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Brunch has become one of the most beloved weekend activities around. We are making it easy for you to find the best establishments to enjoy brunch by providing a list all in one place! From Everything Cincy Clients to coffee shops, restaurants, and hotels all around Cincy/Northern Kentucky, you will have endless brunch options.
Everything Cincy is your one-stop shop to Local Events. Local Deals. Local Jobs.
There’s a new way to explore the world-class public art in Covington and Newport this summer: take one of the free guided art walks being offered by NKY Public Arts Network—with fun extras built in.
Jill Morenz, who leads the tours for the Network and the Catalytic Fund, explained that she wanted to introduce guests not only to the murals and statues, but also to the shops, restaurants and bars that make the neighborhoods so special. She is partnering with meetNKY to offer these tours to both residents and tourists.
For example, the Sweet and Spicy Tour begins with treats from Golden Gelato in Covington and winds through the downtown neighborhood for about ¾ of a mile. Guests will munch on flavored pretzels from Yankee Doodle Deli as they get an up-close look at the murals and art-related businesses in the area. The tour ends at Rich’s Proper Food and Drink for a spicy cocktail.
The Newport Art and Architecture Tour includes the murals, statues and buildings of historic Monmouth Street, Newport on the Levee and the approach to the Purple People Bridge. The other Newport tour, called Sharks, Cannon and Bell, includes some history of the courthouse, as well.
Other tours include browsing time at local galleries, a behind-the-scenes look at the Goebel Park Glockenspiel and some incredible mosaics tucked here and there in the river cities.
To learn more and reserve a spot on one of the free tours, please visit the NKY Art Tours website.
Jill Morenz is the Director of Community Initiatives and Communications for the Catalytic Fund and also runs the NKY Public Arts Network. She is an enthusiastic evangelist for all things NKY.
*All photos taken by Jill Morenz
Everything Cincy is your one-stop shop to Local Events. Local Deals. Local Jobs.
What’s a great way to celebrate a 50th anniversary? With a week of 50% discounts from restaurants and bars!
The Covington Business Council (known as the CBC) has been promoting Covington’s economic development and providing members with access to opportunity and growth for 50 years. As part of the festivities, they are hosting Celebrate Covington Week from April 11-17. More than 20 CBC member restaurants and bars will be offering a 50% discount on a signature menu item. Here’s how you can grab these deals.
Plan to eat out several times during the week of April 11-17. Check the Celebrate Covington website for all the deals.
Visit the participating restaurants and bars for great deals like:
Take a moment to toast the Covington Business Council, thanking them for these deals and for 50 years of hard work, making Covington an economically vibrant community.
Stay tuned here for the CBC’s Bourbon Week in September.
Jill Morenz is the Director of Community Initiatives and Communications for the Catalytic Fund and also runs the NKY Public Arts Network. She is an enthusiastic evangelist for all things NKY.
Northern Kentucky can be a spooky place. With a long history and neighborhoods that date back to the Civil War, the region holds many tales of roaming ghosts and gruesome events that will send chills up your spine.
Here is a sampling of what awaits you here, as the weather grows colder, and the spirits come out to play. Links to all the events can be found here.
Nightmare ships and haunted fields
The USS Nightmare docks in Newport this time of year. It’s one of the area’s longest haunted tours (over 30 minutes), inviting brave and foolhardy guests to explore two full decks of pure horror.
Sandy Acres Farm is a charming place to visit in the daytime. At night, though, it gets a lot creepier. Come for a hayride through haunted fields—if you dare.
For kids
To get the kiddos involved in something more than just trick-or-treating, take them to the free Halloween Hoopla at Behringer-Crawford Museum. They can do a seasonal craft, march in the costume parade and more.
For fans of LEGO, the Northern Kentucky Convention Center is hosting Bricks, Tricks and Treats, a LEGO convention with a Halloween theme.
Talk to dead people
Falcon Theatre and Dinsmore Homestead Museum have teamed up to create a rare opportunity to talk with six costumed actors who are portraying people from the Homestead’s past. All the characters are based on their actual lives, letters and journals. It’s kind of like a historic version of “Sixth Sense.”
