Chevy Chaser Magazine – Best of Lex, April 2024

HIGHLIGHTING THE BEST LOCAL PEOPLE, PLACES, BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS, AS VOTED ON BY OUR READERS

PARTNERING SPONSORS

A letter from Smiley Pete Publishing

We couldn’t be more excited to share the results of our inaugural Smiley Pete’s Best of Lex campaign.

From a write-in only nomination period that started in December, to a three-week voting period in January where we received over 260,000 votes, our readers have nominated and voted on their favorite local businesses, organizations, activities and more, and we’ve lovingly compiled the results into this issue: our love letter to Lexington.

Smiley Pete Publishing has been fortunate enough to share your stories for 27 years, and we see this as an opportunity for us to share what we get to see every day. While bourbon, basketball and horses give us plenty to celebrate, those who live here know that Lexington is more than that: We are a community of artists, musicians, entrepreneurs, and community-minded folks who work tirelessly to create and evolve and recreate the fabric of Lexington.

We present these listings as a snapshot of what, where and who our readers have chosen to celebrate in this particular moment in time, interwoven with “odes to Lexington” written by various local folks who have gone above and beyond the call of duty when it comes to contributing to the identity and pulse of our city. We hope this is an issue that you will keep year round — something that you will share with visitors or use as a resource when planning your next outing.

Thank you to everyone who nominated and voted, and to the businesses that have supported this e ort by sponsoring and advertising in this monumental project.

And as always, thank you for reading. We look forward to doing it again next year!

Sincerely,

The sta of Smiley Pete

Thank you to our Best of Lex partners!

The injury law firm Hicks & Funfsinn, PLLC was established by Kentucky attorneys Josh Hicks and Greg Funfsinn in January 2018 in downtown Lexington. From day one, Josh and Greg sat in a shared office with a determination to build a client-centered law office with deep roots in Central Kentucky and a core conviction of giving back to the greater Lexington community.

Today, with six office locations throughout the Commonwealth, our team of seven injury attorneys and 15 staff members have decades of experience advocating for clients at trial and in courtrooms throughout Kentucky’s 120 counties. Hicks & Funfsinn focuses our practice on cases involving wrongful death, catastrophic auto crashes, medical malpractice, nursing home abuse and neglect, and worker’s compensation, with a laser focus on obtaining the very best results for our clients.

Thousands of cases in, with tens of millions of dollars recovered for our clients, Josh and Greg and our team work day in and day out to continue the initial mission of being a leading personal injury law firm in Kentucky. We also make sure to support local organizations such as The Nest, Big Brothers Big Sisters, YMCA, Lafayette and Bryan Station high school baseball, Bluegrass Little League, the Junior League of Lexington, MADD, WEKU, the Pride Festival, Lyric Theatre, LexArts and many others.

In 2024, Hicks & Funfsinn continues its pledge of working hand-in-hand with our injured clients, giving back to our community, and has become an award winning law firm for its tremendous legal advocacy. n

At BACK Construction, we understand the key to success is in having a smooth and pleasant process for all involved with our remodeling services. We lead with our ability to listen to and identify customers’ needs. After learning every detail of their vision, we start the process by creating a detailed design proposal unique to their project.

Our team of professionals allows for onestop shopping and provides all the quality products and services you need. BACK assists you with critical decisions and supports you throughout your product and service selections.

Once the project has begun, it is our craftsmanship and organization that has allowed us to “wow” customers for over 43 years. From start to finish, we take great pride in our ability to provide homeowners with a hassle-free experience. Any questions or concerns that come up during construction are carefully and effectively dealt with by our skilled working supervisors and project managers. BACK does not strive to meet expectations, we strive to exceed them, so that every customer leaves saying we build it BACK better! n We build it BACK better.

Our Elliot Services team has provided Kentucky with electrical excellence since 1946, and I am proud that our company has been recognized among Smiley Pete’s readers among the “Best of Lex.” Our reputation is built on our dedication to safety and the core values of Target Zero, Human Performance and Servant Leadership. These guiding principles have allowed us to become a trusted partner for Kentucky’s electrical and low voltage service needs. Additionally, as a 100% employee-owned company, it has instilled an uncommon sense of ownership in every member of our team, which continues to drive us to raise our standards even higher to provide safe, reliable and quality service to our customers, 24 hours a day.

KEITH SIMPSON Senior Vice President

Whether you need a contractor for a large construction project, are seeking an expert team to handle the installation of access control, generator, security cameras or a nurse call system, or are searching out a trusted firm for engineering services, Elliot Services’ talented team of professionals has a solution for you. Our team’s diverse array of skills and expertise allows us to provide our customers with the peace of mind of knowing that they will receive comprehensive services at the consistent level of excellence they have come to know from Elliot.

Have a project in mind? Visit our website at www.elliotservices.com to learn more about our company and services. We look forward to working with you soon! n

With 43 years of proven service around Central Kentucky, BACK Construc� on has a wealth of knowledge and experience with design build services. The team at BACK Construc�on always uses a team approach when dealing with sales, design, and produc�on, and has experienced in-house cra� smen and tradesmen who will stand by your side un� l the very end. We bui

Arts & Culture Best of SMILEY PETE'S

Lexington is blessed with an incredible array of citizens, organizations and businesses who create, facilitate and support the world class art, performance and other cultural o erings that enrich the lives of all who live in or visit our city.

From music, theater, literary and visual art, to comedy, festivals, galleries and dance, we are lucky to live in a place rich with art and culture.

On the following pages, we celebrate those in Lexington who have dedicated their lives to create a community brimming with culture that we all can enjoy. Our readers have voted on their favorite artists, galleries, festivals and other cultural contributions.

The “Abraham Lincoln” mural by artist Eduardo Kobra was voted “Best Mural” by our readers.

PHOTO FURNISHED

Arts & Culture

Best Art Gallery

1. LexArts Gallery at ArtsPlace

2. Lexington Art League - Loudoun House

3. Institute 193

Honorable mentions:

• Artists’ Attic Studio & Gallery

• Willis Art Gallery

• New Editions Gallery

Best Art Museum

1. University of Kentucky Art Museum

2. 21c Lexington Museum Hotel

3. Living Arts & Science Center

4. The Headley-Whitney Museum

Best City-Run Event

1. Thriller Parade

2. 4th of July Festival & Parade

3. Lexington Roots & Heritage Festival

Best Dance School

1. Arthur Murray Dance Studio

2. Lexington Ballet

3. BurLEX Burlesque Collective

Honorable mentions:

• Mecca Live Studio & Gallery

• Sora Aerial Arts

• Blackbird Dance Theatre

• The Salsa Center Dance Studio

Best Artist (Visual Arts)

1. Wylie Caudill

2. Arturo Sandoval

3. Kiptoo Taurus

Honorable mentions:

• Kayla Weber

• John Lackey

Hortus Gardens is a design-build and fine gardening firm, centered on excellence in horticulture, project implementation, and client care. By drawing on our founders’ collective 65+ years in the green industry , we seek to raise the standard, while crafting the finest gardens possible - all within the parameters of each project’s goals, because even the most elegant designs cannot exist nor endure without proper implementation and horticultural expertise.

