Cover Story
Summer Guide 2013
Regional Music Festivals, Upstate NY Breweries, Life on the Lake, Festival Calendar, and more!
Obama announces climate actions
President Barack Obama just wrapped up a speech at Georgetown University where he announced federal actions aimed at cutting the country’s carbon emissions. The White House issued a fact sheet and report on the president’s agenda, which is available here. PHOTO COURTESY OF STEVE JURVETSON Some of the measures, all of which are executive actions…
JAZZ FEST 2013, Day 4: Frank reviews The Dave Spinner B3 Band, The Sicilian Jazz Project, Violet Mary, and Chris O’Leary Band
With the casual air of a felon who knows he’s guilty, but doesn’t care, The Dave Spinner B3 Band swung vibrantly nonchalant and tasteful in the Big Tent Monday night. The band came out with its take on the Funky Meters before moving into Herbie Hancock territory. The set was even-keeled and steady in the…
Quality issues in charter schools
Champions of charter schools were dealt a sobering reminder of their core mission recently: to innovate effective and new education models that can be successfully channeled into the nation’s broader public school system. A new report from Stanford University’s Center for Research on Education Outcomes questions whether this, after 20 years, is happening. According to…
JAZZ FEST 2013, Day 4: Ron reviews Alfredo Rodriguez Trio, Geoffrey Keezer, Kurt Rosenwinkel Quartet, Eric Alexander and Harold Mabern
The Alfredo Rodriguez Trio started off well enough at Kilbourn Hall Monday night. During the group’s first tune the dynamics were off the charts. Rodriguez, his bassist, and drummer never fell into a standard pattern. The piece rose and fell like Rodriguez’s hands springing off the keyboard. The sound was impressionistic, with flurries of notes…
JAZZ FEST 2013, Day 4: Paloma reviews Courtney Pine, Hiroya Tsukamoto and Satoshi Takeishi, and ESM-XRIJF Scholarship Performance
UPDATED 6/25/13 with the name of John Sneider, the guest trumpet player who performed with the Eastman Youth Jazz Orchestra. Monday was Day 4 of the 2013 Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival, but for me it was the first night out.I’m contributing coverage to City this Monday through Friday. I arrived early and got to…
Vargas re-enlists former RCSD heavyweights
Rochester school district, Rochester school board, Superintendent Bolgen Vargas,
“True Blood” Season 6, Episode 2: This little light of mine
While watching last night’s episode of “True Blood” I was struck by the following thought: “When did this show become ‘Charmed’?” Two episodes into Season 6 I’m finding myself increasingly concerned about the tone of this show. It takes itself SO seriously now. There’s nothing fun, or slutty, or gritty, or subversive about it anymore.…
Week Ahead: County moves to restrict gifts; waterfront planning in the city
Monroe County Legislature committees are meeting this week.Democrats have introduced legislation to restrict the gifts that county officials can accept. In an introductory memo, Democrat Josh Bauroth writes that the current prohibition on accepting gifts is too vague. Current county law prohibits county employees and officials from receiving gifts exceeding $25 if “it could be…
JAZZ FEST 2013, Day 3: Frank reviews The Stretch Orchestra, Christine Tobin, Louis Armstrong Jazz Society Band
Of all the bands that I wanted to see on Sunday night, and of those I hadn’t seen before, The Stretch Orchestra at Montage Music Hall was at the top of my list. I’ve seen this Canuck trio in parts — as solo artists or sidemen — and knew the total would surely outweigh the…
JAZZ FEST 2013, Day 3: Willie reviews Mike Brignola and Friends, BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet
For my Sunday night at the Jazz Fest, I was back at the Rochester Club for Mike Brignola and Friends. Sometimes at the festival I have to make concessions, and even though baritone sax isn’t tuba, it still dances low enough in my range-likings to be worth checking out. But, there was just something off…
JAZZ FEST 2013, Day 3: Ron reviews Rafael Zaldivar, Christian Wallumrod Ensemble, Dave Rivello Ensemble
