Downtown date night also means downtown parking — we’ve provided some tips below. | Photo by @femibranded
Kids, this is the story of how I met your mother, and it was all thanks to LEXtoday.
Ok, so maybe that’s not exactly how the 2000s sitcom went, but if Ted Mosby had consulted us for date night ideas, we could’ve shaved the show down to two seasons. Whether you’ve met “the one” or are hoping to impress someone new, we’ve got 20+ local date night ideas that are legen — wait for it — dary.
If you want an “old fashioned”-style date
Two straws, one milkshake — get that, and many more shareable desserts, at Freshie’s Ice Cream & Soda Fountain. Pro tip: Dating a vegan? This spot has options.
The old school vibes from Ford’s Garage near Fayette Mall will take you back in time. The brand-new burger and beer joint offers vintage dining among antique cars.
Take a leisurely stroll along South Ashland Avenue to soak in the historic homes, then wrap up the evening with a cozy drink at Charlie Brown’s or Chevy Chase Inn.
Sip on an actual Old Fashioned at OBC — one of our favorite spots to get the cocktail — or learn more about bourbon in a guided tour of the Pepper Distillery.
With Unison, you can access up to $500K of your home’s equity with no monthly payments. | Photo via Unsplash
Your home equity belongs to you. Period. And there are ways to access these funds when you need them.
One way: An Equity Sharing Agreement that lets you turn your equity into cash, without a traditional loan. Think: No monthly payments or interest, and you share in your home’s future value changes.
With Unison as your partner, you can make those renovations you’ve been dreaming of, travel, pay off debt, or even fund retirement.
The temptation is real to dump the Turkey Day grease down the drain or throw it in the yard as a mess for another day. This year, try planning ahead for the Gobble Grease Toss. The city recommends cooling, storing, and bringing it to the Redwood Cooperative School on Friday, Nov. 28 for disposal.
Coming Soon
Calling all brunch lovers. Who’s going to be first in line for Cafe Patachou’s grand opening this Friday, Nov. 21? Take a peek at what The Summit’s newest hotspot looks like.
Real Estate
A private developer out of Florida purchased the building leased by Lexington’s downtown post office for $2.77 million. As of now, there are no plans to move the post office. The Herald-Leader said this is one of many changes to East High Street as developers look to build private student housing near UK. (Lexington Herald-Leader)
Edu
The Kentucky Department of Education released student performance data for the 2024-25 school year, which showed Fayette County’s numbers are above average. Students performed well on their test scores, and Superintendent Demetrus Liggins noted FCPS graduation rates are at an all time high of 92.4%. (ABC 36)
Film
October saw the lowest revenue generated by movie ticket sales in almost three decades — excluding 2020 for obvious reasons. With the holiday season on the horizon, and Oscar season in full swing, we recommend catching a “Wicked: For Good” showing at the Kentucky Theatre this weekend to help keep cinema alive. (Variety)
Trending
The 2026 Met Gala theme has been revealed: “Costume Art” draws connections between garments and historic art in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. While we wait to see what the stars wear on the first Monday in May, try sourcing art-inspired pieces of your own at Lexington’s secondhand shops. (Associated Press)
Are you taking advantage of all the savings opportunities for adults ages 50+? This list of tips can support your continued saving and help build additional wealth.*
Category
City
Crack the code to easy downtown parking
Parking in the Helix on Main Garage starts at $1 for 18 minutes on weekdays + $5 for the whole day on weekends. | Photo courtesy of @lexpark_
Raise your hand if downtown parking makes your palms sweat. Now, keep them raised if you’ve ever circled to find a spot, cried a little, then just decided to leave. Well, stress no more, we’re here to take the pressure out of parking downtown.
Rates
Parking + its prices is a topic everyone in LEX loves to talk about. So let’s get into it.
Street meters: From $0.75-$2 per hour — flat rate no matter the time
Garages: From $2 per hour-$6 per hour — rates vary depending on day + time
Lots: Varies based on location, time, day, and events
Pro tips
Street parking is free after 7 p.m. on weekdays + all day on the weekends.
Take your time and read the signs. If there’s red, it likely means there are some restrictions or specific hours for public parking.
While lots + meters accept cash or card, you can also re-up your meters and track your remaining time via your phone by downloading these apps: PaybyPhone, Parking.com, and Premium Parking.
It’s go time. Amazon’s Black Friday Week kicks off today as one of the best sales of the year. New deals drop daily, and these are today’s top five you don’t want to miss:
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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.
I’ll be attending Cafe Patachou’s soft opening this Thursday, so stay tuned for pictures, recommendations, and a behind the scenes review. As of now, I’m eyeing the Croissant French Toast and a house cold brew (in addition to the bottomless coffee bar), but anything is up to chance. What else is a must-try from the menu?
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