Hi I’m Tiff of Tiff in the Morning on Kiss 1071 (heard weekdays 6-10a on iHeartRadio)
I do a lot of things alone…As someone who lived solo in city of Cincy for 4 years I’ve got this down to a science. Join me for tips on how to enjoy experiences alone during various activities…
Tonight I went to a comedy show/dinner at OTR eatery at the DT Kroger. Its centrally located in the city and the atmosphere lends itself to causal conversation, good food, and… grocery shopping if needed.
*Bonus Tiff tip: grocery shopping is a great conversation starter.
For this type of setting my number one recommendation is to sit and chat with the bartender, it’s not groundbreaking, but it’s a great start. Bartender who are not busy are often open to chatting, sharing recommendations, and will often bridge the gap to other people solo in the bar.
Easy questions to start:
“What do you recommend on tap?”
“What’s a typical night here look like?”
“ What else happens at this place, that I might like?”
My second recommendation is; If you find common ground with someone, exchange Instagram handles. This eliminated having to exchanges numbers with someone who don’t really care about (yet.)
*Bonus Tiff tip: FOLLOW UP! That’s my secret sauce, if I meet you and we hit it off, I will reach out and DM within a day or two. I never wait for someone to come to me, its nothing personal, but people get caught in their busy schedules.
My final recommendation is… just do it. You usually wont regret the experience, but it’s natural for your mind to talk you out of it… hell! Our body literally protects us from things that are uncomfortable.
*bonus Tiff tip: I usually tell myself “Stay for 30 mins Tiff, then you can decide.”
Everything Cincy has loads of things to get you started … she does all the research, so you don’t have too, then stop by Tiff in the Morning Tuesday 9:20 for tips of the week.
Cincinnati Magazine is inviting guests to ENTER their First Ever ‘Great Bake-Off’ Competition!
WHAT:
Cincinnati’s artistic and imaginative baking community will be taking center stage this October in Cincinnati Magazine’s inaugural ‘Great Bake-off’ confectionary competition. Both professional and at-home bakers are invited to apply NOW to participate in the following categories:
Celebrate Cincinnati Cake Decorating
Pies to Die For
Gimme Gimme Cookies + Brownies
Knead More Bread
Professional and amateur bakers will compete throughout the Great Bake-off week followed by a sweet and savory celebration of all the baked goodness as the winners are announced!
WHEN:
Baker applications accepted NOW through September 26.
Participants will be announced September 28.
Entries will be judged October 16-19.
The public is invited to purchase tickets to the Great Bake-off ceremony and celebration on Thursday, October 20 from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
WHERE:
Great Bake-off judging and the public celebration will be held at the Midwest Culinary Institute.
WHY:
Why let the Brits have all the fun?! It’s time for the Queen City’s best bakers to show up and show off their confectionary creations in this ultimate baking battle, followed by an epic party!
WHO:
Both professional and amateur bakers are invited to apply to participate. The entire community is invited to purchase tickets and attend the party on October 20.
Cincinnati has influential art around every corner. One of the best things about this city is the incredible number of murals all over town! The area is known for showcasing local creators and world-renowned artists with public art in every neighborhood that is convenient and fun to find! You can take a nice leisure walk, cruise on a city bike, or ride around in your car to access many art pieces displayed freely for anyone to enjoy. Embark on a journey to see murals with positive messages and meaning that goes deeper than the surfaces they are painted on. These works offer a chance to be in the present moment, to reflect and be inspired and to elevate your state of mind. So, keep your eyes and hearts open to encounter and be encouraged by Cincinnati art!
Where To Find
In the West End, there are three large wall pieces with beautiful words that will make you smile with happy thoughts when you see them! These huge murals have motivational phrases painted on brick in bold letters on the side of the Seven Hills Neighborhood House building. SHNH is a wonderful local resource and community gathering space at the corner of Findlay and Baymiller Street. ArtWorks partnered with them to create murals commemorating the life and work of Susan O’Malley, the original creator of the designs. Their team carefully selected enthusiastic messages from Susan’s work to share with residents or anyone just passing through.
