Patti Smith and her band delivered a powerful performance in the open fall air next to the Ohio River for The National’s Homecoming Festival in September. The performance, like Smith herself, was nuanced and dynamic, at times heartbreakingly sincere and transcendent, at other times humble and hilarious. There are few that can tap into the level of power of performance like Smith. When she says, “we have the power” over corporations, government or war, she means it and the audience feels it, like a wake-up call to the truth. Backed by her band, which included her longtime collaborator Lenny Kaye — a legend in his own right — and her son Jackson Smith from her marriage with the late MC5 guitarist, Fred “Sonic” Smith, she proved just how good rock and roll can be — like anything is possible, just what great art can do. americanmary.com/homecoming.

1. The Belle & The Bear
2. Dead Low Brewing
3. MVP Sports Bar & Grille

1. Ludlow Garage
2. MixWells
3. Northside Yacht Club

1. Ghost Baby
2. Somerset
3. Queen City Exchange

1. Little Miami Brewing Company
2. Pearl's Bar
3. Dead Low Brewing

The May Festival celebrated its 150th anniversary with “25 For 25,” a brilliant tribute to the Festival’s history of commissioning new works that saw 25 commissions written by young female, non-binary or gender non-conforming composers, all alumni of Luna Composition Lab. Each piece was written for a specific choral group and the conductors worked closely with their respective composers. The March concert showcased the composers’ remarkable skills in setting texts and creating challenging, exciting choral sounds. The energy was palpable and gave another reason to celebrate a city that sings. mayfestival.com.

1. Southgate House Revival
2. Old Kentucky Bourbon Bar
3. Jerry's Jug House

1. West Side Brewing
2. Knotty Pine Rock Club & Tiki Bar
3. Blue Note Harrison

1. The Belle & The Bear
2. MOTR Pub
3. Southgate House Revival
4. Northside Yacht Club
5. Ghost Baby
6. Dead Low Brewing
7. Urban Artifact
8. Arnold's Bar & Grill
9. Juniper’s
10. Caffe Vivace

1. Bogart's
2. Ludlow Garage
3. Southgate House Revival

1. The Belle & The Bear
2. MixWells
3. Queen City Exchange

1. Cat Middendorf (Queen City Exchange)
2. Ceris Christopher (The Belle & the Bear)
3. Adrienne Curry-Zeigler (The Pony)

1. Queen City Exchange
2. Higher Gravity
3. Northside Yacht Club

1. Queen City Exchange
2. The Belle & The Bear
3. Yard House

1. Northside Yacht Club
2. HangOverEasy
3. Wodka Bar
4. Dead Low Brewing
5. Crazy Fox Saloon
6. The Eagle
7. Nation Kitchen & Bar
8. Maplewood Kitchen and Bar
9. Taste of Belgium
10. Lucius Q

Creative House of Art and Design (or CHAD, named after the owner) is an art store in Mainstrasse that sells a lot of gay-themed art, like stickers and Pride flags, but in the back they have a small bar and patio. During the summer, they offer very strong boozy slushies. Sip on one while shopping for penis coasters. creativehousead.com.

1. Old Kentucky Bourbon Bar
2. Longfellow
3. Wiseguy Lounge

1. Old Kentucky Bourbon Bar
2. Queen City Exchange
3. Smoke Justis
4. Wiseguy Lounge
5. Longfellow's Other Room
6. Hoppin' Vines
7. Revival Vintage Bottle Shop
8. Nicholson's Pub
9. Jefferson Social
10. Dew Drop Inn

1. The Party Source
2. Jungle Jim's International Market
3. Revival Vintage Bottle Shop

One of the most beloved breweries and most beloved bakeries in town working together on a special brew? Yes, please. Covington’s Braxton Brewing Co.’s Opera Cream Stout was inspired by The BonBonerie’s iconic Opera Cream Torte. The beer features chocolate and caramel malts and is finished with The BonBonerie’s opera cream coffee, roasted by Seven Hills Coffee Roasters. With flavors of milk chocolate, sweet cream and vanilla, this indulgent milk stout is almost more dessert than beverage. What a sweet way to celebrate Cincinnati. braxtonbrewing.com & bonbonerie.com.