NKY Magazine Spring 2019 by Cincy Magazine

ARTS PREVIEW: NKUâ€™S SPRING SHOWS TICKET FITNESS COMMUNITY CONNECTION

RESTAURANT GUIDE

New & Old Favorites Make a Splash in the NKY Dining Scene

City Goat, Covington

PLUS: LOCAL DINING LISTINGS Q&A: GORDY SNYDER OF MARDI GRAS FOR HOMELESS CHILDREN

SPRING 2019 VOLUME 9 ISSUE 1

NKY HOME: STONE CENTER OF KENTUCKY

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NKY CONTENTS

Spring 2019

SPECIAL INSERT

4 SCENE 6 INSIDE NKY

32 TICKET TO HEALTH

10 COMMENT

51 ASSISTING INTO THE FUTURE

11 FROM JUDY’S DESK

People throughout the region are working to improve Northern Kentucky. By JUDY CLABES Once pelted by rotten eggs, John G. Carlisle’s legacy lives on. BY DAVE E. SCHROEDER

52 HOME

Stone Center of Kentucky has stones ideal for almost any home project. BY CORINNE MINARD

54 LIVE WELL: DERMATOLOGY Local dermatologists say people can start protecting their skin at any time. BY CORINNE MINARD

14 A&E CALENDAR 17 2019 NKY RESTAURANT GUIDE 56 LOVE NKY Dig into the NKY dining scene with this guide to some of the region’s best restaurants, plus listings. BY THE EDITORS

LOCAL SPECIAL EVENTS & CALENDAR

PLAY

12 HISTORY

Redwood continues to add services for those with disabilities to stay ahead of current trends. BY CORINNE MINARD

WORK

Some thoughts on the Golden State. By RICK ROBINSON

The Ticket Fitness and Wellness Center in Taylor Mill looks to bring to the community together through fitness. BY JULI HALE

LIVE

NKU presents exciting new shows for the spring and four questions about the Mardi Gras for Homeless Children. BY CORINNE MINARD

OFFICI A L COMM U NIT Y A ND AC TI V IT Y GU IDE

2 019 O FFICIAL COM M U NIT Y AN D ACTIVIT Y GU IDE

LOCAL SPECIAL EVENTS & CALENDAR

COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, PARKS & RECREATION

KEY CITY CONTACT INFORMATION

SUPPLEMENT TO

w w w. b e s t o f n ky. c o m

City of Florence The 2019 official Community and Activity Guide has events, entertainment and more. 1-16, begins after p. 34

Outdoor Kitchens Outdoor Fireplaces Fire Pits Retaining Walls Paver Sidewalks Paver Patios Seat Walls Courtyards Landscape Lighting

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NKY MAGAZINE SPRING 2019

TIME TO DINE I always look forward to the NKY Restaurant Guide. With this issue, we get to find new places to eat and rediscover old favorites. What’s not to love? This year, we looked for ways to make the guide even more helpful. In the feature, you’ll easily be able to find out the type of food offered at each restaurant, the price range, the most popular menu items and more. It’s truly a guide, one we hope you’ll reference as you eat around the region. Did we miss your favorite place? Please let us know by tweeting at us with the hashtag #NKYdining.

PUBLISHED BY magazine Locally, family and veteran-owned Cincy Co. LLC Cincinnati Club Building, 30 Garfield Place, Suite 440, Cincinnati, OH 45202 PUBLISHER: Eric Harmon MANAGING EDITOR: Corinne Minard ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Eric Spangler CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Judy Clabes, Juli Hale, Rick Robinson, Dave E. Schroeder CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Guy Kelly ART DIRECTOR: Katy Rucker ADVERTISING MANAGER: Laura Federle PRODUCTION MANAGER: Keith Ohmer EVENTS DIRECTOR: Hannah Jones EVENTS COORDINATOR: Alexandra Tepe AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR: Alexandra Stacey ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER: Rick Seeney SALES & OPERATIONS MANAGER: Anthony Rhoades ADVERTISING SALES: Ian Altenau, Abbey Cummins, Brad Hoicowitz, Susan Montgomery, Katelynn Webb WORK-STUDY STUDENTS: Esvin Bernardo Perez, Aliyah White For questions: email info@BestofNKY.com or call (513) 421-2533. Go to www.BestofNKY.com to get your complimentary subscription of Cincy and NKY magazines..

www.BestofNKY.com

NKY SCENE NKY CHAMBER WINTER EVENTS The cold weather couldn’t slow down the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce this fall and winter. Among its many events was the Dec. 11 Eggs ‘N Issues, which featured Northern Kentucky University President Ashish Vaidya; Where We Stand 2019 on Dec. 18, in which three local legislators discussed the coming year in the state legislature; and the NKY Chamber Women’s Initiative third annual Regional Summit on Oct. 17. From left: State Sen. Chris McDaniel and state Rep. Ed Massey

Northern Kentucky University President Ashish Vaidya (right) discusses his first months with NKU and his plans for the future.

S TONE CENTER

Priya Klocek, president of Consultant On The Go, spoke at the Regional Summit.

We are NKY’s premier natural stone supplier!

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NKY MAGAZINE SPRING 2019

Stone Center of Kentucky offers something for everyone. For the contractors, lots of choices with inventory to cover your job. Quick loading and accurate weighing. For the homeowner, walk our yard with your dream of a patio, pool deck, outdoor fire pit, mulch replacement with permanent attractive landscape aggregates ( save time and money over the years), accent boulders, seating walls or retaining walls.

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Beautifully reimagined, with an open floor plan, Kentucky Crave Restaurant & Lounge, feature a modern and industrial styled space, that also feels warm and inviting. We offer local favorites and a variety of cuisines that you crave while visiting the Northern Kentucky area. Breakfast and Dinner served daily. The lounge features bourbon from local and state distilleries and premium wines.

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INSIDE NKY

Something New NKU’s School of the Arts offers up new, exciting shows this spring BY CORINNE MIN ARD

Dance ’19, the final dance concert for Northern Kentucky University’s School of the Arts, mixes a variety of dance styles with works by guest artists to create a one-of-a-kind show.

ou don’t need to travel far to see exciting shows and insightful theater— Northern Kentucky University’s School of the Arts provides just that right here in Northern Kentucky. This spring, the school presents two of its most exciting events—the Y.E.S. Festival (in which the school world premieres three plays) and Dance ’19 (a year-end showcase that displays the variety of talent in NKU’s growing dance department). According to Michael Hatton, theatre and dance program head for NKU’s School of the Arts, these programs are an opportunity for the students to share what they have learned throughout the year with the community. “We want to make sure that they’re well prepared to be successful for the long term and that we want to teach them how to create art that is meaningful and sustainable and impactful. You can’t study theater inside a bubble, inside a vacuum. You’ve got to learn about the people that you’re creating theater with and for,” he says.

Y.E.S FESTIVAL The Y.E.S. Festival, which stands for Year End Series, is entering its 19th year at

NKY MAGAZINE SPRING 2019

NKU. Held every two years, it’s the longestrunning undergraduate new play festival in the country, says Hatton. Each festival, the students perform two or three new plays. “What that means for our students … is that they have an opportunity … to get to work with living playwrights—we bring in the playwrights, they’re in residence—and that’s such a rare opportunity. Normally you’re working on playwrights you don’t have access to or playwrights that have passed away. So getting to hear the voice of the playwright, getting to interact with them, getting to learn about how and why they’ve created this story and the characters and getting to have that kind of feedback—a relationship that we find is very special—it’s very unique and very impactful,” he says. In addition, Hatton says, “It helps our students to really respect the craft of playwriting and understand the role that they have in creating and bringing these characters to life for the very first time.” Each festival, about 300 new plays from throughout the world are submitted for inclusion. After being thoroughly vetted by the faculty, the best plays are chosen.

“We … cull down all of those submissions to find the ones that resonate, the ones that are obviously the best written, and also, too, we are an undergraduate program, so we are looking for plays that can be produced within our program,” says Hatton. “We also want to find plays that hopefully push, stretch and entertain patrons because we want them to get some added benefit from it as well, too.” This year the festival will be held April 3-14 and features three plays—Fast Young Beautiful by Ethan Warren focuses on a young actor in 1955 who gets the opportunity to act with James Dean, Initiative by Jacob York tells the story of a group of friends playing a board game as one dies of cancer and The Black Boy in Pink by NKU playwriting major Isaiah Reaves is set in Cincinnati in 1959 as a young black man begins to dream of a different life. According to Corrie Danieley, associate professor and co-coordinator of the festival, the three plays have something in common. “They have a nice sense of intimacy,” she says. “Isaiah is a good example. It’s a fictional story that he developed that he’s had similar experiences in his own life,

INSIDE NKY and then with the James Dean show, that’s interesting, too, because it is a deep look into what it means to be an actor, what it means to empathize as you step into a character and all of that. And the third one, a man’s facing cancer. For me personally that’s what I’m drawn to in these scripts.” Each play will be shown multiple times throughout the festival. Visit nku.edu to see dates and times. Tickets can also be purchased online—$15 for a non-student. “[People] can actually come to our theaters, see three world premiere plays and see a play for less than the cost of a movie ticket,” says Hatton. “That’s pretty amazing.”

DANCE ‘19 For those who love dance, NKU’s School of the Arts also offers an opportunity to see unique choreography and up-and-coming dancers. Held April 26-28, Dance ’19 is dance students’ annual concert to display what they’ve been working on all year.

“It is a collective concert of modern, ballet, jazz, tap, musical theater and even some world cultural dance and things that the students have studied throughout the year,” says Tracey Bonner, assistant professor and Dance ’19 coordinator. “We bring in guest artists … and the students rehearse with those people and then we have that big performance at the end of the year. So for our dance majors, it’s the biggest thing we do. It’s their one big chance to do something that’s super exciting and super different.” Between 30 and 60 dance majors, dance minors, musical theater majors and more participate in the annual show. The students are involved with every step of the process. Senior Sam Theders, for example, will be both choreographing for and dancing in this year’s concert. “[It is] giving us a chance to see it both ways and it’s really exciting to be able to do that, to leave college and have that on my resume, too, to say I’ve been able to

dance as well as choreograph for our main show,” she says. While many of the dances are still being worked on at this time, Bonner is excited about two elements new to 2019. First, an African dance specialist has been brought in to help choreograph an African dance for the show, the first time the endof-year concert has featured that style of dance. Second, the school’s BSA residency students are choreographing the opening of the show. Junior Franchesca Montazemi, who is performing in the concert for the first time this year, thinks all dance lovers will be able to take something away from the show. “I think we’re going to take a lot of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky people by surprise by what we have to offer. There’s just going to be a great learning experience about the world of dance,” she says. Tickets are $12 per person for non-students and can be purchased at nku.edu. n

According to Tracey Bonner, coordinator of Dance ’19, every genre of dance is represented in the annual concert.

www.BestofNKY.com

NKY Q&A

4 Questions with

Gordy Snyder 2019 Chairman of Mardi Gras for Homeless Children BY CORINNE MIN ARD

ver the last 28 years, Mardi Gras for Homeless Children has raised more than $1.7 million for local agencies that care for homeless children. Last year’s event raised $140,000 but Gordy Snyder, chairman of the event and president of Commonwealth Hotel Collection, says that the plan is to raise even more this year with a goal of $150,000. We spoke with Snyder about why the annual event is important to the community and what attendees can look forward to.

Q A

What is Mardi Gras for Homeless Children?

The event is the 28th annual Mardi Gras for Homeless Children presented by Mercedes-Benz of Fort Mitchell [and the Wyler Family Foundation]. It’s produced by the Northern Kentucky Restaurant Association and the date is Tuesday, March 5, from 6:30-10 p.m. Regular admission is $70 and VIP admission, which includes early entry at 5:30 p.m., is $90. It’s being held at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center here in Covington. You can get tickets right now at Mercedes-Benz of Fort Mitchell, Hofbrauhaus, any of the benefiting agencies [or] on our website at mardigras2019.org. All the proceeds benefit homeless children agencies, one in Ohio and two here in Northern Kentucky. The one in Ohio is Bethany House Services in Cincinnati. The two in Kentucky are Brighton Center’s Homeward Bound in Covington and Welcome House of Northern Kentucky, also in Covington.

