Weekly Rochester Events #282: Rapa Nui! Look at Those Heads!

Thursday, June 3, 2004

The whole rationale for bringing out the typewriter in the first place was so I could decide which one I wanted to sell ... the winner (or loser, whichever) was the Smith Corona electric. See, I'm having another garage sale this year in conjunction with the neighborhood sale for Upper Mount Hope—as you'd expect, at Jayce's House (45 Whiteford Rd.) This time I think I'm going to have less stuff than last year, but the gimmick is going to be "Pay whatever it's worth to you." I figure I'll make about the same amount of money as last year's "everything is a dollar" sale just due to the law of averages, but with the added bonus that I won't even have to make up more signs since the prices won't need to change. It turns out, there are going to be over 40 sales in the area this weekend ... I assume the maximum number will be on Saturday, but mine is from 9 to 4 on Friday and Saturday, and from 10 to 3 on Sunday (unless I really run out of stuff.)

As a second benefit/curse, it's also the Ham Fest weekend. The point being that I won't really be able to spend any time down there, ergo, won't be able to spend lots of money and collect even more junk I don't need. Heck, for that matter, I don't even have a list of dream junk this time around. OK, so maybe I'll get down there a little bit ... like by closing early on Saturday. Or, better yet if I'm lucky, I'll run out of stuff! (And I just realized that there is no exclamation point on the typewriter so I took a crack at it using the apostrophe and a period—which is what I think you're supposed to do, but it looks kind of dumb because the apostrophe is slanted. The OCR software thought I meant to type a colon.)

Anyway, it looks like I won't be going to O'Bagelo's on Saturday due to the sale, but I expect you all to show up anyway. In the interim, I believe that I'll be eating pizza or something—maybe even the pizza I won at the WXXI auction.

Yeesh ... I just looked ahead a little in my calendar, and it looks like I've booked pretty much every weekend in June, and the first one in July. For instance, Synaesthesia 2 is on June 11 and 12—and to make matters worse, my photography comes down from the Bug Jar on June 13. The weekend afterward is Jan's bachelor party weekend (no nekkid women was the demand, so it looks like we're going to have to just get him really really drunk—I hope I'm not giving too much away.) Naturally, since the wedding is July 3, that's pretty much accounted for leaving only June 26th which I assume I'll be spending with whenever shows up back "home" a week early ... if anyone. Either that or I'll be running around as a pack mule of sorts.

Anyway, there wasn't too much excitement last week. Starting on Saturday for lunch at Open Face (651 South Ave., right by the corner of Hickory) I tried the brie-and-pear sandwich which was incredible and their turkey sandwich which was just okay. I also tried a Moxie which is basically like carbonated medicine ... like a blend of cola and anise. I'm not sure of the appeal, except maybe to prove to your friends that you can drink it.

That night I stopped by Acme Bar & Pizza (495 Monroe Ave.) and saw Gionnie Clash which was pretty good ... the band is really tight, and Don's a good singer, but his voice was distorted (I don't know if it was deliberate or even exactly what they wanted) and they pretty much did bluesy cover songs. From there I popped over to The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) and Low Ton sounded really good ... maybe because their new guitar player is working out, or because I just really needed to hear them again.

On Tuesday I realized it's June already ... what happened to May exactly?

Anyway, that night I headed back out to The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) for the premiere of Johnny "Mac" McAnany's movie Rockchester about the Rochester rock-and-roll scene. It was really good, but it was obviously just for us ... I don't know if it would make sense to anybody else because there's so many people and bands to keep track of throughout. Maybe they just become an anonymous blur.

A wave of melancholy hit me afterward when I got home. I didn't like that the movie ended ... of course, it had to, but it felt like the book was closed on the rock-and-roll scene. I couldn't reconcile that feeling for a while, but then I realized the trouble was the film captured the feel of the actual shows and events. Those events ... those rock-and-roll shows are meant to be experienced just once at the time that they happen. The vibrancy of the show is only at the show ... it's not meant to be recalled at some point in the future because it will be tainted by the retelling.

One last thing: Johnny Mac caught a glimpse of me at Aimee and Joey's house party (and what was their new roommate's name ... Tom, I guess.) As I was listening to the music on the video, I found that I was bobbing my head exactly the same as I was that night on video. I guess I'm just another predictable monkey.

