TOPS October 2024 by TOPS Magazine

EXTRAORDINARY JEWELRY & TIMEPIECES

100 acts of kindness

Serving as the cornerstone of Hooker Furnishing's 100th anniversary, the company launched its signature philanthropic program—100 Acts of Kindness—designed to amplify its spirit of giving in an even more meaningful way during the centennial year. The nation-wide program aims to further enhance the lives of those in need, broadening its reach to communities across the United States. Burke Furniture in Lexington, KY is proud to be a Hooker Furnishing 100 Acts of Kindness partner. Burke has matched the offering from Hooker Furnishings and will be rafﬂ ing four furniture pieces.

Tickets Available for Purchase: October 1 - October 31

Rules: Donate $25 for one chance to win an item, $100 for 5 chances to win. Please scan the QR code for more information, to purchase rafﬂe tickets, and donate.

Elevating Interiors

At America’s Floor Source, we believe your home should reflect you and your personal style. As your expert style resource, we’ll work with you to curate the best solutions for your ideal space.

We strive to create a home design destination – one that would combine the expertise and quality of a luxury brand with the approachability of a local business.

Coming Soon: The Quantrell Jones Center!

You may have seen construction trucks coming and going on West Loudon Avenue for several months—the newest addition to the Hope Center’s campus will provide 72 supportive transitional housing beds, 24 of which are designated for veterans facing homelessness. This new facility will be a space for people to live and receive supportive services while they get back on their feet.

The Hope Center Would Like to Thank its Project Partners:

Bonnie Quantrell Jones & Quantrell Auto Group • Cathy Jacobs and Don Jacobs, Sr. Charitable Foundation • Bill & Erin Rouse • Veterans Administration Grant Funding • Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government ARPA Funding • John McCarty • Jim Blackerby • Dr. Mark Adams • PNC • Central Bank • Alliance Corporation • Integrity Architecture

Learn more about the Quantrell Jones Center and what’s going on at the 16th annual Ball Homes Night of Hope on Tuesday, October 8th at the Lexington Opera House!

Supporters and clients of the Hope Center pack the Lexington Opera House in the late fall for an inspirational, entertaining, and meaningful evening. The program features uplifting music, video vignettes from Hope Center clients, and a candid, compelling talk from our featured speaker, Nic Sheff, who’s story was told in the ﬁ lm Beautiful Boy!

For more information, visit hopectr.org/events

465 East High St., Ste. 201 Lexington, KY 40507

(859) 543-8677 TOPSinLex.com @topsinlex TopsInLex

BILLING QUESTIONS: billing@topsmarketing.com TO ADVERTISE: advertising@topsmarketing.com TO SUBSCRIBE: topsinlex.com/subscribe

As the vice president of community relations for TOPS Marketing, Vicki Evans ensures that the rich and diverse enterprises of Lexington, particularly its non-proﬁts, have the chance to pursue dynamic growth strategies and continue their missions into the future.

“Seeing individuals and businesses that I work with thrive and knowing that the partnerships and marketing tools that we have put into place are playing an integral part of their success is the most rewarding part of my job,” Evans said.

Vicki Evans

“I love being out in the community and thoroughly enjoy working with and contributing to the growth and livelihood of various businesses and non-proﬁt organizations. Seeing the end results of hard work and commitment is so rewarding! The more I can be involved and contribute to this success, the better.” Evans leads with a dedication to four key principles: honesty, integrity, commitment and hard work. And she’s driven by a heartfelt passion for the larger Lexington region.

“TOPS Marketing has a huge presence in the community,” she concluded. “By partnering with local businesses and organizations, TOPS is able to assist in making Lexington and its surrounding areas

Keni Parks Stephanie Gilmore

Woody Phillips Tracie Dillon

Mary Pace Ron Morrow

Editor’s Picks

Hello Friends!

Hooray! It’s Fall in the Bluegrass! In addition to being our favorite time of the year, we’ve got football and Keeneland, which means tailgating season is in high gear. Whether you’re in the parking lot or the grass admiring the gorgeous foliage that surrounds your get-together, these accessories are sure to make your gathering a big hit. Enjoy!

For Your Favorite

Sideline Activity:

Kentucky Cornhole Set: Collapsable Tailgating Table (Available at Camerons.com)

Beverage Buddies:

UK Corkcicle Collection (Available at My Favorite Things)

Stash Your Supplies in Style:

Keeneland Wooden Crate (Available at the Keeneland Shop)

Show Your Pride for the Ponies and Your Country:

American Flag Can Cooler (Available at the Keeneland Shop)

If You’re Grilling You Need This:

Fangsun Large Grill and Picnic Caddy (Available from Fangsun)

Wanna Be the Hostess with the Mostest?

Kentucky Wildcats Tailgate Apron (Available at Kentucky Branded)

YOU a ye SLEEP BETTER

Sug ed ad :

Sleep is important. Anyone who has pulled an all-nighter knows this all too well. But most of us don’t really consider the long-term effects of prolonged lack of sleep. Studies show that sleep helps us stay healthy in a number of ways. From boosting our immune systems to lowering our risk for heart disease, diabetes and other serious health problems, sleep does way more than just keep you from being grouchy. But it deﬁnitely does that, too; getting enough sleep reduces stress, improves your mood and helps you make good decisions.

But not all sleep is created equal. Most of us manage to get enough sleep – at least 7 hours for adults – but the quality of that sleep may be lacking. If you often wake throughout the night or feel tired in the morning, you may be sleeping too lightly to have effective rest.

There are ways you can improve the quality of your sleep to ensure you get the maximum health beneﬁts.

Keep a Routine

When you sleep matters. Your body creates its own “biological clock” according to the patterns of daylight you’re exposed to. If you’re staying up or sleeping in too often – or, worse, your sleep schedule is erratic – you generally don’t sleep deeply. Ideally, you should be sleeping and waking with the sun, give or take a few hours. Whatever routine you set, stick with it and your body will adapt.

Folks who work the night shift or a split schedule often struggle the most with sleep because they’re working against their own biological clock. For those people, faking the correct lighting is absolutely essential. Get blackout curtains, sleep masks, daylight simulators and other tools to help trick your body into a good sleep groove.

Practice Good Sleep Hygiene

We don’t mean bathing – although, that can’t hurt. Keep non-sleep activities out of your sleep time. As you approach bedtime, begin to turn off your screens, stop doing vigorous or stressful activities, cut off snacking, dim your lights and create a sleep-friendly vibe.

Turning off screens is essential. The “blue light” from digital screens interrupts your biological clock, tricking your brain into thinking you’re seeing sunlight. But even if you turn on screen shift, you are likely exposing yourself to lots of content that is exciting, distressing, annoying, hilarious and upsetting. All those shifts in your emotions increase your heart rate, getting you further and further from good sleep. So cut it out!

Creature Comforts

A good mattress, comfortable sheets and supportive pillows are key ingredients for good sleep and overall wellness. You deserve quality bedding! Splurging on these items isn’t an indulgence, but rather an important way to stave off aches and pains throughout the day.

Seek a Professional

If you struggle to sleep for any reason, talk to a professional. Your doctor or a sleep expert will be able to help you build a routine that supports good, deep sleep. Some people suffer from sleep disorders and often have no idea. If you struggle to fall asleep or stay asleep, still feel tired after a good night’s rest, feel dangerously sleepy during the day, snore very loudly or gasp/stop breathing in your sleep or feel like it’s hard to move when you wake, you may have a sleep disorder. A doctor can help you get to the root of your trouble and ﬁnd a solution.

Her faves:

TASTEMAKERSLoc C n Pe y

MISS KENTUCKY USA

Where would we likely ﬁnd you on a night out?

ItalX, and then a stroll through the Pavillion to see where the night takes my friends and I!

What’s your can’t-miss event of the year?

The Kentucky Roots and Heritage Festival.

What is your favorite Kentucky product?

I love Ale-8-One so much that I danced my way into their Emmy award winning Musical Commercial!

What’s the most beautiful place in the area?

The Lexington Cemetery has breathtakingly beautiful landscaping, especially the cherry blossom trees.

What’s your favorite “hidden gem” in Lexington?

Boonedogs Restaurant-You take a beautiful scenic drive down Old Richmond Road, and all dogs are welcome!

What’s your favorite local store?

Wearhouse Vintage has the most incredible collection of everything you could think of, and I love the owners!

What’s the best drink in town?

The Espresso Martini by Andy from The Jockey Bar in Downtown Lexington.

What’s the best dish?

The Oscar Style Grilled Salmon from Carson’s.

What’s your signature fragrance?

Indigo by NEST.

What’s always in your pocket?

Hand sanitizer, e.l.f. lip oil, and Aquaphor.

What’s on your wishlist right now?

Lululemon Dance Studio Pants in TALL (always sold out).

Boonedogs Lexington Cemetery Wearhouse ItalX

Harvest Décor

Natural Inspiration

In autumn, everyone’s home décor takes on a more organic vibe. Inspired by nature’s bounty, fall interior ﬁnds tend to highlight the splendor of autumn.

Dried ﬂowers, corn shucks, wheat sheafs and herbs are an easy way to bring this natural inspiration into your home. Add in pumpkins, corn and other vegetables – whether real or faux – and you’re guaranteed to nail the look.

Generally, these goods work best when paired with materials inspired by nature. Rough clay pots, wicker baskets and natural ﬁbers can make these farmers’ market goods a seamless addition to your décor.

Grandin Road

House

Hearth & Hand | Target

The Softer Side of Fall

Accent pillows are an easy home décor swap as the seasons change. But in recent years, these cuddly accessories have taken on a life of their own. Exciting shapes, materials, trims and designs have made these far more than a simple “toss it and forget it” interior accessory. Even some décor pieces have taken on a ﬂuffy, cozy vibe with plush fabrics and ﬁllings.

The Front Porch

My Favorite Things

West Elm

TJ Maxx

Marshalls

Pumpkin Patch Picks

Feeling gourd-geous this season? Pumpkins are a natural addition to your fall décor; they’re not only seasonal, but adorable, to boot!

Today, you can ﬁnd pumpkin decorations in just about every color under the sun; you’re certainly not limited to orange! From disco balls to glass gourds, there’s something to suit absolutely any style.

One of our favorite design tricks for this time of year is to ﬁnd clever ways to sneak pumpkins into your tablescapes, ﬂorals, shelf arrangements and other little design “moments.” It feels so fresh and unexpected. •

We love this 29” branch featuring faux pumpkins, available at House!

Target

West Elm

Front Porch Fa

Every Southerner knows that the porch is the most important part of the home. While that might be a slight exaggeration, the front door really does set the tone for your whole home – and the hospitality offered within. This is especially true during the autumn and winter months, when your landscaping may not project the most vibrant and appealing look. A well-decorated, seasonal porch or front door signals to neighbors, friends and guests that our homes welcome not only them, but the ﬁrst crisp breezes of fall. by Amanda Harper

Go Green

While every other home is celebrating the riot of reds, oranges, browns and yellows happening in the trees, you have a golden opportunity to set your exterior apart in a big way by employing verdant greenery. We also love décor that features the (very seasonal) cabbages and brassicas of October, bringing in not only green, but also pinks, purples and whites.

Better Homes & Gardens

Southern Living

Garden Party

The harvest season offers so many sources of natural decorations. From fodder shocks to gorgeous gourds, we love the look of nature’s bounty – even if you do choose to go faux! Take it a step further by incorporating other items from the garden, like watering cans, Wellington boots, rakes or wooden crates.

Better Homes & Gardens

@ jenn_k_design

Liz Marie Blog

Expect the Unexpected

Fall décor tends to emphasize the colors of fall leaves. And while that helps our homes color coordinate with autumn’s glory, it can also be a bit expected. Choosing decorations that feature unexpected colors can instantly draw attention. Stepping out of the box a little with blushes, pinks, red-purples and blues will set your home apart from the rest.

Frontgate The Pink Dream

Grandin Road

DarbyCreekTrading

available from My Favorite Things

Very Illuminating

As the days grow shorter, having a well-lit porch can be a matter of safety. But function can meet style with thoughtfully-chosen lights and lanterns, making your home fall fabulous any time of day!

We love the look of antiqued and copper lanterns with ﬂickering real or LED candles. Adding fairy lights to your garlands, planters, wreaths or topiaries offers a subtle sparkle that everyone on the block will appreciate. •

Southern Living

Hello Hayley

Gathered Living

Frontgate

Thibaut

Sit a Spell

Almost all of us have some small pockets of space in our home that are totally underutilized. Whether it’s that odd corner you’ve never quite known what to do with or a room that just feels too large, these spaces can be a real design pickle.

One of our favorite – and functional – ways to ﬁll empty space is the dedicated sitting area. These little “moments” within your room offer tons of potential purpose. Whether it’s sitting with your best friend to chat about your day or a cozy spot to enjoy your favorite hobby, sitting areas are not only useful, but also beautiful. by Amanda Harper

Happy Hallway

If you have a hall table, it’s possible that you have a lovely sitting area just waiting to happen. Tucking a stool under the table instantly makes the surface far more useful than serving as a place to set your keys. This can be a spot you put on your shoes, sort your mail and decompress from the day.

The Desk Set

Many of us would like to have a home ofﬁce, but struggle to dedicate any space entirely to handling the monthly bills. If you need your desk to offer more function day to day than a typical ofﬁce might, consider building yourself a multi-tasking sitting area.

Place comfortable armchairs around a deskheight surface. Tuck away your ofﬁce necessities in a drawer. When it’s not your command center, this sitting area can be a place to sip cocktails and entertain your guests.

Here, a console table actually serves as a desk. The chair slides neatly under the table when not in use, so it doesn’t occupy too much ﬂoor space.

Table the Discussion

An armchair by itself is just a chair. But place a table beside it, and voila, you’ve got a sitting area! If you are really tight on space, use a cocktail or C-shaped table to ensure you get the cohesion without sacriﬁcing square footage.

