Lexington, KY - Horse Capital of the World

Those who know me well, know that I love to eat--anything sweet, anything homegrown and anything prepared by Jonathan Lundy, chef and owner of Jonathan's at Gratz Park.

So, it's no surprise that Lundy's new book--Jonathan's Bluegrass Table--is tops on my list.

This is not your average recipe book. It reads more like a book, and the photography (done by local photographer Lee Thomas) is stunning. Lundy and Thomas do a wonderful job of capturing the the spirit of the Bluegrass through the art of food, photography and storytelling.

And then there are the recipes! I was pleasantly surprised that Lundy "told all" with his signature dishes. From Kentucky classics like Burgoo to his decadent Spalding's Doughtnut Bread Pudding, every page is full of Lundy's influence on dining in the Bluegrass.

Jonathan's at Gratz Park is one of my favorite spots in town, and I head there as often as I can. I especially love the cozy bar during the winter. But this book makes it possible to enjoy Jonathan's culinary delights from the comfort of home, page by page.

I’m not talking about a foreigner-I went to see the play at Woodford County Theater (WCT) in Versailles.  I have been to WCT several times and have never been disappointed.  In the past few years, they have moved from a high school cafeteria into a new recreation center as attendance has grown leaps and bounds.  The theatre attracts amazing talent from around the Bluegrass including students from University of Kentucky’s Theater Department and Lexington Children’s Theatre.  The plays are just as good as I have seen anywhere and WCT has developed quite a following. 

Don’t worry about where to sit-there aren’t any bad seats.  The price is very reasonable too (I only paid $16 for my ticket). The Foreigner is about a guy whose wife is dying.  Despite the fact she’s cheated on him, with 23 of her “friends,” he still loves her.  To get away for a few days, he stays at a lodge where he pretends he can’t speak English so he won’t have to talk to anyone.  Instead of relaxing, he finds himself burdened with secrets and scandals surrounding the lodge.  To communicate with guests, he pretends to learn English (he can read Shakespeare after only two days)!   The comedy was hysterical.

During intermission, I checked out concessions (okay…I did more than “check it out”). They sold pop (aka soda) and bags of chips, pretzels and cookies for only $1 each!  Where else can you get that good of a deal?

Tickets are still available for The Foreigner this weekend!  The show runs Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.  If you can’t make the show, be sure to see Once Upon a Mattress, a parody of The Princess and the Pea. The play begins May 7!

If you go:
Woodford County Theater
www.woodfordcountytheater.com
(859) 873-0648

Where can you go to get a drink around here? Normally it’s a no-brainer. Lexington has its fair share of bars. But it is 4:00 on a Wednesday afternoon.  Yes, we realize it is 5 o’clock somewhere, but it isn’t 5 o’clock here, and so our usual haunts aren’t even open yet.  And we don’t want to go to a “bar” bar. That just seems…pathetic, when what we really want to feel is…privileged. Not everybody has the opportunity to indulge in a mid-week pre-happy hour happy hour while their peers are all still at work. If we take too long making this decision, everybody will be off and spoil our ability to gloat over our privileged position!

Of course the idea that either of us is free to head out the door for a cocktail whenever the mood strikes us is pure fantasy. The reality is that we are more likely to be at our desks while “happy hour” comes-- and goes. But this day, it’s a fantasy we’d like to keep going for the next couple of hours at least.

My friend and I are looking for something urbane, refined, sophisticated, cozy (because it’s a bit dreary outside) and with alcohol (because it’s been that kind of week, even though it’s only Wednesday). Looking skyward as my friend drove down Main Street (looking skyward is something I do when trying to do math in my head, and trying to create a mental list of bars open before 5 p.m.) it came to me: Sky Bar.  Well, actually I saw it in the distance atop the building at the corner of Cheapside Park. It’s on the penthouse floor at 269 West Main. I’ve always been intrigued by the modern glass top story of this rather traditional looking office building. Here was our chance to check it out.

It fit the bill perfectly! It’s certainly not just a “bar” bar. Very upscale and elegant, but cozy. The sun was just beginning to set, which made the views even more stunning. The happy hour prices were stunning as well. If sushi is your thing, you’ll be impressed with Blue Sushi in it’s own little room. A fabulous martini and a fabulous cheese plate: what more could a girl want? This could quickly become a regular event. But we probably won’t be able to start before 5 o’clock next time. Since by boss probably reads my blog.

If you go:
Sky Bar
www.skybarlex.com
269 West Main Street
Lexington, KY 40507
(859) 368-7411

I'm really impressed. When I first heard about it, I couldn't believe it. Obviously it wasn't strictly a business decision, but hats off to two, local, live music venues for doing the right thing. 

