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DREAM
HOMES INSIDE AUGUST’S TOUR OF REMODELED HOMES
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TRUE GRITS
AN INTERVIEW WITH FOOD WRITER RONNI LUNDY PAGE 11
BOOKS ARE BACK WILD FIG TO RE-OPEN IN AUGUST IN NEW DIGS
AUGUST
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100 WORLDS TO DISCOVER NEW REGGIO PRESCHOOL NOW ENROLLING FOR AUGUST 2015 FLEXIBLE SCHEDULES AVAILABLE AGES 1-5 OPHLexington.com
Reggio-Inspired Early Education with Teeny-Tiny Class Sizes
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8 Calendar 10 Gigs August 2015 Volume 26, Number 8
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on the cover
CREATIVE DIRECTOR Tread Editorial Assistant Atanas Golev Contributing writers (online + print) Evan O. Albert, Kenny Colston, Kevin Faris, Brian Gardner, Brian Powers, Raj Ranade, Nick Stump, Kakie Urch, Heather C. Watson, Tom Yates —— Intern Tara Leisure —— Display Advertising 859.225.4889, ext. 235 ads@aceweekly.com Classified Advertising 859.225.4889, ext. 237 —— ACE is not responsible for unsolicited materials. ACE is published 24 times a year. COP Y R IGH T © 2015 We love mail! Send Letters to the Editor: editor@aceweekly.com 250 words or less. Include full name and daytime phone. To submit a calendar listing for consideration, email acelist@aceweekly.com. —— Display Ad deadlines are every Friday for the next week’s issue: Email ads@aceweekly.com. Space reservation, production art, and payment should be delivered no later than Fridays by Noon Distribution ACE is free, one per reader. Removal of more than one paper from any distribution point constitutes theft. Ace racks and boxes are private property. Distribution of any other publications in an Ace rack or Ace box constitutes criminal trespass (trespass includes but is not limited to: college publications, Yard Sale flyers, tagging, and so on).
p6 TOUR OF REMODELED HOMES
DEVELOP CONFIDENCE
news & views p4 BON APÉTIT Twenty questions with food writer Ronni Lundy
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p14 REAL ESTATE Recently sold in Fayette County
a&e p11 BOOKS ARE BACK Wild Fig to re-open in new location p13 GOT TOMATOES? Chef Tom knows gazpacho
Tuesday, August 4, 2015, 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Kentucky American Water 2300 Richmond Road in Lexington Parking: Southland Christian Church on Richmond Road, behind Applebee’s and McDonald’s. Shuttle buses will transport visitors across the street to Kentucky American Water’s property.
Come explore the world of water! Enjoy a family-friendly evening that provides an up-close look at water – from river to tap. We’ll have demonstrations, exhibits, refreshments, children’s activities and more!
(800) 678-6301 • www.kentuckyamwater.com
3 aceweekly.com August 2015 3 aceweekly.com
Feature
True Grits ...
20 questions with food author Ronni Lundy
“Cook with curiosity. Serve it up with love.”
A native of Corbin, Kentucky, RONNI LUNDY grew up in Louisville and is the author of Shuck Beans, Stack Cakes and Honest Fried Chicken; The Festive Table; Butter Beans to Blackberries: Recipes from a Southern Garden; and Sorghum’s Savor. She has served as a music and food critic at Louisville’s Courier Journal;, editor of Louisville Magazine and editor of Cornbread Nation 3: Foods of the Mountain South. She has received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Southern Foodways Alliance. She is currently at work on Victuals, out next year.
—Ronni Lundy’s culinary philosophy
I
f you’re already a fan of Kentucky native and food writer Ronni Lundy, you know not to pick up her new book, Sorghum’s Savor, expecting a conventional “cookbook.” The books that came before it — although they contain wondrous recipes — aren’t cookbooks either (Butter Beans to Blackberries; The Festive Table; and Shuck Beans, Stack Cakes and Honest Fried Chicken.) Her writing, then as now, would be better characterized as part anthropology, sociology, family history, travelogue, and part southern literary renaissance. She responds, “I would have to own that while I love to cook, recipe is not my primary interest in writing about food. I am profoundly grateful to those for whom it is and for their work, which informs mine, and I try to live up to good practice and honor great cooking when it comes to writing recipes, but I am as interested as much in why we are doing what we’re doing when we stand at the stove as the how. And that interest is personal, political, sociological and extremely historical. The great thing in writing about food (and the secret subtext hidden in many recipes) is its revelation of the voices of people who traditionally have not been consulted when history is told—even their own history. Recipe and cookbooks are where we hear what women’s lives were actually like in different eras, and what constituted daily life for the family. If you want to look at it in those terms, in food we learn the experiences of the humble, the
4 aceweekly.com August 2015
poor and the outcast as well as those who have it made. Food is an easy door into strange cultures and stories. Plus you get to eat while you’re doing all that research. “With Sorghum’s Savor, my interest in its past had to do with discovering why sorghum syrup—once made all across the continent—has persisted as a process and a beloved flavor in the mountain south when it has faded elsewhere. There were surprising lessons of politics and economics I discovered, but also there was the revelation of an ethos of independence, and the appreciation of complexity in taste (mixing your sweet with a little bitter and tart) that inform my understanding of the culture I come from. Maybe you could say that’s poetry in there, as well, then.” She incorporates a few non-traditional recipe options for sorghum in the new book (Rosh Hashanah bread, anyone?). Asked about other sorghum surprises she’s discovered along the way, she says
they weren’t all unexpected. “I knew it worked in Japanese, Korean and Chinese dishes because I’d been doing that for some time. I was surprised and delighted how beautifully it worked with Bengali recipes and with masala in general. That’s logical, of course, when you consider that jaggery is a traditional sweetener across India and is basically sugar without the molasses removed. We’re working in the same general flavor palate. “I also was intrigued to find it working with tequila. Bourbon was a given for me. I mean, they’re practically cousins, but the Sour-garita that Anna Bogle and Amelia Kirby came up with at Summit City Lounge in Whitesburg actually made me want to drink it. And I can tell you that tequila and I haven’t been on speaking terms for decades.” In the book, she describes sorghum syrup as having “what my mother would have called ‘a whang to it.’ That’s the slightly
sour taste that cozies up perfectly with the intense sweet of sorghum when it first hits the mouth. It resolves into a buttery resonance, what chefs like to call sorghum’s umami…” Which leads to questions about all the interesting ways she’s found to make the “whang” work for a dish. “I’m my mother’s daughter,” she says, “so ‘whang’ is always high on my list of great attributes for a food. I often put a spoonful of sorghum in a pot of something knowing you will never taste it flavor forward, but it will resonate in the overall experience. This works really nicely when cooking with meat, particularly in marinades. “Sometimes you don’t want that, though. Here’s how to think of it in musical terms: Sugar is a soprano; honey is alto; maple syrup is tenor sorghum is baritone. Imagine your recipe sung in a deeper voice. Sound like a good idea? Use sorghum then.”
Feature ”Sugar is a soprano; honey is alto; maple
syrup is tenor; sorghum is baritone. Imagine
your recipe sung in a deeper voice. Sound
like a good idea? Use sorghum then.”
