Cover Story
Interview: Local performer Evan Harrington returns to Rochester in “Once”
Evan Harrington can probably count on a round of applause whenever he takes the Auditorium Theatre stage this week, as a member of the touring company of the hit Broadway musical “Once.” Harrington is returning home, one of many ambitious young people who got the opportunity to perform in school and in local theater groups…
Film Review: “Muppets Most Wanted”
With 2011’s “The Muppets” doing the heavy lifting of reintroducing Jim Henson’s beloved felted creations to a new generation of children, its follow-up, “Muppets Most Wanted,” has the luxury of freedom in its task of cementing their place in our hearts all over again. The new film picks up literally at the exact moment the…
Local public health officials encouraged by lead trends
Childhood lead exposure hasn’t been eliminated in Monroe County, but the numbers look a lot better than they used to. Much of the credit goes to local efforts to attack the source: lead paint in homes, particularly in older rental units. This morning, the Coalition to Prevent Lead Poisoning released 2013 county figures on childhood…
RCSD budget: layoffs or not?
Rochester schools Superintendent Bolgen Vargas’s proposed $784 million budget for the 2014-2015 school year emphasizes year-long reading support, expanded learning in more schools, and full-day pre-kindergarten. Vargas told board members at a meeting last night that if they’re serious about improving student achievement, that his is the right strategy for getting there. Vargas said he…
Eastman Business Park officially for sale
This morning, Kodak announced that it’s putting Eastman Business Park up for sale. The company had been selling off chunks of the park to outside businesses or leasing space in its buildings. But now the company wants to offload the remaining property entirely. From its press release: “Kodak believes the uniquely well-equipped site can best continue…
“RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 6, Episode 5: Snatch Game!
This episode, and its companion “Untucked,” were so stuffed with great moments that there wasn’t even time for a mini-challenge. RuPaul skipped the foreplay and got straight to the kaikai — Snatch Game, the challenge that separates the true queens from the pretenders to the throne. While the Snatch Game itself proved one of the…
Film Review: “A Touch of Sin”
In “A Touch of Sin,” Chinese auteur Jia Zhangke tells four individual stories, tangentially connected to one another. Each tale, based loosely off a real news stories from modern Chinese history, focuses on a random act of violence committed by some poor soul who has been pushed to his or her limit by the corruption…
Geva announces 2014-15 season
Geva Theatre Center Artistic Director Mark Cuddy unveiled the theater’s 2014-2015 season Monday night, referencing the tagline, “Your theatre, home grown.” That approach can be seen in both the Fielding Mainstage shows and the performances slated for the Nextstage, as many of next year’s plays are newer, critically lauded works never before seen in Rochester,…
WEEK AHEAD: Community report card; RCSD budget; bus stop hearing; harbor management plan; more
The Rochester Area Community Foundation’s ACT Rochester initiative will release its third annual community report card at a press conference Thursday morning. The report card will spell out regional trends in several areas. Previous report cards included information on health, public safety, poverty, children and families, and the economy. The information will be available at…
Theater Review: Geva Theatre Center’s “Informed Consent”
Race is clearly a topic of interest at Geva. It is addressed very obviously in the recent “Clybourne Park,” and more subtly in “Informed Consent,” a brand-new play by Deborah Zoe Laufer in its world-premiere production. To make a very rough generalization, one play deals with race in terms of society, the other in terms…
Film Review: “The Grand Budapest Hotel”
Platformed carefully and hyped heavily, Wes Anderson’s “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” should achieve an impressive box office success. For unclear reasons, his movies usually please the reviewers enormously — his first big production, “Rushmore,” benefited from three major stories in the New York Times on its release, then received the sort of adoration from critics…
Can the school board, superintendent, and community work together?