I chose my Sunday night venues with the best of intentions. After researching all of the acts, watching videos, and listening to the music, I picked what I thought would be the best shows. So I was surprised to be disappointed by two out of three of them. Rafael Zaldivar is an excellent pianist, but…
JAZZ FEST 2013, Day 2: Ron reviews Matt Herskowitz, Terell Stafford, Bruce Barth and Steve Nelson
There are always a few acts at the XRIJF that I’ve never heard of before the festival, but I can’t stop talking about after I’ve seen them. Pianist Matt Herskowitz is now on that list. Before describing him I want to say that I do hope the Steinway in Hatch Hall recovers from the (positive)…
JAZZ FEST 2013, Day 2: Willie reviews YolanDa Brown, Halie Loren Trio, Loren and Mark, and Shuffle Demons
First up for me Saturday at the 2013 Jazz Fest was the Halie Loren Trio at the Rochester Club. It’s an interesting venue (food and jazz at the same time!), and Loren’s trio fit the space well. The act created music that was more fit for the background of a conversation than it was being…
JAZZ FEST 2013, Day 2: Frank reviews Willie Nelson, Dr. Lonnie Smith, John Mooney
The sky was cryin’ as me and my baby (now married six years) made our way to the festival site Saturday. First up: Dr. Lonnie Smith at Kilbourn Hall. Smith and his band — guitar and drums — came out to initially build a groove from next to nothing. It was if they were making…
JAZZ FEST 2013, Day 1: Ron reviews Christian McBride, Thiefs, Patricia Barber, Trondheim Jazz Orchestra
Hearing all of the Scandinavian groups at the Lutheran Church over the years, I’ve often been curious about their distant, thrice-removed perception of jazz. After all, they are not only more than half a century away from the golden age of jazz, they’re also a continent and culture away. Friday night Norway’s Trondheim Jazz Orchestra…
JAZZ FEST 2013, Day 1: Frank reviews Nikki Yanofsky, Dr. John, Hackensaw Boys, Pink Martini
With the longest line I’ve ever scene snaking out of the Harro East Ballroom — down around the block and all the way up Liberty Pole Way — the 2013 Rochester International Jazz Festival kicked off in style Friday night. It was gorgeous outside as I made my way into the early show of the…
JAZZ FEST 2013: City’s Daily Jazz Blogs
The 2013 Xerox International Jazz Festival runs June 21-29, and City Newspaper has all the reviews, bios, schedules, and other information to make sure that you make the most of the festival. EVERY NIGHT of the festival City’s music bloggers will be out covering multiple shows. Check in first thing each morning for photos and…
JAZZ FEST 2013: Meet City’s jazz bloggers
Ron Netsky My involvement with music started with my family. My grandfather was a bandleader, my uncle was a composer for Broadway shows, and both of my brothers were (and still are) musicians. My interest in jazz in particular can be traced to my younger brother Hankus, who was always practicing Joe Henderson tunes on…
City should’ve cut the mounted patrol
Maybe someone can sell me on the reasoning for keeping the city’s mounted patrol, because I just don’t see it.
JAZZ FEST 2013: Jazz Fest Photo Retrospective
This year marks the 12th edition of the Rochester International Jazz Festival. City Newspaper has been covering the event from the beginning, and staff photographer Frank De Blase has literally hundreds of shots of the artists who have played the festival over the years. Check out the accompanying slideshow for just a selection of Frank’s…
Murkowski is latest Republican senator to back marriage equality
Add Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska to the growing list of Congress members who support marriage equality.
JAZZ FEST 2013: Where to eat at the Fest
You’re liable to work up quite an appetite while checking out a night’s worth of shows at the Jazz Fest. Thankfully, the festival provides. Several of the Club Pass venues offer food (at an additional fee, of course), including Max of Eastman Place and the Rochester Club. Refreshments are available at most of the others.…
City schools’ disgruntled customers
While many of the city school district’s problems are linked to severe child poverty, some are caused by plain old bad management and a culture of apathy.
