Jefferson Street
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky, hasn’t experienced the kind of intense downtown renaissance that other destinations have seen over the past decade or so. But an organic, growing food and drink scene on the edges of the city center has become one of the highlights of Lexington for locals and visitors alike.
The action centers on Jefferson Street, an area not far from downtown where restaurants, bars and breweries have changed the landscape and the atmosphere.
“Jefferson Street is one of my favorite stories because of the economic development involved with that corridor,” said Niki Heichelbeck, director of media services for VisitLEX. “It’s been so organic. Fifteen years ago, there was almost nothing there. But it has exploded with a variety of restaurants opening.”
The trend started with eateries that opened in some of the small, historic homes and other buildings that line the street. The Grey Goose, a trendy bar and flatbread pizza joint, was one of the first to open in the area, followed by the upscale Nick Ryan’s Saloon, which is known more for its food than its drink.
Giving the area an added jolt was the opening of West Sixth Brewing, a craft brewery that debuted three years ago and quickly became a favorite of Lexington locals. The brewery is open for tours and tastings and is adjacent to Smithtown Seafood, a concept opened by one of central Kentucky’s most celebrated chefs. Those establishments are now joined by two other breweries, as well as stops like Wine and Market, and Enoteca, an international wine bar.
Groups can browse the Jefferson Street offerings on their own, or they can arrange a tour or pub crawl with Blue Plate Tours.
Lowe Mill
Huntsville, Alabama
In 1901, Lowe Mill opened as a textile factory in Huntsville, Alabama, and the complex served various industrial and manufacturing needs throughout the 20th century. In 2001, a local businessman bought the property and began transforming it into Lowe Mill Arts and Entertainment, which is now home to 120 studios and some 200 artists.
A small culinary renaissance is beginning at the mill and the surrounding district. Travelers visiting the artist studios at the mill can stop for lunch at Happy Tummy, a purveyor of artisan sandwiches, or visit one of the on-site train cars to check out the otherworldly creations of Pizzelle’s Confections.
“They’re a specialty chocolatier,” said Charles Winters, executive vice president of the Huntsville Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Their tagline is ‘Where fine chocolate meets pure imagination.’ It’s artisan truffles and confections with unconventional flavor pairings.”
Adventurous eaters can samples Pizzelle’s candies made with ingredients such as star anise, Sambuca, cayenne, rosemary, ginger and jasmine tea. Afterward, they can stop in for a tour and a taste at Piper and Leaf, a specialty tea shop offering such inventive flavors as Old Fashioned Birthday Cake, Pumpkin Moonshine and Briar Patch Brew.
Just down the road form Lowe Mill, another building is undergoing a creative makeover. Stone Middle School will soon become home to two local breweries — Straight to Ale and Yellowhammer Brewery — as well as an amphitheater open for public events.
