Weekly Rochester Events #445: Destination: Uterus

Thursday, July 19, 2007

Last Thursday I headed to Boulder Coffee Co. (100 Alexander St.) to start the night off. I got their roast beef and bacon wrap which was quite good. I also came up with an idea that I wanted to try out: their menu lists smoothies by fruit flavors but I decided to order a banana-chocolate smoothie. Man, it was awesome. Like a banana split sundae, only in smoothie form. The barista commented later that it was a new flavor combination.

Afterward I headed to Monty's Korner (355 East Ave.) to visit with Drinking Liberally and three of us talked politics and mused at the increasingly elaborate, expensive, and skimpy clothing on the women as the evening turned to night. I said it was amusing that dating one of us [we all happened to be in relationships — but speculatively, Ali] would be considered by these women to be "dating down" because we weren't "classy" enough, but likewise that we probably wouldn't think we found a great catch in one of these Paris Hilton wannabes.

On Friday Ali and I got an excellent light dinner at Paola's Burrito Place (1921 South Ave., formerly Big Dog's Hots) before heading to her friend's annual Tiki Party. We had a nice time and were among the heterosexual minority. Likewise, on Saturday night we met up with Don and Scott at California Rollin' at Village Gate Square (274 N. Goodman St.) after the The Gay Pride Parade (Park Ave. and Brunswick St.) Ali liked a couple of the fully cooked, very warm tempura rolls with soy paper so we might be able to go together there once in a while. Anyway, the four of us headed to The Bachelor Forum (670 University Ave.) after that. We joked that it was hard to believe that all these men were bachelors. We shot some pool and then went to Lux Lounge (666 South Ave.) and did the same — Lux was completely dead, though, as it was only a bit after 9 on a Saturday night. Next we hit up Nasty D's (140 Alexander St., formerly RJ's) and Ali and Don did some dancing but I was getting tired and irritable so "not drunk enough to dance" Scott and I just lurked.

Sunday Ali and I headed to The Corn Hill Arts Festival (Frederick Douglass St. and Edinburgh St., in the Corn Hill Neighborhood) to get some food and walk around. We finally got to try ice cream from The Corn Hill Creamery (290 Exchange Blvd.) which was spectacular — and made locally ... or because it's made locally. Afterward I went to Ali's apartment for a great homemade dinner. On Monday we went to El Parian Mexican Grille (3070 W. Henrietta Rd.) for dinner — Ali's friend had raved about it. Although some parts of the meal really were exceptional, other aspects were just okay — and worst was the refrigerator/plastic tainted chile relleno. That's not to say it's a bad place, just a mixed bag — and overall, better than average.

After that we biked to The Corn Hill Creamery (290 Exchange Blvd.) for another taste of delicious ice cream and then did some exploring under the nearly complete Freddy-Sue Bridge — well, I guess officially it's now Frederick Douglass — Susan B. Anthony Memorial Bridge (formerly the Troup-Howell Bridge). In case anybody bothers to check as well, the center bearing on the west end was about parallel with its platform on the bottom with about a 3 5/8" gap.

Tuesday night I headed out to The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) to see The Pied Piper. I'm not hugely familiar with the Brothers Grimm story, only that a piper led all the rats out of a town then led the children as well. I liked that Donovan played the Piper with a charismatic flair. But aside from him, the story was pretty dark: particularly the ironically brightly-dressed government officials and clergy. Here, the government is presented as a highly corrupt institution spending any money it can to create a cathedral to protect itself from the plague. The Catholic church is presented as an uneducated lot who always favor a Holy explanation to a rational one, and are quick to condemn those who stand in the way of their power through illogical obfuscation. You know — kinda like reality. I was surprised, though, that the lazy Communism of the 1960's was shunned, instead favoring individuals who tried to earn their keep.

Afterward I went to The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) to check out the bands there. [Imagine that: me going to see live music!] First up was The End Of The World who did a great set of down-tempo lounge-rock with elements of surf-rock. Similarly, The Subjects were a good up-tempo lounge-rock band. I also stayed for a few songs of Knife Crazy who did awesome chaos rock, power-rock, and power-jam all at once. To clarify, I conjured the term "lounge-rock" to differentiate it from "bar-rock". In both, it's a crowd-pleasing experience, but with bar-rock, the structures are more predictable as from the country roots of rock. By lounge-rock, I'm referring to music that's just a bit more complex without being particularly obscure.