Take a spooky tour
Tickets are still available for the Halloween date of the Spooky Secrets Tour. This 2-mile walk past haunted houses, creepy historic sites and cool shops was created by the author of “Secret Cincinnati” and the writer for the NKY Art Tours website. It’s the perfect way to start your Halloween celebrations.
For more Halloween fun, as well as details on the events listed above, please visit NKY ArtQuest’s Halloween roundup.
About the author:
Jill Morenz is the Director of Community Initiatives and Communications for the Catalytic Fund and also runs the NKY Public Arts Network. She is an enthusiastic evangelist for all things NKY.
We finally made it to Nomad after seeing so many mouth-watering social posts! A product of pandemic-times, its opening may have seemed like a sleeper, but Nomad should be at the top of your list for picture-worthy boozy milkshakes!
Located at 225 Fairfield Avenue, the outdoor patio space is cute, comfy, and conducive to gathering. And the interior of the restaurant is no different.
We loved the lounge area room, complete with a trunk full of board games. I could totally hang out here, drinking milkshakes and playing games til my heart is content. We opted to sit inside during our visit since the outside temperature exceeded 90 degrees, but we can’t wait to return and have a shake on the patio.
Those who’ve ever shared a meal with me know that my eating habits are like those of a child. No, really, my young kids (8, 6, and 3) all eat more healthily and more adventurously than I do. So when I heard about Nomad and their menu of tacos, tater tots, and milkshakes, my eyes lit up. I mean, what a combination! And combinations they have–all with witty menu names. Being a lover of words, I took several minutes to just read the menu and giggle at the plays on words.
After much debate, I settled on the Naughty Nati tot basket. A nod to Cincinnati-style chili, this would be a great way for visitors to sample the Cincinnati delicacy if the thought of chili on spaghetti repulses them. It’s literally tater tots smothered in Cincinnati-style chili and topped with onions, mustard, and cheese. While the cheese was a bit different than the traditional shredded cheddar you’d see from Skyline, Gold Star, and the like, the Naughty Nati tots were tasty and exactly as I expected they’d taste.
My friend ordered the blanco taco (smoked chicken, mozzarella, onion and pico) and the Korean BBQ taco (Korean style short rib, mozzarella, onions, house-made kimchi) and enjoyed both. While they may not be the top pick if you’re looking for traditional tacos, they’re certainly a solid choice. And when the hankering hits for tacos and tots or tacos and milkshakes–you know where to go!
Drumroll, please…. The moment we’ve all been waiting for–the boozy milkshakes! The menu names of these are all so cheeky! (S’more than a feeling, Oreo speedwagon, Dough you want me baby, Go Nutell-it on the mountain, etc.) But the shakes are serious business. So. Good!
My friend opted for the “Ba-Duh Duhduhduh Duh-Dumdum! Tequila!,” a lemon sorbet blended with Jose Cuervo tequila & blueberries, topped with whipped cream and fresh fruit. I sampled hers and it was incredible! Much more of a berry base than I expected from the description, which I loved. It would be perfect on a hot day, sitting on the patio. So refreshing!
If you’re like me and looking for a more “traditional” milkshake, there are several options. I opted for the “Build me up peanut butter cup,” which is ice cream blended with bourbon, Ghirardelli chocolate sauce & peanut butter, topped with whipped cream, Reese’s Cups, Hershey bar, and cherry. Yum–what’s not to love?! One of the best milkshakes I’ve ever had!
And if you aren’t into milkshakes, they also have several other cocktail options, including margaritas, sorbet spritz, hot toddy, Kentucky mule, and more.
If you’re looking for a different dessert option, I’m intrigued by the tot fudge sundae–cinnamon sugar tossed tater tots, three scoops of vanilla ice cream, Ghirardelli chocolate & caramel drizzle, whipped cream, and a cherry. I have never seen a concoction quite like that on a menu anywhere else and it sounds appetizing!
Once you’ve gorged enough on the treats at Nomad, you can saunter over to Darkness Brewing across the street, or venture down Fairfield Avenue to explore more of Bellevue. From the cute shops, other restaurants & bars, and chill patios (think Three Spirits Tavern, also a B-Line stop!), there’s plenty to do to keep you entertained in Bellevue!
