Weekly Rochester Events #434: Michelangelo, Goodbye

Thursday, May 3, 2007

I guess people like exposition, so let's get right to it.

Last Thursday I headed out to Brighton Town Hall (2300 Elmwood Ave.) to see 9/11 Press for Truth. I had my doubts — I saw Fahrenheit 9/11 and I've heard a lot of 9/11 conspiracy theories, far too many of which deny the World Trade Center collapsed from the impact of jet planes. However, 9/11 Press for Truth barely touches on that and instead focuses on the events leading up to and after September 11, 2001. The movie centers around The Complete 911 Timeline, a research project started by Paul Thompson that is summarized in his book The Terror Timeline: Year by Year, Day by Day, Minute by Minute: A Comprehensive Chronicle of the Road to 9/11—and America's Response as well as the work of the Jersey Girls, Kristen Breitweiser, Patty Casazza, Lorie Van Auken,and Mindy Kleinberg. The movie basically condemns the Bush Administration as liars, the Clinton Administration and other past administrations as inadequately proactive, and the press as being completely useless — all with the harsh light of reason and logic.

Basically, the Jersey Girls — each the widow of a man killed in the World Trade Center — were disappointed by the response of the United States and, through investigating the same trails, eventually met and joined forces. They were instrumental in getting the 9/11 Commission to investigate the attacks, although disappointed to find its report failed to answer most of their own questions. In 2002, Paul Thompson was puzzled by media reports and started working on The Complete 911 Timeline in which he collected information from the mainstream press and organized it chronologically. The results are startling at how much information was available to the public — much less those with access to confidential United States intelligence — in the years prior to 2001.

Too bad nothing will come of it.

Anyway, on Friday I headed to The Image City Photography Gallery (722 University Ave.) to check out the new show there. I liked Doug McFarland's clean images more than his son Kevin Dean McFarland's digital works. After that I walked to The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) Filmmaker David Waingarten was on hand to introduce his films. First was Post, a short film about a woman recounting her experience as a little girl who loses her best friend to a kidnapper. Next was his feature film (his first) called Addison's Wall.

At first I found I liked it because it was a good, open-ended film although I thought the acting was sometimes a bit weak. But as I pondered some more, it grew on me a bit. It has a dreamlike despair — something akin to the movie version of The Sweet Hereafter and to Jacob's Ladder. In the film, a quick bit of exposition establishes that a mother and her son, Addison have moved to another town because the father had killed himself. Addison stopped speaking, and his mother feels this is his way of coping although both use different unhealthy versions of isolation. The vacancy in their lives is reflected in Waingarten's use of wide open spaces — including the large house they've moved into. Dialog is sparse (as one might imagine) and the hole in the soundtrack is filled with a careful selection of ambient noises.

Saturday night I stopped by The Community Darkroom at The Genesee Center for the Arts (713 Monroe Ave.) but found the opening for The Pinhole Photography Invitational had ended just as I arrived. I decided instead to go to Boulder Coffee Co. (100 Alexander St.) They had two bands: the first was Trees Are Down who were louder than I expected for a coffee shop — I guess that's what Boulder is looking for. I thought they did a good, heavy rock, similar to J. G. Blizaro who followed them.

I met up with Ali later and we went to The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) We arrived a little late but managed to catch most of The Lobster Quadrille In fact, I walked in at just about the same time as I'm Going to Make a Drug With My Mind was shooting video for this YouTube clip. Check it out if you'd like to know if my assessment of them as an excellent gospel satire band is accurate — it starts out with guitarist and lead-singer Solomon disproving evolution with peanut butter, monkeys, and bananas. Next was Uncle Scratch's Gospel Revival who also do satirical gospel, but with a much more violent punk bent. It was awesome — throwing rubber snakes, wrestling matches between the guitarist and drummer (the only two performers), and even a smashed glass bottle. The drummer's kit was made of a cardboard-tube kick-drum and some other seriously abused parts, but the band sounded really good. Finishing up was Ghostharm ... we couldn't figure out how they got on the bill, especially as the headliners ... they were just a hard-hitting, loud punk-rock band — good but they just didn't fit.

Sunday Ali and I had volunteered to help maintain a water-and-snacks table for The March of Dimes walk in Canandaigua. A couple people who were supposed to be walking showed up early and said they were going to skip it — I continue to feel this is pretty dishonest. I mean, if I were to donate money for you to walk, the least you can do is to actually walk. Nonetheless, we got to see most of the 200-or-so walkers and finished up around noon.

That afternoon we headed to our fancy brunch associated with our anniversary two weeks ago. We went to Mario's Italian Steakhouse (2740 Monroe Ave., formerly Mario's Via Abruzzi). It was excellent. We spent a couple hours there grazing over the stellar brunch spread — which actually included mimosas as well. It's certainly not the kind of place you'd waste on a hangover morning.

