It’s getting hot in here
This past weekend, temperatures in Rochester approached 95 degrees, though the high humidity levels made it feel hotter than 110. Mayor Lovely Warren declared a Cool Sweep Heat Emergency, keeping city pools and spray parks open later and inviting residents to cool off in air-conditioned rec centers and city libraries. County officials extended hours at…
The F Word: Corn Hill can-can and Pentecostal caterwaulin’
It was a gorgeous day this past Saturday at the Corn Hill Arts Festival, as I made my way through the throng to catch some bands at the Gazebo Stage. Vanishing Sun was onstage challenging the real sun as it dappled the crowd beneath the shade. Lead singer Zahyia — dressed like a steampunk can-can girl — had the…
Christopher Pate’s arrest: lessons from the video
The footage of the arrest, beating, and subsequent treatment of Christopher Pate is now available for all of us to see, and it is incredibly troubling, in multiple ways. In May 2018 two white Rochester police officers, thinking that Pate, a young black man, resembled a burglary suspect, stopped him as he was walking in…
Overdose deaths decrease, but still remain high
The good news: the number of people in Monroe County who died from opioid overdoses decreased last year. The bad news: the number was 195 people, and that’s much higher than it was even five years ago. The Monroe County Medical Examiner’s Office released its annual statistics on overdose deaths this morning. And 2018 marked…
Dinolfo will sue state over driver’s license law
Monroe County government is getting ready to sue the state over the so-called Green Light Law, which clears the way for undocumented immigrants to get drivers licenses. Last night, the County Legislature voted 17 to 10 — along party lines — to authorize Republican County Executive Cheryl Dinolfo to sue the state. Dinolfo says she’s…
SPECIAL EVENT | HIV/AIDS Candlelight Vigil
The Rochester Victory Alliance at the University of Rochester Medical Center has been conducting HIV vaccine studies for more than 20 years, and was one of the first research organizations in the country to do so. Its website states that more than 65 million people are living with HIV, and the organization continues working toward…
THEATER | ‘Smudge Stick’
Though its roots are in ancient sacred tradition, “smudging,” or burning sage to clear negative energy or purify a space, is fairly pervasive in American culture. Taking the cleansing metaphor to the stage this week is Rochester-based, award-winning storyteller Almeta Whitis, who will present a multi-sensory performance titled “Smudge Stick: The Pungent Aroma of Truth.”…
RIT scientists using technology to fight invasive plants
Purple loosestrife, with its innocent-looking flares of hot magenta flowers, pops up along roadsides and ditches. Common reed grass, with its tough green spears that can reach 15 feet in height, has made marshes and watersheds its home. Both are invasive plants that can be found throughout New York, and they’re spreading faster than state…
Another arts group focuses on the future
Rochester has yet another organization focused on supporting and promoting the arts. Roc Arts United, a group of artists, arts administrators, and others involved in creative work, has been meeting for the past several months. Its goal, its leaders say, is to represent the diverse community of individual artists, organizations, institutions, and businesses in Rochester’s…
Activists continue to push for legal cannabis
Recreational cannabis remains illegal in New York, as does possessing even small amounts of it. The early part of this year’s legislative session was filled with promise that that state lawmakers would end the prohibition on cannabis. But it never happened; legislators just couldn’t get on the same page when it came to legalizing it.…
FESTIVAL | Genesee County Fair
The Genesee County Fair is celebrating 180 years this month, and has expanded to include a second weekend this year. Founded in 1839, it’s one of the longest consecutively-running county fairs in New York State. In addition to musical entertainment, midway rides and games, classic fair foods, meet-and-greets with more than 800 animals, this year’s…
SOUL | St. Paul & The Broken Bones
Gospel was Paul Janeway’s ticket to rock history. The front man of St. Paul & The Broken Bones grew up as a preacher’s son in rural Alabama, and he brings to mind artists like Otis Redding and Sam Cook. He exudes the persona of a banker or accountant who never made it back to the…
ART | ‘High Finish’
The Geisel Gallery recently opened “High Finish,” an exhibition of new work by Ithaca-based painter Barbara Mink. Her works are filled with energetic, abstract colors applied to unprimed canvas and linen that depict a tension between movement and stillness, depth and a flattened plane. In her artist statement Mink said she came to art late,…
CLASSICAL | Finger Lakes Chamber Music Festival