Pottery Barn

On the Bench

Anyone who has a bench knows that it’s far more than just a spot to sit.

Place one in your entryway or mudroom and you have somewhere to toss your bags and groceries as you come in the door. Set it at the foot of your bed, and you have a place to get dressed. Clever home decorators know that a carefully-chosen bench could actually double as a coffee table, offering ﬂexible potential seating for people who entertain often. Put in the kitchen, you’ve got a spot for guests and family to relax and chat while you wrap up dinner. And they’re obviously amazing combined seating and storage outdoors.

Book Nook

Reading is fundamental – and so is taking a load off to relax once in a while! Creating a little sitting area near a bookcase can offer you a little haven in your home. Be sure to include a small table for a cup of tea or coffee.

Cocktail Time

An armchair paired with a bar cart or cocktail table is an open invitation to relax and unwind. Add another chair if you’d like company… or don’t. That’s your prerogative.

Studio McGee

DIY Bunker Pottery Barn

Cozy Sanctuary

If you’re blessed with a large bedroom, you may ﬁnd that it’s a double-edged sword: undoubtedly, some of that ample square footage is going to waste. Rather than keeping the space feeling cavernous, try placing a couple of armchairs and a table in the room. You’ll be amazed how much more time you’ll spend relaxing in the sanctuary of your bedroom.

Comfy Kitchen

Eat-in kitchens are due for a comeback. While everyone loves breakfast nook, many kitchens simply weren’t made to accommodate the extra seating space. Or so you thought! Even a small table with a couple of chairs or a bench can create the comfy spot you’ve been searching for.

Cool Corner

Just about any corner could potentially become a seating area. Below, an awkward, unusued loft space became a cool spot to sit with a hanging chair and a window seat. You can practically imagine relaxing with a book or hanging with your best friend. And, ultimately, that’s all it takes: some imagination! •

Kate Marker Interiors

Better Homes & Gardens

My Domaine

BOOKS • GIFTS • FOOD AUTHOR EVENTS

Joseph-Beth at Lexington Green

161 Lexington Green Circle, Lexington KY 40503 (859) 273-2911

Monday - Saturday, 10am - 9pm Sunday, 10am - 6pm

Thank you for supporting Joseph-Beth, your local, independent bookstore.

Paint It!

This year’s interior design trends are no exception to fashion’s organic vibes, neutral styles, and coastal look. As we transition into cooler temps and more time indoors, consider stirring up these popular paint shades for a seasonal home refresh. Whether for a minor bathroom project or full scale living space makeover, look forward to cozy neutrals, subtle nods to color, and a few dramatic hues. by Erin Oliver

Behr

Cracked Pepper • Behr

This moody, black charcoal shade is adaptable to any style. Complement with metallic decor for an industrial vibe or balance with plush furniture for a softer look.

Billiard Green • Sherwin-Williams

A perfect ﬁt for the Bluegrass, this classic color is ideal for any study, butler’s pantry, or small room, and partners exceptionally well with gold accents.

Quietude • HGTV Home

This 2025 Color of the Year offers a quiet power within a space. When accented by deeper hues, it really shines!

Limitless • Glidden

Make your kitchen a place you actually want to be in with drips of this warm honey tone for a warm and inviting cooking space.

Rumors • Behr

Shown to the left, Behr’s 2025 Color of the Year is a dramatic dahlia red that will make a statement – and surely get tongues wagging.

Glidden

Behr

Sherwin-Williams

HGTV Home

The Blues

Blue Nova • Benjamin Moore

Encapsulate your bedroom in this rich blue with hues of violet for a grounding shade that supports calmness and a good night’s rest.

Encore • Valspar

Can we get a round of applause for Valspar’s 2025 Color of the Year? This moody blue is not only stunning, it’s also perfect for members of the Big Blue Nation.

Thermal • C2

Use this delicate blue to gently brighten kitchen cabinets or accent surrounding spaces in a shade that resembles a cloudless blue sky.

Upward • Sherwin-Williams

A calming, neutral blue ﬁt for an accent wall in your bathroom or any space in your home that inspires tranquility. •

Valspar

Benjamin Moore

Sherwin-Williams

Your Home, Our Family's Commitment

Kristin Clark Agency Manager, LUTCF

At Kentucky Farm Bureau, we understand the value of home because we are family too. With 31 years of experience, Kristin is excited to introduce her son Nick Clark to Lexington as the newest KFB Insurance Agent. Having grown up in the insurance world, Nick understands the importance of providing insurance solutions that protect what matters most to KFB clients. He is a 2023 Graduate of the University of Kentucky, and recently completed a position in South Carolina. Nick is eager to be back in Lexington for UK Football, Keeneland, and most notably, work alongside his mother to begin the second generation of reliability, connection, security, and experience that protects your future.

“Nick has watched and listened to me work with member families his entire life,” Kristin explains. “He understands the importance of insurance, from Home, Auto or Life Insurance, as well as the commitment that I make to my clients. Our goal is to explain insurance options, point out where clients might have missed some exposure, and help with any problems along the way.”

121 Prosperous Pl Ste 7, Lexington (859) 264-9707

www.kyfb.com/fayette/prosperous/

Nick Clark Insurance Agent

These local businesses are keeping good taste alive in Lexington. Keep reading to meet a few of our favorite providers of all things luxury!

Aesthetic Injectables

• Skin Health • Wellness and IV Therapy

• Body Contouring and Weight Loss •

Quiet Luxury

“Money

Screams. Wealth Whispers.”

Fashion trends have a habit of sweeping over into home décor. When “quiet luxury” and “Old Money” outﬁts began trending on social media, it was inevitable that this approach to lived-in sophistication would make its way into home styling.

For those not in the know, quiet luxury refers to a more timeless eye for style. The look is both effortless and elegant while remaining largely understated. Quiet luxury trends to prioritize well-crafted objects utilizing more luxurious materials with an overall reﬁned, authentic tone.

Fortunately, achieving this look doesn’t require family heirlooms or years of curation. Paring down your style and elevating individual elements can make the whole space feel more luxurious. Here are some tips for achieving this trending – yet timeless – style in your own spaces. by Amanda

Harper

Ralph Lauren Home

Luxe Fabrics

One way to instantly upgrade your space is to swap fabrics for more lush, elegant options. From cashmere throws to sumptuous throw pillow covers, stunning drapes to reupholstered armchairs, luxurious fabric choices always add a level of ageless sophistication. Think plush velvets, natural ﬁbers, leathers and thicker overall textures.

Solids vs. Prints

There is no bigger cheerleader of interesting prints and patterns than this very magazine. That said, quiet luxury leans more towards solids – often neutrals – with only a sprinkling of textile patterns. Even we can concede that the overall effect is stunning.

The biggest problem with employing patterns on a large scale in your interior décor is that they can be very trend-reliant; think of the chevrons of the early 2010s or wacky ﬂorals of the 1970s. On the ﬂip side, the issue with utilizing only solid fabrics is that the resulting space can feel very sterile.

There are many prints and weaves that stand the test of time. Carefully considered implementation of these will feel very “Old Money” without screaming “this space was designed in 2024!” Clean stripes, classic ﬂorals and timeless geometric styles, like Greek key or quatrefoil are good examples. More understated colorways will always work in quiet luxury looks.

Edit, Edit, Edit

Maximalism and dopamine décor were the big decorating trends for a few years now. And while minimalism has been nearly as popular – mainly as a foil to these “loud” aesthetics –many ﬁnd that it’s just not practical for a family home.

Quiet luxury cleverly toes the line between “let’s display all the things” and “only the necessities should be visible.” This style encourages you to display objects that are meaningful, beautiful and practical, but it encourages you to remove items that distract the eye, clutter the space or otherwise don’t positively impact the feel of the space.

Layer and Fluﬀ

One of the core tenets of quiet luxury style is a “lived-in” look. Nothing looks like it just came from the store and got shoved onto a shelf; instead, it looks like it could’ve been there for years, being used and enjoyed for – conceivably – generations. For most of us, our items did just come from the store and they haven’t even existed for a single generation. So how do you achieve the timeless look?

One way is by layering items. For instance, rather than simply setting a candle on your coffee table, consider nestling it in a tray and tucking a little accessory in beside it. Stack throw pillows. Stagger items on shelves and allow some pieces to drape over the edge, if possible.

Gayle Cornett Interiors

Pottery Barn

Norwalk Furniture & Design

Another technique to achieve a more lived-in look is to subtly alter items from their brand-new state. Fluff your throw pillows and throws to their maximum thickness and – yes – give some of ‘em the ol’ karate chop. Spread out faux ﬂorals or tuck multiple stems together to create a fuller look. Subtle touches, like adding bookmarks to a couple of your coffee table books or burning your candles before displaying, can give the impression that they’ve been around for much longer than they actually have. And with this home style, that’s a good thing!

One note? Resist the “shabby chic” techniques for distressing or faux ﬁnishing pieces that you learned in the ‘90s. With quiet luxury, pieces are meant to feel used, but cherished and preserved for generations to come. Not, y’know... shabby.

Consider Every Angle

One mistake almost all of us make when refreshing our interior spaces? Missing the forest for the trees. It’s easy to think of your living room in terms of the couch, coffee table, TV and rug. But if that’s all you think about with your design, you’ve basically got a bunch of stuff in a box. Every room is a 360° experience. Think about how the furniture, accessories, walls, ﬂoor and ceiling work together to create a space where you live, relax, entertain and enjoy. Find ways to bring interest – and enjoyment – to the entire room.

Try walking around the space, looking at it from different angles. Find empty areas and try envisioning how you can bring more life to the room. That doesn’t mean adding more stuff; you might simply be rearranging what you already have, or even removing items that don’t serve you. Many people ﬁnd it helpful to take photographs of their space and look at those for a fresh perspective.

This is a tough one for anyone who doesn’t have “the eye” for interior design. Hiring a professional to consult on your décor could really help you take your space to the next level.

In a Nutshell

Quiet luxury home décor is about making small upgrades to everyday objects to achieve an overall look of lasting beauty. Every space should be functional, comfortable and personal, but with a pared-down look that brings calm. Items look expensive – even if they aren’t – because they are made of luxe, lasting materials. That’s classy! •

Closet Factory

Studio McGee

Quiet Luxury Goals: The Nancy Meyers Kitchen

Rom-com director Nancy Meyers (Something’s Gotta Give, The Holiday, It’s Complicated, Father of the Bride) is known for featuring dreamy quiet-luxury homes within her ﬁlms. The kitchens have become an inspiration for designers. Here are features you can incorporate to your space to give them that “Meryl Streep cooks here” vibe.

Food on Display

It’s always apparent that a Nancy Meyers kitchen is a place where food is prepared. Baked goods stand ready beneath crystal-clear cloches. Bowls bear a bounty of fresh produce. Somewhere, a warm baguette is just waiting to be buttered.

Fresh Cut Flora

One hallmark of a cinema space: fresh cut ﬂorals and herbs. These elements add so much life and luxury to a space. Even a simple pot of basil sitting in a windowsill can instantly make a kitchen feel much more vibrant.

Cookbooks

Nancy Meyers doesn’t believe in hiding your cookbooks out of sight. They’re a wonderful decorative element that also happens to be functional!

Open Shelving

While shelving trends come and go, Nancy Meyers kitchens always embrace the timeless luxury of thoughtfully-chosen cookware and serveware. Many of her kitchens feature open shelving while others utilize glass cabinet doors to achieve that open feel.

Eat-in Seating

These movie kitchens aren’t made for just one person; they invite guests into the cooking space. From bar seating to small breakfast nooks, each one creates the opportunity for long conversations with friends – or maybe a little romance!

It’s Complicated | Universal Pictures

Zoe Feldman Design, Inc.

The Inspired Room

Nancy Meyers’s actual kitchen | Architectural Digest

Jessamine Jewel!

by Fran Elsen | photos by Keni Parks

Flowing their recent retirement, Cindi and Dennis McAlister knew they wanted a one-level home so they could age in place and use all of the spaces efﬁciently. Their previous homes in the Lexington Beaumont area had two stories, and they found that some rooms in the house went unused or underutilized. The couple longed for a modern ranch ﬂoor plan that conveyed casual comfort, or “Pottery Barn” style, as Cindi calls it.

The McAlisters worked with builder Mike Kerwin to capture that dream of their perfect home. The couple knew that the outdoor space Jessamine County had to offer would be the right choice.

Built in 2023 on a one-acre lot in Drakes Landing, the home meets all of their wishes and more. This picturesque setting boasts an enviable pool deck and pavilion, just steps down from a massive screened-in outdoor space that be utilized virtually year-round thanks to a custom ﬁreplace and full seating area.

One of Cindi’s favorite areas in the home is the entry foyer, which showcases a gorgeous chest and equestrian prints she purchased from My Favorite Things in Lexington. The homeowners encourage others to team up with an interior designer, if possible; they enlisted the services of Design Link and emphasize that it was worth the expense. The new furniture came from Pottery Barn, Arhaus, and the designer; thoughtfully placed throughout the home, these pieces create a warm, inviting vibe.

Thekitchen-family room combo boasts an open, comfortable feel and is the central part of the home. Burns Cabinetry was used in both the main and lower level kitchens, while Sherwin Williams Accessible Beige and Sherwin Williams Pure White coat the walls and trim throughout.

Materials throughout this Jessamine County jewel include engineered ﬂooring, porcelain tile, and quartzite countertops. But all that new is offset by curated personal pieces. For instance, Cindi’s parents owned an antique store when she was growing up, so a sprinkling of vintage always makes her feel at home. Antique coffee griders and jars displayed in various vignettes in the kitchen and butler’s pantry add her personal touch to the décor.

