Cover Story
The multisport multiverse
Christine Burkey-Kelly was 38 years old when she got into triathlons. She quickly found out that not only was the female 40-49 age group the largest at just about every event, but those women also had faster times than those in their 20’s. “When women get to that magic number of 40 years old, they…
WEEK AHEAD: Rally for women’s equality; RPD reorg; port proposal; inner loop final designs; Vargas’s East plan
This post has been corrected. At 4 p.m. on Friday, May 9, the Finger Lakes Women’s Equality Coalition will rally in support of the Women’s Equality Act. The demonstration will take place in front of 2300 West Ridge Road, Greece; State Senator Joe Robach’s office is in that building. The state legislation covers workplace and wage discrimination, domestic…
Two new plans for East: UR partnership, or break it up into three schools
There are a couple of new options on the table to improve East High School. Rochester schools Superintendent Bolgen Vargas announced today that he wants to create three schools within the East High campus: a middle school foundation academy for seventh and eighth grades; a separate academy dedicated to ninth grade; and an academy for…
Film Review: “The Amazing Spider-Man 2”
The new entry in the seemingly endless series of films emanating from the Marvel Comics factory demonstrates once again the level of maturity that the film industry expects from its target audience and also presumably the sort of content those audiences expect in today’s cinema. “The Amazing Spider-Man 2” — actually the second volume in…
Final Inner Loop designs revealed
The City of Rochester unveiled final designs today for the Inner Loop East project. The city is filling in a mile stretch of the loop, which will create six acres of land for development. The Inner Loop was built in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s to help motorists get around downtown. But in the…
National climate report stresses adaptation
Today, the White House released a detailed assessment of climate change’s domestic impacts. And the conclusions will sound familiar to anyone who’s followed recent reports from a United Nations-convened panel of scientists: climate change is here, it’s already having widespread impacts, and governments need to start preparing. “Americans are noticing changes all around them,” says…
“RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 6, Episode 12: Sissy That Walk
Well, at least one of the pre-season spoilers turned out to be true: we really did have an ABCD Final 4. That would be Adore Delano, Bianca Del Rio, Courtney Act, and Darienne Lake. The four of them jumped through the now-predictable finale hoops, which included shooting a video for RuPaul’s latest single (although we’ve…
Top court says Greece prayers are constitutional
In a decision issued this morning, the US Supreme Court says Greece officials are not violating the First Amendment by opening Town Board meetings with a prayer. Rochester residents Susan Galloway and Linda Stephens filed the initial complaint against the Town of Greece. Since 1999, the town has invited clergy from the Greece community to offer…
“Game of Thrones” Season 4, Episode 5: First of His Name
The “previously on ‘Game of Thrones’” segment ran for seemingly minutes, and included scenes that went all the way back to Season 1. So you knew this episode was going to be fairly wide-ranging. Indeed, it touched on many story arcs, and in hindsight most of them revolved around the female protagonists of this sprawling…
Tough talk from East High’s suitor
If the Rochester community is serious about giving students a quality education that prepares them for college, then things at East High School must change. That was the message from Gillian Williams, president of School Turnaround, at a special meeting yesterday. The Rochester school board is considering hiring the organization to take over East. School Turnaround…
Termination of Medley tax agreement has begun
This morning, the Monroe County Industrial Development Agency began the process of terminating the Medley Centre tax agreement. A press release from Monroe County says that COMIDA has “issued a notice of PILOT default to Medley Centre’s developer.” Yesterday, Bersin Properties failed to make a $3.8 million payment to COMIDA. The money would have been split…
Medley developer submits partial payment
Monroe County Industrial Development Agency officials will take the first steps to terminate the Medley Centre tax incentive agreement.
East High’s suitor responds to questions
School Turnaround has responded to a lengthy list of questions from the Rochester school board regarding its proposal to take control of ailing East High School. But Turnaround’s answers leave many issues up in the air, such as concerns about staffing, student enrollment, discipline, and labor contracts. Turnaround, an affiliate of Rensselaerville Institute, is the…
Group says casinos aren’t the cash machines they’re made out to be
Former Rochester Mayor Bill Johnson says property taxes in Niagara Falls and Salamanca have gone up, despite the fact that there are casinos owned and operated by the Seneca Nation of Indians in both communities. Johnson analyzed property tax and crime data from the two communities before and after construction of their casinos. He presented…
East High proposal to be vetted on Thursday
Representatives from School Turnaround, the organization proposing to take over operation of East, may attend.
Monroe County’s air quality ranking slips
Monroe County’s grades are slipping a little in terms of air quality. This morning, the American Lung Association released its annual State of the Air report. It uses data from a few years to grade air quality in counties and metro areas across the country. Specifically, the Lung Association looks at the number of days…
Party in the park lineup announced
Lucinda Williams, Drive-by Truckers, Trampled by Turtles, and Lucero are among the headliners of this year’s Party in the Park weekly concert series at Martin Luther King Jr. Park at Manhattan Square beginning June 19. The Wailers, Yonder Mountain String Band, Railroad Earth, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, The Baseball Project, Dickey Betts and Great Southern,…
Goodbye, Joe. Hello…?
