Cover Story
Family and future
The house on Maltby Street was humming. A dozen children, cousins and siblings ages 4 to 14, filled the living room with the yelps of youth at play. The percussive sounds of food preparation — knife cutting into board, mortar mashing into pestle — consumed the kitchen where adults congregated and cooked. Christmas decorations covered…
The F Word: Clunkers and gems
Frank De Blase shares his thoughts on the performances at Rochester Music Hall of Fame’s Class of 2019 induction ceremony on Sunday, April 28.
Racism’s alive and well in Monroe County
Concerned about incidents of racism, parents ask for a public forum on race. A superintendent says ‘that would not be constructive.’
City Council appoints Harris to vacant seat
[UPDATED 05/01/2019] LaShay Harris, currently a county legislator, to its South District seat, will serve the remainder of former member Adam McFadden’s term, which runs through the end of the year. McFadden was removed from the seat after he pleaded guilty to fraud and money laundering charges. City Council unanimously approved Harris’s appointment to the seat…
RCSD gets Elia’s rewrite orders
Rochester’s school district leaders have six weeks to assure state education officials that they know how to correct major problems in the district – and that they’ll be able to follow.
Rochester school board names four RCSD superintendent finalists
The Rochester school board has identified four finalists for the permanent superintendent position. The board will hold public forums on Saturday, May 4, and Sunday May 5 to hear the candidates will describe their experience and answer questions.
Nazareth College Arts Center promises variety in 2019-20 season
No two events are the same in the forthcoming season at the Nazareth College Arts Center. The 2019-20 season boasts a variety of entertainers from many different artistic disciplines, and with a wide swathe of cultural perspectives.
Warren urges ‘outrage’ and action over school district
In her annual State of the City address last night, Mayor Lovely Warren ramped up her call for change in the Rochester City School District. And she urged the public to join her in pushing for reform.
ELECTRONIC | CharlestheFirst
Precocious electronic songwriter Charles Ingalls, a.k.a. CharlestheFirst, creates lavish psychedelic soundscapes. Inspired by the natural rhythms of the universe, he’s taken his ethereal hip-hop from his hometown in the Sierra Nevada Mountains to a national audience. CharlestheFirst lets the nature of music speak for itself, providing a meditative experience with only whispers of vocal samples…
ZYDECO | Hypnotic Clambake
Hypnotic Clambake provides sophisticated entertainment and humorous lyrics, shapeshifting through genres and harmonies with technical fluidity. The multi-genre collective from Rochester consists of frontman and accordion player Maury Rosenberg, bassist Chris Reynolds, drummer Mark Phillips, guitarist JoAnn Phillips, and horn player Tim Hull. The music is a fondue pot of Latin, polka, Americana, psychedelia, rock,…
JAZZ | Mike Kaupa Quartet
Trumpeter extraordinaire Mike Kaupa has been a leading performer on the Rochester jazz scene for over two decades. A first-call player, Kaupa has lent his gorgeous tone to Ray Charles, Joe Locke, Mel Tormé, Steve Gadd, Gary Bartz and many others. When he takes the stage at The Little Theatre Café, he’ll be joined by…
INDIE ROCK | Vacation Daze
Rochester quartet Vacation Daze brings a new, energetic blend of party pop, psychedelia, and soul to the stage. Consisting of bassist Jim DeWitt, vocalist-keyboardist Ian Egling, drummer Billy Martin, and guitarist Sage Xavier, the band is currently celebrating the release of its first full-length studio album, “Upswing!” Vacation Daze is like a mix of The…
SKA | The Pietasters
Founded in 1990,The Pietasters personify the ska movement of the 80’s, which raged in its hometown of Washington, D.C. It was old-time Two-Tone mixed with punk and it wasn’t a big deal. The band got together to play house parties, not to become professional musicians. The ska gods had different plans and The Pietasters started…
PUNK-POP | Marquee Grand
Buffalo-based trio Marquee Grand embodies an angsty, youthful spirit by mixing elements of rock, pop, punk, and blues. Formed in 2015, the band is made up of singer-songwriter John Richter, guitarist Josh Owczarzak, and drummer Matt Lawniczak. Marquee Grand delivered its self-titled, debut EP in 2016, and is currently celebrating the release of its newest…
LITERATURE | ‘Alongside We Travel’
“Alongside We Travel: Contemporary Poets on Autism” is a new anthology of work by more than two dozen poets whose lives are impacted by Autism Spectrum Disorder. The poems explore the emotions and experiences of people living with ASD. As National Autism Awareness Month comes to a close, Writers & Books will present a reading…
LECTURE | ‘Why STEM Needs the Arts & Humanities’
In recent years there’s been a massive refocusing of our education system on to STEM: science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Teaching the next wave of citizens who will advance our world through practical innovations is important, but so are philosophic questions about values and ethics. This month The MCC Institute for the Humanities tackles this…
Urban Action 4/24
This week’s calls to action include the following events and activities. (All are free and open to the public, unless otherwise noted.) Progress in clean energy The Greece Baptist Church will show the film “Happening: a Clean Energy Revolution” on Sunday, April 28. The film documents what the filmmaker calls the next world-changing revolution. In…
