PLANT-BASED RECIPES FROM NEPAL
TIPS FOR MANAGING MENTAL HEALTH
SCHOOL LUNCHES MADE EASY
A NEW CHAPTER FOR LEXINGTON HISTORY
Spirits
KENTUCKY ARTISTS AND ATTRACTIONS
Nick S. Morrow, DMD W. Scott Jenkins, DMD, MD
Matthew N. Gayheart, DMD, MD
New show hosted by Silas House and produced by David Helmers explores all things ‘Distilled In Kentucky’
Love with Bursting
Ford Coppola Winery, Geyserville, Sonoma County, CA
Contributors
Missy Ammerman (“Tips for Managing Mental Health,” page 25) is a licensed clinical social worker with 25 years of experience helping clients struggling with anxiety, depression and relationship problems. She o ers both therapy and coaching services.
Liz Carey (“New Pastures,” page 22, and “Lunch Plans,” page 27) is a Kentucky-born journalist, author and writing teacher living in Lexington. When she’s not writing, you can find her on her porch with her dog, cat, a great book and a relatively good glass of wine.
Smiley Pete contributor Shannon Clinton (“Craveworthy,” page 9) is an Elizabethtown native who now lives in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. She has been a full-time freelance writer for 21 years for publications across the Southeast.
Emily Giancarlo (photography for “New Pastures,” “A New Chapter for Lexington History” and “Lunch Plans”) is a professional photographer based out of Lexington, specializing in lifestyle and commercial photography. For more info and images, visit www.emilygiancarlo.com.
Tanzi Merritt (“A New Chapter for Lexington History,” page 17) is a writer and marketing and communications professional born and raised in Lexington. She loves sharing stories of the lesser-known and quirkiest aspects of her hometown with anyone who will listen.
Babita Shrestha (“Drink of the Month” and “On Our Table,” page 31) is a plant-based chef, food photographer and the author of the cookbook “Plant-Based Himalaya.” Drawing inspiration from her Nepali roots and global experiences, she creates innovative plant-based dishes and also teaches plant-based cooking classes. More info and links to purchase her book are at www.vegannepal.net.
Matt Wickstrom (“Kentucky Spirits,” page 10) is a professional writer, music lover and founder of the music blog Wick’s Picks.
Please direct all editorial questions and story pitches to editor Saraya Brewer – saraya@smileypete.com. n
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CIVIC CONNECTIONS LEXINGTON-FAYETTE
COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
BY KEVIN HALL, COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER FOR THE LEXINGTON-FAYETTE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
“Helping Lexington be well.”
The motto of the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department is simple to remember and easy for the community to use. Our programs are designed to make health and wellness as simple as contacting us. Our health education program works year-round to provide important information through di erent avenues, all designed to best meet the needs of the people of Lexington through a variety of free, accessible classes and other educational opportunities.
Diabetes Resources
www.LFCHD.org/diabetes
For anyone with diabetes, including pre-diabetes, the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department (LFCHD) o ers support groups from 10-11 a.m. the first Tuesday of every month at Lexington Senior Center (195 Life Lane), and from 6-6:30 p.m. the third Thursday of every month on Zoom. These sessions are designed to help a person learn, share and ask questions in a session led by a certified Diabetes Care & Education specialist.
The Health Department also o ers special classes throughout the year to help people learn the basics of diabetes including how to e ectively manage life with diabetes. Our upcoming third annual Diabetes Expo will bring together several community partners to help connect attendees with as much information and resources about the disease as possible.
Tobacco Cessation
www.lfchd.org/tobacco-use-cessation-and-prevention
If you or someone you know uses tobacco products or vapes, LFCHD would love to help you stop the habit in 2025. The organization’s free tobacco cessation programs provide an established series that has been shown to help many people quit. Classes are held throughout the year; to get the latest schedule, you can visit the website above or call (859) 288-2377.
Additional Health Education Opportunities
www.lfchd.org/health-education
LFCHD also o ers an array of community outreach services, including hygiene education, health and wellness instruction, sexual risk avoidance guidance, and HIV testing and support at community health events.
The experts at LFCHD love helping Lexington be well, and that includes you. Refer to the website above for more info on these and other health-related topics. n
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CRAVE WORTHY LOCAL CULINARY NEWS
BY SHANNON CLINTON
World of Gourmet has opened at 543 S. Limestone, with a fusion of Middle Eastern and Indian cuisines for lunch and dinner, plus a European bakery and American breakfast. The menu features gourmet co ee, espresso, tea and chai, with entrees that include shawarma, curry of the day, kofta, chicken and beef kebabs, stroopwafel and more.
Two restaurants are on the move, including Minton’s at 760, which is moving from 760 Limestone to the former El Cid location on National Avenue. The other is Big Blue Deli, which is pulling up stakes on North Limestone to move to West Short Street. Both are aiming for a February open date.
The Courier-Journal in Louisville reports that after recently opening in Louisville on Poplar Level Road, popular dirty sodas restaurant Swig is planning to open locations in Lexington, Elizabethtown and southern Indiana. The franchise offers sodas combined with a customized blend of fresh fruits, purees, and creams, water-based refreshers and energy drinks, as well as snacks like pretzel bites and cookies.
Restaurante La Bendicion Pupuseria has opened at 2396 Woodhill Dr., serving up pupusas, tortas, soups and more in Honduran and Salvadoran styles.
Though the secret has been out for a bit, Bella Notte Restau rant Group announced a few more details about the March 2025 return of Crust at 3195 Beaumont Centre Circle.
Revolving sushi and ramen restaurant Toku has opened at 127 W. Tiverton Way. Fresh-made sushi travels on a conveyor past diners who can select what they’d like and be charged accordingly.
At press time, Omakase Palomar was poised to open pend ing final inspections at 3900 Fountain Blue Ln.
Why wait for donuts, when donuts are waiting for you? Je ’s Donuts, a 24/7 bakery well known in Louisville for its wide variety of handcrafted donuts and co ee, was projected to open in late January at 1080 S. Broadway.
More additions for the eagerly awaited and now open roundup include Naz’s Halal at 685 S. Limestone; War Admi ral Way’s Chipotle location; Sassy Bleu Fine Southern Dining at 496 E. High St.; a new Bourbon n’ Toulouse location at 1781 Sharkey Way in Townley Center; and Jonathan Lundy’s new downtown establishment 3TEN, which serves up world cuisine, wine and cocktails at 310 W. Short St.
Already holding hiring events in mid-January, the opening of Publix’s first Lexington location at 1952 Stockton Way at Citation Point can’t be far behind.
The BLVD Grill at Hays, 844 Hays Blvd., announced its closure in early January, and there were Big Boy blues as Frisch’s on Harrodsburg Road, in Hamburg and Winchester all closed recently. n
Have a food and beverage-related update to share with readers? Please email info@smileypete.com.
