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DISH 2015
In this year’s edition of Dish, City’s guide to Rochester’s food and drink culture, we explore some of the more recent changes in the area’s dining scene.
Arts events: Genesee Libby “Portraits” and 16mm Films by Rose Lowder
Enthusiasts of historic photographic methods will especially by interested in seeing “Portraits,” an exhibition of wet-plate collodion tintypes and ambrotypes by Jenn Libby that opened over the weekend in the Little Theatre Café (240 East Avenue). A reception for the show will be held tonight, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Invented in 1851, ambrotypes and…
Cuomo’s education tax credit raises questions
Once again, Governor Andrew Cuomo has taken to the airwaves to help drive his agenda through the Legislature. This time, he’s asking us to call on our Assembly reps to tell them to approve his proposed Parental Choice Education Act. The television ads make an emotional appeal for fairness by giving lower income parents a…
Anti-poverty effort names director
It sounds like the Rochester-Monroe Anti-Poverty Initiative will be less about rolling out new programs and more about making what we have work better. Leaders of the efforts today announced the appointment of 150 local people to serve on six working groups that will tackle health and nutrition; housing; safe neighborhoods; jobs and workforce development;…
WEEK AHEAD: Events for the week of Monday, May 25
This post has been corrected. At 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Democratic County Legislator Dorothy Styk will host a public forum on toxic chemicals in children’s products. The forum will be held at the Perinton Community Center, 1350 Turk Hill Road. The State Legislature is considering legislation, the Child Safe Products Act, that would ban certain…
Film Review: “Maggie”
Hello, and welcome to another installment of “I Saw This Movie So You Don’t Have To!” Yes, “I Tilled Your Garden So You Don’t Have To” probably would have been much more helpful, but I figured I’d take one for the team and bear witness to the dull zombie drama “Maggie,” Arnold Schwarzenegger’s crack at…
Your weekend in art: May 23-25
Monday is Memorial Day, so if you work a job that gives you banker’s holidays off, you have a three-day weekend. Good for you. If you don’t, sorry, but maximize that weekend with some fun events, anyway. Here are a few of our suggestions; for more events, check out the listings in our calendar. Kick…
Film Review: “Iris”
The penultimate film from renowned documentarian Albert Maysles, the delightful “Iris” profiles nonagenarian fashion icon Iris Apfel. With her trademark look (owl-like eye glasses, half a dozen gaudy bangles on each arm, and ropes of enormous necklaces) adorning her tiny frame, it often seems a wonder that she doesn’t topple over. But it’s that playful…
Dems pick candidates
The Monroe County Democratic Committee unanimously endorsed Sandy Frankel for county executive during a relatively smooth nominating convention tonight. The only drama came during voting on city school board candidates, which required a second round of balloting. Ultimately, the four endorsed candidates were Liz Hallmark, Malik Evans, Mary Adams, and Matthew McDermott. Hallmark and Evans…
Moore’s remarks show disrespect, not lack of sensitivity
Henrietta Supervisor Jack Moore is taking a ton of heat for his widely-circulated, “city cousins” remarks. Monroe County Republican Chair Bill Reilich wants him to resign, as do Henrietta Democratic Committee Leader Simeon Banister; Democratic County Executive candidate Sandy Frankel; the Rev. Lewis Stewart of the United Christian Leadership Ministry; and the Democrat and Chronicle…
Brizard headed to Buffalo?
Former Rochester schools Superintendent Jean-Claude Brizard is a finalist in the Buffalo school board’s search for a new superintendent.
Zoo plans include new gorilla, rhino, and giraffe areas
In the coming years, Seneca Park Zoo plans to keep its Bornean orangutans — it’s the only zoo in New York that has the species — and add gorillas and giraffes. It’ll also tear down the main building and replace it with a tropical building to house orangutans and gorillas. The white rhino that currently…
SPECIAL EVENT | Lightning Rounds
The Rochester Improvement Society on Wednesday, May 20, will host its 3rd annual Lightning Rounds event, at Writers & Books, 740 University Avenue. During Lightning Rounds, presenters will show 20 different images for 20 seconds each in order to bring ideas, projects, and organizations to the public’s attention for the improvement of Rochester. With the…
Bean to cup
In 2012, City contributor James Leach wrote about three new coffee shops in Rochester that were roasting, brewing, and selling their coffee all in house, a relatively new concept: Joe Bean Coffee Roasters, Canaltown Coffee Roasters, and Java’s at the Market. Fast forward to 2015 and I had the chance to interview the owners of…
SPECIAL EVENT | RMSC After Dark: Geek Chic Prom
The Rochester Museum & Science Center will host its next 21-and-over After Dark event on Friday, May 22. The Geek Chic Prom will feature music, cash bars, light snacks, and of course, science and an opportunity to roam the museum after hours. In addition to a live DJ, the RMSC’s Electricity Theater will also be…
On the rise
The worlds of food and fashion have at least one thing in common: trends. What’s deemed cool one day is quickly replaced by something new. With Rochester’s food and dining scene in the midst of a renaissance, it’s no longer necessary to visit a larger city to sample the latest and greatest. City Newspaper’s dining…
Grain to growth
Just inside the entrance of Black Button Distilling on Railroad Street — right next to the door that separates the business’s product and bar area from the back room packed with barrels and equipment — is a large poster board that lays out Black Button’s process. The simple diagram walks the viewer through the distilling…
ROCK | The Furies
Five-piece, all-female rock band The Furies self-describe as “defiance, catharsis, quirk” — and this seems perfectly put. Rock guitars give weighted body, while snare and hi-hat give texture and groove to a beautiful vocal-forward sound with lush harmonies. Lead singer, Lee Moretti, best known for her time as Third Eye Blind’s multi-instrumentalist, carries notes both…
CLASSICAL | RPO performs Sibelius and Dvorak
The classical music world loves its anniversaries. Last year’s big one was Richard Strauss’ 150th. In 2015,the honor goes to another late-Romantic master: Jean Sibelius (1865-1957). The great Finnish composer’s music isn’t heard all that often on Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra programs. That situation changes this week, with two Sibelius works on the bill. Concertmaster Juliana…
AMERICANA | Gurf Morlix
Gurf Morlix has a long storied road in music. Though born just outside Buffalo, Morlix spent most of his life between Austin, Texas, and Los Angeles, California, wearing a few different music hats. For 10 years he was Lucinda Williams’ guitarist and producer, and headed out touring with Warren Zevon. He’s also produced dozens of…
METAL | Today is the Day
Today is the Day is a hefty head trip. The Maine-based band has been the central project for vocalist and guitarist Steve Austin — also known for producing Lamb of God and Converge — creating dark, swirling imagery through heavy, progressive noise metal since the early 90’s. The music is unpredictable and sludgy, and a…
Keeper of the flame
You might say Michael Feinstein was born to champion the Great American Song Book. But you would be a bit late. “My interest in the Great American Song Book started in the womb,” says Feinstein, who joins the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra for a Gershwin Celebration on May 29 and 30. “By the time I was…
ALBUM REVIEW: “Curses”
Voodoo Zoo “Curses” Self-released voodoozoo.rocks The cover to Voodoo Zoo’s latest album, “Curses,” — a photo by artist Peter Macon — frames the veteran band’s impending prog-rock journey. “Curses,” the band’s sophomore album, was recorded at Saxon Studios with Dave Anderson behind the console, giving a no-frills production that fits the players — Jeff Martin,…
SINGER-SONGWRITER | Jason Isbell
It ain’t necessarily soul, but Jason Isbell is a for-sure soul singer. He writes with an inward wonderment turned inside out. His songs are thoughtful and courageous with an unflinching allegiance. It’s in him and it has gotta come out. Born in Greenhill, Alabama, his southern roots are prevalent but not restrictive. Emotionally he’ll knock…
ALBUM REVIEW: “Remember the Highs”
Little Lapin “Remember the Highs” Self-released littlelapinmusic.com Little Lapin, the stage name of Lucy Hill, is a England-based singer-songwriter who performed in town last year, and when I first heard her folk and pop-influenced debut EP, it instantly perked my ears. Now her debut full-length album, “Remember the Highs,” has me once again hooked. “Remember the…
SINGER-SONGWRITER | Chris Trapper
I’ve liked this cat since he was a Push Star and always dug the acoustic strum attack on his electric guitar. Chris Trapper is all about the song, not its trappings. He is there to serve these little storied gems with whatever it is they cry for — even Dixieland which he brought to the…
Feedback 5/20
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. Comments of fewer than 350 words have a greater chance of being published, and we do edit selections for publication in print. We don’t publish comments sent to other media. What to…
Salon de dudes
Unless you’re one of the lucky or intrepid few who have managed to make a full-time job out of your creative pursuits, you can probably relate to life getting in the way of your art. It’s not easy for everyone to set aside the time to focus on their craft, but a local group of…
UR drug may improve memory
A team of scientists at the University of Rochester, led by Dr. Harris Gelbard and Stephen Dewhurst, UR vice dean of research, may have developed the first drug to improve memory and cognitive ability in patients with certain types of illnesses. And a new company, Camber NeuroTherapeutics, has been founded to usher the drug called…
ART | “Among My Favorites”
On Friday, May 22, from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Image City Photography Gallery (722 University Avenue) will host a reception for “Among My Favorites,” a collection of images by Dan Neuberger, one of the founding partners of Image City. The exhibit will include large black & white photos-on-canvas of Neuberger’s favorite spot in the…
Faith and environmentalism: common goals
A devout Catholic, Gerry Gacioch says that humans are supposed to be stewards of the Earth. Climate change, he says, is a sign that humanity is abusing what God has given it. The remainder of 2015 is crucial for acting on climate change, he says. For one, world leaders will gather in Paris at the…
ART | “Universal Magnetic”
AXOM Gallery (176 Anderson Avenue, second floor) recently opened “Universal Magnetic” an exhibition of new works by Rochester-based artist St. Monci, who is part of The Sweet Meat Co. and a WALL\THERAPY alum. In this body of work, Monci focuses on “the push/pull phenomenon of magnetism — a force observed through all objects in space,”…
Urban Action 5/20
This week’s calls to action include the following events and activities. All are free and open to the public, unless otherwise noted. Book discussion Moving Beyond Racism Book Group will hold a discussion on “Secret Daughter” at 7 p.m. on Monday, June 1. The novel by Shilpi Somaya Gowda spans 25 years and involves one…
SPECIAL EVENT | ZooBrew
The wildly popular ZooBrew is back for 2015, beginning Friday, May 22. Seneca Park Zoo will host five ZooBrew events throughout the summer (May 22, June 19, July 17, August 14, and September 11). Each ZooBrew event will feature food, drink, live music, and the opportunity to explore the zoo at night. Live music for…
Más Mofongo
When a door closes, another one opens. It’s a common saying, and has many different iterations, but the idea is the same: a chapter in your life comes to a close, whether it’s a job or a relationship, and it paves the way for something new. This was the case for Xavier Borges, the co-owner…
THEATER | “Moses Man”
“Moses Man: A Musical Journey of Survival” continues its own long journey with a series of workshop performances at Geva’s Fielding Nextstage on Thursday, May 21, through Sunday, May 24. The locally-created musical — written by Deborah Haber and composed by Casey Filiaci — made its world premiere at the JCC’s Hart Theatre in 2013…
“RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 7, Episode 12: And the Rest is a Drag
Tuning in to “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Monday night, I asked myself, “Do I want to live in a world without Katya?” But of course, she’s not dead, she’s just not on the show anymore, and so I turned my attention to the little cat fights on the screen. We’re down to the final four and…
Film Review: “Far from the Madding Crowd”
“I’d hate to become some man’s property,” the forthright Bathsheba Everdene says to her gently spurned suitor. It’s 1870 in Dorset, England, and despite her penniless status, Bathsheba values her independence above everything, a nontraditional mindset that will serve her well when an unexpected inheritance bequeaths her a large farm. But over the course of…
Film Review: “Mad Max: Fury Road”
During a Q&A following the premiere of “Mad Max: Fury Road,” director George Miller namechecked film historian Kevin Brownlow and his seminal book, “The Parade’s Gone By,” citing it as a crucial instructional tool for any director of modern action films. That book, focusing on the silent film era, provides a clue as to why,…
On my mind (still): poverty and the city
We’ve tried to combat major community problems previously, in the same way. And we’ve gotten the same sad results.