Q A

How did the event first get started?

The reason this event was started 28 years ago is there was a tragic incident that occurred in Cincinnati. There were [four] homeless children that were locked in an abandoned garage by their father who left them alone. They began to play with matches and actually the garage caught on fire and all [four] perished because they couldn’t get out of the garage. They were locked in. An article that said that at the time there

were over 7,000 homeless children in Cincinnati living in abandoned cars, houses, garages and so on. The Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky communities were just shocked that this could be happening in our community. The Northern Kentucky Restaurant Association and the Cincinnati Restaurant Association joined forces to create the Mardi Gras for Homeless Children and the purpose of that Mardi Gras was to raise money for the homeless children agencies and that money is earmarked to go toward their food budget for an entire year. All three agencies serve or feed over 13,000 homeless children annually. It’s a pretty big number of homeless people.

Q A

Why is Mardi Gras for Homeless Children still important?

I’ve been involved since the very beginning—actually I was the first Mardi Gras chair and somehow I keep getting talked into it. We’ve gone and visited these three agencies and they do wonderful work. You go there and you see these homeless children and these agencies it really does touch your heart and makes all this hard work worthwhile. n

What happens during the event?

The event is really a culinary event— it’s an all-inclusive culinary tasting of food and beverages from local restaurants, both in Ohio and Northern Kentucky, as

well as various beverages including adult beverages like craft beers and wines and so on. We also feature live entertainment with New Orleans jazz-type entertainment, with Robin Lacy and DeZydeco. We also have a Mardi Gras parade with stilt walkers, clowns, it’s led by the Beechwood High School marching band and we feature a royal court. Scott Sloan of WLW is the Mardi Gras king, Sheila Gray from Local 12 is the Mardi Gras queen, our grand marshal is Giovani Bernard, the Bengals running back, and also we have emcees for the evening of Bob Herzog with Local 12 and Josh Martinez of Kiss 107. The event features over 50 restaurants and purveyors.

NKY MAGAZINE SPRING 2019

In 2018, the Mardi Gras for Homeless Children raised $140,000.

w w w. b e s t o f n ky. c o m Inside NKY’s Craft Beer Scene

VOTED

Bard’s Burgers’ Growing Reputation LOCAL SPOTS FOR BOURBON TOURISM The Best Food, Drink, Entertainment & More in Northern Kentucky in 2018

James Simpson City of Covington

750 DOCTORS IN 70 SPECIALTIES

Candace McGr aw

PLUS THE REGION’S

CVG

62 TOP DENTISTS

PLUS:

PICNIC TABLE PROJECT SUMMER 2018

WOMEN’S HEALTH

Brian Papke

Mazak corpor ation Event on April 26, 2018

ROEBLING SOCIETY CLASS OF 2018 PRIVATE SCHOOL GUIDE

BLINKERS TAVERN, BEST STEAK WINNER

PLUS:

Q&A: NKU’S ASHISH VAIDYA

FALL 2018 WINTER 2018

A magazine dedicated exclusively to Northern Kentucky The Arts, Businesses, Communities, Entertainment and most of all its People. Visit us at WWW.BESTOFNKY.COM for a complimentary subscription

NKY COMMENT

BY RICK ROBINSON

Saving the World in California Rick has some thought on the Golden State after a recent visit

ast year, I spent quite a bit of time in California. As is my custom when spending time in another state, I prepared by learning more about its people and government. I started my California research with some of the basics. I assume the state flower is medical marijuana, because it’s everywhere. You can’t go anywhere without catching a whiff of it. The smoking area of my hotel was a 6-foot square landing separating two levels of outdoor steps. When I lit up a cigar in the cramped confines, people on the adjacent sidewalk below stared at me as if I was Quasimodo seeking sanctuary in the bell tower. Even the pair of stoners walking by in a cloud of their own smoke looked at me with disdain. I quickly discovered the most prevalent medical condition in California is glaucoma, a diagnosis for which is apparently the easiest to obtain to legally purchase weed—I mean medical marijuana. Of course, glaucoma might explain the odd stare of the previously mentioned stoners. California’s state motto is “Eureka!,” as in “Eureka! I can legally buy weed if I have glaucoma.” The state’s official seal is a gender-neutral, multi-cultural Nanny surrounded by the motto “Servare Tu Ex Vos,” which is Latin for “Saving You From Yourself.” California is obsessed with protecting you. Normally, in a column like this “you” means “humanity.” Many state legislatures pass laws to protect humanity. Not California. They want to protect you personally from anything and everything that might possibly harm you, including yourself. For instance, there is a California law that requires anything having a 1 in 100,000 chance of upping your risk of cancer to come with a state-sanctioned warning. Buy coffee at Starbucks and it’s served with a warning. Park your car at an indoor enclosed

NKY MAGAZINE SPRING 2019

California recently made it illegal to use plastic straws.

parking lot and you get a warning. Go to the dentist—warning. I even got a warning when I checked into my hotel. And for God’s sake, don’t even think about buying anything dyed red. I’m not sure if medical marijuana bought for the purpose of assisting a cancer patient with appetite issues comes with the appropriate cancer warning, but I digress. The cancer warning is so prevalent and comes with so many products and services that Californians tend to ignore them all and spend a day at the beach without sunscreen. Since everything is going to kill them, they might as well die with a good tan. Nowhere is California’s governmental protective dome more blanketing than when it comes to straws. Just prior to my final left coast trip of the year, Gov. Jerry “Moonbeam” Brown signed legislation making it illegal to use plastic straws. Based upon data provided to Governor Moonbeam by some environmental group, disposable straw usage is—wait for it—“an average of 1.6 straws per person (in the US) per day.” As I don’t need straws to drink Guinness or bourbon, I don’t use 1.6 straws per day. I don’t use that many a month. But groups pushing an agenda never lie. All of which

leads me to the conclusion that some of you are going way overboard on personal straw usage. Knock it off. California is passing laws because of your irresponsible method of tasty liquid consumption. At the Los Angeles Convention Center, I noticed a sign at the concession stand informing me that although I use too damn many straws one “may be provided upon ADA request,” ADA meaning the Americans with Disabilities Act. Rather than justifying my personal straw usage or non-usage as it may be, I asked instead for an Emotional Assistance Straw. If an airline passenger can take a peacock or miniature horse on an airplane as an emotional assistance animal, I can have my damn straw. The manager denied my reasonable accommodation. I stood up for my Constitutional rights for an emotional assistance straw and, finally, my loud protestations garnered some attention. Did you know that the air in Los Angeles County lockup can cause cancer? n

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F R OM JUDY’S DESK

BY JUDY CL ABE S

The Do-Gooders People throughout the region are working to improve Northern Kentucky

e’re off to a fresh start with a whole brand new year, happy for a clean slate and for all we learned from our last year. Knowledge and experience add up and, more and more, we appreciate the good things people do and the good people who do them. Take Everett Dameron of Covington, definitely one of the good ones. He saw a need to improve education in the area and connected with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program as a Champion to bring free books to school kids. Dameron gathered up a group of friends who are just as dedicated as he is—Marilyn Donnelly and daughters Amy and Kristin, Jo Rogers, and Holly Jung. They teamed up with a nonprofit, the Notre Dame Urban Education Center, which agreed to take the tax-deductible donations. Dolly Parton’s organization furnishes the books free but the local champions have to pay for the postage—about $2.10 per book per month—mailed to a child’s home. Today, there are 342 children in Covington receiving a free book every month. Dameron’s group has set a new goal—750 children this year. They need to raise money—about $19,000 to expand and sustain the program. Donations can go to the NDUEC (with NKYDPIL in the memo line), 14 E. Eighth St., Covington, KY 41011. Dameron believes a child’s life can be changed through reading and having books in a home. I think most of us agree.

VENT HAVEN MUSEUM Did you know aabout the Vent Haven Museum, tucked away on Maple Avenue in Fort

Mitchell? It’s the only museum in the world dedicated to ventriloquism and it provides a resting place for “old” dummies as well as an extensive collection of photos, playbills, books and ephemera. It was founded by businessman W.S. Berger who left the collection of nearly 1,000 dummies and more, along with his home, to a private foundation that opened the home as a museum in 1973. The dedication was attended by legendary ventriloquist Edgar Bergen, whose famous Charlie McCarthy and Mortimer Snerd dummies now reside there. The collection has grown so extensively that its board, including trustee Anne Roberts and director/curator Lisa Sweasy, has undertaken a $1 million capital campaign to expand the facility into a first-class, state-of-the-art museum building that will expand display space and provide a superior experience to the thousands of visitors from around the world who visit the museum every year. The Drees Homes Foundation has pledged $200,000 towards the museum’s capital campaign. You can learn more about Vent Haven and the campaign at venthaven.org.

NEWPORT FIREFIGHTERS LOCAL 45 The good-deeders on the Newport Firefighting squad reported at year’s end that they had successfully executed a wide-ranging body of activity in 2018. Their work included food drives and scholarships, coat drives and contributions to the Muscular Dystrophy Association. The icing on those thousands and thousands of dollars for kids and families was an amazing holiday effort that delivered more than $53,000 worth of food and gifts to 429 children in 106 different Newport families. And there was a fire truck involved, much to the delight of the kids.

Nancy Grayson, Horizon Community Funds

HORIZON FUND AND GREATER CINCINNATI FOUNDATION We’ll top off the good-deed salutes with special mention for the Horizon Community Fund of Northern Kentucky and the Greater Cincinnati Foundation, which represent great collective giving in our area. These organizations are proof that a little money from a collective of donors can make a big impact. Horizon has announced that its Impact Fund will be offering $50,000 in grants to nonprofits who submit grant requests that impact Northern Kentucky, particularly Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties. Check their website for details at horizonfunds.org. The Greater Cincinnati Foundation has invited organizations to apply for $50,000 funding targeted to help the region’s most vulnerable have better access to food, shelter and behavioral health services. Details are at gcfdn.org. n www.BestofNKY.com

NKY HI STORY

BY DAVID E . SCHROEDER, E XECUTIVE DIREC TOR OF THE KENTON COUNT Y PUBLIC LIBR ARY

A Prominent Son

Once pelted by rotten eggs, John G. Carlisle’s legacy lives on

NKY MAGAZINE SPRING 2019

COURTESY OF THE KENTON COUNTY PUBLIC LIBR ARY

orthern Kentuckians tend to associate the name John Griffin Carlisle with the elementary school in Covington’s westside neighborhood. The naming of the school was the culmination to a fascinating life of public service. During his life, Carlisle held positions in the Kentucky House of Representatives and Senate and the United States House of Representatives and Senate, and was lieutenant governor of Kentucky, speaker of the United States House and United States secretary of the treasury. He was a man of great ambition who played a major role in American politics. Carlisle was born Sept. 5, 1834, in a log cabin on a farm about 15 miles south of Covington in present-day Kenton County. Little is known about his early life and education. He was the eldest of the 11 children of Lilborn Carlisle and Mary Reynolds Griffin. Newspaper accounts indicate he acquired an education, most likely in the county school system. One of his acquaintances described his work on the family farm: “He disliked manual labor… and was a devoted reader, being accustomed to desert his team, when supposed to be plowing, to lay under a tree and read a treasured book.” At the age of 15 he was hired by the Covington School Board as a teacher. He was one of the youngest educators to ever teach in the Covington Public School system. Five years later his father died leaving John as the primary source of income for his family. As a way to earn more money and increase his position in the community, Carlisle began studying the law under the direction of Covington attorneys John White Stephenson, who would later serve as governor of Kentucky (1867-1871), and William B. Kinkead. This apprentice system for studying the law was quite common during this era. John G. Carlisle was admitted to the bar