L
undy has enjoyed a nomad’s life, having lived in Kentucky, Colorado, New Mexico, Tennessee, North Carolina, and points in between (once undertaking 23 moves in a two-year span). Asked how the peripatetic life has shaped her culinary point of view, she responds, “I thought it was 24. I still have a nomad’s heart, although I just move a lot slower now. And truthfully, I tend to track back and forth over the same small territory between the southeast and the southwest sparked by visiting other places. It’s good to eat at other tables. It broadens not just your repertoire, but your senses and expectations. It also gives you a perspective and appreciation of where you come from. I think there’s still a live link to The Zenchilada first issue where I wrote a story about The Corn Tortilla Nation, which is a riff on John Thorn’s designation of America as the Cornbread Nation. I could spend a lifetime thinking about the intricate interweaving of philosophy and spiritual meanings in our relationship with corn, but only if I see it from more than one
perspective, as living for seven years in New Mexico twice in my lifetime gave me. Lundy attended the University of Kentucky during the late 60s and early 70s, “three sophomore years,” as she puts it, one of the school’s more creatively fertile periods. She recalls, “I had a literature class taught by Guy Davenport and I’ll put that one semester up against a year of Ivy League anything...And I worked at the Morris Book Shop, which was downtown then, when downtown was downtown. I am excited to be coming to Morris on August 2 for a signing. Requiem for a shopgirl!” Lundy wrote about both music and food for the Courier Journal after she returned to Kentucky from New Mexico, but was far from a typical restaurant critic, acknowledging, “I was a little unusual in that I actually worked in restaurants for 12 years, front and some back of the house, before I started writing. I think that gave me a knowledge of how things worked, a little more compassion when they went
wrong and more genuine excitement when someone nailed it. I still take that with me to restaurants and I’m still pretty aware of what is going on around me/under the surface. I am less interested in being entertained by food these days than a critic can be, hallelujah. I’m more interested in being nourished by something real on the plate and something genuine in the people and experience. One thing that hasn’t changed is that I have little patience with disinterested service and none with haughty—which is sadly too much the norm.” Asked to remember the meanest thing anyone’s said about one of her books, she recalls with fondness, “Vince Staten got the idea one Christmas that a bunch of us at the paper who’d written books should rent a booth at a Book Fair they were holding at the KFEC. We’d take turns manning it over the weekend. I was sitting in a chair in the middle of the booth when a young guy and his friend walked up. He picked up a copy of Shuck Beans and said to his friend with utter disgust: ‘Ronni Lundy? The only thing she knows less about than food is music!’ I know it sounds like BS, but it cracked me up. As for the nicest thing anyone’s said about her books, she says, “There are two best things and the first is that with Shuck Beans particularly I’ve had people from the mountains tell me that it gave voice and credibility to their own stories. In the last couple of years, I’ve met young people returning to the mountains who have told me that book made them proud of where they came from. That’s remarkable to me, and always makes me cry. The other best thing? When I pull one of my first three cookbooks off the shelf at my daughter and son-in-law’s house, the pages are stained and the spines are beginning to crack.”
A
sked to elaborate on future projects, and whether she would characterize herself as semi-retired or just getting started, she says, “I would characterize myself as ‘too old for this sh...’ I am writing (and about to blow my deadline) a book called Victuals about the contemporary Appalachian sustainable food movement for Clarkson Potter. Pub date is July 2017. You will want it because
Bonus Lightning Round Name 5 things in your fridge right now: -3 1/2 quarts of half and half -half a jar of pickle beans, corn and cabbage from a local woman who sells it at the produce market up the road. -some garlic scapes I need to use quickly (I put some in a burger and that was yummy, but I was thinking it it was a little ground cabrito; I could have a Garlic Scape Goat Burger) -capers in a dry jar because I’ve been using the juice in deviled eggs -4 bags in various stages of full of different heirloom stoneground cornmeals What song would you sing to express your love for Kentucky at karaoke night? The Osborne Brothers’ Kentucky (That could change depending on the night and how much bourbon is involved. It’s a hard choice. There’s a lot of good music about Kentucky.) Quick: Is Lexington the South, or the Midwest? South. Don’t be silly. The restaurant meal you most miss from Kentucky: Mazzoni’s fried oysters. Any specific heirloom varieties you’re having a love affair with these days? Sheepnose and Crow’s Foot apples; some Nickell beans that Bill Best dried into Shuck Beans and blessed me with— like silk and velvet iron. I’m waiting impatiently for a Vinson Watts tomato to come on a plant in my window, which faces the South. If you had to get a food-related tattoo (and of course we don’t know that she doesn’t already have one), what would it be? A stalk of Bloody Butcher with a full red ear and a mess of white half runner beans twining up it. And thank heaven I don’t have a tattoo or we’d be having to treat those poor plants for some sort of sagging wilt.
Culinary Philosophy? Cook with curiosity. Serve it up with love.
it has the most stunning photography I have ever seen in food world. I’d tell you the name of my photographer and his wife, who is the food stylist, but I can’t afford anyone to hire them away just yet. Stay tuned…” Lundy will be signing her new book at Morris Book Shop on August 2. The full interview with Lundy is at aceweeky.com.
5 aceweekly.com August 2015
On the Cover
Makeover Madness
Eleven remodeled homes open their doors for August’s Tour of Remodeled Homes BY TARA LEISURE
L
ooking for a little inspiration before you renovate? Need a few ideas beyond what Pinterest and Property Brothers can offer? Lexington’s 24th annual Tour of Remodeled Homes in Lexington offers an opportunity to check out all those stainless steel appliances and granite counter tops in action before you start drilling or combing Angie’s List for your next contractor. Past tours have featured everything from aging-in-place upgrades, room-by-room, to lifestyle enhancing additions like outdoor spa areas and pool houses. The Tour of Remodeled Homes is presented by the Lexington Remodelers Council, a division of the Home Builders Association of Lexington, and has been a tradition in Lexington since 1991. The purpose of the tour is to showcase notable examples of state-of-the-art craftsmanship in Lexington. BACK Construction’s Rob Hundley is a fan of visual aids like Houzz.com for homeowners. The Tour represents an excellent opportunity for Show, don’t Tell. He recommends, “go into the tour with a game plan. What would you like to see? Are you considering a kitchen or bath or addition or…” He also has a word of advice about commentary, “Make notes as you visit as to what you do and do not like; being mindful the homeowner may be nearby so best to jot down those thoughts and not verbally express them to the crowd. Before and after the tour visit www.houzz.com and create idea books that can be used in the future for planning your remodel. The more information you can share visually with your remodeler the better.” Keitz Construction is on their third year of the Tour. This year’s project is an ambitious whole-home remodel, “taken down to the bare studs” according to owner Nick Keitz. From his perspective, one of the biggest challenges as a builder/ remodeler is “competing with non-insured, non-licensed people.” The Tour represents an opportunity for homeowners (and prospective homeowners) to view the work of licensed contractors and remodelers. Keitz’s advice is “don’t try to do all the projects in one day.” Chip Crawford of Crawford Builders said they have had projects on the tour every
6 aceweekly.com August 2015
year since its founding. He said that he normally meets 600-800 people during the two-day tour. This year’s home by Crawford Builders is a historic home from 1900, located on an 18 acre horse farm on Old Frankfort Pike. Their team has added 2500 square feet to the historic property, as well as a three car garage. The biggest change Crawford has seen since the beginning of the tour has been the popularity of energy efficiency. In incorporating the latest technologies, Crawford says they have made their 115-year old home twice as efficient as the average new home, earning a Home Energy Rating (HERS) of 43. Crawford said this can be done in a number of ways, from updating windows and doors to equipping a home with geothermal heating and cooling. Crawford said that while a remodeled home is typically more expensive than a new home, one should consider cost versus value. It is important for many growing families to have homes that cater to their unique needs. “A lot of people live in the houses through the project,” he said. “It’s a very intimate thing. You’re part of their family for six months to a year. You watch their children grow, you play with their dogs. It’s a real personal thing, you’re helping them create their dream version of what they want for their home.” Sandy Beck of the Homebuilders Association says, “The biggest benefit of this Tour is to be able to see each Remodeler’s work and actually talk to the Remodelers themselves – ask questions about your own potential projects. Each home has its own character and flair and what’s right for one home may not fit at all in the next. Getting ideas on the Tour and then advice from a Professional Remodeler on what will or will not work in your home is most advisable. Remodeling is serious business for the homeowner and choosing the right professional for the job is key to quality and a good result,” Beck said. Beck recommends that Tour visitors download the MyHomesFound app. “Review the projects before hitting the road and with the homes open only over one weekend, make note of the projects you are most interested in. If you are considering a kitchen or bath remodel, make those projects a priority. You never
know how your needs may change in life, so it’s fun to look at all of the projects to get ideas.” In recent years, the most popular features have been energy efficiency and technological advances. Beck says that outdoor living spaces, landscaping to enhance curb appeal, storage upgrades and kitchen and bath remodels are also always in demand when it comes to remodeling. The homes featured on the Tour of Remodeled homes are commonly already sold and are occupied because the purpose of their remodeling process stems from their owner’s vision. So the Tour isn’t a house hunting venture; think of it as more of an idea expo. The Home Builders Association of Lexington’s Grand Tour of Remodeled homes will begin at noon Saturday August 29. All homes will be open Noon -5:00pm Saturday and Sunday. The tour is self guided. Admission is $10. At your first stop you will pay your admission fee and receive a ticket and a guide book. At each subsequent stop on your self-guided Tour, show your ticket for admission.
A Sampling of this year’s tour projects include…. Outdoor Living on Tates Creek Road
BACK Construction Inc. worked with the homeowners to design a large outdoor living patio space with an outdoor kitchen and dining area to complement their swimming pool and patio. Some of the new finishes included custom exterior cabinets, antique wood privacy wall panels and trims, beaded wood ceilings, granite kitchen and bar countertops, as well as state of the art appliance and lighting amenities. The new outdoor living space consists of large double sided wood burning stone fireplace with antique wood mantle and an outdoor television and speaker audio system.
