Eight days a week

You’ve
only got seven, but there’s something to do eight days a week.

Monday. Why not start
the week large and in charge? Just take the mic on
karaoke night at The Flipside Bar & Grill and prove once and for all that
Isabella Rossellini’s version of “Blue Velvet” can actually be topped.

The
Bop Shop offers free jazz concerts in the Village Gate Atrium. Some truly
amazing stuff has gone down here, and the music is frequently and gloriously
out there.

Finish
the night all pretty in pink while the Bug Jar’s Manic Mondays DJs spin ’80s
pop hits ’til closing time. Relax; don’t do it.

Tuesday. There’s always a big band dance going on at the Stardust
Ballroom, so you can cut you some rug to various big-and-brassy acts like the
Jack Allen Big Band. And if you’ve got two left feet (and neither of ’em can dance) you can hook up with the Rochester Swing
Dance Network, who frequently put on swing dances (complete with pre-dance
crash course) at various church halls, Harmony House, and Eisenhart
Auditorium at RochesterMuseum and ScienceCenter.

Bail outta the ballroom and head
over to The Golden Link Folk Singing Society’s Sing-a-Round at 12 Corners
Presbyterian Church.

And
once you’re tired of rowing Michael’s boat ashore, you can get down at Dinosaur
Bar-B-Que with a half-rack of ribs in front of you
while the blues band du jour rocks the joint.

Wednesday. There’s always something going on at Kilbourn
Hall. Eastman School of Music faculty — as well as students studying jazz,
classical, and all points in between — put on shows of extraordinary variety
and sparkle. They love what they do and you will, too. The majority of these
showcases are free.

Head
over to Java’s after the show for some blood of the bean and find
yourself surrounded by the buzz of conjecture and philosophy that comes from
too much coffee, the right amount of the Pixies, and kids in ’70s rock-concert
jerseys. Entertainment here is sporadic, but when it happens it can go from
free-form jazz to hip-hop to finger-snapping spoken word.

Or
you could catch a non-googolplex, independent flick at the Little Theatre. Then
you can argue esoterically about the plot over groovy desserts while some of
the area’s best jazz musicians bop in the Little Theatre Café.

Thursday. You could hit the performance hall at Hochstein School of
Music, where it seems weekly the faculty flexes its might.

Thursday
is the weekend’s warm-up act, so a few more folks might actually hit the
streets with you. The Bug Jar tries its damndest to
get things rolling earlier on Thursdays with national bands of every
conceivable alternative rock genre or Rochester bands of equal vision and viciousness. On any given night
of the week you will see touring bands playing here who frequently outgrow the
joint by the time they return. For a good many Rochester bands — whether on the stage or a barstool — this is
home.

Milestones isRochester’s original grab-bag club. On most nights you can find just
about anything on the stage entertaining just about anything in the crowd.

Or
hey, if you want tried-and-true and you want it blue, you can catch the Beale
Street Blues Band as they hold court weekly at The Clarissa Room, located in
the same spot as the now-long-gone legendary Pythodd
Lounge. Here’s a swank joint that rides the timeless blues/jazz fence nicely
and nightly.

During
our brief summer, you can see big-name acts for free in the Party In The Park series at HighFalls. The HighFalls entertainment district is also a good spot to stomp around,
with a number of nightclubs, restaurants, and bars. Spring 2006 will mark the
grand opening of Saddle Ridge in HighFalls, a multi-venue complex anchored by a country bar. This
place will have everything… even bowling.

Friday. Friday night has an early launch time — especially if
you’re a drinker — at joints like Johnny’s Irish Pub, where a band (from
local acoustic to international electric) kicks off happy hour at 5 p.m., only to be followed by another at 9 p.m. If you’re not careful, happy hour can quickly turn into
happy hours, and eventually unhappy morning.

Then
you can roll up on The Roost and line-dance to a contempo-country
DJ. This line-dance thing is an endless source of fascination for me. It’s like
the Madison, only louder.

Back
downtown to Montage Live for everything from local metal to international jazz
in a supper-club setting.

Then
it’s Monty’s Krown, the place up-and-coming bands —
mostly in the punk vein — sharpen their teeth. You can round out the night at
ClubNV, where world-class DJs steam the windows opaque.

Saturday. This is when it all happens, and it’s best to budget your
time. Nearly every joint has a band; the bars in the Alexander Street corridor like Mex, the Alexander
Street Pub, and Daisy Dukes are teeming; WaterStreetMusic Hall no doubt has a concert rolling; and a band that may have
arrived via space shuttle is squonking at A\V at the
Public Market.

Step
into Bullwinkle’s and step back in time with this eclectic joint’s cinematic
cabaret. This may derail your all-nightclub-hopping jaunt, as you may not wanna leave. It’s hauntingly romantic like no place you’ve
ever seen.

If a large, live, and
loud dose of rock is what you need to scratch your rock ‘n’ roll itch, then you
can jet over to either the Penny Arcade, the
California Brew Haus, or SteelMusic Hall. Heads will bang, guitars will kerrang,
and ears will bleed at these clubs forever.

Live Latin music
blurs backsides and shakes Tapas into the wee hours. Lotsa good-lookin’ sophisticates
dressed in black and loosened up on sangria.

Richmond’s rocks on this night only and frequently
packs out. You’ll definitely see someone or hear something you like.

But
if you wanna see it all, you gotta
stick ‘n’ move like the boxers do. Before you know it, it’s Sunday morning and
your ears are ringing.

Sunday. I’ve given up
feeling guilty for Saturday night years ago; I ain’t
repenting for nothing. Still, I likes the quiet.
Several churches, like ChristChurch, 141
East Avenue,
have begun offering music over and above their typical Sunday liturgy.
Beautiful acoustics, and you don’t even have to kneel.

Milestones has
Celtic music on Sundays nice and early so the pint-impact will be long gone by
Monday a.m.

Follow
instructions and repeat until desired effect is reached…

But
that’s only a sampling of what Rochester has to offer at night. Consult City‘s weekly music listings for events, or check the list below
for a few more places to start.

Acoustic

Abundance
Co-op

62 Marshall Street

454-COOP,
www.abundance.coop

Blue
Dahlia Coffee Shop

94 S Main Street, Canandaigua

394-0280,
www.bluedahliacoffee.com

Boulder
Coffee Co.

100 Alexander Street

454-7140,
www.bouldercoffeeco.com

Coffee
Cabana

123
S Union, Spencerport

352-9899

Daily
Perks Coffee House

389 Gregory Street

271-2340,
www.dailyperkscoffeehouse.com

Earthtones
Coffeehouse

1217 Bay Road, Webster

671-3060,
www.earthtonescoffee.com

Fairport
Village Coffee & Wine Bar

6 N Main Street, Fairport

377-5880,
www.fairportvillagecoffee.com

Java
Junction

56 Main Street, Brockport

637-9330,
www.javajunction.com

Northfield
Coffee Co.

1790 Penfield Road, Penfield

381-0630

O’Loughlin’s

5980 St Paul Boulevard

266-7047

On
The Rocks NY Grill

1551 Mt Hope Avenue

271-7777

Paradigm
Café

3118 E Henrietta Road

334-9520,
www.paradigmcafe.com

Shamrock
Jack’s

4554 Culver Road

323-9310,
www.shamrockjack.com

Sips
Coffeehouse & Cafe

149 Pattonwood
Drive

323-9360

SPoT Coffee

200 East Avenue

613-4600,
www.spotcoffee.com

Starry
Nites Café

696 University Avenue

271-2630,
www.starrynitescafe.com

Willow
Inn

428 Manitou Road, Hilton

392-3489

Big
venue

AuditoriumCenter

875 E Main Street

222-5000,
www.rbtl.org

Blue
Cross Arena

100 Exchange Boulevard

232-1900,
www.bluecrossarena.com

DarienLake Performing ArtsCenter

9993 Allegheny Road, Darien Center

716-599-4641,
www.darienlakeconcerts.com

Harro East Ballroom

155 Chestnut Street

454-0230,
www.harroeastballroom.com

Main Street Armory

900 E Main Street

232-3221,
www.rochesterarmory.com

Marvin
Sands-Constellation Brands Performing ArtsCenter

4355 Lakeshore Drive, Canandaigua

454-2100,
www.rbtl.org

Smith
Opera House

82 Seneca Street, Geneva

315-781-5483,
www.thesmith.org

Blues

Beale Street Café

689 South Avenue

271-4650,
www.bealestreetcafe.com

ClarissaRoom

293 Clarissa Street

325-5350

Dinosaur
Bar-B-Que

99
Court Street

325-7090,
www.dinosaurbarbque.com

The
Landing Bar & Grille

30 Main Street, Fairport

425-7490

Merchant
Street Smokehouse

48 Merchant Street, Brockport

637-6020,
www.merchantstreetsmokehouse.com

Rab’s Woodshed

4440 Lake Avenue

663-4610

Smokin’
Joe’s

425 Lyell
Avenue

647-1540

Classical

Eastman Theatre

60 Gibbs Street

274-1100,
www.rochester.edu/eastman

Geneva on the Lake

1001 Lochland
Road, Geneva

800-3-GENEVA,
www.genevaonthelake.com

Hochstein
Performance Hall

50 N Plymouth Avenue

454-4596,
www.hochstein.org

Kilbourn
Hall

26 Gibbs Street

274-1100,
www.rochester.edu/eastman

Country

Daisy Dukes

336 East Avenue

325-4441

The
Jukebox

5435 W Ridge Road, Spencerport

352-4505

The
Roost

4853 W Henrietta Road

321-1170,
www.roostcountry.com

DJ

Barfly

359 East Avenue

232-5630

Blue
Room

293 Alexander Street

232-2230

ClubNV

123
Liberty Pole Way

454-7230

Coyote
Joe’s

384 East Avenue

232-7170

Karma

355 East Avenue

454-7010

Liquor
Room

154 St Paul Street

454-7750

Norton’s
Pub

1730 Goodman Street

266-3570

Pulse

1509 Scottsville Road

436-7573,
www.feelmypulse.com

SoHo East

336 East Avenue

262-2060

Grab-bag

A\V

8
Public Market

423-0320,
www.avspace.org

Bullwinkle’s
Café

627 Lake Avenue

458-5530

Eastman
Lounge

109 East Avenue

232-6000

Flat
Iron Café

561 State Street

454-4830

Flipside
Bar & Grill

2001 E Main Street

288-3930

German
House Theatre

315 Gregory Street

303-2234,
www.thegermanhouse.com

Glengarry
Grill

4400 Nine Mile Point Road, Fairport

377-7250

Harmony
House

58 E Main Street, Webster

265-9540

Honeoye
Pub

125 E Lake Road

229-4535

Java’s

18 Gibbs Street

232-4820,
www.javascafe.com

Johnny’s
Irish Pub

1382 Culver Road

224-0990,
www.johnnysirishpub.com

Milestones

170 East Avenue

325-6490,
www.milestonesmusicroom.com

Montage
Live

50
Chestnut Plaza

232-1520,
www.montagegrille.com

South
Bristol Cultural
Center

5323 Seneca Point Road, Canandaigua

396-5950,
www.southbristolculturalcenter.org

Jazz

Bistro 135

135 W Commercial Street, ERochester

248-8120

Bop
Shop

274 N Goodman Street

271-3354,
www.bopshop.com

Clark House

600 Whalen Road, Penfield

385-3700

The
Grill at Strathallan

550 East Avenue

461-5010,
www.strathallan.com

Horizons
at the Lodge at Woodcliff

Route
96, Perinton

381-4000,
www.woodclifflodge.com

Little
Theatre Café

240 East Avenue

258-0412,
www.little-theatre.com

Riffs

330 East Avenue

325-2010

Stardust
Ballroom

41 Backus Street

428-6769

Tapas 177

177 St Paul Street

262-2090,
www.tapas177.com

Rock/pop

Alexander Street Pub

290 Alexander Street

262-3820

Argyle
Grill at Eagle Vale

4400 Nine Mile Point Road, Fairport

377-2452,
www.eaglevale.com

Bug
Jar

219 Monroe Avenue

454-2966,
www.bugjar.com

Café
Jericho

985
Ebner Dive, Webster

288-6217,
www.cafejericho.com

California Brew Haus

402 W Ridge Road

621-1480

Curley’s
Saloon

511 E Ridge Road

266-9559

Elixir

938 S Clinton Avenue

244-5350

Jam
Room

3873 Buffalo Road

594-1212

Jimmy
Mac’s

104 Platt Street

232-5230

The
Keg

315 Gregory Street

473-5070,
www.kegsportsbar.com

Keys
Martini & Piano Bar/Club Keys

233 Mill Street

232-KEYS,
www.keyspianobar.com

Leadbelly
Landing

4776 Lake Avenue

663-3210

McGhan’s

11 Main Street, Victor

924-3660

Millennium

2235
Empire Boulevard, Webster

671-5359

Monty’s
Krown

875 Monroe Avenue

271-7050,
www.montyskrown.com

Monty’s
Korner

355 East Avenue

263-7650,
www.montyskorner.com

Otter
Lodge

1776 Monroe Avenue

442-8790

Panorama
Nightclub

730 Elmgrove
Road

247-2190

Penny
Arcade

4785 Lake Avenue

621-7625,
www.thepennyarcade.com

Pelican’s
Nest

566 River Street

663-5910,
www.pelicansnestrestaurant.com

Pineapple
Jack’s

507 Spencerport Road

247-5225,
www.pineapplejacks.com

Richmond’s

21 Richmond Street

454-4612

Short’s

35 N Main Street, Fairport

388-0136

Six
Pockets

716 E Ridge Road

266-1440,
www.sixpockets.com

Slammers
Bar & Grill

4650 Dewey Avenue

663-4455

Spenders

1600 Lyell
Avenue

458-1040,
www.newspenders.com

Spikes

655 Monroe Avenue

242-4880

Spy
Bar

139 State Street

750-3575

SteelMusic Hall

1509 Scottsville Road

436-7573,
www.steelmusichall.com

Stooges

511 E Ridge Road

266-9559

Taylor’s

3300 Monroe Avenue

381-3000,
www.taylorsdisco.com

Tiki Bob’s

60
Browns Race

325-2430

WaterStreetMusic Hall

204 N Water Street

325-5600,
www.waterstreetmusic.com

Whiskey

315 Alexander Street

232-7550

This article appears in Mar 22-28, 2006.