John Griffin Carlisle

and joined the law firm of W. B. Kinkead in 1857, the same year he married his wife, Mary Jane Goodson. The couple had met when they were both teaching in Covington. During his early career, Carlisle quickly became popular in the Covington community. These connections led to a successful run for a seat in the Kentucky House of Representatives in 1859. He served

for one term as a Democratic member from 1859-1861. During these pivotal years, the General Assembly was faced with growing concerns about the impending Civil War. Carlisle tried to straddle the line between North and South. In the legislature he consistently supported Kentucky remaining in the Union. Personally, he remained neutral. This neutral stance damaged his

COURTESY OF THE KENTON COUNTY PUBLIC LIBR ARY

John G. Carlisle Elementary School, built in 1937

reputation in Northern Kentucky, which had predominantly Northern leanings. Carlisle was appointed to a seat in the Kentucky Senate in 1866 and remained until 1871 when he successfully ran for the position of lieutenant governor (1871-1875). He served In the United States House of Representatives from March 4, 1877, until May 26, 1890. During this time period he was a member of the Democratic caucus, which championed low tariffs. He served as speaker of the United States House from 1883 to 1889 during a period of tremendous national growth. Carlisle then served in the United States Senate from 1890 until 1893 when President Grover Cleveland appointed him the secretary of the treasury. As secretary of the treasury, Carlisle was in the unenviable position of coping with the crippling financial crash of 1893. He received considerable blame for the financial panic that followed. Back at home, there was a movement in Northern Kentucky to construct a second vehicular bridge over the Ohio River at Covington. The bridge proposal received strong support of regional leaders. Carlisle was the attorney for the

bridge company in Covington, which owned and operated the Roebling Suspension Bridge—a toll bridge. The new bridge would be in direct competition. Carlisle openly opposed the project in Washington. This opposition further alienated him from his Kentucky roots. The Kentucky Post referred to him in an editorial as Judas G. Carlisle as a result. In 1896, Carlisle gave a speech at the Covington’s Odd Fellow’s Hall. Northern Kentuckians, still stinging from the 1893 financial collapse and bridge affair, pelted him onstage with rotten eggs and cigars. Carlisle was ultimately forced from the platform and never addressed an audience in Covington again. Following his term as secretary of the treasury, Carlisle joined the prestigious law firm of Curtis, Mallatt, Proust & Cott in New York City. He sold his last home in Covington in 1902. Perhaps Carlisle’s last high-profile case in Kentucky involved Berea College. Berea trustees acquired the services of Carlisle to defend them in a fight against the Day Law passed by the Commonwealth of Kentucky, which barred

African-American students from attending schools in which Caucasian students were enrolled. The Day Law would ultimately not be overturned until 1954. On Aug. 10, 1905, Carlisle’s wife Mary Jane died in New York City. John G. Carlisle died on July 31, 1910 in the same city. All four of his children preceded him in death. Funeral services were conducted at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Washington D.C. Ironically, the Covington city fathers passed a resolution to have the flag on city hall placed at half mast, only to discover that the order could not be carried out since the flag pole was being repaired. Curiously, Carlisle chose to be buried in his hometown of Covington at Linden Grove Cemetery. His wife’s remains were exhumed in New York and laid to rest later that year in Covington. The Covington Board of Education honored John G. Carlisle by naming one of its schools in his memory in 1921. The school and a modest headstone in Linden Grove Cemetery are the only physical reminders of one of Covington’s most prominent sons. n www.BestofNKY.com

NKY EVENTS

March

Arena with special guest Juvenile. 7:30 p.m. $40-$103. BB&T Arena, Northern Kentucky University, 500 Louie B. Nunn Drive, Highland Heights. 859-442-2652, thebbtarena.com.

NICK DITTMEIER & THE SAWDUSTERS March 2 Nick Dittmeier & the Sawdusters, a fourpiece Americana band from Bloomington, Indiana, stops by the Southgate House Revival. 9 p.m. $8 in advance, $10 at the door. Southgate House Revival, 111 E. Sixth St., Newport. 859-431-2201, southgatehouse.com.

MARDI GRAS FOR HOMELESS CHILDREN

SWING!

DR. DOG

March 5 The 28th annual Mardi Gras for Homeless Children promises to be a great party for a fantastic cause. The event raises funds for Bethany House Services, Brighton Center’s Homeward Bound and the Welcome House of Northern Kentucky and features food, drinks, live New Orleans jazz and more. 6:30-10 p.m. $70, VIP $90. Northern Kentucky Convention Center, 1 W. RiverCenter Blvd., Covington. nkramardigras.com.

March 8 Psychedelic rock band Dr. Dog brings songs from its newest album, Critical Equation, as well as past hits to the Madison Theater. 8 p.m. $25. Madison Theater, 730 Madison Ave., Covington. 859-4912444, madisontheateronline.com.

NELLY March 15 Three-time Grammy winner Nelly, known for hits like “Hot in Herre” and “Country Grammar,” visits BB&T

March 30-April 14 Celebrate the music and dance of the Swing era of jazz in this high-energy musical. Well-known Swing era songs are featured in the play, including “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)” and “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy.” F-Sa 7:30 p.m., Su 3 p.m. The Carnegie, 1028 Scott Blvd., Covington. 859-957-1940, thecarnegie.com.

KIM RICHEY WITH JORDIE LANE March 31 Singer-songwriter Kim Richey, who’s written songs for Trisha Yearwood and Brooks & Dunn, performs her own songs at the Southgate House Revival. 7 p.m. $20 in advance, $22 at the door. Southgate House Revival, 111 E. Sixth St., Newport. 859-431-2201, southgatehouse.com.

Holy Cross

District High School

WANTS YOU!

• Customized, Tiered Curriculum • Dual and AP Credit Classes • Academic Enhancement Program • Over $500,000 Awarded Annually in Scholarships and Financial Aid

for more information visit hchscov.com or call 859-431-1335

3617 Church Street, Covington, KY 41015 859-431-1335 • hchscov.com 14

NKY MAGAZINE SPRING 2019

2nd Annual NKY Restaurant Week!

DRAKES

Take a culinary tour of Northern Kentucky during July 8th-14th, 2019. FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT WWW.NKYRESTAURANTWEEK.COM NKYRESTAURANTWEEK.COM • JULY 8-14, 2019 • #NKYRESTAURANTWEEK

NKY EVENTS

April Y.E.S. FESTIVAL April 3-14 The Northern Kentucky University School of the Arts Theatre and Dance program will world premiere three productions: Fast Young Beautiful by Ethan Warren, Initiative by Jacob York and The Black Boy in Pink by NKU playwriting major Isaiah Reaves. Times vary. $15 general, $10 student. Two-show package $25 general, $15 student. Northern Kentucky Fine Arts Center, Nunn Drive, Highland Heights. 859-572-5464, nku.edu.

GUSTER

DANCE ‘19

April 11 Alternative rock band Guster brings songs from its new album Look Alive to the Madison Theater. 8 p.m. $30 in advance, $35 at the door. Madison Theater, 730 Madison Ave., Covington. 859-4912444, madisontheateronline.com.

April 26-28 Northern Kentucky University dance students will show off their skills during this annual show. The show will feature new, original works by faculty, guest artists and nationally renowned choreographers in a variety of dance types, including ballet, tap, modern and jazz. F-Sa 7:30 p.m., Su 2 p.m. $12 general, $10 student. Northern Kentucky Fine Arts Center, Nunn Drive, Highland Heights. 859-572-5464, nku.edu.

ANOTHER ROUND

LUCY WAINWRIGHT ROCHE AND SUZZY ROCHE April 5 Lucy Wainwright Roche teams up with her mother, Suzzy Roche, for a performance at the Southgate House Revival. They’ll be playing songs from the two albums they’ve recorded together: Fairytale and Myth and Mud & Apples. 8 p.m. $30 in advance, $35 at the door. Southgate House Revival, 111 E. Sixth St., Newport. 859-431-2201, southgatehouse.com.

SUNNY SWEENEY April 26 Country music artist Sunny Sweeney will play songs from her four albums at the Southgate House. 9 p.m. $20, $60 for four, $100 VIP. Southgate House Revival, 111 E. Sixth St., Newport. 859-431-2201, southgatehouse.com.

April 27 Indiana University’s a cappella group Another Round performs at The Carnegie for the night. Eleven young men will harmonize together, singing new and old hits. 7:30 p.m. $25 adults, $22 students. The Carnegie, 1028 Scott Blvd., Covington. 859-957-1940, thecarnegie.com. Don’t see your event? Visit bestofnky.com to add it to our online event calendar for free.

www.BestofNKY.com

NKY RESTAURANT GUIDE 2019

Thereâ€™s no better place to dine than Northern Kentucky. New restaurants continue to open up and old favorites are being rediscovered. This annual guide gives a taste of the regionâ€™s excellent cuisine, from barbecue and sandwiches to steak and pasta. Make tonight a night out and try one of the fabulous dining establishments that call NKY home. Do you know of a restaurant we should include next year? Fill out a Letter to the Editor form at bestofnky.com or tweet using #NKYdining to tell us what we missed.

By the Editors

CITY GOAT 404 W. Pike St., Covington visitthegoat.com 859-279-3533 Restaurant Type: American Restaurant and Bar Price Range: $4-$15

Year Opened: 2018 Most-Popular Menu Items: Unique pizzas, wings and burgers (including the Go Goetta Burger) Atmosphere: Casual Why you should go: City Goat takes

classic sports bar food and adds a twist (try the Sky Pie for a Cincinnati chili-style pizza). It also offers customizable options throughout its menu. The West Side Covington dining spot has a large patio and game room, with an event space for groups up to 100. www.BestofNKY.com

THE BAKER’S TABLE 1004 Monmouth St., Newport bakerstablenewport.com 859-261-1941 Restaurant Type: Rustic, Seasonal Cuisine Price Range: Sandwiches and entrees start at $10 Year Opened: 2018 Most-Popular Menu Items: Fried Chicken Biscuit Sandwich, Egg-in-a-Hole on housemade sourdough, Italian Ricotta Doughnuts with fruit compote and Seasonal Breakfast Hash with creme fraiche and a fried egg

Atmosphere: Casual, with Relaxed Elegance Why you should go: The Baker’s Table is more than a name—the restaurant serves an array of house-baked bread and has a 10-foot antique baker’s table that diners can reserve or use for private events. The restaurant offers farm-to-table food, craft cocktails, third-wave coffee and an in-house bread program, and serves breakfast, lunch and brunch with inspirations from the American South, Italy and France.

COLONIAL COTTAGE 3140 Dixie Highway, Erlanger thecottagenky.com 859-341-4498 Restaurant Type: Traditional American, Southern

SUB STATION II 1826 Dixie Highway, Fort Wright substationii.com 859-341-9494 Restaurant Type: Sandwiches & Salads Price Range: $5-$10 Year Opened: 1989 Most-Popular Menu Item: The Super Special (ham, turkey, bologna, capicola,

NKY MAGAZINE SPRING 2019

salami, pepperoni and provolone cheese with your choice of bread, vegetables and toppings) Atmosphere: Casual Quick Service Restaurant Why you should go: Nothing pre-sliced here—this deli-style restaurant slices all meats and vegetables to order and doesn’t use preservatives.

Price Range: $8-$12 Year Opened: 1933 Most-Popular Menu Items: Breakfast, it’s goetta, for lunch it’s burgers and for dinner it’s the fried chicken Atmosphere: Casual Why you should go: “Our people make you feel welcome and our food makes you feel comfortable,” says owner Matt Grimes.