Monroe County Democrats have some big races ahead of them this year. Louise Slaughter is running for re-election to her Congressional seat, ditto Ted O’Brien in the State Senate. And Gary Pudup, former local director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, is running for the Assembly seat formerly held by Republican Bill Reilich. Democrats’…
Feedback 4/30
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…
Urban Action 4/30
This week’s calls to action include the following events and activities. (All are free and open to the public, unless otherwise noted.) Discussing Israel J Street Rochester will present “Israelis and Their Neighbors: Special Moments Captured in Words and Videos,” a discussion with Shlomi Eldar, at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 8. Eldar is a…
“The Dead Deads”
Making its official premiere this Friday at the Little Theatre, “The Dead Deads” is a new, Rochester-made horror movie from filmmakers Eric Maira and Patrick Montanaro — collectively known as “Werewolf House.” Filmed in their spare time over the course of several months last winter, (which accounts for the film’s general Christmas-y theme), the movie…
Segregation forever
It’s probably not a surprise to you, but here’s some news: Americans have turned our back on school integration. Actually, we turned our back on it a long time ago. This month’s Supreme Court decision on affirmative action policies in Michigan is just the latest evidence. Affirmative action has helped innumerable minority students get a…
“Oculus”
Also striking a compelling balance between psychological drama and traditional horror film, “Oculus” tells the story of a brother and sister haunted by the violent deaths of their parents, which they witnessed as children. The film opens as Tim (Brenton Thwaites) reunites with his sister, Kaylie (Karen Gillan), following his release from the mental hospital…
DINING REVIEW: Papaya Asian Kitchen & Bar
Located in Henrietta’s Marketplace Mall, Papaya Asian Kitchen & Bar does an impressive job of creating a relaxed and modern atmosphere in the midst of a shopping frenzy. The restaurant is in a large space, with vaulted ceilings and exposed ductwork. Its ambient music wouldn’t be out of place at an upscale spa or a…
POP/ROCK | Sports
I’ve frequently toyed with the philosophy that every band should put out one album, then call it quits. Just think how many bands with killer debuts sort of petered out and undid their spontaneous cool on subsequent releases. Sports — Rochester’s answer to sparkling pop-rock without too much sugar — is hanging it up after…
SURF | Isotopes
Rochester surf sensations, The Isotopes — voted by CITY readers to have the best album of 2013 — are as powerful as a punch in the face from a Misfit. With a blazing attack that would make Dick Dale wet his pants, speed that would give The Ventures vertigo, and bouncy dancing girls sexy enough…
ART | Exhibit Roundup
Good weather seems to be upon us, which usually makes for a more lively First Friday scene. Here are a few key spots to check out in and around the Neighborhood of the Arts, but many more gallery and studio spaces will host First Friday receptions and events throughout the weekend. Check CITY’s online calendar…
JAZZ | Rosetta Trio
You might know Stephan Crump as the bassist in the Vijay Iyer Trio, or you might know his work with artists as diverse as Dave Liebman and Ashford & Simpson. But when he surrounds himself with two superb guitarists, Liberty Ellman and Jamie Fox, the result is the wonderful Rosetta Trio. Ellman has also collaborated…
SPECIAL EVENT | Rochester Cocktail Revival
For the first time, seven of Rochester’s top restaurants and bars will unite for the Rochester Cocktail Revival. This weekend event is geared toward education, fun, and exposure for both bartenders and patrons. The “Cocktail Justice League” includes Fee Brothers (453 Portland Avenue), Cheshire (647 South Avenue, above Solera Wine Bar), Cure (50 Public Market),…
POP | Chris Trapper
A singer-songwriter at heart, Chris Trapper’s sincere roots-pop has earned him praise from The New York Times, who called his work “classic pop perfection.” Starting out as the front man for late-90’s alt-rockers The Push Stars, Trapper has since landed tracks on numerous film soundtracks and TV spots, including the song “This Time” for the…
ART | Melodies Unheard
The RIT Orchestra, in conjunction with Professor Thomas Warfield, the RIT/NTID Dance Company, and the School of Interactive Gaming and Media, will present a new multimedia performance, “Melodies Unheard,” in honor of Dr. Robert Panara, RIT’s first deaf professor and founder of the NTID Drama Club. The production will showcase scenes inspired by Panara’s poetry…
ROCK | Sons of Hippies
Masters of swirling, dark psychedelia, Sons of Hippies’ latest album, “Griffons at the Gates of Heaven,” is a gripping, spacy audio trip — but one that may take you to some shadowy places. The Florida-based band independently released four albums after forming in 2008, and signed with Cleopatra Records in 2013 for “Griffons.” Sons of…
SPECIAL EVENT | Free Comic Book Day
