Saraya Brewer

1 month ago | smileypete.com | Brent Owen |Saraya Brewer

Lexington is brimming with unique new spots to eat, drink and be merry, and in looking at a few of our favorites we noticed a common thread: all are owned by incredible Lexington women! With Mother’s Day around the corner, we thought it would be a great opportunity to highlight a handful of cool new female-owned businesses, each unique in their own way.

Feb 28, 2025 | smileypete.com | Saraya Brewer

Julie Griggs has built her career from the ground up — literally. In 1995, she stood on an empty lot in Andover Hills ready to build her first home. At the time, the Lexington neighborhood was little more than a grid of dirt roads and possibilities. Just 28 years old at the time, Griggs had no idea that moment would mark the beginning of a decades-long career shaping the homes — and lives — of families across Lexington. Griggs Homes Inc.

Dec 23, 2024 | smileypete.com | Saraya Brewer

Coquito — which translates to “little coconut” in Spanish — is a popular Puerto Rican holiday cocktail that is typically consumed on the island from the day after Thanksgiving through mid-January. Blending rum with coconut, milk and spices, the drink is often referred to as a Puerto Rican eggnog, even though traditional coquito recipes don’t use eggs (some contemporary recipes call for the optional addition of an egg yolk).

Nov 1, 2024 | smileypete.com | Brent Owen |Saraya Brewer

There’s a new gallery in town, though its namesake is familiar to many in the local art world. Respected gallerist John Hockensmith opened the first Lexington location of Hockensmith Fine Art Editions in March at the Jefferson Street space most recently occupied by Wills Gallery. In many ways, the gallery is a culmination of Hockensmith’s career history, which includes decades as an archivist, book publisher, gallery owner, photojournalist and fine arts photographer.

Oct 2, 2024 | smileypete.com | Saraya Brewer |Olivia Tader

New exhibit sees familiar subjects depicted by a new technique from artist Lynn Sweet STORY BY OLIVIA TADER AND SARAYA BREWER | PHOTO BY MICK JEFFRIES With colors and imagery that are reminiscent to his other recent collections, the new exhibit by artist Lynn Sweet at New Editions Gallery might feel familiar to audiences who know his work. But a closer look at the pieces in the exhibit “A Walk in the Woods,” on display at the gallery through Nov.