Paducah Life is published six times a year for the Paducah area. All contents copyright 2025 by Mazzone Communications. Reproduction or use of the contents without written permission is prohibited. Comments written in this magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the ownership or management of Paducah Life. Subscription rate is $29.95 for six issues. Subscription inquiries, all remittances and all advertising inquiries should be sent to Paducah Life, 2780 D New Holt Rd. #346, Paducah, KY 42001. Phone: (270) 556-1914. This magazine accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, photography or artwork. All submissions may be edited for length, clarity and style.
SOMETIMES THINGS DO COME FULL CIRCLE.
In 2014, I was chair of the Main Street board, which at the time was an independent entity. Sometime later the program was placed within city government. Now, thanks to the interest and energy of local entrepreneur David Wilkins, Main Street is back ON main street and functioning again as a self-propelled organization.
I read an article awhile back in The Atlantic titled Why Cities Work Even When Washington Doesn’t, which provided a hopeful review of some rising and shining cities across the country that aren’t being stifled by negative rhetoric or pessimistic pedants, but by strong town councils and visionary community leaders.
“The good news,” the writer penned, “is that once you look away from the national level, the American style of self-government can seem practical-minded, non-ideological, future-oriented, and capable of compromise. These are the very traits we seem to have lost on a national basis.”
Even though the writer didn’t stop to visit OUR vibrant community (those visited were Greenville, SC and Burlington, VT), the commentary made me think of what is being accomplished on our city streets here in small-town America that not only flies in the face of national nay-saying but presents a real-life scenario that is not only regionally significant but globally of note.
For example, there are only NINE UNESCO cities in the United States and Paducah, KY is one of them! We boast a state-of-the-art performing arts center and a full symphony orchestra. The National Quilt Museum calls Paducah home. There are active river, rail, and road transportation industries embedded in our central geographic location. Two major hospitals and hosts of medical support services make Paducah a healthcare hub. A newly-announced project at the DOE site will provide innovative processing of uranium well into the future.
As the song goes, the neon lights are bright on Broadway . . . and a bright future awaits if only we invest our time, talent, and tenacity into its ever-expanding potential. LIFE is good in Paducah!
Darlene M. Mazzone
darlene@paducahlife.com
by J ORDAN PRICE
MAIN STREET
is a Mainstay for Downtown Paducah
Main Street—a catch-all location for all the buzz and goings on within a city. It’s a general address that resonates with just about anyone. While the name might seem commonplace, the organization is anything but. Main Street America is a program that strives to support the downtown commercial areas of communities all across the country, and has been doing so for over 40 years. They’re focused on boosting resiliency, creating diverse and inclusive areas, and partnering with grassroots organizations through their four-point approach: organization, economic vitality, design, and promotion.
Carly Dick, left, and Blaine McDonald are the new management team at Paducah’s Main Street program.
That’s where Blaine McDonald and Carly Dick come into play. They are the newly hired directors of Paducah’s very own branch of the Main Street Organization. Blaine is a transplant from Martin, Tennessee, and is looking forward to making her mark on Paducah in her new Main Street role after a reporting role at WPSD. Carly is a newly-engaged Paducah native formerly from the Paducah Sun, and she and her fiancé are putting down their roots here in her hometown. As Paducah’s new Main Street ambassadors, their shared goal is to make downtown Paducah an all-inclusive stop for both tourists and locals alike. Their focus will be on taking what we already have and maximizing it to the fullest potential, as well as bringing in the missing puzzle pieces so that Paducah can build out a comprehensive downtown area that includes retail, service, and experiencebased businesses.
Anyone who visits downtown knows that Paducah already has a good start, and the Main Street four-point strategy will provide a clear blueprint for the rest. Carly and Blaine begin with the organization pillar by recruiting volunteers, board members, and stakeholders to help make the decisions. “It’s the community who gets to voice their opinion and have a hand in what happens downtown,” Blaine comments. Economic vitality occurs secondarily, as this is the idea of bringing a new business to Paducah and incorporating it into the downtown community. Then they drift into the design point, when old downtown buildings are purchased and renovated to house modern businesses, while still keeping historic preservation top of mind.
Fun fact
KENTUCKY IS THE OLDEST MAIN STREET PROGRAM IN THE NATION!
Finally, promotion comes into play; how to get involved, how to be a part of an event, how to bring people in. This economic boost extends far beyond the reach of downtown. More people and more businesses will
Stop And See THE Tree!
The U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Whistlestop Tour is coming to Paducah! The specially selected evergreen will be making a stop in Paducah on its way from the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest in Nevada all the way over to the White House lawn. Stop by for a photo with the family and to experience a little bit of Christmas magic.
Blaine and Carly spend time with downtown stakeholders like Susie Coiner (inset), owner of BBQ And More, and Brandi McClaran, owner of McClaran Manner, to listen, learn, and entertain ideas for the future.
Main Street Made Simple
Main Street is a tiered assistance program that has national, state, and city levels, all working together to bring out the best in smalltown America. It came onto the scene over 40 years ago, brought about by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, with a goal of revitalizing downtown districts by leveraging existing assets like architecture and history.
The national level is responsible for setting the standards each applicant city adheres to and for the accreditation process. From the state side of things, our commonwealth is responsible for the training and audits of each participating city. They help each Main Street city utilize all the available in-state advantages. Locally, Main Street is responsible for putting on the downtown events we’ve all come to know and love. They are devoted to an increase in foot traffic and the recruiting of new businesses, while of course supporting those legacy partners who have made downtown Paducah what it is today. While there is a centralized headquarters now at 227 Broadway, the heart and soul of this organization really is built within the community of people who believe in our downtown and want to see it thrive for years to come.
mean more money for the community at large, so the impact is broad and sweeping. Blaine and Carly don’t take this task lightly, and they’re approaching it with balance in mind. “There is an incentive program in place for outside businesses looking to come into the downtown area which includes connecting partners with the city to look for opportunities like historic façade preservation, roofing grants, and historic tax credit benefits,” Carly explains. “For anchor businesses that are already in place, we have a work plan to make sure nothing falls through the cracks,” Blaine adds. The pair host monthly merchant meetings to hear concerns, celebrate successes, and learn how to better prop up what already makes downtown Paducah unique.
For several years, the Main Street program had been included within the Paducah Planning Department, but it has just this past summer re-emerged as an independent and stand-alone non-profit. Main Street now has a local board of directors comprised of devoted volunteers who hold Paducah’s best interest at heart. There will also be a designated leadership team that will be able to focus on volunteer recruitment, development opportunities, and promotion. As an added cherry on top, there will be better access to more grants which can significantly offset some of the overhead emerging businesses might experience.
the Wilkins Initiative
Funding is still currently being provided by the city, but the goal is to become self-sustainable by the end of the fiveyear contract. To do this, Paducah Main Street will host fundraising events during the year in addition to their tiered fundraising and donor model.
