On the Cover: All in a Day’s Work
At Lane’s End Farm, Ande Farish Day is honoring generations of Thoroughbred tradition while opening the gates to a new era of only-in-Kentucky experiences.
Image of Ande and Lincoln Day with their sons Walter and BZ by Slade Howard
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Highlights from the September/October 2026 issue:
From the Associate Publisher
Welcome to the Fall issue of Sophisticated Living.
More than ushering in sweater weather, September jump starts a new social season. As summer sojourns fade into the rearview, everything picks up where we left off in June. Summer is lovely and loose, but by September, I'm ready for the routine again, and for the people who come with it.
Saturdays belong to Kroger Field. October brings the Keeneland meet, and at the end of the month the Breeders' Cup returns to the Bluegrass, which is the closest thing this city has to a family reunion with a dress code. September may be my favorite month of the year. We dress up, we gather in our storied places, and our favorite ones, and we remember how much there is to celebrate. The whole calendar is spoken for, and nobody's complaining. In that spirit, this issue is about coming home and the people who make it worth the trip.
Text: Lee Milward, lee@slmag.net
Cover Story: All in a Day’s Work
At Lane’s End Farm, Ande Farish Day is honoring generations of Thoroughbred tradition while opening the gates to a new era of only-in-Kentucky experiences.
Text: Bridget Cottrell
Photo of Ande Farish Day by Slade Howard
Sophisticated Wedding
Makenna & Frederick Rupp
Photos by Stephanie Alberse
The Good Life
At Botherum, Jon Carloftis has cultivated more than an extraordinary home and garden—he's created a place where stories, hospitality, and a devoted pack of yellow Labradors flourish together.
Written by Bridget Cottrell
Photos by Erica Sharp
A New Social Landmark Elevates Downtown Lexgton
For years, Lexington's dining scene has steadily matured, with independent chefs and locally driven concepts reshaping expectations of what a night out in the Bluegrass can be. Now, a new chapter has arrived several stories above downtown. Occupying the ninth floor of The Vine, a landmark mixed-use development that transformed a former office tower into luxury residences and lifestyle amenities, The V at The Vine is the culinary centerpiece of an ambitious concept encompassing exceptional food, sophisticated design, and a strong sense of community.
Photos courtesy of V at The Vine
Through The Looking Glass: Antique Mirrors
Written by Kim Hites
Still at the Table
The year was 1981. Prince Charles married Lady Diana Spencer. MTV launched. Dudley’s restaurant opened. Charles and Diana lasted 15 years; MTV no longer plays music videos; but Dudley’s, under the capable direction of owner Debbie Long, is still thriving.
Written by Bridget Cottrell
Photo by Era Sharp
Gathered: Seldon Bybee Pottery
Gathered: Jon Carloftis on the things we collect, the people we gather, and the art of living well.
Anyone who knows me knows I am a collector. I collect things because I love them, not because someone tells me I should. And, most importantly, I use and enjoy my collections every single day. Nothing at Botherum is waiting around for a museum curator to arrive with white gloves. If I have something beautiful, I want to see it, live with it and enjoy it. That is certainly the case with my collection of Seldon Bybee pottery. There is something earthy, honest, and wonderfully handmade about it. Once I learned its history by going straight to my books and, of course, “the Google,” that was it. I was hooked.
Text & Photo by Jon Carloftis
The Lexington Edit
What we're wearing, wanting and loving now.
Above: Classic Trolley Bag from Pineider ($2,500; pineider.com)
Under the Hammer & Into History
In Kentucky, a great horse farm is never simply a collection of acreage, barns and fences. It is a repository of drive and achievement, its past written in pedigrees, stone walls and the hoofprints of champions. Few places embody that idea quite like Castleton.
On October 28, as the international Thoroughbred community descends on Lexington for the Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Keeneland, the historic 951-acre estate will enter an extraordinary new era. For the first time, the Keeneland Championship Sale, an official Breeders’ Cup event, will be held in Central Kentucky, taking place at Castleton and culminating with the offering of the farm itself as the evening’s final lot.
Photo courtesy of Bluegrass Sotheby’s International Realty
Above: Sapphire is September’s birthstone. Robert Procop Masterpiece French Cut Clutch Platinum, Sapphire and Diamond Earrings. Available through Schiffman’s Jewelers (schiffmans.com)
Sophisticated Stars
Happy Birthday, Virgo and Libra!
The New Moon in Virgo on September 10 will be an amazing one, bringing excitement and new developments not only for Virgos, but for every sign in a different area of life. This beautiful New Moon offers an opportunity to initiate something new, plant seeds for the future, and create positive change in the area of your chart that Virgo rules.
October, however, is a bit of a different story. With Venus retrograde beginning October 3 and Mercury retrograde later in the month, there will be plenty of cosmic dust to sort through. October is a good time to slow down, become more meditative, listen to your spirit, and trust your inner guidance. Focus on unfinished business from the past that still needs your attention and be intentional about maintaining a high frequency in your thoughts and attitudes. What you focus on matters, especially when the cosmic weather gets a little intense.
For more on how this energy will affect you, see your September and October Sophisticated Stars below.
Last Call: Leslie Miller
As Vice President of Marketing for VisitLEX, Leslie spends her days finding creative ways to tell Lexington’s story—and she’s clearly one of the city’s biggest fans herself. For our latest Last Call, Miller shares what keeps her grounded, the virtue she’s learning to loosen her grip on, her weakness for perfume and Herend bunnies, and why the perfect ending to the day involves a very cold, slightly dirty martini..
Illustration by Katie Morrison
Society Calendar
Happenings of note in September & October
Is there an event you’d like us to cover or add to our event calendar? Send an email with the details to bridget@slmag.net.
Picnic With The Pops
Photos by Daniel Roberts
Education Builds Hope
Photos by Daniel Roberts
Ashland Lawn Party
Photos by Daniel Roberts
Hangar Bash
Photos by Daniel Roberts
Keeneland Concours D’Elegance
Photos by Daniel Roberts
Disaster Blaster
Photos by Daniel Roberts
Junior League Charity Horse Show
Photos by Daniel Roberts
Albert Couture Runway
Photos by Daniel Roberts
The Lexington Open
Photos by Daniel Roberts
Night for the Nest
Photos by Daniel Roberts
Amuse-Bouche
Photos by Daniel Roberts
Night of Stars
Photos by Daniel Roberts
Get to Know Us
At Sophisticated Living, we are dedicated to and passionate about all the finer things life has to offer. Whether your interests are close to home or in far-flung places. each issue shares highlights of the good life in Lexington and beyond.
Bridget Cottrell, Editor-In-Chief
A co-founder of the company, Bridget is Editor-In-Chief of both the Lexington and Louisville editions and serves as the editorial director for shared content across all Sophisticated Living issues. Originally intending to become an archaeologist, she transfers her global curiosity into content that considers multiple perspectives.
bridget@slmag.net
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For advertising information, contact Bridget Cottrell, bridget@slmag.net
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