Multi-Room on Lakeside Court
With minimal improvements since this home was built in 1968, Conrad Construction Company took on the task of renovating the interior to update the décor, provide modern amenities and improve functionality. The main living areas
On the Cover
Top 10 Tips for Homeowners 1. Ask questions. Reliable remodelers and contractors expect you to have dozens. A home is a significant investment, and it’s where you spend the majority of your time outside work. There is no such thing as a stupid question when it comes to remodeling or custom building.
2. Ask for references and referrals. Most homeowners who are delighted with their recent remodel will be equally delighted to talk about their experience (and talk, and talk, and talk). 3. Be prepared, with time and money. Most remodels will take longer than you thought they would and cost more than you anticipated. Have a timeline and a budget, and a contingency plan for both. Don’t schedule a Family Reunion brunch for Noon on the day your contractors are scheduled to complete your new kitchen. 4. Calculate the costs. Would you rather invest in the home you have, custom build a new one, or buy a pre-existing dream home? There is no one-size-fits-all approach, so add up both the expenses and the lifestyle issues that matter most to you: Neighborhood? School districts? Commute? The cost and pain of moving? The cost and pain of washing your dishes in the basement bathroom for three months? Prospective remodelers will caution homeowners to keep in mind cost vs. value, because … of course they will. 5. Be Realistic. Think about how you use and enjoy your living space on a daily basis. You might love the all-white loft you just saw in the West Elm catalog… but do you have dogs or children? Do you plan to actually prepare or consume food in that kitchen? 6. Know Your limitations. If you fancy yourself a “handy” person, that might be a great asset when it comes to painting bookshelves on the weekends, but a true remodel usually involves plumbing, electrical, and building codes. Know when to safely DIY and when to call a professional. If you’re thinking about your budget, factor in what you will pay a professional to repair that re-wiring that caused a small fire. 7. Know what a change order is. Your contractor does, and you should too. 8. Prioritize. Know your wish list and your dealbreakers, your must-haves versus your fantasies. 9. Show, don’t tell. Provide visual samples of your remodeling goals. Have pictures, pins, and print-outs on hand. Of course that can be a little like going to the hairdresser and saying “make me look like Gwyneth Paltrow,” — remodelers won’t be able to transform your 1200 square foot condo into the 10,000 sq ft mansion you eyed on Pinterest — but they will be able to get a sense of your style and goals. 10. Think about the lifespan of your house. Will you be there for five years or 25 years? Is your family expanding, or are the kids going off to college soon? What is the resale value in your neighborhood? Have you considered aging in place, or do you plan a post-retirement move? Do Grandma and Grandpa plan to live out their golden years in the mother-in-law suite?
BACK Construction’s project on this year’s tour.
were gutted and reconfigured to provide for better flow and expanded spaces. The enlarged kitchen provides modern conveniences as well as design touches like leathered granite countertops and double islands. The family room design includes a built-in entertainment center, an updated slate fireplace and new hardwood floors. The Master Suite was enhanced by converting a bedroom into a walk-in closet and completely remodeling the Master Bathroom to include Carrera marble, a large walk-in shower, separate tub and double vanity.
Room Addition on Raintree Road
Conrad Construction Company designed and constructed a 450-square-foot addition to accommodate a living room, small office and powder room at this 1960s ranch house. Removing 20 linear feet of the rear wall opened up the kitchen and dining room (the former living room) to the new living area. Design features include custom built-ins, a vaulted ceiling and a corner gas fireplace. New hardwood floors were stained gray for a modern touch.This area boasts exposed pea gravel concrete and a covered porch featuring exposed cedar beams and rafters. To complete the space, a new custom-built outdoor brick fireplace adds both ambiance and function.
Addition on Old Frankfort Pike
Crawford Builders: This 1900 home was purchased by the current owners in the hopes of restoring its original character. A 2,600 square foot addition was added to the rear of the home, but everyone involved in the project strived to maintain the historical aesthetic. Wherever possible, existing materials and finishes were used including door hardware, the staircase handrail used as a kitchen island foot rail, and the original window glass used in the new kitchen cabinets. Under the surface, the home is well equipped with modern conveniences such as a central vac system, all new windows, geothermal heating and cooling, and a state of the art audio/ visual system. The existing home and the addition flow to best accommodate the modem day family with slight alterations to the footprint.
Multi-Room on Island Drive
LCM Construction, LLC This classic ranch home from the 70s needed more elbow room. The trees in the back yard, now mature, provided the inspiration for a sunroom addition. The kitchen/breakfast room that had once been the center of the family universe was ready for an update
PHOTO COURTESTY OF MAHAN PHOTOGRAPHY
and improved utilization of space. By removing a wall, the hallway from the rear entry door to the garage has now become part of the open plan that allows ease of access to the powder room, laundry room and either egress to the back yard or garage.
Whole House on Berry Lane
Vimont Builders, Inc. teamed up with Architect Alan Hisel and kitchen designer Scott Lewis to convert this 1950s starter house into a more spacious and livable home. The entire house was remodeled. There are two new full bathrooms. The new master bath boasts a walk-in tile shower. A new kitchen was added featuring Seville custom cabinets, new appliances and soapstone counter tops. The kitchen opens up into a newly added family room addition that has a rear wall of glass doors opening out onto a private covered porch. The glass wall provides natural lighting blurring the boundaries between the interior and exterior spaces. The home features hardwood flooring throughout with the refinished original flooring in the bedrooms, and reclaimed barn siding used in the foyer, kitchen and new family room.
7 aceweekly.com August 2015
mon
tues
2
August 15-16
9
a Purpose, 4:30 - 8 pm, Lyric Theatre
FUNDRAISER Picnic With
Sorghum’s Savor, 2 pm, Morris Book Shop
JAZZ
Half Past Lonesome, 7 pm,
SOUTHLAND JAMBOREE
10
7 pm, ballpark (through Wednesday)
BALL Legends v. Augusta,
Shoot the Piano Player, 7 pm, Farish Theatre (Library)
12 Classics: Charade, 1:30 pm &
FILM Hollywood Movie
8 pm, Al’s Bar
FILM Cult Film Series: Brazil,
Classics: The Black Cat, 7:15 pm, Kentucky Theatre
Classics: The Bride of Frankenstein, 1:30 pm, Kentucky Theatre
FILM Hollywood Movie
of Morgan Worldwide (now RESPEC). 5:30 pm, 146 E. Third.
