Weekly Rochester Events #439: Not the Gerhardus Projection

Thursday, June 7, 2007

In case anybody ever wondered about the title each week, I dig around for something related to the week number (which used to be the "issue number" but technically isn't because I skipped a few weeks here-and-there.) When I first started sending e-mails, I just used movie sequel numbers ... then CD track numbers, then numbers I could just dig up from various sources. But once I got above a hundred or so, I started to look for events that happened that many years prior to the current year. The tool I have come to rely on is The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language (©1992, Houghton Mifflin; ©1994, INSO Corporation) which is a computer program I bought from Media Play back in 1995 (February ... the 24th to be exact ... at 5:24 p.m. ... and I only know that because of the computer-scanned receipt, because I'm the kind of chaotic anal-retentive who would do such a thing.) It has some unique features like anagram search, wildcards, and spell-correction, but the single best feature is "reverse lookup": I can put in some words and it'll find me dictionary entries where those words appear in the definition. It comes in handy for its intended purpose, but even better to search for words to base the title upon.

This particular week I decided against something to do with "alligator", but it had such an interesting etymology that I couldn't resist mentioning it. The dictionary has this to say about its history: "In The Travailes of an Englishman, published in 1568 [439 years ago], Job Hortop says that 'in this river we killed a monstrous Lagarto or Crocodile.' This killing gives rise to the first recorded instance of alligator in English, obviously in a different form from the one familiar to modern speakers. Alligator, which comes to us from Spanish el lagarto, 'the lizard,' was modified in pronunciation and form in several ways before taking on the form alligator. Such changes, referred to by linguists as taboo deformation, are not uncommon in a name for something that is feared and include, for example, the change in sequence of the r and t that occurred between el lagarto and alligator. An interesting parallel case is crocodile, which appears in Spanish, for example, as cocodrilo, with a similar difference in the sequence of the r. The earliest recorded form of alligator that is similar to ours appears in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet (First Folio, 1623): 'In his needie shop a tortoyrs hung,/An Allegater stuft.'"

Anyway, on Thursday I headed to The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) to see Cherez ternii k zvyozdam (To the Stars By Hard Ways). It was absurdly bad — like the worst Star Trek original-series episode translated to Russian then back to English again. The movie was about an artificial woman of some sort that is found on a space probe, brought back to Earth, returns to her home planet, and tries to undo centuries of ecological damage brought about by rampant industrialization. The plot is bland and offers no solutions — except that Earthlings of the future have "technology" which allows them to clean up the environment instantly. The "artificial woman" proved to be a problem for the screenwriters because they couldn't decide if she was a clone, a robot, or a being with supernatural powers — they freely used whichever definition fit for how they wanted her to act. Thankfully, there was a guy in a tinfoil robot suit who saved the day as the most annoying, least useful, bigger-than-a-man sized household robot ever devised. The only thing I learned was that a harpsichord and a Moog synthesizer sound kinda cool together.

When I got out of the film, Ali was in the lobby waiting — she had other things to do that evening but managed to get to the city to see me. We went to The Rochester Greek Festival to see some friends of ours, stopped by Monty's Korner (355 East Ave.) but found no liberals drinking, and eventually settled on getting a glass of wine at Solera Wine Bar (647 South Ave) We even got to see a drunk guy stumble in, declare himself to be of Irish decent, and be about as hard to coerce away as a raw egg on the low-point of a warped floor.

Friday was the first day of my garage sale. As it turns out, the stuff that didn't sell last year doesn't sell this year. Well, it does — only very slowly. That night we went back to The Rochester Greek Festival for some dinner, met a couple people dining across-the-table from us, then rushed to Fairport Canal Days (Main St., Fairport) to see the fireworks and get ice cream at Lickety Splits (6 N. Main St. #106, Fairport).

Saturday was another day at the sale, and I hoped it would be better than Friday. Unfortunately it was more of the same. Oh, and sometime in the morning somebody swiped a pretty nice wrist watch. I wondered who did it — my first suspect was the black guy who seemed unusually interested in a junky old 1980's video camera ... or was it the Amish-looking woman and her kid? or the Asian guy who was really quiet and hurried out?

I pondered it for a while. I was at first annoyed because I had priced it at $25 and was looking forward to selling it for a good price because it was really nice. Then I was annoyed because of the consumerist society we have: "Money! money! money!: that's what it's all about. Nothing else matters! You need money! Nothing is worth more!" After a bit, though, I decided they paid a lot for it: I fantasized a scenario where the thief returned with it, but I would refuse, citing that it is impossible to un-steal something. The price they paid is in the heaviness of heart (or the denial to avoid facing it) ... at least in theory.

Anyway, that evening we stopped at John's Tex-Mex Eatery (489 South Ave., renamed from Taco John's, formerly Ly Lou's Pearl of the Orient) for some dinner and their fabulous Mango Mimosas. We headed to The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) after that. First up was A Lowercase You who are a hyperactive band with a punk sensibility and a modern-rock sound. We also saw Third Estate whom I thought was a good but too-often-predictable modern-rock band.

Sunday was the last day of the garage sale. Ali and I wrapped things up around 1 and made $45 or so all weekend. At least I got rid of some stuff that was just taking up space. As we were getting washed up, a guy stopped by to look at the utility trailer I had. I paid $100 or so about 3 years ago and I sold it for $30. I was just glad it was going to someone who I thought could really use it.

Anyway, we left and went to Jine's Restaurant (658 Park Ave.) for lunch and it was really quite good. We talked about seeing both movies at the Dryden this afternoon but Ali headed home early instead. I went back for the second film: Die Große Stille (Into Great Silence). I thought of it as a meditation on the meditation of monks — specifically the Carthusian monks of the Grande Chartreuse monastery in the French Alps. I noted that each were individals and all identical in individuality. Although I thought it noble to so devoutly follow one's beliefs, I felt a little pity: I disagree with the fundamental philosophy of denying oneself "pleasures of the flesh" for that is exactly why we have bodies. I belive the goal in life is to find balance between the rational mind, spiritual self, and physical body. To each their own, though.

T H U R S D A Y

In case you're wondering why downtown is unnavigable and everything is so expensive all-of-a-sudden, remember that it's time for The Rochester International Jazz Festival. [source: the proverbial grapevine] This afternoon at 5:30 p.m. at The Memorial Art Gallery (500 University Ave., near Goodman St.) is a What's Up Lecture by Susan Dodge-Peters Daiss on the 1950 painting titled Red by Jackson Pollock. Later, at 7 p.m. in the Auditorium is a lecture titled Ciudad y Suburbia: The Changing Nature of Latino Immigration by Sherrie Baver. [source: Memorial Art Gallery calendar] [all ages] Tonight at 5:30 p.m. at The High Falls Festival Site (Browns Race and Commercial St.) is a High Falls Party in the Park (no outside food or drink allowed) featuring RedLine Zydeco, pure instrumental funk from The Filthy Funk, and Dumpstaphunk. [source: Rochester Cajun Zydeco calendar] Over at Boulder Coffee Co. (100 Alexander St.) starting around 8 p.m. is [although just listed as "Micah"] the really good soloist Micah Blue Smaldone, and James Worden. [source: Boulder Coffee MySpace site] [all ages] Tonight at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) is great, somewhat mellow rock-and-roll from Hinkley, Schooner, and Alina Simone starting around 9:30 p.m. [source: band e-mail] Pure Kona Poetry Open Mic Night is at Daily Perks (389 Gregory St.) tonight starting at 7:30. [source: Daily Perks calendar] Tonight at 8 p.m. at Bodhi's Cafe & Lounge (274 Goodman St. N., in Village Gate) is an Open Mic. [source: the proverbial grapevine] Drinking Liberally meets at 8 p.m. tonight at Monty's Korner (355 East Ave.) [source: RocWiki calendar]

F R I D A Y

If you're around in the morning and have $45 or so to spare, today from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at The Strathallan (550 East Ave.) is a Legal Issues Workshop by The Arts and Cultural Council for Greater Rochester discussing Should You 501(c)(3)? with Michael J. Cooney. [source: Arts and Cultural Council website] Today at 6:30 p.m. at Genesee Pottery at The Genesee Center for the Arts (713 Monroe Ave.) is the opening reception for art by Liz Arday, and Patrick Coughlin which will be on display through July 6. [source: Genesee Center for the Arts calendar] Today starting at 7 p.m. is the Preview Party for the Annual Art Auction at The Rochester Contemporary Art Gallery (137 East Ave.) [source: Rochester Contemporary calendar] [all ages] Record Archive (1880 East Ave.) will be hosting The Noise, On Vinyl starting around 7 p.m. [source: WBER calendar] [all ages] This evening at 7 p.m. at The Storefront Anti-War Crisis Center (658 Monroe Ave.) is the opening reception for artwork titled We Support Our Troops by Javier. [source: City Newspaper] Tonight and tomorrow at 8 p.m. at Shipping Dock Theatre (31 Prince St., new location at Visual Studies Workshop) is another Shipping Dock Unleashed! sketch-comedy and improvisation show. [source: Shipping Dock Theatre website] Over at The Club at Water Street (204 N. Water St.) starting around 8 p.m. is good bar-rock band Blue Jimmy, 40 Rod Lightning, and Brian Lindsay. [source: Water Street calendar] [16+] The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing La moitié gauche du frigo (The Left Side of the Fridge) starting at 8 p.m. The Eastman calendar description puts it this way: "this delightful pseudo-documentary follows Montreal resident Christophe (Paul Ahmarani) as he searches for a meaningful job while trying to collect unemployment benefits denied to him on a technicality. Meanwhile, his filmmaker roommate receives more and more funds to complete the documentary project that details Christophe's increasingly desperate situation." [source: Eastman House calendar] [all ages] I heard that Boulder Coffee Co. (100 Alexander St.) has been hosting The Rochester Blackbook Sessions at 8 p.m. for a few weeks now, but I didn't know what it was. It sounded like a DJ set of music, but the MySpace page explains that it's a place to sketch and create, geared toward graffiti artists although anyone can stop by to enjoy as well. [source: Boulder Coffee MySpace site] [all ages] Water Street Music Hall (204 N. Water St.) will be hosting tight, technical rock from BML in their "final show", the return of surf-rock/nerdy, pervy stage show The Isotopes, and awesome, tight, complex rock-and-roll from The VEiNS starting around 10 p.m. [source: Water Street calendar] [16+]

S A T U R D A Y

Today at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) is the opening of the new installment of What We're Collecting Now. [source: Eastman House calendar] [all ages] This afternoon at 3 p.m. at Open Face (651 South Ave., right by the corner of Hickory) is Ciao! Wine Tasting from Casa Larga Vineyards (Turk Hill Road, 223-4210) with a Vespa scooter raffle to benefit The CURE Childhood Cancer Association (200 Westfall Rd.). [source: RocWiki calendar] Gang Green, great punk rock/hard rock from The UV Rays, good, gimmicky metal from Blüdwülf, and Bad Taste will be at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) starting this afternoon around 3:30 p.m. [source: Bug Jar calendar] [all ages] Fun ska from Mrs. Skannotto, and Razbari Sumthing will be at The Club at Water Street (204 N. Water St.) starting around 7 p.m. [source: Water Street calendar] [all ages] This evening at 7 p.m. at The Rochester Regional Community Design Center (RRCDC) (1115 E. Main St., in the Hungerford Complex) is the opening of an exhibit titled Hungerford ArtWorks. [source: City Newspaper] La Cacahouette, and Science vs. Witchcraft will be at Boulder Coffee Co. (100 Alexander St.) starting around 8 p.m. [source: Boulder Coffee MySpace site] [all ages] The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing Congorama starting at 8 p.m. in which a failed inventor learns he was adopted, searches for his parents, and serendipity leads him in a new direction. [source: Eastman House calendar] [all ages] Over at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) starting around 10:30 p.m. is professionally amateur rock-and-anything-goes band The Peachy Neachys , dissonant rock from Nod, and The True Believers. [source: Bug Jar calendar] [21+] Over at Monty's Krown (875 Monroe Ave.) starting around 10:30 p.m. is Cruelty Free. [source: Freetime] [21+] Tonight's another Betty's Sing-a-Long at Betty Meyer's Bullwinkle Café (622 Lake Ave., a.k.a. "Bullwinkle's") starting around 10.

S U N D A Y

The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing Animated Jazz Shorts from the Hubley Studio starting at 7 p.m. and again Monday at 7 p.m. [source: Eastman House calendar] [all ages] Tonight at The Little Theatre Café (240 East Ave.) is The Maria Gillard Band starting around 7:30 p.m. [source: band e-mail] The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) will be hosting Matt Valentine and Erika Elder, technical and elaborate rock with a good, full, powerful sound from Knife Crazy, and Breaking Laces starting around 9:30 p.m. [source: Bug Jar calendar] [18+] Tonight and every Sunday at Boulder Coffee Co. (100 Alexander St.) is a Comedy Open Mic with Matt Rohr at 7:30 p.m. [source: the proverbial grapevine] [all ages]

T U E S D A Y

This morning at 7:30 a.m. in the cafeteria overlooking the arboretum in Bausch and Lomb (140 Stone St.) is the Artists Breakfast Group meeting ... anyone interested in art or creativity is invited. The Club at Water Street (204 N. Water St.) will be hosting Madina Lake, and Firescape starting around 7 p.m. [source: Water Street calendar] [all ages] Tonight at Boulder Coffee Co. (100 Alexander St.) is Bending and Breaking starting around 8 p.m. [source: Boulder Coffee MySpace site] [all ages] The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing Man of the West starting at 8 p.m. a reformed outlaw is accidentally reunited with his old gang. [source: Eastman House calendar] [all ages] A|V Art Sound Space (N. Union St. at Trinidad St., #8 in the Public Market, formerly the All-Purpose Room) will be hosting 16 Bitch Pile Up, and something like semi-melodic fast-paced noise from Pengo starting around 9 p.m. [source: A|V Space website] Tonight at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) is Electric Organic, and Baby Shivers Boutique starting around 9:30 p.m. [source: Bug Jar calendar] [18+] Daily Perks (389 Gregory St.) is hosting an Acoustic Open Mic from 8 to 10. [source: Daily Perks calendar]

W E D N E S D A Y

Tonight at Water Street Music Hall (204 N. Water St.) is Ween starting around 8 p.m. [source: Water Street calendar] [16+] The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing Darling starting at 8 p.m. According to the Eastman calendar: "Julie Christie stars as a status-seeking model, tear-assing her way to the top of the British social ladder." [source: Eastman House calendar] [all ages] Poor People United meets tonight and every Wednesday at 7 at St. Joseph's House of Hospitality (402 South Ave.) [source: the proverbial grapevine] There's an Open Mic for Acoustic Music at Boulder Coffee Co. (100 Alexander St.) tonight around 8. [source: the proverbial grapevine] Tonight at Café Underground Railroad (480 W. Main St.) is a Spoken Word/Poetry night starting around 9 p.m. [source: the proverbial grapevine]

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