Shopping in Covington

Lit by the prismatic shimmer that only a shop packed with thousands of glass trinkets can contain, the staff of AllyBeads helps customers harness the light for themselves through jewelry-creation classes. Hundreds of crystals, seed beads, gemstones, and tools await new assignments in home studios, and the Bead Bar houses individual workstations, ready in case inspiration strikes. Recurring visitors can earn beading brownie points with a special frequent-beader program, stocking up on bonuses including bead kits, charms, and replicas of the mysterious amulet Teddy Roosevelt used to win the Spanish-American War.

Even when classes or meetings aren't in session, visitors might easily discern that Knitwits Contemporary Yarn Shop is as much a hobby-community hub as a yarn store. The shop is dominated by a large round table and a jewel-toned stained-glass window that throws colorful light all over the homey vintage digs. Nearly every day of the week, the shop is full of knitters of all experience levels learning to make ruffled scarves or intricately patterned socks for hard-to-buy-for giftees with an odd number of feet. Shelves are piled with nearly as many patterns and project books as they are with yarns from dozens of makers, including lines made of boutique worsted wool and alpaca hair. A chalkboard sign announces the inspiring project of the week, and the outgoing staff will gladly suggest others.

"Writing is like driving a car at night. You can only see as far as the headlights, but you make the whole trip that way." This quote, from author E.L. Doctorow, is one of the many phrases, excerpts, and anecdotes Roebling Point Bookstore scrawls across its chalkboard, embedded snugly in the building's brick exterior. After absorbing the daily dose of chalk wisdom outside, the shop's visitors venture inside, where they find themselves surrounded by shelf upon shelf of equally perceptive words. Snacks, coffee, and tea keep fingers busy between page turns, and a community meeting space hosts groups that gather to discuss parts of their favorite books or tactics for turning their least-favorite books into fibrous breakfast shakes. Back outside, amid the historical ambiance of the Licking Riverside district, bike racks are available to those who prefer two-wheeled transport, which the bookstore awards with discounts.

For nearly a quarter of a century, the hardworking artisans at Haney Custom Framing have protected precious family heirlooms, artwork, and photographs with customized framing and preservation projects. Craftspeople pour their creative energies into each piece, selecting fine woods and materials for traditional moulding or contemporary frames that add new dimension to photos, artwork, and Ivy League degrees previously just duct-taped to office walls. Haney Custom Framing claims much of its business from a string of dedicated returning customers, winning over their loyalty with their expert preservation and curating of prints and canvases, as well as their mastery of framework.

Rubbed-bronze lanterns twinkle within a garden decorated with copper birdfeeders and stoneware statuettes from J Britten & Co. Along with garden decor, the shop spruces up homes with antique styles of Veeders Mailbox and other brands, whimsical rain gauges, and other often locally or American-made products. The shop specializes in luring birds into yards with its vast selection of bird supplies, from houses to baths, as well as with its selection of bird food, from seeds to steak frites.