Cover Story
Water power
Water is a powerful natural force, with enough brute strength to wash away cities and the persistence to wear down rock. And in humankind’s more practical moments, people have figured out how to work with that force — think of the mills and hydroelectric plants powered by swift streams and waterfalls. But humanity’s relationship with…
More than half of US students are from poor households
A new report by the Southern Education Foundation reveals something that probably won’t surprise many public school teachers and staff: more than half of America’s school children — 51 percent — come from poor households. The figure is the highest it’s been in nearly 50 years, marking a 30-year trend in the country’s growing rate…
The stakes are high for scrambling local Dems
Let’s borrow a euphemism from the sports world and call 2015 a “rebuilding” year for local Democrats. The Democratic brand is in trouble everywhere, but the local scene is particularly alarming. The latest development is the defection of County DA Sandra Doorley – formerly one of the Dems’ brightest stars. The Democrats I’ve talked to…
Film Review: “The Babadook”
The greatest horror films — the ones that stand the test of time — continue to resonate with audiences not just for the theme park thrills they provide, but because they find a way to tap into our deepest, most primal fears. They can choose to make those fears metaphorical or terrifyingly literal, but that…
Kongos beat
The four-piece band Kongos has made an enormous impact on current rock and alternative radio with its hit song “Come with Me Now.” The single stayed at number one on the Billboard alternative chart for five straight weeks, and is still spinning on regular rotation across the country. The band — four brothers: Johnny, Jesse,…
ROCKABILLY | Reverend Horton Heat
When I first heard The Reverend Horton Heat, it changed my life. Rock ‘n’ roll is best when it’s done wrong. This guitar wizard and his band out of Texas played full-bore slap ‘n’ twang rockabilly too fast, too loud, and too cool. It was wrong, it was perfect. The Reverend (nee Jim Heath) plays…
Funke to respond to Cuomo address
The state Republican Party has tapped Senator Rich Funke to give the GOP response to Governor Andrew Cuomo’s State of the State address, which is scheduled for Wednesday. The Senate majority leader typically delivers the GOP’s response, but Majority Leader Dean Skelos asked Funke, a former radio and TV broadcaster, to do it this time. …
WEEK AHEAD: Cuomo’s budget; school choice forum; coffee and conversation with Vargas; more
Governor Andrew Cuomo will deliver his State of the State address and introduce his 2015-2016 budget proposal.
Theater Review: “Little Shop of Horrors” at Geva
With joy, edge, and a playful 60’s tone, “Little Shop of Horrors” is an irresistible musical — and Geva’s new production doesn’t disappoint.
Film Review: “American Sniper”
The picture begins with a sniper in position on a rooftop in Iraq, looking through his scope first at a young man, then at a woman and a child, questioning over his radio whether he should take the shot. The response, “Your call,” provides no guidance, so that in this situation and throughout the movie,…
Little partners with Geva for new film series
Geva and The Little Theatre have teamed up to present a cult musical film series on Wednesday nights, kicking off this week with “Little Shop of Horrors.” The series continues with John Waters’ classic pro-integration, teenage dream, “Hairspray,” on January 28; “The Wiz,” set not in Kansas, but Harlem, and starring a young Michael Jackson,…
Theater Review: “West Side Story” at Roberts Wesleyan College
In November, The Rochester Latino Theatre Company teamed up with RAPA for a successful production of “West Side Story” at the Kodak Performing Arts Center. This month, the classic musical travels westward to Roberts Wesleyan College, where it is getting a bang-up production by the Roberts Wesleyan College Community Theatre. As the name of the…
DiNapoli’s report on school safety raises serious questions
A recent report from State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli’s office offered a sobering look at safety in some of New York’s public schools. A random audit of seven schools during the 2011-2012 school year showed that the schools failed to correctly report instances such as student violence, weapons possession, and sexual offenses. Rochester’s East High School…
Rochester City Council backs opponents of Seneca Lake LPG facility
Rochester City Council members have thrown their support behind the local governments and businesses opposed to a proposed liquefied petroleum gas storage facility along Seneca Lake. A subsidiary of Texas-based Crestwood Holdings, a fuel storage and transportation company, wants to store butane and propane in salt caverns owned by another of the company’s subsidiaries, US…
The comeback: Molly Clifford’s running for City Council
Such is the turbulent state of local politics at the moment that a reporter asked if Molly Clifford, who announced her bid for City Council this morning, is running as a Democrat. A bit of background: Clifford is a long time, solid-blue Dem who once ran the local party. But the Dems, you see, are…
County DA Sandra Doorley jumps parties
The Monroe County GOP has picked off one of the Democrats’ top stars. Today, county District Attorney Sandra Doorley announced that she is switching her party enrollment from Democrat to Republican. Doorley’s victory over Republican Bill Taylor in the 2011 DA’s race was a rare prize for local Dems, who haven’t enjoyed much success in…
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[UPDATED] Cuomo announces $1.5 billion competition for Upstate
Seven Upstate regions will compete for three $500 million awards.
