I have SO many good things to say about this place. First off, I live a couple blocks away from the Leapin Lizard, so any chance I get to come here, I won't pass up. I've been here for dance lessons, various events, but this past weekend I came here to see a friend's bellydance show (I love that this space hosts such a broad variety of events). Don't come expecting some fancy-pants venue. Leapin' Lizard is definitely rough around the edges, but is filled with character. I came to the show with my friend's husband and we stopped back at the bar to grab a drink before the show. My friend ordered a whiskey sour. The bartender told us that she was waiting for the sour mix to be brought up but that she would walk the drink over to us when it arrived (in a very busy event), how cool is that!? The bar staff was SUPER friendly throughout the event and it definitely made an impression. I can't wait for the next chance I have to come back! read more

See all

We just got married at the Leapin' Lizard last night and it was a fantastic event! The space is beautiful, and the stained glass windows left colored light dancing across the space! Richard was an absolute delight to work with! The right kind of attentive; there when you need him, easy to meet up with in the weeks and days leading up to the event, and for set up, very accommodating, explained everything patiently when I was in "bride brain" mode (read: flighty and trying to keep up with a million details), and just all-around wonderful! If you're having an event any time soon, I can't recommend the Leapin' Lizard enough! read more

This contemporary art gallery is filled with fabulous furnishings, home and garden dcor, fine art and jewelry. Nestled in the heart of Covington's MainStrasse's entertainment and shopping district, the Leapin Lizzard specializes in high-quality one-of-a-kind creations for the discerning collector. Located in a renovated 1880's church, the gallery is an integral part of the revitalized local arts community. With over 150 hand-made works, Leapin Lizard features national and regional artists whose productions include paintings, sculpture, ceramics, photography, collage and assemblage, wire, glass, and more. During my recent visit, I was awestruck by the fantastical ceramics of nationally renowned artist Todd Warner. His whimsical wildlife sculptures are cartoonish, yet capture the idiosyncratic character of each animal he depicts. My favorites were "Whopper" and "I'll Do the Driving" in his Something's Fishy collection. Other highlights were the Twisp River Glass platters and Jeff Freeman floor lamps. Leapin Lizard is an ideal art gallery for aesthetes looking for fine art with flair. Check out their website for upcoming exhibitions and events. read more

Leapin Lizard Event Space - Photo from Leapin Lizards website - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

My husband and I got married at this venue on 10/3/2020 and man did we love this place! Richard was super easy to work with and his staff did a great job of helping pack up everything at the end of the night. However, we did feel as though we were juked out of about an hour of our bar time, which we paid for. The contract was for 6 hours and the open bar closed at 10pm, however, my bridal party was told they had to pay for their drinks when we arrived at 4pm. I'm not sure what the practice is at this place, but that was very upsetting to us. And you have to pay the gratuity up front. So if we had known that we'd really only get 5 hours of open bar, then we wouldn't have paid so much in tip. Just be real careful and clarify this before signing a contract. Other than that, no issues at all! read more

I would give the Leapin' Lizard negative stars if possible. My fiance and I were married in June this year at the Madison Event Center in Covington. We were looking for a laid back, fun place for our rehearsal dinner. While plenty of places in Covington would fit that description, we were limited due to the size of our party and the fact we needed a place that was wheelchair accessible. We were beyond thrilled when we found the Leapin' Lizard. It was exactly what we were looking for and was wheelchair accessible to boot! When we went to check out the venue in person, we actually beat the owner, Richard, there. I began to frantically pace around when I did not see a single entrance that appeared to be wheelchair accessible. When Richard arrived we immediately asked this question and he assured us that they had a portable ramp that would be ready to go the night of our event. Fast forward to the eve of our wedding. As we arrived at the Leapin' Lizard for our dinner, it was a bit chaotic. It was raining heavily and there wasn't a lot of parking to be found. As I walk up to the entrance, I don't see a ramp anywhere. My husband, who got there before me, informs me that Richard has told him we were supposed to remind him we needed the ramp, and now it is too late to get one because they rent it from another company and it was after regular business hours. They offered to use a flimsy piece of plywood up an extraordinarily steep set of stairs to try to get my brother and his 300 pound wheelchair into the building. This obviously was not even feasible, but an extraordinarily idiotic decision. Because we did not have a ramp, my step mother and little brother had to go home and could not attend our rehearsal dinner. It was devastating and infuriating. Richard offered us extra drink tickets, and it was offensive that he seemed to think that would make up for my family not being able to attend our rehearsal dinner. My little brother cried the entire way home. Further. for Richard to say we were supposed to remind him about the ramp is deplorable. We discussed with him multiple times on different dates about the ramp and were never told we needed to remind him. That was not our job, that was his job as the business owner and for him to pin that on us is pathetic. We attempted to contact him after the event to ask for our refund for our rental fee for not upholding the contract, but we never heard back. Do not give Leapin' Lizard your business. We will be filing a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and we will also be filing a complaint under the Americans with Disabilities Act, as the business is not compliant with the law. read more

