On Wednesday, The New York Times released a list of 10 cities whose downtown "have come back even stronger and more resilient" since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

And guess who was listed — we were.

Here are a few key points:

The resurgence of downtown in the 2010s — thanks to new restaurants, bars + the repurposing of old buildings — took the area from "an afterthought" to "blooming."
Lexington is more recession-proof due to our largest employers being universities and hospitals.
While the pandemic has been cited as the cause for many hits + closures, some business owners say in terms of people out doing things — numbers are better than in 2019.

And with the addition of Town Branch Park, the Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center renovations + the High Street development, our resilience is strengthened and even growing.

So, let's write a love letter to downtown. Share with us your favorite memories, businesses, or features of downtown.