Kentucky Roadtrip: Elkhorn City & The Russell Fork River
Last weekend, I spent some time camping along the banks of the Russell Fork River. It’s one of my favorite spots in all of the Commonwealth even though my whitewater kayaking days are over!
Nestled in the mountains, just south of Pikeville, is a little town called Elkhorn City. You won’t find the latest and greatest in retail establishments, there, nor will you find a movie theater or concert hall for entertainment. Instead, what you’ll find are friendly people, a world-class river and beautiful landscapes all around you. Friendly locals help with the loading of extra firewood into your pickup and also serve up a mean pork tenderloin breakfast at the Rusty Fork diner.
Whether you are a whitewater enthusiast or not, the river is beautiful. For those who know what a boof is or how to catch an eddy, you probably also know that the USA Wildwater National Team held their trials on the Russell Fork in 2011.
Even if you don’t know what those terms mean, but you think you might like to, the Russell Fork is the place for you! Each Spring, the Lexington-based Bluegrass Wildwater Association holds their annual clinic for new boaters. Camping on the banks of the river, those looking to get into the sport of whitewater kayaking are treated to small class sizes, lots of on-water instruction and a fun weekend party. This year, the event even boasted a “women’s only” class.
If you aren’t quite ready for that scene, Elkhorn City is also only about 5 miles from The Breaks Interstate Park. This park’s 4600 acres straddle the Virginia/Kentucky border. It’s absolutely gorgeous, especially in the fall.
The Breaks park features tent camping, RV/Motorcoach hookups, a lodge and restaurant on site, in addition to lots of other amenities. The hiking in this area is superb with trails ranging across all skill levels in and around the park. Most notably, the Pine Mountain Trail begins inside the park. With 42 miles of the trail completed, it’s well on its way to connecting the Breaks to the Cumberland Gap National Historical Park.
I feel like Elkhorn City and the Breaks are an undiscovered treasure in our own backyard. The town’s Heritage Council is working hard to capitalize on the rich music heritage of the area (the town’s main street is called Patty Loveless Drive for a reason!). and the natural beauty and resources offered by the river and the gorge it has formed. Work has already begun to provide 4-lane access to this little gem along US 460. It won’t be long until many people across the state will know what the Southeast’s kayakers already have stickered on their bumpers: It’s Always Sunny in Elkhorn City.
Kentucky Places: Greentree Tea Room
Lexington's Greentree Tea Room is a longtime favorite "Ladies Who Lunch" spot.
A few weeks ago, I visited Greentree for a bridal tea. We arrived a little early and took a little time to enjoy the adorable shops near the tea room. L.V. Harkness is such a lovely spot for gifts, stationery, and home decor, and Belle Maison has such delightful antique finds!
Luncheon at Greentree and shopping nearby was, as usual, simply enchanting. I'm always amazed that such a quaint, old-fashioned nook is hidden so close to Rupp Arena and the downtown scene!
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| My cousin Amy (the lovely bride) and me. |
HerKentucky Business: The Crushed Violet
The HerKentucky team is thrilled to present HerKentucky Business, a monthly spotlight on female entrepreneurs in the Bluegrass State. As soon as we started writing this spotlight, I instantly knew I wanted to interview Erin Miller, owner of The Crushed Violet, a ridiculously adorable fragrance boutique located in downtown Lexington.
1. Before being a fragrance maven, what did you do? What led you to opening your boutique?
Even though The Crushed Violet was in the back of my mind for ten years before it came to fruition, what I did prior to opening helped give me that final push. My brother bought a campground in Versailles—Camp on the Kentucky—and asked me to be involved in opening and running of it. That process showed me it's difficult, but not impossible, to open your own business. The amount of fun I had working with my brother and sister-in-law showed me how rewarding it can be.
2. Why did you choose to locate your business in downtown Lexington?
Downtown is equal parts quirk and swank. I always knew it was just right for what I wanted to do. Church Street is centrally located and yet feels tucked away at the same time. I love it.
3. What's the hardest part about being a business owner?
Time constraints. Not having much of a social life. Not having time to cook and bake from scratch like I used to. Luckily, my husband is very patient and a wonderful cook. And if time constraint is my biggest complaint, I really can’t complain. Who doesn’t have that problem?
