Covington has a rich history and parts of it are pretty spooky. To celebrate the Halloween season, two local women are teaming up to share these creepy secrets with the curious.
The Spooky Secrets walking tours are around 90 minutes long and start on Covington’s riverfront. They end in the MainStrasse Village neighborhood, where guests can remain for dinner or drinks or, if they prefer, they can walk back to the starting point with the tour guide.
Spooky Secrets Tour – Covington, KY
Kathy Witt and Jill Morenz worked together to uncover the stories they share on the tours. Kathy Witt is the author of Secret Cincinnati, which highlights several dozen weird, wonderful or obscure places in Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati. Jill Morenz, Director of the NKY Public Arts Network, guides the tours.
What You Will See
During the 2-mile walk, you’ll learn the real identity of the Grey Lady of Carneal House and meet Captain Mary B. Greene, who meddled in the lives of her friends after she died. You’ll picture the chaos of a ravaged cemetery and find out why dogs won’t enter the basement of a former hospital. You’ll peek inside mystical and creepy shops and hear gory tales hiding behind things you see every day.
You will also receive a signed copy of Secret Cincinnati, as well as a special bookmark that serves as a checklist for the locations included in the book.
Spooky Secrets Tour Creepy Flyers
Tickets and Dates
If you love ghost stories, you’ll enjoy the Spooky Secrets tour! Individual tickets are $29.99 and include one book.
A pair of tickets costs $39.99 and includes one book for the two people to share. See available dates and purchase tickets here.
Jill Morenz is the Director of the NKY Public Arts Network. She is an enthusiastic evangelist for all things NKY.
Got your wand and robes? Good—you’re ready for the Hogwarts-inspired art workshops, trivia and dinner feast hosted on August 27 at Covington’s Baker Hunt Art & Cultural Center.
It all started when the leadership team at Baker Hunt decided to do a day of themed workshops. Someone suggested Harry Potter and the whole evening came together, almost like magic!
All the guests are encouraged to dress up in their favorite HP-inspired garb, so now’s the time to dig out your Gryffindor scarf or witch’s hat. If you happen to have a lightning-shaped scar on your forehead, you’ll fit right in.
All the classes are for the 21 and older crowd. Whether you arrive via the Hogwarts Express, the Floo Network or by apparating, here’s what you can expect from the day of Wizarding Workshops:
Make a custom ceramic butterbeer flagon. It can have images of the Three Broomsticks, Weasley’s Wheeze’s, the Dark Mar, the Deathly Hallows or your favorite Hogwarts House.
Learn to make a “cobweb” broom, using basic weaving techniques and natural broomcorn. Everyone will complete at least one broom during the class and most people have time to make two (one for you, one for your familiar).
Paint the Hogwarts castle, bathed in moonlight. Your own talents will add the magic to this acrylic painting.
If your favorite wizards are Fred and George Weasley, you’ll love this improv comedy class—don’t worry, it’s muggle-friendly. You’ll play games like Letter to Hogwarts, Wizarding Dating Game and Muggle Translator. Giggles are guaranteed!
Whip up some culinary magic in this wizardly cooking class. Headmaster/Chef Kubicki will help you create (and eat) Mandrake Salad, Hungarian Horntail Paprikash, Edible Wands and Polyjuice Potion. Mrs. Weasley would approve!
Show your house pride with handmade ceramic coasters, one for each Hogwarts house. You’ll glaze them during the workshop and then pick them up later after they’ve been fired.
Signing Up
When you register for one of the workshops, you can reserve a free seat at Trivia Night in the ballroom, where you’ll compete for a handmade themed drink set. You can also purchase an adult beverage from the Three Broomsticks bar.
For fans of Harry Potter and his friends, this day of wizarding workshops will be a blast. As they say at Baker Hunt, you’ll have more fun than a Niffler running amok in a Gringotts vault!
Abut 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.
Bounce House Babes Weekday Special: $250 Bounce House and Slide or Ball Pit for 8-hours!
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In 2019, two Northern Kentucky organizations, the Catalytic Fund and the NKY Chamber of Commerce, organized a project that brought together businesses with artists to create painted bourbon barrels.
The barrels are coming back this month in a celebration of the people, places and passions of our region. The 100 barrels were created by local artists for sponsors who worked with them on the designs. The result is a stunning display of public art that will debut this Thursday, July 21.
Image of BarrelsImage of Barrels
Roll Out the Barrels is a public preview of all 100 barrels before they go on display throughout the river cities on the NKY Bourbon Barrel Walk. To join in and see all the barrels together, come to Newport on the Levee on Thursday July 21 at 7:00pm.
The art on the barrels celebrates Northern Kentucky’s people, places and passions, depicting bourbon, horses, landmarks and more. It showcases the incredible local talent and the support that the business community gives to the arts.
The barrels will be on display through next August. When you “take the walk,” you will follow the barrels through the entertainment districts of Northern Kentucky, discovering fun restaurants, bars and shops along the way.
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.
Everything Cincy is your one-stop shop to Local Events. Local Deals. Local Jobs.
