Before electricity was invented, farmers in peak harvest season worked beyond sunset with help from the light of the full moon. The eponymous “harvest moon” arrives closest to the autumn equinox each year, sitting low in the sky. For many Asian cultures, this moon extends beyond agricultural significance and represents a time for community. On […]
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Posted inCulture
Best of Rochester 2026 write-in nominations are open through Sept. 25
Best Of Rochester 2026 has entered the chat. Our annual readers’ poll is a chance to shout out your favorite people, places and things to do. A chance to give recommendations to other CITY readers. A chance to promote your business. And as always, the four finalists in each category are dictated by your write-ins! That’s where […]
Posted inCulture
George Eastman Museum staffers move to unionize
Once home to the Eastman Kodak Co. founder, the local institution is the latest in a string of museums nationally to see an organizing push.
Posted inTheater
REVIEW | ‘A Chorus Line’
Imagine if a job interview turned into a therapy session: “OK, your resume looks great, now tell us your childhood traumas.” What would be a cruel hiring process makes excellent theater. Every character desperately wants the job, and they’re willing to sing, dance and get vulnerable. That’s the premise of “A Chorus Line,” playing now […]
Posted inRochester Fringe Festival
CITY’s 2026 Fringe picks
The 15th annual ESL Rochester Fringe Festival kicks off Tuesday, Sept. 15. One of the largest Fringes in the country happens right here for 12 days each year. But with more than 700 shows, it can be tough for attendees to choose what to experience. Pro tip: there’s a handy show finder right on the […]
Posted inMusic
Abilene Bar & Lounge to close in November
Abilene Bar & Lounge, the downtown Americana club known for its cozy vibes and robust live-music programming, is set to close in mid-November, owner Danny Deutsch announced today. In a Facebook post, Deutsch thanked the “pretty vibrant and caring community of music fans and friends” the venue has built for 18 years of “wonderful music […]
Posted inMovie Reviews
REVIEW | ‘Practical Magic 2’
Grab your best slip skirt and fuzzy cardigan, because we are back, witches. “Practical Magic,” the 1998 film directed by Griffin Dunne starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman as Sally and Gillian Owens, sister witches burdened by a generational curse, was, like so many romantic comedies (then and now), a bit of a flop at […]
Posted inRochester Fringe Festival
Five drag nuns walk into a gay bar in standout Fringe premiere ‘Mass Drag’
The photo of James Lopata’s parents meeting Pope John Paul II hangs near his front door but somehow doesn’t command attention. Lopata’s paternal grandmother grew up with John Paul in Wadowice, Poland, so he had a family connection. When he mentions the pin his mother wore to greet the pontiff, the scene becomes downright revolutionary. […]
Posted inDance
The 2026-27 season goes back to the barre
From the classroom to the stage, Rochester’s fall dance lineup puts students, teachers and storytellers in the spotlight.
Posted inMusic
REVIEW | ‘Siren’ by Delaney West
It’s almost autumn, and Delaney West has created a collection perfect for cozy days. Fans of indie folk should save the date for September 18, when West releases her intimate debut album, “Siren.” These eight thoughtful tracks were recorded locally at Submarine Sound Studio with Ben Morey manning production. The record is simple and spellbinding, […]
Posted inMusic
REVIEW | ‘In Plain Sight: The Black Anthology’
Perhaps you are curious to experience the overlooked work of important Black American composers. There’s a chance that you are a fan of classical songs, or intrigued to hear the works of poets including Langston Hughes in musical form. If you’re someone with a bit of local Rochester pride, you might want to embrace achievements […]
Posted inMusic
REVIEW | ‘Greatest Almosts’ by Dufus
In case we needed a reminder of the singular songwriting voice of long-time Rochesterian Seth Faergolzia, his former freak folk band Dufus’s retrospective album “Greatest Almosts” provides the necessary jolt. Faergolzia’s gymnastic melodies and zany use of group vocals take the fore in this 16-song set culled from the band’s 20-year run. But it’s the […]