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KENTUCKY SPIRITS
NEW SHOW TO EXPLORE ALL THINGS ‘DISTILLED IN KENTUCKY’
STORY BY MATT WICKSTROM
Urban and rural, eastern and western, Appalachian Mountains and river towns — being a Kentuckian comes in several shapes and forms, and they are spotlighted in a new docu-series that recently wrapped up filming.
Created and produced by David Helmers, one of the forces responsible for bringing Railbird Festival to Lexington, and hosted by Kentucky Poet Laureate Silas House, “Distilled in Kentucky” aims to shine a light on the commonwealth’s hidden gems with a special focus on music.
“If you’re from outside Kentucky, you may have perceptions and misconceptions about what Kentucky is, and a common one is that all of the music from here is traditional country or bluegrass,” said Helmers. “There is plenty of that, but there are also bands like My Morning Jacket and Cage The Elephant, that have big followings but people may not know are from here.
“Kentucky is hard to define and full of surprises,” he added.
On the eight episodes in Season One, emerging musical acts S.G. Goodman (Murray), Nat Myers (Kenton County), Senora May (Estill County), Scott T. Smith (Louisville), Brit Taylor (Knott County), Kelsey Waldon (Monkey’s Eyebrow), Wayne Graham (Lexington) and Ben Sollee (Louisville) take the spotlight. The show takes an in-depth look at those artists’ journeys and influences, exhibiting the depth of the state’s present-day creative talent. Familiar contemporary faces like Tyler Childers and My Morning Jacket’s Jim James also make appearances, and the show also ties in legacy Kentucky acts who helped pave the way for current artists, such as Loretta Lynn, Bill Monroe and The Everly Brothers.
“Distilled in Kentucky” host Silas House has interviewed a variety of well-known Kentuckians for the show, including Governor Andy Beshear, My Morning Jacket frontman Jim James and 21c Museum Hotel founder and owner Steve Wilson (clockwise from left).
PHOTOS COURTESY OF DISTILLED IN KENTUCKY
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“A lot of attention right now gets paid to Chris Stapleton, Sturgill Simpson and Tyler Childers, and rightfully so,” says Helmers. “But people from here know that the roots of music coming from Kentucky go back much farther.”
Music isn’t the only aspect of Kentucky featured on the show, however — other guests set to appear include Louisville chef Lawrence Weeks, 21c Museum Hotels co-founder Steve Wilson, Josephine Sculpture Park founder Melanie VanHouten and Gov. Andy Beshear.
According to House, the show’s team put together a list of over 50 potential guests to speak with, before narrowing it down to the ones that made it into these initial episodes.
“We could have done 24 episodes easily; it was really hard to narrow it down to eight,” said House. “One thing that shortened the list was a desire for geo-
graphic diversity. We wanted to cover the whole state and represent as many di erent kinds of music as we could.”
Further driving that sonic and geographic diversity was the setting of each episode, which took place in varying corners of the state in an e ort to show the di erent lifestyles and influences within each that coalesce into the collective idea of what Kentucky and Kentuckians are. Musical performances were filmed at eight di erent distilleries — Green River (Owensboro), Pauley Hollow (Pikeville), Castle & Key (Lexington), Old Forester (Louisville), Larrikin (Lawrenceburg), Luca Mariano (Danville), Bu alo Trace (Frankfort), and New Ri (Newport) — and footage was also filmed in charming Kentucky locations that include Danville’s century-old donut shop Burke’s Bakery & Delicatessen, the Frankfort bookstore Poor Richard’s Books, and Northern Kentucky’s Rabbit Hash General Store.
PHOTO COURTESY OF DISTILLED IN KENTUCKY Kentucky musciian Scott T. Smith (second from right) recorded a live performance on set at Pauley Hollow Distillery in Pikeville, Ky.
PHOTO COURTESY OF DISTILLED IN KENTUCKY Sials House walks the streets of Danville with members of the band Wayne Graham.
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“We wanted to take people into those spaces and introduce them to places they may not know as a way of learning that Kentucky is much more than its stereotypes,” declares House. “One thing we sought out was people who knew how to tell their stories and were interesting. One thing I associate with Kentucky is storytelling, and everyone we had on camera being interviewed was really good at doing just that.”
Despite all those previously mentioned backdrops, House says that one of the most profound moments from filming for “Distilled” came in Pike County. Singer Scott T. Smith kicked o a rodeo on the side of a mountain with a rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner” in front of a larger than expected crowd of nearly 250 people.
“It was so beautiful and moving seeing all these people coming out of the hollers for this rodeo where a Black man was singing the national anthem,” recalls House.
“It was like a meeting of two worlds, especially with Scott being from deep Appalachia and now residing in Louisville. It reminded me of growing up and how things were community-centered in a way I don’t think they are anymore.”
The seeds for the show were first planted when Helmers approached House with the idea in 2019. House was immediately on board, noting “I don’t like to work with
people unless I like them.” But COVID had other plans, stopping progress on the project until Helmers circled back last year. Filming kicked o this past April with the Atlanta-based production company School of Humans, which makes liveaction and animated series for multiple platforms and networks including Discovery, Adult Swim, Netflix and more.
For House, who is also a novelist and music journalist by trade, the show put him in front of the camera to interview subjects for the first time, although you would never know it judging by his smooth delivery and casual approach.
“We want this to be down-home and laid-back, the kind of show that people can watch to feel calm and comforted by music, conversation between friends, and the art of whiskey-making,” expounded House in a recent press release. “I hope that every episode will feel like a big hug accompanied by the history, storytelling, and artistry that our commonwealth offers like no other place.”
With all eight episodes of the show’s maiden season now fully filmed, the crew remains in the early process of pitching
it to television networks and streaming platforms in the hopes of finding it a home. But regardless of when and where it lands, Helmers is excited about what they’ve put together so far as well as the prospect of expanding on it in the future.
“I would love to do a Season 2, 3, and so on and continue to build on the platform we’ve created,” Helmers forecasted. “It’s been a team e ort, from Silas and the artists we’ve worked with to the film crew, distilleries and other local businesses we partnered with. I’m grateful they gave us the chance and I hope that we did them justice.” n
Distilled in Kentucky
For more information, including sneak peeks of interviews and glimpses at some of the places visited during filming, follow the show on Facebook at Facebook. com/DistilledInKY and Instagram at Instagram.com/Distilled_In_ Kentucky.
PHOTO COURTESY OF DISTILLED IN KENTUCKY
Host Silas House chats with Kentucky musician Tyler Childers for an episode of “Distilled in Kentucky.”
PHOTO COURTESY OF DISTILLED IN KENTUCKY Louisville chef Lawrence Weeks, a 2024 semifinalist in the James Beard awards, chats with host Silas House.