Recently, at their establishments, and just before the headliner was introduced, the proprietors of Gumbo Ya Ya's and Natasha's Bar & Bistro made similar announcements from the stage– there would be no food or drinks served during the show, they asked everyone to make sure cell phones were turned off, and they requested that patrons refrain from conversation during the performance. It was to be a listening experience. Whoa!

– My Lexington live music recommendations for the rest of your week can be found at the bottom of the page –

Commanding the "listening experience" heads-up was "iconic, German, free-jazz, reedist" Peter Broetzmann with cellist Fred Ionberg-Holm at Gumbo Ya Ya's on the 23rd of last month, and Richard Shindell, the widely lauded  singer-song craftsman– and from reports, humorist–  playing a 'WUKY Presents Live' event at Natasha's last Thursday evening.

Pretty astounding any way you want to look at it. Two businesses that serve food and drink voluntarily decide to cut off food and drink service to reduce distractions and create the best listening conditions for patrons to enjoy the live music performance. 

While you might find this level of respect and reverence for the music at some legendary live music venues– a friend remembers it at the Village Vanguard in NYC– I have not encountered it anywhere locally in my memory. Thank you Gumbo Ya Ya, and thank you Natasha's. 

Of course, no one expects everyone to chill at most live music venues like many of Lexington's bars, but on occasion, it is about the music. And if most of the audience is in attendance because of the artists who are performing, then it IS abut the music.

Just to share with you how out of touch some people can be at live music performances, I saw the Nick Stump All-Stars– Nick was the founder of the Metropolitan Blues All-Stars– at Natasha's a week ago, on Saturday the 27th. It was well past the dinner hour. I was sitting next to a table of eight, well-dressed co-eds. The band was easily twenty minutes into their first set, when the ladies, completely, and obviously, oblivious to the band performing onstage, launched into a loud and joyous rendition of "Happy Birthday" in honor of one of their of their sorority (I'm guessing) sisters.

I was incredulous. I saw the shocked looks on the faces of patrons sitting nearby. If the offense had not been so over the top inappropriate, I likely would have said something– that's the way I can be sometimes. But I was stunned to silence. Immediately after making fools of themselves– they didn't have a clue– the eight young women gathered themselves up and left the building. Unfortunately the front door did not hit them in their backsides as they exited.

I go out to eat where the live music is intended to provide the soundtrack for the dining experience. I go to bars and other venues where the music is an integral part of the social experience. But when I go to concerts and shows where the live music is the reason for the event, the audience has a role to play, and the audience has some significant responsibility for the success of the experience.

At concerts, regardless of the venue, the live music experience is always a collaboration between the musicians and the audience. Both contribute, for good or ill. I don't intend to become the audience police, but to be kind, some people don't get out much, or just don't know how to act.

In concert settings, be it the corner bar or the concert hall, bands and musicians do pay attention to, and do respond to, their audiences. If live music etiquette, for an audience, is out-of-awareness, it is a distraction, both for the artists who are performing, and for other audience members who get it. More about audiences in future posts.  

Here are my live music recommendations for the rest of your week.

Tonight, Monday, March 8, 9:30 PM

TeeDee’s, corner of Elm Tree & Second Street, Lexington, KY TeeDee Young Band http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5484YgONvc

TeeDee's on Monday night may be the best kept music secret in Lexington. The five guys in the TeeDee Young Band, some of whom have played together for 25 years, mix high-energy blues with upbeat, jumpin' jazz. See you there.

Wednesday, March 10, 9 PM 

Natasha's’s, 112 Esplanade, Lexington, KY               Kati Penn & Newtown  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xB8WCWnha70

This five-piece bluegrass band is tight. They will follow this performance with a gig next week at the legendary Nashville venue, The Station Inn. The day after, they head to the studio to record their first record with their new line-up– Kati Penn, fiddle and vocals, Junior Williams, banjo and vocals, C. J. Cain, guitar, James Kee, mandolin and vocals, and Terry Poirier, bass and vocals.  See you there.

Thursday, March 11, 7 PM

Lexington Public Library, Central Library Theatre 140 East Main Street, Lexington, KY   

"Jazz: Live at the Library," The Osland/Dailey Jazztet, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTGy2oCitYA

"Performing works from their first recording 'Evidence' which has received heavy airplay from all across the globe, along with critical acclaim." 

Saturday, March 13, 1 PM 

Natasha's’s, 112 Esplanade, Lexington, KY

LexJam, Lexington's open jam session for musicians of multiple musical perspectives. Jazz-Acoustic-R&B-Rock-Blues-Alternative-Bluegrass jam sessions -- Lexjam welcomes musicians of varied music genres, encouraging a kindred spirit of improvisation! See you there.     

For now, free the music! And love the musicians!

G-Man– Blogging live music in Lexington, KY

Clapping My Hands!