Cover Story
A cultural gem in a high-tech hub
Mention Rochester Institute of Technology and images of semi-conductors and integrated circuit boards probably come to mind. The university has deservedly earned a reputation for its technology muscle. Even the campus’ sleek brick exterior evokes the futurism of a modern laboratory, which in some ways makes RIT the least likely place to find a school…
NEWS BLOG: Getting the wrong message from school ‘report cards’
It was good to see Michael Winerip’s column in yesterday’s New York Times, on media compilations of “best” schools. Several national magazines do these lists. So do lots of local newspapers. As Winerip notes, the lists are popular – and they are powerful. “Nobody in his right mind would take these lists lightly,” he writes.…
E3 2012 BLOG, Day 1: Sony Conference
Following what I considered a lackluster showing from Microsoft, Sony at least came to E3 a little more prepared. The company may not have shown off as much or as many different non-gaming ideas as Microsoft did, but what was shown was certainly more impressive. Taking a bold risk that paid off, Sony opened the…
NEWS BLOG: Comptroller’s Office again criticizes county’s use of LDC’s
A report from the state Comptroller’s Office says Monroe County didn’t break any laws when it sold a power plant to a quasi-governmental local development corporation. The county did, however, skirt borrowing laws via the sale, it says. In 2002, Monroe Newpower Local Development Corporation bought the former Iola Campus power plant from the county…
CONCERT REVIEW: RPO “Pictures at an Exhibition”
The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra brought down the house Thursday night for its final program of the season. The strategy of ending with “Pictures at an Exhibition” was brilliant. How can you fail to excite the audience when the final moments of “The Great Gate of Kiev” involve huge, loud sounds, including chimes and drums and…
Bush and Obama and a portrait of class
When I think about five more months of the partisan attacks both presidential candidates will launch and the millions they’ll spend doing it, it’s harder to respect our political system. But there was an unusual moment yesterday that gave me some assurance. President Obama hosted George W. Bush and his family at the White House…
![[UPDATED] Jose Cruz kicks off Assembly campaign](https://i0.wp.com/www.roccitymag.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/cruzjose_thumb.webp?fit=180%2C180&ssl=1)
[UPDATED] Jose Cruz kicks off Assembly campaign
UPDATE (JUNE 4): José Cruz says that for too long the 137th Assembly District has lacked effective representation, and that’s why he’s waging a primary challenge against incumbent Assembly member David Gantt. Cruz kicked-off his campaign at the Public Market on Saturday. “We’ve been waiting 30 years,” Cruz says. “We’ve been at the back of…
Romney joins Trump’s reality show
Nearly everyone predicted that the silly season that engulfed the Republican primary would end once it was clear that Mitt Romney would be the GOP nominee for president. But Romney’s duet with real estate celebrity Donald Trump tells us otherwise. Trump has returned with another episode of birther babble. He has been saying on television…
The high cost of national elections
The 2008 presidential election was the most expensive in US history. The candidates spent approximately $1.4 billion on their campaigns, with outside groups dumping in another $215 million, says data from the Center for Responsive Politics (opensecrets.org). This year’s contest will probably break that record. And the cash is going to flow for Congressional races,…
NEWS BLOG: Do we need a new train station?
I’m having trouble getting excited about the intermodal station. The idea is to tear down the train station on Central Avenue, which was supposed to be temporary when it was built in 1978, and replace it with a new station that would also house intercity buses like Greyhound and Trailways. The proposed design looks nice:…
EDUCATION: Most laid off teachers will be hired back
More than 50 Rochester school district teachers are receiving layoff notices beginning today. About 25 teach special education, and 14 are math teachers, says Rochester Teachers Association President Adam Urbanski. Only weeks ago, Superintendent Bolgen Vargas said he planned to increase the teaching staff in the fall. Urbanski says the layoffs are due to lower…
Appeals Court strikes down Defense of Marriage Act
In a major victory for gay rights and same-sex activists, the 1st US Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston has ruled that the Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional. DOMA defines marriage as an act between a man and a woman. “In a unanimous ruling a three-judge panel agreed with a decision by a lower…
MUSIC BLOG: Dave McGrath, Anonymous Willpower, Amanda Ashley, and Into the Now
Thursday night was the grand opening of the Dinosaur’s upstairs lounge and party room. Well wishers and coattail riders piled into this plush layout while Dave McGrath played the blues and damn near everything else from his perch in the corner. His originals — like my personal favorite, “Mississippi Mud” — held up amongst the…
Lady Antebellum
Lady Antebellum is a pop-country sensation. Its first album was certified platinum, and since then the band has produced a string of No. 1 hits, including “Need You Now” and “Just a Kiss.” Detractors of the group bemoan its pop-friendly sound, saying that it’s not twangy or “authentic” enough to be “true” country. I say,…
