Shop, 317 S. Ashland Ave., Lexington | Free | Celebrate this local staple at either of its locations for free hot cider and deals on slippers + socks.
Studio Players presents: “A Visit from Scarface” | Friday, Nov. 17-Sunday, Nov. 26 | Times vary | Carriage House Theatre, 154 W. Bell Ct., Lexington | $18.53-$27.78 | See this hilarious play that tells the story of gangsters, prohibition, and 1930s Hollywood.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

Community

How you can support LEXtoday’s 2024 vision

Help us keep writing the stories that connect you closer to our city. | Photo by LEXtoday

It’s hard to believe it’s almost a wrap on 2023 — and what a year it’s been. We’ve been privileged enough to bring you incredible Lexington news stories straight to your inbox.

Check out some of City Editor Aayat’s favorites:

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News Notes

Number

$750,000. That’s how much the Bluegrass AgTech Development Corp.'s new grant fund will offer to agricultural and food-based businesses to move to Kentucky. Organizations can apply for up to $100,000 funding if they have — or are willing to — create a presence in the area. Applications are due March 1, 2024.

Opening

Head to 650 Kennedy Rd. tomorrow at 4:30 p.m. to celebrate the grand opening of Lexington’s e’s Club. Organized by Erin’s Hope for Friends Kentucky, the social club creates a comfortable environment for autistic teens and young adults to connect. A grand opening reception will follow at Griffin Gate Marriott at 6:30 p.m.

Lexingtonian

Local activist + ONE Lexington director Devine Carama has added another award to his collection. This time, the musician received the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Lexington Wings Award thanks to his advocacy for trauma care in the community.

Drink

Genesis Coffee House is currently closed for major renovations. The local coffee shop + eatery located in Meadowthorpe will reopen on Friday, Dec. 1 just in time for its holiday specials. The owners encouraged customers to support other local coffee shops in the meantime.

Active

Run, run, Rudolph. The Southern Lights 5K Run/Stroll takes place tomorrow, 4 p.m., at the Kentucky Horse Park. Here, you’ll be one of the first to experience this annual LEX tradition, featuring hundreds of light displays, then enjoy the warmth of its Holiday Village festivities.

Outdoors

Celebrate National Take a Hike Day this Saturday, Nov. 18 by hitting one of the trails featured in our hiking guide. Parks staff will be on-site at Raven Run Nature Sanctuary from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. for its Nature Journaling event. Registration is required.

Seasonal

Mark your calendars Lexington — you’re invited to shop ’til you drop at Poppy & Pomelo’s ultimate three-day shopping experience. Enjoy drinks + deals from Friday, Nov. 24 to Sunday, Nov. 26 for Black Friday, Small Biz and Fizz Saturday, and Sunday Funday. See details.*

Shop

Need the perfect holiday gift for your dad, brother, husband, or boyfriend? This brand has you covered with all the gifts and stocking stuffers that men will actually use. (Plus, they’re all 25% off during the Black Friday Sale, happening now.)*

Seasonal

🎄 Put the lights on the tree

Two women hang ornaments on a large Christmas tree.

City Editors Molly + Aayat are pondering a profession in professional ornament hanging. | Photo by LEXtoday

Hey y’all, City Editor Aayat here. This week, Molly and I were invited by the Parks & Recreation department to help hang up ornaments + see how much work goes into preparation of the city’s Luminate Lexington Festival. And may I say, how lovely are those branches? That’s thanks to the department’s maintenance crew — they’re the ones that work on the massive tree and decorating downtown’s trees + light poles.

Just for fun, we got the lowdown on facts about the live tree that now calls Triangle Park home:

100+ ornaments
1,800 ft of lights
1,600 lbs of concrete slabs that keep the tree in place

Once the season has wrapped up, the city will cut the tree into pieces, leave ~three feet of the stump in the base, and let it sit for 6+ months before knocking it out with a sledge hammer.

Join the fun on Sunday, Nov. 26, 3-7 p.m., to officially ring in the holiday season in Lexington with ice skating, live music, choir performances, a Menorah lighting, and of course, Santa himself.

The Buy

A great deal from Amazon’s Black Friday sales, which officially start today. Get 40% off Adidas running shoes or 20% off Martha Stewart cotton sheets.

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Aayat

From the editor

Speaking of newer restaurants, I finally got to try out Everest Nepalese + Indian Cuisine, which opened around one year ago. And when I say this is some of the best South Asian food I’ve had in Lexington, I mean it. I don’t joke around when it comes to naan.

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