NOVEMBER 2013 • PRICELESS T O P S • L e x i n g t o n ’s M o s t I n f l u e n t i a l M a g a z i n e November 2013 vol. 7 no. 11
10
TH
GO RED FOR WOMEN
ANNIVERSARY • MEET A HOST OF SURVIVORS • BLOOMFIELD MANOR
FEATURES 60 69 85 89 108 111 115 119 161 174 220
Dining: Natasha’s Bistro & Bar Community Spotlight: American Lung Association Go Red for Women: Celebrating the Movement 2013 Go Red for Women Featured Survivors AHA Circle of Red Lexington Firemen Go Red for the Cause Meet Martha Lanier Meet Ruth Brinkley Behind the Lens: Shannon Clark & Stephanie Bargo TOPS Tour of Homes: Bloomfield Manor WOW Wedding: Brittany & Chris Denny
TOPS IN EQUINE 127 131 136 139 140 143 152 156 159
Fillies in the Workplace: Marilyn Hoffman Horse Park Happenings Racino Rendezvous Equine Out & About Equine Art: The Auction Alexandra Dillard Ray Paulick Secretariat Movie Polo
89
156 161
CORRECTION TO PREVIOUS ISSUE: Lesley Lewis-Hamilton and Marletta McDermott’s survivor stories were swapped on page 89 and 90 in the October issue.
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TOPS AROUND TOWN 29
Out & About
30
TOPS October Preview Party I
32
TOPS October Preview Party II
34
Camp Horsin’ Around
36
Brave the Blue II
38
Commerce Lexington Salute to Small Business
40
Hospice Heroes
42
Carnegie Center 21st Birthday Bash
44
You Lucky Dog
46
LYPA Rising Stars Program
136
Racino Rendezvous
216
139 TOPS Equine Out & About 202 BRA Day Lexington 204 Big in the Bluegrass 206 McDazzle 208 Wine-O-Nite! 210 Lexington Philharmonic Guild 212 Light the Night 214 Seton Evening with the Stars 216 Circle of Red 218 Big Blue Madness 226 TOP Shots
40
136
44 16
NOVEMBER 2013 | TOPSINLEX.COM
IN EVERY ISSUE 24 Up & Coming 65 Sports: Wildcat Superlatives
66
66 Posh Paws: In the Dark 75 We are… Young? 76 Parties: Delicious Fall Pumpkin Treats 79 Fashion: Sneak Attack 166 New Businesses 199 Etiquette & Entertaining: Let’s Have Tea 201 Gardening: Sidelined 224 Weddings: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas… Wedding!
76
199
The views and comments expressed by the authors are not always that of our editors or publishers. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this publication, TOP Marketing Group accepts no responsibility or liability for any errors, omissions or resultant consequences, including any loss or damage arising from the reliance on information in this publication. All images contained in TOPS in Lexington Magazine are subject to copyright of the artist or photographer as named, but not limited thereto. Reproduction of any part of this magazine without prior written permission is prohibited.
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NOVEMBER 2013 | TOPSINLEX.COM
Volume 7, No. 11
in LEXINGTON Top Marketing Group
465 East High Street, Suite 201 Lexington, KY 40507-1938 859.543.TOPS (8677) 859.514.1621 (fax)
TopsInLex.com | LexScene.com Keith Yarber
President & Founder kyarber@topsmarketing.com
Kristen Oakley
Publisher Sr. Account Manager kristen@topsmarketing.com
Teri Turner
Advertising Sales Manager teri@topsmarketing.com
Lisa Sheehy
Equine Features Editor lisa@topsmarketing.com
Melissa Meatyard
Design/Layout, TOPS & Special Publications TOPS & Special Publications melissa@topsmarketing.com
Amanda Harper Head Writer / Graphic Designer / Web amandah@topsmarketing.com
Danielle Pope
Account Manager danielle@topsmarketing.com
Kellie Corridoni
Account Manager kellie@topsmarketing.com
Stevi Haskins
Account Manager stevi@topsmarketing.com
Julie Wiley
Account Manager julie@topsmarketing.com
Debbie Hodges
Account Manager debbie@topsmarketing.com
Bobby Mills
Graphic Designer / Production Assistant bobby@topsmarketing.com Contributing Writers Hallie Bandy, Laura D’Angelo, Cynthia Ellinger, John Engelhardt, Blake Hannon, Amanda Harper, Lauren Henry, Greg Ladd, Beth Parker, Michelle Rauch, Lisa Sheehy, Mary Ellen Slone, Kathie Stamps, Deanna Talwalkar, Sue Ann Truitt, Alex Webbe
Cover Photo by Phillips Mitchell Photography Contributing Photographers Dr. Michael Huang Alex Orlov Phillips Mitchell Keni Parks Ron Morrow Shaun Ring
Interns Holly Brucken Chris Elam Ashley Harrington Eileen Rooney Savannah Wafford
Subscribe to TOPS (also makes a great gift!)
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Contact: photographer@topsinlex.com
To Advertise Your Business,
call 859.543.8677
NOVEMBER 2013 | TOPS MAGAZINE
23
Up & Coming
07 THURSDAY
09 SATURDAY
Hoops for Hope
Kentucky Football v Missouri
6p Rupp Arena rupparena.com
CCU Candlelight Tour
08
NOV
EMBER
5p-9p Downtown Frankfort downtownfrankfort.com
US Dressage Finals
08 FRIDAY
10 SUNDAY
UK v UNC Asheville Men’s Basketball 7p Rupp Arena ukathletics.com
Chicago
9a-1p The Lexington CenterHeritage Hall heart.org
A Year of Dignity and Hope
10
2p & 8p Lexington Opera House lexingtonoperahouse.com
US Dressage Finals
Go Red for Women Luncheon
09
Chicago
Kentucky Horse Park usdf.org
8p Lexington Opera House lexingtonoperahouse.com
08
Commonwealth Stadium ukathletics.com
Kentucky Horse Park usdf.org
UK v Northern Kentucky Men’s Basketball 4p Rupp Arena ukathletics.com
Chicago 1p & 6p Lexington Opera House lexingtonoperahouse.com
US Dressage Finals Kentucky Horse Park usdf.org
11:30a-1p Malone’s jubileejobsoflexington.org
Peterson Musical Heritage Celebration
Boots, Bourbon & Brew
5p Lyric Theatre lexingtonlyric.com
8p-12:30a Buster’s lexingtonfoundation.org
The Salvation Army Christmas Breakfast Roast of Dr. Pearse Lyons 7:30a-9a Hyatt Regency salvationarmylex.org
US Dressage Finals Kentucky Horse Park usdf.org
12 TUESDAY UK v Michigan State Men’s Basketball 7:30p Chicago, IL ukathletics.com
Rockapella 7:30p EKU Center for the Arts ekucenter.com
Our photographers are everywhere! Please check our website for updated event information and please be aware of the changing nature of events. 24
NOVEMBER 2013 | TOPSINLEX.COM
Up & Coming
Sesame Street Live: Make a New Friend 6:30p Rupp Arena rupparena.com
Holiday Trunk Show 4:30p-7:30p Gallery on Main, Richmond
Ronnie McDowell 8p Lyric Theatre lexingtonlyric.com
13 WEDNESDAY Sesame Street Live: Make a New Friend
Fantasy 7:30p Singletary Center lexphil.org
SCAPA Art Lease 5p-8p The Kentucky Theatre scapafoas.org
Holly Day Market VIP Party 6p-9p Alltech Arena, The Kentucky Horse Park hollydaymarket.com
Honk! Jr. 8p Lexington Opera House lexingtonoperahouse.com
Hartland Holiday Bazaar
10:30a Rupp Arena rupparena.com
2p-8p Hartland Club House
UK Women’s Basketball v Georgia Southern
Kentucky Football v Vanderbilt
11a Memorial Coliseum ukathletics.com
2013 Greater Lexington March for Babies Leadership Breakfast 8a-9a Women’s Hospital at St. Joseph East
14 THURSDAY 2nd Anniversary Open House Kirn Plastic Surgery & Aesthetic Skin Care Center kirnplasticsurgery.com
Honk! Jr. 7p Lexington Opera House lexingtonoperahouse.com
15 FRIDAY
16 SATURDAY Nashville, TN ukathletics.com
Savion Glover 7:30p Singletary Center singletarycenter.com
Annual Stars Gala Embassy Suites
Bela Fleck + Brooklyn Rider 8p Norton Center nortoncenter.com
Holly Day Market
17 SUNDAY
UK v Robert Morris Men’s Basketball 7p Rupp Arena ukathletics.com
UK Women’s Basketball v Central Michigan 2p Memorial Coliseum ukathletics.com
Holly Day Market
16
12p-6p Alltech Arena, Kentucky Horse Park hollydaymarket.com
18 MONDAY Beyond Glory starring Stephen Lang 7:30p Norton Center for the Arts nortoncenter.com
UK v Texas-Arlington Men’s Basketball 7:30p Rupp Arena ukathletics.com
20 WEDNESDAY Jim Brickman: The Love Tour 7:30p EKU Center for the Arts ekucenter.com
10a-6p Alltech Arena, Kentucky Horse Park hollydaymarket.com
Off the Block Tees
Hartland Holiday Bazaar
21 THURSDAY
9a-3p Hartland Club House
LexArts Gallery Hop
Markesbery Symposium on Aging & Dementia
5p-8p Downtown lexarts.org
8:30a-12p Lexington Center lexingtoncenter.com
08
19 TUESDAY
21
5p ArtsPlace bgprintmakers.org
March of Dimes Signature Chef Auction 6p-9:30p Hilton Lexington marchofdimes.com
16
Have an event coming up that you’d like listed on our calendar? Visit us online at topsinlex.com/calendar and click on Submit Your Event! NOVEMBER 2013 | TOPS MAGAZINE
25
Up & Coming
Southern Lights Stroll
Lexington Art Show
6:45p Kentucky Horse Park khpfoundation.org
10a-5p Heritage Hall holidayartshows.com
UK Women’s Basketball v Lipscomb
USFloyd
7p Memorial Coliseum ukathletics.com
22 FRIDAY
Manheim Steamroller 2p & 7p Lexington Opera House lexingtonoperahouse.com
22
Bell Bottom Boogie Bash 6p-11p Hilton Downtown lexingtonlaserspa.com
Southern Lights Opening Night 5:30p-10p Kentucky Horse Park southernlightsky.org
23 SATURDAY Kentucky Football v Georgia Athens, GA ukathletics.com
PINK YOU Grand ReOpening
23 30
8:30a-9p Dillard’s Fayette Mall dillards.com
Kentucky Music Hall of Fame in Motion: Exile 7p EKU Center ekucenter.com
Home for the Holidays Train
2p Bluegrass Scenic Railroad bgrm.org
Opening Reception for Improbable Baubles 1p-4p Headley-Whitney Museum headley-whitney.org
8p Lexington Opera House lexingtonoperahouse.com
Metropolitan Opera District Auditions 10a Memorial Hall lexingtonopera.com
Anansi the Spider 7p Lyric Theatre lctonstage.org
The Avett Brothers 8p Rupp Arena rupparena.com
24 SUNDAY Caesar Millan Live! 5p Norton Center nortoncenter.com
Lexington Art Show 10a-5p Heritage Hall holidayartshows.com
25 MONDAY UK v Cleveland State Men’s Basketball 7p Rupp Arena ukathletics.com
26 TUESDAY Moscow Ballet Great Russian Nutcracker 7:30p Singletary Center
27 WEDNESDAY UK v Eastern Michigan Men’s Basketball 7p Rupp Arena
UK Women’s Basketball v Bradley Memorial Coliseum ukathletics.com
29 FRIDAY Luminate Lexington Festival: 2p-7p Lighting: 6:30p Downtown Lexington downtownlex.com
Southern Lights Equine Extravaganza and Christmas Carriage Parade 5:30p-10p Kentucky Horse Park southernlightsky.org
Holidays Around the World Frazier History Museum, Louisville fraziermuseum.org
30 SATURDAY UK Football v Tennessee Commonwealth Stadium ukathletics.com
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever 2p Lexington Children’s Theatre lctonstage.org
The Blessing of the Hounds 10a Shaker Village shakervillageky.org
Stargazing: Comet ISON 5:30p-7p Shaker Village shakervillageky.org
Our photographers are everywhere! Please check our website for updated event information and please be aware of the changing nature of events. 26
NOVEMBER 2013 | TOPSINLEX.COM
Up & Coming
01 SUNDAY UK v Providence Men’s Basketball 8:30p Brooklyn, NY ukathletics.com
Lighting on the Lawn 5p The Henry Clay Estate henryclay.org
02 MONDAY DLC Annual Meeting & Awards of Excellence 11:30a Downtown Hilton downtownlex.com
03 TUESDAY Lexington Christmas Parade 6:30p Downtown downtownlex.com
06 FRIDAY
A Christmas Carol 7:30p EKU Center ekucenter.com
14 SATURDAY Arturo Sandoval 7:30p Singletary Center singletarycenter.com
Zac Brown Band 7:30p Rupp Arena rupparena.com
Kentucky Ballet Theatre: The Nutcracker 2p & 8p Lexington Opera House lexingtonoperahouse.com
UK v North Carolina Men’s Basketball
21 SATURDAY
8p Norton Center nortoncenter.com
UK v Belmont Men’s Basketball
07 SATURDAY
12p Rupp Arena ukathletics.com
The Nutcracker
22 SUNDAY
Jeff Dunham 5p Rupp Arena rupparena.com
10 TUESDAY UK v Boise State Men’s Basketball 9p Rupp Arena ukathletics.com
DEC
EMBER 03
5:15p Chapel Hiill, NC ukathletics.com
Take 6
2p EKU Center ekucenter.com
21
UK Women’s Basketball v Duke 3p Rupp Arena ukathletics.com
01 07
28 SATURDAY UK v Louisville Men’s Basketball 4p Rupp Arena ukathletics.com
Have an event coming up that you’d like listed on our calendar? Visit us online at topsinlex.com/calendar and click on Submit Your Event! NOVEMBER 2013 | TOPS MAGAZINE
27
&
Out
Bob, Laura and Keen Babbage at the signing of Life Lessons From Cancer Event
Mike Elder & Jenny Bradford of Sawyer-Elder Construction at the Morton James Grand Opening
A b o u t
DeAnn Stephens and America’s Got Talent Star Joe Castillo at the Baptist Health Holidaze
Darae and Friends welcome you to Fasig Tipton
John Calipari and Friends at the Sixth Man Movie Premiere
NOVEMBER 2013 | TOPS MAGAZINE
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TOPS Around Town
TOPS OCTOBER PREVIEW PARTY Photos by Alex Orlov The Susan G. Komen office hosted the October TOPS magazine Preview party on Wednesday, Oct. 2nd. This special edition was the annual “Pink-Tober” issue highlighting Breast Cancer Awareness. Readers and guests were able to meet survivors of Breast Cancer, and read about their amazing and uplifting stories of courage and strength. Jessica Hundley
Jane Gibson and Nikki Browning
Elisabeth Jensen
Sharla Hill and Julie Wiley
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NOVEMBER 2013 | TOPSINLEX.COM
www.topsinlex.com
Bobbie Niehaus
Scan here to see all the photos for this event at topsinlex.com
Dr. Sandra Bouzaglou and Genea Arrasmith
Phillips Mitchell, Shandon Cundiff, Paul Atkinson and Dr. Michael Huang
Christy Trout, Cooper Stofer, Ashlyn Stofer, Shelia Bayes, Ashley Struble and Jason Mitchell
NOVEMBER 2013 | TOPS MAGAZINE
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TOPS Around Town
TOPS OCTOBER PREVIEW PARTY Photos by Alex Orlov The TOPS “Pink-Tober” issue honored two groups of Breast Cancer survivors: Susan G Komen Minority Outreach groups and Bra Day Lex, an initiative to educate women on their options of reconstruction surgery as part of their recovery process. Lesley Lewis-Hamilton and Morris Hamilton
Lynn Carr
www.topsinlex.com
Stuart Hurt and Sheldon Kozee
Lisa Hart and Billie Dollins
Gloria Conner
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NOVEMBER 2013 | TOPSINLEX.COM
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Marletta McDermott and Khreonna Jones
Jennifer Bricking and Carla Van Horn
Susan Howard
Lisa & Dusty Johnson
NOVEMBER 2013 | TOPS MAGAZINE
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TOPS Around Town
CAMP HORSIN AROUND Photos by Alex Orlov This camp facility is specifically designed and equipped to enrich the lives of children with serious, chronic illnesses and physical difficulties. Children from Kentucky and surrounding states with illnesses including cancer, diabetes, asthma, sickle cell anemia, kidney disease, AIDs, heart ailments or other illnesses utilize the camp. www.camphorsinaround.org
Ray & Betty Larson
Julia Pezzi, Jane Warner and Carol Gardner
Michael & Heather Cecil
James & Sherry Jones, Lauren Rostron and Blake Jones
Travis Musgrave, Rob & Gail Bolton and Erica Musgrave
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NOVEMBER 2013 | TOPSINLEX.COM
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Al Grasch and Nickie Masry
Andrew & Emily Dorisio, Laura Watson and Joe Miller
Lee Hall, Genie Whayne, Tom Whayne, Pattie Hood and Stephanie Hall
NOVEMBER 2013 | TOPS MAGAZINE
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TOPS Around Town
BRAVE THE BLUE Photos by Ron Morrow
Eric King and Jessica Casebolt
The high-adventure sequel to “Brave the Blue” had participators rappel 410’ from the tallest building in Lexington! More than 100 people took on new heights (literally!) and are now part of a select fraternity able to lay claim to having scaled the 31 story Lexington Financial Center, aka Big Blue! This event benefits the Bluegrass Chapter of the Boy Scouts. www.theresapatchforthat.com
Bryan Raisor and Kurt Netherton
Bryon Ethington
Jed Kerkhoff, Joe Baxter, Andy Barger and Julie Dolan
Ronald Tritschler and Bena Halecky
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NOVEMBER 2013 | TOPSINLEX.COM
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Paula Wilder and Will Swope
John McDonald IV, Matt Roberts, Mallory Ervin, Don Combs and Dan Koett
Steve Ritter, Anna Hovekamp, Eloise Penn and Steve Kelly
TOPS Around Town
COMMERCE LEXINGTON SALUTE TO SMALL BUSINESS Photos by Keni Parks More than 300 people attended the Commerce Lexington Inc. Salute to Small Business Awards Luncheon at Keeneland presented by Forcht Bank. Bates Security, LLC was named the 2013 Small Business of the Year. Bates Security was chosen among seven different category winners as the Small Business of the Year. Pat Kline and Ann Katherine Riddle
Amy Neugebauer and Lauren Dozier
Mark Saunier
www.commercelexington.com
Jeremy Cron and Jeremy Brooking
NOVEMBER 2013 | TOPSINLEX.COM
Beverly Clemons and Brittany Porter
Kristina Haggard, Brandon Fisher, Rebekah Bennett, Kyle Pierron, Laura Dziagwa and Ronna Corrente
Regina Hoover, Scott Green, Jamie, Jeremy, Bryan, and Pat Bates, Jerry Coy, Sonny Bates, Bobby Klaiber and Crystal Newton
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Jeannine Petell, Helen Rades and Becky Taylor
NOVEMBER 2013 | TOPS MAGAZINE
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TOPS Around Town
HOSPICE HEROES Photos by Ron Morrow
Eugene & Grace Johnson
This year Hospice will celebrate 35 years of continuous service to the terminally ill and their families in central, northern and southeastern Kentucky by honoring people and organizations that have been instrumental to their success. The centerpiece of the event is the Hospice Heroes Awards. Our Heroes are selected from the communities Hospice serves. www.hospice.org
Laura Boison and Senator Tom Buford
Adrian & Whitney Mendiondo, and Diana & Nick Bozzuto
Terri & Steve Fryman
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NOVEMBER 2013 | TOPSINLEX.COM
Susan Ware and Lisa Hinkle
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Representative Susan Westrom, Gretchen Brown and Susan Swinford
Jack & Laurie Cunningham, Tonya Pratts and David Cox
Michelle Abrams, Winifred Brooks, Billie May and Karen Kinman
NOVEMBER 2013 | TOPS MAGAZINE
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TOPS Around Town
CARNEGIE CENTER’S 21ST BIRTHDAY BASH
Photos by Alex Orlov
The Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning empowers people to explore and express their voices through imaginative learning and the literary arts. Lexington’s Carnegie Center marked its 21st anniversary with a celebration featuring live music from Coralee and the Townies, bourbon and a barbecue dinner at the Gratz Park Inn. www.carnegiecenterlex.org
Ashley Baker and Daniel Mohler
Amanda Manning, Eric Sutherland and Maurice Manning
April York and Laura Benton
Danielle Komis Palmer, Ashley Baker and Rebecca Garlock
Luisa Trujillo and Carol Bradford
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NOVEMBER 2013 | TOPSINLEX.COM
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Katie Oostman
Laura Whitaker, Jessica Mohler, Campbell Garlock and Carol Bradford
Pam Perlman, Margaret Price, Marsha Bloxam and Sheila Ferrel
NOVEMBER 2013 | TOPS MAGAZINE
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TOPS Around Town
YOU LUCKY DOG Photos by Keni Parks
Kari Weller
Part fundraiser, part fashion & all fun, You Lucky Dog presented by Whole Foods Lexington & Kentucky Great Dane Rescue raised over $5,000! Guests were treated to a fashion show, photo ops, silent auction, games and prizes! KGDR is a foster and volunteer based rescue program that relies entirely on volunteers who share a passion for our gentle giants. www.kentuckygreatdanerescue.wordpress.com
David Jones and Laura Hadley
Kelly Anne Beile
Jordyn Sorrell, Jake and Sam Simpson
Gwendolyn Potter, Walter Smith and Ranji Singh
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NOVEMBER 2013 | TOPSINLEX.COM
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Apollo, Paisley and Grey
Taylor Maupin, Brianna Rapp, Shannon Fields and Paisley
Cheryl L. Boyd, Kelcie Quisenberry and Katy Lynne Ford
TOPS Around Town
LYPA RISING STARS Photos by Melanie Stoeckle The Lexington Young Professionals Association prides itself on its diverse group of members and their involvement in the greater Bluegrass community. The Annual Rising Stars program was designed to honor the young professionals who are emerging leaders in the Lexington area. Brittney Edwards
Jena Everhard, GJ Gerard and Emory Sebastian
Kyle Lake and Amy Frazier
www.lypa.org
Jessica Tretter and Brandi Berryman
NOVEMBER 2013 | TOPSINLEX.COM
Warren Rogers and Meredith Lane
Chelsea Corken, Emory Sebastian, Fausto Sarmiento, Amy Frazier and Olwen Conant
Amy Carrington, Katy Ross, Brandi Berryman, Stuart Hurt, Jessica Tretter and Davonna Saier
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Maggie Mick and Katy Ross
NOVEMBER 2013 | TOPS MAGAZINE
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Etiquette Dining Dining
NATASHA’S BISTRO & BAR
WITH ITS NEW MENU, LEXINGTON’S ECLECTIC ENTERTAINMENT VENUE PUTS A SPOTLIGHT ON CUISINE
by Blake Hannon Photo by Keni Parks
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Dining
W
hen you think of Natasha’s Bistro & Bar, you might think of seeing a premiere music artist in the establishments’ intimate setting. You may recall seeing an over-the-top drag show, a theatrical production, or getting cozy with some total strangers while cracking up at a stand-up comedian. But for Natasha’s, what probably doesn’t instantly come to mind when you think of this longtime Lexington staple is the food. That’s not to say the place hasn’t produced more than a few tasty dishes over the course of roughly two decades. It’s just that what’s on the plate usually gets overshadowed by what’s on stage. Now, with a skilled chef and new menu, Natasha’s is ready for its food to be the featured act. Gene Williams, Natasha’s general manager, said the restaurant’s menu started to become a bit bloated over the years while attempting to account for the tastes of its eclectic clientele. Now, with Lexington’s dining scene practically bursting at the seams with great restaurants, Natasha’s felt the need to ramp up its offerings. “The culinary maturity has increased over the years,” Williams said of Lexington. “We just need the food to rise to the occasion.” Natasha’s decided it wanted to have a menu that emphasized Mediterranean-style cuisine and local ingredients, and it found a chef that delivered that vision in spades by acquiring Chef Alex Jenkins, a Central Kentucky native who earned her stripes cooking at some of the finest restaurants in New England and California. Another welcome element that Jenkins brought to Natasha’s was her connections to New England’s seafood markets and the ability to have fresh seafood flown in regularly – not to mention her passion for putting it on the plate with panache. “It’s important for me (to have that on the menu) because I’m good at cooking it,” Jenkins said. An easy introduction to Jenkins’ skill with seafood is trying some tapas style marinated shrimp. The preparation changes regularly, but the one I tried – grilled and seasoned perfectly with a bit of pineapple and crumbled feta cheese – convinced me that any preparation would be delectable. Another small plate offering, the grilled Andouille coins topped with roasted garlic and served over a bleu cheese sauce and arugula pesto was insanely good. A plate comes with three, but I could eat them by the handful. Those who haven’t experienced the new menu will notice its been trimmed down significantly, but standouts include everything from comfort classics like chicken pot pie to a light and fresh orecchiette pasta. Since Natasha’s encounters its fair share of healthconscious diners, the vegan Thai curry is sure to be a hit. Its red coconut curry is spicy with a hint of sweetness with sautéed vegetables, chickpeas and basmati rice. It was practically perfect on its own, but carnivorous types can add chicken or shrimp. Speaking of carnivorous types, Natasha’s now has a burger that can stand with Lexington’s best, thanks to its Marksbury Andouille burger. Jenkins has pride in this Kentucky Proud burger, with a mix of Marksbury Farms ground beef and ground Andouille sausage topped with red onion, lettuce, tomato, a honey Dijon mayo and a multi grain bun served with fresh-cut fries. What? One of the best burgers in town doesn’t have cheese on it? Blasphemy! I’m not kidding. Just try the it and see for yourself. In addition to the new menu, Natasha’s also has special nights like Thursday Night World Cuisine, where Jenkins may serve up dishes inspired from Eastern Europe, Polynesia or somewhere in between. There’s also the Sunday Night Crab Cake Dinner, with glutenfree lump crab cakes with an arugula, sweet potato and local corn salad that’s served with caper and herb remoulade. As for desserts, they come courtesy of Martine’s Pastries. Feel free to look them up, but for Lexington foodies, that’s really all you needed to hear to stick around for something sweet. Natasha’s Bistro & Bar has already established itself. Now, with a renewed culinary focus, it hopes to establish itself as something more – a place where your eyes, your ears and your taste buds can all have an amazing experience.
