Weekly Rochester Events #315: The Answer: Whiskey and German House Have This in Common

Thursday, January 20, 2005

If you recall, after my New Year's binge, I gave up drinking until February. On the one hand, drinking provides me with such amusing self-deprecating stories, but on the other (as Dave Attell of Comedy Central's Insomniac show says) "I don't need to drink to have a good time, I need to drink to stop the voices in my head." See, when I sit down to write, it's a pain to have to filter through all the chatter to come up with something amusing to say. It's a tremendous shortcut to have a drink and then the words just flow. Clever readers will correctly deduce that it typically takes me less than an hour to create a first draft (and not so clever ones will have done so by this point in the sentence.)

However, without the magical effects of alcohol, I stammer my way through, stopping at each sentence to decide whether to use the word "deduce" or "infer." Worse, though, is that the fuzzy outline of what I'd like to write about isn't usually one of the louder voices. Thus, I don't even know where to begin because I don't know where I want to go.

The second reason is polls. I used to have weekly polls on this site but after March 21, 2002, another free poll service quit so I gave up and stopped. I thought that it would be a good thing to write my own someday, but I didn't have any of the skills.

Well, after Thursday Thinkers at The Rochester Public Library (115 South Ave.) on the 6th, I found some books on the topic. The most useful of them was Professional PHP4 Programming. I intended to write everything in CGI along with a MySQL database, but I found that PHP was way easier as it was designed to integrate with HTML and with MySQL, simplifying a lot of my work. Thus, in a couple weeks, I figured it out and put it up. I even imported all the old polls into the poll archive.

Last week, I unfortunately was trying to get it all done and left the essay until last when I didn't have enough time to finish. I got to the last 10% of work on the poll database (which takes 90% of the time, as the programming adage goes) and I didn't quite get it working enough. In the future I'll be able to add new polls, but I think I'm going to just hijack old ones as needed since there's about 130 I already have. Hopefully by the time you read this, I'll have added features to make the voting process a bit smoother and to make the poll archive a bit cleaner (it currently shows all the polls in reverse-chronological order on one page, and I'd like to add ways to filter to sort the polls other ways.)

So anyway (which, naturally, clues all of you in that I'm about to switch to chronological blog mode) I started out on Thursday and Friday last week with a Charles Bukowski double-header at the Dryden Theatre at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) Thursday they showed Barfly which is was written by Bukowski about his alter-ego Henry Chinaski, played by Mickey Rourke. Although I didn't know much about Bukowski's mannerisms, Rourke's performance mirrored what I thought I knew, and I guess general public sentiment about Bukowski. The movie itself was okay ... I think I liked the similarly themed Trees Lounge (Steve Buscemi's semi-autobiographical account of his time as a chronic alcoholic) better. On Friday, I went back and saw Bukowski: Born into This which is a biographical documentary. This tended to dispel the myths I had about Bukowski — including ones perpetuated in Barfly. What I found was that while Bukowski was pretty much drunk all the time, he was just another guy trying to figure out what to make of life. He had some ideas that I have stumbled upon myself (like living completely honestly, especially when it comes to stuff that's personal or would seem to be embarrassing) except that he strongly lived by that code. Unlike Rourke's portrayal, Bukowski seemed much more straightforward. He didn't appear to be as drunk as he was, he didn't brag, and he didn't thrive on attention. Rather, he seemed like a straight-from-the-heart asshole.

Also on Friday I went to The Rochester Contemporary Art Gallery (137 East Ave.) to see the new exhibit. Interactive installation Wormhole by Emile Devereaux would have been better if it were working completely (and not so obvious, what with trails of blue gaffer's tape covering wires all over the white floor.) I'll have to get back and see it again. The other new exhibition was Snow Black by Haluk Akakce which I didn't even get a chance to look at. It's unfortunately tucked behind a closed door titled "Conference Room" (to keep the room dark so the video projection has adequate contrast) but hopefully they'll make it more inviting. The remaining works were interesting video projects but mostly quite old. I watched Tango by Zbig Rybczynski which depicts some 36 characters repeating various behaviors and interacting in a single room. When I read the description, Rybczynski notes that every cell is hand-drawn with some 16,000 mattes used — I wondered why he hadn't just used a computer, but realized that the film is more than 20 years old as it was made in 1981. While I appreciate the content of the film, I thought it was a bit inappropriate to pair it with more contemporary works in such a setting. Oh well.