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[UPDATED] Ginna and RG&E get extension for contract talks
UPDATED 4:10 p.m. – In a filing this afternoon, the Public Service Commission granted RG&E and Ginna the extension they requested. Original post: Rochester Gas and Electric and the owners of the Ginna nuclear power plant want more time to negotiate an agreement for the utility to purchase the plant’s electricity. The companies were supposed…
In practice clothes
A large dance studio lined with ballet barres and mirrors at Rochester City Ballet’s University Avenue home was filled with spectators Tuesday night as the company rehearsed “Serenade,” choreographed by George Balanchine and set to the music of Tchaikovsky. The well-attended event was part of the company’s In Studio Series, now in its fourth year.…
Hochstein announces new festival
Hochstein School of Music & Dance has announced a new 10-day music and dance festival, HOC Loves ROC, which will take place Friday, January 30, through Sunday, February 8. The program will highlight performances — ranging from classical, to jazz, to rock — involving hundreds of Hochstein students and faculty members, and will feature a…
Congress members take second shot at renewing Great Lakes program
In December, the House of Representatives passed legislation that would have reauthorized funding for a crucial Great Lakes environmental program. But the Senate never voted on the bill. Now, similar legislation is back in front of the House. The bill provides for another five years of funding – from 2016 through 2020 – for the…
POP | Nico & Vinz
As a prize for winning Pepsi’s “Hype Your Hometown” competition, Rochester will see a free pop-up concert with pop duo Nico & Vinz on the corner of East Avenue and Chestnut Street, this Sunday. During the contest’s December run, Pepsi asked participants across the country to send in photos and videos of their excitement for…
Theater Review: RBTL presents “Pippin”
The touring production of “Pippin” — the Tony-winning revival of the 1972 Stephen Schwartz and Roger O. Hirson musical — transforms the medieval tale of a wide-eyed dreamer into a wildly entertaining circus spectacular. The production, presented by the Rochester Broadway Theatre League, opened Tuesday night at the Auditorium Theatre and continues through Sunday, January…
Audra McDonald
Audra McDonald has created many memorable characters on stage — and has the awards to prove it. As a singer, McDonald’s a great performer in smaller venues, but she really loves singing with symphony orchestras. “Everything is big, big, big — singing with all those instrumental colors is like playing with the coolest box of…
ALBUM REVIEW: “Children of the Sun”
Joe Sample & NDR Bigband “Children of the Sun” PRA facebook.com/joesampleofficial Pianist Joe Sample, who died last year, rose to fame with the Jazz Crusaders (later shortened to The Crusaders) but you’ve also probably heard his work on Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On,” Joni Mitchell’s “Court and Spark,” Tina Turner’s “Private Dancer” and Steely Dan’s…
“Latency” by Jihwan Park
People react to adversity in a variety of ways. When a competitor tried to sabotage the work of Rochester-based artist Jihwan Park, he incorporated the experience into a new thesis about the necessity of brokenness. Uncommitted to one medium, Park’s focus is conceptual, about process, and the exploration is executed through a variety of media.…
ALBUM REVIEW: “Intents and Purposes”
Rez Abbasi Acoustic Quartet “Intents and Purposes” Enja reztone.com Guitarist Rez Abbasi was born in Karachi, Pakistan, but grew up in southern California. Since casting his lot with jazz in the 1980s’, he’s been enamored of the great music produced in the 1940’s, 50’s and 60’s. As he explains in the liner notes of his…
ART | “Project Baldwin”
James Baldwin was a brilliant writer and civil rights activist with a crushing knack for articulating hard truths and tensions regarding race, sexuality, and class. This month, MuCCC (142 Atlantic Avenue) will host “Project Baldwin, A Live Theatre Experience featuring the Works of James Baldwin,” presented by David Shakes and the North Star Players. The…
CHOW HOUND: A culinary combination
Thanks to Hollywood gossip magazines, we now have words like Brangelina and Kimye in our lexicon. Megan Rattray and Shawn Hoock have embraced the combination trend and used it to name their new restaurant, Shmeg’s (3027 Buffalo Road, Gates). If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em, right? Rattray and Hoock met while both working at…
SPECIAL EVENT | C.L.A.W. — Cool. Love. Art. Wow.