Principal Joseph Hillenmeyer

Chief of Operations Sammy Shores

Arts & Culture

Best Band

1. The Local Honeys

2. Joslyn & the Sweet Compression

3. Vinyl Ritchie

Honorable mentions:

• No Rulez Band

• Dead Air Dennis & Bryan Himes

• Magnolia Boulevard

• Rags & Riches

Best Classical Music Organization

1. Lexington Singers

2. Lexington Chamber Orchestra

3. Big Band & Jazz Series

Best Arts Festival

1. Woodland Arts Fair

2. Kentucky Crafted

3. PlayThink Festival

Best Festival (General)

1. Railbird

2. Lexington PRIDE Festival

3. CRAVE food + music festival

4. Bluegrass BBQ Festival

Ode to PRHBTN

SMILEY PETE STAFF SALUTE

After more than a decade of facilitating some of the most ambitious and boundary-pushing public art in Lexington, the organization PRHBTN officially hung up the mural production arm of its operations in 2022 — but not without leaving an indelible mark on our city.

Part public art enterprise, part street art festival, the organization started in 2011 as a labor of love and a desire to deck the public walls of Lexington with large-scale murals from internationally recognized street artists. The organization was fueled by the passion of local couple John and Jessica Winters, who helped commission work from more than 35 notable muralists from all over the world to create beautiful, distinct, thought-provoking and sometimes polarizing art on notable exterior walls on the streets of our town. Whatever your favorite mural in Lexington might be, there’s a high likelihood that it would not be there if not for PRHBTN.

From fundraising to scouting for walls and coordinating between international artists, local businesses and building owners, the project required monumental efforts on behalf of the organizers, who said early on that they would continue to help facilitate murals until they ran out of walls or until it was no fun any more.

Though that time came, most of the murals remain, and the groundwork has been laid for the continued proliferation of public art in Lexington — and that’s something we can all be grateful to PRHBTN for.

PHOTO BY ERICA CHAMBERS

The Local Honeys were voted by our readers as Lexington’s “Best Band.”

“MOTHER OF US ALL” BY GAIA WAS CREATED IN COLLABORATION WITH PRHBTN. FILE PHOTO

She’s mighty-mighty, just lettin' it all hang out.

Don’t be shy about showing off your home’s curves, features and beauty. While professional lighting design, installation and service are serious projects, we make the process a bit more fun.

Arts & Culture

Best Comedian

1. Becca Sanders

2. Larry Starks

3. Joe Deuce

4. DD Rainbow

Best Mural

1. “Abraham Lincoln” by Eduardo Kobra

2. “John Prine” by SquarePegs Design Studio

3. “Horse on High Knoll” by Wylie Caudill

Honorable mentions:

• “Louis Armstrong” by Odeith

• “Sweet Evening Breeze” by GAIA

Best Musician

1. Ben Lacy

2. Tee Dee Young

3. Devine Carama

4. Abby Hamilton

Best Sculpture

1. Secretariat Statue by Jocelyn Russell

2. Flight 5191 Memorial by Douwe Blumberg

3. Maji Mazuri by Kiptoo Taurus

Ode to The Carnegie Center for Literacy & Learning

BY CRYSTAL WILKINSON, VOTED AS A “BEST WRITER”

I have long considered The Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning the beating, pulsing heart of Lexington’s literary community. The bright red doors signal a welcoming place. It’s the place where many Kentucky writers gave a first reading from their work, attended a first poetry or fiction class, or joined their first writing group. It was at the Carnegie Center, long before I worked there, before I became published that I was introduced to the work of Paule Marshal, Adrienne Rich, bell hooks, Dorothy Allison, and on and on. Many of these nationally known writers came through the Kentucky Women Writers Conference via the Carnegie Center. But it was being in those circles of people who made words into books that encouraged me to begin to create my own.

I blossomed as a writer during my lunch hours hunched over a journal, pen in hand, writing the first words that came to mind in a generative workshop in the Carnegie Center basement. I nurtured my work there in an office on the second floor as the first drafts of my first book were written and edited. I was working at the Carnegie Center more than 20 years ago when I received a glance at my first book cover. I was there in the early ’90s when Barbara Bush gave a speech during the grand opening of the Carnegie Center. I’ve watched it rise and wobble and rise again during administrative changes and financial challenges. Yet, the heart of its mission remains: a commitment to literacy and literary endeavors.

Since those early years, I’ve watched many other writers blossom and grow behind those beautiful red doors. I’ve watched both children and adults learn to read. I’ve taught classes where a high school student and a woman in her 80s writing her first book were both present. The Carnegie Center has helped thousands of people of all ages, races, income levels, and educational backgrounds with their goals for writing, reading and learning new things. It’s one of the most unique full-service literary centers in the country. I love the Carnegie Center.

Arts & Culture

Ode to The Kentucky Theatre

BY SILAS HOUSE, VOTED AS “BEST WRITER”

I am so thankful that we have the Kentucky Theatre. Not only is it a beautiful, welcoming space for everyone, but they also go above and beyond on providing entertainment for the whole region. I’m amazed by all they are able to do. This past year, they started the Twelve Lions Film Festival, which brought in filmmakers from around the world. They show the latest in independent, foreign, and art cinema as well as blockbusters and classics. They have grand special events.

Very few cities have a cinema like The Kentucky and honestly, it’s one of the reasons I love living in Lexington. It’s more than a place to go see films, it’s a community center where I feel at home and where I am always exposed to great art. I’m grateful to Lisa Meek, Hayward Wilkirson, Fred Mills, and the whole staff.

PHOTO BY BRADLEY QUINN Silas House was voted by our readers as Lexington’s “Best Writer.”

THE KENTUCKY THEATRE WAS VOTED “BEST MOVIE THEATER.” PHOTO FURNISHED

FoodDrink& Best of SMILEY PETE'S

It’s true — Lexingtonians love to eat. We love to eat well, and we support a thriving local restaurant scene rivaling that of much larger cities. We here at Smiley Pete would put our culinary scene up against any other. Fortunately for those of us who like to enjoy a fine beverage with our meals, we are also the epicenter of bourbon, and our cocktail culture does not disappoint.

On the following pages, we spotlight those who are doing their part to contribute to the quality food, great service, unique o erings, and amazing value to our dining and hospitality community. Read on to see who our readers have voted as their favorites in dozens of culinary categories!

Third Street Stu (pictured here with owner Pat Gerhard) was voted by our readers as “Best Co ee Shop.”