Dog days
Lawrence Kasdan didn’t invent the ensemble drama, but he might as well have. His second film as a writer-director, 1983’s “The Big Chill,” has pretty much become the shorthand way to describe flicks with large casts confined to one location, complicated adult angst, and a Motown hit (or three) to which people may sing into…
Jonathan Coulton
What I wouldn’t give to trade up for Jonathan Coulton’s brain. Born in Connecticut and raised on “Schoolhouse Rock,” the Ivy League graduate is a prolific singer-songwriter, author, and Internet sensation that is best known for his song “Code Monkey,” which has racked up millions of YouTube hits. Like his friend MC Lars, Coulton has…
A songman’s journey
Joe Brucato settles into a comfortable sofa in his spacious living room and picks up a guitar. He strums the opening chords to “Save America.” It’s one of a new batch of songs the singer-songwriter is passionate about; this one sounds like a working-class anthem for people frustrated by politics and the economy. The Irondequoit…
The Golden Sequence
The a cappella group Musica Spei is billing “The Golden Sequence” as “one text, nine centuries, 11 composers, one world premiere.” The program traces composers’ interpretations of the religious text of “Veni Sancte Spiritus” (also called “the Golden Sequence”) from an original 13th century version through to the present, using settings from various composers from…
Kill your pain
Thursday night was the grand opening of the Dinosaur’s upstairs lounge and party room. Well wishers and coattail riders piled into this plush layout while Dave McGrath played the blues and damn near everything else from his perch in the corner. His originals — like my personal favorite, “Mississippi Mud” — held up amongst the…
Mark Arnold
Since graduating from Ithaca College with a master’s degree in classical guitar performance, Mark Arnold has taught guitar and directed ensembles at Finger Lakes Community College. But he has also continues to explore the outer regions of the guitar repertoire. His gorgeous new album, “Bells of Dawn,” encompassing traditional Appalachian folk songs and music from…
Exhibit tells of Nazi persecution of gay men
Germany’s Nazi regime arrested 100,000 men for homosexuality between 1933 and 1945. Half were sentenced to jail, and an estimated 5,000 to 15,000 were sent to concentration camps; the pink triangle was their designated camp badge. Many of the men sent to the camps died from starvation, beatings, disease, or some combination. Others were murdered.…
Dave & Marissa
Named for their two main vocalists, local outfit Dave & Marissa is actually a five-piece band, not simply a duo as their name suggests. With the Dave half of the moniker home from college for the summer, the band is hitting the stage again. They released a four song EP back in January entitled “Move…
19th Ward looks for schools solutions
Residents in Rochester’s 19th Ward are facing a dilemma: parents with school-age children like the neighborhood, but they are so troubled by the district’s schools, many move away. It’s a not-uncommon scenario in the city, and the 19th Ward Community Association wants to change that. “We’re thinking about forming an education committee,” says DeWain Feller,…
Art Openings
Welcome to an artful summer, Rochester. Since the weather has been so lovely, and perfect for a road trip, why not journey out to Canandaigua and take in some of the Finger Lakes art scene? On Thursday, May 31, Wood Library (28 S. Main St., Canandaigua) will host a 6-8 p.m. reception for “The Finger…
Barely getting by
Say you’re working 40 hours a week for minimum wage, which in New York is $7.25 an hour. Before taxes, your Social Security contribution, and other deductions, you’re making about $290 a week. That’s $15,080 a year. Now, consider this: the federal poverty level for a single person is $11,070. For one adult with one…
African American Genealogy Conference
I’m a mutt. My family bloodlines are from all over Europe, and though it’s a tricky, tangled task, one thing I have taken for granted is that if I wanted to, I could find out a lot more about my family tree. Now, it may be difficult for many of us to understand the importance…
Big push at Northeast Prep
Beginning in September, students at Northeast College Preparatory High School will have an extended school day, week, and year thanks to an unusual collaboration between leaders in the political, business, teaching, parent, and faith communities. | Students will attend school from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 1…
“Calamari Sisters’ Big Fat Italian Wedding”
The Calamari Sisters have been thrilling Rochester audiences for the past several years with shows at Downstairs Cabaret Theatre. This summer Rochesterians can watch Carmela and Delphine cook their way through a night of hilarity with their third show, “Calamari Sisters’ Big Italian Wedding,” which is currently playing in the sisters’ new home at the…
Borinquen Dance: Faces of El Caribe
Giving back has never been easier, as enjoying this visually exquisite performance will ultimately benefit local youth. Borinquen Dance Theatre will host its 31st anniversary celebration, “Faces of El Caribe: Caribbean Fusion,” on Saturday, June 2, at the Rochester Museum & Science Center (657 East Ave.). Nydia Padilla-Rodriguez’s Borinquen Dance Theatre was founded in 1981…
