Transylvania’s Kappa Alpha Psi and Phi Kappa Tau recently partnered to host “The Power of Dressing,” an event featuring Albert Lukonga, co-founder and executive designer of Albert Couture—the first-ever Fashion House in Kentucky. This event was a part of Kappa Alpha Psi’s K-week, a weeklong series of events hosted by the fraternity. Lukonga, whose clients include David Beckham, Taylor Swift, and Governor Andy Beshear, among others, shared his personal story and lessons in both style and entrepreneurship.
Born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lukonga and his family moved to Zimbabwe during the Second Congo War. There, he grew up speaking British English and became fluent in six languages, working on his seventh (Mandarin), which he deemed essential for success in the global fashion industry. In 2006, his family relocated to Lexington, KY, where he attended Morton Middle School and Henry Clay High School, participating in soccer and track before enrolling at the University of Kentucky.
Known for dressing sharply, Lukonga quickly realized the power of first impressions. He stood out at fraternity parties in suits tailored by his mother. Although he initially planned to become a cardiologist to please his parents, by shadowing doctors at UK Hospital and being complimented by coworkers who directed him to fashion, he realized his true passion and decided to pursue fashion full-time.
A self-taught designer, Lukonga gained early experience working at Jos. A. Bank before traveling abroad to deepen his knowledge of textiles, fabric sourcing, and business operations. His breakthrough came during a trip to Europe, where he boldly introduced himself to manufacturers as “Albert from Albert Couture.” Despite skepticism, he secured samples by confidently promoting his emerging brand and began selling custom suits directly to clients in Lexington. By sourcing directly and minimizing overhead, he maintained high profit margins and built his business from the ground up.
When COVID-19 came, he adapted by offering appointment-only services and charging $100 per consultation, which ultimately expanded his client base.
During a candid Q&A, Lukonga encouraged students to leverage social media to connect with industry professionals and emphasized that the most important career decision is choosing a path that feels right for you. For men, he said they should own a well-fitted black suit and white button-down, focusing on fit over price. He also recommended learning basic skills, such as ironing, via YouTube. For women, he suggested investing in professional wardrobe staples, noting that shoes and hair make the strongest impression.
Lukonga views fashion as a tool for expressing personality and building a personal brand, something that everyone needs in today’s world. Regarding networking, he said it doesn’t matter whether someone loves or hates you; you just need them talking about you.
For Albert, style is all about personality. He credits much of his creative inspiration to his closest friends from around the world—chefs. He noted parallels in artisanal food and high fashion: both combine taste, color, and individuality to create something truly unique. Learning to love your individuality is key.
Albert Lukonga’s journey and advice resonated deeply with students. As Albert Couture enters its eighth year, he continues to prove that passion and persistence are key to professional success.
As college students, we experience an increase in our range of choices as we leave the house and grow older. However, some days it feels too monotonous; the same routine, same classes, same everything. It just gets boring. We have free choice, but as college students, we are simultaneously bound to the rules and guidelines our professors give us. You may be thinking, when was the last time I really did whatever I wanted to do? If only there was a place in existence that gave you pure choice and utter agency, you’d feel like a kid in a candy store.
I have news. This kind of place is real. It is only a few miles away, actually.
It’s froyo.
Froyo is so empowering because it gives you ultimate agency. Where else can you perfectly customize your order? You never have to choose between flavors or toppings, because you can just get all of them! It might feel silly to think that frozen yogurt gives people agency, but it is true.
When I walk into a froyo establishment, it feels like the possibilities are endless. I am simply full of childlike wonder. I’d venture to say that experiences like these are what we all need from time to time.
The Transylvania and Lexington community had the opportunity to engage in a thought-provoking conversation with Judge Michelle Childs, currently serving in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, at a recent event hosted by the university’s Pre-Law Society. The event was moderated by TU alum Judge Ana C. Reyes, a U.S. District Court Judge for the District of Columbia.
Judge Childs, widely respected for her measured and human-centered approach to the law, shared reflections on her journey through the legal system, from her early years in South Carolina to her current role on one of the most powerful appellate courts in the country.
Born in Detroit and raised in South Carolina, Childs graduated top of her high school class. She was a first-generation college student, earning her undergraduate degree in management from the University of South Florida. She went on to complete both a J.D. and an M.A. in personnel and employment relations at the University of South Carolina in an accelerated three-and-a-half-year dual-degree program. Later, she earned an L.L.M. in judicial studies from Duke University.
Childs began her legal career practicing labor and employment law in South Carolina at Nexsen Pruet. She became a partner in just seven and a half years, becoming the first Black woman to be named a partner at a major law firm in the state. Her career then took a turn toward public service when the governor appointed her as deputy director in South Carolina’s Department of Labor. She subsequently served as a Commissioner on the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Commission, and later was elected as a state circuit court judge.
Childs was nominated by President Obama in 2009 to serve as a U.S. District Court Judge for the District of South Carolina, a role requiring Senate confirmation. In 2022, she moved up to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, after a “vitriolic” confirmation process that drew bipartisan support—including from Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who she believed affirmed her qualifications to his fellow Republicans.
