Kelli Gabat, owner of Wildfire Yoga and Wellness Studio, shares her journey from an 800-square-foot sublease to a thriving wellness sanctuary in the Warehouse Block. Discover how her studio blends hot yoga, slow flow, mat Pilates, and tone-and-flow classes to build strength, mobility, and calm. Kelli explains why yoga complements any fitness routine, how their four-week beginner series builds confidence, and why repetition creates moving meditation that rewires your brain.

Beyond the mat, Wildfire offers red light therapy, PEMF, massage, sauna, and cold plunge for faster recovery and reduced inflammation. With an on-site smoothie bar, monthly events, and a genuine community vibe, this is where consistency meets results.

Wildfire Yoga is offering major specials for first-timers this January! It's the perfect way to start your year energized and fresh.

We sat down with Erin Goins, one of the spirited forces behind the Warehouse Block's The Willow, a women-led, adult-only space where wine and pop-ups make room for focus, friendship, and new ideas. Erin helped create The Willow as a place for connection and collaboration, hosting events that bring the community together in meaningful ways.

Erin is also the founder of Bites of the Bluegrass, the Lexington food tour company she started from scratch. Through her tireless work, she has built a citywide love letter that connects restaurants, archives, and street corners to the people and events that shaped them. She rotates stops and scripts to keep things fresh and inclusive, celebrating Lexington's rich immigrant fabric and spotlighting stories that rarely make the marquee. Her work brings history alive through forgotten heroes, misunderstood icons, and the neighborhoods that tell the REAL story of Lexington, KY.

Behind the bright blue door that gives Blue Door Smokehouse its name is a story of culinary passion and community connection. Owner Jeff Newman never planned to open a barbecue joint—he originally wanted an upscale sandwich concept but pivoted when constraints made that impossible. Drawing on his culinary school background and smoking techniques from restaurants across Lexington, New York, and Atlanta, he created a barbecue destination that's thrived for over 11 years.

Their Texas-style brisket—seasoned with salt and pepper, smoked overnight with oak—has become legendary in Lexington's Warehouse Block. While many restaurants struggled during COVID, Blue Door transformed into a "carryout command center" and weathered the storm. Newman deliberately keeps prices accessible because he values long-term customer relationships over maximizing profits.

What sets Blue Door apart is Newman's culture of community. From the open kitchen window to his hiring philosophy that prioritizes personality over experience, he's built "the best team in town." This creates a smooth experience where construction workers and executives sit side by side enjoying high-quality food. The story reveals how passion, adaptability, and community focus create something special—and their legendary brisket is worth the visit.