LEX 18 presents a podcast with hot takes, hot
topics with your hosts, Megan Manering and Evelyn
Schultz. This is Hot Mic. Hello everyone and
welcome back to another episode of Hot Mic. We
are just rolling along this year with another
episode. episode. And another great guest. We
are going to learn so much about Lexington today.
I'm really excited for this one. We have Mary
Quinn Raymer with Visit Lex joining hot mic today.
Welcome. Good morning, ladies. We're so grateful
that you're here. Well, I am so happy to be here.
Thank you for the invitation. Yeah, we know that
you're very busy. I imagine someone that works
in tourism, like you always have stuff going
on. There's always the next event or the next
thing. That's for sure. But keeps it fun. It
does seem like a really fun job. Sometimes I
think about the people who work in tourism, and
I think that would be a really fun career. There
is no doubt that there are so many rewarding
moments. It's also a job, and there's a lot of
responsibility and a lot of long days, long hours.
But the people that we meet, really, and the
fact that we get to share our little slice of
heaven with the world makes it worth it. Did
you grow up here in Lexington? I grew up over
in Danville, so not far. I consider myself very
much a central Kentucky girl. You're a local
girl. Through and through, but I was not born
here in Lexington. So I felt very thankful for
growing up in Danville. It was a wonderful place
to be young. sort of learn how to fly. Then you
went to Center as well. I did. I took a bit of
a circuitous route, but I ended up back at Center
at the end of my freshman year and finished there
and have no regrets. It was a wonderful place.
So many amazing professors got to live in France
while I was studying abroad through the Center
abroad program and just extremely grateful for
the opportunity that I had during my years at
Center. Was that travel abroad experience part
of what ignited your love for tourism? Or how
did that come about? I think so. So obviously,
I grew up doing, you know, the family trips,
we would go visit my grandparents or go visit
family. We had a lot of family in North Carolina.
So we would track down in the old station wagon
to North Carolina, we did the beach trips a couple
of times. And so I was accustomed to, you know,
this idea of a vacation. But it was really when
I lived abroad that I was able to do all that
on my own sort of planning the whole itinerary,
making all the logistics work and really just
fell in love with it. I mean, I've always been
so happy about coming home to Kentucky. Never
really wanted to live anywhere else. I'm so proud
to call this place home, but I have a deep love
for seeing the world, meeting people from around
the world, meeting people from all over this
fantastic country that we're in. And the fact
that I get to, you know, Do that as part of my
mission at visitlex is is a great honor. Yeah.
What are some of your favorite places that you've
visited over the years? Oh my goodness. This
is like asking for a favorite child. But I have,
I mean, I have a love of Europe. There's no doubt
when I lived in France, obviously I was able
to travel via train to so many of the European
countries. I have a soft spot in Strasbourg,
France. That's where I lived when I was in college.
I tell you what, I love the Canadian Rockies.
Some of the most stunning scenery that I've ever
been a part of. I took my first trip to Asia
a couple of years ago. I was in Japan and South
Korea, both again, just. beautiful people, beautiful
country. So, so clean. Japan is so clean and
so organized and so quiet compared to what we're
used to here in the United States. Um, and I
was, I had the opportunity to be with our sister
city, which is Shinnodaka Japan and just, I mean,
truly the kindest people and they have a profound
love of the horse. Of course, all of our sister
cities here in Lexington share a love of the
horse and the equine industry. And so it was
just amazing to be at this horse farm in Japan.
having them show us, you know, their their stud
farm and thinking about all the stud farms that
I've been in, you know, or been on here in Lexington
and thinking we are thousands of miles apart
from one another. And yet so much in common and
so much to learn from each other. It probably
shows you we have, like you said, so much more
in common than we are actually different. So
very true. And I think that's one of the great
I think that's one of the great lessons in travel.
It really is the antidote to hate. The more that
you have the opportunity to experience other
cultures, to meet people, to see what it is that
binds us as humans, it's so much easier to love.
people that are different than us. My college
had a really strong study abroad program. I know
you've done a lot of traveling, Evy, but I really
felt like the five months that I spent, I was
in Madrid were the most transformative of my
whole life so far. You're so right. Spending
time with, I was living with another family and
really being immersed in the culture. You just
realize a lot of similarities in values of family
and togetherness, but then also all these differences.
learning another culture is just too fun. It
is cool. It's really, it's a great opportunity.
