Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Exploring Lexington

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Nicole Brown, Marketing Intern

In many ways, Lexington is a “college town,” ruled by the University of Kentucky and its students.  Campus even bridges the gap between downtown Lexington and busy Nicholasville Road, which is lined with restaurants, department stores, smaller stores, movie theatres and entertainment, and home to both Lexington Green Mall and Fayette Mall.  So naturally, when classes are in full swing, there are plenty of things to do to keep busy.  Campus may be quieter during the summer, but there are still many activities in Lexington!

Whether you’re visiting for your summer advising conference, living in Lexington, or visiting friends for a few days, take advantage of all that this city offers with some of the following ideas:

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Thursday Night Live—Free!
Every Thursday from April 26 to October 18, at the Fifth Third Pavilion at Cheapside Park, you’ll find local food and music as part of Central Bank Thursday Night Live.  Pets are welcome.  Tents set up at 4:30 p.m. but the music runs from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Check out the website for a band schedule and more information:
  


Keeneland or The Red Mile—$5 and up
Check out the horse races at the beautiful Keeneland Race Track on the edge of town or The Red Mile closer to campus.  “Meets,” or racing periods, run during the spring and fall.  Though the spring meets ended in May, the fall meet at The Red Mile starts on August 5 and at Keeneland on October 5.  Until then, take a free tour of the grounds, watch some of the horses work out, shop at the gift shops, or keep your eyes out for special events on their websites.

Visit a Horse Farm—Free, but tipping is recommended
Instead of watching the horses at the races, see them at home by visiting one of the many nearby horse farms.  You might even see a past Kentucky Derby winner!  The Lexington Visitors Center can offer suggestions and tell you which farms don’t charge for visitors.  Call them at 859-233-7299 or 800-845-3959.

Enjoy a Legends Game at the Whitaker Bank Ballpark—$4 and up
Catch a minor league baseball game, enjoy some ballpark hotdogs, and “watch the stars of tomorrow, today.”  Games are played multiple nights a week through September.  Buy tickets and see the complete schedule online.  Many nights even have dedicated themes and deals, so you can find one that appeals to you.

Lexington Cemetery—Free!
Take a stroll through the Lexington Cemetery, nationally recognized for its arboretum and gardens, and visit the final resting place of many famous Kentuckians, including basketball coach Adolph Rupp and Kentucky politician Henry Clay.

Fourth Friday—$7
Every fourth Friday of the month from 6 – 9 p.m., enjoy this Lexington Art League party, concert, and exhibit featuring different activities: one to see, one to taste, and one to listen to.  The next Fourth Friday is this Friday, June 22.  Visit their website for specific activity information.

Parks and Hiking—Free!
Lexington offers many different parks for hiking, playing with your dog, or just relaxing while reading a book.  Try Masterson Station Park, the fitness trail at Shillito Park, historic McConnell Springs (where frontier explorers named Lexington after the first battle of the American Revolution in Lexington, Massachusetts in 1775), the 734-acre Raven Run Nature Sanctuary in the scenic Kentucky River Palisades area, or the University of Kentucky Arboretum near campus.   To combine a park and the arts, shop the Woodland Art Fair at Woodland Park on Saturday and Sunday August 18 and 19.
For other hiking areas, check out this website:
For more information on the Woodland Art Fair, use this link:

Kentucky Theater—$5 and up
On days when you want to take a break inside, you’ll find first-run films, independent films, and concerts at the historic Kentucky Theatre.  Located on Main Street, the theater is close to campus and in the heart of the city.  For a schedule and other information, visit the website.

The Living Arts and Science Center: Children and Community Programs
Just three blocks from Main Street, this non-profit offers many activities from art classes and exhibits to discovery exhibits that explore the relationship between art and science, and much more.  Visit their website for offerings, schedules, and pricing information.

Tours and Museums:
Find a museum that fits your taste and spend the afternoon exploring.  Check out their websites for specific hours, pricing, and exhibits. Here are some options:
o   Downtown Tours—Take a walking tour of downtown and look around on your own, or contact the Lexington Visitor’s Center for an official tour.
o   Mary Todd Lincoln House—It’s $9 to tour this fully restored house in downtown Lexington and explore the city’s history.
o   Ashland: The Henry Clay Estate—Marvel at this 18-room mansion with a guided tour for $9.
o   The American Saddlebred Museum—Explore not only this interactive museum, but the Kentucky Horse Park as well.  The $16 (summer price) admission grants you access to the entire park.
o   The Aviation Museum of Kentucky—Located at Lexington’s Blue Grass Airport, this museum is full of planes of every kind to admire.  Admission is $7.
o   Old Kentucky Chocolates—Tour the factory and see how candy’s made or just shop at the store.
o   Ale-8-One Bottling Plant—This Kentucky soda has been bottled in Winchester since 1926.  Call in advance to tour the plant on any Friday.
o   859-744-3484
o   LexArts’ Gallery Hop—A self-guided tour of many of Lexington’s art galleries, the next LexArts’ Gallery Hop is on September 22 from 5 – 8 p.m.  Before September rolls around, browse some of the participating galleries one by one.


