BEST LEX of
LEXINGTON'S INDUSTRY FAVES, AS CHOSEN BY THE READERS OF CHEVY CHASER AND SOUTHSIDER
On the cover: "Best Lexingtonians" Wylie Caudill, Ouita Michel and Fred Mills. Photo by Abby Laub.
A letter from Smiley Pete Publishing
Dear readers,
Welcome to Smiley Pete’s third annual Best of Lex issue! What began as a way to celebrate the people, places, and businesses that make Lexington so special has quickly become something more: a reflection of who we are as a community. Our third annual Best of Lex campaign feels rooted and meaningful, much like Lexington itself.
This year, you showed up in a big way, casting hundreds of thousands of votes across more than 100 categories to spotlight your favorite local people and gems. From longtime staples to rising stars, the results are a reminder of the passion, pride, diversity and loyalty that define our city.
As we gathered our odes, tallied votes and connected with the people behind the businesses, one thing became abundantly clear: Our similarities are far greater than our di erences. We are a community that shows up for one another, supporting, nurturing and celebrating all things local.
Inside these pages, you’ll find not only the winners, but also a collection of editorial tributes that capture the spirit of Lexington, written by and about the very people and places who make Lexington unique. The winners were determined entirely by reader votes collected over two rounds of online voting at bestoflex.smileypete.com. While our sta was allowed to vote, like any other reader, their votes did not influence the outcomes any more than any other voter.
For nearly three decades, Smiley Pete has been owned, written and produced locally. And if this issue proves anything, it’s that Lexington’s story is still being written every day, through our small businesses, entrepreneurs, big ideas, shared meals and the simple act of showing up for each other.
With gratitude, The Smiley Pete Team
PUBLISHERS: CHRIS EDDIE
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: SARAYA BREWER
COPY EDITOR: NIKOLE CHRISTENSEN ART DIRECTOR: DREW PURCELL
SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES: AMY EDDIE, DONNA HODSDON, ANN STATON SALES MANAGER: EMILY MARKS EVENTS DIRECTOR: AMY EDDIE
EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS: AMANDA KELLEY-CORBIN, BRENT OWEN, TANZI MERRITT FOR MORE INFORMATION EMAIL: INFO@SMILEYPETE.COM FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION EMAIL: ADVERTISE@SMILEYPETE.COM
TEL: 859.266.6537 WEB: SMILEYPETE.COM
Thank you to our Best of Lex sponsors!
209 E High St. • Lexington, KY 40507 (859) 316-3351 • honestfearless.com
The injury law firm Hicks & Funfsinn, PLLC was established by Kentucky attorneys Josh Hicks and Greg Funfsinn in January 2018 in downtown Lexington. From day one, Josh and Greg sat in a shared o ce with a determination to build a clientcentered law o ce with deep roots in Central Kentucky and a core conviction of giving back to the greater Lexington community.
Today, with six o ce locations throughout the Commonwealth, our team of seven injury attorneys and 15 sta members have decades of experience advocating for clients at trial and in courtrooms throughout Kentucky’s 120 counties. Hicks & Funfsinn focuses our practice on cases involving wrongful death, catastrophic auto crashes, medical malpractice, nursing home abuse and neglect, and worker’s compensation, with a laser focus on obtaining the very best results for our clients.
We build it BACK better.
965 Contract St. • Lexington, KY 40505 (859) 225-2225 • BACKconstruction.com
At BACK Construction, we understand the key to success is in having a smooth and pleasant process for all involved with our remodeling services. We lead with our ability to listen to and identify customers’ needs. After learning every detail of their vision, we start the process by creating a detailed design proposal unique to their project.
Our team of professionals allows for one-stop shopping and provides all the quality products and services you need. BACK assists you with critical decisions and supports you throughout your product and service selections.
Once the project has begun, it is our craftsmanship and organization that has allowed us to “wow” customers for over 43 years. From start to finish, we take great pride in our ability to provide homeowners with a hassle-free experience. Any questions or concerns that come up during construction are carefully and e ectively dealt with by our skilled working supervisors and project managers. BACK does not strive to meet expectations, we strive to exceed them, so that every customer leaves saying we build it BACK better! n
101 W Loudoun Ave. Ste. 180 Lexington, KY 40508 (859) 721-5688 • medialex.us
Smiley Pete’s Best of Lex 2026 sponsor Debra Hensley has opted to donate her sponsor spotlight space to a community organization close to her heart, MEDIALEX.
Our community is full of powerful stories waiting to be told. That’s where MEDIALEX comes in.
MEDIALEX is a public platform for local voices to share stories that matter through community-created news, information and entertainment.
In a world where media shapes perceptions and drives change, MEDIALEX has real power to transform how we connect and communicate.
MEDIALEX gives neighbors the tools and training to tell their own stories through radio, podcasts, video, local news and digital storytelling.
And the stories shared on MEDIALEX don't just inform. They connect us. They remind us that we live in a place worth paying attention to, full of people worth knowing.
Thousands of cases in, with tens of millions of dollars recovered for our clients, Josh and Greg and our team work day in and day out to continue the initial mission of being a leading personal injury law firm in Kentucky. We also make sure to support local organizations such as The Nest, Big Brothers Big Sisters, YMCA, Lafayette and Bryan Station high school baseball, Bluegrass Little League, the Junior League of Lexington, MADD, WEKU, the Pride Festival, Lyric Theatre, LexArts and many others.
In 2026, Hicks & Funfsinn continues its pledge of working hand-in-hand with our injured clients, giving back to our community, and has become an award winning law firm for its tremendous legal advocacy. n
People come to MEDIALEX to host shows, share music, interview neighbors, talk about issues a ecting their communities, and bring stories forward that wouldn't be heard anywhere else.
When we hear stories told by people in our own community, we see our world di erently. We start to understand our neighbors, celebrate our shared culture, and discover what makes us special. MEDIALEX exists to make sure this community's story gets told — fully, honestly, and by the people who live it.
MEDIALEX isn't just a platform. It's a promise. A promise that every voice matters and every story counts. n
JOSH D. HICKS Partner
GREG M. FUNFSINN Partner
MARK ROYSE MediaLex General Manager
ARTS CULTURE &
Lexington is blessed with an incredible array of people, organizations and businesses who create, facilitate and support the world class visual art, performance and other cultural o erings that enrich the lives of all who live in or visit our city.
From music, theater, literary and visual art, to comedy, festivals, galleries and dance, we are lucky to live in a place rich with art and culture.
Our readers have voted on their favorite artists, galleries, festivals and other cultural o erings in Lexington, which we’ve outlined on the pages that follow!
Bob Morgan was a top vote-getter in the Best Local Artist category.
PHOTO BY MICK JEFFRIES
DESIGN BUILD MAINTAIN
SPRIN G SIMPLICITY:
It is April in the Bluegrass, which means blooms and birdsong and an abundance of green. At Hortus Gardens, we find joy in spring’s simplest pleasures—in the cheerful promise of a single bloom. We know that the gift of the spring garden is the clear assurance of its perennial return.
ARTS&CULTURE
Best Art Gallery
1. 21c Museum Hotel
2. The Living Arts and Science Center
3. Lexington Art League
4. Artists’ Attic
Best Art Museum
1. University of Kentucky Art Museum
2. Headley Whitney Museum of Art
3. 21c Museum Hotel
4. Artists’ Attic
Best Arts Organization
1. The Living Arts & Science Center
2. Allégro Dance Project
3. Kentucky Ballet Theatre
4. Lexington Art League
Best City Event
1. Woodland Art Fair
2. Thriller Parade
3. Lexington Pride Festival
Ode to Kip Cornett: Lexington’s Champion of Big Ideas
BY MAYOR LINDA GORTON
Kip Cornett has long been one of Lexington’s most imaginative champions, guided by his belief that no idea is too big.
Kip never waits for permission to think boldly or dream big. In 2025 — a milestone year when Lexington marked its 250th anniversary — he, alongside Dr. Eunice Beatty, helped lead a yearlong celebration that showcased our city’s storied history, and gave our community a well-deserved victory lap.
Kip’s distinct vision has been clear for more than 30 years, as he built and led his namesake advertising agency, Cornett. That vision uniquely positioned him to promote Lexington with confidence, delivering the world to Lexington and delivering Lexington to the world.
Kip’s investment in our community has been nothing short of transformational. His impact can be seen in the enduring success of Picnic with the Pops, the global spotlight of the Breeders’ Cup and the FEI World Equestrian Games, and the continued momentum around Gatton Park on the Town Branch, where he serves as a board member. He also exhibits passion for the community through his deep involvement with the Urban League, the YMCA of Central Kentucky, and the Fayette
When Lexington needs someone to elevate the momentum, Kip knows how to show up and push big ideas across the finish line. And our city is undeniably better because of it!
PHOTO BY MARY JANE SPEER - COURTESY VISITLEX
The Farish Planeterium is a favorite attraction at the at the Living Arts & Science Center, which was voted Best Arts Organization.
