Weekly Rochester Events #268: Amp it up, Watt

Thursday, February 26, 2004

It looked like there would be a new entertainment-oriented newspaper appearing tomorrow called Rochester Insider—the other week I saw them putting up kiosks in front of Salinger's Bar & Grill (107 East Ave.) Come to find out, this is just that "Rochester Remixed" scam paper from The Democrat and Chronicle where they try to reclaim all the infinite money in the independent press like The City and Freetime Magazine. Maybe they just don't want to be bothered with someone commenting on the news. After all, if it's in the paper, it must be true ... saying otherwise is unpatriotic.

Fear not, loyal readers, for I will wield my mighty power as an independent publisher and instruct you on the truth and arrange any all-important boycotts and other such bullshit.

While I'm at it, I might as well as complain about a couple other businesses.

The first is Advantage Federal Credit Union which set up a branch right near my house. I've currently got my money at Summit Federal Credit Union and I was concerned about having all of it at one single bank ... should something go wrong, I don't think my creditors will be so keen about any reasons I have for not paying so I thought I'd split my money up and open an account at Advantage. The problem is they've got terrifyingly bad security when it comes to personal data. The account manager I talked with had a bright, large computer monitor that was in plain view of the street-level window. Worse, as I looked across his desk, there were employee phone lists and other people's account information strewn about. The killer, though, was that he took the sheet that had my name, address, social security number, and driver's license number and put it on a pile with all the rest right next to the window. It's obvious now that credit unions are the way of the future: the "Chase Identity Theft Kit" advertised on TV doesn't hold a candle to this place.

I guess the other thing is my quest for an online grocer. Since boycotting Wegmans for their narrow-minded closing of the Mount Hope "Ghetto Wegmans" after announcing tremendous improvements (watch what you believe East Ave. residents ...) I usually go to Lori's Natural Foods (900 Jefferson Rd.) or Abundance Cooperative Market (62 Marshall St.) I still look for odd things like Windex and Bounty paper towels, and Tops is so miserably bad that I just can't stand it. I started hunting the web thinking how easy it would be to make an easy-to-use online grocery store that had any product anyone would want, shipped in reasonable time, with a good search feature. Well, nobody thought of that. Instead, people hacked together what is now NetGrocer which is hard to use, slow, has poor product selection, and when you order, they never give you a chance to confirm your total before shipping it out (there's usually that last step of "here's your invoice ... click to buy" which is missing.) The funniest thing, though, was that my order in December of 2003 was successfully delivered in early January, but I didn't receive an e-mail confirmation until February 20. I mean, come on ... two months to send an e-mail invoice? That's just pathetic.

If I do find any place that's reasonable, I'll let you know. So far Eckerd is ahead because the site's pretty usable despite their poor product selection. It's far inferior to what I'd like to see, but it may be adequate ... I have yet to order anything, though.

Now back to your regularly scheduled blog ...

Last Thursday I got out to The Memorial Art Gallery (500 University Ave., near Goodman St.) to see the lecture Information Bodies: Reconstructing Life in Bioarchaeology with St. John Fisher College Professor Kristi Krumrine which was an okay lecture ... apparently things like malnutrition and arthritis give some interesting insights into how people lived. The lecture was unfortunately not overly engaging.

On the way home I stopped by the new place On the Rocks (1551 Mount Hope Ave., formerly Michael's and before that Trios) even though only their cigar store is currently open ... still waiting for their liquor license. The folks running it were very welcoming and nice. It'll be great to have a neighborhood bar just down the street instead of the restaurant-with-bar that used to be there. Oh, and the walk-in Spanish cedar humidor was pretty damn impressive ... although I have no idea if that really helps cigars.

Friday morning I was supposed to get up very early to go to George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) but my alarm clock was all set to wake me promptly at 4:00 p.m. Oh well. I did make it over and apparently got go be on WOKR Channel 13 during Darren Mark's segment because I sorta look like Ed Norton (the actor, fool, not the one who was Ralph Kramden's buddy.) I gotta say, the guy who won tickets to the Academy Awards celebration this Sunday because he looked like Steven Spielberg really did look like him. The punchline to the whole story is that I set up to tape the show so I could see myself later, but it cut off the last 40 seconds of the morning news to start taping BBC America's World News.

That night I caught Nuts and Bolts Improv Troupe (see their site at ImprovAmerica too) at Downstairs Cabaret (172 West Main St.) for their 4-year anniversary show (I must admit, the first show of theirs I saw was their third, so I'm not as big a fan as is possible.) Their show was good—all the members of the troupe have great improv skills and their new host is great—but there appears to be room to grow.

Saturday I did an amusing excursion after O'Bagelo's (165 State Street) that I like to call "snowbank mining." I drove around to the big plazas in Henrietta and combed the snowbanks for interesting finds. I ended up with 3 left gloves, 2 right gloves, one complete pair, a pair of kids gloves by accident, two hats, and a ball-peen hammer. The clothing got run through the washing machine which magically transformed it all from filthy ice-laden cloth to clean, usable work clothes. Well, except for the solitary pair of leather gloves which I guess you shouldn't run through the dryer. Oh well.

