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2012 Spring Top Festivals and Events by: Lauren

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Lexington has some wonderful events (I know, I’m a little biased); however, the Kentucky Travel Industry Association selects unbiased judges to award ten events quarterly as Kentucky’s Top Festivals and Events. For the spring, Lexington events won THREE of the TEN!!! Now do you believe me? Here are our three winning events: Blue Grass Trust Antiques and Garden Show, Keeneland Race Course, and Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event.

Blue Grass Trust Antiques and Garden Show
March 16-18. The Blue Grass Trust Antiques and Garden Show attracts more than 3,000 visitors from across the country. Over 50 antique exhibitors from 18 states showcase gardens, antiques and floral designs. Internationally acclaimed garden and antique experts, such as Charles Faudree and Carleton Varney, teach attendees about new concepts and methods for gardening and antiquing. More information: www.bgtantiquesandgardenshow.org or 859.253.0362.

Keeneland Race Course
April 6-27. Keeneland Race Course, a National Historic Landmark, opened to the public in 1936. It has become one of the nation’s leading Thoroughbred racetracks, attracting the best jockeys and horses every April. One of the stakes races, Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, serves as a prep race for the Kentucky Derby. More information: www.keeneland.com or 859.288.4250.

Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event
April 26 – 29. The only four-star, three-day event in the Americas, the 2012 Rolex Kentucky is a qualifying event for athletes to compete in the 2012 Olympics in London, England. One of the top sporting events in the world, the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event brings international attention to Lexington and the Bluegrass. The event also features an “International Trade Fair” with more than 125 booths and various exciting demonstrations. The event is broadcast live to 49 foreign countries around the world annually, and has appeared on NBC every year since 2004. Accompanied by the Ariat Kentucky Reining Cup since 2011, the reining cup is expected to draw horses and riders from across the globe for competition and is the only Five Star Reining competition in the world in 2012. More information: www.rk3de.org or 859.233.2362.

Recent Posts by Lauren

  1. 2012 Spring Top Festivals and Events - Thursday Mar 22, 2012
  2. Bluegrass Update! - Wednesday Jun 29, 2011
  3. Chugga Chugga Chu Chu Train - Tuesday May 31, 2011
  4. My Favorite Restaurants - Wednesday Feb 23, 2011
  5. 2011: The Year of Keeneland and the Civil War - Thursday Jan 13, 2011
  6. Top 5 Things to do in Lexington During WEG - Thursday Sep 9, 2010
  7. WEGoingcrazy! - Friday Aug 6, 2010
  8. Easy Transportation Downtown - Tuesday Jun 29, 2010
  9. Volcanic Interference - Monday May 3, 2010
  10. The Foreigner - Friday Feb 26, 2010
  11. On Top of the World - Friday Jan 29, 2010
  12. Another Blue Horse? - Wednesday Nov 25, 2009
  13. It's aMAZing - Friday Oct 30, 2009
  14. It's going to be IncrEDIBLE! - Monday Sep 28, 2009
  15. AFB Art Fair @ Woodland Park - Tuesday Aug 25, 2009
  16. Berea, KY: Arts, Crafts...and Ice Cream Bread? - Tuesday Jul 28, 2009
  17. Peace, Love and Loud Music - Thursday Jun 25, 2009
  18. Please Hook Directly to my Veins! - Wednesday May 13, 2009
  19. New KHP Venues! - Tuesday Apr 28, 2009
  20. 'Tis a gift to be simple - Friday Mar 6, 2009
  21. C-A-T-S CATS, CATS, CATS! - Wednesday Feb 11, 2009
  22. Lexington's not so big after all - Wednesday Jan 21, 2009
  23. Bourbon: Need I Say More? - Tuesday Nov 18, 2008

Two New Easy Places To Dine Alone by: Wendy

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Bluegrass Flavors and Feel: 5/16/12

I like taking myself out to lunch. It provides a breathing space and time to think. Yet there is an art to making the solo diner feel at home, but a couple of new places are hitting the bull’s eye.

They are both downtown, yet with completely different feels, and menus that overlap enough to fit the contemporary genre, but dissimilar enough to reflect unique identities.

Rosetta is the white one. I mean white. The interior is cool as white linen, chairs are painted white as well, with shades and hues on the white spectrum created by light and shadow.

The focal point, however, hangs from the ceiling, a gigantic yet lovely orb shaped like the atom symbol, but instead of a ball, its center is an elaborate crystal chandelier. The contrast creates enormous grace. I stared at it before, during and after lunch. Simply transfixing.

Check out the image at Restoration Hardware:

http://www.restorationhardware.com/catalog/product/product.jsp?productId=prod710181&categoryId=search

I had a nice little quiche with bacon and asparagus, served with a side salad and plump ripe strawberries and blueberries. A friend who is a committed foodist went to the preview party, though, and told me this:

“We enjoyed a tasting of lobster risotto (creamy, and very tasty), Makers Mark slider which was a chubby, high-quality, mini burger with sauteed onion (almost like a jam) on a fresh roll, quail egg on toasted French bread with “browned butter” that had shallot in the butter (it was my absolute favorite to look at as well as to eat,), olive bread (slice of baguette, topped with a butter/cheese/green & black olive mixture and toasted), pots de crème that were heavenly.”