And that's part of what I love when we bring
visitors to Lexington. Yes, we're getting to
share with them, you know, some of the things
that make us truly distinct, for example, our
fantastic scenery, our rolling hills, our amazing
horses. If you like bourbon, we've got a lot
of that that we make as well. And yet we're also
just saying like, you're welcome here, right?
I, um, I'm so delighted with these recent Conde
Nast awards because I think it speaks directly
to how warm and friendly people are to our visitors.
And I think that's what we're sharing as much
as anything is just, you know, ourselves, our
hearts and our home. For those who haven't heard
yet, what awards is Lexington racking up? So
we kicked off the year in fabulous style. We
were awarded three Conde Nast awards. one for
being the most visitor friendly city. And the
thing that is really fantastic about this is
this is a reader's choice style award. So this
is people who've been here voting. on Lexington.
This is not, you know, the bureau saying, Hey,
we'd love to Lex for, you know, to put our city
forward for these awards. This is truly generated.
We were number six for our food. So diversity
in Lexington, and then we were number eight for
best small city. And I just think again, with
these being readers selections, their choices
for us to come out, being in the top 10 and three
different lists, and then for the number ranking
to be a direct reflection of the people that
call Lexington home and that welcome folks from
around the world with open arms. It's pretty
awesome. Yeah. So for our viewers and listeners,
pat yourself on the back. You want an award if
you haven't heard. And if you're not here, come
visit. Absolutely. So thank you to all the folks
in Lexington who really do go out of their way
to share the city. And, you know, I get one of
the perks of the job is the emails that come
completely unsolicited from folks who have been
to visit. And I got this great email a few years
ago when UNC Chapel Hill was here to play UK
in basketball. And these diehard Chapel Hill
fans, UNC fans had come to the game. Well, they
ended up popping across the street after the
game was over and ended up, you know, as you
do striking up a conversation with a couple at
the bar. These couple became fast friends and
that couple invited them out the next night to
their home for a meal. So this UNC fan was saying
you all have got to be the nicest people on the
planet. I'm like that. That's just it. And it's
for anyone. It is that southern hospital. That's
actually one of the reasons why. So my husband's
from Tennessee. I'm from Indiana. But we've lived
in Lexington for six years now. And we got married
three almost three years ago. We I initially
thought about having our wedding in Indianapolis
because it's closer to my family. It would be
maybe a little bit easier to plan with my mom.
But eventually we set it on Lexington because
we wanted people to be able to come experience
Lexington. And I'm so grateful we had our wedding
here because we heard from so many of our guests
that they loved getting to experience the city.
So it worked out so well. That's perfect. Have
everybody meet in the middle. Exactly. And get
to see all of our restaurants and just the...
the scenery and everything that we've got going
on. Yeah. Rolling Hills in the background of
your wedding photos. You really can't beat it.
I think Lexington, and I have felt this since
I moved here, it's like the perfect mix of that
Southern charm, Southern hospitality, but also
with Midwest nice. It's kind of the perfect mix.
I have a husband who's from his family. very
rooted in the Midwest and that Midwest nice is
a real thing. And I do think we are at right
at this inflection point of both here in central
Kentucky, which makes it really charming. We
can, we can cater to both. We can be a little
bit Southern and a little bit Midwestern. a whole
lot of nice and good. So I like that with Louisville
and Cincinnati and Nashville, Dollywood, all
of these larger cities and other destinations
nearby. How do you make sure that Lexington stands
out? Well, it's a great question and we do it
in a lot of ways, as you might imagine. There's
no one sort of magic answer to how we stay competitive.
