Cover Story
Funny business
Inside Rochester’s growing stand-up comedy scene
MCC faculty take concerns with Kress to Board of Trustees
About 100 members of Monroe Community College’s faculty gathered at a press conference today to rebut some of President Anne Kress’ public responses to their vote of no confidence.
SPECIAL EVENT | Metro Justice Alternative Fair
Metro Justice’s 36th annual Alternative Fair takes place this weekend, offering the opportunity to shop with justice and sustainability in mind. The fair features thousands of fair trade, earth friendly, hand-crafted, and locally-produced goods including pottery, textiles, jewelry, art, toys and games, ornaments, and more. The Alternative Fair takes place Friday, November 30, 5 to…
ART | ‘Apocalypse Me’
Current Visual Studies Workshop artists in residence Andrea Průchová and Tomáš Hrůza will culminate their residency this week with an artist talk titled “Apocalypse Me: Ways of Envisioning the Final End.”
THEATER | ‘Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again’
The University of Rochester’s International Theatre Program will this week present young British playwright Alice Birch’s “Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again.” The production explores language, behaviors, and other forces that shape women in the 21st century and examines what complacency prevents us from tackling radical change.
THEATER | ‘The Wiz’
Ease on down to The Lyric Theatre this week for a youth performance of the Tony Award-winning musical ‘The Wiz,’ presented by OFC Creations. A cast of 36 students from city and suburb schools will transport audiences to the magical Land of Oz, with familiar characters who will sing and dance while escaping the evil…
HOLIDAY | Roc Holiday Village
The city of Rochester joins the ranks of other cold-weather locations embracing the festive feeling that comes with chilly air. City of Rochester Roc Holiday Village presented by Five Star Bank is the inaugural event offering family-friendly activities including Santa’s workshop, free ice skating, breakfast with Santa, music, crafting classes, food, shopping, and more for…
LECTURE | ‘Behind the 4th Wall’
The Avenue Blackbox Theatre will this week host director, choreographer and co-founder of #CREATEASPACENOW Hettie Barnhill in “Behind the 4th Wall,” an event which explores art and artmaking, specifically with regards to the stories or marginalized groups. Barnhill will share the meaning of, and inspirations behind, three of her short docu-style films that each blend…
COMEDY | Comedy Showdown Tour
A variety of talents in standup, sketch comedy, acting, and writing will hit Rochester this week with the Comedy Showdown Tour. The one-night-only show features comic actor Mike Epps, comedic performer Earthquake, Lavell Crawford (known for his recurring role as Huell Babineaux in “Breaking Bad”), comic actor DC Young Fly, comic actor Karlous Miller, and…
ACOUSTIC POP | Jason Mraz
Known for his inspirational messages and smooth, cheery voice, Jason Mraz is a singer-songwriter, social activist, and philanthropist who has been uplifting audiences around the world since his debut in 2002. Now touring behind the release of his tenth album, “Know,” Mraz is joined by gifted percussionist-singer Noel “Toca” Rivera. While Mraz sings sweet melodies…
ART | ‘Wintercraft’
Flower City Arts Center’s annual open house event, “Wintercraft,” features multiple shows and sales of handmade artwork, demonstrations by photo, letterpress, ceramic, and book-arts artists, and opportunities for hands-on craft making such as a holiday card or a gingerbread ornament. And Mr. Loops will provide musical entertainment. The Printing and Book Arts space will have…
INDIE | Jeffrey Lewis & Los Bolts
A comic book writer at heart, Jeffrey Lewis makes indie folk music that is just as animated as his visual creations. Having gained inspiration from the streets of New York City, Lewis demonstrates what it means to think outside the box with his music by blending high-energy folk with garage rock, punk, and pop. Lewis’s…
DANCE | New Dancers Showcase
The College at Brockport this week spotlights the freshest members of the Department of Dance at its New Dancers Showcase. Serving as an introduction to the department’s first-year students, the event features 21 dance majors and minors performing short works choreographed by members of the Brockport dance community. The program specifically highlights influences from across…
JAZZ | Danilo Pérez and the Eastman Jazz Ensemble
When Grammy Award-winning pianist Danilo Pérez combines his Panamanian musical roots with Latin American folk music and jazz, and adds European classical and African strains, the result is a distinctive, worldly stew. Pérez enhanced the bands of Wayne Shorter, Wynton Marsalis, and many others. When he joins the Eastman Jazz Ensemble, he’ll be performing his…
ART | Krampus Does Hungerford
We all know the tradition of receiving gifts from Santa Claus if you’ve been nice. But if you’ve been naughty? Avoid a visit from the half-goat, half-demon Krampus by visiting the Hungerford and getting back on the Nice List. More than 15 studios are participating in the two-day event, which includes photo ops with Krampus…
FOLK | Jackson Cavalier
A veritable one-man band, Rochester’s Jackson Cavalier has been active as an acoustic musician in the regional scene since 2013. His sound has developed from blues to a broader mix of Americana and folk, all still played with his suitcase bass drum and foot-stomping tambourine setup. Currently, Cavalier is celebrating the release of his new…
Feedback 11/28
Send comments to themail@rochester-citynews.com, or post them on our website, rochestercitynewspaper.com, our Facebook page, or our Twitter feed, @roccitynews. We edit selections for publication in print. RBTL’s theater: time to move on? On philanthropist Tom Golisano’s withdrawing his pledge to help fund a new theater for the Rochester Broadway Theatre League: Tom Golisano has been…
ROOTS ROCK | Steve Earle & The Dukes
It’s hard to believe that Steve Earle’s seminal outlaw country album, 1988’s “Copperhead Road,” is 30 years old. Earle is hitting the road to celebrate this milestone. And his album “Guitar Town,” which went Gold in America and Platinum in Canada, is one of the finest records I’ve heard ever. Earle’s tunes aren’t cluttered or…
Urban Action 11/28
This week’s calls to action include the following events and activities. (All are free and open to the public, unless otherwise noted.) Housing issues The Episcopal Church of St. Luke and St. Simon Cyrene will hold a community forum on Rochester’s housing problems on Saturday, December 1. The focus: substandard housing and the shortage of…
JAZZ | Marilyn Lerner, Lou Grassi, & Ken Filiano
Canadian pianist Marilyn Lerner has a large and colorful musical palette, with interests ranging from straight-ahead jazz to klezmer to contemporary classical music. She has shared the stage with artists as diverse as Tito Puente and Steve Lacy. A formidable composer, Lerner has won the Montreal International Jazz Festival award for best composition. When she…
Photonics facility gets ready for work
Up on the fourth and fifth floors of ON Semiconductor’s Lake Avenue building, some large, heavy, and sophisticated equipment sits in yellow-lit clean rooms, some of it hooked up and ready for use, some of it still in shrink wrap. It’s all part of AIM Photonics’ new Test, Assembly, and Packaging Facility, a development space…
Frederick Douglass non-profit will move to Rochester
The Frederick Douglass Family Initiative, a non-profit co-founded by direct descendants of Frederick Douglass and Booker T. Washington, will move from its current home in Atlanta to Rochester, the foundation will announce tonight. Kenneth B. Morris Jr., Douglass’s great-great-great grandson and Washington’s great-great grandson, will join his mother, Nettie Washington Douglass, for the announcement during…
Best of bakeries holiday treats
We asked the top four bakeries from the 2018 Best of Rochester readers’ poll what treats each of them will offer this season, and how to place holiday orders on time.
Film review: ‘Ralph Breaks the Internet’
The sequel to Disney’s smash hit “Wreck-It Ralph” is a simple, heartfelt story about remaining true to oneself, and what happens when the video arcade where its characters reside finally gets a wifi router.
Album review: ‘Stax ’68: A Memphis Story’
Various Artists ‘Stax ’68: A Memphis Story’ Craft Recordings staxrecords.com When Elvis Costello was recording “Get Happy,” he writes, “I bought myself a stack of Stax singles.” No wonder; some of pop music’s greatest tunes originated at the Memphis label. “Stax ’68: A Memphis Story,” contains every single from 1968, with120 songs spanning five CD’s.…
Our divided America and the news we like
Many of us are so convinced of our own wisdom that we don’t want to listen to anybody who doesn’t reinforce our beliefs.
‘Trailer Park Boys’ bring Christmas show to Roc
Mike Smith, in his signature Bubbles voice, promises the show will be a naughty one.
Album review: ‘Subtle Disguise’
Joe Locke ‘Subtle Disguise’ Origin Records joelocke.com Anyone who has witnessed a performance by homegrown and world-renowned vibraphonist Joe Locke knows one thing: he does not stand still. The same can be said for his music. Every album brings a fresh group of musicians and unexpected turns. “Subtle Disguise” – featuring pianist Jim Ridl, bassist…
More suburbs partner on renewable energy
The towns of Irondequoit, Brighton, and Pittsford, as well as the Village of Pittsford, will likely join the growing ranks of New York communities using community choice aggregation to bring clean, renewable energy to their residents and small businesses en masse. Under a CCA program, local governments contract with energy suppliers on behalf of their…
Interview: Ministry
Al Jourgensen, the 60-year-old frontman and founder of Ministry, will always be remembered as a prolific trailblazer of the industrial metal genre that helped wake up America’s dozing alternative rock audience.
Film review: ‘Robin Hood’
The newest version of the classic tale never truly makes a convincing case for its existence, but well, here it is anyway.
