Covington

Covington is difficult to box – on the one hand, it is a blue collar neighborhood with tattoo parlors and biker bars, and on the other hand, it is the home of the classy Northern Kentucky Convention Center and The Ascent condominium, which sells units for millions. The city boasts a little bit of everything – excellent dining, active night life, arts and culture, unique independent shops, and both a healthy business district and diverse residential neighborhoods. All of Covington’s offerings come with a strong dose of personality.

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Covington, incorporated in 1815, is the place where waters converge - both literally, at the confluence of the Ohio and Licking rivers, and figuratively, with the merging of diverse cross-currents of culture, industry and lifestyles. It is the largest city in Northern Kentucky, with a population of about 43,370 spread over 13.7 square miles.

The key to Covington is contrast. It is home to two Fortune 500 companies, as well as numerous mom and pop businesses, consignment stores and pawn shops. It boasts a couple of gorgeous cathedrals with a devout following, but also a thriving entertainment district that runs the gamut from cocktail lounges to seedy dives. Covington is known as a blue collar, working class neighborhood (and sports a surprising number of liquor stores per capita), but also nurtures an artistic sensibility, with a growing arts district, monthly gallery hops and financial incentives for artist home-buyers. The historic district is second only to Louisville for number of buildings on the National Historic Registry, but is also developing stunning contemporary living spaces, such as The Ascent condominium, which contains suites that sell for millions of dollars.

Covington's dual personality (and sense of ironic humor) is clearly portrayed in its two main strips, which run parallel to each other, separated by only a couple of blocks - the main street (affectionately called Mainstrasse in honor of its German roots) and Madison Avenue - the bridal district, complete with Wedding Mall, a reception area and bridal boutiques. Mainstrasse, a popular date zone, is where couples meet and court one another - and up the street on Madison Avenue is where they prepare to tie the knot. Weddings and receptions are commonly held in nearby Devou Park - one can complete the entire process within a three-mile radius!

Covington is a treasure trove for the urban adventurer, offering just about anything curiosity desires - from art oddities housed in a rehabbed church to puppy vogue items at the doggie boutique. Tattoo parlors, stained glass studios, vintage clothing stores, hair salons, florists and a new age center are among the many businesses that make Covington a great place to find a last-minute gift or window shop for hours. It's eminently walkable, and also only a half hour journey on foot to neighboring Newport or Downtown Cincinnati, and easily accessible by bus. Also, unless one intends to spend, Covington is an area friendly to visitors on a budget - all of the eye candy makes for good, cheap fun, as do the abundant recreational areas on 6th Street, Covington Landing and Devou Park.

Covington is a jumble of specialty shops, both upscale and casual eateries, art galleries and plentiful watering holes, laid out in what appears at times a seemingly random fashion - asymmetrical intersections and one-way streets frustrate outsiders but endear residents to a neighborhood that is best explored on foot. Full of narrow alleyways and hidden corners, Covington is like the site of a giant scavenger hunt - you never know what you may find, but are sure to be rewarded if you look.

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Dining

Covington’s dining is as diverse as its residents – you can find everything from a number of greasy spoons and home-style diners to upscale bistros and wine bars. You can also find ethnic eateries including one of the area’s few Korean restaurants (and only Korean tea house), a traditional German restaurant, a Greek diner and a number of pubs serving fish and chips and other British favorites.
If you like jazz, you can also choose from various clubs that regularly host live jazz. There are also some late-night options in the various clubs and bars, as well as at The Anchor Grill, which is open 24 hours. If you’re an early riser, there are several coffee shops and a First Watch that serve early breakfasts. For a romantic river dining experience, you can take your meal atop a historic steamboat, Mike Fink, which was built in 1936 and converted into a restaurant in 1959.