Just weeks before Rochester schools Superintendent Bolgen Vargas and the school board have to go into serious budget talks for the coming school year, both Vargas and school board President Van White face a difficult test. White initiated a far-reaching search for ideas from the community on improving student performance in city schools. Four committees…
East’s problems mirror an unstable district
It’s tempting to think that the pending shakeup at East High School is just the State Education Department doing its job: pushing for greater accountability. But the situation at East mirrors the serious problems permeating much of the Rochester school district. And a plan for improving the district as a whole instead of just focusing…
Exhibit Review: “Suspended Arrangements” at Genesee Center
As complex and flavorful as our terrestrial world is, the sum of it is made up of surprisingly few components, pieced together in endless possible ways. The further we reduce our focus in scale, the less diverse our group of building blocks becomes, with the occasional scientific surprise that makes us reconsider everything. With a…
Arts & Cultural Council announces move to Kodak Center for Performing Arts
Earlier this week, the Arts & Cultural Council for Greater Rochester announced that it will be closing its doors at 277 N. Goodman St. at the end of April. Following a board meeting held at noon today, the organization sent out a joint announcement with Rochester Association of Performing Arts (RAPA) that the council will…
Rochester deputy mayor charged with DWI
Rochester Deputy Mayor Leonard Redon was stopped on I-490 last night and charged with speeding and driving while intoxicated, according to a press release from the city administration. Redon informed Mayor Lovely Warren at approximately 1 a.m., the press release says. And this morning, Warren and Redon met to discuss “his lapse in judgment and…
Henrietta board united against casino
The Henrietta Town Board is officially on record opposing a Seneca Nation of Indians in the town. Last night, board members voted 4 to 0 in favor Supervisor Jack Moore’s resolution, stating their opposition. Media reports say approximately 20 people spoke at the meeting, most against the casino. The resolution is available here, starting on page 6. The…
Theater Review: RBTL’s “Once”
“The bar onstage is open. Enjoy!” With those words as a greeting, I entered the Auditorium Theatre for Tuesday night’s performance of the Tony Award-winning musical, “Once.” That cheery welcome prefaced a scene I’m not generally accustomed to seeing at that venue: the stage, dressed to look like a charming, somewhat dingy pub, was crowded…
ART | “Forgotten Places”/”Where Heaven Meets Earth”
Rochester’s art scene perpetually provides. Here are a couple of choice art events taking place this week. For more, visit our online calendar at rochestercitynewspaper.com. Oxford Gallery (267 Oxford St.) is currently hosting “Forgotten Places,” an exhibit of paintings by Richard Harrington, Matt Klos, and Ryan Schroeder, which focus our gaze on things, or aspects…
BLUES | Samantha Fish
Rochester got its first dose of guitarist Samantha Fish a couple of Jazz Festivals ago, when she was one of the wows in the triple-wow “Blues Caravan, Girls with Guitars” bill, along with Cassie Taylor and Dani Wilde. And though we could look beyond the visuals and get right down to the music, fans were…
DANCE/MUSIC | Taiko Drummers
Pairing authentic Taiko drumming with original, contemporary choreography, TAO brings a unique and explosive show to Nazareth College this week. TAO: The Art of the Drum is an ensemble of former rock musicians, gymnasts, composers, and athletes that work to share a vibrantly modern take on a traditional art form. TAO has performed in more…
POP/PUNK | Plain White T’s
Formed as a band of high-school friends in Chicago circa 1997, pop-punkers — emphasis on the pop — Plain White T’s worked the road relentlessly for 10 years before being blessed with platinum status and two Grammy nominations for the melancholy gem “Hey There Delilah.” Not to be outdone by itself, the band followed with…
Funke joins Senate race
Republican leaders say Rich Funke’s name recognition and journalism background, combined with his familiarity with state issues and his record of community service make him the ideal candidate for State Senate. Funke announced last week that he’ll seek the GOP endorsement to run for the 55th District seat against Democratic incumbent Ted O’Brien. The race…
SKA/PUNK | Reel Big Fish
Reel Big Fish has had to deal with a few challenges throughout the years. First, the ska-punk wave — which it rode to mainstream appeal in the 90’s — was reduced to a mere splash. Its single “Sell Out” became a minor hit in 1996, and the band appeared in the 1998 film “BASEketball,” but…
FILM | ImageOut Best of the Fest
In honor of LGBT Health Awareness Month, ImageOut will host a free screening of popular and important LGBT cinema on Tuesday, March 25. Kicking off the night will be the screening of the movie “Shooting for the Moon,” which tells the true and tragic love story of American poet Elizabeth Bishop and Brazilian architect Lota…
JAZZ | Eastman Chamber Jazz/Scott Healy
Scott Healy may be best known as the keyboard player in the “Conan” (O’Brien) show’s Basic Cable Band. He’s also recorded and performed with top artists like Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, Bruce Springsteen, and Al Green. But when he joins Eastman Chamber Jazz and director Dave Rivello Thursday, the Eastman School of Music alum will…
Historical Society will leave the library
Still struggling to stabilize itself financially, the Rochester Historical Society will not renew its lease at the Rochester Public Library’s Rundel building in downtown Rochester. “We are involved in active discussions with a third party about a potential relocation of the Rochester Historical Society either in whole or in part to another location,” says Historical…
MOVIE MUSIC | Irondequoit Chorale
The 75 voices of the Irondequoit Chorale will sing their way through a concert titled “Cinemagic,” which just might be the uplifting blizzard break we all need. The concert will be a musical journey through the history of music in movies through more than 40 songs. Eric Trumpowsky is the music director for this community…
LITERATURE | If All of Rochester Read the Same Book