PHOTO BY MICK JEFFRIES

Food & Drink

Ode to Martine’s Pistachio Cake

BY HANNAH LEGRIS, 3RD DISTRICT COUNCILMEMBER, VOTED AS A “BEST ELECTED OFFICIAL”

Honorable mentions:

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•

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Best Brunch

1. Carson’s

3. Josie’s

Honorable mentions:

• Bella Café and Grille

• OBC

Best Burger

1. Drake’s

2. Shamrock’s

3. Sidebar

Honorable mentions:

• Bella Cafè and Grille

• Sawyer’s

Best Cajun

1. Bourbon ‘n’ Toulouse

2. Gumbo Yaya

3. Creaux

Best Cakes/Cupcakes

1. Martine’s

2. European Delights

3. Caramanda’s

Honorable mentions:

• GiGi’s Cupcakes

• Inebriated Baker

A simple pleasure in life is a slice of cake for breakfast or with a mid-afternoon coffee, and the best combination in Lexington can be found at Martine’s Pastries. Martine and Jim Holzman have owned Martine’s Pastries since 1999, and in 2018 opened their extended café and shop on East 3rd Street, where they have curated the perfect date spot to connect with others, meet a new friend, and have an excellent sweet or savory treat. There are a few essentials when visiting Martine’s for a cake date. First and foremost, is choosing the cake — I prefer the pistachio, though other flavors are also excellent. If you’re solo, bring a book for leisure reading. If you’re meeting with someone at the pastry shop, arrive early so that you can get your favorite seat — and so that you can say hello to Martine, Jim and their wonderful staff. While you’re getting settled in, all the butter in your icing will soften to room temperature. This is what you want for the ideal taste and texture combination, and gives you plenty of time for conversation, reflection or reading. Having a cake date means taking time, so give yourself at least 45 minutes to eat your treat, drink your coffee and enjoy being alive in

PHOTO FURNISHED

Drake’s was voted by our readers to have the “Best Burger” in Lexington.

Food & Drink

Best Cheap Eats

1. Goodfellas

2. Bourbon n’ Toulouse

3. Tolly Ho

Honorable mentions:

• A.P. Suggins

• Charlie Brown’s

• Big Kahuna

• Burgers Shakes

Best Chef

1. Ouita Michel, Holly Hill and Co.

2. Cole Arimes, Cole’s / Epping’s on Eastside

3. Greg Spaulding, Salt & Vinegar / Ethereal Slice House

Best Chinese

1. Panda Cuisine

2. Cheng’s

3. Asian Wind

Best Cocktail

1. OBC Kitchen

2. Epping’s on Eastside

3. Malone’s

Honorable mentions:

• Carson’s

• Bar Ona

• Bourbon on Rye

• Harvey’s

Best Coffee Shop

1. Third Street Stuff

2. Kenwick Table

3. Coffee Times

Best Destination

Restaurant (within 30 miles)

1. Windy Corner

2. Wallace Station

3. Holly Hill Inn

Honorable mentions:

• The Kentucky Castle

• Local Feed

• Heirloom

• The Stave

Best Donuts

1. Spalding’s Bakery

2. North Lime Coffee & Donuts

3. Frank’s Donuts

4. Donut Days

Best Food Truck

1. Daughters Southern

2. Nathan’s Taqueria

3. Sav’s Chill

Honorable mentions:

• Jasmine Rice

• Kentucky Q

Best Fried Banana Peppers

1. Ramsey’s Diner

2. Merrick Inn

3. Smithtown Seafood

4. Winchell’s

Best Fried Chicken

1. Critchfield

2. Merrick Inn

Ode to Bluegrass Hospitality Group

SMILEY PETE STAFF SALUTE

Founded by Brian McCarty and Bruce Drake, Bluegrass Hospitality Group — the purveyors behind Malone’s, Harry’s, Drake’s, Aqua Sushi and OBC Kitchen — has been an integral force among the culinary scene in Lexington and beyond since 1998. The restaurateurs have not only contributed some of the most consistent and popular restaurants in Lexington, but have also given back to the community with a particularly special annual holiday event: helping provide annual Thanksgiving dinners for those in need. More than 1,500 meals are provided each year, bagged and delivered to outside agencies in order to help provide to the less fortunate. For contributing so much to Lexington’s culinary scene AND community, we salute BHG!

Critchfield was voted to have the “Best Fried Chicken” by our readers.

PHOTO FURNISHED

PHOTO FURNISHED Malone’s was voted Lexington’s best steakhouse.

Best Hidden Gem

1. Kentucky Native Café

2. Dad’s Favorites Deli

3. The Merrick Inn

Honorable mentions:

• Charlie Brown’s

• Everest Nepalese and Indian Cuisine

• Wheeler Pharmacy

• Rosemont Station

Best Hot Brown

1. Merrick Inn

2. Winchell’s

3. Ramsey’s Diner

4. Stella’s

Best Ice Cream/Gelato

1. Crank & Boom Craft Ice Cream

2. Graeter’s

3. Sorella Gelateria

Honorable mentions:

• Rupp Arena Soft Serve

• Sav’s Chill

Best Indian Cuisine

1. Masala

2. Tandoor

3. Taste of India

4. Everest Nepalese and Indian Cuisine

Best Italian Cuisine

1. Giuseppe’s

2. Bella Notte

3. Pasta Garage

Food & Drink

Best Japanese Cuisine

1. Asuka

2. Sushi Blue

3. Osaka

4. Miyako

Best Korean Cuisine

1. Han Woo Ri

2. KPot

3. Arirang Garden

Honorable mentions:

• DY Market

• JY Kitchen

• Koreana

Best Local Brewery

1. Mirror Twin

2. West Sixth Brewing

3. Country Boy

Honorable mentions:

• Blue Stallion

• Ethereal Brewing

• Pivot Brewery

• Rock House Brewing

Best Mediterranean/ Greek Cuisine

1. Athenian Grill

2. Sahara Mediterranean Restaurant

3. Nefertiti

Honorable mentions:

• Mr. Kabab

• Oasis

Best Mexican or South American Cuisine

1. Mi Pequena Hacienda

2. El Rancho Tapatio

3. La Taquiza

Honorable mentions:

• Corta Lima

• Papi’s

Athenian Grill was voted to have the “Best Mediterranean / Greek Food.”