KIP CORNETT PHOTO FURNISHED
ARTS&CULTURE
Best Annual Food Week
1. Lexington Burger Week
2. Lexington Restaurant Week
3. Lexington Pizza Week
Honorable Mentions:
• Lexington Taco Week
• Lexington Bourbon Week
Best Dance School/Troupe
1. Bluegrass Youth Ballet
2. Arthur Murray Dance Studio
3. Kentucky Ballet Theater
4. Allegro Dance Project
Best Local Arts Festival
1. Woodland Art Fair
2. Twelve Lions Film Festival
3. Bluegrass Creative Market
Best Local Movie Theater
1. Kentucky Theatre
2. LexLive
3. Cinemark at Fayette Mall
Ode to Marcia Thornton Jones & Debbie Dadey
SMILEY PETE STAFF SALUTE (ADAPTED FROM THE KENTUCKY WRITERS HALL OF FAME BIO WRITTEN BY TOM
Marcia Thornton Jones and Debbie Dadey were faculty members at Sayre School in the late 1980s when they began talking one day about children’s books: what they liked, what they didn’t like, and how they might like to write one themselves someday.
“And then Marcia just said, ‘Well, why don’t we do it? Let’s start tomorrow,’” Dadey recalled.
While on lunch break the next day, they jotted down story ideas and made homework assignments for each other. Week after week, month after month, they collaborated on new stories and mailed them o to publishers. After nearly two years of rejection slips, a representative from Scholastic, one of the nation’s largest publishers for young people, called the Sayre School to request one of their manuscripts.
The novel “Vampires Don’t Wear Polka Dots” was published in 1990. In the years since then, Dadey and Jones have written and published about 100 books together, as well as dozens more as solo writers. Most of their jointly written books are part of what became the Bailey School Kids series — stories about the adventures of young students at the Bailey School who encounter teachers and other adults who may or may not be mythical beings, such as vampires, werewolves or dragons. They estimate their books have sold about 46 million copies worldwide, making them among the most prolific and successful authors for young people.
“Children’s books need to be very tightly written,” Jones said. “Writing for kids can be more di cult than writing for adults, because every word matters. Every character matters.”
But writing for children is also rewarding, they said, because it can literally change lives.
“Kids are learning their place in their world,” Jones said. “We have to treat our audience with respect, because children are smart, much smarter than we think.”
Jones and Daley are among the inductees in the 2026 Kentucky Writers Hall of Fame. Congratulations to these two authors for their long-running success in the literary world!
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PHOTO FURNISHED
The Kentucky Theater showed up as a top vote-getter in several categories, including Best Local Movie Theatre and Best Local Arts Festival (Twelve Lions Film Festival).
PHOTO BY MARY JANE SPEER - COURTESY VISITLEX
Railbird, a two-day music festival featuring rock, country and Americana, quickly became a favorite local event when it entered the scene in 2019.
Where your origin story begins.
The Sayre School experience means developing an understanding of the world and what your role might be in it.
For many students, Sayre School is where it all began. It might be a love of technology, or a passion for sports, perhaps a deep calling to express themselves through speaking and writing. Through challenging curriculum and dedicated teachers and sta , students at Sayre School have the chance to dive into new experiences that shape their growth as well as their future.
Visit sayreschool.org for a closer look at how we foster curiosity and subject knowledge for the next chapter in life’s journey.
ARTS&CULTURE
Best Local Performing Arts Venue
1. Lexington Opera House
2. Kentucky Theatre
3. The Burl
4. Singletary Center for the Arts
Best Local Author
1. Silas House
2. Crystal Wilkinson
3. Frank X Walker
Honorable Mentions:
• Gwenda Bond
• Ada Limon
• Kim Edwards
Best Local Visual Artist
1. Wylie Caudill
2. Kiptoo Taurus
3. Robert Beatty
4. Bob Morgan
The Lexington Opera House was voted Favorite Local Performing Arts Venue.
PHOTO FURNISHED
Local artist
Kiptoo Taurus was among the top vote-getters in the Best Local Artist category.
PHOTO FURNISHED
“Relaxing
the body. Quieting the mind. Opening the heart.”
Mindful, empowered self-care is the heart of healing. Dr. Patterson o ers experiential consultations and classes for persons with stress-related chronic conditions –emphasizing a mindfulness-based approach to promoting resilience, managing stress, preventing burnout and cultivating compassion. Mindfulness is heartfulness. Visit mindbodystudio.org for more information.
Yoga unites body, mind and soul. Join instructor Kim Blitch, for Iyengar Yoga classes:
• Monday 6 - 7:15 pm – Beginner
• Tuesday 5:30 - 6:45 pm – Level 1
• Thursday 9:30 - 10:45 pm – Gentle
• Saturday 9 - 10:15 pm – Beginner
• Sunday 9 - 10:15 pm – Restorative iyengarlex.com
Argentine Tango, the world’s most mindful, meditative, intimate dance. (The social tango, not ballroom.)
If you can walk and hug, you can dance Argentine tango.
Tai Chi and Therapeutic Massage
• Every Wednesday practice from 8 - 10 pm, with beginner lesson 8 - 9 pm
Singles and beginners welcome. No partner or experience required.
Matt Branstetter is a licensed massage therapist and a graduate of Jung Tao School of Classical Chinese Medicine. He has over 25 years experience in meditation and the martial and healing arts and can be reached for appointment at: embodyingtheway@gmail.com
JOHN A. PATTERSON MD, MSPH, FAAFP, ABIHM
Best of SMILEY PETE'S
FOOD&DRINK
It’s true — Lexington loves to eat! We love to eat well, supporting a thriving local restaurant scene that rivals that of much larger cities. We here at Smiley Pete would put our culinary scene up against any other. Fortunately for those of us who like to enjoy a fine beverage with our meals, we are also the epicenter of bourbon, and our cocktail culture does not disappoint.
On the following pages, we spotlight those who are doing their part to contribute to the quality food, great service, unique ambiance, and amazing value to our dining and hospitality community. Read on to see who our readers have voted as their favorites in dozens of culinary categories!
PHOTO FURNISHED
FOOD&DRINK
Best Bagels
1. Southland Bagel
2. Great Bagel and Bakery
3. Pearl’s
4. Bluegrass Baking Co.
Best Bakery
1. Martine’s Pastries
2. European Delights Bakery
3. Olive’s Apron
4. Bluegrass Baking Co.
Best Bar-B-Que
1. Blue Door Smokehouse
2. Big Kahuna BBQ
3. Red State BBQ
4. Proud Mary
Best Beer Cheese
1. Dad’s Favorite
2. Hall’s On the River
3. Kentucky Beer Cheese
4. Critchfield Meats
Best Bourbon Selection (Restaurant)
1. OBC Kitchen
2. The Kentucky Castle
3. Epping’s on Eastside
Best Breakfast
1. Beau’s Cafe
2. First Watch Daytime Café
3. Wild Eggs
4. Winchell’s
Best Brunch
1. OBC Kitchen
2. Bella Cafè and Grille
3. First Watch Daytime Café
4. Stella’s Kentucky Deli
Best Burger
1. Drake’s
2. Bella Café and Grille
3. Shamrock Bar & Grille
4. Banners
Best Cajun
1. Bourbon n’ Toulouse
2. Gumbo Yaya
3. Proud Mary’s
4. Louisiana Passion
Best Cakes/Cupcakes
1. Martine’s Pastries
2. European Delights
3. Caramanda’s
Best Cheap Eats
1. Big Kahuna
2. Rosemont Station
3. Goodfella’s
4. Sahara
Best Chef
1. Chef Cole Arimes (Epping’s on Eastside, Cole’s 735 Main, and V at the Vine)
2. Chef Ouita Michel (Holly Hill & Co.)
3. Chef Alex Green (Mileta)
Honorable Mentions:
• Chef Jonathan Lundy (3TEN and Corto y Lima)
• Chef John Foster (Sage Rabbit)
Ode to the O cial Aroma of Lexington: Jif Peanut Butter
SMILEY PETE STAFF SALUTE
For generations, lunchtime has been synonymous with the subtly iconic peanut butter sandwich. And for most of those generations one name has been ubiquitous — Jif.
Elementary school lunches always entailed a small daily mystery: what did Mom make today from that giant jar of Jif on the counter? PB&J? Peanut butter and honey? Peanut butter and banana?
Those memories — and millions like them — ride on the sweet, roasted scent of Jif Peanut Butter, the majority of which is produced right here in Lexington at a factory on Winchester Road.
The brand’s roots trace back to 1946, when late Lexington businessman William T. Young created a peanut butter called Big Top. In 1955, Procter & Gamble purchased the brand and its Lexington manufacturing facilities, renaming it Jif. The brand steadily grew up and up, until 1981 when Jif o cially became the biggest name in peanut butter industry. In 2001, The J.M. Smucker Company acquired the brand from P&G, continuing the half-century tradition of operating from the manufacturing facility here in Lexington — the largest peanut butterproduction factory in the world.