Shavian shenanigans
More than a century of theater history buttresses the Shaw Festival’s choices for 2012, an 11-play season that takes playgoers from the United States to Norway to Tahiti without ever leaving the Festival’s three theaters set amidst the flowers, restaurants, and tourist traps of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. The Shaw is setting out to do what it…
Neighborhood Festivals
Throughout the summer, there will be a number of festivals held to celebrate our local communities. The East End Music Festival will begin Friday, June 1, and will be held again Friday, July 13, and Friday, August 10. The festival encompasses music, food, and vendors in the East End neighborhood. The June 1 festival will…
Urban Action 5/30
This week’s calls to action include the following events and activities. (All are free and open to the public, unless otherwise noted.) The Interfaith Alliance of Rochester will hold its annual celebration at 3 p.m. on Sunday, June 10. The Rev. Dr. Marvin McMickle is the guest speaker and his talk, “Overcoming the Great Divide:…
Greek Festival
From Thursday, May 31, through Sunday, June 3, the Greek Festival will transform the lawn of the Greek Orthodox Church on East Avenue into an outpost of the Mediterranean. One of the main attractions of this annual festival is the food. Look for your favorite Greek dishes, including gyro sandwiches, homemade spanakopita, pastichio, moussaka, stuffed…
News from Week Past 5/30
The City of Rochester projects a significant increase next year in revenue from red light camera fines. The city’s proposed budget indicates red light tickets will generate $3.5 million, nearly doubling this year’s $1.8 million. The city has issued more than 50,000 tickets since installing the cameras in 2010. During their annual convention, Monroe County…
The Capitol Steps
Fans of political humor will want to take in a night of skits and song parodies with The Capitol Steps. The Jewish Family Service of Rochester will be hosting the troupe for the annual JFS gala on Sunday, June 3, at Temple B’rith Kodesh (2131 Elmwood Ave.). The Capitol Steps troupe has been performing political…
[UPDATED] Agreement near on funding school modernization
UPDATE (Thursday, May 31): The bill passed the Assembly yesterday and now goes to the governor for his signature. BY TIM LOUIS MACALUSO and CHRISTINE CARRIE FIEN Mayor Tom Richards, city schools Superintendent Bolgen Vargas, and Rochester Teachers Association President Adam Urbanski are close to resolving the funding issue that nearly stalled the district’s schools…
On rights and rites in the same-sex marriage debate
“The United States is not a theocracy under which religious law takes precedence over laws passed by democratically elected legislative bodies.” Since President Obama expressed his support of same-gender marriage, there has been an intense reaction among many in our nation. This debate must run its course in our society, as all major advances in…
Unveiled developments
It’s common knowledge that the George Eastman House of International Photography and Film has a phenomenal and growing collection. In particular, I swoon for the large GEH collection of work by my art crush, Edward Steichen. You may also know that Eastman House is home to the L. Jeffrey Selznick School of Film Preservation, and…
Meat heaven
Everything is bigger in Texas — even the take-out boxes. At lunchtime recently I dropped in at Texas Blues BBQ on Monroe Avenue for a quick bite to eat. I had my eye on a burger, but the ribs got my attention, too. Thinking that a quarter rack would be a nice and not overwhelmingly…
Smile Empty Soul
Smile Empty Soul stormed to the forefront of the music business almost a decade ago with its 2003, self-titled debut album. High-school friends from Santa Clarita formed this post-grunge trio just five years earlier and the band has sold close to 1 million records and played hundreds of concerts since its inception. The band has…
Feedback 5/30
Fracking’s risks In response to Scott Cline’s comment, “Fracking Claim Is Science Fiction” (Feedback, May 16): There are a number of PhD’s on both sides of the fracking issue. Tony Ingraffia at Cornell University says there is no way of knowing what all that fracking fluid is going to do down there over time. But…
Steve Winwood
From his soul-stained adolescence in The Spencer Davis Group, to the heavy dealing of the short-lived Blind Faith with Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker (2/3 Cream), to settling with the jazzy world-beat explorations that make up his sound today, Steve Winwood in a rock ‘n’ roll mainstay. He has managed to stay on the scene…
A crisis in the Vatican
To make a comic film or perhaps any kind of film about the papacy surely requires a good deal of delicacy, along with at least a modicum of courage. The few recent pictures that touch on the subject feature an interpretation of the venerable institution as a sinister organization with connections to other even more…
Video Game Review: Mario Tennis Open
I’ve never really gotten along with tennis. Ask my high school gym teacher: He made an effort to catch the comedy hour that was my group’s attempt to keep the ball in play and get a volley going. Perhaps that’s why I have fond memories of playing “Mario Tennis.” It counted as playing a sport,…