Artwork by: Susan O’Malley
From left to right, there are three quotes placed side by side which come together as a tryptic to create a positive narrative. They work as separate statements, as well as a sequence of different affirmations with similar subject matter and style. This creates a lively conversation that unifies them and reaches out to connect with the viewer. Each section has a fade of colors seamlessly flowing behind the text. They are both aesthetically pleasing and comforting to experience!
The first sentiment starts off with the words “IT IS POSSIBLE”, initially welcoming the viewer to believe in themselves and imagine everything they can accomplish. The second panel has a delightful rainbow background that says, “KEEP MOVING KEEP PLAYING KEEP DREAMING”, a friendly reminder to follow your passions and never give up. Last but not least, “YOU ARE SMARTER AND STRONGER THAN YOU REALIZE”, sending out an endearing confirmation that everyone is capable of succeeding! All three of these amazing pieces cohesively connect in an effort to promote self-empowerment and reassurance that you can achieve anything! The concept of displaying artwork that expresses positivity is to create a sense of solidarity that is uplifting and helpful to the environment and community.
By taking in the art in Cincinnati, you gain a better understanding of the importance of an artist, the work they create, and the role it plays in society. These murals bring out the true essence of what art is all about and how it can be a source of good energy and support. We hope to see more murals with positive messages pop up around town and pick up our spirits at every turn.
WHAT: Cincinnati Magazine’s June edition of its monthly “Musical Brunch” series will be a boot-scootin’ Country Shindig withHeather Roush and The Heart Strings, held at The Cincinnati Club.
Each monthly Musical Brunch performance has received rave reviews from sold-out crowds coupled with one of the most delicious and over-the-top Sunday brunches found in the Queen City. The magazine’s popular Musical Brunch concept debuted in February this year.
Cincinnati Magazine Musical Brunch
Cincinnati’s talented and varied music scene will be fully showcased and celebrated throughout the remainder of this year as the featured musical genre and theme will change every month. Local acts and genres on tap include gospel, bluegrass, jazz, R&B, disco, and more!
Tickets are $55 per person and include a live concert, an elaborate brunch with light lunch options and dessert bites, access to a Mimosa/Bellini bar, an outrageous garnish-it-yourself Bloody Mary bar, complimentary coffee and hot and iced tea, and complimentary parking.
Tickets may be purchased online or at the door. Advance registration is highly recommended.
The Musical Brunch series will continue the last Sunday of each month throughout 2022.
WHEN: Sunday, June 26 from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.
WHERE: The Cincinnati Club | 30 Garfield Place, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Does your business offer Savings/Deals? Run Promotions/Discounts? Email us today at info@everythingcincy.com to learn how we can help promote your offerings!
CINCINNATI— Main Street Ventures is pleased to announce the launch of the Inventure Entrepreneurship Academy for high school students in Cincinnati. Created as the next iteration of Entrepreneurs Change The World led by Cintrifuse last summer, Inventure Entrepreneurship Academy will further develop the entrepreneurial mindset in our region’s high school students and inspire next-gen leaders. Inventure Entrepreneurship Academy is a 2-week immersive experience for high school students interested in entrepreneurship.
This program takes students through the ideation process, teaches them valuable leadership skills, and provides business education from regional experts. At the conclusion of the program, participating teams will pitch their ideas for up to $5,000 in prize funding for their venture. This free program will take place in person from June 13 – 17 and June 21 – 24 and is open to the first 50 High School Students (Rising Freshman – Senior) who register. Registration opens on April 4th.
Main Street Ventures believes there is an incredible opportunity to support entrepreneurship at an early age and connect young leaders to the nationally ranked university programs right here in our region. Connections to a startup community that supports young entrepreneurs are crucial to retaining local talent into college and beyond. Now is the time to invest in the next generation of startup founders and community leaders.
