Weekly Rochester Events #245: Noah's Spelling Book

Thursday, September 18, 2003

On Sunday I got to go to the ARTWalk (University Ave. from Atlantic to Merriman) festival. The innovative part was the Front-End Loader Fantasia. It was ... uhh ... unique. First, they could have used better crowd control as people took their toes into their own hands being less than a foot away from the tires on some of the turns. The show was nifty, though ... two front-end loaders and two tree-pickers did a ballet along with 8 or so dancers in orange workers vests. The whole show lasted about 15 minutes. After that I went to Immanuel Baptist Church (815 Park Ave.) and made a donation and got food from a bunch of vendors up and down Park Avenue. I also managed to catch the open mic comedy at Duels Café (17 E. Main St.) which was about as good as any of them have been. The space is quite intimate, making it quite a bit of fun.

Finally, here's my votes for the ballot in The City with a bit of commentary. I didn't have an answer for everything, but I got a lot. I guess this editorial is a bit of a bummer, but I'll hopefully have something more entertaining next week.

• Time Out
  • Live music club: Bug Jar - Duh ... I go to nearly every live music show.
  • Bar: Lux - A quite nice place with a bit of character.
  • Nightclub: Whiskey - I'm not a big nightclub fan, but this one is okay ... not _too_ divey.
  • Gay bar: Tara - The real hole-in-the-wall deal ... wait, that doesn't sound right.
  • Dive bar: Krush Bar - Beer or shots. Your choice ... plus pool and darts. And the restaurant next door.
  • Band: Blast-Offs - These guys are great—some of the local best punk-rock performers combined into one band.
  • Musician: Bill Smith (of Astronomical Unit) - I imagine he could do anything he wanted to.
  • Place to shoot pool: Monty's Krown - Crappy table, but fun.
  • Place to shoot darts: Monty's Krown - You know, someplace you might actually be able to win.
  • Small live theater: Shipping Dock - Innovative little place.
  • Small art gallery: Visual Studies Workshop - All the cool things happen here.
  • Movie Theater: Little - The place to see the good movies.
• Restaurants
  • Chinese: Ming's - Whatever kind you want, you can get at one of the three locations.
  • Indian: India Palace - Great nan. 'nuff said.
  • Thai: Thai Taste - As hot as you want, but always really tasty.
  • Mexican: Mex - Not too many Mexican places ... Mex is good, though (unless you get the "bad chef.")
  • Vegetarian: India House Vegetarian Cafe - Indian is better than Atomic, and of course, the service is better.
  • Greek: Mykono's - Greek food isn't all that surprising to me ... Mykono's is good, though.
  • High-end restaurant: Rooney's - Mmmm.
  • Outdoor dining: Aaron's Place - Anyplace on Park, but Aaron's has always been good.
  • Coffee bar: Starry Nites - Plus wine, plus the ability to talk with anyone in the whole place.
  • Bargain: Aaron's Place - Not _cheap_ but such an incredible deal.
  • Deli: Rubino's - Mostly they're all the same ... Rubino's has been around a long time.
  • Diner: Duels Café - I like the new Duels, but I changed it to First Rate Deli because they make the best sandwich ever ... I guess I should have switched the deli instead.
  • Caribbean: LJ's Jamaican - Even worse than Mexican, Caribbean is hard to find ... LJ's is quite good.
• Media
  • Independent radio station: WDKX - Kind of a toss-up with WBER, but I get so annoyed with the latter.
  • Local TV news anchorperson: Doug Emblidge - Just a nice guy, eh?
• Stores & Services
  • Record/CD store: Record Archive - Records, CD's, cool furniture ...
  • Computer store: Computer Renaissance - Generally cheap and pretty fair.
  • Men's clothing store: Work-N-Gear - Give me my Carhartt stuff.
  • Show store: Grassroots - Shoes? Who _buys_ shoes?
  • Grocery: Lori's Natural Food - Well, I shop there ever since Wegmans played their little bait-and-yank with Ghetto Wegs.
  • Hardware store: Hunt's TruValue - I think that's the one ... over on South by Caroline.
  • Video rental store: Hyatt's Video - Everything ever recorded.
  • Home furnishings store: Houseworks - All cool things.
  • Most honest auto repair: Firestone, Southtown Plaza - They've been good to me at least ... somewhat fair anyway.
  • Laundromat: Mr. Fluff - The only place with a club night on the first-ish Fridays.
• Sports
  • Hiking spot: Washington Grove - Small and close, but you can get lost sort of.
  • Bike route: Erie Canal Path - Inter-town transit for bikes.
  • Tennis courts/clubs: Cobb's Hill - The only place I've played around here in the last 15 years.
  • Ice skating: Highland Park - The little rink by the elementary school ... I keep meaning to get over there when it's cold enough to skate.
  • Sledding: Highland Park - Same spot ... not really any rules, fast, long, dangerous.
  • Cross-country skiing: Genesee Park - I don't ski very far, and this has a little bit of hills and a mile or so.
• Food & Drink
  • Pizza: Mr. Shoes - To each his own ... Mr. Shoes is nearby and really good. I like crusts, and theirs is great.
  • Baked goods: Little Bakery - Best chocolate croissants ... they'll be the death of me.
  • Bagels: O'Bagelo's - Get them during the week while they're really fresh. Mmmm.
  • Burgers: Monty's Krown - Good beef ... simple cooking.
  • Sandwich: O'Bagelo's - You may have tried them on Saturdays.
  • Sushi: California Rollin' - I just like the atmosphere.
  • Seafood market: Pittsford Seafood Market - Food and fish.
  • Barbecue: Uncle Ralph's - Like barbecue should be.
  • Soul food: LJ's Jamaican - See above.
  • Fish fry: Captain Jim's - Yeah, this was a good fish fry.
  • Dessert: Montage - Unbelievable.
  • Subs: Rubino's - Again, see above.
  • Wine selection: Zwick's Liquor - Not huge, but all good. Plus Dan knows all of them.
  • Wings: MacGreggor's - All wings in town suck, but MacGreggor's are pretty good.
  • Local beer: Rohrbach's Stock Ale - So beer-like. Mmm.
  • Take-out: Kim's Asia - Fresh and tasty and they'll bring it to your house.
• Who do you love?
  • Do you support the fast ferry project? yeah - Hmm ... you mean I could bike to Toronto for a day trip?
  • Do you support the construction of PaeTec Park? no fucking way - Maybe we should make a lacrosse stadium, too ... heck, why not tear down all of downtown?
  • Do you support the transit center proposed for Main and Clinton? no fucking way - Let's see ... waste money, wreck downtown, and not fix the bus situation? No thanks.
• Bright Ideas
  • Best use for the Sibley Building: High-class and cheap office space - As long as they can get the cat pee smell out.
  • Best use for Midtown Plaza: Nightclub spot downtown - To heck with High Falls.
  • What year will the fast ferry hit the water? 2004 - Really ... it'll be on time.
  • Retail store/restaurant idea Rochester most needs: All appetizers and desserts Yum yum yum ... like Phillip's minus the asshole-ness.
  • Best development for Main and Clinton: Same buildings, new stores - Maybe a diner or something.
• Places & Things
  • Festival: Clothesline - I actually bought art there.
  • Park: Genesee - Big and close to me, so it's best.
  • Place to walk the dog: not on my lawn - Serious.
  • Make-out spot: Upstairs @ Montage - You mean with someone else?
  • Local point of pride: Eastman House - Nobody's else has anything close. Anywhere in the world.
  • Best construction project: resurface upper Monroe - It just works ... maybe the wealthy part got done ten times faster than the less wealthy part, but it's still a good idea to do it right.
  • Worst construction project: RG&E site on Front St. - What the heck is going on there? Nothing?
  • Regional winery: Knapp - I've liked their stuff ... they make good grappa too.
  • Biggest public eyesore: 490 Bridge (over Exchange & river) - Will it fall down before the fast ferry?
  • Street (residential): Harvard - Just a cool street.
  • Street (commercial): Monroe - Everything you could want on one street.
  • Public restroom: Spot Coffee - Clean and bathroom-like.
  • Most culturally diverse neighborhood: 19th Ward - Really diverse ... not some fake bunch of rich people who have much more in common.
• People...
  • Bartender: Kim Buckley - At the Krown.
  • Chef: Brian Hopkins (currently @ Jines) - Rohrbach's in the early 1990's, then Jeremiah's in the mid-1990's, then the Krown up until the early 2000's, and now at Jines.
  • Politician to banish: Bill Nojay - Using the transit budget to pay for his political campaign? Sleazy. Stupid, too.
  • Most trustworthy politician: Bill Johnson - Dunno ... I'd loan my car to him if he needed it.
  • Most annoying public person: Tom Mule - Not funny and obnoxious.
  • Best county-exec candidate: Maggie Brooks - A real coin-flip for me ... today I think it's Maggie, tomorrow Bill.
  • Next job for Jack Doyle: Avenue D Street Captain in Neighborhood Association - Let's see how far your "kill the city" ideas get you there.

T H U R S D A Y

Tonight at California Rollin' at Village Gate Square (274 N. Goodman St.) is eclectic rock of Kill Myself on Monday starting around 7 p.m. Michael Warren Thomas will be at the Curtis Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) starting around 6:30 p.m. for a Garden Literature Reading. I have to assume it's food garden stuff, since Michael's a food guy. The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing Nattvardsgästerna (Winter Light) starting at 8. Three hours of a country minister's life where he loses his faith during the shortest day of the Swedish winter. Dirty Power, and heavy modern rock with Defenbombed will be at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) starting around 9 p.m. Over at Monty's Krown (875 Monroe Ave.) starting around 10:30 p.m. is Ibex Pure Kona Poetry Open Mic Night is at Daily Perks (389 Gregory St.) tonight starting at 7:30.