GM Gene Williams and Chef Alex Jenkins
859.259.2754 | 112 Esplanade | natashasbistro.com
NOVEMBER 2013 | TOPS MAGAZINE
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Wine of the Month
Tate’s Picks of the Month
3 Girls Petite Sirah Why I Like It: With touches of fig, cocoa and licorice, this wine has a very interesting and lingering finish. Remember... “Never underestimate the power of three!” Awards: California State Fair Wine Competition 91 Points Lodi Consumer Wine Awards 91 Points, Gold Medal Geography: Lodi, San Joaquin County, California, United States Winery: Oak Ridge Winery Varietal Blend: 85% Petite Sirah • 15% Cabernet Sauvignon Alcohol by Volume: 13% pH: 3.62 Res. Sugar: 0.93% Serving Suggestions: Delicious alongside pork tenderloin or lamb. Creamy sauces offer a nice bridge. Goes well with bleu cheese or goat cheeses.
Proudly distributed by:
Beer of the Month
Goose Island Beer Co. Sofie Why I Like It: Fermented with wild yeasts and aged in wine barrels with orange peel, Sofie is a tart, dry, sparkling ale. A subtle, spicy white pepper note, a hint of citrus from the orange peel and a creamy vanilla finish make Sofie an intriguing choice for Champagne drinkers and beer drinkers who are fond of Belgian Saisons. Awards: Great American Beer Festival: Belgian and French Style Saison: Bronze Medal (2011) Style: Belgian Style Farmhouse Ale Alcohol by Volume: 6.5% Hops: Amarillo Malt: 2 Row, Pilsen, Wheat Availability: Year-Round Serving Suggestions: Serve in a wide mouth glass alongside fresh oysters or a rich shellfish, like lobster. Pairs well with brie.
To see all products distributed by Kentucky Eagle, Inc. visit www.kyeagle.net
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Sports
WILDCAT SUPERLATIVES by Drew Johnson Sports Junkie
High school was hell, wasn’t it? Once upon a time, I was a bit of a chubby bunny, too scared to talk to girls. I didn’t have a car until I was 21. I spent my spare time at the comic book store. Actually, I still do, but don’t tell anybody. But the one high school rite of passage that never ceased to amaze me were the famous/ infamous “Senior Superlatives.” Were you voted “Most Likely to Succeed” in high school? Kudos to you. While you basked in the warmth of respect and popularity, the rest of us privately scorned you in jealousy. You didn’t exactly endear yourself to the rest of your class when you always blew the curve to smithereens. Were you “Best Looking”? While no one ever wishes illness on anyone, a small cadre of us ordinary looking folks secretly hoped for your face to break out like a pepperoni pizza. “Best Sense of Humor”? Go be funny someplace else, Mister or Miss Stand Up Comedian. You don’t deserve the prize because everyone thought we were funnier than you. Deal with it. Personally, I was voted “Most Likely to be a Game Show Host.” Yeah. That didn’t exactly work out so well. I was also voted as having the “Sexiest Legs” my senior year. But that is a story for another time. It involves confidentiality agreements and money laundering. Obviously, I am not bitter. But what about those Kentucky Wildcats you’re chomping at the bit to watch dominate college basketball in 2014? I mean, I can put aside my feelings of high school inferiority and petty jealousy if you can. If there’s one unifying thing in Central Kentucky, it’s our beloved Wildcats. So which Wildcat will get what superlative? MOST LIKELY TO BE AWESOME: Julius Randle BBN, grab a preseason college basketball magazine. ANY preseason college basketball magazine. You’ll see that the freshman from Texas has “special” written all over him. Randle will be a first team All-American. He will be in contention for the National Player of the Year. He is that good. He is an Alpha Beast. Hide yo kids, hide yo wives. MOST IMPROVED: Alex Poythress See, this is what happens when competition arrives. Poythress has the gifts to be an All-American himself. Now that he’s going up against Randle every day in practice, the sophomore from Clarksville is raising his level of play. Poythress at small forward and Randle at power forward is darn near unstoppable. NO MERCY! MOST LIKELY TO BE UNDER APPRECIATED: James Young Lost in all the hubbub of this season’s historic recruiting class, somehow the freshman from Michigan has gone under the radar. Let’s not forget he was the #2 shooting guard in the high school ranks last season. Plus, he can shoot. If the 2012 national championship team taught us anything, a three point threat is vital to cutting down nets. Just ask Doron Lamb.
MOST LIKELY TO DATE THE PRETTIEST GIRL AT KENTUCKY: Jarred Polsen I mean, seriously… the dude’s got it. What “it” is, I don’t know. But I sure wish I had it. And I was younger by 18 years. And didn’t have silver hair. And a burgeoning beer gut. And… BEST INTERVIEW: Marcus Lee The 6-9 jumping jack from California has been quite the entertaining interview so far. He is sincere, down to earth, and appreciative of wearing the Kentucky jersey. Lee has “fan favorite” written all over him. He’s also, like, pretty darn good. It will be fun watching his development. MOST LIKELY NOT TO BE MISSED: Kyle Wiltjer Enjoy Gonzaga. Get an umbrella. MOST LIKELY TO START A FIGHT BETWEEN ANDREW AND AARON HARRISON: Dominique Hawkins I’m assuming you’ve been listening to Coach Cal the last couple of weeks. Mr. Basketball in Kentucky isn’t going to take a back seat to anybody next year, including the twins. When it is all said and done, Hawkins will have a stellar career for Kentucky. Write it down. MOST LIKELY TO LOSE HIS VOICE: John Calipari The man likes to yell. A lot. Remember folks, it’s just teaching. MOST LIKELY TO START A NEW FASHION TREND: Willie Cauley-Stein Big Willie has the hipster fashion down to an exact, awesome science. If anyone can find a way to translate skinny jeans into a basketball uniform, it’s him. MOST LIKELY TO BE BIG: Dakari Johnson The freshman is a legit seven footer. In college basketball, those are more rare than an authentic Bob Ross painting being held by a leprechaun sitting on a unicorn. Johnson has the size to be disruptive in the lane and the emerging offensive game to boot. Not many teams in the country have that luxury. Unless, of course, it is Kentucky. Hate on, haters. MOST LIKELY TO GO UNDEFEATED: Your University of Kentucky Wildcats It won’t be easy. The schedule is arguably the hardest in the nation. It’s improbable, but with this much talent and experience returning, it’s not impossible. This team has the chance to be one of the greatest teams in the history of college basketball. Enjoy the ride, folks. And stop being bitter.
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Posh Paws
IN THE DARK by Amanda Harper, Pet Aficionado
With the chilly temperatures and shorter days, your dog’s evening and early morning walks may become less and less appealing. How to stay safe in the dark can be a very real concern for pet parents. These tips are designed to get you and Duchess out the door and back again, safely and quickly. Build a Utility Belt Batman would be nothing without his clever gadets at his side. You’re a super pet parent, so why shouldn’t you have your own superhero utility belt? Keep a belt or sash near your home entryway that has the following clipped on at all times: • Flashlight • Safety Reflector • Cleanup Bag Holder Clip • Safety Whistle • Pepper Spray When you’re getting ready to head out, don the belt and be on your merry way. Don’t have belt loops? Use one of the clips to keep everything secure. This ensures that nothing gets forgotten or left in the pockets of the wrong jacket. Pooch Safety In the evening, predawn and nighttime hours, it may be difficult for others to see your dog. If your leash were to break or slip out of your hands, that could mean disaster. Always do a quick visual inspection of your pet’s collar and leash before setting out and keep a firm grip on the leash handle throughout the walk. When crossing the street or using sidewalks, you want drivers, joggers and bicyclists to clearly see your pooch. You can trim his leash and collar with reflective tape, add a blinking safety light to his collar or dress him in a reflective dog jacket. If you’d like to put a jacket or sweater on your dog, choose a lightly colored one. Steer your dog clear of dark spots or shrubs that block your view of what’s going on around you. Finally, your pets love of sniffing lightposts comes in handy!
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Follow the Standard Safety Tips The most important thing you can do is travel in the safest manner possible. This means employing some common safety tips, like travelling in familiar, well-lit areas and looking both ways before crossing the street. A mistake I see a lot of pet walkers make is listening to their mp3 player or talking on the phone. By drowning out the noise of the world around you, you’re putting yourself at risk. Consider using one earbud at low volume if you absolutely need music. Being distraction-free will allow you to be more aware of your surroundings and potential hazards. Finally, if you feel uneasy walking your dog in the dark, consider hiring a dog walker for the winter. A professional will handle the details. The Right Length, The Right Time Take a minute to evaluate the length of your walks in the dark. If your dog will do her business without a long trek, consider keeping your time outside short and sweet. By minimizing your time spent outside in the darkness, you’re reducing some of the risk. If your pet typically walks a while before “going”, try pacing around inside for a few minutes before ever leaving the house. If your pet will tolerate a little tweak to his schedule, consider going out when other people will be walking or during daylight hours. If you have a neighbor with a pet, suggest being dog walking buddies for the season. Keep a schedule of meeting at the same time to walk together. Following a few common sense safety tips and staying prepared will ensure that you and your dog will be walking safely all winter. Happy wagging!
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Community Spotlight
TAKING HER
BREATH AWAY
The popular phrase, perennially associated with pleasant surprises, now has an entirely new and often tragic meaning.
by Mary Ellen Slone
Today, more than 7 million women in the
United States have been diagnosed with COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) a progressive and horrific lung ailment which slowly and permanently robs its sufferers of the ability to draw life-sustaining breath. COPD is the third leading cause of death in the USA, surpassed only by heart disease and cancer. While there is no known curethere is a definitive cause: SMOKING. Ironically, while a current national TV commercial depicts an elephant sitting on a middleaged man’s chest as being the prototypical depiction of what it is like to suffer from COPD, the reality is that gender roles and smoking behaviors have shifted in recent decades. Today, the number of deaths among women from COPD has more than quadrupled (just since l980) and tragically, since the year 2000, across the United States, the disease has claimed the lives of more women than men annually. Nationwide, the American Lung Association statistics show that 7 million women in the USA have COPD, while likely millions more have the symptoms of the disease, but have yet to be diagnosed. The typical woman with COPD is most likely to be white, reside in Appalachia, and have an income below the poverty level. Women are biologically, emotionally, and culturally different than men. Women living with COPD have a more difficult time quitting smoking, have more disease flare-ups, and utilize more healthcare resources. They also suffer more from co-occurring chronic conditions, including depression, and have an overall lower quality of life.
The American Lung Association statistics confirm that while smoking was relatively rare among women at the turn of the century, the tobacco industry’s campaigns encouraging women to ‘enjoy’ smoking have been woefully too successful. In the late 1920s, the Lucky Strike brand launched its then-revolutionary “Reach for a Lucky Instead of a Sweet” campaign—targeted at women. Later, Phillip Morris introduced Virginia Slims, the first cigarette created specifically for women. With the advertising slogan “You’ve come a Long Way Baby,” Virginia Slims was massively appealing to women’s new-found sense of liberation. By 1973, less than six years after the introduction of Virginia Slims, the rate of 12 year old girls who started smoking had increased by 110 percent. Since that time, nationwide anti-tobacco campaigns and policy changes have successfully decreased smoking rates for both men and women. But sadly, the old TV ads that declared to women “You’ve got your own cigarette now” are still resulting in new cases of COPD and other tobacco-related illnesses in those women as they have aged. Women are more vulnerable than are men to lung damage from cigarette smoke and other pollutants. Estrogen plays a role in worsening the lung damage by altering the way nicotine in the body is broken down into harmful compounds. The fact that women with COPD are 1.5 times more likely to have never smoked than men with COPD is a good indication that they are also at greater risk from other causes of the disease, such as secondhand smoke, harmful workplace exposures, and outdoor air pollution. In the fore-front of the fight for healthy lungs and healthy air, the American Lung Association is dedicated to improving lung health
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Community Spotlight
and preventing lung disease. For over 100 years, the organization’s mission has been to improve lung health by preventing lung disease. Whether it’s searching for cures for lung diseases, keeping kids off tobacco or fighting for laws that protect the air we all breathe, the work of the American Lung Association strives to save lives every day.
Cappelletti, RT, Program Manager, American Lung Association, Louisville.
Kentucky needs more research, advocacy, education and awareness to diagnose and treat lung disease in women earlier. The American Lung Association is working diligently to fight lung disease in women, to save lives, and to improve lung health. Realizing that knowledge is power, the organization, along with UK HealthCare, is staging a ‘Breath of Life Luncheon’ and symposium on women’s lung health on Tuesday, November 19th at the Griffin Gate Marriott Resort on Newtown Pike. The focus of this event is to raise awareness about the disproportionate incidence of lung disease among women in our community, and to raise much needed funds for lung health research in Kentucky. The event will feature a dual track agenda: Track 1 is for Healthcare Professionals, while Track 2 is for a general audience (specifically for individuals who have been diagnosed with COPD, or are caregivers for others who have the disease.)
This special event is designed to raise awareness of the disproportionate incidence of lung disease among women, and to help raise much needed funds for lung health research in Kentucky. “Take Away” facts that could save a woman’s life are:
The event will feature exhibits and educational sessions, as well as a luncheon. Featured speakers for Track One (Healthcare Professionals) are David Mannino, MD, Professor and Chair of the UK College of Public Health and Preventive Medicine at the University of Kentucky: COPD in Women; Angela Mahan, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the University of Kentucky. Concurrent speakers for Track Two (for patients, families, and those concerned about general lung health) are: Representatives from the American Lung Association: “Keeping Lungs Healthy,” and Support for Women as Caregivers, Tami
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The luncheon speakers will be Janice Nolan, Assistant Vice President of National Policy and Advocacy, American Lung Association, and Representative Susan Westrom, Kentucky House of Representatives.
• Lung cancer is the leading cancer killer of women in America, killing more than breast, ovarian and cervical cancers combined. • Deaths from lung cancer among women have risen 150% in the last decade, while lung cancer deaths among men are decreasing. • Because COPD has long been thought of as a man’s disease, many doctors still do not expect to see it in women, and consequently miss the proper diagnosis. When a woman goes to her doctor with breathing problems, they typically discuss physical symptoms and her history of exposure to risk factors. Even though the answers to these questions are valuable indicators of COPD, doctors tend to diagnose asthma due to somewhat similar symptoms and disease symptoms. • Effective treatment of COPD is complicated, and women don’t always get the kind of care that meets their needs. Quitting smoking has more of a positive impact on the health of COPD patients who are still smoking than any other type of treatment, and women with COPD actually benefit from quitting more than men; however, women have more trouble successfully staying smoke free.
Community Spotlight
Yvonne Marie Yarber T
obacco has provided a way of life for generations of farm families in Kentucky. It has also brought significant misery to those who are addicted to it.
My earliest memories of cigarettes were being trapped in the back seat of the car while both of my parents smoked in the front seat. The fumes made my eyes water and sometimes I would cough. A lot. When I was 10 years old, lots of information started coming out about the dangers of cigarette smoking. I kept showing it to my parents and wanting them to quit. My father tragically passed away in a construction accident just after I turned 11. So my 29 year old mother was suddenly raising two boys. Cigarettes for her were a way to deal with all the stress and pain she was going through. As the years passed on, I pleaded with her to quit. She was always having coughing and other lung related infections. She tried many times, and ultimately just wasn’t strong enough to put them down once and for all. Mom really deep down wanted to quit. She knew they were slowly killing her. Fast-forward to my mother at age 66. All things considered, she was in pretty decent health. She was living independently, could mow her lawn, and was always in her car running errands.
ing of her rib cage to reach the diseased part of her lung fractured her sternum breastbone in the center of her chest, leaving her in tremendous pain. This fracture didn’t initially show up on conventional x-rays. It was 3 years later that a doctor finally ran a nuclear bone density scan and there it was. A giant white hot spot indicating stress and pain. I can’t begin to describe how terrible the last seven years of her life were. She died on February 10 of this year at age 73. She was prescribed giant doses of Oxycontin to deal with the pain. She was in and out of emergency rooms, intensive care, nursing homes, and always on oxygen. She quickly became dependent on others to help care for her. Her lungs became more and more diseased. She had pulmonary hypertension and congestive heart failure. She missed out on so much of life she could have been enjoying in her later years, such as being a grandmother to my two young children that she loved more than anything in this world. Two pieces of advice: If you or a loved one smoke, do whatever, WHATEVER, IT TAKES TO QUIT. Before you have a major surgery like a thoracotomy, get a second opinion, and ask the surgeon if someone with thinning bones and osteoporosis from years of smoking should be subjected to that type of invasive surgery. I wish I had. My mother would probably still be here today.
The local hospital found a very small “spot” on her lung. This led to a surgery known as a “Thoracotomy” which removes a section of her lung containing the cancer. While the surgery to remove the cancer was successful, the spread-
by Keith Yarber
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Good Foods Market & Café TOPS Thanksgiving Picks
455 Southland Drive, Lexington 859.278.1813 | goodfoods.coop Dine-in and let us cook for you! Our delicious Thanksgiving hot buffet, prepared by our award-winning culinary team, includes such dishes as Bourbon-brined turkey with confit of leg & thigh, roasted Blue Moon garlic scape mashed potatoes, gourmet green bean casserole, and roasted harvest vegetables. Also enjoy our caramelized Brussels sprouts, cream of smoked winter squash soup, and much, much more, including vegetarian and vegan options. The hot buffet will serve from 10 am until 5 pm for $9.99/lb, with complimentary local apple cider for all our guests! Cooking Thanksgiving dinner yourself? Or want some help? Fresh, organic, natural and local turkeys as well as turkey alternatives will arrive on November 21 and are sold on a first come, first served basis. Our knowledgeable Meat & Seafood staff will be on hand to help answer all your turkey cooking questions. Our Grab & Go department will be stocked with our Thanksgiving meal items conveniently prepared and packaged so that you can grab a side or your entire meal and enjoy it at home. Remember dessert! Our made-from-scratch pumpkin pies and other traditional desserts will be available throughout the holiday season. And we love special orders but please place them 72 hours in advance… including our new “Ultimate Mother-in-Law Pleaser” pumpkin cheesecake!
Appliance Pro
2320 Fortune Drive, Lexington 859.299.6254 | applianceproky.com With the holidays just around the corner, Appliance Pro’s goal is to help you get your kitchen chef-ready! Appliance Pro has been family owned and operated since its inception in 2006, offering quality name- brand appliances you can depend on. Their sales and management staff has over 64 years combined experience. Appliance Pro has established a caring tradition built on honesty and integrity that always provides you, the customer with an exceptional buying experience. Appliance Pro is proud of their association with Nationwide Marketing Group, a 12 billion dollar buying group, which brings you the combined power of thousands of retail stores across the country. This huge “buying power” is passed along to you by means of lower competitive prices on the finest name brand products in the nation. Appliance Pro specializes in new and “Scratch & Dent” home appliances; all scratch and dent items have the full manufacturer factory warranty. They have the largest selection in Central Kentucky with over 500 appliances on display in their showroom. Appliance Pro offers the lowest prices on the brands they represent. Appliance Pro will price- match as well, just bring in your quote and they will be happy to match the price. Appliance Pro means the best selection, at the best value, everyday. They strive to be “Your Family’s Appliance Connection… For Life”! 72
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JDI Grille & Tavern TOPS Thanksgiving Picks
319 Cedar Street, Lexington 859.246.0202 | JeffersonDavisInn.com Jdi.vip.reservations@gmail.com A cozy spot for your family and friends’ holiday get-together. The holidays are just around the corner and that means everyone is coming home to visit family and friends! Are you looking for a cozy and relaxing place to grab a bourbon, glass of wine or beer? Look no further, the JDI has it all including a private third floor dedicated to making your holiday event special. The Jefferson Davis Inn known locally as the “JDI” is a three story Lexington establishment adorned with three floors of rich mahogany bars, stone fireplaces, beautiful hardwood floors, multiple hi-definition large screen TVs and inviting leather furniture and bourbon barrel tables. Warm up by the fire drinking Kentucky’s finest and rarest bourbons. The JDI’s private third floor is the perfect spot for your private event, holiday party, banquet, or business meeting. The third floor features a dedicated bar, lounge area, pool table and A/V projection screen. Whether it’s a cocktail party or a party to watch the Cats, the JDI’s private floor is unparalleled in Lexington. The JDI has a flexible menu that can be tailored for your special event. They offer a wide array of decadent southern food including smoked on-site pulled pork, chicken and waffles, steaks, chops, pastas and the “JDI” burger which you won’t soon forget. Got a sweet tooth, try the funnel cake fries or caramelized bananas foster waffle. Located just a few blocks south from Rupp Arena, the JDI is a perfect spot to warm up after watching the Wildcats win its ninth NCAA title! Go Cats.
Old Kentucky Chocolates 420 Southland Drive, Lexington 800.786.0579 | OldKYCandy.com Kentucky’s best to you from Old Kentucky Chocolates! From the heart of the Bluegrass, rich in its traditions of Fast Horses, Aged Bourbon, Southern Hospitality and Beautiful Thoroughbred Farms, you will find Old Kentucky Chocolates, founded by Don Hurt in 1964. Old Kentucky Chocolates is best-known for our Bourbon Chocolates, Bourbon Cherries, Bourbon Truffles, Kentucky Derby Mints, Chocolate Thoroughbreds (turtles) and Old Fashion Pulled Creams– “The Colonel’s Favorite”. Tour groups and buses of 1-50 people are invited to take a personally guided free tour of our candy kitchen on Southland Drive in Lexingoton (M-Th: 10am & 2pm and F: 10am). Guests can try a free sample while browsing the gift shop, open M-F: 9am-6pm, Sat: 9:30am-5:30pm and Sun: 1pm-5pm. Try our new Caramel Potato Chips, covered in milk or dark chocolate and sprinkled with pink Himalayan sea salt! We also offer delicious chocolate covered grapes and strawberries. Send us your gift list this year and we will deliver or ship from Old Kentucky Chocolates–but don’t forget to treat yourself! Corporate Accounts welcome, too! You can also visit our storefronts at The Shops at Lexington Center and the Lansdowne Shoppes. Happy Holidays! NOVEMBER 2013 | TOPS MAGAZINE
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Do You Remember
WE ARE . . . YOUNG? by Cynthia Ellingsen, Lifestyle Novelist
Maybe it happened while belting out the lyrics to FUN.’s We Are Young, only to have a ten-year-old eyeball you with disdain. Or that moment at the wine store, when the cashier yelped, “Whoa! Nope. Don’t need to see ID on this one.” Or that time at the water cooler, when someone said, “Wait. What’s dial-up?” Listen, if you haven’t felt old yet, let me send this message of support from the trenches: Seize the day! Wear skinny jeans! Make Fetch happen!!!
The air raid siren was not an announcement of, “Hey, the party’s here!” but rather, “Hide your kids, hide your wives because 21 Jumpstreet just walked up in here.” It took about one minute and thirty-five seconds to donate to the cause and get the heck out of there. That very night, I got online and invested in stock for Ben-Gay and the Clapper. (Apparently, we walked in the wrong door. The parents were out in the back, roasting hot dogs. It doesn’t really matter. The scars remain.)
Because, at some point: • College football and basketball players will start to look like “kids.” • Pounding three espressos before running might actually give you a heart attack. • Going to Home Depot will, in fact, be a “really big day.” Look, I always thought age was just a state of mind. I declare my birthday a national holiday and do what I can to make it last a week. (Who doesn’t like cake, presents, ice cream and an excuse to drink champagne every single day?) In spite of all this, it eventually came to my attention that I am not young. Here’s how: I attended a fundraiser at a sorority house. I know, I know. But a friend serves on the advisory board. She asked for support and another friend agreed to go with me. I planned to hand over a few bucks for the cause. Instead, I handed over my dignity on a silver platter. When my friend and I walked in, the music – which was pumping like the fists on a particularly bad night at the Jersey Shore - came to a halt. Screeching halt. Like, a needle across a record halt (sound effect, of course, because what’s a record?) followed by a… wait for it… air raid siren. An air raid siren!!!
Sometime after that, the FUN. song We Are Young became a huge hit. I love the song but always felt a little silly singing it, especially with the windows down. Yet, the lead singer said something in a speech at the Grammy’s that made me feel a whole lot better. He basically said, If you’re watching this in HD, you know we’re not young, either.
TURN IT UP!
Slowly, I surveyed the scene. My friend and I were the only… gulp… old people there.
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Parties
DELICIOUS FALL PUMPKIN TREATS by Deanna Talwalkar Party Planner Extraordinaire
The culinary superstar of Fall is the pumpkin. Pumpkins are full of anti-oxidant vitamins and minerals. The health benefits of this versatile veggie is just one reason to incorporate the pumpkin into your Fall entertaining. Here are four fun pumpkin recipes you can use the next time you entertain this Fall. Pumpkin Butter Pumpkin Butter is a great healthy alternative for pumpkin pie lovers. The spices added to this treat are the same spices added to pumpkin pie, so it has all of the flavor, without all of the fat! It’s fantastic spread on toast and muffins, over waffles, stirred in ice cream, paired with fresh apples, or over cheesecake. It is also makes a fantastic party favor for a Fall party. As a bonus, cooking this light treat makes your entire house smell delicious! Ingredients: 1 (29 ounce) canned pumpkin 1 cup of apple juice 1 cup of light brown sugar 1 vanilla bean (or 1 tsp vanilla extract)
1 teaspoon ginger ½ teaspoon ground cloves 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon nutmeg
Directions: Place pumpkin, apple juice, light brown sugar, the insides of vanilla bean, ginger, cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a large saucepan. Stir with a whisk. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and cook for 30-40 minutes. Fill 4 half-pint jars with mixture. Store in refrigerator. Mini Pumpkin Spiced Donuts These spicy, sweet little donuts are a fun addition to a Fall brunch. Similar to a pumpkin muffin, these baked donuts get a flavor boost from the cinnamon sugar coating! Ingredients: 1 3/4 cups flour 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg 1/2 teaspoon allspice For the coating: 1/2 cup butter, melted 2/3 cup sugar 1 tablespoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoons ground cloves 1/3 cup vegetable oil 1/2 cup brown sugar 1 egg 1 vanilla bean (scrape the inside of the bean out, do not use the woody outside) or 1 teaspoon vanilla 3/4 cup canned pumpkin 1/2 cup skim milk
Directions: Preheat oven 350 degrees. Spray a mini donut pan with canola oil spray. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, cloves. Set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine oil, brown sugar, egg, and vanilla. Beat until combined. Mix in pumpkin and milk. Slowly add flour mixture to pumpkin mixture, beat until just combined.Add batter to a large pastry bag, snip off end with scissors. Using the filled pastry bag, fill each cavity of the pan about 2/3 full with the batter. You can also use a spoon to do this, but the donut cavities are small and it is much easier to fill them using the pastry bag. Cook donuts for 8-9 minutes, until they spring back when touched. Cool on a wire rack.
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For the coating: Stir together the sugar and cinnamon. While the donuts are still warm, but not too hot, dip top and bottom in butter. Roll donut in the cinnamon sugar. Serve immediately. Pumpkin Apple Dip Recipe This Pumpkin Apple makes a great after school snack or sweet treat for a kids’ party. Pumpkin, cream cheese, and marshmallow cream are combined for a sweet, fluffy dip that is perfect for apples and other fruit. Ingredients: 8 ounces cream cheese, softened 7 ounce jar marshmallow cream 1/2 cup canned pumpkin
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
Directions: Mix all ingredients in a mixer or by hand until fully combined. Chill until ready to serve. Serve with fruit or graham crackers. Pumpkin Stack Cake Never tasted a stack cake before? Apple stack cakes are an Appalachian dessert staple. This cake is a new twist, made with pumpkin, instead of apples. Stack cakes are not perfect, delicate beauties. It’s their rustic imperfections that make them so appealing. Top this cake with Cinnamon Whipped Cream and you’ll dazzle guests at your next dinner party. Ingredients: 3 cups all-purpose flour 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 3 teaspoons baking soda 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 teaspoon nutmeg 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves 3/4 cups butter, room temp. 1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar 2 eggs 1 tablespoon vanilla extract 1 large (29 ounce) can of canned pumpkin 3 cups of Pumpkin Butter (recipe for homemade pumpkin butter, above) Cinnamon Whipped Cream (recipe below)
Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. This cake can be prepared using three 9 inch cake pans. For a smaller, but taller cake, like in the above picture, use six 6 inch pans. Line pans with parchment paper and lightly grease. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ground cloves in a medium bowl. Set aside. Cream butter and sugars together using a mixer. Add one egg at a time, combining completely after each one. Add vanilla extract and canned pumpkin, beat on low for about one minute. With mixer on low, slowly add flour to pumpkin mixture. Continue mixing on low until fully combined. Pour equal amounts into each pan, spreading evenly. (For the 6 inch round cake, if you only have three 6 inch pans, bake half of the batter in those three pans. After baking, remove cakes, then bake the other half of the batter.) Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cakes comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. Remove cakes from pans and cool. To Finish: Before stacking, you may need to cut the tops of the cakes so that they are level. However, leave one cake layer uncut, for the top layer. Place bottom layer on cake stand. Spread about ½ cup of pumpkin butter over layer. Stack next layer on top, repeat until you’ve reached the final layer. Serve with Cinnamon Whipped Cream. Cinnamon Whipped Cream: Add 2 cups whipping cream, 3/4 cups confectioners’ sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and 1 teaspoon vanilla to mixing bowl. Mix just until stiff peaks form. Refrigerate until serving time.
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Fashion
SNEAK ATTACK by Beth Parker Fashion Blogger/Stylist
More often than not, people restrict sneakers to workout wear. If they’re feeling really wild and crazy, they’ll toss them on with some denim, too. But let me pose this question, “If you could be comfy in your sneaks & pulled together all at the same time, would you consider sporting the kicks more frequently—say possibly with a dress?” Because guess what, gang, you can. I believe there’s something classically effortless about having a look that would normally call for heels or flats; however, you choose to sport some sneaks instead. It’s a perfect juxtaposition. Nowadays, classic brands such as Vans, Converse, & Superga are serving it up in a major way with some amazing prints and fabulous colors for us to choose from. I’ve become quite the sneak collector with my Liberty Vans & Velvet Supergas being my top two faves. Zappos and Piperlime have my favorite online selections and bonus, they’re super affordable, too!
Not quite sure how to sport the sneaks without looking like you just rolled out of bed? One word—polish. Maybe tuck in that shirt, or toss on a belt, pop that collar under a preppy sweater, or feminize a dress with some baubles. The key is to make the rest of your rig appear a little more spruced up since your lower half is going to be extremely casual. With that being said, make sure to keep the overall feel laid back and not stuffy. Play with textures, too. Case in point, take a peek at the navy lace skirt & striped sweater. On paper, it would sound absurd to pair leopard sneaks with a lace skirt. However, the casual fit & playful stripe print of the sweater along with the neon lucite necklace help bring the casual feel full circle. I find myself even wearing my sneaks out at night. I chose to toss on a form fitting black and white striped dress with my velvet Supergas to Thursday Night Live and I felt so very comfy & still pulled together for an evening look. So long story longer, experiment with your kicks and bring them out of the workout rotation—pretty sure you’ll be glad you did!
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Go Red for Women
Ever had someone tell you to “Take Care?” Next time they do, associate that timeless phrase with taking care of your heart, and ask yourself if you are doing all you can to “Take Care” of your most important organ! In the next few pages, be inspired by local women who have fought heart disease and prevailed. All of them would urge you to.. . “Take Care!”
Take care
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by Lauren Henry Photo by Phillips Mitchell Photography
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Go Red for Women
Celebrating The
Movement
H
eart disease is the number one killer of American women, claiming lives at an alarming rate. Unfortunately, research for women was lagging far behind. The American Heart Association was faced with a challenge: to dispel the myth that heart disease was only for men and to raise awareness in women. Thus, ten years ago, they launched Go Red For Women to start a conversation that grew into a National dialogue—we celebrate that pivotal anniversary this year. “The best way to stop heart disease is to beat it before it starts,” informs Matt Rountree, the Communications Director at the American Heart Association (AHA). He continues, “That’s why the American Heart Association invests resources across Central and Eastern Kentucky to educate others on lowering our risk. They work through schools, businesses and churches to teach people how to choose healthier eating options and how to add extra physical activity into their day.” Matt explains, “Go Red For Women started because many women thought of heart disease as a man’s disease. So the American Heart Association developed Go Red For Women, a passionate, emotional, social initiative to educate women on ways to lower their risk.” Since its inception, the campaign has snowballed into a powerful movement as more and more women are taking charge of their health. Women are the best advocates for each other because they can band together and inspire better choices based off of their own life experiences and it shows. Today, 21 percent fewer women are dying of cardiovascular disease and 23 percent more women are aware that heart disease is their number one killer. Much of this success is attributed to the contributions given by the public in addition to money raised by the AHA. Cardiovascular research is the backbone of its mission, and funds raised go to support research both in Lexington and across the Commonwealth. In fact, more than $1.5 Million was recently awarded by the American Heart Association to fund new cardiovascular research in Kentucky. Further, “The money you raise also helps push policy in Frankfort to make all of Kentucky healthier,” advises Matt. “Thanks to past efforts funded by you, all newborn babies in Kentucky will soon be screened for congenital heart defects before they leave the hospital.” He shares, “We are working on a policy to make all of Kentucky smoke-free and then soon, we want to teach CPR to every high school student.” Celebrating it’s tenth year nationally, the Go Red for Women campaign has the goal over the next five years to continue expanding and reaching out to more women to eradicate heart disease
and strokes in women once and for all. Moreover, in 2010, the AHA set a strategic goal of reducing death and disability from cardiovascular disease and strokes by 20 percent while improving the cardiovascular health of all Americans by 20 percent by the year 2020. One of the fantastic ways the American Heart Association heightens awareness of heart disease in women is through the Go Red for Women Luncheon, which is an annual event. November 8, 2013 marks Lexington’s sixth Go Red for Women Luncheon and the AHA could not be more thrilled with the progress it has seen these past six years. The first luncheon held in Lexington hosted 300 attendees while this year nearly 800 women are expected to attend with the goal of raising $150,000 for the mission. Mike adds, “The Go Red for Women Luncheon is a tremendous event that is educational, inspiring, entertaining and encouraging. Survivors model Macy’s fashion on the runway after sharing their story, motivating everyone in the room. These women are incredibly brave and while they are by no means public speakers, the courage it takes for them to speak out against this disease is an incredible moment to celebrate!” He adds, “Someday, we would like to host the Go Red for Women luncheon in Rupp Arena,” shares Mike Turner, Special Events Director at the American Heart Association. A lofty goal indeed, but with the continued progress and increased awareness, it can be achieved. Last year, I was fortunate enough to attend the luncheon with my mother who has hypertension and high blood pressure. I was hopeful that if she and I could experience this event together, we would both be influenced to better care for ourselves and for each other despite leading hectic lives. I never could have imagined how deeply the luncheon would impact everyone in attendance to the core. Prior to lunch, attendees swathed in red were greeted by multiple exhibition tables promoting healthy lifestyles along with fun activities to try, including a deeply fabulous TOPS Photography Station with boas and other wild props to dress up with. Walking into the ballroom, jaws dropped at the gorgeous layout of the luncheon itself. Music from a live band stirred up excitement for all those in the room and delicious fragrances of our heart healthy lunch wafted from trays nearby. Once seated, we were honored to witness the courageous testimonies made by the women who battled and survived heart disease. One story in particular rocked my world because it could have also been my story or my mom’s story. Two years ago, a young woman attended the Go Red Luncheon and was moved by the stories she witnessed to ask her mother, who had been experiencing uncanny exhaustion and a host
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of other symptoms, to visit her cardiologist. Her mother continued to resist her daughter’s attempts, so the daughter relinquished and didn’t bring up the subject again. At least for a while anyway. Over the Thanksgiving holiday, the mother expressed interest in her daughter’s bright red scarf that she received at the Go Red For Women Luncheon she had attended a few weeks before. A deal was made between the two that if the mother went to her cardiologist for a checkup, she could have the scarf. Weeks later at the cardiologist, the mother discovered she needed immediate surgery for advanced heart disease. If she had waited any longer, chances are that she would have not survived an impending heart attack. As the audience wiped away their tears, the mother proudly came to the stage looking gorgeous in red and shared that if it hadn’t been for her daughter attending the luncheon, she would not be here today and would not have lived to see her daughter walk down the aisle two weeks prior. Leaving the event that day, I began a personal crusade to learn as much about the prevention of this disease and to share this knowledge with friends, loved ones and my personal training clients. While I have seen drastic improvement in so many lives, it is true when Mike says, “Because heart disease is the number one killer of men and women, you don’t have to go far to find someone you know directly who has survived or is dealing with heart disease and strokes.” Mike continues, “People are praying for answers for loved ones with heart-related disease every second of every day. Today, there are more answers now than when this movement began ten years ago. This is even more of a reason to celebrate the women who are here with us thriving and enjoying precious moments with family as a result of their taking initiative to take care of themselves and listening to their bodies.”
woman. Regan is a UK graduate and heart disease survivor who underwent open-heart surgery at age 19, proving that heart disease knows no bounds when it comes to the age of its victims. Regan was selected as one of the ten spokespeople chosen to represent the 10th Anniversary of the Go Red For Women movement and we are so honored and excited that she will be at this year’s Lexington Luncheon. Joey Maggard says, “Regan is a remarkable young woman and we are pleased to have a survivor from the Lexington community as the national face of heart disease in women.” Ten years ago, the American Heart Association took a stand to fight heart disease in women. Go Red For Women, the movement, was started by women to stand up for all the women who touched our lives before they lost their own. Today, millions more women understand it is their number one killer and 330 fewer women are dying of heart disease every single day. Even with the incredible progress, our fight is far from over as heart disease continues to kill more women than all forms of cancer combined. Take action now and take a stand against heart disease. Take care of your heart and tell the women in your life to do the same by getting involved with the movement. Make it your mission to save your life and the lives of the women you love.
Joey Maggard, the Executive Director of the American Heart Association adds, “There have been several success stories resulting from the Go Red Luncheon. People have written us who have stopped smoking, made healthier dietary choices and decided to exercise more because they were in attendance and wanted to lead healthier lives.” Little did I know walking in that I would be one of them in the actions I decided to take coming out of this event to care for my health and encourage others to strive for the same.
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The sixth annual Go Red For Women Luncheon will be held November 8, 2013 at the Lexington Center in Heritage Hall, 430 W. Vine Street from 9 am to 1 pm. The event will feature two educational break out sessions including Women’s Heart Health for All Ages led by Dr. Amanda Smith from Saint Joseph Primary Care Associates and a Healthy Cooking Demonstration hosted by Chef Ouita Michel, from Holly Hill Inn. These breakout sessions will inform and inspire you to join health and fitness experts, medical professionals and women like you to take the concrete steps today for a better tomorrow. The local cause partner is the Saint Joseph Heart Institute, part of Kentucky One Health, while this year’s chair is Nancy Atkins with Bluegrass Health. The Keynote Speaker at the Lexington event is Martha Lanier, a motivational speaker and heart attack survivor. Using humor, compassion and a compelling message, Martha will inspire women to turn their challenges into achievements using practical methods she used when bouncing back from her own roadblocks.
The American Heart Association shares that a woman who goes red: Follows an exercise routine Eats a healthier diet Visits her doctor for important tests Influences others by talking about heart health
The American Heart Association is also excited to announce that Lexington’s own Regan Judd is a national 2013 Go Red For Women spokes-
Get involved with Go Red For Women by visiting GoRedForWomen.org or by calling the Lexington Office, 859.977.4601
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Go Red for Women 2013 Featured Survivors
by Matt Rountree Portraits by Phillips Mitchell Photography
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Go Red for Women
Pat Host A
s honoree with her husband, Jim Host, at the 2013 American Heart Association’s Heart Ball, Pat Host shared a heartfelt story of survival and advocacy on a rare occasion where she spoke with passion about the importance of research & development. In 1995 an emergency crisis occurred. An ablation was performed during an Electrophysiology study that left Pat pacemaker dependent. Two leads attached to a titanium battery allow her heart to continue to beat. An ERA (emergency replacement) in 2005 was performed and as she approaches 2017 another procedure will be necessary to allow her heart to continue to beat. In December, 2010 an episode thought to be an acute migraine left Pat without cognitive ability for a short period of time. Upon her return from a trip, it was determined that she had experienced a Transient Ischemic Attack. A Bubble Echocardiogram was administered showing a PFO (a Patent Foramen Ovale, which is a hole in the heart between the upper chambers) allowing blood to flow directly from the upper right to the upper left chamber of the heart and directly to the brain. A further clot formation would potentially cause a major stroke. A relatively new procedure called a PFO closure was performed. Once again research and new technology provided Pat with a lifesaving moment. At 74 years of age Pat Host is a survivor with a mission to educate and inform. Her goal is to encourage in depth awareness of how the heart functions before a health crisis becomes part of your own life!
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Cheri Termini H
eart disease runs in Cheri’s family, and from a very young age she knew that she was at risk. Her father died of a heart attack at age 42, and her sister passed away from heart disease at the young age of 33. For those reasons she followed the rules by exercising regularly, eating healthy, minimizing stress and going for annual exams. In the fall of 2010 Cheri underwent her annual stress test, and after a series of disappointing results she was told by her cardiologist that she needed to have open heart surgery. It was a very frightening time as her husband was in basic training, and was called for deployment soon to Afghanistan. The hospital, working in conjunction with the Navy, made it possible for him to be with her during the surgery on February 8, 2011. Cheri remembers him walking her down the hall, but she barely remembers her good-byes. Cheri spent her recovery talking with her husband via Skype, which was frequently interrupted from him having to take cover from rocket attacks. Cheri’s message to all women is to take charge of your health and be your own advocate. She says, “Women do not always have the same symptoms as men do. As women, our lives are spent as caretakers for others. Be sure to take care of yourself, so you can take care of those you love!”
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Jesi Bowman A
s a five-time stroke survivor, Jesi understands the true meaning of the word ‘determination.’ In February 2010, Jesi suffered her first stroke, and a year later she suffered her second and third strokes.
While these experiences would break many people, Jesi showed her desire to beat this disease. From wiggling her toes to holding her husband’s and daughter’s hands, Jesi celebrated each victory with her family. They helped motivate her and cheered as she overcame each hurdle time and again. In the summer of 2011, Jesi was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation. There was a great deal of satisfaction for Jesi and her family as they finally knew what caused her pain, but her dilemma wasn’t over yet. On October 2, 2011, Jesi suffered her fourth stroke, and her fifth stroke occurred just five months later. Her experiences helped her realize that a person is never too young to be affected by heart disease and stroke. Most people learn to walk only once in their lifetime, but Jesi has faced this challenge six times. The trials were agonizing and the pain was sometimes unbearable, but she did not lose hope. Every time she fell she got back up to show others that heart disease and stroke would not define her. She is not a statistic but a survivor. Today Jesi makes it her mission to educate others on lowering their risk of heart disease and stroke.
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Katharine McLean K
atharine’s parents struggled for many years to have a child, so when her mother and father, Lisa and Pope, found out Lisa was pregnant they were overjoyed. During a routine ultrasound, they learned that baby Katharine was missing her entire right ventricle and she would not survive. Their family was devastated, and looked for every possible option hoping for a miracle.
Soon thereafter they learned Katharine’s condition was called tricuspid atresia/hypoplastic right ventricle, and there was something that could be done to fix it. Feeling the baby move, Lisa knew they would undergo the surgery. Katharine was born on October 5, 1998, and was immediately rushed to the NICU for treatment. She underwent a Fontaan Procedure, which is a 3-stage process involving a shunt shortly after birth and two open heart surgeries. Katharine breezed through every surgery, but endured several secondary illnesses at 15 days old. Katharine was diagnosed with Necrotizing Enterocolitis, and the prognosis did not look good. Doctors decided to take her off food for four weeks, which was agonizing for both Katharine and her family. This was one of many problems that Katharine experienced in her early life. At 9 months, Katharine underwent open heart surgery, and again three years later. Both surgeries were a success. Today Katharine is a beautiful 15 year old girl who loves the theatre and just being a teenager. Her mother calls Katharine her “fixer-upper baby.” Though her early years were incredibly difficult, they wouldn’t change a thing.
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Malenda McCalister B
ringing a new son into the world was supposed to be a happy occasion for Malenda, but the time for celebrating soon ended and was replaced with worry. Ten days after her son was born, Malenda suffered a cardiac dissection, a condition where a tear in the aorta causes blood to flow into different layers of the heart. Looking back, Malenda remembers that she felt strange before childbirth, and that she experienced shortness of breath. It was only after her diagnosis that she realized that her symptoms were that of heart disease. Thoughts of her family flooded her mind. Her grandfather passed away from a heart attack, and her husband’s uncle almost lost his life to a heart attack the month before. Malenda knew that she didn’t want to die from heart disease at age 30. After Malenda collapsed to the floor in front of her family, she was rushed to the emergency room where she underwent triple bypass surgery. Since 2008 Malenda received two pacemakers, and feels very lucky to be alive to see her son grow up. She admits that the battle has been difficult, but she gives thanks to God and her family for the support they gave. Today she wants other women to know the dangers of heart disease, and to take care of themselves to reduce their risk. Malenda now educates other women by sharing her experiences, and feels blessed to witness the positive outcomes from her experience.
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Mckaila Rives W
hen Mckaila was 18 years old, she thought of herself as a healthy and active young woman. It wasn’t until she visited an urgent care center for suspected pneumonia and sinus infection that her life changed forever. As she lay on the table, her nurse practitioner proceeded with a chest x-ray expecting to make a pneumonia diagnosis. Shortly thereafter, her radiologist noticed a possible abnormality with her heart, and suggested that Mckaila have an MRI to be on the safe side. Through the MRI, doctors were able to diagnose Mckaila with a rare congenital heart defect called Scimitar Syndrome. Doctors advised her that the only cure was to repair the defect through surgery. On May 31, 2013 Mckaila underwent open heart surgery to correct the malformation in her pulmonary veins. During the procedure, doctors stopped her heart so they could repair it. They also split her sternum, which today is a constant reminder of how fortunate she is to be alive. Through the support of her family, friends and medical team, Mckaila has recovered from her ordeal and her heart is good as new. Today she is happy to continue her life as a sophomore at UK.
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Millie Darling W
hen it comes to heart disease, Millie’s family is no stranger. Her mother was born with a heart murmur, and most of her siblings had heart problems as well – including her oldest brother who had triple bypass surgery. For those reasons, Millie knew she was at a higher risk of heart disease. The day of her heart attack, Millie was out enjoying the day by riding her bike. During her ride she felt a horrible pain in her chest that forced her to stop. While she was worried, she brushed off the symptoms as an asthma attack and decided not to tell her husband. In the middle of the night, Millie was jolted awake with the same pain in her chest. This time she knew something was wrong and woke her husband. She told him that she thought she was having indigestion, but her husband knew from her symptoms that she was having a heart attack. Millie quickly got dressed and was rushed to the hospital. Millie underwent quadruple bypass surgery in 1997, and had a pacemaker and defibrillator inserted in 2008. Today Millie is very conscious about her heart conditions, and makes every attempt to protect her heart. She takes her medications regularly, and she makes a point to never miss one of her doctor’s appointments.
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Nathan Ecton I
n the fall of 2007, Lisa Ecton’s life changed dramatically. She was 46 years old and expecting a baby. Needless to say, she and her husband were shocked and unprepared. However, she was mesmerized the first time she heard the sound of her son’s tiny beating heart. She immediately fell in love. Hours after her son, Nathan, was born she learned that he had a birth defect. That birth defect was a bicuspid aortic valve, which resulted in a serious condition called Aortic Stenosis, or a narrowing of the valve opening. Thankfully, his family learned of a minimally invasive procedure called aortic valvuloplasty which could save Nathan’s life. Exactly three months after his birth, a successful valvuloplasty was performed on Nathan’s heart when it was no bigger than a strawberry, and his family took their baby boy home that very night. Although Nathan will still need a new heart valve at some point in his life, he is now leading an active, normal childhood. One of his favorite activities is taekwondo, where he has recently earned his green belt with pride. Nathan’s family praises the efforts of those who continue to make advancements in the field of pediatric cardiology. The research and education from the American Heart Association unexpectedly impacted Lisa’s life and saved her son, Nate the Great.
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Rena Elswick R
ena began experiencing a rapid heartbeat in approximately 2005. She attributed it to nothing major, just a fast heart rate sporadically for a couple of seconds, which she learned to control by just breathing deeply and slowly.
The rapid heartbeats increased from a few seconds, to a few minutes, to several minutes—then to the point where Rena was afraid to drive long distances. As a result, her modeling and acting career began to be affected because of the need to decline jobs. Rena worked for 16 years at St. Joseph Hospital in special chemistry performing heart isoenzyme testing on heart patients, so she knew it was time for a doctor visit. However, she ignored her body’s symptoms. In the summer of 2012, Rena’s heart began to beat rapidly. None of her attempts to get it back into rhythm were successful. She broke out into a cold sweat, felt nauseous and knew her pulse was over 200. Rena thought she was having a heart attack! Rena was stabilized at a local emergency room, but told that she needed to see a cardiac specialist immediately. The very next week she learned that she had Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT). That fall Rena underwent a successful surgery, correcting the SVT and she no longer suffers from a rapid heartbeat. She believes that she was warned that summer night. Now, Rena is a survivor and an advocate for telling women tom take charge of their health, and not to ignore the warning signs of heart disease.
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Samantha Thornton S
amantha was so young when she began experiencing the symptoms of heart disease. When she was five years old she was finally able to put into words how she felt. On occasion Samantha would experience a rapid heartbeat, dizziness, shortness of breath and chest discomfort, but the symptoms were inconsistent. By age 8, Samantha’s pediatrician, and soccer coach, noticed the symptoms she experienced could be the warning signs of heart disease, and she was sent to a pediatric cardiologist for additional tests. Doctors diagnosed her with mitral valve prolapse, but through every passing birthday the duration and frequency of the symptoms increased.
By age 11, doctors determined that she had an electrical issue with her heart as well, called Superventricular tachycardia. Through amazing research funded by the American Heart Association, Samantha underwent a cardiac ablation, and thanks to the procedure she is a healthy young woman. Samantha no longer has to take heart medications, and is now a college freshman who loves her first year at UK. Samantha has more motivation than most for her choice of a major. She is a biology student, and she plans to take her new lease on life to become a pediatric cardiologist.
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Family
GENETICS by Hallie Bandy
over
Motherboard
v
es. I don’t get it.
I am a reluctant runner. I have friends who say they like running as much as chocolate. Friends who get a “runner’s high.” Friends who run very long distanc-
But, I do it anyway. Because I know heart disease has hereditary causes, and it definitely runs in my family. And while I can’t avoid my genetics, I know diet and exercise are key preventative measures. So I remind myself with every sweaty, huffing-and-puffing step: this is better than open-heart surgery. And last month, I was proved right, up-close and very personally. It got the call I wasn’t expecting.
Once the surgery was over, the Dr. spoke to me. He assured me the surgery went well: the valve was successfully replaced. The not-so-great new: there was already damage to her heart. While the new valve may help recover some of the damage, it will not likely be 100%. And the looming truth was what I have told myself all along: preventative care is essential.
Testing for what was to have been routine outpatient surgery had revealed an issue with my Mom’s aorta. Open-heart surgery was scheduled.
I wasn’t there when she opened her eyes the first time, and she doesn’t remember it. When I did get in to ICU to see her, I quickly realized the nurses were right: now was the time to get some rest myself. I would come back when she was more alert.
This was the second time I found my sandwich-generation-self leaving my family to care for my Mom during a surgery. (Two years ago, she had a carotid artery repaired.) Then, as now, it was considered routine, with all the statistics in her favor.
The thing about this surgery is, even when it’s over, it’s not really over. Each phase of the initial recovery process was excruciating. The medical team is insistent you move around on your own as much as possible, an effort she resisted, like I resist running.
But nothing seems routine when it involves surgery on your Mom.
Twenty-four hours into the recovery, my Mom said: “I don’t think I’m going to make it.”
I arrived the night prior, and, on cue, Mom began a dramatic review of her last will and testament. I suppose this was her way of dealing with fear, but it was also a good way to remind us of reality. While I was confident she would pull through the surgery, I couldn’t help wonder how I would deal with it if she didn’t. I tossed and turned all night, then woke in the early pre-dawn for the dark drive to the hospital. When we arrived, a nurse whisked Mom away to get changed, while I was sent to registration. It was then I realized, her dramatic talk the night before had not included any essential information. Sure, I knew where she wants to be buried, and the hymns to sing at her funeral. But did I have a copy of her insurance card? Uh, no. Living will? Yeah, no. They took her anyway. I went back to see her before she was wheeled to OR. It was a difficult moment as I squeezed her hand, said a prayer, and told her: The hardest part will be opening your eyes. For me, the hardest part had just started. The waiting room is a perfect place to observe human behavior under stress, and the staff is very good at keeping family informed. They even offered a class to discuss the process of the day, and other classes to
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help caregivers provide rehabilitative care at home. It all helps pass the long hours of waiting.
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I’m pretty sure what she meant was, she didn’t want to make it. Her vitals were fine; there were no complications. But she certainly didn’t feel like herself. The surgery left her weak. Her body was retaining fluid, which limited her dexterity. And the pain medication made her loopy and nauseous. Transitioning from the narcotic pain medication was the first step to helping her feel more like herself. She was better able to express herself – which included passing judgment on all caretakers. We all knew quickly whom she did and did not like. “You’re mean,” she told one nurse, who insisted she feed herself, and whose name sounded most unfortunately similar to Cruella. By the third post-op day, she was able to walk a very short distance, with the help of an incredibly patient nurse’s aid. Each day was a little better, and after one full week, she was transported to a rehab center, where recovery continues. I returned home, very grateful for modern medicine, and with increased motivation to eat well, keep running, and hopefully avoid what genetics seem to indicate is inevitable.
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Nancye Fightmaster, Adrienne Grizzell, Patty Breeze, Lindy Karns, Nancy Atkins, Chair: Dr. Sylvia Cerel-Suhl, Jan Cerel, Lori Goggans, Linda Ball, Julie Coffey, Sandy Heymann | Not pictured: Pat Gradek, Sue Ann Masson, Cindy Whitehouse, Jean Rush, Dona Ray, Ellen Tunnell, Lenore Cole, Paula Hanson, Michelle Landers, Pamela Gardner, Dr. Jackie Banahan, Mary Lynn Garrett, Dr. Sandra Bouzaglou
Circle of Red: Instilling Passion and Saving Lives
It
takes a certain kind of passion, motivation and inspiration to impact the world; and thus, the Circle of Red was born. The Circle of Red is a society of women who drive and influence change in the community regarding heart health of women in their local community and all across the country. Matt Rountree, Communications Director at the American Heart Association out of Lexington shares, “The Circle of Red Women support the Go Red for Women movement with a significant financial commitment.” Donations make a difference in a plethora of ways in that they help fund vital research programs, help the American Heart Association spread the word to women to learn their personal risk of developing heart disease, help the American Heart Association distribute critical patient information to healthcare provider offices, help support federal legislation aimed at improving the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of heart disease in women and finally, donations help others learn how to perform CPR because most heart attacks occur in the home and we can save lives if we are informed. Further, “not only do these women contribute financially, they also serve as ambassadors for the American Heart Association by educating others on ways to lower their risk of heart disease and stroke,” illuminates Matt. by Lauren Henry Photo by Phillips Mitchell Photography
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Currently, there are 20-30 members in the Lexington Circle of Red and they gather four to five times a year to hear survivors and medical professionals speak. Along the same lines, Passion Volunteers serve as the face of the Go Red For Women Movement through grassroots efforts throughout the year by creating and executing awareness. There are several ways you can help to make a difference in your community and raise awareness about heart disease and strokes. Get involved by taking interest in any of the following: volunteer at local events like Go Red For Women Luncheon and Health Fairs, register friends, family and coworkers on BetterU, an online fitness and nutrition program, engage your company to conduct Wear Red Day activities, or share your personal passion story about how you or loved ones have overcome heart disease or stroke related illness. You never know how many lives you can impact and influence when you make it your mission to become part of the Circle of Red. Please call Dr. Sylvia Cerel-Suhl or Mike Turner at 859.977.4605 for more information on how you can join the Circle of Red.
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FIRE NICE Y
ou know that if you have an emergency, you call 911. You know that the local fire department will respond to your call if it’s about a fire and you might also be aware that they may respond to a medical emergency (in 2012, they responded to over 37,000 EMS calls!)
But what else do you know about the local fire department?
For many, it may come as a surprise that the Lexington Department of Fire and Emergency Services works continually to offer a variety of services to the local community that extend well beyond emergency response. For our local firefighters, it’s a heartfelt and essential part of the job they’ve committed to doing. by Amanda Harper
AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION One high-profile event that includes the LDFES is the American Heart Association Go Red for Women Luncheon. The fire fighters volunteer their time to take photos with attendees and offer educational information about fire safety. “Fire and EMS are so critical to the ‘Chain of Survival’ when a person goes into cardiac arrest. Calling 911 is the first step and those professionals getting there in a timely manner to perform their duties is off-the-chart important! They are critical to surviving a cardiac event,” explained Joey Maggard, Executive Director with the American Heart Association. Including the LDFES in the Go Red for Women event just made sense. “Anything we can do to increase awareness of calling 911 and starting CPR when a person goes into cardiac arrest is so important to both organizations.” In conjunction with the American Heart Association, the LDFES offers a Family & Friends® CPR Course. This course teaches lifesaving skills in adult, child and infant CPR in a dynamic group environment. According to the American Heart Association, when someone enters cardiac arrest—meaning the victim’s heart malfunctions and stops beating unexpectedly—death can occur within minutes if they do not receive treatment. The first step should always be to call 911, then begin CPR with emphasis on chest compressions to the beat of “Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gees. Proper training in this life-saving technique can mean the difference between life and death. FIRE PREVENTION EDUCATION In 2012, the Lexington Department of Fire and Emergency Services responded to over 8,700 fire calls. According to Lt. Keith Smith, the LDFES is seeking to make that number lower. While they perform routine building inspections, the key to lower the number of fire emergencies is a good offense.
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“We feel it’s better to prevent a fire than to put one out. That’s our goal,” Smith explained in a recent call with TOPS. The Lexington Department of Fire and Emergency Services has a slew of educational services that aim to help citizens of Fayette County be better aware of how to prevent fires from ever starting. Many people associate that sort of education with grade school demonstrations, like their Smoke House that illustrates the difficulty of escaping from a smoke-filled room. The LDFES is proud to speak to thousands of children each year. But they’re also hoping to bring their message to an older audience. “We’re not just for kids anymore!” Smith explained, “We’re focusing a lot on adult education.” Fire safety education doesn’t end with “don’t play with matches”. The Lexington Department of Fire and Emergency Services can help citizens plan safe home escapes in the event of an emergency, understand carbon monoxide dangers and even learn more about Thanksgiving meal cooking safety!
of fire services, fire prevention and the emergency apparatuses and equipment, including their EMS response equipment and ambulances. The Citizens Fire Academy is open to anyone 18 or older who lives or works in Fayette County and has no prior felony convictions. Classes meet Monday evenings at 6pm-9:30pm for 10 weeks at the Fire Training Academy, 1375 Old Frankfort Pike. For anyone interested, contact Lt. Keith Smith at 859.231.5651. CAR SEAT INSTALLATION The Safe Kids Coalition estimates that 73% of child car seats are not used or installed correctly. For new parents, the sheer volume of information about child safety can be overwhelming and confusing. The LDFES and Safe Kids Coalition aim to help. The LDFES offers education on car seat installation to ensure that every parent is clear on how to properly ensure his or her children’s safety. The LDFES demonstrates proper car seat installation and trains parents on correct use of car seats. In addition, they can answer questions about what to do in the event of a vehicular fire emergency. SUPPORT FOR FIRE VICTIMS The tragedy of a home fire is almost unimaginable. For many victims, their homes are uninhabitable and they’ve lost many of their belongings, including items that are daily necessities. The LDFES and the American Red Cross work together to ensure that these victims aren’t left out in the cold. “We’ll try to make sure they have housing and meet their immediate needs,” Smith explained. Hotels often donate rooms and amenities to help, offering victims a place to rest, bathe and begin rebuilding their lives. It’s a small measure to offer comfort and hope to people who may have just lost everything. COMMUNITY SERVICE The Lexington Department of Fire and Emergency Services organizes a number of fundraisers each year for local charities, and many crew members volunteer at other events to raise money for charity.
Smith said that the Lexington Department of Fire and Emergency Services is happy to speak at local events, such as neighborhood association meetings or church groups. “We want to get the message out any way we can,” he said. “If you give us a call, we’ll try to accommodate you, if at all possible.” To schedule a member of the LDFES to speak at a group event, contact the Lexington Department of Fire and Emergency Services Community Services Bureau at 859.231.5668 or visit lexingtonky.gov/fire CITIZENS FIRE ACADEMY Interested in a hands-on educational experience, designed to teach citizens about the many jobs the Lexington Division of Fire and Emergency Services does? The Citizens Fire Academy may be for you! In classes taught by professional firefighters, citizens can learn about the science behind fires, the history
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The LDFES is involved each year with the Special Olympics Big Brown Truck pull. This year, The Lexington Fire and Friends team took first place in the event, helping to raise funds and awareness for this organization. In February, LDFES volunteers will participate in the organization’s Polar Plunge event, as well. The Lexington Firefighters Toy Program (formerly known as “Toys for Tots”) has helped children wake up to a very Merry Christmas morning for over 50 years. Each year beginning in November, they begin accepting donations of children’s toys. They then distribute those toys in the middle of December to Fayette County residents. Anyone wishing to contribute to the program or who knows a family with children in need can contact the Fraternal Order of Firefighters at 859.523.9576 or visit lfdfof.org. The Lexington Department of Fire and Emergency Services is dedicated not only to saving the lives of Fayette County citizens, but to enriching them, as well. They work tirelessly to ensure the safety of Lexingtonians and volunteer their time to support important causes and organizations.
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Go Red for Women
Meet Martha Lanier Keynote Speaker, 2013 Go Red for Women Luncheon by Mary Ellen Slone Photos courtesy of Martha Lanier
If you’re female,
knowing and remembering the correct answer to the question below could actually save your life! Q: What is a woman’s #1 health threat? a) Traffic accidents b) Lung cancer c) Heart disease d) Breast cancer A: If you selected heart disease, you were correct- but Did you really know the answer, or did you guess? Either way, invest the time now to 1) read and to heed the statistics about heart disease; 2) understand your personal risks for heart disease; and 3) take action to reduce your personal risk for cardiovascular disease by leading a more heart healthy life. And plan to wear red and to attend the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women Luncheon on Friday, November 8 at the Lexington Center. The Go Red for Women initiative encourages awareness of of heart disease among and how we can take action to save more lives. The Go
Red for Women movement harnesses the energy, passion and power women have to collectively band together in an all-out effort to wipe out heart disease. This popular and proactive annual event, held on Friday, November 8 at the Lexington Center, will feature dynamic speaker Martha Lanier, a survivor of both breast cancer and a heart attack. Her personal story will not only make you smile, it will also make you keenly aware of the necessity to take action to protect your own heart health. TOPS had the pleasure of speaking with martha about her experience with both breast cancer and heart disease.
Q: Having experienced two
major life threatening health crises, what advice would you give to the myriad of Central Kentucky women who are reading this article?
A: “Being a survivor has given me a new appreciation for life. I often told myself “One day, I’m going to do (this and that)”…but that day hadn’t come, and possibly never would have until I accepted the fact that “my day is NOW.” Just before turning 61, I found a lump on my chest wall. Before I even received the biopsy results, I consumed myself with exten-
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sive research on a variety of treatments. When the pathology report revealed a .7cm Stage One Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma, I had already decided I wanted to take the most aggressive approach possible and to have a bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction. My surgery was on June 3, 2008. Focusing on everything I could think of that was “good” about my experience helped me through the difficult times. Three months post-op, I walked 30 miles in the Atlanta 2-Day Walk for Breast Cancer. The following January all of my surgeons told me I was free to do anything I felt like doing. Hearing this, my two daughters talked me into celebrating my one year anniversary as a cancer survivor by competing in an Iron Girl Triathlon. For a former non-athlete, this involved swimming 1/3 mile, biking l8 miles and ending with a 3 mile run. My girls helped me start slowly and to gradually increase my distances and to decrease my times in the sport. By the day of the event, I was literally in the best physical condition of my life. This event was one of the hardest things I had ever done, but also one of the most rewarding. The race officials even allowed my daughters back on the course to run me across the finish line! Throughout my recovery from surgery and at the same time I was training for the Iron Girl, I wrote a book about my experiences with breast cancer. I wanted it to be informational but
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also to share some of the funny experiences. I submitted it to a publisher anticipating that it would be ‘out’ in early spring. When that didn’t happen, I could feel my anxiety building and with each week that passed, my stress was silently going out of control. “Out of the blue” just four weeks after the Triathlon, I was blindsided when I was admitted to Cardiac Intensive Care, diagnosed with having had a heart attack. On two different occasions several days apart, I thought I was experiencing indigestion and feeling tired from working long hours rebuilding my business after recovering from my mastectomy. A blood test revealed my Troponins (an enzyme in our hearts) had leaked out and spiked to a level that confirmed I had had a heart attack. Initially I was devastated and had difficulty accepting what had happened. I was concerned that competing in the Iron Girl had caused the attack, but my cardiologist said that my six months of training had resulted in my heart being stronger than normal. The attack was caused by self-induced mental stress, diagnosed as Stress Cardiomyopathy. Throughout the following year, I felt like a walking time bomb, never knowing if I was going to have another attack, perhaps more serious than the first and possibly fatal. I am thrilled to say that now I am back to walking and kickboxing without any physical restrictions. I am no longer on any medications and my cardiologist has released me.
Go Red for Women
Martha cherishes time spent with her grandchildren
Q: If, after your heart attack, you changed your dietary regimen, can you share what your diet consists of these days?
A: “I am much more aware of what and how much I eat and of the nutritional content, like the amount of fat, salt, sugar, fiber, and protein content. Portion control is easier if I use a salad plate instead of a dinner plate. Sweets used to be my downfall, now I avoid them. Having an occasional dessert doesn’t bother me, and the same goes for eating out. For 98% of the time, I maintain focus on eating healthy. For most of my life I did not enjoy drinking water, and I drank diet sodas instead. Today, water is the only beverage I drink. “In addition to eating healthy I am a huge advocate of exercise. I am not a runner, never have been and never plan on being one, but I can walk for days. Many people are under the impression that for exercise to be beneficial, it has to be a strenuous workout that generates sweat. This may be considered a factor if you
want to lose weight, but if you want to have a healthy heart, a brisk 30 minute walk five times a week is great. Look at your watch as you walk out of your front door and walk for 15 minutes. Turn around and walk back and you’re on your way to a healthier lifestyle. Some days you may want to walk farther. You may choose to listen to music on your iPod, or you may enjoy a quiet time without interruptions. Before starting any form of exercise, be sure to see your doctor first, and then choose to do something you enjoy. Better yet, invite someone to be your partner, and you both will benefit.” And, as a sample of this amazingly strong woman’s outlook on life, she added this: “I’m often asked if there was ANYTHING positive about my medical challenges. The ‘straight up’ answer is “I am a survivor, and I’m thankful for every minute of every day.” Then, I add that while I was recovering from breast cancer, my doctor told me I couldn’t vacuum for 3 months!”
Martha Lanier | Keynote Speaker for Women’s Events
Skydiver, Iron Girl Triathlete, Author | Breast Cancer and Heart Attack Survivor | MarthaLanier.com
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Meet Ruth Brinkley President & CEO KentuckyOne Health
by Tom Martin Photo Courtesy of Ruth Brinkley NOVEMBER 2013 | TOPS MAGAZINE
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“Heart disease is the nation’s number one cause of death and our state is among the ten with the worst health indicators.”
As a girl in the small, rural farm community of Wadley, Geor-
gia, Ruth Brinkley grew accustomed to hearing that she should someday become a nurse. She was raised by her grandparents and that was their vision of her future. It was not what she had in mind. “Of course, when you’re young you always want to be something different from what everybody tells you that you should be,” said the woman who today leads arguably one of the most complex healthcare institutions in the United States. Brinkley, as CEO of KentuckyOne Health, oversees a statewide network of more than 3,000 physicians providing care in some 200 facilities, the result of the 2012 merger of University of Louisville Hospital/James Graham Brown Cancer Center, Jewish Hospital & St. Mary’s HealthCare and Saint Joseph Health System. To call her typical day demanding makes light of understatement. Yet, there was a time in her life when Ruth Brinkley could have found herself on another path, altogether. “After I had gone to college and had a good time for two years, I almost flunked out. I was on academic probation. I had to do some soul searching about what I was going to do. I was living in Chicago at the time. I grew up in Georgia and was determined not to go back to the farm. I didn’t want to go back home as a failure so I thought, maybe I should look at this nursing thing again. I did, and found it to be a complete joy.” That was some powerful determination. Brinkley went on to earn Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in nursing from De Paul University and then launched into nearly four decades of health-
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care experience working in a range of organizations including private, public, academic and community-based hospital systems. She has served as associate executive director, chief nurse executive and associate dean of clinical practice at the University of Alabama Hospitals in Birmingham; president and chief executive officer of Memorial Health Care System in Chattanooga; an executive with Catholic Health Initiatives; and president and chief executive officer of Southern Arizona’s largest health care system, Carondelet Health Network. She also held executive roles at health care organizations in St. Louis and Chicago. As a senior consultant with CSC Healthcare, Brinkley led large scale organizational transformation projects with many major academic medical centers and community hospitals in the US and Canada. As it turned out, that particular portfolio would provide her with the credentials best suited to lead an organization formed by integrating such a variety of institutions: KentuckyOne Health. “This is probably the most complex health system in the country,” she observed. “Our heritage is Catholic, Jewish, academic and secular. So it’s a very complex mix. Each organization brings a slightly different angle to healthcare services and they bring their own cultures.” Those philosophical differences might seem, in some cases, irreconcilable. But in Brinkley’s view, there is something more fundamentally important. “We try to respect all of those philosophies and positively leverage each. When you sift through all of it,
Go Red for Women
patients want to be respected; they want to be taken care of, they want us to keep them safe and they want us to be nice to them.” Brinkley is a high-powered executive now. But she also remains a registered nurse, a role that informs her philosophy and style as an administrator. Healthcare is very much in the news these days as the Affordable Care Act rolls out across the country. Recently appointed as a member of the Kentucky Health Benefit Exchange Advisory Board, Brinkley is playing a role in how the massive new law takes shape and form in Kentucky. “The complexity of the Affordable Care Act and how it’s going to actually play out in real life is still somewhat of an unknown,” She said. “What I am pleased about is that it allows more people to have access to health care services.”
cidence of heart disease is one thing, but I’m particularly interested in the women who die in our state each day from heart disease and stroke. On average, 16 women in our state die each day.”
More than half of the residents of Kentucky are medically under served, Brinkley noted, and there is a growing scarcity of physicians across the state. Reversing that gap in care “Foundational to all and addressing heart-health are, according to its CEO, KentuckyOne priorities. “We of my experiences is do more heart care than anyone in the state the fact that patients and we do it well. We want to move up eardetection and prevention of heart disand families deserve lier ease. We want to be able to detect and adrespect. They deserve dress these illnesses before they get such a good care and they foothold in people’s lives.” Although Ruth Brinkley’s official bio states that in her spare time she likes to garden, travel and write, the concept of spare time in this busy executive’s life is, these days, a faded memory. Her green thumb is limited to container gardening and travel is mostly work-related. She has recently written, but even that effort, an extensive article for the Journal of the American College of Health Care Executives, was all about the profession she once nearly avoided as an act of youthful independence.
deserve for us to keep them safe and for us to be nice to them.”
Brinkley noted that her youth in rural Georgia and lack of access to health care now informs her view of the ACA. “Our state is very rural. We have a fair amount of poverty and those who are marginalized and need health care services. The Affordable Care Act allows those people to get services. Is the act perfect? No it is not perfect and I don’t know of any legislation that has been developed that is perfect, quite frankly.” Most important, she believes, is the act’s potential to influence changes in behaviors. “There is a shift from acute care services to population health management - keeping people healthy.” Of particular concern to Brinkley, and a cause that serves to forge a close relationship with the Kentucky chapter of the American Heart Association, is the state’s dismal national standing for the health of its citizens. “Heart disease is the nation’s number one cause of death and our state is among the ten with the worst health indicators. Just being aware and concerned about reducing the in-
A far cry from returning to a farm life in Wadley, Georgia, Ruth Brinkley today is often singled out for her accomplishments. In 2010 she was recognized as one of Modern Healthcare Magazine’s Top 25 Minority Executives in Healthcare and also named one of the Top Two most influential women in Southern Arizona. She is the recipient of numerous awards including the National Association of Health Services Executives’ Senior Healthcare Executive Award, the Chattanooga Area Manager of the Year Award and Girls, Inc.’s “Unbought and Unbossed” Award for ethical leadership. A grandmother’s hunch that there was something quite special about the little girl in her care, turned out to have been very wise, indeed.
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Lisa Sheehy, Equine Features Editor 127 Fillies in the Workplace: Marilynn Hoffman 133 Horse Park Happenings 136 Racino Rendezvous 138 Equine Out & About 140 Equine Art: The Auction 143 Alexandra Dillard 147 Keeneland Fall Stars Weekend and Pictorial 152 Ray Paulick 156 Secretariat Festival 159 Polo
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Fillies in the Workplace: Marilyn Hoffman
Real Estate Broker by Kathie Stanps Photos by Keni Parks
They say everything is bigger in Texas.
Native Texan Marilyn Hoffman is so familiar with the expression she even adopted it for her business. She sells houses—but not just big ones or even bigger ones. Hoffman sells the biggest houses and horse farms around. She sold the biggest home ever in Alabama, at 18,000 square feet, and the largest in Oklahoma, at 27,000 square feet. Hoffman also sold a 35,000-square foot home in Los Angeles, and the Double Diamond Ranch in Texas, which had 19 homes on 2,000 acres. She once closed on $7 million worth of home sales in seven days. Her clients have included Mary Kay Ash, of Mary Kay Cosmetics fame, along with golfer Lee Trevino and Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders. The name of her business is Hoffman International Properties, and the international part refers to places like Argentina, Ireland, Mexico and Scotland, just to name a few. The way she markets these properties is Hoffman’s own trade secret. She goes where the money is, and that means exhibiting at trade shows. Because her clientele often includes horse people, she sets up a booth for Hoffman International Properties at
equine events, the only real estate company to do so. From horse shows at the Kentucky Horse Park to the Breeders’ Cup gala in Louisville, from the Winter Equestrian Festival in south Florida to the International Arabian Horse Show in Scottsdale, Ariz., and all manner of equine competitions in Texas, Hoffman has a solid presence at horse shows. One year at her exhibit at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event in Lexington, a man told her he had a property to sell in Colorado, with a 25,000-square-foot home on it. The person she sold it to didn’t think the house was very big. “He tore it down and built a bigger home,” Hoffman said. In addition to horse shows, Hoffman’s clients are often found at charity events. So she attends the biggest and best, setting up displays and promoting her listings to attendees. One example was a fundraiser at Mara-Lago, Donald Trump’s home in Palm Beach. Others include the Military Ball in New York, the Thoroughbred Charities of America gala at Keeneland, and top worldwide charity functions in Monte Carlo and Paris. “Nobody else does that,” Hoffman said.
Marilyn Hoffman with Buddy, who resides at Meadowland Farm, one of Marilyn’s most beautiful listings
Serving Champagne and chocolates at her booths, Hoffman’s
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exhibits are decorated in a theme to match the event, with Ralph Lauren fabrics for the hunter jumper shows, cowboy rugs for quarter horse events, and a harem tent for the Arabian horse shows. Her booth space features a master leather book on each property, and a big-screen TV playing videos on all of her current listings. “There is a guest book to sign, to tell us what they want,” Hoffman said. Not only does she market her properties in an unusual way, but Hoffman is noted for selling previously unsellable homes. There was a home in Wisconsin that Hoffman sold in eight days for the full price of $20 million, even though it had previously been listed at a reduced price. Residential homes are her specialty, but she did sell an island once in the British West Indies, for $63 million. It didn’t have a home on it, though. Hoffman has been involved with real estate her whole life. She grew up knowing about the industry because her father was a real estate developer in Texas. She attended East Texas State University in Commerce, Texas, which is about an hour away from Dallas (the school has since changed its name to Texas A&M University-Commerce.)
That’s when she discovered the secret of exhibiting at horse shows and charity galas. She loves horses, as do her clients. For the last decade Hoffman has been splitting her time between her office in Dallas and her home in Lexington. “When I moved to Lexington it was because I was getting a lot of calls from people wanting to list their property,” she said. The largest home she has sold in Kentucky, so far, was Summer Wind Farm for James Thornton in Georgetown, a property of 500 acres with a 25,000-squarefoot home. Her premier listing now in Kentucky is Bloomfield Manor, featured in this issue of TOPS in Lexington. “The first time I came to Kentucky was when I listed James Thornton’s property,” Hoffman said. “He had his attorney meet me at our office in Dallas. I came and listed the property and sold it.” Hoffman has ridden horses since she was five years old; at the age of eight she got her first horse and started showing extensively.
“I started with quarter horses,” she said. “Growing up in Texas you ride quarter horses.” Her father had quarter horse Marilyn and Chloe at Meadowland racehorses, but as an adult Hoffman switched to Arabian horses. Today she owns and breeds Arabians. She “I studied French,” Hoffman said. “My first job was as a French has a staff of six people taking care of her 63 Arabian show interpreter.” And yes, her second language came in handy when horses on a 92-acre farm in Mineola, Texas. Oh, and in Texas she sold a big chateau in France, but other than that first gig as they’re called ranches, not horse farms. an interpreter she has always made her living in real estate.
“I started small,” Hoffman admitted. “I started going to horse shows, meeting people at horse ranches.”
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This past October Hoffman International Properties exhibited at a celebrity event at the Four Seasons Hotel in Westlake Village, Calif., just outside Los Angeles, and in the same
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month was a sponsor in Kentucky for the Boots, Badges & Bids event at Taylor Creek Farm, a party and auction benefiting the Louisville Metro Police Foundation. In late November, when the world finals are held for the National Cutting Horse Association, you can be sure an exhibit from Hoffman International Properties will be set up in Fort Worth. In December, Hoffman will be traveling to the Grosvenor House Hotel in London, England, to be honored at the International Property Awards in two categories: “Real Estate Agency, Texas” and “Real Estate Marketing, USA.” Hoffman’s Kentucky office is one of only two companies in the United States to be winners in the marketing category. She has previously won International Property Awards for best international broker and best American broker. Hoffman’s company is also the only one that has had brochures in Dubai at the national championship horse shows. “All of the royal suites had my brochures,” she said.
Marilyn Hoffman and Captain Peter LaBeau, with the champion Arabian she donated to the Military Ball, which sold for $15,000.
Hoffman doesn’t rely on social media for her marketing efforts, preferring to trust her best skill, personal contact, to keep her business thriving. She does have several websites with photos and information about her listings, though. They include LuxuryEstatesofKentucky.com and MagnificentProperties.com. Alicia Hipps, Hoffman’s daughter, runs the Dallas office of Hoffman International Properties. Her other daughter, Gina Miller, is a sportscaster in Dallas. Her son, Lance Hipps, is a numismatist. Hoffman’s real estate office in Dallas is a 22room English Tudor home built in 1929 by Sir Alfred Bossom, a London architect who was a member of parliament. The property has a guest house for visiting clients. “I’m always on the road traveling,” Hoffman said. “I never really get to enjoy a home.”
Marilyn Hoffman and Governor Steve Beshear at the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association’s annual Kentucky Derby trainers’ dinner.
As for the real estate business itself, Hoffman is seeing an upswing in the luxury market. “It’s definitely coming back and moving now, worldwide,” she said. “It has been very good this year.” In her spare time, Hoffman is involved with several charities and makes significant contributions to them, including the American Cancer Society and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Her business keeps her hopping on airplanes as she travels the globe to sell homes, but horses keep her grounded. “I have horses,” she said. “That’s why I moved to Kentucky. It is the horse capital of the world.”
Bossom Manor in Dallas, the corporate headquarters of Hoffman International Properties.
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Sponsored by:
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Horse Park Happenings by Laura A. D’Angelo
US Dressage Association FESTIVAL OF CHAMPIONS Presented by the Dutta Group The 2013 U.S Dressage Festival of Champions presented by the Dutta Corp. was held October 8-12, 2013 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY. Championship competition included Olympic and elite riders, along with Young Rider and Young Adult Championships, Juniors and Ponies. It was an exciting weekend of top level competition with feature events taking place under the lights each night in Rolex Stadium.
photo by Victor Orlov
The USEF Pony Rider Dressage Championship is open to Pony riders ages 12-16. This event was won by Alison Redston of Needham, Mass. and her pony Tony 47. She rode a German Riding pony gelding. The pony dressage division is fairly new and was formed to encourage young rider participation and to create a separate division so that ponies don’t have to compete against much larger horses. This division is growing rapidly in popularity. On Friday evening, the FEI Grand Prix Special was contested. This event counted 40% toward the grand prix rider’s championship score for the weekend. Steffen Peters of San Diego, California rode a beautiful and clean test with one error to score 74.771%. Steffen was a 2010 Alltech FEI World Games Bronze medalist. He is a long time dressage competitor and is one of the best dressage riders in the U.S. His mount this weekend was Four Winds Farm’s 11 year-old Westphalian gelding Legolas.
photo by Woody Phillips
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photo by Victor Orlov
photo by Keni Parks
photo by Victor Orlov
On Saturday evening, the crowd-pleasing Grand Prix Freestyle took place. This is the highest level of dressage competition choreographed to the rider’s choice of music. A beautiful and dramatic display of the athleticism, grace, responsiveness, precision and brilliance of the horse are shown set to a wide range of music from classical to current pop tunes. Peters repeated his victory as he accomplished his unprecedented seventh National Title in the Grand Prix division. His 11 yearold Westphalian gelding Legolas 92 was brilliant in the freestyle staying with the music and executing the technical movements beautifully. Maintaining their order from the previous evening, Guenter Seidel of Cardiff, California and Coral Reef Wylea finished second in the Championship. Both are serious contenders for next year’s 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games to be held in Normandy, France. Local rider Cassandra Hummert Johnson (19) competed Plato Carlos, her 16 year old Dutch Warmblood gelding in the Young Adult Grand Prix division where she finished 5th overall. Cassie is originally from Cleveland, Ohio but lives in Lexington and attends
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University of Kentucky. Cassie is coached by local professional Reese Koffler-Stanfield. Ms. Stanfield is grew up in Lexington and maintains a professional dressage training barn (Maple Crest Farm) in Lexington training dressage riders of all levels. Ms. Stanfield is a long-time elite rider herself having previously competed at the North American Young Riders Championships and who vied for a spot on the 2010 World Equestrian Games team for the U.S.
THE SPIRIT OF THE HORSE Families will delight in a new offering at the Horse Park on November 29th and 30th. The Kentucky Horse Park will present The Spirit of the Horse: A Holiday Equine Extravaganza! The show will take place in the Alltech Arena so don’t let the weather or cold stop you from attending. The show tells a magical holiday themed story on horses while demonstrating reining, dressage and liberty work in an hour long production that is suitable and delightful for all ages. Riders in the show have performed at the Arabian Nights Dinner Theatre in Orlando Florida and have appeared on NBC’s “Today”
show! A special guest will be Australia’s Dan James of Double Dan Horsemanship. Dan is a world-renowned horse trainer, entertainer and equine performer.
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Additional fun activities include a “meet and greet” with the human and equine stars at a Holiday Barn Tour prior to the show each evening and a postproduction party where guests can mingle with performers and horses. The show begins at 7pm on Friday and Saturday evening November 29th and 30th. Barn Tours are available 3:30-6:30 pm each evening and the post-production party will take place immediately after each performance. Tickets range from $10-$15 each for the performance and $5 for barn tours (free for children with a show ticket). Production Party tickets are $25. Tickets are available at www.kybdressage.com.
Ayden Uhlir The last two years have been a whirlwind for 18 year old dressage rider Ayden Uhlir. After winning the 2012 Junior National Championship and NAJRC Individual Gold medal (Team and Freestyle Bronze) she moved to Kirkland, Washington to train with Jeremy Steinberg. The sacrifices and changes paid off with a first ever back to back win at the 2013 NAYRC dressage competition Individual and Freestyle Gold (Team Silver) as well as last week’s Festival of Champions Young Rider National Championship. She also was the 2013 recipient of the Fiona Baan “Pursuit of Excellence” award. Ayden’s positive attitude and open spirit also gained notice with the nomination in 2012 for the USDF Nomination for the USEF Youth Sportsman of the Year award as well as the Dressage Spirit Award. Ayden’s partner is 14 year old KWPN bay gelding Sjapoer, who was bred and trained for the first 11 years of his life by Anna Maria Von Essen in Holland. He is a Contango baby out of Jenia (v Wolfgang). Last year Sjapoer was named the KWPN FEI Horse of the Year!
Photos of Ayden Uhlir • Courtesy of Ayden Uhlir
Laura D’Angelo, JD, MBA is an equine, gaming and business attorney at Dinsmore in Lexington. She is an active community member currently sitting on the Boards of the Kentucky Chamber, Commerce Lexington and LexArts. Laura moved to Lexington 20 years ago from Toronto, Canada. Laura followed her lifelong passion for horses in choosing Lexington, UK Law School and her profession. An active competitor in show jumping, she also plays polo occasionally and so makes her second home at the Kentucky Horse Park. Her daughter Lilly is following in her footsteps with her pony, Valentimes. Laura loves Lexington for the vibrant and developing downtown scene, the beautiful horse farms and above all, the wonderful people she has come to know here.
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NOVEMBER 2013 MUST-SEE EVENTS 1-3
Alltech National Horse Show – Ticket purchase necessary (Alltech Arena) www.nhs.org
2
US Mounted Games Association (Rolex Stadium) www.usmga.us
7-10
US Dressage Finals (Alltech Arena) United States Dressage Federation – 859-971-2277; www.usdf.org
8-10
USEF Young Horse Event – (North Exhibit Hall) United States Equestrian Federation; 859-258-2472
15-17
7th Holly Day Market-$ Junior League of Lexington – 859-252-8014; www.hollydaymarket.com
22-23
Oleika Shriners Rodeo - $ (Alltech Arena) www.oleikarodeo.com
21
Southern Lights Stroll – Presented by the KHP Foundation - $ (Parkwide) Kentucky Horse Park Foundation – 859-255-5727 www.khpfoundation.org
22-Dec31 Southern Lights - Presented by the KHP Foundation - $ (Parkwide) (Indoor attractions closed on Nov 28, and Dec 24-31) Kentucky Horse Park Foundation – 859-255-5727; www.khpfoundation.org 29-30
The Spirit of the Horse: A Holiday Equine Extravaganza - $ (Alltech Arena) KYB-GPE Equine Theater Production Co. 312-593-4466; www.kybdressage.com For more information visit kyhorsepark.com and khpfoundation.org • See TopsinLex.com for photo coverage of these and other events.
ON DECK FOR DECEMBER AT THE KENTUCKY HORSE PARK 1-31
Southern Lights - Presented by the KHP Foundation - $ (Parkwide) (Indoor attractions closed on Nov 28, and Dec 24-31) Kentucky Horse Park Foundation – 859-255-5727; www.khpfoundation.org
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Snowball Series Mounted Games, Covered Arena For more information visit kyhorsepark.com and khpfoundation.org See TopsinLex.com for photo coverage of these and other events
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Treasure of the Month TOPS IN EQUINE
W
e all know the aggravating feeling when the red bar pops up on our phone and we are nowhere near a charger. Low batteries are simply not an option when juggling our busy days, staying up-to-date on social media, texting, emailing, and making phone calls. Lucky for us, technology has finally connected with fashion to produce the phone charging Mighty Purse. Made from high quality genuine leather, the Mighty Purse will hold enough power to charge a smartphone twice. The Mighty Purse travels well in larger everyday bags and can easily be worn as a fashionable going-out wristlet. Inside the bag is a hidden lightweight battery with LED lights to indicate how much power is left in the charger. Simply charge the Mighty Purse by plugging its USB charging cable into a phone power adapter or computer USB port. The LED battery indicator is lit when the Mighty Purse is fully charged. From there the purse is ready to take out into the world to charge dying phones or tablets at any minute. So whether you are traveling or enjoying a night out on the town, you never have to go powerless again. Visit L.V. Harkness to see more fabulous treasures. L.V. Harkness is conveniently located in the heart of downtown Lexington at 531 West Short Street. Visit us in person or online at www.lvharkness.com. You can also join us on Facebook and Pinterest to see all of the newest fall arrivals and stay up to date with our latest news and events.
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Photos by Keni Parks The Blue Grass Farms Charities Racino Rendezvous presented by Keeneland featured Calvin Borel and Robby Albarado. Special guests included former board members Dr. Tom Riddle and Christina Jelm. Also recognized were Thoroughbred Charities of America, Fasig-Tipton and Darley. Calvin Borel, Robby Albarado and David Flores
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www.bafcky.com
Scan here to see all the photos for this event at topsinlex.com
Dr. Jeremy Whitman
Evan & Anna Seitz Ciannello
Lisa Walker and Donna Vannoy
Susan Davis
Joe & Beth Ann Hayden
Dr. Melissa & John Egan
Michael Hernon
Paul Dutille
Reed Ringler
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Les Instone
Don Butte, Christina Jelm, Dr. Thomas Riddle, John Banahan and Erin Crady
Zach Davis
Jim Wilhite, Neil & Ginny Howard and John Cox
Robby Albarado with Curlin painting by Brian Fox
April Dutille
Patsy and Nicole Pieratt
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“Race Track Types” Paul Nierzwicki and Terry Leffel
New York Supreme Court Judge William “Bill” Kocher takes a Keeneland vacation from People v Rose trial
Natalie Frost and Real Estate Rock Star Zach Davis
TVG on-air host Todd Todd Schrupp shows the camera his good side!
It’s All About the Girls racing syndicate gather in the Keeneland paddock to saddle-up their horse Dance Team running in the 8th race October 16. From left to right: Dana Ross, Suneet Singh Ashburn, Laura D’Angelo, Lilly Chamblin, Anna Seitz Ciannello and Lisa Sheehy
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The Auction
by Greg Ladd
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Someone asked me today “How’s the auction going”, and I replied “I don’t know; I’ll know more after the November horse sale.” Their reply: “Pretty big gamble, huh,” and I realized it was the probably the biggest gamble of my life. In college, like most college kids, we gambled on anything we could find to wager on. From football and basketball to golf, to Ping-Pong and Pac-Man, and of course “the horses”. But when I graduated from college, got married, and opened the gallery–all in a six month period–I realized I no longer had the need to gamble on trivial things. The gallery was a gamble every day. My best bet was my wife, who has supported my gambling habit from day one. She calls it “pursuing my passion”, but it’s really a “gambling habit”. Early on, I gambled that I had a good enough eye to seek out good artwork, and then get the work in front of people that knew what they were looking at. The last 40 years has been spent gambling that I could sell enough paintings to feed and educate 4 children, my wife, 2 dogs and myself. I haven’t missed many meals. “The Sporting Art Auction” is the biggest gamble of my life. I started by sending personal letters to old clients that I’ve worked with over the last 40 years. That was slow developing, but in the end has proved fruitful. I went to Europe last October, back a couple of times since, traveled all over America, and basically been on the road for the last year, looking for quality art work to be consigned to the sale. We have a quality catalogue. We knew we had a tremendous audience for “Sporting Art” but somewhere along the way, we realized that the influential group of buyers we would be in front of probably had broader interests. Several months into the journey, I ran across 2 very important paintings that belonged to a client in Pennsylvania; an Andrew Wyeth and a Mary Cassatt. The description of the sale on the front of the catalogue was changed from “Fine Sporting Art” to “Fine Sporting Art, American Paintings and Sculpture”. I’ve logged a lot of frequent flyer miles, spent a few sleepless nights, but now I think I’m ready to roll the dice. For more information visit www.thesportingartauction.com
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(Top): Sandra Oppegard, Entries and Clubhouse Keeneland, Fall (Center): Mary Cassatt, Children Playing With a Cat (Bottom): André Pater, Stay
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Alexandra Dillard
by Lauren Henry
treat them as such. To us, they were so much more than athletes. It was an incredibly wonderful time, and I think fondly of the memories made in this region. When my sisters and I went to college and then started working full time, it became difficult to maintain our horse lives and we couldn’t spend time with them as much as we would like. Our amazing friends introduced us to a haven for retired horses in the Bluegrass where our family horses are cared for and loved to this day. Unfortunately, my horse passed away shortly after the last Kentucky Derby and I was devastated; he was a best friend and I loved him dearly. I was able to say goodbye one last time before he was buried and as heartbreaking of an experience as it was, I look forward to when we have kids and they get to show their ponies here, because this region has such a special place in our hearts. Lexington is the most beautiful place and I’m not just saying that because this is a Lexington based magazine-it is just a dream world! The rolling hills speckled with horses provide a gorgeous setting and it’s a truly unique feeling being here.
Alexandra shares, “For our company as a whole, we strive to differentiate Dillard’s from the competition by ensuring we provide our clients with exciting and amazing products at a great value, outstanding customer service, and elevated, exclusive offerings that can only be found in our stores.” To that end, fall 2013 marks the complete revamping of the Lexington store and a transformation into a shopping haven inspired by high city style. “We are very excited about the renovations here as we think they are going to be huge for our customers,” Alexandra enthuses. “We cannot wait for them to experience this revamping!” Indeed, walking into the interior at Dillard’s, clients are in for a treat with even more delightful selections in their exclusive brands collections than ever before, all displayed beautifully. During a busy weekday at market in LA, Alexandra Dillard was gracious enough to dish on her connection to the Bluegrass, what’s trending this holiday season and much more.
TOPS: Did you always know you wanted to work in your family’s business?
unparalleled sense of work ethic and passion that is unmatched in the industry today. William T. Dillard founded the company and created a tremendous legacy of retailing success fulfilled by several members of his family. One of which, is his brilliant granddaughter, Alexandra, the Corporate Merchandise Manager for the company. Alexandra explains, “My mother was a buyer for Neiman Marcus when she met my dad and my twin sister (Annemarie, who is the Director of Contemporary Sportswear,) and I always knew this was what we wanted to do after college. The pride of the heritage and the passion we share for our business is really special.” It is this passion that continues to drive progress forward at Dillard’s as they bring their customers an exceptional line of exclusive brands including Antonio Melani, Gianni Bini, G.B., and Cremieux just to name a few.
TOPS: Can you tell us about your family ties to the Bluegrass? ALEXANDRA: My two sisters and I grew up showing horses at the Lexington Horse Park. Our horses were always sort of our children. We’d buy a horse and it would become a part of the family, so we would
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Dillard’s at Fayette Mall is Lexington’s premiere fashion destination and for good reason: the family behind the store has an
ALEXANDRA: Yes absolutely. It has been great to work with family members who are a part of this business and it’s something that so many people don’t get to experience. For that, we feel deeply grateful and fortunate. TOPS: Is there anything in particular that sets the Dillard’s in Lexington apart from the chain as a whole? ALEXANDRA: Clearly we focus a little more on the equestrian vibe here and we definitely cater to this style. We are thrilled to be launching Belle Badgley Mischka in time for the holiday season at Fayette Mall. Mark Badgley and James Mischka have quite a strong history in Lexington. They owned a farm here for many years and they are both avid equestrians. They’ve also hosted several events within our store to help women dress for the Derby in their stunning collection of Derby hats. And, for the first time, they’ll be able to show off their new and exciting dress collection, which is full of perfect Derby dresses! We have exciting plans for Derby of 2014 to focus on promoting this amazing new collection with Mark and James themselves, so you definitely need
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to mark your calendars, you won’t want to miss it! TOPS: How would you describe your sense of style? ALEXANDRA: My personal style is more on the side of classic, but of course, I love the latest trends, so I tend to favor a mixture of both. I’m a southern girl, so I love color too. But, if I’m wearing a great, adventurous heel, for example, I downplay my clothing to neutralize a bit. In particular, there are some great trends on our floor that I love right now. For example, I love the interesting use of leathers and vegan leathers. Antonio Melani, Gianni Bini, and many of our other amazing brands have incredible leather and vegan leather pieces right now, and I’m really into the usage of this material in peplum tops, dresses, and swing skirts. Plus, there are so many great sweaters with leather trims in our stores now too. TOPS: What are some must-haves you keep in your beauty arsenal? ALEXANDRA: I am kind of crazy about sunscreen usage and skincare right now, so any types of products with sunscreen coverage are on my priority list. Chanel’s foundation is a favorite go to for me and Shiseido has a wonderful product called Future Solutions that is amazing at rejuvenating the skin. It is a little bit pricey, but it is an unbelievable product that all major makeup artists highly recommend. TOPS: Clearly, you are a woman on the go. What are some of your favorite downtime activities? ALEXANDRA: I love to travel with my family and we’ve been fortunate to visit some amazing locales. We went on a safari in Africa, and it was the most amazing experience ever. And, this past year, we travelled to Croatia, and it was a fantastic adventure as well. Other favorite downtime activities right now include yoga, enjoying the outdoors as much as possible, and exploring new places.
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TOPS: Do you have a hidden talent? ALEXANDRA: I have discovered that I am great at transitioning from one frame of mind to another. For example, it has been crucial that even though I travel weekly for work, when I come home to Atlanta, I can switch gears to not bring work into my home environment. I enjoy being social and love throwing parties and showers for friends and loved ones. But, when I am away for work, it’s all business. TOPS: What do you recommend as staple outfits for the 2013 holiday season? ALEXANDRA: For Thanksgiving, everybody has to have some form of a nice skinny bottom, maybe a pair of vegan leather skinny pants or skinny jeans, equestrian boots, and a comfy oversized sweater so you can eat all you want and still look and feel fabulous. For Christmas, everyone needs a fabulous party dress this holiday season with nice shine or in a great holiday shade, like red. For New Years, you want to be sexy but still appropriately dressed so a great long sleeved sparkly dress is a perfect option while a faux fur is great for layering. TOPS: Speaking of New Years, do you already have resolutions picked out? ALEXANDRA: My resolution is always to get in shape and to focus on being a better person - the best wife, best sister, best daughter - and living life to the fullest. I have the most amazing sets of grandparents and parents and I couldn’t love them more. It’s why my sisters and I really stayed on track--we have such great role models and it’s been so special for us to have the opportunity to work with them as we have transitioned into this phase in life. They have instilled in us the desire for self-improvement and loving others and I strive to maintain this philosophy going in to the New Year. For more information, be sure to check out Alexandra and Annemarie’s style blog on Facebook by searching for The Fashion Files at Dillard’s.
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ALL-STARS FALL ON FALL STARS WEEKEND
Racing’s elite horses and horsemen descend upon Lexington this weekend, as well as the local racing fans. Keeneland is the place to see and be seen – here is a look at the top races, story lines and the colorful characters that surround the “Sport of Kings” in Kentucky.
The $750,000 Shadwell Turf Mile is the richest race of the season and it drew the 2012 Horse of the Year Wise Dan into the field off of nine straight graded stakes victories. Mother Nature turned the Turf Mile into the Polytrack 1 1/16 mile as a torrential downpour hit the track with 1 ½ inch of rain and the race was taken off of the turf course. Millionaire speedster Silver Max went to the front under jockey Robby Alvarado and never looked back. Wise Dan looked as though he would pounce on the pace setter but came up short while splashing home in second. After the surprising loss, jockey John Velazquez who recently became racing’s all-time leading money-winner surpassing Pat Day stated, “He ran a good race; he just didn’t run his A game today. First time running on the Polytrack and it’s really wet and it seemed like he was tiring from it today. He couldn’t seem to get his (footing). Other than that he kept trying and ran hard.” Wise Dan’s trainer Charles Lopresti says he is looking forward to a rematch in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile at Santa Anita. Wise Dan was not the only champion Keeneland race goers were able to see compete on Fall Stars weekend. Eclipse Award winning sprinter Groupie Doll was heavily favored to repeat in the Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes. She used it as a springboard to win the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint last year. A fan favorite, Groupie Doll was bred and raised by trainer Bill “Buff ” Bradley and his now 82-year-old father Fred at their modest farm in Frankfort, Kentucky. After saddling their 5-year-old mare that came into the race with earnings of $1,908,850, Buff brought his father to the winner’s circle and lifted him out of his wheelchair to view the race from the rail. Sad to say, there was no family celebration as Groupie Doll’s rally was too late and she had to settle for third. “She was laying right where we wanted to be. We were in a good spot all the way around. She just got outrun. I’m not happy about it, but that’s the way it is,” said Bradley. “It looks so far like she came back good, so we’ll look at her back in the barn and go from there.” Three of the last four TCA winners have won the Filly and Mare Sprint in their next start – the question is – will it be 2013 winner Judy
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The opening weekend of Keeneland’s autumn meet is the prestigious Fall Stars Weekend when five Grade 1 races are run and eight stakes races are part of the Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” program. A victory in any of those races insure a berth in one of the races that are a part of the 15-race, $26 million Breeders’ Cup World Championships on November 1-2 at Santa Anita.
the Beauty, who is owned and trained by former Eclipse Award winning jockey Wesley Ward or 2012 winner Groupie Doll? On Friday Sum of the Parts captured the 161st running on the $200,000 Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes for the second year earning a trip to the $1.5 million Xpressbet Sprint at Santa Anita. The $400,000 Darley Alcibiades for 2-year-old fillies went to My Conquestadory who will bring her undefeated 2-for-2 record to the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. Additional Saturday races included Havelock’s last to first victory in the $150,000 Woodford Stakes Presented by Keeneland Select. The storm drenched $400,000 First Lady that was a hard fought victory by Better Lucky for those who could actually see it. Winning Jockey Julien Leparoux said, “I’m telling you, I didn’t see much either. My goggles all fogged up so it was not very easy to see on the backside. I tried to take them off and put them back on to see where I was. She fought back when Johnny (Velazquez on Dayatthespa) came back on the inside. She’s a nice filly for sure.” Velazquez came right back to win the $400,000 Dixiana Breeders’ Futurity aboard We Miss Artie for 2-year-old colts and geldings. Owner Ken Ramsey, headed for another Keeneland owner’s title, came into the winner’s circle singing “California, here we come!” since the win pays his fees to the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
Closing out the weekend on Sunday Gary and Mary West’s Poker Player unleashed a huge move in midstretch to collar the leaders for a upset score at 23-1 in the off-the-turf Bourbon Stakes. Keeneland was inundated with storms and heavy rainfall that delayed racing briefly. Catalano said it is likely Poker Player would move on to the World Championships. Emollient complemented her wire-to-wire victory in the Grade 1 Ashland Stakes at Keeneland in the spring by rallying from dead last to score in the 58th running of the Grade 1, $500,000 Juddmonte Spinster guaranteeing a fees paid trip to the $2 million Distaff. Emollient not only won after changing her running style, but also as the only 3-year-old in the field. Trainer Bill Mott also has his champion Royal Delta headed for the Distaff. With established Eclipse Award winners and potential future champions Keeneland continues to bring the best of the breed to Lexington every meet – both equine and human. Rain or shine you need to soak it in.
John C. Engelhardt has been an equine photographer and turf writer for 30 years and served as the President of the Turf Publicists of America. He hosts a weekly radio show on winningponies.com. For reprints of his images or future assignments you may contact him at longshot51@earthlink.net
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Garrett Gomez
Wise Dan gate breaks on the Turf Mile
Donna Brothers and Buff Bradley with Champ Groupie Doll in Background
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Emollient
Anna Seitz
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The Ashland Stakes
Julien Leparoux
Former Keeneland President Ted Bassett shades a friend’s head
Keeneland Fashion
Keeneland President Bill Thomason Jr gives a personal tour
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Down the Stretch
James Graham
Kurtis Coady
Young handicapper
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Varton Vartonov and Gennadi Dorochenko
Mike Battaglia
Dell Hancock
Havelock G Gomez bounces back to win the Gr 3 Woodford Stakes
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The Report on Paulick The road to a successful career racing in Lexington is often
a winding one with plenty of hills and valleys along the way. Awardwinning journalist Ray Paulick started his journey from a small farm in rural Roscoe, Illinois and he crisscrossed the country from college days in Florida to his introduction to newsprint in Chicago which eventually led him to Los Angeles and his honed skills in writing and respect for the racing game drew him to the Bluegrass region that he now calls home. A self-proclaimed newspaper junkie from his high school days when he penned anti-war and free speech columns, he landed his first paying job in the mid ‘70’s with the Field Newspaper Syndicate which at that time was part of the Chicago Sun Times/Daily News. His introduction to racing came by coincidence when he crossed paths with the colorful character Jimmy “The Greek” Snyder. At the time Snyder was responsible for a three-times a week syndicated column. While he knew the sport inside and out, Jimmy was not the greatest wordsmith or typist and Ray became his “ghostwriter” editing his pieces and absorbing knowledge of racing as he went along. To enhance his ability to write about the game, Paulick began attending the races at Hawthorne Park. Over time and armed with the information he learned at the track and from Jimmy the Greek, Ray found himself stopping by “messenger services” to play the Daily Double on his way into work on a regular basis. The dimly disguised store-front OTB’s that were believed to be run by the Chicago mob were eventually closed, but it didn’t dim the flame that lit Paulick’s penchant for racing. When the Field Newspaper Syndicate relocated to Southern California in 1979 Paulick hitched his wagon and a year later began working for the Daily Racing Form. It was there where he met his wife Carol and Ray eventually became a full-time editor and handicapper until 1988. “I was really lucky early in my career in racing to see horses like Affirmed and Spectacular Bid and John Henry in the flesh and be a part of Southern California racing when the average was 27,000 people a day. I was there at Santa Anita for The Big ‘Cap when Lord At War won a record crown of 86,000.” Since that time where he saw the best in the west, he has served in editorial positions in the industry’s major publications including the Thoroughbred Times, Racing Times, and Blood-Horse. “And here I am now in Kentucky where they have Keeneland and you may go out there on a Wednesday and there are 15,000 people,” he said with a wide grin. “It is one of the tracks that still draws fans to the races in large numbers. I guess what keeps me going is the hope that somehow we can get back to the days of – not 27,000 – but a resurgence of increased interest. It’s the same game, horses running around an oval, people betting on them, it’s all this great excitement
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and social interaction. I have the hope we can turn the trend around and make it better.” Looking forward to the information age and the rapidly growing power of social media Paulick has developed one of the most sought after websites in racing for those seeking pertinent and late-breaking stories about racing on a daily basis. Now wearing the hat of a publisher, he heads “The Paulick Report”. “Once the internet started, I was a big internet person going from website to website across the globe. There is so much information out there, but you could spend the whole day looking for it. I thought, why don’t you just put it all together in one place. We started out with simple headlines and links from various newspapers and horseracing publications and I would do stories along with those links that were under my byline with unique content. It was successful, we were getting an audience and it allowed me to spend time writing big features on topics I felt were of interest.” “And then we kind of stepped up the game a bit and did a redesign of the site and we started doing a lot more original content using the Huffington Post as a model, the first model was the Drudge Report, which is probably how we got the name, The Paulick Report, which was just links.” Ray tweaked the site to its current format that is averaging one million unique visitors per month. “Using the Huffington Post as a model where you can do a synopsis of stories and then link as we did that it allowed us to get more advertisers and revenue. We went from a staff of me and my partner Brad Cummings working seven days a week 365 days a year to being able to take a weekend off from time to time and now we have a staff of five full-time employees plus me. Now it is a one stop shop for news and information on the thoroughbred industry.” It is obvious he takes pride in the support of his advertisers and the fact that he has been able to grow his company which now includes Scott Jagow, editor in chief; Emily Alberti, director of advertising; Mary Schweitzer, news editor; Natalie Voss, weekend editor/features writer and Carol Paulick, bookkeeper. The Paulick Report is unique in its presentation. It paints with a broad brush spreading lines of colorful interest. “Remember the movie The Good The Bad and The Ugly? Maybe that’s what I’d call the Paulick Report’s coverage. We cover the good, not just the racing, but we go out of our way every week to present “Good News Friday” where we focus on a positive story. Whether it is a charity or somebody looking at things with a new twist and doing something that is a smart business move, there are a lot of great stories and we purposely do that. Part of it is personal therapy for me after all of the negative stuff that goes on to look for the positive stories.” Paulick has a passion for opening readers eyes to the efforts that are moving forward to care for the equine competitors that make the sport go on every level. “So we have the good and the bad. There
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are some things about the industry that are kind of tough to take. The aftercare issue is one that is really growing, there is greater awareness now for the fact that horses have a short racing career and they need care after their careers are over. I’m really excited about how far we have come in that. Twenty years ago nobody wanted to talk about it. It was kind of like ‘racing’s dirty secret’ and now every state has a version of thoroughbred retirement or aftercare. There is some bad stuff that if you don’t shed some light on it you are not going to improve it, so I feel it is important to put that light on some issues that are not particularly good because you can’t change things without letting people understand it is an issue that is important.” With a year to year growth of 60% on his site, Paulick has drawn on his readers to support his altruistic efforts and it has been a win-win for all involved. “One thing about the Paulick Report is that it is not just a website it is a community. A lot of people get on the site and comment and we have interaction with them we truly feel like we have a community.” Brainstorming with Brad Cummings outside of a Lexington Panera Bread store a light went on for a unique event. “Late in the game we decided we would go to the Breeders’ Cup do a fund raiser along the way? And so it started at Keeneland, we went to Hawthorne and from there Remington Park then to Zia Park in New Mexico, Turf Paradise in Arizona and then to Santa Anita. We called it “Breeders’ Cup or Bust” and we ended up earning about $70,000 for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund and working with Breeders’ Cup Charities they asked us to include the V Foundation for Cancer research, so it was great fun. We felt like we were raising awareness and money, but the awareness part was a big deal because the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund was under the radar at the time and we met jockeys that had been permanently injured in wheelchairs at just about every track we went to.” Interacting with paralyzed riders on a personal basis across the country left a lasting impression on Paulick. “The work of the
Ray Paulick Photo by John C. Engehardt PDJF is very important so it became an annual thing. The second year the Breeders’ Cup was in Louisville and we walked from Keeneland to Churchill Downs. It took a week it’s about 85 or 90 miles we had a little RV we slept in and we stopped in places along the way with people that were sponsoring us. The next year it was in Louisville again and we did a 1-day run relay between Lexington and Churchill Downs. Brad Cummings was great in getting all those things organized. Last year it was back in California so we did the drive and I think in four years we’ve raised over $300,000 for different charities.” Earlier this year Cummings took a COO position with PM Advertising Agency, but is still one of Ray’s closest friends and owns a minority interest in the company.
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TOPS IN EQUINE “This year it is the PDJF again that’s the one I insist on doing because I don’t think we give enough back to those guys. The second fund this year is going to be the Grayson Jockey Club Research Foundation which supports health related research for horses and the third is CARMA (California Retirement Management Account) which is kind of a California-based United Way that raises money and distributes it to recue operations for horses that raced in California. The gimmick this year is we are going to fly out there; we are not going to drive. Scott Jackow and I are going to visit many of the retirement homes and re-training facilities that are supported by CARMA. We are going to stop at the University of California at Davis and meet with some of the researchers who have benefitted from Grayson research dollars and we are going to stop at Golden Gates Fields and hopefully meet up with Russell Baze the number one rider in wins and just a great spokesman for that profession.” “We are delighted to partner with Ray and Scott in our fifth consecutive year with the Paulick Report to call attention to and raise money for such outstanding causes in the Thoroughbred Charities of America,” said Breeders’ Cup President and CEO Craig Fravel. “Breeders’ Cup or Bust’ has become an important part of Breeders’ Cup Charities and we look forward to learning about the great people whose dedicated work supports our industry.” PDJF President Nancy LaSala seconds that emotion. “Ray and Scott with their Breeders’ Cup or Bust Fundraiser, epitomize all the good that can be accomplished when our industry works together for a common goal. We are especially appreciative that this year’s focus is the well being of our human and equine athletes.” Edward Bowen, president of Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation stated. “We
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are flattered to be a beneficiary and are pleased the Breeders’ Cup recognizes that our work is so compatible with their own dedication to keeping horses sound and healthy.” Lucinda Mandella, Executive Director of CARMA also weighed in on the Paulick Report’s efforts. “Breeders’ Cup or Bust is a fantastic way to bring much-needed attention to worthy causes and we are so grateful to be a partner in their efforts this year.” Ray Paulick’s embrace of thoroughbred racing has had an impact on so many levels. The kid from Roscoe, Illinois traversed the country absorbing racing and sharing his experiences in print from ink stained hands in Chicago to high resolution pixilated images delivered from Lexington. His “Pay It Forward” attitude says volumes about the soul of the man behind The Paulick Report – much more than a website, bringing a community of horsemen and horse lovers together. All Breeders’ Cup or Bust donations go directly to Breeders’ Cup Charities, a 501 ©, for distribution to this year’s three recipient charities you can make a secured donation at www.breederscup.com/about/charities. Checks can be made out to Breeders’ Cup Charities and mailed to Breeders’ Cup/BC or Bust, 2525 Harrodsburg Road, 5th Floor, Lexington, Ky. 40504
John C. Engelhardt has been an equine photographer and turf writer for 30 years and served as the President of the Turf Publicists of America. He hosts a weekly radio show on winningponies.com. For reprints of his images or future assignments you may contact him at longshot51@earthlink.net
The Secretariat Festival TOPS IN EQUINE
RAISES MEMORIES, CAREERS AND EYEBROWS
It is hard to believe that it has been 40 years since the great Secretariat used his powerful stride to devastate the field in the 1973 Belmont Stakes by 31 lengths. CBS Television announcer Chic Anderson described the horse’s pace in a famous commentary: “Secretariat is widening now! He is moving like a tremendous machine!” To this day it raises hair on the arms of any true fan that watches the replay. In the stretch, Secretariat opened a 1/16 mile lead on the rest of the field. At the finish, he won by 31 lengths (breaking the margin-of-victory record set by Triple Crown winner Count Fleet in 1943, who won by 25 lengths), and ran the fastest 1½ miles on dirt in history, 2:24 flat, which broke the stakes record by more than two seconds. That amazing feat stamped Secretariat as the ninth Triple Crown winner in history, and the first in 25 years. This shining bright copper specimen of massive horseflesh nicknamed “Big Red” wove the lives of several individuals with diverse backgrounds together to form a team that still honors his accomplishments in Paris, Kentucky every year. “The Secretariat Festival” just celebrated its sixth year in Bourbon County, located only a few miles from where he stood as a stallion and is now laid to rest at historic Claiborne Farm. The event was formed through a collaboration of longtime Claiborne employee Jim Friess, retired farm manager John Sosby, Leonard Lusky of Secretariat.com and Jim Allen of the Bourbon County Fairgrounds, all with the blessing of Claiborne’s Seth Hancock. This year featured a unique start to the spectacular festival with the release of the world premiere of the new film documentary, “Penny & Red: the Life of Secretariat’s Owner” at the Fasig-Tipton Sales Pavilion the night before the festival. While Secretariat’s life has been chronicled from the coin flip that landed him at Meadow Stable to his final days battling laminitis, this documentary gives owner Penny Chenery the opportunity to tell her own story. While most will recall a celebratory blonde waving her arms in victory through the Triple Crown and then becoming composed for a classy win circle photos, this documentary pulls back the curtain on a side of her personal life that never made the media back in the ‘70’s. Produced by her son John Tweedy, who is an award-winning filmmaker, she bares her soul in this documentary. She speaks openly about her siblings, the strong influence and demands of her father, her tumultuous marriage and how immersing herself in Meadow Farm helped save her life. Bill Nack, the acclaimed sports journalist and author of “Secretariat: The Making of a Champion” was on hand for the festival and premiere and reviewed it by stating “A stunningly honest account of Penny’s life made more poignant and powerful by her unsparing self-reflection.” Hard to believe, but most would say that evocative quote was actually an understatement. During the documentary she revealed she had an affair with Secretariat’s trainer Lucian Laurin stating “We became sexually intimate - it was wonderful for me.” You could feel the surprised emotion of the stunned audience in the air, but at 91-years of age, Penny wanted to get the story straight. She reflected back on Secretariat stating, “He became my life, my marriage was history.” In addition to her soul-bearing interview there is outstanding historical footage of “Big Red” in action through some of his greatest accomplishments.
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In the audience was another female trailblazer in racing, the one-time leading woman jockey P.J. Cooksey. “When she made that statement you could almost hear a collective ‘thud’ of jaws dropping and then a quiet murmur of viewers whispering, ‘Did she say what I think she said?,’ it caught us all off guard.” After the premiere Cooksey gave Chenery a hug and said, “You go girl!” With the premiere completed on Friday the festival went into full force on Saturday. Starting with a Big Red Run/Walk at Adena Springs Farm, it was a beautiful daytime affaire in Paris, but the stars were shining at the Bourbon County Fairgrounds. The free event allowed fans to meet the likes of Kentucky Derby winning riders Pat Day, Jose Santos, Jorge Velasquez, Angel Cordero, Jr., Jean Cruguet, Mike Manganello, Jacinto Vasquez and Chris McCarron. This family friendly day was filled equine events that included demonstrations by breeds of Fresians, American Miniature Horses, Gypsy Vanner and Arabians. There was an excellent BBQ station that sent hickory smoke through the Fairgrounds air and an outstanding quality silent auction dominated by Secretariat related art and local crafts. It all was for the benefit of the Secretariat Foundation which was created by Penny Chenery as a non-profit charitable organization to assist and support various Thoroughbred charities. One of the most popular items available at the festival was the beautiful full-color 20-month Secretariat Calendar featuring exclusive photographs taken by Tony Leonard, a man recognized as “The Ansel Adams of Equine photography.” The recently deceased Leonard was granted unique access to Secretariat through his relationship with Chenery, Laurin and Claiborne. Some of the photos in the calendar had never been seen by the public before and a portion of the proceeds from the calendar go to the Secretatiat Foundation. The calendar when opened is 14x22 and features some of Leonard’s best work of what was probably his favorite subject, Secretariat. Leonard’s last visit outside of his nursing home before he died was to Claiborne Farm to visit Secretariat’s gravesite. Tours to Claiborne Farm, only a few miles away were offered to view their top stallions and visit the burial grounds of Secretariat and the legendary outstanding stallions that stood at the historic farm. Throughout the day though, the spotlight was on the team that worked so closely during the trek through the Triple Crown 40 years ago – owner Penny Chenery, jockey Ron Turcotte, Secretariat’s exercise rider Charlie Davis and a new member of “Team Secretariat” jockey Otto Thorwarth who was casted as Turcotte in the Disney production of Secretariat. Through the 40 years have passed since Secretariat graced the cover of Sports Illustrated, Time and Newsweek magazine, the memories of those that were closest to him are as sharp as if they were with him yesterday. Ron Turcotte was North America’s leading stakes-winning jockey in 1972 and 1973 largely in part to Meadow Farms’ Riva Ridge and Secretariat. He became the first jockey to win back-to-back Kentucky Derbys since Jimmy Winkfield in 1902 and is the only jockey to ever have won five of the six consecutive Triple Crown races. A Canadian, like trainer Lucian Laurin, he recalls the early days with “Big Red.” “I was with him from the time he came from the farm to Hialeah through
in history – or I should say where he brought us at,” he laughed.
Turcotte didn’t know he’d be sitting on a champion at first meeting. “He was an overgrown kid the first month or six weeks when we were schooling him and starting to work out, but after that he started waking up and knowing which leg to put down first and then everybody just loved him. The whole barn loved him, there was no such thing as getting on the bandwagon just when he got good. We all knew he was good from the time he started working out serious.”
If Ron Turcotte was not on “Big Red’s” back the duties went to Lucian Laurin’s main exercise rider Charlie Davis who enjoys attending the festival every year. Though in his early ‘70’s he remembers the first day he laid eyes on the colt he would help develop into a champion. “When I first seen Red he was a big, fat kid. I said Whoooo, boy I don’t know if he’s a winner, but he was big! And nothin’ bothered him, nothin’. A bird fly in front of him and he’d say O.K. get along – nothin’ would bother him. When he would go to the track he would just take his time. We didn’t make Secretariat, Secretariat made us. He did the work we just go for the ride.”