Feds could protect Ontario’s shipwrecks
Federal officials are considering an application to designate a swath of eastern Lake Ontario as a marine sanctuary, and they’re seeking public comments on the proposal. The 1,700-square-mile sanctuary would extend from Wayne County’s western border to the area of Cape Vincent in Jefferson County. Its primary purpose would be protecting “historically significant shipwrecks and…
COMEDY | Out of Pocket: Barbecue Apocalypse
If we’re all doomed, we might as well have a laugh about it. Rochester theater company Out of Pocket, Inc. will wrap its 11th season this week with the premiere of a show that finds humor in our sparse survival skills. Written by Matt Lyle, “Barbecue Apocalypse” is a situational comedy about a backyard gathering…
THEATER | ‘The Conduct of Life’
The University of Rochester’s International Theatre Program will this week present the work of a feminist, avant-garde playwright with “The Conduct of Life.” Written by Cuban-American playwright Maria Irene Forñes, the play is among her works that may have been marginalized for a variety of reasons, including her immigrant status and experimental work. The Obie…
SPECIAL EVENT | Rochester Erotic Arts Festival
The Rochester Erotic Arts Festival is more than just an exhibit of carnal art. You can shop for sexy accessories and toys, and learn about your body, healthy boundaries, safe sex, and a variety of kink lifestyles. A variety of vendors, educators, authors, artists, and performers will present workshops and exhibits designed to educate and…
Students’ mental health needs are increasing
The college years have long been portrayed in fiction and film as the best years of a young person’s life, a time for frolic, freedom, and philosophy. But the results of the American College Health Association’s 2017 Health Assessment Survey offers a starkly different picture of student life on US campuses. And many Rochester-area higher…
SPECIAL EVENT | Community Garage Sales
This Sunday marks the return of a Rochester favorite, the Community Garage Sales season at The Rochester Public Market. Dozens of vendors will fill the market stalls with household goods, antiques, and collectibles. Browse for treasure and find items that spark joy for you that someone else has Marie Kondo’d from their life. Enjoy the…
ENVIRONMENT | City Nature Challenge
This week, Rochester joins an international competition to see which city can make the most observations in nature. You can participate in the citizen-scientist City Nature Challenge, which takes place from Friday, April 26, to Monday, April 29. Participants will use the smartphone app iNaturalist to identify and log the different wildlife species they find…
Public may vote on who disciplines police
Rochester voters apparently will have a say in how much power a new Police Accountability Board would have. At its May 21 meeting, City Council plans to vote on establishing an independent Police Accountability Board with broad powers. As the legislation is written now, the board would have the authority to impose discipline on officers…
Album review: ‘Future Memories’
Yotam Silberstein ‘Future Memories’ Jazz&People yotammusic.com Since landing in New York in 2005, Yotam Silberstein has been enlisted by top artists like The Heath Brothers, James Moody, Roy Hargrove, and many others. Rochester jazz festival attendees have heard his wonderful solos and sensitive coloration supporting Tessa Souter. On “Future Memories,” his sixth album as a…
Film preview: ‘The Exploits of Elaine’
The Finger Lakes Film Trail is a new consortium project that will spotlight the region’s historical and cultural contributions in the development of the early motion picture industry. The project will sponsor an ongoing calendar of events, starting with this week’s screening of episodes from silent film serial “The Exploits of Elaine.”
Theater preview: ‘Things Went Horribly Wrong’
The first staging of New York City-based playwright Sarita Covington’s new work, “Things Went Horribly Wrong,” will be performed in Rochester this week. The production closes out The Avenue Blackbox Theatre’s inaugural season, and each performance is paired with a Long Table Conversation.
Trump, Mueller, and the response to the report
We now have proof about the conduct of the president of the United States. What are we going to do about it?
Album review: ‘The Transitory Poems’
Vijay Iyer and Craig Taborn ‘The Transitory Poems’ ECM vijay-iyer.com When two fascinating people converse, a great dialogue can result. The same came be said for a musical conversation between two exceptional pianists. “The Transitory Poems” is the result of just such a dialogue between Vijay Iyer and Craig Taborn. The live piano duo performance…
Sager Beer Works keeps it simple
Instead of televisions, Sager has a steady lineup of events including beer bingo, monthly pairing dinners, and live music every Saturday. The owners ask only three simple things of their patrons: eat, drink, and relax. It’s a mantra for a brewpub that doesn’t put on airs.
The RPO’s 2019-20 season brings change
The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and its music director Ward Stare are making subtle but important changes to the way its programming connects with audiences heading into its 2019-20 concert season.
Preview: Salam Film Series
Commemorating the lives of the victims of the atrocities at the Al Noor Mosque and the Linwood Islamic Centre in New Zealand, the Dryden Theatre at the George Eastman Museum will present the Salam Film Series in partnership with the Islamic Center of Rochester.