One thing to keep in mind about Covington (and all of Northern Kentucky) is that there is no smoking ban – if you’re looking for a place that allows you a cigarette at the dinner table, you can find plenty here. If smoke isn’t something you enjoy with your meal, you may wish to call the venue beforehand to find out their policy.
Nightlife

For many, Covington is synonymous with the word “nightlife.” The Mainstrasse/Pike Street area is packed with a variety of clubs and bars – everything from smoky dives to Irish Pubs and dance clubs pumping industrial electronica.
Despite Covington’s rough and tumble blue-collar image, it does offer GLBT options – there is a gay/lesbian bar called Yadda on Pike and a lesbian bar called Rosie’s Tavern on Bakewell. If you like an exotic smoke, there is a hookah lounge called Gypsy Café on Mainstrasse.
Many venues offer live music; Chez Nora and Dee Felice regularly feature live Jazz, while Cock and Bull and Bar Monet serve up a variety of local acts. The Avenue on Madison is a great place to catch some blues, as is CoCo’s Family Restaurant. Molly Malone’s on Scott often hosts music benefit concerts and salsa dancing nights. The Mad Hatter and Madison Theatre are established music venues for seeing up and coming independent artists as well as national touring acts. If you enjoy drinking outdoors, Cosmos, Chez Nora and The Avenue all have pleasant open-air options. If you prefer wine to beer, Bouquet and Chalk offer a generous wine selection. For sports fans, Tickets on 6th St. is the ticket. Not sure where to begin your pub sampling? Just throw a rock – it is sure to land near a watering hole.
Arts & Entertainment

Covington likes to wear a lot of hats. Not only is it known for its nightlife and wedding districts, it is also developing an impressive arts reputation as well. Covington is an increasingly attractive destination for artists looking to relocate – besides the energy and support of an arts community, the city also offers a $6,000 cash incentive for artists purchasing a home within a designated zone.
Covington also hosts a large gallery hop on the first Friday of every month, with art of all mediums displayed in both traditional galleries and small businesses such as cafes and bars. There are numerous galleries, arts centers and museums in the area.
The Carnegie is a multi-media arts venue that hosts exhibits, educational programs and special events; you can expect to see anything from a film screening to a food art exhibit to a fringe theatre production within its 17,000 square foot facility. The Frank Duveneck Arts and Cultural Center is built in and beside the historic home of Covington artist Frank Duveneck and offers arts programs for all ages, including visual arts, fiber arts and dance classes. Baker Hunt, located in a large historic house, hosts classes and workshops for children and adults, primarily in visual arts. The Artists’ Enterprise Center is a business resource for artists, and offers business workshops and information services aimed at professional artists. The Behringer-Crawford Museum, located in the midst of Devou Park, is a four-level museum dedicated to telling the story of Northern Kentucky history through the lens of transportation: Rails, Rivers, Roads and Runways. Each floor has a path in the shape of a railway, river, road or runway that will take you through the interactive, hands-on exhibit.
The Cathedral Basilica is itself a work of art. It is home to the world's largest stained glass window, a magnificent rose window, and interior paintings by Frank Duveneck. It also hosts free concents on a regular basis, and the Cincinnati May Festival holds one concert there each year which is always a sellout.
Recreation

Covington is a great place to walk. Whether window-shopping on the MainStrasse, or strolling through the historic neighborhoods, it’s definitely an area best explored on foot. The River Walk, which spans 13 blocks along the shore of the Ohio River, is a beautiful and scenic path. Two foot bridges also link to downtown Cincinnati and Newport, respectively.
Covington’s most notable recreational gem, however, is Devou Park – a 550-acre expanse of greenery and rolling hills. Home of Drees Pavilion, a popular reception facility, and the Behringer-Crawford Museum, Devou also contains multiple playgrounds, walking and biking trails, a fishing area, tennis courts, a large amphitheater for outdoor concerts, picnic shelters with fire pits and a challenging 18-hole golf course. Devou also offers one of the best views of both Cincinnati and Covington. In addition to gorgeous Devou, there are other Covington parks worth visiting, including Goebel Park and the Bill Cappel Youth Sports Complex.
For those who enjoy swimming, public pools can be found at Senator Gus Sheehan Park on Parkway Avenue, Randolph Park at 8th and Greenup, Goebel Park at 8th and Dalton and Covington Water Park (at the Bill Cappel Youth Sports Complex) at 43rd and Decoursey.
Special Interest

