There are a lot of great places to eat, drink and be entertained constantly opening in the Tri-State. Some openings fly under the radar. Others are just worth reminding you about as you plan time with friends, family and out-of-town visitors this Thanksgiving weekend.
Second Place: The owners of the Littlefield, Northside's bourbon bar and kitchen, are expanding with this new bar focused on fun. The Second Place, located at 3963 Spring Grove Ave., has a large bar with multiple beers on tap, flat-screen televisions, board games, billiards and dart boards. Its grand opening is Wednesday.
The Hannaford: The group that brought Rhinehaus to Over-the-Rhine and Nation Kitchen + Bar to Pendleton will reveal its latest project, the Hannaford, with a grand opening celebration Wednesday. The cocktail and bourbon bar, located at 619 Madison Ave. in Covington, is named after the man who designed its building: Architect Samuel Hannaford. He is the same man who designed Cincinnati City Hall, Music Hall and the Eden Park pump house.
Mecca OTR: This recently opened Over-the-Rhine bar at 1429 Walnut St. bills itself as a quaint neighborhood place to enjoy a drink. Mecca has an outdoor seating area, murals and other artistic touches. It's the brainchild of the same folks who operate Cheapside Cafe and the Rookwood.
The Stretch: Only a week old, the Stretch is the newest place to grab a drink at the Banks. Four Entertainment Group (the group behind Cincinnati bars and eateries such as Igby's, the Lackman and Righteous Room) made sure to include two stocked bars with 16 beers, eight cocktails and four wines on tap. There is heated outdoor seating, large-screen televisions and a DJ on weekends. The bar occupies the former Johnny Rockets space at 191 E. Freedom Way.
Queen City Exchange: Feel like a "wolf of Wall Street"? Then the Queen City Exchange is perfect for you. This Downtown bar, which opened in October, uses a dynamic-pricing system until 9 p.m. each day for its 41 craft beers on tap. Basically, the more popular a beer is, the more a pint of it will cost you. Just watch out for market crashes. The bar is located at 32 W. Court St.
Video Archive: Jacob Trevino, the man who opened "The Shining"-inspired Overlook Lodge in Pleasant Ridge, recently opened a second movie-themed cocktail bar, this time at 965 E. McMillan St. in Walnut Hills. For Video Archive he drew on his love for Quentin Tarantino movies -- and yes, there are $5 alcohol-infused milkshakes on the menu.
Queen City Radio: This bar and beer garden, which opened in September, definitely has a retro feel. Housed inside a remodeled 1920s-era garage, Queen City Radio offers a casual place to grab a pint or enjoy a bourbon slushie. Bonus: It also has Queen City Whip, a food truck operated by the owners of Eli's BBQ, on site serving tasty burgers, fries and milkshakes. The bar is located at 222 W. 12th St. in Over-the-Rhine.
Prvldgd: This lounge and bistro, which opened in July, offers a nice array of bar food, including wings, nachos, dips, fries and salads. The lounge also regularly hosts DJs and special events, such as the customer appreciation night the Friday after Thanksgiving. The lounge is located at 301 W. Fifth St., Downtown.
Corkopolis: This wine market and bar opened Downtown in June with 14 wine offerings on its bar menu and about 420 different bottles for sale. It also offers a healthy selection of craft beer, a light food menu and a laid-back atmosphere. It's located at 640 Main St., Downtown.
Skeleton Root: The first working urban winery to open in Over-the-Rhine in decades shows its love for grapes inside a rustic/industrial lounge space. All wines are made on-site. There are also other beverages and small food items available. The winery is located at 38 W. McMicken Ave.
The Globe Covington: This craft cocktail bar opened in September at 14 E. Fifth St. in Covington. It's a short walk away from the Madison Event Center and is another indicator of the recent resurgence of nightlife in Northern Kentucky.
Crafts & Vines: Combining beer, wine and desserts in a neighborhood atmosphere seemed like a no-brainer for Covington resident and oenophile Lesley Hugo. That's why she decided to open Crafts & Vines in Covington's Mainstrasse Village this past October. The bar combines a mellow atmosphere with a solid selection of craft beer (Hugo's husband is a home brewer), mini-retail bottle shop and delicious pastries. Crafts & Vines is located at 642 Main St., Covington.
Coppin's in Hotel Covington: This upscale restaurant and bar is a dream come true for Covington, which recruited boutique hotel chain the Salyers Group to transform the former city hall and local department store. Coppin's, named after the store, offers "hyperlocal elevated" American fare and finely crafted cocktails. It's located on the first floor of Hotel Covington at 638 Madison Ave.