4. What's the best part about being a business owner?
I'm living my dream. I am very aware of that and grateful for it everyday.
5. What advice would you give to Kentucky women wanting to start their own business? I feel strange giving advice at this point because The Crushed Violet is still new, but if you have a real passion for what you’re doing, people recognize that. So as cliché as it sounds, make sure you love what you’re getting into, because you will be consumed by it. My business hours might be eleven to six, but it's a twenty-four hour gig.
6. How does someone find their signature fragrance? Come see me! Fragrance is subjective, like any art. Every person is different and has a different process. I’m here as a guide through that process, whatever it may be for you. If you want a basic starting point, check out the fragrance wheel from Michael Edwards on The Crushed Violet's website.
7. What do you see next on the horizon for The Crushed Violet? World fragrance domination? Ha! World fragrance domination. I like it—I've managed to conquer Twitter, so who knows? But it’s probably a little less intense than domination. I'll simply continue to provide the best personal service I can while adding more fragrances to The Crushed Violet as time and budget allow. I do have a couple of other additions to the shop up my sleeve and have been working on them for several months now, but I don’t want to jinx anything…here’s hoping!
And now: the quick-fire round!
1. Bourbon or martinis? Bourbon neat, martini dry.
2. One dream you still want to reach? Traveling with my husband to all our dream destinations.
3. Favorite Lexington restaurant? I’d have to say A la lucie, but Lexington has a crazy amount of great restaurants for its size. I also love Stella’s and Sugano and about ten others.
4. Favorite way to spend a Friday night. Curled up on the couch with my husband and our dog, watching a movie, having some drinks and being judged by our cats.
Thanks so much Erin for answering our questions! Find The Crushed Volet on Facebook, Twitter, and in person at 131 Church Street in downtown Lexington.
Even though The Crushed Violet was in the back of my mind for ten years before it came to fruition, what I did prior to opening helped give me that final push. My brother bought a campground in Versailles—Camp on the Kentucky—and asked me to be involved in opening and running of it. That process showed me it's difficult, but not impossible, to open your own business. The amount of fun I had working with my brother and sister-in-law showed me how rewarding it can be.
2. Why did you choose to locate your business in downtown Lexington?
Downtown is equal parts quirk and swank. I always knew it was just right for what I wanted to do. Church Street is centrally located and yet feels tucked away at the same time. I love it.
3. What's the hardest part about being a business owner?
4. What's the best part about being a business owner?
I'm living my dream. I am very aware of that and grateful for it everyday.
5. What advice would you give to Kentucky women wanting to start their own business? I feel strange giving advice at this point because The Crushed Violet is still new, but if you have a real passion for what you’re doing, people recognize that. So as cliché as it sounds, make sure you love what you’re getting into, because you will be consumed by it. My business hours might be eleven to six, but it's a twenty-four hour gig.
6. How does someone find their signature fragrance? Come see me! Fragrance is subjective, like any art. Every person is different and has a different process. I’m here as a guide through that process, whatever it may be for you. If you want a basic starting point, check out the fragrance wheel from Michael Edwards on The Crushed Violet's website.
7. What do you see next on the horizon for The Crushed Violet? World fragrance domination? Ha! World fragrance domination. I like it—I've managed to conquer Twitter, so who knows? But it’s probably a little less intense than domination. I'll simply continue to provide the best personal service I can while adding more fragrances to The Crushed Violet as time and budget allow. I do have a couple of other additions to the shop up my sleeve and have been working on them for several months now, but I don’t want to jinx anything…here’s hoping!
And now: the quick-fire round!
1. Bourbon or martinis? Bourbon neat, martini dry.
2. One dream you still want to reach? Traveling with my husband to all our dream destinations.
3. Favorite Lexington restaurant? I’d have to say A la lucie, but Lexington has a crazy amount of great restaurants for its size. I also love Stella’s and Sugano and about ten others.
4. Favorite way to spend a Friday night. Curled up on the couch with my husband and our dog, watching a movie, having some drinks and being judged by our cats.
