The HerKentucky 60 Things Project: Frankfort

In Sunday's Herald-Leader,  Cheryl Truman, with the help of many readers, listed 50 things that define Lexington.  We thought it would be fun to make a similar HerKentucky list, with 10 things that define our respective hometowns.  Where better to start than Kentucky's capital city? Here's Lydia's list of things that define Frankfort.

via Kentucky Tourism Apps.

1. The Grey Lady of Liberty Hall. Nothing like scaring the wits out of yourself by walking past on Halloween and timidly looking up to see if she's watching you from a second floor window.

2. Gene Burch Photography. While his dental skills and practice are top-notch, every Frankfort resident recognizes Dr. Burch's photography of our capital city, especially his iconic three spires photograph. His photo calendar always hung on my mom's kitchen wall.

3. The Capitol Buildings (Old and New). Admittedly, this is a bit self-indulgent, but if you were a teenager at Frankfort High School between 1994 and up through the current year, it's likely that you hung out at one of the Capitol buildings.  Frankfort isn't exactly known for its Things To Do If You're A Teen, and hanging out at the Capitol bench or the Old Capitol stone wall is our version of "cruising."

4. The Black Cat Chase. The 5K race, held at night, near Halloween is an annual fundraiser for the Frankfort YMCA. It seems that all of Frankfort participates in this race - whether you're a hardcore runner or a grandma in jeans and a t-shirt. It's a fun time and lots of folks wear costumes.

5. The Smell of Sour Mash. On crisp mornings, you can often start your day with a whiff of sour mash cooking at the Buffalo Trace Distillery. It's pervasive all over town. Some people hate it. Personally, I love it.

6. The Frankfort Cemetery. It's just plain beautiful and features Daniel Boone's grave in a prime location that overlooks downtown Frankfort.

7. The Grand Theatre. Recently restored, this entertainment venue was once a vaudeville theater and now features arts performances ranging from opera to children's theater.

via Kentucky Tourism

8. The Switzer Covered Bridge. On the edge of Franklin County is the small community of Switzer, best known for its covered bridge. The bridge washed downstream in the Flood of 1997 but has been restored. It's a perfect place to visit for a fall picnic.

9. Elkhorn Creek. Flowing throughout central Kentucky, the Elkhorn meanders through Franklin County and empties into the Kentucky River here. Local fisherman, canoeists and kayakers enjoy the waterway.

10. Rebecca Ruth Candies, because who doesn't love a bourbon ball?

Southern Festival of Books: Friday Recap

Last weekend, I went down to Nashville for the Southern Festival of Books. I wrote about the Festival for Ace Weekly magazine, describing the sense of "place" that arose time and again during the festival's programs and events. I also wanted to share a more informal "travelogue" with y'all. We had such an amazing time taking in both the festival and one of my very favorite cities.  Here's a little about my trip down to Nashville on Friday and the first night of the event. -- HCW

It was just one of those days that goes right. That's a very good thing when you undertake a five hour trip. After the dogs got in a lengthy morning playtime, I left them with my parents and I drove. And drove. And drove. I noticed the fall foliage. I bemoaned the lack of cell phone signal in rural Kentucky. And I drove some more. Finally, I found myself on the Tennessee border. I excitedly tuned the radio to Jack 96.3 (only the best radio station ever -- take my word for it!) and took in the sights.  Lordy, I love this city.

 

I had a few minutes to spare before the first event I wanted to attend, so I drove down Broadway. It's so quintessentially touristy, and yet such a terribly fun area. At 2 o'clock on a Friday afternoon, the honky-tonks and shops were just swarming with people. There were lines outside Tootsies, Margaritaville and Hatch Show Print. That's one of my very favorite things about Nashville: there are always people lined up to have a good time.

I headed over to the Public Library to hear Jason Howard and Naomi Judd speak about the Kentucky Roots of Country Music. Two things become apparent in a hurry: I want to be BFFs with Jason Howard, and Naomi Judd knows how to work a room. Amidst an interesting discussion about Appalachia, culture, and creativity, Mr. Howard and Ms. Judd worked in some hilarious quotes. Reading from his own description of a dinnertime scene at Ms. Judd's home, Mr. Howard deadpanned "It's her kitchen medicine cabinet. Every Appalachian woman I know has one." Later in the hour, Ms. Judd reached into her décolletage and dramatically produced a tissue -- "I think there's a Kleenex gene. I think it's a hillbilly thing."

