Since it’s such a huge, kick-ass music festival that spotlights the newest and best of the local, original music scene from several genres, we thought we’d give you a little heads up on next week’s Clifton Heights Music Festival so you can make plans early.   

Singer/songwriter Holly Spears celebrates the release of her first full-length album, Heartache to Hope, at the 20th Century Theater in Oakley this Friday.  

Fascinating, diverse, progressive — those are just a handful of words that are being used to describe the new 31st Ohio House District. Consisting of Amberley Village, Clifton, Clifton Heights, Evanston, Madisonville, Hyde Park, Northside, Oakley, Silverton, St. Bernard and Walnut Hills, the district contains many walks of life, including a healthy liberal population.   

As the redevelopment of Clifton Heights continues to occur, another area neighborhood is also preparing for a complete renovation. Corryville, which is located directly next to Clifton Heights and is home to many University of Cincinnati students, will be experiencing various changes during the coming year. The first will be the complete reconstruction of a popular shopping center called University Plaza.  

Uptown Cincinnati is home to some of the city's largest employers, best known attractions and entertainment spots. In the right spots you'll see vibrancy, potential and even a little charm. But like in so many areas of the urban core, other parts are run down, prone to violence. The nonprofit Uptown Consortium has promoted the revitalization of these urban neighborhoods since 2004.  

Back in the late 1960s, the Ludlow Garage was at the heart of the day's Woodstock-heavy music world. A 40th anniversary tribute is scheduled Friday night at the Cincy Blues Fest, and a live two-CD/one-DVD set called 'Still Truckin' of live recordings is set for release — a must-have for music lovers of the period.   

This weekend, the owners of several historic homes in the area are flinging their doors open to visitors. Cincinnati Preservation Association (CPA) and Clifton Town Meeting are offering rare opportunities to see the interiors of some of Cincinnati’s most regal homes in two of the area’s grandest neighborhoods. On Saturday, the Cincinnati Preservation Association will hold a tour of East Walnut Hills homes, and Sunday is the Clifton House Tour.  

Soon Clifton's Gaslight District will host a place to buy hammers and nails and possibly a venue to hear live Jazz performed nightly. Already considered one of the city's most livable neighborhoods, Ludlow Avenue's versatile, metropolitan vibe continues to evolve.  

This location used to house India Palace, so it's not a new location for an Indian restaurant. But Dusmesh stands out by bringing something more to the table.   

If you're looking for love, or at least an architectural/sculptural representation thereof, your best option in Cincinnati is the aptly named Temple of Love in Clifton’s Mt. Storm Park. By definition, the Temple of Love is a tholos, a name used by the ancient Greeks to signify a round building. The tholoi generally functioned in two ways: either as a sacred space, shielding a central statue or offering or as a secular place of congregation.