County Dems renew call for fracking ban
For the second time this week, Democrats in the Monroe County Legislature are calling for a countywide fracking ban. This afternoon, three members of the caucus laid out the framework for their desired ban. They haven’t drafted legislation yet; Minority Leader Carrie Andrews said they’re hoping to work with at least a few Republican legislators…
Rochester City Council extends gas-drilling moratorium
Last night, City Council voted to extend a Rochester’s moratorium on natural gas exploration and extraction for another year. The resolution says the city extended the moratorium “in order to preserve and protect the public health, safety, and welfare of the residents of and visitors to the City of Rochester from known and suspected dangers…
Castañeda out in Brockport
Whatever momentum Brockport Mayor Maria “Connie” Castañeda got from her recent legal success wasn’t enough to carry her to victory in yesterday’s village elections.
POP | AM & Shawn Lee
If you’re looking for a hidden gem among shows this summer, AM & Shawn Lee at the “Get Sticky” Shakedown music festival might be the one worth checking out. Formed as a long-distance collaboration between Los Angeles-based singer AM and London-based producer Shawn Lee, the pair’s latest, “La Musique Numerique,” invokes 70’s roller-rink discos and…
THEATER | “9 to 5: The Musical”
The hit 1980 movie “9 to 5,” starring Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, and Dolly Parton, resonated with many women-in-a-man’s-world who worked hard for their money, felt utterly underappreciated, and dreamt of ways to turn those tables. If this sounds familiar, indulge in a little revenge fantasy this weekend, when Everyone’s Theatre Company’s staging of “9…
BREWERIES: Have yourself a beer
In Rochester, memories of this year’s interminable winter weather dissipate quickly once the sun begins to shine again and the summer beer season begins. And summer certainly does seem to be prime beer season in Upstate New York. This year a variety of breweries across the state are offering exciting opportunities to try their new…
Historical Society hits a rough patch
The Rochester Historical Society’s board is facing some serious financial challenges, and the head of its board says it may need to change how it operates. Board Chair Pat Malgieri says the Historical Society’s challenges mirror those facing cultural organizations across the country, and the economy is a factor. In an interview last week, Malgieri…
“Man of Steel”
Hollywood owes an enormous debt to the creators of the first caped crusader, the apparently immortal Superman. His comic books spawned radio shows, television series, and all those costumed superheroes, magically gifted adventurers who could fly, float, burst into flames, turn invisible, suspend the laws of physics, and satisfy other juvenile fantasies. The latest addition…
OUTDOORS: Sports & Recreation Events
2013 PGA Championship August 8-11. One of the biggest golf championships in the world, and the last of the golf season, comes to Rochester. Oak Hill Country Club, 346 Kilbourn Road. pga.com. Buffalo Bills Training Camp July 28-August 21. NFL team comes to St. John Fisher campus to train for the upcoming season, including practices…
POP/ROCK | The Neighbourhood
At some point in early 2012, word started to disseminate about a superfluously voweled band from California named The Neighbourhood. Armed with an effectively scant bio and a few moody, atmospheric, and altogether catchy alternative pop tracks, the outfit quickly gained traction on blogs and across the pond on BBC Radio 1. Despite the limited…
“This Is the End”
If you’ve grown weary of the Judd Apatow school of comedy — the patented examination of male anxieties in their various forms, starring the usual rotating roster of familiar faces — “This Is the End,” which finds the Apatow players facing down the apocalypse, is likely not going to bring you back into the fold.…
PHOTO FEATURE: Living on the Lake
The Greater Rochester area is blessed with miles of Lake Ontario shoreline. The communities that line the lake become especially attractive during the summer. City's photographers set out to capture some of those signature summer scenes in Sodus Point. What are your favorite moments of living along the lakes around Rochester? Share them with us…
