Cover Story
Best of Rochester 2013
Normally I start out the introduction to City Newspaper’s annual Best of Rochester issue by blathering about the awesomeness of Rochester and making terrible puns based around that year’s theme. I’m taking a different tactic this year — although there will probably still be puns. It recently came to our attention that some people might…
Despite student performance, voters have so far stuck with school board incumbents
While most of the attention during the Democratic primary and in the last weeks leading up to the general election has been on the twists in the mayoral race, there’s been something equally unexpected about the city school board race. With such dismal performance of city students by almost every standard, the dissatisfaction with school…
Concert Review: The LSD Enigma, The Nightstalkers
It’s funny; a lot of psychedelic era or music influenced by the psychedelic era doesn’t sound that psychedelic to me. I think in many cases these were in essence garage bands on psychedelic drugs. Minds are still getting explored and bent, but the sounds frequently aren’t all that mind-bending. Exception: Rochester’s psychedelic sonic sensation The…
Richards clarifies his intentions, sort of
UPDATE: 4:50 p.m. on Monday, November 4. Richards has released a statement about the Lonsberry appearance. It follows the blog below. On today’s Bob Lonsberry show, Rochester Mayor Tom Richards said that if he is re-elected tomorrow, he will be sworn in and he will serve, for a least a bit. It was the clearest…
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Week Ahead: [UPDATED] Elections, red-light camera ruling? Fill the loop meeting
The Big Day. The City of Rochester will pick a mayor, five City Council members, and three people to sit on the city school board during this week’s elections. The polls are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, November 5. Incumbent mayor Tom Richards, City Council president Lovely Warren, and local business…
College Town announces tenants
Fairmount Properties and Gilbane Development Company have announced the first batch of eateries, shops, and services to be a part of the College Town mixed-use development at Mt. Hope and Elmwood avenues. The tenants include The Creator’s Hands; Corner Bakery Cafe; Saxby’s Coffee; Panini’s Bar and Grill; Insomnia Cookies; Constantino’s Market, which is a 20,000-square-foot…
Brooks endorses Lovely Warren for mayor
At first blush I didn’t see how Maggie Brooks’ endorsement could help Lovely Warren in her campaign for Rochester mayor. Many people believe that the county has turned its back on the city, so why would they listen to anything that the Republican county executive has to say? And Brooks’ administration has had some issues…
Food benefits decreasing
Starting tomorrow, food stamp recipients in New York will see a reduction in monthly benefits. In most cases, households will lose approximately $11 a month, says information provided by Volunteer Legal Services of Western New York. The decrease is related to the 2009 federal stimulus, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The legislation included a…
Richards asks for state review of city’s finances, operations
Mayor Tom Richards is asking City Council to approve legislation requesting a comprehensive review of the city’s finances and operations. Council members could vote on the legislation at November’s Council meeting. The review would be done by the state Financial Restructuring Board for Local Governments. Cuomo created the 10-member panel earlier this year to “offer…
Poverty “excuse” gets a reprieve
The subject of school integration came up several months ago while I was researching a story. The idea of a metro school system, though heralded by many as one of the most promising ways to improve student performance in Rochester’s schools, was simultaneously dismissed by the people I was with. “Impossible,” “Will never happen,” and…
University Ave. apartment plan gets Planning Commission nod
Morgan Management has only one final bureaucratic hurdle to clear in its quest to build a 99-unit apartment complex at 933 University Avenue, in the East Avenue Preservation District. The city’s Planning Commission approved the project yesterday. Morgan now goes back to the Preservation Board — which has already given the project its unofficial support…
Romneycare’s launch wasn’t successful either
After listening to conservatives’ hysteria over the Affordable Care Act for the last two weeks, it was fascinating to hear Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick talk about his state’s health care program, or Romneycare. The program, a micro version of the Affordable Care Act, served as the ACA’s blueprint. Though the program is wildly successful today,…
Teamsters reject Wegmans’ contract proposal
Members of Teamsters Local 118 have again rejected a contract offer from Wegmans.
Rochester land bank gets state money
The state Attorney General’s Office has awarded Rochester’s land bank $2.78 million, which the city will use to acquire and rehabilitate houses over the next two years. Over the summer, the AG’s Office said it was making $20 million from the state’s share of a national mortgage settlement available to New York land banks. In…
Folk | Ellen Cherry
Earlier this year Baltimore based indie-folk artist ellen cherry survived a car wreck while on tour in Texas. After a few nights in the ICU, the singer-songwriter emerged with her spirit intact and eventually hit the road again christening her next round of shows as the “Lucky Break” tour. Cherry is a perky multi-instrumentalist with a…
Feedback 10/30
We welcome your comments. Send them to themail@rochester-citynews.com, or post them on our website, rochestercitynewspaper.com, our Facebook page, or our Twitter feed, @roccitynews. For our print edition, we select comments from all three sources; those of fewer than 350 words have a greater chance of being published, and we do edit selections for publication in…
JAZZ | Clay Jenkins
Right out of college, trumpeter Clay Jenkins earned his stripes with the Stan Kenton Orchestra. He went on to tour with Harry James, Buddy Rich, and Count Basie before becoming a professor at the Eastman School of Music. But that didn’t mean leaving the road. Jenkins still holds a chair in the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra…
Is APPR fair?
The Annual Professional Performance Review for teachers and principals is a key component of education reform. And the state Education Department’s recent release of statewide teacher and principal evaluations is supposed to help answer the question asked by many parents: How effective are the teachers in my child’s school? But the evaluations are controversial. In…
Rock | Spacelords
Local band Spacelords is a four-piece classic rock act makes music that recalls the blues-influenced rock and roll of the 60s and 70s, bringing back the raw, emotive sound that modern rock lost along the way. Equally influenced by funk and soul as the blues, Spacelords lists bands such as Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin and…
Climate change and social justice
An upcoming program of the Friends and Foundation of the Rochester Public Library will focus on the local opportunities and challenges posed by climate change. Follow the Money: Costs and Opportunities from Climate Change will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, November 2, at the Central Library’s Kate Gleason Auditorium, 115 South Avenue. The…
ART | Art Events Roundup
Rochester’s art scenes have a lot in store for us this week, between the First Friday art trek and other art events taking place, with many options to consider for supporting local makers during the holiday gift shopping season (stress-saver pro tip: that’s now). Here are a few of the happenings, but check out our…
ROTC’s culture club
Petite with luminous eyes behind a pensive stare, 20-year-old Amber Brewer looks too young to be charged with protecting the country. But don’t let her youthful appearance fool you. Brewer, an Army Reserve officer training cadet, says she’s confident that she’ll know how to handle combat and lead a platoon when the time comes. Brewer,…
DANCE | Latin Dance Weekend/Salsaween
If you like Salsa — the dance, not the tomato-based condiment — then get your dancing shoes out for this weekend, as the Upstate NY Fall Latin Dance Weekend is coming to Rochester. Before the weekend goes into full swing figuratively and literally, head to Lovin’ Cup (300 Park Point Drive) Thursday, October 31, and…
Cases closed
Committees of the Monroe County Legislature have agreed to accept a $50,000 grant to help staff in county Child Protective Services wrap-up outstanding cases. The legislation goes to the full Legislature for a vote on Tuesday, November 12. The meeting begins at 6 p.m. | CPS staffing levels and caseloads have been major concerns of…
LIT | Jewish Book Fest
The JCC Lane Dworkin Rochester Jewish Book Festival turns 21 this year and the event is lining up to be quite the party. Yes, it’s a book party, but who says books can’t be fun? With programming relating to books on humor, history, friendship, romance, family, music, sports, and spirituality, there’s a genre for everyone…
Urban Action 10/30
This week’s calls to action include the following events and activities. (All are free and open to the public, unless otherwise noted.) Conversations on race Friends and Foundation of the Rochester Public Library will present “Conversations on Race,” a series of discussions on race-related issues. The events will be held at 5 p.m. on Tuesday,…
COMEDY | Fall Back Comedy Fest
If this weekend you feel like you’re hearing the constant sound of distant laughter, don’t worry — you’re not imagining it. It would be the Fall Back Comedy Fest, continuing Friday, November 1, and Saturday, November 2, at The Space Theater and Gallery (1199 E. Main St.). If you missed the Rochester Showcase last weekend,…
DINING REVIEW: TRATA
An early 20th century brick fortress, the Culver Road Armory is now a mixed-use space, boasting modern flourishes of blonde wood, burnished chrome, and glowing light accents. On a Friday or Saturday night, the parking lot is packed. The main draw is TRATA, a.k.a. The Restaurant At The Armory. The space alone is worthy of…
KIDS | “Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing”
Theatre Young Kids Enjoy — better known as TYKEs — kicks off its 10th season this weekend with a very special show. “Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing” is based on the well-known book by Judy Blume. The show will feature professional adult actors bringing to life the first chapter in the “Fudge” line of…
RECREATION | The RunDead 5K
Many fit folks add a little motivation to their workout, whether it’s a treat at the end of the session, or a day off between stretches of workouts. This weekend, you can get a little post-apocalyptic training that’s sure to make you move quicker. On Saturday, November 2, Genesee Valley Park (1000 E. River Road)…
Best of Rochester 2013: Food & Drink
Best Pizza Mark’s Pizzeria. Many area locations. markspizzeria.com (Runners up: Pontillos | Salvatores | Pizza Stop) Best Gourmet Burger Gate House. 274 N. Goodman St., 473-2090, thegatehousecafe.com. (Runners up: Brick ‘n’ Motor | Frog Pond | Good Luck | Tap & Table) Best Barbecue Dinosaur Bar-B-Que. 99 Court St., 325-7090, dinosaurbarbque.com (Runners up: Beale Street…
THEATER | “War Horse”
Most of us have experienced two kinds of puppetry in our lives. In the first, the operators remain out of view of the audience, as demonstrated in basic puppet shows and by “Sesame Street.” Second, the operators are on stage, but try to direct all the attention to the brightly colored and gesturing puppets by…
Best of Rochester 2013: Goods & Services
New Retail Store Little Bleu Cheese Shop. 684 South Ave., 730-8296, littlebleucheese.com. (Runners up: Bartertown Collectibles | Dichotomy Rochester | Hot Rod Bettie’s) Best Jewelry Store Mann’s. 2945 Monroe Ave., 271-4000, mannsjewelers.com. (Runners up: Blueground | Cornell’s | The Source) Best Local Car Dealership Dorschel. Many area locations. dorschel.com. (Runners up: Hoselton | Van Bortel…
“The Counselor”
Ridley Scott’s pictures display the talents of one of the most visually creative directors in Hollywood. Movies like “Alien” and “Blade Runner” demonstrate his penchant for using established genres to reinterpret traditional material and move the forms in new and fascinating directions. His latest film, “The Counselor,” with a script by Cormac McCarthy, suggests once…
Best of Rochester 2013: Local Color
Best Local Politician Louise Slaughter. @louiseslaughter (Runners up: Lisa Jacques | Tom Richards | Joe Robach) Best Local Philanthropist George Eastman (Runners up: Tom Golisano | Matt MD Piccone | Danny Wegman) Best Local Activist Group PAWS. Pawsofrochester.org. (Runners up: Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley | Metro Justice | Pitty Love Rochester) Best Local…
“Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa”
After a three-season-long TV series on MTV and three feature films, it’s a safe bet that by now you probably know whether or not you fall within the target demographic for a “Jackass” movie. The franchise’s latest, “Bad Grandpa,” finds the crew experimenting with the addition of an actual narrative to the formula of stupid…