TOUR Bluegrass Trust tour
5
Minority Business Expo, 3 pm, Lexington Convention Center (through Thursday)
FILM
11
BIZ Lexington Bluegrass Area
fri
9 pm, Triangle Park
Night Market, 6 - 10 pm, 700 block of Bryan Avenue
SHOP
FILM Fountain Films: Grease,
7
KIDS
SHOP
Market 301, 6 - 10 pm, 236 Jefferson Street (through Saturday)
Family film, Song of the Sea, 1 pm, Farish Theatre (Library)
FAMILY
Burgers, Bourbon, and Beer, 6 pm, The Grand Reserve
EAT
in Suburbia: The Stella Vees band, 7 pm, MoonDance Amphitheater
THURSDAY NIGHT LIVE
Lauren Mink Band, 5 pm,
Picnic With The Pops: Night on Bourbon Street 6 pm, Keeneland (thru Sat)
MUSIC
13 14
(Special Edition), 7pm, Farish Theatre
JAZZ Live at the Library
Float Day, 2 pm - close, A&W
DRINK National Root Beer
Legends v. Greenville, 7pm, ballpark (thru Sunday)
BALL
Branch Library
8
15
Run 5K, 8 pm, downtown
RUN Midsummer Night’s
Fastest Kid in Town, 4:30 pm, downtown
KIDS
Back to School Carnival, 12 pm - 3 pm, Lyric Theatre
KIDS
the Stars, 7 pm, MoonDance Amphitheatre
CONCERT Opera Under
Celebration, 11 am - 3 pm, Main Street A&W
EAT Grand Opening
Crafted Brews and Bands Festival, Shakertown (through Sunday)
DRINK Well
Back to School Rallies facilitated by the YMCA of Central Kentucky
KCT Summerfest, 8:30 pm, MoonDance (through Sun)
THEATRE Comedy of Errors
Stars, 9 pm, Woodland Park (through Sun)
1 DANCE Ballet Under the
sat
Red Cross Disaster Blaster Relief Fundraiser, 7 pm, Kentucky Horse Park
FUNDRAISER American
Zoolander, 8:45 pm, Triangle Park
MOVIES Fountain Films:
FILM Free screening of Who is MUSIC Summer Nights Dayani Cristal, 6:30 pm, Village
THURSDAY NIGHT LIVE The Big Maracas, 5 pm, Cheapside
6
for Harry Potter’s Birthday, 1 pm, Joseph-Beth
KIDS Tri-Wizard Tournament
DANCE Ballet Under the
Stars, 8 pm Woodland (through Sunday)
pm, Comedy Off Broadway (through Saturday)
COMEDY Greg Warren, 7:15
THEATRE KCT Summerfest:
Bobby Perry Band, 5pm, Cheapside
THURSDAY NIGHT LIVE The
The Comedy of Errors, 8:30 pm, MoonDance (through Sunday)
Classics: E.T. (1982), 1:30 and 7:15 pm, Kentucky Theatre
MOVIES Hollywood
FILM Hollywood Movie
Big Band & Jazz: Lexington Concert Band, 7 pm, Ecton Park
4
French classics series, A Summer’s Tale, 7 pm, Farish Theatre (Library)
FILM
thurs
August August
29 30 31
wed
SOUTHLAND JAMBOREE Scott Fields and Kentucky Blend, 7 pm, MoonDance Amphitheater
3
Woodland Art Fair
sun
READ Ronni Lundy signs
8 aceweekly.com August 2015
COMEDY Tom Segura, 7:15
Performance, 3 pm, Farish Theatre
MUSIC Cantabile
Lexington Junior League Rummage Sale, 9 am - 3 pm, Bodley Bullock House (Saturday and Sunday)
SHOP “Tossed and Found,”
Yetis, 3 pm, Talon Winery
GIGS Jazz on the Porch: Baja
Festival Mainstage Concert III, 2 pm, Fasig-Tipton Pavilion
30
MUSIC Chamber Music
Barnum & Bailey, Rupp Arena
CIRCUS Ringling Bros. and
Touch a Truck, 1 pm - 5 pm, Keeneland
KIDS
BALL
Legends v. Rome, 7 pm, ballpark (through Friday)
ART
“Capturing Light” The Photography of Nicole White and Gary Mesa-Galdo, Living Arts & Science Center
Avengers, 9pm, Triangle Park
READ
Kentucky Author Michael Crisp’s Blue Shirts, 2 pm, Joseph-Beth
ART
Opening Reception: Matt Minter: “Makeup Applied,” 6 pm, Institute 193
MUSIC
Lexington Lexington Block Party IV, 7:30 pm, Al’s Bar
& the Soul of Cash, 7pm, MoonDance Amphitheater
MUSIC Brian Owens
ART
Woodland Art Fair, 10 am - 6 pm, Woodland Park (thru Sun)
Classics: Rear Window, 1:30 pm & 7:15 pm, Kentucky Theatre
FILM Hollywood Movie
Skipjack, 8 pm, ArtsPlace
RED BARN RADIO
7:15 pm, Comedy Off Broadway (through Sunday)
COMEDY Auggie Smith,
Series w/Joe Deuce, Emory, The Chang, Heather Romero,
COMEDY Al’s Comedy
CASA, 5:30 pm, Farish Theater
FILM Documentary Night with
series, Brigitte Nguyen cooks from Mastering the Art of Southern Cooking, 7:30 pm, Morris Book Shop
EAT Pen to Plate dinner
Festival Opening Concert, 6:30 pm, Ashland
MUSIC Chamber Music
Republic, 5 pm, Cheapside Pavilion
THURSDAY NIGHT LIVE Conch
SHOP
Ultimate Outdoor Expo & Concert, KY Horse Park
EVENT
9 am, Keeneland
RUN Nathan’s Walk and Roll,
Block Party, 4-10 pm, 800 block of Euclid Avenue
FEST Chevy Chase Street Fair
MUSIC
block party (Warehouse Block), “Tossed and Found,” 5 -9 pm, North Ashland Ave. Lexington Junior League Rummage Sale, 9 am - 3 Summer Nights in pm, Bodley Bullock House Suburbia: Bridge 19, 7 pm, (Saturday and Sunday) MoonDance Amphitheatre
EVENT WaBlo’s inaugural
House, 6 pm, Loudoun House
MUSIC CMA Rocks the
Turbo Fruits, The Vespers, and Coralee and The Townies, 5 pm, Phoenix Park
MUSIC Phoenix Fridays:
19 20 21 22
7 pm, Farish Theatre
JAZZ Live at the Library,
#DriveOutCancer, 5 pm, Country Boy
FUNDRAISER
of the Line (documentary) 7 pm, Kentucky Theatre
FILM Sellus Wilder’s The End FILM Fountain Films: The
Black, 7:15 pm, Comedy Off Broadway (through Saturday)
COMEDY Michael Ian
Cheapside
Moondance Ampitheater.
SOUTHLAND JAMBOREE — 7 p.m. -
31
FILM French film classic series, Claire’s Knee, 7 pm, Farish Theatre, downtown Public Library.
Dove Creek, 7 pm, MoonDance Amphitheater
SOUTHLAND JAMBOREE
GOV
Aquatics Master Plan Town Hall Meeting, 6 - 9 pm, Farish Theatre
pm, Al’s Bar
(documentary) 6:30 pm, Farish Theatre (downtown Library)
FILM Most Likely to Succeed
Relay For Life, 5 - 9 pm, Hope Lodge
FUNDRAISER Hope Lodge
Festival Cabaret Concert, 7:30 pm, Natasha’s
MUSIC Chamber Music
Kenny Owens, 5 pm, Cheapside Pavilion
THURSDAY NIGHT LIVE
Prom “Same Love”, 8 pm midnight, Lyric Theatre
EVENT Pride Community
Mike Epps, 8 pm, Comedy Off Broadway (through Sunday)
COMEDY
Salute to Small Business, noon - 1:30 pm, Keeneland Entertainment Center
BIZ Commerce Lexington
Festival Mainstage Concert II, 7:30 pm, Fasig-Tipton Pavilion
MUSIC Chamber Music
w/ Ouita Michel, 6:30 pm, Shaker Village
EAT Classic Kentucky Meal
Festival, Masterson Station
FEST Moontower Music
HOME
Tour of Remodeled Homes (through Sunday)
SEPTEMBER 10-13 Kentucky Women Writers Conference SEPTEMBER 12 Doggie Paddle, Woodland Pool SEPTEMBER 18 Festival Latino, downtown SEPTEMBER 18 Secretariat Festival, Bourbon County
around the corner
READ Holler Poets Series, 9
Hawkins, 8 pm, ArtsPlace
RED BARN RADIO Dave
Shows, 9 am - 5 pm, Alltech Arena (through Sunday)
DOGS Bluegrass Classic Dog
Classics: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, 1:30 pm & 7:15 pm, Kentucky Theatre
FILM Hollywood Movie
Festival Mainstage Concert I, 7:30 pm, Fasig-Tipton Pavilion
MUSIC Chamber Music
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
Virginia Power, 7 pm, ballpark (through Wednesday)
BALL Legends v. West
SOUTHLAND JAMBOREE
Samantha Cunningham & Friends, 7 pm, MoonDance Amphitheater
French film classic Le Silence de la Mer, 7 pm, Farish Theatre inside Lexington Public Library, downtown
FILM
READ Richard Kadrey, Chuck
Wendig, and David Wellington: Killing Pretty, ZER0ES, and Positive, 7 pm, Joseph-Beth
ART
Experience the final funnelcake of the season, Woodland Art Fair, Woodland Park.