But first of all, we just lean in from a brand
perspective to our authenticity. What do we have
that is authentically ours? You know, we're not
going to be able to go create what Dollywood
has created in East Tennessee. And so why, I
mean, why try? Let's just do what we do really
well. And of course, It goes without saying,
we do horses and bourbon really well. And those
are great hooks. Those are great sort of initial,
let us inspire you with our scenery. Or if you
happen to be into the, you know, bourbon culture,
let us entice you by visiting some of these home
places. But then the magic is that once they're
here, we can show them so much more. Obviously
you all know this, you live here, we have a wonderfully
rich and energetic city. There is always something
going on. So whether you're in the arts and culture
space. Or you really love genealogy and you want
to take a deep dive into perhaps how your family
came through Kentucky on its way west or whatever
it is that strikes you. You know, there's lots
of different ways that we can introduce you to
the rest of our city. And of course, no trip
is complete without a little shopping and a lot
of eating. And so we can also give you great
experiences with those two things. I mean, I
joke that I eat out as a recreational hobby.
But you probably have to do a little research
for work too, right? That's what I say all the
time. I'm just, I can't be. Um, and then we just
have the beautiful outdoors as well. It's a,
you know, central Kentucky, especially if you
look at it as, you know, Lexington and contiguous
counties. Um, just a playground. I mean, just
nature's playground, honestly. And so even just
the, the sort of connection that we have from
Lexington to the Red River Gorge, it's a great
sort of like outdoor meets city. You get a little
bit of both, you know, you can go do a couple
of days in the Gorge and then come here and,
you know, check into a nice hotel and take a
shower and, um, treat yourself to a good restaurant
after you've done all that right rock climbing.
And so just really leaning in to the things that
we have, um, in space. but that are really authentic
to who we are. Of course, we do advertising.
We try to be active on social media. If you've
followed along on any of our Instagram or Facebook,
we try to be very inspirational in those spaces,
sort of showing these stunning moments that we're
so blessed with around here. We do a lot of earned
media. So we're always looking for an opportunity
to tell our story. And we've had many different
journalists that have visited over the years
and have Let us take them on a two or three day
tour of the city. And then they have gone back
to their audiences and written these stories
or shared, you know, these segments with their
viewers. And that's been a great way, you know,
to give people a close look at what's happening
in the city. And then, of course, on our sales
side, we are always looking for conventions and
meetings and events that fit into the city. So
that functions a little bit differently than
your leisure traveler, your person who's looking
for maybe a long weekend or a family vacation.
But it is a really important part of what we
do at Visit Lex is recruiting meetings and conventions.
So we have a number of hotels that can host meetings
in their own properties. And then, of course,
we have the Central Bank Center downtown and
the Kentucky Horse Park out on the north end.
And both of those facilities are just economic
engines for the city. If you are out at the Kentucky
horse park during the summer, I promise you there
will not be one quiet day out there with a number
of competitions and horses and humans that are
coming in through those gates to be a part of
pony club or some championship. Central Bank
Center just been a tremendous game changer for
the types of events and the size of events that
we're able to host in Lexington. We get tremendous
feedback from our meeting planners that they
love. being in Lexington. Geographically, it's
a fairly easy place to get to. We have wonderful
facility in the Central Bank Center. Downtown
is really walkable and safe and that those are
great selling points. Of course, there's lots
of fun restaurants that you can walk to from
easily from our downtown hotels and the convention
center. So there's just a lot that goes into
the work that we do at Visit Lex. But Travel
is a very competitive space and we can never
take our foot off the gas. We have constantly
got to be out there. Keeping Lexington top of
mind keeping people excited About us as a destination.
I will say I do follow the Instagram and it's
so good And sometimes I will see a post and I'll
be like, ooh, where is this thinking? It's a
different city or something and then I realized
oh my gosh, this is That's a good thing. Yeah,
it's fun. It's fun, too when we have so many
talented photographers that we work with that
are great partners of ours and It just, it never
gets old. Yeah. Seeing some of these like stunning
moments that have been captured. What about TikTok?
Because I myself am on TikTok and I find travel
destinations rolling through, right? People saying
either I went here or you should come to my city.
Are you all using apps like TikTok to reach a
new audience? We absolutely are. I have two.
Well, one is a junior high school and the other
is a freshman in college and they have kids in
the house and they have assured me that if you're
not looking on TikTok, you're not doing it right.