Although ofﬁcially retired from their full-time jobs, both Cindi and Dennis continue to stay busy managing their rental properties and working as real estate agents in the central Kentucky area. “When people ask us where we live, we catch ourselves saying Lexington,” Cindi explains. “This location still feels like Lexington, and we lived there for such a long time, it’s an adjustment to say we live in Nicholasville!” •

Building Dreams

Looking to build new, remodel, or add space? From stunning room additions and custom decks to durable fencing and barns, we’ve got you covered! With over 20 years of experience, we focus on quality and attention to detail using premium materials. Trust us to

when booked at time of estimate

Lindsey Guzman leads her talented team at Bluegrass Marble & Granite in taking remodels and construction projects to the next level.

“Our beautiful countertops can completely transform the look and feel of your kitchen and bathroom,” explained Guzman, who is certiﬁed by the Natural Stone Institute and a graduate of Leadership Madison County. “We possess over 17 years of industry experience, which makes us the ideal source for sales, design, fabrication and installation services. Our team of experts is committed to giving your space the upgrade it deserves.”

Their ﬁve-step countertop process makes an otherwise daunting venture into one that is easy, efﬁcient, and effective. It begins with a visit to their showroom to select the perfect stone from a variety of natural and manufactured options. A member of the sales team then works with the client to create an estimate based on provided dimensions, or a free in-home consultation to ensure the budget will be met. Their template crew then visits the job site to make a custom pattern for the client’s personal design. Next, the fabrication professionals cut and polish the custom product.

Finally, Bluegrass Marble & Granite delivers and installs the new surfaces with high- quality customer service and a smile. In the end, clients are satisﬁed, interiors are transformed, and the team at Bluegrass Marble & Granite continues to do what they love with the utmost focus on quality.

“At Bluegrass Marble & Granite, we try to stay ahead of the game,” Guzman explained. “I am always looking for new products to expand options for my clients. I train my sales team to provide the best customer service possible.”

Visit Bluegrass Marble & Granite, and “always have your drink on a rock.”

859 -575 -1558

215 Big Hill Avenue

Richmond, KY 40475

bluegrassmarblegranite com

Furry FriendsFall

It's “National Animal Safety and Protection Month”, so we’re serving up fun facts about pets and the best ways to care for our fur babies. Because let’s face it: we treat our pets like they’re our actual children (or more like grandchildren).

And at the end of the day, it’s our own health and wellness that beneﬁt from the furry creatures in our lives. Studies have shown that interactions with animals can decrease levels of cortisol and lower blood pressure, reduce loneliness, increase social support, and boost moods.

“There’s not one answer about how a pet can help somebody with a specific condition,” says Dr. Layla Esposito, who oversees NIH’s Human-Animal Interaction Research Program. “Is your goal to increase physical activity? Then you might benefit from owning a dog. If your goal is reducing stress, sometimes watching fish swim can result in a feeling of calmness. There’s no one type that fits all.”

All About the Pups!

•Dogs sweat from the bottoms of their feet. Their panting is the only way for them to get rid of heat.

•Dogs have around 100 various facial expressions, most of which are done with their ears.

•Dogs have no appendix.

•There are over 350 dog breeds globally.

•Dogs are not color blind. Canines can see shades of gray, green, blue, and yellow.

•The ﬁve most popular dog breeds are the French Bulldog, Labrador Retriever, Golden Retriever, German Shepherd, and the Poodle.

•When running at full speed, most domestic dogs are able to reach up to 19 miles per hour.

•Dogs can locate where a sound comes from in 6/100ths of a second.

Kitty Commentary:

•Cats are able to jump up to seven times their height.

•Cats can make more than 100 vocal sounds, in comparison to the 10 dogs can.

•Cats have no sweat glands.

•The cat skeleton has over 230 bones (in comparison to a human with around 206), and their shoulders and pelvis are loosely attached to their spine. This supports extreme ﬂexibility (and how they get stuck in small spaces).

•Cats have sharper memories than dogs, where the canine lasts around 5 minutes, a feline lasts up to 16 hours.

•Ever wonder why your cat’s tongue is scratchy? They are lined with papillae - small elevated backwards hooks that keep prey in place.

•Full grown cats can run around 12 miles an hour and sprint close to 30 miles per hour.

•Cats rub their face on you to show affection. They release friendly pheromones from glands in their chin and cheeks.

Bird is the Word

• Americans keep over 60 million birds as pets.

• A bird must eat at least half its own weight in food each day to survive.

• Macaws, cockatoos and other larger parrots can live over 75 years.

• Even while resting, a bird’s heart beats 400 times per minute.

Common Concerns

Is pet insurance worth the money?

While the concept of pet insurance may seem frivolous, it’s become increasingly popular among pet owners. Over 5.6 million cats and dogs were protected by pet insurance last year. According to Nerdwallet, the average annual cost for an accident and illness policy for your pet is around $676 for dogs and $383 for cats. If you decide on an accident-only plan, the annual cost drops signiﬁcantly, around $204 for dogs and $116 for cats. Forbes deems the best rated annual coverage choices as Spot, Embrace, and Fetch.

Why you should see a vet regularly:

The American Animal Hospital Association advises all pets to meet with their veterinarian at least once a year. This supports easy tracking and trends of your pet’s health each visit. Even if your pet acts ﬁ ne, there may be early signs of disease or aging changes you don’t recognize. Regular exams and tests assure your best bud is in tip top shape.

Pet Products We

Love

1. Casper Dog Bed, Plush Memory Foam (Amazon, $125)

2. Grooming Kit with Vacuum (The Home Depot, $151.49)

3. Boomer 8 Dog Bowl (Yeti, $40)

Tricks & Treats

Q: What should I know about eas and ticks?

A: Many pet owners assume ﬂeas and ticks are only a problem in summer, but they remain active well into the fall. We recommend using ﬂea and tick prevention year-round to avoid infestations. Also, check your pet after outdoor activities, especially if they’ve been in wooded or grassy areas.

Q: Are there any safety concerns when decorating for the upcoming holidays?

A: Yes, pets can be curious about fall decorations like pumpkins, corn stalks, and candles. Be sure to keep candles out of reach to prevent burns or ﬁ res, and avoid using edible decorations like candy corn or small objects that pets could swallow. If you use electrical cords for lights, ensure your pets can’t chew on them.

Dr. Heather Hancock, Dr. Kristin Back, Dr. Amanda Holaday, Dr. Katie Lacy, Dr. Kevin Smith, Dr. Ashley Sullivan, Dr. Keri Wynn, and Dr. Amanda Finch

Q: Should I change my dog’s exercise routine as the weather changes?

A: Cooler fall weather is a great time for outdoor exercise, but be aware of wet conditions from rain or early frost that can make paths slippery. Adjust your dog’s routine if the ground is wet to avoid injuries. For older dogs, consider joint supplements if the colder weather worsens stiffness or arthritis.

Q: How can I prepare my dog or cat for cooler temperatures in the fall?

A: As temperatures begin to drop, it’s important to monitor your pet’s comfort. Short-haired or older pets may feel chilly more easily. Consider getting a cozy sweater for your dog or a warm blanket for your cat’s favorite lounging spot. Also, make sure outdoor pets have insulated shelters with bedding to keep them warm.

Q: Should I change my pet’s diet this season?

A: Some pets may need a slight adjustment in their diet during fall, depending on their activity level. Dogs that enjoy longer walks or hikes might need a bit more food, while cats and dogs that become less active may need less. It’s important to maintain a healthy body condition year-round. Always consult your vet before signiﬁcantly changing your pet’s diet to avoid unnecessary weight gain.

SWEATER

rTurn on some Gilmore Girls and order a PSL because we’ve ﬁ nally made it to the coziest time of the year: sweater weather.

Just because we love sweaters (mostly for their kinship to pajamas) doesn’t mean we have to compromise fashion for comfort. Look to these fall 2024 sweater trends for the chicest autumn yet!

Sawyer Oversized Cashmere Polo (Reformation, $298)

1) Odette Cable-Knit (J.Crew, $89)

2) Crochet Vardigan (Ada + Lo, $79)

3) Kayli Heels (Peggy's, $150)

4) Denim Tank Midi Dress (Madewell, $178)

5) Wide Leg Jeans (LOFT, $54)

1) Varsity Cable-Knit Sweater Dress (Gap, $90)

2) Valerie Suede Boots (Dillard's, $198)

3) Silver Teardrop Earrings (Amazon, $14)

4) Center Split Denim Maxi (Banana Republic, $54)

5) Silver Heels (Find Similar at Olive You Boutique)

1) Pearl Drop Earrings (Ada + Lo, $28)

2) Revel Watch (Breda, $195)

3) Rhone Relaxed Funnel Sweater (Carl Meyers. $438)

4) Pull-On Barrel Pants (Free People, $78)

5) Tokio Suede Leather Clogs (Birkenstock, $160)

Boots On

There’s nothing quite like Fall in Kentucky. Cheery tailgates, epic Keeneland meets, nostalgic homecoming festivities, and the stunning aesthetic of the season. Not only is there more to love about the Bluegrass this time of year, but more opportunities to take stride with a good pair of boots! Step into this year’s boot trends that cover a wide variety of styles but stay close to comfort… and may already be in your closet.

Inner Equestrian

Buckle Up!

Slim Horsebit Boot (Gucci, $2500)

Sutton II Waterproof Boot (Ariat, $138)

Harness Biker Boots in Beige (Asos, $77)

Rocky Boots (Steve Madden, $160)

Axelle Ankle Boots (Sezane, $255)

Stevie Ankle Boots in Suede (J.Crew, $210)

Block Heel Round Toe Casual Boots (Macys, $160)

Sassy in Suede

Go High

Go Low For Guys

Paulette Low Boots (Sezane, $250)

Original Short Rain Boots (Hunter, $150)

Ultra Mini Cozy (UGG, $190)

Knee-High Boots (H&M, $80)

Maryana Croc Boots (Nordstrom, $208)

Over-The-Knee Boots (Anthropologie, $225)

Tyler Flex Chelsea (Frye, $258)

Rambler Western Boot (Ariat, $180)

crimson & copper

The weather is changing and it's time to swap your summer 'do with something a little more autumnal. From warm blondes to rich espresso shades, these hair color trends are sure to turn heads all season long!

Bronde

If you aren't already familiar, bronde is just a mix of blonde and brunette hair. If you're a blonde looking for a little more depth or a brunette wanting highlights, opt for a warm toned bronde this season!

@gregoryrussellhair | Instagram

Chocolate-y Brown

Brunette and looking for a more subtle change? Color depositing conditioners and glazes are the perfect way to add a new tone to your hair. For fall, we are loving warm, rich brown hues that let your natural depth show!

Rich Espresso

Whether you're ready for a major change or just want to cover any stray grays, going dark might be the perfect solution! This brown-ish shade is a much more wearable alternative to jet-black dye!

Cowboy Copper

This look was on our radar last year, but we see it sticking around a little longer! This look features earthy shades of copper and brunette that are reminiscent of pumpkin spice and crisp fall leaves.

British Vogue Getty Images

@lauren_valenti | Instragram

get the look:

Going golden? Natural and color-treated blondes are great candidates for these picks! If you prefer something less permanent, the Davines Alchemic Collection is for you. Looking for a quick ﬁ x with lasting results? Opt for dpHue's Glossy Glaze!

Alchemic Shampoo & Conditioner in Golden (Available at Davines, $34 and $37)

dpHue Glossy Glaze in Golden Blonde (Available at Ulta, $29)

The easiest way to accomplish a fall tint is with a semi-permanent hair color. These color depositing masks and conditioners will bring a new hue to your 'do while protecting and smoothing locks. Not sure if you are ready to commit forever? If you choose a color in your current shade range, these products should fade over time!

Color Depositing Hair Mask in On the Money (Available at IGK, $29)

Chocolate Brown Coloring Conditioner (Available at oVertone, $32)

Unicorn Hair Tint in Caramel (Available at Lime Crime, $17)

Sometimes, darker hair colors make gray hairs more obvious. If you're not quite ready to embrace them, this Christophe Robin Color Gel will cover grays and leave you with a rich, dark chestnut hair color that's swoon-worthy!

Temporary Color Gel in Dark Chestnut (Available at Christophe Robin, $35)

If you aren't ready for a major hair transformation, this Dae Shine Treatment is the perfect way to refresh your locks without adding any color!

Stargloss Shine Hair Gloss Treatment (Available at Sephora, $44)

TOPS tip:

While we think we know a lot about beauty products, we won't claim to be experts in the world of hair dye. If you regularly have in-salon coloring or highlighting treatments done, you may want to check with your stylist before trying any new products.

Still feeling nervous? Try doing a test strand before going all-in! Pick a small section of hair from the underside of your head, preferably towards the back, and use a small amount of your new product on it. If the treated hair still looks and feels healthy after a day or two, you're good to go!

Remember: always read the instructions before using any beauty product and be sure to use proper protection!

Trying any of these products at home? This At Home Color Tool Collection includes everything you need to achieve beautiful, thorough color—except an old tee you don't mind staining! Our favorite part? As long as you clean it thoroughly after coloring your hair, the included claw clip is great for last-minute styling needs!

IGK At Home Color Tool Collection (Available at Ulta, $15)

Cozy Beauty

THIS SEASON, WE'RE LOVING DARK LIP TINTS, WARM MAKEUP, AND NATURAL SKIN!

Fall Romance

Shadow Palette (Anastasia Beverly Hills, $55)

Mini Bronze Eyeshadow Palette (Natasha Denona, $27)

No. 1 Pencil in Neutral Brown (Glossier, $18)

Sheer Matte Lid Tint in “Valley” (Glossier, $18)

Air Brow Tinted Volumizing Eyebrow Gel (Kosas, $24)

Fall Lip Picks We

1 6

8 5

1. Fenty Gloss Bomb in Hot Chocolit 2. Refy Lip Gloss in Sepia Dark Brown 3. Mac Squirt Plumping Gloss Stick in Lower Cut 4. Rhode Peptide Lip Tint in Espresso 5. Dior Lip Glow Oil in Mahogany 6. Saie Glossybounce in Plush 7. Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm in Brown Sugar 8.