TOUSEY HOUSE TAVERN 5963 N. Jefferson St., Burlington touseyhouse.com 859-586-9900 Restaurant Type: Southern Cuisine Price Range: $11-$35 Year Opened: 2008

Most-Popular Menu Items: Fried Chicken (rolled in secret herbed flour before they’re fried), Alaskan Halibut (topped with crab meat, artichoke hearts and parmesan cheese before it’s baked to a golden brown) and Tousey’s Pasta (linguini tossed with garlic, tomatoes, parmesan cheese and either chicken or shrimp)

Atmosphere: Casual with a Fine Dining Touch Why you should go: Go for the traditional Southern food, stay for the historic atmosphere—the restaurant’s building was constructed almost 200 years ago.

www.BestofNKY.com

SMOKIN’ THIS AND THAT BBQ 10020 Demia Way, Florence smokinthisandthatbbq.com 859-817-0492 Restaurant Type: Old-School Barbecue Price Range: $10 Year Opened: 2015 Most-Popular Menu Item: BBQ Tacos (barbecue pork or brisket on a soft taco shell with barbecue sauce, coleslaw and avocado sauce) Atmosphere: Casual Why you should go: According to owner Gu y Cummins, the restaurant’s “old-school wood-smoked” barbecue is what separates it from the other barbecue restaurants in the region.

2018

We are grateful that the people of NKY recognize what goes into the comfort food in which we specialize. There is nothing more comforting than good fried chicken. Please join us soon! 3140 Dixie Highway • Erlanger, KY 41018 859-341-4498 • thecottagenky.com 20

NKY MAGAZINE SPRING 2019

• Outstanding heading into the 27th year! •

POMPILIO’S RESTAURANT 600 Washington Ave., Newport pompilios.com 859-581-3065 Restaurant Type: Italian Price Range: $12-$30 Year Opened: 1933 Most-Popular Menu Item: Spaghetti and Meatballs Atmosphere: Full-Service Casual Dining Why you should go: First opened in 1933, Pompilio’s has some history to go with its classic Italian cuisine. Home to gangsters in the 1940s, the restaurant has kept its historic atmosphere—much of the bar and adjacent dining room look similar to how they did when it first opened.

www.BestofNKY.com

AGAVE & RYE 635 Madison Ave., Covington agaveandrye.com 859-360-1060 Restaurant Type: Innovative Tacos Price Range: $5-$11

NKY MAGAZINE SPRING 2019

Year Opened: 2018

Atmosphere: Casual

Most-Popular Menu Item: The Swipe Right (taco with honey lime grilled chicken, bacon, aged white cheddar, salsa and sour cream)

Why you should go: Three words: Epic, unique food. Ever tried a taco with duck? One with macaroni and cheese? What about cauliflower? Tacos with these ingredients and more make up the menu here.

CASUAL CHINESE RESTAURANT 88 Carothers Road, Newport casualchinese.com 859-431-2900 Restaurant Type: Chinese/Thai Price Range: Lunch express $5.50, most dinners $9.95 and specials up to $13.95 Year Opened: 1992 Most-Popular Menu Items: Pad Thai noodles (choice of protein stir-fried with Thai noodles, egg, bean sprouts, onion and carrots in Pad Thai sauce with peanuts), Sesame Chicken (chicken deep-fried and sautéed in tangy brown sauce) and Chicken Fried Rice Atmosphere: Casual Why you should go: Casual Chinese is committed to quality food (only using fresh and good quality ingredients), good prices and good service—it’s even known for refusing tips.

www.BestofNKY.com

DRAKE’S 6805 Houston Road, Florence drakescomeplay.com 859-869-4840 Restaurant Type: Beer, Burgers and Sushi Price Range: Sushi rolls start at $6, entrees range $9-15 Year Opened: 2013 Most-Popular Menu Items: Mini Cheeseburgers (three mini burgers with melted American cheese and fresh-cut toppings) and the Crab Rangoon Roll (a crab and cream cheese roll that’s tempura-fried and topped with sushi sauce and sweet chili sauce) Atmosphere: Casual Why you should go: Drake’s says it offers something for everyone by mixing three things together that often aren’t served on the same menu: burgers, beers and sushi. It offers 24 microbrews and local beers on tap, hand-pressed burgers, build-your-own tacos and an extensive sushi menu. The restaurant also has large TVs, darts, shuffleboard and giant Jenga, along with a DJ on Friday and Saturday nights.

YORK ST. CAFÉ 738 York St., Newport yorkstonline.com 859-261-9675 Restaurant Type: Eclectic Fine Dining Price Range: $8-$11 for lunch, $9-$25 for dinner Year Opened: 1997 Most-Popular Menu Item: The Sharable Conversation Board (Baked brie en croute, with an amaretto honey sauce, sliced almonds with fresh fruit and sliced baguette), the Mediterranean board (hummus, tabouli, baba ghanoush, spanakopita and Greek salad with toasted pita) and burgers with fresh ground chuck from Ebert’s Meats Market Atmosphere: One-of-a-kind Why you should go: York St. Café is certainly eclectic, but in the best way. The combination restaurant, lounge and art gallery is located within a Queen Ann-style building built in the 1880s that originally housed the Widrig pharmacy. Inside, diners will find an Elvis collection, more than 150 Pez dispensers and more. Make sure to bring some friends—the restaurant’s conversation boards are ideal for large groups.

NKY MAGAZINE SPRING 2019

KENTUCKY CRAVE 7373 Turfway Road, Florence www3.hilton.com/en/hotels/kentucky/ hilton-cincinnati-airport-CVGCHHF/ dining/index.html 859-371-4400 Restaurant Type: American Classics Price Range: $10-$30 Year Opened: 1987

Most-Popular Menu Item: Grandma’s Meatloaf Atmosphere: Casual/Modern Why you should go: While it’s inside the Hilton Cincinnati Airport, this isn’t the hotel food of old. Expect an intimate, personalized setting with delicious home-cooked food.

CAMPOROSSO WOOD FIRED PIZZERIA 2475 Dixie Highway, Fort Mitchell camporosso.com 859-331-0155 Restaurant Type: Italian Price Range: $12-$22 Year Opened: 2017 Most-Popular Menu Item: Wood Fired Pizza Atmosphere: Upscale Casual Why you should go: Housed in a re-purposed 1934 gas station, Camporosso serves artisan house-made Italian cuisine, like its long-fermented wood-fired pizza, housemade meatballs, pastas and hand-stretched mozzarella. Locally and family owned, the restaurant also has an extensive Italian wine list, large bourbon selection, craft cocktails and local craft beer, all served by a friendly, knowledgeable staff.

2018

Visit York St. Café in Newport, KY for their delicious appetizers, seasonally changing entrees, and award winning homemade desserts.

“Lettuce” show you what fresh truly is! We slice every sandwich to order. Produce is sliced everyday to ensure the best taste and without the addition of chemicals. Our bread is a true east coast Italian sub roll. 1826 Dixie Hwy Ft. Wright KY 41011 794 Donaldson Rd. Erlanger KY 41018

Order Now @ substationii.com 26

NKY MAGAZINE SPRING 2019

Our award winning cakes were voted in the top 10 desserts in Ky in 2018 and our strawberry buttermilk cake was featured in Southern Living Magazine

With unmatched hospitality and a truly unique ambiance, the folks at York St. have perfected both lunch and dinner options that are sure to please both the most sophisticated of palates, as well as those that enjoy satisfying hometown cooking. With fresh, often local ingredients and cocktails prepared to delight, York St. Café has found the recipe for success.

738 York St. • Newport Ky 41071 Yorkstonline.com • 859-261-9675

BARLEYCORN’S Cold Spring: 1073 Industrial Road, 859442-3400 Lakeside Park: 2642 Dixie Highway, 859331-6633 Florence: 8544 US 42, 859-371-4100 barleycorns.com Restaurant Type: American Fare Price Range: $8-$15 Year Opened: 1976 Most-Popular Menu Item: Doc-Style Wings (wings that are dipped in hot sauce and double fried) Atmosphere: Casual, Sports Bar, Family-Friendly Why you should go: Family-owned and -operated Barleycorn’s won both Best Happy Hour and Best Patio Dining in NKY Magazine’s 2018 Best of NKY and is known for its unique “Doc-Style” wings. Each location has spacious patios, big screen TVs and plenty of cold brews.

www.BestofNKY.com

w w w. b e s t o f n ky. c o m

Like us on Facebook and find out about giveaways and events. Keep in touch with others who love the beauty, the adventure and the fun of Northen Kentucky

N KY DINING COMFORTABLE CLASSICS AND EXOTIC EATS — NORTHERN KENTUCKY HAS THEM ALL AT THESE LOCAL RESTAURANTS African HORN OF AFRICA CAFE & RESTAURANT 7109 Turfway Road, Florence (859) 918-6060 Somali cuisine.

American ANCHOR GRILL 438 Pike St., Covington (859) 431-9498 Serves all-American food and never closes. THE BAKER’S TABLE 1004 Monmouth St., Newport bakerstablenewport.com Locally sourced and in-season breakfast, lunch and brunch. BARLEYCORN’S 8544 US 42, Florence (859) 371-4100 barleycorns.com Burgers, chicken wings and American classics. (Multiple locations.) BELLEVUE BISTRO 313 Fairfield Ave., Bellevue (859) 581-5600 bellevuebistro.com Fresh, seasonal ingredients and dishes. Vegetarian friendly. BISTRO 737 7373 Turfway Road, Florence (859) 372-9627 Pizza, seafood, steak and martini bar. BOUQUET RESTAURANT 519 Main St., Covington (859) 491-7777 bouquetrestaurant.com Locally grown vegetables and meat; fine wine. BURGERS & CRAFTS 600 W. Third St., Covington (859) 547-4646 burgersandcrafts.com Burgers, whiskeys, local craft beers and milkshakes. CITY GOAT 404 W. Pike St., Covington (859) 279-3533 visitthegoat.com Pizza, burgers, wings, salads, wraps and dessert. Ten taps of craft on draft. COBBLESTONE CAFE 654 Highland Ave., Ft. Thomas (859) 781-3000 thecobblestonecafe.net Lunchtime favorites like homemade salads, soups and deli sandwiches.

COLONIAL COTTAGE 3140 Dixie Highway, Erlanger (859) 341-4498 thecottagenky.com Goetta, steak, chicken and homemade pies. COPPIN’S AT HOTEL COVINGTON 638 Madison Ave., Covington (859) 905-6600 hotelcovington.com/dining Classic gastropub fare with a nod to both the North and the South. DIXIE CHILI 733 Monmouth St., Newport (859) 291-5337 dixiechili.com Classic coneys, three-ways, salads and deli sandwiches. (Multiple locations.) EMPRESS CHILI 7934 Alexandria Pike, Alexandria (859) 635-5900 empresschilialexandria.com Original recipe chili. FIRE AT RIVERCENTER 50 E. RiverCenter Blvd., Covington (859) 392-2850 fireatrivercenter.com American dishes, extensive bourbon list. FORT MITCHELL PUBLIC HOUSE 2053 Dixie Highway, Ft. Mitchell (859) 331-0867 fortmitchellpub.com Salads, gourmet burgers, sandwiches and specialty entrees. THE GLOBE COVINGTON 12 E. Fifth St., Covington (859) 261-1267 theglobecov.com Locally sourced food and a wide array of Kentucky and regional craft beers and spirits. GRANDVIEW TAVERN 2220 Grandview Drive, Ft. Mitchell (859) 341-8439 grandviewtavern.com Pizza, burgers, steak and chicken. HEBRON BREW HAUS 2030 Northside Drive, Hebron (859) 534-5600 hebronbrewhaus.com Handcrafted pizzas and burgers. KENTUCKY CRAVE Inside Hilton Cincinnati Airport, 7373 Turfway Road, Florence (859) 371-4400 hilton.com Breakfast and dinner, Local and state bourbon.