Covington Farmers Market is Celebrating a Milestone!
2022 marks the Covington Farmers Market’s 10th year of connecting Covingtonians with local producers! Our success and longevity are partly due to our amazing group of vendors and the fabulous products they bring to our market, but it is also our dedicated and loyal customer base that has propelled us into a decade of operations! We couldn’t do what we do without YOU!
Our market is essential to the livelihoods of the 30+ farmers, producers, artisans, chefs, and other small business owners. We are committed to continuing to create a vibrant marketplace for our vendors to directly connect with their consumers so they may generate the necessary revenue to keep their businesses, as well as the tradition of farming, thriving in our community.
Your Friends of Covington Farmers Market donation helps to offset the costs that come with operating a market week after week – a financial burden that is usually shared by our vendors as well as market supporters. From street permits to tents & tables, the cost of operating a farmers’ market adds up quickly!
With a Little Help From Our Friends…
Donations from our friends will go directly to support market operations, programming, and community outreach. Covington’s Market is proud to be NKY’s first year-round farmers market, and we strive to continue our growth and increase our impact in the community- we just need a little help from friends like you to do it!
Friends of the Covington Farmers Market Logo
Become a Friend of Covington Farmers Market Today!
Perks of becoming a Friend of the Market: – Early Event Ticket Access – Free Birthday Treat – 10% off Covington Farmers Market Merchandise Donor Appreciation Events
Become a Friend of Covington Farmers Market for a one-time tax-deductible donation of $50.
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.
Hotel Covington – Coppin’sCafe AlmaPampasOverlook Kitchen + BarThe View at Shires’ Garden
When the sun is shining and the temperature is rising, you need a place to cool down. Here are some great spots in NKY, perfect for chillin’ on a hot summer day.
Take a Dip
When it’s time to cool off, go to the Florence Aquatic Center, where you can float down a lazy river, splash in the zero-depth pool or zip down the spiral slide. Families love to frolic in the spray grounds and under the sprinkling “funbrellas.” You can drop in with a daily pass or buy a membership. You don’t even have to live in Florence to enjoy this classic summertime experience.
Skating By
Lace up your skates at Northern Kentucky Ice Center in Crescent Springs and spin (or slide) your way across the ice. They offer daily public skating sessions, perfect for everyone, from the wobbly-kneed beginner to the next Olympic figure skating hopeful.
Penguin Palooza
Be transported to the arctic home of playful penguins at Newport Aquarium. Watch the adorable waddlers as they hop up rocky, snowcapped cliffs and slide down a snowbank into icy water.
Cone by Cone
Northern Kentucky knows ice cream, which is why the options here are so delicious. We’ve got Graeter’s and Cold Stone, of course. You can also indulge in more than a dozen homemade flavors at Schneider’s Sweet Shop in Bellevue or Piper’s Café in MainStrasse offers hundreds of flavors of their creamy soft serve.
Super Slushie
Frosthaus, in Covington’s Roebling Point neighborhood, specializes in boozy (and non-boozy) frozen drinks. Be sure to sip carefully to avoid the dreaded brain freeze!
Cupful of Heaven
For the creamiest frozen treat around, come to Golden Gelato in downtown Covington. They make all their gelato and sorbet from scratch using traditional Italian methods and locally sourced ingredients. You will love the flavor selection and you may even want to try an Affogato, a scoop of vanilla gelato topped with a shot of espresso.
NKY Ice Balls
A summertime favorite that is sure to cool you down is the ice ball, available at Sweet Tooth Candies & Ice Cream on Newport’s West Side. What’s an ice ball? Picture a scoop of ice cream covered in a snow cone, giving you the smooth texture of the ice cream with the syrupy, crunch of the snow cone ice. Get creative with the flavor combinations and you’ll see why this dessert is perfect for hot afternoons.
This summer, let Northern Kentucky cool you down and chill you out.
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.
Everything Cincy is your one-stop shop to Local Events. Local Deals. Local Jobs.
Tell us about your Fab Bridal experience as our featured Bride:
2 years ago I said yes to my dress and still treasure that day at Fabulous-Bridal! My mom heard about Fabulous-Bridal through a work connection and with no prior gown shopping experience, we made an appointment through the website and were there in two weeks. A couple months into COVID, Anne was so great at making sure I could safely have all of my important people there with me.
My experience at Fabulous-Bridal was very intimate and I felt like I was the most important person there. Anne was my consultant and she looked at all my Pinterest suggestions, listened to what I liked and didn’t like about every dress and then 6-8 dresses later I had on THE ONE! It was covered in glitter and lace and I felt so beautiful and aisle-ready instantly.
About an hour later, I was popping champagne in the boutique with my friends and family celebrating! And of course, I still share my “yes to the dress” photos in front of the unique floral wall.
What was the highlight of your wedding day?
I have such a hard time narrowing down a single highlight to my wedding day! I just kept telling myself that as long as I’m married to my (now) Husband then it’ll be the most perfect day ever.