Cinnamon

SPF 50+

TOPS tip:

If you stocked up on glow drops, liquid luminizer, or liquid bronzing serum over the summer, you're in luck!

For a more subtle glow, mix a drop or two into your daily moisturizer for a boost of color—no sun needed!

photo / Instagram @cherishbrookehill

Pocket Blush in “Toasted Teddy” (Rhode, $24)

Dew Bronze Liquid Bronzer (Saie, $25)

Glow Recipe Hue Drops (Amazon, $24)

blush

PROTECT

Liquid Blush in Kirsty (Ciele, $34)

Reﬁ llable Finish Brightening Powder (Charlotte Tilbury, $48)

a question of

etiquette:

Pumkin Patch Rules

Q: My wife thinks it’s a waste to not do the whole pumpkin patch experience every fall, but I think it’s a waste to drag ourselves out there for something we can get at Kroger. Who’s right?

Most of our yearly traditions aren’t actually about the specific thing we’re doing; it’s about the ritual. (Newsflash: she probably doesn’t think those farm pumpkins are the best pumpkins ever grown.) For her, it’s about the fun of “the whole pumpkin patch experience,” as you put it. She probably enjoys dressing up in fall colors, heading to the farm, grabbing a hot apple cider and searching through the fields to find a pumpkin. She enjoys the process, not the product.

If this speciﬁc fall experience isn’t really your cup of tea, there’s probably not much anybody can say to change that. But that doesn’t mean you have to opt out completely. We say, go with your wife and support her pumpkin patch dreams; it’s only one morning, after all. But look for ways to make it more fun for you both.

But before you head out, take some time to look into activities they offer that the two of you haven’t really explored which you might really enjoy. For instance, many orchards are now offering nighttime bonﬁres. Others have special events and mini-festivals that might be more interesting to you than just picking out your obligatory pumpkins.

We also encourage you to look into other autumn activities that could become a shared tradition. If you can ﬁnd something you both love, “the whole pumpkin patch experience” may become a thing of the past.

Q: Kids at the orchard playground aren’t sharing!

No fair! Look, orchard playsets are, unfortunately, a “use at your own peril” situation. It’s a totally new setting for all of the kids present and the adults may be somewhat checked out.

Our best advice to you: divert your kid’s focus before trouble arises. If they want to use the teeter-totter and some kids are hogging it, redirect their attention to an activity that’s available. Remind your little that it may feel like the other kids have been on the swings “forever,” but it’s actually only been ﬁve minutes. If it really has been forever? Quietly bring the issue to the attention of staff members monitoring the playground. They’re usually great at handling problems that arise.

Q: Is it okay to sneak a few bites while doing you-pick?

Every orchard has its own policy regarding snacking while you pick your own fruit. Obey any posted signs and take their word as law. Ethically, if you’re paying for the fruit by weight, then snacking is technically stealing. You wouldn’t (or at least shouldn’t) do it in a grocery store and you shouldn’t do it at an orchard.

Most orchards understand that you might sample an obscure variety of fruit before you commit to buying. If you’re not sure exactly what you want, then ask a staff member if they can help you out. Some orchards have little guided tastings for their most unique varieties. And honestly, that’s a fun activity that you might enjoy way more than simply picking your own fruit!

Q: How do I get the perfect pumpkin patch pic?

Listen, we get it: the pressure to have every outing with your littles be Instagram-perfect is so high! You want to immortalize this single afternoon of hanging out in a ﬁeld for all of posterity in the most charming way possible! Right?!

This year, we encourage you to forget all that. Be present in the moment, have fun and enjoy the messy joy of your life. Taking pictures should always be second to making memories.

If you really want a perfect photo so much, hire a professional photographer to herd your family into that magical greeting card moment. It’s so worth the cost to have an expert make the magic happen – effortlessly. (As a bonus, you’ll actually be in some of the pics, for a change.)

Dan Carman, CEO

Halloween Myths

& Traditions

Halloween is thought to have its roots in old Celtic harvest festivals, particularly the Gaelic Samhain (pronounced “sow-when”). And it’s true that many of our modern Halloween traditions do mirror those festivals. But Halloween as a holiday began a Christian celebration, the vigil of All Hallow’s Day. (More on that later!)

There are many misconceptions and mysteries surrounding Halloween. We’ve rounded up some of the Spooky Season traditions and myths that you probably know by heart and explained them as best we can. We’ve even left a few mysteries for you to solve yourself… by Amanda Harper photo (left page): The Washington Star via Lib. of Congress

Forgotten Tradition: Divination Games

The time around Halloween has long been considered prime for fortune-telling. Bobbing for apples originally began as a divination game; letters were carved into the apples and whichever you pulled foretold the ﬁrst initial of your future spouse. (Some traditions have the apples hanging from a string, though this is called “Snap Apple.”) Apple peels and seeds were also used to tell fortunes.

“Chestnuts roasting on an open fire” is a familiar Christmas line, but it’s actually more closely tied to Halloween! For the Scots and Northern English, Halloween is sometimes called “Nut-Crack Night.” People would carve predictions of the future into chestnuts, then cast them into the fire; whichever popped out first would supposedly come true!

Myth: Ghosts Say “Boo!”

In the early 15th century, Scots used to shout, “Boh!” (or “Bo!”) to startle someone or get their attention from a long distance. Humorously, author Gilbert Crokatt said in 1738 that it was “a world that’s used in the north of Scotland to frighten crying children.” (Why would you want to scare an already-crying kiddo? No idea!) Scottish literature of the 1800s refers to ghosts and goblins as “boo-men,” which is where the word “boogeymen” likely comes from.

By the 1820s, the interjection became more closely associated with ghosts, probably because ghost stories were more popular in that period than other monster tales. “Boo” also worked because it could be a short, sharp interjection to scare your friends or drawn out to sound like the ghostly groans of a lost soul: “Booo-oo-oo!”

Why is this considered a myth? Well, every ghost we’ve ever met didn’t really say much at all!

Beistle

Tradition: Trick-or-Treating

“Guising” has been a holiday tradition for centuries. People go door-to-door, putting on a little performance of some kind with the hopes of earning a reward from the homeowners. At Christmas, this is known as wassailing – or, more recently, caroling

Originally, folks would go guising or “souling” during Allhallowtide, asking for soulcakes to pray over in remembrance of departed loved ones. Eventually, this tradition merged with other guising traditions, so folks would go around performing plays, singing or reciting verses in exchange for food or drinks. If the homeowner refused them, they might play pranks; that’s why a costume was necessary to hide the guiser’s identity.

Trick-or-treating as we know it today seems to have originated in Ontario, Canada in the early 1900s; the ﬁrst recorded use of “trick or treat” was printed there in 1917. Before this, it was a tradition in Ireland to say, “Help the Halloween party!”

Myth: Poisoned Candy

One of the longest-running urban legends is that evil strangers are waiting in the dark to poison, harm or drug your child through Halloween candy.

Researcher Joel Best has dedicated part of his career to investigating claims of candy-tampering, not just limited to the Halloween season. His research material included hundreds of reports spanning decades, and in none of those reports was a single substantiated claim of strangers randomly attempting to poison children through Halloween candy or harm them by inserting dangerous objects into the candy.

(Halloween candy tampering reports tend to roll in at a rate of about one or two per year. Almost all of those cases involve a family member “pranking” kids. Obviously, it goes without saying that this is not a harmless prank. Don’t let this happen.)

Most of the suspected cases of Halloween candy poisoning were actually coincidence. While the media reported the cases initially as a potential Halloween poisoning, later investigation would reveal there was no candy tampering by strangers involved. Grimly, one case involved a father using the rumor of poisoned Halloween candy to attempt to cover up the murder of his own child.

In recent years, the myth has transformed into the notion that people are spending hundreds of dollars on marijuana edibles to hand out to unsuspecting kids at Halloween. This is patently untrue. Cases of kids ingesting drugs around Halloween stem from accidentally consuming something in their own household.

Despite these claims being repeatedly proven false, the media panic surrounding the notion of tampered trick-or-treat candy persists. The real danger at Halloween? Children are three times more likely to be struck and killed by a vehicle on Halloween than at any other time of year. This year, perhaps worry less about checking candy and more about checking trafﬁc!

One Myth That’s Actually True: Realistic “Decorations”

You’ve probably heard the (supposed) urban legend of a suspiciously life-like Halloween decoration that ended up being all too real.

But as outlandish as it sounds, this one has really happened! There have been a few cases of spooky decorations being exactly what they appeared to be.

Most famously is the case of Elmer McCurdy, an outlaw. His body was mummiﬁed and used as a touring sideshow prop, allowing morbidly curious folks to glimpse the body of an infamous criminal, “The Bandit Who Wouldn’t Give Up.” This sounds ghoulish, but it was unfortunately a common practice as a way for funeral homes to recoup their losses on embalming unclaimed bodies.

The body was sold and resold among traveling carnival shows and, somewhere along the way, the origins of the “prop” were lost. Some 60 years after his death, Elmer ended up being a carnival ride decoration in Long Beach, California. While ﬁlming an episode of The Six Million Dollar Man at the theme park, a set dresser noticed that Elmer wasn’t just convincing prop work. After this discovery, the outlaw’s body was ﬁnally laid to rest in 1977.

Danny Kay during the 1966 UNICEF Trick-or-Treat tour via Lib. of Congress

Tradition: All Hallow’s Eve

Halloween got its start as a celebration on the night before All Hallows’ Day, a time when many Christian denominations honor the saints. It also begins Allhallowtide, a portion of the liturgical year dedicated to remembering the dead and the saints. That association is why All Hallow’s Eve has so many macabre elements. Initially, All Hallow’s Eve was a vigil. By the end of the 12th century, parades of criers would rain bells and call on people to remember their lost loved ones. Lit candles were intended to guide souls home to rest, and costumes and other decorations were thought to ward off unwelcome souls. Slowly, these traditions took on a more jovial tone. The fun and revelry was a release before everyone entered the serious time to follow. While many churches still hold Allhallowtide feasts and solemnities, thinking of Halloween as All Hallow’s Eve has largely gone by the wayside.

Forgotten Tradition: Dumb Supper

Many believe that the time surrounding Halloween is when the “veil” between the spirit world and our own is at its thinnest. Some believe that on All Hallow’s Eve, this separation is so permeable that dearly departed souls can walk the earth for a time. Since the medieval period, people have marked this time of year by setting out plates for family and friends who had passed on. They’d open their windows and doors to let in these friendly spirits, who would be rewarded with the snack of a soul cake. Soul cakes are reminiscent of Hot Cross Buns, often with a cross drawn on them using seeds and dried fruits.

Forgotten Tradition: Halloween Postcards

When ofﬁcial postal services were ﬁrst founded, it was all the rage to send postcards for just about every occasion. During the Victorian era, colorful, fanciful postcards were printed up for just about every occasion – including Halloween. As avid fans of snail mail, we encourage you all to revive this fun tradition!

Tradition: Mischief Night

What do you call the eve of All Hallow’s Eve? For many, it’s known as Devil’s Night, Gate Night, Goosey Night, Cabbage Night or – most plainly – Mischief Night.

The first described “mischief nights” were often at boarding schools, the night before the term was to end; students would release pent-up energy by getting into all sorts of mischief, pranks and hijinks. In England, these mischief nights shifted to the night before Bonfire Night. But in the US during the Great Depression, Mischief Night solidified itself as the night before Halloween.

With little release during the frustrating and turbulent ﬁnancial straits of the era, kids in the 1930s and 1940s would take to the streets to commit ever-escalating pranks, such as egging. In many communities, it was common for kids to tear up cabbage patches and hurl the rotting veggies into buildings (cabbage roots were also used as a Halloween divination tool). These “pranks” would eventually become acts of vandalism, arson, breaking-and-entering and more. This was especially true in Detroit beginning in the 1960s, which spawned the creation of a task force known as the “Devil’s Night Angels.”

In response to this concerning behavior, many communities started organizing Halloween festivities to divert the teens. Many attribute the rise of haunted houses to this era. Now, most of the Devil’s Night pranks tend to be of the mostly harmless variety, such as TPing, “corning,” “Ding-dong-ditch,” and “forking” lawns. If we’re honest, we think Mischief Night is one tradition that is best forgotten.

This plaster cast of a carved turnip in the National Museum of Ireland gives some credence to the notion that these little lanterns could scare away unwelcome spirits...

Myth: Black Cats

Superstitions surrounding black cats have existed for hundreds of years, often associating these kitties with witchcraft and ill-luck. The Irish legend of the Cat-sìth tells of a large black cat that’s actually a fairy in disguise, tricking people on Halloween. Since the Satanic Panic of the 1980s, there have been rumors of people harming black cats on Halloween for some sort of cult ritual. But there’s just no real evidence to support that this kind of thing actually happens.

Forgotten Tradition: Turnip Lanterns

In the United States, we take for granted that the pumpkin is the ofﬁcial vegetable of Halloween. But we forget that pumpkins are native to our soils; other countries had to make do with their own produce during this harvest festival! The ﬁrst jack-o-lanterns were actually carved from turnips, rutabagas and beets. (They also used a root known as the mangelwurzel.)

People had long passed the dull winter months by carving up root vegetables from their cellars. But the practice of carving a face into these veggies and placing a candle inside is speciﬁc to Allhallowtide. The faces and lights were thought to distract or ward off unwelcome spirits – or guide Stingy Jack on his way!

When immigrants brought the customs of Halloween to the United States, pumpkins provided a much larger canvas for carving these grinning lanterns. Plus, pumpkins are far more delicious than turnips!

The Legend of Stingy Jack

Years and years ago in a tiny village in Ireland, there lived a drunkard known as Stingy Jack, known all over the town as a cheat and a thief with a tongue of gold. The devil heard the many tales of Stingy Jack’s misdeeds and wanted the man’s soul for his own.