JAZZ Big Band & Jazz: Dave
18
Shelton Jazz Quintet, 7 pm, Ecton Park
17
Billy Coffey’s The Curse of Crow Hollow, 7 pm, JosephBeth
READ Appalachian Author
Series: Lunch Line, 6:30 pm, Farish Theatre
FILM Good Foods Film
Cook Quartet, 7 pm, Ecton Park
Sharecroppers, 8 pm, ArtsPlace
JAZZ Big Band & Jazz: Rick
series, La Vie de Boheme, 7 pm, Farish Theatre (inside Lexington Public Library, downtown)
RED BARN RADIO The
7:15 pm, Kentucky Theatre
FILM French film classic
MoonDance Amphitheater
Banks,” 5 pm, South Elkhorn Christian Church
MUSIC “Music on the
16
Rings & Pretty Things Bridal Show, 11 am - 5 pm, Kentucky Horse Park Alltech Arena
BRIDAL SHOW Diamond
pm, Comedy Off Broadway
9 aceweekly.com August 2015
GIGS SATURDAY, AUGUST 1
Quarter Way to Moonshiner’s Ball: Blind Corn Liquor Pickers | Gideon’s Rifle | The Solid Rock’it Boosters 9 pm Al’s Bar Jovontaes (Record Release) | Daryl Strawberry | Warm Deltas | Warhammer 9 pm Best Friend Bar Captain Midnight Band | Fat Box 8 pm Cosmic Charlie’s Matt Woods | Hannah Aldridge 9 pm The Green Lantern Jim Richardson | Greg Austin 8 pm Henry Clay’s Pub The Bats 8 pm Natasha’s Kung Fu Grip 9 pm O’Neill’s Tim McGraw | Billy Currington | Chase Bryant 7 pm Riverbend (Cincinnati) Jessie Lane Powell 8 pm Talon Winery
SUNDAY, AUGUST 2
Beat Awfuls | Pop Empire | Nerd Rage 9 pm Best Friend Bar Tunes in the Vines: Barry Frazee 2 pm Equus Run Vineyards Kid Rock | Foreigner 6:45 pm Riverbend (Cincinnati) Pulse | Smiling Politely 8 pm Willie’s
MONDAY, AUGUST 3
Folklords 8 pm Al’s Bar Elsinores | Wymns Prysn 9 pm Best Friend Bar Lee Owen hosts Grateful Monday 9 pm Cosmic Charlie’s Southland Jamboree: Stone Cold Grass 7 pm MoonDance Amphitheatre Tee Dee Young 8 pm Tee Dee’s Blues Bar Open Mic w/ Coralee 8 pm Willie’s Shania Twain | Gavin DeGraw 7:30 pm Yum Center (Louisville)
TUESDAY, AUGUST 4
Big Band & Jazz: Lexington Concert Band 7 pm Ecton Park The Beach Boys 8 pm Riverbend (Cincinnati) Matthew Anderson 8 pm Willie’s
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5
Blindside Drop | Trending Now | Nothing Official 10 pm Al’s Bar Circuit Des Yeux 9 pm Embrace Epworth Campus Emily Kopp 9 pm Natasha’s Gina Lane Watson 7 pm Sutton’s Jordan English 11 pm Tin Roof Taylor Hughes 8 pm The Twisted Cork Chuck Mead 8 pm Willie’s
THURSDAY, AUGUST 6
Big Atomic | Ondezvous | Champions of the Sun 9 pm Al’s Bar Thursday Night Live: The Big Maracas 5 pm Cheapside Pavilion Randall Big Daddy Webster 6 pm Ethereal Brewing Jazz Live at the Library 7 pm Farish Theatre The David Mayfield Parade 8 pm Willie’s
FRIDAY, AUGUST 7
Night Market After Party: Bruised Fruit | Lee Bryant 9 pm Al’s Bar Town Mountain | The Wooks 10 pm Cosmic Charlie’s Mike Archer 7 pm Equus Run Vineyards Fro-Jo’s Summer Concert Series: Five Below Band 8 pm Fro-Jo’s (Lexington Green) Greg Austin | Corey Kenton 8 pm Henry Clay’s Pub Summer Nights in Suburbia: The Stella Vees 7 pm MoonDance Amphitheatre The Fever 9 pm O’Neill’s Michael Corwin 6 pm Talon Winery Who is BC? 10:30 pm Tin Roof
SATURDAY, AUGUST 8
Fred C | Dark Child | Pharaoh Amu | J Elly 9 pm Al’s Bar Travis Harris & The West Coast Turnarounds 8 pm Austin City Saloon Jerk String | Hollywood Blanks 9 pm Best Friend Bar Citizen Cope 9 pm Headliners (Louisville) Greg Austin | Other Brothers 8 pm Henry Clay’s Pub Lex Jam 11 am Natasha’s The Fever 9 pm O’Neill’s The Smashing Pumpkins | Marilyn Manson 7 pm Riverbend (Cincinnati)
10 aceweekly.com August 2015
August 2015 Lera Lynn 7 pm Shaker Village (Harrodsburg) Taylor Hughes 8 pm The Twisted Cork
THE SMASHING PUMPKINGS AUGUST 8
SUNDAY, AUGUST 9
Restless Leg String Band 9 pm Cosmic Charlie’s Tunes in the Vines: Lisa Allen 2 pm Equus Run Vineyards Jeff Werckle 8 pm The Green Lantern
MONDAY, AUGUST 10
Southland Jamboree: Half Past Lonesome 7 pm MoonDance Amphitheatre Open Mic w/ Coralee 8 pm Willie’s
TUESDAY, AUGUST 11
Big Band & Jazz: Rick Cook Quartet 7 pm Ecton Park J. Cole | Big Sean 6:30 pm Riverbend (Cincinnati)
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12
Red Barn Radio: The Sharecroppers 8 pm ArtsPlace Adron 9 pm Natasha’s Jordan English 11 pm Tin Roof
THURSDAY, AUGUST 13
Jennifer Hal | Warren Byrom | Caleb Jones 7 pm Al’s Bar Wild Man Pebo Wilson 8 pm Austin City Saloon Dr Paul 8 pm Best Friend Bar Thursday Night Live: Lauren Mink Band 5 pm Cheapside Pavilion Jazz Live at the Library 7 pm Farish Theatre Mitch Barrett 9 pm Natasha’s Jacob Powell 7 pm Tin Roof Grits & Soul 8 pm Willie’s
FRIDAY, AUGUST 14
Those Crosstown Rivals | Derek Spencer & Chip Minks | Ned Van Go 8 pm Al’s Bar Hate to Skate 8 pm Best Friend Bar Fro-Jo’s Summer Concert Series: The Banditos 8 pm Fro-Jo’s (Lexington Green) Kerchief 8 pm The Green Lantern Picnic With the Pops: Louis Armstrong Tribute “Night on Bourbon Street”: Lexington Philharmonic | Wycliffe Gordon | The International All Stars 6 pm Keeneland Summer Nights in Suburbia: Brian Owens & the Soul of Cash 7 pm MoonDance Amphitheatre Julia Knight 9 pm Natasha’s Radio 80 9 pm O’Neill’s
SATURDAY, AUGUST 15
Lexington Block Party IV: Ellie Herring | Normads | Englishman | Nerdrage | Whitehall Bear | Jerk String | Dr. Paul’s Big Trouble | DJ Saxon 7:30 pm Al’s Bar Alma Gitana 9 pm Natasha’s Radio 80 9 pm O’Neill’s
SUNDAY, AUGUST 16
Tunes in the Vines: Here for the Party 2 pm Equus Run Vineyards Banditos 8 pm Willie’s Custom Made Bluegrass 10 am Woodland Art Fair
MONDAY, AUGUST 17
Snafu | Nerd Rage 9 pm Best Friend Bar Southland Jamboree: Samantha Cunningham & Friends 7 pm MoonDance Amphitheatre Def Leppard | Styx | Tesla 7 pm Riverbend (Cincinnati) Tee Dee Young 8 pm Tee Dee’s Blues Bar Open Mic w/ Coralee 8 pm Willie’s
8 pm Al’s Bar Red Barn Radio: Skipjack 8 pm ArtsPlace The Channels 9 pm Best Friend Bar Wick-It The Instigator 10 pm Cosmic Charlie’s John Ford 4 pm Parlay Social Gina Lane Watson 7 pm Sutton’s Jordan English 11 pm Tin Roof John Ford 8 pm Willie’s
THURSDAY, AUGUST 20
State Champion | Animal City | Jive Hounds | Whitehall Bear 9 pm Best Friend Bar Thursday Night Live: Conch Republic 5 pm Cheapside Pavilion Bad Sign 9 pm Natasha’s Danny Kroha 8 pm Willie’s
FRIDAY, AUGUST 21
Jamaican Queens | Italian Beaches 9 pm Al’s Bar Warhammer | GT 8 pm Best Friend Bar Summer Nights in Suburbia: Bridge 19 7 pm MoonDance Amphitheatre Caught Red Handed 9 pm O’Neill’s Special Session 9 pm Natasha’s Husky Burnette 5 pm Parlay Social Phoenix Fridays: Turbo Fruits | The Vespers | Coralee and The Townies 5 pm Phoenix Park John Ford 6 pm Talon Winery Husky Burnette 9 pm Willie’s
SATURDAY, AUGUST 22
Warren Byrom | Fanged Robot 8 pm Best Friend Bar Ancient Warfare 8 pm CD Central The Twiggenburys 1 pm Chevy Chase Street Fair Horseshoes & Hand Grenades 10 pm Cosmic Charlies Caught Red Handed 9 pm O’Neill’s The Bobby Perry Band 9 pm Parlay Social Harpeth Hill 10 pm Tin Roof
SUNDAY, AUGUST 23
Elsinores | Flip Shit | Beast Man 8 pm Best Friend Bar Saving Abel 10 pm Cosmic Charlie’s Big Band & Jazz: Dave Shelton Jazz Quintet 7 pm Ecton Park
Restless Leg String Band 9 pm Cosmic Charlie’s Tunes in the Vines: Dudley Roberts & Steve Gullette 2 pm Equus Run Vineyards CRAVE Food + Music Festival Masterson Station Fairgrounds Lexi-Fest 6 pm Natasha’s Jason Aldean | Cole Swindell | Tyler Farr 7:30 pm Riverbend (Cincinnati)
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19
MONDAY, AUGUST 24
TUESDAY, AUGUST 18
Singer Songwriter Showcase: Minks | Those Crosstown Rivals
Southland Jamboree: Dove Creek 7 pm MoonDance
Amphitheatre Tee Dee Young 8 pm Tee Dee’s Blues Bar Open Mic w/ Coralee 8 pm Willie’s
TUESDAY, AUGUST 25
Chicago | Earth Wind & Fire 7:30 pm Riverbend (Cincinnati)
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26
Red Barn Radio: Dave Hawkins 8 pm ArtsPlace Blues Traveler 7 pm Bogart’s (Cincinnati) Jordan English 11 pm Tin Roof Wayne Hancock 8 pm Willie’s
THURSDAY, AUGUST 27
