COVINGTON, Ky. – If anything guarantees a good time more than Mardi Gras and Galentine’s Day events together in one weekend, we’re hard-pressed to name it.
And in case you’re scratching your head about what on earth to get the one you’re sweet on for Valentine’s Day next week, this is a veritable V-Day prep weekend with several opportunities to make a handmade gift, find a treasure at a local small biz, or scour through racks and rows of vintage goods.
(Yeah, yeah, there’s a football game this weekend too, but that’s a 49er and KC thing, and we’re not interested.)
If you haven’t been to Coda Co. at 517 Madison Ave. yet, then the Valentine’s Workshop there tonight provides the perfect opportunity to introduce yourself to this charming boutique and its eclectic inventory of styles, accessories, and a nice little selection of journals and books.
Tonight you’ll learn to make a macrame vase wrap and dried floral arrangement, plus enjoy some light snacks and a complimentary glass of wine (feel free to BYOB, though). Also bring your galentine and have fun.
Nothing quite says Happy Valentine’s Day like a stabbed heart. Well, okay, not the actual muscle itself. No, we’re talking about needle-felted hearts, which is a heart-shaped lump of wool that you’ll stab to create a warm fuzzy Valentine gift.
HeartFelt Creates on Friday at the Hellman Creative Center is an Art Equals event that invites you to creative exploration – maybe bring a friend, sweetheart, or neighbor – and choose from three creative activities (or do all three).
In addition to felted hearts, how about floating poetry, where you’ll create heart-shaped handmade paper with floating words that can create a poem or be the springboard for your poetic verse? You can also try heart tangles, a sweetheart-shaped version of mindful doodling activities that can decorate your wall or hold your drink on a table. We’re not even sure how that can come to be, but we’ll leave it to the creatives.
Point is, whatever you choose, you’ll have a perfect gift ready when Valentine’s Day rolls around next week.
If your heart beats strong for small businesses, then follow your heart to Latonia on Saturday.
Latonia’s for Lovers of Small Businesses is a small biz & maker pop-up inside The Roost Latonia, featuring more than 15 pop-ups like Compton Photography, Mack’s Wax Melts, Farmer Nate’s Sauce, Wild Bison Vintage, Queen City Cotton Candy, Susanna B. Designs, Katie Woodring Photography, PS Never Give Up, the Redeemed Press, and Ken Page art. Talk about good one-stop shopping.
Walk through a time warp of style and nostalgia Saturday and discover that the clothing, toys, and music of your youth are now on the shelves and racks of the Totally Rad Vintage Fest at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center.
On the other hand, if the iconic items of your youth predates the ’80s, ’90s, and Y2K eras – which is what will be featured at the Totally Rad Vintage Fest – you’ll likely be best served to do what is called “antiquing.”
Saturday’s vintage fest offers a wide selection of clothing, accessories, records, toys, video games, home goods, and more. Plus, there’s going to be a Free-Play Vintage Arcade, a Rad Rewind Museum with relics from the past, and throwback photo opps.
“Galentine’s day is only the best day of the year. Every February my lady friends and I leave our husbands and boyfriends at home, and we just come and kick it, breakfast-style,” so said the wise Leslie Knope of “Parks & Recreation” fame.
We get the significance of galentines here in The Cov, so on Saturday plan to grab your best gal pals and make the day all about your fine friendship.
Have a grand start to the day at Frosthaus. Galentine’s Day with DJ Coco will offer a brunch menu, cocktails, and DJ Coco spinning the tunes while you dine, imbibe, and kick back with your bestie.
If mornings – even mid-mornings – aren’t your bag, then check out Galentine’s: Ladies Night in the Loft! at Braxton Brewing Co. Apparently Braxton’s Galentine’s brunch sold out fast, so they wisely created this evening soiree. Start off with charcuterie, salad, and a Dewey’s Pizza bar, then enjoy bottomless cocktails, your Braxton brew of choice, wine, a build-your-own-bouquet activity, and candy station. Grab your best gals and go.
Does The Cov know how to celebrate Mardi Gras, or what? The fabulously and famous MainStrasse Mardi Gras Parade returns on Sunday, so plan to head to MainStrasse Village at a reasonable time to secure your front row curbside seat to the best Mardi Gras show outside of NOLA. Otherwise, we can’t imagine how you’ll be in reach for those scads of beads that folks will be slinging.
The parade commences from Larry’s All-American Café at 9th and Philadelphia streets and travels east to Main Street, then north to 5th Street, so there will be a nice long stretch of entertainment.
When the parade ends more fun begins with the MainStrasse Pub Crawl, and, as you know, there’s no shortage of venues for a good sip, so stick around.
Tonight: The Missy Werner Band at Molly Malone’s Irish Pub & Restaurant … Sonny Moorman at Smoke Justis.
Friday: Crypta with Our Misery’s End and Detached at Madison Live … Xander Wells and The Laurelys at Wunderbar… Acoustic by Briz at Smoke Justis … Estrada Do Sol at Juniper’s.
Saturday: Blood Chill & Fat Sal with Pretoria and TV Art at Madison Live … Moonshine and Wine at Wunderbar … Stagger Lee Duo at Smoke Justis … Mardi Gras with Ricky Nye Inc. at Juniper’s … Crambone Rocks at Strasse Haus.
Sunday: Dan Van at Wunderbar.
Tonight: Clases de Ingles/ESL Classes at Kenton County Public Library … Flow & Unwind Yoga at Kenton County Public Library … Silent Reading Time with Rescue Kitties at Purrfect Day Cat Café … Valentine’s Wine Tasting at Crafts & Vines.
Friday: Power Your Job Search with Google Tools Workshop at Kenton County Public Library … Heart Sublimation Photo Slates at Kenton County Public Library … Hello, Dolly! at The Carnegie.
Saturday: Covington Farmers Market at Braxton Brewing Co. … MainStrasse Village Food Tour … Live Art with Timothy Gold at Purple Paisley, Local Artisan Shop … Cluster Earring Workshop at Purple Paisley, Local Artisan Shop … Hello, Dolly! at The Carnegie … Adults Cat’s Pajamas & Hot Cocoa Pawty at Purrfect Day Cat Café.
Sunday: All Ages Cat’s Pajamas & Hot Cocoa Pawty at Purrfect Day Cat Café … Kitty Yoga with Damon at Purrfect Day Cat Café.
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