Best of Rochester 2013: Arts & Entertainment
Best Local Band Something Else (Runners up: Bogs Visionary Orchestra | Cherry Bomb | Sirens & Sailors) Best Solo Musician Mikaela Davis (Runners up: Johnny Bauer | Hieronymus Bogs | Ted Nicolosi) Best Classical Musician/Group Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra (Runners up: Angelicus String Quartet | Sound ExChange Orchestra | Ying Quartet) Best Local Album of 2013…
“After Tiller”
In 2009, Dr. George Tiller was murdered, gunned down while in church by an anti-abortion extremist angered by the fact that Tiller performed late-term abortions at his clinic. Four years later, Martha Shane and Lana Wilson’s empathetic and deeply humane documentary, “After Tiller,” examines the impact that his death has had on the debate over…
Best of Rochester 2013: Nightlife
Best New Bar TRATA. 145 Culver Rd., 270-5460, tratarochester.com. (Runners up: Daily Refresher | The Revelry | Veritas Wine Bar | Wall Street) Best Bar for Beer Tap & Mallet. 381 Gregory St., 473-0503, tapandmallet.com. (Runners up: MacGregor’s | Old Toad | Victoire) Best Bar for Wine Flight Wine Bar. 262 Exchange Blvd,. 360-4180, winebarflight.com.…
Bluegrass | Hackensaw Boys
Charlottesville upstarts The Hackensaw Boys represent everything about bluegrass and mountain music that revs up the genres’ fans and scares off the philistines. This ragamuffin sextet doesn’t so much play as it careens like an old-tyme dervish on a crash course to hell. This is what it sounds like when you’ve got yourself a true…
“The 39 Steps”
When you walk into the house for Geva’s current production of “The 39 Steps,” the first thing you see is a good, old-fashioned proscenium framing a good, old-fashioned red curtain. That’s a pretty retro visual for a modern theater production, but it turns out to be a perfect visual introduction for this one. If you…
Best of Rochester 2013: CITY Critic Picks
Best Way to Fool Others Into Thinking You Cooked From Scratch Newbury Park Pastries’ Chicken Pot Pie Newbury Park Pastries hand-made chicken pot pies, sold at the Brighton and Canandaigua farmers markets, and the year-round outpost in Rochester, are as close to the Platonic ideal of a chicken pot pie as anyone has gotten. Purchase…
Hardcore | Emery
Emery vocalist Devin Shelton has gone in a more R&B direction with his side band, Devinitely, but will take a step back to his roots for this show to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Emery’s 2004 release “The Weak’s End.” This post-hardcore band got its kick start in 2001 in Rock Hill, South Carolina before…
“The History of Space Photography””Astro-Visions”
“Yearning” is a good word, to sum it up. Since we gained consciousness, humans have gazed with wonder out into the fathomless depths of the sky, in search of some unknowable creator, to begin to understand the complex laws that govern this existence — and ultimately to better understand ourselves and our place in this…
Best of Rochester 2013: Best Answers
Spelling bee “La Petite Pouting”; “La Petite Pouring”; “Pouting Truck”; “Me Petite Poutine”; “Poutite Poutine”; “Poutine: Have fun sorting through all of the spellings of that” (Best Food Truck) Definitive proof “Java’s. Anyone who says otherwise has never experienced the state of elation one can get out of drinking a latte while listening to an…
Classical | RPO: Disney’s “Fantasia”
Is “Fantasia” sheer genius or total kitsch? Critics will always be deliberating on that one, but it is true that since its premiere in 1940, Walt Disney’s animated feature, meant to introduce mass audiences to that scary thing called Classical Music, has become a classic itself. Some among us will never hear Dukas’ “The Sorcerer’s…
How much do we really care about democracy?
Do you suppose Rochester voters will do their civic duty and show up at the polls on November 5? Participation in city elections has been low for years, but I was astonished at the dismal turnout in the September primary. The people who have fessed up about not voting say they figured Tom Richards would…