My husband and I took dance lessons leading up to our wedding so one of the best moments was getting to dance and just feel alone for a few minutes. Some more specific highlights would be spending the day getting ready with my mom and bridesmaids, walking back down the aisle as Husband and Wife, and dancing at our reception with my best friends and family.
What is one piece of advice you have for future brides?
My one piece of advice for future brides is to not lose sight that your wedding day is about you and your fiancé tying the knot! Add in date nights to your planning timeline and as long as you’re married to the love of your life at the end of the day, there’s nothing that could go wrong!
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We met the first week of college our freshman year. Let’s just say that it was not love at first sight. 6 years later he proposed and I became a bride. He picked me up after work to go to a “dinner with his coworkers” downtown. On the way there I was an absolute monster, telling him he went the wrong way, he’s going to slow, where to park etc. he just nodded and said “okay honey”. He parked the farthest away from the restaurant and wanted to walk through Smale park. He stopped in the middle of the garden and got down on one knee and asked the question, I screamed yes! Then I heard cheering behind me and I turned around and my whole family was there hiding behind a bush! He then took me to a separate location and had a surprise engagement party with all of our friends and family. September 19, 2020 will forever be one of my favorite days.
Finding a dress was one of my favorite wedding experiences. My mother, maid of honor and future mother in law came with me. I went in with the idea of sparkles and sleeves and walked out with the complete opposite. I loved the feel that Fabulous-Bridal had. It was so intimate and I felt like I was the only bride there with the attention I was getting. Anne was great with picking out dresses I described and even picked a dress out of left field that ended up being the one I picked. I used Fabulous-Bridal for alterations and they were great to work with. I would definitely suggest Fabulous-Bridal for all of your wedding dress needs.
What was the highlight of your wedding day?
Of course marrying my husband was up there. But my favorite memory of the day was definitely after all the reception formalities and we just danced our hearts out. If you wanted to talk to me or my husband you had to join us out on the dance floor and we made it hard for you to leave. I know that if you asked guests that attended our wedding they would say the same thing.
What is one piece of advice you have for future brides?
I asked my husband this question and he said, “enjoy every second of the day because it will fly by”. I would say remember what you are there for, you are finally marrying your person, nothing else should matter.
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Weekday weddings are trending and many couples are choosing them over having their big day on the weekend. Learn why weekdays may be a great choice.
Bride and Groom
WEEKDAY WEDDINGS ARE LESS EXPENSIVE
One of the main reasons weekday weddings have become so popular is that they are often less expensive than traditional Saturday weddings. It’s said that couples can save up to 25% or more on a weekday vs. weekend wedding for the venue and vendors combined.
This is obviously because venues and wedding vendors tend to be less busy and less “in-demand” during the week, which means that you can often get a better price. Couples who desire a specific date on a weekend, and especially on Saturdays are going to need a bigger budget and may also be surprised at the lack of availability.
YOU CAN CHOOSE A MEANINGFUL DATE
Weekday weddings also offer couples the opportunity to choose a meaningful date. This could be the day you met, the day you got engaged, or any other significant date in your relationship.
Another reason weekday weddings have become more popular is because they tend to be more intimate. This is because they are often more low-key and less crowded. You can invite fewer people, create a more intimate event, and still have a stunning wedding.
Having your wedding on a weekday can make all the difference in terms of intimacy for those who don’t want a huge crowd. It’s very difficult to say hello to 250 guests on a Saturday night, much less have a meaningful conversation! Enjoy the intimacy and relaxed vibe of a weekday wedding.
LESS PRESSURE ON COUPLES
That relaxed vibe means less pressure on the happy couple. There are no expectations for a Tuesday wedding to be as grand or elaborate as a traditional Saturday wedding.
This can be liberating for couples who want to tie the knot but don’t want to deal with all of the stress and pressure of planning a big wedding. Instead, they can focus on creating a beautiful and intimate ceremony that’s perfect for them.
SPEND MORE TIME WITH YOUR GUESTS
Another great thing about mid-week weddings, and specifically Wednesday or Thursday weddings, is that you may have more time to spend with your guests after your big day if you’re not jetting right off to your honeymoon.
When a wedding takes place on a Saturday night, most guests are heading back home either that night or on Sunday. If you book a late-weekday wedding, your guests may choose to stay in town for the weekend, giving you time to spend with them after the ceremony.
SAVE ON TRAVEL AND ACCOMMODATIONS
Everything travel related generally cost less on weekdays. Airfare, hotels, Uber and Lyft are all usually more affordable Monday through Thursday than they are Friday through Sunday. If you’re paying for relatives to fly in for your big day, those savings can add up quickly for you, and for your guests.
READY TO PLAN YOUR WEDDING?
Choosing a weekday can make all the difference for those who want to reign in their budget or create a less stressful, more intimate wedding. Our all-inclusive wedding packages are completely customizable for any day of the week. We’ll provide a dedicated event specialist that can guide you through the rehearsal dinner, ceremony, and reception.
If you haven’t considered a weekday wedding, call us to book a tour and we’ll show you the many other reasons why it may be just the right choice for you!
Everything Cincy is your one-stop shop to Local Events. Local Deals. Local Jobs.