On Monday, I skipped the Eastman Musica Nova Ensemble to go to the Emerging Film Makers Series at The Little (240 East Ave.) I got there early and read The Fountainhead while listening to The White Hots along with some coffee and a piece of Linzer Torte which is somewhat like raspberry rhubarb-pie only denser:

An ordinary man saw only his hand, the fork, and the torte, but Roark saw it much clearer. The fork was beyond an ordinary tool: it was an extension of his self. He felt the firm crust cleave from the deliberately directed force he applied.

T H U R S D A Y

Today's Thursday Thinkers in Gleason Auditorium at The Rochester Public Library (115 South Ave.) is titled A Vision for Monroe County featuring speakers member of the Board of Greater Rochester Community of Churches (GRCC), Reverend Dick Myers of Immanuel Baptist Church (815 Park Ave.) President of the GRCC, Sister Beth LeValley and County Executive Maggie Brooks. [source: Rochester Public Library calendar] Comic/actor Dustin Diamond (who played Screech on "Saved by the Bell" and Simone, the cross-dressing hotel manager, in Jane White is Sick and Twisted) will be at Comix Café (3450 Winton Pl.) tonight and Sunday at 8:30 and at 8 and 10:45 on Friday and Saturday. [source: Comix Café Calendar] Tonight at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) is the last show from the excellent rock/punk-rock band The Purrs, and awesome punk-rock band The Blastoffs starting around 10:45 p.m. [source: Bug Jar calendar] Rochester Visual Studies Workshop (31 Prince St.) will be showing some surrealist classic films from Luis Buñuel, Salvador Dali, Germaine Dulac, and more starting at 7. [source: Visual Studies Workshop calendar] Over at Downstairs Cabaret (172 West Main St.) is the one-woman play Clearing Hedges featuring Jennifer Barclay tonight at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., and Saturday at 4 and 8 p.m. The play is about Olympian Babe Didrikson and her struggle to break free of societally imposed female stereotypes. [source: Downstairs Cabaret calendar] Monty's Krown (875 Monroe Ave.) will be hosting competent but somewhat tedious high-energy rock band Russians starting around 10:30 p.m. [source: Freetime] Pure Kona Poetry Open Mic Night is at Daily Perks (389 Gregory St.) tonight starting at 7:30. [source: Daily Perks calendar] Accordian and musical saw duo Dreamland Faces will be at Starry Nites (696 University Ave., formerly Moonbeans) starting around 8 or so. [source: the proverbial grapevine]

F R I D A Y

Over at Barrister's (36 West Main St.) starting around 5 p.m. is John Akers [source: Freetime] In the Atrium at City Hall (30 Church St.) is a Black Heritage Celebration Food Tasting starting at 5:30 p.m. [source: Freetime] Acoustic-rock and pop harpist Mary Monroe and several other performers will be at Daily Perks (389 Gregory St.) starting around 8 p.m. Updated: Musical-saw and accordian duo Dreamland Faces will be joined by some additional members with more instruments at Monty's Korner (363 East Ave.) starting around 6 p.m. [source: the proverbial grapevine] Tonight and tomorrow at Nextstage at Geva (75 Woodbury Blvd.) is Geva Comedy Improv starting at 10:30 for just $5. [source: the proverbial grapevine] The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing Indagine su un cittadino al di sopra di ogni sospetto (Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion) starting at 8. A police chief commits murder carelessly, just to prove that he is above the law. [source: Eastman House calendar] Tonight at The Club at Water Street (204 N. Water St.) is Loopus, Third Estate, and 40oz Failure starting around 8:30 p.m. [source: Water Street calendar] At the Performance Hall at The Hochstein School of Music and Dance (50 North Plymouth Ave.) is a Spotlight on Faculty Concert starting at 8 featuring Perrin Yang on violin, Joanne Lowe on viola, Kathleen Murphy Kemp on cello, Kathryn Scarbrough on flute, Pamela Kurau singing soprano, and Gary Palmer on piano playing works of Robert Schumann. [source: Hochstein calendar] Village Rock Cafe (213 Main St., East Rochester) will be hosting rock band FMGreen starting around 10:45 p.m. [source: Rochester Music Coalition calendar]