Locals know the sweet, telltale aroma: roasting peanuts and molasses, each whi as unmistakable as the last. When the wind is blowing just right, the delightful scent emanating from the Jif factory can drift for miles through town. While the aromatic surprise often catches outsiders o -guard, for many Lexingtonians, it smells just like home. n
BEST CHEAP EATS BIG KAHUNA | PHOTO FURNISHED
FOOD&DRINK
Best Chinese Restaurant
1. Panda Cuisine
2. Osaka
3. Asian Wind
Best Cocktail Spot
1. Mileta
2. Carson’s Food and Drink
3. OBC Kitchen
4. Epping’s on Eastside
Best Co ee Shop
1. Third Street Stu
2. Old School Co ee
3. Kenwick Table
Best Destination Restaurant (within 30 miles of Lexington)
1. Windy Corner
2. Wallace Station
3. The Glitz
4. Holly Hill Inn
Best Donuts
1. Spalding’s Bakery
2. North Lime Co ee and Donuts
3. Frank’s Donuts
4. Je ’s Donuts
Best Elevated Dining
1. Mileta
2. Cole’s on Main
3. Millstone
4. Giuseppe’s
Best Food Truck
1. Rolling Oven
2. Sav’s Chill
3. Bert’s SpeakCheezy
4. Daughter’s Southern
Best Fried Banana Peppers
1. Hall’s On the River
2. Winchell’s
3. Smithtown Seafood
Best Fried Chicken
1. Merrick Inn
2. Critchfield Meats
3. Grimes
4. Indi’s
Best Hangover Restaurant
1. Sidebar
2. Winchell’s
3. Goodfellas
4. Ramsey’s
Best Happy Hour
1. Epping’s on Eastside
2. Mileta
3. Banners
Ode to the Speakeasy of Sandwiches:
Dad’s Favorite Deli
SMILEY PETE STAFF SALUTE
Nestled deep in the arcade-style shopping center o Harrodsburg Road — past the shoe cobbler, the tailor and the classic barbershop — is a mom-and-pop sandwich deli that has steadily built a cult-like, “speakeasy of sandwiches” mystique since opening its doors in the back of Garden Springs Shopping Center in 2010.
What’s the nature of the allure? Is it the understated storefront, or the refreshingly streamlined menu? The counter-service vibe recalling the iconic soup shop owner from “Seinfeld” played by Larry Thomas (whose portrait, fittingly, hangs behind the vintage lunch counter)? Maybe it’s the ritual of waiting in a narrow hallway for a brown paper bag to emerge from the kitchen, handed o like something slightly illicit.
Or maybe it’s simply that the food is just that damn good.
In addition to a dependable daily special and a rotating lineup of soups, Dad’s menu features a tight roster of toasted sandwiches, each centering on one of the brand’s homemade cheese spreads. No frills, no fuss — just well-executed and bold flavors.
Don’t let the lunchtime lines intimidate you — the concise menu and e cient “go on ’n git” counter service keep things rolling right along. n
Dad’s Favorite Deli was voted Favorite Hidden Gem.
PHOTO FURNISHED
FOOD&DRINK
Best Hidden Gem
1. Dad’s Favorite Deli
2. South of Wrigley
3. Wheeler’s Pharmacy
4. Archa Nine Thai Kitchen (South Elkhorn Village)
Best Hot Brown
1. Ramsey’s
2. Winchell’s Restaurant and Bar
3. A.P. Suggins Bar & Grill
4. Stella’s
Best Ice Cream/Gelato
1. Crank & Boom Craft Ice Cream
2. Graeter’s
3. Sorella Gelateria
4. Sav’s Chill
Best Indian Restaurant
1. Everest Nepalese and Indian Cuisine
2. Masala Indian Cuisine
3. Tandoor
Best Italian Restaurant
1. Giuseppe’s
2. Bella Notte
3. Mileta
Best Japanese Restaurant
1. Omakase Sushi & Sake Bar
2. Asuka
3. SRO
Best Korean Restaurant
1. K-Pot
2. Han Woo Ri
3. Arirang Garden
4. DY Market
Best Late Night Eats
1. Goodfellas Pizzeria (Mill Street)
2. Charlie Brown’s Restaurant
3. Drake’s
Honorable Mentions:
• Banners
• Sidebar
Best Local Candy Store
1. Old Kentucky Chocolates
2. Dahlhus Fudge
3. Ruth Hunt
Honorable Mentions:
• Sharp’s
• Al-Taj Bakery
Best Local Chain Restaurant*
1. Malone’s
2. Carson’s Food and Drink
3. Athenian Grill
4. Ramsey’s Diner
*Locally owned restaurant with multiple locations
Best Local Winery
1. Talon Winery
2. Equus Run Vineyards
3. Wildside Winery
Best Mediterranean/ Greek Restaurant
1. Athenian Grill
2. Sahara
3. Nefertiti
Best Mexican/Latin American Restaurant
1. Mi Pequeña Hacienda
2. Papi’s
3. Tortilleria Y Taqueria Ramirez
4. El Rancho Tapatio
Best Mocktail Spot
1. Malone’s
2. 3TEN
3. (Tie) East End Tap and Table
3. (Tie) OBC
3. (Tie) Poppy’s Flower Bar
Best New Restaurant (opened in 2025)
1. (Tie) Millstone
1. (Tie) Char on Ashland
2. Crust
3. V at the Vine
Best Outdoor/Patio Dining
1. The Merrick Inn
2. Goodfellas
3. Azur Restaurant & Patio
Honorable Mentions:
• Kentucky Native Café
• Palmer’s Fresh Grill
Best Overall Restaurant
1. Malone’s
2. Mileta
3. Bella Notte
Honorable Mentions:
• Epping’s on Eastside
• Holly Hill Inn
Best Pimento Cheese
1. Mousetrap
2. Dad’s Favorite Deli
3. Wallace Station
MI PEQUEÑA HACIENDA | PHOTO FURNISHED
Question: The long dry winter this year has my hair and skin all dried out. What’s the best way to keep my house from getting dry? The frizzy air and static electricity is killing me!
Chrystal, Lexington
Answer: If you have static electricity in your home, it is really dry. Static electricity happens below 30% humidity, and ideal humidity for humans is 46%. That’s when your skin, hair and sinuses are healthiest. Below 46%, you dry out, and if your sinuses get dry it can cause nose bleeds, and leave you more susceptible to cold and flu viruses. A dry house in the winter is caused by a couple of things, so we try to determine the issues before making a recommendation. Most of the time your house is dry because it is leaky, as in leaking in cold dry air in the winter. This causes your heat to run more, and when the cold dry air is heated, it soaks up the moisture in the air. Then, this warmed air takes the moisture out of the house when hot air
leaks out of your attic. When this is the problem, we can make a big improvement by insulating and air sealing the attic and/ or crawlspace if you have one. This will also save a ton of money on utilities, and dramatically reduces the amount of dust in your home. If we can’t get to the desired humidity from air-sealing, I prefer to add a steam humidifier. Standard humidifiers never work as well, and tend to grow mold. A steam humidifier produces its own distilled water, which gives us higher, and healthier, humidity. I don’t recommend portable humidity solutions as they tend be mold factories, and do more harm than good. One steam humidifier will take care of even a large home, so over time it’s a better more cost effective solution.
Question: My family has had the Kentucky crud all winter and I’m convinced we have just been passing colds and viruses back and forth. What is the best air-cleaner I can buy at one of the big box stores? Elieen, Ashland Park
Answer: The short answer is, I can’t recommend any of the over the counter air cleaners, as most of them are a waste of money. One of the most expensive ones on the market will only clean the small area around it; you would need 4 of them to properly clean a decent sized bedroom. A whole house solution is much better, and it’s cheaper than you think, (and way cheaper then buying several over the counter models!) Also, if I come in to survey your home and HVAC system, we can likely point out other things that could benefit your home’s indoor air quality. My entire team is indoor air quality certified, and when you work with a professional, they can educate you so that you know all your available options. Over the counter air cleaners are nothing more than a Band-Aid.
Do you have a question or a concern about your home’s efficiency, comfort, or air quality? Send your questions or comments to info@mysynergyhome.com.
Call Synergy Home for a free estimate for any of your home improvement needs:
FOOD&DRINK
Best Pizza
1. Goodfellas
2. Joe Bologna’s
3. Rolling Oven
Honorable Mentions:
• Pietana
• Smashing Tomato
• Pearl’s
Best Pub Food
1. Drake’s
2. Shamrock’s
3. Banners
4. Winchell’s
Best Restaurant or a First Date
1. Mileta
2. Millstone
3. Merrick Inn
Honorable Mentions:
• Carson’s
• Bella Notte
• Giuseppe’s
Best Restaurant to Take Visitors
1. The Kentucky Castle
2. Merrick Inn
3. Mileta
4. Malone’s
Best Rooftop
1. Lost Palm
2. Dudley’s on Short
3. Infinity: Rooftop Restaurant & Bar
Honorable Mentions:
• The Kentucky Castle
• Belle’s Cocktail House
• V at the Vine
Best Salads
1. Malone’s
2. Athenian Grill
3. Mileta
4. Bella Cafè and Grille
Ode to Lexingtonian Salad
BY AMY EDDIE
There are salads — and then there is the Lexingtonian.