In her appellate role, Judge Childs has been involved in several high-profile cases, including the initial Trump presidential immunity case, litigation involving Holocaust survivors, Guantánamo Bay detainee matters, and more.
During lunch with students from the Pre-Law Society, Childs was asked questions that reflected current political tensions and the role of the judiciary in polarized times. When asked how she stays motivated during divisive times, Judge Childs emphasized the importance of civil discourse and approaching all relationships with care. She reminded students that judges are bound to rule “without fear or favor,” and that her decisions are based solely on the law, not public sentiment or political affiliation.
In response to a question about partisanship in the judiciary, Childs stated, “We follow the law. I’ve ruled with Republicans, and they’ve ruled with me.” She explained that although the media sometimes distorts judicial opinions through out-of-context soundbites, thanks to cameras in the courtroom, it’s the responsibility of judges to maintain composure and clarity in their reasoning.
According to Judge Childs, the importance of strong writing, research, and analytical thinking is that these skills will take aspiring lawyers far. She encouraged students to build a strong network of mentors and to make time for family and friends to maintain a work-life balance.
She also advised students to choose two or three areas of law to explore deeply rather than trying to master everything at once—though it appears she has. Attention to detail, a meticulous mindset, and creativity are all qualities that she believes make an effective judge or attorney.
“When sentencing,” she said, “I try to see defendants as people, so I can learn the best way to help them move forward.”
Judge Reyes brought moments of humor to the lecture. At one point, she joked, “When I rule in line with the administration, “I’m called an idiotic fascist” when ruling against them, “I’m an idiotic communist.” The audience laughed, but Judge Childs used the moment to pivot to a serious point: public criticism, while expected, cannot and does not influence judicial behavior.
Both judges also spoke candidly about the threats they have received in their roles. Judge Reyes mentioned getting “equal opportunity threats” from both sides of the political spectrum. Judge Childs described how even pizza deliveries have become a form of harassment. Reyes cut in, “Are you serious? You’ve never ordered a pizza to your own house?” Childs would rather go to the restaurant herself than have it delivered. After seven unwanted pizza deliveries were sent to her home, the U.S. Marshals Service notified her that she had been added to a “Do Not Deliver” list.
Both judges expressed that threats only validate their vocation. In light of these occurrences, they are inspired to speak out about the importance of the judiciary. Judge Childs said that we must stand tall for the judiciary because “without that independence, the rule of law fails.”
She also shared her belief that her time as a district court judge, where she worked with tight deadlines and direct human impact, gives her an advantage on the appellate bench. She admitted that it was not fair that appellate judges have up to three months to make decisions, while trial judges must often make decisions quickly. Reyes wholeheartedly agreed.
Judge Childs ended the session by reminding attendees that while we all hold unconscious biases, everyone must confront them; grounding decisions in law is the foundation of judicial integrity.
The fifth week of the 2025 Fall Semester has rolled around, and with it came the Faculty Showcase on September 30. Held in Carrick Theater, music professors with specialties in various instruments and vocals performed for the crowd of students and fellow faculty before them.
Settling into the warm-lit theater, the crowd was initially mesmerized by the opening plucks of Professor Luke Jackson’s guitar. Jackson performed a medley of three pieces, awing the audience’s ears with his intricate strumming, picking, and overall unfathomable techniques; the guitarist also conveyed his passion for playing through his squinted eyes and subtle facial satisfaction.
Next up was Dr. Gregory Partain on piano. With enthralling dynamics, Partain did Rachmaninoff’s preludes complete justice. Partain’s focus was prominent through his precise hand movements and consistent eye contact with the keys.
After the pianist’s smooth exit, Clyde Beavers wowed on violoncello. The Juilliard graduate moved his bow swiftly and with aggression, causing notes in C Major to soar through the theater; Beavers also performed a duet with pianist Angela Eaton. The duo’s combined passion and Beaver’s anger for the sonata left chills down the backs of all in attendance.
Upon the pair’s hand-held adieu, Dr. Daniel Koehn’s booming voice was amplified with the addition of Barbara Rogers on piano. The bass-baritone, who has performed in several opera roles, filled every nook and cranny of the theater with his powerful volume and vibrato. Singing a piece by the name of “Wer sich der Einsamkeit ergibt”, Koehn transferred emotions of torment to each listener.
Taking a shift in genre, Jeremy Wade and Justin Bridgebeck transported the crowd to Ireland; the combination of Irish fiddling and playing of the bodhran, along with the synchronized rhythms and shared smiles, left the audience elated. Angela Eaton returned for the seventh act as an accompanist for horn player Adrienne McKinney. The notes erupting from the French horn established a universal calmness and admiration for the flowing tunes.
