toomanybooks

NB: Quick post to get this up so people can reserve flights/hotels. Likely to edit some later.

Dates are set, October 6-8, 2023, for our 22st gathering, to visit Keeneland, horse farms, and bourbon distilleries and enjoy some southern food and hospitality. We also visit brewpubs and have the best ice cream in KY (bourbon honey is my favorite). Sometimes there are even MS opportunities at a convenient Officemax and/or good fuel reward opportunities at Kroger. And of course we share lots of miles/travel/points talk.

The schedule given below is likely to be altered as time goes on. Different people want different things, or have already been on specific tours, so we do not run around as a group the whole weekend.

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. Restaurants get testy if there are no-shows on Keeneland weekends.

https://www.keeneland.com

Keeneland is a gorgeous racetrack, one of the best in the world. Owned by a charitable foundation, it is maintained beautifully. You can get very close to the horses, attend morning workouts with breakfast available, and see KY derby contenders. There is a track kitchen with classic southern breakfast available to the public. You may even meet a famous jockey or trainer.

Admission for the races is $5 as I recall. Someone may organize a group purchase of premium seats for a few dollars more (under cover) if desired. Tailgating in the free parking lot before entering the grounds is a classic event.

https://www.keeneland.com/


Bourbon is a US-only product, and about 95% is made in KY, mostly because the limestone-filtered water is perfect for it and the variable seasons/barometric pressure cause the aging product to expand into and be forced back out of the wood, where most of the flavor originates.

"Smithsonian" magazine has listed the KY Bourbon trail as a Top Ten tourist activity in the US.


.

THURSDAY

1. Some folks arrive, including me.
2. Probably beers back at the hotel or maybe Beer Trappe or Country Boy or Ethereal (see below).

FRIDAY

1. Most people arrive.
2. Keeneland at 1 pm?
3. Bourbon tours (see above, or on your own)
4. Lunch undefined
5. Stop at West Sixth Brewing? They have picnic-style tables and there is a seafood takeout counter next door. A new little distillery next door has tours.
6. Drinks/pub? The Chevy Chase Inn, the oldest bar in LEX, is co-owned by a friend and for Happy Hour W/F/Sun at 5:30, you get a free one of whatever you have ordered, except for super-top-level bourbon, which is 50% off for a second shot. These can be shots you'd almost never find elsewhere.
7. Afterparty at some hotel, maybe the Hyatt Regency downtown?

SATURDAY

1. POSSIBLE:

1. 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. Lettleiki Icelandics ? Icelandic Horses, Boarding, Shows and More 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. May then go out to dinner/dessert place. Various possibilities.
4. Drinks?
5. Afterparty at some hotel?

SUNDAY

1. Brunch at Stella's (see below). ~9:00 am.
2. Usually go to Barrel House Distilling at 11 am (5 minutes from Stella's). Pizza, ice cream (http://www.crankandboom.com), brewpub, cidery in the same complex.
3. Keeneland 1 pm?. LEX is across the street. Depart directly.
4. And/or another bourbon tour?

MONDAY

Usually people depart Sunday, but some stay longer. Activities to be determined on the fly.

TUESDAY

Likely my departure day.

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) (Home Keeneland) including breakfast on the backstretch
2. Hit a couple nice restaurants during the weekend
3. Consume some adult beverages, perhaps at Country Boy (Country Boy Brewing) or the Beer Trappe, a Top 100 US beer bar (The Beer Trappe ? LEXINGTON?S FIRST CRAFT BEER STORE!) or Ethereal Brewing (Ethereal Brewing Co. Craft Brewing out of Lexington, KY).
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.
6. 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. Top 10 Hot Brown competition 2016:

http://www.10best.com/awards/travel/...n-in-kentucky/

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.

https://www.brownhotel.com/dining/hot-brown

(There is not as much cheese on there as it appears!)

8. Try other KY specialties, such as beer cheese (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beer_cheese_(spread). Others are discussed here: (Cuisine of Kentucky - Wikipedia)
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. They made the "Top 10 KY Hot Brown" list linked above.
This will be reserved for 8:45-9:00 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": Henry Clay - Henry Clay
4. Hiking, perhaps at Red River Gorge: Red River Gorge Online
5. KY has one of the best state parks systems in the country: Best Kentucky State Parks - State Parks - KY State Parks
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; here is one such listing, but there are tons of other fantastic donut shops all over: http://www.kentuckymonthly.com/explore/places/cycling-the-doughnut-trail/
8. See "Cocaine Bear" (https://kyforky.com/blogs/journal/cocaine-bear) about which there is a new feature movie (which looks utterly horrible judging from the trailer).