Read more at Rosetta’s website:

http://rosettadining.com/

Meanwhile, Sabio at Dudley Square has another sensibility. It is airy and open, but not minimalist, rather rich with brick and shades of black and burnt orange.

http://www.sabiodudleysquare.com/

Their house salad with golden sesame vinaigrette and thinly sliced Asian pear is a study in simplicity, perfect portion and price control ($6). With a couple pieces of baguette and a split—yes, a split—of Chandon rosé for the ridiculously low tab of $7, there is no better way to amuse oneself for a two-hour lunch on a free afternoon.

 

Recent Posts by Wendy

  1. Two New Easy Places To Dine Alone - Wednesday May 16, 2012
  2. Updates - Wednesday May 9, 2012
  3. Rosé and Morels - Wednesday May 9, 2012
  4. Wine + Market - Monday Apr 30, 2012
  5. My Heart Belongs to Dosa - Tuesday Apr 17, 2012
  6. I Feel Good, Mon. - Monday Apr 16, 2012
  7. It’s Not Always About the Food - Monday Apr 2, 2012
  8. Alfalfa - Sunday Mar 25, 2012
  9. Lexington’s Biggest and Best Fish Sandwich - Thursday Mar 22, 2012
  10. Northeastern Thai Comes to Lexington - Wednesday Mar 14, 2012
  11. Stella’s Kentucky Deli - Thursday Mar 1, 2012
  12. Good Reads...and Eats - Sunday Feb 26, 2012
  13. Happy Mardi Gras! - Tuesday Feb 21, 2012
  14. Chinese? Here? - Saturday Feb 18, 2012
  15. National Recognition for Pastry Chef - Saturday Feb 18, 2012
  16. A Loaf of Bread, a Bottle of Wine, and … Gourmet Pastry and Cheeses. - Monday Feb 13, 2012
  17. West African in Central Kentucky - Tuesday Jan 31, 2012
  18. Oy Vey, a Pop-Up! - Saturday Jan 21, 2012
  19. Seek Local and Ye Shall Find - Monday Jan 16, 2012
  20. Breakfast at Doodles - Sunday Jan 8, 2012
  21. The Mighty Minis - Tuesday Jan 3, 2012
  22. Spirited Treats - Thursday Dec 29, 2011
  23. What is a Hot Brown? - Monday Dec 19, 2011
  24. Pho, as in Fuh. - Friday Dec 9, 2011
  25. Blogs Connect Us All. - Sunday Dec 4, 2011
  26. Beer School - Monday Nov 28, 2011
  27. Shorty’s is a Matchmaker - Sunday Nov 20, 2011
  28. Soup's On! - Thursday Nov 10, 2011
  29. This Weekend: BBQ Festival in Danville! - Monday Oct 31, 2011
  30. Eating Lunch at the University of Kentucky: Lemon Tree - Wednesday Oct 26, 2011
  31. Sweeeet! - Monday Oct 24, 2011
  32. Say Cheese - Monday Oct 17, 2011
  33. Apple Pickin’ Time - Wednesday Oct 5, 2011
  34. Artisanal Chocolate - Friday Sep 30, 2011
  35. The Most Heavenly Mill on Earth - Wednesday Sep 21, 2011
  36. Top Chefs To Do Lexington - Friday Sep 9, 2011
  37. Grazing through downtown Lexington - Thursday Aug 25, 2011
  38. A Rich Food Blog for Locavores - Saturday Aug 20, 2011
  39. "Kentucky Proud" means Local Excellence - Friday Aug 12, 2011
  40. James Beard Dinner @ local winery - Thursday Aug 4, 2011
  41. New food blog coming! - Thursday Jul 28, 2011

THREE PHASES, HIGH HOPES & POLO by: Julie

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BREEZE THE BLUEGRASS 5/9/12

Kentucky-born speedster, I’ll Have Another, has won the first jewel in the Triple Crown, the Kentucky Derby. Now it’s time to keep an eye on the second jewel, the Preakness Stakes, on May 19.  The Preakness takes place at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, MD.  The third jewel of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes, takes place in Elmont, New York on June 9. All the races will be filled with many of the best Kentucky-born and bred thoroughbreds.  

