COVINGTON, Ky. – August, already? Might as well get the snow plow out because winter is surely just a blink away.
OK, ok. Enough of the dread and woe for the seasonal despair that’s yet to come (we’re directing that comment at ourselves). This is a genuinely good weekend for good stuff to do in The Cov.
Seriously, there have been weekends when we’ve had to feign enthusiasm, scour the thesaurus for yet another superlative. (With any luck we pulled it off, but that’s not likely because folks in The Cov see through pretentious veneers.)
Anyway, this weekend we mean it. Great stuff going on. See for yourself.
The year is 1959 and you’re at a gritty little bar in South Philadelphia. Jimmy Powers is on the piano and Billie Holiday is at the microphone telling stories through songs. And, oh, the stories she tells.
In reality (whatever that is), it’s Aug. 3, 2023, and you’re seated at The Carnegie where “Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill” takes the stage tonight. It’s a hard-hitting, heart-wrenching, and – at times – humorous musical production of one of Billie Holiday’s final public performances.
First produced on Broadway and in London, the play racked up serious awards back in 2014. Weaving more than a dozen musical numbers through a riveting narrative, this show will not disappoint.
Be mindful, however, that the production is a historical drama and contains: “Course language, mature themes, drug use, sexual violence, and references to racism and racial violence, including the use of racial slurs.”
***
But that’s not all. Also showing this weekend at The Carnegie will be two other renowned productions: Guys and Dolls on both Friday and Saturday evenings, and Kinky Boots on Sunday afternoon.
Seriously, Lady Day, “Luck be a Lady,” and ladylike thigh-high boots all in the same weekend at the same venue? We’re blessed in The Cov to have The Carnegie, to be sure.
For more than 30 years, graduates of Covington’s Lincoln Gant High School have reunited annually at Randolph Park to celebrate their achievements. (The COVID-19 pandemic thwarted those plans for a couple of years.) The park is a fitting destination because Dr. James Randolph, the park’s namesake, was a respected African-American physician and community leader in Covington.
This weekend, it’s estimated that nearly 2,000 people will return to Randolph from as far as California, Texas, Florida, and New York for what will be the 36th Annual Old Timers Celebration, and it’s going to be a fun one.
The event starts Friday and runs through Sunday and will be “jam-packed” with sports tournaments, information booths, the smell of grilled food, and a community resource fair.
Cheer on the kingdom of Wakanda as it fights to protect its nation from intervening world powers in the wake of King T’Challa’s death.
And prepare to be in awe of Angela Bassett, whose Queen Ramonda is at the very center of the film. What a performance. (Mothers, be sure to bring your daughters to see this one.)
Covington Parks & Rec’s Movie Night: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever at the Devou Park Bandshell starts at dusk, but arrive early for yard games, good company, and to snag a bag of popcorn before the flick starts.
If you’re an attorney who begged your parents to let you play a musical instrument … or paint … or write … or act – anything but attend law school – just know that George Frideric Handel fought that battle too.
Back in the late-1600s Germany, George was much more interested in the arts, especially music – but his father was having none of that musikalischer unsinn.
Fortunately, George could give a rip what his father said. He got his hands on a clavichord, played while his parents slept, and shocked the family one Sunday by climbing up on the church organ bench (he was 8) and played the postlude. Dad was not impressed. His son was going to be a lawyer, dang it.
Ultimately, George enrolled but with no intention of staying (fist pump to you, buddy). He dropped out and went from city to city to learn different musical styles. He liked what he found in London and by the early 1800s he was a big deal. Still is a big deal. Centuries later, we’re playing his music at weddings, in television ads, and pretty much everywhere.
On Saturday, the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra presents “Too Hot to Handel” at the Devou Park Amphitheater. Pack your squirt guns or spritzer for a Handel’s Water Music (it’s a thing), and plan to join in for a sing-along of George’s “Hallelujah Chorus.”
This rebel lives on.