Covington caters to a wide variety of eclectic interests. Antiques buffs flock to an open air market featuring over 50 antiques dealers every second Sunday of the month. Scrabble lovers compete in tournaments at the Bean Haus, or just play for fun. Karaoke fans rent out a private room at Korean Riverside Café and choose from thousands of pop tunes in multiple languages.
One of the most common interests that brings people to Covington is the wedding industry – Madison Avenue, known as the wedding district, is populated with dress shops, wedding planners and reception facilities. Drees Pavilion in Devou Park is also a picturesque place to host a wedding – and profits from events held there go toward maintaining the park. Whatever your interest, you can probably find a place in Covington that caters to it.
Shopping

Covington has wares to fit any budget and style. You can go thrift shopping at the pawn shops that dot Madison Avenue or at consignment shops like Julie’s Inspiration or The Jewelry Box on Mainstrasse. You can find affordable (and sometimes wearable) art at the Flying Cat, located across the street from another colorful art gallery/shop full of trinkets and curiosities, Leapin Lizard. Flowers and floral arrangements can be procured at Enchanted Florist and Pollination. Beautiful stained glass is on display at Kaleidoscope Stained Glass, and upscale, contemporary furniture can be found at Adobe. For framing and small gifts, Stoney’s Café is a great little spot to check out, and they have an “Alice in Wonderland” themed garden in which you can sip a cup of tea or coffee. Ottoman Imports is the place to purchase an exotic dress or purse, while Mike’s Music is the haunt for musicians searching out used gear. If you need a gift for a child, Christian’s Kinderladen is the place to go – but if it’s your dog you plan to spoil, then Strasse Dog is a pet boutique you’ll want to visit. In any case, Covington shop-hopping can easily be a day-long affair, so go prepared!
Personal Care

Whether looking for a place to get fit, style your hair or get a new nose ring, Covington has several charismatic places to consider. Fitness facilities include The Workout @ Covington, which offers free weights and cardio equipment, or, if you prefer something more aerobic, you could tone up with Zumba lessons at the Frank Duveneck Arts and Cultural Center or Salsa and Swing dancing classes at Step-N-Out Studio on Madison. If yoga and meditation are more your style, you may enjoy workshops at Shine Your Light, a New Age spiritual center. For a new “look,” try A Cut Above on Scott or Noah’s Art on Main St. If tattoos and piercings are your thing, you can choose between Lucky 13 on Madison and two parlors on Main St: Mothers and Designs by Dana. To finish up, you can pamper yourself at Relaxing Moments with a therapeutic massage. Additional spa/salon and fitness options are available in neighboring areas.

Covington’s dining is as diverse as its residents – you can find everything from a number of greasy spoons and home-style diners to upscale bistros and wine bars. You can also find ethnic eateries including one of the area’s few Korean restaurants (and only Korean tea house), a traditional German restaurant, a Greek diner and a number of pubs serving fish and chips and other British favorites.

If you like jazz, you can also choose from various clubs that regularly host live jazz. There are also some late-night options in the various clubs and bars, as well as at The Anchor Grill, which is open 24 hours. If you’re an early riser, there are several coffee shops and a First Watch that serve early breakfasts. For a romantic river dining experience, you can take your meal atop a historic steamboat, Mike Fink, which was built in 1936 and converted into a restaurant in 1959.

One thing to keep in mind about Covington (and all of Northern Kentucky) is that there is no smoking ban – if you’re looking for a place that allows you a cigarette at the dinner table, you can find plenty here. If smoke isn’t something you enjoy with your meal, you may wish to call the venue beforehand to find out their policy.

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Official Home Page of Covington:
www.covingtonky.com/

Just across the river, in Covington, KY, sits a 19th century village as unique as its heritage. MainStrasse Village is a commotion of pubs, quaint boutiques and eateries.

Covington

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