Vineyards (must be 21 year or older)—Free, if you don’t buy any drinks!
Central Kentucky, site of the first commercial vineyard in the U.S., is still home to many vineyards.  Find a free tour or music night or buy a wine tasting at nearby Talon Winery, Equus Run Vineyards, Chrisman Mill Winery, or others.

Kentucky Bourbon (must be 21 year or older)—Free, if you don’t buy any drinks!
Explore the Kentucky bourbon-making tradition by touring Buffalo Trace, Four Roses, or Wild Turkey bourbon distilleries.  Or tour Four Roses and Wild Turkey distilleries near Lexington, then explore the Heaven Hill, Jim Beam, Woodford Reserve (costs $7), and Maker’s Mark distilleries throughout Kentucky to complete “The Bourbon Trail.”  The distilleries even have gift shops and bars.

Check out these links for more information:
Two other blogs by The Study:
An iPhone app called “LexWalk” that’ll show you around downtown:
More arts activities:
Top attractions lists (you’ll just have to filter through the golf courses and spas, unless that’s what you’re looking for):
For special events, a list of free things to do, and more, contact the Lexington Visitors Center:
o   www.visitlex.com or (859) 233-7299

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Bicycling Basics

Tips for Campus Bike Riding

Katie Avra, Outreach Coordinator
Contributors: Shane Tedder, UK Sustainability Coordinator & Russell Williamson, Bike Enthusiast
“Nothing compares with the simple pleasure of a bike ride.” -JFK

A bicycle has been a means of transportation for centuries.  I’m sure all of us remember how excited we were the day the training wheels finally came off and we were free to roam the driveway or neighborhood. It seems as though the fun ended when we turned 16 and got our license, but those days are not gone forever.  Riding a bike can be an energizing and fun way to commute to campus and around town.  

“Not only is riding a bike good for your health and the environment, but also your wallet,” says Shane Tedder, UK Sustainability Coordinator.

The coordinated efforts of UK Parking and Transportation Services (PTS)and the Bicyle Advisory Committee now provides a Bicycling Basics manual for the campus bike rider.  This fact-filled manual details bike and rider safety, bike registration and parking, repair stations, campus route map, trails and shared lanes, communication tips, as well as bike responsibility and locking procedures.
Below are some reasons to ride:
Saving Money
  • Avoid buying a campus parking pass which can cost about $300.
  • Save an average of $100 per month in gas, car insurance, car payment, registration, license plates, and tags.
  • With the money you will save from not driving to campus, you can purchase a nice bike.  According to Russell Williamson, “A nice bike will cost you about $300.”
  • Register your bike for FREE with PTS. This deters theft and helps with gathering bicycling data.
  • Wildcat Wheels offers a free bike check-out program; bikes are available in a variety of sizes to any UK student, faculty or staff.  Bikes are available for semester-long check-outs.  A student/staff ID is required for check-outs.
Positive Health and Environmental Impact
  • Get your daily recommended 30 minutes of cardio vascular exercise.
  • Lose an average of 13 lbs. your first year biking.
  • Increase your circulation, with potential for reductions in blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, and even gout. Increase your overall energy. Reduce impact from car pollution and emissions such as carbon dioxide.
Tips for New Riders
  • To gain confidence in your biking skills, attend free workshops and classes for all UK students, faculty and staff; topics include how to fix a flat tire, cycling culture, tips for buying a bike, etc.
  • Try riding on the multi-use Legacy Trail.
  • Utilize the new bike service stations on campus.
  • Invest in a good helmet that fits securely.  Helmets are not provided through Wildcat Wheels.
  • Dress in layers for the weather.
  • Secure your bike with a chain and lock to bike racks, not trees. No bike rack where you want to park? Go online a request a new bike rack in a specific campus area.
  • Obey road laws, respect others on the road, and signal to other drivers and make eye contact.

Links and Resources

Summer Advising Conference


Arielle Parker, Marketing Intern
Alex Newby, Marketing Intern

After four long years and countless graduation parties, high school is officially over! You are now ready to begin a new chapter in your life. So what’s the next stop on the road ahead?
You have two days in the summer to visit your college, sign up for classes and meet other incoming freshmen. During the University of Kentucky’s summer advising conferences, student organizations, current UK students, advisors, and staff members answer questions from students and their parents about what the university has to offer. Topics include: campus life, involvement opportunities, financial aid, campus resources, classes, and much more. Students and their families will also have the opportunity to tour campus, check out classrooms, residence halls and get a taste of UK dining.


