By: Nick Joseph
Now that Shop and Celebrate is underway, there are a ton of different ways you can earn an entry to win a weekly prize. One great option is taking a staycation right here in Lexington! People often overlook great hotels in their hometown, but these three Shop & Celebrate participants have no shortage of exciting holiday events, fine dining, and luxurious accommodations. Your holiday getaway doesn’t have to involve annoying travel arrangements or cost you a fortune. Find luxury, comfort, and excitement right here in #downtownlex this winter.
Featuring a contemporary art museum, an in-house restaurant (Lockbox), as well as a gift shop, guests of 21c will never have to leave the premises! Looking for gift ideas? With a wide array of holiday gifts from scarves to select bourbon, the 21c shop has something for everyone. Be sure to check out their ceramic penguins, they make lovely gifts and start at only $40. The hotel is also well-equipped to host events ranging in size, anywhere from 14 to 450 attendees. The private dining room is actually inside the old bank vault within the Lockbox restaurant, how cool is that? Head down to try their specialty sweet potato casserole with pecans, rosemary, and jalapeño marshmallow. Additionally, they offer a holiday cocktail featuring warm spices, dark rum, pineapple lime, cinnamon simple syrup, and bitters which I hear is delicious. 21c even has plans for New Years Eve taken care of for those 21+. They’ll have a DJ, dancing, photo booth, light appetizers, and an open bar from 9 PM to 1 AM for New Year’s Eve. Cover will be $85 per person. In addition, their tasty brunch will be offered on the morning of January 1 with bottomless mimosas available to cure any holiday hangover. The best deal for those looking to have a spectacular New Years’ celebration is their $350 package that includes an overnight guest room, two tickets to the New Year’s Eve party, a bottle of champagne, and brunch for two. Be sure to check out 21c this holiday season!
Connected via ped-way to Rupp Arena and the Lexington Convention Center, the 366-room Hilton is situated right in the heart of downtown. This high-rise hotel is just five minutes from the University of Kentucky and boasts a complimentary shuttle to and from Blue Grass Airport. The Hilton has its very own restaurant, Triangle Grille, as well as an on-site bar, The Bigg Blue Martini! Unfortunately, both could be partially closed for renovation but are scheduled to reopen fully in the spring of 2020. The hotel has over 20,000 square feet of meeting space, a 7,000 square foot Grand Kentucky Ballroom, and can host private holiday parties for anywhere from 10 to 500 people. While the Hilton does not traditionally do a New Year’s Eve party, they do sometimes offer New Year’s Eve packages. Details can be found here.
The Hyatt pairs a prime location with excellent amenities and customer service. Just one mile from the University of Kentucky and steps from numerous downtown attractions, this hotel makes staying in Lexington a breeze. Moreover, its lobby opens up right into the Lexington Convention Center. This makes it super easy to catch a basketball game or concert, as Rupp Arena is quite literally steps from your room! BlueFire Bar and Grill is Hyatt’s own restaurant and wow is it delicious. Their BlueFire Club Sandwich comes highly recommended and I plan on trying it next time I’m downtown for a basketball game. Additionally, the Hyatt is well-equipped to handle weddings and meetings of any size. Check out their website for up to date information on their holiday events.