Best New Restaurant (post-Covid)

1. Bella Café and Grille

2. TukTuk Snack Shop

3. Everest Nepalese and Indian Cuisine

4. Omakase Sushi & Sake Bar

Best Outdoor/ Patio Dining

1. Kentucky Native Café

2. Merrick Inn

3. Goodfellas – Distillery District

Best Overall Restaurant

1. Malone’s

2. Carson’s

3. Merrick Inn

Honorable mentions

• Coles 735 Main

• Holly Hill Inn

• Epping’s on Eastside

Best Pimento Cheese

1. Mousetrap

2. Dad’s Favorites Deli

3. Stella’s

Best Pizza

1. Goodfella’s

2. Joe Bologna’s

3. Pearl’s

Honorable mentions:

• Rolling Oven

• Smashing Tomato

• Puccini’s Smiling Teeth

• Pietana

An Ode to Lexington

BY KEVIN HEATHCOAT, OWNER OF BOURBON N’ TOULOUSE AND CHEVY CHASE INN

Lexington, oh Lexington, how I love thee

Without you, Bourbon n’ Toulouse would not be

In 2004, you accepted Will and me

Even after a bourbon or three

We were hungover and tired

But everyday you left us inspired

Our cash register was a cigar box With a Mardi Gras Dragon keeping watch

That Old Crow is what kept us flying high And you showed up making sure B’n’T didn’t die

COVID came and we thought Bourbon n’ Toulouse was through

Our saving grace was a Euclid Avenue drive-thru

I still tear up thinking about those tough days

And how you supported us in so many ways

It was hard to sleep knowing our city’s restaurants were in trouble

But you swapped cooking for carryout — and then tipped double

Lexington, you’ve given me more than I could ever give you

You gave me a wonderful wife, a kid and then two

You allowed three friends to save Chevy Chase Inn

Then you let Cameron pump life back into Alfalfa again

You’ve given me employees that are family

And customers who are friends

For 20 years you have opened our door I can only hope you’ll give me 20 more

I wish I could repay you for all that you’ve given me

Another plate of jambalaya is the only answer I see

Lexington, oh Lexington, how I love thee!

Food & Drink

Best Pub Food

1. Shamrock’s

2. Winchell’s

3. Drake’s

Honorable mentions:

• Charlie Brown’s

• Sidebar

Best Restaurant for a First Date

1. Kentucky Native Café

2. Merrick Inn

3. Carson’s

Honorable mentions:

• Giuseppe’s

• Malone’s

• Epping’s on Eastside

Best Restaurant to Take Visitors

1. Merrick Inn

2. Malone’s

3. The Kentucky Castle

Honorable mentions:

• Holly Hill Inn

• Kentucky Native Café

• Windy Corner

Best Rooftop

1. Lost Palm

2. Dudley’s on Short

3. Infinity Sky Bar

4. Belle’s

Best Salads

1. Malone’s

2. Vinaigrette Salad Kitchen

3. Bella Café and Grille

Honorable mention:

• Good Foods Co-op Café

Best Seafood

1. Smithtown Seafood

2. Charlie’s Seafood

3. Palmer’s Fresh Grill

Honorable mentions:

• Jeff Ruby’s

• Malone’s

Best Service

1. Malone’s

2. Jeff Ruby’s

3. Merrick Inn

Honorable mentions:

• Holly Hill Inn

• Tony’s

• Coles 735 Main

• Dudley’s on Short

Best Soul Food

1. Mimi’s Southern Style Cooking

2. Indi’s

3. Grimes

4. Josanne’s Homestyle Kitchen

Best Southern Food

1. Ramsey’s Diner

2. Winchell’s

3. Merrick Inn

Honorable mentions:

• Honeywood

• Mimi’s Southern Style Cooking

• Josanne’s Homestyle Kitchen

Best

Honorable mentions:

• Columbia’s Steak House

• Blue Heron

Best Sushi

1. Omakase Sushi & Sake Bar

2. Sushi Blue

3. Osaka

Best Taco

1. Local Taco

2. Agave and Rye

3. Tortilleria y Taqueria Ramirez

Honorable mentions:

• La Taquiza

• Mi Pequena Hacienda

• El Rancho Tapatio

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•

Best

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Kentucky Native Cafè appeared as a favorite in many categories, including “Best Vegetarian Food,” “Best Restaurant for a First Date,” “Best Patio” and more

But that’s not all we do. We are also the best HVAC, Generator, and Spray Foam Insulation company, because you can’t be the best in one without considering each one’s impact on the others. It’s the “Synergy” of what we do that makes us the best home service contractor for all your energy needs!

Whether you’re looking for a quiet and romantic spot to go on your next date night or a karaoke joint to belt out your favorite tunes with your rowdiest friends, Lexington’s nightlife options have you covered. On the following pages, we highlight the bars, music venues, breweries and other favorite nightlife and fun spots that our readers voted to be the best in Lex.

Ode to Robby Cosenza

SMILEY PETE STAFF SALUTE

Editor's Note: Lexington musician Robby Cosenza was not only an integral part of the local music scene for the past several decades, but he also toured extensively, sharing a bit of Lexington’s musical heart with the rest of the world. As a drummer, vocalist and songwriter, he performed with bands that included Scourge of the Sea, Pontius Copilot, Vandaveer, Fanged Robot and others, contributing ideas, drums and other instrumentation to more than 100 albums.

Robby, who was also known for his humor, wit and heart, passed away in February, after a battle with a rare form of sarcoma. Here, fellow Lexington musician Jimmy Earley shares a tribute to his longtime friend and collaborator.

Everyone Is In Love with Robby Cosenza

BY JIMMY EARLEY

In no particular order, this is why:

For having the wit, timing and humor to keep everyone in a tour van with no air conditioning not only from killing each other or sinking into utter despair, but to keep us laughing uncontrollably or singing in unison, sometimes simultaneously. For loving the sheer idiotic frivolity of rock and roll (I’m talking Ram Jam’s “Black Betty”) as much as the more austere and considered beauty of Bob Dylan and latter day Nick Cave. For being maybe the best kind of mentor (the kind who doesn’t know they’re a mentor). For all of the times that you introduced two people and said, “you two should know each other” (you were never wrong). For always listening deeply. For always making Lexington music — and music in general — better. For your indefatigable curiosity, dedication to your craft and for never giving up on a project, mix, song or idea when you believed in it. For building a beautiful community even as you were leaving it, bringing people who had known each

other forever closer together, and making great friends of some who didn’t know each other at all. For trusting when it truly mattered. For preparing meticulously for everything, and injecting electricity and drums into everything you did here on earth. For not being a person who no one could ever feel ambivalent toward.

We miss the hell out of you, Robby. We’re all still in love with you.

PHOTO BY ANDREW BRINKHORST Beloved Lexington musician Robby Cosenza, who performed with an astounding number of musical projects over the years, passed away in February after battling a rare form of cancer.

Music & Nightlife

Best Bartender

1. Mike Sullivan (The Green Lantern)

2. Erin Reynolds (The Green Lantern)

3. Martha Love (Chevy Chase Inn)

Honorable mentions:

• Whitney Adams (Twisted Cork)

• Akeem Turnage (OBC Kitchen)

• Norm (CCI)

• Greg Adams (Manchester Music Hall)

Best Beer Selection (Bar)

1. Marikka’s Bier Stube

2. The Beer Trappe

3. Mr. Brews Taphouse

Best Bourbon Selection (Bar)

1. OBC Kitchen

2. Bourbon on Rye

3. Jake’s Cigar Bar

Honorable mentions:

• Bluegrass Tavern

• Goodfellas

• Whiskey Bear

Ode to The Chevy Chase Inn

SMILEY PETE STAFF SALUTE

It doesn’t take much hunting to find the latest bar du jour, with overpriced cocktails, and snooty bartenders who not-so-silently judge your unrefined order of bourbon and coke. It’s much harder to find a neighborhood dive bar that’s been in business for nearly a century. Opened in 1932, Chevy Chase Inn, the oldest bar in all of Lexington, pours judgment-free cocktails on the daily.

