Tag: kernels

kernel: The Fayette Alliance

The marketing team behind the attempted “Kentucky for Kentucky“, Kentucky for Kentucky, has done a few videos lately that have gotten the attention of the community. One was presented at the final presentation for the Rupp Arena, Arts and Entertainment District plan and the other profiles a local organization, The Fayette Alliance.

I have – and you probably have – seen cars driving around town with a Fayette Alliance bumper sticker. But have you ever wondered more about the organization? I knew they were involved in preserving greenspace and farmland, but the video created over at Bullhorn for the folks at The Fayette Alliance really gives a deeper understanding of an organization committed to making Lexington a “world-class city in our world-class Bluegrass.” Check out the video below:

The Fayette Alliance was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in Lexington’s Historic Western Suburb. Fayette Alliance “has worked with local government to usher over 50 major land-use policies into law that promote farmland preservation and our signature agricultural industries, responsible development, and improved water quality and infrastructure in Fayette County.” On these issues, the Fayette Alliance has created a strong and unified voice on important issues affecting and that will continue to impact Lexington and her future.

Their five pillars reach beyond greenspace because all of Lexington is intertwined. Their five pillars are: creating a dynamic city, protecting our farmlands, helping neighborhoods, cleaning up our streams, and community outreach.

If you are interested in more information on The Fayette Alliance, check out their website.

UK Couple’s engagement during ABC’s Bachelor highlights Lexington

Dixiana Farm – Lexington, Ky.
(Photo from Marry Me Monday video)

On Monday, a Lexington couple’s engagement was the subject of a nationally broadcast commercial during ABC’s The Bachelor. Thanks to a tweet by the University of Kentucky, I knew this was coming making it only somewhat endurable to join my wife in enduring watching this hour of television.

UK alum Brandon Poynter introduced himself as being from Lexington, Kentucky with a photograph on-screen of downtown’s Victorian Square Main Street facade. His proposal to University of Kentucky graduate student Mallory Johnson was the moment of interest in a minute long advertisement by jeweler Jared’s. You can watch his proposal here:

 

Domino Stud Farm Mansion, since lost to fire
(Photo: Dixiana Farms)

What particularly caught my eye was where Brandon proposed: Dixiana Farm. Located off Russell Cave Road, the farm was the subject of my 2010 post after a major fire devoured one of the farm’s antebellum mansions which is pictured at left. In the 1940s, the great Dixiana Farm was divided into two farms. But the two were reunited in 2009 “putting the historic farm back to its original acreage and name.”

It is always great to see part of Lexington’s beautiful countryside and downtown profiled nationally.

And best wishes to Brandon and Mallory!

ed. note: A revised version updated the photo of the Domino Stud Farm Mansion which was destroyed by the 2010 fire. The original antebellum Dixiana Farm mansion remains standing.

Eatocracy in Action! A Kentuckian is in running for People’s Best New Pastry Chef! VOTE!

Dad and the lil’ Kaintuck excited to cut into
a German Chocoloate Cake-inspired creation
by Stella Parks.

My wife and are in complete agreement. If we can escape the kids for an evening and either is suffering from a sweet tooth, our destination is Table 310. Their self-described “pasty chef” is from Lexington, but trained at New York’s Culinary Institute. Everything she creates is simply incredible.

Allow me to ignore the fact that I haven’t previously covered the historic building in which Table 310 is housed. And I’ll ignore the delicious food – charcuterie and cheese plates – that make the restaurant Lexington more cosmopolitan.

The “pastry girl” is Stella Parks, aka @Bravetart, and her simple creations capture my generation’s youth but with high-quality ingredients and an amazing attention to detail. Her creations have been featured in Food+Wine magazine. She’s received numerous local and regional accolades, but here is one that you can help this Kentucky girl win:


Help Stella win and VOTE! It is a vote for all of Kentucky as she’s all alone among pastry chefs in that she hails from the best state in the Union. Cast in the east region of voting (there’s also a west and a central), Stella is up against a bunch of New York City types. In her region, she’s the only candidate from this side of the Appalachians.

UPDATE (2-15-12): Stella didn’t win People’s Best New Pastry Chef. Instead, the editors of Food and Wine magazine named our favorite Kentuckian pastry chef one of five Best New Pastry Chefs in America. But kind of like Hollywood, there are multiple awards. It’s the equivalent of saying that she lost the People’s Choice Awards, but won the Academy Awards. CONGRATULATIONS, STELLA!

An Homage to Chick-Fil-A and the Westboro Baptist Church

After enjoying the Kaintuckeean Special at Columbia’s, I set out for a brief walk before heading back to the office. At Fourth and Upper, I noticed a Transylvania University grease disposal bin and immediately was gave out a hearty laugh.