Thanks so much Erin for answering our questions! Find The Crushed Volet on Facebook, Twitter, and in person at 131 Church Street in downtown Lexington.
Bourbon: of Love Notes and Legal Opinions
Earlier this week, Sarah blogged about Derby Pie, the Louisville-based pastry that is so unique and wonderful that it warrants trademark protection. While the nut-and-chocolate pie springs up under many names across the Commonwealth, there is only one pastry that can be called Derby Pie.
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| Image via ABC News. |
Yesterday, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals similarly found that there is only one brand of booze that can feature a seal of dripping red wax -- Loretto's own Maker's Mark. The truth is, you don't need the Court of Appeals to tell you that the Maker's trademark is "extremely strong"; the distinctive wax-sealed bottle is unmistakable even to teetotalers. Now, here at HerKentucky, we've spent more than our fair share of time reading legal opinions. And, most of us have been known to mix up a bourbon cocktail or two. Needless to say, this story stoked the geek fires around here.
Even if legal documents aren't your thing, Judge Martin's opinion is kind of awesome. Before going into the intellectual property issues at the heart of the case, he takes a lot of time to just talk about whiskey. It reads like a love letter to bourbon. In describing the process that yields Kentucky's signature spirit, he waxes poetic. In establishing bourbon's role as the greatest of all spirits, he evokes imagery from Harry Truman to James Bond. Even the footnotes are lyrical, pointing out that "the spelling of the word “whiskey” has engendered impassioned debate." While Judge Martin and his law clerks clearly had a blast researching this issue, they also got me thinking about the uniquely Kentucky character of bourbon.
As every Kentuckian knows, bourbon is created from a blend of sour (corn) mash which is aged in charred-oak barrels. The sweet caramel and vanilla notes are produced by natural sugars occuring in the wood. The process began in the Central Kentucky region known as "Old Bourbon." And, while bourbon can technically be produced outside the boundaries of the Commonwealth, most of us consider Kentucky production a key. It's been estimated that 97% of all bourbon is produced in Central Kentucky. (And, really, who would want to know what that other 3% is, let alone drink it?)
Most Kentuckians have a favorite bourbon, whether we use it for drinking or cooking. I'm a Maker's girl myself; I love the smooth, smoky caramel taste in a cocktail or to provide a complex note in chocolate desserts. But, whatever flavor profile you prefer in your bourbon, it's a taste that's wonderfully unique to Kentucky.
What's your favorite bourbon?
Even if legal documents aren't your thing, Judge Martin's opinion is kind of awesome. Before going into the intellectual property issues at the heart of the case, he takes a lot of time to just talk about whiskey. It reads like a love letter to bourbon. In describing the process that yields Kentucky's signature spirit, he waxes poetic. In establishing bourbon's role as the greatest of all spirits, he evokes imagery from Harry Truman to James Bond. Even the footnotes are lyrical, pointing out that "the spelling of the word “whiskey” has engendered impassioned debate." While Judge Martin and his law clerks clearly had a blast researching this issue, they also got me thinking about the uniquely Kentucky character of bourbon.
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| Image via KY ABC. |
Most Kentuckians have a favorite bourbon, whether we use it for drinking or cooking. I'm a Maker's girl myself; I love the smooth, smoky caramel taste in a cocktail or to provide a complex note in chocolate desserts. But, whatever flavor profile you prefer in your bourbon, it's a taste that's wonderfully unique to Kentucky.
What's your favorite bourbon?
Kentuckian in the Big Apple
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| across from Radio City Music Hall |
The trips to NYC as a teenager left me dreaming of leaving the rolling hills of Kentucky in search of riches and fancy clothes in the concrete jungle. New York City and Lexington seemed like polar opposites: lots of grass and low house prices in Lexington; very little grass and astronomical real estate in New York City. The lure of public transportation and my imaginary apartment ala Tom Hanks in "Big" were visions in my head for years.
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| The Highline |
When I landed back in Louisville, I headed to my car, paid my reasonable overnight parking rate, and hit I-64 to head back to Lexington. I had a great time in the city, but as I pushed the gas on the open road, I realized how glad I was to be back home. When I watched the Kentucky Derby last weekend, I smiled when I remembered how I explained to several New Yorkers that people don't wear hats to EVERY horse race in Kentucky, and that Jack Daniels isn't Kentucky bourbon (it's Tennessee Whiskey, y'all).Perhaps a piece of me wants to still be a part of the city, but Kentucky is my home and I wouldn't have it any other way.
