Plus, FCPS graduation is today and tomorrow.
 
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Today’s Forecast

74º | 11% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 6:17 a.m. | Sunset 8:53 p.m.
 

The whole city is a classroom

Cultural Pass: Your ticket to free summer fun
A cream brick building with a blue awning that says Lexington Children's Museum on it.
Let the kids be immersed in hands-on STEM activities at Lexington Children’s Museum. | Photo by LEXtoday
Community partners including LexArts, Fayette County Public Schools, the 250Lex Commission, and local arts organizations have teamed up to keep kids learning throughout the summer months. Meet: The Cultural Pass.

Beginning this Saturday, June 1, area students in grades K-12 will have free access to 30+ arts and cultural spaces around town. Think: Lexington History Museum, Lexington Art League, Lexington Children’s Museum, and more.

Opportunities range from art exhibits and musical performances, to hands-on and interactive classes. Each FCPS student should receive a “passport” issued by their school. Surrounding county students can also participate by contacting LexArts.

The passport will give each student (and if 17 or under, an accompanying adult) a free, one-time general admission to each of the participating venues, valid Saturday, June 1-Wednesday, July 31.

A woman in a brown dress writing on a piece of paper that says scavenger hunt on a white wall between colorful abstract paintings.

Lexington Art League is making art accessible + fun for all ages. | Photo by LEXtoday

Here are a few examples of what you can anticipate enjoying for free this summer:
  • Lexington Art League | Children will be given free craft bags upon visiting.
  • Lexington Children’s Museum | Kids can experience interactive galleries and exhibits focused on arts, engineering, humanities, math, science, and technology.
  • Ashland, the Henry Clay Estate | See the Lexington Chamber Chorale for its final performance of the season, “Past and Present Miniature Masterpieces III,” which honors the musical and literary history of Kentucky.
  • Central Music Academy | On Wednesday, July 10, bring the kiddos to learn how to play a variety of musical instruments at the Instrument Petting Zoo.
UK Federal Credit Union
 
