The Voice - November/December 2022
/Experience the Magic of Christmas December 3 & 4 at the Victorian Christmas Tour & Tea
By Kym Sutton
Reminiscent of yuletides past, the East Row Victorian Christmas Tour & Tea is the perfect way to experience the magic of the holiday season.
Kentucky’s 2nd largest historic district will be all dressed up and waiting for you with home tours from 1 to 7 pm on Saturday and Sunday, December 3 and 4.
You’ll embark on a self-guided walking tour that takes you through a variety of Italianate, Queen Anne and other styles of homes, all decorated for the holidays and filled with distinctive character inside and out. In addition to holiday decor, we are featuring newly renovated kitchens, living and dining rooms, and bathrooms.
The tea sitting is available each day, along with an exterior home and stained-glass window lighting event each evening. The East Row will sparkle with lights and luminaries, and a holiday block party takes place on Saturday evening.
Getting underway at 7 pm on 7th St. between Overton and Monroe, the block party features food, live music, carolers, and a Santa visit with photo ops on the sleigh. Everyone is invited!
Please note that restrooms and hospitality stops are included along the tour route. Tour tickets are $20. Tea is a separate cost.
Purchase tickets in advance at https://eastrow.org/victorian-christmas-tour or on the days of the event at Movement Church, 415 E. 8th St., in the East Row.
Baker's Table Bakery: Feeding People with Love
By Paula Brandon
In The Voice, we recently asked you to share what makes the East Row special and we’re happy to keep that topic going! Many of you mentioned a destination that we’re lucky to have nearby – the Baker’s Table Bakery. Here’s a peek inside the oven at this unique, local establishment.
From anywhere in the East Row, it’s a short walk to The Baker’s Table Bakery, a neighborhood treasure featuring locally sourced ingredients, organic wines and a creative menu that changes often depending on what’s in season at the area’s farms. Baked goods are the stars of the show, made with stone-ground, whole grain flour and a flair for flavorful combinations. Stop by for the morning café / lunchtime fare / evening pizzeria and you’ll likely find some of your neighbors soaking up the atmosphere and good food.
“A tremendous amount of thought goes into our ingredients,” says staff member Erica DiMartino. “A popular starter today includes honeycrisp apples with local ginger, basil and shallot. ‘Feeding People with Love’ is our mission and that’s how our owners live.”
Owners of the Baker’s Table Bakery and The Baker’s Table are Chef David Willocks and designer Wendy Braun, Newport residents.
erica dimartino, top right, takes a break to enjoy one of the seasonal desserts at the baker’s table. at left, lia heinze introduces a diner to one of the unique wines.
Just across the street, The Baker’s Table was first to arrive at the corner of Monmouth and 10th, now nationally recognized on EATER.com’s 2018 Best New Restaurants, and USA TODAY’s Best New Restaurants list. Because The Baker’s Table baked 100% of its bread since day one – and people couldn’t get enough of it – the logical step was to open a separate bakery, pizzeria and wine bar in newly renovated space on the opposite street corner.
The Baker’s Table Bakery has a European vibe with its casual atmosphere and overall approach to food. Relaxing there is like sitting in a café in the Trastevere neighborhood of Rome, with the hum of conversation, the smell of freshly made coffee and donuts, and some big windows for watching the world go by.
“We celebrated our 1-year anniversary in October with an ‘80s party,” Erica says. During the weeks ahead, keep an eye out for slice nights, Wednesday’s live accordion music, and of course the ongoing treat of the sourdough-crust pizza and wine bar.
The Baker’s Table Bakery is at 1001 Monmouth St. and offers takeout, delivery and catering. Visit their website and Facebook page for hours, menus and details.
How does the East Row rock your world? Send your thoughts and a photo if available to pabrand1@yahoo.com and we’ll include it in the next issue of The Voice.
Holiday Happenings in and around the East Row
Step Back in Time at the Tom Mitts Christmas Tree Lot. For many East Row residents, a visit to the Tom Mitts Christmas tree lot is a well-loved tradition. Located next to Peluso’s Market, you may want to park and enter behind the market from Dayton St.
Tom’s legacy lives on. Tom Mitts Christmas Trees continues the tradition and spirit of Newport resident/artist Tom Mitts (6/16/1962-4/26/2017).
If you are yearning for the nostalgia of the old-time Christmas tree lot, then this is your place! Smell the pine scent as you wander through the quality selection of trees sourced from the same supplier for more than 30 years.
