Sorry for the delay in the write up, I'm actually in the process of moving myself (from near Jacobson Park to the Polo Club Blvd area). Spending 14+ hours a day working at the new house without internet is taking it's toll a bit (MetroNet and GigE Fibre install set for tomorrow!).
First off congrats on the sobriety, it is a tough road sometimes. Downtown definitely has little to offer other than bars and clubs, and honestly outside of games/concerts usually isn't super populated after dark. Thursday Night Live is fun during the summer (they have bands play outside -- although again, lost of drunken shenanigans). That being said many of the more interesting one-off restaurants are in the downtown area which is usually why the wife and I head downtown.
Park Place is on the south of Lexington which would make for a bit of a commute to Innovation Dr. A bit about driving in Lexington: you're coming from Atlanta, so you know real hell when driving, so this will all seem quaint but realize going across town in Lexington isn't quite as fast as it should be. First there are no interstates through Lexington proper (they skirt the North and Eastern edge of the county) so you are almost always running into traffic lights driving through the town. There are two circular roads, the inner is New Circle (which is 3/4 2 lane divided high way, 1/4 stoplights) and the outer is Man O' War (which goes around 3/4 of the city and is all stoplight all the way). Lex is pretty much a wheel with an inner loop and an outer loop. What this means for Park Place is getting to New Circle, going around, then heading out. Seriously, it isn't Atlanta bad, but for Lex you are pretty much on the opposite side of town.
That being said, south Lex has more in the ways of food and shopping and parks, and the Tates Creek Rd area is pretty central to all of the above. I'd personally look between Harrodsburg Rd counterclockwise to about Winchester and if you want to avoid college kids outside of New Circle. There are fine places outside of that swath but there are a few neighborhoods you probably don't want to live in.
You mentioned a dog and I know of at least a couple of dog parks in the area if your puppy is into that kind of thing. There are a few great trails around town as well if you like to walk/run/bike. Depending how much you want to walk versus drive might sway which part of town you look at as well. South side Tates Creek pretty much means driving to most places.
I've not been in the dating game since the early 90s so I'm going to be absolutely no help there. Hell, I really wouldn't have been much help then.
Anything in particular you'd like to know?