Events
Thursday, May 30
  • Community Fit: Capoeira | Thursday, May 30 | 6-8 p.m. | LexArts Gallery, 161 N. Mill St., Lexington | Free | Project Ricochet invites the community to learn this Afro-Brazilian martial art that combines elements of dance, acrobatics, music, and spirituality — registration is required.
  • Paint and Sip | Thursday, May 30 | 6:30-8:45 p.m. | Pinot’s Palette Fayette Mall, 3851 Mall Rd., Ste. 110, Lexington | $40 | Kick back and relax as you brush up on your painting skills with a Van Gogh-inspired “Starry Tide” scene.
Friday, May 31
  • Great American Brass Band Festival | Friday, May 31 | 4:30-6 p.m. | Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, 3501 Lexington Rd., Harrodsburg | Free | Relax in this idyllic outdoor setting with drinks, garden walks, and a special performance by the Lexington Chamber Brass.
  • Castlewood Movie Night | Friday, May 31 | 7-10 p.m. | Castlewood Community Center, 210 Castlewood Dr., Lexington | Free | Bring your blankets and chairs for a family-friendly evening with food trucks, activities, and a showing of “Space Jam: A New Legacy.”
Saturday, June 1
  • Story Walk | Saturday, June 1 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | McConnell Springs Park, 416 Rebmann Ln., Lexington | Free | Experience reading in a whole new way as laminated pages from “Up in the Garden, Down in the Dirt” will be posted around the trail to enjoy at your own pace.
  • Cooking on the Frontier - A Workshop & Dinner | Saturday, June 1 | 6-8 p.m. | Jack Jouett House Historic Site, 255 Craigs Creek Rd., Versailles | $39.19 | This hands-on cooking class will immerse you in the sights, smells, and tastes of colonial cooking.
Events calendar here
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News Notes
Traffic
  • Expect heavy traffic downtown today and tomorrow, Friday, May 31. FCPS high schools will host their graduations at Rupp Arena at 10 a.m., 2 p.m., and 6 p.m. both days. So leave early and take some deep breaths.
List
  • Pull up a chair, stay a while. Lexington was ranked No. 9 on Southern Living list of “The 15 Friendliest Cities in the South.” The magazine cited places like DV8 Kitchen saying “kindness is a universal virtue” in our city.
Number
  • $3.2 million. That’s how much the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council would like to add to the city’s FY 2025 budget. The additional money would fund 10 new employees, infill projects, new city vehicles + more. A final vote will on the budget will come on Thursday, June 13. (Lexington Herald-Leader)
Opening
  • After six months of renovations, Genesis Coffee House & Eatery announced it will re-open on Monday, June 10. More details are forthcoming, but we can also expect a new brunch + coffee menu at the Meadowthorpe spot. Until then, check out these local coffee shops.
Try This
  • In addition to its fan-favorite candle classes, Poppy & Pomelo/Wick & Mortar have announced a new lineup of offerings. Now, you can make-your-own custom room and linen sprays, reed diffusers, as well as hair + body sprays.
Read
  • Do you like sipping wine + reading books? Well, now you can do both in the quiet company of others at “Read Between the Vines.” Stop by Ghost Fox Winery in Nicholasville on the last Wednesday of the month, 6-8 p.m., to join its silent book club.
Community
  • Here’s your sign to book a farm tour and connect with Kentucky’s signature equine industry. From world-renowned horse farms to equine veterinary clinics, the Horse Country platform offers behind-the-scenes tours + experiences. Reach out to the Horse Country team by phone (859) 963-1004, or email to help find the perfect experience for you.*
Finance
Biz
  • Looking for a way to stay on top of the world’s latest business news? Meet The Daily Upside, a free, no-BS newsletter from Wall Street insiders delivering actionable insights on the latest market news. Skip the clickbait and stay informed alongside 1,000,000+ fellow readers. Try it for free.*
Eat
  • Looking to dine out this weekend? According to OpenTable, top-loved restaurants this month include Bella Cafe & Grille for food and Lost Palm for ambience.*
†Central Bank- Member FDIC
 
Transportation

Cuz I’m free, free parking

Three free parking lots you might not know about in the Distillery District
A sign that says Free Public Parking in front of a big open empty parking lot in the Distillery District
The Distillery District is a short walk along the Town Branch Trail from these three parking lots. | Photo by LEXtoday
We’ve all been there. You’re excited to enjoy a lovely evening in the Distillery District, but find yourself circling and circling the parking lot, begging for a spot to open up.

Well, did you know that the city has provided three free parking lots near The Burl campus + Pepper Rickhouse to ease those parking woes?
  • LFUCG Regional Recycling Center, 360 Thompson Rd. | Located across from The Burl, public parking is available on the weekends from Friday at 5 p.m. through Sunday at 11 p.m.
  • Manchester Street | If you’re driving away from the Distillery District toward Old Frankfort Pike, you’ll find a small parking lot on the right, before the Granite Depot of Lexington.
  • South Forbes Road | From Manchester Street, take a right onto South Forbes. Right after the Town Branch Trail sign on the right, you’ll see a huge lot for cars and bikes.
Pro tip: Check out this handy map + wear some comfy shoes for a short walk along the Town Branch Trail from these three parking lots.
Asked

Did you know about these free parking lots?
A. Yes, use them all the time
B. Nope, I like to cry behind the steering wheel
C. Some, but not all of them
Beep beep
The Buy

The Buy 5.30.24 (Affiliate + Six & Main)
A bristle-free grill brush — so you can clean your grill until it’s like new without bristles shedding onto your cooking surface.
 
The Wrap
 
Molly Thompson in a black shirt

Today’s edition by:
Molly
From the editor
I cannot wait for this weekend because two of my besties will be visiting from Charlotte for Railbird Festival (Hey, CLTtoday). But first, I have to get my nails done, and my beloved Glamour Nails is gone, sigh. Send me your favorite nail salon.
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