Stop and Go For World Famous BBQ in Richmond KY New restaurant and catering location at 101 Hi Lane Drive in Richmond KY with Russell Cantrell as General Manager! Former diner location on Water Street... When you live in the South, you grow up eating BBQ. You learn pretty quick that people have their favorite recipes passed down through the family or invent new ones that are fabulous. Summer weekends at festivals have backyard chefs competing for trophies and bragging rights of whose sauce reigns supreme! Growing up in Madison County, Kentucky, I can remember my parents taking me to some wonderful BBQ joints in the area and Mom has a great recipe that I still use. Over time I have traveled around and out of state to be able to taste some wonderful Bar-B-Q. Maybe, I have become a fan of ... 03/25/2009

THE BENNETT HOUSE BED & BREAKFAST - RICHMOND, KY   Richmond KY's Little Biltmore I grew up on the streets in Richmond Kentucky. We lived on the west end and I used to ride my bicycle to town. My Dad owned a Greyhound Station on Water Street that was totally interesting to hang out in. As I would leisurely ride my bike in the 1960's along Main Street, I would pass by some truly beautiful old historic homes. I would wonder what their lives were like and just who had lived there in the past. One house that I truly loved to gaze upon was right across the First Christian Church on 419 West Main Street. Back then it was named Westover Terrace Antiques and owned by Mrs. Coy. When it was built in 1891, it was known as the "Bennett Place" by Mrs. Elizabeth Chenault Bennett. The Cincinnati archit... 03/17/2009

  The Circus Is Coming To Town! A CIRCUS IN MADISON COUNTY?? Imagine...elephants walking down Main Street from a train car to get to the circus grounds. Well, that won't be happening, but it would be quite a sight!  Yes, you heard that right....THE CIRCUS! Looks like fun! I'll come back and give you an update.  I can't even remember the last time I ever went to a circus. Years ago, I toured John Barnum's house and Museum in Sarasota Florida. Remember the Barnum & Bailey Circus? It was a BIG deal!  One of the things I thought was awesome at the Barnum house were the banyon trees on the grounds. There was also a place to sit next to the ocean that had odd sized concrete chairs for special members of the troupe. I could just picture the tatooed lady or the smallest man in the world sitting... 02/21/2009

This isn't my usual blog entry. I can't remember a time where I was awake at 4:00AM and wanted to blog. This is a celebration of electricity...but not at my house.  Chanel and I moved in suddenly yesterday at my Mom's house. She didn't have power either but she did have a gas fireplace. I seem to have almost lost track of time, but this whole thing started at 2:15PM on Tuesday. I was busy as usual at home on both computers editing pictures and working on a new listing, juggling a short sale, updating files, emailing, blogging....you know all the usual stuff that can roll into a real estate kind of day. You know that dreaded sound when the electric goes off. A BUZZ...then nothing. Prior to that, the Direct TV dish had been searching for a signal...not a good sign. Hmmm...I wondered if th... 01/28/2009

Days like today make me wish for spring! I'm wishing for leaves and blossoms on trees. This morning was the first time this season that I actually had to find my snow shovel and get busy! It looked to be 2-3 inches of the powdery mess. My driveway is straight uphill and my car is nothing more than a sled out in the ice and snow. I must have been the first one out this morning. Not a soul in sight as I methodically scraped and scraped till there was a possibility of attempting the hill.  One good thing about Kentucky is that we don't really get much snow. It's really hard to say exactly what kind of weather we get because it is a mixture of everything and then some. The next big event will be Groundhog Day for the correct prediction of how many more days of bad weather. Nothing like havi... 01/19/2009

Richmond KY Cinemark - Richmond Centre  Last night, I was invited along with hundreds of other folks to attend the Grand opening party for the Richmond KY Cinemark at Richmond Centre. A light snow fall fell on our heads as we anxiously waited on the sidewalk for the doors to open at 6:30PM. It was the coldest night of the season but it had the feel of a Christmas Eve. The excitement was contagious as we all shivered in our shoes! Brrrr! It was really a long line that no one seemed to mind since tickets, popcorn, drinks and a movie of our choice was on the house!   Once inside, we were amazed at the new smell mixed with popcorn and feel of the lavish interior. We were like kids in a candy store! The management at Richmond KY Cinemark had really anticipated a large crowd and all the newly... 11/21/2008

Richmond Kentucky Downtown Gallery Hop GALLERY HOP NEWS - Chestnut Tree Gallery               The Richmond Gallery Hop is scheduled for this coming Friday evening, November 21, from 5-8 pm and we are celebrating with our biggest event to date.         Alvan Berry, a watercolor artist from Corinth, KY will be one of 2 featured artists for the evening.  Alvan uses soft colors reminiscent of faded memories, and paints wonderful country scenes of times gone by, old country stores, rural churches, barns, plowed fields, and old homesteads.   Also featured during the hop will be artist and musician, Gary Bertram, of Georgetown, who will be providing live music for the event.  Gary has just released a new classical guitar CD of Christmas favorites and will be playing selections from that CD and... 11/20/2008

