Weekly Rochester Events #455: For Books, For Flags

Thursday, September 27, 2007

I think I'm going to be pretty brief today. I have been involved in a heavy debate on the Colorado Burning Man mailing list (actually an offshoot list) concerning how the main Colorado list should be operated. Because it is a Burning Man list, I feel it should be wide open to any kind of discussion, allowing the community to self-police with debate and discussion of what's on-topic or off-topic. Others favor a moderator who dictates what is deleted and who is allowed on the list.

So I'm running late getting JayceLand up — although you probably won't notice the delay.

Anyway, last Thursday I went to Drinking Liberally at Monty's Korner (355 East Ave.) Among the people there was a woman from The Rochester Young Professionals (RYP), a group I'm not overly impressed with. Regardless, I think it's a point of pride that I am not endorsed by Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks nor Mayor Robert J. Duffy. In fact, as far as I know, I am not endorsed by anybody (aside, perhaps, from stlo7 at Rochester Turning).

Saturday Ali and I went to The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) for the show. We ran into some old friends, and Ali got to swap first-year Burning Man stories. Starting off the night was Tom Foolery and the Shannanighans (not Shenanigans) who, although I didn't even get in to see them in the band-room, I found enjoyable from afar — a rarity for punk bands. And once again I really couldn't get into The Emersons — they do a great job, but anything they do that's unique is overwhelmed in my ear by all the things they do like any good punk-rock band. Finishing up the night was a fun show from The Isotopes. Although I didn't think their witty segues were as witty as in past shows, the fact that they always innovate something in their stage show (this time with two rather hilarious video interludes) impresses me each time.

Sunday morning Ali and I went to Highland Park Diner (960 S. Clinton Ave.) for breakfast. I was pretty unimpressed, especially considering the cost of the meal. I had the Omega Omelette and asked for avocado — the server (who didn't seem to be a regular server ... they seemed short-staffed, compounding things with bad service) brought it to me but said they didn't have avocado so he gave me guacamole on the side instead. I'd rather have been consulted. Also, the "fresh squeezed" orange juice tasted like Tropicana "fresh squeezed" — Ali said they did that at restaurants she's worked at as well, but for $2.50 I'd rather have just picked up the jug myself at Wilson Farms. Ali's Crab Cake Benedict was quite good, though.

That night after painting Ali's kitchen in her new house, she bought dinner for me and her friend Stacie who helped out a lot as well. Stacie raves about El Parian Mexican Grille (3070 W. Henrietta Rd.) so we gave it a shot again. Stacie still likes it but Ali and I remain unimpressed. It's not so much a cohesive meal as it is ingredients laid out on a plate. Ali had a beef burrito, for instance, that contained ground beef. Only. Whether that's authentic or not is conjecture, but that's the first time I have ever seen that.

Monday I got to see the fall's first show of The Emerging Filmmakers Series at The Little (240 East Ave.) Although I was impressed all around with some great short films, the one that stood out was Valery's Ankle by Brett Kashmere. It was a fascinating exploration of the violence in hockey as a metaphor for the Canadian collective subconscious. Especially the notion that Canadians, while being polite and kind on the surface, are repressing a terribly violent inner turmoil. He cites a specific turning point when Canadians feared they might lose their identity as the supreme hockey players of the world during The Summit Series in 1972 between Canada and Russia. As the Canadians had failed to sweep the series, Kashmere focuses his attention on Game 6 (of 8) when Canadian Bobby Clarke deliberately slashes the ankle of star Russian player Valery Kharlamov with his hockey stick, fracturing his ankle and generally removing him from play in the remaining games. The press largely ignored this as the reason for Canada's ultimate success, but Kashmere feels a twinge of shame that the game wasn't played cleanly — and further, that the game has become commercialized and is never played by kids on a pond, unstructured, just for fun. It's a brilliant essay on the subject and compellingly uses editing and experimental techniques to amplify his point.

On Tuesday I went to Boulder Coffee Co. (100 Alexander St.) to see Dreamland Faces. Their show was better than any I remembered when they lived in town (now in Minnesota), in part because the sound delivery was so good. They continued with their 1940's-styled music, expert using the accordion and a bow-struck crosscut saw (a.k.a. "musical saw").

I ran into some friends and got talking about the city and its problems. We got on the topic of the perceived increase in the number of muggings, as they have recently drifted south and affected friends and acquaintances in our area. A friend of a friend offered a suggestion to start a group to escort people to their cars. She said we could have some kind of identifiable insignia or uniform and travel the city on bikes in groups of 4 people or more. We'd look particularly for women walking alone and see if they'd like to be escorted to their destination. I rather thought it was an excellent idea, possibly an extension of an existing program like People and Citizens — Together Against Crime (PAC-TAC).