“There’s never been a better time to be an entrepreneur, and we’re passionately committed to building an early, diverse pipeline of future startup leaders. We’re excited to partner with Main Street Ventures to turn this into a nationally recognized entrepreneurial training program. We know from two years of experience that extreme challenges drive the best innovation, and our youth bring outsize ambition to areas like sustainability, inclusion, and health.” – Pete Blackshaw, CEO of Cintrifuse
Main Street Ventures is working to become the community-funded initiative that makes entrepreneurship possible for everyone in Greater Cincinnati. With that initiative in mind, supporting these up- and-coming leaders will allow for the potential for young entrepreneurs to make an impact beyond the classroom.
Main Street Ventures is working to become the community-funded initiative that makes entrepreneurship possible for everyone in Greater Cincinnati, by supporting entrepreneurs with what they need, when they need it: Capital, Connections, and Education. We look to support all good ideas and founders, but with a particular focus on women and minority entrepreneurs who have been historically under-represented in the startup community.
Main Street Ventures launched in 1999 with a focus on providing tech companies with a physical structure and wifi network. In 2005, MSV launched The Brandery, a seed-stage startup accelerator that leverages the expertise of the Cincinnati region – namely branding, marketing, and design. As the needs of the entrepreneurial ecosystem have evolved, Main Street Ventures launches new initiatives to meet the challenges of the future. For more information, visit mainstventures.org.
With a fresh start of a new year brings in new opportunities to engage with art in profound and meaningful ways! Art in Cincinnati is enriching and entertaining, with eventful explorations into the imagination that will make you want to discover and learn more about what the city has to offer in the expressive community. From past to present, Cincinnati has always shown its immense support for diversity in the Arts and continues to bring excellent pieces from all around the world, from artists of all backgrounds to our museums, galleys, shows, public spaces, and interactive exhibitions. Truly making this city the perfect atmosphere, when it comes to having fun in the future of creativity. So, choose your own adventure at any of the many places that are bringing more artistic experiences to the people!
Locals top favorite and most popular museum in the area to encounter art is, The Cincinnati Art Museum within the beautiful landscape of Eden Park in the hills of Mt. Adams. The historic museum that overlooks the city was founded in 1881, making it one of the oldest in the United States. Their impressive collection includes over 65,000 pieces of work that span 6,000 years of art making. This incredible museum always has a magnificent collection of work on display but they also have rotating shows that are by well-known artists with pieces that are admired throughout the world.
The prolific art of the contemporary artist, Kara Walker is currently on display until January 16th and the exhibition is titled, Cut to the Quick. This body of work is deep, powerful, and eye opening to say the least, with themes of examining stereotypes and stories about mythology, identity, racism, culture, and history. Walker transforms the gallery space into a series of different styles of pieces that are thought provoking and fascinating. With each step you take through the exhibition you find different forms of art that Walker experiments with, such as installation, sculpture, printmaking, and the written word. Walker incorporates personal quotes to create a dialogue with the viewer and gives a sense of the inside of an artist’s mind. This work challenges the audience to ask questions about the world around them and Walker gives them the opportunity to interact with the work by having the participant answer questions on addressing histories and narratives of the present. There is also a place of reflection incorporated in this gallery show for people to really sit with their thoughts on Walker’s compelling work that should remain in your memory and shared with others.
This special autumn gathering is a great way to take a few days off for the weekend and enjoy the wonderment of being in nature while listening and dancing to music under the open sky! The festivities will be held on a breathtaking farm that’s tucked away in the forestland of Northern Kentucky. Arrowhead Music Festival will feature incredible live music, informative workshops on permaculture, local art, yoga, walking trails, and plenty of space for camping with a bonfire overlooking a gorgeous lake!
Come together to connect with yourself and other like-minded people, experience inspiring music, open your mind up to new things, and embrace delightful free flowing fun all around you! The lineup is outstanding and you don’t want to miss a second of it! Some of the musicians include, Siri Imani featuring Jess Lamb and The Factory,Natural Onyx, Sister Stone, and so much more!
One of the coolest things about this event is that its intention is to promote positive, happy, and healthy lifestyles by being a substance free interactive environment. The festival will be located in Petersburg, KY at Treasure Lake on October 22nd – October 24th.
