LINK Streetscapes: Newport Powered by Duke Energy

STORY AND PHOTOS BY MARIA HEHMAN | LINK nky CONTRIBUTOR

There are Northern Kentucky classics and staples that even I, a longtime resident of the area, have somehow missed. In this streetscapes, come explore a world famous restaurant, an inventive coffee shop and a rustic bourbon bar.

Pompilios: 600 Washington Ave.

With all the buzz from Robert DeNiro’s new film “Wise Guys” filming locally, I was reminded of Northern Kentucky’s Italian treasure Pompilios.

Pompilios transports guests back in time with Tuscan wallpaper and stained-glass windows that fill the dining room.

I started with an Italian classic cocktail, an Aperol Spritz. It’s my go-to cocktail since visiting Italy. Pompilios cocktail and wine selection feels endless, and each one has a perfect pair with an Italian-inspired dish.

Trying to do right by my Italian grandfather, I ordered the tomato vodka cream penne pasta. The rich, cheesy and zesty sauce made me want to lick the bowl clean.

Pompilios pairs history and authentic meals, with attentive service. When visiting, guests should expect a wait, especially during the holiday season.

For those who want guaranteed seating, reservations are available, or you can order a drink at the bar while waiting for a table.

While I may not be the biggest fan of bourbon, Northern Kentucky is blessed with the Bourbon Trail, also known as the B-Line, and a series of designated bars that specialize in the spirit for which Kentucky is globally recognized.

The Prohibition Bar’s statement piece, aside from its 1920s aesthetic, is the wallto-ceiling bourbon bottles displayed behind the bar. They emit an amber glow as the back-lit shelves highlight each bottle.

Most people visit here for the bourbon, but those who are unaccustomed to the fiery drink, this Prohibition Bar has a coffee-serving twin, Newberry Coffee, that’s open late.

The Prohibition Bourbon Bar at Newberry Bros. boasts a “look and feel of a small prohibition-era speakeasy, and features the largest collection of bourbon and rye whiskeys found anywhere in the world –thousands of them – including several of the rarest, well-aged whiskeys you’ll find anywhere. The bar also has a great selection of Scotch, Irish & Japanese whiskeys, cocktails, wine and beer.”

They highly recommend reservations, as they book up quickly and often cannot accommodate the flood of walk-ins.

Flow Future Coffee and Fleurish Grounds: 846 Monroe St.

Another combo business in Newport is just around the corner on Monroe.

Flow Future Coffee and Fleurish Grounds, which uniquely serves both coffee and kombucha.

Now, I thought that I knew coffee until I met the owner, Rhys. This man knows coffee better than anyone I’ve ever met. He brews Flow’s coffee by a process of his own design. He explains the science behind his brewing to curious customers, like myself. The secret in his science extracts more flavor and depth out of coffee than traditional brewing methods, so one can truly taste the unique characteristics of the coffee beans.

Rhys presented me with the creamiest, smoothest coffee with a caramelized finish to it.

Beyond the coffee and the science, Flow offers a warm chemistry and ambiance that elevates the drinking experience.

The front of the house hosts Fleurish Grounds, a plant, vintage and accessory shop all in one. They have a curated selection of vintage apparel, many of which are timeless staple pieces that deserve a home. Fleurish, in my opinion, makes a perfect spot for holiday gift shopping. They sell plants, books, greeting cards, and accessories that make for good gifts beyond the holiday months. Like the back portion of Flow, the atmosphere here is unique and inviting.

Whether you’re looking to visit something new and inventive or something timeless and true, Newport offers a mix of tradition and ingenuity that make for the perfect places to visit.

KHSAA lays out football realignment plan

There will be some changes coming in football to Northern Kentucky.

The KHSAA released enrollment data for football realignment based on their calculation of the 2019-20 and 2022-23 school years, eliminating the 2020-21 and 2021-22 school years because of COVID. So the 1920 and 22-23 years were doubled in factoring each member school’s enrollment.

This is currently a proposal, but will be recommended at the Jan. 18 Board of Control meeting with realignment for the 2023-26 football teams finalized by Feb. 22. Member schools have until Dec. 21 to respond if they wish to withdraw from district play, request to play in a higher class or make other reclassification project comments to be considered.