Following McKinney and Eaton was the penultimate performance of the night: Jeryl Cunningham-Fleming’s soprano vocal artistry was supported by Barbara Rogers on piano. Fleming sang a piece titled “Watch and Pray”, an African-American spiritual that touched the hearts of each member of the crowd. Incorporating elements of opera and jazz, Fleming’s wide vocal range and visible empathy for the characters of the song were truly remarkable.
Ending the showcase with a bang, Eaton returned alongside Loren Tice for a joyful piano duet. The two’s obvious friendship reflected through the pair of playing hands, making for the perfect ending to an inspirational night.
The Faculty Showcase marked the end of just one of the many performances held by the Music Program. Look out for the upcoming Studio 300 concert on October 8th and 9th!
The May term study abroad class “Lights! Anime! Action!” Taught by Arts Professor Kurt Gohde and Art History Professor Wei Lin was an incredible experience. Not only did we learn the history behind anime as an art form—but also the incredible culture(s) in Japan that are often reflected in this art form. Some of my favorite experiences were visiting the Ryōan-ji temple in Kyoto and seeing the breathtaking tsukubai, as well as having free time to explore Japan. I also visited one of the oldest tea houses in the world! I am forever grateful for this opportunity and the growth it provided me as a person. A special thank you to Kurt and Wei Lin for taking us on this journey, I hope to see this taught more in the future.
This May 4th, Transylvania’s Phi Mu took to the ovens for their annual Cupcake Wars philanthropy event. Each year, the sorority members and other student teams battle for the best bake with decorative and delicious cupcakes. The event raises support for the Kentucky Children’s hospital, including letter writing to the hospital, events like raffle baskets, “Pie a Phi,” corn hole, and of course cupcakes. The event was photographed by Madalyn Stump below.
Hello everyone! I founded the Casey Corner two years ago in hopes that it would inspire and confuse the Transylvania University community, and I hope that I have done just that. Casey Corner has brought me immense joy to produce, but it is unfortunately time for me to retire. However! Casey Corner will not be leaving with me! I am leaving it in the very capable hands of Kate Polson, who will hand deliver you a Casey Corner for as many print copies as she’s got before her eventual retirement. Thank you to everyone who took the time to read and ponder Casey Corner and I would like to especially thank the Rambler staff for uplifting and supporting my wacky ideas. And an especially special thank you to Kate, whom I have no doubts will do an incredible job as the Casey Columnist. Goodbye!! — Casey Casey, the once One and Only Casey Columnist
I had a dream that I was watching a mouse run through a field of barley. Hopping from one stalk to the next, not out of a need for survival, but a need for fun. When I awoke, I asked myself, “am I the mouse or am I the field?”
The woodcutter lamented to the scholar about the nature of impermanence.
“I look around the forest and I see new trees grow in the shadows of their fallen forebears”, the woodcutter groaned, “they are the same trees my parents knew and the same trees their parents knew, and it burdens me that so much changes but it all looks the same. If I didn’t know which trees I had cut, there’d be no way to know that they fell at all. Isn’t it unfair that we get something once, and once it’s gone you can never return it? I can plant the same sapling in the same spot, but it won’t grow into the same tree.”
“No”, replied the scholar, “you still carry every moment with you. It is not gone, but instead transformed into a memory. Everything you are and everything you do comes from every moment of your life you have lived.”
“But we only have so many moments!” shouted the woodcutter. “We get some time on this earth and then at the end, we die. Is there even a point to this life if the moments end!”
“No”, replied the scholar, “there is no point. You have no goal other than the goals you give yourself. There is no way to know how many moments you get, you’re just lucky to have them at all. So make the most of what you have.”
“You know what, you’re right!”, exclaimed the woodcutter. “I want to make the most of this life and what I have left, and I’m going to start by having a great big dinner tonight to celebrate! Would you please join me?”
I generally don’t like to drive, but I have occasionally been known to make a vehicular promenade from time to time. When I am piloting my steel chariot, I can’t help but notice that every car is merging into each other’s lanes over and over like a french braid so as to pass the wagon in front of them. What the hell is going on here! Why is no one satisfied with where they are or who they’re behind! I’m going 90 in a 55; am I still too slow for thee? Praise be the king of the road who passes all the other jalopies with style and ease! Oh how I bend and applaud those who make dust of the meager peasants laid before them! I am kidding of course, I bow to no one. Really, I mean be content with where you are! Everyone is on a journey together and we gotta share the same road, so quit scurrying and start steadying! I think you’ll find that driving becomes easier when you make it a cruise, so put on some easy listening and compose yourself. I have an inclination that Mungo Jerry might be calling your name and buddy lemme tell you, the weather is fine.