Nestled in the heart of Lexington’s charming and historic Chevy Chase business district (which takes its name from the favorite Maryland golf course of neighborhood founder Henry Clay Simpson, not from the 1980’s comedy icon), Chevy Chase Inn is the quintessential neighborhood dive bar — a mix of Paddy’s from “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” and Cheers from, well, “Cheers.” It’s a favorite for neighbors, townies and college students alike, all of whom fit in among the wood grain decor, low lighting and sports-laden televisions. The bar boasts a loyal staff and a constant stream of regulars who keep the vibe easy-going and jovial. You throw in great Happy Hour specials, tented outdoor seating and regular live music and you have the perfect recipe for a night out with the crew.

FAVORITE BARTENDER MIKE SULLIVAN PHOTO FURNISHED

Music &Nightlife

Best Cocktail Bar

1. Bar Ona

2. OBC Kitchen

3. Harvey’s 4. Bourbon on Rye

Best Dive Bar

1. Chevy Chase Inn

2. The Green Lantern

3. Al’s Bar

Honorable mentions:

• Patchen Pub

• Rose & Jim’s Bar & Grill

• Sidebar

Best Happy Hour

1. Epping’s on Eastside

2. Ramsey’s Diner

3. The Cellar Bar & Grille

Best Hotel Bar

1. Lost Palm at the Manchester

2. Lockbox at 21c

3. Infinity Sky Bar at Marriott

Honorable mentions:

Ode to Comedy Off Broadway

SMILEY PETE STAFF SALUTE

Best Irish Bar

Best

Best LGBTQIA Bar

2. Crossings Lexington

3. Ole Hookers Bait and Tackle

Honorable mentions:

• Lussi Brown

• Molly Brooks

Best Live Music Venue

1. The Burl

Best

& Grille

Best Romantic Date Spot

1. Kentucky Native Cafè

2. Le Deauville

3. Giuseppe’s

4. The Kentucky Castle

Best Sports Bar

1. Shamrocks Bar & Grill

2. KSBar

3. Banners

Honorable mentions:

• Drake's

• Lex Live

Best Trivia Night

1. Mirror Twin Brewing

2. Shamrock’s Bar & Grill

3. Winchell’s

Honorable mentions:

• KS Bar and Grill

• Campus Pub

Best Wine Bar

1. Darling Wine Bar

2. Kenwick Table Wine & Coffee Bar

3. CRU Food & Wine Bar

In case you're looking, Comedy Off Broadway is where stand-up is happening in Lexington. Tucked away in Lexington Green, the intimate room holds approximately 250 people. It’s dark with a low stage, and dons the classic red brick wall standard in all great comedy clubs. Add a bar in the back for good measure, and you have one of the most electric venues for standup comedy in the region. Many comics who now fill arenas and network airwaves — folks like Nate Bargatze, Taylor Tomlinson, Nikki Glaser, Tom Segura, and Bert Kreisher — all cut their teeth at Comedy Off Broadway on their way to stardom. Last fall, Segura (now a bona fide arena act) returned to Comedy Off Broadway to try out new material before filming his latest Netflix special, “Sledgehammer.” The club has garnered a reputation for highlighting the best upand-coming comics both nationally and regionally, while conjuring an aura of “you never know what might happen.” With an ambiance that’s unmatched in Lexington, Comedy Off Broadway is perfect for a date night or a gathering of friends, for a special occasion or a random weekend night.

MIRROR TWIN BREWING FILE PHOTO

STERMINDS

Mandy Williamson and Dead Air Dennis Dillon are proud to be live and local from right here in Lexington. Catch Mandy on Hits 106.3FM and Dead Air Dennis on Classic Rock 92.1FM on weekday afternoons.

Although they compete for radio ratings, listeners, and swagger, Mandy and Dennis are teammates and friends. “I couldn’t be happier to see Mandy voted number one in Smiley Pete’s Lexington Choice Awards,” says Dillon. No stranger to winning awards, Dead Air Dennis

was awarded the Lexington Music Association’s DJ of the Year and vows to put up a fight for a clean sweep next year!

Mandy was so proud to win the award for the LM Media radio family, but loved the fact that she was able to kick some Dead Air tail.

Friendly rivalry and revelry is commonplace at LM. From dance moves to competitive baking, Mandy says that “competition breeds success,” and “if you’re not first you’re last.”

“We always push each other to do better and ultimately be better for our listeners and fans in Lexington.”

LM Communications is proud to be locally born, bred and run from downtown Lexington.

With over 20 live and local DJs and a full staff, we don’t just work here, we live here.

LM Communications congratulates all the nominees and winners in Smiley Pete’s Best of Lex.

Best of SMILEY PETE'S

Community &Media

Our local celebrities, non-profits and media outlets contribute to Lexington’s unique culture in a variety of ways. On the following pages, we celebrate the media outlets, hosts, nonprofits and neighborhoods that make our community what it is.

Lexington activist, author and hip hop artist Devine Carama was voted by our readers as "Best Lexingtonian."

PHOTO BY MICK JEFFRIES

• Time & access to comprehensively address your most intimate healthcare needs

• Personalized approach to optimize your health

• Primary Care & Urgent Care visits with SAME DAY appointments & 24/7 access to your doctor

• Weight loss and energy level concerns

• Hormonal management of menopause and low libido issues

Also Offering AESTHETIC SERVICES by Advanced Nurse Injector Jennifer Neustat R.N.

• No Membership Required

• Men Welcome

Community &Media

Best Blogger/Influencer

1. Bradley Marlow

2. Melody Colette

3. Kentucky Taste Buds (Tam & Leigh)

Honorable Mentions:

• Leela Atchison – LexEats

• Glitter and Gingham

Best Elected Official

1. Linda Gorton

2. Dan Wu

3. Hannah Legris

Best Lexingtonian

1. Devine Carama

2. Steve Zahn

3. Ouita Michel

4. Jim Gray

Best Podcast

1. The Lexington Podcast

2. What The Shuck

3. Lex Talk. More Action – Community Action Council

Ode to the World’s Largest Ceiling Clock

SMILEY PETE STAFF SALUTE

In the center of downtown Lexington, in the rotunda of the central branch of the Lexington Public Library,  you will find the World's Largest Ceiling Clock (according to worldrecordacademy.org). Forty feet in diameter, with a Foucault pendulum that dangles from five stories above; the clock was donated and originally unveiled by philanthropist Lucille Caudill Little on New Year's Eve of 2001, and opened to the public the following day. It is based on the Foucault Pendulum design of 1851, which intended to demonstrate the rotation of the Earth without using astronomy. The clock's face is an exquisite mosaic: 55,000 pieces of glass making up the recognizable image of North America, offset so that Lexington is depicted at the center of the clock, marked by a Kentucky state quarter.