The way things are proposed right now, 32 schools will play in Class 1A and 6A, 39 schools playing in each of Class 2A-5A.

A handful of Northern Kentucky teams are impacted, whether they move up or down. Here’s a breakdown of NKY teams and what the enrollment data shows:

Class 1A — Newport Central Catholic, Bellevue, Ludlow, Dayton, Bishop Brossart, Holy Cross, Newport

Class 2A — St. Henry (not playing varsity until 2025), Beechwood, Walton-Verona

Class 3A — Lloyd Memorial

Class 4A — Holmes, Covington Catholic

Class 5A — Highlands, Scott, Boone County, Cooper, Conner, Dixie Heights

Class 6A — Campbell County, Ryle, Simon Kenton

In the enrollment data, Newport drops from 2A to 1A, Holy Cross does as well.

Lloyd Memorial moves up from 2A to 3A. Scott moves up from 4A to 5A.

Dixie Heights drops down to 5A from 6A.

Ipsaro, Meyer dazzle to start season

The Ninth Region Player of the Year race is already off to a blazing start. Covington Catholic’s Evan Ipsaro and Holy Cross’ Jacob Meyer have already made their marks.

Ipsaro’s first three games: 24.7 points per game, 7.3 assists per game, 4.3 rebounds per game while shooting 51 percent from the field, 36 percent from three and 91 percent from the free throw line.

Meyer’s first two games: 34 points per game, 5.5 assists per game, 12.5 rebounds per game, 62 percent from three and 84 percent from the free throw line.

Both are playing in big holiday tournaments, Ipsaro and Cov Cath head to Ocala, Florida, December 27-30 for the Kingdom of the Sun Holiday Tournament. Meyer and Holy Cross headed to Lexington for the White Greer and Maggard Holiday Classic at Lexington Catholic December 27-29.

Cooper hands Mount Notre Dame their second loss in 103 games

Cooper’s girls team looks primed and ready to defend their Ninth Region title. The Lady Jaguars handed Mount Notre Dame (OH) just their second loss in 103 games with a 67-36 victory on December 3.

Logan Palmer led Cooper with 16 points in the contest, with Whitney Lind Cooper adding 15.

“We came into the locker room and just decided we needed to be more connected,” Lind said. “We just didn’t come out clean. We were sloppy and turning it over. Matching their physicality made it much better for us in the second half.”

Liz Freihofer and senior guard Kay Freihofer added 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Scherr leads SEC in assists

Ryle grad Maddie Scherr is catching on rather quickly at the University of Kentucky. Transferring from Oregon after two seasons, Scherr is averaging 6.4 assists in the Wildcats’ first seven games of the season.

The junior and former Miss Kentucky Basketball has been filling the stat sheet, averaging 6.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. Scherr also has 11 steals and five blocked shots.

Scherr’s assist per game total has her tied for 13th in the country.

Ruthsatz sets wins record

Covington Catholic’s Scott Ruthsatz has set the all-time wins record in program history. With the Colonels win over St. Henry on December 6, Ruthsatz won his 314th game as the head man in charge, surpassing Dan Tieman, who coached the team for 15 seasons with a 313-146 record before retiring in 2000.

Ruthsatz is in his 12th season with the Colonels, compiling a 31468 record.

Oddly enough, the game Ruthsatz did it in was against Dave Faust, who is chasing the all-time wins record in the 9th Region. Faust is just a few wins behind Kenny Shields, who compiled a 460257 record in 23 seasons at St. Thomas and Highlands. Shields’ record is more than 30 years old.

Simon Kenton wins Notre Dame Panda Archery Tournament

Simon Kenton’s archery team won the Notre Dame Panda Tournament with a team score of 3,268, defeating the nine-team field by 70, with Dixie Heights coming in second with a 3,198.

The Pioneers Logan Sizemore won the individual high school division with a score of 288, Villa Madonna’s Jacob Smith also shot a 288, but Sizemore had the tiebreaker with 21 tens compared to Smith’s 19.

Simon Kenton’s Macie Smith and Kilee Spegal finished third and fourth with scores of 285 and 284, respectively.

St. Henry’s Corisa Wellman rounded out the individual top five with a 283. In the team scoring, Walton-Verona (3,142), Beechwood (3,127) and Villa Madonna (3,074) rounded out the top five.