Cover Story
Restoring balance to Braddock Bay
In a few weeks, when spring settles in, the wetlands around Braddock Bay will come alive. Spawning fish will take cover under aquatic plants in the shallow water. Birds will flutter among the cattails and float in the ponds, looking for food or a place to nest. For the migrants that made the flight across…
Theater Review: “The Hot L Baltimore” at Blackfriars
With “The Hot L Baltimore,” Blackfriars brings back an important play by an important American playwright, and does justice to an elusive piece. Lanford Wilson died in 2011, and his reputation seems to be undergoing that slight posthumous dip that many artists undergo. But I think he’ll eventually rate very high among American playwrights for…
Court tosses fracking water lawsuit
A lawsuit that could have stopped the Village of Painted Post from selling large quantities of water to a Shell subsidiary for fracking use has been dismissed. Now, the residents and environmental groups that brought the lawsuit will have to decide whether to appeal the decision to the state’s top court. In 2012, Painted Post…
Film Review: “Bad Words”
Jason Bateman has made a successful career out of playing the straight man. From “Arrested Development” through recent big-screen work like “Identity Thief,” the actor excels at playing the mild-mannered nice guy, exasperated by the insanity that surrounds — and frequently threatens to overwhelm — him. The role suits him so well that it’s an…
Film Review: “The Lunchbox”
Fate brings a lonely office worker and a young, unhappily married housewife together in an unexpected friendship in writer-director Ritesh Batra’s warm-hearted, humanistic fable, “The Lunchbox.” Following the old adage that the way to man’s heart is through his stomach, Ila (Nimrat Kaur) hopes to reignite her marriage by arranging to have a special lunchbox…
“RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 6, Episode 6: Rap Battle Extravaganza
Confession: I’d been somewhat dreading this episode all week, ever since the 10-minute preview was released after “Snatch Game.” In that clip, the editors focused on building up a rivalry between frontrunner Ben DeLaCreme and Rochester’s own Darienne Lake, and specifically included Darienne making some pointed remarks about DeLa. I watched last Tuesday as social…
Panel’s report warns of climate change future effects
Climate change is affecting every continent and we are not prepared. That is essentially the one-sentence summary of a report released today by a working group of the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The IPCC is the authoritative voice on climate change. “We live in an era of man-made climate change,” Vicente Barros,co-chair…
WEEK AHEAD: Bus route changes; Thurston improvements; RCSD and state budgets; Land Bank meeting
A public information session will be held on proposed RTS service changes. The RTS is proposing to adjust the bus lineup schedule and route structure as a result of the new transit center, which is supposed to open later this year. The meeting is from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 3 in…
Film Review: “Noah”
Like the Biblical account of creation, with Adam and Eve consuming the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden or the construction and destruction of the Tower of Babel, the story of Noah reflects the Bible’s cyclical accounts of mankind’s overreaching and its consequent punishment. Darren Aronofsky’s new film, “Noah,” changes a good deal in…
![[UPDATED] Rochester reportedly getting small, one-time boost in state aid](https://i0.wp.com/www.roccitymag.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/money-100s-falling_sidebar.webp?resize=400%2C300&ssl=1)
[UPDATED] Rochester reportedly getting small, one-time boost in state aid
The new state budget will reportedly include $6 million in extra aid for the City of Rochester, according to Gannett’s Albany reporter, Joseph Spector. State lawmakers are currently negotiating the budget bill. The City of Rochester has a $28 million gap to fill in its upcoming budget, which is due out in May. Mayor Lovely…
Warren asks Cuomo for $100 million for downtown arts center
Channel 8 is reporting that Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren has asked Governor Andrew Cuomo for $100 million for a performing arts center downtown. Warren has long insisted that any new performing arts center should be downtown. The Rochester Broadway Theatre League has been looking for a new home, but is currently attached to the Medley Centre project…
