The Tates Creek Community Center recently installed solar panels to its roof to reduce emissions and cut utility costs. | Photo courtesy of Amy Wallot
Consider this your call to the post, Lexingtonians. The Horse Capital of the World is racing to net zero by 2050.
LFUCG’s Race to Net Zero Emissions Reduction Plan is full of actions the city and residents can take to reduce emissions and increase absorption of greenhouse gases. To reach “net zero” the amount of gases absorbed must equal (or exceed) the amount of gas produced.
As part of these efforts, 10 government buildings have installed solar panels, waste trucks have transitioned to natural gas instead of diesel, and the Lexington Recycle Center is enjoying an upgrade.
Mustang Heritage Spectacular | Friday, June 13-Saturday, June 14 | 8 a.m.-8 p.m. | Kentucky Horse Park | Free entry | Celebrate the American mustang, its beauty, and its trainability in a three-day event featuring contests, shows, and an auction.
Friday the 13th Flash Day | 1-9 p.m. | Next Dimension Tattoo | Price of purchase | Choose your newest ink and enjoy 25% off dozens of one-of-a-kind designs by the artists at Next Dimension.
“It’s a Grand Night for Singing” | Friday, June 13-Sunday, June 22 | Times vary | Singletary Concert Hall | $16 | This annual musical revue is one of LEX’s hottest tickets, featuring more than 100 performers from UK Opera Theatre and the Lexington theatre community.
“Same As It Ever Was: A Talking Heads Tribute” | 7 p.m. | Burl Live Music | $25 | Catch a show honoring the legacy and groundbreaking music of the 1975-formed rock group and its decades of hits.
Saturday, June 14
Bluegrass Land & Nature Symposium | 8 a.m.-4 p.m. | Floracliff Nature Sanctuary | $39 | Join experts for sessions on climate change + land stewardship, with bird walks and ecological insights guiding the event.
Vintage Dad’s Day | 12-4 p.m. | Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, Harrodsburg | $10+ | Celebrate dad with an 1860s baseball game, classic cars, a pie-eating contest, bourbon, heritage demos, and concessions.
2025 Beer Cheese Festival | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Downtown Winchester | Free entry | Say cheese — Winchester plays host to live music, food trucks, artisans + crafts people, and of course, plenty of beer cheese.
Gandharva | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Lyric Theatre and Culture Center | $35 | Immerse yourself in the friendly fusion of Indian classical music and a contemporary global sound for an electrifying sensory experience.
Sunday, June 15
Beginner Square Dance Lessons | Sunday, June 15-Sunday, July 27 | 2-4 p.m. | Living Hope Fellowship | $5 | Perfect for folks with busy summer schedules, a condensed lesson format will have you on your feet practicing this uniquely American dance tradition in no time.
$14.3 billion. That’s the total economic impact of Kentucky tourism in 2024, marking a third consecutive year of growth. Visitor spending on food + beverage, lodging, retail, and more supports 97,394 jobs across the Commonwealth. (The Lane Report)
Drink
On Wednesday, June 10, a whopping 1,476 people gathered to set a new world record: the most people taking shots of bourbon at once. Part of the 250LEX celebrations, the event featured bourbons from LF Heritage, Bespoken Spirits, Maker’s Mark, and RD1 Distillery. (WKYT)
Pets
Visit the Mutt Strut tomorrow, June 14 at Legends Field to experience a true win-win opportunity. Your registration supports the Lexington Humane Society, and you’ll get to meet Winnie, a bright and beautiful Catahoula mix looking for her forever home.
History
Watch as historians from the Mary Todd Lincoln House unbox a piece of Lexington history. All the way from 1861, the latest addition to the museum is an official White House dinner invitation with a hand-written list of Kentucky’s most powerful people.
Shop
Lexington Habitat ReStore is giving you a first look at its newest arrivals, including bookshelves, recliners, glass-top desks, and more. City Editor Sam has his eye on the white wardrobe with pink, blue, and yellow highlights — maybe it leads to a neon Narnia?
Wellness
Yes, the weather is getting warmer. But if you really want to sweat it out, visit the Massage Center & Yoga Studio for a 15- or 30-minute sauna session. Visit before Monday, June 30 to get your second session free.
Eat
Head Chef Sarah Prater just released the latest additions to the Little Fork summer menu. Visit Wise Bird Cider Co. to savor the cider-brined bratwurst, falafel bowl, or summer loaded fries. Pro tip: Ask your bartender for cider pairing recommendations.
Seasonal
Want to turn your garden into a pollinator paradise? Pollinator Week is just around the corner. We can’t think of a better time to stop by this local garden center to grab native perennials, stunning hydrangeas, and mulch that’ll keep your flowers (and the butterflies + bees) happy all summer long. Your thriving garden starts here.*
Biz
There’s no shortcut to a sparkling home exterior, just Window Genie’s expert service and the Neighborly Done Right Promise™. From pressure washing to window cleaning and tinting, you’ll work with fully trained, insured pros who care about your curb appeal as much as you do.*
Travel
Early flight. No layovers. And you’re in New York City for a full day. Business travel just got easier with Delta Air Lines’ new non-stop flight from Lexington. Book your trip to New York LaGuardia via Delta.*
How do you like your bourbon served? | Photo courtesy of Victor Sizemore
Whether you’re a born + bred Lexingtonian or a recent arrival, one thing that defines the city is the omnipresence of bourbon. In honor of National Bourbon Day, celebrated annually on June 14, we decided to take a deep dive into the history of this beloved spirit.
What makes bourbon, bourbon?
Just after the American Revolution, a little place called Bourbon County, Kentucky became synonymous with a process already familiar to the European settlers of the region — allowing corn, barley, or rye to ferment into a mash that is then distilled, producing what we call whiskey. However, experts are still at odds about whether bourbon’s namesake came from the region.
Still, here in Kentucky we take pride in differentiating the characteristics of regular whiskey vs. our beautiful bourbon. It is a $9 billion industry after all. In order for a whiskey to be considered a bourbon, it must:
Be made in the US
Consist of between 51 percent and 79 percent corn
Age for at least two years in an oak barrel
Distillers in the area also claim that Kentucky’s limestone spring water also gives Kentucky bourbon its recognizable flavor. So take that, Texas.
🌸 Instantly update outfits for dinners out with friends when you add this flower purse for under $30.
🐚 Beach nights can’t handle this shell beaded bag with handstitched natural shell sequins.
💎 Choose your favorite color of Anthropologie’s Fiona beaded bag and watch the compliments flood in.
🥝 Madewell’s best-selling handwoven mini tote comes in bright summer colors like kiwi, apricot, and festival red.
👀 If you’re searching for something simple instead, this crochet tote bag is under $30 and will look adorable for walks, beach days, or running errands.
The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
It’s Friday the 13th so let’s get out there and pet black cats, break mirrors, walk under ladders, step on cracks, spill salt, and — what else? Send me your favorite superstition for a chance to be featured next week.
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