Cover Story
Rochesterians doing great things behind the scenes
There are many talented people in Greater Rochester working to make the region a better place to work, live, and play. But it often seems like the same names dominate headlines, while other no less deserving people go unnoticed. The Rochester 10 — an annual project by City Newspaper — is designed to bring some…
Planning begins for Pride ‘16
The Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley will hold a Pride 2016 community forum at noon on Saturday, January 9. The meeting is the first planning session for the annual Pride weekend events. Organizers want to hear from the community. What should be changed or added? What could be done to improve the events? The…
Star-crossed artists
Art history nerds: gather ’round! Through January 24, a beautiful, surreal film currently screening in Memorial Art Gallery’s Lockhart Gallery (500 University Avenue) provides a great opportunity to play a little game of art “I Spy.” Canadian artist Marcel Dzama’s 2013 “Une Danse des Bouffons (A Jester’s Dance)” is chock-full of references to the work…
Oxford ends 2015 with old and new works
During each holiday season, Oxford Gallery presents a showcase of some of the best work of the past year by artists it represents. In addition to displaying previously shown pieces, this year, owner James Hall also invited the artists to submit new work. Featuring pieces by more than 45 artists working in a wide variety…
FOLK | Jeremiah Craig
Jeremiah Craig is a harmonica-wieldin’ guitar-slingin balladeer whose acoustic folk is centered around his love of storytelling. He seems to find the story wherever he goes and feels a personal quest to keep certain folk traditions alive while adding his own contemporary feel. Jeremiah has been making music for about a decade, and has been…
JAZZ | Laura Dubin Trio
On the two excellent albums she’s released so far, pianist Laura Dubin has mined the Great American Songbook and paid tribute to keyboard giants like Horace Silver and Oscar Peterson. The native Rochesterian — who has played at the Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Festival at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. — brings…
ROCK | California Cousins
With howled harmonies, lyrical structures that spread the edges of the music, and interesting, mathematical-esque guitar and drum work, California Cousins is well-constructed, infectious emo — closer to the original “emotional hardcore” that the genre started with, not the scenester whine it turned into. The band has a five-track EP, “George’s Bridge,” and a two-song…
Feedback 12/30
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. Comments of fewer than 350 words have a greater chance of being published, and we do edit selections for publication in print. We don’t publish comments sent to other media. Gun laws…
ROCK | Puddle Splasher
The fact that Puddle Splasher wrote its recent EP, “Missed Connection,” during the members’ first semester in college just blows my mind. The New Jersey-based trio is in complete control. Puddle Splasher has taken some of the best parts of 90’s alt-rock (a little early Foo Fighters, a little Hum) and added some garage rock…
Urban Action 12/30
This week’s calls to action include the following events and activities. All are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. Library to hold series on photonics The Friends and Foundation of the Rochester Public Library will tackle the subject of photonics during its January Tuesday Topics, starting on Tuesday, January 12, with “the…
City went too far regulating alcohol sales
A regulation to help protect Rochester neighborhoods from the trouble sometimes associated with corner stores has been repealed because the city did not have the authority to implement it. For the past three or four years, the City of Rochester regulated retail operations that sell alcohol, tobacco or tobacco paraphernalia, lottery tickets, or firearms, considering…
Cuomo acts to help young offenders
New York is one of two states that treat 16- and 17-year-old offenders the same way that they treat adult criminals. As a result, these teens are saddled with criminal records, which can make it harder for them to get jobs later in life, even if they’ve stayed out of trouble since their initial offense.…
Union works for certification overhaul
New York State United Teachers is working with the Board of Regents, the State Education Department, and lawmakers to overhaul the teacher certification process. NYSUT says that there are numerous content and computer format problems with the state’s new certification exams. The union also wants lawmakers to stop for-profit testing companies from charging student-teachers to…
Monroe Avenue bistro gets a new concept
Monroe Avenue patrons remember Lola, the candlelit cocktail bar and bistro that closed earlier this year. In early November, Lola reopened as Turcott’s Taproom (630 Monroe Avenue). “Lola had run its course,” says Chris Diamantopoulos. “Monroe Avenue has been going through some changes and we wanted to come up with something new.” Turcott’s is owned…
Album Review: “Another Storm”
