COVINGTON, Ky. – This is a weekend for purists. For the music lovers who swear that albums (as in LPs) are the best. For those whose souls are stirred by the sound of a softly strummed guitar. For the jazz lover. For those who choose a local artistic aesthetic over mass-produced. And for those who long for an opportunity to purchase a whole bunch of books at a really good price.
If that’s not you, don’t fret. There’s also a “bar crawl.”
Amy London knows jazz. And jazz circles in the Big Apple know her for her effortless, sound, impeccable musicianship, and depth of emotion. But she’s a local, from right across the river, and she studied under Milt Weiner, former music director of WLW radio and coach to legendary singers Doris Day and Rosemary Clooney. Pretty cool, right?
Tonight, you can get to know Amy too. She’ll be at Behringer-Crawford Museum for Music@BCM: Amy London, performing an evening of jazz from the great American songbook. She’s invited friends to bring a little bass, piano, percussion, and trumpet/flugelhorn – a quintet of world-class performers in their own right who’ll present songbook classics.
Close your eyes, listen, and let London’s smooth sounds transport you to a New York City jazz lounge.
Friday’s Queen City Vinyl-Only Disco Rooftop Party at Braxton Brewing Company is all about spinning vinyl … and only vinyl.
They’re on to something.
Did you know that, in 2021, for the first time since 1986, vinyl records outranked CDs in annual sales? Chart-topping vinyl albums of 2020 were LPs by Harry Styles, Billie Eilish, and (ta-da!) Queen. This point alone will likely spur a spirited vinyl versus CDs versus digital among friends (and we thought politics and religion were divisive).
Of course you’re probably not going to hear a lot of Harry Styles on Friday, because DJs Rom Mills & Will Ross – with special guest DJ Diamond – are bringing the best disco/funk/groove tunes. Warning: Your body will demand that you stand up and move.
Btw, it’s completely OK if your dance style is “The Little Kicks.” After all, no one laughed at Elaine Benis when she hit the dance floor. (They just quietly looked the other way).
Har-Mose sure knew what he was doing some 3,500 years ago when he took a liking to what we know today as a guitar – the first one we’re aware of existing, anyway.
He loved his guitar so much that he had it buried with him. We know this because, as is the case, someone is always digging up Egyptian graves and putting the stuff of the dead in museums. (Ever wonder if it was the Egyptians who coined the phrase, “I’ll take it to my grave?” Just a thought).
There’s no denying that the guitar is one serene, soulful, beautifully-crafted instrument, so it’s no surprise that in our region there’s an organization specifically dedicated for people who appreciate these stringed beauties and know how to play them.
On Saturday, you can join them, listen to them perform, break bread with them – and maybe discover that these are indeed your people.
One thing is sure, you’ll catch some fine performances at The Greater Cincinnati Guitar Society Picnic at the Devou Park Bandshell.
You’ve got a couple of days to grow that mullet and show up like Cameron Smith for Saturday’s 19th Green Covington Bar Crawl.
The 19th green, for those who don’t speak “golf,” is generally the clubhouse restaurant where food and libations are served … where golfers satisfy the thirst that they worked up tracking down all those slices, hooks, fades, and draws.
With that in mind, plan to putt your way to the Hannaford … then figure your way through Rich’s Proper Food & Drink and Braxton Brewing Company by answering clues and doing your darndest not to bogey.
Lowest score wins.
There’s so much creativity here in The Cov (throughout the region, really). Just look around. Cool murals. … Innovative restaurants…. Local-made products sold at local-owned businesses. …Talented musicians.
Even if you don’t have a creative bone in your body, the artisan vibe here is easy to catch. Sometimes you feel like a creative by association (that is, until you have to choose a paint color for your kitchen).
On Saturday, there’s going to be a whole lot of local talent gathered at West Pike Street (between Madison and Washington) for Renaissance Covington’s artisan event, the Covington Night Market.
Expect more than local 40 vendors … delicious food and refreshing libations … the fine sounds of Laurie Traveline Neyer as well as DJ Cuddly D … and the spectacular models from East to Vest Productions (which elevates every event to something special).
The Covington Night Market is free, not to mention kid and dog-friendly. So, show up, stroll, peruse, purchase, be richly entertained, and have yourself a good time.
Ah, that feeling of being all wrapped up in the nostalgic joys of a Scholastic Book Fair. Sometimes there was a sensation of near-frenzied giddiness that may or may not be described in the DSM-5-TR.
For some, mastering the art of negotiation and honing keen persuasive skills began in the days leading up to the fair. Sometimes (inexplicably!) parents had to be convinced that you needed every single one of the 17 books you’d identified and checked on your list.
These book fairs were grand incentives for understanding a budget, and making sure you’d accurately calculated every holiday gift of cash you’d squirreled away for this very day.
For those in rural lands and remote regions where bookstores were a thing of dreams, the book fair introduced never-before-seen titles, magnificent biographies (some of whom we’d later learn were white-washed histories), and series we’d only hoped to ever own. A thing of magic. That’s what it was and still is.
If you too were a disciple of the school book fair, then you no doubt already know that the Friends of the Kenton County Public Library Book Sale starts Sunday at the Covington Branch. There will be music and movies for purchase too. (We know. We can’t stop smiling either).
Tonight: Music + MadTree at Keystone Bar & Grill … Chuck Brisbin Trio at Smoke Justis … Open Mic Night with Mara Moon at Pandemonium.
Friday: The Taste of Emo at The Rooftop at Madison Theater … Twin Sons Duo at Smoke Justis.
Saturday: OLLA’s Customer Appreciation Fiesta at Madison Live … Dear Summer Featuring Lantana and Turich Benjy at The Rooftop at Madison Theater … Kenny Cowden at Smoke Justis.
Tonight: Covington Parks & Rec’s Pickleball at Senator Gus Sheehan Shelter in Devou Park …. Yoga in the Grove at the Rotary Grove in Devou Park … Lady Phaedra and Friends at The Standard.
Friday: Holtman’s Pop-Up Donut Shop & Coffee at Braxton Brewing Company … “RENT” at The Carnegie … “A Thought is a River” and “The Reds” exhibits at The Carnegie through Saturday.
Saturday: MainStrasse Village Food Tour … Covington Farmers Market at Roebling Point … “RENT” at The Carnegie … Live Art with Steve Nassano at Purple Paisley, Local Artisan Shop … Weaving in the Round at Purple Paisley, Local Artisan Shop … NKY Bourbon Barrel Walk … Lincoln, lattes and paisley art walk … Community Art Show at DBL Law … Draglesque at Pandemonium.
Sunday: “Into the Woods” at The Carnegie.
###