A Verdant Oasis in the Middle of Lexington
This year, I’ve gotten the crazy idea to try and grow some of our own food. This is worrisome because I’ve been known to kill cactus. Last fall, I started some kitchen herbs and those are still (mostly) alive. In the early Spring, I sweet-talked my husband into building some raised beds for our teeny tiny front yard.
My grand plans to grow vegetables from seeds turned out to be terrible plans. Everything died just before they were to be transplanted outdoors.
On to Plan B!
Enter Michler’s – a Lexington florist and greenhouse for over a century. Originally, I planned to go to Fayette Seed for my transplants, but it turns out they have operating hours that don’t mesh with my schedule. A friend suggested Michler’s – by way of saying, “You know…that place on Maxwell Street.” I did not, in fact, know.
I wracked my brain, trying to think of anything resembling a nursery in that part of Lexington. In all my four years of living there, and having UK friends living in the Aylesford neighborhood, I never once noticed the little nursery on Maxwell tucked away after the apartment buildings of north campus but before you get to the shops near Woodland Avenue.
My husband and I visited and were in awe of the rambling old greenhouses, filled with lots of plants that I could never name. It turns out the greenhouses that were so picturesque, that my husband described as looking “like they’ve been there forever” have, indeed been there a long time! Michler’s proclaims itself as “Kentucky’s oldest continually operating florist and greenhouses”.
The staff was friendly and knowledgeable. They put up with me asking a ton of newbie questions. The variety of flowers, ferns and landscape adornments was fantastic. If I were in the market for ornamental items I wouldn’t hesitate to spend my money, locally, at Michler’s. Since the plants are grown, here, it makes sense to me that they’d thrive and flourish, here. I’m not so sure you’d have the same luck with plants grown in greenhouses and shipped hundreds of miles to your local big box store.
This was my first trip to ever look for vegetable transplants, so I’m not sure how great their selection was. They had a variety of herbs. We picked up both some mint and rosemary to add to the basil and cilantro I was able to start at home. There were many different types of tomatoes – heirloom and non-heirloom varieties. We ended up with three varieties of peppers (jalapenos, sweet yellow chilies and traditional chilies), eggplant, cucumber, Swiss chard, and three types of tomatoes (Brandywine, yellow pear, and Roma). On a whim, my husband grabbed some sunflower seeds.
Michler’s is not just a greenhouse nursery. They offer floral arrangements and plant and delivery in Lexington (with online ordering as an option). They also have garden design services and offer wedding flowers.
The next time you’re in downtown Lexington, I urge you to visit Michler’s. It really is like another world right in the heart of the city – a world where everything is green and fresh and full of life. I’m so happy to have discovered this verdant enclave.
Kentucky and Trademark
I hope everyone had a fabulous Derby. I hope you sat back and enjoyed a Mint Julep. I hope your horse won. I hope you served your friends a delicious piece of Derby P---
Don't say it!
If over the weekend you cooked up a chocolate pecan bourbon concoction and called it Derby Pie®, then you my friend committed trademark infringement. Unless you purchased your pie at Kern's Kitchen, it was NOT Derby Pie ®.
Derby Pie® was created by George Kern and the recipe is passionately protected by the Kern family. The secret recipe is only known to the family and single Kern's Kitchen employee who makes the pie everyday. If you make a similar pie, you better alter the recipe and call it something else.
Think back. How many times have you seen "chocolate pecan pie" on a menu and wondered why they just don't call it Derby Pie ®?
In their defense, it is delicious pie. One of the best parts of attending Transylvania University is they serve Kern's Kitchen in the cafeteria. As a Western Kentuckian, I was not familiar with the finer points of pie but I have to say I now look for that little Kern's Kitchen stamp on the crust. If I see it, I know I have a treat in store.
Now you know, Colonel Sanders isn't the only Kentuckian with a secret recipe...or a trademark to back it up!
~ Sarah Stewart Holland