The Lexingtonian Salad — the classic signature BLT-style salad at Malone’s — is not flashy. It doesn’t try to confuse your palette with pickled fruit or roasted chickpeas. It simply shows up, dependable as a bluegrass sunset, piled high with cold, crunchy goodness and that unmistakable creamy herb dressing.
It arrives at the table with quiet confidence, not pretending to be anything it isn’t. A bowl of crisp lettuce has no business being this beloved, yet here we are. Generations of Lexingtonians have ordered it with the same certainty one orders a good Kentucky bourbon: without hesitation and with full trust that it will deliver.
It’s the salad that comes before great steaks and celebrations, before birthdays and business deals, before “just one more drink.” That perfectly chilled plate and alluring bottomless promise is the quiet prelude to whatever the evening becomes.
And yet somehow it steals the show.
The Lexingtonian is more than just a salad; it’s a ritual. It’s a memory. It’s the taste of countless dinners with friends and family who stayed too long, and conversations that ran well past dessert.
In a world full of complicated things, the Lexingtonian Salad remains beautifully, gloriously simple. And Lexington loves it for exactly that reason. n
LOST PALM | PHOTO BY MATT KISIDAY
FOOD&DRINK
Best Seafood
1. Smithtown Seafood
2. Charlie’s Seafood
3. Palmer’s Fresh Grill
Honorable Mentions:
• Mileta
• V at the Vine
Best Soul Food
1. Mimi’s Southern Style Cooking
2. Grime’s
3. Indi’s
Honorable Mentions:
• Sassy Bleu
• Honey J’s
• Daughter’s Southern
Best Taco
1. Tortilleria y Taqueria Ramirez
2. Papi’s
3. Agave & Rye
4. Mi Pequeña Hacienda
Best Southern Food
1. Winchell’s
2. Ramsey’s
3. Merrick Inn
Honorable Mentions:
• Windy Corner
• Suggins
Best Steak House
1. Malone’s
2. Tony’s
3. Je Ruby’s
4. Blue Heron
Best Sushi
1. Omakase
2. Osaka
3. SRO
We Go First So You Travel Best
We travel the world rst so we can share personal knowledge, recommendations, and insider tips with our clients. You deserve the best rst-hand expertise when you travel.
FOOD&DRINK
Best Thai Restaurant
1. Archa Nine Thai Kitchen
2. Jasmine Rice Thai Restaurant
3. Planet Thai
Honorable Mentions:
• Nat’s
• Bangkok House
Best Vegan Food
1. Moody Mike’s
2. Yalla Y’all
3. Little Fork at Wisebird Cider
Best Vegetarian Food
1. Everest Nepalese & Indian Cuisine
2. Moody Mike’s
3. Bourbon n’ Toulouse
4. Yalla Y’all
Honorable Mentions:
• Little Fork at Wisebird Cider
• Stella’s
• NuHealth Kitchen
• Good Foods Co-op
Best Vietnamese Restaurant
1. Pho B.C.
2. Pho Saigon
3. The Wok
Best Wine List
1. Mileta
2. Epping’s on Eastside
3. Je Ruby’s
4. Darling Wine Bar
Best Wings
1. Wing KYng
2. Banners
3. KSBar
4. AJ’s Wings & Things n
BEST VEGETARIAN FOOD - EVEREST PHOTO FURNISHED
Do Good. LEAVE A LEGACY.
Turn your values into lasting support for your community.
Planning your will or estate? Make it personal and powerful.
Include a charitable gift with Blue Grass Community Foundation that carries your name and your values forward for generations.
Bernice and Pete Pederson did exactly that. Through their estate, they created an endowed fund at BGCF that provides annual support for the grounds at Ashland, The Henry Clay Estate, helping keep the space beautiful long after their lifetime.
Start planning your charitable legacy today. bgcf.org/legacy-giving
Ashland, The Henry Clay Estate
MUSIC&NIGHTLIFE
Whether you’re looking for a quiet and romantic spot to go on your next date night or a karaoke joint to belt out your favorite tunes with your rowdiest friends, Lexington’s nightlife options have you covered. On the following pages, we highlight the bars, music venues, breweries and other favorite nightlife and fun spots that our readers voted to be the best in Lex.
The Distillery District venue
The Burl, which hosts indoor and outdoor shows, was voted Best Music Venue. PHOTO
MUSIC&NIGHTLIFE
Best Bartender
1. Whitney Anderson (Goodfellas)
2. Robin Pawlowski (Old North Bar)
3. Richard Curnette (Henry Clay’s Public House)
Best Beer Selection (Bar)
1. Marikka's Bier Stubbe
2. The Beer Trappe
3. Mirror Twin
4. Mr. Brew's Taphouse
Best Bourbon Selection (Bar)
1. OBC Kitchen
2. Bourbon on Rye
3. Goodfellas
Best Cocktail Bar
1. Trifecta
2. Harvey's Bar
3. Paddock Bourbon Club
4. Goodfellas
Best Dive Bar
1. Chevy Chase Inn
2. Green Lantern
3. Sidebar
4. The Break Room
Best Hotel Bar
1. Lost Palm
2. Lockbox at 21c
3. Infinity Sky Bar
4. The Kentucky Castle
Best Irish Bar
1. McCarthy’s Irish Bar
2. Shamrock's 3. O’Neils
Best Karaoke
1. Night Kitty
2. Chinoe Pub
3. Cowboy Cam Karaoke
4. Ole Hookers
Best Local Band
1. Tee Dee Young
2. Honeychild
3. Magnolia Boulevard
Honorable Mentions:
• Bedford
• Autonomous
Ode to The Donut Dungeon
SMILEY PETE STAFF SALUTE
Last October, Lexington’s music scene welcomed a sweet new addition: The Donut Dungeon, a DIY, all-ages, sober live music venue located in the basement of Frank’s Donut Shop on East Third Street.
While the venue was shuttered by the fire marshal a few months later, it has seen continued support since closing, with a GoFundMe campaign to help o set the cost of upgrades to meet the fire code having nearly met its goal at the time of publication.
“We wanted to make the space we wished existed when we were 15,” said Sean Bolton, who co-founded the venue with Frank Alguera, the son of the owner of Frank’s Donuts (also named Frank). The two have been friends since they were kids.
“We're not competing with bars. We're not selling alcohol. We've never had to kick anybody out, ever; there's never been a problem,” Bolton said. “People just plug their amps in and then they play. A lot of times people buy tickets to come in and they'll sit outside and just hang out — it's kind of a social thing.”
Alguera and Bolton intended Donut Dungeon to be a “third space” for Lexingtonians to meet, hang out, enjoy music and art, and feel safe.
"When we started, people really latched on and we made a lot of friends, and for us, it's more than just a business,” Bolton said. “It's a community thing, and that's why we’ve fought so hard.”
The duo is hoping to reopen the venue this summer, with a tentative plan to kick things o with an event called Fire Code Fest featuring seven consecutive days of live music.
Follow lexington.donut.dungeon on Instagram for updates. n
OBC KITCHEN | PHOTO BY SARA HUGHES
MUSIC&NIGHTLIFE
Best LGBTQIA Spot
1. The Bar Complex
2. Crossings
3. Lussi Brown
Co ee Bar
4. Ole Hookers
Best Live Music Venue
1. The Burl
2. Manchester Music Hall
3. Tee Dee's
Best Local Brewery
1. Country Boy
2. West Sixth Brewing
3. Mirror Twin Brewery
4. Ethereal Brewing
Best Local Musician
1. Ben Sollee
2. Ben Lacy
3. Tee Dee Young
Honorable Mentions:
• Austin Boggs
• DeBraun Thomas
Best Overall Bar
1. Old North Bar
2. Ona
3. Henry Clay's Public House
4. Bourbon on Rye
Best Romantic Date Spot
1. The Kentucky Castle
2. Giuseppe’s
3. Le Deauville
4. Carson's Food & Drink
Best Sports Bar
1. Banners
2. Shamrock Bar & Grille
3. Winchell's 4. KSBar
Best Trivia Night
1. Banners
2. Old North Bar
3. (TIE) Shamrock Bar & Grille
3. (TIE) Mirror Twin n
Ode to Tee Dee Young
SMILEY PETE STAFF SALUTE
To watch Lexington blues musician Tee Dee Young in action, one might suspect he is communicating with some sort of outside force through his transportive guitar playing. While it appears e ortless on the surface, his immense talent and unique style are in fact the result of decades of hard work and dedication coupled with his experience playing amongst a variety of settings and players over the years.
Young may appear to have not aged in decades, but don’t be fooled by his youthful facade — he first cut his chops in the 1960s, when he, his brother and some neighborhood friends started the Young Brothers Band. Performing regularly at local and regional venues, he found himself sharing stages with the likes of The Jackson 5, James Brown, Ike and Tina Turner, and Aretha Franklin as a teenager.
