Steven Spielberg is often credited as the father of the summer blockbuster, thanks to his mega-hit “Jaws” in 1975. He’s worked effortlessly between prestige dramas and popcorn entertainment for the entirety of his career (sometimes in the same year, like 1993, which saw the release of “Jurassic Park” and the year’s Best Picture winner, “Schindler’s […]
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Posted inRochester Fringe Festival
Pete Davidson announced as ESL Rochester Fringe Festival comedy headliner
Ahead of the full lineup reveal on July 14, Rochester Fringe Festival announced today that popular comedian Pete Davidson would headline the 12-day festival with a stand-up show at Kodak Hall on Friday, September 25 at 8 p.m. Tickets begin at $52.50 for the 18+ show and are on sale now at rochesterfringe.com. Taking a cue from […]
Posted inCulture
A familiar face in fashion makes a spirited pivot into wine
A circa-1835 cobblestone house in Victor’s otherwise new-build High Point development is now home to Bonesteel Wines & Spirits, a design-forward, community-oriented shop which opened April 24. The minority and woman-owned boutique wine and spirits shop is helmed by Tanvi Asher, who also owns Peppermint Boutique at the Culver Road Armory in Rochester. “The store […]
Posted inMusic
The legendary Bill Frisell plays familiar tunes his way
The song opens simply enough, with mildly sonic-looping, electronic pings reminiscent of raindrops on a metallic roof. The music presents as a mystery, a harbinger of something to come but no indication of what. Then the transition begins, a gentle segue into the recognizable notes of the folk standard “Shenandoah.” This is a song performed […]
Posted inTheater
REVIEW | ‘Suffs’ at West Herr Auditorium Theatre
Rochester prides itself on being the home of Susan B. Anthony — but before you get your hopes up, you should know that the city’s favorite local suffragist is not a character in “Suffs.” While she is alluded to, the events of this touring Tony-award winning musical take place years after Anthony’s 1906 death, starting […]
Posted inCulture
An Italian cobbler still has tread in the trade, even as it fades
“What do you want to be when you grow up?” The age-old question seems impossible to answer. There is a domino effect of fear and doubt — endless possibilities await, but the uncertainty of the unknown is ever-present. For Mario Gagliardi, there was never an opportunity to second guess his future. “Where I come from, […]
Posted inMusic
REVIEW | ‘Graceland Way’ by Mikaela Davis
It’s morning. You’re sipping coffee, watching the sun crest over a California canyon. Or, it’s midnight. You’re crushing beers, closing down a bar somewhere on Monroe Avenue. Either way, “Graceland Way,” Rochester-born Mikaela Davis’s latest, would be an apt soundtrack. Davis and company strain melancholy and make-believe through frontier thinking. Orville Peck — your favorite […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
The Medina Triennial brings ambitious, accessible art to the Erie Canal
Last September, an old canal barge made its way from Rochester 45 miles west to the village of Medina. Community members lugged trees and soil to help the artist Mary Mattingly build a unique garden — a floating one. Mattingly’s project is one of the key pieces of the Medina Triennial, which brings international artists […]
Posted inTheater
REVIEW | ‘Anastasia: The Musical’ at Geva Theatre
Geva Theatre’s final production of the 2025-26 season is a journey worth taking.
Posted inMovies
Octavia Spencer to receive the George Eastman Award
The star of “The Help,” “Hidden Figures,” and “The Shape of Water” will be honored for her contributions to the art of cinema during a ceremony on July 17.
Posted inCulture
Backwoods brings 30 acres of nature to the foreground
When Joe Hurley and his son Chris first dreamed up Backwoods, they weren’t just trying to build another live music venue. Beyond the food, drink and music scene, they wanted to create an outdoor gathering place where people could slow down and explore. As the father-son team behind Kettle Ridge Farm in Victor, they’re already […]
Posted inMusic
Know Before You Go: Rochester International Jazz Festival
How do you make the most of your visit? What are the best food and drink options? Is it possible to do this on the cheap? Can you attend at the last minute? Is there any parking downtown? What’s the bathroom situation? Here’s the 411 on the 23rd annual fest, which returns June 19-27.