Carly and Blaine know how to play to each other’s strengths – one sees the big picture while the other picks up on the details—one is outgoing while the other is reserved. Their goals are varied but achievable, and are based in the research that Main Street conducts. For 2026, live music every weekend is high on the priority list for Paducah, as is creating permanent family-friendly experiences that will draw people downtown not just for the evenings, but also during the day.
Even as Paducah grows, the smalltown charm will not be lost, the directing duo purports. The goal, in fact, is to keep the historical value and the character that makes Paducah… well…Paducah! The new Main Street organization wants to keep the beauty that already exists, without taking a loss on the potential. “Flourish and nourish is the name of the game,” Blaine says. “We want to support and feed what we have while sowing the seeds that will give the next generations something to look forward to.”
Paducah pride runs strong in these two energetic and
| For most of his career, David Wilkins, a Paducah native, worked with large corporate entities in cities across the country and the world. When he retired back to Paducah, his focus shifted from Fortune 500 management and consultation to entrepreneur and community leader.
“Without all the pressures of the corporate world, I had more time to consider doing something that would benefit our community and give me a sense of contributing to our ever-evolving hometown,” David says. His wife Tanya was roommates with Hooper’s owner Vicki Sims so they reconnected after the move back to western Kentucky. “It was easy to begin with our friendship and to translate that into the development of condominiums on Hooper’s second story.” David’s interest in maintaining the integrity of the historic building while creating a fresh approach to upper story living resulted in a partnership with Ray Black & Son who supervised the beautiful renovation of the condos.
David fondly remembers his childhood in Paducah—and the vitality of downtown. “It was the place to be,” David recalls. “My mom would take me shopping and we would go to the movies. The subsequent deterioration of that lively town center, especially over the decades of the 90s, saddened me and spurred within me a drive to initiate new development and ideas to bring back the energy I remember from my youth.”
Travel has allowed David to witness the revitalization of numerous municipalities around the country. That inspiration and effective knowledge is coming to bear on his involvement in the newly organized Main Street organization. David’s experience in deciphering how to make investments for big returns is what Main Street is all about. “If we invest in downtown,” he believes, “we get returns that allow us to continue to grow and thrive.”
David acted on that belief by requesting that the Main Street organization be returned to its original format of a self-sustaining entity with a governing board and an Executive Director. That permission was granted earlier this year, and, as you have read on our previous pages, the plan is now active.
“There are a great many opportunities for our historic downtown district, and I think the format of the state and local Main Street can be a catalyst in identifying that potential and executing it for maximum results. I’m excited to see what can happen and how this new effort can be a means of renewed vitality for our unique river city,” David concludes.
ambitious women. On a typical weekend, you can find Blaine getting a coffee at Pipers and then hitting up the farmer’s market on the riverfront while Carly is getting her caffeine fix from Etcetera and loving on their “mas-cat,” Vincent. For both, a trip to Kirchoff’s at some point in the day for delicious baked goods is a must, as is walking around downtown to pop into their favorite shops. Grabbing dinner and listening to live music in the evenings? Yes! Catching a movie at Maiden Alley? Absolutely! Carly and Blaine are invested and immersed in downtown Paducah, and they want everyone else to be as well.
The call to action is simple. Visit downtown and support local businesses. Pop into the Main Street office in the old AmericanGerman National Bank building on Broadway and ask Blaine and Carly for dinner recommendations or what to do on a free Saturday afternoon. Check out the Main Street website for a calendar of upcoming events, to make a reservation for any of the downtown eateries, or to look at an available listing if you feel like making downtown Paducah your residential or commercial home. Volunteer with Main Street and become part of the story. Every community member is an integral part of Paducah and its history, and Paducah Main Street is working to secure a brighter, more vibrant future for the very heart of our community.
A big thanks to Brandi McClaran at McClaran Manner for providing the fashions for Blaine McDonald and Carly Dick on our cover. Blaine is wearing a plaid wool coat with a modern oversized lapel paired with a classic white buttondown and wide leg jean. Carly donned a monochromatic winter white look with a wool wrap featuring a cascading collar.
All aglow for the holidays at Chantillies!
All of us at Chantillies are here to get you ready to glow this holiday season . . . from the top of your head to the tips of your fingernails!
/ Gayle Kaler, Owner / 540 North 32nd Street
JJessica Rumsey ’s
Healthy Approach to Art and Science
THE
ESSICA RUMSEY IS FEELING ON TOP OF THE WORLD. GALLERIE IS THE ESTHETICIAN’S newly opened salon in the heart of downtown Paducah offering services for nails, hair, and skin in an artistic setting. Jessica describes Gallerie this way on social media: “Gallerie is a unique salon experience blending modern beauty, artistic expression, and curated style in an intimate space.”
Jessica is the skilled esthetician who possesses the duly-noted creativity and artistry. The marriage of gifts makes for a total self-care experience melding the physical benefits of her services with a feast for the spirit provided by local artwork.
Jessica Rumsey
A 2008 Lone Oak graduate, Jessica did a stint at the University of Louisville majoring in fine arts before returning to Paducah to continue her education at the Paducah School of Art and Design. She was one of the school’s first graduates. She then followed a traditional career path and went to work in a corporate marketing position doing graphic design. No complaints from Jessica about the job with its benefits package, but she knew something was lacking. She needed an outlet for her creative energy that was more spontaneous and less corporate.
Jessica was searching for creative outlets when her world (along with the rest of humanity’s) took on an unimaginable form. COVID shut everything down. But change wasn’t done with Jessica. Her world tilted in the most delightful direction when motherhood found her and she welcomed her
daughter, Gwen, in whom the sun rose and set.
Working a hybrid schedule thanks to the pandemic and adjusting to the demands of a newborn left Jessica in the age-old quandary of how to achieve the optimal work-life balance.
Jessica had struggled with skin issues for years and was a Reddit devotee utilizing the forum-style social media platform to seek answers to achieve healthy skin. At a crossroads in life and keeping options open, Jessica stepped out of the status quo. In true millennial fashion, she continued to use Reddit and also turned to Pinterest to “pin” visions for inspiration. Armed with information, Jessica embarked on a career suited to her new lifestyle and providing an outlet for her creativity.
Jessica decided to pursue training and certification to become an esthetician. A Lone Oak High School classmate, Jordan Pruitt, was opening the Science and Beauty Academy in Paducah and Jessica enrolled in the first group to complete training.
Jessica Rumsey was on fire. Today, Jessica’s clients can indulge in selfcare at her highly trained hands using state-of-the-art methods and unique environs. The salon features bold, effusive, elements of Finnish design house, Marimekko, as well as an artfully displayed early Renaissance Botticelli mural. Amish quilt squares are adjacent to a large-scale piece by local artist Andrea Atnip.
“I believe there is value in fun,” says Jessica. “There is also value in community and connection.” This new Paducah creative space melds the mindfulness and aesthetic of yet another inspired entrepreneur.
