Thursday, August 16, 2001

JayceLand's Weekly Rochester Events #136: Wait 13 Years for Salvation

I was there last Friday and it was just the new guys behind the bar with Tom the owner. I had ordered a couple rolls and a couple nigiri and the guy (Ryan, I think) didn't know how to make the nigiri so he asked Tom to do so. Tom reluctantly made the rolls, then when he found out it was for me, declared the order was an add-on and I didn't need a new tray. Unfortunately, he didn't bother to (a) check to make sure it was an add-on since it was actually part of my initial order, and (b) check to see if there was enough space on my tray to fit it, which there was not. The other guy covered for him and gave me the rolls on a new small tray. As an added bonus, the Wasabi Bombers were so absurdly small I could barely taste them.

Tom has made the place into a boring old restaurant.

When Cory and Barry left to go west at the end of last month, I knew the character of the place would change some. I assumed the policies would be similar but the people would change--new ideas and new faces. It would take some time. Unfortunately, Tom railroaded in some of his ideas (which may be the way he used to do it for all I know) but he's driving out the loyal customer base such as myself. I was going every Friday and have actually spent around $2,400 at the place in 2000 and 2001.

On Saturday I was at Monty's Krown (875 Monroe Ave.) and ran into Nic, one of the last of the old chefs. I said I would probably take a month off from the place before trying again to see if things shook down. He told me some of the horror stories from behind the scenes that he is personally wrestling with to try and save the place. He emplored me to return--he took last Friday off and would definitely be back this coming Friday and would "make everything alright again." Well okay ... I'll give them one last chance. If I get any shit from Tom, though, that's it. I'm finding some other place to hang out and eat.

In other news, I did manage to go to all the things I listed last week. From Thursday night to Monday morning I guess I spent 34 hours partying, 26 hours sleeping and 26 hours doing stuff that wasn't either (like work.) I'm beat. I got to see Gregory Paul , Jian Ghomeshi, Single Whips, The Purrs, Spacetrucker, K-9 Circle, Jerseyband, Sunny Weather, Flour City Brewers Fest, Reporter, The Brown Hornets, The Hi-Risers, Mid-Air Collision, QUiTTERS , Dollywatchers, Greenhornes, and Touch of Evil.

I'm kind of tired.

Anyway, the big highlight was Jerseyband who completely failed to disappoint. They were great. I finally met Alex who's sort-of the leader and he said they got a residency at Keuka College. Basically, they're getting paid to practice. I asked if there's a music program down there that they can exploit for advice but strangely there wasn't. About 120 people watched the show. I kept thinking Sunny Weather was just sitting backstage crying--"They're opening for us?" Sunny Weather was alright--they play groove-rock with a zydeco twist. I stayed for a couple songs and thought I might move on when I realized the 30 people remaining included a large percentage of 22-25 year-old women gyrating about so I stayed. Call me a pig. Nonetheless, the band was alright and I'm glad I got to see them.

Well, there's no pictures this week but I'm almost up to 1,000 words so if the proverbial expression is true you've got most of a picture anyway. The last little tidbit I wanted to share was that tickets to see Penn and Teller at Auditorium Center (875 Main St E.) on October 10 go on sale this weekend. Tickets are available through Ticket Express (716-222-5000.)

T H U R S D A Y

The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster starting at 8. One of the trippiest Godzilla movies where he fights a mound of garbage. I stumbled upon this on the ComputerCompatibles website ... Singles for Charity. Apparently they're a bunch of single people who get together to do stuff for local charities. It sounds like a good idea, anyway. Their meetings are tonight and every third Thursday from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Al Sigl Center (1000 Elmwood Ave.) Go to Door #5 at the Staff Lounge. This is new to me and I haven't called, but if this rocks your world, the number for inforamtion is 234-0187. Veluxe and Flashing Astonishers will be at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) tonight at 10:45. Tonight, Monty's Krown (875 Monroe Ave.) will host Peachy Neachys with Orbit Underground starting around 10:30. This is a show that will be fun (it's their last show prior to a couple month hiatus) and it will be packed, including on stage--fitting a half dozen people on a postage stamp is no small feat (unless they have small feet [groan.]) Tonight is another of Freetime Magazine's Rochester's Most Popular Band Contest with Dr. Pocket versus Sound Bite Society starting around 9:30 at the intolerable Milestones (170 East Ave.) The doors open at 9 and and close around 12:30. If worse comes to worse you can always see, hear, and/or otherwise participate in Karaoke with Sugar Bear at Drinks by Mary Dawn (535 S. Clinton) starting around 10:30.

F R I D A Y

I'll give California Rollin' at Village Gate Square (274 N. Goodman St.) another shot tonight. Check out the Fish Mail for the special rolls this week. Tonight is yet another East End Fest featuring a bunch of music from about 5 p.m. and 1 a.m. Looking at the bands, nothing much thrills me. I guess the new-to-me rockers, The Skin Tight Band at Richmond's (21 Richmond St.) from 7:15 to 9:15 could be a little interesting and the new-to-me funk band Milkhouse at Milestones (170 East Ave.) from 11 to 1 do too. Of course if you want to chill out a bit, there's the always low-key Roof Deck at The Centers at High Falls (60 Brown's Race) with Uncle Plum around 9:30.

S A T U R D A Y

O'Bagelo's, 165 State Street, noon. Several times today, the hour-and-a-half walking drama, A Circle of Friends: An Abolitionists' Tour of Mt. Hope Cemetery in 1860 will be performed at Mt. Hope Cemetery (North Gate, 791 Mt. Hope Ave.) Call 271-4552 for reservations. The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing Roberto Benigni's horror parody masterpiece The Monster starting at 8. Dead Blue Hand will be playing with The Unknowns tonight at 10:45 at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) Tonight at Monty's Krown (875 Monroe Ave.) is the punk-rock extravaganza with The Grinders, The Purrs, and The Priests starting around 10:30. Although I'll probably go to the Krown, the hippie-band Intrepid Traveler will be at Acme Bar & Pizza (495 Monroe Ave.) tonight starting around 10 or so. Although the musical genre doesn't thrill me, it does thrill hordes of 22-25 year old women. If this interests you, you may want to check it out.

S U N D A Y

Today is the last day of the Sterling Renaissance Festival (15431 Farden Rd., Sterling, N.Y.) If you want to go, from 10 to 7 today is the last time you can do it until next year. The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing Two Lane Blacktop starting at 8. Being a fan of driving movies where nobody talks, this should hit home with me. Basically one of those car race movies with musicians James Taylor and Dennis Wilson at the wheel. Tonight at Drinks by Mary Dawn (535 S. Clinton) is the Freestyle Talent Show starting around 10. I stopped by recently and it now includes Karaoke with Sugar Bear.

M O N D A Y

Trivia Quiz continues at The Old Toad (277 Alexander St.) I keep going and we still haven't won -- whether we have a few people or a whole bunch.. We've been within a couple questions of winning, but so has everyone else. It all gets started a little after 9. If you're interested, Johnny's Smoke Free Bar (1382 Culver Rd.) will have a DJ playing Barenaked Ladies tunes.

T U E S D A Y

As of a few months ago, Java's (16 Gibb Street) still has open mic poetry downstairs starting around 9:30. Open Mic Comedy hosted by Dan Liberto (of the The Comedy Company) is tonight at Six Pockets (Ridge Hudson Plaza) starting around 10. The shows have been pretty good in the past.

W E D N E S D A Y

Weekly karaoke contest with Sugar Bear, at Comix Cafe (3450 Winton Pl.) Tonight at Daily Perks (389 Gregory St.) is Open Mic Night (for music) from 7 to 10.