“Who says it has to make sense?” C.L.A.W. — Cool. Love. Art. Wow — is a free art session where teenagers between the ages of 13 and 17 can come and “chill with some cool artists and talk about art stuff.” Attendees are encouraged to bring photographs of their personal work for tips, advice, or…
Feedback 1/14
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. Casinos aren’t…
LECTURE | TEDxFlourCitySalon: La Voz
TEDxFlourCity’s first salon of 2015 will be held at Kodak Theatre on the Ridge (200 West Ridge Road) on Thursday, January 15, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., and features a set speakers from Rochester’s Latino community. The event’s theme is “La Voz: The Power of the Latino Voice,” and is co-presented by the Rochester Latino…
Historical Society moves part of collection to Sibley
The Rochester Historical Society continues to struggle to find its footing. The latest: finances forced the organization out of its space at the Rundel library late last year. The society hadn’t paid its rent — $48,000 annually — since early in 2013. (Library officials say they don’t intend to pursue the back rent at this…
ART EXHIBIT | “Art From the Start”
From Monday, January 12, through Sunday, February 22, My Sister’s Gallery at the Episcopal Senior Life Communities will host Art from the Start, a collection of moving art pieces from local artists Cheryl and Don Olney. The husband and wife team of artists specialize in making unique “kinetic” art pieces that move using gears and…
Rural schools see a financial cliff
Funding for New York State’s public schools has for years been a source of tension between school district administrators, teachers unions, and lawmakers. New York’s schools are among the most racially and economically segregated in the country, according to a recent New York Times article. The problems — not enough funding and inequality in the…
SPECIAL EVENT | “Spinning Tops”
Lots of people have some item which they proudly collect, rather as a hobby or, for the more serious, a way of life. Don Olney must be extremely proud of his collection which is 7,000 strong. What does he collect? Spinning tops. Being a toymaker, it makes sense Olney has such a big collection. His…
Urban Action 1/14
This week’s calls to action include the following events and activities. (All are free and open to the public, unless otherwise noted.) Climate change captured on film ColorBrightonGreen.org will begin its 2015 winter film series with a presentation of “Chasing Ice” at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 21. National Geographic photographer James Balog was a…
THEATER | RCP 90th Anniversary
The Rochester Community Players first began to roar in the Roaring 20’s — on January 19, 1925, to be exact, when the group presented the farce “Wedding Bells” at the German House. (It received rather good reviews, too; one praised the cast’s “unmanicured high spirits.”) Ninety years and 647 plays, musicals, and other productions later,…
ROCKABILLY | Lustre Kings
Elvis Presley. The King. He cured the sick; raised the dead; walked on water; was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell, where he met up with those handsome devils, and Presley acolytes known as The Lustre Kings. The Lustre Kings have been burning up the American highway for years, but always manage…
CLASSICAL | “The Best of East and West”
“The Best of East and West,” an afternoon recital program presented by Nazareth College’s Music Department, will feature a coming together of contrasting colors and styles. The “East” will be represented by the pieces “Sound of the Five” and “Wild Grass” — written by composers Chen Yi and Zhou Long, respectively — while the “West”…
CLASSICAL | “Kaddish”
Allied Forces liberated the Nazi concentration camps in 1945, and the world became aware of the full extent of the Holocaust. To commemorate that 70th anniversary, the Rochester Philharmonic and Rochester Oratorio Society are presenting Lawrence Siegel’s “Kaddish.” This cycle of 15 songs, first performed in 2008, is based on the testimonies of Holocaust survivors.…
KIDS | Musical Mystery Tour at Hochstein
Break the winter blahs with a musical extravaganza. Hochstein’s annual mid-winter family affair includes movement, musical exploration, and putting on your sleuth hat. Kids of all ages can pound away in a drum circle, explore new instruments, or get their hands into a host of arts and craft activities. It all revolves around a mystery…
FOLK | The Sun Parade
The Sun Parade whirls whimsical folk-pop. Full of lamenting lifts and cool retreats, the band finds some psychedelic in the mundane. Hailing from Northampton, Massachusetts, The Sun Parade formed in 2011, with a sound that is propulsive and dreamy, and lyrics of relatable searching in faded denim. It has two albums in the back pocket:…
METAL | Primalfrost
Front man Dean Paul Arnold started Primalfrost as a one-man project, combining elements of folk metal, black metal, melodic death metal and other similar genres into something of “epic proportions.” After releasing the 2013 album “Prosperous Visions,” and adding three members to the band for live shows, those epic proportions were reached. The critically well-regarded…
Viva Metalachi!
The name brings to mind two things, yet not necessarily in the order you would think. Metalachi, doesn’t take traditional mariachi music, plug it in and turn it up for maximum kerrang. No, rather the band takes classic metal songs and strips them down, interpreting them with traditional mariachi instruments. What remains in this mashed-up,…
Liberté. Solidarité.
How should we respond to the horrific assault on the French weekly Charlie Hebdo?