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The Painted Lady is located at 313 Broadway. Follow her on Instagram @thepaintedladyyy.
each offering a glimpse into her artistic capabilities. It wasn't until she discovered nail art that she found her true passion. However, that would come after a short stint in the Kirchoff kitchen.
In 2020, seeking new adventures, she relocated from Paducah to Louisville. Like many of her peers during the pandemic, Lane found the solitary LIFE away from friends and family eventually led her back home, where she began working at Kirchoff's Bakery. It didn't take long for her unique artistry to find its way onto the goods, after which colleagues dubbed her the cookie decorating queen. The experience reignited her love for art (maybe on nails?), leading her to take a courageous step and enroll in cosmetology school to earn her nail technician license.
After a demanding year of balancing her studies with work, Lane triumphantly passed her board exam, paving the way for her to launch The Painted Lady. When asked about the inspiration behind the name, she enthusiastically shares, "The Painted Lady is inspired by my tattoos. I have some pretty lady tattoos that I affectionately call 'painted ladies,' which makes me THE painted lady. Plus, my clients become painted ladies too with nail art!"
Those who choose to elevate their nail game and dive into the fantastic realm of intricate nail art and outstanding nail care find their fix at The Painted Lady. The term technician really doesn’t apply here. (We couldn’t resist.) Lane Anderson is an artist whose talented hands create daily works of art on a uniquely personal canvas.
Home for the Holidays
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in painting, drawing, ceramics, woodworking, metal-smithing and other art forms. “We both get bored easily and so we jump around; we love a lot of different things and a lot of different styles,” explains Kathy. While each did eventually settle into an area of emphasis—Kathy in surface design and weaving and Andrea in painting—this precedent of hopping from one craft to another has made Messy Cat what it is today—a home for all artistic styles and abilities.
The shop was a lofty dream for the youthful twosome almost 25 years ago. After graduation, Kathy mentioned this dream to Andrea, but the prospect of starting a business seemed fraught with risk at that time. Kathy went back to school to get an MBA and opened her own consulting firm. Andrea worked as an insurance specialist for her brother’s chiropractic business. Both had secure jobs, but when Andrea’s mom passed suddenly, they decided, “If we are ever going to do anything art-related, we need to do it now.”
They began by making their art at home and selling on the festival circuit, but after an emergency room visit for Kathy following a PRIDE event in 2023, a sudden sense of urgency prompted the partners to make a change. As if meant to be, an available storefront popped up in downtown Paducah. After seeing the building, the dream evolved into a desire for a combination gallery/giftshop and working artist studio where they could hold classes, workshops, and host gatherings for creative people.
At the shop, Andrea and Kathy offer several varieties of art as their way to experiment, play, and learn, but also as a way to make fine art accessible to everyone. “We wanted to have people with, say, only two dollars, to have access to a piece of fine art through our stickers, or prints, or pins, etc.,” says
“Don’t wait until you can meet the dream; just start it now.”
- Kathy Musser
Kathy. There is soul art and there is fun art; there is art that you pour into, and then there is art that pours into you. Both are art, and this combination at Messy Cat, offers a little something for everyone.
One of the goals of the shop is building a community of people who are interested in exploring different kinds of art, especially those people that might not consider themselves true artists. “If you put any kind of creativity out into the world, you’re an artist,” Kathy explains. “If you feel stuck, you just haven’t found your medium yet,” Andrea continues. No matter your experience level, at Messy Cat, the hope is that you leave inspired and with art that you’ve created, all while connecting and brainstorming with others.
Kathy and Andrea also desire to make Messy Cat a safe place where a diversity of creators can find a supportive community and work together while artfully experimenting. At Messy Cat Creations, you’ll find the crochet club, or you can book an art lesson, learn a new technique, commission a custom piece of art, or SHOP! “Support your local small businesses. Stop and make time to make art,” Andrea suggests. “And if you have a dream, don’t wait,” adds Kathy. “Don’t wait until you can meet the dream; just start it now.”
by S TEPHANIE
Spice kitchen
Sabreen Bala Brings
The Spice of Life to Paducah One Dish, One Story, One Smile At A Time
WATSON
THE AROMATIC SYMPHONY
begins early on Fridays. In a kitchen that usually produces accompaniments for coffee like pastries and breakfast items,
Sabreen Bala moves with practiced precision, her hands gliding between cutting boards and simmering pots. Fresh ginger and garlic sizzle in ghee while turmeric, cumin, and coriander seeds toast in a dry pan, filling the air with the ancient scents that once lured British ships across oceans to India’s spice markets.
Performing the culinary rituals that she learned as a child, every movement is deliberate, and Sabreen’s connection to her food runs deep.
“My dad used to make dinner every day, and those meals were always special,” she reflects. “It wasn’t just about filling our stomachs—it was about creating connection and warmth. At the same time, he is a perfectionist about his food. If the garnish of the dish is missing, my dad won’t make the dish. Each ingredient right down to the garnish matters. Even the type of cut on the onion are important—julienned onion tastes different than diced! He believes each piece plays an important role in the overall flavor.”
Her father’s love of food and penchant for perfection were passed down from his mother and laid the foundation for Sabreen’s belief that every meal can be an expression of love.
“I remember the joy my father had watching us eat his food while we were growing up.” Sabreen explains. “Sometimes he wouldn’t even make his own plate— watching our faces as we relished each bite was all he needed. I feel that same kind of investment when I’m cooking for my Paducah family. I want to know that I’m
making this box for Linda or Aaron or Carrie. Love and care affect the flavor of the food, and it’s more than just physical sustenance that is provided when you cook for someone. Food should fuel the soul.”
Today, Sabreen collaborates with her father from thousands of miles away on the flavors she’s bringing to Paducah, and she is passing on those early lessons in love to hungry customers. But beyond technique and ingredients, Sabreen believes in something even more personal: "I think our hands have flavor—it's the person also. You can never fully replicate a dish someone makes because you will always infuse your uniqueness into the flavor."
Whether through the handwritten recipes he sends or discussions over the phone from India, she has adopted his attention to detail and takes no shortcuts: everything is made from scratch, with high quality, fresh ingredients procured specifically for each week's orders. And after just a few months in business, that means weekly meals for around 60 families in her adopted Paducah community, one carefully packed box at a time.
From Butter Chicken to Belonging
Despite the culinary notoriety she’s built, when Sabreen arrived in Paducah in November 2023 as a newlywed with her 10-year-old son in tow, she had no intentions of opening a food business and knew very few people. Her new husband was an established businessman in the area and her son starting a new school. With a degree and background in hospitality, she took a job in hotel management, filling her plate with work and family.
