Centerpoint Nutscraper Lexington KY

My office overlooks a gaping hole in Lexington. It isn't Lexington Crossings what you're thinking; It's where the Dame and Buster's used to be. Right now it is a muddy pit, but come spring it will be one giant, multimillion dollar weed pit.

I was hoping as they finished knocking down the Dame in July I would see some penis shaped frame of a building being constructed by spring time, but it seems that I will be lucky to have a foundation being poured if that. Now I wasn't some crazy, historical, socialista, clawing tooth and nail to save those grimey, fantastic dives, but I won't lie and say I'm not a bit pissed. I'd hate to think that the Webbs knocked down some decent "crappy" buildings just to replace it with a f'n marsh in the middle of Lexington.

I wish I could say this is the first time something in Lexington was knocked down and left knocked down without a proper replacement. Back in the day there was a fantastic old hotel in Lexington called the Phoenix Hill Hotel. Now I'll probably screw up the story, but it seems they knocked down the hotel to build a grander more awesome hotel in its place. I'm sure what was to go there was nothing compared to the phallic masterpiece that is Centerpoint, but I digress, a hotel of grander proportions was to go in the Phoenix Hill lot. So the hotel was demolished, and just as the rubble was being moved to some sink hole in KY, the funding for the new hotel was dropped. WTF?? What happened?? Well, Lexington did what any city would do, they bought a portion and made a public library, and the remaineder was turned into a refuge for the homeless a park. Where the once magnificient Phoenix Hill hotel stood, now stands the magnificient, urine stained Phoenix Hill Park. HOORAY!!!!

Sooooo... What's up Webbs? Where's my Centerpoint? Did you lose your plans with the crash of the economy, or were those plans washed away with the rest of KY's state funded programs?

I'm tired of bitchin' but the next time you descide to knock down a block of profitable buildings to replace it with a giant dick building, DON'T! Buy a sports car like all other wealthy people trying to compensate.

Tin Roof Bar and Music in Lexington

Over the past months, the Tin Roof has been renovating and demolishing what used to be Huddle House on Lime. I never ate at Huddlehouse so I don't really miss it. However I am really looking forward to another music venue in Lex. After the Webbs totally demolished the Buster's/Dame Block, music in Lex hit a changing point. Not necessarily for the negative, but definitely a change. After the Dame took over the A1A/Mainstreet live music hall things haven't been the same. As I said not necessarily for the worse, but just different. Luckily the Tin Roof is coming. I really hope this hope won't jinx the quality. The Dame still rox out with it awesome music connections and getting really legit groups to hit Lex, but I really hope that the Tin Roof can overcome some of the obstacles that Lex is faced with now. Sure the Dame is still on Main and sure there are other music venues too, but I still think another major music venue in Lex will increase diversity as well as lend itself to getting even more music choices in Lex. All I can say is that we need another music hall and I'm glad that the Tin Roof isn't letting us down (yet as it still hasn't opened). So in closing, Tin Roof, being a Nashville native, you should totally understand the importance of good music in town... so get us some good music will you. We need it.

If yer looking for info on the Tin Roof go here >>

Liquor Tax Increase in KY Sucks

I've been waiting a bit to write an opinion about the recent tax increases on liquor and tobacco. While I understand the need for government to find was to pay its aging work forces benefits I wonder at the methods of getting that tax money. Taxing tobacco seems logical, and let me tell you I'm surprised it has gotten through. KY has some hard lobbying tobacco producers in KY and they don't like hurting the wallets of its puffy purchasers. No, tobacco has some how managed to miss the bullet many times. On the flipside, however, alcohol consistently gets the shaft in KY.

Forty-nine of Kentucky’s 120 counties don’t allow alcohol sales, and another 41 place restrictions on it, not to mention KY has some of the highest taxes on alcohol in the country (*Tom Eblen). Now I'm no genius, but is it right that only 41 counties contribute to this fiscal crisis?

So what is the answer? Perhaps legalize Mary Jane and make it state regulated? Perhaps we could raise KY income taxation. I don't know - I'm just a drinker, with a little less in his wallet now. What do you think about the tax increase? Where do you think we should get the money from?

For more info >>

Mellow Mushroom My Hippy Friend

I'm not calling Mellow Mushroom a hippy haven, no I'd never do that, but you know... you may feel the urge to start wearing Birkenstocks if you eat there. I know what your thinking though, "Is it good?" Oh yes, it is good, but the important thing is when you go.

You should go to the Shroom at lunch time, definitely. For lunch they have some great deals going on. You can get 2 slices and a drink or a half (gigantic) sub and a drink or a salad and a slice and a drink and all these meals run around 6 bux. Of all their fantastic slices, their ham reigns supreme for meeeee.

The ham they use has some kind of special hippy magic in it. It is smokey but really sweet. Maybe they get the hogs high or something, who knows, but the result is one anyone would love.

On the booze side of things, they have a great happy hour (actually 2 hours) 4-6 mon-fri (I think) During that time you can grab one of their many micro brews for about $3. If you are a bit on the poor side, like me, you can score a draft PBR for $1.60. I'm pretty sure that is one of the best Drink prices in town, if not the best.

When you head to Mellow Mushroom expect lots of vibrant colors, a big cartoony looking tree and the smell of parmasean and patchouli (j/k). If you like good food and a fun atmospher, you're gonna enjoy yourself. I do everytime.

>>Mellow Mushroom

Bar Louie / Mandarin Cafe Lexington KY

The other night I was looking for a new place to eat. I was on the prowl for some new cuisine. In Lex that is a bit hard for me, cuz I've been most places. So as I was thinking about where I could go I thought about Bar Louie. Ole' Louie is pretty new, it's located in Lexington Green where Ruby Tuesday used to be. We headed there, expecting it to be about as busy as Ruby Tuesday used to be, and well, it wasn't.

Over Run
As we pulled into Lex Green, we should have just turned around. The parking lot was bursting at the seams, and that doesn't happen normally. Turns out there was some big comedian at Comedy Off Broadway . We waited for a bit, looked around, but then decided to go to Mandarine Asian Cafe instead. Overall I would have stayed at Bar louie, but oh well, we left. We'll have to go back.

Mandarine
This isn't the first time we've eaten at Mandarine. The place has a following. Be prepared to wait if it is the weekend. What's good? The Red Devil Sushi Roll is life changing. It is usually a 12 dollar roll, but they had it on special and man . . . . . . . . .speechless. Everything else is pretty good. Be careful though, on some meals the description might be a little misleading, but if you find that diamond, then you'll be changed forever. Good stuff.

For more info on both Mandarin and Bar Louie, follow the links below.
Bar Louie Info >>
Mandarin Info>>