Written By: Dot Crane, MeetNKY
Friday, August 6, 2021 10:00 AM by Brooklynn DiPaolo
Welcome to your very own “How To Be A Local in Northern Kentucky” starter kit. I would not be a true Northern Kentuckian/Cincinnatian if I didn’t start this off by talking about The Big Three. Okay, so no one actually calls it that. Although I have heard the following local gems referred to as “the Trifecta.” The three cornerstone places to eat for every Cincy Metro resident are: LaRosa’s Pizza, Skyline Chili, and Graeter’s ice cream.
Hey, I don’t make the rules. Just go.
Also, if you haven’t heard of goetta (pronounced “getta”) you better goetta educated (hehe). Here’s a handy Goetta Guide.
If you’re reading this odds are you’re a college student like me. We’ve all had more than our fair share of caffeine-fueled mornings (and nights for some of us), so let’s get right into some lovely little coffee and tea shops.
Anchor Grill in Covington, Kentucky
You could always just roll through the nearest McDonald’s drive through for like the fifth time this week, OR you could spend the same amount of money on food that is astronomically better at some of NKY’s best non-chain restaurants.
Moonrise Doughnuts in Covington, Ky.
What’s a meal without a little dessert, right? You can’t go wrong with any of these places.
Darkness Brewing in Bellevue, Kentucky
Where are my 21+ darlings? You deserve a drink. Something a little – ahem – stronger than what we’ve toured so far.
And to think that this is all just the tip of the iceberg. Check these places out and keep your eye out for the other hidden gems of NKY.
Brooklynn DiPaolo is a Freelance Graphic Designer and Writer.
She would love to say she’s started fulfilling her dream of traveling all over the world, but she’s finishing college first. She spends her free time digging up NKY’s hidden gems and being a mother to her dog Sadie
By Jill Morenz
First off, we’d like to offer our gratitude to all the workers out there—THANK YOU! Your efforts are always cause for celebration, especially on Labor Day.
Northern Kentucky is cooking up a lot of fun for this weekend. We hope you can join us!
Fireworks
The tradition of Labor Day fireworks over the Ohio River began in 1977. Some of the best places to watch those beautiful explosions are in NKY.
BBQ Festival
The Smoke on the River BBQ Festival is this weekend, from Friday through Sunday. A great lineup of live music will provide the soundtrack for the delicious menu options that include traditional barbeque, as well as unusual dishes like smoked brisket tacos, pork ‘n cheese and BBQ surf ‘n turf stuffed pretzels. Learn more here.
Comedy Show
The Brewery Comedy Tour brings top-notch comedians to Wooden Cask Brewing Co. in Newport, KY. You can decide which of their craft beers pairs well with hysterical laughter. Get the details here.
Symphony in the Parks
The Kentucky Symphony Orchestra is teaming up with the No Promises Vocal Band for two free shows around the theme “boy bands.” Sing along to nostalgic tunes from the Beach Boys, Temptations, NSYNC and more. On Saturday, they will be playing at the bandshell at Covington’s Devou Park and on Sunday they’ll be at Fort Thomas’ Tower Park. Get more info here.
Cute Caboose
Ludlow’s Train Viewing Platform has a new attraction—a decommissioned caboose that will be a permanent fixture there. Join the party to welcome the cute red newcomer, with live music, food and drinks, book signings and more. See the details here.
For more fun ways to celebrate Labor Day, NKY-style, you can visit NKY ArtQuest’s list of activities here. Don’t forget to celebrate your own hard-working self this weekend!
Jill Morenz is the Director of Community Initiatives and Communications for the Catalytic Fund and runs the NKY Public Arts Network. She is an enthusiastic evangelist for all things NKY.
If you live in or have visited Covington, Ky. the past few years, you might remember the Night Bazaar—an evening arts and crafts festival with entertainment and food and drink.
We’re excited to announce the 2021 return of the Covington Night Bazaar! Local non-profit Renaissance Covington is bringing it back, bigger than ever. It will be a recurring festival, taking place in July, August, September, and October. The hours and dates for the Night Bazaars are:
Saturday, July 24, from 6-11 pm
Saturday, August 28, from 6-11 pm
Saturday, September 18, from 6-11 pm
Saturday, October 23, from 6-11 pm
It will take place in the Roebling Point neighborhood, at the foot of the Roebling Bridge (where Smoke Justis, Eishaus, Frosthaus, Molly Malone’s, and Keystone Bar & Grill are located.)
