LEX Horse & Bourbon DO IX, October 21-23, 2016
Apr 13, 2016, 12:27 pm
#1
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Chicagoland, IL, USA
Programs: WN CP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,174
LEX Horse & Bourbon DO IX, October 21-23, 2016
Dates are set, October 21-23, 2016, for another LEX gathering, to visit Keeneland, horse farms, and bourbon distilleries and enjoy some southern food and hospitality. There may even be a free T-shirt involved!
This schedule is to be altered as time goes on.
EVOLVING TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
Nothing is mandatory during the whole weekend of course. Do what you like. I would appreciate a general heads-up on things you are doing in case reservations or food procurement is involved, but it's not absolutely necessary.
THURSDAY
1. Some folks arrive, including probably me. Dinner, 7 pm: ?? Ramsey’s Zandale, 151 West Zandale; http://ramseysdiners.com Or Merrick Inn? www.themerrickinn.com
2. Probably beers back at the hotel or maybe Beer Trappe or Country Boy (see below).
3. Waffle House for late munchies?
FRIDAY
1. Most people arrive.
2. Keeneland at 1 pm?
3. Bourbon tours (see above, or on your own)
4. Lunch undefined
5. Dinner/beers at West Sixth Brewing ?? Or Merrick Inn? www.themerrickinn.com
6. Drinks/pub?
7. Afterparty at 4 pts?
SATURDAY
1. POSSIBLE: Morning visit to an Icelandic horse farm, run by a high school friend of mine and her daughter. Between LEX and Louisville. See training, babies, etc. http://www.lettleikiicelandics.com It is about 25 miles past Four Roses, so the trip could be combined somehow.
2. Keeneland. 1:05 pm. Many people go for 2-3 hours, but there are about 9 races, 30 minutes apart.
3. Evening potluck reception at parents of toomanybooks and makersmark, within New Circle Rd. on the east side of town, maybe 20 minutes from Keeneland. Arrive 4:00-5:00 pm., stay as long as you like. Please bring a bottle of wine, some beer, a dessert, chips/guac, etc. I am thinking I will get hot dogs/burgers/brats and we can grill, and maybe cold cuts for sandwiches.
4. Or go out to dinner. Various possibilities.
5. Drinks?
6. Afterparty at 4 Pts or other host hotel?
SUNDAY
1. Brunch at Stella's (see below). 8:45 am.
2. Maybe Icelandic horses today
3. Barrel House Distilling? (5 minutes from Stella's)
4. Keeneland 1 pm?. LEX is across the street. Depart directly.
5. And/or another bourbon tour?.
OVERVIEW
For those not familiar, what we have done in the past is:
1. Go to Keeneland (one of the most beautiful racetracks in the world) (http://www.keeneland.com) including breakfast on the backstretch
2. Hit a couple nice restaurants during the weekend
3. Consume some adult beverages, perhaps at Country Boy (http://countryboybrewing.com) or the Beer Trappe (http://www.thebeertrappe.com/)
4. Visit a horse farm or two
5. Tour one or more bourbon distilleries on the KY Bourbon Trail (http://kybourbontrail.com), including the newer Craft Bourbon Trail. "Smithsonian" magazine has listed the KY Bourbon trail as a Top Ten tourist activity in the US.
6. Have a Saturday eve potluck party/reception at my (and makersmark's) parents' house.
7. Dinner somewhere like City Barbecue (http://www.citybbq.com), Columbia's Steakhouse, Village Idiot, or other fine establishment.
Or maybe somewhere else for a KY specialty like a Hot Brown. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_Brown) A plate with toast, sliced turkey, sometimes sliced country ham, Mornay sauce, sometimes cheddar cheese sauce, a couple strips of bacon, some sliced tomato, a bit of Parmesan/Romano cheese, baked in the oven. A "heart-attack-on-a-plate." Fantastic, one of the world's best comfort foods.
8. Try other KY specialties, such as beer cheese (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beer_cheese_(spread). Others are discussed here: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuisine_of_Kentucky)
9. We always have Sunday brunch at Stella's (www.stellaskentuckydeli.com), for real southern fare including Bourbon Ball Coffee, genuine southern biscuits and gravy, locally fresh-ground grits with cheese, unparalleled tomato bisque, etc. This has been reserved for 8:45 am.