Summer advising should be an exciting time for all students and parents. Don’t miss out on your chance to tour campus, ask questions, and gather as much free stuff as possible! To make the most of your summer advising conference you and your parents should plan ahead by checking out the tips listed below:

Prepare for unpredictable weather:
Kentucky is known for 3 things: Horses, Basketball, and crazy weather! We suggest you bring:
  •  An umbrella/rain boots
  •  A rain jacket/ poncho
  •   An extra pair of socks in case your socks get soggy
  •  Comfortable shoes
  •  A hat/ sunglasses
  •  Sunscreen
  • A water bottle
  •  A jacket or sweatshirt in case it is cold outside


Gather all the free stuff:
As a college student you’ll soon realized that free stuff is the best stuff. Make sure to keep an eye out for     
  •        Magnets
  •        Buttons
  •        Koozies
  •        T-Shirts
  •        UK draw string bag
  •        Pens and Pencils
  •        Candy




Places to check out on campus:
Summer Advising is a great time to explore campus and get an idea of where everything is. Here’s a list of must-sees while you’re on campus!

  •  Residence Halls – While the towers are probably the most recognizable residence halls on campus, UK is home to more than 20 other dorms on both North and South Campus.
  •   Dining Halls (Commons, K Lair, Ovid’s, Blazer) – The dining halls at UK are all unique and offer different kinds of food at each one. The Spicy Beef wrap at Ovid’s and the Buffalo Chicken Tenders at K Lair are both freshman year staples. 
  •   William T. Young Library – Willy T is hard to miss. Located between South and Central Campus, it’s where you’ll do most of your studying. Willy T has a copy center, Mac lab, a writing center, and private study rooms that students can reserve.
  •   White Hall Classroom Building – White Hall is where many introductory classes are offered because of the huge lecture halls on the first floor. If it happens to be windy, watch out for the infamous White Hall Wind Tunnel!
  •  Funkhouser Building – Funkhouser is home to the Financial Aid office, Student Billing, and other student services including Undergraduate Admissions and The Registrar. 
  •  Chemistry and Physics Building – “Chem-Phys” as students call it, is where many astronomy, chemistry, and physics classes are held.  Located off Rose Street, Chem-Phys will be home base for many students majoring in a scientific field. 
  •  The Study – That’s us! The Study is located on the 3rd floor of the Complex Commons building above Starbucks and The Commons. We provide many services and programs to students and faculty including Peer Tutoring & Study Smarter seminars!
  • Commonwealth Stadium – UK’s stadium is located off University Drive in K Lot. Besides being home to the many fall football tailgates, K Lot is also where the majority of freshman will keep their cars.
  •  Memorial Hall – Memorial Hall is the building that boasts the clock tower featured in the UK logo. Several bigger classes are held here and students can see murals that depict early Kentucky life in the lobby.
  •  Student Center – Starbucks, Chik-Fil-A, & Subway are just a few of the dining places located in the Student Center. The Student Center is also home to The Cats Den and the Office of Student Involvement. Need your ID made? The Student ID office is also here!
  •  UK Bookstore – Stock up here on not only UK gear, but also textbooks, toiletries, and dorm room essentials! 
  •   Johnson Center – The Johnson Center, located on South Campus is where you’ll want to go to ward off the Freshman 15. If you haven’t yet, stop by and check out the rock climbing wall, basketball courts, and weight machines!
  •  Patterson Office Tower – POT is where many professors and departments have their offices. You might go here to meet with a professor during office hours or see your advisor! 


Take a look at Lexington:
Whether you have a car on campus or not, Lexington has tons of shops, restaurants and entertainment. Here’s a few places to explore while you’re here.

  •         Ramsey’s –Ramsey’s is a “Kentucky Tradition” and features a country, home-cooked type menu. If you’re missing the comforts of your mom’s cooking, this is the place to go! Ramsey’s closest location is on Woodland.

  •         Rupp Arena - Rupp Arena is the venue for many big concerts and events in Lexington but most importantly, its where the UK Men’s Basketball team plays. Get acquainted with Rupp and get ready to cheer on the CATS!
  •         Triangle Park –Triangle Park is located in downtown Lexington and is perfect for a cute date or fun outing. There are benches and café tables along the water and during the winter the park is transformed into an ice rink!
  •         BlueTique – BlueTique is just one of the small boutiques that are scattered around Lexington. Located on Woodland, BlueTique frequently runs promotions or offers student discounts!