Hivelords | Arktos | Dirtbag 9 pm Al’s Bar DJ Lee 9 pm Best Friend Bar Thursday Night Live: Kenny Owens 5 pm Cheapside Pavilion Tom Green 9 pm Natasha’s Joe Cat 8 pm Willie’s
FRIDAY, AUGUST 28
Brown Sugar Hip Hop Showcase w/ Devine Carama 9 pm Al’s Bar Bizarre Czars | Jay Elly | Real that Poet | The Indigo Kids 9 pm Best Friend Bar Summer Nights in Suburbia: Bear Medicine 7 pm MoonDance Amphitheatre Mipso 9 pm Natasha’s Encore of Lexington 8 pm O’Neill’s Brad Paisley | Justin Moore | Mickey Guyton 7:30 pm Riverbend (Cincinnati) Mike Archer 6 pm Talon Winery The Misty Mountain String Band 8 pm Willie’s
SATURDAY, AUGUST 29
Hip Hop Showcase: Vegan Death | ATTEMPT | Idiot Glee 2 pm Al’s Bar DJ Jamples 9 pm Best Friend Bar Moontower Music Festival Masterson Station The Johnson Brothers 8 pm Natasha’s Encore of Lexington 8 pm O’Neill’s
SUNDAY, AUGUST 30
Tunes in the Vines: Alma Gitana 2 pm Equus Run Vineyards Joseph Huber 8 pm The Green Lantern Jazz on the Porch: Baja Yetis 3 pm Talon Winery
MONDAY, AUGUST 31
Van Halen | The Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band 7:30 pm Riverbend (Cincinnati) Tee Dee Young 8 pm Tee Dee’s Blues Bar
A&E
Local Matters: BY ATANAS GOLEV
“The success of small brick and mortars is what
A
rtist Ronald Davis and author Crystal Wilkinson originally opened the Wild Fig bookstore in 2011, taking over the Leestown Road space formerly occupied by Morgan Adams Books. Wilkinson is an award-winning Kentucky author and “the godmother of creative writing in Lexington” (according to author Gurney Norman). Wilkinson’s husband, Davis, had supplemented his artist’s income by working part time at Morgan Adams. The couple were longtime residents of the Meadowthorpe neighborhood, and they opened the store to great neighborhood and literary acclaim in the summer of 2011. The move seemed a brave one — opening a brick and mortar bookstore just as the increased competition from Amazon was shutting down bookstores all over the country — but the couple didn’t think of it that way. Wilkinson wrote at the time, “Of course we’ve all heard the stories about the large book chains closing and I have mourned the closing of every single independent across the country, many of which I visited last time I was on a book tour. But brave? I’ve never thought of myself in those exact terms. Unrestrained, maybe? Careless? No. Mostly it’s simply that I don’t believe the hype. A day and a time when ink and paper books don’t exist. Pshaw!” Wilkinson and Davis thought the store would work because of the solid foundations that had already been laid at that location. Previous owners Mary Morgan and David Adams had spent more than two decades on the bookstore. There were also great business neighbors in the Meadowthorpe neighborhood. And in a day and age when there is so much onscreen to compete with, the two felt maintaining the spirit of ink and paper books is crucial. “We want our children and grandchildren to continue to read ink and paper books,” said Wilkinson. “As book lovers and writers and being an artistic couple, of course we jumped at the chance to be brick and mortar bookstore owners.”
T
he two found retail to be a rocky road. Chains like Half-Price Books (with two Lexington locations) could afford to compete vigorously on used book prices, both buying and selling, and on convenient locations. Small businesses often operate on a thin margin, and unexpected expenses — like a brick through their plate glass window — proved to be devastating. Unfortunately, after three and a half years
A brick and mortar bookstore comeback
supports the interests of the larger stores seeking growth in our city and state —but we can’t
abandon one for the other... there is room for all.” —author and bookstore owner, Crystal Wilkinson
Wild Fig bookstore owners Crystal Wilkinson and Ronald Davis in front of the former location on Leestown. They expect to re-open a new version of Wild Fig in August on North Limestone (top photo).
in business, the store closed just after Valentine’s Day this year.
“
When we closed,” Wilkinson says, “we weren’t 100 percent certain that we even would reopen, and if so, we thought it would be two or three years down the line —at the earliest.” Wilkinson and Davis had considered relocating the store last year and had been in discussions with North Limestone develop-
ers, but nothing had panned out. However, in April of this year, NoLi landlord Griffin VanMeter contacted the two and said his group had acquired more property that they could consider if they were still interested. “Of course we were! One of the primary draws to North Limestone is not just its increasing potential for retail, but the fact that so many of those who supported our old store actually lived in the N. Lime area —that was
a crucial detail and deciding factor for us with considering a reopening so soon after our initial closing.” Of course, there will still be challenges for Wild Fig to overcome. “Owning a bookstore has become somewhat of a niche market,” Wilkinson admits, “especially for used-book stores: you must cater to a certain group of readers or run the risk of not surviving. But we didn’t cater to a niche with the old store and national chains have cornered the general interest for used books here in Lexington; though we paid out the most in acquisitions, we lost out to the convenience of presence and accessibility that the chains represented.” To remain viable, Wild Fig will be more specific in its reopening to meet the needs of the current market. It will cater more to patrons’ specific interests and not be as much of a used-book catch-all, especially in the new, smaller location. In addition, Wild Fig will now carry more new books than old, and will expand upon the limited coffee service. The new Wild Fig will now offer lattes and smoothies, and limited selections of additional items like jewelry and clothing from local craftspeople. (Farther south on Limestone, Third Street Coffee has succeeded with a similar approach for decades, but not without also encountering a few bumps in the road). The shifts also almost sparked a rebrand. “The new store is going to be so drastically different than the old one that we weren’t even wanting to reuse the same name.” Davis was leaning toward Proust Face Killah and NoLi-brary while Wilkinson was seeking additional inspiration from the works of the famous Lexington native and poet Gayl Jones (Wild Fig Books derives its name from her poem “Wild Figs And Secret Places”). “Prior to that we had considered using Jones’ poem, ‘Xarque,’ as our original name. Her work has inspired us so much in our own creative endeavors —it seems only fitting that our store pays tribute to her literary legacy.” Ultimately, Wilkinson and Davis decided to keep the name. The mission also remains the same: to preserve, support, and advance the local literary community. “For Lexington (or any city, really) to remain vital, it HAS to support independent and local operators across every industry. It’s the independent operators who actually attempt to target the needs of the local culture and countercultures. The success of small brick and mortars is what supports the interests of the larger stores seeking growth in our city and state —but we can’t abandon one for the other... there is room for all; as consumers, we just have to make the conscious choice that local also matters.”
11 aceweekly.com August 2015
New in Lexington restaurant news BY ATANAS GOLEV
NEWS
A&W Burgers Chicken Floats is opening in downtown Lexington on 652 Main Street on August 8 (Grand Opening Celebration is 11 am to 3 pm). The new Main Street A&W will partner with two charities during the Grand Opening Week (Aug 3 - 9) and will donate 50 percent of sales to Wounded Warrior Project and the Lexington Humane Society. Buddha Lounge has opened at 109 N. Mill Street offering fresh sushi, sashimi, and nonsushi menu items like Korean tacos.
