Tag: Fayette

Headed South, Looking North; Upper St., Lexington, Ky.

I really enjoyed doing a little digging for the 123 West Main post, so I decided to do a couple more. Plus, I had fun taking a few photos in my car’s side mirror (and frankly, I only have to much to say about McCarthy’s). Popular with UK students, the Irish Bar is a great place to go for a Guinness. But I think I would have rather gone to the location in the early 1920s…

According to the Asa C. Chinn collection, the two addresses (117 and 119 South Upper) once housed the Walter L. Honaker Fish and Oyster House (119) and D. Addler & Son (117). How I wish we still had a fish and oyster house downtown… [rumor has it a raw bar is coming to 310 W. Short St.] My research ended here – I couldn’t discover anything else about either the oyster house or the jeweler. Does anyone know anything??

One Hundred Block of West Main, Lexington, Ky.

One of downtown Lexington’s ugliest blocks is undergoing a great renovation (the Fayette Co. PVA photographed the block at its absolute worst!). The 100s block of West Main Street, pictured above, includes a number of what appear to be architecturally insignificant buildings. And across the street sits what is now CentrePasture. The block, like many others downtown, is filled with law firms and restaurants.

Two of the block’s most attractive buildings sandwich our subject property: 123 West Main Street. The site will soon be an upscale jazz club – called The Green Door – as part of the Bellini’s complex. It is great to see another business downtown and we hope it all the success – but let’s talk about what is behind the ugly brick facade.

The Lexington Streetsweeper has already done some of the legwork by cropping the 1920-1921 streetscape photos of Asa Coleman Chinn (cropping at right). The original photo can be accessed through the KYDVL and identifies 123 West Main Street as being the home of the Phoenix & Third National Bank.

Compare the old picture with  the picture at the top of this post – you can see some of the architectural features peeking through. Sure, 123 W. Main will never again look like it did during the Roaring Twenties – but we will remain hopeful that some of the historical features that remain will be incorporated into the new design.

This beautiful bank was erected in 1907 after the Quinn House was demolished in 1906. The photograph of the Quinn House (at left) is from the Waller Bullock collection.

The World Equestrian Games are here!!! I’m getting ready to take off for the opening ceremonies, but wanted to first share with you Spotlight Lexington. A number of concerts, etc. will be held around downtown Lexington. Details are at LexingtonKY.gov. Today, I went to Farmer’s Market, CentrePasture and took in a lot of sites and sounds. I’ve posted a lot of pictures on flickr (check them out!) and took the following video of the UK Jazz Ensemble rehearsing before their public concert. Note the amazing temporary stage that has been erected in front of the Federal courthouse!

OK… so this may be cheating a little bit, but I just got the link to the great video montage below. Created by the Lexington Visitor’s Center, it is a video walking tour of downtown Lexington.

This is a must-do for those visiting Lexington, like all those who will soon be visiting from around the globe for the World Equestrian Games!

Picnic with the Pops, Lexington, Ky.

This past Saturday, I intended to enjoy two of Lexington’s great annual functions. Regrettably, I only made it to one (note: the Woodland Arts Fair is not the subject of the post. I made it last year… and it is an awesome event that I have already put on my 2011 calendar!). I did, however, make it to Picnic with the Pops (also regrettably, I neglected to take my camera!).

It was my second Picnic with the Pops. This year, the Lexington Philharmonic performed many great pieces while Cirque de la Symphonie performed acrobatic marvels to the music. It was beautiful (Keeneland hosted the event, their first as the Horse Park couldn’t host in anticipation of the WEG). For more, you should read Rich Copley’s great review.

As I mentioned, I forgot to take my camera and I ignored my iPhone. Fortunately, LFUCG Councilmember Doug Martin (@DougMartin10th) OK’d my using the picture above (from his iPhone and both our apologies for quality!). His vantage point showed off our table – the one with the colorful spray ‘candles’ on the right  – which was decorated. And our costumes matched! I’m Glad to not have an incriminating flickr link!

The Kaintuckeean is for a moment cancelling its pledge to not discuss politics as we encourage readers to vote on the new name for Lexington’s Newtown Pike Extension.

Yes, in its infinite wisdom the city of Lexington has elected to leave naming rights of roads up to the citizenry. Perhaps we can improve on silly names like the Pink Pigeon Parkway? I digress, there are currently five options: Equestrian Blvd (this name belongs at Hamburg, perhaps a new name for the aforementioned PPP?); Millennium Rd (a boring, nondescript selection hearkening Y2K all over again);  Oliver Lewis Way (a historic nod to an African American jockey who won the first Kentucky Derby); Mary Todd Lincoln Blvd (another historic shoutout to the former first lady); and Bolivar Street (the final extension will connect current Bolivar Street to Main Street).

Yes, we like the historic connections. But more importantly, Lexington is riddled with changing street names that causes confusion to visitors and residents alike. Examples:

• Leestown Rd > W. Main > W. Vine > E. Vine > E. Main > Richmond
• St. Ann > Fontaine > Euclid > Ave of Champions > Winslow
• Nicholasville Rd > Limestone > Old Paris Pike > Paris Pike
• Paris Pike > North Broadway > South Broadway > Harrodsburg