S A T U R D A Y

Meet at International House of Pancakes (556 Jefferson Rd., formerly Ciao) for lunch today at noon. Rochester Contemporary Art Gallery (137 East Ave.) is having an Art Recycling Sale from 3 to 9 p.m. [source: Rochester Contemporary e-mail] Tonight is the last day of Gods & Spirits, a photography exhibit by Fennel Skellyman along with photographs from Kate Laux and Moxen N. Briddlebane at The All-Purpose Room (#8 in the Public Market, off N. Union St.) from 7 to 10 p.m. [source: the proverbial grapevine] The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) will be hosting an early metal/punk show with gimmicky heavy metal from Blüdwülf, American Distress, and solid punk from Switch 86 starting around 3 p.m. [source: Bug Jar calendar] What I gather is "hardcore techno" and other DJ work from Sharkey, Robbie Long, and Devistate will be at Water Street Music Hall (204 N. Water St.) starting around 8:30 p.m. [source: Water Street calendar] The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing Gone with the Wind starting at 8. Something to see on the big screen, but I doubt you'll get a seat. Over at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) starting around 10:45 p.m. is Joan Of Arc, Make Believe, and Love of Everything. [source: Bug Jar calendar] Tonight at Monty's Krown (875 Monroe Ave.) is the immensely fun punk-rock band Eddie Nebula and the Plague starting around 10:30 p.m. [source: Freetime] Alexander Street Pub (291 Alexander St.) will be hosting your fix of cover songs and modern rock from Uncle Plum starting around 10 p.m. [source: Freetime]

S U N D A Y

This afternoon starting at 3 is Aura Readings by Stan Kendz at Starry Nites (696 University Ave., formerly Moonbeans). [source: Freetime] In Gleason Auditorium at The Rochester Public Library (115 South Ave.) is another Sunday Books & Movies programs starting at 2. Today, Peter Lovenheim will compare Dick King-Smith's book, Babe the Gallant Pig with the movie Babe. [source: Rochester Public Library calendar] The All-Purpose Room (#8 in the Public Market, off N. Union St.) will be showing photography, video, and other art by local artists to help raise awareness for Poor People United all this week kicking off tonight at 7 with Joe+n and TatYana. [source: All-Purpose Room calendar] Tonight, Hollywood pats itself on the back for a job, well, done. George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be holding their Academy Awards Party tonight starting at 8—the awards show will be broadcast in the Dryden Theatre and throughout the house. The Skycoasters will be on hand for music, too ... of course, it's really expensive and you'll probably need reservations. [source: Eastman House calendar] Tonight at The Little Theatre Café (240 East Ave.) starting at 8 is jazz pianist and composer Harold Danko for his Seventh Quadrennial Leap Year Event. [source: Little Theatre e-mail] Dan Liberto (of the The Comedy Company) hosts Open Mic Comedy Night at Duels Café (17 E. Main St.) starting around 7:30 (theoretically.) [source: Duel's Café]

M O N D A Y

If you wanted to stop by The Little (240 East Ave.) to see Fog of War, tonight might be an extra good night to go. SUNY Brockport (350 New Campus Dr., Brockport) Professor Ken O'Brien will discuss the movie after the early screening. [source: Little Theatre e-mail] Why not save a bunch of money, bring a picture of Barenaked Ladies, put it on the stage at Johnny's Irish Pub (1382 Culver Rd., still smoke-free) with a bright light, and enjoy the BNL music they'll be playing. It's exactly the same experience as the concert except it's less crowded and the beer is cheaper and better. [source: Freetime] A new photography exhibit will open today at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) titled Serotonin. [source: the proverbial grapevine] Mayor William A. Johnson Jr. will deliver his State of the City address at 7 p.m. tonight at The Hochstein School of Music and Dance (50 North Plymouth Ave.) Over at Montage Grille (50 Chestnut St.) starting around 9 p.m. is Dave Rivello's 12-Piece Jazz Ensemble [source: Montage e-mail]

T U E S D A Y

Today at 12:12 p.m. is another of The Rochester Public Library's (115 South Ave.) Tuesday Topics in Gleason Auditorium. Today, Executive Director of Greater Rochester Enterprise Michael Finney will discuss The Business of Attracting Jobs to Rochester. [source: Rochester Public Library calendar] Head of Femur, Bishop Allen, and Kalpana will be at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) starting around 10:45 p.m. [source: Bug Jar 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

Tonight at Montage Grille (50 Chestnut St.) is Big Drum—Songwriters in the Round with Allen Powers, Kate Silverman with Bob Stephenson, Deb Miesha, Dylan Savage, and Laura Catracchia starting around 6:30 p.m. [source: Montage calendar] Self-described chick-folk-rock artist Silandara Bartlett will be at Spot Coffee (East Ave. and Mathews St.) starting around 8 p.m. [source: Rochester Music Coalition calendar] Over at Montage Grille (50 Chestnut St.) starting around 8:30 p.m. is The Soul of John Black. [source: Montage e-mail] Tonight at The Hochstein School of Music and Dance (50 North Plymouth Ave.) is a "Live From Hochstein" Concert & Broadcast at 12:10 p.m. with pianist Omri Shimron performing music of Bach, Chen Yi and Liszt. [source: Hochstein calendar] 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] Very cool jazz/jazz-rock band Margaret Explosion will be at The Little (240 East Ave.) starting around 8 p.m. [source: Little Theatre e-mail]