I’ve been living in downtown Covington, Ky., since the middle of July 2011. Having lived in Cincinnati for most of my adult life and with a lot of that time working and/or living downtown, Covington has been an adjustment for me. In my view, Downtown Covington isn’t anything like the city across the river.   

Installing solar panels is one way a household can help the environment while saving money in the long term. In Cincinnati, one company offering the service is Solar Earth, a start-up founded by Julie Jones and Jennifer Wolford that installs solar panels on both businesses and homes.   

Michael Franti has been ruffling the feathers of the music industry for over 20 years now and he shows no signs of slowing down in the new millennium. Franti began in the mid-1980s with his first band, The Beatnigs, which scored a couple of releases on Alternative Tentacles before breaking up.  

Fall is upon us. Schools are back in session, football players are back on the gridiron and it’s time to begin thinking about preparing your home for winter. Aww, do I have to? It’s the age-old whine of reluctant homeowners everywhere: Do I really need to winterize my home? “You should if you want to save energy,” says Don McPherson, co-owner of Home Repair Solutions   

After picking up some hot sandwiches at the new World Food Bar at Findlay Market (1801 Race St., Over-the-Rhine, 513-342-1968), the only sounds emanating from our table were “mmm … mmmm” followed by: “Holy shit. Let’s go tell everyone how good this is.” It’s not surprising that the food was excellent, knowing chef/owner Joshua Campbell’s extensive background working in some of the finest restaurants in Cincinnati, Florida and the Bahamas.   

Outdoor living allows people to enjoy nearly all the comforts of indoors in a truly open and airy setting. The evolution of weather-resistant products now makes it possible to actually enjoy an outdoor living space without sacrificing style or comfort.  

Buried somewhere in President Obama’s stimulus package is $75 billion to help Americans buy homes or stay in the ones they own. It’s called the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan, and the White House expects it to offer aide to some 9 million people. If you don’t know much about it, you’re not alone. CityLiving attempts to explain the overwhelming plan in 1,000 words or less…  

As women, we have many responsibilities. We must maintain a sunny disposition to put others at ease, keep our make-up fresh and stay up on current events so we can keep up with our husbands in conversation. And we’re also being asked to work outside the home. How are we to do all of this and still entertain?  

There are few things that get me in the Christmas spirit like an old historic building or city block decked out in its holiday fanciest. There’s just something about the twinkling lights at dusk and miles of pine roping neatly adorning some fabulous architecture that ignites the sentimental holiday sap in me.  

ALPEN, GERMANY — As my days in Germany come to a close, what question am I asked the most? Will I be happy to be going home? The quick answer is always an emphatic “Yes,” with the added disclaimer that home is and always will be Cincinnati.