Local officials say Cuomo’s tax freeze plan is misguided
Governor Andrew Cuomo’s proposal to freeze property taxes has plenty of critics, now including the Monroe County Council of Governments. The Council of Governments is made up of the leaders of local towns and villages, the City of Rochester, and the county. It also includes representatives from local school districts. Under Cuomo’s plan, property owners across…
Dozens speak out about East High’s problems
When a school is failing as badly as East High, the surrounding community seems to go through many of the same emotional transitions as a person dealing with a life-threatening illness. There’s the initial shock, followed by denial and anger. Many of those raw emotions were evident at a meeting at East last night, where…
New report shows stark divide between the city and the region
Key indicators show that it’s mixed bag in terms of quality of life in the nine-county region, according to a new report (included below) from ACT Rochester. But, as usual, things look much worse when you zero in on the City of Rochester. ACT Rochester compiles a yearly report card that measures what it says…
CONCERT UPDATE: Lilac Fest announces three headliners
The Rochester Lilac Festival today announced three headliners for the 2014 edition of the festival, which will take place May 9-17 in Highland Park. The concerts announced for the newly named CarMax Center Stage are: -World-music/pop/jam act Rusted Root, which will perform Thursday, May 15. -Reggae legends The Original Wailers, performing Saturday, May 17. -Pop/rock…
Warren’s handling of the Redon crisis shows progress
The pitchfork-and-torch crowd must be disappointed by Mayor Lovely Warren’s handling of the crisis involving her deputy mayor. Leonard Redon was recently charged with speeding and DWI. He offered his resignation, but Warren refused to accept it. That doesn’t mean he won’t be held accountable. Redon still faces serious legal charges. Warren seems to have learned from…
RIT’s platinum building
When Rochester Institute of Technology built its Golisano Institute for Sustainability, school officials said they wanted to set an example. The building would house a young program with a mission of incorporating environmental principles into industry and corporate decision-making. And officials said they wanted its home to embody the same mindset. The result: a building that’s been…
ART | Erotic Arts Festival
Explore two days of sensual enjoyment this weekend at the Erotic Arts Festival. The festival will be held Friday-Saturday, March 28-29, on the second floor of the Radisson Riverside Hotel (120 E. Main St.). Don’t miss out on the non-stop entertainment, including burlesque performers from across the country, airborne acrobats from Aerial Arts, erotic poet…
ROCK | King Parrot
My Australian-born wife practically peed her pants when she heard that Melbourne’s King Parrot was coming to town. This is a perfect band for those who divide their head-banging time between metal and hardcore. King Parrot plays with reckless punk abandon, a la the D.C. scene of days gone by, with the precision of thrash…
ARTS: RBTL announces 2014-15 season
The Rochester Broadway Theatre League unveiled its 2014-15 season Wednesday night. The new season definitely highlights the “Broadway” part of the RBTL’s title, as all six shows are major musical-theater hits of Broadway’s past and present. The six-show season subscription includes: -“Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” (November 11-16), Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s…
MUSIC: Sing, sing a song
Its title derived from mashing up the Japanese words “kara” (meaning empty) and “okesutora” (meaning orchestra), karaoke has been around for a long time. And some of its roots, believe it or not, are American. In fact, one of the oldest examples has ties to good ol’ Rochester. From 1961 to 1966, NBC carried a…
METAL | Anvil
Metal mega bands Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax, and Megadeth all have one thing in common: the heavy influence they received from Canadian heavy-metal band Anvil. Anvil flies under the radar, but if metal and hard rock is your kind of music, this is a show you’ll want to check out. The band’s musicianship is topnotch, with…
Annual Manual 2014
Read articles on politics, neighborhoods, art, happy hour dining, theater troupes, a calendar of events for 2014 and more!
