Lexington, KY - As interesting as the summer season is, to adults and children alike - when spring's hard work in gardens begins to ripen, bags are packed for exotic locations and neglected bookshelves get a little due attention - the most remarkable aspect of summer, to me, is the high level of respectability that is granted to outright laziness. Nearly everyone can write off an entire day's itinerary, an evening obligation or, depending on your employer's disposition or your own workplace savvy, the entire second half of the day (taking, as we like to call it in the industry, a half day) simply because "it was too pretty." No other explanation or excuse is needed - it was too pretty. People concur, immediately, understanding and sympathetic to your listlessness as if it were an unfortunate disease. If being lazy were some form of malady, in the summer it would be the only affliction of workplace envy.
Make no mistake - I am not an exception, I am a proponent. But could you imagine the incredulous gaze of a listener if you tried to use that justification, say, at the end of a light snow dusting (which, by all accounts, can be just as pretty as a summer afternoon)? You would probably get reprimanded for your insubordination.
In spite of my own laziness in getting this column done, because it was, among other things, too pretty, I do invite you to read my and editor Saraya Brewer's summer entertainment guide. We scoured the city for this list, which includes over a dozen seasonal series, programs, festivals and events (with dates, times and locations) compiled for easy reference to make certain you don't miss out on any of the numerous festivities scheduled in the coming months. Many you are probably already familiar with, but I bet there's a few of them in there you didn't know about. Some of the scheduled events are right around the corner, so be sure to check the guide out as soon as possible. If you're looking for something to do while you're being lazy, our list certainly will not disappoint.
Time and again I hear naysayers and wet blankets complain that there isn't anything fun to do in Lexington. I hope our guide stands as a stark contrast to that sentiment. Additionally, starting this month we will be linking to Saraya's culture and events-aggregating blog, Blueline, on our Web site, as a supplement to our Pete's List calendar. If you are interested in keeping up with culture, we invite you to visit it regularly as well.
Also in this issue, be sure to read our home profile on the award-winning renovations done to a Bell Court home. The preservation award the residence received was in honor of new additions that complemented the home's historic integrity. Saraya also introduces readers to DorkbotLex, a group of technology enthusiasts and aficionados who not only do some pretty wicked things with childhood relics, but also tackle some hefty and far-reaching issues, such as sustainability. Rounding out our features, I introduce, or re-introduce, depending on your interest in football, readers to Marty Moore and Joe Federspiel, two Chevy Chase residents who made a name for themselves in the world of professional football. This month Federspiel will be inducted to the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame, a homegrown version of the hall in Canton, Ohio, orchestrated by the NFL Players Association Kentucky Chapter, of which Moore serves as president. Football, as anybody who has worn the helmets and pads before will tell you, is not a summer sport, but I hope you will enjoy reading about these notable athletes nonetheless.