Latest news with #AliCenter
The Independent
18-04-2025
- The Independent
Travels through the Bluegrass state: Where to visit in Kentucky
From the rolling green hills of Lexington 's horse country to Appalachia's rugged mountains, Kentucky offers experiences like no other for the intrepid traveller. As distinctive as the landscapes are the cultures you'll find. This is a state where bluegrass mixes with honky tonk and country, where cuisine ranges from fine dining to hearty southern breakfasts (not to mention that famous fried chicken) And needless to say, you'll be spoilt for choice when it comes to bourbon. It can be tempting to stick to the larger towns and cities (Louisville and Lexington alone have enough to fill a week or more), but for a taste of small-town America and country Kentucky, it's worth hiring a car and exploring the charming main street of Bardstown or venturing east into the hills where you'll see a different side of the state and find endless opportunities for climbing, hiking, rafting and other outdoor activities. While by no means an exhaustive list, these are the spots I'd recommend adding to your route. Louisville This lively city might be best known as home of the Kentucky Derby – as well as seemingly endless bourbon tastings – but beyond the tourist trail you'll find live music, secret bars and street art, all surrounded by rolling green countryside. Save at least a couple of hours for the Muhammad Ali Center, where you'll learn about the life and career of the legendary Louisville born-and-raised boxer, and his legacy of pursuing justice and inspiring social change. It's a fascinating, and also very moving, experience. The nearby Slugger museum, which teaches you everything you need to know about baseball bats, is surprisingly fun, even if you have no interest in the sport. On a sunny day, take a walk through Cave Hill Cemetery, where you'll find Muhammed Ali's grave (Colonel Harland Sanders is also buried here if you want to pay homage to the king of fried chicken). But back to bourbon. There are six distilleries all within five minutes' walk of one another in the Bourbon District – Angel's Envy is a favourite of mine – and tastings, speakeasies and bars abound. For a truly special bourbon experience, Heritage Farm takes the crown. Here you can enjoy a tasting in one of the most beautiful horse barns in the state and meet some of the much-loved retired race horses while enjoying an old fashioned or two. This is picture-perfect Kentucky – we're talking red barns, green hills and white fences. No matter how you feel about horse racing, Churchill Downs is worth a visit to understand the phenomenon that is the Kentucky Derby. Beyond touring the impressive grounds themselves, there are also exhibits on past winners, how Derby Day is put together, and the African American experience in horse racing. For bedding down at night, the Omni hotel has a great central location, but for a full bourbon experience I'd recommend Hotel Distil. Meanwhile, the wonderful Trouble Bar has now been turned into a bookstore/coffee shop – you'll find the same revolutionary energy, but now powered by caffeine rather than booze. Lexington Lexington is Louisville's younger (and possibly slightly cooler) sister. Check in for a couple of nights at the beautifully designed Manchester Hotel, which is an ode to the racehorse. Both the ground floor and rooftop bars are perfect spots to enjoy a cocktail or glass of wine, plus there's an incredibly chic gym. Of course, bourbon is a big deal here, too. There are a number of distilleries in the city itself – including Barrel House Distilling Co., Bluegrass Distillers and James E. Pepper Distillery – as well as plenty in the surrounding countryside. Visits and tastings can be arranged as part of a tour or with the distillery directly, but do book ahead as spots fill up fast. There are plenty of lively restaurants and bars in the Distillery District – the Burl Arcade and Crank & Boom Ice Cream lounge are top choices – but it would be a mistake to miss the small plates at Epping's on Eastside. Just across the street is glass art studio and fine art gallery Trifecta, which is also home to a speakeasy with a lounge and outdoor seating, where you can have a drink while watching the impressive art of glass blowing. Any bourbon cocktail you order here will be memorable, but I'd recommend trying the Paper Plane, which also contains Aperol, Amaro Nonino and lemon. Lexington also does coffee well; Common Grounds and Java Jukebox are two of my favourite spots to grab a brew – make sure you try one of the grilled cheeses at the latter. Bardstown While Louisville and Lexington are top destinations for bourbon, ultimately it's Bardstown that takes the crown. This charming little town has 11 distilleries within a 16-mile radius – including