DANCE | Rhythm of the Dance
You don’t need vacation time and a plane ticket to experience the traditions of the Emerald Isle. For one night, Roberts Wesleyan College (2301 Westside Drive) will host the National Dance Company of Ireland as they fill the Andrews B. Hale Auditorium with the excitement of traditional Irish dance and music. Rhythm of Dance is…
SINGER-SONGWRITER | Crystal Bowersox
The ninth season of “American Idol” may as well have been called “American Tragedy,” after Lee DeWyze somehow won over Crystal Bowersox, who was head and shoulders above the rest of the cast talent-wise. She has a voice and aura that call to mind Janis Joplin, and her performances of “Me and Bobby McGee” and…
CITY/COUNTY: Know your neighborhoods
Monroe County is about as diverse a community as you can find: a mid-size city, rural areas with orchards and farm markets, suburbs with 20th-century tract houses and shopping malls, and quaint, Victorian villages. The Genesee River and the Erie Canal bisect the county, more or less vertically and diagonally, so geology and history are…
SPECIAL EVENT | Rocpodfest 2014
Growing up, Vinnie Paulino was told that his quick wit, and avoidance of all serious topics, would bring him nothing but trouble. Instead, Paulino decided to pursue comedy, and is now the owner and operator of Rocpodcasts.com, Rochester’s premier comedy podcasting website. This weekend, the website will be presenting Rocpodfest 2014, a two-day celebration of…
JAZZ | Rick Holland Little Big Band
Turns out you don’t need 76 trombones and a full complement of trumpets and saxophones to knock off your socks. Just listen to the Rick Holland Little Big Band. With arrangements reminiscent of Gil Evans’ “Birth Of The Cool” session, this band packs a punch. Along with works by contemporary arrangers like Brent Wallarab, Kerry…
POLITICS: Meet your pols
Monroe County has a vibrant political scene, but it also has a pronounced party divide. Democrats control the governments in the city and a couple of inner-ring suburbs, while Republicans hold the power in most of the towns. County-wide, there’s a sometimes fragile balance of power, which often makes the community a frequent battleground in…
THEATER | “A New Day Starts Tonight”
Back in the 1970’s, the Upstairs Youth Agency was formed to work with teens from the 3rd, 11th, and 13th wards of the city. One focus of the agency was putting on plays, written by Tony Falzano, to encourage and uplift the teens. Decades later, in 2011, the teens that took part in the program…
Desert Noises
Tim Braley knows a quality band when he hears one. The co-singer and guitarist of local group Elephino has shared the stage with dozens of bands, including Desert Noises, a Provo, Utah-based rock act, which has made Rochester a regular tour stop among its East Coast swings. “Desert Noises was solid, mistake free, and fluid,”…
LIVING: Getting settled
Up until the 1960’s, Rochester’s economy was dynamic and growing, and the area’s major employers of the day often needed to build their management teams with outside talent. Eastman Kodak, Xerox, Bausch and Lomb, and several other firms were industrial giants, and some offered prospective executives handsome relocation packages. But Rochester’s relocation business isn’t what…
SPECIAL EVENT | South Wedge Record Fair
As technology continues to change, so does the way we consume our music. From the phonograph to stereos to iPods, the evolution of music players has allowed listeners to constantly upgrade to the “next best thing.” NeedleDrop Records, located at 304 Gregory St., focuses on selling vinyl albums and CD’s, as well as headphones, speakers,…
ALBUM REVIEW: “Rush”
Tom Guarna “Rush” BJU Records Tomguarnamusic.com Guitarist Tom Guarna wastes no time in drawing the listener into a musical vision as complex as it is catchy. In fact, the title tune, which begins the album, is a brilliant juxtaposition of a slow groove and the urgent double-time riffs that zoom over it. Guarna named the…
DINING: The happiest of hours
Whether you’ve just had a rough day at the office, need a quick bite before dinner, or want to avoid the late-night crowds at the bar, happy hours are a great way to enjoy local food and drink at a discount. They are the perfect chance to try something new, or get that second drink.…
ALBUM REVIEW: “Push”
Eddie Allen “Push” Edjalen Music Eddieallen.net Trumpeter Eddie Allen has covered a lot of musical territory in more than four decades on the jazz scene. He has worked with some of the top players of the Chicago avant-garde set, including Lester Bowie and Muhal Richard Abrams, as well as more mainstream greats like Dizzy Gillespie,…
ART: Gems from Rochester’s art museums
When people visit a museum or gallery, they are typically drawn in to view a specific exhibition, and perhaps linger a while to wander the permanent collection as well. But since most cultural institutions have neither the space nor the funds to present their entire collections to the public at all times, many objects reside…
THEATER: A theater town
Anyone who believes that theater is a dying art has not spent much time in Rochester; we have always offered a remarkably full range of theater, for consumption and for participation. To use a word theater people enjoy, the Rochester theater scene is very textured; there’s a little of everything offered, and something for everybody…
Feedback 3/26
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…
MEDIA: The last bastions
Now that Blockbuster has gone the way of the dodo, closing what remained of its stores at the start of this year, it seems the end is near for physical media. The fall of the former giant of home entertainment is just the latest reminder that the now omnipresent Kindles and Nooks, iTunes, Netflix, and…
New RPD chief outlines plans
Rochester Police Chief Mike Ciminelli said last week that the plan to take the RPD from an east-west model to a quadrant-based model should be ready by May. And then it will take a year or more to complete the transition, he said. Ciminelli briefly outlined his vision for the police department at a meeting…
CHOW HOUND: On the waterfront
The term “sports bar” carries with it a little bit of a stigma, evoking thoughts of rowdy patrons, mediocre beer, and deep-fried everything, the dimly lit room typically set off by an army of televisions tuned to different channels. So in at least one respect, the new Rochester Taproom is indeed a sports bar, with…
All eyes on Ted O’Brien
State Senator Ted O’Brien is not in an easy spot. The first-term Democrat faces a tough re-election bid against Republican Rich Funke, a political newcomer and former anchor for WHEC. And some people are wondering if the race is already influencing O’Brien’s actions. Recently, O’Brien broke sharply from his party on a couple of controversial,…
FOLK | Jim Avett
Jim Avett is perhaps best known for being the father of Seth and Scott Avett, of the popular folk band The Avett Brothers. However, in recent years, Jim has earned much-deserved attention for his own music, releasing his first solo album, “Tribes,” in 2010. Jim creates a traditional brand of folk music, infused with country,…
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…
FOLK | The Fevertones
The Fevertones is a local folk band that is inspired by such artists as Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, and Jack White. The band began as a blues group, but soon after transitioned to a bluegrass-inspired, alternative-folk sound. Fevertones uses a wide range of instrumentation, including trombone, upright bass, mandolin, and violin, to create a sound…
Biz park for sale
Kodak has put Eastman Business Park up for sale. The company had been selling and leasing out parts of the park, but now Kodak wants to offload the remaining property entirely. The announcement comes just a month after Kodak, the State Department of Environmental Conservation, and the federal Environmental Protection Agency agreed on a trust…
HEALTH/WELLNESS: The Lotus Flower City
These days, you can’t go anywhere without hearing about the newest yoga craze. Before the dawn of the Victoria’s Secret yoga pants empire, though, things were a little bit different. In the 1950’s and 60’s, yoga began to spread throughout the United States by the way of the disciples of Sri Krishnamacharya, sometimes known as…
Urban Action 3/26
This week’s calls to action include the following events and activities. (All are free and open to the public, unless otherwise noted.) Warren and Chief Ciminelli on safety The Rochester Association of Black Journalists will present “Improving Public Safety through Personal Responsibility,” a panel discussion led by Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren and Police Chief Michael…
POP/CLASSICAL | Rochester Gay Men’s Chorus
I must admit: when I saw the Rochester Gay Men’s Chorus juxtapose my beloved Sergei Rachmaninoff with a modern songwriter, my heart skipped a beat. But read on, oh classical aficionados, because this is a concert from Bach to Manilow, from Rachmaninoff to Presley. The concert will feature a 22-piece orchestra and mezzo-soprano Lynne McMurtry…
ART EVENT | Rochester Fringe Artist Mash-up
For its third year, the First Niagara Rochester Fringe Festival will once again bring a huge range of theater, music, visual art, cabaret, and other cultural events to the city. The festival will take place Thursday-Sunday, September 18-27. What makes Fringe unique is that you can actually apply to be a part of the show.…
CLASSICAL | ESM Women in Music Festival
Already in its 10th year, the Women in Music Festival at the Eastman School of Music will fill the air with the sounds of female composers and performers through March 29. This year’s composer-in-residence is Pulitzer Prize winner Jennifer Higdon, and her solo and chamber compositions will be featured in an “All-Higdon Concert” on Friday,…
It’s not East High’s fault
OK: the crisis in the Rochester school district has finally reached the level of absurdity. The academic problems plaguing the district’s largest school, East High, have continued for so long that the State Education Department has ordered the district to… well, DO SOMETHING. Turn the school into a charter school, close it and send its…
EVENTS: Mark your calendar
If there is one thing Rochester has an abundance of, it’s festivals. Keeping track of all of them can be daunting, and we know that you wouldn’t want to miss out, so we did the hard work for you. Looking to plan out your summer festival stops? Or just curious what’s going on any given…