Right. And so especially with this younger demographic,
we have seen TikTok be extremely successful for
us. And so we have that is absolutely an opportunity
that we are also targeting for growth this year
to continue showing up in that space in ways
that, you know, or that meet that type of audience
exactly where they are and give them inspirational
content. Of course, we've got collaborators that
we that we want to work with specifically for
TikTok. But yeah, it's a great medium. I mean,
it is a really wonderful way to discover a destination.
And so these social platforms are just they've
been great equalizers for destinations like Lexington
who maybe cannot compete dollar for dollar with
a Nashville or an Indianapolis, like we just
don't have the big budget, but we have social
media and we can really leverage that as an inspiration
tool. Um, and so that it's very much part of
our strategy. And I think a lot of times people
trust, not that you don't trust a magazine or
a travel show, but if it's just a regular person
on your phone saying, Hey, I went here. Right.
I liked this restaurant. You should try it. People
are more likely sometimes to trust. Yes. You
feel like you're getting the unpolished version
of it. So, yeah. So we know bourbon thoroughbreds,
basketball, those are the thing the identifiers
for Lexington. But do you think there is an aspect
of Lexington's identity that doesn't get enough
credit? Or maybe that's growing? That's a great
question. So I mentioned this briefly just a
minute ago, but I think we get overlooked. um,
as an outdoor destination. And so much of what
we actually have to offer is outdoors. If you
think about like, where do you experience a horse
farm? Where do you experience? Um, you know,
a day at the races, well, you're outdoors. And
so we are, we are actually in the process of
visit Lex of creating a lot more content for
outdoors. It also lends to be very family friendly.
Personally, one of my favorite ways to spend
an afternoon in the bluegrass is in a kayak on
the water, looking at, you know, or going down
a creek or river, whatever, have a lake. The
scenery is stunning and it's a completely different
way, you know, than driving our back roads to
see the bluegrass. And so we'd love to lean into
that a little bit more. The city has. property
that they have recently acquired that's down
on the Kentucky River, which will give Fayette
County access, public access to the river for
the first time in a long time. So I think that
that's an opportunity for us to really continue
to market is the experiences. I don't know if
you've ever had the opportunity to be like on
Boone Creek or the original Tate's Creek. These
are little offshoots of the actual Kentucky River
on the south end of our county. Gorgeous. I mean,
it is really really beautiful and so I would
love for us to continue really leaning in, getting
folks out and about adventuring. Of course, as
I mentioned, we're very close to the Gorge. And
so that's a great sort of partnership with our
colleagues and friends over in the Red River
Gorge area. I think we play very well together.
And I'm not a rock climber, but I hear that it
is literally the best rock climbing east of the
Mississippi. So I trust them. And I take their
word for it. And I'm proud to tout that to anybody
who's willing to listen. So, um, I also think
really and truly like the arts and culture, cultural
offerings that we have in the city punch way
above our weight class. I mean, you know, in,
in many ways this is, um, it is, um, small city,
right? And if you think about just the depth
of creativity, the visual artists, the performing
artists, if you think about the fantastic legacy
of literary history that has happened here in
Lexington, the tremendous amount of, you know,
authors and poets and screenwriters and folks
that have produced just stunningly beautiful
words. And so you think about the just the open
mic nights or you think about the productions
of small theater productions, or you think about
a traveling show, you know, visual arts. And
so I think we'll just continue to really lean
into the types of events that you can experience
in the arts and cultural space as well, because
I think, I think people are drawn to those experiences,
you know, I think that art helps us process what's
happening in everyday life, whichever medium
we're drawn to, but I think it's, I think it's
essential and I just would love to continue lifting
up all the makers in the city that are doing
phenomenal work. You know, you mentioned the
artists. I just think of the murals too, that
are all over. When I first moved here, that was
one of the things that stuck out to me was you
look up in this downtown and there's something
new on every corner. It's great. I mean, it's
great to have those little pops of color. It's
great that they all have stories within the story
and to give yourself something to think about.
Some of them have really inspiring messages,
you know, which I think, you know, speaks again
to that humanity that's in all of us. And I love
that. And so the murals have certainly been fun.
But yeah, there's, I mean, there's everything.
There's everything from street art to high art.
