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Michelle Aiello is a Chicago-born writer, editor and indie publisher. Her interests include living room karaoke, snail mail and all things vintage. She contributes to our monthly “tadoo list” (our calendar of cultural happenings, page 49).
While former Smiley Pete Publishing employee Judy Brumley now works for the New York City-based publishing house Meredith Corporation, she continues to occasionally contribute to our publications on a freelance basis, including this month’s ”Summer Fun Guide” feature (page 29) and “Spotlight on BORDEN: The Musical” (page 25).
Smiley Pete contributor Shannon Clinton (“Craveworthy,” page 7) is an Elizabethtown native who now lives in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. She has been a full-time freelance writer for 21 years for publications across the Southeast.
Lexington-based journalist and photographer with a passion for live music & Appalachia Madylin Goins (photos for “Creative Types: Anna Pollock”) is committed to promoting artists and the stories that keep the hills alive.
Longtime Smiley Pete contributor Mick Je ries (photography for ”Houndstock Music + BBQ Festival Recap”) works in an ever-changing array as graphic designer, photographer, writer, radio show host and oral historian.
Tanzi Merritt (“A New Renaissance,” page 21) is a writer and marketing and communications professional who loves sharing stories of the lesser-known and quirkiest aspects of her hometown.
Matt Wickstrom (“Creative Types: Anna Pollock,” page 10) professional writer, music lover and founder of the music blog and radio show Wick’s Picks.
Special thanks to Luke Francis (@lif_captures) and Dalton Combs Photography (@dalton_dombs) for contributing photos to the “Houndstock Music + BBQ Festival Recap.”
Please direct all editorial questions and story pitches to editor Saraya Brewer – saraya@smileypete.com. n
PUBLISHERS: CHRIS EDDIE
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: SARAYA BREWER
COPY EDITOR: NIKOLE CHRISTENSEN ART DIRECTOR: DREW PURCELL
SALES MANAGER: EMILY MARKS EVENTS DIRECTOR: AMY EDDIE
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Chevy Chaser Magazine, Southsider Magazine, and Business Lexington are published monthly by Smiley Pete Publishing. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part of any text, photograph or illustration without written permission from the publishers is prohibited.
SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES: AMY EDDIE, DONNA HODSDON, ANN STATON
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BY SHANNON CLINTON
Some bites from the local culinary scene:
• Futile Bakery is exiting its space at Greyline Station, but its next stop is the Southland area as part of a new Lexington Baking Collective — a concept opening later this year that will also include Dahlhaus Fudge and Hound and Horse Bakery.
• At the time of publication, Carson’s Back Porch – an expansion of Carson’s original Main Street location designed to feel like a “refined back porch” – was set to open May 18 at 321 E. Vine St., Lexington. Menu items include appetizers such as pimento cheese fritters and baked garlic butter oysters, and entrées like chicken and wa es, sweet and spicy ribs, and low country pasta.
• Firebirds Wood Fired Grill is set to open in mid-June at 2400 Polo Club Blvd., according to a social media announcement.
• Doc Crow’s Social, a new version of the Louisville-based restaurant (which now also has o shoots in Frankfort and O’Fallon, Missouri), has replaced the former Goodwood location at 200 Lexington Green Circle, Ste. 110, with a menu focused on burgers, wings, and barbecue.
• Down the road in Frankfort, Bu alo Trace Distillery o cials announced on Facebook that their new café, the John G. Carlisle Café, opened in mid-May, serving made-to-order sandwiches, salads, desserts, and more.
• The Fish Fry is now located at 833 Georgetown St., Lexington.
• Both the Palomar and the Stockton Way locations of the local Mexican restaurant formerly known as Papi’s have recently reopened under a new name: Casa Rosita
• Birdies Chicken is now open behind Bluegrass Tavern.
• Tres Hermanos Núñez is working to open a café in the former Loudon Square Bu et property, and a new PARLOUR Pizza + Pints is opening in Hamburg on Justice Drive, both according to the Lexington Herald-Leader.
• Fond farewells to The Sage Rabbit, which according to its website closed in mid-May after 11 years in the Chevy Chase area, and adieu to the Tilted Kilt on South Broadway, which closed May 16, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader. Lastly, Athens Lunchroom, Chocolate Holler, and Chocomania Georgetown each announced impending closures in April.
• Dova’s has moved inside Old North Bar at Greyline Station, and Son of a Burger has relocated to 833 Georgetown St.
• Good Reception Records and Jawn Co ee are teaming up for a new record store–co ee shop at 500 Southland Drive, set to open this spring, according to an Instagram post.
• Co ee and dirty soda shop Muggles Traveling Cafè has joined forces with Backroads Bakery Cheesecakes, with both now operating at 109 W. Sixth St., Lexington. n
Have a food and beverage-related update to share with readers? Please email info@smileypete.com.
After an incredible 22 years with Smiley Pete Publishing, our beloved sales rep Ann Staton is o cially beginning her well-earned retirement.
Ann’s dedication to her clients, her coworkers, and the community has been integral in helping shape Smiley Pete into what it is today. She has been a trusted partner, a fierce advocate for local businesses, a steady presence through decades of growth and change, and simply one-of-a-kind. Her relationships, work ethic, warmth, humor and heart have left a lasting mark not only on our company, but on Lexington itself.
To know Ann is to love Ann, and to work with her has been a gift.
While we will miss her tremendously, we are so excited for this next chapter filled with travel, fun, relaxation, family, friends and all the joy she so deeply deserves after years of pouring so much into others.
Please join us in congratulating Ann on an extraordinary career and wishing her the happiest retirement imaginable.
Thank you, Ann, for everything.
Love,
Your Smiley Pete Family n
“Relaxing the body. Quieting the mind. Opening the heart.”
Yoga unites body, mind and soul. Join instructor Kim Blitch, for Iyengar Yoga classes:
• Monday 6 - 7:15 pm – Beginner
• Tuesday 5:30 - 6:45 pm – Level 1
• Thursday 9:30 - 10:45 pm – Gentle
• Saturday 9 - 10:15 pm – Beginner
• Sunday 9 - 10:15 pm – Restorative iyengarlex.com
Argentine Tango, the world’s most mindful, meditative, intimate dance. (The social tango, not ballroom.)
If you can walk and hug, you can dance Argentine tango.
• Every Wednesday practice from 8 - 10 pm, with beginner lesson 8 - 9 pm
Singles and beginners welcome. No partner or experience required.
Matt Branstetter is a licensed massage therapist and a graduate of Jung Tao School of Classical Chinese Medicine. He has over 25 years experience in meditation and the martial and healing arts and can be reached for appointment at: embodyingtheway@gmail.com
Latin Dance with Jasmine Allen and Baile Paris.
Creating community through dancesalsa, bachata, cumbia, merengue Mondays 7:30 to 8:45 PM baileparis859@gmail.com
Mindful, empowered self-care is the heart of healing. Dr. Patterson o ers experiential consultations and classes for persons with stress-related chronic conditions –emphasizing a mindfulness-based approach to promoting resilience, managing stress, preventing burnout and cultivating compassion. Mindfulness is heartfulness.
Visit mindbodystudio.org for more information.
STORY BY MATT WICKSTROM
PHOTOS BY MADYLIN GOINS
Since moving to central Kentucky in 2021, Anna Pollock has quickly developed into one of the region’s most in-demand visual artists –particularly in the Lexington-area music scene, where her posters, merch and stage designs have come to represent the aesthetic of a growing number of local artists and events.
Pollock’s artistic journey began during her formative years in Washington, including time spent living on Bainbridge Island, a hamlet located across the Puget Sound from Seattle. At the age of 15, she started immersing herself in two pursuits that continue to be at the core of her work today: oil painting and music.
“I remember being told to paint something we really loved – and at the time I just so happened to be in love with a bunch of band boys,” Pollock said with a laugh. “Since then, almost all of my work has been music-based, because it’s the biggest thing that inspires me.
“I love it when I hear a band and immediately visualize a creative concept in my head that goes along with what they’re doing on stage,” she added.