the popular Bardstown Bourbon Company, as well as Jim Beam, Heaven Hill and Log Still – and wherever you step you'll find bars, tastings and fun bourbon experiences. But you don't have to love bourbon to love Bardstown. This is quintessential small-town America. There are a slew of fun, boutique hotels, including the Motor Lodge which can be found on the road leading into town, as well as Distill-Inn, Talbot Inn, and former 19th-century jailhouse The Jailer's Inn, which are all downtown. For a big southern breakfast, head to Mammy's, where you'll find huge pancakes, Kentucky's famous Hot Brown (turkey and ham piled on toast), and the friendliest service. The doughnuts at Hadorn's Bakery are legendary in Kentucky, while Big Wally's serves ice cream and soda floats that will satisfy any sweet tooth. Glasgow The main tourist draw of this region is the impressive Mammoth Caves, but base yourself in the nearby town of Glasgow for a classic American small-town experience. Copper and Elk is a gorgeous, huge apartment right on the main square that can be booked on Airbnb. The local owners also have the Plaid Peacock interconnecting apartment, which I've not stayed at but have confidence in the quality. Also on the main square is the bustling Hive cafe with excellent coffee, while Fine Arts Bistro is a top recommendation for breakfast, with some great vegetarian options (which is not always easy to find in Kentucky). Make sure you save some time to browse Off the Square and the Nadine West Book Co, which are both locally owned businesses and very welcoming. The Plaza Theater, which you'll spot at the south end of the square is a historic spot where performances and community events are held throughout the year. Cave tours at Mammoth do get busy so it's a good idea to book ahead. Across the south, you'll often hear counties boasting they have the best caves, but Mammoth really does have a legitimate claim here – it's home to the longest-known cave system in the world. To the south of Glasgow (a roughly 30-minute drive) at Barren River Lake State Resort park you can also hike, hire a canoe or boat, and play a round of golf, and there is a rustic lodge with rooms and cabins if you're keen to stay out in nature. Red River Gorge Under two hours from Louisville and a mere hour's drive from Lexington you can find yourself deep in some of Kentucky's most stunning nature. Red River Gorge is located in the Daniel Boone National Forest, which has long been popular with climbers and is fast becoming a desired destination for anyone who loves the outdoors. There are a few pleasant locally owned spots to base yourself in – Blackbird Cabin, which can be booked on Vrbo is a good choice – or you can immerse yourself in nature at Canopy Crew Treehouses and Cliffhouses. For camping, secure yourself a spot at Miguel's. A Red River institution, Miguel's Pizza has been serving delicious hot pies loaded with toppings since 1986. The surrounding campsite is a particular draw for climbers keen to explore the area, and the store is quite literally filled to the rafters with clothing and equipment. Other top spots for food include Redpoint BBQ and Red River Rockhouse, which serve classic American fare. If you're planning on climbing, Southeast Mountain Guides will help you plan the perfect trip, and also have a Via Ferrata that takes you around the cliff face and under a waterfall – it's terrifying and thrilling in equal measure. The Gorge Underground offers a kayaking experience like none other. Kitted out with helmets and head torches you explore a flooded underground limestone mine, which has been prettily lit up. For a mud-soaked rip-roaring ride, the staff at Red River Gorge Off-Road UTV Tours know how to have a good time, following trails that thunder through creeks, up hills and along mountainsides. Corbin For a taste of Appalachia without having to head deep into hill country, spend a day in Corbin, a small town nestled in the foothills of the mountains. The town holds the rather dubious accolade of being the home of the first ever KFC, and at the Harland Sanders Cafe and Museum you can learn about the (surprisingly chequered) past of the Colonel himself, as well as how KFC became the phenomenon it is. There's also a pinball museum, axe-throwing, several quirky little stores and boutiques, and some great spots to eat. Folktale is a very pleasant for coffee and pastries, while Wrigley's Taproom should be your first port of call for beers or bourbon. Corbin sits on the doorstep of some of the most accessible hiking, rafting, climbing and horse riding in the state. You're right next to Daniel Boone Forest, and just a 30-minute drive from the impressive Cumberland Falls. Pikeville Tucked in the northern corner of Kentucky right on the border with Virginia and West Virginia is Pike county, centred