The folk at Dronex had struck again. The graffiti/street artists had applied their latest appliqué and it was one I hadn’t seen before:

Dronex WBC/Chick-fil-A Cows – Lexington, Ky.

A synthesis of the marketing genius of Chick-fil-A and the hatred, vitriol and bigotry of the Westboro Baptist Church (these are the people that protest funerals). Although there is nothing funny about the WBC or its actions, Dronex captured the essence of both. “God Hates Chicken.” “Chickens Die God Laughs.” “You’re Going to the Drive-Thru.” Verily, I laugh.

The satirical spin is not new to Dronex. They’ve a variety of work (normally applied in various sizes as stickers) that can be seen across Lexington, though a Google search reveals they’ve also struck in Washington, D.C. and elsewhere. Dronex is on Facebook, but for good reason remains rather anonymous.

UPDATE (July 23, 2012): In light of recent remarks by Chick-Fil-A’s CEO being “guilty as charged” in supporting the “Biblical definition of family”, this post quickly became an Internet favorite. Chick-fil-A was quickly linked to the Westboro Baptist Church. Obviously, this Dronex image makes a similar leap. I’ve been accused of a few things by simply duplicating this image on my site. So let me set the record straight.

As a human being with taste buds, I really like Chick-fil-A. Even their lemonade is superior. As a liberal, progressive Christian, I had a knee jerk reaction to join the boycott along with so many others, including those in the faith community. But another article in The Atlantic is even more persuasive by asking if we shouldn’t end all of these issue-based boycotts altogether: “we must resist creating a culture where consumers sort through all their purchases (fast food and otherwise) for an underlying politics not even expressed in the nature of the product itself.”

I don’t mean for this blog to get either political or religious. But I couldn’t resist linking to these well-reasoned positions related to the current controversy.

Columbia’s Kaintuckeean Special: Chicken and Waffles, a Southern Delicacy

Chicken and Waffles @ Columbia’s – Lexington, Ky.
Columbia’s Menu Board, Jan. 30, 2012
(Photo: @managerflo)

The North Limestone Columbia’s Steakhouse recently featured on its menu the Kaintuckeean Special. This storied Lexington establishment that already features some of the most traditional of Kentucky and southern fare will add to its menu (for a day, or longer likely depending on success!) the classic dish chicken and waffles. But why the hell is this the Kaintuckeean Special??

When I visited Columbia’s a few trips ago, I had the lil’ Kaintuckeean with me. Now three years old, he had his heart set on some chicken tenders. He ate them up, save one. The next morning, I obliged myself to his leftovers. He wanted a waffle and I thought: why not go for it! I immediately determined that Columbia’s fried chicken tenders perfectly paired with a good waffle and sweet maple syrup. I tweeted @managerflo immediately.

So head down to Columbia’s tomorrow and try the chicken and waffles. You won’t be disappointed!

And wikipedia dishes up some varying theories of how chicken and waffles came to be. Be sure to check out my first post on Columbia’s, its history and its original special: The Nighthawk.

It was really cool to walk in and see my name and persona – The Kaintuckeean – on signage and receipts. Sales were good and I’m thinking it may be on the menu a little more often!!

This post was updated on February 1, 2012 to change verb tense and to add updated photographs!

kernel: Use Your Car to Preserve Kentucky’s History

Preservation Kentucky, a non-profit “organization devoted to preserving buildings, structures, and sites in every region and every town in the state” has started an initiative to get a special license plate in Kentucky for those wanting to support historic preservation.

The license plate features PK’s logo – an ionic column capital – atop a black field with the words “preserve our heritage”across the bottom. The background is filled with grey script featuring the names of several historic sites across the Commonwealth, many of which I’ve profiled before:

Ashland – Waveland – Pope Villa – Shaker Village – Pisgah Pike – Farmington – Pauley Bridge – Whiskey Row – Wigman Village – Paris Pike – Mill Springs Battlefield – Hotel Metropolitan – My Old Kentucky Home – Main Street Kentucky – Camp Nelson – Wickliffe Mounds – Russell Theatre – Roebling Bridge – Cherokee State Park

This license plate is damn good looking. Graphic designer, preservationist and Lexingtonian Hayward Wilkirson designed it. Because it is so good looking and because it is for such a good cause, you should  complete the online application to receive this special license plate – once 900 have applied, the state will commence production. More details are available on the PK website. This is a great cause, with $10 of every application (and renewal) going to “create a grant fund to help local communities preserve their important historic/prehistoric places.”

Other states have taken or are taking the initiative to try and get historic preservation license plates on their roads. Among them are Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, and New Jersey. But their plates don’t look as good as ours.