10. Some folks go to Keeneland again, with LEX conveniently across the street for a last-second departure.
Other things to visit in the area:
1. Shakertown, the restored Shaker community outside LEX: http://shakervillageky.org/
2. Mary Todd Lincoln's girlhood home. Future president courted her there: http://www.mtlhouse.org/
3. Ashland, grand home of Henry Clay, the "Great Compromiser": http://henryclay.org/
4. Hiking, perhaps at Red River Gorge: http://www.redrivergorge.com/trails.html
5. KY has one of the best state parks systems in the country: http://parks.ky.gov/
6. Berea College, where there is no tuition and the students work for their education; great restaurant: https://www.berea.edu/
7. Kentucky Donut Trail: http://www.eatkentucky.com/category/ky-donut-trail/
AIRLINES SERVING LEX: http://www.bluegrassairport.com/airlines.html
If you cannot get award space or a good fare into LEX, keep trying. At least on AA, it opens up often.
There is an airline club at LEX, with access for the following:
AA Admirals Club
DL Sky Club
UA Red Carpet Club
"Day Passes," presumably Priority Pass (?) and maybe for anyone. Perhaps also free for military.
Other airports to consider (all easy access via interstate, ~3 hours max):
SDF, CMH, CVG, DAY, CRW, IND
Lexington is very easy to get around, but you'll need to have a car or share with someone. Taxis/Uber are available, but expensive and time-consuming to wait for. The airport tends to be a bit expensive to fly into/out of, but Avios redemptions work well for cities like ORD, DAL, CLT, or wherever you can get a nonstop flight. Or you can fly into one of the alternate airports given above and rent a car; some beautiful scenery along the way. Happy to maintain a list of possible carpools in this thread. bk3day scored a nice UA bump out of LEX a few years ago, as did iris30 on AA. Those planes can get quite crowded during Keeneland.
Party Central has historically been at the SPG 4 Points, a category 2 Starwood hotel on the north side of town.
http://www.starwoodhotels.com/fourpo...ropertyID=1263
Low redemptions (3K-4K a night), near I-64/I-75 intersection, and a Waffle House across the street for those 1:30 am munchies. There is redemption availability normally.
There is a new Staybridge Suites that might be better. It was a Pointsbreak for 5000 IHG points in April 2016, an enormous bargain even before the free hot buffet breakfast. If that offer recurs, I think we should switch there. They even have a patio with barbeque grill we can use.
Other nearby options that come to mind are Embassy Suites, Fairfield Inn, LaQuinta, Knights Inn, Marriott Griffin Gate (I think the only LEX "resort" on Hotwire/Priceline), Quality Inn, and Clarion.
Any spot in LEX to any other is only about 20 minutes driving, so where you stay is not 100% important.
Youtube channel for Lexington, with some nice material:
Bourbon news from the Lexington "Herald-Leader": http://www.kentucky.com/1354/
Please post if you are definite, maybe, or can't but want to consider another time.
ATTENDING/Likely/Interested
FlyerBeek
GrizShel
Governator +1
Herb687
HPN-HRL
italdesign
krazykanuck
KyTraveller
makersmark
makingtrails
mhnadel
rxgeek +1
toomanybooks
MAYBE
DCFinanceInFlight
ElmhurstNick
CANNOT MAKE IT, or unlikely
Flying Machine
GRALISTAIR
This schedule is to be altered as time goes on.
EVOLVING TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
Nothing is mandatory during the whole weekend of course. Do what you like. I would appreciate a general heads-up on things you are doing in case reservations or food procurement is involved, but it's not absolutely necessary.