Today, Young continues to perform at festivals, club shows and special performances around the region. But he is most at home on Monday nights, when he hosts a weekly blues jam at Tee Dee’s Club, the downtown blues club he opened in the early 1980s. More than 30 years later, he and his band continue to “rehearse” at the Second Street club every Monday night to a packed audience of musicians and anyone else who wants to stop by. The format of the evening usually includes Young playing a couple songs at the beginning of the evening before asking the audience if there are any musicians in the house. Once he gets a sense of who plays what, he said he “puts the whole package together,” inviting musicians up to the stage one or two at a time to join his band or play their own song. The evening culminates with an energetic set from Young and his band.
It’s a unique, community-driven musical experience that has not only helped Young develop his unique style, but has also provided the community an opportunity to collaborate and to experience live music in a way not found anywhere else in Lexington. Hats o to Mr. Young and the unique corner of the Lexington music scene that he’s worked so hard to create! n
BEN SOLLEE | PHOTO FURNISHED
Best of SMILEY PETE'S
COMMUNITY&MEDIA
Our local celebrities, non-profits and media outlets contribute to Lexington’s unique culture in a variety of ways.
On the following pages, we celebrate the media outlets, hosts, nonprofits and neighborhoods that make our community what it is.
BY MICK JEFFRIES
Mitchell Christian, Bradley Marlow, Erica Bivens and Landon Marsh (l-r) were among the top vote-getters in the Best Bloggers/ Influencers category.
PHOTO
COMMUNITY &MEDIA
Best Blogger/Influencer
1. Bradley Marlow (@bradleymarlow_)
2. Landon Marsh (@landonkmarsh)
3. Erica Bivens (@erica.bivens)
Honorable Mentions:
• Lexington Latest (@lexingtonlatest)
• Mitchell Christian Designs (@mitchell_christian_designs)
Best Business District
1. Chevy Chase
2. Summit at Fritz Farm
3. Distillery District
Best Lexingtonian
1. Chef Ouita Michel (James Beard Award-nominated restaurateur; owner Holly Hill & Co.)
2. Wylie Caudill (Lexington artist)
3. Fred Mills (longtime manager of the Kentucky Theatre)
4. Steve Zahn (actor/director)
Best Local Podcast
1. KSR, Kentucky Sports Radio
2. O the Cu with Adam Banks
3. Kentucky TasteBuds
Honorable Mentions:
• The Lexington Podcast
• Develop Lex
Best Local Radio Host
1. Adam Banks (O the Cu with Adam Banks)
2. Mandy Williamson (Mandy and Friends, Hits 106.3)
3. Shayna Sawyer (What Shayna Say, The Beat 107.9)
4. DeadAir Dennis (Dennis Dillon, Lexington's Classic Rock 92.1)
Best Local TV Host
1. Leigh Jordan and Tamara Schneider (Live from Chevy Chase)
2. Victor Puente (WKYT Morning News Anchor/Reporter)
3. Lee Cruse and Hayley Harmon, ("The Lee and Hayley Show")
4. Amber Philpott (WKYT News Anchor)
Ode to Constantine Samuel Rafinesque
SMILEY PETE STAFF SALUTE
Transylvania University is known for having what some might call a quirky and eccentric history — and at the center of that history is naturalist and professor Constantine Samuel Rafinesque.
An autodidact and polyglot who excelled at a number of scientific fields and spoke multiple languages, Rafinesque was born in Constantinople in 1783, eventually making his way to Lexington where he joined the faculty of Transylvania University as a botany professor in 1819. During his lifetime, Rafinesque was an outcast in the American scientific community, famously tricked by John James Audubon into publishing descriptions of fantastical, made-up creatures following an incident where Rafinesque damaged Audubon’s violin while trying to strike a bat that flew into his room.
Known to be both brilliant and erratic, Rafinesque’s tenure at Transylvania was one of his most productive periods, but it was also fraught with conflicts and quarrels with fellow faculty. During his time at the college, he published scientific names for thousands of plants and hundreds of animals, including Rafinesque’s Big-eared Bat. He also became interested in prehistoric native sites, discovering nearly 150 in Kentucky alone. Legend has it that Rafinesque was often late for or absent from his classes, and in 1926 he was fired by the university president Horace Holley, on whom he famously placed a curse as he was leaving.
Rafinesque’s curse is legendary on campus. As lore would have it, it’s been said to be the cause of Holley’s death (just one year after the dismissal), as well as a fire that destroyed the original administration building, and cholera and influenza outbreaks on campus.
Rafinesque died in 1840 in Philadelphia. Eighty-four years later, what were thought to be his remains were relocated to a tomb beneath the steps of Old Morrison, the University’s administration building. The tomb bears the inscription “Honor to whom honor is overdue.” Though recent research indicates that the body in the tomb is likely not Rafinesque, his spirit surely remains and takes pleasure in the posthumous honors. n
COMMUNITY &MEDIA
Best Local TV Station
1. FOX 56 News (WDKY)
2. LEX18 (WLEX-TV)
3. WKYT News
Honorable Mentions:
• KET (Kentucky Educational TV)
• ABC 36 WTVQ
Best Meteorologist
1. Bill Meck, Lex 18
2. Chris Bailey, WKYT
3. Jim Caldwell, formerly with WKYT
Best Neighborhood
1. Chevy Chase
2. Southland
3. Downtown Lexington
Best Nonprofit
1. Lexington Humane Society
2. God's Pantry
3. The Nest
Honorable Mentions:
• Sayre Christian Village
• GreenHouse 17
Best Radio Station
1. 98.1 The Bull
2. 92.1 Classic Rock
3. 104.5 The Cat
Honorable Mentions:
• 106.3 Hits
• 88.1 FM WRFL
Best Sportscaster
1. Matt Jones (Kentucky Sports Radio)
2. Tom Leach (WLAP)
3. Lee K. Howard (WKYT) n
Ode to Community Stewards Kevin & Cameron Heathcoat
BY WINN STEPHENS, FRIEND AND FREQUENT GUEST AT
BOURBON N' TOULOUSE AND CHEVY CHASE INN
Lexington business owner Kevin Heathcoat once shared with me the best advice his mentor, Joe Vuskovich, ever gave him: “Don’t have customers; have friends.” I believe Joe imparted this wisdom to Kevin shortly after metaphorically kicking him out of the nest, by firing him from the Indianapolis-based Cajun restaurant Yats.
Fortunately for all of us, that act of tough love ultimately led Kevin to Lexington, where he co-founded the fast casual restaurant Bourbon n' Toulouse in 2004, and stepped in to become a co-owner of Chevy Chase Inn, the city’s oldest watering hole, just over a decade later.
In the years that have followed, Kevin and his wife Cameron have worked hard to make Bourbon n’ Toulouse an absolute institution among Lexington’s culinary scene, and to ensure that Chevy Chase Inn remains deeply woven into Lexington’s cultural fabric.
Regulars at either business will indeed tell you they are treated as friends; however, Cameron, Kevin and their two awesome kids, Stella and Herrington, have extended their friendship far beyond the walls of their establishments. Through regular partnerships with an ever-growing list of non-profit organizations — including FoodChain, Operation: Secret Santa, Dining Out for Life (benefitting AVOL Kentucky), Empty Bowls (benefiting Moveable Feast), and many others — the family has welcomed the hungry, the sick and the marginalized into their network of friends. Whether through hosting community-oriented events, donating food or proceeds, or simply making thoughtful or funny social media posts, they are regularly finding ways to lift up and give back to the community.
Lexington is a vibrant, beautiful city with an exceptional quality of life. But what makes this a truly special place are the people who dedicate themselves to improving our little corner of the world, who treat everyone as friends, and, yes, those who make funny Instagram reels. n
KEVIN & CAMERON HEATHCOAT
MATT JONES | PHOTO FURNISHED
Spending money at local businesses helps build a strong community. Every dollar we spend at a locally owned shop helps local business owners and their sta as they contribute to our unique culture and build their lives here in Lexington. From furniture to houseplants to vintage clothing, we’ve highlighted dozens of Lexington’s favorite local spots to burn some hard-earned cash (in good conscience, of course!)
Joseph-Beth Booksellers was
SHOPPING
Best Antique Shop
1. Scout Antique & Modern
2. Peddler's Mall
3. Another Man's Treasure
Best Book Store
1. Joseph-Beth Booksellers
2. sQecial Media
3. Black Swan
Honorable Mentions:
• Glover's Bookery
• Wildlings Bookshop
Best Car Dealership
1. Quantrell Auto Group
2. (Tie) Dan Cummins
2. (Tie) Greens Toyota
3. Don Jacobs
Best Car Wash
1. Je 's Car Wash
2. Clean Sweep
3. Auto Spa
Best Caterer
1. Selma's Catering & Events
2. DaRae and Friends
3. The Apiary
Best Children's Clothing Store
1. Lele & Lane
2. Little Classics on Clay
3. Doodlebugs
Best Consignment/ Vintage Clothing Store
1. Sassy Fox
2. Stephen Lawrence
3. Pop’s Resale
4. Street Scene
Best Florist
1. Michler's
2. Oram’s Florist
3. Blooms By Brooke
4. Bella Blooms Florist
Ode to Fáilte Irish Shop
SMILEY PETE STAFF SALUTE
Homesickness can lead to great ideas. Fáilte Irish Shop was founded in 2001, five years after founder Liza Hendley Betz moved to the Commonwealth from Ireland. Realizing that something she considered an authentic and fundamental taste of home was missing from the Central Kentucky Irish community, she started selling proper Irish sausages.