T H U R S D A Y

Tonight at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) is The Dead Pets, Public Aggravation, and the fun punk-rock band The Flour City Knuckleheads starting around 8:30 p.m. [source: Bug Jar calendar] The All-Purpose Room (#8 in the Public Market, off N. Union St.) will be hosting The Black Lung Brass Ensemble (which is apparently a 10-piece brass band) starting around 8 p.m. [source: All-Purpose Room calendar] Over at The Memorial Art Gallery (500 University Ave., near Goodman St.) starting at 5:30 p.m., SUNY Brockport assistant professor of art, Kitty Hubbard will be on hand to give an informal talk on Famous Names, a mixed media work by Jaune Quick-To-See Smith. [source: Memorial Art Gallery calendar] The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing four avant-garde and surrealistic short films by François Ozon and Marina de Van starting at 8 p.m. and including Une robe d'été (A Summer Dress) Bien sous tous rapports (Fine in Every Respect), Alias, and Regarde la mer (See the Sea). [source: Eastman House calendar] Over at Johnny's Irish Pub (1382 Culver Rd., still smoke-free) starting around 9:30 p.m. is Ciara Lynn. [source: Johnny's Irish Pub calendar] Tonight at Element (123 Liberty Pole Way, formerly Star Bar, Tilt, and Velocity) is Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad, and the great funk-rock band Mountain Mojo Authority (click here to skip their annoying flash intro) starting around 10 p.m. [source: JamBase calendar for Rochester] Pure Kona Poetry Open Mic Night is at Daily Perks (389 Gregory St.) tonight starting at 7:30. [source: Daily Perks calendar]

F R I D A Y

Once again it's time for the Rochester Hamfest at the The Dome Center (E. Henrietta Rd. and Calkins Rd.) The flea market space appears to be open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, and 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Sunday. [source: Rochester Hamfest website] Tonight at 8 p.m. at Daily Perks (389 Gregory St.) is the Urban-Suburban Slam Poetry. [source: Daily Perks calendar] Tonight at the The Rochester International Jazz Festival on the free The Jazz Stage (Gibbs St.) is Uneeda Birkenstock High School Jazz Bands Showcase at 4 p.m., Assaf Rozov at 6 p.m. and Paul Cebar and the Milwaukeeans at 7:30 p.m. and at 9:30 p.m. [source: Rochester Jazz Festival website] Updated: Tonight at The Club at Water Street (204 N. Water St.) after the Hedwig show at 10 p.m. is surf-rock instrumental band The Isotopes with the chaotic power-rock/punk-rock of Your Mom and the punk-rock/hard-rock (and a little rockabilly) band The UV Rays. [source: GaragePop Records website] Tonight at Nextstage at Geva (75 Woodbury Blvd.) is Geva Comedy Improv starting around 10:30 p.m. both tonight and tomorrow. [source: Geva Theatre e-mail] The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing Ishtar starting at 8 p.m. I remember this when it came out and it got badly panned by critics and thrown away, but the Dryden is resurrecting it as part of their "Beautiful Losers" series. The film is about a couple songwriters who get involved in a CIA plot, satirizing Regan-era politics. [source: Eastman House calendar] Java's (16 Gibb St.) will be hosting jazzy funk instrumental band Cerulean City starting around 9 p.m. [source: JamBase calendar for Rochester]

S A T U R D A Y

O'Bagelo's, 165 State Street, noon. In case you're curious what's going on, there's a trail celebration at Genesee Waterways Center (149 Elmwood Ave., in Genesee Valley Park). Among the more interesting things things is a Bird Watching Walk at 10 a.m., a Guided Walking Tour of The University of Rochester Arboretum at 11 a.m., Bluegrass Music at noon and 1:30 p.m., and Free Canoe and Kayak Lessons starting at noon. [source: City Hall press release] Today is the first Bike Ride at High Falls this year from 10:30 a.m. to noon at The High Falls Gorge (Pont De Rennes Bridge.) The ride is designed to be relatively easy ... 10 miles or less along the Genesee Riverway Trail and on-road into the community. [source: City Hall press release] At the The Rochester International Jazz Festival on the free The Jazz Stage (Gibbs St.) is Uneeda Birkenstock High School Jazz Bands Showcase at 4 p.m., Phil Flanigan and Bob Sneider Duo at 6 p.m., then Sam Kiniger Band at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. [source: Rochester Jazz Festival website] The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing Um Flime Falado (Un film parlé / A Talking Picture) starting at 8 p.m. Apparently a twisted dual plot revolving around a mother and daughter on an ocean voyage to see the great capitals of the world, and the womanizing ship's captain. [source: Eastman House calendar] The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) will be hosting metal bands Keelhaul, Colossus Of Rails, and Baba Yaga starting around 10:45 p.m. [source: Bug Jar calendar] Over at Richmond's (21 Richmond St.) starting around 10:30 p.m. is solidly good rock band with strong groove rock influences, Dudley Dawson, and Thick Air. [source: Freetime] Starry Nites (696 University Ave., formerly Moonbeans) will be hosting acoustic folk rock from Silandara Bartlett starting around 9 p.m. [source: Freetime] Tonight at Curley's Saloon (511 E. Ridge Rd.) is the great, tight modern-rock band The Meddling Kids starting around 10 p.m. (despite rumors to the contrary.)

S U N D A Y

This afternoon at 1 p.m. is the first of the City's Sunday Serenades at Washington Square Park (across Woodbury from Geva Theater) featuring the The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra Marimba Ensemble. The rain location is The Dugan Center at St. Mary's Church (15 Saint Marys Pl.) across the street. [source: City Hall press release] The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing Doctor Zhivago starting at 5 p.m. The classic film about the Russian doctor and poet in the midst of the Bolshevik revolution. [source: Eastman House calendar] Over at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) starting around 8:30 p.m. is Demolition Dollrods, punchy drums-and-guitar punk-rock band Blue Spark and Flame, Martha Dumptruck Massacre, and wild power-rock/punk-rock from Your Mom. [source: Bug Jar calendar] As part of The Rochester International Jazz Festival, students of Eastman School of Music (26 Gibbs St.) will be performing at Eastman Theatre (60 Gibbs St.) tonight at 8 for free. [source: Rochester Jazz Festival website] Tonight's The Rochester International Jazz Festival free shows at The Jazz Stage (Gibbs St.) include Uneeda Birkenstock High School Jazz Bands Showcase at 4 p.m., the Mel Hendersonand Chris Northington Duo at 6:00 p.m., and Walter "Wolfman" Washington and The Road Masters at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. [source: Rochester Jazz Festival website] 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]

T U E S D A Y

Starting at Mt. Hope Cemetery (North Gate, 791 Mt. Hope Ave.) is a Tuesday Nature Night—"Trees in our Neighborhoods" Walk around the Ellwanger-Barry Neighborhood starting at 6:15pm. [source: City Hall press release] I have learned that the VSW calendar is useless, but still ... it says that artist and photographer Yolanda Andrade will be giving a lecture in the Media Center at Rochester Visual Studies Workshop (31 Prince St.) starting at 6 p.m. [source: Visual Studies Workshop calendar] The Independents, gimmicky but good heavy metal band Blüdwülf, classic punk band The Teenage Junkies, and The Evicted will be at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) for a very early show starting around 3:30 p.m. [source: Bug Jar calendar] Tonight at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) is Maritime, Snailhouse, and The Minstrels 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

I have actually seen the incredible improvisational jazz band The Billy Bang Quartet and they're playing two shows at Montage Grille (50 Chestnut St.) tonight—one at 6 p.m. and the other at 10 p.m. Each show is $15 if you don't have a pass already. [source: Rochester Jazz Festival website] The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing Paris vu par... (Six in Paris) starting at 8 p.m. Six cutting edge directors of the 1960's film in different Parisian neighborhoods. [source: Eastman House calendar] Tonight's another Rochester Poets Reading and Open Mike at 7 p.m. in Verb Café at Writers and Books (740 University Ave.) [source: Writers and Books calendar] Poor People United meets tonight and every Wednesday at 7 at St. Joseph's House of Hospitality (402 South Ave.) [source: the proverbial grapevine] 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]