I ran out of garlic mayo the other day. I had made a simple ham and cheese sandwich to bridge me from morning responsibilities to afternoon debauchery. I squeezed the bottle of garlic mayo and all that greeted me was a small “poot!” without even a drop of the egg based dressing. I had used the last of it without even knowing I was using it only two days prior. Garlic mayo is one of my favorite condiments, and in my mind, no sandwich is complete without a schmear of that fatty topping. Without my garlic mayo, a sandwich becomes a desert with no oasis to clear my dry throat. We have other sauces in the fridge, sure, and I like them well enough. But, they’re not garlic mayo. Neither ketchup, nor mustard, nor barbecue, nor even buffalo sauce compare to the silky richness of a good, cold garlic mayo. I’m not writing this to make you hungry or to remind you to put sauce on your grocery list, but rather I am spinning a cautionary tale. There are some things in this world that will disappear before you notice them and there is nothing you can do to stop them. There’s no use worrying about if you can predict it or when it will disappear, so cherish it while you have it. I may be without my garlic mayo now, but when I look back I remember every sandwich I enjoyed with the sacred condiment. I wish I had my garlic mayo with me right now for one more sandwich, but I can’t. It’s gone. So please, cherish what you have. Open your fridge and tell every sauce, every beverage, and even the leftovers that you love them. Because someday they will be eaten or expired and you will realize what you lost. But don’t just eat it, savor it. Taste it all before you take another bite. Don’t even open your mouth until you run every single crumb over every single one of your taste buds. Because when it’s gone, it’s really gone. And when it has departed you may feel like a part of you is missing. It’s ok to be upset, but remember what you had. Dry your eyes and look back at every bite you took along the way. Know that you did everything you could. And then make a note on your shopping list.
A wizard sits alone in the tower of his alabaster fortress, casting spells into his orb which bring life to his thoughts. Upon the wish receiver sits several sweet rolls, the leg of a profoundly plump phoenix, a glass of ghoul tea, and a cuban sandwich. “Blast it all!” the wizard screams out. “This orb is defective! How am I to attain unyielding power when all I can bring to life is the stuff of a glutton’s dream!” In a blind rage the wizard scoops up the orb and raises it above his head. Just before he delivers swift justice upon the cobbled floor, the wizard catches a glimpse of a label on the underside of the orb. It reads: “WARNING: YOU WILL ONLY RECEIVE WHAT YOU NEED.” The wizard sighs, sets the orb back on its pedestal, and takes a bite from the cuban. He mutters, “I knew I shouldn’t cast while hungry.”
In the Monkey’s Forest lives the Tree of Many Fruit, which is a very magical and important tree. It grows fruits of all varieties, each shining like a gem through the dense leaves. It is foretold that the greatest of these fruits is grown only at the very top of the tree, though none of the monkeys have ever seen it. The littlest monkey, hearing this rumor, decided to scale the tree and find out for himself. He climbed past the oranges, the pears and the apples, past the grapes, the peaches, and something he thought was a cherry. As he raced towards the top he saw papaya, star fruit, and his favorite: pineapple. Every single fruit was ripe and juicy, but he ignored them to chase the rumored fruit at the very top. He climbed and climbed and eventually made it to the top, but found no branches to cling to. The littlest monkey fell back down, completely and utterly fruitless. Had he grabbed something on his way up, maybe he could have slowed down enough to see what was really at the top. But fear not! For monkeys are excellent climbers and fantastic fallers. He rests now, but he will get up and try again. The question remains: will he try for the top again or lower his expectations?
“On Saturday, October 1st, as you entered Ballroom A of the Central Bank Center, you could immediately see rows and rows of tables stretching to the back of the room, with dozens of people shuffling between them. On either side of the main path through the center of the room, there are hundreds of small containers, and inside each of them are a plethora of snakes, lizards, turtles, and other small creatures. The Kentucky Reptile Expo had returned to Lexington.”
That is how I opened my first-ever Rambler article as a freshman in October of 2021. I had recently joined the Rambler due to a spur-of-the-moment decision to add my name to an email list at that year’s Pioneer Palooza. I had never done anything close to school journalism, but I was looking for at least one way to get involved as a new student, especially after a year-plus of social isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. I was unsure whether I really wanted to see this newspaper thing through, and I was even more doubtful that the club would survive long enough that my choice would matter. The Rambler was largely in hibernation throughout COVID, and like most student organizations, it was having difficulty recruiting and restarting with the new year. That was before considering larger crises in getting people invested in student journalism, and the effects of conflicts with the Transylvania administration that had occurred just before COVID hit. By the end of that month, the only other student organization I participated in was defunct, and it seemed very possible that the Rambler, despite its long history, could at least temporarily follow.
Four years, eight print releases, and over two hundred articles and photo galleries later, the Rambler is in a considerably stronger place than it was during the doldrums of the pandemic. I was lucky to witness this revival as a four-year contributor to the Rambler, writing nearly fifty more articles after that first piece in October 2021. I also began editing articles in my sophomore year, and starting my junior year, I served on the Rambler Leadership Team as Copy Editor.
