Cover Story
Where have all the cowboys gone?
Country music is huge. Yet the appeal seems to drop off sharply when it comes to country music on a local level. Where are the bands? Where are the country-music fans the other days of the year that megastars like Chesney aren’t here?
Schumer awaiting Syria details
President Barack Obama has been meeting with Congressional leaders today to try to win their backing for a strike against Syria. An article on the Washington Post’s website says that, after closed-door meetings with the president, Republican House Speaker John Boehner, Republican House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, and Democratic House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi all…
City Council candidates to debate
The Maplewood Neighborhood Association is holding a debate on Wednesday night for Rochester City Council candidates. There are five at-large seats open on Council this year. Incumbents Dana Miller, Carolee Conklin, Matt Haag, Jackie Ortiz, and Loretta Scott will defend their seats against challengers Lisa Jacques, the Rev. Marlowe Washington, Anthony Giordano, and Ann Lewis…
Schumer backs family trying to preserve its Chili farm
Marie Krenzer says that her family doesn’t want Rochester Gas and Electric to abandon a project that would require some of its farmland. The family just wants RG&E to minimize the impact on their farm, which covers 670 acres in Chili.
We didn’t endorse Warren
A note to readers: A direct-mail piece from Lovely Warren’s mayoral campaign contains a quote from our August 21 endorsement article. The quote, taken out of context, could give the impression that we endorsed Warren for mayor. We did not; we endorsed incumbent Tom Richards. This kind of campaign tactic is nothing new, to politics…
Concert Review: Vinyl Orange Ottoman, Heatseeker, Ice Nine Kills
You know, with the exception of a few bands like Deep Purple or The Apes (I’m sure there are more, but those two popped into my head first), I’m used to seeing and hearing keyboards and organs — oh wait, I forgot Journey; you can’t forget Journey — played as a support instrument, or as…
Mayoral debate tonight
Mayoral hopefuls Tom Richards and Lovely Warren will square off in their second debate today at 8 p.m. on WXXI-TV and AM 1370. Richards, the incumbent, and Warren, who is City Council president, are vying for the Democratic endorsement. If Warren wins the September 10 primary, she will face Green Party candidate Alex White in…
Cuomo says failing schools need to be closed
Governor Andrew Cuomo, speaking recently in a Buffalo suburb, said that “there has to be a death penalty for failing schools, so to speak,” according to an article in the Buffalo News. He was referring to closing low performing schools. The comment, which echoes what State Education Commissioner John King said earlier this month, triggered…
Officials will meet on Medley Centre issues
Next Friday, Medley Centre owner and developer Scott Congel will be in a room with representatives of the Monroe County Industrial Development Agency, the Town of Irondequoit, and the East Irondequoit School District. On the agenda: Congel’s failure to meet the most recent milestone in a tax incentive agreement. Congel requested the meeting, says Michael…
Rochester land bank board gets down to business
The board of the new Rochester Land Bank Corporation met for the first time yesterday. Much of the discussion was focused on how to organize the board, but the members also discussed plans to apply for funding through the state Attorney General’s Office.
Hodgins aims for city school board as a Republican
Mia Hodgins stood on Lake Avenue in front of Charlotte High School earlier this week to talk about running for one of three available seats on the Rochester school board. Hodgins is a Republican at a time when the city’s electoral history heavily favors Democrats — so much so that it’s often not feasible for…
Warren gets personal in TV debate
This is a corrected version of this blog. Locally produced TV often has an unintended comedic element, and it was a bit strange to see Rochester mayoral hopefuls Tom Richards and Lovely Warren sitting side by side at News 8’s anchor desk last night. Mostly because the pair made a credible News team! duo. The…
About that video
The police chief may be waiting on the findings of the internal review, but many of the thousands of people who’ve already viewed the arrest video of Romengeno and Brenda Hardaway on YouTube have already made up their minds, and it’s pretty much what you’d think. The police are either jackbooted, racist thugs beating up…
County charter committee will meet again
Monroe County’s Charter Review Committee had a couple of basic items on its agenda today: some time for public comments, and an update from its chairman on the research that committee members have been doing. But nobody showed up to speak. And several committee members said that they are still reviewing their assigned topics, asking…
WXXI’s Bob Smith steps down
Regular listeners of WXXI radio during the noon to 2 p.m. time slot have surely noticed the absence of Bob Smith, the longtime host and producer of “1370 Connection.” WXXI ann ounced earlier today that Smith suffered a stroke in April and that he is undergoing rehabilitation. Smith has stepped down from the talk show.…
Protesters reject Commissioner King’s reforms
About 60 people carrying signs with slogans like “Keep Politics Away From Our Kids” and “Life Is Not a Test” protested outside School of the Arts yesterday.
Arrest video provokes outrage; chief responds
Rochester Police Chief James Sheppard says he’ll wait for the internal investigation to play out before weighing in on a provocative incident that took place on Seyle Terrace around 5 p.m. yesterday (see video from Sheppard’s press conference below). The incident, which was recorded by an unnamed bystander and posted to YouTube, shows Rochester police…
School district, City Hall step up truancy reduction efforts
Many Rochesterians strongly supported mayoral control. They didn’t get it, but in an odd turn of events, they may have received something better: a strong working relationship between City Hall and the city school district. That point couldn’t have been clearer at a press conference earlier today. Vargas, flanked by Mayor Tom Richards and United…
Greens try direct approach for campaigns
Green Party candidates have been bypassing traditional media and using other channels, such as social media and webcasts, to try to directly reach voters.
Rochester and MLK’s dream
This photograph captures a moment in history, showing a meeting of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and prominent black leaders in Rochester.
BLUES | Black Bandit & The Stickups
Local musician Black Bandit & The Stickups is unlike anyone else you will hear in the Rochester area. Heavily influenced by the masters of the blues, his music and stage personality embody a classic, soulful charm that feels totally authentic. Bandit is also influenced by punk bands such as Minor Threat and Mischief Brew, which…
Slim progress on racism since King’s big march
Well, here we are, 50 years after the March on Washington, with commemorative gatherings, speeches, workshops, and media interviews with people who participated in that demonstration on the Mall that hot August day. We have made progress since then, certainly, just as the nation had made progress in the 100 years before the March. It’s…
SPECIAL EVENT | Lovin’ Cup Five-Year Anniversary Party
Local restaurant/bar/café/music venue Lovin’ Cup is celebrating its fifth birthday this Friday. A number of local musicians will help the venue ring in its big day, including The Niche, Greg Townson of the Hi-Risers, Teagan and The Tweeds, The Teressa Wilcox Band, Old School, and others. The music will come complete with a beer sampling…
Urban Action 8/28
This week’s calls to action include the following events and activities. (All are free and open to the public, unless otherwise noted.) Meet Ithaca’s mayor Monroe County Young Democrats will hold “Youth Rising to the Challenge of Public Leadership,” a talk by Ithaca mayor Svante Myrick, at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, August 28, at Writers…
R&B | Wale
Mixing some jamming beats with some pretty lyrically intense rhymes, Wale is certainly more than his mix tapes. Wale’s most recent release, “Ambition,” debuted at No. 1 on iTunes, and the Billboard hip-hop and pop charts, which is certainly nothing to sniff at in this day and age. Also appearing will be Pusha T, taking…
CHOW HOUND: Feast your eyes
The Tip Jar here at Chow Hound HQ is currently overflowing with news, and it’s my job to serve it up to you in carefully measured portions so you can efficiently digest all this data. First, though, let’s grab a bite in Swillburg… • “That’s Zemeta,” owner Natanael Beshah said, proudly motioning toward his cheerful…
GARAGE ROCK | Diarrhea Planet
Nashville has long been “Music City,” and for good reason. But, when radio announcer David Cobb coined the affectionate sobriquet, I don’t think he had any idea that a band like Diarrhea Planet would one day make its home there. In spite of (or maybe because of) its name, this six-piece has been getting a…
“The World’s End”
There will always be an England, at least as long as there’s a PBS, and as long as the Brits continue to mine one of their greatest natural resources, eccentricity. Trust an English filmmaker to spin some contemporary popular genres in a different direction, as Edgar Wright did a few years ago in “Shaun of…
SINGER-SONGWRITER | Eilen Jewell
Eilen Jewell has paid her dues. She began her musical career as a busker on the streets of Santa Fe. After trying out the sands of Venice Beach, she made her way to Boston where she got off the pavement and into bars and clubs. Since her official debut record, “Boundary County,” in 2006, Jewell’s…
INDIE | Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was the code name for the German invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II. While I don’t think that this particular Rochester-based quartet has a penchant for the Third Reich, the name is fitting: the group’s sound is powerfully intrusive in the best possible way. Its moments of ambient expanse and…
POP/ROCK | Maroon 5
Maroon 5 is one of the biggest pop/rock acts currently on the scene. Since breaking out with the “Songs About Jane” album in the early 2000’s, the group has gone on to relatively consistent success on the Billboard and iTunes charts with songs like “Harder to Breathe,” “Makes Me Wonder,” “Moves Like Jagger,” and the…
ART | C. Graham Carson/Nazareth Faculty show
With classes back in session, college and university galleries are kicking off their new schedules of exhibition offerings. Last week, Nazareth College opened two shows: “Codex Gigas: New Paintings and Work from C. Graham Carson” at the school’s Colacino Gallery, and the Annual Faculty Show in the Arts Center Gallery, both located in the Arts…
FILM | Sin-o-Matic Night
City Newspaper’s own Frank De Blase will present a “Sin-o-Matic Night” at the Cinema Theatre (957 S. Clinton Ave.) on Tuesday, September 3, featuring a screening of Russ Meyer’s 1965 sexploitation film, “Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!” The lusty, busty, romp of a flick features three thrill-seeking go-go dancers, Billie, Rosie, and Varla, who meet a…
“Family Secrets”
In the one-woman show “Family Secrets,” currently on stage at the Downstairs Cabaret at Winton Place, actress Carolyn Michel portrays five different members of one conventionally unconventional family as they struggle to relate to one another and find happiness within their own lives. Originally performed by actress Sherry Glaser and co-written by Glaser with her…
RECREATION | Seabreeze/Roseland Water Park
Did you hear that, Rochester? It’s the subtle whisper of the impending crush of snow and cold that will soon wipe out all memories of warmth and happiness. The last gasp of summer is upon us, so it’s time to maximize the sunshine and glorious heat while they last. Head to Seabreeze Amusement Park or…
Stop and frisk, and Rochester
Hailed by civil libertarians and denounced as cataclysm by dismayed public officials, the recent court ruling that the stop-and-frisk tactics used by the New York Police Department violated minorities’ constitutional rights will have wide-ranging implications for police everywhere, including in Rochester, says a local criminal justice expert. “I think it probably is a good thing,”…
RECREATION | Fleet Feet Sports Summer Fest
To many, the term “summer fest” is code for accepted public tipsiness, sway-dancing to jam tunes, and noshing on festival foods. But for the fitness fiends, the term might mean getting together with other übermensch for a little ol’ 12K race at 9 a.m. No big whoop. If you’re really that into punishing yourself, head…
THEATER | “CATS”
The swan song of this season’s Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival comes in the form of the second-longest-running production on Broadway. Taylor Dayne, nationally recognized singer, songwriter, and actor, will appear as Grizabella in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “CATS,” which opened at Merry-Go-Round Playhouse (6877 East Lake Road, Auburn) on August 21. After re-watching the video…
Republicans fight for Henrietta’s top job
In Monroe County’s suburbs, Henrietta is sometimes invoked as a pejorative or a cautionary tale of dominance by shopping plazas and big box commercial development. “We don’t want to be Henrietta,” residents tell their elected officials. Yet those same people shop in Henrietta’s stores and eat in its restaurants. Henrietta is misunderstood. It’s not all…