Fun news for this year’s Night Bazaar – it will be the first time the city of Covington, Ky. enacts its Entertainment District!
What’s an Entertainment District?
Customers over 21 will be able to purchase alcoholic refreshments at the local restaurants and bars and sip and stroll with them as they peruse the art and crafts from more than 30 local artisans.
You can read more about Covington’s Entertainment District on the Renaissance Covington website.
In addition to the local artists’ booths, and the food and drink options, there will also be a variety of live entertainment throughout the evening.
If you’re looking for fun things to do in Northern Kentucky, need an outing for the family, are interested in local art and artisans, mark those calendars for Covington’s Night Bazaar 2021!
Dot Crane is the Content Marketing Overlord for meetNKY. She’s a proud resident of Covington, KY and loves helping others #lovethecov. You can find her sampling local craft brews at NKY’s seven craft breweries, or capturing the perfect image throughout the Cincinnati region to showcase our blend of Southern Charm and big city excitement.
You’ve seen our lists of best tacos in Newport and Florence, but when in Covington, the delicious taco options are endless! Whether you’re at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center for an event, or just in town staying at one of the Covington hotels, you’ll want to include tacos for at least one meal.
Agave & Rye seems like it’s boomed lately, with a total of nine locations, but Covington was the original, the OG, the epicenter of epic-ness.
Start with the incredible dips–from the guacamole to the queso, you can’t just try one. They’re all delicious. And the chips are house-made. Expert tip: If you like a softer/fluffier chip, or just want to try it once, ask your server if you can have the flour tortilla chips. They typically come with the pimento cheese dip, but man, they’re delicious with the queso!
The elote is also incredible, and those margaritas are where it’s at! They use premium tequila and you can definitely taste the difference. During happy hour (MWRF 3 p.m.-6 p.m.) and all day on Taco Tuesday, the OG margaritas are $6… and worth every penny.
Speaking of Taco Tuesday, the specials at Agave & Rye are incredible. In addition to the margarita special, they also feature $3 chips and queso, and taco specials running from $2.50 to $4. And these tacos aren’t just your typical tacos… They’re double-shelled (a crunchy wrapped in a soft–so it holds the crumbles) and the flavor combinations are amazing. My personal favorite is the Bees Knees, but there are still a few on the menu I want to try–Kangaroo, anyone?!
If you’re not into tacos, there are many other options on the menu, including egg rolls, burger and chicken sandwich, sticky cauliflower bites, Brussel sprouts, Irish Nachos, corn fritters, Lo Mein, and more! You won’t regret a meal here. And don’t miss their sister restaurant next door, Papi Jocho’s, serving up Mexican street dogs!
First and foremost, Gutierrez Deli is a small family-owned and operated Hispanic store located in Covington, near Mainstrasse Village on Lee Street.
First open in 2012, Gutierrez Deli quickly became a gathering place for Covington’s growing Latino population. The deli features a huge selection of imported products from Central America and Mexico… and they happen to also sell incredible tacos, burritos, quesadillas, tamales, and more on a carryout basis (there are some sidewalk picnic tables out front).
The tacos are incredible. The ingredients are so fresh and authentic… and can be “Americanized” with cheese added.
On the weekends, the menu at Gutierrez has additional offerings… Sergio (the son of owner Claudio Gutierrez) suggests trying the mole poblano that is his grandmother’s recipe. We can’t wait to try it!
When you don’t want anything fancy, just incredibly good food, head to Gutierrez Deli.
Speaking of Sergio, he branched out from his father’s deli and opened his own restaurant earlier this summer, Olla Cov.
Unlike Gutierrez Deli, which is carryout only, Olla features some indoor dining space, as well as an outdoor patio. Not unlike Gutierrez Deli, the food is incredible.
From Birria tacos, chicken tacos, quesadillas, elote, and nachos, everything we ate was delicious. I must say, I didn’t order any rice, but tried my friend’s and it was some of the best rice I’ve ever had. Definitely going to order it next time!
These nachos, though, stole the show. All three of us were digging in and admiring all the fresh ingredients. I usually don’t like beans or guacamole on my nachos, but with these, you can’t go wrong! Our server told us to try the Guti Fries, which are similar to the nachos, except with a bed of French fries… sounds delicious!
