Where to Eat, Drink, Shop & Be Merry This Holiday Season

Ashland, Kentucky    

    Downtown Ashland, Kentucky, is always magical this time of year as Winchester Avenue comes to life with garlands and red bells stretching across the street and festive lights lining every lamp post. This year, downtown is looking to be more festive than ever as new businesses continue to open and revitalize the area, encouraging a return to the days of buying local. If you haven’t taken a walk through the Camayo Arcade in a while, you’d be surprised to know it’s home to numerous unique small businesses, so it’s the perfect one-stop shop for all your holiday shopping needs.
    Nearby local restaurants like The Jockey Club and Blazer’s Restaurant and Bakery provide the perfect atmosphere for a lunch or dinner shopping break with family or friends, while the Herb ‘N Stone Tea Shop is the perfect place to warm up over a hot cup of coffee or tea. If you’re looking for something a bit stronger, the Bourbon and Guitar bars at the new Delta Hotel are a great place to relax with a cocktail or glass of bourbon.

    EAT

    Shoppers looking for a great place to grab traditional Kentucky cuisine for lunch can immerse themselves in all things Bluegrass state at The Jockey Club, where pictures of horses and the rolling hills line the walls from floor to ceiling. Open daily until 4 p.m. (and until 7 p.m. on Fridays), the restaurant offers everything from burgoo to hot browns to incredible salads - all homemade and locally sourced. If you’re in a rush, check out the Jockey Club’s newly expanded all-you-can-eat country buffet, which includes soup, salads and desserts.

• „    The Jockey Club, 311 17th St., Ashland, 606.393.0904. Monday - Thursday 11 a.m. - 4  p.m., Friday 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.,  Saturday 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.,  Closed Sunday.

    The nearby Blazer’s Restaurant and Bakery is perfect for anyone looking for a family style restaurant that offers food for even the pickiest of eaters. With menu options ranging from steaks to seafood to burgers and sandwiches, Blazer’s is an affordable option for dining out during the holiday season. Blazer’s boasts a made-from-scratch menu as well as a full service bar. Guests can also peruse the walls where local art is hung for sale. When you finish your meal, check out their bakery where you can walk in and grab what you’d like or call ahead and order fresh.

• „    Blazer's Restaurant and Bakery, 1624 Carter Ave., Ashland, 606.393.1620, Facebook.com/BlazersRestaurantAshland. Monday - Thursday 11 a.m. - 9 p.m., Friday - Saturday 11 a.m. - 10 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

DRINK

    If you’re looking to grab a drink while out on the town, check out the Bourbon and/or Guitar bars located in the new Delta Hotel. The Bourbon Bar boasts a large selection of Kentucky’s finest beverages - with over 100 bourbons on site. Downstairs, The Guitar Bar is a little more laid back - with a deconstructed guitar and pictures of the instrument lining the wall. During the holiday season, the Bourbon Bar will be selling its signature bourbon slushie as well as a special egg nog slushie, while the Guitar Bar will be serving up other holiday-themed specialty drinks.

• „    The Winchester Bourbon Bar and Guitar Bar, 1441 Winchester Ave., Ashland, 606.327.1125, Facebook.com/winchesterusa

    If coffee or tea is more your style, the Herb ‘N Stone Tea Shop is definitely worth a visit. The cozy shop has something for everybody with a Harry Potter-themed room perfect for sipping your tea or coffee and admiring the collectors’ items lining the walls, a Willy Wonka room full of products as unique as the man himself and a college room complete with comfy chairs for anyone wanting to sit and stay a while. The shop offers over 130 flavors of tea and 27 flavors of Bones Coffee as well as fresh pastries made on site daily. The prices are incredibly affordable ($3 for tea and $4 for coffee) and customers can get a free refill with every drink.

• „    Herb ’N Stone Tea Shop, 1425 Carter Ave., Ashland, 606.393.1013, Facebook.com/TheHerbNStone, Monday - Friday 7 a.m. - 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Closed Sunday

SHOP

    Downtown’s historic Camayo Arcade is sure to have something for everyone on your shopping list.
    The Arcade is home to three clothing boutiques: Cocoa & Cade Boutique, Bella Boutique and Bella Boutique Plus, as well as the arcade’s newest addition, Leander Blue Boutique. Each boutique sells fashionable women’s clothing, accessories, jewelry and niche gifts - such as decorative tea towels and ceramic coasters.
    Melanie’s Bowtique sells custom made hair bows, headbands, tutus, crochet hats as well as adorable Mud Pie outfits.
    A supply store for crafters, Ashland Vinyl, LLC, sells heat transfer vinyl to create cute shirts with a heat press (they allow costumers to use theirs for $1) as well as vinyl for cups, hats, shirts, etc. for individuals with Cricut(R)  or Silhouette machines.
    If you know someone that appreciates handcrafted items, a gift from J.J. Blemy Woodworking and Artworks may be the perfect fit. The shop is home to handcrafted hardwood furniture as well as beautiful artwork - all of which is one of a kind.
    Magnolia Southern Arts is your go-to shop for all things Kentucky. Everything in the store is made in the Bluegrass State with many of the items boasting the Kentucky Proud and Kentucky Crafted labels. For the holiday season, the shop will be making holiday boxes to send to out-of-town loved ones.
    Bluegrass Mama Creations is home to a myriad of products from home decor and door signs to ornaments, candles, cups, coffee cozies and more. The shop has a little bit of everything. In addition to selling home decor, the shop also hosts monthly paint parties where groups can sign up to create their own decor.
    A shop like no other, New Leaf Oddities offers a diverse selection of products. With an eclectic mix of items from vinyl records to bohemian-style clothing and jewelry to funny cards and magnets, the shop is home to a variety of niche items perfect as gifts or stocking stuffers.

BE MERRY

    The Moscow Ballet will be in town to perform the “Great Russian Nutcracker” at the Paramount Arts Center on Friday, December 13, at 7 p.m. This event not only brings the company’s award-winning dancers to the tri-state but is an opportunity for more than 70 local dancers to perform the iconic Christmas ballet alongside them.

    On Tuesday, December 17, the Ashland Foundation for Children with Disabilities is hosting the second annual Christmas PJ Party from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. Families can enjoy a Christmas-themed movie as well as cookies, popcorn and a visit with Santa. The event is free and open to all, regardless of ability level. Noise reduction headphones will be available for children with sensitivities.

    Wrap up the holiday season at the sixth annual Wine and Bourbon Ball. The Wine and Bourbon Ball is a fundraising event benefiting the Neighborhood and the nonprofit agencies they partner with. The event is a local favorite with topnotch food, dancing, a silent auction and, of course, great bourbon. The event will take place on New Year’s Eve from 6:30 p.m. to midnight at the Bellefonte Pavilion (2000 Ashland Drive). Ticket prices are $175 for one seat and $300 for two seats. For more information and/or to purchase your ticket visit: theneighborhood-ashland.org.