These days, the clock often sits motionless, out of time, broken down — except when a staff member manually starts it swinging with a push. It rocks back and forth for a while, until losing momentum and falling still, once again. According to a library staff member, the company that originally built the clock has long gone out of business; and people with the skills needed to craft new parts are scarce and expensive. While the clock may have seen better days,  it still stands as a breathtaking, record-breaking piece of art greeting visitors at the library door.

PHOTO FURNISHED

The central branch of the Lexington Public Library boasts the World's Largest Ceiling Clock, with a Foucoult Pendulum that dangles from five stories above.

PHOTO FURNISHED Mayor Linda Gorton was voted by our readers as "Best Elected Official."

Ode to WRFL 88.1 FM, University of Kentucky’s college radio station

BY JOHN LACKEY, VOTED AS A “BEST ARTIST”

My first memory is hearing The Kinks’ “You Really Got Me” on my father’s car radio. I was two. This tasty, crunchy song made the sunny day a thrill. Some childhood thrills can never be recreated.

Nearly 60 years later, I make art every day — mostly visual, for now. My visual art needs fuel. That fuel is music. I have listened to WRFL since friends helped launch it in 1988. I listened to it in the kitchen at the old Alfalfa Restaurant. I listened to it on the farm when the kids were little, on an old boombox. I listened to it at Galerie Soleil and at Homegrown Press, and at Luigart Studios to this day — still on that old boombox.

Quite often I can go six or more hours listening, across three different DJs, two tubes of paint, five different moods, riding wave after wave of interesting, thoughtful song choices: charming, challenging, energetic, moving, grooving. Sometimes a song is so good that I have to take a screenshot of the playlist. My phone is full of them. That

elusive childhood thrill deepening, even in old age.

Though some of the “old guard” DJs retain shifts at the station (more of a comfort than they know), somebody keeps minting new DJs. It is heartening when they express a warmth and concern for the students who might be listening, telling of concerts and open mic nights, as well as literary classes and mental health services. Pulling people onto the boat in today’s stormy seas. I need to know that young people still create new music — that they till new ground. WRFL demonstrates this daily. Admittedly, they will sometimes play something grating enough I have to surrender and say “hell no,” and change the station. I once heard the on-air DJ say that he deliberately played the occasional screamo metal song just to weed people out. Over time, I’ve come to respect that. Contrarianism is a useful tool for keeping an artist thinking original thoughts.

"WRFL is a gem. It is a gift. It gives me silver quite often, and gold several times a day."

WRFL is a gem. It is a gift. It gives me silver quite often, and gold several times a day. It has been such a warm, constant companion in my relatively lonely decades of art-making. I never thought that I could grow even fonder of it. Until the shutdown. Then the contrast was stark. It came into my home and kept me warm. Kept me sane-ish.

WRFL has made local picnics and cookouts more inviting,

set some amazing moods in all kinds of situations and weather, given Lexington life a good flavor. It has made me smarter and happier as I drive my old truck around. It turns a pretty day into a movie, a cloudy day into a poem.

WRFL is one of the best and most enduring features of our fair city. I love this station, and I can’t thank it enough. What a resilient, amazing machine they have created. The heartbeat goes on.

PHOTO FURNISHED

UK college radio station WRFL is a beloved institution for many. Pictured here are some of the station's founders.

Community &Media

Best Radio Host

1. (tie) Matt Jones, Kentucky Sports Radio

1. (tie) Mandy Williamson, 106.3 HITS

3. Jack Pattie, WVLK AM

Honorable mentions:

• Dead Air Dennis, 92.1 WBVX

• Shuntella Whitfield, Thick & Fabulous

• DeBraun Thomas, 91.3 WUKY

Best TV Host

1. Leigh and Tam, Kentucky Taste Buds

2. Amber Philpot, WKYT

3. Lee and Hayley, “The Lee and Hayley Show”

Honorable mentions:

• Bill Bryant

• Nancy Cox

• Kim Dixon

Best TV Station

1. WKYT

2. WLEX

3. KET

Best Meteorologist

1. Chris Bailey

2. Jim Caldwell

3. Bill Meck

4. Tom Ackerman

Best Neighborhood

1. Chevy Chase

2. Southland

3. Kenwick

4. Lansdowne

Honorable mentions:

• Beaumont

• Meadowthorpe

• Stonewall

Best Radio Station

1. 98.1 The Bull WBUL

2. 106.3 HITS

3. 88.1 WRFL

4. 91.3 WUKY

Best Sportscaster

1. Matt Jones

2. Tom Leach

3. Dave Baker

Honorable mentions

• Keith Farmer

• Brian Milam

• Jeff Piecoro

• Dick Gabriel

Friend to the Environment

1. Angela Poe

2. Constance Brown

3. Shane Tedder

Best Nonprofit

1. Lexington Humane Society

2. God's Pantry Food Bank

3. Greenhouse17

Ode to Reforest the Bluegrass

BY ANGELA POE, PROGRAM MANAGER FOR PUBLIC INFORMATION AND

ENGAGEMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES

VOTED AS “BEST FRIEND TO THE ENVIRONMENT”

Lexington comes alive in the spring. Restaurant patios open. Keeneland races occur. People walk in their neighborhoods and play in local parks. While it’s all lovely, my favorite local spring happening is Reforest the Bluegrass. Started 25 years ago by city employee Dave Gabbard, the tradition of planting thousands of trees near a local creek each spring continues to thrive.

Reforest is the actualization of the idiom “many hands make light work.” People of all ages and from all walks of life spend an hour or two helping our local environment, volunteering to make our city better. Families have made it an annual event, with some young parents who participated as children themselves now bringing their own kids to the event. I’ve been there in all types of weather — sunshine, rain, snow, sleet. People still come by the hundreds! There is a certain magic in looking out at an empty grass field and seeing it full of neighbors and trees a few hours later.

Editor’s note: Reforest the Bluegrass takes place Saturday, April 13 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m at Coldstream Park, the site of the first event.

LEIGH AND TAM, KENTUCKY TASTE BUDS PHOTO FURNISHED

Spending money at local businesses helps build a strong community. Every dollar we spend at a locally owned shop helps local business owners and their sta as they contribute to our unique culture and build their lives here in Lexington. From furniture to houseplants to vintage clothing, we’ve highlighted dozens of Lexington’s favorite local spots to burn some hard-earned cash (in good conscience, of course!)