AIRLINES SERVING LEX: http://www.bluegrassairport.com/airlines.html

WN NOW FLIES TO CVG, which as result has gone from one of the most expensive in the US to well down the list.

There is an tiny 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.

If you are flying in, check LEX, SDF, and CVG particularly, the latter two since you very well may want to rent a car anyway. Interstate all the way from those airports. Avios can work very well from PHL, ORD, CLT, and DFW to LEX. AA often offers reduced AAwards to/from LEX.

Other airports to consider (all easy access via interstate, ~3 hours max): CMH, DAY, CRW, IND.

Lexington is very easy to get around, but you'll need to have a car or share with someone. Public transportation is hopeless. Please post if you are driving in and can bring someone, or if you are looking for a ride.

Taxis are available, but expensive and time-consuming to wait for. They have good Uber service in LEX. Recent quote per driver for normal charges: approx 80 cents a mile plus 16 cents a minute. The airport tends to be a bit expensive to fly into/out of.

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.

On the northeast part of town there is a Costco with a ton of bourbon at good prices. You never know what they will have.

The Liquor Barn chain is good and gives military discounts.

Many of us have stayed at the Hyatt Regency downtown, a cat 2 property. Centrally located. Free parking for all Hyatt guests (and likely anybody if there are no events at the Convention Center), as they use the giant lot across the street.

https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/ke...exington/lexrl

HYATT REGENCY LEXINGTON
401 West High Street
Lexington, Kentucky, USA, 40507
Tel: +1 859 253 1234

Very nice buffet in non-COVID times, including custom egg station and best gravy to pour over biscuits I ever had at a standard hotel. Full-service Hilton is across the street. New Marriott and Residence Inn likewise a few blocks east. Walking distance to plenty of restaurants/bars.

Any spot in LEX to any other is only about 20-25 minutes driving max, so where you stay is not 100% important.

Youtube channel for Lexington, with some nice material:

Bourbon news from the Lexington "Herald-Leader": Search Lexington Herald Leader

Please post if you are definite, maybe, or can't but want to consider another time.

ATTENDING/LIKELY


MAYBE/INTERESTED


CANNOT MAKE IT/UNLIKELY

LexPassenger

Missed you at the do we managed a couple of years ago... will try to make this October! We'll be checking out Wise Bird Cidery again (near the ice cream parlor).

HPN-HRL

Count me in! I will be flying into SDF on the 4th, giving me time to pick up something nice at Buffalo Trace or similar. Suite at the Hyatt is reserved (it should be the deluxe suite, not the smaller suite I got stuck with in April).

It would be great to see you again, I hope you can make it!

GW McLintock

Drat. I was hoping to finally go to one of these, but this won't be it. I already have plans to be in the far north or the deep south that weekend

-J.

rxgeek

My +1 and I will definitely attend. We're staying at the Staybridge Suites Lexington for a change, Fri to Mon. We will be driving from Columbus and can offer a ride to anyone flying to CMH.

GrjApp

I’m hoping to be there. Still need to book flights but have some hotel placeholders at least.

ElmhurstNick

Hyatt Regency booked for my cousin and myself for Friday to Sunday. One or both of us may stay over until Monday, but it's likely that we would switch hotels to do so.

We are driving separately, but I should be in Lexington by noon as I will be staying near Indianapolis the night before.

Herb687

I will be there, the good Lord willing and the creek don't rise!

cocobird

There was a discussion at the last Do of possibly enjoying Keeneland in one of the Dining Rooms. Is that still on the table?

SightseeMC

Ack, I wish I had known about LEX DOs! As a Lexington native, I undoubtedly would have been able to attend several of these in the past. Have a great time, and enjoy some Eagle Rare when you get there.

toomanybooks

Article on Bardstown:

https://vinepair.com/articles/bardst..._campaign=site

cocobird

Unfortunately, not able to come in October. Have a great time!

toomanybooks

Dug out of the closet.

jrl767

:/

we’ll be in Iceland 8-27 Sep; I have a 30 Sep / 1 Oct commitment in LA, and want to be in ITH 13-15 Oct ahead of a work week in DC, so it looks like it’ll be really tough to squeeze LEX in

Herb687

Have secured Keeneland reserved grandstand seating for both Saturday and Sunday: $30 per seat.

Can cancel for full refund until 48 hours out so had no problem making a refundable investment. Please let me know who is interested in seating for either day at $30. I bought 7 tickets Sat / 8 tickets Sun so that leaves 5-7 available seats depending on whether I bring a +1 or not.