Cover Story
A 21st century downtown
Disinvestment, deterioration, and conflicting visions have marred Rochester’s downtown for more than two decades. For years, Rochester’s main corridor has, for the most part, seemed vacant and lifeless. Major retailers folded up shop. Sibley’s and Midtown, once the epicenter of the city’s vibrancy, languished, doing relatively little to attract people downtown or to bring in…
Downtown developer asks for loan extension, exercises option to buy Midtown parcel for $1
The developer of the Windstream building at Midtown is asking the city to extend its $5 million loan out to July 2051 at its current 1 percent interest rate. This would be the second extension. The city already extended the term of the loan from 15 years to 20 years. The latest extension would reduce…
COMIDA board says Medley owner has to pay up
The Monroe County Industrial Development Agency has issued a firm ultimatum to Medley Centre’s developer. During its meeting this afternoon, the COMIDA board approved a resolution to terminate a tax incentive agreement with Medley owner Bersin Properties if the company does not make overdue payments by May 1. Under the resolution, the agency would terminate…
Elections and education
Two education initiatives are among the few issues in this partisan climate somehow crisscrossing ideological and political boundaries. Governor Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, has not backed away from his support of charter schools despite some tensions with New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio. The new mayor of the country’s largest school system has been…
Expanded services possible downtown
The Rochester Downtown Development Corporation has proposed the creation of a downtown business district that would, for a fee, provide enhanced services to property owners within the district’s borders.
Film Review: “Nymphomaniac: Volume I”
“Nymphomaniac: Volume I,” the latest film from Danish filmmaker and all-around provocateur Lars von Trier, sets out to document the lengthy and varied sexual history of one particularly insatiable woman. Though the film originally made its festival debut early this year in a five-and-a-half hour director’s cut, the decision was made to release a slightly…
Film Review: “Draft Day”
As he has demonstrated in a number of movies, Kevin Costner is the best athlete in Hollywood. Unlike, say, Gary Cooper in “Pride of the Yankees,” Anthony Perkins in “Fear Strikes Out,” or Robert De Niro in “Bang the Drum Slowly,” Costner played a most credible brand of baseball in “Field of Dreams,” “For Love…
“RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 6, Episode 9: Talk Show, Balk Show
Tonight’s episode of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” featured an absolutely packed panel. In addition to Ru, Michelle Visage, Santino Rice, and guest judges Chaz Bono, Georgia Holt (Cher’s mom), and Paula Abdul, we had the invisible producers who manipulated the top and bottom finishers, leading to one of the more outrageous eliminations we’ve seen on this…
“Game of Thrones” Season 4, Episode 2: The Lion and the Rose
You would think that at some point, these people would stop throwing elaborate wedding ceremonies/receptions and just settle for an intimate civil service and an after-party at Shoney’s. Think of all the money that would be saved, and the number of dead Westerosi kings that would still be around. Yes, folks — Joffrey is dead.…
WEEK AHEAD: Medley battle heats up; Sierra Club forum; eviction blockade
On Tuesday, Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks will speak to the Monroe County Industrial Development Agency about what she’s called “the ongoing saga of Medley Centre.” Mall owner Bersin Properties missed a deadline to make $3.9 million in tax incentive and penalty payments to COMIDA, the Town of Irondequoit, and the East Irondequoit School District.…
Theater Review: “The Winter’s Tale” by Rochester Community Players
Part domestic tragedy, part raucous comedy, mostly improbable fairy tale, “The Winter’s Tale” is one of Shakespeare’s most intriguing and confounding works. Rochester Community Players’ production of the show, running until the end of this month, is a well-conceived take on a play seldom seen but definitely worth seeing. As “The Winter’s Tale” begins, Leontes,…
East is a bellwether for a troubled district
East High School is increasingly looking like it may be a bellwether for dramatic changes in the city school district. The big questions on everyone’s mind are what will those changes be, and how much control will the community have over them? Rochester schools Superintendent Bolgen Vargas and most city school board members listened for…
Two former lawmen fight for Reilich’s old Assembly seat
The competition for Bill Reilich’s old Assembly seat is heating up. Yesterday, the county Republican Party announced Peter Lawrence’s candidacy for the 134th district. Lawrence spent 29 years working for the New York State Police before retiring in 2002, when he was appointed as US Marshal for the Western District of New York, says a…
RPD will have five sections
The police department will abandon the two-section model implemented under former Chief Bob Duffy.