KITCHEN 1883 9003 US 42, Union (859) 334-9450 kitchen1883.com Mac and cheese, chicken and waffles, burgers, sandwiches, salads and more. LANA’S FAMILY RESTAURANT 819 Monmouth St., Newport (859) 581-0774 Quality American diner food. LOYAL CAFE 402 Foote Ave., Bellevue (859) 431-5223 Sandwiches and coneys. MAIN STREET TAVERN 701 Main St., Covington (859) 815-8263 mainsttaverncov.com Farm-to-fork bar food. Try the pimento cheese balls. MIDWAY CAFE 1017 S. Ft. Thomas Ave., Ft. Thomas

(859) 781-7666 themidwayky.com

Wings, burgers and chicken sandwiches. NICK & TONY’S DOUBLE DECKER 300 Madison Road, Covington (859) 261-6666 nickandtonysdoubledeckers.com Breakfast, sandwiches and salads. OTTO’S 521 Main St., Covington (859) 491-6678 ottosonmain.com Chicken, seafood, steak and pasta. PEEWEE’S PLACE 2325 Anderson Road, Crescent Springs (859) 341-4977 Burgers, wings and beer. PRESS ON MONMOUTH 421 Monmouth St., Newport (859) 261-3397 pressonmonmouthnky.com Specializing in pressed paninis, salads, soups, waffles, breakfast and pastries. PURPLE POULET 603 Sixth Ave., Dayton (859) 916-5602 purplepoulet.com Cuisine reminiscent of Charleston and New Orleans with a Kentucky infusion. REALITY TUESDAY CAFE 1518 Dixie Highway, Park Hills (859) 261-4939 Salads, soup and sandwiches.

SUB STATION II 1826 Dixie Highway, Ft. Wright (859) 341-9494 substationii.com Subs, soups and chili. TOUSEY HOUSE TAVERN 5963 N. Jefferson St., Burlington (859) 586-9900 touseyhouse.com Family-style fried chicken, cod sandwich, hot brown, club sandwich, hot slaw, steaks , chops and salads. WASHINGTON SQUARE CAFE & CATERING 5981 Jefferson St., Burlington (859) 586-0120 washingtonsquarekycafe.com Ribeye, Hot Browns, salads and sandwiches. YORK STREET CAFÉ 738 York St., Newport (859) 261-9675 yorkstonline.com Lunch and dinners include sandwiches, grilled salmon, ribs, filet mignon and shrimp penne.

Asian NEW GARDEN 1031 S. Ft. Thomas Ave., Ft. Thomas

(859) 781-7888

newgardenfortthomas.com Sushi, General Tso’s chicken and fried rice. WABI SABI 508 Madison Ave., Covington (859) 360-5097 wabisabicovington.com Half-price sushi daily and Asian cuisine.

Bakeries MOONRISE DOUGHNUTS 3718 Winston Ave., Covington (859) 415-0308 moonrisedoughnuts.com Fresh doughnuts inspired by the classics.

Barbeuce HARMON’S BARBECUE 3481 Valley Plaza Pkwy, Ft. Mitchell (859) 279-3662 Smoked meats, sandwiches and sides. MCK’S CHICKS 11 W. Seventh St., Covington (859) 916-6711 mckschicks.com Barbecue pork, chicken and brisket.

SMOKEY BONES BAR & FIRE GRILL 7848 Mall Road, Florence (859) 371-5425 smokeybones.com Fire-grilled and marinated barbecue. SMOKIN’ THIS AND THAT BBQ 10020 Demia Way, Florence (859) 817-0492 smokinthisandthatbbq.com Barbecue-rubbed pork, chicken and beef.

Cajun DEE FELICE CAFÉ 529 Main St., Covington (859) 261-2365 deefelicecafe.com Steak, pasta and homemade bread.

Chinese ASIAN PLACE 2220 Grandview Drive, Ft. Mitchell (859) 578-8707 asianplaceky.com Kong pao chicken, pork with string bean and eggplant with garlic sauce. CASUAL CHINESE 88 Carothers Road, Newport (859) 431-2900 casualchinese.com Top-notch Chinese, known for Pad Thai and egg rolls. CHINA STAR 154 Barnwood Drive, Edgewood (859) 426-9688 chinastaredgewood.com Lunch and chef’s specials. GOLDEN WOK 1781 Patrick Drive, Burlington (859) 689-1888 goldenwokburlington.com Pad Thai, teriyaki and moo shu. KUNG FOOD CHU’S AMERASIA 521 Madison Ave., Ste. B, Covington (859) 261-6121 Soul food meets Kung food. Asian Fusion, Chinese and Taiwanese. ORIGINAL WOK 5038 Old Taylor Mill Road, Taylor Mill (859) 431-3000 originalwok.com Fresh fish and vegetarian options. RAYMOND’S HONG KONG CAFÉ 11051 Clay Drive, Walton (859) 485-2828 Noodles, chicken, beef, seafood and vegetarian.

www.BestofNKY.com

NKY DINING WOK & ROLL CHINESE RESTAURANT 4213 Richardson Road, Independence (859) 647-1888 Sweet and sour, chop suey and moo shu.

Coffeehouse BEAN HAUS BAKERY & CAFE 640 Main St., Covington (859) 431-2326 Coffees, loose leaf teas smoothies, and treats. PINK IN A BLANKET DOUGHNUTS 7220 Burlington Pike, Florence (859) 869-4973 pinkinablanketdoughnut.com Doughnuts, croissants and pink in a blanket. (Multiple locations.) WYNNERS CUP CAFE 301 Elm St., Ste A, Ludlow (859) 912-5806 Coffee, goetta and egg breakfast sandwiches, pastries and waffles.

Dessert BUTTERCREAM BOUTIQUE 1620 Burlington Pike, Florence (859) 496-1026 thebuttercreamboutique.com Custom cakes, cupcakes and cake pops.

NKY MAGAZINE SPRING 2019

German HOFBRAUHAUS 200 E. Third St., Newport (859) 491-7200 hofbrauhausnewport.com Soups, salads, sandwiches, Bavarian specialties.

Ice Cream/Yogurt SCHNEIDER’S SWEET SHOP 420 Fairfield Ave., Bellevue (859) 431-3545 schneiderscandies.com Old-time corner ice cream and candy store .

Indian AMOL INDIA 527 York St., Newport (859) 261-2317 amolindiacarryoutnewport.com Fine Indian and Pakistani cuisine.

Italian PEPPE CUCINA 39 W. Pike St., Covington (859) 360-0045 Italian deli sandwiches, fresh pasta and salads.

POMPILIOS 600 Washington Ave., Newport (859) 581-3065 pompilios.com Pasta, chicken, veal, beef and fish. Homemade sausage, sauces.

Korean

Japanese

Mediterranean

JO AN JAPANESE RESTAURANT 3940 Olympic Blvd., Erlanger (859) 746-2634 joanjapanese.com Authentic Japanese sushi, noodle dishes and tempura. LA HIRO SUSHI AND SWEETS 8645 Haines Drive, Florence (859) 657-6600 sushiandsweets.com Tempura, sushi and Japanese-style pasta. MIYAKO SUSHI & STEAKHOUSE 2511 Ritchie St., Crescent Springs (859) 578-0031 miyakorestaurant.com Hibachi and sushi. SEA SUSHI & GRILL 7951 US 42, Florence (859) 371-1688 seasushigrill.com Sushi. Hibachi and wok entrees.

RIVERSIDE KOREAN RESTAURANT 512 Madison Ave., Covington (859) 291-1484 riversidekoreanrestaurant.com Seafood, noodles, rice and soup. PARADISE RESTAURANT & CAFÉ 4135 Alexandria Pike, Cold Spring (859) 781-8000 paradisehookahcafe.com Middle Eastern and Greek cuisine.

Mexican ACAPULCO 8101 Connector Drive, Florence (859) 282-0687 acapulcocinci.com Tex-Mex burritos and tacos. (Multiple locations.) AGAVE & RYE 635 Madison Ave., Covington (859) 360-1060 agaveandrye.com Tacos and cocktails. CANCUN MEXICAN BAR & GRILL 1781 Monmouth St., Newport (859) 291-9200 cancunmexicanrestaurantes.com Green corn tamales, enchiladas, and sizzling fajitas.

EL TORO BRAVO 625 Chestnut Drive, Walton (859) 493-0222 Margaritas and fajitas. GUTIERREZ DELI 1131 Lee St., Covington (859) 431-3354 Tacos and fresh tamales. LA MEXICANA RESTAURANT & GROCERY 642 Monmouth St., Newport (859) 261-6112 Homemade tortillas, caldos (soups), menudo (beef), pozole (pork) and tamales. MIAMI STYLE TACOS 8349 US 42, Florence (859) 534-0688 miamistyletacos.com Tacos, nachos, desserts and more. MONTOYAS MEXICAN RESTAURANT 2507 Chelsea Drive, Ft. Mitchell (859) 341-0707 Mole, enchiladas and fajitas. TAQUERIA CRUZ 518 Pike St., Covington (859) 431-3859 taqueriacruzcincinnati.com Authentic Mexican, including goat tacos.

NKY DINING

Pizza ALTO PIZZA KITCHEN & BAR 43 W. Seventh St., Covington (859) 431-2586 alto-pizza.com Unique versions of pizza, pasta and sandwiches. BUONA VITA PIZZERIA 2513 Ritchie Ave., Crescent Springs, (859) 279-3847 buonavitapizzeria.com Fresh, handmade traditional pizza. CAMPOROSSO 2475 Dixie Highway, Ft. Mitchell (859) 331-0155 camporosso.com Wood-fired and classic pizzas. GOODFELLAS PIZZERIA 603 Main St., Covington (859) 916-5209 goodfellaspizzeria.com New York-style pizzeria. MACKENZIE RIVER PIZZA, GRILL & PUB 2905 Dixie Highway, Crestview Hills (859) 426-5501 mackenzieriverpizza.com Gourmet pizzas and burgers.

NEWPORT PIZZA CO. 601 Monmouth St., Newport (859) 261-4900 newportpizzacompany.com Homemade pizza with creative specialty pizzas, hoagies, salads and an extensive craft beer list. PASQUALE’S NEWPORT 630 Monmouth St., Newport (859) 291-1443 pasqualesnewport.com Pizza, stromboli and pasta. STRONG’S BRICK OVEN 1990-D N. Bend Road, Hebron (859) 586-6836 strongsbrickovenpizza.com Pizza, cheesy bread, bruschetta. (Multiple locations.). TOM’S PAPA DINO’S PIZZA 288 Main St., Florence (859) 371-5567 Pizza, wings, hoagies and salads.

Pub Fare BILLIE’S SKYLINE TAVERN AND RESTAURANT 430 Johns Hill Road, Highland Heights (859) 441-6713 Wraps, wings and salads.

BROTHERS BAR & GRILL 1 Levee Way, Newport (859) 291-2767 brothersbar.com Wings, burgers, wraps and entrees. CITY GOAT 404 W. Pike St., Covington (859) 279-3533 visitthegoat.com Burgers, pizzas and wings. HOUSE OF ORANGE SPORTS BAR & GRILL 433 Johnson St., Covington (859) 261-4662 houseoforangesportsbarandgrill. com Sandwiches,wings and flatbreads.

O’BRYON’S BAR & GRILL 736 Washington Ave., Newport (859) 291-7600 obryonsbarandgrill.com Taters, fish and chips, and burgers. SIS’S ON MONMOUTH 837 Monmouth St., Newport (859) 431-3157 sisonmonmouth.com Fish tacos, meatloaf and chicken livers. ZAZOU GRILL & PUB 502 W. Sixth St., Covington (859) 261-9111 Pizzas, burgers and cheesy tots. ZOLA PUB & GRILL 626 Main St., Covington (859) 261-7510 zolapubandgrill.com Appetizers, salads, pizza, burgers, wings and sandwiches.

LUCKY DUCK PUB 6072 Limaburg Road, Burlington (859) 282-8570 luckyduckpub.com Pizzas, sandwiches and burgers. (Multiple locations.)

Steakhouses

LUDLOW TAVERN 214 Elm St., Ludlow (859) 360-5859 ludlowtavernky.com Sliders and chiili.

LISSE 530 Main St, Covington (859) 360-7008 lisse.restaurant Dutch-inspired steakhouse. TROTTA’S STEAK AND SEAFOOD 441 Sixth Ave., Dayton (859) 360-5573 trottassteakandseafood.com Hand-cut steaks and fresh seafood.

