Northern Kentucky’s popular home tour, Beyond the Curb, will offer an exclusive look inside properties in Newport’s Westside and hilltop Clifton neighborhoods on Sunday April 24 from 10:00am-4:00pm. EverythingCincy readers get exclusive savings by using the promotional code “EverythingCincy” when purchasing tickets.
Organizer Jill Morenz says, “People love our tours partly because they get to see interesting houses, and because they love to explore the urban neighborhoods. Beyond the Curb gives an up-close look at urban living in NKY’s river cities.”
What You’ll See
On April 24, you’ll get to check out 14 properties, including historic homes, artsy renovations and modern, luxury condos. As always, the tour stops include an intriguing mix of completed and in-progress projects that offer ideas and inspiration for anyone interested in architecture, interior design and the urban lifestyle.
How To Get Around
You can walk or drive between most of the tour stops. We are excited to be able to provide free shuttle transportation, sponsored by Martin’s Gate Development and provided by Executive Transportation. The shuttle coaches will run between the Westside and Clifton tour stops, giving guests the opportunity to travel in comfort and avoid parking challenges in the hillside neighborhood.
Tickets
You can save on your tickets by purchasing Early Bird tickets for $15, plus you can use the promo code “EverythingCincy.” Tickets will also be available for purchase for $20 on the day of the tour, either online or at the registration area at Wooden Cask Brewing Co., 629 York St., Newport, KY.
Your tickets include admission to exclusive, behind-the-scenes tours of 14 cool properties, transportation on the shuttle, entry to win the “All Things Newport” raffle basket, and free parking at nearby locations. All ticket holders start their tour at Wooden Cask Brewing Co. , where they will receive their wristband, tour booklet and gift.
More Info
The tour is presented by KMK Law, Huff Realty and the Catalytic Fund. For more information and to preview the featured properties, please visit the Beyond the Curb 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.
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.
Beyond the Curb, Northern Kentucky’s popular urban living tour, offers an insider’s look at properties in Covington’s Old Seminary Square and West Side neighborhoods. The tour is on Sunday October 3 from 10:00-4:00. Everything Cincy readers will get exclusive savings with the promo code EVERYTHING.
During 2020 and the first part of 2021, the Catalytic Fund, the host of Beyond the Curb, switched from in-person tours to a video series of more than 30 episodes.
With COVID safety guidelines in place, people can feel safe to come beyond the curb in Covington.
The one-day, self-guided tour features 13 properties, including historic homes, artsy renovations and modern apartments. As always, the tour stops include an intriguing mix of completed and in-progress projects that offer ideas and inspiration for anyone interested in architecture, interior design and the urban lifestyle.
Early bird tickets are $15 and are available online at www.BeyondTheCurb.org until Saturday, October 2. Use promo code EVERYTHING to save 10%. Tickets will also be available for purchase for $20 on the day of the tour, either online or at the registration area at OKOTA Wedding Design, 266 W. Pike St. in Covington.
Tickets include admission to exclusive, behind-the-scenes tours of 13 interesting properties, entry to win the “All Things NKY” raffle basket and free parking at nearby locations. All ticket holders will start their tour at OKOTA Wedding Design, where they will receive their wristband, tour booklet and gift.
Covington’s West Side and Old Seminary Square neighborhoods offer an intriguing blend of old and new. On the tour, guests will stroll down tree-lined streets, coming upon community gardens and charming little parks. One-of-a-kind eateries and stunning public art also contribute to the vibrancy of this area.
The tour is presented by Comey & Shepherd Realtors and the Catalytic Fund. For more information and to preview the featured properties, please visit www.BeyondTheCurb.org.
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.
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!
Stories, letters, nature & sensory play appeal to young kids
Northern Kentucky has a wealth of fun learning opportunities for young children. They love to spot letters and identify colors. They can be completely still as they squat down to observe a passing snail or spend hours running, jumping and climbing.
We’ve pulled together many of the ways that our region integrates teachable moments into our environments and encourages curiosity.
Story Walks
Imagine reading the first page of a story with your child while standing under a shady tree in a park. For the second page of the story, you walk together along a path to a sunny flower bed. The third page is located near a playground. As you read the story, you stroll from page to page through the park until the story ends. This experience is called a Story Walk and there are quite a few to be found this summer in Northern Kentucky. Find the entire list here.
Ground Games
Hopping, pointing and laughing are rewarded when kids do the fun activities provided by Read Ready Covington. The organization created large stickers that have been placed in Covington parks, at playgrounds and even inside a laundromat. The stickers are printed with objects and ideas for playful learning. Find them at places like Randolph Park, Devou Park and Leo Foster Ballfield. The stickers don’t last forever, so some of the locations may change as they are removed and replaced.
Alphabet Hunts
As part of its goal to increase the number of kids who start kindergarten ready to read, the City of Covington has installed complete alphabets, in the form of pink and yellow signs, throughout five of its neighborhoods. Each sign has a word (apple, volcano, yarn), an image and the encouragement, “You found a word. Now find another!” Some of the signs have Spanish words, as well.
Families can pick up a free map and passport-style checklist at the city building to start their hunt. When the passport is completed and turned in, the child will receive a free Tshirt.
Nature Encounters
Little kids love to learn about the plants and animals they see in their neighborhood. Two of the top nature educators in the area take it several notches up, providing immersive fun for families.
In Covington, Behringer-Crawford Museum’s NaturePlay is a self-contained, accessible outdoor area that offers kid-sized log cabins and caves, a climbable wooden flatboat, a spot to dig for fossils and gardens planted with native flowers and shrubs.
AJ Jolly Park’s Environmental Education Center in Alexandria is filled with wonders. Kids can get up close and personal with fish and turtles, watch birds flit around nearby branches and even examine the poop from various animals (an exhibit that always leads to giggles). After they’ve learned everything they wanted to know, they can walk the trails outside. The center is open all year and there is always something to see in the surrounding landscape.
Public Libraries
Northern Kentucky residents are fortunate to have such robust early childhood programming and resources available at our local libraries. From story time and science for tots to the “1,000 Books Before Kindergarten” program, families can rely on the friendly librarians to engage their children with fun, educational activities. Check out the programs at Boone County, Campbell County and Kenton County.
If you’ve got young kids and you live in NKY, you’re in a good place!
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.
When COVID-19 prevented the Catalytic Fund from hosting their in-person Beyond the Curb tours, they instead produced a series of video home tours, featuring a variety of homes in NKY’s urban river cities. Season 2 of the series has kicked off with an episode about a 1920’s house on a ridge in Bellevue.
The ten episodes of this season will give viewers an exclusive peek inside some noteworthy properties, including a landmark building in Covington, an urban gardener’s cottage in Dayton, an “upleveled loft” apartment built inside a former Newport department store and a Ludlow condo with big personality.
Watch the series here. New episodes come out on Fridays. Stay tuned for an in-person tour planned for the fall.