HEAVY ROCK | Jucifer
Jucifer is easily the heaviest duo in the whole world. People who like to pick apart and analyze music absolutely drool over the simile buffet when it comes to putting Jucifer’s sound in words. Hailing from Atlanta, guitarist Amber Valentine plays through a wall — and I mean a wall — of amplifiers while drummer…
SPECIAL EVENT | Roc Transit Day
If you’re green-minded but aren’t sure if using public transportation would mesh with your busy schedule, take the bus system for a spin on ROC Transit Day. This Thursday, June 20, join thousands of Rochesterians in the challenge to go car-free for one day. Rochester-area employers and community organizations can request free all-day fare cards…
JAZZ FEST 2013: More than just jazz
I have many friends in Rochester who have never been to the Jazz Fest. The answer almost always comes down to, “I don’t like jazz.” Here’s the good news: the Rochester International Jazz Festival is about much more than jazz. In fact, some purists argue that there’s not enough jazz at the event (frankly, we…
MUSIC INTERVIEW: Mulu Lizi
Usually when discussing a concept album or a band with an ongoing narrative, you figure that theatrics aren’t far behind. Mulu Lizi is a Rochester quartet that has aliens and zombies wandering in and out of its post-but-not-that-post-90’s sound. The band’s brooding music doesn’t necessarily lend itself sonically to the walking dead and the extraterrestrial,…
CHOW HOUND: The Revelry, events and openings
You’ve no doubt encountered representations of pineapples in seemingly strange places, whether forged in brass for a door knocker or carved in the wood of an old home’s staircase. The pineapple has actually long been a symbol of friendship and welcome, with major prevalence in the American South. That’s why you’ll also find a large,…
JAZZ FEST 2013: What’s FREE at the Fest
While the Eastman Theatre headliners and Club Pass shows require tickets, the 2013 Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival will be loaded with free concerts — in fact, there will be 81 free shows on six outdoor stages during the nine-day festival (running June 21-29). These concerts tend to get packed, so if you want a…
JAM BAND | moe.
Founded just down the road in Buffalo in 1989, moe. sits at the top of the jam-band heap. But truly moe. is more improvisational than jam. Jam bands often don’t know when to stop, whereas improvisational bands do — they just don’t care. Moe. keeps it free and easy within its complexity, with feet on…
A learning Oasis
Whether it’s arts, humanities, health, or technology, demand for classes at Oasis Rochester is so high that students have to register through a lottery. And every trimester there’s a waiting list, says Priscilla Minster, the organization’s director. The secret to the success of the alternative school for the over-50 crowd is the programming. “I don’t…
R&B | Mary J Blige
Since making a multiplatinum splash way back in 1992 with “What’s the 411?” R&B queen Mary J. Blige hasn’t let up. She’s had eight multi-platinum albums, won nine Grammy Awards (from 29 nominations), and taken home four American Music Awards. Blige is the undisputed queen of contemporary R&B. Anthony Hamilton, Bridget Kelly, and Jay Lamont…
Dream on
Downstairs Cabaret’s new offering, “Dream Lover,” really is nothing more than a nightclub act, but it’s a very good nightclub act. Singer Robert Shaw (definitely not to be confused with the actor or the choral conductor) simply salutes singer-actor-songwriter Bobby Darin, a huge star in the late 1950’s and early 60’s, known for songs like…
MUSIC: Pitching a tent
Looking to catch some concerts this summer outside your own back yard? Want to make that concert a road trip? No matter what your musical tastes may be — or your budget — tons of shows are happening down the road that will get you grooving in the great outdoors. Get your motor running, head…
PUNK | Streetlight Manifesto
Punk-rock music was built on a do-it-yourself foundation and a healthy aversion to the establishment. New Jersey’s Streetlight Manifesto has embodied this ideal with its latest move. Over the past decade, seven members with seven different musical backgrounds have taken the high-energy, in-your-face nature of punk and ska, and added elements of jazz, funk, classical,…