“I’ve always been a confident, outgoing person,” she explains. “But when I got to Paducah, I was really just ‘Eddy’s wife’ or ‘Fateh’s mom.’ I think it was the first time I’d felt the sting of a kind of identity crisis. And I was nervous about how I’d be received here as an Indian woman. Food bridged any divide and has been such a
from
Sabreen’s
Kitchen Diary
| The market bags are unpacked, and bundles of fresh spinach, mustard leaves, fenugreek, coriander, and mint are spilling across my counter. The air is thick with the smell of crushed garlic and ginger, and the chicken is resting happily in its spice bath: turmeric, cumin, coriander, red chili, and a whisper of garam masala. In the corner, the greens are simmering away on the lowest flame, turning softer and richer with every passing minute—my secret weapon to get even the fussiest kids (and adults!) to eat their veggies without a word of protest. The kitchen feels alive—bubbling pots, clinking ladles, and the quiet hum of flavors coming together. This is the part no one sees, but it’s where the magic begins.
beautiful, yet unexpected way to connect with my new community.”
The journey to Spice Kitchen began with an unexpected dinner invitation from a mother at her son’s school. Each person was asked to bring a dish, and Sabreen's seemingly simple container of leftover butter chicken, rice, and pickled onions became the star.
“I was hesitant to even go to the dinner,” Sabreen remembers. “But my son and husband encouraged me to, and when I arrived, I was surprised by both the diversity of the group and the warm welcome I received. There were women from Korea, Poland, Puerto Rico, Japan, and across the U.S., all connecting over food. My butter chicken—literally just leftovers from my family’s dinner—was popular to say the least.”
Like many people in Paducah, the women begrudged having to drive to Nashville, Clarksville, or Carbondale to get their Indian food fix. They begged her to change that. And while she rebuffed the idea at the time, the seed of Spice Kitchen had been planted.
What she expected to be an issue dropped quickly turned into an insistence that she share her food with others. After months of begging, her friends even started asking her husband. One night, lying in bed, Sabreen felt that she just didn’t have a good enough reason not to try. She created her Facebook page and sent the link to the group of women saying, "Here. You told me to do it. Now you do what you want with it." They shared it with just about everyone they knew.
The response was overwhelming. What started as a hope for 10-12 orders quickly grew to over 20 on her first weekend. Now Sabreen regularly prepares 60-plus orders—essentially cooking for a wedding every weekend— feeding over 100 people. It’s an endeavor that takes time (she may cook for 17 hours or more on Fridays) and support. Her husband picks up the shopping orders that may come from as far away as Nashville, and when the need for a commercial kitchen arose about a month in, her community was ready to lend support as well.
“I had multiple offers from businesses in Paducah to let me use their kitchen to produce these meals. And it was really of no benefit to them—just out of kindness,” Sabreen notes, misty eyed. “When Amber and Peter Barnett invited me to use the kitchen at their new Piper’s location for my home base, I knew it would be a perfect fit.”
Friends who encouraged Sabreen to plan the event at Pipers were happy to help out. They include from left Sara Waddell, Adelaida Vega, David Banister, Sabreen, and Tamara Tucker McCarty.
Boxes of Love
While Saturdays at Piper’s are always busy, the noon hour now welcomes a second crowd eagerly awaiting their preordered boxes of food and welcoming Sabreen with open arms. And although she has no intention of opening a full-scale restaurant, she is working on several collaborations like the threecourse sit down meal with drink pairings and traditional thali-style plating that happened in September at Piper’s. Corporate offices and clinics have approached her for catering and some other Paducah staples are looking for ways to collaborate on themed nights. Paducah is ready for as much of her food as Sabreen’s schedule will allow.
“Every Saturday when they pick up their Spice Kitchen meals, I imagine those special moments in my customer’s homes—the laughter, the passing of plates, the first taste—and hope that my food brings them joy,” Sabreen states. “My mission is simple. My son and I have been loved and accepted with open arms by this community. Since Paducah is my home now, my aim is that nobody here should ever say that they have never eaten Indian food. Food is meant to be shared, and the universal language of a good meal shared with care is what I hope to pass on.”
Spice Kitchen operates on weekends with advance orders through their Facebook page. For updates on sit-down dinner events and special offerings, follow Spice Kitchen on social media.
The spice kitchen experience
This past September, Spice Kitchen held its first collaboration event at Piper’s. The Broadway Street location closed off its patio and 35 people gathered to share tables, drink pairings, and three courses of food. The event started with a combination of foods both traditional and unconventional including golden chicken pakora with dhania cilantro chutney, juicy lamb seekh kebabs, and tangy achari deviled eggs. The appetizer paired with a rum-jito that included sparkling basil and cumin soda. The main course came in the form of a royal thali that celebrated the richness of Indian flavors and included dishes like butter chicken, saag paneer, and a dal, masala, and raita. The thali was served on silver platters Sabreen ordered from India and paired with a fluffy naan, crispy pappadum, and a golden hour mango lassi. Dessert rounded out the meal with an Indian bread pudding called shahi tukda (dessert of kings) and a chai espresso martini made with coffee beans ordered by Piper’s head roaster from a small, shade grown farm in southern India specifically for this drink. Guests, who were lucky enough to be served by the very women who encouraged Sabreen to start cooking for the public in the first place, left fulfilled—and full!—from this magical night of spice under the stars. Sabreen closed the night with a heartfelt thanks and reminder that Spice Kitchen isn’t just about food—it’s about love on a plate.
There’s a Lot More Brewing at Pipers than What’s in the Cup
Pipers Tea & Coffee Expands Into The Original Twinkling Star Location and Celebrates A Decade of Community Connection
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OF serving Paducah from their cozy home in The Coke Plant, Pipers Tea & Coffee has moved into a new chapter at 3100 Broadway. For owners Amber and Peter Barnett, the move represents more than just a change of address. It’s the realization of a dream that began in 2009.
FROM TEA BLENDS TO COMMUNITY HUB
The story of Pipers is uniquely rooted in tea. Living in Mayfield and struggling to find quality Earl Grey, Amber and Peter began blending their own teas at home. What started as a personal pursuit quickly grew into something larger when friends encouraged them to share their creations more widely. Pop-ups at local businesses followed, and by 2014, a chance meeting between
Peter and Coke Plant owner Ed Musselman opened the door to their first brick-and-mortar location.
“That’s why tea comes before coffee in our name,” Amber explains. “Pipers truly began with tea, and to this day, I start my morning with a cup of our Earl Grey.”
When Pipers opened its doors in 2015, it quickly became more than just a place to grab a drink. Drawing inspiration from “penny universities”—17th-century English coffeehouses where, for the cost of a penny, you could engage in stimulating conversation and learn from those around you. “It also embodies the ‘third place’ concept coined by sociologist Ray Oldenburg in the 1980s,” Amber explains. “It’s a place outside of work and home where conversation, connection, and engagement thrive. LIFE in Paducah has made building a space like this especially meaningful.”
★ by S TEPHANIE WATSON
Experiential Shopping
A NEW SPACE, NEW POSSIBILITIES
The move to Broadway was driven by practical needs: more space, better parking, and the ability to expand their offerings. The new location delivers on all fronts, featuring a larger seating area, a patio, and a commercial kitchen.
