 Last Thursday we didn't know what to do. Regular bars sounded kinda lame, and sittin' at home sounded lamer. So we decided to goto Red Mile race track for some harness racing. What is so impressive about this is the fact that I've been in Lexington for 10 years and had never been to regular harness racing at Red Mile. Sure like, 10% of Lexingtonians I had been to Red Mile, usually under the guise of some event, like Junior League, or maybe a concert, but like most Lexingtonians, I had never been to the actual races, that Red Mile was built for. Red Mile is really the red headed step child of horse racing in Lexington. Everyone knows Keeneland, and EVERYONE goes to Keeneland. If you live in Lexington, there are two things you must do, support the Wildcats, Goto Keeneland. But somehow Red Mile slipped through the cracks and got forgotten about. Unfortunately Red Mile doesn't have the glamor and glitz that Keeneland has. Keeneland is prestigious an well bred (thoroughbred). It has a paddock and well groomed grounds. Red Mile looks like some Communist fortress built around 1950. The facilities are a bit dated (yellow flourescent lighting) and the grounds are a tad shabby (okay alot shabby). I'm done bashing, here's my review. AWESOME! Going to Red Mile is like going to a flea market you can bet at and drink beer. The cool thing about Red Mile is it runs at night, so you can go after work. The harness races are hillarious. Since the horses run with the jockey behind them they start the race in a trot. This means the gate is moving... how do they move? Well they are pulled behind a fitted Cadillac. AWESOME!! Want carny food? Red Miles got you covered. Want beer? Got you covered there. Why was it so much fun? Because it was like going back in time. Going to a place that had been untouched by corporate hands. Red Mile is like going to a carnival, but with less people. I honestly am surprised that the college kids haven't started hitting it up. It's only 2 bucks to get in, and it doesn't require binge drinking all day (since it opens at 6 ish) like Keeneland. You can go, get lit, bet some horses, and not be ashamed of wasting the entire day. Red Mile is something that Lexington needs to embrace. It was fun and I'm not ashamed to admit it. It was good times. Check out pictures and drink prices of Red Mile in Lexington KY
 Ask anyone in Lexington where to go if you want to have over 200 different beers, they'll say Marikkas. Up until recently, you may be over joyed by the selection of beverages, but a little dismayed by the facilities to remove the used goods. In layman's terms, the shitters sucked. Well, no more. Upon a recent visit to Marikkas I was excited to see that they had knocked down a wall, built a larger restroom for the mens and moved the women's. Overall the new facilities make number 1 and number 2 AWESOME!!!! My enthusiasm may seem a little over the top, but pisser's are important when picking a place to party. Girls especially don't want to go to a place that resembles a porta-john at a football tailgate. Not that Marikka's was ever that bad, but the improvement deserves some accolade! Thank you Marikka's, thank you very much. Thinking of checking out Marikka's? Find out prices and pictures of this fine German establishment or other Bars in Lexington
 It ain't a bar, but it is really really good. If you are in downtown Lexington, and you want to eat, it can be a challenge to find a place to eat. If you want a burger, then you have 2 maybe 3 choices. Well Caros is my pick of the lot. Most of you probably don't even know about it. Perhaps you saw as you stumbled from McCarthy's at 2 in the morning, but Caros isn't open, so you ultimately missed it. I admit it, I missed it too, and I work right across the street. But that doesn't matter, cause now you know.  When you go there, be prepare for a few thousand calories. Expect big burgers, expect big fries, expect big flavors. If you don't like meat, you'll have to settle for fries and slaw... but that still isn't bad. Caros has the best fries ever. They may appear to be plain ole' crinkle cut fries, but these fries have got magic dust. The fries have a special secret seasoning that is unique to Caros. I've had seasoned fries before, but Caros magic fry dust makes me fly away. For sandwiches you won't be disappointed. The Bo'ski (shown in the above picture) is a two meal-er. It is 1/2 pound of meat on sour dough, a layer of fries, slaw, and just about every other fixin' you'd expect. The Hot Country Club is another fantastic sandwich... think club, but grilled, and smothered in cheese. The Boozer is a seasonal, but it has got me back 2 times. It's a burger, grilled onions, jack cheese, Heavenly heavenly bacon, lettuce, tom, and the finisher that sends this sandwich over the edge is a glob of beer cheese... yes, it is truly a feat of American artistry. It may be the best 3000 calories I've ever ingested. Ultimately I recommend anything on the menu as long as it has bacon on it. Caros puts real bacon on its food. You'll understand the difference as soon as you take a bite. Real bacon is good... Soooo... if you aren't headed there yet, you're a fool. For more info check their site Carosonupper.com
 When I moved to Lexington it was A1A Sandbar. Then it was Avio. Now it is Main Street Live. Over the years it has morphed from the serious music venue of Lexington into more of a nightclub-esque thing. I don't really know what to call it, but expect it to become revitalized. As Avio shifted its music roots to more of a sports bar thing and High on Rose closed up and Lynaghs shut down its music venue, The Dame emerged and stole the music right out from under everyone. The Dame WAS the music venue for Lexington. Back in January, the news came in that the Webbs were demolishing the Dame block and taking Lexington's music scene with it. Well.... now the Phoenix rises. The Dame, along with it's awesome booking talents, is taking over the vacant music venue portion of Main Street Live. It should be opening soon (Fall 08) and bringing bands back to Lexington. Overall I think this is a great move for both bars, however it is going to be interesting how they approach this, since both bars will be under one roof. Main Street Live is a conglomerate of adult entertainment. In the back you have the volley ball nets and deck, upstairs you have the karaoke club bar, downstairs you have the sports bar and downstairs and to the right you have the dance club / music venue. For more info on The Dame / Main Street Live evolution check out Drink Prices.com for Events - Drink Prices and news.
