Cover Story
Winter Guide 2014
Hot chocolate round-up, can’t-miss events, showshoeing, and more!
Review clears Andrew Brown for appointment as city’s top attorney
Rochester City Council is expected to move ahead with the appointment of T. Andrew Brown as the city’s corporation counsel tonight after an analysis (see below) by a local law firm confirmed that the appointment would not raise ethical questions or violate the City Charter. The council meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. in council chambers…
Film Review: “Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit”
After a 12-year absence, Jack Ryan, Tom Clancy’s popular CIA analyst hero, returns to the big screen in Kenneth Branagh’s “Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit.” Paramount Pictures’ latest attempt to reboot the series of films that began back in 1990 with John McTiernan’s “The Hunt For the Red October,” this new film recasts Ryan a young…
Film Review: “Bettie Page Reveals All”
Director Mark Mori pays earnest tribute to an icon in the new documentary, “Bettie Page Reveals All,” screening this weekend at the Dryden Theatre. Page was a hugely popular pin-up model in the late 40’s and early 50’s; what made her unique (besides her considerable beauty) was the way she made her sexuality seem utterly…
ASAR says ‘no confidence’ in Vargas
For the first time since it was established in 1980, the Association of Supervisors and Administrators of Rochester has voted “no confidence” in a city schools superintendent. At a press conference this afternoon, Deborah Rider, ASAR’s president, said that 87 percent of its members supported the no-confidence vote against Superintendent Bolgen Vargas. Rider cited a…
URBAN JOURNAL: Still seeking solutions to city school problems
The Rochester school district will be getting a lot of new attention in the early part of this year. Mayor Lovely Warren made education a key issue in her campaign, and I assume it won’t be long before she starts acting on the initiatives she laid out. The University of Rochester is hosting a Presidential…
Theater Review: “Boeing Boeing” at Blackfriars Theatre
“Boeing Boeing” is a meretricious, cliché-ridden contraption without a shred of literary quality — and it is absolutely irresistible, at least in Blackfriars’ slam-bang production. I have seldom heard an audience enjoy itself so much as I did at this opening night, and I happily admit I also enjoyed every door slam, unlikely coincidence, double…
Concert Review: Steve Pavia, Mad Cow Tippers at Monty’s Krown
If the profane brilliance I’ve read in his Facebook posts is any indication, Steve Pavia is this town’s Charles Bukowski: a tragic, self-effacing figure; a no-club lone wolf; a lonesome stranger with a lonesome guitar. Pavia was a stalwart fixture on the scene back in the day, as they say. Many years ago (I’m figuring…
Week Ahead: State of the Union, Biden visit, county charter review
President Barack Obama will deliver his annual State of the Union address at 9 p.m. on Tuesday. National media speculate that the address will focus on the economy, income inequality and the federal minimum wage, and immigration reform. It seems likely that he’d also address the ongoing successes and problems with the Affordable Care Act.…
“Looking” Episode 2: Cautionary tales of the city
The second episode of “Looking” addressed one of the main complaints I heard about the premiere — it was much faster paced. So that’s good, although it’s still a fairly quiet show. I don’t see that changing any time soon, nor do I think it needs to — I like the more thoughtful look at…
Film Review: “I, Frankenstein”
Although not nearly so prolific in its progeny as another 19th-century novel, “Dracula,” Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” has generated numerous adaptations to the screen, beginning with the classic 1931 version, starring Boris Karloff as the monster. Since that time, both audiences and filmmakers have confused the creature and his creator, so that the title often incorrectly…
Theater Review: “The Lion in Winter” by Out of Pocket Productions
“I could listen to you lie for hours,” says Henry II to his wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine, during one of their frequent tussles in “The Lion in Winter.” In this play the characters do little else but lie to each other, but they do it with style. This James Goldman play was first produced on…
Reggie Hill, Warren’s uncle, resigns from city employment
Reggie Hill, uncle to Mayor Lovely Warren, has resigned as the city’s director of executive services. Warren’s appointment of Hill set off accusations of nepotism and was due to be reviewed by the city’s ethics board. The status of that review now is unclear. The resignation is effective immediately. “I want to be very clear…
Dean becomes third person to enter House race
Tim Dean figures he can win the 25th Congressional District seat by connecting with common voters who are sick of their representatives voting along party lines. Dean announced his candidacy today, a day after Republican Gates Supervisor Mark Assini kicked off his campaign and sitting House Representative Louise Slaughter, a Democrat, indirectly confirmed she’s seeking…
“American Idol” 2014: You should meet her dagent (Atlanta auditions)
Thursday night’s Atlanta auditions continued the Season 13 trend of being pleasant, uplifting, and largely enjoyable. So that’s nice. But I started to see the downside to this Up With People panel: there were people getting through who I, frankly, thought had no business getting golden tickets. Granted, Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban, and Harry Connick…
Hodan Aden receives school board’s “I Believe” award
Sometimes it takes seeing the world through someone else’s eyes to shake you out of your bubble. Hodan Aden, a young lady from Somalia, was that someone for me last night. Aden was recognized by the Rochester school board for her amazing achievements while overcoming obstacles that most of us could hardly imagine. When Aden…
Assini announces Congressional bid
Gates Supervisor Mark Assini, a Republican, officially announced his candidacy for the 25th Congressional District last night. And in a somewhat subtle way, Democrat Louise Slaughter confirmed she’ll be running for re-election. Just before the start of Assini’s 5:30 p.m. announcement at the Italian American Community Center in Gates, Slaughter’s campaign office sent out this…
Comptroller DiNapoli’s audits nab two Rochester charters
New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli released the results of audits of eight charter schools today, including two schools in Rochester: Eugenio Maria de Hostos Charter School and True North Rochester Preparatory School. The audits for both schools are critical of some practices and recommends changes. At Eugenio Maria de Hostos, the audit was critical of…
Report says Northeastern states could see more tar sands-derived gasoline
As more crude from Canadian tar sands heads to Gulf of Mexico refineries, Northeastern and mid-Atlantic states could see more gasoline derived from the oil. That’s the thrust of a new report from the Natural Resources Defense Council. The report says that in 2012, less than 1 percent of the gasoline sold in Northeastern and…
ALBUM REVIEW: “Geneseo”
Geneseo “Geneseo” TEMPERAMENTAL RECORDINGS http://temperamentalrecordings.com/ Just leave it to road-weary, hardcore troubadour Mike Brown to come up with a way to give old-time music a space-age aesthetic. Known collectively as Geneseo, Brown and partner Zac De Camp have crafted an epic piece of haunting beauty that sounds something like Calexico or a folky Mazzy Star.…
WINTER GUIDE: Sweet disposition
Winter brings with it a mixed bag of emotions. Annoyance is one, like when you have to read all the snow-related complaints on Facebook and Twitter. Seriously people, we live in Rochester. You should be used to this by now. But winter also inspires joy, such as the joy we experience when indulging in a…
ALBUM REVIEW: “Buddhahood”
Buddhahood “Buddhahood” WORLDTERNATIVE RECORDS reverbnation.com/buddhahood Buddhahood’s new pleasure platter may be an EP, but it packs a steady groove and wallop over the span of its five corpulent tracks. The album opens with the reserved groove of the Tony Cavagnaro-penned “Perfect Light” before funking it up with the somewhat nasty instrumental “(Going To See) Dr.B.”…
WINTER GUIDE: Good cold fun
During the bleak Rochester winter, it can be tempting to go into hibernation mode — grab the warmest down comforter you own, pop open a box of bon-bons, and curl up for a Netflix marathon. However, staying active during the winter is important, not only for your physical health, but your mental health as well.…
CLASSICAL | Madrigalia
With a concert title like “For Better, for Worse,” you know you are in for music about everything from romance to comedy. From the press release, quoting Madrigalia guest conductor Cary Ratcliff: “We have songs about arranged marriages, child brides, dowries, love itself, village wedding celebrations, a love triangle, infidelity, gay marriage, and widowhood. This…
CLASSICAL | Society for Chamber Music
The Society for Chamber Music chose well for its first concert of the new year. Eastman School of Music professor of guitar, frequent recitalist and recording artist, and all-around mensch Nicholas Goluses is the soloist for an intriguing program that includes one of Paganini’s tuneful trios for guitar and strings, as well as works from…
ALTERNATIVE | Fat Africa
Rochester’s own Fat Africa delivers lo-fi tunes with a wide variety of settings and sounds. The artist recently released a set of EPs entitled “Past Classics,” a sort of best-hits release. Each album presents Fat Africa’s listeners with a distinct mood and genre. One of those two EPs contains accessible, lo-fi pop music (entitled “Head”);…
WINTER GUIDE: 14 for 2014
Yes, Rochester winters can often seem endless, but City is here to help you make it through these dark times with a selection of 14 can’t-miss events from the first quarter of 2014. Did we miss something especially exciting on your personal calendar? Add it to the comments section of this article at rochestercitynewspaper.com. ART…
ROCK | J. Roddy Walston
Back in June of last year, me and a pile of music fans piled into CMAC to be illuminated by The Lumineers. I was there to see Richmond, Virginia’s J. Roddy Walston and the Business. With a hint of N’awlins swagger and sweet heat, Walston and his ragged denim crew gave the crowd the business,…
WINTER GUIDE: Don’t break the banks
The whole “walking on water” idea is cool, but when the temperatures plummet in Western New York, walking on snow and ice will have to suffice. And it does for the thousands of snowshoers in our region area each year. Local groups say that the number of snowshoers is on the rise, thanks to the…
AMERICANA | Driftwood
If one thing can be taken from Binghamton-based string band Driftwood, it’s that it is OK to be just a string band — a goddamned good one at that. So many bands that sail Americana waters seem afraid to let go and let it be. They apparently feel obligated to rope in some of that…
WINTER GUIDE: The cozy catalogue
It’s fairly common to suggest some escapist epics or saucy stories to take to the water’s edge during the warmer months. But when are we more in need of mental transportation than mid-winter? City thought it would be fun to flip the “beach reads” concept, and consider what stories are more suited to snowdrifts than…
ELECTRONIC | Lotus
This genre-defying five-piece formed at Goshen College in Indiana in 1999, and since that time has done everything in its power to prove the uselessness of musical categorization. A peerless approach to instrumental rock has earned Lotus a reputation as one of the country’s most intriguing live acts. Its style layers elements of jazz and…
ART | “Good Work: The Illustration Art Invitational”
Illustrators vary greatly in how they solve the problem of storytelling, each striving to create attention-grabbing and memorable imagery. This week, an exhibition opens at Mercer Gallery (Monroe Community College, 1000 E. Henrietta Road) to spotlight the work of 57 internationally known illustrators. Each artist was invited to present his or her personal favorite illustration…
DINING REVIEW: The Old Toad
I’m not generally a fan of bars, but I am a fan of The Old Toad. Why is that? There is beer on the menu, but you won’t find Budweiser. You can get a meal, and it actually tastes good. There are singles looking to hook up, but there are also couples in their 60s,…
KIDS | “Disney on Ice: Passport to Adventure”
Walt Disney’s main mice have been transporting audiences for more than 80 years. This week, Mickey and Minnie — joined by Goofy, Donald, and Daisy — will visit Blue Cross Arena (2 War Memorial Square) to share their journeys through the pride lands of “The Lion King” with Simba, Timon, and Pumba; join Ariel, “The…
Feedback 1/22
Send comments 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, and we edit selections for publication in print. Do police target young black males? My 15-year-old son attends an all-young-men charter school within the city.…
KIDS | “Peter Pan”
Because of its timeless themes of resisting the reins of this world, the freedom of flight, and meetings with mermaids, Indians, fairies, and pirates, “Peter Pan” has enthralled children (and wistful adults, the original target audience for J. M. Barrie’s book) for more than 100 years. The story first took play form in 1904, and…
Land preservation
The towns of Chili and Wheatland have been working on a joint farmland protection plan for almost a year. Both towns are known for having productive soil and worked together to develop an inventory of their agricultural lands. The towns will hold a public meeting at 7 p.m. on Monday, January 27, to discuss the…
SPECIAL EVENT | Human Library
Most of us come into shallow contact with dozens of other humans each day, each one holding an entire secret universe of experiences and stories. On Saturday, January 25, Central Library (115 South Ave.) will host a Human Library, at which visitors may engage with several people from varied backgrounds who will share unique stories…
Warren explains security
Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren says the first few threatening calls she received came on her cell phone. “I got a couple of blocked calls,” she says. “‘You don’t deserve to be mayor.’ ‘How long do you think you’ll be around?’ That type of stuff.” She tried to disregard them, she says. And then a local…
LECTURE | David Cay Johnston
Though our response to our shady socio-political-economic system hasn’t been as swift, organized, and efficient as Iceland’s response to its own (corporation-owned news media did a good job of keeping us blind and deaf to this story if it unfolded, so if you don’t know, research it, and get ideas), we do have some strong…
Young offenders, adult prisons
The Raise the Age movement seeks to get youth ages 16 and 17 out of the adult criminal justice system.
THEATER | “Black Pearl Sings!”
Set in 1935, “Black Pearl Sings!” tells the story of an ambitious song collector for the Library of Congress whose hunt for the fleeting intangibles brings her into a Texas prison, where she meets African American and caged songbird, Pearl. The production, which features more than 20 a cappella renditions of American folk and spiritual…
Urban Action 1/22
This week’s calls to action include the following events and activities. (All are free and open to the public, unless otherwise noted.) Film on Rochester’s riots The FR=EE Initiative will show the documentary film “July ’64” by Carvin Eison at 7 p.m. on Saturday, January 25. The film tells the true story of three days…
CLASSICAL FEATURE: “Comala”
For many teenagers in Mexico, the book “Pedro Páramo” by Juan Rulfo is required reading. But for Ricardo Zohn-Muldoon, the story became more than homework; it became an obsession. Over the years, he read and re-read it, until it became a part of his consciousness. Zohn-Muldoon has poured decades into his dream of creating an…
Warren’s shaky start shows she needs help
Let me say one thing quickly: It’s obvious to me that Mayor Lovely Warren needs a security guard. As our Chris Fien is reporting this week, both Warren and her husband have received threats of physical violence. There have been threats to their 3-year-old daughter. These don’t sound like pranks. They sound like intimidation by…
Garland Jeffreys
Garland Jeffreys is a rock ‘n’ roll poet with a gentle soul. He’s a reactionary, a musical voice for the voiceless with a swaggering street narrative running through it all. He has had nominal hits with songs like 1973’s “Wild in the Streets” and has rubbed elbows with contemporaries like Lou Reed, David Johansen, Dr.…