 Baldwin Farm / Richmond KY Yesterday was the kind of day that you wish could be poured in a mason jar like mid-summer honey to savor all winter when you want to bring back good memories. I loaded Mom in the car and went out to take some pictures of fall foliage and landscapes while the weather stays nice in the 70's. One place I'd never been but driven past thousands of times was the Baldwin Farm. Nice farm with lots of shade trees.... Many kids and large spiders! The gravel road to the top of the hill. We passed by a farm casualty from the haying season. O well... Finally, at the top of the hill and where all the action is. I'm hungry, lets ring the dinner bell! Forget food! I can't resist colorful eye candy! Love these mums. These two chickens need names and this kid is pondering... ... 10/12/2008

Richmond Pottery Festival in Richmond Kentucky The Great American Pottery Festival has come a long way since it's inaugural event back in 2004. It's held in historic Irvine McDowell Park on Lancaster Avenue in Richmond, Kentucky. September 5 - 7. This year's pottery festival will showcase works of art, demonstrations and pieces for sale from Bybee Pottery, Tater Knob Pottery, Flatwoods Pottery and others. Also at this event will be craft vendors, entertainment, food vendors and Kids Fest. The 8th Annual Kids Fest will feature: Stage Shows, Walk Around Characters, Inflatables, and Games and Prizes. Kids will love the free petting zoo with $3 pony rides. The Pottery Festival hours are: Friday, Sept. 5, 6:00PM - 10:00PM Saturday, Sept. 6, 10:00AM - 5:00PM Sunday, Sept. 7, 1:00 - 5:00PM For... 09/02/2008

24 Hours in Central Kentucky: List A House In Richmond Ky then...BAM! Multiple Offers and Accepted Contract! That was yesterday. It actually first started by one of my closings disappearing because of financing problems. Not a good way to start a day. The seller was not happy. Actually, I wasn't happy either but I appeared to be calm. We are back to square one on this listing. On to the next deal of my day. My brand new, formerly FSBO, listing, a cute little house on a quiet street in Richmond,KY. I called it my "Jewel with a pool." I had just popped it on the two MLS systems. MCBR and LBAR. There is a competing listing 2 doors down the street. It's been on the market awhile. The task was to make our new listing standout. The owner spent her time painting every wall and kitchen cabinets... 08/14/2008

Madison Bank Opens New Financial Center In Historic Richmond Kentucky   History and tradition is thriving in Richmond Kentucky. Downtown Richmond Main Street renovations have all included a nod to the past when it comes time to remodel or restore the heritage of the county. Madison Bank has lovingly restored this building that as I first remember in the 60's as the Begley Drug Store then later was an antique store. This financial center will offer a quaint atmosphere with enhanced services along with a full range of products. There will be a second location added in Kingston Center by late summer 2008. The Madison Bank main office is located in Gibson Bay in Richmond, KY. Lizette Fitzpatrick, Realtor ®,Speaker, Artist and Author. Reach Lizette at: 859-979-2834 Copyright © 2008 By Lizett... 07/28/2008

The Paddy Wagon Irish Pub, 150 E. Main St., Richmond Kentucky is finally open for business in a new location. Third time is charm for the owners, Greg Ferrell and Chuck Fields. Established in 2004 on Water Street...then to Main Street in 2006 for a year a few doors up from the new location. Then it burned to the ground in the middle of the night.   The famous fire is still one of Richmond Kentucky's unexplained mysteries. Fire experts scratched their heads in puzzlement as to the cause. "Hmmmm...It could be this...or could be that." Who really knows?  All that was saved that fateful night was an Irish clock, 1 sign and a few police patches. Both Greg and Chuck teach criminal justice at EKU so the patches were a collection of police patches that patrons donated when they visited the bar.... 07/22/2008

Relocating? How To Get Your Home Sold In Richmond, KY Last fall, I received a call from Prudential Relocation to go on a listing interview for a family that was relocating out of town but still in Kentucky. I was told I would be competing with another agent for the listing. The interview went extremely well as I carefully showed them my plan on how I was going to market their home. I was so excited that they chose me to represent them and get their home sold in Richmond, KY! I love to see how I can help put all the pieces together to help families change residences. This was going to be challenging because it was right when all the gloom and doom hit the real estate market and we were also heading into the holiday season. During winter, property rarely gets sold. As it turned out, selli... 06/22/2008