Rochester International Film Festival 2014
Always a highlight of my annual film-going calendar, The Rochester International Film Festival — better known as “Movies On a Shoestring” — returns to its home at the Dryden Theatre this week. Boasting the auspicious title of “The world’s oldest, continuously held short film festival,” the RIFF presents four programs of shorts over the course…
Big differences between many city and suburban schools
Commissioner John King’s support for the controversial Common Core curriculum and its emphasis on frequent testing to measure student leaning hasn’t wavered one iota. In fact, if King’s visit to Greece Odyssey Academy High School earlier this week is any example, the change is coming from the other end. Greece Superintendent Barbara Deane-Williams and most…
Brooks issues ultimatum to Medley developer; defends COMIDA
Speeches given by County Executive Maggie Brooks are typically precise and business-like, so last night’s State of the County address, Brooks’ 10th, was a wild ride by comparison, featuring a selfie with a Berenstain Bear, a mouthy Belgian Malinois (a canine officer), and a splash of audience participation. Brooks’ tone was also a little sharper than…
Brooks wants Medley tax deal ended if developer misses May 1 deadline
Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks says she’ll ask COMIDA to rescind the tax agreement granted to the developer of Medley Centre in Irondequoit if the developer doesn’t meet a May 1 deadline to make good on payments. Brooks made the announcement during her State of the County address tonight. It’s Brooks’s 10th address. The Town…
Vazquez to try again for Assembly seat
This afternoon, Republican Peterson Vazquez will announce that he’s running for the State Assembly’s 138th District seat, which includes parts of the City of Rochester, Henrietta, and Chili. The seat is currently held by Assembly member Harry Bronson, who hasn’t officially announced that he’s seeking re-election, but presumably will run. Vazquez also challenged Bronson in…
POP-PUNK | The Weaks
Philadelphia-based band The Weaks has an affinity for combining catchy, bubbly melodies, noisy punk-influenced accompaniment, and lyrics full of self-loathing. The band released their first EP, “The World Is A Terrible Place and I Hate Myself and I Want To Die” in February, containing six tracks that are clearly inspired by punk-influenced bands of the…
HIP-HOP | Huey Mack
One of the first lines in Huey Mack’s album “Pretending Perfection” reads, “They say I’m not a star, and they may be right.” Right now, that’s probably an accurate statement. He doesn’t play huge venue, you won’t hear him on the radio, and his songs don’t have millions of views on YouTube. But that may…
HIP-HOP | Turquoise Jeep
With songs like “Lemme Smang It,” “Treat Me Like a Pirate,” and “Fried or Fertilized,” hip-hop collective and record label Turquoise Jeep holds nothing back. The group’s music is bold, irreverent, and satirical, and the corresponding YouTube videos go viral for their seemingly unintentional comedic value. Turquoise Jeep approaches hip-hop and R&B with a tone…
CELTIC ROCK | Tempest
The problem with Celtic rock bands is that they frequently run it into the red, horse it in to the boat, jump the shark … you get what I mean. The rock side in bands like the Dropkick Murphy’s or Flogging Molly seems to predominate. Not so with Tempest, a world-wise ensemble based in Oakland,…
AMERICANA | Amy LaVere
Like Eddie Cochran said: “She’s Somethin’ else.” Singer/songwriter/bassist, Amy LaVere has been produced by Jim Dickinson (who produced The Replacements “Pleased To Meet Me” amongst a billion others), worked at the rock ‘n’ roll Memphis Mecca Sun Studios, slaps the doghouse bass as if it just said something ungentlemanly, and has broken my heart at…
CHOW HOUND: Back to the neighborhood
A neon sign stating “Sorry We’re Open” greets you as you walk in the door of the newly renovated Bosco’s Richmond’s Tavern. The “Bosco’s” might be new, but Richmond’s has been an establishment in Rochester for years. Located on Richmond Street, a small side street off of Main Street, Richmond’s had been a destination for…
ART EVENT | Visual Studies Workshop Benefit Auction
Visual Studies Workshop is known for bringing Rochester intriguing gallery exhibitions, captivating lectures and screenings, and unique community workshops. Its media-studies programs include photography, visual books, digital imaging, film, and video. On Friday, April 11, Visual Studies will host its annual benefit auction and social. More than 200 alumni and artists have donated photography prints,…
Feedback 04/09
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. Climate change and Rochester An article in Rolling Stone Magazine last summer, “Goodbye Miami,” stated that in…
KIDS EVENTS | April Break Week Events
It’s school-break time again. Distract the little ones with several events going on next week to keep both kids and adults happy. Start off by heading out to Batavia for the Cool Kids Eco Fest, a fun and educational Earth Day event that aims to increase awareness of environmental issues. More than 40 booths will…
The Heroic Enthusiasts
Born barely one year ago, Rochester’s The Heroic Enthusiasts fall between genre cracks, it’s rock ‘n’ roll twilight. The band — James Tabbi, guitar, Tom Ferrara, guitar, Jesse Herrera, bass, and Cruk Fua, drums — is more about the antithetical than the quintessential. The songs are melodious meanderings full of a loosely harnessed energy and…
ART EVENT | Folk Art Guild Spring Festival of Crafts