When the devil came to collect on All Hallow’s Eve, Stingy Jack made the case that if he were going to spend eternity in the ﬁres, he should be allowed to have at least one more drink at his favorite pub. The devil agreed.

Stingy Jack – proving his name – suggested that they pull one more fast one over and cheat the pub owner together. He suggested that the devil turn himself into a coin to pay the tab, then he could turn back into the devil and the two would run off to the afterlife together. The devil relished the idea of being a part of one of the famous Stingy Jack’s capers, so he readily agreed and turned into a coin. Jack snatched up that coin and stuffed it into his pocket along with a silver cruciﬁx, thus trapping the devil in his pocket.

The devil begged Stingy Jack to release him. And Jack agreed – but only if the devil would let him live, unbothered, another 10 years. The devil agreed and disappeared.

But 10 years to the day, Jack found himself again face-to-face with the devil. He sighed and reasoned with the devil that if he were to spend eternity in the ﬁres, he should be allowed to have one ﬁnal bowl of his favorite stew.

The devil agreed and offered to fetch the ingredients. As he went to the root cellar for turnips, Jack sealed him inside with a silver cruciﬁx upon the door. This time, Jack bargained that the devil leave him alone forever. Trapped, the devil had to agree.

But as it happened, Stingy Jack caught a fever and passed away just a year later. Heaven denied him entry for his wicked life, and the devil could not collect his soul. Stingy Jack was left to wander the earth forever as a spirit. The devil had pity on his old foe and trapped a single ember of hellﬁre in a turnip to light Jack’s way through the world. And that’s the story of the ﬁrst Jack-o’-Lantern! •

10 Lexington Costume Ideas

Halloween comes but once a year. While lots of folks will be dressed to celebrate (or excoriate) celebrities, political ﬁgures, pop culture moments and more, why not break the mold and go as an icon of Lexington? These DIY costumes might require a little explanation, but they’re sure to be a real hit!

Mayor Linda Gorton

What you’ll need: a pixie-cut wig, plastic frame glasses and a colorful jacket (worn over an all-black shirt and pants). Accessorize with your most winning smile... and a certiﬁcate proclaiming this a day of celebration for yourself.

Pablo Escobear

couldn’t resist...

What you’ll need: a bear suit, powdered donuts and stacks of cash. Bonus points if you rock some of his merch.

Man o’War

What you’ll need: a horse mask (just be sure to paint on his signature star!)

The Big Blue Building

What you’ll need to do: Cut up a cardboard box to match the shape of the building, spray paint it blue. For the truly committed, buy blue disco ball tiles from Amazon and bedazzle that baby!

Belle Brezing

TOPS Magazine

What you’ll need: a 19th century gown, a jaunty hat, a parasol and your sauciest smile. Just don’t spill any secrets!

What you’ll need to do: get our logo printed at the top of a piece of posterboard and cut out the middle. Hold it up for photos. You’re a cover model!

Ernest P. Worrell

What you’ll need: blue jeans, a blue jean vest, a gray t-shirt or henley, a khaki ballcap and all the hijinks you can get into.

Founder William McConnell

What you’ll need to do: dress as a typical pioneer, but carry around little ﬂags that say “Lexington” and claim you founded everything at the party!

The Gratz Park Homes

What you’ll need to do: wear a cardboard box painted pink or blue and glue on some dollhouse windows (or just paint them, I guess). Convince everyone to pose for a picture in front of you.

Anita Madden

What you’ll need: a fabulous feathered blonde wig, your most extravagant evening dress – sparkles and feathers strongly encouraged – and a signature Anita Madden Daylily corsage. Make sure everyone at the party is having the time of their life.

Leaf Peepin’

By late October, Kentucky’s fall colors will be making their annual appearance. Kentucky becomes a riot of golds, oranges and reds as the temperatures begin to dip. This short window of glory absolutely must be witnessed, and you owe it to yourself to take in as much of the show as possible. We’ve rounded up some of the best places to take a peep before the leaves fall. by Amanda Harper

Keeneland

The Keeneland Fall Meet is an open invitation to take in not only the spectacular sights of autumn but also the stunning horsepower of our equine industry. (It also happens to be a great excuse to get gussied-up to see and be seen!) The leaves surrounding the track and paddock will be most colorful towards the end of the meet. To make the most of your experience, take one of the guided tours of the grounds, like the Morning Works.

Old Frankfort Pike

This scenic byway not only offers you plenty of opportunities to see stunning fall foliage, it also takes you through some of Kentucky’s most beautiful horse country. While the road itself offers much to see, it also connects you to other beautiful byways that lead to some of central Kentucky’s most charming little towns. Consider it your gateway to fall color!

Catalpa Road Ginkgoes

Sometime in late October - early November, Catalpa Road in the Ashland neighborhood comes alive with the beautiful yellow of changing ginkgo leaves. You won’t have to wonder when the trees are hitting their peak; the fanshaped leaves will be all over your social media feed! This charming street can become quite congested during the leaves’ short window of glory, so we suggest going during the weekday.

Breaks Interstate Park

“The Grand Canyon of the South” offers sweeping views over 4,500 acres in Kentucky and Virginia. The fall foliage typically hits its peak at The Breaks around October 24November 1, depending on the weather. As a bonus, this spectacular natural area offers plenty of recreation for leaf peepers to enjoy, like biking, ziplining, rock climbing, hiking and more.

Red River Gorge

The spectacular rock features of this area east of central Kentucky offer a stunning backdrop for fall’s many colors. RRG is a perfect getaway for Lexingtonians: close enough to make the trip convenient, far enough away that it feels like a whole ‘nother world. There are countless outdoor attractions, plus plenty of cozy cabins and AirBnBs to make your autumn excursion a relaxing one. Even if you’re not outdoorsy, driving the Red River Gorge Scenic Byway will offer views of Daniel Boone National Forest that everyone can enjoy.

Bluegrass Scenic Railroad and Museum

Take a train ride through some beautiful Kentucky landscapes… and stop by a pumpkin patch while you’re at it! The railroad offers this fun family activity each Saturday in October.

Lexington Cemetery

This nationally acclaimed arboretum spans 170 acres of land with over 200 species of trees. And, yes, it serves as a cemetery. This local spot offers a surprisingly serene stroll. Learn more about ﬁgures from Lexington’s history as you take in the stunning fall leaves. Access a map of the grounds and a list of notable people interred there through their website: lexcem.org.

Raven Run Nature Sanctuary

This beloved hiking spot offers over 700 acres of natural scenery. While you’ll certainly adore seeing the leaves, you’ll love the chance to hoof it through some truly stunning trails.

McConnell Springs

The birthplace of Lexington is a cozy little nature preserve just minutes from downtown. They have wonderful educational programming for littles. If you’re looking for some Halloween fun to go with your leaf peeping, head to McConnell Springs for the annual Jack-o-Lantern Trail Thursday, October 24 - Monday, October 28.

Covered Bridges

Kentucky’s few remaining covered bridges offer boatloads of charm. Their beauty is magniﬁed by the changing leaves that surround them. Locate them online: kyatlas.com/coveredbridges

Cumberland Falls

If it’s been a while since you’ve made the drive to Corbin to check out Cumberland Falls State Resort Park, this is your sign that it’s time! It’s truly an impressive sight. For night owls, there’s a chance to see the incredible moonbow on October 15-19.

courtesy LFUCG

Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill

Spanning 3,000 acres, Shaker Village offers plenty of walking paths through some stunning fall foliage. The drive there via US-68 is twisty, but offers incredible views of the Kentucky River’s palisades. It’s deﬁnitely worth the quick trip!

Ashland, The Henry Clay Estate

Looking for a quick “getaway” right in the heart of Lexington? Ashland’s lovely grounds offer so much fall beauty, just outside of downtown. The nearby neighborhoods are also incredibly lovely in the autumn – and folks there really get in the Halloween spirit with their yard decorations!

Bernheim Forest

Spanning 16,000+ acres in Clermont, this forest and arboretum features tons of walking trails among some of Kentucky’s most beautiful ﬂora and fauna. There are also opportunties for kiddos to play, works of art for everyone to admire and surprises to discover along the way!

When Will the Leaves (Finally) Turn?

Each year, it feels like an interminable wait for the leaves to show their color. Fortunately, you don’t have to guess: SmokyMountains.com offers an interactive map of the predicted windows for peak fall colors across the United States.

According to their estimates, central Kentucky will hit its peak somewhere between October 21-November 4. In the past, we’ve found that Lexington tends to lag a little behind their estimates, so we’re guessing the last week of October will be stunning!

Check out the map: smokymountains.com/fall-foliage-map

courtesy Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, Harrodsburg, Kentucky

Discover the Art of Custom Compounding at C&C Pharmacy!

At C&C Pharmacy, we bring back the personal touch to healthcare with our specialized compounding services! Imagine a world where your medications are tailored just for you—crafted with care and precision by our expert pharmacists.

Meet Malori, Our Compounding Technician!

Malori is here to transform your prescriptions into exactly what you need. From hormone creams and ﬂ avored pediatric medications to soothing creams for joint pain and shingles, we’ve got you covered! Whether it’s a calming mouthwash for chemotherapy patients or a delicious numbing lollipop for post-surgery comfort, we’re dedicated to making your healing journey as pleasant as possible.

Don’t Forget Your Furry Friends!

We also create custom medications for pets, available in tasty ﬂ avors like bacon and peanut butter, so they won’t resist their meds!

Flavoring Options for Everyone!

Even if you don’t need a custom compound, we can enhance the ﬂ avor of many commercial liquid medications—goodbye, yucky tastes!

Experience personalized care and compassionate service at C&C Pharmacy. Your health is our priority, and we’re here to make your medications work for you! Visit us today to learn more!

Butternut Squash

There can be no doubt that pumpkins are the star gourds of October. But standing in their shadow is a delicious cousin that deserve our notice: the humble butternut squash.

Curcubita moschata is a modern variety of winter squash, originating in Massachusetts in the 1940s. (It’s the hybrid child of gooseneck squash and the Hubbard squash.) While this variety of squash is relatively young, it has undoubtedly become a cornerstone of the autumn kitchen.

The butternut squash has a wonderful sweet, nutty ﬂavor similar to that of the pumpkin. The tough outer skin is easily enough dealt with, either with a vegetable peeler or by halving the squash, scooping out the few seeds and roasting (or grilling) it whole, then simply removing the loosened skin afterwards.

The deep orange ﬂesh is a sure sign that it’s rich in betacarotene, which boosts your immune system and protects your eyes. Butternut squash is a good source of ﬁber and, given that a serving is roughly 87% water, is also a good hydrator.

Butternut squash is incredibly versatile, lending itself to dishes from all over the globe. It’s often utilized as the backbone of curry dishes or as a substitute for proteins. It can be cooked down to make a sauce or soup, or it can stand out on its own. However you like it, butternut squash deserves a spot on your table this season! by Amanda Harper

Fun fact: Butternut squash is treated culinarily as a vegetable, but scientiﬁcally, it’s considered a berry.

Butternut sqUASH SALAD

1 butternut squash

1 shallot, thinly sliced

1 T rosemary, chopped

1 T olive oil

3 oz. mixed salad greens

2 oz. arugula

1 (15.5oz.) can chickpeas, drained

1/2 c. feta cheese (optional)

1/2 c. roasted pecans or walnuts, chopped

Apple Cider Vinaigrette

1/4 c. olive oil

2 T apple cider vinegar

1 T maple syrup

1 tsp. Dijon mustard

1 clove garlic, minced

1/2 tsp. salt

Roast or grill your butternut squash.

If grilling, slice as shown; grill on an oiled grate over medium heat until tender, about 15-30 minutes, ﬂipping once. Place shallots and rosemary in a grill-safe pan and drizzle with a little olive oil and sauté over heat, stirring frequently.

If roasting, peel and cube squash; preheat oven to 400°F and add squash, shallot and rosemary to baking sheet. Season with salt and pepper then drizzle with olive oil. Toss, then roast for 30 minutes, turning halfway.

Meanwhile, combine vinaigrette ingredients in a jar and shake vigorously until combined; set aside.

Add salad greens and arugula to the bottom of a large bowl. Top with roasted squash (with shallots and rosemary), chickpeas, feta (if desired), pecans/walnuts and half of prepared dressing; toss to combine. Serve with extra dressing, as desired. (adapted from From My Bowl)

Notes: If desired, toss chickpeas with a mixture of your favorite spices and add to baking sheet or grill-safe pan in ﬁnal 10 minutes of roasting or 5 minutes of grilling.

This recipe is very adaptable to a mix of your favorite greens, spices and nuts. Keep this one in your back pocket as a Thanksgiving meal opener!

2 T olive oil

1 yellow onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 T ginger, grated

1 T curry powder

1 1/2 tsp. ground cumin

1 (15oz.) can ﬁre-roasted tomatoes

1/2 c. water

2 lbs. butternut squash, peeled and diced

1 (13oz.) can coconut milk

2 oz. fresh spinach

1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper

Cilantro

Butternut Squash Curry

2 medium butternut squash

3 T apple cider vinegar

2 T maple syrup

4 T olive oil, divided

1 small onion, chopped

1/2 c. wild rice

1/2 tsp. curry powder

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper

2 c. water

3 T dried unsweetened cherries

1 c. parsley leaves, chopped

1 T fresh sage, chopped

1/4 c. walnuts, chopped

Heat a large skillet over medium. Add olive oil, onion, garlic and ginger; sauté until onions are translucent. Add curry powder and cumin and sauté until fragrant, up to 1 minute.

Add tomatoes and water; stir to combine, scraping the bottom of the pan. Add butternut squash and stir; cover and simmer for about 10 minutes, or until squash is fork-tender.

Add coconut milk and stir; heat through. Once warm, add spinach and stir; allow spinach to wilt. Season to taste with salt and cayenne pepper. Garnish with fresh cilantro. (adapted from Budget Bites)

Notes: This is wonderful served alongside jasmine or basmati rice.