“I’ve seen a lot of horses that were morning glories but couldn’t run in the afternoon, but he was so relaxed, never washed out, we were all very high on him. The road to the Triple Crown has been an elusive one, even for great horses. Turcotte still speaks with great confidence about the strapping son of Bold Ruler. ”This horse was so much the best, the best horse that ever lived really – he was winning those races fairly easy. With the exception of the Wood Memorial he had never really been set down. In the last eighth or sixteenth of a mile I never pushed him, I’d just let him go on the lead, tap him now and then just to remind him he was in a race. With the exception of when he was sick in the Wood Memorial when we found out he had an abcess and a blood infection. When he came back and worked out real big for the Derby I was very excited by Derby Day I knew he was going to win the Derby.” His belief was confirmed with his ride in the ’73 Run for the Roses. “In the Derby I just took it easy with him in the early part, just in case the Wood Memorial didn’t take enough out of him, I mean got him fit enough for the Derby – that’s the reason I took him back to last.” They went on to win in track record time by 2 ½ lengths over Sham. Turcotte knew he was sitting on a loaded gun. “Two weeks later the Preakness I move around the first turn and began thinking I could have won the Preakness by 10 or 15 lengths, but I kept thinking ‘Belmont… Belmont’.” Once again he finished 2 ½ lengths over Sham. Turcotte’s restraint in the Preakness parlayed a historic run in the third jewel of the Triple Crown. “After he won like that I worked him very hard for the Belmont and he responded. He worked two full seconds faster than Riva Ridge did the year before and Riva went on to win the Belmont by 7 lengths. I really thought he was the horse that was going to do it.” There was little doubt shortly into the 1 ½ “Test of Chanpions” as Secretariat literally pulled away from the field by 20, 28 and eventually 31 lengths at the wire.” A feat most racing experts agree will never be closely duplicated. Turcotte’s career ended in 1978 following a tumble from his horse, Flag of Leyte Gulf, at the start of a race at Belmont Park that left him a paraplegic. He was inducted in the National Museum of Racing Hall Of Fame in 1979. In 1980 was inducted into Canada’ Sport’s Hall of Fame. He was voted the prestigious George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award that honors a rider whose career and personal conduct exemplifies the very best example of participants in the sport of thoroughbred racing. He is the first person from Thoroughbred racing ever to be appointed a member of the Order of Canada. “I’m very proud that I am here to day to celebrate the 40th anniversary, I’m very proud to be part of the team that brought him to where he is at
TOPS IN EQUINE
the winter and was on him for every workout except when I had to be out of town riding Riva Ridge.”
Charlie said the first real sign of greatness he felt about Secretariat was when came up to Saratoga after winning his first race at Aqueduct. “Paul Feliciano was up on him for the first two and in the first race he was sandwiched at the start and lost all chance. In the second race he didn’t get in any trouble and Paul won by 6 lengths. Then he got to Saratoga and we put Ronnie on him and he busts up through the middle like a quarterback just handed him the ball and that was the lesson and I said ‘M-m-m-m-m we might have a runner’ he can run a little bit! So from then he was more and more and more.” “One morning Lucian put some blinkers on him and sent him to the gate and he broke out of that gate like a whirlwind. I believe he went five furlongs in :57 or :58, Ronnie was on him and from then on it was…”Oh baby, oh baby, oh baby” and he was still learning as a 2-year-old! As a 3-year-old he was just getting on it,” recalled Davis while shaking his head. “He figured out how to come on into a turn – he was a ‘lefty’ that meant he loved to run on a turn. He’d get into a turn and get on that left lead and he’d just fly around the turn. I’d been on some good horses – but not like him.” Now retired from the non-stop buzz of morning duties at the track he loved so much, Davis still has friends who work with horses and he makes his way to the backstretch, the sales, the track kitchen to the rail to see horses galloping by. Eventually he’ll see some of guys he knew and he says, “Aw man, I still miss it. I’ll go up in the grandstand and see all them guys and oh, man – I miss it, I still miss it.” When asked about his reflections on his days with Secretariat, he took a deep breath and had a three-word answer – “Awesome, awesome, awesome.” The exact date of next year’s Secretariat Festival has yet to be determined, but it should take place around the third week in September. It is only a short, scenic ride from Lexington with a county-fair feel featuring a chance to meet some of racing’s greats. To purchase a copy of “Penny & Red: the Life of Secretariat’s Owner” and/or the Secretariat Calendar you can contact Secretariat.com or Frames on Main in Paris, Ky. John C. Engelhardt has been an equine photographer and turf writer for 30 years and served as the President of the Turf Publicists of America. He hosts a weekly radio show on winningponies.com. For reprints of his images or future assignments you may contact him at longshot51@earthlink.net
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All About Polo Ponies by Alex Webbe
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lthough the name “polo pony” has become a misnomer over the years, the original American polo mount was limited to 14.2 hands in height by rules and was developed from the tough cutting horses of the western cowboy. Now, selected from some of the top thoroughbreds in the country, the polo mount displays the very finest qualities of the thoroughbred. Most players agree that the polo “pony” represents 75%-80% of a player’s game. Not restricted by breeding, the mounts are usually at least three-quarters thoroughbred or better. The characteristics of the thoroughbred, which make it so ideal for the game, are that it has more stamina, goes farther, faster, and has a better disposition for polo. Because the game is very hard on the “ponies”, they may gallop as much as three miles in each chukker, and the sudden stopping and turning imposes considerable strain-the polo player needs a string of mounts. No player plays two successive chukkers, and each player rides at least three ponies in the course of a six-chukker match (in high-goal polo the players arrive at the field with no less than six horses apiece, and usually more, and change to a fresh mount after each chukker of play). No longer limited as to size, today’s average pony is from 15 hands (a hand is four inches, and the horse is measured from the withers) to as much as 16 hands, and will weigh between a thousand and eleven hundred pounds. The average age of the ponies is about nine years, but their playing life may last into their teens, depending on the level of polo that is played and the health of the horse.
Carefully trained for at least one year before playing polo, the ponies develop keenness and skill and show great cleverness in anticipating the run of the ball and in placing themselves at the best distance from it for the rider to make his stroke. The raw product recruited from western ranches, or the vast estancias of Argentina, are usually four to five years old and well broken. Compared to other animals, the polo pony is perhaps one of the finest trained animals in the world. The stamina of a polo pony can’t be compared. They carry up to 200 pounds-and sometimes more-they have to be pliable to their rider’s direction, stopping, turning when they are fully extended and have to have the endurance to stay at top speed for seven minutes, the length of a chukker. The care and feeding of these fine mounts is important. They must have the finest feed available, and they must be bedded down at night in a way that would be quite comfortable, even by human standards. The average polo pony works an average of five to ten miles every day, according to the number of games it has played. In high-goal polo most players carry at least 10 horses, whereas in lower goal competition, because the slower speed of play, not as many mounts are needed. With players placing such a premium on their horses, it is easy for the average spectator to understand why these highly trained mounts are so difficult to find. Without the polo pony, polo would be just another stick and ball game.
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Behind the Lens
Behind the Lens: The Photography Boutique Shannon Clark & Stephanie Bargo
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fairy tale friendship blossomed into a dynamic business opportunity for the ladies behind the lens at The Photography Boutique. Ten years ago, Shannon Clark and Stephanie Bargo didn’t set out to enterprise together, but an entrepreneurial spirit combined with a passion for photographing their little ones pursued them nonetheless. Shannon explains, “Even though we have known each other for many years, it wasn’t until much later that we realized we each had a passion for photography. When we became moms, photography was the perfect way to capture all the special moments in our children’s lives.” Stephanie continues, “As a result, we were both taking online courses and reading books to learn more about our hobby. It wasn’t long before our passion turned into so much more.” Initially introduced through their husbands, Todd Clark and Joey Bargo, Stephanie and Shannon once led very different lives before opening The Photography Boutique in Lexington. by Lauren Henry Photos courtesy of The Photography Boutique
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Behind the Lens
Stephanie is originally from West Liberty, KY and worked as a pharmacist before deciding to take time off to stay at home with her sons, where her passion for photography grew. During a black and white photography class in college, Stephanie fell in love with the art. She says, “I’ve always had an interest in photography, but it wasn’t until I bought my first DSLR and began to capture those memories of my sons that I knew I was hooked!” Stephanie continues to be a full-time mommy and involved in the pharmacist community; however, she is deeply thankful for the opportunity to share her love for photography with others. Before diving deeper into photography, Shannon, who is originally from Paducah, spent several years working in the pharmaceutical industry after graduating from the University of Kentucky Gatton College of Business. During three-years living in Rhode Island, Shannon was inspired to buy her first camera and learn more about the craft. She says, “My goal is to provide a client-based, customized approach in generating photos in a fun and comfortable atmosphere.” Exploring their business website it became clear that not only has this goal been met, but The Photography Boutique also strives to capture the heart and soul of their clients. The viewer is greeted by an enchanted song setting the mood for the whimsical images that follow. Here, the
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expansive portfolio displays the Boutique’s work centering on a variety of photography including: newborn sessions, engagement, expectant couples, family portraits, high school portraits and special events. It is evident that there is something special about this business and Stephanie provides insight by saying, “We always love to talk with our clients and learn more about them. Prior to each session we like to know the clothing choices so we can plan our props accordingly. We even make suggestions when requested. Additionally, several clothing boutiques work with us to help each family find the perfect look.” Shannon adds, “We love every moment we spend with the children we photograph. They are so fun and unpredictable. We are very patient in every setting and try to make parents feel the same.” As moms, this duo completely understands that the best pictures occur when everyone is comfortable and happy and they strive to ensure a relaxing environment on the day of the shoot. Today, the Clarks and Bargos love spending time together cheering for the Big Blue! The ladies agree, “We love UK sports, Keeneland and everything that makes Lexington so special. That is one of the reasons we all decided to live here after college.” Stephanie and Joey have two little boys Bennet and Jack, while Shannon and Todd
Behind the Lens
have one little boy, Hudson with a girl on the way. Shannon shares, “Our boys are best friends and have so much fun together!” While Stephanie and Shannon put their children and families first, The Photography Boutique continues to thrive. The Photography Boutique shot the Back to School fashion segment for the TOPS Family Issue that published in August and they reflect on the experience fondly. “We were able to rent an old school bus that the kids loved and we had a really great day with all of them! It only took about two bags of Smarties to get them to smile.” They also shot the cover for the Family Issue as well as the Fall In The Bluegrass fashion shoot and cover. They divulge, “The models we worked with were so talented and certainly made our job easy.” What is the best advice they have received? “Do what you love! That is why we have decided to primarily focus on family photography,” they exclaim. “Our kids remind us daily to always have fun and it is sometimes the simplest lessons in life that make the biggest difference.” TOPS: Please give us a brief overview of your career thus far. THE PHOTOGRAPHY BOUTIQUE: Our first big gig was the Blossom spring fashion shoot. It was such a great experience and integral to launching our business. The fashion shoot took place on Stephanie’s farm where we had over ten different scenes set for the photo shoot. We had everything from chandeliers hanging from trees to a DIY white ruffle tent in the woods. It was a really fun day with a great group of kiddos and their mommies! Now, here we are! TOPS: Upcoming projects? THE PHOTOGRAPHY BOUTIQUE: We both love autumn and look forward to photographing our awesome clients and their families this fall season. Fall is our favorite time of the year and the colors found in nature are amazing! We love to photograph children and families on a unique piece of furniture outside to really capture the feeling of fall. There is nothing better than to let kids play in the leaves to see their personalities shine through in each picture. TOPS: What inspires you? THE PHOTOGRAPHY BOUTIQUE: We both love natural light photography. We also love fun props! We are adventurous and it isn’t unusual to see us tromping through the woods or in an overgrown field to get the perfect shot that captures the essence of a family or the personality of a child to tell a story. TOPS: What is the best gift you have been given? THE PHOTOGRAPHY BOUTIQUE: Shannon’s motherin-law loves to shop for antiques and has given her many great pieces that we use for our pictures. We have used many antiques props including a carriage, desk, sled, tricycle, wagon and many unique chairs. Antiques bring so much character to any picture.
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Behind the Lens
TOPS: Best keepsake? THE PHOTOGRAPHY BOUTIQUE: Our favorite keepsakes from any trip are the candid pictures of our families. We typically try to get the perfect family beach shot, however, the kids playing in the sand is usually what tells the story best. TOPS: What is the direction of your photography this year? THE PHOTOGRAPHY BOUTIQUE: We have spent the last year exploring photography, looking for what types of photography inspire us and what fits our unique style best. We have decided to go in the direction of family photography and are thrilled about it. We also love photographing seniors and fashion and plan to continue these pursuits as well. TOPS: Do you have any hidden talents? THE PHOTOGRAPHY BOUTIQUE: We both realized after having boys that we have many hidden talents when it comes to multi-tasking. We can be a super-hero one minute and then quickly go back to being a super-mom. We never knew we could do so many things at once. Life is fun! For more information on The Photography Boutique, please visit their website at thephotographyboutique.net and Facebook page at facebook.com/pages/ The-Photography-Boutique-Stephanie-Bargo-and-Shannon-Clark/.
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New Businesses
One Hundred Chevy Chase One Hundred Chevy Chase features stunning apartment homes located on Lakeshore Drive, making it convenient to New Circle Road, Downtown and the University of Kentucky. One Hundred Chevy Chase recently came under new management in October and completed a multi-million dollar renovation. Beautifully appointed apartment homes with fantastic amenities will make it feel like home. Unique floor plans with one bedroom to three bedroom layouts suit a variety of needs. The on-site management staff has high service standards and they strive to ensure each residents needs are met and their expectations are exceeded! The One Hundred Chevy Chase Community features gardenstyle apartment homes and luxury amenities, including a sparkling saltwater pool with cabana lounge, fire pit and outdoor flat screen TV. They also offer a 24-hour fitness center and a picnic patio deck that overlooks the pool. Ample parking, high-speed internet access and a 24-hour emergency maintenance team ensure that One Hundred Chevy Chase is convenient and comfortable. With flexible lease terms, online rent pay, Resident Referral and Preferred Employer programs, One Hundred Chevy Chase is a wonderful housing option in one of Lexington’s most picturesque neighborhoods.
855.605.0330 | 100 Lakeshore Dr | onehundredchevychase.com
Blossom Stylish Central Kentucky mamas-to-be and babies already know and love the unique and fashionable clothing and accessories at Blossom. But owner Rebecca Kent is happy to introduce new fall and holiday clothing lines for all women at her new location on the corner of Clay Ave. and Main Street! With a 2,250 sq ft space that’s larger than the original location on Euclid, Rebecca is excited to introduce several new product lines for women, children and expecting mothers, including Blossom Originals Gownies and Sleepwear, Paige Premium Denim, Yosi Samra Mommy & Me shoes, Mustard Pie and Hatley Mommy & Me knitwear. She also offers products from Paige Maternity Denim, Citizens of Humanity, Livie & Luca, Storksak and more. Blossom features a range of sizes, selected to flow and feel comfortable while still being fashionable for all occasions. Their maternity clothes come in XS-XL and they carry children’s clothing up to size 10. Blossom is a great place to find gifts for mamas and kids. They carry tween accessories and gifts, as well as official UK branded apparel and gifts. Located on the corner of Clay Avenue and Main Street, Blossom is the perfect addition to a street full of locally-owned boutiques. Open in early November, Blossom is Lexington’s source for stylish maternity wear and clothing for women and children, as well as great gifts and adorable accessories.
859.389.6700 | 700 E Main St | blossomclothinglex.com
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New Businesses
embry’s While the exceptional selection and attention to customer satisfaction has not changed in over one hundred years at Embry’s, one detail has changed; Embry’s is pleased to welcome new owners Cliff and Yvonne Katsamakis! Since 1904, Embry’s has been offering quality merchandise alongside exceptional customer service. This year, the Embry family sold its interest to their fur buyer of 29 years, who will with his wife continue the family-owned tradition of Embry’s. Embry’s is known for offering boutique furs from around the world. Embry’s also offers fur cleaning, storage, restyling, resizing and repair, meticulously done by their artisans in their own fur room. They also offer leather repair. Embry’s also offers collections from a range of designers, including St. John, Dominic Bellissimo, Michael Kors, Zuki, Christopher Whyte, Badgley Mischka, Carmen Marc Valvo, David Meister and Theia. The direction of their fashion is a blend of New York and Lexington, perfect for the stylish, jet-setting woman. Embry’s caters to a wide range of customers and tastes, from dressy to casual. Whether to complete a wardrobe or to find a gift, Embry’s wants every customer to leave fulfilled, satisfied and impressed.
859.269.3390 • 3361 Tates Creek Rd • Lansdowne Shopping Centre • embrys.com
Heritage Home Furnishings Custom, handcrafted furniture is what sets Heritage Home Funishings apart. Each piece is made with care with most of it produced in Kentucky and Ohio. After one year in business, Heritage Home Furnishings is making a name for itself in Central Kentucky as the source for quality handcrafted North American hardwood furnishings. Located 4 miles off the Bluegrass Parkway, Heritage Home Furnishings is just a short drive from the heart of Lexington. Owners Anna and Alfred Miller want everyone to make a quick trip to see the wonderfully crafted pieces they can create! For anyone redecorating their home or office, Heritage Home Furnishings can help build the perfect piece to complete the space. They offer a variety of options for customization, including many finishes and hardware selections. Many pieces feature dovetailed drawer construction for added durability. Each piece comes with a lifetime guarantee. If somethng goes wrong, Heritage Home Furnishings will happily fix it! Customers can rest easy knowing that the careful work put into each piece will stand the test of time. Open Monday through Saturday, Heritage Home Furnishings offers its customers a unique opportunity to own a handcrafted, custom piece of furniture that’s designed to last a lifetime.
859.375.9219 | 1347 Polin Rd. | Williamsburg, KY
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New Businesses
The Mall at Lexington Green The Mall at Lexington Green has seen a complete renovation over the past few years becoming even more of an oasis than it was before. On one of the first days of fall, Mr. Scott Davidson, Vice President of Langley Properties, and Mrs. Jennifer James, Property Manager of The Mall at Lexington Green, were gracious enough to indulge details about this revitalization process. Tucked in a cozy booth at Bronte Bistro in Lexington Green’s Joseph Beth, Mr. Davidson and Mrs. James forecasted what is to come in the next few months for the property and dished on new tenants Lexington shoppers will love. Over a delicious glass of raspberry iced tea, Davidson shares, “We’re excited about what we’ve done out here and the ability to take an existing property and change the tenants and create the co-tenancy that we have has made The Mall at Lexington Green a premiere fashion destination.” Mr. Davidson has served as the Vice President, Operations and Leasing, since March 2012 and has seen an abundance of growth during this time. What launched this resurgence? “This all started when we were able to sign Anthropologie,” answers Mr. Davidson. Mrs. James, who has been with Langley Properties for 26 years adds, “They were our door opener,” and truly, Lexington Green has continued to thrive ever since. Other retailers followed suit after the emergence of Anthropologie including White House Black Market, Chico’s, Ann Taylor LOFT and Hot Mama making the mall uniquely situated as an upscale retailer. Ideally located at the intersection of New Circle and Nicholasville Roads, it is nestled next to Target and Fayette Mall for the convenience of customers. Here, shoppers are at ease in the relaxed, soothing atmosphere while diners can enjoy first-rate cuisine at both Bronte Bistro and the newly introduced Palmer’s Fresh Grill. Looking out over the tranquil water, the sense of community formed by all the tenants at Lexington Green beckons customers to come in and stay awhile. And to be honest, the welcoming environment makes it easy to do just that. Though changes here have seemed almost overnight to the public,
for those involved, the process has been anything but instant. Mr. Davidson shares, “It has been a lot of work and I’ve got to give a lot of credit to Jennifer who has been responsible for the fit up of the stores, the demolition and the creation that goes unnoticed and she has made a lot of progress.” For example, in order to attain a tenant such as Anthropologie, Davidson informs us, “It begins with presenting them with demographics, what space you have available and then selling them on a location.” In fact, it can take six to twelve months before any real action is noticeable until it reaches the point of a lease agreement. Both Davidson and James concur that the name of the game is patience when it comes to a transformation like this. James says, “The easy part is when you get to announce the new tenants, the next step being the fit up of the store.” Just as Lexington Green has long been a staple for shopping in central Kentucky, Langley Properties as a whole is proud to offer customers tenants that are new to Lexington, continuing the resurgence of interest, bringing new customers in and old customers back. Speaking of which, Davidson and James are excited to announce that Charming Charlie, a boutique fashion accessories retailer hailing from Houston will join the ranks of their outstanding tenants as well as Lululemon Athletica which is a yoga-inspired clothing company by no later than December 2013. Moreover, Francesca’s will be the next fashion retailer to grace shoppers with their presence in early 2014 as well as a few others to be announced in the near future. Further, with the Holiday season upon us, The Mall at Lexington Green invites all to join them November 9th for their Holiday Open House to include festivities such as the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony and appearance by Santa to the delight of children and the young of heart across the Bluegrass. This also marks the Community Appreciation Day at Joseph Beth. Be sure to stop in and stay tuned for all the exciting progress happening at Central Kentucky’s shopping oasis, The Mall at Lexington Green.
859.245.1515 | 161 Lexington Green Cir | lexgreenmall.com
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Red River Gorge Zipline Looking for a quick getaway from the hustle and bustle of the Lexington cityscape? Visit the great outdoors of the Red River Gorge! Only an hour drive from Lexington, the spot is perfect for a quick night’s stay or a weekend. The Red River Gorge Zipline Tour is one of the finest ways to spend a day at the scenic site. With this tour, visitors will experience a 5 line course including a 3 line Canopy Tour. The last two lines are the site’s tallest and longest. Guests will experience heights of nearly 350 feet, travel along a cable at a distance of nearly 2000 feet, and reach speeds up to 55 miles per hour. The only limitation here is the weight limit (between 70 and 250 pounds.) While at the Gorge, guests can stay in the beautiful Cliffview Resort. Each room at this 16 room lodge features 2 queen beds, a flat screen TV, and private bath. The majority of the rooms also have sliding glass doors that provide breath-taking views of the Cowan Fork Gorge and exit to the resort’s wrap-around porch. Whether for a great way to spend time with the family or to cross off a bucket list item, Red River Gorge Zipline is the place to be! Give the gift of heart-healthy fun this year! Gift cards are available for Red River Gorge Zipline and Cliffview Resort!
888.899.8329 • Campton, KY • www.redrivergorgezipline.com • www.cliffviewresort.com
Sanders Brown Center on Aging At the University of Kentucky Sanders-Brown Center on Aging (SBCoA), scientists work together to improve the health of the elderly in Kentucky and beyond through research dedicated to understanding the aging process and age-related brain diseases, and through education and clinical programs that promote healthy brain aging. Over the past three decades, SBCoA has emerged as one of the nation’s leading centers on aging. SBCoA was one of the first 10 NIH-funded Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers in the United States. SBCoA focuses on basic and applied research in Alzheimer’s disease and related neurodegenerative disorders. They feature opportunities for individuals with and without memory problems to contribute to their ongoing research efforts by volunteering for clinical research studies. There are also opportunities for individuals to support their research through donations, which accelerate their efforts toward finding a cure for Alzheimer’s. The center also provides outreach for those afflicted by Alzheimer’s disease, as well as clinical programs involving Alzheimer’s and other related neurodegenerative disorders. They offer free memory screens and a monthly Memory Café for patients and caregivers.
859.323.6040 | 800 S Limestone | centeronaging.uky.edu
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Lava Security Solutions Handheld security and automation that can be controlled from anywhere? It may sound like a dream, but the team at Lava Security Solutions is making it a convenient reality for Central Kentucky homeowners and businesses. Lava Security provides customized design and installation of security and automation. Their multi-faceted residential and commercial security and automation services allow authorized smart phones and computers to control and monitor the system from anywhere. Lava Security can install cameras to allow owners to monitor who’s at the door, who’s in the home and what’s going on. From keeping an eye on children while they’re being watched by a sitter to monitoring home improvement projects from afar, this service provides customers total peace of mind. They can also install Touchscreen Door Locks, which eliminate the need for keys; each person has a unique code so there’s never a question of who has come and gone. This innovative service is owned and operated by local business and community leaders Shelia Bayes, Cooper Stofer, Christy Trout and Mark Ferrito. For home or business owners who want to revolutionize their security or automation, Lava Security is the premier choice in Central Kentucky.
859.721.0500 | 425 Curry Ave | lava-security.com
Holly Day Market Shop for a Cause this holiday season! November 15-17, The Holly Day Market, presented by the Junior League of Lexington, returns to the Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park! This great holiday shopping opportunity benefits non-profit agencies across Kentucky and raises funds to further the Junior League’s mission of promoting the quality of life in The Bluegrass. With over 50 local, regional, and national merchants, shoppers will surely find the perfect gift for everyone on their lists! The Holly Day Market includes activities and vendors for the whole family. It will be the first place in Lexington to see Santa Claus! This year, a special Holly Day Market VIP event will be held on Friday, November 15, 6pm-9pm. The VIP event includes food, drinks, silent auctions and more. Proceeds go to training the next generation’s volunteers and community sponsored programs. Tickets for the VIP event are $25. November 15th (12pm-9pm), November 16th (10am-6pm) and November 17th (12pm-6pm). General admission for one day is $10 (kids 12 and under are free, students with valid college ID get in for $8 on Friday, Nov 15). Portions of ticket sales and funds go to local and non-profit charities.
The Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park | hollydaymarket.com
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Bloomfield The word enchanted falls far short of capturing the exceptional beauty that is Bloomfield Manor. Nestled amidst the rolling bluegrass hills a short drive from downtown Lexington, the sprawling 24,252 square feet estate is a gem presenting those who live there the rare opportunity of owning a true landmark Kentucky estate. Pulling through the entryway gates, a feeling of pure awe overtakes all privileged enough to experience the majesty of Bloomfield Manor. The owner and one of the nation’s premier entrepreneurs, Alan Bloomfield, remembers fondly, “When my wife entered the property after
by Lauren Henry Photography by Shaun Ring
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Manor it was completed for the first time, she remarked, ‘It didn’t look this big on paper!’” For Bloomfield’s first wife, it was a dream to live in an English Manor and Bloomfield lovingly and painstakingly transformed the idea into an exquisite reality. Bloomfield adds, “She had a love for England and English manors and this home was created out of that.” Built in the year 2000 by Buford Burchfield of Burchfield & Thomas, Inc., this home is the finest and largest in Lexington, boasting five bedrooms, six full and two half bathrooms, an in-home gym and a children’s playroom on the third floor.