“I’ll never forget our first day open and seeing the community fill the whole space—people on couches, barstools, and benches, lingering and laughing,” Amber recalls. “It felt like the dream we had back in 2009 had finally come full circle.”
The expanded space has allowed Pipers to grow far beyond espresso and tea. The menu includes brunch, in-house pastries, kombucha, cocktails, and beer. Customers can start their day with a honey cinnamon latte or London Fog, enjoy lunch, and return in the evening for a cocktail—all under one roof.
Specialty matcha drinks have become a mainstay alongside longtime favorites like chai lattes, while the café's commitment to quality remains unwavering. Matt Jordan, who joined the team in 2020 as a barista, has grown into an accomplished roaster, and Amber notes that his “fingerprints are on every cup of coffee we serve.”
But it’s not just the Barnetts and Matt Jordan running the show. “When it comes to teas, a few of our baristas help with blending and preparation. We believe in cross-training so our team develops a real appreciation for the product,” Peter notes. “Together, we hold tastings, cuppings, and training sessions, exploring not just the flavors but the stories, the origins, and the histories behind what we serve. That knowledge flows straight to our customers, making their experience richer.”
HONORING HISTORY, BUILDING COMMUNITY
Taking over a historic building comes with its own weight of responsibility. Some locals even told Amber and Peter the building was “cursed” after previous businesses struggled there. Rather than being deterred, the couple saw an opportunity to honor the building’s past while creating something new.
Amber and Peter Barnett have spent a decade creating a space where not only tea and coffee are on the menu, but indeed a place where community connections and friendship can brew. There’s also the perks of their multi-talented baristas like Paigelyn Beeler.
The reception has exceeded their hopes. People have shared memories of the building’s previous life as The Twinkling Star, and the community has enthusiastically embraced the expanded programming now possible in the space.
Live music, chess nights, book clubs, open mic nights, and themed events have turned Pipers into a true community hub. One standout was the Spice Kitchen Experience dinner with Sabreen Bala, where guests gathered on the patio under the stars for an authentic Indian meal—a perfect example of Pipers' philosophy of creating space for others to share their talents.
The café has also partnered with Yeiser Art Center to showcase local artwork on their walls and encourage new memberships by offering Pipers gift cards to those who join. “It’s a true collaboration that highlights what makes this community so unique,” Amber says.
LOOKING FORWARD
Beyond Paducah, Pipers has expanded to St. Louis, opening a location on historic Route 66. The couple also owns The FoxBriar in Paducah, where their businesses “cross-pollinate” through collaborations like cocktail menus inspired by their tea blends. And for those who can't visit in person, Pipers offers nationwide shipping through their website.
But for Amber and Peter, success isn't measured in locations or menu items—it’s found in the daily moments of connection that unfold in their café. “Pipers has always been about more than what's in the cup,” Peter reflects. “It’s about people, stories, and creating moments of connection. We’re deeply grateful to have done that here in Paducah for a decade and look forward to many more years ahead.”
Normal Brand Clothing
Pappy & Company
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by Amy Clevidence
THE HOLIDAY SEASON IS built on tradition—gatherings, tables set with care, and desserts that turn meals into memories. In Paducah, one new tradition has already taken hold: a stop at Be Happy Pie Company. But while the pies are what draw families in, the story behind them is every bit as compelling.
At the center is Judy Payne, the first franchisee of Be Happy Pie Company and the entrepreneur who brought the concept to Paducah this spring. An engineer by training and an attorney by trade, Judy is no stranger to industries where competition is fierce and the stakes are high. “I’ve always thrived when there’s a big challenge,” Judy says. “Taking on the first franchise wasn’t about pie—it was about building a business from the ground up and setting the standard for what’s possible.”
Launching the Paducah shop required more than securing a lease and unlocking the door. Judy had to carve a new path for the franchise itself: establishing processes, navigating legal frameworks, and setting benchmarks that will shape how the brand grows. It’s
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Slim’s
Frenchtown Mercantile Is Part Of A Broader Movement To Not Just Preserve Paducah’s History, But Keep Making It.
by S HANNON W EBB
YOU CAN STILL SMELL THE BARBECUE IN HERE,” SAYS Will Hutson, curator and manager of Slim’s Frenchtown Mercantile.
“The back room was so smoke-cured from years of cooking that the wood scent lingers even today.”
The Hutson family runs two thriving businesses on the Frenchtown block just off Jefferson Street. After Ginny and Chris Hutson launched Frenchtown Station in 2016, their son Will saw the potential in rescuing the iconic Slim’s Barbecue building next door. Once a local icon run by the Harned family for fiftytwo years, the restaurant had changed hands a few times after their retirement and eventually fell into disrepair. When the city condemned the structure, the Hutsons stepped in. To acquire the property the family produced plans, drawings, timelines, financing, and entered a sealed-bid process. The city agreed to pause
the teardown, and the family’s proposal won the day.
What followed was painstaking work. “The whole thing was almost like a fever dream,” Will says. Fresh out of Murray State and newly married to his wife, Tara, he jumped into the dirty work of rescuing the building. 2018 was spent doing a full overhaul, scraping paint, stabilizing the structure, and saving whatever could be saved.
“It was a miracle the barstools and countertops were in good shape—we were able to keep them,” Will says. Those stools now spark nostalgic conversations with folks who remember the original Slim’s. “People come in, look around at the barstools, and their eyes light up. They’ll point and say, ‘That one—that was mine when I was little.’ We hear the same stories: ‘My dad brought us on Tuesdays or Wednesdays; that was my seat.’ Sometimes there are tears, because they feel a little ownership of this place. And there are the funny ones—the guys from the train yard who’d come for lunch, have a beer, crush a smashed chili dog, and head back to work. I’m jealous I never got to try one. The Harneds had something special; people still remember exactly where they sat and what they ate—right down to how it tasted. Iconic.”
Slim’s began with Slim and Annie Harned, Paducah barbecue royalty whose family also launched Harned’s Drive-In in 1950. At Slim’s Frenchtown Mercantile’s grand opening in 2019, their daughter-in-law, Ms. Barbara Harned Bean, walked in to a round of applause. She had shared family scrapbooks so the new stewards could grasp what Slim’s Barbeque meant to Paducah. The family’s blessing mattered, and the name stayed.
Local enthusiasm—and the Hutsons’ grit—sustained the young business through the shock of COVID. The team spun up a phone-and-Instagram storefront: orders by message,
payment over the line, bagged with care, and set outside for pickup. They emerged stronger, and Will and Tara welcomed their first daughter. “Eloise was our shop baby,” Will says with a grin. “I’d wear her in the carrier in those early days.” (Today, little Poppy has joined the shop-kid ranks.)
“So, there’s a term our family adores—it’s called adaptive reuse,” says Ginny. “We’re big believers in it, if at all possible.” Save what’s sound. Honor what’s historic. Make it useful again. It’s how you lift a corner—sometimes literally. During clean-out they found small treasures—old Slim’s signs, a hat rack, a gumball machine—and wove them back into the space.