Maybe we need to explain further. Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) is — you guessed it — a day where local comic book stores give away free comic books. This year is the biggest FCBD to date, as it will feature 60 free comics available to all comic fans. Anyone that visits one of the…
BLUEGRASS | Great Vagrant
It’s heart-warming to see young musicians not only keep the traditions of American roots but also adapt the music to make it their own. The way Great Vagrant — a mix of students from the Eastman School of Music and the University of Rochester — approaches Bluegrass and Folk, it’s evident the respect the members…
SPECIAL EVENT | Blackfish Brigade Symposium
When the documentary “Blackfish” was released in 2013 it shocked audiences worldwide. The film focuses on the captivity of killer whale, Tilikum, who had killed three trainers at SeaWorld and the consequences of keeping killer whales in captivity. For one night, Rochester will host four ex-SeaWorld trainers and activists in the film. Samantha Berg, John…
ROCK | Sam Roberts Band
There are times when I come across a band and I want to punch myself for not listening to them sooner. Sam Roberts Band is one of those bands. The Canadian rock group has been a hit across the border for more than 10 years, regularly being nominated for the major categories of the JUNO…
RECREATION | Buds a-Bursting
Take advantage of the revival of springtime. The Thousand Acre Swamp, a local project of The Nature Conservancy, is spread across a 400 acre nature preserve, including ten hiking trails that let you lose yourself in the beauty of the many natural wonders. On Saturday, May 3, the Swamp will feature “Buds a-Bursting,” a hiking…
Low Flying Planes
If a perfect blend of cover songs and original material actually exists in a band’s arsenal, Wayne County’s Low Flying Planes may have found it. The band skates the razor. It’s found the balance — give the people what they want peppered with what you want them to want. The band arrived at this balance over its brief,…
SPECIAL EVENT | Imagine Festival at RIT
Imagine a place where science and creativity collide to create something even greater. At Imagine RIT: Innovation and Creativity Festival, you’ll get to experience and view all sorts of exhibitions that collaborate both the right and left brain. The Imagine Festival is a day inspired by the innovative and creative spirit of the RIT community.…
ALBUM REVIEW: “Loaded Goat”
Loaded Goat “Loaded Goat” Self-release I truly admire artists who work within the realm of low-fidelity. The rawness and honesty of the ragged tone adds dimension to the mood. The songs have nowhere to hide. Rob Roemer records and performs as Loaded Goat, a stark, one-man alt-country diatribe full of haunting melody in a kind…
DANCE: Stepping back in
After a year hiatus, the Nazareth College Arts Center Dance Festival will return Saturday and Sunday, May 3-4, but in a rather scaled down form compared to the last three years it was held. The festival will run for two days, rather than the previous nine or ten, and is headlining with a lesser known,…
ALBUM REVIEW: “Tin Wood Soldier”
Seth Faergolzia & The 23 Psaegz “Tin Wood Soldier” Self–release I love the idea of anti-folk or freak-folk immensely, but the genre can be a little scary to the timid and unenlightened. Former Dufus member, and eclectic songwriter, Seth Faergolzia advances with The 23 Psaegz, a 14-piece quasi-orchestral ensemble of substantial depth and quirk. Faergolzia…
Love projected
Tucked off Chestnut Street, at 45 Euclid Street, is a little club with a lot going for it. I visited LOVE with two companions on a blustery Friday night in late March. The place wasn’t difficult to find but we weren’t sure where to park, and frankly, a little police presence would have been nice…
Skepticism greets big East promises
Bill Cala, a former interim superintendent for the Rochester City School District, says a claim that East High’s graduation rate can be raised to 100 percent in a matter of a few years is ludicrous. And he’s not the only skeptic. Though a decision on School Turnaround’s proposal to partner with the failing East High…
“The Railway Man”
Wars never really end, and as Faulkner said, the past is not even past — almost 70 years after the Japanese surrender in World War II, the horror of the conflict and the behavior of the enemy toward their Allied prisoners continue to trouble the memories of the survivors. A number of histories, memoirs, and…
“Game of Thrones” Season 4, Episode 4: Oathkeeper
First, apologies for the late blog. I was trapped north of the Wall (a.k.a. Canada) and the proprietor of the inn at which we stayed led me astray. I was told we would have HBO, and yet we did not. Given this flagrant violation of guest’s rights, I can only assume that the downtown Toronto…
Still odd after all these years
Higher-brow critics may beg to differ, but if any play deserves to be called a classic American comedy, it’s “The Odd Couple.” Neil Simon’s study of the epic battle between Oscar Madison, slob, and Felix Ungar, fussbudget, is almost 50 years old now, and has been in the public consciousness rather consistently since its Broadway…