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W
alking into the two-story entryway visitors are greeted by a dazzling black and white marble floor and a walk-in fireplace feature. A sparkling chandelier hangs in the center of the room drawing the eyes upward to admire the wood paneled walls, coffered ceilings and dual staircases leading to the second and third floors. An elevator provides easy access to the upper levels and is tucked away near the staircase on the right providing an extra measure of convenience for guests.
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“The Grand Room was my wife’s answer to the Sistine Chapel,”
Bloomfield explains and it features 24 feet tall ceilings, exquisite natural lighting and treasures from both around the globe and closer to the home. An emperor’s robe in an ornate gold frame is displayed above one of the entry doors into the room while the beauty of a 180-year-old piano Bloomfield restored beckons admiration from visitors. The piano was collected at an estate auction (the Bloomfield’s love scavenging for antiques) in Shelbyville that they attended on a whim. With a bid just one dollar over the asking price, the piano found a new home at Bloomfield Manor and completes the feeling of a formal parlor found out of an Austen novel. The portraits of Bloomfield’s grandchildren adorn the walls in shining gold frames and match the 24 karat gold, tortoise shell and brass clock displayed on the mantle constructed by Marie Antoinette’s clockmaker.
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The rich colors of the den room comfort the soul and feature a bar, library, and a drop down projector and screen perfect for entertaining on game day. Deep wood paneling throughout the room creates the den people dream of and the modern addition of the projector updates the classic image of a den and bar room beautifully. The woodwork in the house is by Stanford Wood while Randy Walker provided electrical elements.
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The kitchen is commercial grade with a drool-worthy butler’s pantry fully equipped for cooks and catering teams to prepare delicious dishes talked about for years to come. Stainless steel appliances including a Viking six burner gas range with pasta faucet, refrigerators, microwaves and ovens are evenly distributed throughout this bright and inviting space while a large island provides ample room for food prep and enjoyment. Custom creamcolored cabinets and black and white granite countertops give this kitchen a flourish of the French countryside and confirm this space as the perfect spot to prepare cuisine for entertaining guests or serving large parties.
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Two dining rooms adjacent to the kitchen invite guests to sit, dine and enjoy their time at Bloomfield Manor. Mr. Bloomfield fondly recounts a favorite memory when “we had 250 people here on New Year’s Eve of 2000 as sort of a coming out party for the house.” Since this epic first introduction to entertaining, the manor has hosted a various assortment of events including fundraisers for charities, business functions, weddings and parties, each imprinting a special fondness on Mr. Bloomfield. The main dining room “was probably why we built the house,” laughs Bloomfield because the table situated here now can seat eight to 26 people when fully extended. Emerald green fabric lines the walls in the grand dining hall creating a feeling of lushness and relaxation for diners and admirers alike. Two magnificent chandeliers rest above either side of the table while candelabras grace the top of the table casting a romantic light on the room.
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When you enter the expansive master suite on the first floor, immediately a tranquil feeling washes over you. Outfitted with lounge chairs, armchairs and a king size four-poster bed, it’s difficult not to imagine drifting off to dreamland in this extremely welcoming space. Bloomfield instructed me to cast my sight to the focal piece of the room: an ornate carving on the ceiling and to my surprise, another drop down projector began to emerge while it’s counterpart (the screen) simultaneously began to descend from the ceiling in front of the fireplace. Convenient and elegant, this feature is a must-have in homes of today.
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Mrs. Bloomfield desired a bright sunny room to call her own. Formerly a screened in patio area, the sunroom now serves as a gorgeous place to take in a morning devotional or to enjoy an afternoon spent sewing.
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Moving into the his and hers master bath, marble flooring sparkles as the light from the wall sconces and chandelier illuminate the many features of the space. Dual sinks flank a lady’s powder station opposite a claw foot tub. The bath also houses a walk in steam shower with a massage feature. His and hers closets are located just past a coffee station.
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The property sits secluded on 11 pristine acres featuring exquisite formal gardens which won the coveted Merit Award ‘Landscape Design Achievement,’ a croquet garden, two pool houses with finished kitchens frame the gorgeous pool equipped with spirited fountains.
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The architecture on the property was contributed by Hugh Bennett of Bennett Associates Architects in addition to Michael Knoll. The interior design work is by Mrs. Bloomfield and Lannie Cornett and to which Bloomfield explains, “Most everything in the house was selected by my wife, except the statues.” Gorgeous bronze statues from the collection of artist Victor Salmones speckle both the interior and exterior and it is easy to get lost gazing at the exuberantly posed, beautifully crafted works of art on the lawn and throughout the manor. One of Bloomfield’s favorite is that of three forearms from three ladies sitting atop the bar in the den as it welcomes friends and family to come in and linger awhile. Designed specifically after 17th century country homes, this property serves as a personal castle for the owner and his family and is truly fit for royalty.
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Etiquette & Entertaining
LET’S HAVE TEA by Sue Ann Truitt Etiquette & Entertaining Consultant
America’s favorite pastime is not football as once thought but the love of tea! This affection stems from the British and Dutch heritage. When William Penn discovered the Quaker Colony in Delaware in 1682, he introduced the drinking of tea. As Colonists followed, tea rituals were brought with them from England and other countries. The love of tea was so great that just before the Revolution, Americans drank more tea than the British. However, acquiring this beloved tea became a problem. All the tea coming to America came from England. King George II heavily taxed this coveted commodity. The Colonial women revolted and refused to drink King George’s heavily taxed tea. The ritual of drinking tea was replaced with an enjoyment of drinking teas made from herbs and spices. On a December night in 1773, British cargo ships sailed into the Boston Harbor. They were boarded by a group of enraged Colonists dressed as Indians. In only three hours, they emptied more than 300 tea chests of precious Chinese tea into the sea water. This becoming known as The Boston Tea Party. After the Revolutionary War, America established a direct route to China to import tea. As this increased the availability of tea in America, the drinking of tea rapidly grew into more social opportunities. Tea Rooms were established where men and women could enjoy a cup of tea. Then, arrived the building of the large, opulent hotels in America, Canada, England and France. Herein, the stylish Afternoon Tea was born with all the pomp and circumstance that could be imagined. Simple recipes used in home cooking advanced into adorned, dainty sandwiches and rich, fancy desserts to be served with the still-special cup of tea. China tea sets of the highest quality became a must-have in even the most modest china cabinet. Illustrated on this page are tea sets from Meissen in Germany and the Wedgewood collection in England. Lord Wedgewood will be in Lexington on November 7 and 8 to sign his china pieces. (Call 859-225-7474 for details.)
Meissen porcelain photographed at Greentree Tea Room by Walt Roycraft
The popularity of Afternoon tea leads the imagination to a quiet, relaxed, serene setting—quite a departure from drive-thru restaurants, cell phones, and fast foods. The stage is set, which is an important aspect of enjoying tea. So, now we have the opulent location, the calm, relaxed environment, and the perfect china tea set. The important question is—How do you make a proper cup of tea? Fill a kettle with cold water and bring to a boil. Take your tea pot to the kettle and pour a small amount of water into the pot. Replace the lid. This is called “warming the pot.” Empty the water out; an important step as you can’t make a good cup of tea in a cold pot. Return the kettle to the stovetop and bring to a boil again. Place a tea bag or loose tea leaves in the warmed pot. One tea bag or one spoonful of loose tea per cup of water. Take the pot to the kettle in order to keep the water boiling hot. Fill the pot with boiling water, quickly replace the top and cover the pot with a cozy. Let the tea pot stand for a few minutes. Place milk in the tea cup, if desired, followed by the tea. Sugar to taste and enjoy! Drink to Good Health! Wedgewood china photographed at Greentree Tea Room by Wes Wilcox
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Gardening
SIDELINED by Michelle Rauch, Gardening Enthusiast
The crunch of fallen leaves, crisp autumn air, and a palette of picture perfect colors. Fall is here. It’s a time of year that beckons gardeners to get in the yard and work. If only. This gardener is sidelined for fall. A torn Achilles Tendon is to blame. I wish I had a story to tell about the torn tendon. It would be more poetic to be able to say I was on my hands and knees all weekend pulling up the remnants of my vegetable plants and cleaning the planting beds when the tendon made that loud snap. Instead, all I can say is I was just walking and the tendon tore just in time for one of the most beautiful times of the year in Kentucky. So I sit sidelined on my sofa in a cast yearning to be outside working in the yard. The temperatures have been heavenly. It’s the perfect weather to be out in the yard relishing in the Zen-like ritual of tending to the yard this time of year. Instead, I have had a front row seat to see the final production of my tomato plants. Ripe tomatoes just dangling on the vine as if to say “Come and get me. I am tasty.” I feel like a rabbit who has a carrot dangling in front of her. I won’t be sinking my teeth into those remaining tomatoes on the vine. It’s adding insult to injury. This was, after all, a less than bumper backyard crop this year. Other than the wildlife critters who had first picks of my vegetables, I’m not quite sure what happened this summer. I had already resigned myself that it was a wash. But I was looking forward to having a plentiful fall garden. The anticipation of growing all those cool season crops like lettuce, spinach, and radishes had me excited to make up for the summer. I was also ready to expand my gardening horizons and try to grow new vegetables I have not planted yet like broccoli, brussel sprouts and cabbage. That was obviously not meant to be this year and will have to wait for 2014. Alas, I must live vicariously through other gardeners. So this year, do as I say not as I do. Your honey-do list should include planting bulbs to add a splash of color in the spring. If you don’t plant them store them in a cool, dry place. It’s also a good time to divide your perennial plants if they are looking overgrown. Dividing them will give them a boost next spring that should have them looking extra vibrant and healthy. Friends and neighbors will gladly accept the extras you’ve dug up. As for all those fallen leaves, if you’re not up to raking and bagging, run the mower over them. After they are shredded, simply rake them into your flower beds. It’s great as mulch to protect tender plants as we head in for the long winter. Plus all the natural goodies in leaves make for a superfood for your soil. Meanwhile, I sit and recover, a squashed gardener. I must heal soon before I come up with more bad puns!
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BRA DAY LEX Photos by Alex Orlov Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day, or BRA Day, is an initiative designed to promote education, awareness and access regarding post-mastectomy breast reconstruction. This event held on October 17 honored breast cancer fighters and survivors at a spectacular night out with friends and loved ones. Genea Arrasmith
Holly Davis
www.bradaylex.org
Kim & Rob Rosenstein
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Joe Mitchell
Suhair Habash, Neveen Lawnd, Marsail Mashni, Stephanie Qdais and Lana Habash
Alycia Ford
Sandy Romenesko
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Carrie Clifford-Bennett, Brandice & Scott Harrison and Becky McDonald
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BIG IN THE BLUEGRASS
Photos by Ron Morrow
It was a BIG evening of food and music to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bluegrass. The evening featured a “Kentucky Proud” menu prepared by DaRae & Friends, music by Lexington native Tee Dee Young Band, a silent/live auction, and local wine and bourbon tasting. John & Kim Helmuth
Allison Scrivner, Steven Scrivner and Reggie Smith
George Zhang and Qi Yin
Mary Jo Perino and Jon Ford
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www.bbbs-bluegrass.org
Gina Smith and Jeff Murphy
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Mac Zachem, Kelly & John Shasky
Randy & Kim Oppenheimer and David Fraley
Dr. Billy Forbes and Alan Stein
Hartley Feld, Phil Holoubek and Marnie Holoubek
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MCDAZZLE Photos by Alex Orlov McDazzle is the annual gala benefiting Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kentuckiana. This seated dinner featured silent and live auctions as guests danced the night away. This event has raised almost two million dollars over the last eleven years and has directly impacted the families that rely on the House day after day. Karah Brown and Mallory Shoffner
Elizabeth & Tyler Nahra
www.rmhclexington.com
Murray McCandless
Anne & Brant Welch
Claudia Healy, Ronald McDonald and Kelly Healy
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Ronald McDonald and Sarah Lister
Sisters of Alpha Delta Pi- Beta Psi
Julie Dolan, Ronald McDonald and Lydia Stokes
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WINE-O-NITE! Photos by Victor Orlov Wine-O-Nite is a competitive wine tasting event for a cause. All proceeds from this fun night will go directly to Step By Step Inc. here in Lexington. The winning teams take home lots of yummy wine. 1st place takes home 5 cases, 2nd place takes home 2 cases, 3rd place takes home 1 case. Even the least favorite wine gets a trophy! Christy Hiler and Amy Kessinger
Heather Reilly, Beth Bell and Tommy Kessinger
www.sbslex.org/winonite
Kelley Nalli and Ashlee Harris
Zach Madden, Lacy Reinhold, Tripp & Christie Eckerline
The Blurred Vines wine team
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Sarah & Robo Sutherland
Jeff Anderson, Marty, Andrew and Mac Chiles
Randy & Jennifer Bell and Bryan Moore
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LEXINGTON PHILHARMONIC GUILD Photos by Alex Orlov
Allison Kaiser and Sharon Metz
The LexPhil Guild is off to a successful start beginning with the Annual Membership Tea at the home of Marla and Dudley Webb. The Philharmonic Guild is primarily dedicated to raising funds to support the orchestra and its programs. Volunteering in the Guild provides a wonderful opportunity to forge lifelong friendships in addition to contributing to the community. Sharon Lee Metz, sharon4804@twc.com
Karen Nielsen, Marla Webb and Betty Hoskins
Hazel Bush and Ruth Olive
Janette Heitz, Randy Rogers, Carol McLeod and Paula Davis
Marlie McRoberts, Paula Davis and Suzanna Elliott
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Linda Gosnell and Pamela Martin
Kathy Plomin, Mary Diane Hanna, Teresa Isaac, Carolyn Rasnick and Betty Spain
Nancy Meade, Rusty Hale and Trisha Featherston
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LIGHT THE NIGHT Photos by Alex Orlov The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Light The Night Walk funds treatments that are saving the lives of patients today. LLS is making cures happen by providing patient support services, advocacy for lifesaving treatments and the most promising cancer research anywhere. Big L and LLS supporter
Mike, Beth, Charlie and Evelyn Dugan
www.lls.org
Ramsey Bova, Chris Bova and Jenny Owens
Team Abby
In Memory of Rockin’ Robbie team
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Bradley, Morgan, Mary-Alice and Nicholas Turner
Team Gwen’s Warriors
In Memory of Tom Weller team
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EVENING WITH THE STARS Photos by Alex Orlov Seton Catholic School’s 9th Annual Evening with the Stars event on Friday, October 4, 2013 was held at The Signature Club of Lansdowne. Guests enjoyed food and drink, live and silent auctions, and took a shot at winning the $5,000 reverse raffle. Jessica Mondelli
Tim & Holli Gravatte
Rick & Diane Avare
www.setonstars.com
Matt & Lee Coomer
Kathy & Joe Champa
Christi Johnson, Saramarie Anderson and Traci Steele
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Houston & Dolores Hall
Darla & Ted Warren
Don & Heather Kelley
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CIRCLE OF RED Photos by Ron Morrow Circle of Red members of the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women campaign enjoyed a night of education and fellowship at LV Harkness. The event featured a discussion of CPR by Lexington cardiologist, Dr. Mubashir Qazi. The Circle of Red is Chaired by Dr. Sylvia Cerel-Suhl. Dr. Sylvia Cerel-Suhl
Dona Ray and Linda Ball
Kathy Plomin and Pat Gradek
Debbie Sutherland and Connie Brotherton
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www. americanheart.org
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Stephanie Sarrantonio and Cynthia Salamanca
Ellen Tunnell, Sandy Heymann and Rick Wolf
Dr. Qazi and Dr. Melissa Avery
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BIG BLUE MADNESS Photos by Dr. Michael Huang From Matthew Mitchell’s James Brown/Britney Spears impression to an amazing fan-driven light show, the 2013 edition of Big Blue Madness made for another memorable night in Rupp Arena. Wildcat fans are pumped up about the chances of another title being brought home to the nation’s most winning program! www.ukathletics.com
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WOW Wedding
Brittany & Chris
Denny May 11, 2013
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any couples worry about last minute details falling apart on them on their wedding day. For Brittany and Chris Denny, virtually everything that could go wrong did. The wedding fell during a critical part of Chris’s medical school training. The week of the wedding, Brittany’s mother had to undergo emergency open-heart surgery, making it impossible for her to attend her daughter’s wedding. The bride’s father was struggling with a broken arm and Stage IV cancer. When the tent arrived, it was dirty and falling apart—getting a new tent pushed the wedding set up into the wee hours of the morning on the day of the event, and to top it off, part of the flower order didn’t arrive. For many couples, having those kinds of odds stacked against them would simply be too much. But for Brittany and Chris, it resulted in a wedding that was not only beautiful, but a true testament to their power as a couple, as a team and as best friends. With the help of their family and friends, they pulled off a wedding that looked effortless and elegant. Brittany and Chris got to know each other over Christmas in 2006 at Ephraim McDowell Health in Danville, KY. He was hired over Christmas Break to help move her office. When Chris returned to school at Georgetown College, he kept in touch. She finally agreed to go on a date with Chris at his fraternity’s formal and they clicked. In May 2011, the pair returned to Northern Kentucky for a weekend getaway. During a riverside stroll after dinner, Chris dropped to one knee. As tears came to her eyes, a shocked Brittany answered…
Written by Amanda Harper Photography by Heather Ransdell
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“No, no, no.” Chris stayed on one knee while Brittany collected herself. “Yes, I mean! Oh my gosh! I don’t know what to say! Yes! Yes,” she exclaimed. During the wedding planning process, the couple toured several venues, but Castle Post was the one that fit their vision of a wedding fit for a princess. The couple purchased their entire wedding party’s attire as a thank you gift. The bride sent each bridesmaid a gift card and a fabric swatch, so each chose her own dress to match. For the ceremony, the bride wore a Martina silk organza fit-and-flare gown. She wore her hair half up with loose curls. Her antique freshwater pearl necklace and bracelet were borrowed from her best friend, mentor and bridesmaid, Libby Mayes, as well as the bride’s earrings, which Libby had worn at her own wedding. For the reception, Brittany changed into a Jovani ivory cocktail dress with beaded detail and an open back with a feather-adorned lace skirt that she paired with rhinestone-covered heels. Brittany’s childhood preacher and family friend flew in from Autauga, AL to officiate the ceremony. The couple stood beneath an archway made of twigs, baby’s breath and red and white roses. The Happy Couple Duo played stringed instruments before, during and after the ceremony, and then served as DJ and emcee of the reception. Guests enjoyed a buffet dinner catered by Castle Post. The elegant table settings were graced by “red neck wine glasses” made by the groom and were offered as favors. The grooms ‘cookies’ were decorated as an homage to Chris’ favorite pastimes, hunting & fishing, and Duck Dynasty’s Si Robertson. The wedding cake featured a crystal princess carriage on top. Brittany and Chris danced the night away, certain that together, they could face anything.
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DETAILS Wedding Venue, Reception, Catering: The Castle Post | Photography: Heather Ransdell Photography Entertainment: The Happy Couple | Bridal Gown: Donna Salyer’s Fabulous Bridal, 2nd dress: Miss Priss Groom/Groomsmen: Men’s Wearhouse | Video: Precious Moments Wedding Video Svcs. | Grooms Cookies: Great American Cookie Company
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Weddings
HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS… WEDDING! by Marsha Koller Wedding Consultant
Holidays are the perfect season of celebration, and having a wedding when the festive spirit is in the air and family and old friends are home for the holidays is really a perfect combination for a magical event. And in this case, cue the special effects... Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow. THE COLOR OF THE SEASON Your holiday wedding doesn’t have to be bright red, white and green for a holiday effect even though those colors individually are fabulous – especially when you move to cranberry instead of bright red, and a rich evergreen instead of kelly. My favorite color for holiday bridesmaids? Creamy white with an accent color ribbon belt. THE HANGING OF THE GREENS As a great money saver, you may be in luck with your decor, as many churches and event locations are already decked out in holiday greenery which can serve as a foundation for your wedding florals and save you a ton. Make sure you talk about this when booking your venue. Inexpensive holiday greenery to decorate with abounds, and great additions are Dusty Miller (for a snow dusted look), mistletoe, and a must is to use tons of magnolia leaves – free in your neighbors yard, with permission of course!
projectwedding.com
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THE HOLIDAY ORNAMENT BOUQUET Non-traditional ornament bouquets are completely beautiful, made with ornaments chosen to match your color scheme. For a more ethereal wedding look choose silver, cream and soft gold for a rich look, sprinkling in a soft accent color. Look for how-to’s online, as it is a total DIY money saving project. If you are using glass ornaments, you will need to glue the metal hangers onto the ornament as they will slip off and ruin the look, and be difficult to put together. If you wish, add holiday greenery, or a few fresh creamy flowers for the bride. HOLIDAY BOUTONNIERES AND MOTHERS’ CORSAGES It’s so easy to get your men and mothers into the holiday theme with festive floral boutonnieres and corsages. They are perfect in a simple combination of holiday greens, or by adding red berries. If you are doing the holiday ornament bouquet, tie in three small coordinating ornaments to these pieces – wow! LET IT SNOW … MISTLETOE! A perfect holiday send-off when you leave the church is to throw sprigs of mistletoe. It sets the tone for a ‘friendly’ reception for everyone and imagine the photo of your entire wedding guests kissing and hugging. A priceless holiday wedding memory.
Amanda Thomsen
magpiepaperworks.com
My Favorite Bling
A RAINBOW OF POSSIBILTIES
EXPLORING THE INCREDIBLE COLORS OF OUR FAVORITE GEM
by Shelia Bayes Diamond Diva
What if I told you diamonds weren’t always white, that these amazing gemstones occur naturally in a wide range of colors, representing every color of the rainbow as well as black, gray and brown? It’s true. These colors are called fancy, and while all are rare, some colors are harder
Blue diamonds vary from pale, baby-blue to the almost sapphire-like color of the Hope, and have been mined in India, Botswana, and Australia.
One of the most common fancy colors you’ll see is varying shades of yellow. Graded in degrees from light to intense, deep, and vivid, these are commonly referred to as Canary Diamonds, and can be found on the hands of celebrities such as Kelly Clarkson, Faith Hill, and Carrie Underwood.
Going up for auction this year is a diamond simply called The Orange, a fancy vivid orange weighing in at 14.82 carats. Expected to yield up to twenty million, The Orange is by far the largest vivid orange diamond found, as oranges tend to weigh four carats or less. The rarest color of fancy diamond is red, also found in Australia’s Argyle mine. Selling at over one million dollars per carat, these diamonds share coloration with ruby, often with modifiers of purple or brown.
to find than others.
Adorning the fingers of Blake Lively and Mariah Carey are fancy pink diamonds. Ranging from barely pink to almost magenta, these diamonds are only found in Australia’s Argyle mine, and are increasingly rare. The “Pink Star,” a 59.60 carat oval internally flawless, fancy vivid pink is expected to fetch more than sixty million dollars at auction later this year. Purple diamonds also hail from Australia, and you’ll more often see fancy pink-purple or brownish purple instead of a pure purple. Perhaps the most famous fancy colored diamond is the Hope Diamond; a 45.52 carat fancy dark grayish-blue diamond housed at the Smithsonian Natural History Museum. Set into a spectacular pendant accented with sixteen cushion and pear shaped diamonds suspended from a necklace set with forty-five additional diamonds, the Hope is valued at somewhere near two-hundred fifty million dollars.
Another color almost never seen is green, caused by natural radiation in the earth while the crystal was forming millions of years ago. The Dresden Green Diamond is an amazing specimen, 41.0 carats, internally flawless and housed next to the Hope Diamond at the Smithsonian Natural History Museum in Washington, DC.
The easiest (and least expensive) way to incorporate fancy diamonds into your wardrobe is with brown or black diamonds. Brown, or chocolate, diamonds are now used extensively in jewelry, often paired with rose gold for a very different and warm look. Black diamonds have a shimmer no other black stone can match, and give beautiful contrast to traditional white diamonds. A pair of black diamond studs can be as much of a staple as their white counterparts, and a pair of pavé hoops with alternating rows of black and white can give a little black dress an additional layer of sophistication. The most amazing thing about these diamonds aside from their spectacular colors is their sparkle, unequaled by any other gemstone and incredible to see.
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TOP Shots
Braving the Blue
Thanks Bucky for all the great memories
Congratulations Shelia Bayes on 20 Fabulous Years!
Thank You Charles Wilson WW II Vet at Heroes Day Keeneland
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Slam Jam!