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Weekly Rochester Events #333: Only Half a Beast

Thursday, May 26, 2005

Ok, so O'Bagelo's (165 State Street) is closed this weekend for Memorial Day. Thus, as would have been tradition anyway — being the last Saturday of the month — I figure we should all pop over to Paola's Burrito Place (1921 South Ave., formerly Big Dog's Hots) for lunch. It constantly gets rave reviews for the best Mexican food in town. Oh, and for all of you who also did not take Spanish as your High School language either, I guess it's pronounced like "POW-la," and is the feminine form of Paolo ... if I recall correctly, the place is named after the owner's daughter.

This past week was pretty sparse for me ... I didn't get out much.

On Friday, I was talking with a friend at Lux Lounge (666 South Ave.) and it was unusually quiet, leading me to spawn the theory of "hipster swarms." The way I see it, people communicate in, more-or-less, three "modes." There's direct conscious communication like talking, direct subconscious communication like body language, and a third category of indirect subconscious communication — information that gets passed that isn't of use to either the recipient or the sender.

So, kind of like the way bees communicate where the honey is found (duh: in the hive) hipsters communicate where the party is at. As an example, I noted the guy outside unlocking his bike and said that maybe wearing a brown leather jacket and a red shirt means to "meet at Lux at 11:30." The rationale is that there seems to be certain nights when things are right for people to come out in droves ... er ... swarms and other nights, they all stay home. I theorize that it's some kind of indirect subconscious communication: somebody decides to wear a hat to work, and that causes someone else to decide to have spaghetti for dinner, and the smell makes somebody else wear a red shirt and brown leather jacket, and viola: nobody goes out until 11:30.

I swear: it's absolutely true.

Later I went to Betty Meyer's Bullwinkle Café (622 Lake Ave.) for the special show there (remember that they're ordinarily only open on Saturdays for Betty's Sing-Along.) Kelli caught me outside as I was locking up the bike and asked if I knew about sound systems ... it went something like, "Hey: do you know how to set up a sound system? Oh, yeah, and by the way, hi." So I was given a job right off the bat and ended up keeping an eye on the P.A. system all night. (I think I did a pretty good job, but the people in back might have wanted it louder.)

Anyway, CarbonicMySpace link started things off with some good, very-low-key acoustic. It remained pretty interesting to me even though I thought it got kind of repetitive (particularly in style, what with being all somber.) Kelli Shay Hicks was up next and did her minimal acoustic guitar and airy vocals; finishing up with a couple tunes on the autoharp. Last was Jana HunterMySpace link who also does low-key acoustic ... I liked her stuff too. The way she sang reminded me of Joanna Newsom in a couple songs.

Speaking of being the "sound guy," I think the word "guy" is crossing gender boundaries a little. I mean, the phrase, "she's the sound guy" doesn't seem all that absurd to me. I find this interesting because it's been such a thorn in the equal-rights movement (you know: the one between men and women [did you hear disco's back too?]) to have words like "congressman" which gets translated to "congressperson" but what of "manhole cover?" While "understreet access" seems fine to me, some people just prefer the word "pants." [rim shot]

But really, I keep seeing stuff like that subtly changing. Sure, there's still lots of women who don't want to be "just one of the guys" but the word doesn't really mean "man" all that much anymore. I just like the idea of thwarting the "good-old-boy" networks just a little bit: the theory is that in such circles, men are inherently better at some jobs than women, but when enough women do sound engineering that "sound guy" becomes gender neutral, the underlying theory pretty much falls apart.

Oh yeah, but after the show, I went out and found that my tall bike had been used as a post for someone else to lock to. The trouble is that around Bullwinkle's there's the fencepost I used, and the next closest spot is the lamp post on the other side of Lake Avenue. Anyway, I noted that it was the same bike (and particularly the absurdly robust lock) that I locked up next to at Lux. I went in a bit frustrated, but realized I knew who the guy was: I went to the guy in the brown leather jacket and red shirt and asked if he'd unlock his bike. I guess that whole "hipster swarm" idea was just a red herring ... it was just a means for me to efficiently get my bike unlocked later in the evening.