The Liberty Road shop Scout Antique and Modern was voted as a favorite in several categories, including "Best Vintage Shop," Best Antique Shop," "Best Furniture Store" and more.

Shopping

Best Antique Shop

1. Peddler’s Mall

2. Scout Antique and Modern

3. Another Man’s Treasure

Honorable mentions:

• Room Service

• Thoroughbred Antiques

Best Book Store

1. Joseph Beth Booksellers

2. sQecial Media

3. Black Swan

Honorable mentions:

• Glover’s Bookery

Best Car Wash

1. Jeff’s Car Wash

2. Clean Sweep

3. Mr. Sparkle

Honorable mentions:

• Zips Car Wash

Best Caterer

1. The Apiary

2. DaRae and Friends

3. Selma’s Catering

Honorable mentions:

• Dupree Catering

Best Day Spa

1. Woodhouse Spa

2. The Kentucky Castle

3. Privé

Honorable mentions:

• Golden Aesthetic Atelier

Best Florist

1. Michler’s

2. Oram’s

3. Best of Flowers

Best Furniture or Home Accessories Store

1. Interior Yardage

2. Suff’s

3. Another Man’s Treasure

Honorable mentions:

• Scout Antique and Modern

• Burke’s

• My Favorite Things

• Lexington Furniture

Ode to sQecial Media

SMILEY PETE STAFF SALUTE

The campusarea gift and oddities shop sQecial Media, voted as a "Best Book Store," has long been a favorite place for Lexingtonians to shop for gifts, candles, incense, books, stationery and more

While roaming around the campus-area gift and oddities shop sQecial Media, you would be forgiven for getting lost in their impressive book section, which easily takes up half of the store. New and used books on all sorts of genres and topics, from Jean-Michael Basquiat to John Prine, line the walls. In a time of digital downloads, Kindle and audiobooks, good old-fashioned leather bound ink-on-paper books can seem...well...old-fashioned. Sometimes a good book selection can be a temple to a bygone era of the printed word. However, sQecial Media is no mere bookstore but a conduit to the tangible, analog world we left behind at the dawn of the digital age.

The store has beautiful stationery and journals, recalling an era when we took time to put pen to paper. There are sections of various spiritual essentials — oils, herbs, crystals and gems and other metaphysical ephemera — harkening back to a time when we didn’t have all the answers on our phones and the world seemed a little more mysterious.

The store’s beautiful uniqueness owes a direct debt to owner Mary Morgan, who has worked at sQecial Media for most of the store’s lifespan and has managed the dayto-day operations since 1977, under original owner David Adams. Without Mary’s leadership, it’s hard to imagine the store would have evolved to the local pillar it has become, nor maintain the timeless relevance that brought sQecial Media to recently celebrate 52 years of business.

PHOTO FURNISHED

Kentucky for

KentuckyThemed Shop" PHOTO FURNISHED

PHOTO BY ROLLINS MATHEWS

Lexington is consistently ranked as one of the best places in America to raise a family. From parks, schools and summer camps, to dentists, pediatricians and youth sports leagues, on the following pages, we highlight the places and businesses that make this such a special place to raise kids.

Ode to Jacobson Park

BY HELUE SHALASH, OWNER OF BAK 4 MORE SALON  VOTED AS A “BEST SALON” AND “BEST MINORITY BUSINESS”

My family started as two brothers and their wives moving to the United States and finding their home in Lexington, but has since grown to a large extended family that is proud to belong to this community. We have celebrated graduations, engagements, weddings and expectant mothers in venues all across town, but our favorite casual gathering place is Jacobson Park. The shelter that sits adjacent to the lake is our favorite, with the children able to run off after a meal to enjoy the large playground just a few steps away. We’ve set up extensive buffets, sound systems and bouncy houses, and spent hours lounging around or playing volleyball. I am filled with memories any time I drive past the park and look forward to hopefully seeing my own grandchildren run to the playground someday.

Family

Best After-School Program

1. YMCA

2. Girls Can Too!

3. Girl Scouts

Best Children's Dentist

1. Steckler Pediatric Dentistry

2. Beaumont Kids Dentistry

3. Pediatric Dentistry of Hamburg

4. Star Kids in Beaumont

Best Daycare Center/Preschool

1. Lexington Hearing & Speech Center

2. Providence Montessori School

3. YMCA Center for Children

Honorable mentions:

• Sts. Peter and Paul School

• Sayre School

Best Doula

1. Tiffany El-Amin

2. Rachel Potts

3. Boundless Grace Birth Services

Best Free Family Activity

1. Lexington Public Libraries

2. The Arboretum

3. Lexington parks

Honorable mentions:

• Raven Run

• McConnell Springs

• Free Friday Flicks

• Events at Moondance Amphitheatre

Dr. Danny Steckler's pediatric dentistry business was voted as a favorite.

PHOTO FURNISHED

PHOTO BY RENA BAER

Jacobson Park was voted as a favorite in the "Best Local Park" and "Best Dog Park" categories.

PHOTO FURNISHED Crawford's Taekwando was voted "Best Youth Martial Arts Organization."

Sports & Rec Best of SMILEY PETE'S

Lexington is known for its fast horses and great basketball. But we also like to get competitive, get fit and enjoy ourselves in other ways. In this section, we weigh in on the best sports facilities, yoga and pilates studios, dog parks, bowling alleys and more, as voted by our readers.

Located about an hour from Lexington, The Red River Gorge was voted as the "Best Place for an Out-of-Town Hike."

PHOTO BY LDB859 PHOTOGRAPHY

Sports &Rec

Reed Sheppard was voted as "Best UK Men's Basketball Player."

PHOTO PROVIDED BY UK ATHLETICS

Located on High Street, Mind Over Body was voted "Best Pilates Studio."

PHOTO FURNISHED

Ode to Keeneland

BY AME SWEETALL, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF LEXARTS VOTED AS A “BEST ART GALLERY”

If you are familiar at all with Lexington, you probably know why Keeneland is my absolute favorite. In a single visit you get that unbeatable Kentucky hospitality, an all-day fashion show with race-goers dressed to the Kentucky nines, delectable food (burgoo, always) and drink (bourbon, of course), and all at the most beautiful and historic racetrack in the world.  Whether it's breezy sunshine or rainboots required, Spring or Fall in Lexington sets a picture-perfect backdrop to enjoy a fun day of racing at Lexington’s best social scene. Having attended general admission my whole life, I have recently graduated to occasionally getting the clubhouse, grandstand box or dining room invitation. And, don’t forget The Hill — the best tailgating and leisurely race-watching you can get. I love them all!

The coolest, best-kept secret is the Thoroughbred Auctions at Keeneland. Several times a year there are Thoroughbred sales at the Keeneland Sales Pavilion open to the public to watch. It is an amazing sight to see the future stakes and Derby winners come through the Bluegrass. So, for ALL these reasons and more, Keeneland is my absolute favorite!