Thai 3 LADIES THAI CUISINE 1035 Vandercar Way, Ste 800, Florence (859) 534-2719 3ladiesthaicuisine.com Pho, curries, spring rolls and more. NITTHA SIAM KITCHEN 2415 Alexandria Pike, Highland Heights (859) 441-0132 nitthasiamkitchen.com Pad Thai, noodle soups and sushi. SIAM ORCHID THAI RESTAURANT 511 Fairfield Ave., Bellevue (859) 694-7700 siamorchidky.com Siam crispy duck and curries. SWEET BASIL 2520 Hazelwood Road, Crescent Springs (859) 331-1999 sweetbasilky.com Sushi, seafood, duck, vegetarian and curry.

Comprehensive online dining listings for NKY at

www.BestofNKY.com.

www.BestofNKY.com

TICKET

to Health

The Ticket Fitness and Wellness Center offers a variety of classes. Co-owner Amy Luken says this ensures that the gym has something for everyone.

he owners of a new gym in Independence want to provide more than fitness for their clients; they hope to strengthen the community. The Ticket Fitness and Wellness Center opened in the Cherokee Shopping Center off Taylor Mill Road in early February. The small workout space features cardio equipment, weight machines and a turfed area for training and classes. And while the inside looks like a typical gym space, the owners share a dream of making it something much greater. “The reason we opened is to give back to the community, not just Taylor Mill but all youth. We want to give kids a chance to work and succeed and thrive at a high level. It will be more of a community center than a fitness center. We truly care about our clients’ future,” says Kameron Crim, who owns the gym along with Matt and Amy Luken and Nelson Perrin.

NKY MAGAZINE SPRING 2019

Crim met Amy Luken when he was training her two sons who play football, baseball and basketball. Crim, who helped pay his way through college at Northern Kentucky University as a freelance trainer, shared with her his goal of opening his own space one day that would provide a safe and motivational place for kids to train for their athletic endeavors and for life. His own life, he says, was shaped by high school coach Dave Simpson, who used athletic training as a tool to provide support and guidance. Through training, he was taught the value of hard work and perseverance. Amy, as luck would have it, had a similar dream. After years of dropping off her boys for practices and training, she envisioned a workout space where she and the other parents would be invited to work out alongside their children instead of being forced to the sidelines. When the location became available in the Cherokee Shopping Center,

The Ticket Fitness and Wellness Center in Taylor Mill looks to bring the community together through fitness BY JULI HALE she knew it was the right place to open. Until now, the area hasn’t had a gym or wellness center. She hopes the small size of the facility and the friendliness of the staff will help people overcome any uneasiness they might have with joining a gym and she knew Crim was the right person to partner with. “Matt and Amy saw the potential in what I was trying to do for the community. They related to me. They saw my vision to not only train the kids but help them become better citizens. We not only want them to be great athletes but great people,” says Crim, who graduated last spring from Northern Kentucky University with a degree in exercise science and is now pursuing his master’s in human nutrition from the University of Cincinnati. “It was always my dream to open my own place. They just let me do it sooner.” During a self-described rough childhood, Crim says athletics offered opportunities and developed his passion for sports and training. It was his grandmother, however, who provided the inspiration for the business’ name. He smiles when he talks about her and reveals her portrait tattooed on his right shoulder. During a time when he lived with her as a child, she explained to him how to play Bingo. She told him that once the numbers on your card had been called, you yelled “Bingo,” but you had to have the ticket to win. It was a conversation that stuck with him not so much for the literal Bingo lesson but as a motivational metaphor. And when it was time to name his new gym, he knew immediately what it should be. “This can be the ticket to success,” he says. Crim will train individuals and groups in areas including sport-specific drills, strength and speed development and agility. Additional trainers, including professional Olympic Masters weightlifter Lavetta Tevis,

B.GREGORY PHOTOGR APHY

who has competed in the Pan Am Games and the Reebok Crossfit games, and Perrin, who has served as a coach for the Scott High School football teams, will offer a wide range of classes and training services. “Our biggest difference is we have elite trainers. Everyone has a degree or a highlevel certificate. We all have a high level of experience,” says Crim, who has worked as a trainer at other facilities. “One thing you’re going to get is a high level of training that lets you see results.” The gym is already partnering with local youth organizations for training options but is looking to build other relationships. Classes will include some workout classics like yoga, Pilates and cardio along with some unique offerings such as POUND, a cardio jam session inspired by the fun of playing the drums, and a glow-in-the-dark dance workout. Boot camps and sand pit workouts will be added this summer. “Some people have issues with the mirrors and the glass. I think the glow-in-thedark exercise classes will be great for that,” says Amy Luken. “We’ll have something for everyone. We want this to be the gym you want to go to. We want to make sure everyone has fun while they sweat.” A Ticket Fitness membership is $20 per month and includes access to the gym anytime during hours and two free classes per month. Cost for additional classes ranges from $8 to $15 each with discounts available on packages. An annual membership is $200. For more information visit theticketfitness.com. n

RIGHT: Co-owner Kameron Crim ABOVE: Crim is an experienced trainer with a degree in exercise science from NKU. www.BestofNKY.com

2019

Coming this may... Visit bestofNKy.com for more infomation

OFFICI A L COMM U NIT Y A ND AC TI V IT Y GU IDE

2 019 O FFICIAL COM M U NIT Y AN D ACTIVIT Y GU IDE

LIVE WORK PLAY

LOCAL SPECIAL EVENTS & CALENDAR

COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, PARKS & RECREATION

KEY CITY CONTACT INFORMATION

SUPPLEMENT TO

w w w. b e s t o f n ky. c o m

WELCOME

Message from the Mayor

elcome to 2019 and the City of Florence! As I prepare for my sixth term serving the community, I am pleased to share with you a quick look at the excellent municipal services we provide as well as a little insight into the plans for our continued success. We invite you to explore our city— our parks—and our great attractions like our Minor League Baseball team, the Florence Freedom. We believe we have something for everyone, and we hope you get a chance to enjoy it all. Take a few minutes to read through this magazine and become acquainted with all there is to do. You can get more information about the community and our events at our website (florence-ky. gov), or by following us on Facebook (City of Florence, KY - Mayor’s Office) and Twitter. We also encourage you to

TABLE OF CONTENTS City Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Calendar & Events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Parks & Recreation. . . . . . .. . . . . . . 8 Florence Nature Park. . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Economic Development. . . . . . . . . 10 Florence Y’ALL App. . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Main Street. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Community Programs. . . . . . . . . . . 14 Advertiser Index. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Published in Partnership with

Diane E. Whalen download our City App, Florence Y’All. You’ll find more information about that within this magazine as well. If you need additional information or we can be of further assistance, please call us at 859-647-8177.

Locally, Veteran & Family Owned Publisher & President: Eric Harmon Custom Editor: Corinne Minard Designer: Keith Ohmer Advertising Manager: Laura Federle Sales Executives: Abbey Cummins, Brad Hoicowitz, Rick Seeney

2019 OFFICIAL COMMUNITY AND ACTIVITY GUIDE

CITY STAFF

City of Florence Staff CITY CLERK Nancy Zeilman 859-647-8144 nancy.zeilman@florence-ky.gov CITY COORDINATOR Joshua Wice 859-647-8177 joshua.wice@florence-ky.gov ASSISTANT CITY COORDINATOR Patricia Wingo 859-647-8177 patricia.wingo@florence-ky.gov CFO/HR Linda J. Chapman 859-647-5413 linda.chapman@florence-ky.gov

CITY OF FLORENCE

BUSINESS/COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Joshua Hunt 859-647-8177 joshua.hunt@florence-ky.gov POLICE CHIEF Tom Grau 859-647-5420 tom.grau@florence-ky.gov FIRE/EMS CHIEF Scott Knoll 859-647-5660 scott.knoll@florence-ky.gov PUBLIC SERVICES DIRECTOR Eric Hall 859-647-5416 eric.hall@florence-ky.gov

CITY COUNCIL Dr. Julie Metzger Aubuchon, O.D. Vice Mayor 859-525-1800 julie.aubuchon@florence-ky.gov Mel Carroll 859-384-1880 mel.carroll@florence-ky.gov Duane Froelicher 859-384-7416 duane.froelicher@florence-ky.gov J. Kelly Huff 513-604-1194 jkelly.huff@florence-ky.gov David A. Osborne 859-371-8132 david.osborne@florence-ky.gov Gary Winn 513-827-9466 gary.winn@florence-ky.gov

2019 CALENDAR

2019 DATES TO REMEMBER JANUARY

APRIL

01. New Year’s Day Government Center Closed 02. Christmas Tree Curbside Pick Up 05. Christmas Tree Recycling @ Stringtown Park 21. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Display

11. Safe Sitter Classes 20. Easter Egg Hunt @ UC Health Stadium 27. Great American Clean Up 29. Spring Clean Up Week @ Tanners Maintenance Facility 30. Aquatic Membership Discount Expires

FEBRUARY 18. President’s Day Display - Florence Government Center

MARCH 01. Student Ambassador Applications 10. Daylight Savings Time 12. Youth in Government Program 13. Youth in Government Program 13. Citizen’s Police Academy 14. Youth in Government Program 15. Safe Sitter Class 21. Gold Wine & Cheese @ WOG* 31. Spring Tennis Clinics through May 18

859-283-2750

CITY OF FLORENCE

MAY 01. Summer Tennis Clinics 1 May 19-July 6 12. Florence Freedom Season Begins 19. Public Services Week 21. Summer Tennis Clinics #1 21. Florence Public Services Night Out @ Florence Mall 25. Florence Family Aquatic Center Opens 27. Memorial Day Parade & Program Memorial Day Government Center Closed 28. Memorial Day Golf Scramble @ WOG*

JUNE 03. Swim Lesson Session #1 04. Florence Resident Appreciation Night (Mondays) @ WOG* 07. Movie in the Park @ Lincoln Woods Park 10. Swim Lesson #2 11. Police CSI Camp 14. Flag Day 14. Safe Sitter Class 15. Movie @ Aquatic Center 17. Swim Lesson #3 24. Swim Lesson #4

2019 CALENDAR JULY 2. Florence Resident Appreciation Nights @ WOG* 3. Independence Day Celebration @ UC Health Stadium 4. Independence Day Celebration Rain Date 4. July 4th Government Center Closed 7. Summer Tennis Clinics 2 July 7-August 24 7. Family Nights @ WOG*

OCTOBER

08. Swim Lesson Session #5 15. Swim Lesson Session #6 22. Swim Lesson Session #7 24. Summer PeeWee Program (2wks.) @ WOG* 25. Christmas in July @ Aquatic Center 29. Swim Lesson Session #8

14. Fall Clean Up Week 20. Grade, Middle & High School Tournament @ WOG* 29. Halloween Night Out

NOVEMBER

AUGUST 06. Florence Resident Appreciation Nights @ WOG* 06. National Neighborhood Night Out @ Yealey Elementary School 11. Florence Aquatic Center Closes 25. Fall Tennis Clinics August 25-October 12

SEPTEMBER 03. Labor Day Golf Scramble @ WOG* 05. Labor Day Government Center Closed 08. City of Florence Championship @ WOG* 14. Florence Pooch Festival @ Senior Activity Center 21. Florence Arbor Day Celebration @ Orleans Park

04. Daylight Savings Time 11. Veterans Day Program 28. Thanksgiving Day Government Center Closed 29. Aquatic Center Membership Discount Begins

DECEMBER 01. Family Nights (Saturdays) @ WOG* 03. Christmas Tree Lighting Program - Florence Community Plaza 24. Christmas Eve Government Center Closed 25. Christmas Day Government Center Closed *WOG is World of Golf at 7400 Woodspoint Drive.

Live Thoroughbred Racing December - March Simulcast Racing Year Round

On-Site Catering & Group Events 7500 Turfway Rd • Florence, Ky 41042 turfway.com • 859.371.0200 Find us on Facebook & Twitter 2019 OFFICIAL COMMUNITY AND ACTIVITY GUIDE

RECREATION

Florence Parks Florence Community Plaza 8100 Mall Rd This park is dedicated to those who serve and protect our city and serves as a gathering spot for our annual Christmas Tree Lighting.