T H U R S D A Y

Tonight at Big City Summer Fest (Browns Race and Furnace St., the Lamar Stage) at 6 p.m., Leroy Thomas and the Zydeco Roadrunners kick off the free shows for this weekend. [source: Big City Summer Fest website] The Inventor's Society of Western New York will be having their monthly meeting in Rundel Auditorium at The Rochester Public Library (115 South Ave.) starting at 6:30 p.m. [source: Rochester Public Library calendar] The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing Ennio Morricone starting early at 7 p.m. and then at 8 p.m. it's Prima della rivoluzione (Before the Revolution). The former is a documentary about the Italian composer who composed the music for the latter. In the latter, an open-minded young man "begins an affair with his seductive and unbalanced older aunt Gina." [source: Eastman House calendar] [all ages] Devon Trumell will be at Starry Nites Café (696 University Ave., formerly Moonbeans) starting around 8 p.m. [source: Starry Nites calendar] [all ages] Tonight at Boulder Coffee Co. (100 Alexander St.) is Lucas Carpenter, and Sonic Duality starting around 8 p.m. [source: Boulder Coffee MySpace site] [all ages] The Harro East Theatre and Ballroom (155 North Chestnut St.) will be hosting Interpol, (not "Interpole" as the Harro calendar says, duh!) and Calla starting around 8 p.m. [source: Harro East calendar] Tonight at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) is Ju-Jajuba, Jes Kramer, and good shoe-gazer drone/mellow rock from The Sleeping Kings of Iona starting around 9:30 p.m. [source: Bug Jar calendar] [18+] This evening from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Boulder Coffee Co. (100 Alexander St.) is The South Wedge Farmers Market. [source: Rochester Turning] [all ages] 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

This evening from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at The Bop Shop (274 N. Goodman St., in Village Gate Square) is an opening for photographs of jazz performers by Garry Geer. [source: Bop Shop calendar] [all ages] Tonight from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at The Image City Photography Gallery (722 University Ave.) is the opening for Panoramic Rochester by Sheridan Vincent. The show will be on display through August 12. [source: Image City Photography Gallery e-mail] The Club at Water Street (204 N. Water St.) will be hosting fun ska from Mrs. Skannotto, The Levar Burtones, Kevin Jones and The Other Tones, and The Waffle Stompers starting around 7 p.m. [source: Water Street calendar] [all ages] Bluesy singer Deborah Magone will be at The Storefront Anti-War Crisis Center (658 Monroe Ave.) starting around 7 p.m. [source: Rochester Against War website] Clever, charismatic, and skilled soloist Connie Deming will be at The Flipside Bar and Grill (2001 E. Main St.) starting around 8 p.m. [source: Flipside website] Tonight at Daily Perks (389 Gregory St.) is Bruce Campbell, Aaron Maras, and The Varnish Cooks starting around 8 p.m. [source: Daily Perks calendar] [all ages] Boulder Coffee Co. (100 Alexander St.) will be hosting Night Gallery, The Tabs, Area C, Eyes Like Saucers, and Joe+n 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 Bugsy Malone starting at 8 p.m. (and again on Saturday and Sunday at 5 p.m.) It's a "musical homage to Prohibition-era gangster films" with the twist that all the cast members are under 14 years old. [source: Eastman House calendar] [all ages] Updated: Over at The Rochester Contemporary Art Gallery (137 East Ave.) starting around 8:30 p.m. is great experimental acoustic soloist Gregory Paul and folk-rock and more from The Minstrels. [source: Freetime] [all ages] Over at The Flat Iron Café (561 State St.) starting around 9 p.m. is Sonic Duality. [source: Flat Iron Cafe webstie] Over at Bodhi's Cafe & Lounge (274 Goodman St. N., in Village Gate) starting around 9:30 p.m. is Mike Fyler and The Macro Meltdown. [source: Bodhi's Cafe MySpace page] Over at Dinosaur Bar-B-Que (99 Court St.) starting around 10 p.m. is the rocking rockabilly of Krypton 88. [source: Dinosaur Bar-B-Que calendar] The Buzzo All-Star Band will be at The Keg (315 Gregory St., behind German House where Rohrbach's used to be) starting around 10 p.m. [source: band flyer] Tonight and tomorrow at 10:30 p.m. at Nextstage at Geva (75 Woodbury Blvd.) is another Geva Comedy Improv show. [source: Geva Theatre website] 40 Rod Lightning will be at Monty's Krown (875 Monroe Ave.) starting around 10:30 p.m. [source: Freetime] [21+]