“Arrowhead is inspired by the elements- Earth, Air, Wind, and Fire- and our programming is meant to reflect that. Arrowhead is 100% substance free, meaning no drugs or alcohol are permitted on the festival grounds. We’re gathering to get high on life, to embrace sobriety as its own type of drug, and to explore the potential of un-influenced human awareness.”
We asked the creator Anthony Schneider to share a little bit about his background and what his pursuit is and this is what he had to say,
“I’m passionate about self-examination, self expression, community organization, and cultural progression. In 2019 I founded the NVRLND Tribe, a Media Group and Digital Agency that creates content and produces experiences which inspire people to make positive changes in their lives. Additionally, NVRLND Tribe offers intuitive operations and systems support for transformational events, facilitators, and coaches. This includes web/backend, payment, communication, branding, and on-the-ground operations strategies and implementation. I’m currently based in Cincinnati, OH where I’m able to facilitate intentional experiences through my community organization Positive Life: Cincinnati. I also travel frequently to keep up with my tribe.”
“For our launch event we’re getting back to the basics and keeping things small. Good music, good people, good food, positive, health-focused intentions, and communion with our Mother Earth. Arrowhead is an intimate celebration of life, community and nature. Join us on 60 beautiful acres as we launch this mini Transformational Music Festival set in the rolling hills of the Ohio River Valley. If any of these things resonate with you then buy your ticket now!”
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
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!
Gutierrez Deli
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.
Olla Cov
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!
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+!
Frida 602
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.
Taqueria San Miguel
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.
El Valle Verde Taqueria
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!
Django at Covington Yard
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!
The Queen City is known for its impressive architecture throughout the city and in its surrounding neighborhoods. Just about everywhere you turn you can find historic buildings and homes that have elaborate characteristics and artistic features that add to Cincinnati’s unique appeal. Venture to the East Side of Cincinnati to find two of our favorite locations to admire some of the best funky architecture in the area. First on the list is the famous “Mushroom House” of Hyde Park and second is the colorful “Painted Ladies” houses in Columbia Tusculum. They aren’t far from each other and you can make a day trip out of viewing them and vising local businesses and parks nearby!
The Mushroom House of Hyde Park
This whimsical house is something right out of a fairytale and is a must see in Cincinnati! The quirky house has incredible details from the rocks that lay at its foundation to the decorative stain glass windows that make your imagination run wild! Creativity comes to life through this one-bedroom home that is artistic expression from the floor to the ceiling! In the front of the house is a mushroom cap balcony that overlooks Erie Avenue and is hard to miss! The “Mushroom House” is also known as the, “Treehouse” and was built between 1992 and 2006 by architect Terry Brown. This house was Browns studio where he taught the tools of architecture to students and also served as his secondary residence. It has beautiful features like its orange spiral staircase, copper roof, and warped shingles that add to the look of fungi. The inspiration of this home was to create a space that humans could relate to nature with and connect to the adventure of wonderment. A nice local place to stop in after to think about the structure is Coffee Emporium right across the street!
Columbia-Tusculum’s Victorian Patented Houses
The “Painted Ladies”, are gorgeous historic homes on both sides of Tusculum Ave. and are a sheer delight to see! Take your time walking down this stunning street to see the colorful homes that complement each other in the most charming ways. The brightly painted houses are in Cincinnati’s oldest neighborhood that was founded in 1788 and make you feel like you are going back in time with a contemporary twist! These Victorian homes are so much fun to look at and the purpose of painting them in vibrant colors was to embellish and enhance their architectural details. Houses like this are historically found in San Francisco, California where the name “Painted Ladies” originated from a book about Victorian houses. When walking down the hill of Tusculum Ave. you even start to feel like you’re in San Francisco! You can find these glorious homes throughout the neighborhood and each have their own one of a kind element to them. The area includes lots of lovely shops, bars with live music, restaurants with local food, and wonderful green spaces like, Alms Park that overlooks the Ohio River. Be sure to explore every inch of what Columbia-Tusculum has to offer while checking out the “Painted Ladies”!