When I left that night around 11:30 or so, I was talking to a friend right outside the door. A man came up to us and stopped but then went inside. Almost immediately, the gruff bouncer/bar-back (occasionally annoyingly so as a bar-back) was shoving him back out saying something like, "I told you not to come here anymore." They moved around the corner and he then said something like, "that knife doesn't scare me" because I guess the guy pulled a knife. I got to my car and headed to Alexander where the posturing and such continued between the two of them. I stayed waiting to see if I needed to use my car as a weapon. When they broke up, I drove away. I passed a guy on a bike going the other way and the guy crossed the street quickly as to cut him off but I guess only menaced him. Regardless, I decided I should report it so I phoned it in. Whether anything happened — police or a confrontation — I don't know.

T H U R S D A Y

This evening at 5 p.m. in the Hawkins-Carlson Room of The Rush Rhees Library in The University of Rochester (Library Rd. at Intercampus Dr., details on River Campus Map) is a lecture by Deidre Helen Crumbley titled Ritual, Power, and the Female Body in African Independent Churches. [source: University of Rochester website] Over at Starry Nites Café (696 University Ave., formerly Moonbeans) starting around 8 p.m. is Mike Strobel. [source: Starry Nites calendar] [all ages] Over at Boulder Coffee Co. (100 Alexander St.) starting around 8 p.m. is Robin Hood. [source: Boulder Coffee MySpace site] [all ages] The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) will be hosting Southern Culture On The Skids, and good white-boy blues band The White Devils starting around 9:30 p.m. [source: Bug Jar calendar] [18+] Dinosaur Bar-B-Que (99 Court St.) will be hosting the rocking rockabilly of Krypton 88 starting around 10 p.m. [source: Dinosaur Bar-B-Que calendar] Tonight and every Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in the Learning Center at Brighton Memorial Library (2300 Elmwood Ave.) is a meeting of The Rochester Movie Makers Club [source: AIVF Salon Rochester Yahoo! Group] Drinking Liberally meets at 8 p.m. tonight at Monty's Korner (355 East Ave.) [source: RocWiki calendar]

F R I D A Y

Updated: The Not-So-Smugtown After All: Political Protest and Direct Action in Rochester History tour is actually on Sunday. Sorry about that. [source: Obadiah Dogberry Society e-mail] Apparently The Critical Mass Bike Ride is tonight starting at 5:30 p.m. at the clock tower near The Wilson Commons at The University of Rochester (Library Road, #39 on River Campus Map.) to The Liberty Pole (1 Liberty Pole Way) at 6 p.m. and heading through the city from there. [source: the proverbial grapevine] There's two shows opening tonight at The Genesee Center for the Arts (713 Monroe Ave.) First, at Genesee Pottery is History in the Making — National Juried Ceramics Exhibition opening at 6 p.m. Then at 6:30 p.m. is the opening for 30 Years of Eye Work at The Community Darkroom. [source: Genesee Center for the Arts calendar] Today starting at 7 p.m. is the opening for ImageArt at The Rochester Contemporary Art Gallery (137 East Ave.) [source: Gay Alliance website] [all ages] Japanese Koto player Ryuko Mizutani will be at Starry Nites Café (696 University Ave., formerly Moonbeans) starting around 8 p.m. [source: Starry Nites calendar] [all ages] There's a comedy show at 8 p.m. at Boulder Coffee Co. (100 Alexander St.) featuring Greg Bauch, Kevin Carlin, Dan Viola, Jeremy Eli, and Matt Rohr. [source: Boulder Coffee MySpace site] [all ages] The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing The Devil and Miss Jones starting at 8 p.m. A department store tycoon tries to infiltrate the growing union but he's captivated by a woman who's the ringleader ... comedy ensues. [source: Eastman House calendar] [all ages] Over at Damian's (81 Marshall St.) starting around 9 p.m. is The Unholy Trinity Show featuring airy, minimalist autoharpist and acoustic soloist Kelli Shay Hicks, excellent satirical gospel band The Lobster Quadrille, and Darryl Fleming. [source: Carbon Records calendar] Monty's Krown (875 Monroe Ave.) will be hosting excellent, "perfect" rock-and-roll from Tiger Cried Beef, chaotic rock/power-rock/power-jam band Knife Crazy, and Know Nothing starting around 10:30 p.m. [source: band e-mail] [21+]