If Slim’s has a secret sauce, it’s curation born of three generations of pickers. Will’s grandfather, now 96, took his daughters into barns and warehouses decades before television made picking famous. That eye became the family instinct: display curated linens and glassware on old secretaries and in armoires; let a bright red fire engine— once the lead car in an antique amusement-park ride— become a kid magnet, brimming with books and toys; weave the past into the present—adaptive reuse in action. Will leans toward small southern businesses, companies that give back, and things you don’t see everywhere. There’s something for everyone, inspired by his own family’s tastes. Children’s books have become a signature—“my favorite section,” he admits. The shelves also feature homegrown collaborations, like Merryman House × Sarah Bradley spice blends and Clark & June candles labeled for Paducah and Frenchtown—poured in reusable bourbon glasses so the vessel lives on after the flame.
Christmas is Slim’s high season. The shop’s first holiday after reopening hinted at what the block could become; now the city-wide Open House and Shop Small Saturday reliably bring a steady bustle of gift-seekers. Families plan
their Paducah weekend around a stop here. December is less about sales than ritual and connection. “We want to become people’s traditions,” Will says.
The ripples keep traveling. “There really isn’t a week that passes when someone doesn’t say they planned a trip around this,” the family says. Visitors who’ve followed the shop on Instagram for years finally come—staying downtown, eating at freight house, and making Slim’s and Frenchtown Station a must. People look forward to the seasonal celebrations
hosted in the green space between the two shops, when the block opens to live music, food, farmers, artists, and other makers. The Frenchtown block is a happy place where locals linger and out-of-towners plan a stop.
Call it what the tagline promises—a reimagined southern gem. Slim’s Frenchtown Mercantile is part of a broader movement to not just preserve Paducah’s history, but keep making it. “Paducah lives bigger than its population,” the Hutson family likes to say. “And we’re honored to be part of it.”
Frenchtown / 1830s-1920s
“Frenchtown isn’t a made-up name. In the 1830s this neighborhood of Paducah was called Frenchtown— one of about a dozen little ‘towns’ in the city then. It was one of the largest by geography, and people used the name until the late 1920s, when it fell out of use. Chris had heard the name used for this area, so we did our homework. That’s why we call the block Frenchtown today.” — GINNY HUTSON
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with signed land grant gifts awarded to Clark’s relatives. He chose a centralized spot for the town’s public market, called the William Clark Market House. The word museum was added in 1968, two years after the last meat vendors left the riverfront establishment and the museum opened its doors.
Linda Job Schmitt is the new curator of all things historic at the Market House Museum and a citizen long devoted to making good things happen in and for Paducah. Linda, a Missouri farm girl and the youngest of ten siblings(!), earned a degree in television and marketing from SEMO. Her career in television reporting, programming, and production fueled a lifelong passion for journalism. Linda met her late husband, Terry Schmitt, after a 14-year career at KFVS-TV in Cape Girardeau, MO. When Terry asked for Linda’s hand in marriage, it was a dual proposal. “He also wanted me to join him in running S&W Productions, his longstanding video production company,” Linda recalls. “So, we became a team and spent many years producing projects for corporate, medical, political, legal, and educational clients among many others.”
In 2001, a project for the Paducah Visitors and Convention Bureau found the husband-and-wife team filming the interior of Market House Museum. “We were inspired by the museum and wanted to help raise much-needed funds for the organization,” Linda remembers. So, Terry and Linda did what they did best. They produced an awardwinning video titled The History of Paducah. Hundreds of DVDs (remember those) and videos were
Market House Museum
sold and it was awarded the Kentucky History Award. Linda was SO inspired that she joined the museum board which led to a 22-plus-year term.
When Terry passed away unexpectedly in 2010, Linda managed S&W Productions until she sold the company in 2018. Ready for something fresh and engaging, Linda started working at the museum a couple of days a week. She was hired as the new keeper of the keys to Paducah’s history in 2014. “I had new exhibits to be displayed, and lots of updates to be made, so I just started DOING! That’s the farm girl in me, I guess.”
In the 1960s, when the iconic stalls of the downtown farmer’s market became a thing of the past, the building closed. A group of enthusiastic creatives worked to save the structure and turn it into a cultural center. “With the Yeiser on one end, the Market House Theater on the other, and the museum in between, you have one cultural destination in the heart of downtown Paducah,” Linda comments. Today, a bright yellow banner beckons from the brick building at 121 South 2nd Street inviting visitors to enter a quaint gift shop of plentiful Paducah presents—from postcards to puzzles, books, shirts, and scads of souvenirs. “Sometimes visitors end up at the museum by accident,” Linda says with a grin. “Others drop by to browse before boarding the riverboats to set sail for other river towns along the Ohio.”
A few of the museum’s compelling exhibits include the stained-glass windows and highly ornate woodwork interior from the DuBois Robertson/ Paducah List Drug Store, dating back to 1877, as well as a lifelike statue of House Speaker and Secretary of State, Henry Clay (1777-1852). There’s also the 1913 LaFrance fire truck, the General Douglas McArthur collection, several cases of artifacts from Paducah’s Civil War history, the Irvin Cobb
exhibit, the USS Paducah bell and silver set; a rare quilt by Mrs. Robert E. Lee, chairs from the Lincoln whitehouse, and an iron piece of the USS Arizona from Pearl Harbor. Vice President Alben Barkley’s inaugural top hat, his vice president’s flag, and his personal desk can all be found in the upstairs Alben Barkley Memorial Room.
“We have many items in storage for a continuum of rotating exhibits,” Linda says eagerly. “Paducah’s past is full of surprising and noteworthy lore, and it is our privilege to preserve it for posterity.”
The Market House Museum gift shop is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10 AM to 4 PM.
Contact The William Clark Market House Museum at info@markethousemuseum.org.
The Art of Service
by Caleb Buford
FROM A REGIONAL THEATRE ACTOR TO A DEPLOYED
military infantryman then back to the theatre, Ben Grimes’ career path is far from traditional. “My acting career was going so well that I joined the Army,” Ben admitted with a light chuckle. “I mean, yes, my acting career was not going very well but, I wanted to do something that was a little bigger than myself.” It was a decision that would prove life-changing, reshaping his sense of purpose and leading him toward a vision of theatre as both an art form and an act of service.
Grimes always saw himself in the arts, even as a kid. He starred in his first play at 10 years old in a youth theatre program, similar to what Market House Theatre offers. He went on to attend a performing arts high school and earn his
degree from Webster University’s Conservatory of Theatre Arts before pursuing acting professionally in Chicago, Austin, and New York. But during that time, he found a feeling of ego that he found unsettling. “I felt like I was in a very self-serving place,” Ben detailed. “Being an actor, it can be very selfish at times.”