MUSIC: Regional Concerts
Ameribeat Festival of the Arts July 4-7. Four nights of camping and music includes shows by Max Creek, The Z3 (tribute to Frank Zappa), The Primate Fiasco. 274 Kent Road, Sterling. sterlingstage.com. Artpark Mainstage Theater Through August 2. Concert series features Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis (June 24), Buddy Guy and The…
CLASSICAL/ELECTRONIC | Dysphemic & Miss Eliza
Ever wondered what it sounds like when someone busts out the dub and rap while someone else is jamming out on the violin? Well you certainly need to check out Dysphemic & Miss Eliza. The duo is in town all the way from Australia while on a North American and European tour, and has come…
THEATER: Summer’s servings on the stage
For some institutions, summer may be the slow season. But Rochester’s theater scene is coming off extremely lively fall, winter, and spring seasons, continuing the momentum right through the summer months. If you’re a fan of musicals, mysteries, comedies, and the occasional serious drama, summer offers plenty of theatrical diversions, in town and nearby. If…
Bill Maher’s funny fury
Comedian and TV personality Bill Maher, who will perform at the Auditorium Theatre on Saturday, July 13, has been pushing the boundaries of comedy and political satire for more than 20 years. While many comedians have found success combining politics with humor in their stand-up routines, Maher is among the few who have managed to…
ART: Roc and Seek
I’d like to play a game, Rochester. And since the weather’s been lovely (knock on ALL the wood), let’s take this game outdoors. I propose a challenge: a scavenger hunt of public artworks found in and around Rochester. Use the following clues to locate 9 works that might otherwise have missed your attention, whether due…
THEATER: Theater Events
Blackfriars Theatre July 19-28: “Rent.” Blackfriars Theatre, 795 E. Main St. 454-1260, bftix.com. Black Sheep Theatre Coalition July 19-21: “Vincent”; August 2, 3, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17: “Almost, Maine.” Suite D313, Village Gate Square, 274 N. Goodman St. blacksheeptheatre.org, 861-4816 Bristol Valley Theater Through June 23: “The Marvelous Wonderettes: Caps and Gowns”; June 27-July…
FILMS | “Decoding Annie Parker”/”Comfort Zone”
Feed your brain this week with the following local screenings of educational films about the proactive choices some women are making regarding breast cancer, and the impact that global warming may have on this region’s environment. Almost immediately following the news of Angelina Jolie’s radical decision to have a preemptive double mastectomy, the local chapter…
ANTIQUING: Sailing through garages
The rainy weather of April and May sends plenty of Rochestarians into their garages, attics, and overflowing closets for a little spring cleaning. That cleaning leads to piles of goodies, tenderly set out on lawns and in public spaces. These items need to find new homes, and if you head to any number of local…
ART: Exhibits / Events
Art Exhibits Did we miss something? Head to rochestercitynewspaper.com and leave a comment on this article with your own event. “Parallel Universe and Figurations” by Frederic and Mary Ann Richard Skalny Through June 28. Patricia O’Keefe Ross Art Gallery, St. John Fisher College, 3690 East Ave. sjfc.edu, 385-7322. “The Price of Freedom is Death: Black…
‘Raise the age for prosecution’
New York is one of two states that prosecute all youth as adults when they turn 16. About 50,000 16- and 17-year-olds are arrested every year in the state and are prosecuted in criminal courts as adults, mostly for minor crimes. The majority are black and Latino. | According to the Children’s Defense Fund-NY and…
ANTIQUING: Flea Markets & Garage Sales
Flea Markets & Garage Sales Did we miss something? Head to rochestercitynewspaper.com and leave a comment on this article with your own event. Bontrager’s Auction Center Weekly auctions Tue & Wed. Surveying starts at 3 p.m., bidding begins at 4:30 p.m. 8975 Wortendyke Road, Batavia. bontragerauction.com. 716-937-9393. Charlotte Flea Market Wednesdays 10 a.m. More than…
Good. Old. Boys.