On Saturday, I made it out to the Dryden at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) to see Raiders of the Lost Ark. I've been looking forward to this for a few weeks and although I got there early, the front-center seats were already taken by a group of die-hard fans. Anyway, costume designer Deborah Nadoolman Landis introduced the film and showed a clip from Secret of the Incas in which Charlton Heston plays Harry Steele, an archaeologist who wears a trademark leather jacket and wide-brimmed fedora, and this was the inspiration for Indiana Jones' costume. Her comments on costume design were insightful and rather obvious in retrospect: each costume defines the character, it's designed to exactly fit the actor, and its only function is to look good on screen.

I ordinarily don't like to tell other people's stories, but this one is amusing enough and tangentially related to me that I think I will. Before the movie, I got to chatting with the other people who were front-and-center. We noted a couple women show up in costume and someone recognized one of them as Katie Thomas (see her page at RebelLegion.com) who was featured in the The Gannett Rochester Insider the other week in her Princess Leia costume. One of the guys wanted to meet her so I loaned him my Sharpie and he got her to autograph his copy of the Insider. What happens now is out of my hands.

And for your final thought: keep an eye out for "Benign Girl" merchandise at The Rochester Public Market (280 Union St. N.) but beware of "Malignant Girl." Trust me on that one.


Benign Girl was safely available at the Public Market back in March.

M
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  • Guerrilla: The Taking of Patty Hearst (at The Little) - Interesting documentary about the Symbionese Liberation Army and their kidnapping of Patty Hearst in the early 1970's.
  • Imaginary Heroes (at The Little) - Whaa? The American family isn't as pure and simple as it seems?
  • Gong fu (Kung Fu Hustle, at The Little) - The Axe gang takes on the tenants of Pig Sty Alley ... watch out!
  • The Longest Yard - Petty much the same thing as The Longest Yard only newer.
  • Madagascar - A country on the Indian Ocean has been copyrighted by DreamWorks for all of perpetuity. Oh, and it's pretty much the same thing as all the other computer animated movies in the last 10 years.

T
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This evening from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. is the opening of Gifts from the Creator: Native American Traditional Arts at The Gallery at the Arts and Cultural Council for Greater Rochester (277 N. Goodman St.) The exhibit runs until June 16. [source: Arts and Cultural Council e-mail]

Joy Adams will be on hand at The Memorial Art Gallery (500 University Ave., near Goodman St.) to discuss her painting series Mad Sally and her Marvelous Adventures tonight at 6:30 p.m. [source: University of Rochester Events Calendar]

Little Jack Melody will be at The Bop Shop (274 N. Goodman St., in Village Gate Square) starting at 8 p.m. [source: Bop Shop calendar] [all ages]

Tonight at Starry Nites Café (696 University Ave., formerly Moonbeans) is mellow jazz guitarist Paul Blackburn, and Ross Bracco starting around 8 p.m. [source: band e-mail] [all ages]

Old-time-style rock-and-roll from Watkins and the Rapiers (buy their stuff on Amazon.com) will be at Monty's Krown (875 Monroe Ave.) starting around 10:30 p.m. [source: Monty's Krown calendar] [21+]

JayceLand Pick The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) will be hosting insanely loud band JuciferMySpace link, The SundressesMySpace link, tight, technical metal from BMLMySpace link, and punchy drums-and-guitar punk-rock band Blue Spark and FlameMySpace link starting around 9 p.m. [source: Bug Jar calendar] [18+]

Tonight at Geva (75 Woodbury Blvd.) is the second night of A Chorus Line (which opened yesterday.) It runs until July 1 with shows (this weekend) at 8 p.m. tonight, tomorrow, and Saturday, and again at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Sunday. [source: Geva Theatre e-mail]

The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing The Exorcist starting at 8 p.m. Nice, classic, scary horror film. [source: Eastman House calendar] [all ages]

Pure Kona Poetry Open Mic Night is at Daily Perks (389 Gregory St.) tonight starting at 7:30. [source: Daily Perks calendar] [all ages]


F
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JayceLand Pick Updated: Old-time-styled accordian-and-crosscut-saw band Dreamland Faces will be at Lux Lounge (666 South Ave.) tonight from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. [source: the proverbial grapevine]