Wild Rice-Stuffed Squash

Position rack in middle of oven, and preheat to 400°F.

Cut each squash in half lengthwise; scoop out and discard seeds. Arrange on a baking sheet, ﬂesh-side up.

In a small bowl, whisk together vinegar, syrup and 2 T oil. Brush the ﬂesh of the squash with the mixture and sprinkle generously with salt and black pepper. Turn the squash ﬂesh-side down and brush skin with mixture. Roast until fork-tender, 30-40 minutes.

When cooled enough to handle, scoop out some of the ﬂesh into a bowl, leaving around 1/4” of ﬂesh around the skin.

Meanwhile, heat 1 T oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high. Add onions and cook, stirring frequently, until soft and golden brown, about 6 minutes. Add rice, curry powder, cinnamon and cayenne and stir until spices are toasted, about 1 minute. Add water and cover; bring to a simmer; cook, stirring occasionally, until rice is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed, about 30 minutes.

Remove from heat and add removed squash in chunks along with the remaining maple-vinegar mixture, cherries, parsley and sage; add salt and pepper to taste.

Evenly stuff the scooped-out squash halves with ﬁlling. Drizzle with remaining 1 T olive oil and bake, uncovered, until ﬁlling is heated through. Sprinkle with walnuts. Garnish with additional parsley, if desired. (adapted from Food Network)

Notes: This vegan dish is a wonderful side or even main during autumn. If you prefer, you can substitute wild rice with quinoa.

1 T olive oil

Butternut Squash soup

1 white onion, diced

4 cloves garlic, minced

2 c. vegetable broth

1 carrot, chopped

1 Granny Smith Apple, chopped

1 butternut squash, peeled and cubed

1 sprig fresh sage

1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper

1/4 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. nutmeg

1/4 tsp. sea salt

1/4 tsp. black pepper

1/2 c. unsweetened coconut milk

In a large stockpot over medium-high heat, add olive oil and onion; sauté for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened. Add garlic and sauté 1-2 minutes longer, stirring frequently, until fragrant.

Add vegetable broth, carrot, apple, butternut squash, sage, cayenne, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt and pepper; stir to combine. Cook until soup reaches a simmer. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 2030 minutes longer, until vegetables are tender and mash easily with a fork. Remove sage. Stir in coconut milk.

Use an immersion blender to purée the soup until smooth. (See notes.) Serve warm. Garnish with cream, toasted pumpkin seeds, bacon bits and/or candied pecans. (adapted from Gimme Some Oven)

Notes: This recipe is easily adapted to a slow cooker. Add all ingredients except coconut milk and olive oil to your slow cooker. Toss to combine, then cook for 4-6 hours on low or 2-3 hours on high until vegetables are tender and mash easily with a fork. Remove the sage. Stir in coconut milk. Purée with an immersion blender.

If you don’t have an immersion blender, you can use a traditional blender. Let the soup cool for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Work in three batches and blend until smooth, tenting lid to allow steam to escape. Return soup to your pot and warm, if desired.

For a Thai-inspired twist, add 2 T red curry paste and 1/2 tsp. ground ginger when you’re adding the other spices. Garnish with chopped fresh cilantro and wedges of lime. You could even add additional chunks of roasted cubed butternut squash and prepared jasmine rice for more texture!

Speaking of roasting, you could quickly roast your butternut squash and carrot before adding them to the soup for a deeper ﬂavor; the payoff is worth the extra time!

1 lbs. macaroni shells or cavatappi

4 c. butternut squash cubes

1/4 c. water

4 T butter

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. black pepper

1/4 c. all-purpose ﬂour

2 c. whole milk

1/2 tsp. garlic powder

1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper

1 tsp. thyme, chopped

4 oz. Cheddar, shredded

4 oz. goat cheese

Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese

Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and return pasta to pot; reserve 1/2 c. pasta water.

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, combine squash and water. Cover and cook until tender, about 5-7 minutes. Uncover and cook, stirring constantly, until liquid evaporates, about 3 minutes.

Add butter, salt and pepper and stir until butter is completely melted; add ﬂour and stir to incorporate. Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens, about 3 minutes. Gradually add milk while stirring constantly. Add garlic powder, cayenne and thyme; bring to a simmer.

Fold in cheeses, stirring until melted. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly. Transfer squash mixture to a blender and purée until smooth.

Place pot of cooked pasta over medium-low heat; stir in sauce until pasta is coated and warmed. Remove from heat and let cool for 5 minutes. Add splashes of pasta water and stir until mixture reaches your desired consistency; sauce will thicken as it cools. (adapted from Delish)

Butternut Squash caramels

3/4 c. pumpkin seeds, toasted

1/2 c. unsalted butter

1 1/2 c. sugar

1 1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

1 c. dark corn syrup

1 (14oz.) can sweetened condensed milk

1/2 c. cooked butternut squash purée

1 tsp. vanilla extract

Flaked sea salt

Line an 8” square pan with parchment paper and spray with cooking spray. Sprinkle pumpkin seeds in an even layer. Set aside.

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Add sugar and pumpkin pie spice; cook until sugar begins to melt. Bringing to a boil between each addition, add corn syrup, sweetened condensed milk and butternut squash purée. Cook until a candy thermometer registers 240°F.

Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Pour mixture evenly into prepared pan. Sprinkle with salt and allow to cool completely. Once cooled, cut into 1” squares. (adapted from Taste of the South)

Elliot Neuman DMD, MS Whitney Neuman, RDH, BS Lori Oliver, RDH, BS

Allspice

Be honest: did you think “allspice” was just a bunch of different spices mixed together? (It’s a common misconception.) Even if the name didn’t fake you out, the ﬂavor surely could’ve; it’s so complex, it tastes like a spice blend. In fact, allspice is the berry of an evergreen tree that’s native to the Caribbean and Central America.

The ﬂavor proﬁle of allspice is like a mix of nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves and black pepper. Because of that, it’s often used in autumn and winter baking. It’s also a key ingredient in Jamaican jerk seasoning and it works well in spice glazes for ham or in the base of rich tomato-based stews.

You generally see ground allspice, though you can purchase dried berries. Whole allspice is a great ingredient to simmer in hot toddies, warm spiced wine and mulled apple cider. It can also work in pickling liquids. Whole allspice is a cornerstone ingredient in Cincinnati chili.

Allspice dram is a liqueur that adds the delicious taste of allspice to cocktails, coffee, hot toddies, mulled wine and more. It will be your fall and winter BFF.

Allspice Dram

1/4 c. whole allspice berries

1 c. rum

1 cinnamon stick

1 1/2 c. water

2/3 c. brown sugar

Crack allspice berries with a spice grinder or mortar and pestle. Pour into a sterilized sealable jar; add rum and shake. Let steep 4 days, shaking occasionally. On day 5, break up cinnamon stick and add to mix; shake and let steep 4 additional days, shaking occasionally.

Strain out solids using a ﬁne mesh strainer lined with a coffee ﬁlter. Return to jar.

Heat water and sugar in a small saucepan; boil 5 minutes. Let cool completely and add to allspice infusion. Shake and let rest 2 days before using. Store at room temperature up to 2 months. (adapted from Serious Eats)

Keeneland: a month long fashion show in the fall and spring. There’s nothing we love more than Kentucky, winning bets, and showstopping outﬁts. These looks are sure to be fan favorites all season long!

photos // Instagram @keeneland

Cognac Leather Boots (Available at Steve Madden)

This Margret Bubble Dress (Available at shopfancydboutique.com) is the cutest dress for the races! Add a pair of deep burgundy boots for an extra pop of fall color!

photos // Instagram @keeneland

Buster

Octobers in Kentucky can be a bit chilly. Look cute and stay warm in the adorable Gabrielle Knit Sweater and Skirt Set (Available at vestique.com)!

The High Horse Handbag (Available at The Front Porch) is the purse of Fall Keeneland this year! Does it get more Kentucky than this?

photo // Instagram @keeneland

The Tobie Button-Front Pleated Shirt Dress (Available at Anthropologie) celebrates the return of leopard print! Pair it with this Gold Coin Charm Bracelet (Available at susanshaw. com) for a bit of added glam!

photos // Instagram @keeneland

This Camellia Vine Pia Dress (Available at Rent the Runway) will be perfect for Opening Weekend! Pair with some black suede wedges, like the Pacie Heels (Available at Dolce Vita), and some gold accessories to complete your look!

A black dress with a pop of red is the perfect fall look! We love the Maude Dress in Drapey Viscose Twill (Available at J. Crew) and the Amaya Boot (Available at oasissociety.com) Pair with these Gold Horsebit Earrings (Available at Ada + Lo) and you've got the perfect outﬁt for those last-minute race days!

19 Stories of Strength & Resilience that Paved the Way for a Brighter KY

The Kentucky Black Trailblazers is a one-of-a-kind experience that tells the stories of several inﬂuential Black Kentuckians through augmented reality (AR). With six different locations around central Kentucky, this innovative learning tool takes AR, a type of technology that creates an interactive user experience, to bring Kentucky’s African American heroes to life. At each experience, simply scan the QR code and become immersed in the augmented reality scene. From front line infantry groups and jockeys, to inﬂuential schoolteachers and activists, these narratives showcase how our Bluegrass’ cultural landscape was shaped. And these select stories are just the start of discovering the incredible lives and efforts that make up Kentucky’s Black history. See for yourself by making the trip to these counties to uncover each one's unique stories!

STORY BY ERIN OLIVER | ARTWORK BY TACTIC STUDIO

Bardstown - Nelson Co:

While Bardstown is an old-world town that houses some of Kentucky’s ﬁ nest bourbon distilleries, did you know it’s also the location of “My Old Kentucky Home”? Now our state song, this famous ballad written by Stephen Foster was inspired by the city’s Federal Hill plantation. Visit “My Old Kentucky Home State Park” and attend the “My Old Kentucky Dinner Train”, a two-hour ride through the beautiful bluegrass.

Featured Kentuckians:

→ Daniel Arthur Rudd

→ Dorsey Wickliffe

→ Mack Rowan

Elizabethtown - Hardin Co:

Etown is a charming, family-friendly area steeped in rich history and a vibrant culinary scene. Visitors enjoy the over 20 walking and biking trails as the area is the First Urban Kentucky Trail Town. Check out Freeman Lake Park for aquatic activities and stay up to date with community concerts and festivals.

Featured Kentuckians:

→ General Braddock

→ Margaret “Ma” Collier

Louisville:

While Louisville is home to incredible bourbon, horse racing, and food traditions, it would not be the innovative city it is today without the impact of Black culture. Home to Muhammad Ali and other countless inﬂuences, we encourage you to uncover Bourbon City’s Black Heritage.

Featured Kentuckians:

→ Lyman T. Johnson

→ Mary Cunnigham Smith

→ Muhammad Ali Center

→ Oliver Lewis

Oldham Co:

As the Farm Tour Capital of Kentucky, Old County is known for its farm-to-table cuisine, 13 various farm tours, and the state’s largest beer garden, Oldham Gardens. Most notably, the county is the only Archives designation in the state, holding two designations for the Underground Railroad history by the National Park Service Network to Freedom.

Featured Kentuckians:

→ Alex Beaumont, CO E 116 USC

→ Eliza Brooks

→ Henry Bibb

Shelby Co:

Deﬁ nitely your best place to explore the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, Shelby County also offers the state’s only mother-and-daughter-owned-and-operated distillery. As the Saddlebred Horse Capital of the World, this area holds 90+ Saddlebred farms with many available to tour.

Featured Kentuckians:

→ Elijah P. Marrs

→ Harlem Hellﬁghters

→ Whitney M. Young, Jr.

Shepherdsville - Bullitt Co:

Just twenty minutes from downtown Louisville, Bullitt County is the trailhead of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Check out their Wine, Whiskey, and Ale Trail along with their stunning hiking trails around Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest.

Featured Kentuckians:

→ Annie Reed

→ Mattie Owens

→ Reverend C.H. Parrish

Baptist Health & Commonwealth Credit Union

Enhancing Local Healthcare Together

“We believe that health is the ﬁrst step to wealth,” said Karen Harbin, President and CEO of Commonwealth Credit Union, who has put that belief into action with signiﬁcant support of two Baptist Health hospitals within the region.

In 2022, Commonwealth Credit Union provided the lead gift for Baptist Health Foundation Lexington’s Onward as One comprehensive campaign, raising funds for the construction of Baptist Health Hamburg, which opened earlier this year.

“Their generous gift was a commitment to the growth and improved health of this community. It supported our efforts to expand care, making it more accessible in Hamburg,” said Chris Roty, President of Baptist Health Lexington. “Baptist Health Hamburg is an outpatient medical center that offers emergency, diagnostic, and cancer services, as well as an ambulatory surgery center and convenient onsite pharmacy.”

The impact of their donation is already evident and spurred Commonwealth Credit Union to take their investment in healthcare a step further, with a contribution in nursing at Baptist Health Richmond this summer.

Building on the positive effects of our donation to the Baptist Health Foundation Lexington, it was only natural to extend our support to Baptist Health Richmond,” said Harbin. “We believe that health is the foundation of wealth and a flourishing community.

Commonwealth Credit Union provided a $550,000 donation to Baptist Health Foundation Richmond to build on nursing excellence at Baptist Health Richmond through high-ﬁdelity simulation. The gift will provide manikins and technology, which enhance clinician best practices by strengthening and advancing skills and competency in caring for patients. Simulation allows the acquisition of clinical skills through hands-on practice and creates an environment for making “safe mistakes,” which has proven to have many advantages over traditional classroom education.

“I am truly amazed at Commonwealth Credit Union’s generosity,” said Greg D. Gerard, President of Baptist Health Richmond. “Commonwealth Credit Union, like the hospital, knows that our success is solely dependent on those that work within our facilities, whether it be banking or healthcare. The new high-ﬁdelity simulation lab will enhance clinical skills, teamwork, decision-making, and patient outcomes. Commonwealth Credit Union is a wonderful community partner committed to making a difference in the communities they serve.”