around the town of Pikeville. Thanks to its university and medical centre, Pikeville has thrived in recent years (while other eastern Kentucky towns have sadly struggled with poverty and unemployment), and there is plenty to do and see, especially if you love country music. Pikeville is on Kentucky's Country Music Highway, which is a road trip that takes you through key points in a region that has produced the likes of Loretta Lynn, Chris Stapleton, Billy Ray Cyrus, Tom T Hall, Dwight Yoakam and Patty Loveless – to name just a few. Pikeville is also the home of the legendary blood-filled Hatfield–McCoy Feud that started over a hog in 1878 and raged for decades between the two families, resulting in murder, bloody brawls and bitterness. It's a real lesson on not holding a grudge. At Chirico's Ristorante you can enjoy pizza, pasta and calzones in the building that Randolph McCoy (head of the McCoy clan) last called home. Ask the staff to show you the upstairs which is largely unchanged since McCoy lived there. Country music fans might want to make the pilgrimage to the former family home of Loretta Lynn, the coal miner's daughter, in Butch Hollow, just 45 minutes outside of Pikeville. Just note, it's worth calling ahead and arranging a tour, which starts at the Grocery Store. You can make the drive alone, but the road is narrow and the area has an interesting vibe, to say the least – my car was pursued by two furious barking guard dogs for a good 200 metres. My top tip for Pikeville: stop in and visit Tony and Jay from the Welcome Center out by Hardee's as soon as you arrive – their remarkable knowledge and enthusiasm for the area will give you more than enough ideas on how to spend your time in the county. The nearby town of Paintsville is quieter, but worth a wander – and make sure you stop in at The Coffee Shop for a brew. Airlines including British Airways, Delta, American Airlines and Virgin Atlantic fly to Louisville with one stop, often in Atlanta, Chicago or Charlotte. Flight time is usually somewhere between 12 and 14 hours. Alternatively, fly direct with British Airways to Nashville, which is just across the border from Kentucky in Tennessee, and rent a car.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Even as polarization surges, Americans believe they live in a compassionate country
Compassion comes easily to me. As the granddaughter of immigrants from Lithuania and Poland who spoke little English, I understand what it's like to be treated as a stranger in America. As a journalist, I covered stories of war and trauma in the 1990s, including the crushing of Chinese protests in Tiananmen Square and the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, followed by the Soviet Union's collapse two years later. I covered the war between Iraq and Iran. I witnessed ethnic strife in South Africa and the toll poverty takes in Mexico. As a professor of cultural engagement and public diplomacy, I have watched and studied how compassion can help build and strengthen civil society. And having worked in senior levels of the U.S. government for Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama on international conflict resolution, I have learned that compassion is a key ingredient of peacemaking. Especially now, as President Donald Trump seeks to deport millions of immigrants living in the U.S. without authorization and to stop funding the U.S. Agency for International Development, which has long spent billions of dollars a year helping the world's poorest people, compassion seems lacking among U.S. leaders. Perhaps that all explains my curiosity about a new study on the state of compassion in America – part of the glue that holds communities together. Sociologists define compassion as the human regard for the suffering of others, and the notion of using action to alleviate this pain. The report that caught my eye was issued in January 2025 by the Muhammad Ali Center, which the late boxer co-founded 20 years ago in Louisville, Kentucky, to advance social justice. As the Ali Center explains, compassion starts with the individual – self-care and personal wellness. It then radiates out to the wider community in the form of action and engagement. You can see compassion at work in the actions of a Pasadena, California, girl, who started a donation hub for teens affected by fires that ripped through the Los Angeles region in early 2025. She began collecting sports bras, hair ties and fashionable sweaters – helping hundreds of her peers begin to recover from their losses in material and emotional ways. It's also visible in the estimated 6.8 million people in the U.S. who donate blood each year, according to the American Red Cross. While Ali is best known for his battles in the ring and his outspoken political views, he also helped those in need in