Tonight at 10:30 p.m. and tomorrow at 11:30 p.m. at Nextstage at Geva (75 Woodbury Blvd.) is Geva Comedy Improv. [source: Geva Theatre website]

Tonight at Monty's Krown (875 Monroe Ave.) is blues-influenced 1960's style rock-and-roll from The Ferndocks starting around 10:30 p.m. [source: Monty's Krown calendar] [21+]


S
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JayceLand Pick Lunch today is at Paola's Burrito Place (1921 South Ave., formerly Big Dog's Hots) at noon.

From 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. is The Friends of Mount Hope Cemetery Walking Tour at Mt. Hope Cemetery (North Gate, 791 Mt. Hope Ave.) [source: Freetime] [all ages]

Top Pick Over at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) starting around 10:45 p.m. is awesome heavy metal from Dixie WitchMySpace link, all of rock-and-roll distilled to dirty perfection by Stinking Lizaveta, chaotic A.D.D. music from GaylordMySpace link, and Baba YagaMySpace link. [source: Bug Jar calendar]

Starry Nites Café (696 University Ave., formerly Moonbeans) will be hosting Hard Logic starting around 9 p.m. [source: Starry Nites calendar] [all ages]

Ok, so what's going on at Monty's Krown (875 Monroe Ave.)? Nobody knows. The bar calendar from several weeks ago had Dixie WitchMySpace link and BMLMySpace link but the former is at the Bug Jar. Freetime Magazine says The Aquaholics and the ever unreliable WBER (2596 Baird Rd.) calendar says Marathon and AchillesMySpace link (and Achilles' calendar says they're playing at noon.) If anyone starts playing, it'll probably be around 10:30. [source: the proverbial grapevine] [21+]

deepwaterdazeGarageBand link, and The Johnson Effect will be at Richmond's (21 Richmond St.) starting around 10:30 p.m. [source: Freetime]

The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing The Other starting at 8 p.m. Identical twins: one's the good one, and then there's the other. Plus, it's on a new 35mm print, and will also be shown on Sunday at 5 p.m. [source: Eastman House calendar] [all ages]


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JayceLand Pick Today from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. is a commemoration On Behalf of Those Who Lie in Yonder Hallowed Ground in the Seneca Room of The Centers at High Falls (60 Brown's Race) Among other events, akwaaba — The Heritage Associates will reenact events that led to the Emancipation Proclamation and The Buffalo Soldiers Presentation Team will give a roll call of United States Colored Troops affiliated with Rochester. [source: City Hall press release] [all ages]

Today from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Mendon Fire Hall (101 Mendon-Ionia Rd. (Rt. 64), Mendon) is the disturbingly titled Cruzin' For Kids Car Show & Swap Meet. [source: Freetime]

JayceLand Pick Today ... sometime (probably during daytime) ... at Water Street Music Hall (204 N. Water St.) is the 10th Annual Battle of the Bands 2005 First Round Eliminations. [source: Water Street calendar] [all ages]

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]


M
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Memorial Day

Fly the flag today.Memorial Day Observed (half-staff until noon)

JayceLand Pick Today from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. is A Salute to Civil War Veterans: Special Emphasis on the Freedom Trail in the Grand Army of the Republic section on Grove and Firemen's Avenues in the South end of Mt. Hope Cemetery (South Gate.) [source: City Hall press release]

JayceLand Pick Tonight at 9:15 p.m. is another installment of the Emerging Filmmakers Series at The Little (240 East Ave.) featuring Donna's Room by Stephen Lindsay (also at IMDb) and Michael Bartolotta (also at IMDb), Kill Your Darlings by Sarah Sophie Flicker and Maximilla Lukacs, The Gates by Jim Barclay, Where the Girls Are by Jennifer Arnold and Tricia Cooke, In Their Absence by Tina Cesa Ward, and Ken's New Specs by Nicholas Gurewitch. [source: Little Theatre calendar]

EyehategodMySpace link, Buried InsideMySpace link, very good high volume, high distortion drum-guitar-keyboard modern rock from DarediabloGarageBand link, and Borrowed TimeMySpace link will be at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) starting around 9 p.m. [source: Bug Jar calendar]

A|V Art Sound Space (#8 in the Public Market, off N. Union St., formerly The All-Purpose Room) will be hosting oVo, Mr. Natural, and Gastric Female Reflex starting around 9 p.m. [source: artsound website] [all ages]


T
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Today at Link Gallery in City Hall (30 Church St.) is an exhibit featuring historical images and artifacts of the The Rochester Public Market (280 Union St. N.) to celebrate its 100th anniversary. [source: City Hall press release]

JayceLand Pick Tonight at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) is The FliesMySpace link starting around 9 p.m. probably with some other bands. [18+]

Not ready for mainstream 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] [all ages]


W
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JayceLand Pick Over at A|V Art Sound Space (#8 in the Public Market, off N. Union St., formerly The All-Purpose Room) starting around 9 p.m. is The Weird Weeds, very good mellow, digitally-looped acoustic from Autumn In Halifax, and minimal acoustic soloist Kelli Shay Hicks. [source: artsound website] [all ages]

The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing The Man Who Knew Too Much starting at 8 p.m. A couple gets drawn into an assassination attempt by accident ... Hitchcock style. [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]

Not ready for mainstream 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] [all ages]

Tonight at The Club at Water Street (204 N. Water St.) is another Open Mic Wenzdaze with Acoustic Café from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and then Rock-n-Roll Circus starting at 9 p.m. [source: Water Street calendar]

 
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Movie links courtesy The Internet Movie Database. Map links courtesy MapsOnUs. Some movie synopses courtesy UpcomingMovies.com

About the title ... 666, the Biblical "number of the beast" is twice 333.

This page is Jason Olshefsky's list of things to do in Rochester, NY and the surrounding region (including Monroe County and occasionally the Western New York region.) It is updated every week with daily listings for entertainment, activities, performances, movies, music, bands, comedy, improv, poetry, storytelling, theater, plays, and generally fun things to do. The musical styles listed can include punk, emo, ska, swing, rock, rock-and-roll, alternative, metal, jazz, blues, noise band, experimental music, folk, acoustic, and "world-beat." Events listed take place during the day, in the evenings, or as part of the city's nightlife as listed. Oh, and it's spelled JayceLand with no space and a capital L, not Jayce Land, Jaycee Land, Jace Land, Jase Land, Joyce Land, Jayce World, Jayceeland, Jaceland, Jaseland, Joyceland, Jayceworld, Jayceeworld, Jaceworld, Jaseworld, nor Joyceworld. (Now if you misspell it in some search engine, you at least get a shot at finding it.) While I'm on the topic of keywords for search engines, this update includes information for Thursday, May 26, 2005 (Thu, May 26, 2005, 5/26/2005, or 5/26/05) Friday, May 27, 2005 (Fri, May 27, 2005, 5/27/2005, or 5/27/05) Saturday, May 28, 2005 (Sat, May 28, 2005, 5/28/2005, or 5/28/05) Sunday, May 29, 2005 (Sun, May 29, 2005, 5/29/2005, or 5/29/05) Monday, May 30, 2005 (Mon, May 30, 2005, 5/30/2005, or 5/30/05) Tuesday, May 31, 2005 (Tue, May 31, 2005, 5/31/2005, or 5/31/05) and Wednesday, June 1, 2005 (Wed, Jun 1, 2005, 6/1/2005, or 6/1/05).


JayceLand Pick indicates an event that's a preferred pick of the day ... probably something worth checking out.

Top Pick indicates a "guaranteed" best bet for the particular genre of the indicated event.

IUMA link links to a band's page on IUMA.com which offers reviews and information about bands.

GarageBand link links to a band's page on GarageBand.com which offers reviews and information about bands.

MySpace link links to a band's page on MySpace.com which is a friend-networking site that is popular with bands.

Not ready for mainstream. is an event that is "non-entertainment" for the masses such as practice sessions, open jams, etc.

Fly the flag today. is a day when you should fly the flag according to the Veterans of Foreign Wars calendar.

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