When organizations come together, joined by the steadfast pursuit of making life better for those they serve, they can have a transformational impact. Ensuring high-quality, innovative healthcare is more accessible for central Kentuckians is the key to building a healthier, better future. Together, Commonwealth Credit Union and Baptist Health are committed to improving the health and the ﬁnancial well-being of their shared communities for generations to come.

Meet CHASE HALL

Chase is one of the Kentucky-West Virginia chapter’s 65 Roses Gala’s Finest Honorees for 2024. Chase is the Vice President of Operations at Baptist Health Louisville.

Chase is a talented leader at Baptist Health Louisville, demonstrating integrity throughout his work and his leadership, and values the CF Foundation’s mission of providing hope and endlessly searching for a cure for cystic ﬁbrosis.

Chase is actively involved in the local community, including serving on the board of directors for the Home of the Innocents in Louisville, a nonproﬁt that provides residential care for children who have been victims of abuse. In addition, he serves as an Advisory Member to the CEO of the St. Matthews Chamber of Commerce regarding community development and needs and is a graduate of Ignite Louisville.

Meet

Monteva is one of the Kentucky-West Virginia chapter’s 65 Roses Gala’s Finest Honorees for 2024. Monteva is a Design Account Manager for Brown- Forman “I wholeheartedly believe that a strong community is built on each of us embracing our unique spiritual gifts and purpose. Every single one of us has a speciﬁc role to play on this earth, and when we operate within our areas of giftedness, we can make a signiﬁcant impact in this world,” For Monteva, her purpose is to empower and encourage children to reach their full potential and know that the sky is limit. Through her CF campaign, she aims to bring attention to the experiences of children living with CF, recognizing that children represent the future and should be championed and cherished.

Monteva is a HBCU graduate of Alabama A&M University where she proudly served as the 64th Miss AAMU and is a member of the Louisville Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority,Inc. She is deeply dedicated to her community and ﬁnds joy in giving back through volunteering and mentoring programs. Monteva serves as a mentor for middle school girls and teaches children’s church to elementary school students. Known for her drive for results, enthusiasm for innovation, and commitment to bringing order out of chaos in her profession, she is a force to be reckoned with. In her leisure time, she enjoys attending barre ﬁtness classes and exploring different cocktails at her favorite local breweries!

MONTEVA HODO

MeetMeetMeet

CHRISTINA SIMMSEMILY SALYERS JACKSON BENNINGFIELD

Christina is one of the Kentucky-West Virginia chapter’s 65 Roses Gala’s Finest Honorees for 2024. Christina is a Fleet Logistics Supervisor for Enterprise Mobility

Christina is a ﬁrm believer that just like CF Fighters, our CF families need support and compassion too. She says, “They are the unsung heroes who tirelessly work to pick up medications, offer transportation to appointments, and help work to keep their loved one as healthy as possible.”

Christina celebrates her nomination to Kentucky- West Virginia’s Finest in honor of her personal superheroes: the Sinegal family. “Tammi fought a courageous battle with CF. Being selected as an honoree means I can help educate others about the great beneﬁts research provides to the lifespan to those living with CF. I want to continue Tammi’s mission where CF stands for ‘Cure Found’!”

Christina and her dalmatian, Cooper, are avid runners. This year, she and Cooper are running for CF. You can watch their journey on their Instagram page: @cooperrunsforcf! When she’s not running, Christina is baking! Living out her personal mission to strengthen communities one neighborhood at a time, she nurtures her neighbors, friends, and family by sending them treats to brighten their day. She even recently held a bake sale to raise money for her Finest campaign.

Emily is one of the Kentucky-West Virginia chapter’s 65 Roses Gala’s Finest Honorees for 2024. Emily is a Financial Wellness Consultant at Ashland Credit Union

Emily is a very motivated person, with great drive in her personal life as well as her professional life. Recognized in multiple quarters as the top producer for loans and accounts, Emily is passionate about helping families in need of ﬁnancial advice, help with consolidating bills, or lowering payments. Embodying her belief that people lending a hand to each other is what makes our community stronger, Emily is proud to guide her clients to achieve ﬁnancial freedom.

Not only does Emily run hard at work, but she also hits the pavement regularly, running in 5/10k races, ﬁnishing in the top 10 in her age group! Watching a friend and coworker raise a son with CF, Emily continues to learn the challenges CF patients deal with. She is grateful for the opportunity to be involved and help them anyway she can.

Jackson is one of the Kentucky-West Virginia chapter’s 65 Roses Gala’s Finest Honorees for 2024. Jackson is a Landscape Designer for Mindel Scott.

For Jackson, serving as a Finest Honoree is deeply personal. With multiple friends and family members battling CF, Jackson says, “It’s a great honor to support the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. It motivates me to keep pushing for more research and for people affected by this condition. Plus, it’s amazing to be part of a community that’s so dedicated to ﬁnding a cure.”

Believing that unity and a shared purpose make our community stronger, Jackson volunteers with CFF and other organizations like the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Earlier this year, he ran the Disney Marathon and raised money for LLS in honor of his grandfather. You can also ﬁnd Jackson on the lake with his friends or watching his favorite show, Breaking Bad

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT!

Get to know each candidate better and show your support for their Finest campaigns by visiting ﬁnest.cff.org/65rosesgalaky

MeetMeet

LUCAS KUHLMANROSE HAWKINS CAROLINE ESTELLE ARMSTRONG Meet

Lucas Kuhlman is one of the Kentucky-West Virginia chapter’s 65 Roses Gala’s Finest Honorees for 2024. Lucas is an engineer in the Edison Engineering Development program at General Electric

Lucas is a graduate of the University of Kentucky with a Mechanical Engineering Degree as well as a minor in mathematics. In addition, the Edison Engineering Development program allows him to pursue a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering.

A creator at heart, Lucas loves working on various projects and playing with his Boston Terrier puppy, Arlo. He says it is fulﬁlling and rewarding to be a part of an organization that is spearheading medical advancements. He grew up with a cousin who battles CF, and as medical treatments have rapidly advanced, he has witnessed her struggle less with fewer hospitalizations. Lucas celebrates the honor of now being a part of those incredible advancements.

Dr. Rose Hawkins is one of the Kentucky-West Virginia chapter’s 65 Roses Gala’s Finest Honorees for 2024. Rose is a pediatric pulmonology fellow in the UofL Pediatric CF Clinic

Rose is a Cardinal through and through, completing all her education and training at UofL and proudly matching into her number one choice of pediatric pulmonology fellowship at UofL. During medical school, she found her place in pediatric pulmonology while spending time with the team in the CF center. Earning the nomination of CFF Finest brings work and life together, providing the opportunity for her to serve the CF community outside of the clinical setting.

Rose calls herself an “extrovertedintrovert” who loves to read, write, snuggle with her cats, and spend time with her husband. She loves board games and playing Dungeons and Dragons with friends. Rose’s favorite show is Ted Lasso, and she enjoys having a glass of wine with her friends at Canary Club.

65 ROSES GALA

Friday, October 18 | 6:30pm | Mellwood Art Center

Hosted by Susan Sweetney Crum Cocktail Attire/Roaring Twenties Glam Encouraged

To learn more or purchase tickets, visit: finest.cff.org/65rosesgalaky

Caroline, also known as “Bug,” is 2-1/2 years old, and already a bit of a comedian. “I can already predict that Caroline will likely be a class clown,” says her mother. “She is constantly doing whatever she can to get people to laugh. She is in her ‘why’ phase right now, and always asks, ‘Why are you laughing?’

Like she didn’t just do something, looking for that kind of reaction!”

The family started participating in the Great Strides walk when Caroline was one. “We are forever appreciative of all the effort the CF Foundation pours into ﬁnding treatments and helping families battling this dreadful disease,” her mom explained. “We are so hopeful that a cure will be found in Caroline’s lifetime.”

“As far as Caroline’s future, I see her being able to live a long, healthy life thanks to Trikafta and all of the future therapies that are on the horizon. That is certainly not something we thought was possible when we received the phone call telling us about her positive newborn screen,” her mom said. “Instead of looking at her and immediately thinking about CF as I did for so long when she was a baby, I look at her and see a wild, stubborn, silly toddler. She started preschool this year, and aside from needing enzymes at snack time, she can just be like any other child in her class!”

You're Invited to a Women in Philanthropy

Ladies Mixer

Monday, November 18, 2024 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

The Hudson by Carson's Food & Drink 3450 Todds Road Lexington, KY 40509

You are invited to join leading ladies in philanthropy for a fun evening of small bites, complimentary bubbly, and conversation.

The Tiffany Circle is a community of women leaders who advance the American Red Cross mission through a focused investment of time, talent and treasure. This group works to ensure that the Red Cross has the ability to help people prevent, prepare for and respond to life's emergencies.

Please RSVP for you and a guest by November 4th by scanning the QR code below!

Special thank you to our host Karen McIntyre

Oc b

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

I can recall as a little girl walking alongside family members at the Susan G. Komen Pink Walk to honor my grandmother, who is blessed to be in breast cancer remission for over 15 years. Whether it be a personal diagnosis or of a loved one, it’s safe to say most everyone has been affected by breast cancer and the whole host of worries that comes with it. —Erin Oliver, TOPS

This month, we want to shed light on a few local and national resources and volunteer opportunities that remind us we never have to walk this tremendous journey alone. Not only that, but we can work together towards the shared vision of living in a world free of breast cancer!

Presented By:

Susan G. Komen KY komen.org

This local branch of Susan G. Komen offers countless volunteer opportunities for Kentuckians, from annual walks and races to DIY workplace fundraisers. Not only that, but the organization is a major educational resource for patient care, ﬁnancial assistance, and more. Look forward to Louisville’s October 12th MORE THAN PINK Walk.

The National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.

nationalbreastcancer.org

NBCF has provided over 1.7 million breast health resources to women who need it. From articles and guides to videos and testimonials, NBCP properly equips women with answers and necessary next steps.

After walking alongside her mother Betty’s tragic walk with breast cancer, and enduring her own mastectomy, Rebecca Baker promised to honor her mother’s life by equipping Kentucky women with tools who face the same battle. Rebecca provides the breast cancer community with carefully curated mastectomy and chemotherapy care kits with products she can personally attest to. Look forward to their upcoming Pink October charity event on October 19th.

Colors of Promise

colorsofpromiselexky.org

This community-driven outreach organization educates and empowers women of color and those in impoverished areas to take ownership of their health. CoP supports nine Kentucky counties through medicine referrals, transportation to appointments, and so much more.

The Breast Cancer Research Foundation

bcrf.org

As the largest private funder of breast cancer research, and highestrated breast cancer research organization in the country, BCRF is getting us closer and closer to scientiﬁc breakthroughs. They are composed of over 250 scientists tackling the disease at every angle, from heredity and ethnicity factors, to lifestyle and prevention. All of their innovative impact can be found at bcrf.org.

Presented By:

photo / Price Weber

YOU ARE NEVER ALONE.”

The Kentucky state average for mentally unhealthy days is 5 per month.

As a whole, more than 43 million Americans suffer from depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and other mental health disorders. These devastating ailments can be a lonely and confusing experience, which is why SUN Behavioral Health is on a mission to solve these unmet needs in central Kentucky and beyond.

From individual and group therapy, to family therapy and stress management, SUN Behavioral provides inpatient and outpatient services for those impacted by mental health and substance use disorders. Their continuum of care includes their 197-bed inpatient hospital in Erlanger, KY, along with partial-hospitalization and intensive-outpatient services in their Lexington campuses.

“Our treatment programs focus on meeting patients wherever they are in their journey for improved mental health,” the organization says.

“We work to achieve a level of functioning that is stable so each patient

can return to their family, employer and community as a contributing partner. Our evidence-based treatment approaches support positive long-term outcomes.”

SUN’s emergency services allow anyone to connect with treatment when the time is right — no matter the moment. “Our clinical assessment teams are available 24/7 to help you identify the type of treatment needed and explain the options available with us and other partners,” they explain. “We often work with community therapists, physicians, and other local partners to coordinate the best care for each individual.”

The organization’s massive efforts for individual patient stabilization extends beyond their facilities. “We set out to make a larger community impact through education and promotion of general mental wellness,” SUN says. “We want our Kentucky communities to know that treatment is available and effective, no matter how severely impacted one may be at a particular moment in time.”

SUN Lexington Outpatient Center

Their “What’s best for the patient” philosophy centers SUN’s daily focus as they stay committed to four key values that promote action in the areas that matter:

Cristi McAlister, Director Business Development / Caroline Kruer, Community Liaison

IntheInthe

October Highlights

Voices Ampliﬁed and Adventure Theatre, co-present

The Grown-Ups by Simon Henriques and Skylar Fox, directed by Daniel Hilbourn • Imagine yourself immersed in nature on the property of the beautiful Queenslake Bed and Breakfast, warm drink in hand, toasting s'mores while you wait for this compelling story with some of the finest area actors to begin! We invite you to join our counselors around the campfire at Camp Indigo Woods for a fall evening of storytelling and a little suspense. Following a group of camp counselors trying to mold the leaders of tomorrow when tomorrow is looking bleaker and bleaker. October 11-12, 8pm Queenslake Bed and Breakfast in Georgetown Learn More: VoicesAmplified.net

Family class: Spooktacular Ceramics • Join the LASC for a Halloween-themed ceramics class, where we will learn basic ceramic skills and make our own spooky trinkets! The class price includes 2 participants (1 adult and 1 child). This class will meet in person at the Living Arts & Science Center with instructor Leah Thompson. Saturday, October 26 10am - 12pm | $95 ($85 Members) Learn More: lasclex.org

The Kentucky Great Writers Series features writers with a Kentucky connection who have one or more works of high literary quality. October's readings are from Julie Kagawa, Shadow of the Fox; Elizabeth Kilcoyne, Wake the Bones; and J.H. Markert, Sleep Tight Tuesday, October 8 • 6pm Learn More: carnegiecenterlex.org

J.H. Markert

Elizabeth Kilcoyne

Julie Kagawa

Lexington Chamber Chorale presents "The Power of Singing: Global and Political" • The Power of community singing is often used for political purposes. Music can be a powerful form of “soft power,” a way of inﬂuencing others that does not rely on force or might. This repertoire will include: Lorena, a popular song with Confederate and Union soldiers during the Civil War, Put vejini, a Latvian folk song sung during the Singing Revolution in Latvia, and We Shall Overcome, from the U.S. Civil Rights movement.