It's all a matter of your tastes and the bottom
line is we have really wonderful ways to experience
it something for everyone and I like that We
are driving distance to some larger cities that
we wanted But you don't have to leave Lexington
for anything like you were saying a show or music
or performance Whatever it might be right Lexington.
Yeah punches above its weight under estimate.
I agree Well, I just think that You know, it's
hard for small cities to compete with large cities
simply because you just, you know, the dollars
don't match evenly. And there are so many people
in these large metro areas and, you know, they
have all those brand ambassadors out there. um,
cheering for them. And so it's, it's a little
bit of like David and Goliath, like the little
guy. Um, but that's okay. We love that. It's
a good challenge for us. And I, there's nothing
that makes me happier than a person who has come
to town, not really having any particular expectation,
intrigued, but no real expectation. And for them
to, at the end of their trip, say, you know,
Lexington is more than a place. Like it's a feeling.
I'm like, yes. You have gotten it. That's good.
You have really been here. You have really experienced
it. You have been well taken care of and you
were going home knowing that this place is more
than just a place. It's a feeling. How do you
describe that feeling? For me personally? Oh,
goodness. Well, it's It's hard to describe, like,
you know, coming up with this is a good, like,
liberal arts education challenge. How do I describe
this? It's almost like we're asking you to write
a poem or something. I want to just fully disclose
that I am not a poet. The house that I bought,
which is a really... Precious house. I bought
from a poet and I wow when I purchased the home
for her I said, I hope you have no expectation
I Think for me so much of it is very tied to
the land, right? I think there is The more that
I Look at our signature industries the more that
I understand like the agricultural richness of
the land that we're surrounded by it is been
so essential to the story of Lexington and so
I think the feeling first of all is deeply rooted
in the land. I think it is I think it is a genuineness
and I think that is has everything to do with
the people. Obviously, I think it's pretty. I
mean, you know, not to sound so trite. No, it
is. It's a really pretty place. It's a really
friendly place. So yeah, it's homey is I'm gonna
have to really think about this. Well, I put
you on the spot. Come back to you. I will work
on my poem. Maybe an Instagram post. Yeah, maybe
we actually asked. Yeah. We are you go. What
is it? How do you describe? If Lexington is a
feeling, how do you describe it? I love that.
That's really sweet. Okay. I have a question.
We do a lot of stories about like economic benefits
of this event coming to town or this tournament.
Um, we do a lot of those stories. What does that
mean for the average citizen though, when they
see, Oh, so and so, or this event brings in X
number of dollars and has this large of a benefit.
What does that mean for the average person? Well,
it means a lot. So let me just give you a couple
of numbers and then we can kind of unpack them.
So there are about 12 ,000 people in Lexington
that call this industry their home, right? It's
their job, their career. And so first of all,
it's just the people that you, you know, live
in your neighborhood with. Many of them are going
to a job every day, whether it be at a hotel
or an event venue, or they're working in catering
for, you know, a big caterer, anything like that.
You know, these are people who are have wonderful,
meaningful careers in the hospitality industry.
And so it's just a vital part of people making
their living and people putting food on the table
for their families and all the stuff that kind
of comes with that. So I'm very proud that we
have a lot of folks in the city that are employed
in this space and make it what it is. We also
love the dollar that comes in from outside. spends
its money here, right? So they're buying food
in our restaurants, they're buying, you know,
something to take home as a souvenir in our gift
shops, they're buying tickets to the show, whatever
it is that they're doing, right? And so they're
spending their money here, which is just great
in terms of the overall economic impact for what's
happening inside the city, and then they go home,
right? So we're not more than likely, we're not
going to be like, worried about how do they have
streets and roads or how they have EMS service,
or who's going to remove their snow when this
winter snow, you know, arrives. And so it's a
it's a fairly like limited moment in time where
they spend their money here, and then they leave.