BY
+ The quiet work behind natural beauty +
At Hortus Gardens, every landscape begins with listening—to the land, the architecture, the light, and the life it will hold. From there, design becomes discipline: where proportion, movement, plant character, seasonal rhythm, and long-term care are considered from the start. Installation brings that vision to fruition through experienced hands, thoughtful preparation, and careful placement. Maintenance carries the work forward with pruning, soil care, plant observation, and refinement. The result is a garden that feels effortless, matures beautifully, and becomes more personal with every passing year.
Over the past five years, Pollock’s work within the music scene in Kentucky and beyond has flourished. Not only does she design merch and posters for musicians and music-related events that include Nicholas Jamerson, Magnolia Boulevard, the Sleeping in the Woods Festival, Tahlsound and The Moonshiner’s Ball, but she’s also evolved to tackle large-scale endeavors like stage set designs.
Serving as the foundation for that creativity is the historic farmhouse on the outskirts of Lexington that she and her husband Wes Smith, a musician from the band Brother Smith, call home. While that abode, striking in both its simplicity and its immersion in nature, is reminiscent of her old home on Bainbridge Island, it’s a far cry from the old frat house on the University of Kentucky campus where she lived with friends Dylan Whitlow [a musician who plays in the bands The Magpies and DeeOhGee] and T.J. Patterson a half decade ago when she first came to Lexington.
“With everything going on in the world currently, I also feel like art is needed more than ever. Times are tough right now, but I believe in the power of art and want to continue creating so people have something to cling to and find hope in.”
“I had these two creative roommates, and we were all trying to figure out what we were doing,” recalls Pollock. “When we all decided to eventually leave that house, I knew I had to go back to living somewhere with trees where I can see the stars.”
She ended up finding that on a tobacco farm about 10 minutes outside of Hamburg Pavilion. It’s “far enough out of town to feel removed, but also still right around the corner from Costco,” she said with a laugh.
“I wish I was a Patti Smith type that really thrives in cities, but in order to flourish creatively I really need to be one with nature.”
Pollock recently opened up with Smiley Pete reporter Matt Wickstrom about what first drew her to Kentucky and its music, a neglected art project she’s brought cross-country in the hopes of continuing this year, and more.
What initially drew you to Kentucky from the Pacific Northwest? It was a series of serendipitous circumstances and just going after an opportunity on a whim. I was working at a bar in Washington and the Blackfoot Gypsies [a band
now called DeeOhGee] filled a date there in 2019. Only four people showed up, two of them being my friend and I. They came in wearing platform shoes and furry hats and saw my eccentric outfit and realized I was one of them. We instantly hit it o , which led to me helping with a bunch of their rebranding the following year. That started to get my name out in Nashville a bit, leading to work with folks like Steve Poltz, The Minks and others, who are regular and frequent clients of mine now.
In October 2020, I decided to come out to Kentucky with DeeOhGee for a Sleeping in the Woods concert at Laurel Cove Amphitheater with Nicholas Jamerson, Brother Smith and others. That was my introduction to the Lexington scene, and then from there I started meeting more and more people. I was originally thinking of moving to Nashville when I came east, but after reevaluating things and being introduced to the creative community here, my interest was piqued, and I knew Kentucky was where I needed to be.
The bulk of your art is oil-based paintings and graphics, but what other disciplines do you like to explore? Illustrations for merch, album art and posters are definitely my bread and butter, but I’ll also occasionally do some papiermâché stu , clothing alterations or larger scale stage design like what I’ve done for Nicholas Jamerson’s [holiday show at The Burl] Hollerday Gitdown or Sleeping in the Woods Festival. Projects like the latter have been very validating and liberating and have pushed me beyond the limits of what I previously thought I could do.
One of those bigger projects is an old school bus that I began painting and renovating back in Washington years ago with plans to live out of it. I recently had a friend drive it crosscountry and drop it o at [the Monticello-based campsite and music venue] Hidden Ridge Camping for me to continue working on. Right now, the plan is to open it up as an Airbnb when it’s finished, in addition to using it for photoshoots and other promo material, and taking it on the road whenever I can.
What are some of the most fulfilling projects you’ve worked on? This is obviously a little biased, but getting to work with my husband and his band is always really special. It’s a true collaboration on all fronts, because we both have full trust in each other’s creative visions and allow ourselves to do whatever we want.
And he’s not a Kentuckian, but I also love the relationship I have with Steve Poltz. He is a far-out dude with more energy than I will ever have. He also writes songs that are super visual, which is a lot of fun to work with.
But some of my most fulfilling work is with the likes of Abby Hamilton, Magnolia Boulevard, The Minks, Kashena Sampson and other talented women. It’s special when you get to work with other females, because of the feeling of sisterhood that goes along with it, which is super empowering and awesome.
What goals do you have on your vision board in 2026? By the end of the year, I would love to have an actual art gallery show with paintings, posters, papier-mâché art, and more. I want to dip my toes into expanding my repertoire and continuing to push myself creatively.
With everything going on in the world currently, I also feel like art is needed more than ever. Times are tough right now, but I believe in the power of art and want to continue creating so people have something to cling to and find hope in. n
A city-wide porch festival featuring live music on porches and lawns across the city!
1. THE BARELY SHAKEN STRING BAND
• 451 Kenton St. • Saturday, June 6 • 12-4 p.m. • Old-Time Traditional String Music
2. DYLAN WHITLOW (OF THE MAGPIES)
• 193 Kentucky Ave. (Emporium Vintage & Antiques) • Saturday, June 6 • 1-2 p.m.
• Rock
3. SARAH & THE BUDS • 110 Clyde St. • Saturday, June 6 • 1-2 p.m. • Cover band / Classics / Country / Rock / Sing-a-longs
4. KEVIN HOLM-HUDSON • 3241 Raven Cir • Saturday, June 6 • 1-2 p.m. • Eclectic Singer-Songwriter
5. LUCKY UKULELE CLUB • 3251 Beaumont (Beaumont YMCA) • Saturday, June 6 • 2-3 p.m. • Oldies
6. GRACE & THE JAMBROS • 545 Hill-nDale Road • Saturday, June 6 • 2-3 p.m. • Folk / Indie
7. NERO’S FIDDLE • 852 Robin Rd. • Saturday, June 6 • 2-3 p.m. Appalachicana / Folk Rock
8. OBLIFEROUS • 194 Castlewood Dr • Saturday, June 6 • 2-3 p.m. • Noise Rap
9. LIBERTY ROAD • 1070 Lane Allen Road (Beaumont Presbyterian Church) • Saturday, June 6 • 2-4 p.m. • Bluegrass Jam
10. TORI FORSYTH / JORDAN LEE KING • 1170 Manchester St (Halligan's Bar & Grill) • Saturday, June 6 • 2-3:30 p.m. • Singer-Songwriter
11. INTREPID ENSEMBLE • 421 Silver Maple Way • Saturday, June 6 • 3-4 p.m. • Classic covers from the ‘60s-’80s
12. CODY HIATT • 164 Louisiana Ave. • Saturday, June 7 • 3-4 p.m. • Psychedelic Drone-Folk
13. JAY @ITSJAY859 with EASYTHEDJ • 565 Mount Tabor • Saturday, June 6 • 3-5 p.m. • Hip-hop/Rap (Indignostic artist)
14. WEAK ASS MUSHROOM TEA • 4473 Aligan Way • Saturday, June 6 • 3-4 p.m. • Original alt rock, classic rock, folk and classic country
15. LEXINGTON MUSIC EDUCATIONROCK SCHOOL • 1736 Shenandoah Dr. • Saturday, June 6 • 3-5 p.m. • Eclectic Rock
16. TIRAMISU • 340 Transylvania Park • Saturday, June 6 • 4-5 p.m. • JazzFusion
17. HOT COOKIES OF THE BLUEGRASS • 39 Mentelle Park • Saturday, June 6 • 4-5 p.m. • ‘50s and ‘60s Pop
18. GABE & KYLE • 212 Burke Road • Saturday, June 6 • 4-5 p.m. • ‘60s & ‘70s Rock / Country
19. CARRIE THACURATOR / DALLARINA /CLUTCH PORTER & FRIENDS • 116 Venice Park • Saturday, June 6 • 4-6 p.m. • Hip-hop
20. LAUREN MINK & DALE ADAMS • 7086 Tates Creek Road (Talon Winery) • Saturday, June 6 • 4-7 p.m. • Country
21. RANDY • 271 Larch Lane • Saturday, June 6 • 5-6 p.m. • Honky Tonk
22. SLASHES FAMILY BAND • 327 McDowell Road • Sunday, June 7 • 12-1 p.m. • New Wave / Yacht Rock
23. JOSH DOUGLAS • 431 Kingswood Dr. • Sunday, June 7 • 12-1 p.m. • SingerSongwriter / Folk
24. NEVERLY BROTHERS / CLAWMACHINE • 111 Victory Ave. • Sunday, June 7 • 1-3 p.m. • Good Time Ukulele & Sousaphone music / Rock 'n Roll
25. VOODOO BEAR • 187 Old Park Ave. • 1-2 p.m. • Original World Music
26. MO BELL • 134 McDowell Road • Sunday, June 7 • 2-3 p.m. • Blues/R&B/Rock
27. LAST ONE, I PROMISE • 475 S. Ashland (Ashland Terrace) • Sunday, June 7 • 2-3 p.m. • Country & Bluegrass
28. CANE RUN BLUEGRASS BAND • 138 Suburban Ct. • Sunday, June 7 • 2-3 p.m. • Bluegrass
29. XANDER TUTTLE & MIKE TUTTLE • 1163 Athenia Dr • 2-4 p.m. • Indie Folk / Blues Rock
30. SARAH & THE BUDS • 1708 Harper Ct. • Sunday, June 7 • 2-3 p.m. • Cover band / Classics / Country / Rock / Sing-a-longs