A NEW CHAPTER
LESS THAN TWO YEARS IN ITS NEW HOME, THE LEXINGTON HISTORY MUSEUM IS SET TO EXPAND
STORY BY TANZI MERRITT
Alocal institution that’s long been dedicated to preserving the history of Lexington started a new chapter in recent years.
This month, as the city celebrates “History Month” in its yearlong 250th anniversary celebration, LexHistory (formerly the Lexington History Museum) is making strides to reinvent itself and provide opportunities for locals and visitors to learn more about the city’s storied past.
The Lexington History Museum was founded in 1998 by Mayor Pam Miller, and opened its doors at its original location in Lexington’s old Fayette County Courthouse building in 2002. For the next decade, that’s where the collection remained, until asbestos and mold — “things that are bad for both objects and humans,” according to Amanda Higgins, executive director for LexHistory since 2022 — were discovered in the building in 2012.
“Rightfully, [the museum was] asked to vacate for our own safety,” added Higgins. Left with nowhere to go, the organization remained without a permanent home for the next decade — but that didn’t stop the dedicated board of directors from ensuring that the museum was adding to Lexington’s cultural and educational o erings.
“The board did a lot of work [during that time], making sure we were still out there hosting events, making sure books were published, doing work with film crews,
and hosting pop-up exhibits in locations around town,” Higgins explained. “But a museum is a place — you need somewhere to go and explore a collection.”
A partnership with the Blue Grass Trust for Historic Preservation finally allowed LexHistory to make that new home in the Thomas Hunt Morgan House, located in downtown Lexington on North Broadway. The organization opened its doors to the public in this new location in August 2023 with a reimagined permanent exhibit. In November 2024, Blue Grass Trust relocated its o ces to Hopemont, the former home of John Hunt Morgan, allowing LexHistory to take over the
Dr. Amanda Higgins, Ph.D., executive director of LexHistory, is working to usher the organization formerly known as the Lexington History Museum into a new era. The organization is now based in the Thomas Hunt Morgan House and will soon expand for an even bigger physical footprint.
entire building. For the first time in many years the entire collection is located in the same building, and LexHistory can expand its exhibition space.
With a fresh start in a new home, LexHistory has updated interpretations of its collection.
“When you come to the museum, you should see a piece of yourself,” explained Higgins, a University of Kentucky graduate and former sta member of the Kentucky Historical Society. “Whether you've been in Lexington for eight generations or eight seconds, you will learn something new.”
PHOTO BY EMILY GIANCARLO
Not only does the museum’s permanent exhibit include information about the bourbon and horse industries, but it also provides information on lesser-known aspects of the city, from the indigenous people who resided on the land as far back as 9000 B.C.E. and the history of the local hemp industry, to the history of tourism and hotels in Lexington and the ways in which IBM influenced the development of the city.
“Our goal is not to tell other people's stories. When you come to the museum you're not going to learn about Henry Clay or Mary Todd Lincoln. They have their own museums and can tell those stories better than we could,” Higgins said. “Instead, we contextualize it. Henry Clay and others made money from hemp, so we want to talk more about the product itself, the enslaved people who were doing the manual labor, and let you touch hemp fibers to see what processed hemp feels like.”
And while the final chronological step in the permanent exhibit’s interpretation currently stops with IBM becoming Lexmark in the late 20th century, 21st Century Lexington is making its way into the collection.
“We're very lucky to have a display of items from ‘Take Back Cheapside,’ including the shirts that organizers Russell Allen and DeBraun Thomas were wearing the day the city council voted to move the Confederate statues from the lawn next to Tandy Park,” Higgins said. “Those are important pieces of Lexington’s modern history, We are really proud to be able to share a piece of that.
“Our goal is that every Lexingtonian has a chance to see a piece of their history, and that's very aspirational,” she said. "We're not there yet. There are stories that we are not yet able to tell because we don't have the objects in our collection, or we don't have the necessary relationships established to tell certain stories carefully, but we're continuously working towards it.”
Higgins and the LexHistory team have already started planning what will happen with the additional space the museum recently acquired.
“One room will continue to be a community room that will be available for small community meetings and things like LexArts Hop, pop-up exhibits, and those sorts of things,” she said. “And the parlor will tell the Hunt Morgan family story, focusing on Thomas Hunt Morgan who grew up here.”
permanent exhibit traces various aspects of the city's history in a way that's designed to give context to the city's past and present.
LexHistory's
PHOTOS BY EMILY GIANCARLO
Thomas Hunt Morgan won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1933. Through his study of fruit flies, he demonstrated that genes are carried on chromosomes and are the basis of heredity, establishing the foundation for the modern science of genetics. The house was built in 1869 by Thomas’s parents Charlton Hunt Morgan and Nellie Howard Morgan, and the exhibit will explore the family connections to Nellie’s grandfather, Francis Scott Key, attorney and author of “The Star Spangled-Banner,” among others.
There are certainly aspects of the family’s history that are contentious and problematic — Carlton Hunt Morgan’s mother, Henrietta Hunt Morgan, was unapologetically pro-Confederacy and pro-slavery; Thomas himself was a member of the Eugenics Society for a period, though he eventually left that organization because he couldn't prove their be-
liefs through his work. But its important to the history purveyors at LexHistory to present the true story of the people who once resided in their space.
“If we deny that this house is a seat of uncomfortableness, we aren’t doing anything to learn from that history,” said Higgins.
“We know that this house doesn’t feel like a safe place to everyone, but we want to ameliorate that by telling stories that would never have been spoken aloud in these spaces when they were occupied by their original owners,” she added.
LexHistory looks forward to telling more stories about Lexington’s past, shining a light on unknown stories of the formation and evolution of the city, and creating a space where all Lexingtonians can find a part of their own history on display and share their stories of life in Lexington. n
Upcoming Events at the LexHistory Museum
210 N. Broadway • lexhistory.org
Feb. 8: Revolutionary Girl Dreaming: A Creative Writing Workshop for Young Women Grades 5-12. 9 a.m.-3:45 p.m. Registration required at whywrite.org.
Feb. 8: Dr. Simonetta Cochis performs as Madame Mentelle. (2 p.m.)
Feb. 17: Lexington History Hop (10 a.m.-4 p.m.) On Presidents’ Day, The Lexington History Museum, Ashland: The Henry Clay Estate, and the Mary Todd Lincoln House will each o er free admission to all. More info at lexhistory.org/history-hop.
PHOTO BY EMILY GIANCARLO
In addition to its permanent exhibit, LexHistory is hosting "Among Women: 130 Years of the Women's Club of Central Kentukcy," which weaves together the history of the Woman’s Club and Lexington’s social and cultural changes over more than a century.
NEW PASTURES
NEWBIES AND LONGTIME RESIDENTS ALIKE ARE INVITED TO CONNECT AT THE NEWCOMERS & FRIENDS OF LEXINGTON CLUB
STORY BY LIZ CAREY
It’s not just those new to Lexington who are welcome to join the Newcomers and Friends of Lexington Club.