And we love that because that dollar then gets
transferred over and over throughout the community
and that economic impact is something that we're
able to really feel. And I think the thing that
probably makes the most sense, the good stat
that I can give you that makes the most sense
for how does this impact you, just person on
the street. The tourism industry saves you approximately
$600 a year in your taxes because of the money
that is brought to this community by folks who
are just visiting. and then leaving. So you have
a cheaper bill because of the money that we are
able to bring into this community and offset
your expenses by virtue of them spending the
money here. And so I would not have known that
tourism works really hard for this city every
single day. And again, if you're not employed
in the industry or at one of these venues, you
may not realize that even today, right, just
a random Thursday in the middle of January. There
is a whole industry out there that is working
and there is money that is being invested in
this community and these people then turn around
and leave and yet we've got the residual benefit
of it. So there is real incentive in. being friendly.
And being known as a warm city and having these
events offerings. Yeah. And of course the easiest
for anybody who's in sales or marketing, the
easiest customer is the one that you already
have, right? They're the easiest one to get back.
They're the easiest one to continue to develop
a relationship with. And so we love it when people
have good experiences here because they go home
and then I think the statistic is for one really
good experience. tell seven people at a minimum.
Oh my gosh, we just got back from Lexington,
we had the most wonderful weekend, we met the
nicest people, or we saw the most amazing, you
know, like, horse farmer, I just got to actually
visit Buffalo Trace, my favorite, yeah, whatever
it is that pops for them, they go home and tell
lots of people about that experience, which just
then plants the seed and allows us to show up.
and say, inspiration, here you are. Do you find,
I don't even know if you could, I'm sure you're
tracking all sorts of data, but are you able
to pinpoint like an area of the country where
Lexington is a growing travel destination for
that area or a different country that those citizens
might be coming to Lexington? Yeah, that's a
great question. So yes, we actually are able
to, you know, with the way that you can track
everything these days, we are able to look at
both credit card spend and also cell phone data.
So it's not credit card spend. Oh, Lord. It's
not personalized. You should look at Lisa Mandarin.
My mother's credit card goes crazy. Smoking after
she leaves Lexington. Right. So and we love her
for that. We appreciate it. So yeah, we we do
look at data that shows where we've got some
like hotspots. And so I can tell you like the
Chicago market has been really good for the city
over the last decade. We draw a lot from the
Midwest, so Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Columbus,
of course Dayton as a sort of suburb of the Sensei
metro area. Chicago, we've done we've actually
seen some really good traffic out of Michigan,
Detroit leading the way by virtue of being, you
know, the main metro area. But yeah, the Midwest
states have been super good to us in a very consistent
way year over year. And I think that makes sense
for a lot of reasons. It's easy travel. It's
a very different product and experience than
what they have at home. I can ask you if you
agree with this, having spent a lot of time in
Indiana in your life. And so we really do a lot
of strategic advertising and marketing, specifically
in these feeder cities that are super good to
us. We had been seeing a lot of really great
traction out of Toronto. And it was fun for us
to really do some experimental you know, messaging
and marketing in the Toronto area. Unfortunately,
given the tensions between the US and Canada,
that has played out on a much larger, you know,
sort of scale. We didn't feel like we could sustain
that, you know. there was just a lot of hesitation
on Canadians about travel to the US period. And
so we kind of had to take our foot off the gas
on that. So I'll be curious to see if maybe when
some of those tensions are smoothed out, if we
can't regain some of that initial interest in
and foothold that we had in the Toronto area.
From an international standpoint, I can tell
you that Kentucky as a whole. So it's, it's much
easier when you're in the international marketing
space for travel specifically. to lead with Kentucky.
It's really unlikely that somebody knows any
specific city in Kentucky. Yeah. They may know
of the Kentucky Derby. I'm almost positive that
they're going to have heard of Kentucky Fried
Chicken. They may think that's a worldwide phenomenon.
In Asia, it's a super big deal. And so they may
think rolling hills or horses or something that,
you know, bourbon, but they're not necessarily
thinking like. Oh, Lexington. So we have a collaborative
partnership with many of the cities in the state
and certainly with the Department of tourism
that's headquartered over in Frankfurt to work
on a Kentucky message to the world. And I will
say that just given the popularity of the South
in the last, you know, five, 10 years shows like
Nashville, the rise of country music as a really
like mainstream again, you know, that has done
wonders for just elevating the whole Southeast
as a destination. Bourbon has been, again, a
great calling card. A lot of people really do
drink bourbon around the world. And so the idea
that you get to go to the home place. Same for
us, if we're traveling to the Champagne region
of France, you know, it's like, Oh, I'm in the
home place. So I've actually never thought about
it like that before, but that is, that is the
exact equivalent. Like you go to Napa for wine.