Ben enlisted in the U.S Army’s 82nd Airborne Division in 2006, planning a short stint to then use the GI Bill to help him earn his Master’s degree. “That did not come to pass,” he recalled, smiling at his own irony. What began as three years of service turned into fifteen, including two deployments to Baghdad in 2006 and 2017. Along the way, he met the love of his life, Laura, and together they built a family with their two children, Buzz and Birdie. When his military career came to a close, the return to civilian life brought its own battles.
Grimes returned home carrying invisible wounds; PTSD, depression, and anxiety that made ordinary life feel unfamiliar. In search of connection, he found his way back to the place that fueled his passion: theatre. “I came back to theatre as a way to get back in touch with myself,” he shared. “It helped me reconnect to who I was before and start rebuilding who I wanted to be.”
Ben Grimes
That rediscovery led Ben to the Clinton School of Public Service, where he earned his Master of Public Service degree. His thesis project, The Breach, became a drama therapy initiative for veterans and military families processing trauma through group meetings, performance, and the texts of William Shakespeare based in Little Rock, Arkansas. “You can’t heal from anything until you speak it aloud,” he said. “I’ve seen veterans share stories they’d carried for years and be met with nothing but empathy, gratitude, and a hug from the audience.”
Looking ahead, I want to continue exploring new ways we can serve this community, both on stage and beyond.”
- Ben Grimes
The Breach grew into Riverside Actors Theatre, a company founded on the belief that art can change lives. While its focus began with veterans, Grimes saw its reach extend far beyond. “The Breach started with veterans, but trauma is universal,” he explained. “Teachers, first responders, anyone who serves others opens themselves up to the weight of trauma. Theatre helps us process it together.”
Now, Ben is leading through service in the Paducah arts community in his work as Managing Artistic Director of Market House Theatre. Under his leadership, Market House is deepening partnerships with local nonprofits, expanding access to programming, and continuing to nurture the next generation of artists through education and outreach while honoring the traditions and history of one of Paducah’s cornerstones of creativity. “This is a generous community where people support one another, they support creativity, and they understand that the arts help drive everything else forward,” Ben commented.
One of Ben’s biggest initiatives since joining Market House Theatre has been a community partnership commitment: each Signature Series show this season will feature a partnership with a fellow local non-profit to support their mission and bring awareness to the needs of the community. So far, MHT has conducted a sock and underwear drive for Family Service Society in connection with A Comedy of Tenors, a blood drive for Dial M for Murder, and
will soon be collecting can goods for Paducah Cooperative Ministry for The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. “When people buy a ticket to Market House, they’re not just supporting theatre; they’re helping lift up other organizations that make Paducah stronger. Looking ahead, I want to continue exploring new ways we can serve this community, both onstage and beyond.”
Ben has focused on legacy and stewardship of Market House Theatre since joining, but Ben hopes to honor what has come before while providing a fresh perspective for programming and outreach. “I envision a vibrant Signature Series alongside a robust black box program that supports new work,” he added. “And one day, I’d love to see a play festival right here in western Kentucky, something that shares our artists and our stories with the nation.”
Even with Market House Theatre’s existing vibrant programming, Ben hopes to soon bring The Breach to Paducah, though it may not be anytime soon. “I’m in an observation phase right now— learning, listening, and figuring out how to make it fit,” Ben detailed. “The program has always been rooted in veterans’ stories, but The Breach is about helping anyone who carries trauma share those stories and begin to heal.”
Through every scene of Ben’s life, one conviction rings true—service takes many forms. From serving his country, to serving his peers, to now serving as an arts leader, Ben’s focus on empathy and compassion through service resonates in every action, on and off the stage. As Ben starts his new chapter in Paducah, he’s proving that art might be one of the most powerful acts of service.
A Performance of a LIFEtime
Carson Chestnut Spent a Once-in-a-Lifetime Summer Discovering That Stepping Into Character Has Steeped Him in Confidence For What Lies Ahead
★ by C ALEB B UFORD
SUMMER IS OFTEN A TIME FOR STUDENTS TO TAKE ON SUMMER JOBS, WHILE others head to camp for a week or two by the lake. But for Carson Chesnut, a Junior at McCracken County High School, this summer was anything but ordinary. While many of his peers were enjoying time off, Carson spent his break in constant motion—traveling across the country, performing in Kentucky’s top high school theatre showcase, attending the Governor’s School for the Arts, preparing for college auditions, and stepping onto a Broadway stage in the heart of New York City.
As many students do, Carson struggled to find his place in school. Most activities left a feeling of mediocrity, until
Dean Alan Muir, Bradley Awards Manager, presents the KPA Bradley Award for Best Lead Actor to Carson Chestnut.
Photo by Sarah Anne Cohen
CarsonChestnut
his parents, Phillip and Amy Chestnut, enrolled him in a theatre class at Market House Theatre. “Theatre was the one thing that I actually enjoyed going back to,” he shared. “It was something that I was excited to do unlike most everything else.”
But it wasn’t just theatre, it was the performing arts as a whole that lit a spark. That spark became clear in 2015, when Carson had a viral moment singing a cappella with his Clark Elementary classmates. At just six years old, he stepped into the spotlight as a soloist for a rendition of the Jackson 5’s I Want You Back, a performance that still circulates online today.
Since then, Carson has locked in on the performing arts—singing, performing, learning, and participating in productions like School of Rock, Disney’s Newsies Jr , and The Addams Family. But last school year presented an opportunity like no other; the Kentucky Performing Art Center’s premiere of The Bradley Awards, the official Kentucky Regional Awards Program of The National High School Musical Theatre Awards (NHSMTA) otherwise known as The Jimmy Awards.
McCracken County was the only school in western Kentucky selected to participate in the inaugural awards. The Bradley Awards sent three anonymous adjudicators to review each eligible production. While most awards are only presented at the state level, those nominated for Best Lead Actor and Actress qualify to represent Kentucky at the Jimmy Awards, held each summer at Broadway’s Minskoff Theatre, home of The Lion King
The MCHS Theatre Department chose to produce Big Fish, a heartfelt musical that weaves together whimsical tall tales and emotional truths as a son tries to understand the life and legacy of his storytelling father. “I’m going to be honest, I wasn’t quite sure about the show,” Carson expressed hesitantly. “I hadn’t heard of it.” The 2013 musical only had 98 performances on Broadway and never embarked on a national tour. Luckily, after a few read-throughs of the script, Carson began to find interest in the work. “I listened to the soundtrack—that’s what really got me interested,” he shared. Over time, Carson found a nuanced interest in Will, the thoughtful young man who seeks to uncover the truth behind his father’s fantastical stories. He worked hard to perfect his audition and was cast in the role.
The nominations were live streamed from the Kentucky Performing Arts Center in May. The McCracken cast gathered in their choir room, holding hands, waiting to see what recognition their hard work had earned. McCracken County High School received nine nominations, including Best Musical, Best Supporting Actor (Sam Lynn), Best Supporting Actress (Evie Robertson), Best Leading Actress (Abigail Scheer), and Carson’s nomination for Best Lead Actor. MCHS received the MOST NOMINATIONS at the ceremony.
