Weekly Rochester Events #293: The 470 Nanometer Room

Thursday, August 19, 2004

This weekend had a couple odd turns. First, on Friday, I went to Daily Perks (389 Gregory St.) and saw two very cool bands and got a chance to lounge about and have some tea and cookies. The first band, Urknee and Bjürton is this peculiar trio that do vocally-exaggerated spoken-word poetry over avant garde ambient music. It's really quite different from anything else you've heard. The other band was The Blood and Bone Orchestra who do this free-form experimental jazz. Also something quite unique.

Afterward I went around the corner and stopped at Lux Lounge (666 South Ave.) but apparently it was old yuppie night or something. The few people I did know were just repeating, "who are these people?" so I headed out to Monty's Krown (875 Monroe Ave.) I ran into these two women who were doing an art project as part of The Burning Man Project: they wanted everyone's underwear. I guess they're going to make "Panty Palace" (I think that's what it's called) that exudes the pheromonal funk of unwashed underpants. I talked with them a while and I figured when I finished my beer, I'd head to the bathroom and donate to the cause. Unfortunately, they had to take off just as I was finishing up. As luck would have it, though, their car got towed so they had to get a cab to go fetch it, and I had a few extra minutes to help them out. I now have one fewer day between laundry days.

On Saturday I wanted to have a garage sale for all the extra junk I had from the last two sales, but I really didn't want to spend any time on it. I set everything up around 11, and put up the sign that says, "Take whatever you want. Leave some money if you want to," and put out a can for money. I added a sign, "you are being trusted," and headed out to lunch. By the time I got home, though, there were a couple things that were gone. I let it run throughout the day until around 7 or so. I got out and cleaned it up, putting some things in a pile at the curb and just throwing away others. I also checked the money can. The grand total: $4.25.

To be honest, I was just glad people took stuff. The next day, my neighbor said there was a lot of confusion and people weren't sure if they could just take things.

On Sunday, I got home from some errands and saw this Chihuahua-Doberman looking dog, and I recognized it from the "lost dog" sign I saw. By the time I parked the car, though, the dog was long gone. I saw it again when I went to get food at Thai Taste (1675 Mount Hope Ave.) so I called the number on the poster. A little while later, these two women showed up with another dog and started looking for — get this — "Poop."

I helped them look for Poop all over. We pointed to a spot where I saw him last and had the other dog sniff it, but it didn't work — I think Poop's in the dumpsters behind the restaurants nearby, so the other dog might not have been able to smell through the garbage. In the end, we didn't find her Poop — the one woman said she lost her Poop a few weeks ago when she got in a car accident nearby and he went flying out the window. He's still around here, though, and I hope she finds him.

The important lesson here is that if you lose your Poop, it's a lot harder to find than you might think. Too bad the dog didn't have a strange name because that would have made the story funny.

Aren't you glad I'm going to switch to writing essays in the coming weeks?

T H U R S D A Y

Tonight from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. is Garden Vibes at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) with big-band tribute band Jon Seiger and The All-Stars. (The rain date is August 26.) [source: Eastman House mailing] Over at The Rochester Public Market (280 Union St. N.) is a Blues Bash at the Market performance featuring Chris Duarte Group and Joe Bonamassa starting at 6 p.m. Note that although the event is listed as free, you can't bring any food or drinks onto the site and instead must pay whatever astronomical prices for thimblefuls of water to stay alive. Our Capitalist Masters have graciously allowed that we may bring one sealed bottle of water per person—it is imperative that you bring purchased bottled water. [source: City Hall press release] Jack Garner will be back at Verb Café at Writers and Books (740 University Ave.) tonight for another Screenplay Salon at 6 p.m. Tonight's film is The Pawnbroker. [source: Writers and Books calendar] Daily Perks (389 Gregory St.) will be hosting Mando Mike Rae and His Random Fido Kharma starting around 7:30 p.m. [source: WITR calendar] Tonight at Starry Nites (696 University Ave., formerly Moonbeans) is Parallel starting around 8 p.m. [source: Freetime] The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) will be hosting Scott Biram and Joe Buck, with The White Devils starting around 9 p.m. [source: Bug Jar calendar] Tonight is a presentation of Something for Everyone: Sondheim Tonight! at The Hochstein School of Music and Dance (50 North Plymouth Ave.) starting at 8 p.m. [source: Hochstein calendar] Pure Kona Poetry Open Mic Night is at Daily Perks (389 Gregory St.) tonight starting at 7:30. [source: Daily Perks calendar] Find the Propaganda Box at The Liberty Pole (Liberty Pole Wy.) today from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. playing independently produced videos giving an alternative view of political events than the mainstream media. [source: the proverbial grapevine]

F R I D A Y

Over at On the Rocks (1551 Mount Hope Ave., formerly Michael's and before that Trios) starting around 8 p.m. is The Sonny Miles Organ Trio [source: Freetime] The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing Bright Leaves starting at 8 p.m. After discovering a copy of Bright Leaf in his family's collection, film essayist Ross McElwee documents the journey to figure out his family's connection to the film. Ross McElwee will be on hand to present the film. [source: Eastman House calendar] Tonight and tomorrow is a Homegrown Tribute to Unkle Roger at The Penny Arcade (4785 Lake Ave.) starting at 8:30 p.m. Tonight's bands are Diamond Tyr/One, Exploding Boy, The Fugitives, and Pantara then tomorrow it's The Akers Brothers Band, Cheater, Jeff Cosco, Moriah, and The Voices (featuring members of Dark Side of the Moon.) [source: Rochester Music Coalition calendar] Tonight at McFadden's Restaurant and Saloon (60 Brown's Race) is reggae influenced funk-rock from Mountain Mojo Authority (click here to skip their annoying flash intro) starting around 9:30 p.m. [source: Freetime] Starry Nites (696 University Ave., formerly Moonbeans) will be hosting Paul Blackburn starting around 9 p.m. [source: Freetime] Find the Propaganda Box at The Liberty Pole (Liberty Pole Wy.) again today from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. playing independently produced videos giving an alternative view of political events than the mainstream media. [source: the proverbial grapevine]