In that first article in October 2021, I covered the Kentucky Reptile Expo, a showcase and marketplace for live reptiles and (mostly) related equipment and merchandise that comes to the Central Bank Center roughly every two months. It was the first proper article published that school year, and was titled “Seeing Snakes: the Kentucky Reptile Expo” (I remember brainstorming titles and reading an online article that claimed ‘seeing snakes’ was a 19th-century term for hallucinations; I did not, and still have not verified whether that is in any way true). While that opening paragraph was maybe a bit flowery – a pattern that unfortunately has not disappeared from my writing – it was accurate then, and it remained accurate when, on April 12th, 2025, I made my second visit to the Kentucky Reptile Expo.
Photos by Nate Brother
Despite being forced from Ballroom A to the smaller Exhibit Hall C (thanks a lot Kentucky Optometric Association), the general layout of the expo was mostly the same. Several tables stretched to the back of the room. Some vendors took up small spaces, while larger vendors had dozens of containers with snakes, turtles, lizards, and others stretching across the room. Some vendors recognized that many of the attendees, especially children, were there to see the animals rather than take them home with them, and set up photo opportunities, such as someone who sold photos with a large python in the corner of the ballroom. There were other animals for sale, such as insects like tarantulas, small parrots, and the large bins of white mice that were displayed by several of the reptile vendors (in 2021, I wrote that it was “unclear whether the mice were being sold as pets or reptile food,” which, with some hindsight, seems like willful ignorance on my part).
Scaled Sisters, a pet vendor and rescue organization based in the Cincinnati area, was one of the booths that I was able to speak with both in 2021 and 2025. The owner of Scaled Sisters, who has been coming to the Kentucky Reptile Expo for around twelve years and had a table full of leopard geckos and bearded dragons, spoke about how they cater to the different audiences that come to the event. She explained, “We do get some people who it’s their first time seeing these reptiles, and we like to introduce them so that they’re not as scared. And then we see people who are looking for their first pet or another pet…and want to ask questions about that and adopt.”
One aspect of the expo that, while present during my first visit, had grown significantly in the intervening years was the prevalence of booths and items with little to no relation to the reptile theme. While live animals and animal-care related booths still took up most of the space, there were numerous booths selling homemade arts and crafts, minerals and gemstones, and action figures and other memorabilia that were primarily targeted towards “nerd culture.” The visual that most emphasized this juxtaposition for me was a booth selling parrots directly next to a vendor who was selling a to-scale model of a Star Wars B1 battle droid.
Betsy Diamond with Mama Growing Magick, a first-time vendor at the expo selling gemstone jewelry, spoke about what drew them to the Kentucky Reptile Expo. Diamond had previously come to the event with their children and had heard good things from artist friends who were also vendors at the expo. Diamond was very complimentary of the expo, stating, “It’s really nicely organized and there have been a lot of great interactions with people.”
During my first visit in October of 2021, the spectre of COVID-19 hung over the expo like a cloud. Most attendees were in masks, and everyone I interviewed emphasized how much smaller that edition of the expo was than in previous years. Three and a half years later, while less obvious, the effects of COVID were still felt by the vendors at the expo. The Scaled Sisters table agreed that the expo had never recovered to its pre-pandemic size, and commented on the effect the pandemic had on their business, saying, “Our rescue side got a lot more surrenders after COVID because people got animals when they were home. But then they had to go back to work.” Even Diamond commented that it seemed that the crowd was a bit smaller than it had been previously when they were just a visitor to the expo. Whether it be businesses that shuttered during COVID or the shift to online sales that vendors in the 2021 event noted that they had been relying on, it seems a smaller event may just be the new normal for the Kentucky Reptile Expo.
Despite the possibility that it will never reach its pre-pandemic heights, the Kentucky Reptile Expo is still the successful staple that it always has been, and serves as a great opportunity for people, whether they be reptile lovers or not, to connect over niche shared interests. It is this sense of excitement and community that was the most obvious commonality between my two visits to the Kentucky Reptile Expo, and something that had not diminished at all in the forty-two months between them.
I write this article now in August of 2025, almost two months after graduating from Transylvania and having moved to a new city. With some distance, I can confidently say that joining the Rambler was one of, if not the best, decisions I made during my time at Transy. It was the only student organization, and one of the only sources of consistency across my four years at Transy. It was a massive help for me both academically, helping me grow my writing and editing skills, and socially, allowing me to meet some of my best friends at Transy. Joining or working with the Rambler is something I strongly encourage for anyone, though if you are reading this article, I am sure you could guess that.
Looking back on my Rambler career, it of course would not be possible without all the Rambler contributors who helped keep the Rambler afloat and have helped me to leave it in a much better place than where I found it, especially the editors in chief whom I was able to work with. Thanks to Allison Spivey, who was the only Rambler contributor who returned after the COVID pause and dedicated her senior year to bringing the Rambler back from the brink. Thanks to Jack Thomas and Josie Grant, who took on the unenviable task of leading an already imperilled student organization straight out of freshman year and gave the Rambler the badly needed continuity in leadership it needed after COVID. Thanks to Katie Axon, whose unparalleled creativity and passion have and will continue to push the Rambler to new heights. Thanks to every person who added to the Rambler over the past two years, whether it be submitting a single article or piece of art, or serving as a multi-year member of our leadership team. And thank you to everyone who has read and supported the Rambler.