It's like, well, if bourbon is your thing, then
you have to come to Kentucky or your favorite
beer going to that brewery. Absolutely. And so
for us, there's a lot, I mean, you know, bourbon
has been a great calling card for us internationally
there. And there are some countries that drink
a lot more bourbon than others, for example.
the Australians love it. The Japanese love it.
Okay. The folks in the UK and France and Ireland,
they love it. And then of course, we have some
really strong global connections in the thoroughbred
industry. And we're always happy to celebrate
those we love I, you know, one of the things
that I think is a treat for folks. that they're
welcome to do as locals is just go out to the
Keeneland sale, especially in September when
it really is the, you know, the biggest sale
that they have during the year. And they've got
buyers in from all around the world. And it's
just, I mean, it's amazing. You've got like 50
different countries that are in the sales pavilion
at Keeneland looking at horses and having lunch
and getting to know each other. And it's just,
it's the coolest. It's unique. It is very, very
special. Speaking of Keeneland and with all of
the festivals and the traditions that we have
in Lexington, is there one event or weekend that
you just love more than the rest? Is that like
picking a child again? There are a lot of special
moments throughout the year. I have to say, I'm
really fond of late April, just particularly
if you are interested in horses. And I'll be
honest, I, as a like, probably like 10, 11 year
old. did what a lot of girls do and said to my
parents, I think I want to learn how to ride
a horse. Got to the barn. Turns out I was really
allergic to hay. It was not going to be a long
career for me on the back of a horse. So I didn't
really grow up entrenched in the horse industry
or business. And again, I just grew up over in
Danville, but in Danville, it was much more like
cattle farms and horses that work on the farm,
not the race horses. And so I really had to learn
so very much about the thoroughbred industry
when I was first getting started in this role.
And I have loved learning about this industry.
It's endlessly fascinating to me. And just how
much Lexington really gets to claim as the centerpiece
of it for the world. But just being at Keeneland
and seeing the race fans and then leading into
the Kentucky Horse Park with the Kentucky three
day event. And then capping off with the Kentucky
Derby. To me, that is just this like, and it
all happens within the span of like 10 days.
And so I think that's a really special time.
Also, it doesn't hurt that the spring is so beautiful,
right? You got everything that is in full bloom.
People are back outside and you're like actually
talking to your neighbors again. And so I just
I am certainly fond of that little. 10 day window
that puts Keeneland into the April meet, the
Kentucky three day at the horse park and then
leads into Derby week. Even though the Derby
is held over in Louisville, there's so much celebrating
that happens here in Lexington and then around
it. And it's a great tradition. And then I also
think that the fall is really special. I mean,
I love it. It may sounds just absolutely cliche
to you, but I love it when you have one of those
perfect fall days and you have like Keeneland
during the day and then a football game at night.
And it's like, we have just, the stars have aligned.
Like that sweet spot, the end of summer, the
start of fall, the weather is perfect. Everything
is beautiful. Yes. Oh man. Again, like that crisp
autumn air and those bright, vibrant fall colors.
And with the weather that we're about to be experiencing,
that sounds really nice. We're all a bit nostalgic
for spring or fall. We're waiting for it. Yeah.
Okay. We only have a few more minutes. I can't
believe we just... I know. The time goes so fast.
We can talk to you all day, I think. I'll come
back any time. Okay. Perfect. But we want to
get some final quick questions in. Sure. You
have done your research. You go to the restaurants.
You know what's going on in Lexington. Is there
an underrated or maybe a hidden gem restaurant?
Now, see, if I tell you my hidden gym restaurant,
then you all might know there tonight and I might
run into you. And then I'll be like, no, there's
so many lovely spots. So actually, as a matter
of fact, tonight, I'm going to a place that I
don't know how well known it is, but I think
it is fantastic Japanese food. And it is Michikusa.