The lot is open daily during the Christmas season while supplies last. Hours are Sunday-Saturday 9 am - 8 pm. Visit the website for more information.
East Row Historic Foundation Holiday Party. Every year, we replace our ERHF monthly business and social meeting with a holiday party, as always, open to everyone. Join us Tuesday, December 6, 6:30 pm, at St John's (415 Park) for a night of socializing and fun. The ERHF will provide the catering plus some beverages. If you can, please bring an appetizer, side or dessert to share, and maybe that special drink you've been saving.
Newport’s Christmas Tree Lighting is Saturday, December 3, 5:30 pm at the Newport City Building, 998 Monmouth St. Please join your neighbors for refreshments inside. Many thanks to the Newport Primary students who made ornaments, and to the volunteers. This year’s tree is provided by Newport business, Tom Mitts Christmas Trees located behind Peluso’s Market.
Kids, Send Your Letters to Santa.
Dear Kids,
Remember to write a letter to Santa this year! You can drop off your letter in the special mailbox in the lobby of the City Building at 10th and Monmouth or mail it to: Santa Claus, c/o Newport Community Services, 998 Monmouth St., Newport, KY 41071.
If Santa receives your letter by Friday, December 16, he will send you a response from The North Pole and don’t forget he will be in town at the City Building on December 3, so stop by for a great photo op!
Free Photos With Santa are Saturday, December 3, 2-4 pm - Newport City Building Fire Department bay. Have your photo taken with Santa and receive a Free 4” x 6” photo.
While You’re Christmas Tree Shopping, Visit Peluso’s Market
They say everything is down aisle 1 at Peluso’s Market, and it’s the truth! Stop by this holiday season for some local favorites including Mom Blakeman’s Kentucky pull cream candy. Choose from original, peppermint, strawberry, Kentucky bourbon, and chocolate flavors … and potato candy.
You’ll also find old fashioned cream drops, nonpareil candy, filled raspberries, vanilla peanut clusters, sponge candy, opera creams, French creams, peanut butter patties, cream filberts, and a whole lot more.
Find more details, visit the Peluso’s Facebook page. Peluso’s Market is at 623 Monmouth.
Does Your Project Require a COA?
As a Historic District, the East Row requires residents to obtain a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) prior to making some exterior alterations to your house. This includes, but is not limited to, replacement of architectural features, work on windows, doors, porches, box gutters, and color selection for painting. Online resources will help you:
Learn about the architecture of our neighborhood and how we preserve it in the comprehensive Architectural Guidelines document (90 pages of fascinating, historical information!).
Submit a COA Application in advance of any projects that require a COA.
If time you have questions, feel free to contact Historic Preservation Officer Scott Clark at 859.655.6347 or email Newport's Historic Preservation office. For more details, visit the Newport Historic Preservation website.
Drop Your Drawers is Underway November - December
There are many ways to help others this holiday season and we’d like you to know more about one particular worthy cause known as Drop Your Drawers.
Running through December 31, this initiative aims to meet a crucial need for public schools in Campbell County: Keeping Family Resource Centers’ emergency supplies of socks and underwear stocked.
Schools hand out 100 or more pairs monthly to children who need them due to accidents at school or circumstances at home. Our community has gone above and beyond for Drop Your Drawers since its launch in 2015, with 2022 marking its seventh year. Having started at the Campbell County Public Library, the campaign has made its way to other library systems across the country.
Please note that bras and t-shirts are also accepted. Find more details about the program on its web page. For a complete list of library events, visit the website of the Campbell County Public Library.
Newport Dog Park: Make a Donation, Buy a Brick, Be a Volunteer!
Many thanks to everyone who supports our big and beautiful East Row Dog Park, located behind the library on 6th St.
As a reminder, we rely on donations and fundraising to cover the costs of this pawsitively wonderful addition to our neighborhood, so please consider helping out as you make a donation, buy a brick or sign up to be a volunteer.
Yearly costs to keep the dog park safe, clean and fun are more than $6,000. You can lend a hand in a variety of ways while meeting new friends at the park.
Visit our Newport Dog Park website for all the details on our community-supported dog park and how you can pitch in for our furry friends!
The Voice
Editor: Paula Brandon
Send articles to voice@eastrow.org. The editor reserves the right to edit or reject submissions due to length or content.