According to Susan Feher, a member of the group and one of its marketing committee members, the Newcomers Club started with the mission of helping introduce people who were new to the area with other similarly situated people. Feher, who moved back to Lexington after retiring early to care for her mother, said she joined the club initially to find new people to connect with in the Lexington area.
Feher graduated from the University of Kentucky and then moved away with work after she graduated. It was years later before she returned.
“When I moved back here, I knew one or two people I went to college with, but they were married and involved with their own families and friends,” she said. “It was very hard for me to meet people at first. The Newcomers group was just a godsend.”
At the time she joined the group, membership was limited to a maximum of 18 months, after which point members were no longer considered to be “newcomers.” But rules have since changed, eliminating time limits and opening club membership to anyone, regardless of how long they’ve lived in town.
Pictured above: Newcomers and Friends of Lexington Club marketing committee member Susan Feher (left) and club president Jamie Williams.
At right, club members gather for a bimonthly game of Mahjong, PHOTOS BY EMILY GIANCARLO
BY BRENDA MCDONALD
zation], my main activity was the evening book club (as a young mother it was the best way to keep my brain from becoming mush)… My years in the Lexington evening book club are some of my fondest memories and one of the things I miss most.”
“With over 20 monthly activities, bimonthly tours and/or outings, and the four large group gatherings, it would be difficult not to have fun if you are a member who joins as many activities as feasible,” Williams said. The organization recently established a group for spouses and significant others, known as the SOGO (Significant Others Going Out) group, which meets monthly for breakfast or brunch.
And there’s more to come, she said. In January, the group added over a dozen additional activities, as interest has grown and additional leaders have been established. February’s calendar is stacked with nearly 20 opportunities for social outings, from book club and wine club to game nights, lunches and movie dates.
Feher said the group now has about 150 members, and it o ers a variety of opportunities to get together throughout the month. In addition to hosting monthly meetings for members and non-members, the organization also has a number of smaller groups who gather to do everything from playing Mahjong to wine or bourbon tastings.
Being a part of the group has led to a lot of activities, Feher said. Recently, some members of the group got together to attend a concert at Equus Run Winery.
“We’ve become friends,” she said of the members. “We know who will drink wine, who likes music, who likes jazz, and so we'll just reach out to anybody (within the group) we feel might be interested.”
The club has become a place for anyone interested in finding out more about the area, as well as finding new friends, club president Jamie Williams said.
“We have found that individuals join Newcomers and Friends of Lexington for a variety of personal reasons, the most common being a move to Lexington from somewhere across the country with a need to establish connections and make new friends,” she said. “But that is not the only reason. Some people have lived in the Bluegrass area for any number of years but may have recently lost a spouse/ significant other to divorce or death, and linkages with others soothes the loss.”
Other members may have retired and are looking to get active and have fun. And some join just to be part of a group that fosters friendships while o ering social activities and opportunities to get involved in the community.
Williams said the friendships that have formed within the group are long-lasting. After moving away, one past member wrote that the group was a godsend for her as a young mother. Williams said the woman wrote, “When I joined [the organi-
“Our club is, yes, for newcomers to the area; but we also celebrate our friends,” Williams said. “And we are fortunate to have members who are celebrating decades of membership with us. There is no limit to the number of friends we make nor to how long we keep them.”
A calendar of activities, as well as information on how to join, are available on t he group’s website — www.lexnewcomers. org . Feher recommends people to see for themselves how welcoming the group is by sampling a couple of the activities. n
PHOTO
Members of the Newcomers and Friends of Lexington Club have opportunities to attend group outings to local cultural events as well as meals and other gatherings planned by the organization.
PHOTO BY BRENDA MCDONALD
TIPS FOR MANAGING MENTAL HEALTH
BY MISSY AMMERMAN, LCSW THERAPIST AND COACH
As we head into February, the cumulative e ect of short, cold and days can take a toll on our mental health. Reduced amounts of sunlight can cause a decrease in serotonin, a neurotransmitter responsible for mood, sleep and energy, among other things. The drop in serotonin can lead to an increased risk of anxiety and depression. Of course, the shorter days aren’t the only factor associated with depression — family history, stressful life events, grief and substance abuse are some other possible factors.
So, what can we do about it? We know that getting adequate sleep, eating a balanced diet and exercise all contribute to a better mood, but what else can we do? Here are a few tips:
Learn to manage your thoughts.
Anytime you’re feeling down or anxious, ask yourself, “what thought is creating this feeling?” When you can identify the specific thought(s) leading to the uncomfortable feeling, you can learn to challenge the thought and replace it with a more balanced thought. For example, if a friend forgot your birthday, you might feel hurt and angry, and think “she is inconsiderate and doesn’t care about me.” However, if instead, you chose to focus on the thought “she’s been really stressed and busy, I won’t take it personally,” you might feel more calm, accepting and forgiving. Learning to change thoughts that create su ering and replace them with more balanced thoughts can lead to a better mood and better results.
Allow yourself to feel your emotions.
We all love to feel happy, joyful and excited, but what about the other emotions — the uncomfortable ones? What happens when you feel sad, overwhelmed or rejected? Do you want to push those emotions away or numb them with food, alcohol or spending? It’s normal to not
want to feel painful emotions, but avoiding or numbing them can lead to longer term anxiety, depression and stress. Recognize that even the uncomfortable emotions serve a purpose. If you’ve su ered a loss and feel sad, you should feel sad. That’s an appropriate emotional response to the situation. Emotions are temporary, and they will pass. If we can sit with them without judgement or assigning a negative label to them, we can better understand ourselves and learn to manage them better. When we better understand ourselves, we can have deeper, more meaningful relationships. Remember, all emotions are valid. Find healthy ways to express your emotions, like journaling, talking to a trusted friend, or engaging in physical activity.
Pay attention to your mind-body connection.
We not only experience emotions in our minds, but also in our bodies. Our mental and physical states a ect each other. Many of us are disconnected from our bodies. We’re unaware of how our emotions a ect our physical health and how our bodies give us clues about our emotional state. Strengthening the connection between your mind and body can help reduce stress, improve sleep, and increase self awareness. Pay attention to cues your body is giving you. Do you experience a pit in your stomach, a rapid heartbeat, or feel like there’s a weight on your chest when you’re feeling anxious? These are examples of some of the somatic symptoms of anxiety. Yoga, mindfulness, and meditation are ways to increase the mindbody connection.
Monitor what you’re ingesting.
If the news and social media stress you out, disengage from them! There is no rule that says you must be on social media or watch the news. Both of these platforms can create a lot of anxiety for people. If that’s true for you, give yourself permission to to abstain from them. Alcohol is another factor that can contribute to poor mental health — it may take the edge o in the short term, but those e ects are short lived. The long term e ects of alcohol on mental health create a tremendous amount of depression and anxiety. Take a break for a couple of weeks to see if you feel better.
