Cover Story
The Squirrel that gathers causes
On almost any day or evening, the Flying Squirrel Community Space is home to a potpourri of progressive artists, musicians, and social justice activists. The Squirrel is a meeting space. But it’s also an organization with its own members, who often describe it as a collective: a community that’s part of other communities.
The question we need to answer before we talk about dissolving the RCSD
Should the city school district be dissolved? That’s the question Erica Bryant of the Democrat & Chronicle raised in a columnrecently, though the topic comes up with some regularity. Bryant referred to the bold decision that school and city leaders in Memphis made to dissolve that city’s failing school district. But there’s a bigger question…
What does B&N news mean for College Town?
Sometimes I hesitate posting something because I worry I might be creating news. In this case, though, I think other people would’ve gotten around to asking the same question sooner or later. And that is: Should we worry about the planned College Town Barnes & Noble store, in light of the news that B&N plans…
Daily Choices: What to do on Tuesday, March 12
Film: Have you been hoping for a global-warming film that’s a little more insightful than a disaster blockbuster like “The Day After Tomorrow,” but also a little more exciting than a PowerPoint presentation by Al Gore? Then “Chasing Ice” might be the cinematic event for you. The documentary follows National Geographic photographer James Balog and…
SXSW Blog 2013: Welcome to Austin
South by Southwest, one of the largest music festivals in the world, comes to Austin, Texas, for its 27th edition this week. And this year, City readers are getting in on the action. Yours truly – Willie Clark, City’s music editor, will be there, bringing you the best (and the worst) of the shows, the…
“RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 5: No chickens safe at the roast
Earlier Monday night judge Michelle Visage Tweeted that this week’s episode of “Drag Race” defines the season. I’m still trying to figure out exactly what she meant by that — and whether it’s a good thing. Like every episode of Season 5 thus far, it was entertaining with great challenges and some memorable moments. But…
FILM: High Falls Film Festival announces 2013 schedule
The High Falls Film Festival today announced the line-up of films for its 2013 edition, which will run April 18-21 at various local theaters. Although it will be the 11th installment of the festival overall, it is the first since 2011 and will feature a return to the festival’s original name and a renewed focus…
WEEK AHEAD: Gun group to speak at Lej meeting, RCSD meetings, Skate Park design event
Rochester Personal Defense, a local company that conducts firearms and self-defense training, set up a Facebook event encouraging people to attend this week’s Monroe County Legislature meeting to speak out against new state gun-control laws. As of Monday morning, 86 people have indicated they will attend. The Legislature meets at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, March…
Daily Choices: What to do on Monday, March 11
Special Event: Nowadays, Pittsford residents are faced with the ultimate culinary decision: are they Wegmans people, or are they Trader Joe’s people? But the people of Pittsford, and every other part of Rochester, can put these differences aside for the Rotary Club of Pittsford’s annual fundraising event, A Taste of Pittsford, which will be held…
Daily Choices: What to do on Saturday, March 9 and Sunday, March 10
Spesh: The annual Ugly Disco bash will take place Saturday, March 9, 8 a.m.-1 p.m., at Rochester Riverside Convention Center (123 E. Main St.). Tickets are $40 and up. For more information, visit uglydisco.com.
West Main Street church is structurally sound, says new report
The study was commissioned by the Susan B. Anthony Neighborhood Association and funded by the Landmark Society.
Union, disabilities rights advocates at odds over developmental center closing
This afternoon, Public Employees Federation representatives will lead a press conference to push back against what union officials say is the rapid closure by the state of some psychiatric centers, juvenile justice facilities, and residential centers for people with developmental disabilities. The local union represents doctors, nurses, therapists, psychologists, and social workers at the facilities,…
Daily Choices: What to do on Friday, March 8
Art: Think that griptape, skateboards, bikes, and rollerblades can’t be used to make art? Take some advice from name of Roc City Skatepark’s annual art show and sale: Get a Grip. The show features locally made artwork that was created with skating materials. It runs from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Yards (50-52 Public…
“American Idol” 2013: Top 10 revealed!