 JJ McBrewster's is not really a bar, but they do serve beer, sooo I'll givem' a pass this time. What is JJ's? It is a barbeque restaurant, that sounds like a bar. So, I got to check out JJ's the other day. Right off the bat...I'd give it a B-. Pros: The barbeque was top notch. Really juicy, fresh, and not overly sauced, so when you get it, you add whatever sauce you want to it. Good stuff. The atmosphere was good too. A little like a fast-sit-down restaurant. Prices were reasonable. and that is about it. Cons: Service sucked. They're new and green, so I'll let it slide (this time). However, this time, I was worried I might not get waited on. Side dishes were a little bland too, but they worked well with the actual barbeque. Overall I'd have to say that JJ's rivals Corky's and most other chain BBQ. I'd even say it is better than most, so I think the B- is fair. I'll be back. JJ Mcbrewster drink prices and picturesLexington Bar and Grills.
 Todd's may be a contender for the best karaoke in Lexington, not that there are many, but Todd's is a karaoke bar all the time. There is no, not Karaoke time at Todds. The place is in a pretty crappy shoppin center, but hey, it dont need a TGI Friday's next door to rock. What's to love? Awesome drink prices, and enthusiastic karaoker's... They got darts too.. What's not to love? For some reason I always wreak when I leave. I dont know how to describe the smell, but if you ever talk to someone who's been more than once, they know what yer talking about. Also, the music selection is pretty limited to stuff that is a decade or two old. Expect Rolling Stones, or Jimmy Buffet, or Hank Williams. Don't expect the newest Rhianna single. Overall, I love Todd's. It is the premier place for my drunken Karaoke escapades. Todd's Drink Prices and Photos. Find other Lexington Karaoke bars
 I originally found this pic on http://www.theloveofbeer.com, so I'll give them credit for the discovery. Now, they kinda made fun of the girls for such an invention calling them "Ballers on Budgets", but honestly, you have to give it to the girls for their ingenuity. I saw this and was astonished that I hadn't heard about this sooner at a tailgate or some other college party. I'm sure it works, so the next time I'm out tailgating or partying I'll have to spread the word.
 I love me some German bier Halls, so don't be surprised that I loved my time at Gerst Haus. This place rocks. Super cheap beer, one stellar polka band and some great German Beer cuisine. I had the Philly Brat. I loved the Philly brat. I want some more Philly Brat. So, I think polka music was invented for drunk people. There is nothing better than getting lit dancing to some polka. While I was there I had some of the Gerst Haus beer, the price was right, but the taste was a bit shabby, kinda sour.. but it got me lit and that was the most important. If you still aren't convinced check out pictures of the Gerst Haus in Nashville. You can also find out about other Nashville bars.
 McCarthy's is one of the premier Irish bars in Lexington. Located on the Upper block between Main and Vine, McCarthys survived the demolition across the street. What makes McCarthy's so memorable is its pub like feel and atmosphere. As soon as you walk in, you have the primal urge for an Irish car bomb (Irish whiskey, Irish cream liquor and a half glass of Guinness. The bar is billed with wood and horses. You can't get much more Irish. While at McCarthy's you gonna hear traditional Irish tunes... What does that mean? U2 with a serious dose of U2. McCarthy's is a rather large bar, that has grown with the decades. It started out with the main bar and added the Spider's Well next door shortly after. McCarthy's is a great place for a pint and that neighbory feeling you get with most Irish pubs. It's a great place to visit during the week, but it can be a little hectic and crowded on the weekends when the college invasion occurs. Why is it crowded? Because it is great. For more info on McCarthy's check out Drink Prices.com.
 Can you say, "Overrated"? I can, and Giuseppe's is just that, overrated. I hate to be negative, but if I have to drop $15+ on an entree, it should at least be better than the spaghetti I make at home. We checked out Giuseppe's for a friends b-day. The location is nice; a bit secluded and in a wooded area off Nick-road. The facility seemed charming enough, but nothing spectacular. Then we got the menu... holy schnikes! Everything was off the charts. Well... once we sucked it up and ordered I was expecting gold leafed lettuce in our salad, with diamond studded croutons. Instead we got a pretty pathetic mixed green bowl of grass. Then the entrees came.... I got bland with a side of bland. It was really sad when I thought I needed some A1 for my steak and pasta. The only redeeming feature was the live jazz. That might get me back, but based on food alone, Giuseppe's is weak sauce.
 Football season is upon us, which means you gotta find a good bar to drink beer and cheer on your teams. Lexington has all kinds of places to drink, which is good cause I like to drink, but when selecting a sports bar, atmosphere, food, specials and tvs are key to finding the perfect place to get soused. Sports bars are all traditionally the same; Tv's, beer and an Americana menu with tons of sports memorabilia on the walls. Most of the time, better the sports bar, the more shit on the walls. I like knick-knacks, but that isn't the most important thing on game day, great drink and food specials along with glorious tv's, are a necessity. Winchell's on Southland Dr. If you want to go local (and I love going local) there are a few sports pubs dotting the Lexington Bar-scape. My personal fav is Winchell's. The food is off the hook, the beer prices are amazing, the atmosphere wreaks of sports fans, and most importantly, it is off the main drag. This is in my top 5 of awesome Lexington Sports bars. Campus Pub on Waller Ave. Super close to campus with great food, great drink prices, tv's and pool and darts. This place is for the college kid with A-D-D. Campus Pub is really fun to go, but it does have a tendency to get blowed up during games, but if you're looking for a crowd to get rowdy with, this is pretty unbeatable. Campus Pub is a must during basketball season, but it can be a bit tricky to get to during football season, since it is so close to campus. Other notables are: Patchen Pub, Shamrocks, O'neills, , Marrikka's and Two Keys. If you'd rather go chain you could always check out Buffalo Wild Wings, Applebees and Beef o'Brady's But let's be honest, if a place has tv's and serves beer, it is going to be awesome where ever you are. Go Cats
 I had the pleasure of dining at the Curry House last night. I'm a fan of Indian cuisine, so it is always fun to test out new joints. Curry House didn't disappoint. Located in Zandale shopping center, you get what you get at most strip mall eateries. Curry House isn't going to wow you with atmosphere or ambiance; you get reasonable prices, and really really great food - booth style. I had the Tikka Masala which was really great. My dish looked like most indian dishes, lots of flavor with a cream yogurt base, lots of spices, and a little heat just like I like it. The basmati was fresh and the garlic naan was awesome. Overall it was a great experience. We did have to wait a bit, just because they only had one waitress on, but that was fine, since we weren't in any hurry. I will definitely be back. Check out the drink prices and addition photos for for Curry House
 What is small, crowded and full of oysters? The Shuckin' Shack! That's what! Okay enough with the shenanigans. The Shack is located in Carolina Beach NC, right it downtown (not that there is much of one), just outside of Wilmington. The local eatery is more of a bar with a select menu. Upon entering, you'll see a long bar, and 4 or 5 small (small) tables. The bar is lit with pails or buckets that have been fitted with lights. To say the least, it is pretty much a shack. What the shack lacks in sophistication, it makes up for in pure awesomeness. The menu is simple; oysters (steamed) shrimp (big, steamed and still shelled) and maybe some chicken, but people go for the oysters. You order your oysters by the dozen, 1/2 peck (a lot) or peck (ass load) The sides are just as simple, corn on the cobb and slaw. SO my crew and I strolled in, got our table and ordered one of the "Hermit" meals, which would have fed an army of hermits. It had a pound of shrimp and a bucket of oysters (unshucked) 4 piece of corn, 2 slaws, and 8 hush puppies. Oh yeah, and 3 knives to shuck. Grand total was 39.99 3 of us ate, and ate well. The shrimp were out of this world. The oysters were super fresh and the sides amazing. The drink prices were good, and service was good. Was it messy? HELL YES! Was it good food? Probably the best of the trip. Was it worth going back to? Absolutely. Shuckin' Shack in Carolina Beach... HIGHEST RATING EVER, but probably not the best place for a first date, oh and get there early. We were there on the off season and there was a wait. Check out more about the Shuckin Shack, or information on Carolina Beach bars.
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