F R I D A Y

It's Acoustic Soul Night Open Mic at Daily Perks (389 Gregory St.) with Deb-Maisha and Laura Catracchia. The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing Le fils (The Son) starting at 8. A carpenter takes on an apprentice except the apprentice is the boy responsible for his son's death. Tonight at Monty's Krown (875 Monroe Ave.) is The Embrooks, and The Riviera Playboys starting around 10:30 p.m. Over at Montage Grille (50 Chestnut St.) starting around 9:30 p.m. is Curtis Stigers Norton's Pub (1730 Goodman St.) will be hosting modern rock and covers with Better Days (or click here to skip their irritating Flash intro) starting around 10 p.m. Over at Spenders (1600 Lyell Ave.) starting around 10 p.m. is modern rock and covers with Uncle Plum

S A T U R D A Y

O'Bagelo's, 165 State Street, noon. Tonight at the Palestra at The University of Rochester (River Campus Map) is Guster starting around 7 p.m. It's Chef's Day At The Market at Rochester Public Market (280 Union St. N.) from 9 to 2. The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing Pee-Wee's Big Adventure starting at 8. Basically, Tim Burton's Bicycle Thief. Only mostly funny and mostly comprehensible. From 4 to 11 today is the Alexander Street Festival (on Alexander Street from East Ave. to Dryer Alley) featuring a bunch of bands including great punk-rock from The QUiTTERS, rockabilly with Krypton 88, tight punk-rock with 5 Watt Bulb, modern rock and covers with Uncle Plum, The Taint, tight modern rock with Veluxe, and surf-rock with Duke Galaxy and the Pipeliners. Over at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) starting around 10:30 p.m. is Lazy American Workers, The Grinders, and The Nervous Virgins. The awesome funk-rock band Astronomical Unit will be at Acme Bar & Pizza (495 Monroe Ave.) starting around 10 p.m. Monty's Krown (875 Monroe Ave.) will be hosting punk-rock of The Retreads with modern rock of Veluxe and The Lobotomies starting around 10:30 p.m. Over at Alexander Street Pub (291 Alexander St.) starting around 10 p.m. is modern rock and covers with Uncle Plum More modern rock and covers with Better Days (or click here to skip their irritating Flash intro) will be at Curley's Saloon (511 E. Ridge Rd.) starting around 10 p.m. Over at Strong Museum (1 Manhattan Square Pk.) today from 10 to 5 is Zoom, Zoom, Zoom! Trucks Day. Boy that sounds like fun! Today is International Coastal Cleanup day so get out there and start picking stuff up! More information is available at the Center for Marine Conservation.

S U N D A Y

POW/MIA Recognition Day The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing East of Eden starting at 3. In James Dean's first starring role, he plays a guy battling his brother for the love of their father. The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing Rebel Without a Cause starting at 5:15. James Dean returns today in his signature role of a high school student with a strong but self-questioned sense of morality stuck in a world that offers him no guidance. The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) will be hosting Easy Action, thrashy metal band 25 Suaves, Crackpipes, Puzzled Panthers, and The Irthlings starting around 8:30 p.m. Dan Liberto (of the The Comedy Company) hosts Open Mic Comedy Night at Duels Café (17 E. Main St.) starting around 7:30 (theoretically.)

M O N D A Y

Updated: Oops ... this one got cancelled: Water Street Music Hall (204 N. Water St.) with Mahavishnu Project, and Mountain Mojo Authority. A whole bunch of really good food and wine (like 30 wineries and 40 restaurants) will be at Rochester Public Market (280 Union St. N.) tonight from 6 to 9 for Festival of Food. Tonight at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) is Lost City Angels, and The Thundergods starting around 10:45 p.m.

T U E S D A Y

Bright, fast rock-and-roll with Troubled Hubble, Halfacre Gunroom, and Sublime cover band Bad Fish will be at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) starting around 10:45 p.m. 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. Over at Montage Grille (50 Chestnut St.) starting around 9:30 p.m. is the innovative funk band, The Filthy Funk.

W E D N E S D A Y

Over at Spot Coffee (East Ave. and Mathews St.) starting around 8 p.m. is Oshe. Over at Downstairs Cabaret (172 West Main St.) is Gordon Michaels: An Unforgettable Evening Featuring The Music Of Nat King Cole starting around 7:30. Perhaps it's "unforgettable" and maybe not. Updated: Tonight at Monty's Krown (875 Monroe Ave.) is Australia's The Sailors starting around 10 p.m. Apparently they couldn't or otherwise didn't fill that "TBA" gig in New York. 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.