31. VOODOO DOLLS / JARLEY YUNG / VALUS • 1736 Shenandoah Dr. • Sunday, June 7 • 2-4:30 p.m.
32. CASEY HENSLEY • 2024 Tamarack Drive • Sunday, June 7 • 3-4 p.m. • Folk / Americana / Bluegrass
33. MY TWO DADS • 142 Suburban Ct. • Sunday, June 7 • 3-4 p.m. • 80’s / 90’s / Pop Culture Hits
34. C.C. MATTHEWS • 2013 Alexandria Dr. • Sunday, June 7 • 4-5 p.m. • Folk/ Americana / Country / Blues
35. CODY HIATT • 207 E. Fifth St. • Sunday, June 7 • 4-5 p.m. • Psychedelic Drone-Folk
36. TOM GHENT • 2473 Brookshire Cir, • Sunday, June 7 • 4-5 p.m. • Original Folk / Country
37. PORCH FEST DANCE PARTY WITH DJ LEEROY • 183 Old Park Ave. • Sunday, June 7 • 4-6 p.m. • Soul, jazz, groove vinyl record dance party
38. LUCY & THE LOVE LETTERS • 617 Price Ave. • Sunday, June 7 • 5-6 p.m. • Jazz
39. LARGE FLYING MAMMAL / THE CURRENT • 876 Pinkney Dr. • Sunday, June 7 • 4-6 p.m. • Rock
40. PEARL'S PIZZA PARTY: SKY CATHEDRAL, MAMMOTH CAVE II, BONEHEAVER • 133 North Limestone (Pearl’s) • Sunday, June 7 • 4-8 p.m. • Slice night featuring music by best friends of Pearl's
Two days. Dozens of bands. Countless memories.
This choose-your-own-adventure-style event is FREE & FAMILY-FRIENDLY. Pack a camping chair and picnic basket and make a weekend out of it. Stay close to home or travel to other neighborhoods around town!
Schedule is subject to change. Visit smileypete.com/ lexingtonporchfest for updated details as the event nears!
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STORY BY TANZI MERRITT
As spring turns to summer, Lexington comes alive. From music festivals and artist markets to patio dining and outdoor recreation, the warmer months o er a little something for everyone — theater lovers included. As the Lexington Opera House gears up for a historic 50th season of Broadway Live!, and Studio Players prepares for its 74th season in 2026-27, local theater companies are closing out the current season with a new festival, the return of a beloved outdoor tradition and a major capital campaign designed to ensure theater thrives for future generations.
Voices Amplified, a theater collective dedicated to equitable arts education and performance, grew out of The Girl Project, an arts-meets-activism initiative that launched in 2011. With a goal of “empowering female-identifying high schoolers to challenge the misrepresentation and underrepresentation of voices and bodies in contemporary American media,” The Girl Project celebrated several successful seasons prior to the pandemic.
Vanessa Weig, executive artistic director of Voices Amplified, explained that while the organization already had a solid base in feminism, there were discussions swirling around the need to amplify other underrepresented voices.
This summer’s primary project – the inaugural women’s theater festival called Voices HEaRd, taking place June 3-14
at the Pam Miller Downtown Arts Center – takes the organization back to its roots in feminism. Following a theme of “Reclamation,” the festival explores how women take control of their legacies by challenging the myths, stereotypes and sensationalized headlines that have long defined them. The festival features performances of the musical “Disenchanted!”; a developmental performance of “BORDEN: A New Musical”; and the “TICKTOCK Play Festival,” a showcase of short plays
written by female-identifying playwrights from Kentucky to New Zealand.
Weig explained that the organization originally had something else planned, but because the play they were hoping to present is being made into a movie, they weren’t able to secure the rights. “I started looking for something else, and when I read ‘Disenchanted!’ I knew I had found it. It really dissects the ‘princess complex’ in a funny, smart – and slightly raunchy – way.
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“My favorite thing about it is that the script makes a point to tell you to cast women of all shapes, sizes, and ages,” Weig added. “It turns the ideal of a princess on its head.”
“BORDEN: A New Musical,” on the other hand, o ers a dramatically di erent tone. A musical as well, “BORDEN” tells the story of Emma Borden, the older sister of Lizzie Borden who stood by her during her trial and who lived with her until the two had a falling out in 1905 that left them estranged until their deaths in 1927, nine days apart. The piece, developed by Lexington-native Cavan Hendron, is not yet finished, offering audiences a unique view into the process of bringing a theater piece to life (see accompanying article in this issue for more details about this production).
Weig explained, “It’s a staged reading workshop, so it’s still very much in process. One of the things I love about it is that people here will get a little glimpse of what it’s like to start work on a musical that you want to ultimately produce o -Broadway. The audience
will be invited to give feedback that will influence the final script.”
The festival’s final production, the TICKTOCK Play Festival, celebrates the art of the short play. The production features seven plays, ranging from 5-30 minutes in length, which gives the organization the opportunity to involve more actors and directors.
“There will be some kinetic pieces, some more serious pieces, and contemporary pieces,” Weig explained. “We’ve got a really great time-period piece based on Edgar Allan Poe that I love. There is a lot of variety.”
While Weig cautions audiences that the Voices HEaRd: A Women’s Theatre Festival is rated PG-13 and may not be appropriate for younger children, there are always opportunities for little ones to be introduced to summer theater at the Lexington Children’s Theatre, which is staging Roald Dahl’s classic “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” from July 17-26, as well as producing summer theater camps for youth.
The Lexington Children’s Theatre has recently kicked o the public phase of its “Building Dreams Arts Education Capital Campaign,” a $2.5 million e ort to modernize its downtown theatre and enhance its ability to serve thousands of Kentucky children each year. After 25 years in its downtown home on Short Street, LCT requires interior updates as well as enhancements to the building’s exterior and sidewalk areas.
Development director Ashlee Collins said the campaign is about more than just Lexington Children’s Theatre.
“When one arts organization succeeds, there is more attention, energy and confidence in the theatre scene, and that creates opportunities for everyone,” she said. “We all share patrons and participants, and a rising tide lifts all boats.”
Committed to their downtown location, Collins added that the organization is being intentional with its existing home, rather than building something brand new.
When finished, the facility improvements will allow Lexington Children’s Theatre to continue its nearly 90 years of providing theater experiences for children and families, including professional performances welcoming to young audiences, year-round theater education and opportunities for area youth, and touring productions that extend the reach of theater throughout the state, meeting theater lovers where they are.