the U.S. and other countries through large charitable donations and his participation in United Nations missions to countries like Afghanistan, where he helped deliver millions of meals to hungry people. The researchers who worked on the Ali Center report interviewed more than 5,000 U.S. adults living in 12 cities in 2024 in order to learn more about the prevalence of compassionate behaviors such as charitable giving, volunteering and assisting others in their recovery from disasters. They found that the desire to help others still animates many Americans despite the nation's current polarization and divisive politics. The center has created an index it calls the 'net compassion score.' It approximates the degree to which Americans give their time and money to programs and activities that nurture and strengthen their communities. Cities with high compassion scores have more community engagement and civic participation than those with low scores. A higher-scoring community performs better when it comes to things like public housing and mental health resources, for example. Its residents report more career opportunities, better communications between local government and citizens, more community programs and more optimism around economic development where they live. The report provides some clues as to what drives compassionate behavior in a city: a sense of spirituality, good education, decent health care, resources for activities like sports, and opportunities to engage in local politics. All told, Americans rate their country as a 9 on a scale that runs from minus 100 to 100. The report also identified some troubling obstacles that stand in the way of what it calls 'self-compassion' – meaning how volunteers and donors treat their own mental and physical health. Frequent struggles with self-care can lead to rising levels of isolation and loneliness. The 2025 Compassion Report's findings show that many Americans still want to live in a compassionate country but also that Americans view the country as less compassionate today than four years ago. The report delves into gaps in compassion. About one-third of those interviewed acknowledged that there are groups toward whom they feel less compassionate toward, such as people who have been convicted of crimes, immigrants living in the U.S. without authorization and the rich. Only 29% said they feel compassion toward everyone. The report also identifies gender gaps. Despite expressing greater awareness of systemic challenges, the women surveyed reported less self-compassion than men. It's not the first compassion study ever done. But I believe that this one is unique due to its focus on specific cities, and how it assessed limits on the compassion some people feel toward certain groups. The Compassion Institute, another nonprofit, seeks to weave compassion training into health care education to 'create a more caring and humanitarian world.' It cites the benefits of compassion for human beings, with everything from reducing stress to alleviating the effects of disease on the mind and body. Academic institutions, including Stanford University, have conducted many studies on how teaching compassion can guide health care professionals to both treat patients better and achieve better outcomes. A team of Emory University researchers examined how training people to express more compassion can reduce stress hormones levels, triggering positive brain responses that improve immune responses. Although there are plenty of adorable videos of dogs and cats behaving kindly with each other or their human companions, historically compassion has differentiated humans from animals. Human beings possess powers of emotional reasoning that give us an edge. Scholars are still working to discover how much of human compassion is rooted in emotional reasoning. Another factor they've identified is the aftermath of trauma. Studies have found evidence that it can increase empathy later on. You might imagine that in a world of hurt, there's a deficit of compassion for others. But the Ali Center's report keeps alive the notion that Americans remain compassionate people who want to help others. My experiences around the world and within the U.S. have taught me that human beings both have the power to be violent and destructive. But despite it all, there is, within all of us, the innate ability and desire to be compassionate. That is a net positive for our country. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Tara Sonenshine, Tufts University Read more: Donors gave billion to higher ed in the 2023 academic year, with mega gifts up despite overall decline 5 reasons why people give their money away – plus 1 why they don't US generosity after disasters: 4 questions answered Tara Sonenshine does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