Florence Nature Park. 7200 Nature Park Dr This 15.64-acre park features large, granite animals, 2,800 linear feet of paved walking trails and the Evelyn M. Kalb Gathering House. Contact 859-647-5416 for more information or to reserve. Lincoln Woods Park 1 City Park Dr The 15-acre park features two tennis courts, a basketball court, a rubber-surface playground, two clay infield ball fields, a picnic shelter, grills, restrooms, drinking fountain, wooded area and dirt trails. Call Boone County Parks to reserve the shelter at 859-334-2117. Orleans Park 8400 St. Louis Blvd Eleven-acre year-round park with a sled hill, playground, bridge, shelter, basketball court, paved walking trail, tennis court, sand volleyball court, restroom, grill, drinking fountain and athletic field.

South Fork Park 9200 South Fork Park Dr Forty-two-acre park featuring an earthen sculpture play area, nautical-themed playground with two age-appropriate play structures, swing set, sand volleyball court, basketball court, frisbee golf, pedestrian bridge, 2,720 linear feet of bike path, natural wooded and meadow areas, shelter, grill, drinking fountain and parking lot. Stringtown Park 7340 Burlington Pike Eight-acre park featuring two play structures, exercise stations, basketball court, sand volleyball court, cornhole sets (bring your own bags), shelter, grill, seat wall, paved walking trail, benches, restroom, drinking fountains, open green space and parking lot. Florence/Boone County Skate Park 8100 Ewing Blvd This 22,000-square-foot park is designed for in-line skates, roller blades and skateboards. Niblack Memorial Park 7431 U.S. 42 The Florence Senior Activity Center is located on the 4.5-acre neighborhood park, which also features a walking trail. Florence Family Aquatic Center 8200 Ewing Blvd When summer arrives, the Florence Family Aquatic Center is the place to be. Located on 4 acres on the Florence Government Center

CITY OF FLORENCE

campus at 8200 Ewing Blvd., it is more than just an average swimming pool. There is a lazy river, 25-meter competition pool, two spray ground areas, spiral and speed slides and zero depth pool with shade shelters, lockers, sunbathing deck, giant funbrellas, concession stand and family restrooms. Hours are 11 a.m.-7 p.m. daily. Admission is available through the purchase of a season membership or daily admission. Take advantage of the 15 percent discount until April 30, 2019. Shelters and concessions are sold during pool hours. Two shelters are available at a cost of $15 for two hours or $25 for four hours. Party packages are available. Birthday cakes are permitted. Call 859-647-4620 or check out the menu at florence-ky.gov. No coolers allowed and no refunds provided.

SPECIAL PROGRAMS Join us as we celebrate the holidays at the Aquatic Center with music, games and entertainment. Aquatic Center Opens: May 25 Memorial Day: May 27 Movie Night: June 7 Independence Day Celebration: July 3 Christmas in July: July 25 End of Season Splash: August 11 For more information, visit florence-ky.gov.

PARKS & RECREATION

Florence Nature Park is Renovated and Refreshed

he Florence Nature Park Project has completed the first phase of renovation, which consisted of remodeling the existing Evelyn M. Kalb Gathering House by making site improvements to the property. The interior of the Gathering House included a new wood beam ceiling, tile flooring, windows, relocated and renovated bathrooms, and an expanded and remodeled kitchen area. The exterior included a new deck, roof, siding, sidewalks, reconstruction of exterior bathrooms and landscaping. Reservations are now being accepted for 2019. The second phase is coming in the fall of 2019. Located within the heart of the Florence Nature Park, surrounded by soaring trees and wildlife, is a stunning new event center which is now under

construction. This unique nature setting will provide guests with a venue capable of hosting weddings, social events, award ceremonies, team building exercises, corporate gatherings and more. The Event Center will accommodate: • 134 guests for a seated corporate event

This versatile event center meets a demand in the community and will quickly become known for its lofty ceilings, stone façade and craftsman Kentucky feel. The city will announce the grand opening of the event center to the residents once it has been completed and we are ready to accept reservations. ■

• 100 guests for a seated wedding event • 134 guests for a seated outdoor lawn corporate or wedding event (tent not included) • 118 parking lot spaces

7 DAYS A WEEK

Boone County

www.boonecountyfarmersmarket.org | (859) 586-6101 2019 OFFICIAL COMMUNITY AND ACTIVITY GUIDE

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Business Community Continues to Grow and Expand

he City of Florence business community continues to benefit from both expansion within its existing core and an influx of new enterprises. The opportunities for growth and job creation are diverse, ranging from distribution and manufacturing to the food and retail industries. During the State of the City address in June, Mayor Diane Whalen stated, “Our excellent climate for business growth and development has attracted large investments in our city, and that has allowed us to maintain and improve our community without a tax increase. Year-to-date for 2018, we have 117 approved occupational licenses for new businesses opening in Florence. Nine new hotels and two new distribution centers alone have provided a capital investment of approximately $95 million. Combine that with the addition of Menard’s and Bosch Automotive improvements and the investment increases to more than $205 million.” Below are some of our most recent successes: • Menard’s - home improvement super center • DB Schenker - logistic supply chain management and distribution company • Wayfair - world’s largest ecommerce furniture store, with its first retail outlet

• Comfort Suites - 82 rooms • Hilton Home 2 Suites - 109 rooms • Stay Bridge Inn - 89 rooms with expect- ed completion in spring 2019 • Fairfield Inn & Suites - 91 rooms with an- ticipated completion in spring 2019

• Tru Hotel - four-story, 45,000-square- foot hotel at Vandercar Way • Holiday Inn Express - 93 rooms and four stories • Towne Place Suites Marriott - 101 rooms and four stories • Becoming Mom Spa & Ultrasound - at 7665 Mall Road • Zoup - a fast-casual soup restaurant concept at 7753 Mall Road • Five Below - where everything is $5 and under • Noah’s Ark Animal Clinic - 7025 Burlington Pike

Business Retention & Expansion A healthy and vibrant local economy depends on the well-being of local businesses. Although the City of Florence has experienced an emergence of new development in the last five years, business retention and expansion is the foundation of effective economic

CITY OF FLORENCE

development. Existing businesses and local workforce are key barometers of a community’s economic health. The city recently implemented a Business Retention & Expansion (BRE) program. This is part of Mayor Whalen’s vision to encourage dialogue with the existing city businesses. “A number of the jobs that have been created over the last year were created by our current companies and business owners who have chosen to expand, or by our existing business owners who have chosen to open a second business within the city,” says the mayor. “We count on the success of our existing companies, and so our retention and expansion efforts are in place to help them expand and grow. It is important that we keep them in the know with the city’s long-term vision and mission. We want to make introductions for workforce development, other industry leaders, and let them know what’s happening at the state level to help them stay competitive.” Florence is fortunate to have many successful entrepreneurial businesses with longevity in the city. Understanding the changing environment of retail provides us the opportunity to discover any challenges they may encounter. We are here to listen to and research the concerns of our businesses and help to determine any improvements we need to make to help reach the goals of our community. This will allow the city to design the economic development strategies for existing business as well as new development. A strong BRE program ensures that relationships are forged, and that the needs of local businesses are not only heard, but addressed. An open and continuing dialogue is important to improving the business climate for everyone. ■

TECHNOLOGY

NEW APP Provides Great Service at Your Fingertips

lorence Y’ALL is a real-time, free mobile resource provided by the City of Florence. Using location-based technology with the option to include a photo or video, the platform allows the public to conveniently communicate non-emergency issues directly to the city from their smart devices. From streets to parks, water to sewer, code enforcement and more, Florence Y’ALL is a convenient way to report a problem and monitor the progress as

your city staff works on a solution. Additional App features include public services projects, city news and events, city department information, online utility payments, staff directories, advisories and alerts, employment opportunities and feedback. Engage with the Florence Y’ALL App and be part of our vision of “Better Services, Better Community.” App is available for download on Google Play and the App Store. ■

2019 OFFICIAL COMMUNITY AND ACTIVITY GUIDE

COMMUNITY

Main Street: Past, Present and Future

lorence’s Main Street is our city’s most significant remaining identifying feature of our past. It guides us to look to our future by remembering what has always been important to our community. Main Street is truly the original heart of the city. It is where it all began. It holds our history, reflects the development of our community, shares our values and exemplifies how we are defined. Main Street—the curvilinear street that once housed the city building, hotels, restaurants, bars, churches, grocers, blacksmiths, shops and residences—remains the same curvilinear street it was when platted in 1820. The buildings have changed since then and the street is paved, but when you look closely you will still find pieces of our distant past and a living reflection of our development as a city. Take a look around Main Street and the immediate area and you will find quite a few buildings built between 1840 and 1890. The next prominent period of construction occurred in the 1920s and 1930s followed by many new post-WWII homes being built on the surrounding streets. And, as frequently happens, new buildings replaced some of the old buildings. Main Street was the convergence of Covington, Lexington and Union Pikes and thus became the first stagecoach stop on the road from Covington to Lexington. The small city struggled to find a name, at times being called Pole Cat, Crossroads and Connersville, and has been affectionately known as Stringtown on the Pike, but it was officially incorporated as the City of Florence in 1830. When the town was platted streets were named for famous Kentuckians such as Governor Isaac Shelby and Governor James Garrard, or were logically named, examples being Center Street because it was in the center of town or Locust Street because of all of the lo12

CITY OF FLORENCE

Florence Deposit Bank

COMMUNITY

Florence Hotel, then (LEFT) and now (RIGHT) cust trees. All the amenities the town required were focused on Main Street. And so it remained well into the 1960s. But, as the city grew, so did the focus of Main Street as the heart of the city, and gradually activity shifted to other areas of town. New uses for existing buildings became commonplace. Favorite drug store soda shops moved, grocers closed and people moved away. Even as new development promised to revitalize the street with shops and of-

fices, Main Street continued to struggle to maintain its identity. As we entered the new millennium, the city invested considerable resources to upgrade the aesthetics of the street. Repaving was completed and new curbs and sidewalks were installed, as were landscaped medians. Utilities were moved, streetlights were installed and banners were hung. A brief boost in activity occurred following this investment, but Main Street still finds it chal-

lenging to restore itself as a community destination. Commitment to our past, present and future encouraged the city to continue to work toward the revitalization of Main Street. And now, interest in the original heart of the city is growing. The beat is getting stronger as businesses and residents recognize the unique nature of the street. The sense of place and history that Main Street provides is becoming more important as residents look to find a gathering place that can connect them to that history. The city is reinforcing its efforts to assist in the revitalization of Main Street through the implementation of a comprehensive program. By working with residents and businesses to guide the process, a plan will be forged to incorporate additional aesthetic improvements, programming, marketing and economic development efforts focused on the reinvigoration of Main Street. Main Street is clearly on the verge of a new beginning just a few hundred years after it all began. ■

INDEPENDENT LIVING • Spacious private apartments – 5 individual floor plans • Screened porches, patios and Bay windows • Housekeeping and Maintenance provided • Cable TV provided • Scheduled social activities, clubs and outings • 24 hour Emergency communication in each apartment • Local transportation • Staffed Wellness Center

My New Kentucky Home….at Colonial Heights and Gardens!