How wonderful to see so many male politicians standing up for women’s rights. Governor Cuomo has been on a statewide tour, pushing his Women’s Equality Act, which attacks human trafficking, sexual harassment, and employment and housing discrimination. A couple of weeks ago, Assembly Speaker Shelly Silver spoke out at a Women’s Equality Coalition rally in…
KIDS | Fudge Expo
As an aunt and frequent babysitter of small kids, and lacking the stamina and steel nerves of a parent (bless you all), I like to let the children run amok in a safe environment before trying to engage them with something somewhat educational and then returning the pooped kiddos to my beleaguered sis. If you’re…
GEEK EVENTS: Nerd up your summer
Like many nerds, I have the tendency to remain indoors, permanently huddled in front of whichever glowing box happens to be displaying my currently desired form of entertainment. But now it’s summer: the few months every year when Rochester is guaranteed at least some beautiful weather. So it seems a shame to waste it. It’s…
Folk-Pop | WYATT
Brooklyn-based band WYATT is somewhat of a family affair. Singer-songwriter Maddy Wyatt has collaborated with her two brothers, and two non-Wyatts, on a project that the band members have labeled “electrofolkpop.” The music WYATT makes is especially reminiscent of the lo-fi folk-pop of the early 2000’s, calling to mind bands like Rilo Kiley and Tilly…
RECREATION | CitySolve
How fortuitous that almost immediately following ROC Transit Day, an event is scheduled to challenge your new public-transportation skills. CitySolve Urban Race is described as an urban adventure game where teams solve pop-culture-type clues to find hidden checkpoints and face challenges, with the restriction that they may only travel by foot and public transportation. CitySolve…
BREWERIES: Brewery Events
Annual Ironman Race Barbeque Sun July 28. Beer and barbeque outside of the brewery all day in celebration of the Lake Placid Ironman. Lake Placid Pub & Brewery, 813 Mirror Lake Drive, Lake Placid. ubuale.com. 518-523-3813. Belgium Comes to Cooperstown Fri-Sat Aug 2-3. Brewery Ommegang’s annual summer beer fest celebrating the best in Belgian and…
Urban Action 6/19
This week’s calls to action include the following events and activities. (All are free and open to the public, unless otherwise noted.) ROC Transit Day Reconnect Rochester will hold its second annual ROC Transit Day on Thursday, June 20. Organizers encourage businesses, community groups, schools, and public offices to support employees, students, and residents who…
THEATER REVIEW: “A Chorus Line”
If you were around for the original incarnation of “A Chorus Line” in the 1970’s, you may remember the ads touting it as “The Best Musical. Ever.” Its award-laden 15-year run on Broadway seemed to bear that out; the show even survived a terrible movie adaptation. Whether or not “A Chorus Line” is the best…
FOOD: Festivals & Events
Festivals & Special Events Did we miss something? Head to rochestercitynewspaper.com and leave a comment on this article with your own event. Food Truck Rodeo Wednesdays June 26, July 31 & August 28. Rochester’s food trucks gather together while local bands play music. Rochester Public Market, 280 N. Union St. cityofrochester.gov/foodtruckrodeo. Big Rib BBQ and…
HIP-HOP | Kings of the Mic Tour
LL Cool J needs no introduction. Chances are you or your lady friend will swoon at the sound of his name. The Grammy-winning recording artist-actor-entrepreneur headlines Kings of the Mic Tour, which features a line-up of classic hip-hop acts that includes Public Enemy. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame cut to the chase by…
SPECIAL EVENT | Atari Exhibit and 90’s Dance Party/Retro Video Game Night
You guys, it has happened. The elements of culture that were current when I was a kid are now considered “retro.” Well, we won’t have time for tears if we’re dancing, will we? Celebrate the music and video games of just a few decades ago this week with the following fun events. Long before the…
FOOD: Summer’s exclusive festival foods
Rochester’s summer will be filled with places to see, events to attend, and perhaps most importantly, food to eat. From now until September, there is a festival to be found nearly every weekend. Some of these festivals have amusement park rides, some have works of art for sale, but they all have one delicious thing…
Feedback 6/19
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. For our print edition, we select comments from all three sources; those of fewer than 350 words have a greater chance of being published, and we do edit those selections. We don’t…