THURSDAY
1. Some folks arrive, including probably me. Dinner, 7 pm: ?? Ramsey’s Zandale, 151 West Zandale; http://ramseysdiners.com Or Merrick Inn? www.themerrickinn.com
2. Probably beers back at the hotel or maybe Beer Trappe or Country Boy (see below).
3. Waffle House for late munchies?
FRIDAY
1. Most people arrive.
2. Keeneland at 1 pm?
3. Bourbon tours (see above, or on your own)
4. Lunch undefined
5. Dinner/beers at West Sixth Brewing ?? Or Merrick Inn? www.themerrickinn.com
6. Drinks/pub?
7. Afterparty at 4 pts?
SATURDAY
1. POSSIBLE: Morning visit to an Icelandic horse farm, run by a high school friend of mine and her daughter. Between LEX and Louisville. See training, babies, etc. http://www.lettleikiicelandics.com It is about 25 miles past Four Roses, so the trip could be combined somehow.
2. Keeneland. 1:05 pm. Many people go for 2-3 hours, but there are about 9 races, 30 minutes apart.
3. Evening potluck reception at parents of toomanybooks and makersmark, within New Circle Rd. on the east side of town, maybe 20 minutes from Keeneland. Arrive 4:00-5:00 pm., stay as long as you like. Please bring a bottle of wine, some beer, a dessert, chips/guac, etc. I am thinking I will get hot dogs/burgers/brats and we can grill, and maybe cold cuts for sandwiches.
4. Or go out to dinner. Various possibilities.
5. Drinks?
6. Afterparty at 4 Pts or other host hotel?
SUNDAY
1. Brunch at Stella's (see below). 8:45 am.
2. Maybe Icelandic horses today
3. Barrel House Distilling? (5 minutes from Stella's)
4. Keeneland 1 pm?. LEX is across the street. Depart directly.
5. And/or another bourbon tour?.
OVERVIEW
For those not familiar, what we have done in the past is:
1. Go to Keeneland (one of the most beautiful racetracks in the world) (http://www.keeneland.com) including breakfast on the backstretch
2. Hit a couple nice restaurants during the weekend
3. Consume some adult beverages, perhaps at Country Boy (http://countryboybrewing.com) or the Beer Trappe (http://www.thebeertrappe.com/)
4. Visit a horse farm or two
5. Tour one or more bourbon distilleries on the KY Bourbon Trail (http://kybourbontrail.com), including the newer Craft Bourbon Trail. "Smithsonian" magazine has listed the KY Bourbon trail as a Top Ten tourist activity in the US.
6. Have a Saturday eve potluck party/reception at my (and makersmark's) parents' house.
7. Dinner somewhere like City Barbecue (http://www.citybbq.com), Columbia's Steakhouse, Village Idiot, or other fine establishment.
Or maybe somewhere else for a KY specialty like a Hot Brown. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_Brown) A plate with toast, sliced turkey, sometimes sliced country ham, Mornay sauce, sometimes cheddar cheese sauce, a couple strips of bacon, some sliced tomato, a bit of Parmesan/Romano cheese, baked in the oven. A "heart-attack-on-a-plate." Fantastic, one of the world's best comfort foods.
8. Try other KY specialties, such as beer cheese (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beer_cheese_(spread). Others are discussed here: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuisine_of_Kentucky)
9. We always have Sunday brunch at Stella's (www.stellaskentuckydeli.com), for real southern fare including Bourbon Ball Coffee, genuine southern biscuits and gravy, locally fresh-ground grits with cheese, unparalleled tomato bisque, etc. This has been reserved for 8:45 am.
10. Some folks go to Keeneland again, with LEX conveniently across the street for a last-second departure.
Other things to visit in the area:
1. Shakertown, the restored Shaker community outside LEX: http://shakervillageky.org/
2. Mary Todd Lincoln's girlhood home. Future president courted her there: http://www.mtlhouse.org/
3. Ashland, grand home of Henry Clay, the "Great Compromiser": http://henryclay.org/
4. Hiking, perhaps at Red River Gorge: http://www.redrivergorge.com/trails.html
5. KY has one of the best state parks systems in the country: http://parks.ky.gov/
6. Berea College, where there is no tuition and the students work for their education; great restaurant: https://www.berea.edu/
7. Kentucky Donut Trail: http://www.eatkentucky.com/category/ky-donut-trail/
AIRLINES SERVING LEX: http://www.bluegrassairport.com/airlines.html
If you cannot get award space or a good fare into LEX, keep trying. At least on AA, it opens up often.