From that humble beginning, Fáilte (Gaelic for “welcome”) has grown into Lexington’s unocial gateway to the Emerald Isle. Inside the cozy South Upper Street shop, shelves overflow with Irish sausages, soda bread, black pudding, pork pies, Celtic jewelry, Hanna caps, Belleek china and other imported goods that keep regulars coming back.
The shop is more than a retail store. It’s cultural glue for the local Irish community. Fáilte helps organize Lexington’s annual Lexington St. Patrick's Day Parade & Festival and keeps the local Irish community connected through events, traditions and even curated trips to Ireland.
The store’s reach now stretches well beyond Lexington thanks to a thriving online store. But the mission remains the same: bringing a little piece of Ireland to Liza’s Old Kentucky Home. Whether you’re Irish by blood or simply Irish for the day, Fáilte o ers a warm welcome to all. n
SHOPPING
Best Garden Store or Nursery
1. King's Gardens
2. Michler's
3. Pemberton's Greenhouses
Best Home Accessories Store
1. Peddlers Mall
2. Frances M
3. Scout Antique & Modern
4. My Favorite Things
Best Home Fixture/ Specialty Home Store
1. Plumber's Supply Store
2. Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting
3. Brecher's Lighting
4. Wiseway
Best Jewelry Store
1. Farmer’s Jewelry
2. Rivard’s
3. GDA Jewelers
Honorable Mentions:
• Diamond Gallery
• Savane Silver
Best Kentucky Themed Shop
1. Kentucky for Kentucky
2. Shop Local KY
3. Kentucky Branded
Stay for the Views.
FARMER'S JEWELRY | FILE PHOTO
SHOPPING
Best Local Boutique
1. Ada & Lo
2. Peggy's
3. World’s Apart
4. The Front Porch
Honorable Mentions:
• My Favorite Things
• Poppy & Pomelo
Best Locally Owned Grocery Store
1. Critchfield Meats
2. Good Foods Co-op
3. Wilson's Grocery & Meat
4. DY Market
Best Men's Clothing
1. Logan's of Lexington
2. J&H Outdoor Store
3. John's Run Walk Shop
Best Pet Store
1. Pet Wants
2. Most Valuable Pets
3. Southern Barker
Best Piercing Shop
1. Alchemy Body
Piercing
2. Rowan The Summit at Fritz Farm
3. Tattoo Charlie's
Best Sporting Goods Store
1. John's Run/Walk Shop
2. J&H Outdoors
3. The Locker Room
Best Tattoo Shop
1. Tattoo Charlie's
2. Charmed Life
3. Keyhole Tattoo
Best Used Furniture or Accessories Store
1. Another Man's Treasure
2. Scout Antique & Modern
3. The Peddlers Mall
4. Room Service
Best Wine Shop or Liquor Store
1. Liquor Barn
2. Ernie's Spirits
3. Corner Wine
4. Total Wine
Honorable Mentions:
• Vine and Branch
• Darling Wine Shop
Best Women's Clothing Store
1. Bella Rose
2. Worlds Apart
3. The Cotton Patch
4. Black Market
Honorable Mentions:
• Peacocks and Pearls
• Peggy's
• Ada & Lo n
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JOHN'S RUN/WALK SHOP | PHOTO FURNISHED
Best of SMILEY PETE'S
FAMILY
Lexington is consistently ranked as one of the best places in America to raise a family. From parks, schools and summer camps, to dentists, pediatricians and youth sports leagues, on the following pages, we highlight the places and businesses that make this such a special place to raise kids.
Downtown Lexington's Gatton Park on the Town Branch was a top vote-getter in the Best Free Family Activity category.
PHOTO FURNISHED
Peonies byTILT
Photo Credit:TILT
FAMILY
Best After School Program
1. YMCA
2. Living Arts and Science Center
3. Girls Can Too!
Best Children's Dentistry Practice
1. Steckler Pediatric Dentistry
2. Beaumont Kids Dentistry
3. Pediatric Dentistry of Hamburg
4. Dentistry for Children
Best Daycare Center/Preschool
1. YMCA Center for Children
2. Faith Lutheran Learning Center
3. Growing Together Preschool
4. Hearing & Speech Center
Best Free Family Activity
1. Lexington Public Libraries
2. Gatton Park on Town Branch
3. The Arboretum
4. Friday Flicks at Jacobson Park
Best Local Park
1. The Arboretum
2. Gatton Park on the Town Branch
3. Jacobson Park
Best Orthodontist
1. White, Greer & Maggard Orthodontics
2. Buchart + Wachs Orthodontics
3. Knight, Wahle & Chalothorn Orthodontics
Best Pediatric Practice
1. Pediatric Adolescent Associates
2. UK Family Medicine
3. Poole, Thomas, Goodsell Pediatrics
Best Private Elementary School
1. Sayre School
2. Lexington Christian Academy
3. The Lexington School
Best Private High School
1. Sayre School
2. Lexington Catholic HS
3. Lexington Christian Academy
4. KORE Academy
Best Private Middle School
1. Lexington Christian Academy
2. Sayre School
3. Sts. Peter & Paul Regional Catholic School
Honorable Mentions:
• St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
• KORE Academy
Best Public Elementary School
1. Cassidy Elementary
2. Glendover Elementary
3. Rosa Parks Elementary
LEXINGTON PUBLIC LIBRARIES | PHOTO FURNISHED
THE ARBORETUM, STATE BOTANICAL GARDEN OF KENTUCKY | PHOTO FURNISHED BY VISITLEX
FAMILY
Best Public High School
1. Lafayette High School
2. Henry Clay High School
3. Paul Laurence Dunbar High School
Best Public Middle School
1. Jessie M. Clark Middle School
2. Morton Middle School
3. Tates Creek Middle School
Best Summer Camp
1. The Bright Spot
2. Living Arts & Science Center
3. YMCA Central Kentucky
Honorable Mentions:
• Newton’s Attic
• Pepperhill Day Camp
Best Toy/Collectible Store
1. Toy HQ
2. The Rusty Scabbard
3. Wildlings Bookshop
Best Youth Baseball Organization
1. Eastern Little League
2. Parks and Recreation
3. South Lexington Youth Baseball
Best Youth Basketball Organization
1. YMCA
2. Glendover Basketball
3. I Am 3rd
Best Youth Dance Organization
1. Bluegrass Youth Ballet
2. Gotta Dance
3. Blackbird Dance Theater
Best Youth Martial Arts Organization
1. Dr. Kim’s Taekwondo & Martial Arts
2. AKF Lexington Martial Arts
3. Sin Thé Karate School
Best Youth Soccer Organization
1. LYSA
2. YMCA of Central KY
3. Lexington Sporting Club n
Ode to the Living Arts & Science Center
SMILEY PETE STAFF SALUTE
Founded in 1968, the Living Arts & Science Center has been a mainstay for creativity in Lexington for nearly six decades. Housed in the historic Kinkead House on Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard since 1970, the center underwent a renovation and expansion project in 2016, doubling the organization’s space with the addition of a science exhibition hall, computer lab, professional teaching kitchen, art gallery and more.
With classes for kids, a popular summer camp, and creative field trip options for entire classrooms, LASC is particularly geared toward nurturing Lexington’s young creative minds, though it o ers outlets for every age group. Perhaps the organization’s most unique feature is the Farish Planetarium. Lexington’s only public planetarium rotates shows daily, providing a di erent magical journey through the cosmos each day of the week. The organization also hosts yoga classes in the planetarium on select Saturdays, where folks can practice mindfulness under the stars.
With workshops for adults, classes for kids, and open hours daily, visitors can learn about everything from farming to dinosaurs, tinker in the makerspace, explore multiple art gallery spaces, watch an axolotl swim, and visit the stars — all on the same day. Wonders await at the Living Arts & Science Center, a true gem in the Lexington community. n
PHOTO BY MARY JANE SPEER - COURTESY VISITLEX
WeeklyWire
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SPORTS&REC
Lexington might be known for its fast horses and great basketball, but we also like to get competitive, get fit and enjoy ourselves in other ways. In this section, we weigh in on the best sports facilities, yoga and pilates studios, dog parks, bowling alleys and more, as voted by our readers.
UK Hoops head coach Kenny Brooks instructs his players during a home matchup against South Carolina.