As a nominee, Carson was invited to perform at The Bradley Awards alongside students from across the state. While the full cast prepared group numbers, Carson rehearsed medleys and solos with other nominees. On the day of the awards, Carson walked the red carpet, gave interviews, and took the stage. The final presentation of the night was the Best Lead Actor and Best Lead Actress categories. And when they called Carson’s name as the winner, he was in a blur of disbelief. “When they said my name, I was just in shock,” Carson recalled. The win of the inaugural Bradley Awards sent Carson to the Jimmy Awards. He arrived in New York City with a binder full of sheet music, a suitcase packed in a hurry, and the energy of a performer about to live out a dream. For ten intense days, he joined 92 other high school students from across the country at the Jimmy Awards, a program known for turning talented teens into rising Broadway stars. Days began early and ended late, filled with choreography rehearsals, vocal coaching, and development sessions. For Carson, the most surprising part
wasn’t the schedule; it was the people. “It was surreal,” he said. “Just getting support from these incredibly talented people—there was no drama, no competition. Everyone was so supportive.”
Carson was selected for the “Ready to Rise” group medley, performing a choreographed number on the iconic Minskoff Theatre stage. It was a performance he’ll never forget, not just because of the moment, but because of what happened after: a video of Carson’s short solo line during the medley, a comedic moment, captured Lin-Manuel Miranda himself backstage, laughing. The clip went viral online, reaching hundreds of thousands of views within days. “I only had two lines in the number, and somehow that one got posted — and Lin laughed at it,” Carson said, still a little stunned. “That was pretty cool.”
Through the whirlwind of rehearsals and rigorous expectations, Carson discovered something deeper; a confidence in his own voice and path. “I learned that I can be myself, and people will accept me,” he said. “I can grow and get opportunities just by being who I am.”
After spending the rest of his summer at The Kentucky Governor’s School for the Arts, Carson is already looking ahead. He hopes to return to the Bradley Awards next year and dreams of attending a top BFA musical theatre program with Michigan, Carnegie Mellon, and Pace topping his list.
From a shy six-year-old singing Jackson 5 in an elementary school gym to a confident performer commanding a Broadway stage, Carson Chesnut’s story is still unfolding. But if this summer has shown him anything, it’s that the stories we tell (and the ones we live) have the power to shape more than just our future. They shape who we become.
Carson Chestnut said his summer of award-winning performances on both state and national stages have shown him that the stories he’s allowed to tell through this creative medium have the power to shape who he becomes.
Carson joins other Bradley Award winners in an opening performance medley at The Jimmy Awards in New York City in the renowned Minskoff Theatre.
Photo by Tricia Baron
"You can certainly savor a delightful bottle of wine on your own, but a wine truly shines when it's enjoyed with those you cherish," emphasizes Nick Weeks, as his culinary partner, Anna Wallace, smiles in agreement.
FOR FIVE WONDERFUL YEARS, THIS DYNAMIC DUO HAS blended their expertise in regional and seasonal flavors, crafting an inviting culinary experience that celebrates the joy of sharing meals. Their passion for experiential dining fosters connections, making each gathering a memorable occasion filled with LIFE, laughter, and good cheer! Anna and Nick's journey together ignited during the pandemic when Nick embarked on an exciting mixologist career at one of Paducah's delightful downtown venues, The Fox riar. Shortly after he began, Anna relocated from California, bringing her diverse culinary experiences to be closer to her husband's family. At The Fox riar, she discovered her passion for crafting unique dishes, such as pates and delightful small plates. It didn't take long for them to realize the magic of their partnership, and they were eager to enhance the customer experience by exploring worldly cuisines and wine pairings together. They enthusiastically planned a series of ticketed events that showcased various global regions, celebrating the rich tapestry of grapes and culinary traditions. This innovative
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Paducah: P The City of Many Ways ★
ADUCAH HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PLACE OF convergence. Where rivers meet and stories flow. People have always found their way here, and each one of their arrivals adds a color to our tapestry of life.
To better understand who is coming to Paducah and how we can reach them, the CVB recently conducted a visitor profile study. We wanted to take a fresh look at who is coming here, why they come, and what they take away. The research enlightened us to something very powerful: people experience Paducah in many different ways, and each one of those ways is meaningful.
It is true, some come to immerse themselves in the arts—quilts, galleries, performances, music. But others come for a quick family getaway, a shopping trip, or a meal with friends. Thousands more take a pause in their journey along I-24 and choose Paducah as their resting point—often discovering much more than just the pillow in their hotel room.
These discoveries helped us to understand that Paducah is not any one thing. Paducah is a crossroads of creativity, connection, and curiosity. It’s where generations come together, where new flavors surprise, and where trying something with your own hands—like fusing together a quilt or kayaking on the river—feels like a fresh discovery.
That’s why we are proud to introduce our updated brand: Paducah: The City of Many Ways. This brand takes everything we learned in our research and speaks to visitors with a distinct promise: that whoever you are and whatever inspires you, you’ll find your place here. Whether it is the pull of our waterways, the rhythm of our festivals, our local shopping, or the warmth of the community, Paducah invites you to explore in your own way.
This brand belongs to all of us: residents, leaders, and neighbors. Together, we are the storytellers of Paducah. When we share the many ways we experience our community with the world, we invite others to join us in making memories, sparking ideas, and building connections.
Our message is simple and heartfelt: Make art, make a date, make a memory—make your way to Paducah.
The 2025 Annual Paducah Christmas Parade Will Feature The Sounds of Christmas
The annual City of Paducah Christmas Parade will be Saturday, December 6 at 5 PM in historic downtown Paducah, with the theme Sounds of Christmas.
Each year, the parade hosts approximately 100 entries with Santa Claus making a special appearance at the end of the parade riding in a Paducah fire truck. The deadline to register to participate in the parade is November 25 at noon. Entries submitted by the final deadline of November 25 will have a $50 fee (plus tax).
The community is invited to spend the day downtown and line the streets for the parade. The parade begins at 14th and Broadway and travels down Broadway to 2nd Street where it will turn left and disband at Jefferson Street. Road closures along the parade route will begin at 3 PM on Saturday, December 6. To register for the parade, call the Parks & Recreation office at 270-444-8508.
★ LastWord the
In Paducah’s early days, RUDY’S DEPARTMENT STORE was holiday central. Started in 1883, the downtown enterprise earned its spot as the Macy’s of Paducah. Shoppers warmed their imaginations in the winter air by glancing at the elaborate window displays. Rudy’s would cover the glass with black paper and an artist, usually hired from St. Louis, created Christmas magic shrouded in secrecy. On the day of revelation, crowds packed around the entrances to get a peak of the Christmas wonderland. Rudy’s was the sponsor of the annual holiday parade, which was first mentioned in a 1923 store ad. Sadly, the beautiful storefront and glamourous interiors ceased to exist after the 1937 flood. However, the Market House Museum’s archival photographs keep the memories alive for all of us to enjoy!