I left the session with an interesting perspective on my own Appalachian heritage and drove down to meet my beau at the Barnes & Noble on Vanderbilt's campus (he's been in town for work). We grabbed some dinner, then decided to check out the holy grail of Nashville bookstores, Parnassus Books. 

I've been dying to visit Parnassus forever. Located in an unassuming strip of shops and restaurants in the Green Hills neighborhood, the store boasts one of the best fiction selections I've seen in ages. Because we were in Nashville, there were also more than a few country music and sporting dog titles to make us feel at home. I knew there was little chance of getting to meet owner Ann Patchett on a Friday night; I guess I'll just have to make another trip soon! 

We ended the evening with an apple fritter from the Donut Den next door (oh, how we've missed them!), and called it an early night, because we had many more books to discover on Saturday!

"Fight Like a Girl"

Remember how I'm looking for new Pink Ribbon t-shirts to replace those I'm using to make a quilt?

Well, I just ran across the best one yet!

The Kentucky chapters of the American Cancer Society are selling these adorable pink ribbon, Kentucky Wildcats licensed t-shirts for just $12!

The proceeds of ACS merchandise, fundraisers, and donations go to cancer research, lobbying efforts, and immediate care and assistance for cancer patients.  Contact your local ACS branch (Lexington, Louisville, Ashland, or Owensboro), or email us here at HerKentucky for ordering information. 


Thanks to the dollars raised by Making Strides supporters, the American Cancer Society is saving lives and helping more people facing breast cancer celebrate more birthdays!

Good Morning from Nashville

Hey y'all!

Southern Festival was amazing and Nashville is as wonderful as always. I'll post a full recap when I get home this evening, but here are a few pics and quotations for you.

"Kentucky is such a special place-there seems to be something in the water." -- Jason Howard

"Appalachia is sacred." -- Naomi Judd

"I wanted to write about the people I grew up with." -- Chris Offutt

Southern Festival of Books

This weekend, I'm headed down 1-65 to the Southern Festival of Books. The annual event, held in Downtown Nashville, showcases Southern authors across a variety of genres and interests.  As a reader and writer, I'm thrilled to be attending. As a Kentuckian, I'm thrilled to see the Bluegrass State represented so well.  

Mama Judd will be there.  So will George Ella Lyon and Bobbie Ann Mason.  Silas House and Jason Howard are both presenting.  There's also a bunch of new Kentucky talent -- poets, professors, and librarians who've recently published.

Of course, there's non-Kentuckians, too.  Folks like Buzz Bissinger, R.L. Stine, and Gillian Flynn.  There's a guy who's speaking about the politics of SEC football.  There are historians, chefs, and musicians.  In fact, there are over 250 authors reading, presenting, and joining in on the festivities.

I'll be checking in here on HerKentucky all weekend.  I hope to give y'all some updates, photos and fun insights.  I'll also be updating on twitter (@heathercw) as I go.  I'm pretty excited!

Who's your favorite Southern writer?

Writing is in the Kentucky Air

Perhaps it's just because I'm working on writing more, but doesn't it seem that Lexington is just ripe for fostering writers? Between great book stores, lots of published local authors, inspiring scenery and places for improving your craft, all signs point to Lexington being an incredibly wonderful place to embrace writing. Here are some resources to get your writing mojo flowing:

• Carnegie Center: I attended my first writing event at the Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning earlier this year and have been really impressed by the wonderful workshops they offer. Not only is the instruction from wonderful, motivating writers, but the environment is open to novices and published authors alike. They also have writers spaces where you can work without interruption. To learn more, visit their website. 
• Lexington Public Library: The Lexington Public Library has a lot of workshops - some in conjunction with the Carnegie Center, and some that they produce by themselves. Their calendar always has something going on, and anything I've attended there has been wonderful. They also have great meeting spaces you can use if you want to find a place for your writers group to meet.  I must also give a shout out to their online systems and hold services. I reserve everything I want online and pick it up at the location of my choice, labeled with my name. Insanely convenient. Learn more here. 
• Morris Book Shop: The Morris Book Shop is an independently owned bookstore that is just a place you want to explore and spend time in. I stopped in a couple of days ago to pick up a new book from one of my favorite authors and I had to drag myself out of there. They also have a wonderful seating area with pretty chairs. (Really, they're Pinterest-worthy). I love that they have over 20,000 titles but feel like a neighborhood place you could drop by daily and not get overwhelmed at the shelves. Here's their website. 
• Joseph-Beth Booksellers: Pre-Barnes and Noble, there was Joseph-Beth Booksellers. The founders lived across the street from me when I was a teenager and I just thought they were the coolest people ever for creating this beautiful store with SO MANY BOOKS! Roam around as long as you want, grab a treat from the cafe, and if you ever have a question, ask their insanely educated staff. It's transferred to new owners, but still retains the charm of old. Visit their site. 
• Keeneland: So I know this doesn't really seem to fit into the list (although they do have a wonderful library with everything Thoroughbred). Every time I step into Keeneland, whether it's for horse racing or for a community event, I get a million story prompts in my head. Some examples: Unrequited love story in the 1940s between a farm hand and the daughter of the trainer; the young adult novel including a girl having her first taste of bourbon in the Keeneland parking lot; the story behind the group of 6 widows that sit in the clubhouse every Thursday in near silence... it goes on and on! If you can't get there in person, at least check out their website for photographic inspiration.

What are some other local literary resources or inspirations?

Hope Conquers - A Campaign to Help Children With Cancer

I read as an escape, as a form of entertainment and as a way to learn. I've never thought about the idea of "reading for good," but I'm happy to introduce a way to do just that. Tammy Blackwell, a Kentucky author, is with us today for a post on her campaign of kindness - Hope Conquers - which aims to help children and families of children diagnosed with cancer.  - Lydia

I have lived in Marshall County, Kentucky, the majority of my life. When you live in a county of 31,000 people, there is no way to know every single person, but after thirty-something years, you feel like you do. You certainly know every member of your graduating class well enough that you feel a profound sense of sadness when one of them has a child be diagnosed with cancer. And when a person you grew up with is forced to bury their child, your heart becomes a raw ache inside your chest.

I was a member of the Marshall County High School Class of 1996. There were 300 of us. Three hundred. Out of that 300 people, four of them have recently had a child diagnosed with cancer. Two of those children died from the disease.

You would think that was enough for one small town, but unfortunately life wouldn’t agree. There are currently three teenagers in Marshall County missing school as they undergo cancer treatment. Three kids who should be worrying about exams, papers, and unrequited love are now worrying about blood levels, treatment options, and whether they will ever truly get to experience life again.

Cancer is cruel; it’s wrong; and it is certainly not fair.

I recently realized I could just sit around and feel sorry for all the families around me struggling, or I could do something to help. My day job is as the Young Adult Services Coordinator for the Marshall County Public Library. Over the years, I’ve seen how books can change a teen’s perception and attitude. I’ve seen books change lives. And so, armed with that knowledge, I came up with the Hope Conquers campaign.

The Hope Conquers campaign is simple: During the month of October, I will be collecting books inscribed with messages of inspiration and encouragement signed by the author. Those books will be donated to the Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital, the place most seriously ill kids in Marshall County go to receive care. I’ll also be donating all the profits from the Kindle edition of my novel Destiny Binds
to the Ronald McDonald House, which provides assistance to families with sick children.

I know in the grand scheme of things, Hope Conquers isn’t a lot. I’m going to give some kids some books and donate a little bit of money. So what?

Here’s the thing, though. I think it will make a difference. Actually, I know it will. I know, without a doubt, that every little bit helps. I know that if we work together, if each of us does what we can, our little bits will add up to a big something.

I encourage you to do what you can this month for kids with cancer. If you want to help the Hope Conquers campaign, you can do so by picking up a copy of Destiny Binds in the Kindle Store. (Don’t have a Kindle? No problem! Most app-enabled devices, like computers and smart phones, have a free Kindle app. And Destiny Binds is only 99¢!) Even if you don’t want to buy the book, you can help by
spreading the word about the campaign. Or by making a donation of your own to a charity that supports seriously ill children. Or by dropping a few coins into the collection boxes at McDonald’s. Please, just do something, anything, to get involved. 

Together we can make a difference in the lives of children battling cancer.

Tammy Blackwell works at the Marshall County Public Library in Kentucky and is the author of the popular YA series, the Timber Wolves Trilogy. You can visit her online at www.misstammywrites.com or follow her on Twitter (@Miss_Tammy).