Now in its 17th year, the Finger Lakes Chamber Music Festival is a fixture on the Upstate New York summer concert scene. Under the direction of conductor-composer Richard Auldon Clark, this concert series travels from one pleasant Finger Lakes venue to another — from wineries to the Keuka College campus. This Sunday’s concert in the…
FESTIVAL | Rochester Pride
Rochester Pride 2019 kicked off informally on July 2, when the Rochester Red Wings hosted its first-ever Pride night at Frontier Field (and the team said it was one of its highest-attended games this year). Presented by The Out Alliance, Pride 2019 kicks off on Saturday, July 13, with its annual Q Day at Seabreeze,…
JAZZ-SOUL | Brahim
Take your time and unwind with local jazz octet Brahim. Consisting of two drummers, two keyboardists, a singer, a rapper-DJ, as well as bass and sax players, this talented collective of young musicians is expected to release its debut studio album soon. Providing great music for an evening in an intimate cocktail lounge, Brahim performs…
FESTIVAL | Corn Hill Arts Festival
The 51st annual Corn Hill Arts Festival takes place this weekend, featuring more than 325 artists exhibiting their work along nine streets in the historic Corn Hill neighborhood. While the artwork is the main feature, festival-goers can also enjoy a variety of food, drink, and treat vendors; family entertainment, including the 7th Annual Fairy House…
ROOTS ROCK | Daddy Long Legs
[REVISED AND UPDATED 7/10/19] Musician Brian Hurd is perhaps better known to the blues rock set as Daddy Long Legs. His trio bears the same name. With backing by guitarist Murat Aktürk and drummer Josh Styles, Daddy Long Legs was established in 2010 with a mission to refurbish old rock ‘n’ roll traditions. Based in…
ALT-GRUNGE | Haybaby
A sludge rock trio from Brooklyn, NY, Haybaby has used music to morph negative into positive since 2012. After years of ups and downs, including loss and a random arson of its tour van, Haybaby continues to persevere with its second studio album, “They Get There,” released in June. Vocalist Leslie Hong has an airy…
JAM BAND | LITZ
Performing classic blues-rock covers and equally tantalizing jam-funk originals, LITZ has been shaking things up since 2013. Based in Maryland, the band consists of the two Litz brothers — Austin and Logan, on keys and bass, respectively — as well as guitarist Pat Shine and drummer Nick Thrasher. The band has celebrated more than a…
Feedback 7/10
Send comments to feedback@rochester-citynews.com with your name, your daytime telephone number for verification, and your city, town or village. We edit selections for publication. Brewers join climate efforts This primary election season we were pleased to hear local candidates talk about many important issues facing the greater Rochester area. One issue that was glaringly absent,…
COMEDY | Nicole Byer
Actress, comedian, and writer Nicole Byer will be in Rochester this week for her national tour stop at Comedy @ The Carlson. Byer is best known as the host of “Nailed It,” a reality baking competition show streaming on Netflix; she hosts a podcast called “Why Won’t You Date Me;” and her semi-autobiographical sitcom “Loosely…
Looking for America on the Fourth of July
Insisting on adherence to the law is one thing. Failing to provide humane treatment for desperate people is another.
Album review: ‘Mixed Messages’
Bob Bunce and Rural Delivery ‘Mixed Messages’ Mr. Big Tune Records bobbunce.com I’ve always enjoyed Bob Bunce’s music, and I salute the off-the-grid defiance flag he flies. He’s an affable dude with no pretense or animosity. But on his new CD with Rural Delivery, “Mixed Messages,” he’s copped a bit of a sinister slant. I…
What! Crawfish! serves food to shout about
If you have ever eaten a lobster, you know how to tackle a crawdad. All of the crawfish at What! Crawfish! are shipped live daily to the Henrietta restaurant.
Album review: ‘Everything in Between’
Stavo ‘Everything in Between’ Self-released stavomusic.com Stavo is a band that moves beyond the 90’s hard rock it plays, stylistically and actually. To have it make sense, you’d have to add a few more years to the celebrated decade — like, say, 19911 or 19912. And even then it would be hard to paint this…
The F Word: Buckcherry and the jazz jones
After nine days and over a thousand miles staggered and stumbled throughout the East End, it was time for Frank to get some of the jazz juice jitters out of his joints and re-up the necessary amount of rock ‘n’ roll that runs through his bloodstream.
Film review: ‘Midsommar’
Human emotions are the real horror in Ari Aster’s films. With his ambitious sophomore film “Midsommar,” he uses the context of horror to explore grief, depression, and the detrimental effect of toxic relationships. And for good measure, Swedish pagan solstice rituals.
UUU Art Collective creates space for emerging creatives
One word to describe the UUU Art Collective and its three founders is legitimate, which is maybe not what you would expect from a company whose origin story includes house parties and bathroom kegs. Nevertheless, co-founders KC Sullivan, Dylan Niver, and Zac Lijewski have built something worthy of the word.