On Monday — Martin Luther King Day — despite the snow and leaving a bit late, I managed to get to see At the River I Stand which is a documentary about the 1968 strike of [all black] sanitation workers in Memphis, Tennessee and the events leading to a visit by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his assassination in that city. I was pleased that there were about 45 people there, despite the bad weather. The movie impressed me with the notion that oppressors can be blind to their oppressive actions, but those being oppressed — especially when they are vocal about it — can better see their predicament. Relatedly, I borrowed Rabbit-Proof Fence from the library. I thought it interesting that by observing how the native people of Australia have been treated in the past, I got a better perspective on how we treat our own natives here in America. The movie, by the way is quite good; in the 1930's, "half-breeds" were taken from their aboriginal mothers (because their fathers were white) to be assimilated into white Australian society, and the film documents the real-life journey of three sisters who try to find their way thousands of miles to home.

Anyway, later on Monday I went to A|V Art Sound Space (#8 in the Public Market, off N. Union St., formerly The All-Purpose Room) to see the show there. The Blood and Bone Orchestra opened with a great example of their experimental, organic, jazz-influenced music. Next was the Tunis/Nuuja Duo who were in all their experimental/noise glory: Joe did semi-rhythmic drum work while Nuuj did his usual effects-feedback work as well as lighting firecrackers in front of the microphone. Closing things out was From Between who did really interesting experimental squeaks and studders on various saxophones and with drums and other ordinarily percussive instruments.

T H U R S D A Y

This afternoon in Gleason Auditorium at The Rochester Public Library (115 South Ave.) is another Thursday Thinkers from at 5:15 p.m. to 6 p.m. Malcolm Bell, author of The turkey shoot: Tracking the Attica cover-up will discuss Reverend Carroll Pickett's Within These Walls: Memoirs of a Death House Chaplain. [source: Friends of the Public Library flyer] Tonight at Verb Café at Writers and Books (740 University Ave.) is another Screenplay Salon where Jack Garner will introduce and discuss Great Expectations. [source: Writers and Books calendar] Over at The Clarissa Room (293 Clarissa St., formerly Shep's Paradise) starting around 7:30 p.m. is The Sonny Miles Organ Trio. [source: Freetime] The Rochester Genealogical Society will have an open meeting tonight at 7 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall of The Asbury First United Methodist Church (1050 East Ave.) Larry Naukam, the department head of the Local History and Genealogy Division of The Rochester Public Library (115 South Ave.) will present Resources at the Central Library and LDS Family History Centers and Dr. Lorraine P. Saunders from the Collections Department of Rochester Museum & Science Center (657 East Ave.) will speak on Senecas Meet the 1600's Dutch. [source: the proverbial grapevine] Over at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) starting around 9:30 p.m. is early 1970's-styled rock-and-roll from Thee Shams, The Lost Marbles, and punchy punk-rock band Blue Spark and Flame. [source: Bug Jar calendar] Tonic (East Avenue near Alexander) will be hosting Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad starting around 10:30 p.m. [source: JamBase calendar for Rochester] Pure Kona Poetry Open Mic Night is at Daily Perks (389 Gregory St.) tonight starting at 7:30. [source: Daily Perks calendar]

F R I D A Y

This afternoon at 1 p.m. at The Downtown United Presbyterian Church (121 N. Fitzhugh St N.) is the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the new space for The Hochstein School of Music and Dance (50 North Plymouth Ave.) [source: Hochstein calendar] Tonight and tomorrow at Downstairs Cabaret (172 West Main St.) is Nuts and Bolts Improv Troupe (see their site at ImprovAmerica too) starting around 8 p.m. [source: band e-mail] At 7 p.m. at A|V Art Sound Space (#8 in the Public Market, off N. Union St., formerly The All-Purpose Room) tonight is the opening of Biodomes in Watercolor by Brian Blatt and music by Gaybot. [source: artsound website] Superb acoustic cover-song guy John Akers will be at Johnny's Irish Pub (1382 Culver Rd., still smoke-free) starting around 5 p.m. and again for a second set around 9:30 p.m. [source: Johnny's Irish Pub calendar] Tonight at Water Street Music Hall (204 N. Water St.) is Punchline, Zolof the Rock-n-Roll Destroyer, June, and The Gym Class Heroes starting around 7:30 p.m. [source: Water Street calendar] [all ages] Daily Perks (389 Gregory St.) will be hosting Michael McNeill, Paul Smoker, Jonathan Serrano, Dr. Tim Sullivan, Elliott Kirby, and Mike Montalbano starting around 8 p.m. [source: Rochester Music Coalition calendar] [all ages] German House (315 Gregory St.) will be hosting Suzanne Westenhoefer, and really good acoustic soloist Leah Zicari starting around 6:30 p.m. [source: WBER calendar] The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing The World's Greatest Sinner starting at 8 p.m. Producer, director, writer, and star Timothy Carey's son, Romeo Carey will be on hand to introduce and discuss his father's film about a man who quits his job, (and according to the Eastman writeup) "declares himself God, forms a rock group, and eventually runs for president." [source: Eastman House calendar] [all ages] Tonight at The Rochester Contemporary Art Gallery (137 East Ave.) at 8:30 p.m. is a one-hour koto performance by Ryuko Mizutani. [source: Rochester Contemporary e-mail] [all ages] Tonight at Murph's Irondequoit Pub (705 Titus Ave., formerly Irondequoit Town Lounge, next to the House of Guitars) is really talented and varied guitarist and singer Kinloch Nelson starting around 9 p.m. [source: band e-mail] Tonight at Paradigm Café (3118 E. Henrietta Rd., formerly Blue Sunday) is folk-rock band Dogtown starting around 9 p.m. [source: Paradigm Cafe calendar] The Ritskeller (One Lomb Memorial Dr., on RIT campus) will be hosting The Whatnot starting around 9:30 p.m. [source: RIT Events Calendar site]

S A T U R D A Y

O'Bagelo's, 165 State Street, noon. Verb Café at Writers and Books (740 University Ave.) will be hosting Local Authors Day from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. with Patricia Ryan discussing Subversive Postmodernism: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Just Teach 'em How to Write and Will Hubbell discussing The Balancing Act: How I Moved from Part Time Writer to Fulltime Author. [source: Writers and Books calendar] George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will present a workshop this morning starting at 10:30 a.m. titled Get the Most Out of Your Digital Camera presented by Doug Hitchcock. [source: Eastman House calendar] This morning from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. is the grand opening of The Hochstein School of Music and Dance (50 North Plymouth Ave.) new studios and classrooms at The Downtown United Presbyterian Church (121 N. Fitzhugh St N.) [source: Hochstein calendar] Updated: The Local Concert to Benefit the Red Cross International Response Fund — Tsunami Relief scheduled for Daily Perks (389 Gregory St.) tonight at 4 p.m. has been canceled due to the weather. [source: the proverbial grapevine] Abundance Cooperative Market (62 Marshall St.) will be hosting Doug Waterman, and Bobby Maville starting around 2 p.m. playing "soulful pop." [source: Abundance Co-op calendar] Nextstage at Geva (75 Woodbury Blvd.) will be having their Eighth Annual Hibernatus Interruptus: A Winter Festival of New Plays this weekend and next weekend. Tonight at 4 p.m. is Iron Kisses. The Long Division of My Mother by James Still then Based on a Totally True Story by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa which will also be shown tomorrow at 4 p.m. [source: Geva Theatre website] The Lyres, The Projectiles, and 1960's-style rock band St. Phillip's Escalator will be at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) starting around 10:45 p.m. [source: Bug Jar calendar] Tonight at The Ritskeller (One Lomb Memorial Dr., on RIT campus) is RIT Comedy Troupe doing stand-up comedy at 8 p.m. [source: RIT Events Calendar site] Water Street Music Hall (204 N. Water St.) will be hosting Elephant Man, and Assassin starting around 10:45 p.m. [source: Water Street calendar] Pretty well-seasoned folk singer Brad Yoder will be at Starry Nites Café (696 University Ave., formerly Moonbeans) starting around 9 p.m. [source: Starry Nites calendar] Rockabilly band Krypton 88 will be at Shamrock Jack's Steak and Seafood (4554 Culver Rd.) starting around 9:30 p.m. [source: Whole Lotta Shakin' calendar]

S U N D A Y

Over at Spot Coffee (200 East Ave.) starting around 8 p.m. is excellent cello-and-drums rock band Break of Reality. [source: Rochester Music Coalition calendar] This afternoon at 3 p.m. at The Memorial Art Gallery (500 University Ave., near Goodman St.) is a film by Tom Muir Wilson that explores the making of The Music Stand which first brought Wendell Castle national acclaim. [source: Memorial Art Gallery calendar] Art by Herman Gatto (a.k.a. Herman the Bartender) has been on display at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) but the official opening party is tonight around 8 p.m. [source: the proverbial grapevine] Starry Nites Café (696 University Ave., formerly Moonbeans) is hosting their weekly Open Mike Poetry tonight at 7 p.m. [source: Starry Nites calendar] [all ages]

T U E S D A Y

There will be another Rochester Poets Reading and Open Mike tonight at 7 p.m. at Verb Café at Writers and Books (740 University Ave.) [source: Writers and Books calendar] For anyone who can actually call themself a "young professional" without using the term sarcastically, there's a Rochester Young Professionals Networking Event from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Lola Bistro and Bar (630 Monroe Ave.) [source: the proverbial grapevine] The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing Härlig är jorden (World of Glory) starting at 8 p.m. along with Någonting har hänt (Something Happened), both films by Roy Andersson, along with some of his award-winning television commercials. The former is a short film that inspired Sånger från andra våningen (Songs from the Second Floor) (screened earlier this month) and the latter is a film about AIDS commissioned by Sweden's health agency but never used. [source: Eastman House calendar] [all ages] Tonight at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) is rapid-fire, metalish modern-rock from Gentlemen's Club, and pretty good punk from The Pushrods starting around 10:30 p.m. [source: Bug Jar calendar] Dinosaur Bar-B-Que (99 Court St.) will be hosting Tommy Z (just returned from entertaining U.S. Troops on the holidays around the world) starting around 10 p.m. [source: Dinosaur Bar-B-Que calendar] Tonight on Rochester Sessions on WITR 89.7 FM is 1960's-style rock band St. Phillip's Escalator from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. [source: WITR calendar] Daily Perks (389 Gregory St.) is hosting an Acoustic Open Mic from 8 to 10. For this one, there's no microphones and it's pretty open ended. [source: Daily Perks calendar]

W E D N E S D A Y

The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing The Steel Helmet starting at 8 p.m. A war film centered on a guy who's the sole survivor among a group of soldiers because of his helmet. [source: Eastman House calendar] [all ages] Poor People United meets tonight and every Wednesday at 7 at St. Joseph's House of Hospitality (402 South Ave.) [source: the proverbial grapevine] Tonight from 8 to 10 is an Open-Mic Comedy Night at Daily Perks (389 Gregory St.) While once it was a workshop type of environment, it's now more-or-less a regular open mic ... by default it's still a place to try out new stuff. [source: Daily Perks calendar]

The American Red Cross is a humanitarian organization led by volunteers that provides relief to victims of disasters and helps people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies. They are supporting the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) appeal for basic materials for survival and personnel.

Unicef focuses on child protection and immunizations, as well as helping countries in crisis with emergency assistance.

Oxfam International is a confederation of 12 organizations working together to find lasting solutions to poverty, suffering and injustice. They are providing emergency aid equipment to help in disaster relief.

American Red Cross Disaster Relief page is an Amazon.com donation page and it's among the easiest ways to donate from if you're an Amazon.com customer.

JayceLand #312 is the updated I did on December 30 with the chain letter these links.

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