Cool things happening in Covington

Now there are even more reasons to Lov the Cov. Covington's business district has been picking up steam the last few years with a new business here and there popping up but 2018 seems like the year it's going to hit critical mass. Duveneck Square Apartments has opened and is already 50% occupied. The apartments, based on the one I looked out at are roomier than ones you would find in downtown Cincinnati or OTR. They are going to cost you about the same but like I said, that money gets you elbow room in Covington.
In an urban setting, those apartments also bring all the amenities you would expect. Lots of entertainment within walking distance; restaurants, bars, art galleries, and a brewery. If you want or need to explore a little farther Mainstraus and Newport are minutes away by bike. There is a Red Bike station and plenty of bike racks steps from the entrance of the apartments plus bike storage inside. Sometime soon Duveneck Square Phase Two will break ground across the street, it will include a parking deck, apartments, and mixed-use office/retail space.

While we were in Covington we dropped into Alto Pizza Kitchen + Bar which opened Tuesday night and is the first business to open in the new apartment building's 10,000sqft of retail space. Alto Pizza Kitchen + Bar is a new concept by the owners of Cincinnati's Flip Daddy's including the Newport area. The space is open and airy, no one would build a restaurant that big in OTR but real estate is a little more affordable over there. Alto's featured an extensive cocktail list too, so when the Hannaford fills up you still have options just a block away.



[where: 45202] best place to learn how to live downtown cincinnati ohio the ethos of Cincinnati
comments?

Vibrant Minds Colorful Lines Opening Reception

VIBRANT MINDS COLORFUL LINES is a collaborative art exhibition by artists Kiik Create, Jenny Roesel Ustick, Natalie Lanese and Lindsey Whittle. The show features an array of multidisciplinary forms and practices from 2D and 3D works of art, to mural painting, to performance and social engagement; all seeking to understand the myriad ways in which we vibe together.
You can check the show out at BLDG 30 W Pike St, Covington.








[where: 45202] best place to learn how to live downtown cincinnati ohio the ethos of Cincinnati
comments?

Sid saturday

[where: 45202] best place to learn how to live downtown cincinnati ohio the ethos of Cincinnati
comments?

Second Sunday on Main

Summer can't start, without one of these. Second Sunday on Main, OTR's organic half street fair half social event has cranked back up. 2018 is the 13th year for SSOM which was started to bring OTR together on Main St.
I really like it just for the fact that the people have reclaimed the street, if only for a day. Once upon a time streets were where people shopped, conversed, laughed, watched one another. When people did use the street for travel, it was slowly - by foot, by horse, by bicycle, by streetcar. How awesome is it that people now show up to SSOM by foot, by bike, and by streetcar once again?
If you missed June's SSOM you still have four more chances.

July 8th
August 12th
September 9th
October 14th






[where: 45202] best place to learn how to live downtown cincinnati ohio the ethos of Cincinnati
comments?

Cincinnati alleys

Alley's, most people would say are only beautiful for their utility if they say anything about them at all.
They're a rough and rugged part of Cincinnati's infrastructure. But they have fallen out of favor, out of sight and out of mind, and have been disappearing for years, swallowed up by new developments and/or expansions of existing buildings. Mostly, parking lots are the worst culprits.
But one group, Spring in Our Steps, is focused on shining light onto these overlooked and unloved places. SiOS organizes frequent cleanups and events in alleys and sometimes even an alley ride. It's always interesting to see the city in a brand new way.
There is still life in Queen City's alleys yet.










[where: 45202] best place to learn how to live downtown cincinnati ohio the ethos of Cincinnati
comments?

Cars and Coffee

The best car show in Cincinnati happens every Saturday morning at a little coffee shop east of downtown. And all it will cost you is the price of a coffee! Where is this magical place? Fuel Coffee located just 3 1/2 miles east of downtown at 2726 Riverside Dr.
There is guaranteed to be one or more mind-blowing cars from whatever genre you're into. Or if you're like me, I can appreciate just about everything: cars, bikes, survivors they all have their charms.









[where: 45202] best place to learn how to live downtown cincinnati ohio the ethos of Cincinnati
comments?

Streetlife and foot traffic

The southwest corner of downtown is resident heavy but business thin. That could all be changing soon with 3CDC's purchase of a 1.7-acre parking lot that sits between 4th and 5th St. The parking lot is split into two parcels, 221 and 250 W. Fifth St.
3CDC has said before that the lack of a strong headquarters hotel has been one of the biggest issues facing the Cincinnati USA Convention & Visitors Bureau.
I'd love to see a hotel go in that space, it would give W 4th St a jolt of needed foot traffic.
While they said all uses for the site will be explored, they've already started the exploratory part of the site drilling core samples.


[where: 45202] best place to learn how to live downtown cincinnati ohio the ethos of Cincinnati
comments?

Bunbury

This isn't strictly a downtown thing, anyone could roll down to the riverfront and duplicate this experience. Living downtown though its pretty incredible to roll down to Bunbury on the bike and experience almost the entire festival without buying a ticket. Hanging out at friends riverfront apartments, hanging out on bridges. It was even more eye-opening to realize for bands on the big stage, I was actually closer to the action than fans in the very back of the crowd.
They did put up a fence with construction privacy screen on one side of the Purple People Bridge which seemed like a dick move, we were channeling Super Troopers, they don't own the bridge, God, it's God's bridge! But all you could see were trees anyhow so I didn't get it. But it did give me respite from the sun.
That was an awesome weekend.




[where: 45202] best place to learn how to live downtown cincinnati ohio the ethos of Cincinnati
comments?

5th Annual Preservation Ride

Every year the Cincinnati Preservation Collective hosts a bike ride around a neighborhood highlighting historicly significant building under the most threat. Why bikes? Well they are the fastest easiest cheapest way to move people around cities for one. You really can't experience a neighorhood any better than being immersed in it.
This year the ride wandered through Walnut Hills and Evanston, I didn't realize how much awesome housing stock was located in that area.
And then we ate ice cream!














[where: 45202] best place to learn how to live downtown cincinnati ohio the ethos of Cincinnati
comments?