I have to give an extra star for all the hard work they are doing to keep this place on the map in terms of every kind of entertainment you can imagine. They have salsa dancing with a live band, DJ nights, burlesque training, drag shows, fashion shows, art/craft fairs, world music performances, and the list goes on. Not to mention they have lots of local artisan jewelry and home decor for sale. The selection is impressive. read more

The fact that there are only two other reviews for perhaps the most eclectic venue in Cincinnati highlights Leapin' Lizard's biggest problem: Not enough people know this hidden gem exists. A former church that later became an art gallery, LL is currently an event space that features concerts, drag shows, stand-up and improv comedy, and private events like weddings. LL is divided into a ground floor bar and an upstairs performance/reception area, each with a dramatically different vibe. Every time I enter LL's bar, I feel like I'm stepping into an alternate universe version of Pee Wee's Playhouse where Cowboy Curtis runs a weekly drag night with drink specials on Pinnacle Vodka. Since I regularly perform at LL's stand-up comedy open mics, I can vouch that their quirky and intimate ground floor is one of the coziest rooms in town to watch and/or perform on a show. It's hard not to love a venue that features disco balls, folk art and painted lower halves of mannequins as decorations. LL's upstairs area, which hosts wedding receptions and larger concerts like Cincy's World Music Fest, is a spacious, high-ceilinged room with a non-working pipe organ on one end and a massive stained glass window on the other. I usually can't say that a venue's restrooms are my favorite part of visiting there. Then again, until visiting LL, I'd never used a restroom that was built out of a church confessional booth. (In case you're wondering: Yes, the red "occupied confessional" light turns on when you walk in.) The only reason I didn't give Leapin' Lizard five stars is their unfortunate inability to get the word out about what an awesome place they are. Their website suffers from a severe identity crisis and they don't do much in the line of advertising save for their Facebook page. On the basis of sheer coolness alone, LL should be Covington's answer to The Southgate House. Come on, guys... You've got one of the coolest venues in town. Don't be afraid to let people know about it! read more

I have gone to The Leapin' Lizard several times for an event we call "Tribal Night". It is a bellydance party we call a hafla, where dancers from the Cincinnati area and beyond come to share their art with each other. We also have open dance, where everyone can participate. The folks at The Leapin' Lizard always have the venue beautifully arranged and ready to go. The sound system is rockin' and Richard usually has a tasty drink special to fit the theme of the night. The other bartenders are super friendly as well. I always look forward to the great time I know I'm going to have at this unique, eclectic venue! It is hard to find a place to park, but I think that applies to every venue in the Mainstrasse area. read more

See all

I'm not 100% sure what to make of this place honestly, but in a very very good way. The only times I've been here have been for events, most recently a wedding. They have 2 floors and they couldn't be more different. The top floor is reminiscent of the old church that now houses the gallery. more laid back, softer artwork on the walls. Hard wood floors, the old pipe organ pipes in the back, and the stained glass windows up front. They even have the old confessionals there! Although it is a bit weird as they've been converted into bathrooms, and theirs a DJ booth on top, but still cool! Downstairs has that more eclectic funky vibe. Theirs a lounge area up a set of stairs behind the bar, and a few tables and couches spread throughout the space. Again, another DJ booth set up above the crowd and above the restrooms, but this ones not as noticeable. There's also a pretty decently stocked bar on the first floor. It's darker and feels a little more hip/artsy/edgy with more of that modern art vibe. The art, including the furniture, is all for sale, and there's a little something for everyone. There's no real parking, so that's kind of a pain, but they have events going on every week! It's definitely worth a stop if you're down on Main Strauss. read more

I was hired by a sorority at UC to cater a 90's formal for them here. This place is really neat, the "kitchen" area is small and really doesn't have any good cooking equipment, but I knew that going in so I was prepared. The main floor is really neat with the bar set up in the back and the dance floor and the dance stage and the DJ booth was up above the dance stage. I also went up to the second floor and checked it out and was also very neat and kept going with the church theme. read more

This isn't the largest venue in town, but it is an interesting place. Think unique, intimate and interesting when you book this place. If you have an event that fits that criteria, then this could be just the place for you. Downside, parking can be difficult that close to Mainstrasse. read more

This place is a hidden gem tucked into the heart of Covington's eclectic Main Strauss Village. It's an old converted church. The owners, Richard and Sara Kern are some of the kindest, most genuine and professional venue owners out there. They generously donated their space for two fund raisers that I had. They are both so quick to help, and are try stand-up human beings. The inside of the venue is gorgeous. The first floor is Alice-in-Wonderland-esque, with fun and one-of-a-kind art that decorates the place. The old DJ booth is perfect for VIP. The second floor is equally as beautiful, with the old church organ still decorating the grand room. Such a beautiful and wonderful spot. The outside is like the Secret Garden, and is tucked away behind the building with tons of privacy. All in all, if you are looking for an absolutely breath-taking space, with amazing and extremely professional owners, Sara and Richard are your people! Anything from music concerts to weddings to bar mitzvahs, call the Leapin Lizard! read more