The Kentucky Reptile Expo returns to Lexington on October 4th, and is typically held bi-monthly.
Are you a recently arrived freshman who, for one reason or another, did not bring a car with them to campus? Are you looking for a way to avoid downtown traffic and want a new way to explore the city? Or maybe you are just looking for an easy way to get some exercise outside the Beck Center hours. Fear not, this guide is for you. From August 2021 to May 2025, I was an on-campus Transylvania student who got around entirely on foot, without the use of a car. And while this may sound like a daunting proposition to those in a similar position to myself four years ago, I have found that, with careful planning, walking can be an efficient and healthy way to traverse and explore Lexington, and can offer a new perspective to those who are used to only seeing the city from behind a windshield.
The guide below will go over various walks and destinations around Lexington, both for those without a car and those who just want to walk for walking’s sake.
Downtown Lexington: Transylvania’s proximity to downtown Lexington provides a myriad of dining, shopping, and entertainment options for students, all within easy and navigable walking distance due to consistent sidewalks and the gridded street plan. Coffee shops like Third Street Stuff, Nate’s Coffee, and Lussi Brown Coffee Bar are all within a five to ten-minute walk from campus, perfect for refueling before or in between classes. For those looking to escape Transylvania Dining, downtown also has several dining options. Goodfellas Pizzeria and a Jimmy John’s location sit directly across from each other on Mill Street, less than a ten-minute walk from campus, and can provide a quick takeout meal at most hours of the day. Other local lunch spots close to campus include Doodle’s, Big Blue Deli, Taste of Thai, and Zim’s Cafe inside the old courthouse.
Photo by Nate Brother
Downtown Lexington is also host to many local events, whether they be weekly like Thursday Night Live and the Saturday Lexington Farmer’s Market at the Fifth Third Pavilion, or annual fairs like the Cold Brew Festival in August or the Halloween Festival and Thriller Parade in October. Rupp Arena and the Central Bank Center are a convenient ten to fifteen-minute walk from campus – a great way to avoid parking fees – and host countless concerts, University of Kentucky basketball games, and annual events like the Lexington Comic & Toy Convention in March.
Downtown Lexington is home to two movie theatres within easy walking distance: LexLive, a larger entertainment complex complete with a bowling alley, arcade, and sports bar, and the Kentucky Theatre, a historic repertory theatre that more often hosts arthouse films and special events screenings. There are also great parks to walk to in Downtown Lexington, including historic Gratz Park directly across Third St from campus, Thoroughbred and Northeastern Parks on the corner of Midland Avenue and Short Street (complete with climbing boulders), and the Gatton Park on the Town Branch, the recently opened park behind Rupp Arena with an amphitheater, expansive playground, and trails along the historic namesake stream.
UK Campus: A benefit of Transylvania’s location is that, while being a very small liberal arts college, students have access to the resources of not only the city of Lexington, but the much larger University of Kentucky just over a mile south of campus. A walk to the UK Campus is fairly easy, with the hill between Vine Street and High Street being the only potential obstacle. My preferred route has always been going up Upper Street, which takes you through the mostly shaded Historic South Hill neighborhood and is centrally located between the campus and surrounding neighborhoods.
The neighborhoods surrounding the UK campus are full of restaurants and cafes to serve the UK student population. There is the typical chain fare that surrounds major college campuses, like Chipotle, Insomnia Cookies, and Raising Cane’s, a block north of campus. There is also the small South Upper Target location, which, while not ideal due to small size and generally higher prices, is the closest grocery/department store to the Transy campus and is within a more reasonable walking distance than the New Circle Walmart or the Euclid Kroger. The area also contains local favorites like Okome Asian Grill directly next to the Limestone Chipotle, Joe Bologna’s, and Cinco de Mayo on the corner of Upper and Maxwell, and Old School Coffee at the corner of Mill and Maxwell. Old School, a fifteen-minute walk from campus, is a great spot for coffee, breakfast, and studying, though it can get a bit busy during the school year and has a two-hour seating limit.
The campus itself naturally has many resources for students and, for the most part, is fairly navigable. Something to note is that you can always count on some part of the UK campus being under construction – see the White Hall renovation and the construction of the new health education building at the time of writing – so knowledge of alternate routes to navigate the campus is important. While the Gatton Student Center and the green spaces around campus are good for studying or reading, the likely destination for most Transy students is the William T. Young Library. Located near the south side of the academic region of the UK Campus, the massive six-floor facility is unsurprisingly the best-equipped place in Lexington for studying and research. The library accommodates all possible study behaviors, with each floor reserved for different noise levels and choice of long communal tables, private carrels, or enclosed group study rooms. If there is a book you need for a class that is not available in the Transylvania library or bookstore, there is a good chance you can find it in William T. Young. The walk, just under two miles from Transylvania’s campus, is not very strenuous and well worth it for the reward, though those who are going there to study or check out books should consider their ability to make the trek with a heavy bag or backpack.