Dan Eaton “Another Storm” Self-released facebook.com/Daneatonband The rock ‘n’ roll as food metaphor is alive and steamin’ on Dan Eaton’s new platter, “Another Storm,” a super solo outing without The Dan Eaton Band. Just take some driving guitar, Eaton’s trademark lackadaisical vocal delivery, songs that sing, ring, and swing, and a crew of Austin, Texas,…
Music Review: “Shake”
Gary Holt “Shake” Self-released It seems like just yesterday we were talking about Gary Holt’s first CD, “Because I Can.” Well, apparently this legendary local producer has a plethora of material banging around in his head that he wants to get out, because in less than a year, here he is with numero two: “Shake.”…
HOLIDAY | Kwanzaa Celebration
First Community Interfaith Institute Inc. will continue its 47th Annual Kwanzaa Celebration through Friday, January 1. The celebration began Saturday, December 26. All events will be held at First Community Interfaith Institute Inc. (219 Hamilton Street), at 5:30 p.m. each day with the exception of the feast on January 1, which will take place at…
Rubblebucket keeps its rowdy resilience
Rubblebucket is no stranger to upstate New York, and on Saturday, January 2, at Water Street Music Hall, the popular indie pop band makes yet another return to Rochester. The band’s trumpet player, Alex Toth, cites numerous sonic influences as critical to Rubblebucket’s sound — from Fela Kuti and Afro-Cuban jazz to James Brown and…
COMEDY | The Capitol Steps
Going on 34 years, The Capitol Steps has had some real staying power — but I guess when you’re riffing on Washington, D.C., you always have enough material. The satire group has been through five presidents, and has turned countless news headlines into song titles, like “Mock the Vote,” “How to Succeed in Congress Without…
SPECIAL EVENT | “The Solo Circus”
Rochester-area native Michael DuBois aims to help young and old keep their fitness resolutions by providing a little inspirational entertainment. His “Solo Circus” show, which combines extraordinary physical and athletic skill with performance comedy, will be performed this weekend at the Jewish Community Center (1200 Edgewood Avenue). The all-ages performance features magic, juggling, circus and…
REGGAE | Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad
Floating between the unlikely goal posts of roots-reggae and roots-rock is Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad’s deep, deep in the pocket (we’re talking way down deep, with the lint, pennies, and Tic Tacs) groove. When it comes to the one drop, no one is tighter. When it comes to these hometown heroes, tackling country, the…
COMEDY | Barry Crimmins
Comedian Barry Crimmins helped jumpstart the Boston standup scene in the 80’s after he founded the comedy clubs The Ding Ho and Stitches, which gave Steven Wright, Paula Poundstone, Bobcat Goldthwait, Denis Leary, and so many other comedians their start. A truth-teller and political satirist — he has a book out called “Never Shake Hands…
SPECIAL EVENT | That Metal Show
You don’t have to be a headbanger to appreciate “That Metal Show,” VH1 Classic’s long-standing talk show that has interviewed tons of rockers, from the sincere (Mick Mars) to the spooky (Marilyn Manson). Host Eddie Trunk and co-hosts Jim Florentine and Don Jamieson will hit the road for an evening of storytelling along with stand-up…
SPECIAL EVENT | Big Wigs
One of Rochester’s most fabulous performing duos, Mrs. Kasha Davis and Aggy Dune, will take the JCC stage just in time to ring in the New Year. Mrs. Kasha Davis returns from a world tour following an appearance on season seven of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and is teaming up with Aggy Dune to present a…
BLUES | Hanna and the Blue Hearts
Hanna and the Blue Hearts is a soulful, honey-sweet jazz and blues band. Pianist and singer Hanna Klau has a lilting voice that’s resonant rich and sweetly dreamy. With a deep repertoire of standards from the 1930’s and 40’s, she performs both solo and as a trio with the Blue Hearts duo: Aleks Disljenkovic on…
Film review: “Carol”
Director Todd Haynes knows his way around a melodrama, having worked within the confines of the genre in HBO’s “Mildred Pierce” miniseries as well as his exquisite Douglas Sirk pastiche, “Far From Heaven.” Haynes has a knack for recreating period dramas in a way that feels at once thoroughly modern and also like they might…
Film review: “Joy”
Having already ushered her to one Oscar win and another nomination, director David O. Russell reteams with his muse, Jennifer Lawrence, for the rambunctious, but wildly uneven “Joy.” A modern melodrama, “Joy” is inspired by the life of harried homemaker turned entrepreneur Joy Mangano, the inventor of the Miracle Mop. A creative, endlessly imaginative young…
Why winning the Fight for $15 is essential
The argument that a substantial increase in the minimum wage is a “job killer” has no basis in fact.
Film review: “The Big Short”
You wouldn’t expect to find a filmmaker like Adam McKay behind “The Big Short,” an ambitiously brainy satirical take on the 2008 financial crisis, but it turns out McKay’s unique comedic sensibilities are a perfect fit. Best known as the director of stupid-smart comedies like “Step Brothers” and the “Anchorman” movies, McKay is able to…