You’ve had all summer long to cool off at the pool. Now, it’s your dog’s turn.
Covington Parks & Rec’s “Pups at the Pool” event at Goebel Pool on Sunday is an annual hit with The Cov’s well-behaved canine crowd, as dogs throughout the city own the pool for one single day and make the most of it. (Plus, remember that Saturday is the last day of pool season for you humans at all City pool locations.)
Pack up your pup’s pool gear (aka whatever floats), a swim vest, and maybe a super absorbent towel or two. There will be activities and prizes, so make sure your pup comes with his game on.
Sunday’s Devou Frienduro 2023 is an enduro-style race event with proceeds benefitting the Devou Backcountry Trails and the development of the Cincinnati Off-Road Alliance’s (CORA’s) trail network, which consists of 115 miles of multi-use natural surface trails for mountain bikers, hikers, and trail runners (some cool and important stuff).
Now, if you’re a big ol’ couch tater that knows nothing about enduro-style racing, the “Frienduro” is an inclusive, fun atmosphere where riders race against the clock instead of head-to-head, where each rider takes off with a 30-second gap. Riders are timed on downhill stages to determine the placement of race finishers.
Canoe, kayak, or paddleboard.
A $195 Bending Branches double-bend inlaid wood Viper or a $5 plastic-and-aluminum yard-sale special.
Solo or tandem.
A leisurely cadence or furious racing.
Whatever your equipment, skill, or speed, you are almost guaranteed to have fun with about 2,000 fellow paddlers when the Ohio River is shut down Saturday for the annual Ohio River Paddlefest, the nation’s largest paddling celebration.
All the details are at the link, and you should start looking now to get a handle on the logistics end because there are a few rules and arrangements to be made. There’s also a fee, because this is a fund-raiser for Adventure Crew, which provides outdoor recreation to urban teens on both sides of the river. Note the Paddlefest Q&As is particularly helpful.
You can also just watch, because Covington Landing will be the finish line for the 4.5 mile Stand Up Paddleboard Race (that’s EARLY on Saturday), and there will be a massive flotilla floating by the city, since Cincinnati’s Public Landing is the official half-way stop for the 9-mile paddle.
Tonight: Monkey Power Trio Band at The Carnegie (note this starts at 2 p.m.) … Music@BCM: Easy Tiger at Behringer-Crawford Museum … Aprina at Keystone Bar & Grill … The Missy Werner Band at Molly Malone’s Irish Pub & Restaurant … The Chuck Brisbin Trio at Smoke Justis.
Friday: Arbor at Madison Live … Leroy Ellington at Smoke Justis … Mike Oregano at Wunderbar.
Saturday: Millie Oliver & The Missing Pieces at The Rooftop at Madison Theater … Marc and Doug at Smoke Justis … Luh Tyler with Roadrunner at Madison Theater … Luke Windland & Sami Riggs at Wunderbar … Rucca on City Nights at The Roost Latonia.
Sunday: Smile Empty Soul – Summertime Sadness Tour at Madison Live … Joe Cowels at Paddy’s on Main.
Tonight: The Art of Fashion: Fay Applegarth Maddux at Behringer-Crawford Museum … Dancing with Nature at Behringer-Crawford Museum.
Friday: Dancing with Nature photo exhibit at Behringer-Crawford Museum … The Art of Fashion: Fay Applegarth Maddux at Behringer-Crawford Museum … Devou Night Rides at Devou Park.
Saturday: Covington Farmers Market at 3rd & Court streets … Words I Speak at Kenton County Public Library … Dancing with Nature photo exhibit Behringer-Crawford Museum … MainStrasse Village Food Tour … The Art of Fashion: Fay Applegarth Maddux at Behringer-Crawford Museum … American Legion Post 203 Pig Roast at the Latonia Post 203.
Sunday: Kitten Yoga with Damon at Purrfect Day Cat Café … Summer Sunday for Welcome House at Devou Golf & Event Center
###