Summer in Lexington wouldn’t be complete without the much-loved tradi-
RENDERING FURNISHED BY EOP ARCHITECTS
A rendering of the plans for renovations to Lexington Children’s Theatre. The organization recently kicked o the public phase of a $2.5 million e ort to modernize the theatre.
tion of Shakespeare in the Park. The first Shakespeare in the Park took place in Woodland Park in 1982, and though the event changed names and locations throughout the years, in 2018 the newlyfounded theater company Antagonist Productions took up the mantle from the Kentucky Conservatory Theater and took Shakespeare in the Park back to its original home. This year, audiences can enjoy “Much Ado About Nothing” in Woodland Park between July 10-19.
And if that isn’t enough, the Lexington Theatre Company also has something for everyone this summer. The company will present “Les Misérables” on July 9-12 for more mature audiences, and another family-friendly Roald Dahl fan-favorite, “Matilda the Musical,” from July 30-Aug. 2. Another stalwart in the local community, Studio Players, will wrap up its 2025-’26 season with Ken Ludwig’s “The Gods of Comedy” through June 7, and a 10-Minute Play Festival July 23-26.
“Lexington’s theater scene has a past with strong traditional theater, as well as some interesting small and experimental theaters that have come and gone over the years, and that has all brought us to where we are now,” Weig said. “There are great companies working hard to broaden our theater experience and it’s exciting. My hope is that we can find more ways to collaborate and that the community can continue to get behind small companies, recognizing the costs associated with producing theater.
“But theater people are scrappy,” she continued, “and we’re going to keep it alive. When I have hard days, my husband reminds me that rough times are often followed by a reawakening. He never lets me forget that we just may be setting up the next renaissance.” n
STORY BY JUDY BRUMLEY
Eight years after development began, a New York-based musical by a Lexington-born playwright is set to make its local workshop debut this summer.
Created by Cavan Hendron, a Lexington native who moved to New York six years ago, “BORDEN: A New Musical” explores the infamous Lizzie Borden case through the eyes of Lizzie’s sister, Emma.
The production began as a college assignment at Western Kentucky University, where Hendron was tasked with writing a solo show about a historical figure. They chose Lizzie Borden, struck by how history has long labeled her guilty for the 1892 axe murders of her mother and stepfather, despite her acquittal the following year.
After moving to New York, they expanded the project into a full musical, writing both the script and lyrics. Initially, the show centered heavily on Lizzie herself, but after an industry reading in 2024, a mentor challenged Hendron to rethink the story, shifting the show’s focus away from Lizzie and toward the relationship between the two sisters.
“I took a step back and started thinking about what drew me to the story in the first place,” they said. “I realized the reason I loved [the story] was because, at the end of the day, it’s about family... It’s about sisterhood and that promise, and the lengths you’ll go for family.”
Hendron has continued developing the musical alongside a New York-based creative team that includes co-writer Aaron Roitman, composer Matthew Nassida, producer Audrey Belle Adams, director Neeta Thadani, and New York Times
“BORDEN: A New Musical” (development presentation)
June 11-13
Pam Miller
Downtown Arts Center
www.voicesampd. org/voices-heard-1
bestselling author and historian Cara Robertson (who is also a leading expert on the Lizzie Borden case). The entire team will head to Kentucky for three workshop-style performances of “BORDEN” this month.
The Lexington workshop performances will o er audiences a chance to experience the musical while it is still evolving, including a “talkback session” on June 11.
“People are going to get to see what a musical looks like when it’s in development,” Hendron said. “Being a theater kid, these were the things I really wished Lexington had when I was growing up.” n
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2,600 music lovers. 17 local and regional acts. One unforgettable weekend.
Gatton Park played host to the inaugural Houndstock Festival on May 15-16, a celebration of Kentucky's vibrant music scene.
The festival—a partnership between Smiley Pete Publishing, Coomer and 96.1 Hound FM delivered the goods: Stellar performances, killer barbecue, and the kind of energy that defines a community gathering done right.
Big thanks to our sponsors, musicians, vendors, and everyone who showed up and made this first year something special.
Next up: CRAVE food + music festival lands at this same beautiful downtown venue July 31-Aug. 1. More details coming soon.
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
Lexington has long been rich with options when it comes to summer entertainment! We’ve got the skinny on all the city’s summer festivals, concert series and other fabulous cultural events taking place over the next few months.
A look at various live music, film, theater and other recurring series taking place regularly throughout the warm weather months.
Big Band & Jazz Series
Tuesdays through Aug. 11, 7-8:30 p.m.
Moondance Amphitheater (through June 30) and Ecton Park (July 7-Aug. 11) lexingtonky.gov/playing/arts-events/bigband-jazz
One of Lexington’s longest-running and most beloved concert series returns with a full schedule of free weekly big band and jazz music at Moondance Amphitheater and Ecton Park. Patrons are encouraged to bring a lawn chair or blanket for seating; picnics are also encouraged.
Moondance Amphitheater Schedule
• June 2 – Marlin McKay Quintet
• June 9 – Somerset Big Band
• June 16 – Lee Carroll Quintet
• June 23 – Zach Brock
• June 30 – Patriotic Big Band & Jazz: The Lexington Concert Band
Ecton Park Schedule
• July 7 – DOJO-DiMartino/Osland Jazz Orchestra
• July 14 – Brett Evans Trombone Orchestra
• July 21 – Bryson Dunsmore Trio with Kirby Davis
• July 28 – RPM Quintet
• Aug. 4 – Miles Osland Little Big Band
• Aug. 11 – Walnut Street Ramblers
Thursdays through Oct. 8, 5-8 p.m.
Fifth Third Bank Pavilion at Henry A. Tandy Centennial Park, 251 W. Main Street downtownlex.com/central-bankthursday-night-live
Central Bank Thursday Night Live is a free, weekly outdoor event featuring live music from local and regional bands, food and beverage vendors and more. Taking place downtown under the Fifth Third Bank Pavilion, the event is held rain or shine, with hundreds of attendees gathering each month.
The summer schedule is below. Visit the event website for the full season line-up and additional details.
2026 Summer Schedule:
• June 4 – Vinyl Richie
• June 11 – Binders Disco Revolution
• June 18 – TBA
• June 25 – The Ranahans
• July 2 – Rewind Band
• July 9 – Vanguard Band
• July 16 – Superfecta
• July 23 – Tahlsound Reggae Night
• July 30 – Dead Air Dennis & Bryan Himes Experience
• Aug. 6 – TBA
• Aug. 13 – One More Round
• Aug. 20 – Mercy Men
• Aug. 27 – Kenny Owners & Group Therapy
July 17-Aug. 28, 6-8 p.m.
Charles Young Park, 215 Midland Ave. lexingtonky.gov/playing/arts-events/eastend-evenings
This outdoor concert series brings live music to Lexington’s Eastside neighborhood. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets for seating while enjoying live R&B, soul, funk, and dance music.
2026 Schedule:
• July 17 – Boogie G & the Titanics
• July 31 – VSP Band
• Aug. 14 – Benny J & Friends
• Aug. 28 – Honeychild
Fridays in June, activities start at 7 p.m. and the movie starts at dark Jacobson Park, 4001 AthensBoonesboro Road lexingtonky.gov/playing/arts-events/ friday-flicks
This outdoor summer film series features vendors and activities for all ages before the screening of a family-friendly film. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets for seating.
2026 Film Schedule:
• June 5 – “Cars”
• June 12 – “G.O.A.T.”
• June 26 – “Hoppers”
June 27, July 25, Aug. 29, Sept. 26, 6-8 p.m.
Isaac Murphy Memorial Art Garden, 577 E. Third St. lexingtonky.gov/playing/arts-events/ front-porch-concert-series
Presented by Lexington Parks & Recreation and Phoenix Rising Lex, an organization dedicated to preserving, promoting and honoring the contributions of African Americans to the Bluegrass region’s equestrian history, this free summer jazz series takes place at the footprint of the home where Black jockey Isaac Murphy — considered by many to be the greatest jockey of all time — lived with his wife, Lucy, in the late 1800s. Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets or chairs and a picnic or grab dinner from a food truck on site. Performers were TBA at time of publication but will be posted online upon confirming.