S A T U R D A Y

Tonight at 8 p.m. at Boulder Coffee Co. (100 Alexander St.) is a Tribute to Shalonda — Pearl O. Dis (a.k.a. Shalonda Simpson), the bassist for punch-rock band The Cheetah Whores who was killed in a robery in the early morning of August 23. [source: Boulder Coffee MySpace site] [all ages] The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be hosting Jeff Krulik to introduce some of his documentaries starting at 8 p.m. The films include Heavy Metal Parking Lot (featuring the audience members of a Judas Priest concert in the 1980's before a show), King of Porn, I Created Lancelot Link, Obsessed With Jews, Harry Potter Parking Lot, and Hitler's Hat. [source: Eastman House calendar] [all ages] Tonight at The Flat Iron Café (561 State St.) is Herb Smith, Tim Pratt, Jon Myerges, and Quinn Lawrence, and starting around 9 p.m. The at 1 is the start of The After Hours Jam Session with The Quinn Lawrence Trio. [source: Flat Iron Cafe webstie] Tonight at Bodhi's Cafe & Lounge (274 Goodman St. N., in Village Gate) is talented guitarist and singer Kinloch Nelson starting around 9:30 p.m. [source: Bodhi's Cafe MySpace page] Tonight at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) is Troyka, The Legendary Jones Gang, The Spirit Of Ontario, and In Flight Radio starting around 10:30 p.m. [source: Bug Jar calendar] [21+] Betty's Sing-a-Long is regularly scheduled at Betty Meyer's Bullwinkle Café (622 Lake Ave., a.k.a. "Bullwinkle's") starting around 10 but since September, 2007 people have reported they were closed.

S U N D A Y

Today from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at The Rochester Public Market (280 Union St. N.) is the Harvest Jamboree and Country Fair. [source: RocWiki] This afternoon at 1:30 p.m. in the Dryden Theatre at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) is a panel discussion from photographers whose works are on display in Vital Signs: Place (and today the exhibition closes): Sam Sweezy, Janelle Lynch, Alexey Titarenko, and Joseph Tamargo. [source: Eastman House calendar] [all ages] Updated: This afternoon at 4 p.m. starting at The Rochester Contemporary Art Gallery (137 East Ave.) is a historical bike tour titled Not-So-Smugtown After All: Political Protest and Direct Action in Rochester History guided by Jack Bradigan Spula. [source: Obadiah Dogberry Society e-mail] [all ages] The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing Repo Man starting at 7 p.m. A guy down-on-his luck picks up a job as a repossesser of cars and sly comedy ensues. [source: Eastman House calendar] [all ages]

M O N D A Y

This evening at 7 p.m. at The Steve Carpenter Studio, #176 Anderson Alley (250 N. Goodman St.) is another The Monday Evening Creative Arts (MECA) Lecture Series, featuring a debate to define the rights and responsibilities of artists and featuring Bruno Chalifour, Roz Goldman, Doug Rice, and Alan D. Singer. [source: MECA Rochesster website] Tonight at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) is hip-hop folk band Mad Happy, and disorienting experimental anti-band Gaybot starting around 9:30 p.m., along with (possibly followed-by) 1980's DJ's. [source: Bug Jar calendar] [18+] Tonight at 8 p.m. at Boulder Coffee Co. (100 Alexander St.) is Pure Kona Poetry. [source: Boulder Coffee MySpace site] [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. Today from 12:12 p.m. to 12:52 p.m. in the Kate Gleason Auditorium at The Rochester Public Library (115 South Ave.) is another Books Sandwiched-In featuring Barbara Lovenheim discussing Michael Chabon's book, The Yiddish Policemen's Union: A Novel. [source: Rochester Public Library calendar] [all ages] Good jazz band Bending and Breaking 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 Seishun no yume imaizuko (Where Now Are the Dreams of Youth?) starting at 8 p.m. Philip C. Carli will provide piano accompaniment to this silent film about a "rich layabout who cheats on exams in college" who takes over his family business and is troubled by what his former schoolmates are willing to do to stay employed. [source: Eastman House calendar] [all ages] Tonight at The Bop Shop (274 N. Goodman St., in Village Gate Square) is The Paul Lytton and Nate Wooley Duo starting around 8 p.m. [source: Freetime] [all ages] Tonight at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) is Monotonix starting around 9:30 p.m. [source: Bug Jar calendar] [18+]

W E D N E S D A Y

The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing The Wild Blue Yonder starting at 8 p.m. is a science-fiction fantasy about a shuttle crew exploring the planet of an alien who's been stranded on Earth. [source: Eastman House calendar] [all ages] The Jeremy Siskind Trio will be at Java's (16 Gibbs St.) starting around 9 p.m. [source: Java's 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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