The highlight of a walk to the University of Kentucky campus, though the furthest from Transy’s campus, is the University of Kentucky Arboretum, the state botanical garden of Kentucky. The 100-acre public park is a horticultural garden and living museum managed by the UK College of Agriculture that specializes in preserving and showcasing native Kentucky flora. The Arboretum contains over two miles of trails, including the Walk Across Kentucky, a trail that goes through recreated environments of seven regions of Kentucky, and a trail through the Arboretum Woods, a remnant of once common Bluegrass forests. Once on the UK campus, those wishing to walk to the arboretum can proceed down University Drive, then cut through the Kroger Field lot to reach Alumni Drive. The front entrance to the Arboretum is not accessible to pedestrians (trying to enter that way would involve going over a ditch, then bolting across Alumni without a crosswalk, which I wouldn’t advise). However, there is a side entrance accessible via sidewalk that can be reached by crossing Alumni at the roundabout across from Kentucky Proud Park, with the entrance at the small parking lot near the Greg Page Apartments. A walk to the Arboretum from campus is almost exactly three miles, so a round trip plus walking the Arboretum trails may be a bit much for a beginner walker. For those without a car, recruiting a friend to hike and reconnect with nature is a fantastic way to destress. On the other hand, for people looking for longer walks, a personal favorite route for me was heading to the Arboretum through the UK campus/University Drive, walking the Arboretum trails, then heading back by proceeding down Alumni towards Tates Creek Road, then turning right and heading up Tates Creek and High to get back to campus, making a roughly ten-mile loop.
Chevy Chase: The Chevy Chase neighborhood and the nearby shopping district are a roughly two-mile walk from Transy. After going through downtown, the quickest route to Chevy Chase is down High Street, flanked by neighborhoods like Transylvania Park and Aylesford. Along the route are many local businesses like Black Swan Books, High on Art and Coffee, and Kentucky Native Cafe, a particular highlight for nature-lovers. There is also Woodland Park, which contains its own walking trails, tennis courts, a skateboard park, and hosts annual events like the Woodland Art Fair. The Chevy Chase shopping district, at the intersection of High and Euclid Avenue, has some of the best restaurants that Lexington has to offer. There are more obscure chain options like Parlor Doughnuts, Joella’s Hot Chicken, and Graeter’s Ice Cream. There are even more local options like the acclaimed breakfast at Josie’s, the atmospheric Charlie Brown’s Restaurant, Lexington’s oldest bar at the Chevy Chase Inn, and the Cajun offerings of Bourbon n’ Toulouse, a personal and local favorite. Chevy Chase also has great connectivity to other walkable parts of Lexington, like the UK campus and the historic Ashland Park neighborhood.
Distillery District: Passing the new Town Branch Park and turning left onto Manchester Street, walkers are greeted with a sign welcoming them to the Distillery District, a tourism-focused revival of the historic center of Lexington’s bourbon industry. While parts of the district are spread out and walkability varies along the Manchester/Old Frankfort Pike corridor, a walk to the district is a worthwhile experience at least once. The area is most known for staples of Lexington entertainment, from performance venues like the Manchester Music Hall and the Burl to the refurbished and tourable James E. Pepper Distillery. There are many restaurants as well, like a larger Goodfellas location and Crank & Boom Craft Ice Cream, all along an outdoor seating area with great views of the Town Branch.
Not far past the Distillery District on Old Frankfort Pike is McConnell Springs Park. The park, named for the settler who gave the city of Lexington its name, is centered around the titular artesian spring and contains over a mile of trails surrounding the springs and remnants of 19th-century Lexington settlements. While the park may seem a doable two and a half miles from the Transy campus, getting to the park is a challenge. The only sidewalk along Old Frankfort Pike, the yet-to-be-completed Town Branch Trail, ends near the Lexington Fire Training Center, so those wanting to get to the park would need to cross the road without a crosswalk and walk along the road shoulder. The park is also a natural pocket located at the back of the Cahill Industrial Park. All of these factors make a walk to McConnell Springs likely not a good idea, though if you can find a way to the park, it is a great hiking spot.
There are many more walking destinations throughout Lexington. There are historic sites with great trails, like the Lexington Cemetery and the Ashland Estate. There are more local restaurants that are within easy walking distance from campus, like Indi’s Chicken and Dingbat’s Pizza. The neighborhoods adjacent to Transylvania are very walkable, and the street grid makes it easy for anyone to customize their own walking route (my personal favorite neighborhoods to stop by were Hampton Court and Fayette Park). While the prospect of navigating Lexington primarily by walking can be frightening, and it is admittedly difficult at times, I can say for certain that it did not negatively affect my Transy experience. Walking became a consistent part of my day, was an easy way to ground myself in stressful times, and allowed me to get to know Lexington in a unique way. Whether by necessity or choice, walking through Lexington is undoubtedly a worthwhile trail to follow.