Far left: Crank and Boom Ice Cream Bar recently opened in Lexington’s Distillery District. Above: Street Craves has opened in the former Hugh Jass burgers location near campus. Left: The Press, a juice bar and cafe, is scheduled to open in August in Woodland Park.
Crank and Boom ice cream lounge has opened in the Distillery District.
Freakin’ Unbelievable Burgers, a fastcasual artisanal burger joint and Street Craves have opened in the former Hugh Jass burgers location near campus. Don and Barb Wathen have sold Nick Ryan’s on Jefferson to the group that owns Suggins and the Tulip on Romany Road. Chef John Foster’s new farm-to-table concept, the Sage Rabbit, opened in late July on S. Ashland.
The Press, a full-service juice bar and cafe, is expected to open in August in the former La Petite Creperie location at Kentucky Avenue in Woodland Park.
LEXINGTON’S FOOD AND RESTAURANT CALENDAR Summertime Soul Dinner at the Holly Hill Inn on Friday, July 31 at 6:30 pm. Chef Ouita and the Holly Hill Inn staff create a soul food buffet to accompany a concert on the lawn. Doors open at 6:30 pm; buffet served at 7 pm. Cocktails, wine and craft beer available. Call for reservations: 859.846.4732. Ronni Lundy will sign her new book, Sorghum’s Savor, on Aug. 2 at Morris Book Shop.
12 aceweekly.com August 2015
A&W Burgers Chicken Floats celebrates National Root Beer Float Day on Aug. 6 from 2 pm until close. Stop by any A&W location in Lexington and receive a FREE small root beer float, just by asking. Burgers, Bourbon, and Beer is at the Grand Reserve on 903 Manchester Street on Friday, August 7. This 2nd annual event benefits Arbor Youth Services, Inc. Join for live music, a silent auction, and more. Friday, August 7 at 11 a.m. is Food Truck Friday at Cheapside Pavillion.
Well Crafted Brews + Bands Festival is at the Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill on August 8. The festival celebrates local music and food and craft beer while raising funds for sustainable environmental initiatives and programs. Participating breweries include Goose Island, Sierra Nevada, Rooster Brew, New Belgium, Blue Stallion, and West Sixth. Food vendors include Crank + Boom, Rolling Oven, Red State BBQ, and Great Bagel. The 2015 music lineup includes Lera Lynn, Great Peacock, Tyler Childers + The Foodstamps, etc.
A&W Burgers Chicken Floats hosts the Grand Opening Celebration of the Main Street A&W on August 8 between 11 am and 3 pm. There will be prizes, music, and games for the whole family. You will also be eligible to win free Root Beer Floats for a year. Holy Smokes BBQ Contest at the Clark County Farmers’ Market on Depot Street in Winchester at 12:30 pm August 8. Local pit masters go head to head to a BBQ cook off. Guest Chef Night at Best Friend Bar features Stephania Sharkey and Johnny Shipley of County Club on Sunday, Aug. 16.
Morris Book Shop hosts a Pen to Plate Dinner on August 20 at 7:30 pm. Chef Brigitte Nguyen cooks from Mastering the Art of Southern Cooking, by Nathalie Dupree and Cynthia Graubart. Each monthly 16-person dinner Pen to Plate Dinner connects diners directly with the chefs, the books, and the food. Sip & Shop to benefit the American Cancer Society is at Country Club Prep on Thursday, August 20. 15% of sales from 5:30 - 8:30 pm will go to the ACS.
Chamber Corn Fest is at Baldwin Farms in Richmond on Saturday, August 22 from 4 - 8 pm. The first ever Chamber Corn Fest features food, kid-friendly games, contests, and more. For more info, call 859.623.1720. Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill hosts a Fresh Food Adventure on August 29 at 6:30 pm featuring a classic Kentucky meal with Ouita Michel. The famed Kentucky chef is preparing a fresh-from-the-garden meal featuring recipes from Rona Roberts’ Classic Kentucky Meals. To submit a Lexington, Kentucky food, wine, or spirits news item for consideration in Ace’s Best Bites, email acelist@aceweekly.com. To submit a Lexington Food, Wine, or Spirits Event to be considered for the Ace calendar, please go to the Ace online calendar, and click “Submit” (upper right on the Menu bar). For restaurant advertising, call Ace Advertising at 859.225.4889 x229.
FOOD
Farmers Market Gazpacho
I
strolled downtown early this morning to pick up fresh produce for a gazpacho supper. I had my proper reusable bags and wore a smart market outfit with the attitude to match. Even at that early hour, it was bustling. I usually make a couple of passes through the vendors surveying what is available and what looks best. Stall after stall of bursting ripe vegetables. Almost everyone had their samples sliced open to tempt with their juicy insides. Honeydew, and watermelon from an Amish community in western Kentucky —the same Amish community my parents frequented for their produce. There were rows of heirloom tomatoes from Scott, Madison, Jessamine, and Casey counties. Dotted in and through the produce stalls were stands selling fresh local cheeses and meats. Ears of corn were pulled halfway open to reveal their Silver Queen, Peaches And Cream, or Supersweet identities. By my second pass through the stalls, I remembered that I was actually there for gazpacho ingredients. My third pass meant serious business. I needed bulky tomatoes for the juicy base of the soup. As I scoured the stands for not-pretty-buttasty tomato seconds, I managed to find my favorite farm from Jessamine County selling Big Uglies, as they call them. Big, ugly, and cheap. Score. I picked up purple and green bell peppers that were incredibly fresh. Warm and soft. Flaccid, in a good way. Assorted cherry tomatoes from Madison County would be the perfect garnish for my market soup. A tri colored basket of Sungold, Black Cherry, Yellow Pearl, and Orange Grape fit the bill. Next door, I found fresh picked greentopped purple onions from Scott County along with Candied Onions and garlic. On the other side of the stall, I found tiny cucumbers. Cornichon size. Adorable. Maybe not for gazpacho, but what the hell? Two pints. Just down from the wonderfully smelling omlette station, I
FOOD
By Tom Yates
found good medium sized cucumbers that appeared very plump and ideal for soup. My bags were very full with everything I needed along with some things I didn’t need, but simply had to have. By the time I finished, the market had gotten very crowded. Maneuvering through the masses with large heavy bags was a challenge. Dodging leashed pets and strollers was nearly impossible. I made it home with my stash and started mincing, chopping, and peeling everything for the gazpacho. I took the large Uglies and dropped them into simmering water for 5 seconds to release the skin for peeling, pureed them into juice, and set them aside. I didn’t bother straining the seeds. After finely dicing cucumbers, peppers, onions, and garlic, I pureed half for body and left the remainder for texture. Once I quartered the tri colored tiny tomatoes, I combined everything and seasoned it with kosher salt and cracked black pepper. Olive oil, sherry vinegar, and fresh parsley finished it off. Some recipes call for canned juice. The juice from today’s tomatoes was so pure and sweet, I didn’t even want to mask it. I covered the bowl to refrigerate overnight and blend flavors, but not without having a bowl straight away while it was still warm from the summer sun. No need for the gazpacho police here. I realize this is not authentic Andalusion gazpacho. I adore the pureed tomato, bread, and garlic version as well as the next person. I wasn’t going for an authentic culinary stroll through the streets of Seville. I just wanted a garden party in my mouth.
13 aceweekly.com 13 aceweekly.com August 2015
REAL ESTATE
Real Estate — Properties recently sold in Fayette Co.
In real estate news
T
he Tour of Remodeled Homes is August 29 and August 30, noon to 5 pm.