Get Professional help.
How do you know when it’s time to seek professional help? When normal, day-today responsibilities feel overwhelming, when you’re not experiencing pleasure in things that used to light you up, when you are feeling hopeless, it’s time to get help. To be clear, you can seek therapy at any time. It can be invaluable to have an objective person o er feedback to allow you a deeper understanding of yourself and those around you. Going to therapy can improve your self esteem, relationships, coping skills and give you tools to manage life’s stressors. There is incredible power in just feeling heard and having help processing your emotions. If you’re feeling stuck, it might be time to get professional help.
These are just a few tips to help improve your mental health. It’s normal to have a bad day once in a while, but when the bad days outnumber the good days, it’s time to get some support. You deserve it. n
PHOTO FURNISHED
O ering both therapy and coaching services, Missy Ammerman has over 20 years of experience helping clients with anxiety, depression and relationship concerns. Fromerly located in Dudley Square, her o ce is now in Goodwin Square.
Christy Brown
Emily Biggins Isabella Hofmann
LUNCH PLANS
START-UP COMPANY PACKED OFFERS NUTRITIOUS, READY-TO-EAT SCHOOL LUNCH ALTERNATIVES
STORY BY LIZ CAREY PHOTOS BY EMILY GIANCARLO
For working parents, packing a school lunch can be a push-pull experience every morning.
You want your kid to be happy and have a healthy lunch, but finding the time during the morning hustle can be di cult. That need is what drove Becca Self and Liza Green to create a new local initiative called Packed. Focused on providing fresh, wholesome and tasty school lunch options, the company creates and delivers pre-packed lunches to schools across the city – and recently expanded to o er home deliveries.
An o shoot of Hunsicker, a Lexington-based venture studio that funds “purpose-driven startups,” Packed emerged from looking at gaps in the current school lunch system, Self said. According to their research, about 40% of school aged children across the country opt to bring lunch from home.
“In some cases, that’s because they attend a school where a lunch isn’t provided; in other cases, they are bypassing the cafeteria and going to all the extra trouble to bring a lunch from home. In some cases, they’re opting out of a free lunch," she said.
PHOTO BY EMILY GIANCARLO
Pictured above: Hunsicker CEO and Packed founder Becca Self (left) and Packed operations manager and chef Li Sturgis. Packed is a new intiative designed to expand healthy school lunch options.
Self is no stranger to packing lunches. Previously, she founded and ran FoodChain, a nutritional nonprofit, and Nourish Lexington, a program that prepared and distributed over 500,000 scratch-made meals. She’s also the mom of 10-year-old twins.
“Making school lunches is a lot of extra work,” she said. “You have to gather groceries, keep track of lunch boxes, and harp on your kids to bring it back. And 40 percent of the school lunch market is not trivial.”
This realization sparked an opportunity to meet the needs of parents seeking wholesome, tasty and convenient school lunch options for their kids. The company started with a focus on delivering fully prepared meals to participating schools, and now o ers a home delivery option, so that parents of any school can participate.
These are no basic peanut butter-and-jelly sandwiches either. Packed o ers a variety of options, from noodles to burrito bowls and superfood salads. Each entrée includes two sides, such as fresh veggies, fruit, pita chips or hummus.
“Kids love them,” she said. “And I have my own inhouse tasters.”
The program debuted this past spring at Providence Montessori, where Self’s children are enrolled. The school only o ers lunch on Fridays, leaving the rest of the week for parents to provide lunches. The eightweek pilot program proved so popular that more than half of the parents participated.
Hunsicker used the data collected during the trial to refine the concept. They interviewed kids, parents and
school sta to transform the idea into a full-fledged business. The company then brought in Liza Green as Packed’s CEO. Green, an experienced small-business founder, previously launched and grew a popular café and marketing concept in Sun Valley, Idaho, and managed operations for early-stage businesses at Amazon.
For Green, the opportunity to impact children’s lives was a motivating force.
“When I first learned about Packed, I was immediately drawn to the compelling mission and opportunity to have a significant impact on kids and families everywhere,” Green said. “Serving students wholesome, tasty meals that are incredibly convenient for parents and easy for schools to manage feels like a win-win-win situation. The traction we have seen in our early days is really exciting, and I love that we are working towards delivering quality, fresh food to students at scale.”
The company operates out of a commercial kitchen at Greyline Station, preparing around 350 lunches a week. Meals are made onsite, packed, and delivered to schools before lunchtime. Lunches are priced at about $8 each.
The variety in entrées and sides ensures kids don’t get bored, said Kate Kopytek, a Hunsicker associate who works with Packed.
Packed thrives on providing a variety of options that are healhty and appealing to all types of young eaters.
PHOTOS FURNISHED
“When parents order their lunches, they have the opportunity to sit down with their kid, almost like they’re at a restaurant, and have their kid look through them and you pick an entree and then pick their two sides to build their own lunch,” she said. “If you are ordering Packed for multiple days a week for your student, your student can have di erent lunches on every single one of those days. You can really switch it up. And we have a lot of di erent combinations available.”
“Our early traction tells us that people are really excited about what we are doing. Not only will it allow us to serve more customers, but it will also be insightful as we look for clarity on how best to move forward and serve people in Lexington and beyond.”
PACKED CEO LIZA GREEN
These personalized options also accommodate vegetarian, gluten-free and other dietary restrictions, Kopytek added. Once the meals are prepared, they’re packed into a larger box for delivery to the school. Containers are collected the next day by delivery drivers, eliminating waste and the need for parents to track down missing Tupperware, water bottles or lunch boxes.
Currently, Packed o ers delivery to three schools — Providence Montessori, Redwood Cooperative School and Lexington Christian Academy — but the business is expanding, Self said. She anticipates that more schools will come online, but home delivery service is now available, o ering the subscription option for parents of kids at all schools to participate. Parents must simply select
at least three meals for the following week by 8 a.m. Friday, and meals will be delivered to their doorsteps beginning that same Sunday.
Green said the response to the product seems to indicate it will continue to grow.
“Our early traction tells us that people are really excited about what we are doing,” said Green, who is anticipating the home delivery option to open more avenues for the organization. “Not only will it allow us to serve more customers, but it will also be insightful as we look for clarity on how best to move forward and serve people in Lexington and beyond.”
More information on home delivery and school delivery for partner schools is available online at lunchispacked.com. n
PHOTO BY EMILY GIANCARLO
Above, kitchen team worker Kiera Jackson and chef chef Li Sturgis work to prepare lunches for clients of Packed in a shared kitchen in Greyline Station.
Ask the Home Services Expert with Jamie Clark
Question: We were without power for almost 3 days, if we install a Generac generator how long will it run my home during a outage?
Helen S. Lexington.
Answer: Almost indefinitely! The good news is today’s automatic generators are designed for extended run times. I’ve had customers run on generator power for over 2 weeks with no issues. We do recommend after a long run cycle to have a routine maintenance to make sure to keep the generator in top shape.
Question: I only care about my sump pumps, heat, and refrigerator; Do I need a whole house generator or can I go with a smaller one?
Tammy B. Winchester
Answer: We absolutely can install a limited capacity generator that only powers selected circuits. Typically we power your furnace, sump pumps, microwave, garage door opener and a few lights and switches (maybe WIFI). With this option we can power your air-conditioner as well but it reduces the amount of other appliances we can power. We have nicknamed this our “glamping” package, it’s like glamourous camping. Not quite the full comfort of home but your basic needs are met.
Question: We have a larger home with 2 geothermal systems, I’ve been told we can’t run our whole house on a generator. Is this true? It’s not true, we can run any home or business on a generator it just depends on the size we need to meet your power consumption. We actually run into this question quite a bit and unfortunately it’s often bad advice from uneducated contractors. Because my team is focused on efficiency we understand the real world consumption of home appliances like geothermal systems better then a typical electrician. When we size a system we look at the home wholistically and size it based on real world needs, we often find other companies suggesting a one size fits all approach that will likely waste the customers money.
Brian N. Lexington
Answer: It’s not true, we can run any home or business on a generator it just depends on the size we need to meet your power consumption. We actually run into this question quite a bit and unfortunately it’s often bad advice from uneducated contractors. Because my team is focused on efficiency we understand the real world consumption of home appliances like geothermal systems better then a typical electrician. When we size a system we look at the home wholistically and size it based on real world needs, we often find other companies suggesting a one size fits all approach that will likely waste the customers money.
Do you have a question or a concern about your home’s e ciency, comfort or air quality? Send your questions or comments to info@ mysynergyhome.com.
DRINK OF THE MONTH
Ayurvedic Chiya Ayurvedic Tea
PHOTOS AND RECIPE BY
BABITA SHRESTHA
This month, we are presenting two recipes from Babita Shrestha, the Lexington-based Nepalese chef behind the cookbook “Plant-Based Himalaya.” The book features 38 vegan recipes from Shrestha’s home country — recipes she has been cooking and eating since she was young, from mouthwatering grains, dal, curries, greens and sauces to desserts and healthy teas.
This tea has properties to boost immunity and clear toxins from the body. Shrestha calls it a “lifesaver during chilly weather,” and says she likes to make a big batch at once to drink throughout the day.
Ingredients:
• 1⁄8 teaspoon tea leaf
• 1 slice lemon
• 4 cups water
• 4 clove buds • 2 slices ginger • 1⁄8 teaspoon turmeric
¼ teaspoon cumin seed
1⁄8 teaspoon thyme • 4 black peppercorns • 1 cinnamon stick
Method:
Boil four cups of water. Add tea leaves, lemon slices and the spices. (I crush the black pepper and ginger before adding them.)
Simmer for five minutes on low heat and strain into your favorite cup. Drink and feel better. n
Lexingtonbased chef, author and food photographer Babita Shrestha's cookbook "Plant-Based Himalaya" features vegan recipes, photographs and more from her native country Nepal.
IMAGE FURNISHED
FURNISHED
Bharta Mashed Eggplant
RECIPE AND PHOTOS BY
BABITA SHRESTHA
FROM THE COOKBOOK “PLANT-BASED HIMALAYA”
This recipe is absolutely amazing with anything –I eat it with rice, naan or with a good sourdough toast. This might become your new favorite side dish and is also a huge hit at dinner parties.
Babita Shreshta's love a ar with food started in Nepal's Terai region, where she learned traditional cooking from her mother.
PHOTO
Ingredients:
• 1 large eggplant
• 1 medium tomato
• 1 medium potato
• ½ medium red onion
• 2 tablespoons coconut oil
• ½ teaspoon cumin seed
Method:
• 2 cloves garlic
• 2 slices ginger
• 1 medium dried red chili
• 2 medium fresh red chilies
• ½ teaspoon cumin powder
• ½ teaspoon turmeric
• ½ cup cilantro
• 1 teaspoon salt
Grill the eggplant and tomato directly on the stove, turning regularly to keep from burning* (see note below for alternative cooking method). Once the eggplant and tomato are fully grilled (about 10 minutes), let them cool.
Boil the potato in a pan or pressure cooker for about 15 minutes or until it is soft in the middle. Take the potato out of the water, cut in the middle, and let it cool down.
With a fork, slowly peel the skin o the eggplant, tomato and potato. Be ready to get messy! Mash the eggplant, tomato and potato on a shallow plate. (I keep my potato chunky.) Finely chop ginger, garlic, onion and red chilies.
Heat a pan on medium and add oil. Once the oil is hot, temper cumin seeds for a few seconds. Add the whole dried red chili, chopped ginger and garlic. Cook for a minute and then add finely chopped onion and fresh red chilis. Fry until they turn golden brown and then turn the heat to low. Add cumin powder and turmeric. Mix well.
Add the mashed potato to the pan and turn the heat to medium. Fry for a few minutes and then add the eggplant, tomato and salt. Mix well and turn the stove o .
Add chopped cilantro and mix thoroughly. Also garnish with some more fresh cilantro and roasted sesame seeds on top. The mouthwatering bharta is ready to serve. (Serves two.)