That afternoon we went for a walk. We checked out the abandoned housing on The Rochester Psychiatric Center (1111 Elmwood Ave.) former campus (the expanded part to the south ... you know, these buildings). We found a couple of the houses on Staff Rd. off Knab Troutman Rd. to be open but they were clearly posted "no trespassing". I was actually surprised that we were not harassed by security as they are notoriously efficient. We also took a close look at the abandoned Terrance Building (Elmwood Ave. at Azalea Rd.) before heading back home.

On Monday I headed to The Little (240 East Ave.) for The Emerging Filmmakers Series. This month there were only 3 films — each longer than average for the series, and all made by Rochester filmmakers. First was Marq the Autologist by Ali Vatansever which was pretty funny — it started out as a documentary about a guy in a parking garage that was trying to "scientifically" make a correlation between cars and drivers, but as the film goes on, it turns into a narrative about a couple dodgy filmmakers exploiting this guy. Aloha Motel by Johannes Bockwoldt was quite good — three friends get together a while after a friend's suicide and "find a way to mourn almost in spite of themselves" (as the description on the information sheet aptly explained.) Finally, Chipper's in Rehab by Kelly Yoho was a funny film about a guy whose friends hold an intervention because he's become a hack screenwriter (one who writes Hollywood movies for money.) He ends up going to a "home" where he's "cured" and goes back to making no money on artistic films and plays.

T H U R S D A Y

This afternoon at 5 p.m. at the gallery of The Arts and Cultural Council for Greater Rochester (277 N. Goodman St.) is the opening of Lyrical Abstractions for Home or Office by Nancy Gong. [source: City Newspaper] This afternoon at 5:30 p.m. at The Memorial Art Gallery (500 University Ave., near Goodman St.) is a What's Up lecture by Sandra Koon on the painting Resting Rock by Walter Murch. [source: Memorial Art Gallery calendar] [all ages] Over at Starry Nites Café (696 University Ave., formerly Moonbeans) starting around 8 p.m. is Steve Woolsey. [source: Starry Nites calendar] [all ages] Tonight at Boulder Coffee Co. (100 Alexander St.) is Kyle Veenema starting around 8 p.m. [source: Boulder Coffee MySpace site] [all ages] Tonight and tomorrow at 8 and then on Saturday at both 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. in the Dryden Theatre at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) is the 2007 screenings of The Rochester International Film Festival. Each showing is a different selection of short films. [source: Rochester International Film Festival website] [all ages] The Willowz, really good country-rock/rockabilly from Angry Johnny and the Killbillies, and tight, 1980's-styled rock from Tiger Cried Beef will be at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) starting around 9:30 p.m. [source: Bug Jar calendar] [18+] Pure Kona Poetry Open Mic Night is at Daily Perks (389 Gregory St.) tonight starting at 7:30. [source: Daily Perks calendar] Tonight at 8 p.m. at Bodhi's Cafe & Lounge (274 Goodman St. N., in Village Gate) is an Open Mic. [source: the proverbial grapevine] Drinking Liberally meets at 8 p.m. tonight at Monty's Korner (355 East Ave.) [source: RocWiki calendar]

F R I D A Y

No Pants Day Today at 7 p.m. in the Carlson Auditorium at RIT (One Lomb Memorial Dr., campus map) is a discussion titled Iraq Veterans Against the War. [source: Rochester Against War website] Also at 7 p.m. at The Baobab Cultural Center (728 University Ave., formerly on Gregory St.) is the opening reception for Visions of the Eye by Josh Manick. [source: City Newspaper] Boulder Coffee Co. (100 Alexander St.) will be hosting very good experimental acoustic soloist Gregory Paul starting around 8 p.m. [source: Boulder Coffee MySpace site] [all ages] Today at 8 p.m. is the opening performance of Exits and Entrances at Shipping Dock Theatre (31 Prince St., new location at Visual Studies Workshop) Shows are at 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and on 2 p.m. on Sundays through June 3. This Sunday, May 6 is a "Pay What You Can Performance". [source: Shipping Dock Theatre mailing] This evening at 9 p.m. at The Flat Iron Café (561 State St.) is comedy with Moosie titled Through the Eyes of a Bronx Girl. [source: Flat Iron Cafe webstie] Tonight at The California Brew Haus (402 West Ridge Rd.) is The Slackers, The Phenomenauts, fun ska from Mrs. Skannotto, catchy rock-ska band Room 30, and The Levar Burtones starting around 10 p.m. [source: the proverbial grapevine] [all ages]