S A T U R D A Y

O'Bagelo's, 165 State Street, noon. Today and tomorrow at The New York Museum of Transportation and Rochester and Genesee Valley Railroad Museum (6393 East River Rd., West Henrietta) is Diesel Days from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. highlighting the diesel locomotive — and with some of the trains running. [source: Rochester and Genesee Valley Railroad Museum website] The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing Bright Leaf starting at 5 p.m. The story of warring tobacco farmers at the turn of the 20th century. Later in the evening at 8 p.m., they'll be showing the absurdly funny comedy about the start of nuclear war, Dr. Strangelove, or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb. [source: Eastman House calendar] Apparently, Artisan Works (565 Blossom Rd.) is having a Taste of Rochester event starting at 6 p.m. [source: Freetime] Starry Nites (696 University Ave., formerly Moonbeans) will be hosting singer/songwriter Kate Silverman, and Dan LaPata starting around 9 p.m. [source: Starry Nites calendar] The Blood and Bone Orchestra, and The Rainbeaux will be at artsound (#8 in the Public Market, off N. Union St., formerly The All-Purpose Room) starting around 9 p.m. [source: artsound website] Over at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) starting around 10:45 p.m. is high-energy classic synth-rock band The Charms, rock-and-roll from The Grinders, and awesome, tight, complex rock-and-roll from The VEiNS. [source: Bug Jar calendar] Tonight at Tiki Bob's Cantina (60 Browns Race, in the Centers at High Falls) is disco-and-rock cover band The United Booty Foundation starting around 10 p.m. [source: Freetime] Jimmy Mac's (104 Platt St., at the Pont De Rennes Bridge) will be hosting the excellent, pure instrumental funk band The Filthy Funk starting around 10 p.m. [source: Freetime] Over at Alexander Street Pub (291 Alexander St.) starting around 10 p.m. is modern rock and covers from Better Days. [source: Freetime]

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 2 p.m. If you're interested in getting a booth, call 428-6907 for more information. [source: City Hall press release] The solo exhibition from Kelly Shaw closes tonight at Genesee Pottery at The Genesee Center for the Arts (713 Monroe Ave.) at 5 p.m. [source: Genesee Center for the Arts calendar] Starry Nites (696 University Ave., formerly Moonbeans) will be hosting an ARTWalk Music on the Block featuring Ann Mitchell, and Michael McNeill starting around 2 p.m. [source: Rochester Music Coalition calendar] The Lost Sounds, and odd folk-rock soloist with backup from a drummer and musical saw player/backup singer as The Minstrels will be at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) starting around 10:45 p.m. [source: Bug Jar calendar] Water Street Music Hall (204 N. Water St.) will be having a Michael Pernaselli Benefit Concert (for Rochester-native Naval Petty Officer 1st class Michael Pernaselli who was killed in Iraq)featuring The Contraband, Nik and the Nice Guys,and The United Booty Foundation starting around 9:30 p.m. [source: Water Street calendar]

T U E S D A Y

Tonight is a Tuesday Nature Nights Guided Bike Ride along Rochester's trail system starting at 6:15 p.m. (helmets required, weather cancellations will be made on site at the start time ... I guess unless it's obvious.) Tonight's ride is in the High Falls Neighborhood starting at The High Falls Gorge (Pont De Rennes Bridge) [source: City Hall press release] Tonight at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) is Emil Beaulieau, The Prurient, The Crank Sturgeon, and semi-melodic fast-paced noise from Pengo starting around 10:45 p.m. [source: Carbon Records calendar] Sometime today (probably early evening like 7 p.m.) In Between the Lines (Drama House, University of Rochester Campus) will be having an improv show in the May Room in Wilson Commons at The University of Rochester (River Campus Map). [source: In Between the Lines 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

The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing Los Angeles Plays Itself starting earlier-than-normal at 7 p.m. A cinematic essay about the ways the city of Los Angeles has been portrayed on the screen. Presented by filmmaker Thom Andersen. [source: Eastman House calendar] Tonight's another Rochester Poets Reading and Open Mike at Verb Café at Writers and Books (740 University Ave.) starting at 7 p.m. [source: Writers and Books calendar] Tonight, tomorrow, and Sunday, local comic Steve Burr, Bill "Moranimal" Moran, and Tommy Mule (tonight) or Brian Herberger (the other days) will be at Comix Café (3450 Winton Pl.) starting at 8:30 p.m. [source: Comix Café 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] 1970's rock cover band guy Todd East will be at On the Rocks (1551 Mount Hope Ave., formerly Michael's and before that Trios) starting around 8:30 p.m. [source: Freetime] Tonight at Starry Nites (696 University Ave., formerly Moonbeans) is light bluesy jazz instrumental band The Lumiere Gypsy Jazz Trio starting around 8 p.m. [source: Freetime] Find the Propaganda Box on Monroe Ave. at Sumner Pk. today from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. playing independently produced videos giving an alternative view of political events than the mainstream media. [source: the proverbial grapevine]