Even at a super-sized 90 minutes this episode had more padding than a 80 lb. drag queen. The format for revealing the Top 10 was easily the stupidest, most time-wasting gambit I can recall on this show. Clunky and awkward, and that’s not even considering the tenor in the holding pen. When they were down…
Pittsford village candidates forum set
The Village of Pittsford election campaigns have been intense. Voters head to the polls in a couple of weeks, but before that, the local League of Women Voters chapter will hold a candidates forum. The event is from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on March 13, at Pittsford Sutherland High School, 55 Sutherland Drive. All…
Daily Choices: What to do on Thursday, March 7
Music: Conductor Laureate Christopher Seaman returns to conduct the RPO tonight at Kodak Hall (26 Gibbs St., esm.rochester.edu) at 7:30 p.m., with a night featuring William Wolfram on piano. Program will include Dvorak’s “Slavonic Dances, Op. 46, No. 1; Op. 72, Nos. 2 and 7,” Mendelssohn’s “Piano Concerto No. 1” and Schubert’s “Symphony No. 9,…
“American Idol” 2013: Semifinals, Top 10 guys perform
Confession: I completely missed Tuesday night’s Top 10 girls episode. Had no idea it was even on. I don’t recall the show telling us last Thursday that it was going to be on Tuesday, and I didn’t see any ads hyping it either. I’m kind of pissed, because I am far more interested in the…
Abundance plans expansion, possible relocation
Abundance Cooperative Market is planning an expansion and may also relocate from its current home at 62 Marshall Street. Abundance is a cooperatively owned natural products retail grocer. In a press release, Abundance says it has outgrown its Marshall Street location. Abundance wants to expand its produce, deli, bakery, and meat departments, the release says,…
Police chief responds to problems with city’s red-light camera program
I’m wondering if the ground is beginning to crumble beneath Rochester’s red-light camera program. It’s not like Rochesterians were ever thrilled about the idea to install up to 50 cameras citywide to catch red-light runners, and recently the program has suffered a few knocks. First was the revelation that because of union contracts, city employees…
![[UPDATED] Shale drilling moratorium on today’s Assembly agenda](https://i0.wp.com/www.roccitymag.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/1362582507-fracking-capital-illo_square.webp?resize=400%2C300&ssl=1)
[UPDATED] Shale drilling moratorium on today’s Assembly agenda
This afternoon, the state Assembly passed legislation that would enact a moratorium on drilling in the Marcellus and Utica Shales.
LECTURE | Rochester Civic Garden Center Symposium
We all know a beautiful garden when we see one. But there’s more to those gardens than meets the eye. They can represent artistic expression, provocative personal statements, and profound connections between the human arts and the natural sciences. Three guest speakers will open your eyes to what you’ve been missing in nature at the…
SPECIAL EVENT | Ugly Disco
Bust out your leisure suits and polyester, and brush up on your best “Saturday Night Fever” moves, because the 10th Annual Ugly Disco Bash takes place this weekend on Saturday, March 9, 8 p.m.-1 a.m. at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center (123 E. Main St.). The party provides a way to get down while doing…
SPECIAL EVENT | Repeal! A Prohibition Era Event
Get a taste of the illicit entertainment that immediately followed the 18th Amendment’s ratification this weekend. The Rochester Museum and Science Center (657 East Ave.) will host an adult evening event celebrating the Roaring 20’s on Friday, March 8, 7-10 p.m. with Repeal! A Prohibition Era Event. The museum will be transformed into a three-story…
THEATER | “Little Shop of Horrors”/”Re-Invented: A Dracula-Inspired Goth Rock Musical”
The theater has the power to lift our spirits, to carry us away with its magic, to enchant us with gorgeous sets and wonderful songs. It also has the power to gross us out and scare the crap out of us. If you prefer fake blood to fables and fairy tales, you’re in luck: There…
Theater Review: “The Book of Mormon”
It was a huge coup for the Rochester Broadway Theatre League to book a run of the Broadway smash “The Book of Mormon” during its first national tour. Local audiences have taken advantage of the opportunity, with the six-night stand of the Tony-, Grammy-, and Drama Desk-winning musical completely selling out the Auditorium Theatre, save…
Two brains refuse to drain
David Brooks made us mad. He did it in his January 24 New York Times column, “The Great Migration.” He did it by high-fiving the demographic group we belong to while dissing the kind of city we call home. Brooks argues that American higher education “sucks up some of the smartest people from across the…
DINING REVIEW: Brooks Landing Diner
Brooks Landing Diner is another example of an interesting blend of traditional diner favorites with Asian-inspired cuisine – in this case, Korean food. While the diner food is satisfying, it’s what’s not on the menu that makes this restaurant special.
“Salvador Dalí: Dante’s ‘Divine Comedy'”
Some stories seduce artists throughout the ages. There is a robust tradition of artistic interpretation of Italian writer Dante Alighieri’s epic poem, “Commedia,” known these days as “The Divine Comedy.” The work has been an irresistible subject for such visionaries as Sandro Botticelli, Gustave Doré, William Blake, Franz von Bayros, Tom Phillips, and Robert Rauschenberg.…
JAZZ | Michael Musillami Trio
Guitarist Michael Musillami came on the scene in the early 1980’s in organ trios led by Richard “Groove” Holmes and others. He expanded his reputation as a sideman with jazz greats like Curtis Fuller, Dewey Redman, and Junior Cook. Now with his own trio, Musillami steps out front with commanding solos reaching from hard bop…
Towns focus on farmland
In Chili, nearly as much land is devoted to agriculture as is used for housing. And Wheatland, Chili’s neighbor to the south, actually has more farmland than residential acreage. Elected officials in the two western Monroe County communities have teamed up and are in the early stages of developing a plan to preserve their farmland.…
CELTIC | The Tossers
Just in time for the most sacred of Irish holidays, take a little trip to the Emerald Isle via a stopover in Chicago with The Tossers, returning to Rochester for the first time in more than five years. More traditional-sounding than its Celtic-rock contemporaries Flogging Molly and the Dropkick Murphys, The Tossers have more in…
Paging Officer Friendly
Can Rochester do community policing without going back to the precinct model?
JAMBAND | Big Leg Emma
Jamestown jammers Big Leg Emma are the rock ‘n’ roll equivalent to a Swiss Army knife. This Western New York band expertly blends elements of country, bluegrass, folk, and straight-ahead rock, along with psychedelic sojourns and salvos. The band’s latest album, “Revival,” was awarded “Best Upstate Album of 2012” by Upstate Live Magazine. Big Leg…
Gay, married, and taxed
Tax season isn’t something people usually celebrate, but many married same-sex couples are finding it even more of a grind. Married couples in New York State can file jointly or as individuals. They shouldn’t assume that one is better than the other, so preparers will likely review what the return would look like for both…
HIP HOP | Sean Forbes
Seeing as how I’ve walked out of more than a couple of shows at the Armory with my hearing temporarily impaired from the volume, it kind of makes sense that the venue has booked deaf hip-hopper Sean Forbes. This 30-year-old artist from Detroit plays quirky upbeat hip-hop despite being deaf since birth. Forbes was signed…
Urban Action 3/6
This week’s calls to action include the following events and activities. (All are free and open to the public, unless otherwise noted.) Talk about guns The Lifetree Café will host the discussion, “Inside the Gun Debate: To hunt? To defend? To assault?” at 7 p.m. on Sunday, March 10, and Monday, March 11. The event…
METAL | Nile
You’ve heard the faux Egyptian melody — the one that starts with “da na na na na” — but are you aware of Egyptian-themed death-metal band Nile? This American group is led by singer-guitarist Karl Sanders (ranked by Decibel magazine as one of the best death-metal guitarists of all time) and it is bringing its…
What if we’re chasing the wrong ‘schools’ fix?
One of the more thought-provoking articles I’ve read recently is Jerry Muller’s “Capitalism and Inequality,” in Foreign Affairs. The subject: the United States’ growing income inequality. Liberals and conservatives alike will find plenty to dislike in what Muller says, but some of his points are hard to argue with. We’re spending enormous amounts of money…
THRASH | Mobile Deathcamp
After six years drenched in blood and gore as Beefcake The Mighty with GWAR, Todd Evans has showered and stripped the music down to just the thrash. Mobile Deathcamp is a ferocious three-piece group out of Toledo, Ohio. This band is master of the genre and has dominated by not allowing distractions like showbiz schmaltz…
Cuomo vs. the IDA’s
The Monroe County Industrial Development Agency, as well as virtually every industrial agency in the state, has come out against Governor Andrew Cuomo’s proposal to restrict agencies’ ability to offer state sales tax exemptions to businesses. | COMIDA has awarded state sales tax exemptions, along with county sales tax exemptions and other tax incentives, to…
INDIE | The Spring Standards
What The Spring Standards loses in not sticking to such easy-to-pinhole things as a genre, it makes up for in pluckiness. Coming by way of Brooklyn, the band swings manically from country to folky Americana to — seriously — almost Springsteen. I would be confused if I weren’t amazed by the versatility, and how well…
Apply yourself for Fringe 2013
UPDATE 3/6/13: Edited to clarify that applying to the Rochester Fringe Festival is free; registration fees only apply to shows that have been accepted by a venue. It’s fair to say that nobody knew what to expect from the First Niagara Rochester Fringe Festival before it premiered in September 2012. But when more than 6000…
CLASSICAL | Soloist Showcase Concert
From Mozart to modern and more, the Brockport Symphony Orchestra will present a showcase of soloists in its upcoming concert. William Hullfish, pennywhistle, and the Golden Eagle String Band will perform Celtic dance. Among Hullfish’s credentials is a gold medal from the Smithsonian for his cultural contributions. Also performing is Peter Ferry, vibraphone, performing a…
“Phantom”
This time of year, the odd hiatus that occurs somewhere in between the competing distractions of the holidays, the Oscars, and the anticipation of the new spring crop, often serves as Hollywood’s dumping ground. It’s the place on the calendar where films that have languished on the shelf for one reason or another, films without…
ART EVENT | Dr. Sketchy’s Rochester V: Adventure Time!
The fifth installment of the Dr. Sketchy’s themed figure drawing events hosted locally by artist Greg Caggiano will take place on Saturday, March 9, 7-10 p.m., at Pandaman Toys (209 Monroe Ave.). This time the theme is the popular cartoon “Adventure Time,” and will include “Adventure Time” cosplay, figure drawing, contests, and of course, boobs…
“West of Memphis”
In May of 1993, the bodies of three 8-year-old boys were found stripped naked, bound, and mutilated in a creek in a wooded area of West Memphis, Arkansas, known as Robin Hood Hills. The brutal and lurid nature of the crime led to rumors that the murders were part of a satanic ritual, incensing the…
KIDS EVENT | Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia
The Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia, unfortunately, does not employ any mermaids. But it does have plenty of puppets, and that’s good enough, right? After swimming around the world with award-winning performances in more than a dozen countries, this traveling children’s theater company will drop anchor in the Callahan Theater of the Nazareth College Arts…
MUSIC FEATURE: Kingsley Flood
Sure, it neatly sums up everything with a beard, a flannel shirt, at least one acoustic instrument, and an allegiance to Johnny Cash. But perhaps when you’re done reading this article you can join me in putting the term “Americana” to bed. Are you with me? Kingsley Flood’s Naseem Khuri is — or at least…