*Note: I love the smoky flavor of fire-roasted eggplant, cooked directly on the grill, but you can also roast the eggplant and tomato in the oven. Cut the eggplant in half and place them in a baking pan with the tomato. Drizzle with a tablespoon of oil and sprinkle with a pinch of salt. Roast for about 30 minutes, or until the eggplant is tender. n
PHOTO BY BABITA SHRESTHA
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Events Calendar
CONCERTS & GIGS
Black Jacket Symphony Presents: The Beatles Abbey Road. Feb. 2. Experience a stunning live performance of “Abbey Road” as Black Jacket Symphony recreates The Beatles’ pivotal 1969 album, note for note, in its entirety. This tribute combines top-tier musicianship with a passion for classic rock. 8 p.m. Lexington Opera House, 401 W. Short St. www.lexingtonoperahouse.com
Troubadour Concert Series: Billy Gibbons. Feb. 6. Legendary ZZ Top guitarist and vocalist Billy Gibbons takes the stage with his signature bluesy swagger, delivering hits and deep cuts from his storied career. A must-see for rock and blues enthusiasts. 7:30 p.m. Kentucky Theater, 214 E. Main St. www.troubashow.com
Jessica Lea Mayfield. Feb. 7. Known for her haunting voice and raw songwriting, Jessica Lea Mayfield blends indie rock with Americana influences to create a sound that’s both intimate and powerful. 8 p.m. The Burl, 475 Thompson Road. www.theburlky.com
The Fanged Robot: A Tribute to Robby Cosenza. Feb. 8. Celebrate the life and music of Lexington musician Robby Cosenza with a special tribute performance by The Fanged Robot, showcasing his unique contributions to the local music scene. 8 p.m. The Burl, 475 Thompson Road. www.theburlky.com
The Wood Brothers. Feb. 15. This Grammy-nominated trio delivers soulful, roots-infused melodies with a modern twist. Known for their tight harmonies and dynamic stage presence, The Wood Brothers create an unforgettable live music experience. 8 p.m. Lexington Opera House, 401 W. Short St. www. lexingtonoperahouse.com
Herb Alpert & Tijuana Brass. Feb. 15. Renowned trumpeter Herb Alpert brings his unmistakable sound to the stage with the Tijuana Brass. Experience the timeless hits and upbeat melodies that made him a global icon. 7:30 p.m. Lexington Opera House, 401 W. Short St. www. lexingtonoperahouse.com
Saxsquatch (late show). Feb. 21. Combining smooth saxophone melodies and playful showmanship, Saxsquatch delivers a unique blend of jazz, funk and humor in a one-of-a-kind performance. 10 p.m. The Burl, 475 Thompson Road. www.theburlky.com
Tall Tall Trees. Feb. 27. Under the Tall Tall Trees moniker, banjo innovator Mike Savino brings experimental folk and psychedelic sounds to life with his captivating solo performances and inventive use of e ects and looping. 8 p.m.
The Burl, 475 Thompson Road. www.theburlky.com
Blake Shelton. Feb 27. Country music superstar Blake Shelton brings his chart-topping hits and charismatic stage presence to Lexington for an epic arena show. 7:30 p.m. Rupp Arena, 430 W. Vine St. www.rupparena.com
Legendary hitmakers Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass will perform at the Lexington Opera House on Feb. 15.
PHOTO BY DEWEY NICKS
ART & EXHIBITS
Paintings by Margie M. Rigney & Nancy Z. Hall. On display through Feb. 16. Two local artists, fluent in a variety of media and styles, present paintings inspired by Kentucky’s natural riches. Often mixing mediums into individual pieces, Margie M. Rigney works in India ink, oil paints, pastels and acrylics. Since discovering her passion for pastels over 40 years ago, Nancy Z. Hall has refined her craft into a unique multi-layered method on sanded paper. Gallery hours: Sat. and Sun.: 12-3 p.m. Mill & Max Contemplative Arts Space (located inside Shambhala Meditation Center), 305 W. Maxwell St. www.millandmaxgallery.com
Kole Nichols: Even When It’s Dark Out. On display through Feb. 22. Exploring divisions of space and the thresholds that define boundaries through a process of internal reflection on memories of traversing the south, Nichols distorts familiar architectural motifs such as gates, windows and doors into amalgamated compositions gathered from personal recollections both vague and vivid. Alongside these terrestrial thresholds, the artist mounts a parallel exploration of non-physical boundaries through loose constructions of star fields, maps and charts, presenting a series of works that explores the limits between interior and exterior. These investigations of the physical and the nonphysical unfold together within a unified formal language, reflecting the artist’s internal journey to establish an ordered relationship between the earthly and the spiritual. Gallery Hours: Wed.-Sat.: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. and by appointment. Institute 193, 193 North Limestone St. www.institute193.org
Lexington Creative Camera Club’s 53rd Annual Print Competition and Exhibition. On display through Feb. 28. This annual event provides the group’s members, which currently number approximately 85, an opportunity to showcase their work in any of 16 di erent topics, including Portrait, Natural Pictorial, Abstract, Flora, Fauna, Sports & Recreation, Architecture, Photojournalism and more. Awards are given in various categories, chosen by a panel of three judges from outside of the membership. Gallery hours: Mon.-Tues., Thurs.-Fri., 10 a.m.- 5 p.m.; Wed., 10 a.m.- 8 p.m.; Sat., 12-5 p.m. LexArts Gallery, 161 N. Mill St. lexarts.org
Jason Scroggins’ “Massimals: League.” On display Feb. 7-March 21. This exhibit features large design fabrications by Jason Scroggin, an associate professor at University of Kentucky College of Design. Each object is a variation on his Massimals project: abstractions of animal forms built in the manner of architectural study models. The “models” are exercises in material and assembly methods presented in the form of lumbering polar bears. Gallery hours: Wed.-Sat., 12-5 p.m. Lexington Art League at the Loudoun House, 209 Castlewood Dr. www.lexingtonartleague.org
be on display at Institiute 193 through Feb. 22. Nichols distorts familiar architectural motifs such as gates, windows and doors into amalgamated compositions, such as with this piece "Past the Long Hall."
IMAGE FURNISHED
Paintings by Margie M. Rigney (above) and Nancy Z. Hall will be on display at the Mill & Max Contemplative Arts Space located inside Shambhala Meditation Center through Feb. 16.
Art by Kole Nichols will
IMAGE FURNSHED
inquiries to stellaskentuckydeli@gmail.com or visit www.stellaskentuckydeli.com to place your order today!
ETC.
On the Verge: “The Lion in Winter.” Feb. 1. James Goldman’s “The Lion in Winter” is a historical drama that delves into the power struggles and family dynamics of King Henry II, Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine and their sons during a Christmas court in 12th-century England. This play combines sharp wit, emotional depth and political intrigue. 7 p.m. Luigart Gallery, 110 Luigart Ct. www. ontheverge.org
“Ain’t Too Proud to Beg: The Life and Times of the Temptations.” Feb. 7-9. This Tony Award-winning musical tells the story of The Temptations, from their beginnings in Detroit to becoming one of Motown’s most iconic groups. Featuring unforgettable hits like “My Girl” and “Just My Imagination,” this
show captures their struggles and successes with electrifying choreography and storytelling. 7:30 p.m. Fri.; 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Sat.; 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Sun. Lexington Opera House, 401 W. Short St. www.lexingtonoperahouse.com
Singletary Center Visual Music Festival. Feb. 8. This inaugural one-day festival blends visual art with live music, o ering an immersive experience for multimedia visuals to interact with experimental compositions. The event showcases collaborations between artists and musicians, celebrating innovative and sensory-driven performances, and will conclude with a special 7 p.m. screening of Godfrey Reggio's landmark non-narrative documentary, "Koyaanisqatsi," featuring music composed by Philip Glass. 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. Singletary Center for the Arts, 405 Rose St. www.uky.edu/scfa
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IMAGE FURNISHED
The Award-winning musical "Ain't Too Proud to Beg: The Life and Times of the Temptations" comes to the Lexington Opera House Feb. 7-9.
