Things To Do In Lexington-Fayette

Collins Bowling Centers continues a tradition that began more than 50 years ago with spacious lanes primed for open-bowling sessions, league play, and inclusive children's birthday parties. The group maintains two Lexington locations: Eastland Bowling Lanes and Southland Bowling Lanes. Aside from offering pin-blasting action throughout the week, both alleyways encourage guests to sign up for bowling lessons at the pro shop, grab a drink at the lounge, or reunite tokens with their estranged relatives in the onsite arcade.

Al's Bar's servers sling a menu of locally sourced gourmet burgers and myriad bourbons and Kentucky whiskeys. The Willie burger piles a local-beef patty with beer cheese and bacon ($6.50) and the bison burger dresses a quarter-pound of local bison in a spicy frock of chipotle-bourbon mayo ($6). In the stuffed portobello burger, a fried egg luxuriously stretches across a portobello-mushroom cap packed with house-made beer cheese ($8), more mouth-watering than a mouth sprinkler. To aid burger bites on their esophageal journeys, guests can tipple a Kentucky Speedball—a concoction of Ale-8-One and Maker's Mark ($5)—or a glass of Four Roses single-barrel bourbon, one of more than 25 bourbons and Kentucky whiskeys in Al's arsenal.

The extravagant Fasig-Tipton Pavilion houses this year’s Chamber Music Festival of Lexington, where acclaimed musicians give majestic performances and host master classes. Friday evening reveals a nuanced rendition of Dvořák's Terzetto in C Major, as delivered in part by the festival's artistic director, Nathan Cole, who also holds the position of first associate concertmaster with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Ravel's Trio in A Minor brings together soothing sounds of piano, violin, and cello, ad Schubert's famed Trout Quintet dances between strings, piano, and a trio of opera-singing fish. Saturday evening ushers in Busoni's Sonata no. 2 in E—its ivory, dulcet piano tickled by Alessio Bax, who has appeared as a soloist with more than 85 orchestras worldwide. Bach's Sheep May Safely Graze and a world premiere written by Daniel Kellogg set the sound stage for Dvořák's Quintet in G Major, as two violins, a viola, a cello, and a double bass come together to fight musical crimes wrought by vuvuzelas and Christmas recordings of dogs barking.

Blue Agave Cantina and Tequila Bar serves a menu specializing in marinated meats and margaritas. Guests unable to domesticate their fire hydrant can cool off with a bowl of guacamole, prepared to order from fresh avocados, tomatoes, onions, cilantro, and lime ($6). Entrust hands to tacos, served with salsa, lime, cilantro, and onions on corn tortillas, with your choice of steak, shredded or marinated pork, or chicken ($4 for two). Diners licensed to operate silverware can take a test run with the red-chili and shredded-pork carnitas platter ($11) or the alambres, marinated steak topped with cheese, peppers, and onions, served on a hot skillet ($16).

Bluegrass Polo Club aims to develop everyday horse lovers into athletes who want to take their golf game to the next level. A friendly instructor draws on more than two decades of experience to craft 60-minute lessons for novices and intermediate players who at least have some horse-riding experience, helping build deep if temporary partnerships with four-legged teammates. After being introduced to polo-appropriate tack and equipment, groups of up to six horse handlers will board practiced polo ponies to learn riding skills, shots, and basic strategy. Trotters seen engaging their horses in deep conversation peppered by such terms as "chukker" and "third man" may join an intermediate group to perfect their mastery of the ball and mallet. This Groupon can also be applied toward a private lesson ($90/hour) for those who'd like to imitate the most genteel of lone bandits.

The draft beer table taps at O'Neill's Irish Pub empower imbibing imbibers to pour their own pint of sudsy suds as the menu of Irish and American classics inspires them to eat. Warm up stomachs with a plate o' beer cheese saturated with Guinness stout and served with carrots, celery, and crackers ($5.50) or gnaw on a sixer of barbecue wings ($7). Dive into a basket of fish and chips with beer-battered cod and golden fries ($8.95) or try O'Neill's Reuben, with thick-cut rye bread supporting layers of corned beef, melted swiss cheese, and sauerkraut, which comes nestled next to a pile of salty chips ($7.25).