KEENELAND RACE COURSE PHOTO FURNISHED

Who's your first call when you need something done? In this section, we highlight the folks who make Lexington work, from plumbers, electricians and contractors to barbers, lawyers, tattoo artists and more.

New in 2023, the Distillery District hotel The Manchester and its bars / restaurants appeared as a favorite in multiple categories, including "Best Hotel."

PHOTO BY MATT KISIDAY

Best Audio Visual Company

1. 46Solutions

2. Barney Millers

3. Riptide Productions

Honorable mentions:

• Rely Technology

• Dr. Stereo

Honorable mentions:

• Tony’s Auto

Best Bank

1. Central Bank

2. Traditional Bank

3. 5/3 Bank

Honorable mentions:

• Bank of the Bluegrass

• Republic Bank & Trust Company

• Community Trust

• Stockyard Bank and Trust

• Whitaker Bank

2. Dan Cummins

3. Quantrell

Honorable mentions:

• Lexus of Lexington

• Don Franklin

• Toyota on Nicholasville

• Don Jacobs

Best Chiropractor

Honorable mentions:

• Scheller

Best Builder

3. Anderson & Rodgers Construction

Honorable mentions:

• Padgett Construction

• Atchison Construction

• Mulberry Builders

• Ball Homes

Best Car Dealership

1. Green’s Toyota of Lexington

The Rooster's Nest Barber Shop and Shave Parlour was voted "Best Barber Shop." PHOTO FURNISHED

Ode to The Kentucky Castle

BY TAM & LEIGH, KENTUCKY TASTEBUDS , VOTED AS A “BEST BLOGGER/INFLUENCER” AND “BEST TV HOST”

Growing up in Lexington, we would often travel down US 60 toward Versailles where we would see the Kentucky Castle standing sentinel on a hill, mysterious and forlorn. It sparked so many questions: How could this castle be empty? Why was it in the middle of a Kentucky field alongside a busy road? Who owns it? After 30 years, our curiosities were finally satisfied when it opened to the public, and it was simply breathtaking for us to walk the beautiful grounds, marvel at the grand staircase, and check out the beautifully appointed restaurant and rooms.

For many young girls, getting married in a castle is the stu of dreams and fortunately, for Leigh, her dream came true when she married her Prince Charming on the rooftop in July of 2020. It will forever hold a special place in our hearts, and we’re so thankful that this unique locale is right in our backyard. I mean, after all, how many cities can boast they have a castle?

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THE KENTUCKY CASTLE PHOTO FURNISHED

Services

Best Flooring Store

1. Carpet One Floor & Home

2. Kevin's Carpets and Flooring

3. Corvin's Furniture and Flooring

Best Funeral Home/ Services

1. Kerr Brothers Funeral Home

2. Millward Funeral Directors

3. Clark Legacy Center

Best Hair Removal Company

1. Luxe Lounge Med Spa

2. Hourglass Aesthetics

3. Commonwealth Electrolysis Clinic

Best Home Remodeling

1. BACK Construction

2. Anderson & Rodgers Construction

3. Charlton Contracting

Honorable mentions:

• Atchison Construction

• Mulberry Builders

• Boone Contracting

Best Hotel

1. The Manchester

2. Lexington Griffin Gate Marriott

3. the Campbell House

Honorable mentions:

• Marriott City Center

• Elwood Hotel & Suites

Best HVAC Company

1. Fayette Heating and Air

2. GreenBox

3. Comfort Heating and Air

Honorable mentions:

• Bryant Heating & Cooling

• Hubbard Mechanical

• Synergy Home HVAC

Best Insurance Agency

1. Debra Hensley State Farm

2. Ryan McCord Kentucky Farm Bureau

3. Assured Partners

Ode to William "Buddy" Wheeler

SMILEY PETE STAFF SALUTE

In February, William “Buddy” Wheeler, founder and a longtime owner of the grassroots Chevy Chase pharmacy Wheeler Pharmacy, passed away at the age of 89. He opened the iconic neighborhood pharmacy in 1958, as a 23-year-old recent graduate from the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy. His was one of the first businesses established on Romany Road — in fact, at the time he opened the business, he found himself fielding questions about why he decided to build a drug store “so far out of town.”

Wheeler had a heavy presence in the family business well into his 80s — and a family business it has been, in the truest sense. All nine of his grandchildren have worked there, and his children continue to run the business.

Today, a close-knit group of regulars still gather daily for breakfast and coffee around the counter of the Wheeler pharmacy and convenience store — a true testament to the community that Wheeler and his family have helped foster over the past six and a half decades with their business.

Our hats are off to Buddy Wheeler for creating and maintaining one of the most iconic, beloved and long-running small businesses that Lexington has ever seen.

PHOTO FURNISHED

More than six decades after founding Wheeler Pharmacy, Buddy Wheeler (center, pictured with his children Stuart Wheeler and Claire Wheeler Love) passed away this year at the age of 89.

Services

Best Landscaping Company

1. Joseph Hillenmeyer Designs 2. Redmond's Landscaping 3. Pfieffer Landscaping 4. Klausing Group

Best Law Firm

1. Hicks & Funfsinn

2. Stites & Harbison

3. Brackney Law Office

Honorable mentions:

• Britton-Johnson

• McBrayer PLLC

• Bluegrass Elderlaw

Best Lawyer (Individual)

1. Anita Britton

2. Peter Brackney

3. Fred Peters

Honorable mentions:

• Jim Lowry

• Trip Redford

• Eric Ray

Best LGBTQ-Owned Business

1. Debra Hensley State Farm

2. Lussi Brown Coffee Bar

3. Crossings Lexington

Best Massage

1. Lexington Healing Arts Academy

2. The Massage Center

3. Massage Envy

Honorable mentions:

• Hand & Stone Massage

• Centered

Best Medi Spa

1. Hourglass Aesthetics

2. Prive Med Spa

3. Luxe Lounge Med Spa

Honorable mentions:

• Be Medispa

• Belle Vie Med

• The Spa at Marshall

Best Minority-Owned Business

1. A Cup of Commonwealth

2. Jasmine Rice Thai & Vietnamese Cuisine

3. Mimi's Southern Style Cooking

Honorable mentions:

• Omakase Sushi & Sake Bar

• BAK4MORE Studio

Best

Best

•

Best

Best

Hourglass

was voted by our readers as "Best

(pictured here is Beth Hourigan, founder and CEO).

PHOTO FURNISHED Wildcat Moving was voted "Best Moving Company" (pictured here, owner Releigh Bruner).

Honorable

Honorable

PHOTO FURNISHED

Uptown Hounds swept the pet categories, voted "Best Pet Boarding / Daycare" and "Best Pet Grooming."

PHOTO FURNISHED

The South Upper salon Cha Cha's was voted "Best Salon" by our readers.