Thursday, August 9, 2001

JayceLand's Weekly Rochester Events #135: Nobel Prize is a Blast

First, I want to see Jian Ghomeshi on Thursday. This should be a really good show all around ... well, assuming you can still tolerate Crash Test Dummies anymore. On Friday, I'll probably get some sushi then head to the St. Paul Quarter Festival, then to the farewell show of Jerseyband which should be great ... I haven't heard Sunny Weather before, but they're hopefully as eclectic as Jerseyband. On Saturday I'll probably pick up the Brewer's Fest then head over to see Astronomical Unit really late. Sunday is the Bug Jar Annual Music Fest which should be pretty good, then it's off to see Touch of Evil.

Did I mention that it's too friggin' hot?

Actually, I did have a bit of a rant. When the temperature gets up high like it has been recently, is it my imagination or do people drive ridiculously slowly? I was on 490 Tuesday night and almost ran right into some yokel ... I blew past him and I was only going 60. I figure he was doing something like 45. I don't get it. I must be some kind of freak [don't answer that ...] because I slow down when the conditions are bad not when they're good. Of course, I'm the only one slowing down then as well. Hmmm...

T H U R S D A Y

At Manhattan Square Park (130 Chestnut St.) from 5:30 to 9:30 it's another Party in the Park. Tonight, it's Crash Test Dummies with Jian Ghomeshi (formerly of Moxy Früvous) and Gregory Paul . The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing Destroy All Monsters starting at 8. Godzilla is back and this time he's all hopped up on alien brainwaves so watch out! Tonight at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) the band appropriately but blandly named Drums and Tuba will be playing around 10:45. Over at Monty's Krown (875 Monroe Ave.) is This Sporting Life and Single Whips starting around 10:30. Tonight at the Highland Bowl (South Ave. at Robinson Dr.) they'll be showing My Dog Skip starting at "dark". 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 might be having dinner at California Rollin' at Village Gate Square (274 N. Goodman St.) Check out the Fish Mail for the special rolls this week. Tonight is the first of two days of the Flour City Brewers Fest at the High Falls Festival Site (Browns Race and Commercial St.) from 5 to 10 p.m. Admission is $15 for unlimited sampling (unless you were smart enough to buy tickets in advance and save $3) or $5 for non-sampling tickets. At 5 p.m. tonight the entertainment is Textured Whinos then at 7 is One Sweet World. Today is also the first day of the Rochester Harbor Festival from noon to 10:30 p.m. at Ontario Beach Park (Beach Ave.) St. Paul Quarter Festival (St. Paul Street) is also going on today, featuring Spacetrucker, K-9 Circle, Weise Guys and Uncle Plum from 5 to 11 p.m. Tonight is the last night Jerseyband will be playing in the Rochester area for a while (they're going to Keuka College.) Sadly, they're playing at the train-wreck of a venue Milestones (170 East Ave.) opening for Sunny Weather starting around 10. So if you want to see some really improvisational funked-up five-saxophone-and-drums music, check them out.

S A T U R D A Y

O'Bagelo's, 165 State Street, noon. Tonight is the second day of the Flour City Brewers Fest at the High Falls Festival Site (Browns Race and Commercial St.) from 5 to 10 p.m. At 5 p.m. tonight the entertainment is Reporter then at 7 is Brown Hornets. The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing Strictly Ballroom starting at 8. Alex demanded that I watch this some years ago and I have to admit, I was entertained. Basically a dancer turns the world of ballroom dancing upside-down by introducing non-sanctioned moves from other dance styles. The shimmering guitars of Irthlings returns to The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) with The Fiascos and American Acid tonight at 10:45. If you missed them last night, you'll have to go all the way to Nines (311 College Ave., Ithaca, N.Y.) to see Jerseyband. They'll be playing at 10. The really great funk-rock band Astronomical Unit will be at Acme Bar & Pizza (495 Monroe Ave.) tonight starting around 9:30 or so. Tonight at Monty's Korner (363 East Ave.) is April Laragy and the Atomic Swindlers starting around 10, maybe (?) If you're into some prime-time funk, Prime Time Funk will be at Milestones (170 East Ave.) tonight starting around 10:30. Over at Monty's Krown (875 Monroe Ave.) the rockabilly band The Hi-Risers will be playing around 10:30.

S U N D A Y

Today at the Rochester Public Market (280 Union St. N.) is another Community Garage Sale from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. If you're interested in getting a booth, it's $25 for a 10 by 30 foot space. Call 428-6907 for more information. Today from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. is the The Bug Jar Annual Music Fest at Highland Bowl (South Ave. at Robinson Dr.) for free. All ages, too. The following bands are scheduled to appear: White Devils Lowton Mid-Air Collision QUiTTERS Dollywatchers Greenhornes The White Stripes Despite what you may have heard, neither Dead Blue Hand nor Jerseyband will be playing. The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing the Orson Welles "director's intended" version of Touch of Evil starting at 8. This is the story of a couple guys trying to solve a murder. The film was brutally edited against Welles' wishes and received very poor reviews. 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. The Peachy Neachys are back for another oddball park show, this time at Vitale Park (3500 Big Tree Road, Lakeville, N.Y.)

M O N D A Y

In what has been described as a really poor choice for the venue, Barbara Manning & The Go-Luckys! with the super loud Pengo will be at Monty's Korner (363 East Ave.) tonight around 9:30 maybe. The current theory is that nobody will show up and the people who would have been there to drink anyway would be driven out. 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

Maybe you couldn't make it last time, but here's your chance again. I bet the weather will probaby be more cooperative this time for Wine and Food Pairing at Casa Larga Vineyards (Turk Hill Road, 223-4210) from 7 to 9. Heck, it's something to do. 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.