Where is that? And it is in a little shopping
center that is off of Richmond Road. than off
of old Mount Tabor. Okay, okay. So you're like,
cutting up you're on old Mount Tabor and you
can go right into Lowe's. Well, across the street
is a fairly nondescript shopping center. I'm
sorry, I don't know the name of it. And tucked
back in there is an unbelievably delicious Japanese
restaurant called Mujikusa. Okay. I love a recommendation.
That's my hot tip. And I've actually never heard
of that restaurant before. Well, great. And I
love restaurants. They are wonderful. They're
absolutely wonderful. They take amazing care
of you inside there. And I mean, I could do this
for so many restaurants. It's just that I happen
to be going there tonight. So it's top of mind.
But yes. so many so many fun spots around town.
I do think we have been really blessed with people
from all around the world. And I just whether
you were like popping in Martins for like, you
know, French croissant, or you're going to meet
Cusa or you're out in Beaumont at Masala and
you're getting probably the best naan bread I've
ever had in my life. That's amazing. I mean,
truly. Yeah, like Run, don't walk. It's so good.
We have all these global influences and for what,
for one reason or another, their journeys have
led them to Lexington and they are making delicious
food. Now it would not be right for me to say,
I also love sort of your institutions, right?
The places that have long been, um, you know,
Belenote has been on my, I mean, we used to drive
to, from Danville to Lexington to eat at Belenote.
I still think they do it great all the time.
Dudley's an institution in downtown. Like if
you were doing fine dining in Lexington, you
know, Dudley's has been, I think they are celebrating
their 45th year this year. Truly like an institution.
Weida Michael, probably Kentucky's most famous
chef. An unbelievable ambassador for this destination.
She obviously has her home place at Holly Hill,
but then a number of these great restaurants.
I think Smith town, like don't sleep on Smith
town, best fish and chips. that you'll get in
the city. That sounds so good right now. Right.
I'm hungry. I'm really hungry. But I could do
this for so many different spots. And so I want
to just say for the record, this is not my exhaustive
list. But the point is there are great places
in all of these neighborhoods around the city.
And I just would encourage people like get out,
try someplace new, have some fun, invite some
friends. And you will. You will meet wonderful
people with these just beautiful stories about
how they made their way to Lexington and they
love nothing more than making delicious food
for us. We're so lucky to have so many options
and so many incredible neighbors who, like you
said, have. come to Lexington for one reason
or another. I'm a transplant to Lexington. A
little bit of a melting pot. Fantastic. That's
what makes it interesting. And that's what makes
it I mean, as much as I like fried chicken, we
can't eat every night. So not that good for you.
And you can eat Japanese food and not feel guilty.
So yeah, I mean, it's just if you think about
the sort of pastiche of flavors that has made
its way to Lexington. We're really fortunate,
again, to be in a place that has that can celebrate
all these global tastes. Okay, I have a final
question for you. Your elevator pitch to someone
who maybe has never even heard of Lexington before.
That's probably hard to believe. So what is your
elevator pitch to them to come visit Lexington?
My elevator pitch is that Lexington is a wonderful
small city with an unparalleled scenic beauty,
rolling hills, fantastic, fantastic courses.
and farms that will just truly blow your mind
that we are an energetic university city that
has a vibrancy and a youthfulness to it. And
so there is always something going on that we
are basically a park. a city inside of a big
park and there is plenty of outdoor exploration
to be had and that we are the nicest people that
you'll come across and we cannot wait to show
you home. I'm sold. Nailed it. Nailed it. Yeah.
So if you have not been to Lexington, come visit.
Please come visit. The pandemic's over. Get out
of your houses, go explore, and have fun. Mary
Quinn Raymer, thank you so much. This is so recent.
You've reignited our love of Lexington. Well,
I'm so happy. Thank you. Now you'll be part of
the ambassador pool. And absolutely, I hope that
folks listening will either get out and do something
new to them. And for those that are not in Lexington,
I hope. you'll come visit us. Okay, thank you
so much. Mary Quinn Raymer with Visit Lex, a
fabulous guest and to our viewers and listeners.
Thank you so much for joining us. We'll see you
next time on Hot Mic.