Can’t get enough of this year’s “If All of Rochester Read the Same Book” selection? Then make sure to take advantage of the multitude of events coming up in honor of Eowyn Ivey’s “The Snow Child.” The book tells the story of a childless couple in 1920’s Alaska. On the day of the first snowfall,…
POP | Porches
New York-based band Porches makes ambient, atmospheric music with an emotive edge. Similar to bands like Beach House, Animal Collective, and Wild Nothing, Porches embraces an ethereal, dreamy sound that hides the serious, dark nature of the majority of its lyrics. Porches released a full-length album, “Slow Dance in the Cosmos,” full of relaxed, murky…
Treatment for a traumatized world
One of Vikki Reynolds’ first clients was a young girl who’d pee the bed to avoid being raped. Another early client fled halfway around the world to escape torture for his political beliefs. Reynolds, a clinician and instructor, says she observed similar characteristics in these early clients. Alongside pain and sadness, she says, there was…
Tyzik’s 20th Season Celebration
Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra POPS Friday, March 21 & Saturday, March 22 Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre, 60 Gibbs St. 8 p.m. | $18-$95 | 454-2100, RPO.org It would be easy to forget what a man is doing for his line of work when he’s commuting between Rochester, Detroit, Dallas, Seattle, Portland, Florida, and Vancouver, with…
RECREATION | Color Run
Whether you’re a seasoned runner or just want an excuse to get dressed up and run outdoors, you won’t want to miss Nazareth College’s Color Run this weekend. Throw on a white t-shirt or a crazy costume as you dance, walk, or run your way through the race that blasts you with color as you…
ALBUM REVIEW: “Noble Vibes”
Noble Vibes “Noble Vibes” Self-released Noblevibes.com The biggest misconception in playing roots reggae, rock-steady, or ska, is that it’s easy. Now, it may be easy-going in its casual pump and sway, but it ain’t that easy. Bands like Rochester’s Noble Vibes in its most excellent execution of the one-drop style adds to this confusion on…
Care costs
Two-parent families in New York spend, on average, 16.5 percent of their annual income on child care, according to Senator Kirsten Gillibrand’s office. Single mothers, on average, spend more than 57 percent of their income on child care, the office says. Parents in the Rochester-Finger Lakes area face estimated full-time day care costs of up…
ALBUM REVIEW: “En Direct et Endiable”
The Djangoners “En Direct et Endiable” Self-released reverbnation.com/thedjangoners The Djangoners’ first-ever album, “En Direct Et Endiable,” is as much about Django Reinhardt’s legacy as it is about the Rochester quartet’s own. Drawing from Reinhardt’s Hot Club of France, The Djangoners painstakingly and elegantly recreate the sweet café swing produced by the legendary gypsy guitarist and…
THEATER | UR One-Act New Play Festival
Rochester is the home to many prominent actors, such as Taye Diggs and Kristen Wiig. It’s also home to the University of Rochester’s International Theatre Program. The program aims to train students to be theater professionals by offering them a comprehensive introduction to the performance aspects and technical demands of theater. The program has produced…
More local boys (and girls) done good
Rochester is definitely a town with a longstanding music and theater culture. With numerous area schools offering high-level music and theater programs, and many community-theater groups, it has been a training ground for a surprising number of actors who have gone on to fame on Broadway and in Hollywood. We’ve produced some actors who went…
Urban Action 3/19
This week’s calls to action include the following events and activities. (All are free and open to the public, unless otherwise noted.) RCSD budget presentation Rochester schools Superintendent Bolgen Vargas will present his proposed budget for the 2014-2015 school year at 6 p.m. on Monday, March 24. The presentation will take place at the district’s…
Arts and Cultural Council to close gallery and publication
Amid news of the Arts & Cultural Council for Greater Rochester’s financial struggles and changes in leadership, the Council announced this week that it will leave the space it has occupied at 277 N. Goodman St. “The plan is to leave the space by April 30,” says acting Council Director David Semple. The move is…
Our anonymous comments
“I really don’t think you should allow commenting by anonymous commenters.” –Martin Edic. “I agree with Martin Edic. Anyone commenting should identify themselves.” –James Bearden. “I also agree that City Newspaper does a disservice to its readership by posting anonymous comments.” – Larry Champoux. Let me take time off this week from giving you my…
Dining Review: Umi Japanese
If you didn’t know that Umi is a Japanese restaurant, you might mistake it for a club. The interior is hidden from outside view by mirrored windows. A sign by the door informs patrons that children under 18 aren’t allowed in unless accompanied by an adult, and no one under 21 may sit at the…
The high-risk stakes in Crimea and Ukraine
The events in the Crimea have the potential to become the most serious threat to world peace since the Cuban missile crisis. It will take wise decision-making by Obama and Putin to avoid that outcome. Russia’s buildup of troops in the region and our sending of warplanes to a former Soviet Republic and a warship…
ROCK | Stone Soul Foundation
The cats in Central New York’s Stone Soul Foundation are the masters of the heavy, collaborative riff. It’s not just the guitar, but the whole outfit that kicks in to weave a fine thread count into the band’s gravel and groove. Lyrically the band rages a bit topical and angry — religion, politics — but…
Feedback 3/19
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 selections for publication in…
ROOTS ROCK | DiMaggio Connection
DiMaggio Connection lays claim to rockabilly and its myriad roots and offshoots, like swing and surf. But elements of punk creep in there as well. The Italian trio’s stab at The Beach Boys’ “Don’t Worry Baby” has hints of how the Sex Pistols covered “My Way.” The sharp-dressed band’s sound is a slick and beautiful,…
![[UPDATED] State ed: Time’s up for East High School](https://i0.wp.com/www.roccitymag.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/easthigh_teaser.webp?resize=200%2C150&ssl=1)
[UPDATED] State ed: Time’s up for East High School
The State Education Department has sent a letter to Rochester schools superintendent Bolgen Vargas, saying that major changes are required at East High School.