PHOTO BY EDDIE JUSTICEUK ATHLETICS
SPORTS&REC
Best Bowling Alley
1. Southland Lanes
2. LexLive
3. Main Event
Best City Park
1. Woodland Park
2. Shillito Park
3. Raven Run
Best Distillery Tour
1. Bespoken Spirits
2. James E. Pepper Distillery
3. Town Branch/Lexington Brewing Co
Best Dog Park
1. Gatton Park on the Town Branch
2. Wellington Park
3. Masterson Station Park
Best Golf Course
1. Champions
2. Lexington Country Club
3. Gri n Gate Golf Course
Ode to the University of Kentucky Wildcat Women’s Volleyball Team
Heartbreak can still look like dominance — just ask the Kentucky Wildcats women's volleyball team.
Their 2025 season ended one win short of a national title with a loss to the Texas A&M Aggies in the NCAA championship match in Kansas City. But with the Wildcats’ 30-3 run, the season was hardly a disappointment.
The loss might have snapped a remarkable 27-game winning streak, but it did little to dull one of the most impressive seasons in program history. Along the way, Kentucky captured its ninth straight Southeastern Conference title and its first SEC Volleyball Tournament championship in two decades.
The accolades from that season piled up: Eva Hudson was named SEC Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year, Kassie O'Brien earned SEC Freshman of the Year honors, and head coach Craig Skinner took SEC Coach of the Year.
The Wildcats aren’t slowing down. Transfer standout Morgan Gaerte arrives from Notre Dame Fighting Irish women's volleyball, and a stacked preseason has already been announced, with heavyweight matchups against all of last year’s other Final Four contenders. That includes marquee matchups with Wisconsin Badgers women's volleyball and Pittsburgh Panthers women's volleyball at the AVCA First Serve showcase, plus an elite earlyseason tournament in the Bahamas.
Translation: the road back to the championship is already underway here in Lexington, and Big Blue Nation will be watching every serve. n
SMILEY PETE STAFF SALUTE
PHOTO BY NOAH MORLOCK | UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY ATHLETICS
SPORTS&REC
Best Gym
1. Kentucky Gym
2. YMCA
3. TrainMovePlay
Honorable Mentions:
• DiNardo Sports
Performance
• Ambition Lexington
Best Horse Farm Tour
1. Hill ’N Dale Farm / Xalapa
2. Taylor Made Farm
3. Calumet
Best Out-of-Town Hike
1. Natural Bridge
2. Raven Run
3. Pine Mountain State Park
Best Personal Trainer
1. Mark DiNardo
2. Adam Moore
3. Adam Price Fitness
Best Pickleball Court
1. PKL LEX
2. YMCA
3. Pickleball Paddock
Best Pilates Studio
1. Mind Over Body Studio
2. Pilates Barre Lex
3. YMCA
4. Sterling Hot Yoga
Best Tennis Facility
1. Lexington Tennis Club
2. Top Seed Tennis Club
3. Tennis Association of Central Kentucky
Best Yoga Studio
1. Creative Yoga
2. Mind Over Body
3. Sterling Hot Yoga
4. Wildfire Yoga
Best Player on UK Hoops (Women's) team for ’25-’26 season
1. Clara Strack
2. Gabby Brooks
3. (TIE) Lexi Blue
3. (TIE) Toni Morgan
Best Player on UK Men's Basketball team for ’25-’26 season
1. Otega Oweh
2. Malachi Moreno
3. Colin Chandler n
MIND OVER BODY STUDIO
Who's your first call when you need something done? In this section, we highlight the folks who make Lexington work, from plumbers, electricians and contractors to barbers, lawyers, tattoo artists and more.
SERVICES
Best Acupuncture Practice
1. Sustaining Health Acupuncture
2. UK Acupuncture
3. Commonwealth Acupuncture
Best Auto Repair
1. Brian’s Bluegrass Automotive
2. Lowell’s
3. Motorsports of Lexington
4. Southside Auto Repair
Best Bank
1. Traditional Bank
2. Central Bank & Trust
3. Republic Bank & Trust Company
4. South Central Bank
Best Barber Shop
1. The Rooster’s Nest
2. Prince Cuts
3. Chevy Chase Barbershop
Best Bicycle Shop
1. Pedal Power
2. (Tie) Broomwagon
2. (Tie) Scheller
3. Bicycle Face
Best Builder
1. BACK Construction
2. Anderson & Rodgers Construction
3. Bluegrass Builders and Remodel
4. S&S Design Build
Best Chiropractor
1. Stinson Chiropractic
2. Pelphrey’s
3. Arena Chiropractic
Best Cleaning Service
1. Top Mops Cleaning Service
2. First Impressions Cleaning
3. Wildcat Clean Team
4. Window Genie
Best Concierge Medical Practice
1. Downtown Drs. Brown
2. Journey Health
3. Bluegrass Gynecology & Wellness
4. Wiser Primary Care
Honorable Mentions:
• Marshall Lifestyle MedicineConcierge Medicine MD VIP
• Olive Health Direct Primary Care
Ode to Former Kentucky Governor Martha Layne Collins (1936-2025)
SMILEY PETE STAFF SALUTE
When former Kentucky governor Martha Layne Collins passed away in late 2025, she left behind not only the distinction of being Kentucky’s first (and to date, only) female governor, a position she held from 1983-1987, but also the legacy of a defining leader who helped shape the Commonwealth in a number of ways.
A former Kentucky Derby Queen who served many years as a schoolteacher before becoming active in politics in the early 1970s, Collins was a symbol of what it means to lead with both pragmatism and grace. Her career centered on the notion that meaningful progress often comes from persistence, partnership, and a willingness to think boldly about the future.
As an example of steady leadership, forward-thinking vision, and a deep belief in the Commonwealth’s potential, Collins has long stood as a defining figure in Kentucky’s modern history — not just breaking barriers but reshaping expectations. Her work stood as a testament that thoughtful, collaborative leadership could move the state onto a larger stage.
Perhaps best remembered for her pivotal role in bringing Toyota to Georgetown, Collins helped spark an economic transformation that continues to ripple across Kentucky today. Yet her impact extends far beyond economic development. She brought a sense of optimism and possibility to public service, championing education, workforce growth, and global engagement at a time when Kentucky was redefining itself.
For a state rooted in tradition, Martha Layne Collins o ered something powerful: proof that honoring the past and embracing change are not opposing forces, but partners in progress. n
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SERVICES
Best Credit Union
1. UK Credit Union
2. Commonwealth Credit Union
3. Members Heritage Credit Union
4. Metro Employee’s Credit Union
Best Dentist/Dentistry Practice
1. Slone Dental
2. Justice Dental
3. Chevy Chase Dentistry
Honorable Mentions:
• Alumni Dental Center
• Commonwealth Smiles
Best Dermatology Practice
1. Dermatology Associates of Kentucky
2. Bluegrass Dermatology
3. Dermatology Consultants
Best Dry Cleaner
1. Hart's
2. Chevy Chase Dry Cleaners
3. Newport
Best Electrician
1. Elliot Services
2. Fayette Electric Services
3. Doctor Electric, LLC
4. Mr. Electric
Best ENT Practice
1. Kentucky Ear Nose & Throat
2. Lexington Clinic Ear, Nose and Throat
3. UK HealthCare Ear, Nose & Throat
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Best Event Production and A/V Services
1. Studio 46
2. Dr. Stereo
3. (Tie) Audio Visual Techniques, INC
3. (Tie) Wrigley Media Group
Best Family Practice
1. Baptist Health Primary Care
2. Lexington Clinic
3. UK Family Medicine
4. Journey Health
Best Family/Portrait Photographer
1. Holifield Photography
2. Greer Photography
3. Heart Of Gold Photography
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Bluegrass Gynecology & Wellness 3217 Summit Square Place, Ste. 150 Lexington, KY 40509 859-475-5050 • bluegrassgyn.com
SPECIAL EVENT SERVICES
Best Fencing Company
1. Geddes Fence Company
2. Earlywine Fencing
3. CJH fencing
Best Financial Services Company
1. Kelly Capital Group
2. Gratz Park Private Wealth
3. Edward Jones
4. Meridian Wealth Management
Best Flooring Store
1. Carpet One Floor & Home
2. Kevin's Carpet
3. Mathis Flooring
4. Kerianna
Best Funeral Home/Services
1. Kerr Brothers Funeral Home
2. Milward Funeral Directors
3. Clark Legacy Center
Best Hair Removal Company
1. Waxing the City
2. Commonwealth Electrolysis Clinic
3. Advanced Skin and Vein
Best Holistic/Wellness Center
1. Lexington Salt Cave Wellness
2. Shambhala Meditation Center
3. Mind Body Studio
Aviation Museum of Kentucky
SMILEY PETE STAFF SALUTE
Along the runways of Blue Grass Airport sits a repository of history that many visitors and locals might have overlooked. Inside one of the hangars, you’ll find the Aviation Museum of Kentucky. Hidden beside the taxiways and roaring jets overhead, the museum celebrates Kentucky’s deep — and often surprising! — role in the history of flight.