SPONSORSHIPS AVAILABLE FOR ALL
Crave Taco Week
March 3-9
Join us as we celebrate Lexington’s taco culture with this weeklong culinary event.
Bluegrass BBQ Fest
May 16-17
Bring your appetite for the regions best pit-masters for two days of bbq, beer, bourbon, live music and more.
Lexington Shop Local Week
June 9-15
Shop local all week with select Lexington stores o ering exclusive deals and steals to celebrate and support small businesses!
Lexington Burger Week
July 14-20
Enjoy $7, one-of-a-kind burgers at participating restaurants throughout the city!
Crave Food + Music Festival 2025 Date Coming Soon!
Lexington’s epic food and music festival returns with local foodmakers and restaurants, food
chef demos, live music, kids
craft cocktails and more.
Creative Intelligence Series: Maria Hinojosa. Feb. 11. A reporter who spent the beginning of her career as the first Latina in many newsrooms, Maria Hinojosa created Futuro Media, an independent, nonprofit newsroom based in Harlem with the mission to create multimedia content from a perspective of people of color, in 2010. In that role and many others — including anchor and executive producer of the PBS show “America By the Numbers” and the Peabody Award-winning NPR show “Latino USA,” co-host of the Futuro Media’s new political podcast “In The Thick,” and contributor to the awardwinning news program “CBS Sunday Morning” —Hinojosa has informed millions about the changing cultural and political landscape in America and abroad. She’ll give a public talk and book signing as part of Transylvania University’s “Creative Intelligence Series.” 7 p.m. Haggin Auditorium, 350 N. Broadway. www.transy.edu/calendar/creative-intelligence
Local Legacy: Celebrating 50 Years of Lexington Ballet with Ben Sollee. Feb. 21-22. The Lexington Ballet will celebrate its 50th with a performance that bridges classical dance and live music. Featuring acclaimed cellist Ben Sollee, the evening honors the ballet’s history while showcasing its artistic future through a fusion of movement and sound. 7:30 p.m. Fri., and Sat.; 2 p.m. Sat. Lexington Opera House, 401 W. Short St. www.lexingtonoperahouse.com
Marc Maron. Feb. 23. Stand-up comedian Marc Maron brings his latest show to Lexington, combining his signature blend of storytelling and incisive humor. Maron, known for his podcast and acting roles, reflects on personal and cultural issues with wit and honesty. 7:30 p.m. Lexington Opera House, 401 W. Short St. www.lexingtonoperahouse.com
The Addams Family: A Musical Comedy. Feb. 28-March 2. The antics of the beloved spooky family continue in this musical comedy, following Gomez, Morticia, and their eccentric clan as they host a dinner with an ordinary family. The night brings surprising twists, heartfelt moments, and a touch of macabre humor. 7:30 p.m. Fri.; 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Sat.; 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sun. Lexington Opera House, 401 W. Short St. www.lexingtonoperahouse.com
Adventure Theatre: Songs for a New World. Feb.21-March 2. Jason Robert Brown’s “Songs for a New World” o ers a series of standalone musical numbers exploring change, resilience, and hope. This intimate production combines evocative storytelling and standout performances by Adventure Theatre’s talented ensemble. 7:30 p.m. Fri. and Sat.; 2:30 p.m. Sun. Pam Miller Downtown Arts Center Black Box Theatre, 141 E. Main St. www.adventuretheatreky. com/songs-for-a-new-world. html n
SMILEY PETE’S RETAIL GUIDE
be able
PHOTO BY ELIZABETH VIGGIANO
Comedian, actor and podcast host Marc Maron will take the Lexington Opera House stage on Feb. 23.
PETE’S PROPERTIES
Recent Residential Property Transactions
40502
159 Sherman Ave. $185,000
110 Hazel Ave. $200,000
712 Sunset Dr. $225,000
110 Hazel Ave. $225,000
109 Hazel Ave. $230,000
385 Preston Ave. $230,000
314 Richmond Ave. $255,000
255 Malabu Dr.$275,000
266 Leawood Dr. $340,000
799 Zandale Dr.$385,000
249 Henry Clay Blvd. $535,000
3429 Bellefonte Dr. $565,000
815 Cooper Dr.$570,000
604 Beechmont Rd. $572,000
245 Henry Clay Blvd. $590,000
3004 Shirlee Dr.$610,000
160 Preston Ave. $645,000
628 Raintree Rd. $687,500
377 Colony Blvd. $747,500
1233 Scoville Rd. $749,900
205 Sycamore Rd. $828,000
2036 Blairmore Rd. $835,000
436 Ridgeway Rd. $866,035
1056 Turkey Foot Rd. $875,000
235 Irvine Rd. $900,000
407 Hart Rd. $933,000
321 Sycamore Rd. $1,100,000
1941 Long Pond Walk $1,150,000
2161 Lakeside Dr.$1,425,000
40503
165 Suburban Ct. $260,000
3112 Cottontail Ln. $315,000
776 Wellington Way $625,000 1831 Bellefonte Dr. $576,000
40513
3553 Robinhill Way $274,000 3624 Cottage Cir. $315,000 2065 Glade Ln. $352,000 2124 Allegheny Way $412,500
2108 Cave Hill Ln. $415,000
4308 Gum Tree Ln. $480,000
3239 Gondola Dr. $555,000 2209 Burrus Dr. $562,000 2249 Shannawood Dr. $568,500
3516 Lyon Dr. $578,000
3283 Ridgecane Rd. $660,830
4241 Captains Ct. $785,500 1405 Tuscany Ln. $1,150,000 40514
4268 Steamboat Rd. $306,000
2339 Harrods Pointe Trce. $359,900
4813 Hartland Woods Ct. $250,000
Recent arm’s length residentialsales for this magazine’s distribution area. Information compiledby Fayette County Property Valuation Administrator David O’Neill. For more information on any of these properties,or others,pleasevisitwww.fayettepva.
BIGGEST MOVER: 2161 LAKESIDE DRIVE $1,425,000
An extraordinary opportunity to own Rushing Dream Farm, an exquisite compound featuring 3 homes and 2 barns with a total of 26 stalls. Recently reimagined by the nationally acclaimed Matthew Carter Interiors, renowned for his signature ‘Southern-chic style,’ and architect Brent Bruner, this estate seamlessly blends Palm Beach elegance with Lexington’s classic grandeur. Located a 2 miles from the Kentucky Horse Park, this farm offers unparalleled views from every room. Nestled on 60 picturesque acres off Iron Works Pike, the property boasts a fully stocked shared pond and stunning landscaping and. Each room is a masterpiece, adorned with custom textiles, exquisite wall coverings, and hand-selected antique furnishings that exude cozy sophistication. The living spaces feature beautiful reclaimed oak and limestone flooring. This remarkable compound is offered 100% turnkey! Property is deeded as 4 separate parcels, which can be sold separately and has no conservation easement.
