By Cindy Schroeder
The Cincinnati Enquirer

COVINGTON - To call attention to Covington's growing restaurant and entertainment district, the city and Covington Business Council are sponsoring Thursday Nights on the Town for the next three months.

"This is designed to bring together local professionals after work, and showcase the entertainment and dining options that are available, especially on the riverfront and Park Place areas," said Kristi Nader, executive director of the Covington Business Council. "We're looking for people who want something fun to do after work in the summertime. Our target range is professionals (ages) 25 to 45, but it's open to anyone."

The first Thursday Nights on the Town - presented by Bud Light and WVMX-FM 94.1 - will be 5-7 p.m. this Thursday in the area bordered by Court, Park and Greenup streets. Funkytown will perform live and Bud Light will flow. Future Thursday Nights on the Town will be Aug. 21 and Sept. 18.

To encourage people to mingle, the city will close Court Street from Third to Fourth streets, as well as Park Place from Court to Greenup streets. Midtown Parking Garage will be free after noon.

The new event avoids head-to-head competition with a similar Wednesday series at Sawyer Point across the Ohio River, which also has music, drinks and food - all targeted at young professionals.

Besides Bud Light and Mix 94.1, Thursday Nights on the Town restaurant sponsors include Jack Quinn's Restaurant and Irish Pub, Zino's, Scaleas Ristorante, Sonoma Restaurant, Coco's, Behle Street Cafe, TGI Friday's and Mike Fink Restaurant.

"Those restaurants are between MainStrasse and Newport on the Levee," said Covington Mayor Butch Callery. "This is to help call attention to them."

All of the restaurants will be open for dinner, and many will offer special food and drink prices, organizers said.

More than 10,000 people work in nearby businesses, including the Internal Revenue Service and Corporex, Callery said. Through Thursday Nights on the Town, city leaders hope to give those workers a reason to stay downtown after work and show off the growing entertainment district in an historic area, he said.

Organizers also hope to draw people from across Greater Cincinnati, Nader said.

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For more information, call the city of Covington at (859) 292-2135.

E-mail cschroeder@enquirer.com