My wife and I got married at this lovely joint in November. The Lizard is so much more than just a wedding venue.. This place provided the perfect whimsical/quirky backdrop for our colorful wedding. Richard was a total joy to work with. Felt like working with an old friend. I still look back in disbelief at how perfect the night was. So many compliments, even my wife's Grandma said, "you two should get married every weekend, that was so fun!" Highly recommend! read more

We had our wedding reception here Saturday and we could NOT be happier with our experience!!!!! Richard is the best!!! Anything I thought up he was okay with and he most certainly went above and beyond to ensure our guests were happy!!! We partied all night and loved the friendly staff here at the Leapin Lizard!!!! My whole family talked about how nice and attentive everyone here was!!!! 5 stars!!!! We highly recommend you reach out to the lovely and amazing folks at the Leapin Lizard for any event you may have!!!! read more

See all

My husband and I held our wedding at the Leaping Lizard last May, and we were beyond blessed by Richard and his hospitality. Richard was super accommodating during our first few meetings, and answered any questions we had thoroughly and honestly. He kindly offered to help us find vendors if we didn't have any yet (caterers, DJ). As Sara and Richard would be on their honeymoon themselves during our wedding, we also met with their staff Jared & Anna also during our meeting. Anna was sweet enough to come super early on Saturday to let our DJ in to set up way before the event (after working an event late the night before and not having to be at our event until late afternoon), and she and Jared transitioned our ceremony to food seamlessly and (seemingly) effortlessly. Anna set up all of our centerpieces exactly the way I had pictured. Our guests raved about Jared's bartending skills and my mom couldn't get over how great the staff was to us. Jared made sure that my husband and I had drinks or anything we needed throughout the night. The venue itself is just so unique. It's the perfect place for a bride and groom with a little sass, but it still has some traditional details that feel "churchy" (which my mom also loved). The stained glass windows upstairs offered a STUNNING background during our ceremony, and our guests gushed about the character of the venue (and still do). I love that everything can be done in one space, as we had mostly out of town guests and they just had to go downstairs. Our groomsmen got ready in the unique loft space behind the bar downstairs, and it made for some fantastic photos. You are just not going to find another venue like this in the Cincinnati area: amazing staff, reasonably priced, with the unique, artsy character. I totally recommend it to any bride looking to make your wedding spectacular! read more

See all

I recently attended a Yelp event here and was amazed that I didn't know this space existed. The walls were painted vibrant colors and the artwork was great for starting conversations. I appreciated the large open space as well as the upstairs lofts with tables for those who wanted something a bit more secluded. The next time I need an event space the Leapin Lizard will be first on my list! read more

My husband and I just had our wedding there and I can not say enough positive things about this place. It is beautiful and unique. The owners and his staff are wonderful. You will be treated like family and your every wish will come true. Check this place out. read more

Can't say enough good things about leapin lizard! My family hosted and engagement party for my sister on the first floor a couple weeks ago. The layout was perfect and they were super accommodating to the number of people we had. We were able to play our own music and they had tons of food/hors d'oeuvres options along with the bar. Becca was our bartender for the evening and she was awesome!!! She was extremely genuine towards our family and friends. I would definitely recommend this place for any event :) read more

We had our wedding here last weekend and it is phenomenal. Richard is wonderful to work with and made sure we had everything we needed all evening! The venue itself is also incredible and not your typical reception hall. The decorations are eclectic and fun and made it much easier for us, as we did not have to bring much in. The upstairs space is also gorgeous with the stained glass windows and hardwood floors. I would recommend The Leapin Lizard to anyone looking for an event space and we will definitely be back!!! read more

I just had my wedding & reception here, and it could not have been more perfect for us. Since the place already has some eclectic decor, I did zero decorating, and I was able to have a unique wedding experience that met all my expectations. Richard, the owner, was helpful, generous, and so easy to work with. He kept reminding me that it was my big day, so feel free to do whatever I wanted. I would recommend this venue in a heartbeat if you're looking for something unique, customizable, low stress, and just super fun. read more

My husband and I had our wedding ceremony and reception last week at Leapin Lizard Lounge. When we first talked to Richard, who owns the place, I remember telling him that it seemed "too good to be true and asking what the catch was. There was no catch. This was a fabulous, unique space that allows couples to throw events that feel personalized and interesting. Richard was wonderful to work with and extremely accommodating. The space was lovely and very fun. I would highly recommend this space to anyone looking to throw a slightly less than traditional wedding, and I echo the poster who mentioned "looking back in disbelief about how perfect the night was". We feel the same way. read more

Richard, Sara and the entire staff of the Leapin Lizard helped us to throw our dream wedding. Everything was absolutely perfect. Communication in the months, weeks and days leading up to the event gave us just the confidence we needed. Planning, ideas, feedback, etc.....everything was just spectacular. The day of the event my husband and I were nervous wrecks and were taken care of like royalty. We didn't have to worry about anything at all and the entire event went off without a single problem. I can't recommend them enough and thank the entire staff for making our big day PERFECTION! read more