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Rise and shine, Lexington! In today’s edition: Kentucky digital driver’s license, BourbonCon, Etta May, and more. Let’s get to it!
— Cait Baker
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📰 In the news
Community-led fresh food access: Black Soil KY has reopened Neighborhood Farmacy Market for winter in Lexington, with produce from 25 cents to $7. Grow It Forward offers $10 to $20 certificates (no questions asked) — read the full story.
Community response to rising homelessness: Lexington is preparing for its annual LexCount on January 28 and needs volunteers to help survey unsheltered neighbors across Fayette County as the last count found 925 people — see how to get involved.
What travelers need to know: Kentuckians can now carry a digital driver’s license with the Kentucky Mobile ID app, accepted at TSA checkpoints including Lexington’s Blue Grass Airport. Keep your physical card with you — see where it’s accepted.
Are you overpaying? The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. I was paying over $300 for ONE car until I checked out various quotes, switched providers, and ultimately cut my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably losing money too — this free comparison tool makes it easy.
Gold & silver are hot: Gold just had it’s best year since 1979. Silver did even better, climbing nearly 150% in 2025… and analysts expect the momentum to continue. If you’re curious about adding precious metals to your portfolio as a market hedge, American Hartford has a helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free — and definitely worth a read.
*We do our best to avoid paywalled articles. If any slip through, let me know which ones and I’ll permanently remove them from our source list!
Highlights this week:
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🫶 We got your back
A calling that changes lives: Lexington Fire Department is recruiting now for positions across its 24 stations. Candidates ages 19 to 35 can build a lifelong career, as recruiting officer Lt. Chris McFarlane says. The role includes 24 hour shifts and demanding work. Applications are open through January 30. Get all the details.
Brows worth waking up for: If you’ve been penciling like it’s your side gig, Feather & Blade delivers natural-looking, custom cosmetic brow tattoos (microblading, shading, or hybrid), guided by a consult-first approach, so you wake up with arches that actually match your face and your mornings.
Aquaponics and community eats: FoodChain connects Lexington neighbors to fresh food with a working indoor aquaponics farm, food literacy classes, and weekly community meals. Ready to pick up a kitchen trick or just want dinner that does good? Consider this your nudge.
A new haircare solution: My hair’s been thinning and I’ve been quietly ignoring it, hoping it’ll fix itself. Plot twist… it hasn’t. When I finally started looking into what I should do, there were so many options I didn’t know where to start. I stumbled on Keranique, and its simplicity really sold me. One kit, no pills, no choosing products, and no confusion whatsoever. It’s also on sale with a money-back guarantee (although I doubt you’ll need it).
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📆 Around town this week
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All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.
💃 Shimmy & Shine Annual Fundraiser 2026 @ Arabesque World Dance | Monday (1/12) at 7:00 PM – Trade the treadmill for a shimmy, learn two belly dance choreographies, and perform at the Pam Miller Black Box for a cause. In-studio or online, no experience needed, and proceeds go to The Nest. Finish on World Belly Dance Day with workshops, lunch, and sparkle.
🎶 Winter Choir Concert @ Singletary Center for the Arts | Monday (1/12) at 7:00 PM – Clear the calendar and hear SCHS and GCHS team up for a winter choir show, with eighth graders from Georgetown, Royal Spring, and Scott County Middle adding sparkle. Expect big harmonies, proud-parent sniffles, and the small-town magic where half the room knows the soloist.
🎨 Public Paint Night @ Man O’War Harley-Davidson of Lexington | Wednesday (1/14) at 6:00 PM – Revving into Man O’ War Harley-Davidson with a paint night that’s more paint than pavement, fewer bugs in your teeth. For $35, Ashley guides an 11×14 canvas, your bike pre-sketched, plus snacks, Logan’s Vineyards wine for purchase, 21+ event, preregistration required, not at the studio.
🎤 Etta May @ Comedy Off Broadway | Thursday (1/15) at 6:30 PM – Etta May is rolling into town, bringing her American Comedy Awards Comic of the Year chops, big hair, and bigger punchlines. The Polyester Princess serves up Southern sass, real-life grit, and laugh-till-you-snort stories. It’s date night, girls’ night, and therapy, all in one.
🕵 Murdered To Death @ Studio Players at The Carriage House Theatre | Thursday (1/15) at 7:30 PM – If your idea of a wild night is a body on stage, questionable alibis, and a room full of suspects, this one’s for you. Carriage House Theatre is staging Murdered To Death, delivering whodunit vibes, sharp dialogue, and the joy of calling the killer early.
🥃 BourbonCon @ Marriott Lexington Griffin Gate Golf Resort & Spa | Friday (1/16) at 10:00 AM – Call off Dry January and head to Griffin Gate for a weekend where 40+ distilleries, bourbon-paired bites, and exclusive bottles share a roof. Slip into the VIP speakeasy, hit the mobile cigar lounge, get tips on the golf simulator, and swap stories with master distillers.
🍷 Wine Guild Tasting @ Fasig-Tipton Co Inc | Friday (1/16) at 7:00 PM – Join Steve Mancuso and the Holly Hill Wine Guild for their monthly tasting, with January’s theme, Sonoma Unbound. Show up early for the optional buffet, then sip, swirl, and pretend you always knew the difference between Russian River and Sonoma Coast. Good company, zero pretense.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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📻 Lexington report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 44°F – Low: 30°F – Precip: 0%
Sunny, with a high near 44. Southwest wind 6 to 12 mph. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 30. Southwest wind around 8 mph.
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Tomorrow – High: 52°F – Low: 40°F – Precip: 0%
Mostly sunny, with a high near 52. Southwest wind 8 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. Later: A chance of rain showers after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
This house is wild
Built in 2024 in Kenwick, this home pairs modern finishes with a location minutes to downtown and UK, walkable to coffee, parks, and restaurants. The bright main level features engineered wood floors, a white oak staircase, and a quartz kitchen with gas range. An enclosed four season room with an electric fireplace opens to the living area for year round use. Smart layout perks include dual primary suites, laundry on both levels, a mud room, and a loft.
Hidden storage behind custom bookshelf doors adds a wink of whimsy. Four full baths and generous closets make things easy, plus a driveway to the backyard with ample parking.
Take a peek inside →
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