Tues.-Sat., June 6-Aug. 15 Dinner at 7 p.m. and show at 8 p.m. Pioneer Playhouse, 840 Stanford Road, Danville, Kentucky pioneerplayhouse.com
This summer, Kentucky’s oldest outdoor theater celebrates its 77th anniversary with four di erent theatrical productions. On the schedule is “The Play that Goes Wrong,” a zany, award-winning comedy; “The Iron Baby Angel,” a heartwarming story adapted from the novel by Charles R. McDowell; and “Boeing Boeing,” a hilarious madcap comedy. The season will conclude with “Kings and Queens!,” a lively celebration of Elvis, Dolly Parton, and Loretta Lynn.
2026 Summer Schedule:
• June 5-27 – “The Play that Goes Wrong”
• June 30-July 18 – “The Iron Baby Angel”
• July 21-Aug. 8 – “Boeing Boeing”
• Aug. 13-15 – “Kings and Queens!”
Fridays & Saturdays, May-Oct. (6:30-9:30 p.m.)
Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, 3501 Lexington Rd. shakervillageky.org/events/music-on-thelawn-2026/
Shaker Village’s Music on the Lawn o ers live music, outdoor dining, and specialty cocktails around a fire pit in an idyllic historic farm setting. Outdoor dining is limited and weather-dependent. Attendees are encouraged to bring a chair.
The June and July schedule is below. Visit the event website for the full season schedule and additional details.
June and July Schedule:
• June 5 – Joanah Loomer
• June 6 – Shane White
• June 12 – J.J. Marrs
• June 13 – Andy Branton
• June 19 – Randy Kaplan
• June 20 – Dean Phelps (4-6 p.m.); Scott Collins (6:30-9:30 p.m.)
• June 26 – Andrea Gross
• June 27 – Cotter Hill
• July 3 – Ryan Branstetter
• July 4 – J.J. Marrs
• July 10 – Shane White
• July 11 – The Pastime Trio
• July 17 – Chris Weiss
• July 18 – Dean Phelps
• July 25 – Scott Collins
• July 31 – Buckwheat Husk
Thursdays at 7 p.m. (May-September) Moondance Amphitheater, 1152 Monarch St. southlandjamboree.org
This free, family-friendly bluegrass music concert series takes place at Moondance Amphitheater in Beaumont Center. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets as well as instruments for casual jam sessions.
2026 Summer Schedule:
• June 4 – Rounder’s Station
• June 11 – Coaltown Dixie
• June 18 – Lonesome Express
• June 25 – New Outlook
• July 2 – Six String Soldiers US Army Band
• July 9 – Dale Ann Bradley
• July 16 – Timberline Road
• July 23 – Mash Grass & Kids Camp kids
• July 30 – West Liberty Mountain Boys
• Aug. 6 – Blue Debut
• Aug. 13 – Lincoln Mash & Heather Alley
• Aug. 20 – Open Highway Band
• Aug. 27 – CornMaiz String Band
Withassistedliving,memorycare,and skillednursingallinoneplace,residents enjoyavibrantlifestylefilledwith engagingactivities,chef-preparedmeals, meaningfulconnections,and compassionatespiritualcare.
Summer Classics Film Series
Wednesdays through Sept. 9, 1:30 and 7:15 p.m.
The Kentucky Theatre, 214 East Main St. kentuckytheatre.org
For almost three decades, this popular series has brought classic films to the big screen with nostalgic lineups featuring something for every kind of film fan. In honor of the industry legends we said goodbye to in 2025, this year’s schedule includes films with Robert Redford, Diane Keaton, Gene Hackman, and Rob Reiner. Visit the website for tickets and additional details.
2026 Film Series Schedule:
• June 3 – “The Graduate”
• June 10 – “Spellbound”
• June 17 – “Lady and The Tramp”
• June 24 – “Annie Hall”
• July 1 – “Carmen Jones”
• July 8 – “This Is Spinal Tap”
• July 15 – “Bringing Up Baby”
• July 22 – “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”
• July 29 – “Cabaret”
• Aug. 5 – “All the Presidents’ Men”
• Aug. 12 – “The Philadelphia Story”
• Aug. 19 – “Touch of Evil”
• Aug. 26 – “Unforgiven”
• Sept. 2 – “Psycho”
• Sept. 9 – “The Big Lebowski”
Every other Friday through Sept. 18, 7 p.m. MoonDance Amphitheater, 1152 Monarch Dr. (Beaumont Circle) lexingtonky.gov/playing/arts-events/ summer-nights-suburbia
Taking place every other Friday, this summer concert series features live music
The Kentucky Theatre’s Summer Classics Film Series will feature a screening of the 1976 thriller/mystery “All the President’s Men” on Aug. 5.
PHOTO FURNISHED
from a wide variety of genres. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets. Food vendors will be on site.
2026 Schedule:
• June 12 – The Other Brothers
• June 26 – Eversett
• July 10 – 64 West
• July 24 – Boogie G and the Titanics
• Aug. 7 – NVRMND
• Aug. 21 – Magnolia Boulevard
• Sept. 4 – Honey Child
• Sept. 18 – TBA
Tahlsound Concert Series
Dates and venues vary
• tahlsound.com
What started in 2017 as a full-day outdoor festival celebrating Lexington music has evolved into a series of smaller-scale concerts and pop-up events featuring local and regional acts, taking place throughout the warm-weather season.
Organized by a small collective of longtime friends and local musicians, the event
has always focused heavily on the arts and business culture surrounding Southland Drive (the name Tahlsound is an anagram for “Southland”). Its home base is the Oleika Great Lawn, a grassy field behind Oleika Shriners’ Temple, which features a permanent stage and plenty of room for kids and dogs to roam in a contained, fenced-in space.
Times, tickets, and other details are available at the organization’s website.
2026 Schedule:
• June 28 – Back to Our Roots: A Celebration of Influential Lexington Musicians (Featuring Maggie Lander, Idiot Glee and 10 Foot Pole)
• July 22-25 – Lexington Reggae Week (featuring a variety of performances from Kingston, Jamaica-based Rik Jam & The Island Federation Band at West Sixth Brewery, Thursday Night Live, Gatton Park, and more)
• Aug. 23 – From the Bayou to the Bluegrass: A Celebration of Louisiana in Kentucky
Jamaican reggae artist Rik Jam will perform a handful of shows across Lexington and Central Kentucky as part of Lexington Reggae Fest, presented by Tahlsound July 22-25.
PHOTO FURNISHED
WHEN YOUR AC GOES OUT, YOU DON’T NEED A SALES PITCH... LET’S
Too many homeowners are being told to replace systems that could have been repaired. That’s not how we do business. We believe in diagnosing the problem, explaining your options, and xing what can be xed.
WE OFFER A FREE SECOND OPINION – because we’re here for your peace of mind, not an upsell. No pressure. No gimmicks. No unnecessary replacements. We’re xers, rst.
Question: I’ve used the same HVAC company here in Fayette county for over a decade, but over the last several years it seems like every visit has turned into high pressure sales. Is this what’s happened industry wide or do I need to switch companies?
Anita, Lexington
Answer: I’m getting a lot of customers with the same complaint, and it’s part of a larger trend in the industry. Many of the larger HVAC, plumbing, and electrical companies in Fayette county have sold out from the original mom and pop owners to private equity firms (think Black Rock and Haliburton). These firms spend tens of thousands of dollars on marketing to get in your home and the only way to justify that kind of spend is to pressure you to spend more money. The cost to acquire a new HVAC customer through generic marketing is over $1000 per customer. So when you sign up for a $250 maintenance plan or worse a $39 service call they lose money if they don’t get you to spend well over $1000 per visit. If you are not happy with your current HVAC company, I would
encourage you to switch and to look for a locally owned company. There are still a few of us around.
Question: I’ve got an older AC system and I know with the coming heat it is likely to have issues. When should I repair versus replace my unit?
Lisa, Chevy Chase
Answer: Great question! First, if you have a breakdown, the number one rule is NEVER BUY A NEW HVAC SYSTEM FROM THE SERVICE TECH! Professional companies will have an estimator that will come behind the service tech and have proper training to educate you on your options, and make recommendations based on the size of the system and features that might benefit your home. The trend in the industry to incentivize service techs to sell versus fix is a bad business practice, and a conflict of interest. Many companies spend 3-4 times as much time training their techs to sell versus fix, and once you pay them more to sell than fix, human nature takes over, and they are not motivated to fix anything.
Some bullet points to consider in repair vs. replace:
• How old is the system? Over 10 years is when we start considering replacement instead of putting money into an older unit.
• How much is the repair? Combined with the age of the system anything over $1000 repair and you might consider replacing.
• How well has it been maintained? I’ve seen units last 30 years, but I’ve seen a whole lot more not last 10 years; maintenance is the difference.
• High end brand vs. lower end brand. We all know a Toyota is going to last a lot longer than a Yugo, the same is true for most HVAC.
• Physical condition. If it looks bad and the dog has used it like a fire hydrant, it’s probably not long for this world, and may not be worth investing in.
• High utility bills? An expensive repair might help you justify investing in a high efficiency system that will save you money month over month!
Do you have a question or a concern about your home’s efficiency, comfort, or air quality? Send your questions or comments to info@mysynergyhome.com
Call Synergy Home for a free estimate for any of your home improvement needs:
Tunes in the Vines
Sundays, 2-4:30 p.m. (through Nov. 1) Equus Run Vineyards, 1280 Moores Mill Rd. equusrunvineyards.com/tunes-in-the-vines
Equus Run Vineyards’ “Tunes in the Vines” is a weekly concert series that features a variety of musicians. Wine and local beers are available for purchase and attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and a picnic (no outside alcohol is permitted).
The summer schedule is below. Visit the event website for the full season schedule and additional details.
Summer Schedule:
• June 7 – The Strayz
• June 14 – Hole Shot Blues
• June 28 – VSP
• July 5 – Trippin’ Roots
• July 12 – Superfecta
• July 19 – Robert Eskridge and Southern Daze
• July 26 – Frequency 3
• Aug. 2 – Dane Sadler Band
• Aug. 9 – Branded Blue
• Aug. 16 – TBA
• Aug. 23 – Canvas
• Aug. 30 – 5 Below Band
Lexington Porch Fest
June 6-7, 12-6 p.m. smileypete.com/lexingtonporchfest
This free, city-wide community event features music performances on dozens of porches and lawns across the city. Attendees can either stay in their own neighborhoods or travel to other parts of town to enjoy live music and mingle with neighbors and community members. A full map and schedule are available at the website and in the Lexington Porch Fest section of this magazine.
June 4-14 • Bluegrass Fairgrounds at Masterson Station Park 3051 Leestown Road thebluegrassfair.com
The Lexington Lions Club Bluegrass Fair has been a family tradition for more than 60 years. This annual event, which is a fundraiser for the club’s charitable work, features carnival-style rides, games, and attractions. Visit the event’s website as it nears for additional information and tickets.
June 12-14; 19-21
Show start times vary; see event website for more information Singletary Center for the Arts, 405 Rose St. finearts.uky.edu/music/events/ its-grand-night-singing-2026
For more than 30 years, this popular, Emmy-winning music revue has featured the best from Billboard to Broadway, starring UK Opera Theatre and community performers.
June 10-13 • Kentucky Horse Park, 4089 Iron Works Pkwy. spiritinthebluegrass.com
This three-day bluegrass music festival at the Kentucky Horse Park features some of the best pickers in the country. Created by the producers of the Ohio-based bluegrass festival SamJam, the family-friendly festival includes camping, food trucks, informal jam sessions, and performances from Union Town Bluegrass, Lonesome Express, Shadowgrass, The Steeldrivers, and more.
June 13, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Downtown Winchester, Kentucky beercheesefestival.com
The Beer Cheese Festival will once again take over the streets of downtown Winchester with live music, retail vendors, Ale-8-One, and tons of beer cheese samples. Attendees are encouraged to cast their vote for their favorite beer cheese.
June 17-21
Barren River Magic, 1696 Edwin Williams Road, Edmonton, Kentucky playthinkfestival.com
PlayThink is a movement, music, and arts festival featuring “playshops” and entertainment options for a variety of ages, interests and physical ability levels. This unique, family-friendly camping event
encourages creativity and playfulness with workshops on “flow” arts like hula hoop and yoga, kid’s arts and crafts, and performance art. Music acts including LIL FISH, Cornflower, Shylah Ray, and ANZA are slated to perform at this year’s event.
June 18-28 • Various locations www.soulfeastweek.com
Now in its sixth year, SoulFeast is a joyful, week-long celebration of culture, cuisine, and community. Starting with a kicko soirée at The Melroy (June 18), other highlights include Cocktails & Cigars, a highenergy block party taking over the new BC Garage on Third Street; SoulTeenth Festival at Gatton Park (June 20); and a Soulful Sunday Gospel Brunch at The V on The Vine, featuring food, fellowship and live music with two di erent seatings. Visit the event website for details and tickets.
June 25-27 • Danville, Kentucky gabbf.org
Held annually on the campus of Centre College and in downtown Danville, this free, family-friendly event aims to preserve brass band music through a variety of programs, presentations, and performances. The event has moved to a later weekend this year to avoid overlaps with high school graduations, but the format remains the same as in years’ past. Visit the event website for the music line-up and additional details.
July 1-5 • Various locations lexingtonky.gov/playing/arts-events/ fourth-july-celebration
Lexington’s multi-day Fourth of July celebration typically includes an Ice Cream Social at Henry A. Tandy Centennial Park, a Patriotic Concert featuring The Lexington Philharmonic and a downtown parade and street festival that starts in the morning and culminates with a fireworks show at 10 p.m. Full details about this year’s festivities will be announced soon.
July 6-12 • Various locations lexingtonburgerweek.com
One of the city’s most anticipated annual culinary events, Lexington Burger Week gives chefs from dozens of participating restaurants the chance to try creating the most unique burgers in town. Each restaurant features a one-of-a-kind burger not on its regular menu for $7-$8 throughout the week, making it easy for patrons to try out tons of new flavors and eateries. Fans can track their progress using the free Lexington Burger Week app.
For a full list of participating restaurants, featured burgers and recommended pairings, visit the Lexington Burger Week website as the event nears.
Shakespeare in the Park: “Much Ado About Nothing”
July 10-12; 16-19
(Gates at 6:30 p.m.; show at 8 p.m.)
Woodland Park, 601 E. High St. antagonist.productions
Antagonist Productions presents one of Shakespeare’s most popular comedies. Directed by Drew Davidson, with
live music and local vendors enhancing the experience, audiences can expect an unforgettable evening celebrating creativity, connection and community, in an outdoor park setting. Both weekends will feature live music before the play begins.
July 10-12 • Various venues harrydeanstantonfest.org
Since 2011, Lexington’s Harry Dean Stanton Festival has paid tribute to the late iconic character actor and Kentucky native who appeared in over 200 films over the course of his prolific career. Spread out over multiple days and venues, the event typically includes film screenings, music performances, and special guest appearances; this year’s event will mark what would have been Stanton’s 100th birthday, and will kick o with a cemetery screening of “Cool Hand Luke” at Blue Grass Memorial Gardens (July 10) and conclude with a 4k restoration screening of “Paris, Texas” at the Kentucky Theatre (July 12).
The event will also feature film screenings at the Farish Theater (including three festival debuts: “Ra ery and the Gold Dust Twins,” “Uforia” and “The Black Marble”); an all-star table read of an un-produced screenplay that Allison Anders wrote for Harry in the 1980s entitled “Lost Highway;” and a show at the Green Lantern featuring former Harry Dean Stanton and the Repo Men bandmates James Intveld and Billy Swan. Full schedule and more details will be posted soon at the event website.
July 29-Aug. 2 (8 p.m. pre-show, with main curtain at 9 p.m.)
Woodland Park, 601 East High St. lexingtonky.gov/playing/arts-events/ ballet-under-stars
Ballet Under the Stars is an outdoor dance celebration featuring a youth production followed by a main show starring professional dancers from Kentucky Ballet Theatre. This year’s pre-show will be “Princess Vignettes,” featuring stories from Rapunzel, Cinderella, Belle, Moana, and Snow White. The main show will follow. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets for seating.
July 31-Aug. 1
Gatton Park on Town Branch, 3051 Leestown Road www.cravelexington.com
This annual, family-friendly food and music festival is produced by Smiley Pete Publishing featuring a curated selection of local and regional food vendors, live music, chefs, special food performances, craft beer and cocktails. This year’s lineup includes Honeychild, Velvet Elvis, Club Dub and more –visit website for more details as the event nears!
Aug. 1-2, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, 3501 Lexington Rd. shakervillageky.org/events/craft-fair-2026
One of Kentucky’s top craft-centric happenings, the Shaker Village Craft Fair attracts elite regional artisans as well as up-and-coming artists. The annual event o ers a wide assortment of crafts, from pottery, jewelry, and glassware to woven rugs, needlecraft, basketry, leather goods, floral design, and Shaker reproductions. General admission to Shaker Village — which includes access to historic tours, exhibits, and other Shaker Village experiences — is discounted during this weekend. Attendees can also enjoy the Shaker Village bar, live music, and food trucks.
“Pops Goes Country! Country Hits – Songs from Nashville”
Aug. 8 • Gates at 4 p.m.; show at dusk
The Meadow at Keeneland, 4201 Versailles Rd. www.lexpops.com
Picnic with the Pops has long been a favorite summer event in Lexington for over four decades. Each year, The Lexington Philharmonic teams up with a special guest performer to present an evening of popular music with symphonic accompaniment in the idyllic Keene meadow at Keeneland. Attendees can purchase tables of eight (tables and chairs provided) or general admission seating (bring your own chairs/blankets) and bring a picnic dinner to enjoy. Cocktail, costume and table decorating contests add to the festivities.
Featuring dozens of art vendors from around the country, Woodland Art Fair returns to Woodland Park Aug. 15-16.
For this year’s show, a cast of Nashvillebased guest artists will join the Lexington Philharmonic for an evening of symphonic renditions of beloved classic country songs like “Folsom Prison Blues,” “Devil Went Down to Georgia,” “Always On My Mind,” “Jolene,” and “Wichita Lineman,” with a few modern country songs mixed in. Expect to hear solid gold hits we know and love, made famous by artists like Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Alison Krauss and more.
Aug. 15-16 (10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday) Woodland Park, 601 E. High St. woodlandartfair.org
Now in its 50th year, the Woodland Art Fair, produced by the Lexington Art League and Lexington Parks & Recreation, is one of Lexington’s most celebrated cultural events. It features artists and makers selling unique, handcrafted items ranging from ceramics and wood art to jewelry and photographs, along with food and beverage vendors, live music, and more in a relaxed and shaded park setting.
Aug. 22, 4-10 p.m. • Euclid Avenue between Ashland Ave. and High St.
The ever-popular block party Chevy Chase Street Fair returns with dozens of local vendors, live music, kids’ activities, street food, craft beer and cocktails and neighborhood camaraderie. Keep an eye on social media for the full list of vendors, bands and other details, as the event nears. Chevy Chase Street Fair is produced by Smiley Pete Publishing in partnership with Chevy Chase Merchants Association. n
RECIPE AND PHOTO BY COLES 735 MAIN TEAM
Ingredients:
• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 roasted red pepper
• 1-2 slices of thinly sliced prosciutto
• 4-6 ounces sliced Bu alo mozzarella
• 1 lb. fresh green beans
• 1 cup Marsala cooking wine
• 1 shallot, thinly sliced
• 1 fresh garlic clove, chopped
• 4 fresh thyme sprigs
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 cups beef demi glace (store-bought is fine)
• Salt and pepper
• Olive oil
Method:
Prepare the chicken: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Slice chicken breast longways in half and pound thin. Pat dry with a paper towel and season with salt and pepper. Heat a large sauté pan over medium high heat. Add enough oil to cover the pan surface, then add chicken to the warm pan. Sauté for 2-3 minutes, flip, and continue to cook for 2-3 more minutes until cooked through). Top bottom layer of chicken with layers of roasted red pepper, prosciutto, and bu alo mozzarella; top with the remaining chicken breast and place in the oven for 3 to 5 minutes.
To make the sauce: Place a small saucepan over medium heat and warm 1 tablespoon of oil, then add sliced shallots. Sauté until translucent. Add garlic and sauté for 30 more seconds. Add Marsala, thyme, bay and reduce by two-thirds. Add demi-glace* and bring to a simmer. Strain and reserve.
Serve with sautéed green beans or side of choice. Place the side on the plate; using a spatula, transfer chicken to the other half of the plate. Pour sauce over top of the chicken and garnish with fresh basil.
*Note: if you can’t find demi-glace in the store, use beef bone broth and boil it until reduced enough that it has a thicker, gravylike texture. n
PHOTO & RECIPE PROVIDED BY
STEPHEN SAM, VENDOR AND VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR FOR SOULFEAST WEEK
This modern classic cocktail is considered to be a cousin to The Last Word, another classic cocktail that utilizes gin, chartreuse, maraschino liqueur and lime juice. It’s a favorite of local cocktail enthusiast Stephen Sam, part of the team behind this month’s SoulFeast festivities, a weeklong celebration of “culture, cuisine and community” taking place June 18-28.
Among this year’s events include the Soulteenth Festival at Gatton Park on June 20, featuring vendors and family-friendly entertainment from across the state, and a Soulful Sunday Gospel Brunch, an event featuring live gospel music and a special menu from James Beard Award semifinalist Isaiah Screetch taking place at The V on Vine on June 21. The collection of events also includes Kentucky Black Restaurant Week (June 22-28), with participating restaurants serving exclusive o -menu dishes priced at $15 or less. The full schedule and more details can be found at soulfeastweek.com.
Ingredients:
• .75 oz - Fresh bourbon
• .75 oz - Amaro Nonino liqueur
• .75 oz - lemon juice
• .75 oz – Aperol liqueur
Method:
Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice; shake and strain into a coupe glass. n
Tophouse. June 4. This Montana-based quartet blends folk string instrumentation with indie rock energy, building soaring, harmony-driven songs around banjo, fiddle and cinematic arrangements. 8 p.m. The Burl, 375 Thompson Road. www.theburlky.com
Railbird Pre-Party: Bayker Blankenship. June 5. Emerging country and Americana songwriter Bayker Blankenship headlines this Railbird Festival kicko event at The Burl, bringing a stripped-back Southern sound shaped by gravelly vocals and reflective storytelling. The outdoor preparty serves as an early start to Railbird weekend festivities in Lexington. 8 p.m. The Burl, 375 Thompson Road. www. theburlky.com
Edwin McCain / Five for Fighting. June 7. Singer-songwriters
Edwin McCain and John Ondrasik of Five for Fighting team up for a co-headlining evening of piano-driven pop rock and late ’90s radio staples, including “I’ll Be,” “Superman” and “100 Years.” Both artists perform fullband sets built around melodic songwriting and conversational stage presence. 7:30 p.m. Lexington Opera House, 401 W. Short St. www.lexingtonoperahouse.com
Spirit of the Bluegrass Festival Kicko : Mash Grass. June 10. Lexington bluegrass band Mash Grass launches the Spirit in the Bluegrass festival week with high-energy jam-grass improvisation and festival-style musicianship. The kicko show serves as an early celebration ahead of the multi-day bluegrass gathering at the Kentucky Horse Park. 8 p.m. The Burl, 375 Thompson Road. www.theburlky.com
Arkansas singer-songwriter Nick Shoulders brings his distinctive blend of country, folk and yodeling traditions to Lexington as part of his Apocalypse, Never! tour. Drawing from honky-tonk, country blues and outsider Americana, Shoulders pairs sharp humor with old-school vocal techniques. 8 p.m. The Burl, 375 Thompson Road. www. theburlky.com
Led by songwriter Eric D. Johnson, Fruit Bats crafts warm, melodic indie folk built around reflective lyrics, layered harmonies and breezy West Coast textures. The long-running project moves between psychedelic folk, Americana and classic pop influences, creating songs that feel both nostalgic and expansive. 8 p.m. The Burl, 375 Thompson Road. www.theburlky.com
Brother Smith / Wax Monkey. June 26. Lexington indie rock bands Brother Smith and Wax Monkey share a hometown bill at The Burl, bringing together two longtime staples of the local music scene. Brother Smith blends melodic rock with tightly layered instrumentation and emotional songwriting, while Wax Monkey channels groove-heavy alternative rock shaped by funk, jam and psychedelic influences. 8 p.m. The Burl, 375 Thompson Road. www.theburlky.com
