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: Veteran lawyer jumps into the district race, camping citations plummet as outreach takes center stage, and rock icon returns to wow the town — catch up here.

State-level stories: A grassroots tire crusader rescuing the Red River Gorge, Paducah charting a nuclear comeback, and new state-wide Ian Alert system — see what else is brewing.

National headlines: 24/7 social security access, dogs detect Parkinson’s, and a new method or reclaiming 98 percent of battery metals — peruse the best of the rest.

Highlights this week

• Enjoy free sensory-friendly museum hours Sunday
• Discover Step by Step volunteer opportunities
• Kids practice reading with therapy dogs
• Master de-escalation, self-defense, decision-making skills
• iTustCapital offers $0/mo crypto IRA accounts

🫶 We got your back

Coffee: Tired of gas station swill and drive-thru disappointment? From baristas who remember your “usual” to pastry cases whispering sweet temptations, these nearby caffeine sanctuaries know that great coffee is about way more than just the beans.

Live Music: Spotify playlists are fine for folding laundry, but if you’re after something rowdier than your earbuds can deliver, these live music venues bring the kind of energy that makes you remember why you used to stay out past 10 pm.

Burgers: Sure, you could grab a salad, but sometimes you need food that’s good for the soul, AKA a burger that actually lives up to the hype. These burger joints serve up indulgent perfection that makes you forget you ever cared about counting anything.

Family Fun: Looking for creative ways to keep the littles entertained without a screen? This guide covers some of the coolest summer outdoor toys and activities for on-the-go kiddos.

👀 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 entirey outside our control. Please check official event pages and social media for the most up to date information.

Today

🎶 Navajo Flute Concert with Fred Keams @ Woodford County Library | Friday (7/18) at 6:00pm – There’s nothing like a haunting Navajo flute echoing through the community hall. Fred Keams dishes out Native American melodies and stories that’ll mesmerize the kids, loosen up the grandparents, and remind you why you RSVP’d before it sells out.

🏃 Distillery Dash Cross Country 10K, 5K & 2.5K @ Masterson Station Park | Friday (7/18) at 7:00pm – This run through Masterson Station Park offers a 2.5K, 5K, or 10K challenge, lets you pretend you enjoy hills, earn a branded tee, and nab a shiny bourbon glass at the finish. Then we swap your smug grin for bourbon tasting, because hydration matters.

This weekend

🚗 Concours d’Elegance Day of Show @ Keeneland Race Track | Saturday (7/19) at 9:00am – Sure, your ride is shiny, but Kentucky’s most judgmental judges will be prowling Keeneland’s lush lawns, pitting horse-drawn buggies against one-off McLarens. Dust off your binoculars, and your sense of superiority, because UK Children’s Hospital gets all the proceeds, making gawking guilt-free.

🔊 Sound Bath @ Lexington Salt Cave | Saturday (7/19) at 9:30am – This subterranean chill session blends gongs, singing bowls, sitar, and chimes in a cave, so you can finally tell your neighbors you’re meditating underground. Guided relaxation moves through your seven physical chakras, then Ronnie Brown takes you on a gong-fueled trip through five ethereal ones.

🦋 Mosaic Butterfly Workshop @ Midway Art Studios | Saturday (7/19) at 1:00pm – This workshop is turning 5-inch wooden butterflies into dazzling mosaic masterpieces, even if your tile experience peaked at patching the bathroom. For $35 you get glass and ceramic tiles, a take-home grout kit, and a surprisingly bougie DIY mocktail bar. Ages 12 and up welcome.

🍞 Bread Making Class @ Harkness Edwards Vineyards | Sunday (7/20) at 1:00pm – Tired of that corner-store sandpaper loaf? Roll up your sleeves for a hands-on session, kneading, proofing, and baking perfect sandwich loaves from scratch. You’ll walk out with a recipe, a glass of wine, and serious bragging rights.

🦀 Crab Cakes: A Cancerian Variety Show @ Al’s Bar | Sunday (7/20) at 8:00pm – Craving crab cakes with a side of stand-up sass? A local bazaar meets burlesque mashup is dishing out Cancerian variety acts, cheeky skits, and enough serious crustacean charm to cure weekend blahs. Come hungry, leave entertained.

Next week

🐠 Ocean Explorers @ Explorium of Lexington | Monday (7/21) at 9:00am – Got a curious 2nd or 3rd grader with a serious love for sea creatures? This summer camp dives into the deep blue with hands-on activities, science-y fun, and enough ocean facts to impress even the most seasoned aquarium docents. Just be prepared—they might start asking for a pet jellyfish.

🧠 Junior Curators @ Explorium of Lexington | Monday (7/21) at 9:00am – Got a curious kid entering 4th or 5th grade? This hands-on summer camp is the perfect blend of creativity and discovery, letting young minds play curator for a week. Think science, art, and just enough structure to keep them out of your hair until lunch.

🏀 The Basketball Tournament @ University of Kentucky | Tuesday (7/22) at 6:00pm – The Basketball Tournament is rolling into Lexington with a million dollar, winner-take-all purse and alumni teams from Kentucky, Louisiana Tech, and Auburn firing up the court until someone drains the bucket. It’s clock-free chaos, clutch shots, and more family-friendly action than your kid’s neighborhood pickup game.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🎶 Live music & entertainment

• 7/18 Music at The Mansion @ Marriott Lexington Griffin Gate – 6 pm
• 7/18 Beauty @ Moondance Amphitheater – 8 pm
• 7/19 The Bolo Mules @ Burl – 6:30 pm
• 7/20 Chris Carpenter @ Harkness Edwards – 3 pm
• 7/20 Jeff Blackburn @ The Elkhorn Tavern – 5 pm
• 7/20 Olivia Ellen Lloyd and more @ The Burl – 7 pm
• 7/20 Tommy Prine @ Burl – 7 pm
• 7/21 Multifarious Open Mic @ Blue Stallion Brewing – 6 pm
• 7/22 MC Chris @ Burl – 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).

*This 👇 could be your listing. Hit us up if you’ve got a home (or 12) to sell.

Listed by: Rusty Underwood (Christies International Real Estate Bluegrass)

Pink-painted brick and a storied past set the Peter Paul House apart in Gratz Park, where Federal-style architecture meets a flair for the dramatic. Inside, 11-foot ceilings, arched windows, and original fireplaces keep things classic, while exposed beams and a limestone-tiled central hall add a dash of personality. The kitchen is ready for culinary marathons with a walk-in pantry and mudroom, and two staircases mean you can make a grand entrance from either direction.

A private brick courtyard, anchored by a legendary gingko tree, offers a front-row seat to Lexington lore. Two-car garage access from The Byway alley keeps things practical, and downtown’s best eats and culture are just around the corner.

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