S A T U R D A Y

There's a Bagel Brunch at the playground next door to Writers and Books (740 University Ave.) every Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. [source: sign] [all ages] Today from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. in The Courtyard of Village Gate Square (274 N. Goodman St.) is the first day of The Bop Shop's 25th Anniversary Festival featuring The Brokedown, great 1960's-styled rock from The Hi-Risers, Barrence Whitfield, and more. [source: Bop Shop calendar] [all ages] Over at Boulder Coffee Co. (100 Alexander St.) starting around 8 p.m. is DJ Velouria, Hot Red Center, and disorienting anti-band Gaybot. [source: Boulder Coffee MySpace site] [all ages] The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing La tourneuse de pages (The Page Turner) starting at 8 p.m. and again on Sunday at 7 p.m. A pianist hires a page turner — who happens to be the same person as a girl the pianist failed for an entrance exam many years prior, and the page turner is coldly out for revenge. [source: Eastman House calendar] [all ages] Defeatist, high quality heavy metal from Kalibas, Kursk, and Think Don't Pray will be at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) starting around 10:30 p.m. [source: Bug Jar calendar] [21+] The Quinn Lawrence Trio will be at The Flat Iron Café (561 State St.) for an After-Hours Jam Session starting around 1 a.m. (on Sunday morning, technically) [source: Flat Iron Cafe webstie] 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

Today from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. is the annual Muse-A-Thon along ARTWalk (University Ave. at Atlantic Ave.) [source: ARTWalk website] This afternoon from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. on the stage at The Commons Park (S. Main St. and Coach St., Canandaigua) at The Canandaigua Art and Music Festival in Historic Downtown is a performance by wicked fun percussive groove-rock band The BuddhaHood. [source: band e-mail] The Bop Shop's 25th Anniversary Festival continues in The Courtyard of Village Gate Square (274 N. Goodman St.) today from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and features Joe Beard, and The Tarbox Ramblers. [source: Bop Shop calendar] This afternoon at 4 p.m. at The Baobab Cultural Center (728 University Ave., formerly on Gregory St.) is a discussion with artist Ajay Gulati about his exhibition Sculpture on Canvas which closes today. [source: Baobab website] Over at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) starting around 7 p.m. is Birthday Suits, White York, and I Made the Mistake (or IMadeTheMistake). [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]

M O N D A Y

The Western Front, Deer Tick, Diego Perez, and Somolian Bonaparte will be at Boulder Coffee Co. (100 Alexander St.) starting around 8 p.m. [source: Boulder Coffee MySpace site] [all ages] The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) will be hosting Mothguts starting around 9:30 p.m. [source: Bug Jar calendar] [18+] Bored? Why not check out 1980's DJ night at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) starting around 11 p.m. [source: Bug Jar calendar]

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. This evening at 7:30 p.m. at Kilbourn Hall at Eastman Theatre (60 Gibbs St.) is Bruckner: Mass in E Minor [source: Eastman School of Music calendar] [all ages] The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing Le casse (The Burglars) starting at 8 p.m. A stylish rendition of the classic story of a retiring thief who's in for "one last heist." [source: Eastman House calendar] [all ages] Tonight at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) is great chaotic rock/funk/jazz from Gaylord, great punk rock/hard rock from The UV Rays, and Crumbs on Roy 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

Today is another event in the Wednesday Noontime Concert Series at Aqueduct Park (E. Main St. and Graves St., by the river) from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. featuring 40 Rod Lightning. [source: City Hall press release] [all ages] Tonight at 7 p.m. at The Baobab Cultural Center (728 University Ave., formerly on Gregory St.) is a screening of A Woman Called Moses. [source: Baobab website] The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing Love in the Afternoon starting at 8 p.m. in which an American millionaire finds purpose through his relationship with a young woman in Paris. [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]

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