Sunday, October 13 • 5pm

Second Presbyterian Church

Learn More: lexingtonchamberchorale.org

Kentucky Ballet Theatre is kicking off the season with a spinechilling original classic as the KBT Professional Company presents Dracula at the historic Lexington Opera House. This hauntingly beautiful ballet will transport audiences into the eerie world of Count Dracula, with mesmerizing choreography and stunning visuals.

Performance Dates: October 26 & 27, 2024

Learn More: kyballet.com

Think “Arts” When Planning Your Next Event!

ArtsPlace is one of Lexington’s premier visual art galleries, and an exceptional place to host your wedding or private event. Choosing ArtsPlace as your venue will allow you to step aside from a traditional atmosphere and host a unique and artful experience that cannot be found anywhere else in Lexington. This urban space in the heart of downtown might be one of Lexington’s best kept secrets. The choice to rent ArtsPlace is also a choice that beneﬁts the arts. Revenues from private rentals supplement those generated by missionoriented programs, helping LexArts to offer creative space for artists and arts organizations to rehearse, perform and exhibit their work. Renting from LexArts is an investment in the arts.

Learn More: www.lexarts.org/about/rental-space

Love and Kentucky Football

Story by Larry Vaught / Photos via Danielle Gibbs and Jacob Noger

Eli Cox is a rugged offensive lineman at the University of Kentucky playing his sixth year of college football—he had played in 44 games with 35 straight starts going into the season—but there is also a soft, romantic side to the former West Jessamine High School standout. He met Lauryn Willis during his sophomore year at UK in a statistics class. He eventually asked her to marry him—Cox proposed at Kroger Field—and in January they were married.

“Getting married when we did made the sixth year a lot easier for me and having that out of the way we have been able to focus on the season and getting ready for the NFL hopefully,” Cox said.

Lauryn, a second-year science teacher at East Jessamine High School, said he totally surprised her when he proposed on their three-year dating anniversary. “We were on our way out to eat and he said football texted and he needed to stop by the stadium because they had some new turf they needed him to see. He asked me to come in and just take a picture on it with him and I was none the wiser,” she laughed and said. “He had this grand plan to propose and even had a photographer set up to be there. It was everything I wanted. It was extremely sweet of him.”

At the time Eli still was not sure if he would return to UK for a sixth year or try his luck playing professional football. Now he says married life has made a sixth season of college football more enjoyable and manageable.

“Just having that support system that she's been for me has been great and she helps out a lot of ways with me getting all the extra meals I need for the calories and the protein and things like that,” Eli said.

“I am happy to help him like that. We are both eating home-cooked meals and I love to cook. It just feeds into something I like to do and enjoy doing for him and hopefully it does help him,” Lauryn said.

She can be “very intense” during games but never lacks confidence in what her husband can do on the field because she sees the preparation he puts in before each game. “I am extremely proud of how hard he works,” she said. Eli’s younger teammates respect his leadership as well. He jokes he was playing college football before some of his current teammates were even old enough to have a driver’s license. “I definitely feel older being the married man on the team but it has also been really good,” he said. “My teammates respect me and know I am not going to steer them the wrong way. They know everything I am saying to them is for their greater good and the greater good of the team.”

Lauryn considers herself a “planner” who likes to look ahead but understands there is no need worrying about what her husband’s football future will be after this season. “I am just hoping he had a good season and gets through it healthy,” she said. “He cares so much about this program. I will be thrilled with whatever April looks like and where he is drafted. But for now we are just enjoying his ﬁnal ride at UK.”

Octob 1

OCTOBER 2024 // WHAT’S HAPPENING IN TOWN THIS MONTH?

DOGS & CATS: An Exhibition

Through Nov. 24 | Headley Whitney Museum

Cirque de Soleil

1:00 PM | Rupp Arena

Octob 2

Nature Olympics

5:00 PM | McConnell Springs Park

Kenwick Run, Walk, Bike Club

6:30 PM | Kenwick Table

Tyrone Cotton

7:00 PM | The Burl

Octob 3

The California Honeydrops

8:00 PM | Manchester Music Hall

Octob 4

Keeneland 2024 Fall Race Meet Open 11:00 AM | Keeneland

Freaky Flicks: Hocus Pocus

6:30 PM | Masterson Station Park

“A Dish Best Served Cold” Premiere 7:00 PM | Lyric Theatre & Cultural Arts Center

Octob 5

Brickfest Live

9:00 AM | Central Bank Center

Chords for Clark Show

7:30 PM | Leeds Center for the Arts

Octob 6

The Bourbon Chase Sunday Recovery Brunch 10:30 AM | Epping’s on Eastside

Octob 8

Ball Homes Night of Hope

7:00 PM | Lexington Opera House

Octob 10

Dale Hollow

7:00 PM | The Burl

Jim Henson’s Labyrinth: In Concert

8:00 PM | Lexington Opera House

Octob 11

Big Blue Madness Rupp Arena

Monster Mash & Dash 5K Glow Run

6:00 PM | Coldstream Park

Suits That Rock Beneﬁt Concert

6:30 PM | The Burl

Desi Banks: The Purpose Chaser Tour

7:00 PM | Lexington Opera House

Octob 12

Brewster’s Christmas Grand Opening

The Summit at Fritz Farm

Homecoming: UK vs. Vanderbilt Kroger Field

Darkness to Light Equine Night Show

7:00 PM | Alltech Arena

Octob 13

The Iron Horse Half Marathon & 12K

7:45 AM | N Brand St., Midway

Pumpkin Patch Classic Golf Tournament

8:00 AM | Tates Creek Golf Course

Octob 18

Mt Sterling October Court Days

Downtown Mt. Sterling | Through Oct. 21

ScareFest

4:00 PM | Central Bank Center

McDazzle Gala

5:30 PM | Central Bank Center

65 Roses Gala

6:30 PM | Melwood Art Center

UK Opera: The Marriage of Figaro

7:30 PM | Lexington Opera House

Octob 20

Walk to End Alzheimer’s

1:30 PM | Kentucky Horse Park.

Thriller & Halloween Parade

6:30 PM | 200 Main St.

Octob 21

An Evening with David Sedaris

7:30 PM | Lexington Opera House

Octob 22

Jack-O-Lantern Pumpkin Drop-O 5:00 PM | McConnell Springs Park

David Cross - The End of The Beginning of The End 8:00 PM | Lexington Opera House

Octob 25

Lexington Career Fair

9:30 AM | Hyatt Regency Lexington

Take a Hike

9:30 AM | Raven Run Nature Sanctuary

Comedian Erica Rhodes

7:00 PM | Comedy O Broadway

Octob 26

Football: UK vs. Auburn Kroger Field

Kentucky Ballet Theatre’s Dracula 7:00 PM | Lexington Opera House

Octob 26

Pumpkin Carving 3:00 PM | Raven Run Sanctuary

Octob 27

Jack-O-Lantern Trail

Performing & Visual Arts Community Events

6:30 PM | McConnell Springs Park Sports & Run/Walks

Octob 30

Yappy Hour: Howl-O-Ween!

5:30 PM | Pleasant Ridge Park

Buena Vista Social Orchestra

7:30 PM | Lexington Opera House

*While we make every e ort to ensure accuracy of the information presented, some listings may be out of date. Before attending any event, please check with the hosting organization for the latest updates.

out & about!

Karen Wilmoth, Tara Russell, Chris Russell and John Wilmoth at 2 Fisted Willie’s Soft Launch

Kelly Johns and Tim Burcham at the Lexington History Museum launch of Among Women

Kentucky Hall of Fame Inductees Jodie Meeks, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, Corey Peters, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Henrik Larsen and John Cropp

Thursday Night Live

Pat Bova, Chris Bova, Jenny Owens and Ramsey Bova at the Great Friends Celebration

Tim Couch inducted into the College Hall of Fame

Endre Samu at Seniors Got Talent

Stephanie Arnold, Mandy Higgins and Phil Jun at BCF365

CAP Hunger Walk

Jim Connell, Laura Carr, Becky Conell and Allan Alvarez at the Lexington Rescue Mission 20th Annual Fall Banquet

Christy Helton, Hannah Porter and Rachel Underwood at the Bluegrass Realtors RCHF Gala

Adrienne McMahan, Sharyn Meade, Erin Goins and Tania Whitﬁeld at Foodchain HARVEST

TOP events!

tops preview party

September 10 • ArtsPlace • photos by Mary Pace

Camden Skidmore, Ame Sweetall and Kim Skidmore

Tasha Soward and Nathan Zamarron

Theresa McFarland, Lauren Hazard and Jessica Barnes

Caroline Francis and Priscilla F. Johnson

Dan Rose, Keith Yarber and Paul Cleaver

Beth Bell Brown and Alisa Rose

“Most everyone that knows my family knows that I have been staying with my dad since 12/30/23 day and night. On March 13th, 2024, God brought Michelle Fuller of Fullers Family Care into our life. She has been a miracle. She goes above and beyond to make sure that I get some time for me. I do get to go home now on Thursdays and Fridays. I know some of you have taken care of your spouses, parents, children, and friends. Caregiving can be so isolating and overwhelming at times, praise God for Michelle Fuller. Thank you everyone for all your thoughts and prayers, kind and encouraging words. It really means a lot.”

-Prather, Lexington, KY

Fullers Family Home Care, my in-home care agency gives excellent, caring services. They are professional and always on schedule. They do a superior job of personal care, medication reminders and helping my mom with the quality of life. I could not be more pleased with every caregiver that has engaged with my mother. I would recommend Fullers Family Home Care to anyone looking for care for their parents.

-Valerie Mitchell, Paris

TOP events!

kentucky bash

August 30 • Easterseals Bluegrass • photos by Woody Phillips

Meg Sutton, Louise Taylor and Brent Taylor

Bridgett Collier, Rick Queen and Mike Nickoson

Jenny Wurzback, Matt Horn and Richard Sturgill

Mary Ann Davis, Robin Doller and Gay Davis Scheller

Gwen Hart, Steve Hill, Amber Philpot and Chris Bailey

David Fought, Elizabeth Fought, Tracey Moore and Jim Moore

Tom Johnston and Whitney Johnston

The Kentucky Wildcat with TOPS

UK Cheer Squad, Tony Torbey, Mindy Torbey and Mike Torbey

Keith Yarber and “Snoop”

Lawrence Wetherby, Ron Wetzel, Karen Ziegler, Todd Ziegler, Emily Miller, Marcus Miller, Scott Boley and Mary Beth Boley

Hugh James and Debbie Tudor

TOP events!

arbor youth services blue a bash

August 16 • Mane on Main • photos by Woody Phillips

Liz Young, Jessica Kemmish, Chad Kemmish and Tim Wiseman

Josh Yahr, Ti any Yahr, Meg Cranﬁll and Amy Stephen

Maggie Meadows, Gretchen Bright and Rob Bright

Rob Ruddick, Polly Ruddick, Ti any Pickett and Ben Pickett

Megan Winﬁeld, Brady Barlow, Stephanie Spires, Tony Chism, Suzanne Powell and Chris Powell

Terry Dumphord and Doyle Lee

TOP

events! spendthrift farm's annual breeders party

September 13 • photos by Woody

Phillips

Alan Bassett, Amanda Bassett

Kerry Cauthen, Annie To ey, Mallory Burke

Joel Cunningham, Eric Gustavson, Ned To ey

Mike Renfro, CJ Johnsen, Tyler Clarke, McKenzie Clarke

Margaret Klein, Kathleen Klein, Mitchell Wisinski, Donald Klein

Melanie Deﬂer, Victor Ian Harrison

Lucy Aaron, Leif Aaron

TOP events!

hidden horses launch

September 5 • Lexington Visitors Center • photos by Woody Phillips

Dave Sevigny and Ame Sweetall

Erin Hilton and James Brown

Phil Holoubek and Ame Sweetall

Mike Hilton and Colby Ernest

Kiptoo Tarus, Carla Mack and Vicki Evans

Nathan Zamarron with Isaac

TOP events!

ronald mcdonald house wine & fries

September 6 • The Melodeon • photos by Woody Phillips

Laura Breaux, Kim Wallace and Allison Carter

Alicia Cha n, Beth Keller, Nicole Corbin, Laura Mobley-Corn, Vicki Evans, Alicia Cox and Crystal Newton

Stacy Vollet and Scott Vollet

Alicia Cox, Beth Keller and Nishaan Sandh

Christina Briggs, Britteny O’Nan and Morgan Dezarn

Tanner Peurach and Haley Peurach

Scott Drake and Sha Phillips

TOP events! fiabesca

and opening

September 19 • The Summit • photos by Ron

Morrow

Emily Markle, Jordan Muse, Kelly Karpinsky, Kristi Wallace and Jen Taylor

Lindsay DeFelice, Bryan Magnus and Jane Magnus

Stephanie Peterson, Jane Magnus, Virginia Hardesty and Jared Peterson

Kaylin Wallace, Emma Godfrey, Brittany Peterson, Lily Monroy, Ellie Raney and Lily Gahm

Kayla Weber Nord and Brittany Peterson

Katie Stallons and Lindsay Wiley

TOP

howl-o-ween

Legacy Grove Park • photos by Whiskey and Wiles • sponsored by The Engine House in winchester: