Cover Story
Dodging the digital bullet
If you see a new movie in a big-screen chain theater today, what you’re seeing is likely being projected digitally, the information embedded in a hard drive. In Rochester, our local independent cinemas are ready for this major shift, and area film professionals debate digital’s impact on artistry, archiving, and business.
Daily Choices: What to do on Wednesday, December 19
THEATER: View what FLCC students in the Introduction to Theatre class have learned over the semester at the 10-Minute Play Festival. Plays include “Special Gifts from Daddy” by Jeremy Baker, “Same Girl” by Courney Rankin, “Closer Than You Think” by Dylan DeGeorge, and “Truth in Fiction” by Codey Allen. 1:15 p.m.-1:50 p.m. Stage 14, second…
Slaughter calls for federal assault weapons ban
Representative Louise Slaughter says she wants Congress to re-enact a federal assault weapons ban. Discussion about the legality and availability of rapid-fire weapons has spiked following the tragic shooting of 20 children and six adults at a Connecticut elementary school last Friday. Police and media reports say that the shooter, identified as Adam Lanza, used…
Tax deal for Sibley building approved
The board of the Monroe County Industrial Development Agency unanimously approved a tax deal this afternoon for the developer of the Sibley building downtown.
Could the city school district be the next Oldsmobile?
There was plenty of brie, sugar cookies, pizza, and beer at two holiday parties I attended last weekend. And there was also a lot of chatter about the city school district. “Remember General Motors in the 1970’s?” asked one partier. “They built cars and trucks, they weren’t any good, and buyers began looking elsewhere. That’s…
Concert Review: Lyric Chorale at St. Louis Church
Through a combination of choral music and projected images, the Lyric Chorale presented works inspired by the Virgin Mary in the setting of St. Louis Church in Pittsford on Saturday, December 15. The Lyric Chorale was generous in its offerings during a nearly two-hour program, including various settings of “Ave Maria,” as well as Bach’s…
Daily Choices: What to do on Tuesday, December 18
SPECIAL EVENT: Do all those gluten-filled cookies floating around during the holidays get you down? Gluten-free individuals can participate in the fun now too at Greater Rochester Celiac Support Group’s Cookie Exchange. Bring three dozen gluten-free cookies to share. 7 p.m.-9 p.m., orientation at 6:30 p.m. Social Hall at St. Anne Church, 1600 Mt. Hope…
Last Senate race decided, for now
It appears that the State Senate will, once again, operate with perilously thin margins. A state judge has decided on the last unresolved Senate contest from the November elections. The judge ruled that Republican George Amedore beat Democrat Cecilia Tkaczyk in a district stretching from Montgomery County to Ultser County, with final counts placing him…
![[UPDATED] Week ahead: Sibley COMIDA hearing, State funding awards, Vargas meeting, state Electoral College convenes](https://i0.wp.com/www.roccitymag.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/1368552601-money-100s-pile_sidebar.webp?resize=400%2C300&ssl=1)
[UPDATED] Week ahead: Sibley COMIDA hearing, State funding awards, Vargas meeting, state Electoral College convenes
On Wednesday, December 19, the state will hold a ceremony to announce funding awards for the regional economic development councils. Details haven’t been announced, but the co-chairs of the Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council mentioned the event during the council’s meeting last week. And media reports say the event will be held Wednesday, and…
Daily Choices: What to do on Monday, December 17
SPECIAL EVENT: Enjoy the winter solstice by playing bingo at the Solstice Bingo Party. Fun prizes and snacks with friends. Free. East Rochester Public Library, 111 W. Elm St. 586-8302. www.libraryweb.org/erochester.
MOVIE REVIEW: “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey”
“The Hobbit,” the shortest of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth works, is a simple story. In it, a group of 13 dwarves drag the titular hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, on a quest to reclaim their mountain home of Erebor from the dastardly dragon Smaug. Director and producer Peter Jackson, after his great success adapting “The Lord of the…
Daily Choices: What to do on Saturday, December 15 and Sunday, December 16
SPECIAL EVENT: Watch the hilarious comedy of the creative mind behind “Hairspray.” ImageOut will present “A John Waters Christmas” on Sunday, 7:30 p.m. at the Hochstein Performance Hall, 50 Plymouth Ave. $35. imagout.org.
Protestors decry racial incident
A group of about 20 area parents, residents, and students held a rally at Barnard Park in Greece yesterday to bring attention to racism and bullying.
Concert Review: RPO “The Four Seasons”
The temperature at Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre rose considerably Thursday night, owing to the sheer madness of the bowing of Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra concertmaster Juliana Athayde, as the violin soloist for Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons.” Athayde attacked the score with a determination to seize its glory, and, in doing so, she made each note sparkle,…
RCSD faces $50 million budget gap
Rochester schools Superintendent Bolgen Vargas last night presented board members with a rough outline of his budget plan for the 2013 to 2014 school year. And it’s going to be another financially tough year for the district. For starters, the board approved a $705 million budget for the current year, but the district has operated…
Daily Choices: What to do on Friday, December 14
MOVIES: Get a glimpse of what Middle Earth was like before the battle for the ring at opening day of “The Hobbit.” Various locations. Visit fandango.com.
ARTS: RPO musicians release statement supporting RPO Board
Late Thursday night a committee of musicians from the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra released a statement in support of the RPO Board in light of recent developments. The full statement appears below. In light of recent developments, the musicians of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra would like to stress our commitment to bringing the highest level of…
Geraci confirmed as federal judge
The Senate has confirmed Frank Geraci as the new US District Court judge for the Western District of New York. Geraci has served as a County Court judge and acting state Supreme Court judge since 1999; judges often serve both roles in the state’s court system. Senator Chuck Schumer recommended Geraci for the judge position…
A pre-session push for campaign finance reform
Ted O’Brien isn’t seated in the State Senate yet, but he’s already joining fellow Democrats calling for campaign finance reform. Specifically, he’s backing Governor Andrew Cuomo’s proposal, which is essentially a conceptual plan that includes public financing of campaigns.
Legislature approves borrowing for MCC campus
A measure that’ll allow the county to borrow $28 million so Monroe Community College can buy and build a permanent city campus had no trouble passing during last night’s County Legislature meeting. Just before midnight, the 29 legislators unanimously approved a bonding package that included the MCC funding. The bond resolution, however, does not commit…
Legislators approve 2013 county budget
Last night, after several hours of discussion, county legislators passed a 2013 budget that was unaltered from County Executive Maggie Brooks’ proposal. In short: the property tax rate will remain at $8.99 per $1,000 assessed value, suburban residents will pay a new chargeback to cover the cost of county snowplowing contracts, and another new chargeback…
RCSD budget talks begin
The Rochester school board will hear a presentation from Superintendent Bolgen Vargas’s financial team tomorrow night concerning amendments to the district’s 2012 to 2013 budget. The district approved a $705 million budget last spring. But the district’s revenue increased by about $21 million, mostly from grants. Some expenses increased, too, including a $2 million increase…
CAJUN | C’est Bon
‘Tis the season, or you might say the a-cajun, for the Rochester Cajun Zydeco Network’s annual Christmas party, this year with C’est Bon. The band is made up of five gals — all stars from other area zydeco outfits — and one lone dude on the drums set to rock the dancehall. They call it…
MOVIE REVIEW: “The Other Son”
Generally speaking, there are three distinct types of fantasy stories. The most blatant are the tales that take place entirely in a make-believe world filled with fantastical sights and populated by inhuman beings that could never exist in reality. Then there are the stories set in the real world but which add extraordinary elements like…
CLASSICAL | Rochester Oratorio Society
Joining together for a worldly holiday concert is the Rochester Oratorio Society ensemble, Resonanz, with guest soloists from the Rochester Lyric Opera (Susan Cotroneo, soprano; Matthew Swensen, tenor). Founded in 1945, the Rochester Oratorio Society numbers approximately 145 voices, and their smaller ensemble, “Resonanz,” is a subset of approximately 40 singers. Diverse carol selections will…
MOVIE REVIEW: “Scrooge & Marley”
Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” is already one of the most popular fantasy tales of all time, with countless cinematic adaptations — everyone from Patrick Stewart to Vanessa Williams has filled the miserly shoes of Ebenezer (or Ebony) Scrooge — so any new variation on the tale has to prove its worth by bringing something…
HIP-HOP | Break Out Tour 2012
Act Live is back in town this week, wrapping up the northeast-spanning Break Out Tour 2012. All manner of MCs, DJs, rappers and what-have-you will bring the party. A large delegation from Boston includes the headliner Du-KaRan as well as Ediquette and Kinetik Dialekt. There’s even “our boy” from Philly, DJ Games. Also look for…
THEATER: “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play”
A successful holiday show should balance familiarity and freshness. It should be able to evoke feelings of nostalgia, to take audiences back to happy childhood memories of this time of year. (That is the only possible explanation for the continued airings of that dreadful “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town” TV special from the 1970’s.)…
JAZZ FUSION | Marbin
When guitarist Dani Rabin unleashes a guitar solo, it ranges from the subtlety of Pat Metheny to the raw histrionics of Jimi Hendrix. Rabin is equally matched in his seemingly limitless range by saxophonist Danny Markovitch, with whom he started Marbin in 2007. The power quartet is rounded out by furious drummer Justyn Lawrence and…
DINING REVIEW: Royal India
It is not Christmas at Royal India. Crouched on the edge of the commercial sprawl that is Henrietta, Royal India sits apart from the celebration of America’s No. 1 consumer holiday, an oasis in a desert of faux holiday cheer. Mommy is not kissing Santa Claus here. Nor is anyone bemoaning giving their heart away…
HIP-HOP/ROCK | 98 PXY Jingle Jam 2012
Top 40 station 98 PXY is throwing its annual holiday concert this week. The 2012 Jingle Jam will feature a slew of chart-topping performers and an after party at Tilt Nightclub following the tunes. Grammy-nominated hip-hop artist Flo Rida, whose 2007 single “Low” earned him worldwide recognition, is the biggest name on the marquee. Boys…
Mayor: city will not go all out for theater
Don’t expect the City of Rochester to swoop in with a sweet offer to convince RBTL to build its new theater in downtown Rochester. If RBTL is serious about going to Irondequoit, Mayor Tom Richards says, it’ll go with his blessing. “I’m trying to be consistent with respect to what I think the civic responsibility…
Urban Action 12/12
This week’s calls to action include the following events and activities. (All are free and open to the public, unless otherwise noted.) Artists for fracking ban The Flying Squirrel Community Space hosts a showing of the documentary film “Dear Governor Cuomo” at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 15. Filmmaker Jon Bowermaster captures a unique collaboration…
Daily Choices: What to do on Thursday, December 13
THEATER: Experience the heartwarming tale of George Bailey and friends reimagined as a 1940’s live radio broadcast in Blackfriars Theatre’s “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play.” 7:30 p.m. $27. 795 E. Main St. 454-1260. bftix.org.
Fee faux outrage
Let me say a word in support of Maggie Brooks. I didn’t vote for her for Congress or for county executive, and this newspaper didn’t endorse her for either one. But I’ve been amused at Monroe County Democrats’ piling on about her latest budget and the fees snuggled away inside it. By the time you…
Daily Choices: What to do on Wednesday, December 12
SPECIAL EVENT: Support your favorite Rochester not-for-profit organizations today by participating in “Roc the Day.” From 12 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. visit roctheday.org to donate to one or more organizations of your choice. If you’re lucky, you might be one of the donors chosen every hour to give a free additional $500 to any organization.…
What about the bikes?
A group of bicycling advocates wants to know why a State Department of Transportation planning document does not include investment in cycling and pedestrian projects. The document emphasizes several other transportation modes, says Brian Kehoe, executive director of the New York Bicycling Coalition, and he’d like to see sections devoted to bicycling and pedestrian infrastructure,…
ART EVENT | Hearts And Crafts/holiday Bazaar At The Yards
Craft fairs and bazaars are excellent resources for the gifter who perpetually searches for the most unique presents each year. This weekend there are a few you can stop by to find a special surprise for the lucky folks on your list. Begin the weekend shopping at the Holiday Bazaar at The Yards Saturday, December…
O’Brien to join Dems
Incoming State Senator Ted O’Brien says he’ll conference with Democrats, not the Independent Democratic Conference, when he heads to Albany in January. | “I feel an obligation to conference with the Democrats when I’m elected as a Democrat,” O’Brien said during a phone interview last week. | He said he’s had collegial conversations with IDC…
A crisis for youth in crisis
The Hillside Family of Agencies stopped providing emergency housing for homeless and runaway youth earlier this year. The shelter, which operated since the 1970’s, has seen a considerate drop in state funding over the last several years. Hillside received $107,437 in runaway and homeless youth program funding from the state in 2008, and $29,150 in…
DANCE EVENT | Red Hot Holiday Ball
If learning how to swing dance is on your Christmas list this year, be sure to check out Groove Juice Swing’s 6th Annual Red Hot Holiday Ball on Friday, December 14. The holiday event, which runs 7-11 p.m., will be catered toward new swing dancers in the community. Along with free admission, you’ll also receive…
Feedback 12/12
Send comments to themail@rochester-citynews.com, or post them on our website, rochestercitynewspaper.com, our Facebook page, or our Twitter feed, @roccitynews. We edit selections for publication in print. Let MCC move the Damon Center I am the Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of the College at Mount Holyoke College, and I would not be where…
FILM | WXXI Screens “downton Abbey”
If you’re impatiently awaiting the January 6 TV season premiere of Emmy Award-winning drama “Downton Abbey,” WXXI is planning an event with you in mind. On Sunday, December 16, WXXI will host three screenings of the show’s Season 3 premiere at the Little Theatre (240 East Ave.). For those unfamiliar, the popular series is a…
CLASSICAL: Musica Nova
“It’s weird to talk about him in the past tense.” With that heart-felt sentiment, conductor Brad Lubman references the recent death of legendary American composer Elliott Carter. “He was 103 and lived an extremely long and fruitful life,” says Lubman. “At a certain point, you thought he was going to live forever.” On December 14,…
DANCE | “PUSHINTERPLAY”
Did you miss the chance to see PUSH Physical Theatre this fall at Rochester’s premiere First Niagara Fringe Festival? This week provides another opportunity to see the buzzed-about local group. On Friday, December 14, at 7:30 p.m. PUSH and the National Institute for the Deaf will debut two new works in progress, “Red Ball” and…
DJ/ELECTRONIC | Dj Energon Cosplay Friday: The Hobbit
For most people December 14 will be just another Friday. But to the legions of “Lord of the Rings” fans, it marks the release of the first of the long-awaited “Hobbit” movies, and a return to Middle-Earth on the silver screen. If you aren’t too sleepy from seeing the film at midnight (like the good…
SPECIAL EVENT | “let It Snow”
Despite seeming aesthetically opposed, both figure skating and ice hockey require dexterity, strength, and grace. Regardless, when I heard about an upcoming event that combines the two types of athletes in a choreographed performance, I pictured a funny beauty-and-the-beast-type mash-up. On Sunday, December 16, at 4 p.m., Premier Skating Academy and the Wease Cares Children’s…
SINGER/SONGWRITER | Richard Buckner
As the Americana idiom moves closer and closer to its flamboyant stage — more electricity and speed — it’s nice to have anchors like Brooklyn-based Richard Buckner, who remains on the acoustic side of the street. Comparisons have been made to Townes Van Zandt and the other patron saints of the road-weary, whiskey-soaked, hardcore troubadours.…
RECREATION | Christmas Bird Counts
The sweetness of birdsong is something that we perhaps take for granted in our daily hustle. For me, it has mostly become white noise unless I catch a few spare, slow moments for a walk. Many birds have already migrated toward warmer climates, but there are plenty of tough guys who’ll stick out the winter…
ROCK | Pujol
Update: This show has been canceled. We’ll update with any more information as we have it. Nashville-based trio Pujol rocks hard and cranks out Southern-fried garage-punk boogie as competently as the Colonel fries chicken. Lead singer Daniel Pujol is prolific and his band has a certain je ne sais quoi that’s charmed the ears of…
INTERVIEW: John Waters
The two may seem incongruous, but John Waters and Christmas are actually a perfect match. It’s the time of year where children are encouraged to sit on the laps of portly, oddly dressed strangers. Anyone who has seen “Pink Flamingos” can guess that Edith Massey’s character would likely be a big fan of eggnog. And…
CLASSICAL | Madrigalia
Offering comfort in the familiar, this weekend Madrigalia puts on two performances of its annual holiday concert, “Ring Out, Wild Bells!” Program selections on the “bell” theme include “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day,” “Ding Dong! Merrily on High,” and “Carol of the Bells.” Joining Madrigalia for the Friday evening performance will be the…
MOVIE REVIEW: “Hitchcock”
Long after his death, Alfred Hitchcock remains a surprisingly powerful presence in the cinema. Reruns of his extremely successful 1950’s television series turn up regularly on one of the cable film channels; a recent made-for-TV movie, “The Girl,” about his relationship with Tippi Hedren, who starred in “The Birds” and “Marnie,” now plays on HBO;…