Some final tips:
  •         Meet new people
  •         Ask questions
  •         Get to know your advisor
  •        Talk to students, faculty and staff members
  •        Familiarize yourself with UK’s campus


For any further questions, click on the summer advising page on UK’s website


Friday, June 1, 2012

Budgeting Basics


Alex Newby, Marketing Intern 

I’ve always had the typical college kid mindset. When money is tight and bills are due, I can buckle down and eat ramen for every meal but when I feel like I have a few dollars to spare, I immediately head out to spend it. As part of my list of New Year’s resolutions this past winter, I promised myself to be a better steward of the money I was making. 6 months later, not much has changed. So, in preparation for my senior year at UK, I’ve made it my summer goal to create and follow a budget. As I begin my journey to summer savings, I’ve compiled a list of tips and ideas that I hope will guide me (and you!)  through what could be a tough transition.
First, many budgeting gurus suggest that you begin by making a list of your income and monthly expenses. The more detailed the list is, the better you’ll be able to actually stick with your budget. For me, this part’s a little tricky. As a server, there are times when my cash flow isn’t steady or I end up not tracking the cash that I make. This leads to many weeks where I can’t figure out where my money must have gone!  To battle this, many websites suggest buying a notebook to record everything that goes in or out of your pocket. Luckily, I have a bank account that tracks this kind of information for me that tells me where and when I spend the most money. If you aren’t a pencil or paper kind of person, there’s also an iPhone app called “Pennies” that essentially does the same thing. Either way, you can’t save money without knowing how much you actually have and how much you are spending.
Once you have this list and have been tracking it for a few weeks, the next step is to start making sure the numbers add up. If you are spending more than you’re making and have to scrape by every month, then you’ll be able to see that and change things. One of the best websites I found when trying to make my own budget was beingfrugal.net because it had TONS of suggestions for practical ways to help save a few dollars.

Here are a few of my favorites:
-       -  Brew your own coffee
-        - Cook at home instead of eating out
-        - Only withdraw money from your bank to avoid ATM fees
-        - Buy in Bulk
-        - Bike or Ride the Bus instead of driving (Read Katie’s story on taking the bus here)
-        - Cook with Friends and assign each person to buy one ingredient
-        - Sign up for Groupon or Living Social to get daily deals (but be careful how many you buy!)
-        - Save Coupons (Remember Amanda’s story on couponing?
-       -  Throw all spare change into a jar

Learning the differences between needs and wants is also something that will help you save a few bucks. While I WANT to go out to dinner with friends, I don’t absolutely need to. In the same way, I don’t always need the new outfit, iPhone case, and new perfume that I desperately want. If I blow all my money on these types of purchases, I won’t, and sometimes don’t, have enough money for the necessities like rent, tuition, or bills. Having the self-control to deny yourself isn’t fun, but it definitely will help you learn how to save a lot faster.
 Making a budget may not the most glamorous thing in the world, but with the “real-world” starting in just a few months, it’s something that I’m finding necessary. For more information and to help you start your budget, I’ve included links to the sites and resources I used. Happy Saving!  

What A Flavor of Ice Cream Can Say About You


Arielle Parker,  Marketing Intern

The hot temperatures are finally here and what better way to relax in the heat than to indulge in some ice cream.  Now, we all have our favorite flavors and many of us order our usual favorite when we go to our local ice cream parlor. But what does that tell us about ourselves?

That we are too afraid to venture out and try new things? Or could it be that we just like the taste of that specific flavor? What can our favorite ice cream flavor say about the person we are? Take a look and see:

VANILLA
If you enjoy a nice scoop of vanilla ice cream, you are considered to have quite a “traditional” taste.  These traditional people enjoy listening to classical music, watching the history channel and documentary films. Vanilla-eaters are motivated employees and set high goals for themselves while pushing themselves to meet these goals.

CHOCOLATE
Chocolate lovers know exactly what they want out of life and are not afraid to go after it. They have great listening skills and are known for giving great advice to others. These go-getters enjoy listening to indie rock and watching television shows and movies.

STRAWBERRY
As a strawberry lover, you are the life of the party, at least when you are out of the workplace.  Meanwhile, while you’re not working, you enjoy surfing the web and are fascinated with social networking. Your favorite types of music consist of R&B and hip-hop. However, in the workplace, you are shy and loyal and keep a strong relationship with your boss.

COFFEE
If your favorite flavor is coffee then image is everything to you. You are a lively, dramatic and flirtatious individual. You thrive on living in the moment and once that moment is gone, you’re bored. Since you get bored easily, you have a difficult time finishing old projects.

MINT CHOCOLATE CHIP
If you enjoy the mint and chocolate combination, then you probably have a romantic side. You are likely to be loyal, honest, dependable, ambitious and confident. Your friendships are long lasting and you have close ties with your family members.

ROCKY ROAD
While in a social setting you tend to be outgoing, in the workplace you seem to show aggression and are goal-oriented. You are a practical person but sometimes your pessimism can get in the way. You become sensitive to minor situations and you appreciate the finer things in life.

Whether you prefer a big scoop of chocolate ice cream or you just can’t get enough of rocky road, remember what this favorite flavor might say about you.

For more information on what other flavors of ice cream might say about you, visit these websites: