Photograph by Lance Adkins
Sometimes merely experiencing weirdness isn’t enough— sometimes you need to own the weirdness. If you’re looking for a more off-the-wall shopping experience, here are a few places in the Queen City to check out.
Hierophany & Hedge
Walking through the door of Hierophany & Hedge feels like taking a step into a fantasy novel. This magic supply store in Covington—the only of its kind in the region—offers a variety of goods and services for the local witch: fittings of elaborately carved wands, tarot cards designed by local artists, hand-washed and tumbled crystals, a selection of bespoke arcana, and tons more. While the selection may look overwhelming, owners Auger and Coil are always willing to provide expert advice to beginners or make a recommendation to a guide in their extensive literature collection. Be sure to check the website for the shop’s hours before paying a visit, as they change every week. 19 W. Pike St., Covington, hierophanyandhedge.com
Hail Records & Oddities
While its expansive music and literature collection has made the Covington shop a prime location for concertgoers and bookworms since 2016, Hail also proclaims itself a safe haven to “satisfy all your weirdo needs.” Its stock of oddities includes everything from taxidermy to books on the occult, a representation of the collections of co-owners Tracy Blankemeyer and Neil Higginbotham. The two also host workshops and classes at offsite locations, including introductions to bug pinning, candle magic, and potion-making. 720 Main St., Covington, hailcincinnati.com
Happen’s Toy Lab
Kids’ kooky imaginary friends come to life at Happen’s Toy Lab, a part of the nonprofit that aims to bring families and communities together through creative experiences. In its Northside studio, Happen collects donated toys that it cleans, takes apart, and organizes by piece so that adults and children can come in and create a new plaything all their own. Kids are educated on and encouraged to participate in the process of upcycling by picking seven different toy parts, which they then bring to the lab “professor” to instruct on how they want the toy put together. The end result is crafting a funky new friend—fidget spinner arms, helicopter propeller legs, a Hot Wheels base—for them to take home and play with, just as sturdy as the original toys once were. Further, all proceeds from the Toy Lab fund Happen’s free community art programs. 4203 Hamilton Ave., Northside, toy-lab.com
Illustration by Micheal Hacker
Bircus Brewing
Ever had a drink served to you by a fire-eater at the circus? That’s nothing out of the ordinary for this popular Ludlow brewery. Bircus opened its doors at the historic Ludlow Theater in 2019, after owner Paul Miller was inspired by Belgium’s Circusplaneet, where entertainers raised money for performances by selling beer. Ludlow’s Bircus is a collaboration between Bircus Brewing Co. and Circus Mojo, combining delicious craft brews with live circus entertainment, including fire heating, acrobatics, fog machines, and live music. 322 Elm St., Ludlow, bircus.com
Mad Cheese
When Heather Donaldson and her husband went vegan in 2019, they did so with the intention of helping the environment by eating more sustainably. What she didn’t know was that the new diet would improve their health and ultimately lead to creating a successful vegan cheese business. According to Donaldson, a former food stylist, much of the cheese-making process is similar to that of normal cheese—although instead of a dairy base, her cheeses use nuts, millet, or pea protein. She says they taste like their dairy counterparts and although the vegan cheeses have a higher melting point, they don’t introduce cholesterol issues like normal cheeses. 5903 Bramble Ave., Madisonville, madcheese.com
Beardo’s Curiosities
Beardo’s Curiosities, a former Mt. Adams mainstay that’s found its new home in Northside, has become one of the quirkiest curiosity shops in the Queen City. Beardo informs customers that they should prepare to feel like they’re walking through a zoo or a museum when they drop by, offering everything from pinned bugs and animal skulls to crystals and antiques, and sometimes even human bones. With such an expansive and kooky inventory, Beardo’s is sure to have something to add to even the most niche of collections. 4174 Hamilton Ave., Northside, beardoscuriosities.com
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