Between early mornings surrounded by her three kids, long days reporting on breaking news, and afternoons stuck in quintessential D.C. traffic, the CNN anchor Pamela Brown stays busy. Sometimes on that commute from Washington, D.C.’s CNN bureau to her home in Alexandria, Virginia, the native Kentuckian thinks longingly of her hometown. “I get such a feeling of peace and happiness when I go into Lexington,” she says. “I just miss driving and seeing horse farms everywhere. You just feel like you can breathe in that beautiful landscape of rolling hills.” Brown’s family, which includes her father, the late governor John Y. Brown Jr., as well as her mother, the late Miss America and sportscaster Phyllis George, has lived in Kentucky for as long as she can remember. “I’m a Kentuckian through and through,” she says. “Lexington has this grounding effect on me.” Below, the 11 a.m. anchor shares her favorite spots to visit when she goes home (if breaking news allows).
Grub Out
“There are a few places that I’m like, Oh my God, I can’t wait to go there, but it depends on the mood. So if I’m looking for something really casual, like grub food, there’s a place called Ramsey’s. I used to be a hostess there in high school. They have amazing hot browns, which is this special dish that’s probably the most unhealthy thing you can eat, but also the yummiest. There’s also Suggins, which is kind of a dive bar and grill that all my friends go to.”
Dine
“When we’re going out to a nice dinner, we’ll go to Omakase Sushi, which is honestly the best sushi I’ve ever had. You wouldn’t necessarily think that you would find the best sushi in Lexington, but trust me, it is. Then there’s Dudley’s, which is just a really nice fine dining experience, and it has a cozy Kentucky feel, and Malone’s, which has the best steaks.”
Indulge
“Wheeler’s, which is a drugstore diner, is where I go for milkshakes and burgers with friends. I’ve been going there since childhood, so it’s a really special, nostalgic place. I also have to mention Missy’s Pies. They have butterscotch and coconut cream pies that are to die for. We had Crank & Boom’s bourbon ice cream at our wedding. Guests were like Oh my God, this is the best thing I’ve ever tasted.”
Drink
“Rosebud Bar and Silks Lounge are right next to each other, and are institutions in Lexington. They’ve just been around forever, and I’ve been going there since college. My go-to drink is a skinny margarita. I know I’m supposed to say a bourbon drink because Kentucky is all about that, but I’m a tequila gal.”
Stay
“21c Hotel is this really cool, artsy hotel, started by a family friend in downtown Lexington. They have a great restaurant called Lockbox there as well, so you kind of get everything. Another place is the Campbell House. As soon as you get there, you know you’re in Kentucky. It’s all about horses, and it’s really nice.”
Shop
“Bella Rose is a really cute place in downtown Lexington that sells dresses and a little bit of everything. And then there’s Peggy’s, a gift shop where you can get little trinkets and jewelry.”
Explore
“For my wedding weekend, my friends did horse farm tours, and they raved about it. There are a couple: Unique Horse Farm Tours and Unbridled Horse Tours. The tours go to some of the most famous horse farms, like Ashford Stud, and distilleries, so it’s a little bit of everything. Next to Lexington is Berea, where you have the Kentucky Artisan Center, which is a big deal. There are Kentuckians all over the state who are represented, and crafts are also a big part of Kentucky culture. The Mary Todd Lincoln House is really neat, and also Henry Clay’s house, which is called Ashland. It’s a beautiful estate. I take my kids there to run around, and it’s absolutely gorgeous.”