• 2 Well-prepared Meals Daily in our Dining room • Carports Available / Ample Extra Storage • Over 17 Acres in a Park-like setting

LICENSED PERSONAL CARE/ ASSISTED LIVING/MEMORY CARE • Spacious Private apartments – 5 individual floor plans • Assistance with Bathing, Dressing and Grooming • Medication Administration • Private, Nurturing Environment for Memory Impaired • Scheduled social activities, clubs and outings • 3 Well-prepared meals and Snacks daily • Laundry, Housekeeping and Maintenance Service provided

6900 Hopeful Road Florence, KY 41042 www.colonialhg.org 859-525-6900

• Ample Storage

The Lifestyle you Deserve. The Value you Expect. Call for a Tour Today 859-525-6900 TDD 800-545-1833 ext 359 2019 OFFICIAL COMMUNITY AND ACTIVITY GUIDE

COMMUNITY

Community & Environment Programs Forms indicated in the descriptions below can be downloaded from our website at florence-ky.gov where you will also find a program description or you can contact the Florence Government Center for more information at 859-647-5416. EDUCATION PROGRAMS

Safe Sitter (Babysitting) class March 15, April 11 and June 14 Florence Government Center 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Teens 11-15 develop their leadership skills working with younger children and infants in this six-hour class. Lunch is not provided. Classes are limited to 12. The fee is $40 per student. Each student receives a course completion card, Safe Sitter Bag, flashlight, note pad and workbook, bandage dispenser and snacks.

Youth in Government March 12-14 Florence Government Center This program provides an opportunity for students from Boone County elementary schools to learn about local government. The mayor, city officials and city departments provide information on the local government process and legislative duties of local government. CSI Camp June 10-14 Location TBD This popular camp features hands-on training in the art of crime scene analysis and collection. Open to youth ages 12-14. Letters of interest accompanied by a teacher recommendation must be submitted. Tennis Clinics

Citizens Police Academy March 13-May 1 Location TBD Participants learn firsthand from the Florence Police Department about traffic violations, searches, interviewing suspects and other topics. Florence Student Ambassador Program March 1 Teens entering grades 6-12 can participate in the youth leadership program where they will represent the city and our community at city-sponsored events and various Northern Kentucky events. The teens can enhance their profiles through community service, public speaking, government operations and exposure to community organizations. Applications are available.

CITY OF FLORENCE

Spring Session, 7 weeks, March 31-May 18 Summer Session I, 7 weeks, May 19-July 6 Summer Session II, 7 weeks, July 7-August 24 Fall Session, 7 weeks, August 24-October 12 Registration forms will be sent through the schools and copies available in the lobby of the Florence Government Center or on the cityâ€™s website at florence-ky. gov. Register for clinics directly through tennis professional Tom Kolenich.

Swim Team Summer: Monday-Thursday Florence Family Aquatic Center The eight-time winner of the Northern Kentucky Swim League (NKSL) Championship Meet, the Florence Hammerheads (ages 6-18) is open for membership. Must be a member of the Florence Family Aquatic Center, a Kentucky resident and able to swim the length of the pool. Cost is $40-$50.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS

Great American Cleanup April 27 Please help us keep Florence beautiful by volunteering to collect litter along the roadsides of our city and receive a t-shirt and lunch for your efforts.

Spring Cleanup April 29-May 5 As a Florence resident, you can eliminate clutter by bringing your unwanted trash and debris (excluding hazardous waste) to the Public Services Maintenance Facility at 7850 Tanners Lane for disposal M-F 7 a.m.-7 p.m. and Sat-Sun 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Annual Leaf Collection Mid-October thru Mid-December Our annual Leaf Collection Schedule for city residents can be found on our website. Just look up your street name and there will be three dates for pickup. Fall Cleanup Week October 14-20 Florence residents can bring in unwanted debris for disposal at the Public Services Maintenance Facility at 7850 Tanners Lane. Christmas Tree Pick Up & Recycling January 2 After the holidays, the city offers curbside tree pickup or residents can bring their tree to Stringtown Park for mulching.

ADVERTISER INDEX

Advertiser Index 2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Arlinghaus Heating & Air

15. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Full Throttle Indoor Karting

9. . . . . . . . . . . . . Boone County Farmers Market

7. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Greater Cincinnati YMCA

4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Boone County Schools

11. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Heritage Bank

6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CMC Property Management

6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hilton Cincinnati Airport Hotel

3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Commonwealth Bank & Trust

Back Cover. . . . . . . . . . . Smokinâ€™ This and That

13. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Colonial Heights & Gardens

7. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Turfway Park

4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Florence Freedom

13. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wiseway Supply

2019 OFFICIAL COMMUNITY AND BUSINESS GUIDE

N KY NONPROFITS

Assisting into the Future Redwood continues to add services for those with disabilities to stay ahead of current trends BY CORINNE MIN ARD

ore than 65 years ago, families looking for quality education for their children with cerebral palsy started Redwood. Today, Redwood does much more—from preschool to therapy to vocational training—for people with a variety of disabilities. “We kind of do children’s services, therapeutic services, adult services and then our nursing care is integrated throughout,” says Carol Serrone, director of philanthropy for Redwood. While Redwood no longer offers school (the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act requires public schools to provide education for those with disabilities), it does offer preschool for those with and without disabilities. “Our classrooms are integrated with typically developing children as well as children with either special needs or developmentally challenged,” says Serrone. Therapy is provided on site, so those who need speech, occupational or physical therapy can receive that throughout the day without having to go someplace else. Serrone sees integrating children of different abilities as one of the biggest benefits of the program. “They grow up together. Some of the parents might have a hard time getting a child with cerebral palsy to learn to eat but they’re all eating together, so they pick up different things because their peers are doing them, so they kind of move a little faster along,” she says. Beth Moore, who manages events for Redwood, had her son attend the preschool and saw many benefits for him. “My son came here for preschool and he was a typically developed child, and then when he went to kindergarten there was a child in a wheelchair and it didn’t scare him like it might have upset another kid who wasn’t

Redwood provides integrated preschool classrooms that include both typically developing children and those with special needs.

comfortable with it. He just started playing. It’s good for the child with disabilities and the child without,” she says. Once the children start school, Redwood offers services only for those with disabilities. The nonprofit provides afterschool programming for students in Boone, Kenton and Campbell counties as well as therapy. For those 16 and older, Redwood goes into schools to assist with vocational rehabilitation. The nonprofit helps clients find what they’re good at and helps them identify jobs that match well with their skills. Clients have found positions at locations like Kroger, McDonald’s, DHL and the mailroom of a local law firm. For those who aren’t able to work independently in the community, Redwood brings in work from companies like Medpace, which has clients help with putting together materials for clinical trials. Redwood is also finding new ways to offer its clients work. Its Goods @ the Woods store allows clients to sell snacks

to employees and other clients. The design center has clients create T-shirts, business cards, banners, wedding invitations and more for companies and people in the community. They’re involved in every step of the process, learning how to design and print. In addition to these services, Redwood is also home to the Assistive Technology Resource Center, one of only five in the state. “It’s kind of like the lending library of gadgets and activities,” says Serrone. “Anyone can come in and find out what’s best for their situation.” People can try out a variety of tools and toys, from walkers to phones. According to Serrone, this enables people to find what works best for them before they make what can be a very expensive purchase. The Center is just one more way Redwood is working to assist the community. “I always like to say Redwood is a story of parents’ love and community support and engagement,” Serrone says. n www.BestofNKY.com

NKY HOME

The Stone Look

Stone Center of Kentucky has stones ideal for almost any home project

BY CORINNE MIN ARD

tone Center of Kentucky has been open for more than 25 years, but Jeff Schumacher, facility manager, says that some people still don’t know what the Stone Center is. “I still get folks who drive by here and call and will say, ‘Do you sell to homeowners?’” he says. The Stone Center works with both homeowners and contractors on projects large and small. At the yard, shoppers can find natural stone, concrete pavers, retaining wall blocks, mulch and even small rocks. We spoke with Schumacher about three stone products that are ideal for homeowners looking to update their outdoor living areas. Stone Center of Kentucky, 10720 Dixie Highway, Walton. 859-282-8877.

NKY MAGAZINE SPRING 2019

NATURAL PAVING CLASSIC STONE According to Schumacher, this gauged, 1-inch Indian sandstone is easy to install and can be used for almost any project—from patios, porches and sidewalks to interior projects. The versatile stone also has unique color options for homeowners. “[It] offers color variety in natural stone that you don’t find typically in our area,” adds Schumacher.

STONEGATE Brand new in 2019, Stonegate is a versatile exterior stone that Schumacher says offers lots of possibilities to homeowners. “You can do quite a bit—you can do fireplaces, you can do bars, you can do retaining walls, do seating walls. It’s incredibly versatile. You can make fire pits out of it,” he says.

PANORAMA This concrete paver is for exterior use only, but the stones’ pattern can give lots of impact to outdoor spaces. The design pattern of the stones can feature up to six different size stones. Schumacher adds that the product is easy to install and is designed to simulate the look of natural stone.

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MADDOX GARDEN CENTER & LANDSCAPING, INC. 8430 Dixie Highway Florence, KY 41042 859-371-6340 • MaddoxGardenCenter.com Maddox is Northern Kentucky’s premier design, build, hardscape and landscape contractor. We are family owned and operated and in business at the same location in Florence since 1982. Our landscape design staff is ready to make your dreams reality. Bring us your vision or look to us for ideas and inspiration. Contact us today to schedule your consultation with one of our three full-time landscape designers. Feel free to stop by our Retail Garden Center for any do it yourself projects you may have. Maddox can help with a variety of projects, including landscape renovation, new landscape installation, hardscaping and outdoor living elements such as outdoor kitchens, outdoor fireplaces/fire pits, paver patios, and retaining and seat walls. In addition, Maddox is the only Northern Kentucky-based company with a retail garden center and full-service Design Build Landscape Division with a strong focus on hardscaping and outdoor living. A registered landscape architect is on staff.

www.BestofNKY.com

LIVE WELL NKY

Never Too Late Local dermatologists say that people can start protecting their skin from cancer at any age or during any season BY CORINNE MIN ARD

t’s not summer yet, but there are still steps you can take to protect yourself from skin cancer. According to Dr. Natalie Hone-Romero, the lead physician of St. Elizabeth’s dermatology department, skin damage can happen at anytime. “We actually do recommend that people use sunscreen at least on their face during wintertime. There are great moisturizers

now that have sunscreen in them, so that’s always a great way to do it,” she says. Skin cancer is very common in the United States. While there are two types—non-melanoma and melanoma—the non-melanoma basal cell carcinoma is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the country. “It usually shows up in skin that gets sun, so the most common place for people to get it is on head, neck, face and hands. But it can actually show up anywhere,” says Hone-Romero. Those with the highest risk of developing this kind of cancer include fair-skinned individuals who tan poorly, those who spend a lot of time in the sun, people with naturally red hair, tanning bed users, those who’ve been exposed to radiation, people who have had skin cancer before and those on immunosuppression. While many of these risks can’t be eliminated, there are

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NKY MAGAZINE SPRING 2019

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Dr. Natalie Hone-Romero, St. Elizabeth Healthcare

steps people can take to protect themselves at any age. “I usually recommend avoiding mid-day sun, seeking shade, wearing protective clothing and wide-brim hats, and then regularly applying sunblock SPF 30 or

LIVE WELL NKY above. If they’re going to be outside for long periods of time, it should be applied every two hours,” says Hone-Romero. Even those who have already experienced a lot of sun damage can still decrease their risk by starting to take care of their skin. “There is a lot of benefit from starting at any point in life, starting to protect yourself from the sun, and that’s because every time you keep on exposing yourself to the sun, you are creating a little bit more DNA damage to the skin cells,” says Hone-Romero. Another step people can take is to start having regular full skin exams. HoneRomero recommends starting with giving yourself one or having a loved one help. If any marks on the skin have changed, are itching or are bleeding, it’s time to have them looked at by a dermatologist. Individuals can also have a primary care physician or dermatologist give them a full skin exam. According to UC Health, if common skin cancers are detected early, the cure rate is over 95 percent. Removing the skin cancer and some of the skin around is the treatment for most skin cancers. n

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Presenting Sponsors

May 18, 2019 Newport on the Levee heartchase.org/heartchasenky HeartChase is a good-cause community adventure game. Teams of 3-5 people compete in a chase through Newport, moving through multiple checkpoints where they must complete heart-healthy challenges.

Craig Carlson

Jim Uebel

Bob Heil

BB&T Co-Chair

Central Bank Co-Chair

KLH Engineers Executive Challenge Chair