Read our full review of Olla Cov here.
Located on Madison Avenue in Covington, Zapata Cantina opened in the midst of the pandemic in the fall of 2020. They serve a traditional handmade Mexican experience in a modern, industrial space.
The interior is beautiful. And so is the food…
Don’t leave without ordering the queso fundido appetizer. At $12, some may wonder if it’s really worth it. Trust me, it is. The chips accompanying the queso are equally delicious, so start every meal here with this app.
Our waiter told us the lime juice for the traditional margarita is fresh-squeezed in-house daily and wow–you can definitely tell the difference! The margarita was delicious… we couldn’t wait to get to the food!
My coworker ordered the chicken sopes, served on handmade corn disks. The portion was great and everything was so fresh. But man, those handmade corn disks steal the show.
I ordered the del mar (tempura shrimp, spiced candied pecans, cilantro, cabbage, honey chipotle) and al pastor (pork, cilantro, onions, and pineapple) tacos. Wow–each was so different from the other and other tacos I’ve had, making me confident that Covington can support the several taco restaurant options out there.
A neat note about Zapata is that their seafood is flown in fresh daily–our waiter said they don’t even have a freezer! The shrimp on my del mar taco was delicious and the taco itself could’ve served as a dessert with the spiced candied pecans. Definitely an A+!
Located in Mainstrasse Village, Frida 602 features a tequila & mezcal bar and Latin street food. Owned by the same people as Otto’s and The Standard, it’s no surprise that Frida is top-notch.
In addition to the beautiful art throughout, Frida features some cool hangout spots like picnic tables and foosball on the sidewalks.
And speaking of incredible queso, this one gives Zapata a run for their money as my personal favorite in the city. Both are amazing–this one adds corn. I will gladly eat either. 😉
The above tacos are delectable, and you can get chicken tacos for $2 on Tuesdays.
I personally have not had their margarita (yet), but have heard it’s incredible.
And a drumroll for one of the best things to come out of Covid…….. The Frida taco window! Grab them to go or hang out in the village–can’t go wrong with a meal from Frida 602.
An unassuming storefront on Madison Avenue, Taqueria San Miguel offers authentic food at great prices.
If you miss Taco Tuesday, be sure to catch Taco Wednesday here–$1.99 tacos and Modelo or Corona for $2.99.
The tacos are delicious–and choices include carne asada, chicken, tongue, chorizo, barbacoa, carnitas, or al pastor. Yum!
They also have a great selection of tortas, huarache, fajitas, quesadillas, burritos, soups, and Mexican plates.
Located in Mainstrasse Village next door to Piper’s, El Valle Verde is a perfect spot to satisfy your taco cravings.
From top to bottom, barbacoa, shrimp, chicken, and fish–all incredibly delicious and fresh!
The location is close to my office, so I’ve dined here multiple times and they always serves up fresh food with quick service.
To me, one of their best assets is their outdoor dining space. It’s just like eating on the front porch at grandma’s house, plus you get to participate in one of my favorite pastimes–people watching! Mainstrasse is a great place for people watching and the front-porch patio at El Valle Verde is a great spot for it!
If you haven’t made your way to Covington Yard yet, what are you waiting for!? It’s dog-friendly & family-friendly, has plenty of outdoor TVs and a stage for DJs and bands, and also has some excellent people-watching.
Comprised of a former fire hall and group of shipping-container restaurants with a nice view of the Roebling Bridge area, Covington Yard is a popular local hotspot.
They also feature a full bar, serving up some delicious slushy drinks in addition to all the regulars. Slushy drink flavors include froze, bourbon sangria, bourbon slush, or a frozen margarita.
The food at The Yard includes Mr. Bulgogi, Yard Bird, Hangry Omar’s, and Django Western Taco number three, which cranks out delicious tacos. The first Django opened in Northside in 2012 and the second inside Kroger Downtown OTR Food Hall.
Django’s menu includes carnitas, carne asada, fried chicken, shrimp, and Brussel sprout taco options as well as chips, salsa, queso, guacamole, and churros. And it’s all mouth-watering!
As you can see, Covington has a strong taco scene. Eat your favorite before or after the Reds or Bengals game, during your next business meeting, for date night, or for a weekend people-watching session with your besties. You can’t go wrong with this list!