Happy Friday, Lexington. You know the drill – grab your coffee (or whatever you sip in the morning), kick back, and let Lexington Brief serve up everything you need to know for the weekend ahead.

📰 In the news

Local happenings: Additional Blue Grass to O’Hare flight and Miami service return, high-end burger challenge crowns top splurge, and coach-led basketball event raises money for cancer — catch up here.

State-level stories: Local milkweed blooms fueling migrating monarchs, two $50,000 Powerball winners boosting the jackpot, and automated work zone speed cameras rolling out this fall — see what else is brewing.

National headlines: Mortgage rates are trending down, investors catapult gold above 3500 an ounce, and a tropical wave eyes the Antilles — peruse the best of the rest.

Highlights this week

• Free community meals at FoodChain
• Discover Kentucky’s latest water research and education
• Search Floracliff for last butterflies
• FoodChain fundraiser at 21c Museum Hotel Lexington
• Free sensory-friendly hours at Lexington Children’s Museum
• Anxiety about debt? Get a free consultation

🫶 We got your back

Lunch: Sad desk salads are so last year. These sandwich spots in Lexington are stacking all the melty, crunchy goodness you crave.

Drinks: Remember when you tried to hit three distilleries and two breweries in one day and ended up napping in a parking lot? Check out our brewery & distillery guide to pace yourself like a pro.

Taqueria: From perfectly charred tortillas to fillings that demand a double order, El Charro Authentic Mexican Cuisine brings the kind of flavor that requires extra napkins and zero regrets.

Bargain shopping: The best finds aren’t always on store shelves. Amazon’s Deals Page is like a never-ending treasure hunt where the good stuff costs less, with new discounts dropping daily.

Save: The average driver pays $175 a month for car insurance, but most of us are paying way more than we should. If it’s been a while since you shopped around, you’re likely part of that “most of us.” This comparison tool may save you hundreds.

👀 Why just read it when you could be in it?

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📆 Around town this weekend

All events are subject to change without notice. This is entirely outside our control. Please check official event pages and social media for the most up to date information.

Have an event to share? Submit it here for free →

Today

🍝 Pasta 101 Class @ Pasta Garage Italian Cafe | Friday (9/5) at 7:00pm – Dust off your apron and join 20 fellow carb devotees for a hands-on crash course in fresh pasta. You’ll twirl homemade fettuccine, savor appetizers, wine, dinner, and dessert. With only 20 spots, consider this your most delicious small-group therapy session.

🕯️ Candlelight: Coldplay & Imagine Dragons @ Limestone Hall | Friday (9/5) at 8:45pm – Imagine a string quartet belting out Coldplay and Imagine Dragons hits by candlelight at Limestone Hall, minus the pyrotechnics, plus an intimate atmosphere. It’s the perfect excuse to ditch your usual Friday night scroll for something slightly more magical.

This weekend

🎒 Back to School Market! @ Fayette Mall | Saturday (9/6) at 11:00am – If you’re looking to upgrade from your kid’s sad, hand-me-down backpack, swing by the Back to School Market. Fifty fabulous local vendors are peddling everything from smart notebooks to teacher-approved tote bags, all under one roof. Local caffeine optional but recommended.

🍺 Parktoberfest @ Ashland – The Henry Clay Estate | Saturday (9/6) at 3:00pm – Fall’s finally here, which in Lexington means gathering in a beer garden to pretend we remember college German. Steins, local brews, music, and food trucks will take over Ashland Park, with enough space for the kids to tire out while you sip in peace.

🐦 Birds & Brews @ The Void Sake Company | Saturday (9/6) at 3:00pm – Nothing cures a stale routine like sipping top-shelf sake with a gaggle of actual ambassador ducks making their grand return to Lexington after a two-year hiatus. Expect smooth pours, awkward waddles, and more duck trivia than you knew you needed over your second glass.

🎵 250LEX: A Concert for Lexington @ Singletary Concert Hall | Sunday (9/7) at 3:00pm – Think the Philharmonic’s just for Mozart and Mahler? They’re celebrating our 250th with a Julia Perry revival, a Shawn Okpebholo world premiere, youth orchestra flair, then teaming up with Ben Sollee, Joslyn & The Sweet Compression, all free if you claim a ticket.

🏇 LEMG Hunter Pace & 5K @ Kentucky Horse Park | Sunday (9/7) – Whether you’re more comfortable lacing up your sneakers or strapping on a saddle, there’s no better excuse to tromp across the Kentucky Horse Park for a cause that matters. Expect mud-splattered camaraderie, rogue coffee trucks, craft beers, costume prizes, and bragging rights all week.

Next week

🐴 National Mounted Police Colloquium @ Kentucky Horse Park | Monday (9/8) – Kentucky Horse Park is trading horseshoes for badges as world-class instructors drill cops and civilians in jumping, equitation, crowd control, and sensory savvy. It’s part horse whisperer bootcamp, part confidence clinic, and all the charm of chatting up a 1,200-pound friend.

🧘 Sound Healing for Rest & Relaxation @ The Sound Healing Center of Lexington | Tuesday (9/9) at 11:00am – Think you’re running on fumes? Ditch the to-do list and settle into a crystal bowl sound bath with Amy Hudson, where soothing tones work deeper than your weekend massage. No experience needed, just show up and let the good vibes roll.

📖 Kiese Laymon Reading @ Singletary Center | Tuesday (9/9) at 7:00pm – If you’re hankering for a masterclass in memoir with a side of sharp Southern charm, swing by for Kiese Laymon’s reading. The MacArthur genius behind Heavy delivers wit, wisdom, and maybe a few tears. Bring your own Kleenex, but leave the pretension at home.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🎶 Live music & entertainment

• 9/5 Candlelight: Featuring Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and More @ Limestone Hall – 6:30 pm
• 9/5 Soccer Mommy @ The Burl – 8 pm
• 9/6 Jeff Blackburn Music @ Fiddletree Kitchen – 6:30 pm
• 9/6 Sempervivi 10th Bandiversary Party! @ Al’s Bar – 8 pm
• 9/7 Gospel Concert @ Sulphur Well Christian Church – 3 pm
• 9/7 Kat Hasty @ The Burl – 8 pm
• 9/7 Sunny Sweeney @ Manchester Music Hall – 8 pm
• 9/8 That Mexican OT: Recess Tour @ Manchester Music Hall – 8 pm
• 9/9 250Lex Forward Bash @ The Burl – 4 pm
• 9/9 Seniors Got Talent @ Lexington Opera House – 7 pm

🏠️ Price is right – Lexington edition

How it works: We’re going to give you some facts about a home for sale, including a picture of the outside, the kitchen, and one additional room. Your job? Guess how much it’s listed for (preferably before you click to find out).

Listed by: Whitney W Durham (Bluegrass Sotheby's International Realty)

A grand two-story foyer sets the tone, leading to a sun-drenched family room with a specialty ceiling and a wall of windows that practically frame the sunset. The kitchen is a showstopper, complete with quartzite counters, a coffee bar, and designer lighting that makes midnight snacks feel fancy. There’s a paneled office for plotting world domination, a sunroom for plant babies, and a powder room that’s been seriously upgraded.

Upstairs, the primary suite features a spa bath with heated floors and a closet big enough for a shopping spree or two. Movie marathons get an upgrade in the finished lower level with a theatre room and kitchenette. Out back, a saltwater pool and fully loaded pool house make every day feel like a vacation.

Make your guess, then (and only then)… see how much it costs →