Founded in 1978 by the Kentucky Aviation Roundtable, the museum opened to the public in 1995, and it has spent the decades since preserving both the machines and stories that shaped modern aviation. In 2006, the facility was o cially designated the Commonwealth’s aviation museum.
Inside the hangar, visitors can stand beneath some serious hardware: the sleek Northrop T-38 Talon, the fearsome Bell AH-1F Cobra, the iconic Grumman F-14 Tomcat, and the legendary McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II. A Douglas A-4 Skyhawk once flown by the United States Navy Blue Angels adds a little extra swagger to the collection’s provenance.
But it’s not all static displays — flight simulators, handson learning labs and youth summer camps give future pilots and engineers their first foray into the skies.
The museum also houses the Kentucky Aviation Hall of Fame, honoring pioneers who helped the state leave its mark on aviation history. This year the Hall of Fame honors late Kentucky aviators Brig. Gen. Fred Bradley, Sheilagh Farmer Wagner, and Maj. Ralph W. E. Webb. n
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Best Home Inspection Company
1. H2H Home Inspections
2. LexInspect Home Inspection
3. Vantage Home Inspections
Best Home Remodeling
1. BACK Construction
2. Bluegrass Builders and Remodeling
3. Economy Home Improvements
Honorable Mentions:
• My Old Kentucky Home Repair
• Kitchen Lab
Best Hotel
1. The Manchester
2. 21c Museum Hotel
3. Marriott City Center
Best HVAC Company
1. Synergy HVAC
2. GreenBox Home Services
3. Fayette Heating and Air
Best Insurance Agency
1. Debra Hensley State Farm
2. Gallagher
3. State Farm Mark Reed
Best Interior Design
1. Isabel Ladd Interiors
2. Schnabel Interiors
3. Benjamin Deaton Interior Design
4. Cashman Interiors
Best Landscaping Company
1. Joseph Hillenmeyer Garden Design
2. Hortus Gardens
3. Scott Pfei er Landscaping
Best Law Firm
1. Hicks & Funfsinn
2. Bluegrass Elderlaw, PLLC
3. McBrayer PLLC
Honorable Mentions:
• Stoll, Keenan, and Ogden (SKO)
• Golden Law
Best Local building Supply / Lumber Company
1. Palumbo Lumber
2. Congleton Lumber & Design Center
3. Stratton Lumber
Best Local Printer
1. Lynn Imaging
2. Southland Printing
3. PrintLex
Best Massage
1. Corey Pro tt Studios Massage
2. The Massage Center at Dudley Square
3. Lexington Healing Arts Academy
4. Massage Envy
Best Medi-Spa
1. Hourglass Aesthetics
2. Be Medispa
3. Belle Vie Summit
Honorable Mentions:
• UK Healthcare Aesthetics Center
• Skin Secrets
Best Moving Company
1. Wildcat Moving
2. Vincent Fister Moving and Storage
3. 2 Dudes Moving
4. Firefighters Move U
Best Nail Salon
1. The Nail Shop Lex
2. Luxor Nails
3. Varnish Nail Shoppe
JOSEPH HILLENMEYER GARDEN DESIGN | PHOTO FURNISHED
THE MANCHESTER | PHOTO BY MATT KISIDAY
SERVICES
Best OBGYN Practice
1. Lexington Women's Health
2. Lexington Clinic OBGYN
3. UK Women's Care
4. UK Midwives Clinic
Best Optometrist
1. Simpson Optical
2. UK HealthCare Advanced Eye Care
3. Georgetown Eye Care
Best Outdoor Lighting Company
1. Red Oak Outdoor Lighting
2. Blingle Premier Lighting of Lexington
3. Lexington Outdoor Lighting
4. Hammond Family Lighting
Best Painting/Window Treatment Company
1. My Three Sons Painting
2. Perspectives Inc.
3. Winner's Circle Painting
Best Pet Boarding/Daycare
1. Keshlyn Kennel
2. Camp Bow Wow
3. The Dog Stop
Best Pet Grooming
1. Mutt Cutts
2. Nash Pet Salon
3. Pet Paws Luxury Grooming Salon
Best Pharmacy
1. UK Retail Pharmacies
2. Wheeler’s Pharmacy
3. Baptist Health Retail Pharmacy
SERVICES
Best Plastic Surgery Clinic
1. Kirn Plastic Surgery Center
2. Lexington Plastic Surgery
3. UK Healthcare Aesthetics Center
4. Waldman Schantz Turner Plastic Surgery Center
Best Plumbing Company
1. H2O Maestro
2. Dauenhauer
3. Mr. Rooter
4. John Estes Plumbing
Best Podiatry Clinic
1. Lexington Podiatry
2. UK HealthCare Foot & Ankle/Podiatry
3. Kentucky Foot Professionals
Best Real Estate Agent
1. Andrea Coughtry
2. Mina Mattone and Alex Lennon
3. Rusty Underwood
Honorable Mentions:
• Rick Queen
• Becky Reinhold
Best Real Estate Brokerage
1. Bluegrass Sotheby’s
2. Turf Town Properties
3. The Agency
4. The Brokerage
Best Retirement Home
1. Bridgepointe at Ashgrove Woods
2. Morning Pointe
3. Sayre Christian Village
4. Legacy Reserve at Fritz Farm
SERVICES
Best Roofing Company
1. AIC Roofing & Construction, Inc.
2. BACK Construction Inc.
3. (TIE) A rmed Roofing
3. (TIE) Bone Dry Roofing
Best Salon
1. Cha Cha's
2. Pelo
3. Salon Bleu
4. The Hive Salon and Art Haus
Best Sign Company
1. Instant Signs
2. Fast Signs
3. Lexington Sign Company
Best Solar Company
1. Synergy
2. Lexington Solar Attic Fans
3. Commonwealth Solar
Best Spa
1. Hourglass Aesthetics
2. The Woodhouse Day Spa
3. Spa at the Kentucky Castle
Honorable Mentions:
• Halo Salt Room & Wellness Spa
• The Spa at Gri n Gate
Best Tax Preparation Company
1. Dillon Tax Services
2. Dean Dorton
3. Advanced Tax Services
Best Technology and IT Services
1. 46Solutions
2. Next Century Technologies
3. Dr. Stereo
Best Travel Services
1. Avant Travel Agency
2. AAA
3. Cline & Co Travel Consulting (Robin Cline)
Best Tree Services
1. Dave Leonard Tree Specialists
2. Big Beaver Tree Service Inc.
3. Bartlett Tree Experts
4. Tinker Boys Tree Service
Best Veterinary Practice
1. Chevy Chase Animal Clinic
2. Clay's Mill Vet Clinic
3. Richmond Road Vet Clinic
4. Gainesway Small Animal Clinic
Best Wedding or Event Venue
1. The Apiary
2. Talon Winery
3. Harper Hall
4. The Signature Club
Best Weight Loss Center or Services
1. UK HealthCare Weight Loss Surgery
2. Horizon Weight Loss & Sculpting
3. Lexington Weight Loss at Ageless
Best Women's Health Practices
1. Lexington Women's Health
2. Bluegrass Gynecology & Wellness
3. UK Women's Health OB-GYN n
PETE’S PROPERTIES
40502
321 Preston Ave. $185,000
291 Malabu Dr. $325,000
581 Albany Rd. $354,000
215 Bassett Ave. $400,000
2920 Eastbrook Ct. $441,000 117 Bassett Ave. $450,000 1110 Cooper Dr. $450,000
181 Preston Ave. $525,000
3401 Pepperhill Rd. $525,000 3521 Cheddington Ln. $579,500
1011 Tates Creek Rd. $600,000
863 Edgewater Dr. $665,000 754 Chinoe Rd. $730,000 373 Cochran Rd. $865,000 1893 Honey Spring Pl. $3,450,000
Residential Property Transactions Recent arm’s length residentialsales for this magazine’s distribution area. Information compiledby Fayette County Property Valuation Administrator David O’Neill. For more information on any of these properties,or others,pleasevisitwww.fayettepva.
2704 Ashbrooke Dr. $445,000 4221 Evergreen Dr. $575,000 2209 Burns Ct. $609,900 3361 Partridge Ln. $697,000 3105 Chadbourn Ln. $900,000
Chamblee Ln. $900,000
4353 Calevares Dr. $174,000
Pinecrest Way $185,000 2278 Harrods Pointe Trce. $276,000 4841 Agape Dr. $350,000
888 Edgewood Dr. $324,000 904 Edgewood Ct. $380,000 4209 Clearwater Way $393,000
4136 Bridgemont Ln. $405,000
4300 Brookridge Dr. $415,000
4508 Thornbridge Ln. $435,000
4500 Thornbridge Ln. $448,500
4165 Watertrace Dr. $485,000 1018 Forest Lake Dr. $575,000
4533 Biltmore Pl. $635,000 n
Owsley Avenue
S. Hanover Avenue
221 Holiday Road
LISTING