Learn about the Preakness Stakes here

Learn about the Belmont Stakes here

The 6th Annual Phase Three Event takes place on May 19-20 at Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, in Harrodsburg.  Entry deadline is May 11.  This event is geared to the “soft-gaited horse.”  Examples of soft-gaited breeds are the Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse, Rocky Mountain Horse, Spotted Saddle Horse, Tennessee Walker, American Saddlebred, gaited Arabians and Paso Fino horses, and any cross that produces a horse with gaits. Many of the horse breeds that will be represented at the Three Phase Event have their national headquarters located at the Kentucky Horse Park:  American Saddlebred Horse Association, National Walking Horse Association, Paso Fino Horse Association and the Rocky Mountain Horse Association.  The Three Phase Event is based on the Three Day Event, which combines dressage, cross country jumping and stadium jumping. A Three Phase Event has a dressage contest, a stadium obstacle event (much like a Trail Class event) and a cross country “trail” course.  This competition gives the non-jumper an opportunity to show off their horsemanship, showmanship and versatility.  

Check out the Three Phase Event here

Spectators are welcome to visit the Shaker Village, located at 3501 Lexington Road in Harrodsburg. Admission to the horse show will be separate from admission to Shaker Village.  Shaker Village has several wonderful restaurants.  Should you choose to take in a great meal while there, reservations are strongly suggested!  I should add here that Shaker Village has an extensive, 33-mile horseback riding trail system and 15 miles of carriage trails.  Shaker Village does not offer guided trail rides, but you are welcome to bring your horse out to enjoy the scenery.  Overnight boarding is available, as well.  

The Three Phase Event will be in the West Lot area of Shaker Village, about 1 ½ mile past the entrance.  

Check out Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill here

Learn more about The Stable at Shaker Village here

Another event that takes place in the Bluegrass on May 20th is the 45th Annual High Hope Steeplechase.  The only Steeplechase in Kentucky, the High Hope is a charity event that benefits four different organizations: Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation, Central Kentucky Riding for Hope, The Secretariat Center and the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation.  This event takes place at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington.  Admission is $25 PER CARLOAD and nets you a full day of horseracing steeplechase-style, terrier races, children’s activities and great shopping.  The day gets underway at 11:00am so pack a basket of goodies for tailgating then come out and enjoy the fun.

Get the High Hope details here

What, exactly, is a steeplechase?  Learn here

The Lexington Polo Club’s Unbridled Polo Series 2012 is underway at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. Enjoy the wonderful Spring weather we are experiencing in the Bluegrass and take in a polo match. 

Here is the Polo schedule

Ever think you might want to learn how to play polo? Lessons are available, both private and group sessions. 

Polo lesson information is here

Did you know that the University of Kentucky has it’s own collegiate polo team?   Their founder and coach is Kentucky Polo Association’s manager, Jorge Vasquez.  

Read more about the UK Polo team here

Enjoy your time in the Bluegrass!

-Julie

Recent Posts by Julie

  1. THREE PHASES, HIGH HOPES & POLO - Wednesday May 9, 2012
  2. WIN, PLACE AND SHOW - Thursday May 3, 2012
  3. HORSES AT BLUEGRASS AIRPORT - Wednesday Apr 25, 2012
  4. HORSES ON THE WALL - Thursday Apr 19, 2012
  5. HORSES AND HATS - Thursday Apr 12, 2012
  6. HORSES AND THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND - Tuesday Apr 3, 2012
  7. HIGH TEA AND HORSES - Thursday Mar 29, 2012
  8. THOROUGHBRED PARK & GOOD CLEAN FUN - Friday Mar 23, 2012
  9. KENTUCKY HORSE PARK TURNS 34 - Wednesday Mar 14, 2012
  10. TAKE THE EQUINE INITIATIVE - Thursday Feb 23, 2012
  11. STRAIGHT FROM THE HORSE’S MOUTH - Thursday Feb 16, 2012
  12. WORLD-CLASS HORSE SHOWS - Thursday Feb 9, 2012
  13. SIX MORE WEEKS OF WINTER? - Thursday Feb 2, 2012
  14. COWBOYS AND LUCK - Thursday Jan 26, 2012
  15. ONLY ONE FUNNY CIDE - Friday Jan 20, 2012
  16. NEVER TOO COLD - Friday Jan 13, 2012
  17. NEW YEAR-OLD FRIENDS - Friday Jan 6, 2012
  18. WARM HORSE - Wednesday Dec 14, 2011
  19. HORSES FOR THE HOLIDAYS - Friday Nov 18, 2011
  20. VIRTUAL REALITY - Friday Nov 11, 2011
  21. TWO IN ONE - Wednesday Nov 2, 2011
  22. PUMPKINS AND PONY RIDES - Friday Oct 28, 2011
  23. FALL FOLIAGE TIME - Sunday Oct 23, 2011
  24. “VARIETY” IS THE WORD - Wednesday Oct 12, 2011
  25. A DAY AT THE RACES - Thursday Oct 6, 2011
  26. FESTIVAL OF THE HORSE - Wednesday Sep 28, 2011
  27. SECRETARIAT FESTIVAL and MORE 9-21-11 - Wednesday Sep 21, 2011
  28. KEENELAND SEPTEMBER YEARLING SALE 9/15/11 - Friday Sep 16, 2011



May 18, 2012
2012 Fountain Films

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