S A T U R D A Y

Cinco de Mayo Today at 2 p.m. is the Southeast Community Spirit Parade for Nonviolence along South Clinton from Highland Parkway to The Baber African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Christian Life Center (820 S. Clinton Ave.) who are sponsoring the event. [source: Rochester Against War website] Tonight at Record Archive (1880 East Ave.) is really good groove-rock band The BuddhaHood starting around 5 p.m. [source: Freetime] [all ages] Tonight at 7 p.m. at Boulder Coffee Co. (100 Alexander St.) is Echostream and then later at 9 p.m. is Gypsy Dave and the Stumpjumpers. [source: Boulder Coffee MySpace site] [all ages] Experimental western-rock from Pit er Pat, White/Lichens, and Science vs. Witchcraft will be at A|V Art Sound Space (N. Union St. at Trinidad St., #8 in the Public Market, formerly the All-Purpose Room) starting around 9 p.m. [source: A|V Space website] The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) will be hosting very good punk-rock from The QUiTTERS, great rock-and-roll from The Grinders, awesome, tight, complex rock and roll from The VEiNS, The Purrs, and Dark Charly and the Tombstones starting around 9:30 p.m. [source: Bug Jar calendar] [21+] Really great, tight, current punk-rock from 5 Watt Bulb will be at Monty's Krown (875 Monroe Ave.) starting around 10:30 p.m. [source: Freetime] [21+] Tonight's another Betty's Sing-a-Long at Betty Meyer's Bullwinkle Café (622 Lake Ave., a.k.a. "Bullwinkle's") starting around 10.

S U N D A Y

The Bayou Highway will be at Java Joe's (N. Union St. at Trinidad St., #1 in the Public Market) starting around 10 a.m. (in the morning, that is). [source: Rochester Cajun Zydeco calendar] The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing a Grindhouse Double Feature! starting at 7 p.m. (Note that this is not a showing of Grindhouse, but a pairing of films played in "grindhouse" theaters with real evidence of their rough handling.) First up is Rolling Thunder in which a returning Vietnam POW gets revenge on a gang of brutal thieves who kill his family and leave him with a prosthetic hand. Then it's Le notti del terrore (Burial Ground), a badly dubbed Italian zombie film about a professor who opens a crypt, unleashing evil. [source: Eastman House calendar] [all ages] Tonight at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) is Dufus, Matt O'Brien, and The Pancake Junkies starting around 9:30 p.m. [source: Bug Jar calendar] [18+] Tonight and every Sunday at Boulder Coffee Co. (100 Alexander St.) is a Comedy Open Mic with Matt Rohr at 7:30 p.m. [source: the proverbial grapevine] [all ages]

M O N D A Y

This evening at 7 p.m. at St. Joseph's House of Hospitality (402 South Ave.) is a talk by Ed Kinane titled Eyewitness in Iran. [source: Rochester Against War website] The Eastman Musica Nova Ensemble will be at Kilbourn Hall at Eastman Theatre (60 Gibbs St.) starting around 8 p.m. [source: Eastman School of Music calendar] [all ages] Bored? Why not check out 1980's DJ night at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) starting around 11 p.m. [source: Bug Jar calendar]

T U E S D A Y

V-E Day This morning at 7:30 a.m. in the cafeteria overlooking the arboretum in Bausch and Lomb (140 Stone St.) is the Artists Breakfast Group meeting ... anyone interested in art or creativity is invited. Today from 12:12 p.m. to 12:52 p.m. in Kate Gleason Auditorium at The Rochester Public Library (115 South Ave.) is another Books Sandwiched-In with Wade Norwood reviewing The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream by Barack Obama. [source: Rochester Public Library calendar] [all ages] At 7 p.m. in The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) — preceding the 8 o'clock feature — is Wacky Westerns From Termite Terrace, featuring eight Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies parodies of westerns — all on 35mm film. [source: Dryden Theater calendar] [all ages] The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing Wichita starting at 8 p.m. Wyatt Earp reluctantly becomes Marshall of lawless Wichita, Kansas. [source: Eastman House calendar] [all ages] Electric Organic will be at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) starting around 9:30 p.m. [source: Bug Jar calendar] [18+] Daily Perks (389 Gregory St.) is hosting an Acoustic Open Mic from 8 to 10. [source: Daily Perks calendar]

W E D N E S D A Y

This evening at 5 p.m. at the Gallery at The Arts and Cultural Council for Greater Rochester (277 N. Goodman St.) is the opening for Anderson Alley Artists Showcase. [source: City Newspaper] Today, tomorrow, and Friday at 7 p.m. at Rochester Museum & Science Center (RMSC) (657 East Ave.) is the 5th Annual Film and Lecture Series by The Asian/Pacific Islander/American History Project of Greater Rochester (APA-HiP) [source: RocWiki calendar] This evening at 8 p.m. at The Bop Shop (274 N. Goodman St., in Village Gate Square) is a Tribute to Mstislav Rostropovich with cellists from The Eastman School of Music (26 Gibbs St.) [source: Bop Shop calendar] [all ages] The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing Stage Door starting at 8 p.m. Gosh, those ladies are vicious backstage ... the Eastman House calendar claims the film contains "some of the snappiest (and insult-laden) dialogue in movie history." [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] There's an Open Mic for Acoustic Music at Boulder Coffee Co. (100 Alexander St.) tonight around 8. [source: the proverbial grapevine] Tonight at Café Underground Railroad (480 W. Main St.) is a Spoken Word/Poetry night starting around 9 p.m. [source: the proverbial grapevine]

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