America is in what some industry experts are referring to as a kind of alcohol recession. Beer and wine sales have been hit hardest, but even some premium spirit brands are seeing significant declines. An annual event seeks to breathe some light into the scene. With that in mind, this week's final episode feels like happy hour: it's all about the twelfth annual Rochester Cocktail Revival (RCR), which returns June 2-8. RCR is the only weeklong festival of its kind in New York State, made possible by 30+ Rochester bars and arts venues that host 70+ events across downtown Rochester. This hour, Evan, co-host Leah Stacy, and our guests talk about new events, the ongoing tiki trend, immersive cocktail theater and more. Our guests:

• Chuck Cerankosky, director of Rochester Cocktail Revival
• Flo Cardella, head bartender at Leonore's
• Cat D. Olson, artistic director of CAT + THE COYOTE
• Patrick Stetzel, owner and operator of Ziggy's

The Trump administration has begun canceling grant funding for arts organizations across the country. As word of the funding cuts hit different communities — Oklahoma City; Pittsburgh; New Orleans; Rochester among the first — a group of senior officials at the National Endowment for the Arts announced their resignations. For some local organizations, the funding cuts are coming almost immediately, after they had planned for the money. Evan and co-host Leah Stacy welcome guests to discuss what's cut, and what could be lost as a result. Our guests:

• Peter Conners, publisher and executive director of BOA Editions, Ltd.
• Jessica Johnston, executive director of Visual Studies Workshop, Inc.
• Chad W. Post, publisher of Open Letter Books
• Sherry Vile, executive director of A Magical Journey Thru Stages

Self-driving cars are now regularly showing up on the streets of San Francisco. The man who leads the team that developed them says technology is speeding up the pace of human life. He has his eyes on even bigger accomplishments, in the fields of climate change, health care, and more. Astro Teller is the “Captain of Moonshots” at X Google’s Factory and Innovation Lab. He's in Rochester for an event at RIT, but first, he joins us on "Connections." In studio:

• Astro Teller, “Captain of Moonshots” at X, the Moonshot Factory for Alphabet
• Bob Finnerty, associate vice president of communications at RIT
• Lisa Chase, vice president and secretary of the university for RIT

We continue our series of conversations with candidates running in the June Democratic primary. This hour, we sit down with Mary Lupien, candidate for Rochester Mayor.

Lupien is a current member of Rochester City Council whose priorities for office include guaranteed basic income, access to safe and affordable housing, community responder programs, and funding for youth programs. She joins us in the studio to discuss her background and her platform, and she answers our questions and yours.

In studio:

• Mary Lupien, candidate for Rochester mayor

Research shows the use of e-bikes is on the rise. What would it take for you to switch from your car or public transportation to an e-bike or a bicycle? Our guests this hour say there are both benefits and challenges to e-biking or biking, but they make this case for it this hour as they preview the upcoming Bike Week in Rochester. In studio:

• Jesse Peers, cycling manager for Reconnect Rochester
• Steve Roll, board member for Reconnect Rochester and cargo e-bike rider

How can people who want to become more involved in developing public policy do so in tangible ways? Two national organizations say their approach to that question is unique. Civic Genius and YOUnify have teamed up to develop what they call citizen assemblies, where participants engage in deep, long-form discussions; develop solutions to common problems; and then give their recommendations to decision-makers. The model is meant to be different from traditional town halls, where the loudest voices often dominate meetings. The organizations are bringing their model to the University of Rochester Democracy Center, and they are inviting local residents to participate. This hour, our guests explain how the process works, how it has brought about change in other cities, and how you can get involved. Our guests:

• Jillian Youngblood, executive director of Civic Genius at the National Civic League
• Stu Jordan, Ph.D., associate professor of political science and associate director of the University of Rochester Democracy Center
• Brandyn Keating, CEO of YOUnify
• Margaret Hill, past participant in a deliberative process in Deschutes County, Oregon

The International Plaza opened this past weekend. Our guest this hour discusses ways the event space and marketplace will celebrate Latino art and culture this season, amid anxiety and uncertainty related to national conversations. In studio:

• Jason Barber, International Plaza site manager for Ibero-American Development Corporation

A recent state Supreme Court ruling stripped the Rochester Police Accountability Board (PAB) of its investigatory power. The decision was made following a complaint by the Rochester Police Locust Club. The PAB was already lacking disciplinary power. As reported by WXXI's Gino Fanelli, "The ruling allows for the PAB to do two things: it can exist, and it can review and recommend changes to department policy." The board can appeal, but there are still questions about what it will be able to accomplish in the future. We discuss that future with PAB Executive Director Lesli Myers-Small and Gino Fanelli. In studio:

• Lesli Myers-Small, Ed.D., executive director of the Rochester Police Accountability Board
• Larry Knox, chair of the Rochester Police Accountability Board
• Gino Fanelli, investigations and City Hall reporter for WXXI News