Herald the arrival of spring weather with a craft festival celebrating the season. The Rochester Folk Art Guild is a nonprofit arts community and education institution specializing in fine handcrafts such as pottery and woodworking. The Guild’s Spring Festival of Crafts will include weaving, handmade clothing, folk toys, books, handmade art glass jewelry, and displays…
ALBUM REVIEW: “Stereo”
The Squires of the Subterrain “Stereo” Rocket Racket Records Squiresofthesubterrain.com I’ve always been in awe of the amount of sunshine The Squires of the Subterrain packs into its sound. Consider the fact that The Squires is really Christopher Earl, a one-man band operating out of his secret basement lair tucked away somewhere in the South…
DANCE | Bill Evans 40th Anniversary
Choreographer Bill Evans has earned international recognition for his work. The Bill Evans Dance Company, founded in Salt Lake City in 1975, has performed in all 50 states and 24 countries, including Canada, Finland, France, and Hungary. Now based out of Brockport, the company has performed at Nazareth College, Geva Theatre Center, RAPA, Eastman School…
ALBUM REVIEW: “…. Introducing Kat Wright and the Indomitable Soul Band”
Kat Wright and the Indomitable Soul Band “…. Introducing Kat Wright and the Indomitable Soul Band” Self-release Katwrightsoulband.com The problem with a lot of soul bands is when they get too regimented in their pursuit of pure soul. And there are others who just set themselves up for a fall when incorporating soul into their…
RECREATION | Durand Eastman Park Arboretum Tours
With the warm weather finally here, it’s time to end your months-long Netflix marathon, pack away the space heater, and get yourself outside for some salubrious fresh air. Throughout April, Monroe County Cooperative Extension, in conjunction with Monroe Country Parks, will lead public tours of the historic Durand Eastman Park Arboretum (located at 100 Zoo…
East High needs a buddy
Rochester schools Superintendent Bolgen Vargas is looking for a partner to run East High School. Working with an educational partner organization is one of the options the State Education Department gave the school district to rehabilitate the failing high school. The request for proposals went out two weeks ago. The deadline is April 16, Vargas…
SPECIAL EVENT | Art of the Mix
Interesting art and interesting cocktails are blended together at Art of the Mix, Rochester Contemporary Art Center’s third annual mixology fundraiser. The event includes cocktails and hors d’oeuvres from popular local restaurants and bars Avvino, Cheshire, The Owl House, Good Luck, Lento, and The Daily Refresher. This is also a good excuse to check out…
CLASSICAL | Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra
What’s the best way to get to Carnegie Hall? Practice, practice, practice! It’s a truism that musicians know far too well, and in the case of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, it’s a journey you’re invited to join. The RPO will present two performances of Howard Hanson’s lyrical opera “Merry Mount” on April 10 and 12…
Urban Action 4/9
This week’s calls to action include the following events and activities. (All are free and open to the public, unless otherwise noted.) Waterfront development public meeting The City of Rochester’s Department of Neighborhood and Business Development will hold a public meeting on the Local Waterfront Development Program from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday,…
METAL | Destruction
Few subgenres can set the pulse racing like German metal. German bands — Accept, Rammstein, Scorpions — tend to perform in ways that skew them toward symphonic and danceable angles. While most other metal groups make you want to bang your head, German bands make you want to sing opera and swing your partner.…
Democracy for sale
If we needed any more proof of how divorced from reality the Supreme Court’s conservatives are, we got it last week, with the ruling on McCutcheon v. FEC. As Mark Shields put it on the PBS NewsHour, “these five majority justices must be hermetically sealed.” Money in politics doesn’t corrupt, according to the Supreme 5.…
JAZZ | Gabriel Alegria Afro-Peruvian Sextet
If you’re a jazz fan, chances are you know the Afro-Cuban music popularized by artists like Dizzy Gillespie. But have you heard the equally engaging Afro-Peruvian music of Gabriel Alegria and his sextet? A trumpeter of extraordinary skill and exuberant style, Alegria has brought his wonderful brand of fusion to festivals around the world. From…
Exhibit Review: Dual Matisse exhibitions at Memorial Art Gallery
When we come to admire an artist’s work, what we see is the expert representation of form and gesture, the elegant depiction of balance, and the rich tones carefully chosen to lead our emotions here and there. What is hidden from us are the long, laborious hours and obsessive repetition required for achieving the necessary…
A CAPPELLA | The Whiffenpoofs
Established in 1909, The Yale Whiffenpoofs remains the oldest collegiate a cappella group in the U.S. Fourteen senior Yale men are selected every year to uphold the traditions of the 105-year-old organization while expanding its repertoire into the modern age. From traditional Yale songs to contemporary pieces like “Skinny Love” by Bon Iver and Fleetwood…
Rochester Bach Festival
When lists of the great composers are compiled, Johann Sebastian Bach is usually placed at or near the top. And at the top of Bach’s enormous and awesome musical output, many would place his two settings of the biblical Passion text: the story of the arrest, trial, and crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Bach’s “Saint Matthew…
