Upper Street is filled with Irish-owned businesses. | Photo by LEXtoday
Happy St. Patrick’s Day, Lexington. From the historical stone fences and the horse farms they surround, to a host of businesses on Upper Street — the Irish influence in Lexington is as deep as the Irish brogue is fast.
Fun fact: City Editor Molly has dual citizenship with Ireland as her father was born + raised in Kilkenny.
Honor the Irish every day
While the St. Patrick’s Day Parade + Festival may be over, there’s plenty of ways to enjoy Irish culture every day in Lexington.
Failte is your one-stop-shop for all things Ireland. Think: Sweets, sweaters, Irish soda bread mix, crisps, and themed gifts. Stop by today at 11 a.m. for a blessing by Bishop Stowe + performances from Bluegrass Ceili Academy. Plus, you’ll get 17% off your purchase of $40+.
Rooftop Revelry Returns for St. Patrick’s Day | 4-11 p.m. | Lost Palm | Price of purchase | Kick off rooftop season moving + grooving to yacht rock playlists with shared plates and tiki drinks.
Tuesday, March 18
Bingo Night | 7-9 p.m. | Mirror Twin Brewing Co. | Free | Be the first to get five in a row B4 anyone else for an opportunity to win cash prizes.
Wednesday, March 19
Trivia Night with The Lexington Theatre Company | 6:30-9 p.m. | Old North Bar | Price of purchase | Assemble your team + test your knowledge on pop culture, history, and musical theater for a chance to win prizes — plus, enjoy live performances from the LexFam.
Thursday, March 20
Back 2 Mac: A Fleetwood Mac Tribute | 7 p.m. | The Burl | $15+ | When the rain washes you clean, you’ll know — it’s time to see this easy listening cover band.
Friday, March 21
Spring Renewal Night Market | 5-10 p.m. | Void Sake | Price of purchase | This family friendly market offers festive food + drink to shake off winter as you shop local artisans and vendors.
For basketball fans, March is both exciting and maddening. As the NCAA Tournament begins this week, here’s where the Wildcats ended up. The men’s team was named a No. 3 seed + will play Troy on Friday, while the women were named a No. 4 seed and will play Liberty.
Mansion Monday
Filled with natural light + sitting on 20 acres, this 15,000-sqft custom-designed estate has us dreaming of sunny days sipping lemonade on the two-story porch. It features 7 bedrooms, 10 bathrooms, a 12-person dining room, and open concept living space — to name a few. Did we mention the spiral staircase?
Edu
Fayette County Public Schools + the 16th District PTA are hosting a Roundtable Meeting on Thursday, March 20 at 6:30 p.m. at Bryan Station High School. Superintendent Demetrus Liggins and other school board officials will discuss the impacts of federal funding and grant money in our local schools.
Environment
If you love trees, then consider joining Bluegrass Greensource as a Tree Ambassador. In the role, you’ll help educate the community on the importance of trees + how planting can improve the environment through sharing informational materials and free plant vouchers.
Watch
The basketball players aren’t the only ones getting some screen time this March. See the Kentucky Basketball Managers in their latest music video “Ladies Love The Waterboys,” part of their partnership with Geddes Pools.
Wellness
Did you know continuous learning throughout life not only decreases isolation but also improves cognitive abilities? Try an OLLI at UK course to keep your mind engaged + active as you age. Explore current Spring course offerings.*
Finance
Car insurance premiums are projected to hit $2,101 annually by 2025 — a record high. Switching providers might save you over $1,300 each year. Why leave money on the table? Get matched with a more affordable plan.*
Biz
Calling all business owners. For a limited time, we’re offering 15% off your first advertising purchase on our self-service ad portal. No long-term contract required — simply use the code NEW15 at checkout to redeem the discount.
Category
Culture
🇮🇪 Irish twins
The Japanese Gardens at the Irish National Stud were created in the early 1900s. | Photo courtesy of @irishnationalstudandgardens
Keeping with the Irish theme, today we’re introducing you to one of Lexington’s sister cities, County Kildare. Fun fact:St. Brigid — who formed a monastery in Kildare — is a patron saint of Ireland along with St. Patrick + St. Columba.
Just as we are considered the Horse Capital of the World, County Kildare is the epicenter of the thoroughbred industry in Ireland.
It’s home to the Irish National Stud & Gardens, a six-month residential course which gives students hands-on experience during a thoroughbred breeding season. And if you visit one or central Kentucky’s hundreds of horse farms, you’re likely to bump into one of their alumni — like City Editor Molly’s dad.
This year marks 41 years of the sister city partnership, which offers a student exchange for both high school + University of Kentucky students, as well as virtual exchange for elementary school students.
The Buy
The Buy
Really cute palazzo pants on sale at Nordstrom Rack. The lightweight, flowy pants can be dressed up or down for spring events and come in fun prints.
The first person that can email me with the correct answer of what television show this house in Ireland is from, I’ll meet you at Failte + treat you to my favorite candy bar, a Crunchie.
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