On May 16th, 2025, members of the Transylvania administration, local leaders, and over a dozen members of the Lexington chapter of the Kentucky Society Daughters of the American Revolution (KSDAR) gathered together in a small room in Graham Cottage. All were there to witness the unveiling of a historic marker commemorating the 1825 visit of Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier de La Fayette, better known as the Marquis de Lafayette, to Transylvania University. The marker came about due to a collaboration between the Lafayette Trail, a nonprofit organization tasked with commemorating and educating the public on Lafayette’s 1824-25 tour of the United States, and the KSDAR, a longstanding heritage organization comprised of women who can trace their lineage to the ‘patriots’ of the American Revolution. The marker was one of three dedicated in Lexington on the 16th, marking the bicentennial anniversary of Lafayette’s visit to Lexington on May 16th, 1825.
The Marquis de Lafayette, the namesake of Fayette County, was a young French aristocrat and officer who, in 1777, came to America to volunteer in the Continental Army under George Washington, where he was quickly commissioned as a major general. During the war, Lafayette was wounded at the 1777 Battle of Brandywine, was key to lobbying state officials for continued support during the nadir of Continental morale in 1780, and co-led the decisive charge on Redoubts 9 and 10 with Alexander Hamilton during the 1781 Siege of Yorktown, a blow to British defenses that led to the surrender of Lord Cornwallis’s British Army and the effective end of the Revolutionary War. After returning to France, Lafayette became a key figure in France’s own revolution, co-authoring the Declaration of Rights of Man and of the Citizen in 1789, a core document of the values of the early French Revolution. Lafayette was eventually targeted by Robespierre and the Jacobins and fled France in 1792, spent five years in an Austrian prison, had his citizenship partially restored by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1800, and was elected a member of the French Chamber of Deputies following the Bourbon Restoration in 1814.
In 1824, Lafayette, by that time the last surviving major general of the American Revolution, was invited by U.S. President James Monroe to tour the United States in anticipation of the nation’s upcoming semicentennial. Lafayette obliged and spent a little over a year touring all 24 states, being celebrated at every stop along the way. On May 16th, 1825, Lafayette arrived in Lexington, KY. After a military parade in his honor, Lafayette visited Transylvania University, at that time located in modern Gratz Park. Lafayette spoke to the gathered student body, and was similarly praised in a speech by University President Horace Holley, countless odes composed by students, and was awarded an honorary doctorate of law (the events and speeches of Lafayette’s visit to Lexington are recorded in Edgar Erskine Hume’s Lafayette in Kentucky, available in general circulation of the Transylvania University library).
The marker unveiled 200 years to the day of Lafayette’s visit to Transylvania contains a short summary of the visit and the adoration expressed by the campus. The text of the marker reads, “On May 16, 2025, General Lafayette was welcomed at Transylvania University by a large crowd and praised with numerous odes and addresses.” The marker was officially unveiled in front of Graham Cottage on the 16th by Transylvania President Brien Lewis, State Regent of the Kentucky DAR Linda Conrad, Lexington Councilmember Tyler Morton, and Lafayette Trail Founder and President Julian Icher.
Each of the unveilers spoke to the small crowd gathered in Graham Cottage on the importance of commemorating Lafayette’s visit. President Lewis emphasized Transylvania University’s historic significance and efforts to connect current Transy students to that history, citing renewed modern interest in Lafayette due to his depiction in the 2015 Broadway musical Hamilton and the excitement he sees when modern students learn the “Lancelot of the revolutionary set” visited the campus two centuries ago. Conrad explained how the Lafayette markers fit with the DAR’s three-pronged mission statement of promoting “historic preservation, education, and patriotism.” Conrad explained the DAR’s goals for the markers, stating, “These markers tell the history of Lafayette’s visit and they educate the public about the life of the last surviving general of the American Revolution…The information on each of these markers preserves the history of his visit, and hopefully inspires a patriotic pride in our country.” Morton described the marker as indicative of the values Lafayette fought for that continue to be important to this day, proclaiming Lafayette’s visit to be a “reminder of the enduring values of freedom, democracy, and solidarity between nations. Two-hundred years later, we still draw inspiration from his courage and his unwavering belief in liberty and justice for all.” Icher recalled the events of Lafayette’s visit to Transylvania for the gathered audience. Icher specifically focused on Horace Holley’s address, which categorized Lafayette as a “providential figure” and “moral man” whose visit was an endorsement of the continuing American experiment. The address also emphasized the importance of a liberal arts education in promoting republican principles.
The marker at Transylvania was one of three unveiled in Lexington on the 16th. A marker at the Ashland Estate commemorates Lafayette’s visit with the family of Henry Clay, and a marker at the Masonic Lodge on Harrodsburg Road commemorates the ball held for Lafayette at the Grand Lodge of Kentucky. Additionally, an interpretive sign noting Lafayette’s visit was installed in Gratz Park by the city of Lexington as part of the year-long 250Lex celebration commemorating the city’s semi-quincentennial.