There is an airline club at LEX, with access for the following:
AA Admirals Club
DL Sky Club
UA Red Carpet Club
"Day Passes," presumably Priority Pass (?) and maybe for anyone. Perhaps also free for military.
Other airports to consider (all easy access via interstate, ~3 hours max):
SDF, CMH, CVG, DAY, CRW, IND
Lexington is very easy to get around, but you'll need to have a car or share with someone. Taxis/Uber are available, but expensive and time-consuming to wait for. The airport tends to be a bit expensive to fly into/out of, but Avios redemptions work well for cities like ORD, DAL, CLT, or wherever you can get a nonstop flight. Or you can fly into one of the alternate airports given above and rent a car; some beautiful scenery along the way. Happy to maintain a list of possible carpools in this thread. bk3day scored a nice UA bump out of LEX a few years ago, as did iris30 on AA. Those planes can get quite crowded during Keeneland.
Party Central has historically been at the SPG 4 Points, a category 2 Starwood hotel on the north side of town.
http://www.starwoodhotels.com/fourpo...ropertyID=1263
Low redemptions (3K-4K a night), near I-64/I-75 intersection, and a Waffle House across the street for those 1:30 am munchies. There is redemption availability normally.
There is a new Staybridge Suites that might be better. It was a Pointsbreak for 5000 IHG points in April 2016, an enormous bargain even before the free hot buffet breakfast. If that offer recurs, I think we should switch there. They even have a patio with barbeque grill we can use.
Other nearby options that come to mind are Embassy Suites, Fairfield Inn, LaQuinta, Knights Inn, Marriott Griffin Gate (I think the only LEX "resort" on Hotwire/Priceline), Quality Inn, and Clarion.
Any spot in LEX to any other is only about 20 minutes driving, so where you stay is not 100% important.
Youtube channel for Lexington, with some nice material:
Please post if you are definite, maybe, or can't but want to consider another time.
ATTENDING/Likely/Interested
FlyerBeek
GrizShel
Governator +1
Herb687
HPN-HRL
italdesign
krazykanuck
KyTraveller
makersmark
makingtrails
mhnadel
rxgeek +1
toomanybooks
MAYBE
DCFinanceInFlight
ElmhurstNick
CANNOT MAKE IT, or unlikely
Flying Machine
GRALISTAIR
Last edited by toomanybooks; Oct 19, 2016 at 2:37 pm Reason: updated dates
Apr 13, 2016, 2:35 pm
#2
Join Date: Dec 2007
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Posts: 2,271
I am already booked to come to LEX for Oct 22-23; hoping that this date is chosen! (I am already booked with another trip the weekend of Oct 15-16.)
Apr 15, 2016, 12:36 am
#5
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Hoping to making it again. I am indifferent to the weekends, but am inclined to support 22-23 based on the above, since all of us were at the April DO.
Apr 15, 2016, 7:57 am
#6
Moderator: CommunityBuzz!, OMNI, OMNI/PR, and OMNI/Games & FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Apr 16, 2016, 5:45 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Join Date: Sep 2002
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Have not had anyone ask for Oct 15-16, so the dates for the H&B DO IX are set for:
Oct 21-23, 2016
Friday-Sunday.
Will be updating the OP. Thanks.
Oct 21-23, 2016
Friday-Sunday.
Will be updating the OP. Thanks.
May 27, 2016, 5:48 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Chicagoland, IL, USA
Programs: WN CP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,174
It has been over a month since a post on this, so I am bumping.
This is a fun event with southern food and hospitality and bourbon and horse races.
This is a fun event with southern food and hospitality and bourbon and horse races.
May 31, 2016, 6:53 am
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2002
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Posts: 14,174
Jun 29, 2016, 9:10 pm
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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The Four Points is about $126 plus tax, vs. 3000-4000 on points. A nice redemption!
Unless the Staybridge goes on a Pointsbreak, looks way too high at $196 plus tax.
Unless the Staybridge goes on a Pointsbreak, looks way too high at $196 plus tax.