Category: Lost Art Press Storefront

If you plan to come to one of our open days, might I recommend May 12?

On that day we will have a surplus tool sale where Megan, Brendan and I are going to dispose of all the extra woodworking stuff we have accumulated. We’ll post photos of the stuff in the next week or so, but I’ve dug up some woodworking vises, two (?) hand-cranked drill presses, a miter box and a bunch of other small stuff. Brendan and Megan also have heaps of stuff.

All tool sales will be cash only.

Second: We hear tell that Jameel and Father John Abraham from Benchcrafted will visit the store that day. You know what that means – breakdancing and oud solos. And talk of workbenches. Lots of talk about workbenches.

We’ll have two Roman workbenches on hand from “Ingenious Mechanicks: Early Workbenches & Workholding” for you to use. And that’s because we are going to hold a free book-release party for “Ingenious Mechanicks” that same evening, and you are invited.

The party – 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. – will feature special guest and researcher Suzanne “Saucy Indexer” Ellison, who performed a lot of heavy research for the book. Suzanne and I will sign books and then give an illustrated lecture on the history of workbenches as shown through religious and secular painting.

Suzanne is also cooking up some special gifts for attendees.

We are limited to 60 spots. The event is free but you need to register here. We will also provide snacks, beer, wine and soda.

We hope you can attend! The storefront is located at 837 Willard St. in Covington, KY 41011. The store will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The party will be 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

— Christopher Schwarz

The Lost Art Press storefront in Covington, Ky., will be open April 14 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and there will be a lot to do and see that day.

• I’ll be furiously dovetailing the six tills for two tool chests for customers. You are welcome to come check out my workmanship and some of the details on these chests, including the casters, tool racks and interior trimmings.
• We have some advance copies of “Ingenious Mechanicks” and “Slojd in Wood” for you to check out (or purchase).
• Megan Fitzpatrick and Brendan Gaffney are in the middle of building a run of book boxes for a client that will house the four volumes of “The Woodworker.” These are fun projects you can do in an afternoon yourself.
• We have a good selection of blemished books for sale for 50 percent off (cash only on blemished books).

And I believe we’ll have some of Megan’s students in the shop who will be finishing up their silverware trays from the most recent class in the storefront. Plus, we’ll all be on hand to answer questions, demonstrate techniques and generally gab about the craft.

New Food Recommendation
The food scene in Covington continues to grow. The newest addition is “Main Street Tavern,” which is about two blocks from our shop. This establishment is located in a building that has been a tavern since 1865 and is still replete with the tin ceiling tiles and wainscot of its past.

But this is not some precious restaurant that is backed by big-name chefs or money. This is my favorite kind of place: A dive bar with incredible local food.

They make their own bologna and goetta. The fried chicken is incredible. The burgers are everything you want from a bar burger. Cheap beer. Nice people. Great prices. Get the bologna sliders (then come bum some statins from me).

We haven’t been there for brunch, but it looks incredible (check them out on Instagram).

So add this to your list of places to eat near us: Otto’s, Frieda’s, Commonwealth, Bouquet, Cock & Bull, Chako, Coppin’s and Lil’s. And a dozen more…..

— Christopher Schwarz

During my occasional free evening, I research the history of our storefront at 837 Willard St. in Covington. While I’ve learned a lot by digging through official records, I’ve learned more by talking to the neighbors – many of whom have lived on our street for 60 or 70 years.

The juiciest story? There were a couple murders in our bar, and neighbors and former employees say the place is definitely haunted.

I haven’t been able to confirm the murders, despite several evenings of looking through newspaper archives. But I am half-convinced the place is haunted.

Recently we had a scrub brush disappear from the slop sink. And I really mean disappear. One moment it was there, and shortly after it was gone gone gone. We looked for it for weeks. Last week I bought an identical replacement, which is shown above.

Last week, Megan Fitzpatrick reported that her favorite paint brush had similarly disappeared. She’d had this brush for 15 years (yes, I know that’s odd). She brought it to the shop to paint a tool chest for a customer and put it in the chest. The next day it was gone.

What kind of ghost steals brushes? I hope I catch them cleaning things up or painting the gutters. Otherwise, I’m going to pay a visit to exorcism.com.

— Christopher Schwarz

The Lost Art Press storefront in Covington, Ky., will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 10.

This weekend you’ll see the shop in full-production mode (which is our way of saying “excuse the mess.”) Brendan Gaffney is finishing up a gorgeous and extremely complex bookcase that involves a lot of interesting techniques, including recording and veneering.

Megan Fitzpatrick is just finishing up a Dutch tool chest for a customer – it’s being painted right now. And I’m deep into two full-blown Anarchist’s Tool Chests for customers. These both use Peter Ross hardware. Come check out the crab lock Peter makes. It is stunning.

We also have our full line of books, plus you can look through the printer’s proofs of “Ingenious Mechanicks” and “Slöjd in Wood.”

And we’ll be here to answer any woodworking questions you might have. Our address is 837 Willard St., Covington, KY 41011.

Some Food Options to Consider
If you are looking for a bite to eat, Lil’s Bagels has opened a walk-up window, which is a short walk from our storefront, on Greenup Street. Great bagels – the best in the city – and bagel sandwiches.

For lunch, take a walk over to Wunderbar, which has dang good German food and fantastic pretzels and beer cheese. Or try Guiterrez Deli (right across the street from Wunderbar). Guiterrez is a Mexican grocery that will make you an outstanding burrito.

— Christopher Schwarz

There is a point with every new house when it finally feels like home. Today is that day at 837 Willard St. in Covington, Ky.

Thanks to the help of countless friends, our storefront is officially a nice place to work. The clamps hang on the walls (thanks Brendan). The garage out back holds our few machines (thanks 347 people who helped with this project). And we have a coffee maker (thanks Nespresso).

On Saturday morning, we are launching the first woodworking class here at our storefront. We are vehemently not a school – we don’t have a name for it or a formal organization. This is just one of the many small things that we hope to do to give back to the woodworking community and Covington.

Interestingly, the tipping point that made the storefront feel like home had nothing to do with restoring the building, adding electrical service or draining my savings for two new roofs. Instead, it was the arrival of Megan Fitzpatrick and Brendan Gaffney as everyday co-workers.

In general, group shops can be tricky. There’s always a turd or 10 who ruin it for everyone else. Someone who clogs the dust collector and walks away. Someone who tilts the table saw blade 2° and walks away. Someone who dulls all your chisels. Or puts a cold drink on your finished project parts. Or…. I could go on.

I’ve been working with Megan for about 20 years. She’s a slob, but a thoughtful, empathetic rule-following slob. And so she is easy to work with in the shop. I’ve only been working with Brendan for about six months, and he’s an energetic woodworker who is – like Megan – simply a totally decent person.

Each of us has different way of making a living. I publish books and make furniture and tools. Megan is doing a lot of editing (for me and others), teaching and furniture making. Brendan is making furniture, tools and is working for Lost Art Press, helping with maps and technical illustrations.

In six months, this could all be different, but that’s OK. What I can say is that there will definitely be woodworking going on here, much to the bemusement of the 9th Street streetwalkers and the delight of the elementary kids who watch us everyday after school.

We’re also glad that our readers are part of this, whether they take a class, visit us on our open days (the second Saturday of every month) or commission a piece of furniture. Though furniture making is usually a solitary pursuit these days, it doesn’t have to be.

You just need the right people.

— Christopher Schwarz