40503
*Source: Lexington PVA
40502
Jul 15
Jul 13
1118 Slashes Rd
$725,500
Jul 13
532 Clinton Rd
$655,000
Jun 5
1501 Tates Creek Rd
$355,000
Jul 13
250 Cochran Rd
$350,000
Jul 15
753 Malabu Dr
$330,000
Jul 17
3421 Freeland Ct
$277,000
Jul 14
708 Tremont
$234,000
Jul 10
734 Tremont
$225,000
Jun 15
3444 Belvoir
$220,000
Jul 16
931 Aurora
$199,000
294 Sherman Ave
Jul 15 Jul 7
$170,000
1103 Richmond Rd, 301
Jun 30
305 Bassett
Jul 10
158 St. Philip Dr
$150,000
14 aceweekly.com August 2015
$129,641 $112,000
Jul 8
Jul 17
Jun 26
Jul 7
Jul 14
Jul 17
Jun 29
Jun 30 Jul 10
Jun 22
$257,000
3125 Cottontail
Jul 10
333 Grasmere Dr
Jul 15
Jul 17
$314,800
3140 Arrowhead Dr
Jul 10
Jul 6
Jun 30
105 Southport Dr
2576 Millbrook
3510 Mellinocket Ct
449 Marblerock Way
497 Severn Way
460 Longview Dr
681 Wellington Way 220 Southport Dr
334 E. Lowry Lane
125 Suburban Ct
474 Denver Ln
2800 Clays Mill
636 Worcester Rd
491 Stratford Dr
$305,000
$219,900
$185,000
$184,000
$175,000
40504 Jul 17 Jul 7
Jul 10
Jun 13
1639 Duntreath Dr
816 Mason Place Ct
320 S. Broadway Park
Jul 15
Jul 16
Jul 17
454 Parkway Dr
1794 Beacon Hill Rd
3224 Alexandria Ct
1513 Pine Meadow Rd
Jun 30
$167,900
Jul 10
$157,500
Jul 9
Jul 2
251 Simpson Ave, #222
$166,500
$145,000
$144,000
$143,500
$132,000 $129,000
$126,900 $121,000
Jul 10 Jul 9
40505 Jul 15 Jul 2 Jul 9
820 Della Dr
913 Lane Allen Rd
1858 Normandy Rd
1725 Shenandoah Dr
1785 Courtney Av
875 Johnsdale Dr
620 Bellcastle Rd
$93,900
Jul 16
220 Blue Grass Ave
$74,000
$220,000
Jul 8
1703 Raleigh Rd
$60,000
$200,000
Jul 9
828 E. Seventh St
$60,000
$180,700
Jun 25
951 Marcellus Dr
$179,000
Jul 16
873 Darley Dr
$39,000
$18,000
$140,000
$140,000 $140,000
$126,500
$104,900 $95,000
40508 Jul 13
304 E. Maxwell
$302,000
Jul 14
545 Elm Tree Lane
$175,000
Jun 30
650 S. Mill, #307
$171,000
129 Rand Ave
Jul 2
1753 Bellechasse Dr
$273,000
$160,000
$145,000
$182,500
Jul 9
201 Price Rd #127
$40,000
$125,000
Jul 16
806 Charles Av
$10,600
$130,000
463 Silver Maple Way
Jul 16
$122,500
Free Will Astrology
By Rob Breszny
ARIES (March 21-April 19): “I am very much in love with no one in particular,” says actor Ezra Miller. His statement would make sense coming out of your mouth right about now. So would this one: “I am very much in love with almost everyone I encounter.” Or this one: “I am very much in love with the wind and moon and hills and rain and rivers.” Is this going to be a problem? How will you deal with your overwhelming urge to overflow? Will you break people’s hearts and provoke uproars everywhere you go, or will you rouse delight and bestow blessings? As long as you take yourself lightly, I foresee delight and blessings. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): In her io9.com article on untranslatable words, Esther Inglis-Arkell defines the Chinese term wei-wu-wei as “conscious nonaction . . . a deliberate, and principled, decision to do nothing whatsoever, and to do it for a particular reason.” In my astrological opinion, the coming days would be a favorable time to explore and experiment with this approach. I think you will reap wondrous benefits if you slow down and rest in the embrace of a pregnant pause. The mysteries of silence and emptiness will be rich resources. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): “I always liked sidepaths, little dark back-alleys behind the main road — there one finds adventures and surprises, and precious metal in the dirt.” The character named Dmitri Karamazov makes that statement in Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s novel The Brothers Karamazov. And now I’m thinking that you might like to claim his attitude as your own. Just for a while, you understand. Not forever. The magic of the side paths and back-alleys may last for no more than a few weeks, and then gradually fade. But in the meantime, the experiences you uncover there could be fun and educational. I do have one question for you, though: What do you think Dmitri meant by “precious metal in the dirt”? Money? Gold? Jewelry? Was he speaking metaphorically? I’m sure you’ll find out. CANCER (June 21-July 22): “Sometimes the road less traveled is less traveled for a reason,” says comedian Jerry Seinfeld. His implication is that rejecting traditional strategies and conventional wisdom doesn’t always lead to success. As a professional rebel myself, I find it painful to agree even a little bit with that idea. But I do think it’s applicable to your life right now. For the foreseeable future, compulsive nonconformity is likely to yield mediocrity. Putting too much emphasis on being unique rather than on being right might distract you from the truth. My advice: Stick to the road more traveled. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): I expect you to be in a state of constant birth for the next three weeks. Awakening and activation will come naturally. Your drive to blossom and create may be irresistible, bordering on unruly. Does that sound overwhelming? I don’t think it will be a problem as long as you cultivate a mood of amazed amusement about it. (P.S. This upsurge is a healthy response to the dissolution that preceded it.) VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Expiration dates loom. Fond adieus and last laughs and final hurrahs are on tap. Unfinished business is begging you to give it your smartest attention while there’s still time to finish it with elegance and grace. So here’s my advice for you, my on-the-verge friend: Don’t save any of your tricks, ingenuity, or enthusiasm for later. This IS the later you’ve been saving them for. You are more ready than you realize to try what has always seemed improbable or inconceivable before now. Here’s my promise: If you handle these endings with righteous decisiveness, you will ensure bright beginnings in the weeks after your birthday. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): A company called Evil Supply sells a satirical poster that contains the
following quote: “Be the villain you were born to be. Stop waiting for someone to come along and corrupt you. Succumb to the darkness yourself.” The text in the advertisement for this product adds, “Follow your nightmares . . . Plot your own nefarious path.” Although this counsel is slightly funny to me, I’m too moral and upright to recommend it to you — even now, when I think there would be value in you being less nice and polite and agreeable than you usually are. So I’ll tinker with Evil Supply’s message to create more suitable advice: “For the greater good, follow your naughty bliss. Be a leader with a wild imagination. Nudge everyone out of their numbing routines. Sow benevolent mischief that energizes your team.” SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): “Every time you resist acting on your anger and instead restore yourself to calm, it gets easier,” writes psychologist Laura Markham in Psychology Today. In fact, neurologists claim that by using your willpower in this way, “you’re actually rewiring your brain.” And so the more you practice, the less likely it is that you will be addled by rage in the future. I see the coming weeks as an especially favorable time for you to do this work, Scorpio. Keeping a part of your anger alive is good, of course — sometimes you need its energy to motivate constructive change. But you would benefit from culling the excess. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Much of the action in the world’s novels takes place inside buildings, according to author Robert Bringhurst. But characters in older Russian literature are an exception, he says. They are always out in the forests, traveling and rambling. In accordance with astrological omens, I suggest that you draw inspiration from the Russians’ example in the coming days. As often and as long as you can, put yourself in locations where the sky is overhead. Nature is the preferred setting, but even urban spots are good. Your luck, wisdom, and courage are likely to increase in direct proportion to how much time you spend outdoors. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Has a beloved teacher disappointed you? Are there inspirational figures about whom you feel conflicted because they don’t live up to all of your high standards? Have you become alienated from a person who gave you a blessing but later expressed a flaw you find hard to overlook? Now would be an excellent time to seek healing for rifts like these. Outright forgiveness is one option. You could also work on deepening your appreciation for how complicated and paradoxical everyone is. One more suggestion: Meditate on how your longing for what’s perfect might be an enemy of your ability to benefit from what’s merely good. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): French and Italian readers may have no problem with this horoscope. But Americans, Canadians, Brits, and Aussies might be offended, even grossed out. Why? Because my analysis of the astrological omens compels me to conclude that “moist” is a central theme for you right now. And research has shown that many speakers of the English language find the sound of the word “moist” equivalent to hearing fingernails scratching a chalkboard. If you are one of those people, I apologize. But the fact is, you will go astray unless you stay metaphorically moist. You need to cultivate an attitude that is damp but not sodden; dewy but not soggy; sensitive and responsive and lyrical, but not overwrought or weepy or histrionic. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Which signs of the zodiac are the most expert sleepers? Who best appreciates the healing power of slumber and feels the least shame about taking naps? Which of the twelve astrological tribes are most inclined to study the art of snoozing and use their knowledge to get the highest quality renewal from their time in bed? My usual answer to these questions would be Taurus and Cancer, but I’m hoping you Pisceans will vie for the top spot in the coming weeks. It’s a very favorable time for you to increase your mastery of this supreme form of self-care.
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