IMAGE FURNISHED
Artists' Attic is hosing a solo exhibition of work by Lexingotn artist Damon Farmer
Imaginated: The Paintings of Damon Farmer. On display through June 27. Artists’ Attic presents a solo exhibition of narrative paintings by Lexington artist Damon Farmer, whose work blends whimsical storytelling, mechanical imagery and fantastical scenes inspired by invention and imagination. Through richly detailed acrylic paintings, Farmer creates playful, dreamlike worlds that balance curiosity, humor and surreal visual logic. Gallery Hop reception 5-8 p.m. Fri., June 19. Gallery hours: Fri.-Sat., noon-5 p.m. Artists’ Attic, 401 W. Main St., fourth floor. www.theartistsattic.org
Stacey Chinn-Hart: “REcreation.” On display June 5-July 17. Presented by the Lexington Art League at the historic Loudoun House, this solo exhibition spans three decades of work by artist Stacey Chinn-Hart. Through layered mixed-media works and personal visual narratives, Chinn-Hart explores memory, identity and the act of revisiting creative practice across time. Artists’ reception Friday, June 5, 5-8 p.m. Gallery hours: Wed.-Sat., noon-5 p.m. Loudoun House, 209 Castlewood Dr. www.lexingtonartleague.org
Ed Lawrence: “The Gloaming.” On display June 5-July 17. Lexington Art League presents a new body of work by photographer Ed Lawrence exploring the transitional space between daylight and darkness. Using atmospheric landscapes and low-light imagery, “The Gloaming” reflects on mood, stillness and the shifting visual textures that emerge at dusk. Artists’ reception Friday, June 5, 5-8 p.m. Gallery hours: Wed.-Sat., noon-5 p.m. Loudoun House, 209 Castlewood Dr. www.lexingtonartleague.org
Lexington Porch Fest. June 6-7. This free, city-wide community event features music performances on dozens of porches and lawns across the city. Attendees can either stay in their own neighborhoods or travel to other parts of town to enjoy live music and mingle with neighbors and community members. A full map and schedule are available at the website and in the Lexington Porch Fest section of this magazine. 12-6 p.m. both days. smileypete.com/lexingtonporchfest
Railbird. June 6-7. Railbird returns to the Infield at Red Mile with one of its biggest lineups yet, headlined by Kentucky native Tyler Childers and indie folk favorites The Lumineers. The two-day festival also features major sets from Caamp, Mt. Joy, Zach Top, Ella Langley, Muscadine Bloodline, Watchhouse, Houndmouth, Shakey Graves, Margo Price and Robert Earl Keen, alongside rising Americana and country acts across three stages. Beyond the music, Railbird continues its Kentucky-focused bourbon programming and festival atmosphere built around regional food, horse racing culture and roots music. Gates open daily at noon. Red Mile Gaming and Racing, 1200 Red Mile Road. www.railbirdfest.com
Voices Heard: A Women’s Theatre Festival. June 12-15. Hosted by Pioneer Playhouse, this annual festival celebrates the work of several women playwrights, directors and performers through staged readings, workshops and live performances featuring stories centered on women’s perspectives and experiences. The multi-day event brings together regional theater artists for a collaborative weekend focused on new work, conversation and creative exchange. Pioneer Playhouse, 840 Stanford Rd., Danville. www.pioneerplayhouse.com
Studio Players: “The Gods of Comedy.” June 5-7. Daphne and Ralph, two ambitious classics professors, see their academic breakthrough unravel when a desperate plea summons the gods of ancient Greece to campus. What follows is a fast-moving farce as myth collides with modern academia, sending up campus culture with screwball energy. 7:30 p.m. nightly; Sun., 2:30 p.m. Carriage House Theatre, 154 W. Bell Ct. www.studioplayers.org
Carnegie Center: Books in Progress Conference. June 5-6. Hosted by the Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning, this annual conference brings together emerging and established writers for workshops, craft talks and manuscript consultations focused on developing book-length projects. The two-day program features sessions in fiction, nonfiction and poetry led by published authors, editors and literary professionals. Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning, 251 W. Second St. www.carnegiecenterlex.org/books-inprogress-conference
“It’s a Grand Night for Singing!” June 12-14; 9-21. Presented by UK Opera Theatre, this long-running Lexington tradition returns with a large-scale musical revue featuring Broadway classics and contemporary favorites performed by University of Kentucky students alongside community performers. The annual production blends full ensemble numbers, solos and theatrical staging in a celebration of musical theater spanning multiple eras and styles. Fri., 7:30 p.m.; Sat.-Sun., 2 p.m. Singletary Center for the Arts, 405 Rose St. www.scfatickets.com
LexArts HOP. March 21. During the LexArts HOPs, thousands of locals and visitors alike converge on downtown Lexington to celebrate art throughout the evening with new gallery exhibitions and special arts events, at traditional and nontraditional gallery spaces alike. Patrons begin at one of 40-plus locations and visit as many or as few participating venues as they would like. O cial HOP hours are 5-8 p.m., with many venues keep ing additional hours. A full guide is available each month at the LexArts HOP website. lexarts.org/discover/ lexarts-hop
Aquaventure 2025. On display March 3-May 2. This exhibit will display diverse works from an array of top artists from the Kentucky Watercolor Society. An opening reception will take place in conjunction with the LexArts Hop on March 21 (5-8 p.m.). Gallery hours: Fri-Sat., 12-4 p.m. and by appointment. Artist’s Attic, 401 W. Main St., Suite 401. www.theartistsattic.org
LuigART Women 2025. On display March 1-31. Hosted by the
awards March 8 (5:30-8 p.m.) and LexArts Hop reception March 21 (5-8 p.m.) Luigart Event Gallery,
On display through April 5. This exhibition highlights the work of Lexington artists Kiji Bae, Gayle Cerlan, Dalphna Donnelly, Marta E. Dorton, Chad Eames, Jack Girard, Sarah Heller, Georgia Henkel, Jennifer Dunham, Karen Spears Springate and Brady Saylor. Featuring a diverse range of media, including painting, photography, and sculpture, the showcase celebrates the city’s vibrant creative community. Gallery hours: Tues.–Thurs., 11 a.m.–5 p.m.; Fri., noon–8 p.m.; Sat., noon–5 p.m. Pam Miller Downtown Arts Center Community Gallery, 141 E. Main St. www.lexingtonky.gov/about-
Soulful Sounds: Love & Laughs. June 16. With a unique blend of Harlem Renaissance aesthetics with modern soul music, the New York City-based jazzy R&B duo Acute Inflections will bring its soulful sounds and vintage glamour to Lexington for an engaging evening of jazz and comedy. 7 p.m. Lyric Theatre & Cultural Arts Center, 300 E. Third St. acuteinflections.com/product/06-16-2026
Monty Python’s “Spamalot.” June 19-21. Presented by Lexington Theatre Company, this Tony Award-winning musical comedy reimagines the legend of King Arthur through the absurdist humor of Monty Python. Packed with over-the-top musical numbers, fourth-wall-breaking jokes and intentionally ridiculous medieval chaos, “Spamalot” follows Arthur and his mismatched knights on their quest for the Holy Grail. Fri.-Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sun., 2 p.m. Lexington Opera House, 401 W. Short St. www.lexingtonoperahouse.com
Antagonist Productions: “Trail to Oregon.” June 19-21; 2628. This irreverent musical comedy from StarKid Productions transforms the classic educational computer game “The Oregon Trail” into a fast-paced stage parody filled with audience participation, absurd humor and songs about frontier survival. Presented by Antagonist Productions, the show follows a dysfunctional pioneer family navigating disease, disaster and increasingly ridiculous obstacles on the journey west. Fri.-Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sun., 2 p.m. Pam Miller Downtown Arts Center, 141 E. Main St. www.antagonist.productions
Aries Spears. June 28. Comedian and actor Aries Spears brings his rapid-fire impressions and stand-up comedy to Lexington for an evening built around celebrity impersonations, observational humor and stories drawn from pop culture and everyday life. Best known for his long-running tenure on “MADtv,” Spears’ career is built on sharp character work and high-energy delivery. 7 p.m. Lexington Opera House, 401 W. Short St. www.lexingtonoperahouse.com n
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