Paradise Cove...A slippery Piece Of Heaven In Richmond Kentucky Finally, Richmond Kentucky has a new public pool! It's called Paradise Cove and is located in Gibson Bay. It features a fabulous eight-lane diving pool with two, one-meter diving boards, a children's pool, two 40-foot tall slides, a wide slide and a small butterfly slide for the small tykes. There is talk of adding a lazy river in Paradise Cove and another slide at a later date. It just wouldn't fit into the original budget. Even though the weather has been a bit cool, the pool is a welcome sight to Madison County locals. Years ago, I can remember the public pool located in Rolling Hills on the north end of town. I swam there every summer. After that one closed, the only place to go was the public pool in Berea.  The closes... 05/28/2008

Amber & Adam's Kentucky Home : First Time Homebuying Experience The process to own your first home should be fun. I know the feeling of being a renter and wanting something of my own. Just to be able to paint the wall any color and the freedom to be creative with everything because you own it is liberating. When Amber & Adam called me they were in front of one of listings. I could tell from Amber's voice that she was excited about this one and wanted to check it out inside the next day. We made a plan to meet and I even showed them a few other ones just so they could be sure this one was right for them.  Over the next few days and a few more houses, it was narrowed down to two, then Amber & Adam decided they wanted to put an offer on the first one they had called me about.   When all th... 05/14/2008

Cazz's Story...Twas the day after ChristmasAnd we looked for a houseAround lovely Richmond townWith the sun shining downAlright, enough with the poem, on with the story of how two Cheeseheads from Wisconsin came to live in beautiful Madison County.On December 26, 2007, we arrived in Richmond, walked down Main Street in the late afternoon, and fell in love with the town. We found friendly people, especially at Chestnut Tree Gallery.  We were given the name of a local Realtor, Lizette Fitzpatrick, and the rest is history.  She was personable and got right to work searching for the right home for us.  We had great conversations about how much we have loved Kentucky ever since visits here going back 20 years.  We had some things in common with Lizette, including a love of animals, music, ar... 05/04/2008

UPDATE NOV. 3, 2008: Rita won 1st place in the election. She will be joining the other 3 top voted candidates as our new city commisioner.  Go RITA!!  Rita Smart of Bennett House Bed & Breakfast, Richmond, Kentucky is asking for your vote in the May 20th primary election in Madison Co. She is running for the position of City Commissioner. The last day to register to vote if you are not registered is April 21. Absentee voters may vote up to 10 days ahead of the election at the Madison County Court House in downtown Richmond. As professional home economist for over 30 years, local Bennett House Bed & Breakfast owner with husband Richard Smart and author of  Bennett House Cookbook, Rita has been involved Madison County and Richmond City at many different levels over the years. Her unwaver... 04/10/2008

Kentucky really did have some crazy twister hit the other night. A rare tornado and squall of storms that marched right across the whole state in the wee hours of the morning. In Richmond KY, I was aware of the storms but I didn't start to get alarmed till about 1:30 AM. I was still up and watching the radar. The last twister I was involved with was in 1974. I made a few calls to alarm some other sleeping folks to go run for their lives! Believe me when you get a call after midnight you know it's trouble or someone has died. I could tell in their voices that I had scared the devil out of them and now they had to decide what to do, where to go and what to save.   What is really funny to me is that when I know it's going to hit I have to figure out just what to take with me to the baseme... 02/06/2008

  The Bennett House Bed & Breakfast  Richmond KY's Little Biltmore I grew up on the streets in Richmond Kentucky. We lived on the west end and I used to ride my bicycle to town. My Dad owned a Greyhound Station on Water Street that was totally interesting to hang out in. As I would leisurely ride my bike in the 1960's along Main Street, I would pass by some truly beautiful old historic homes. I would wonder what their lives were like and just who had lived there in the past. One house that I truly loved to gaze upon was right across the First Christian Church on 419 West Main Street. Back then it was named Westover Terrace Antiques and owned by Mrs. Coy. When it was built in 1891, it was known as the "Bennett Place" by Mrs. Elizabeth Chenault Bennett. The Cincinnati architect Samuel E. ... 02/02/2008

Ahhhh. what a difference a good night's sleep makes!This is a picture of the beautiful sky out front of my house this morning at 7:30A. It looked like a tic-tac-toe board! It rained most all day yesterday. I really do like rain...except when have a full day of showing houses to new relocation clients. How did I get these clients? One was from a floor call at Prudential Don Foster. The other a referral from the Rollins family that receive my weekly newsletter. They have an art gallery downtown Richmond called The Chestnut Tree Gallery.  You never know where your next client will come from.  My plan was to work with my two new sets of relocation clients and show them proprieties that suited their specific needs. We had all met the day before and discussed what might work. Financing pre-ap... 12/29/2007