(thanks for the heads up, Broken Sidewalk)

kernel: Goodnight, Gatewood (1947-2012)

Throw Your Hat in the Ring at Gatewood’s Public Memorial

At the Carnegie Center tonight, I had the opportunity to remember Gatewood Galbraith with those who loved him the most. My personal encounters with Gatewood were limited, but I know how much he meant to everyone he touched. His smile and love for life were infectious. And he truly did live his life to the fullest. As one of Gatewood’s daughters said, recalling her boyfriend’s description of the late legend: “He drove his body like a thief drives a used car.”

Tributes by Mayor Gray and Ben Chandler reminded us Gatewood’s political side. Ben Chandler pointed out that they both entered politics in the same year: 1991. Chandler ran for Auditor while Gatewood sought the Governor’s Mansion. When Gatewood wanted to publicly advocate the legalization of marijuana, he consulted with Chandler’s grandfather who told the then-young Gatewood that it sounded like “a good idea, but you’ve gotta tax the hell out of it.”

A musical tribute by Rodney Hatfield left many emotional with his beautiful performance of My Old Kentucky Home on the harmonica.

But these words of Gatewood’s, spoken less than a week before his passing, ring truest:

Another great day in all our lives. Call up someone you love, or would like to, and let them know it! Make a resolution to lift someone’s spirit each day and follow through with it. It doesn’t take much, a smile, a kind word (words are magic and can create reality) and a desire to be loved yourself because that it what will happen to you when you give your smile. Try it and see. God Bless You All!

 Below is a slideshow of all of my photos from this evening’s memorial, which lasts until 8 p.m. (or later…)
You can also look at these photos directly on flickr.

kernel: Two Central Kentucky Historic Districts Now on National Register

On December 19, 2011, the Department of the Interior recognized and approved the nominations of two central Kentucky historic districts to the National Register of Historic Places. The first is in Harrodsburg (Mercer County); the second is in Springfield (Washington County).

Harrodsburg Post Office
(Photo from NRHP Application File)

In Harrodsburg, the North Main Street Historic District includes addresses at 105-414 N. Main St., 109 W. Lexington, 101 W. Broadway, and 163 E. Broadway. With twenty-three contributing buildings , the district encompasses a number of architectural styles with a period of incluence stretching from 1823 until 1949. The district is mixed-use and features commercial, residential, and civic structures. In this historic district, the development of Kentucky’s oldest non-native settlement is readily visible. (NRHP# 11000796)

West Main Street, Springfield
(Photo from NRHP Application File)

One hundred sixty-five contributing features will make up Springfield’s Main Street Historic District, an 83-acre area bounded by Commercial Ave. to College St. and McCord, High Sts. to E. Depot St. This nomination is actually an expansion of the historic district originally approved in 1989. The Washington County Courthouse, completed in 1816, marks the beginning of the districts period of significance, though the city’s development can be bifurcated by the year 1888 during which year the Louisville & Nashville arrived. The county also had an extensive toll road network making Springfield a magnet for commercial and civic activity in the county. Pictured above are buildings which house or once housed shops, banks, masonic lodges and the opera house). (NRHP# 11000803)

kernel: Remembering Gatewood Galbraith (1947-2012)

Gatewood Galbraith (1947 – 2012)

The candidacies of Gatewood Galbraith were legendary. Many Kentuckians – especially those in Lexington – remember Gatewood standing at a corner in his ubiquitous hat, sportcoat, and tie waving to the honks, cheers, and sometimes jeers of his fellow citizenry. If you never witnessed Gatewood’s friendly smile,was usually visible in the fall of an election year somewhere near Commonwealth Stadium just before a UK kickoff.

A “People’s candidate,” Galbraith long believed that a government which governs best, governs least. Applying this principle to both social and fiscal issues, Gatewood famously said during his 1995 bid for governor that the government needs to stay out of “our bedrooms, our bloodstreams, our bladders, our brains, our businesses and our back-pockets.” His views were even more fully expressed in his book, The Last Free Man in America.

I remember the 1995 race because of the long delay caused during the Fourth of July parade – themed “United Nations” – which Gatewood interrupted and was subsequently arrested. Also somewhat controversial is his pro-legalization of marijuana stance which has caused many to ignore his overall platform.

Despite the controveries, a Gatewood candidacy was second only to Fancy Farm in terms of Kentucky political traditions. The 2011 gubernatorial bid was his fifth for Governor (1991, 1995, 1999, 2007 and 2011). He has also run for attorney general, agriculture commissioner and twice for Congress. He admits to being a perennial candidate by saying that “Kentucky has perennial problems.”

Gatewood departed this world last night on January 3, 2012. He and his smile will surely be missed. May he rest in peace.

UPDATE: I was able to attend a memorial service on January 12, 2012. Here are pictures and thoughts.

This post is a modified version of one that originally appeared on November 4, 2011. KyForward has republished this remembrance.