Pre-weekend Weekend Lunch Invite 64. Best of the Power of Two

First off, Pellegrino's was a big mistake. I guess I'll have to really check things out myself before I drag everyone along. For those who didn't go, don't go. First, the table layout was not conducive to conversation among a large group (so I guess if you had less than 4 or 5 people it might be okay.) Second, the acoustics in the rooms were so bad (owing largely to lots of hard surfaces) you could barely hear the person talking across the table from you. Finally, and worst of all, the food was middling. In the summer, it might be fun to stop by to get ice cream on the outdoor patio, but beyond that it is hopefully doomed. However, it'll probably thrive nonetheless.

On to the present: my brother is in town this week so ... uhh ... I guess that's all I need to say. I plan to drag him around to the things I do regularly; too bad the weather is supposed to be so traditional.

In other news, The Kids in the Hall will be performing live at Shea's Performing Arts Center in Buffalo on April 8. Tickets available at Ticketmaster, 852-5000 (charge by phone). I've decided to skip it. The consensus among most people I know is that if they were at a small venue in Rochester, it would be a no-brainer. Since they're (1) in Buffalo, and (2) in a presumably very large place, it's really not worth it.

Plus, for those so interested, Ellen DeGeneres will be at the Auditorium Center (875 Main St E or at East & Gibbs) on May 10 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets go on sale Saturday at 10 a.m. Tickets also available through Ticketmaster. I'm undecided on this ... I had seen Ellen back in her stand-up days and had always enjoyed her act, but since she's been doing TV and movies (ok, bad movies ... anyone else see Mr. Wrong?) I don't know if she's still got it. Besides, May 10 is a Wednesday and I've got to help keep hope alive that really good comedy will be born here (see below, Nuts and Bolts Imrpov Troupe)

I went to see the Maxfield Parrish exhibit last week at the Memorial Art Gallery (500 University Ave.) It runs from February 20 through April 30; admission fee is $10, $9 for students w/ ID, $7 on Tuesday evenings, or 5$ with a museum pass.

M O V I E S	High Fidelity - John Cusack plays a man who has a great many relationships in the 1970's only to discover the horrors of late '70's music. Price of Glory - A former boxer teaches his sons about his life as a dog. The Road to El Dorado - Dreamworks churns out this indistinguishable-from-Disney schlock about a couple bumbling swindlers searching for the fabled lost city of the gold Cadillac El Dorado. The Skulls - Students at Yale discover an unusually well-run activities department ... too well-run.
T H U R S D A Y	Tonight's good bet at Monty's Krown (875 Monroe Ave.) is The Assumptions. Also, Milestones (170 East Ave.) is having the Freetime Magazine's Most Popular Band Contest with Liquid Wrench and Glitch. Meanwhile, Tom Jones is at the Auditorium Center (875 Main St E or at East & Gibbs) WRUR night at Red (171 St. Paul.)
F R I D A Y	Week after week, there's basically no excuses this week not to see Amy's Comedy Cellar at 7:30 at Christian's Cafe in Village Gate Square (274 N. Goodman St.) The local comedians from the open mics around town get together to do a combination of stand-up and sketch comedy. It's free and you can't see it anywhere else. Oh, and Sean (Tony) and Kelly didn't like it much. However, sushi and sake beforehand at California Rollin' tends to help out quite a bit. Also, Stop Kiss is at Geva Theatre NextStage (75 Woodbury Blvd.) Karaoke at Boston Brew Company (251 Exchange Blvd.)
S A T U R D A Y	O'Bagelo's, 165 State Street, noon. Best of all, George Carlin will be at the Auditorium Center (875 Main St E or at East & Gibbs.) Hopefully he's got something new to say. :-) Maybe before you head out for the late-night stuff, check out the cult classic The Kentucky Fried Movie at the Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) Later at Monty's Krown (875 Monroe Ave.) is another set of bands for which I can't see the amper's for the and's (see Freetime Magazine): Fool's Fest with Ned Pepper & Chuckie & The Upbeats.
S U N D A Y	Futurama: How Hermes Requisitioned His Groove Back - When Hermes goes on vacation, an attractive bureaucrat takes his place at Planet Express. King of the Hill: Peggy's Headache - Peggy tries to inform Dale of Nancy's affair with John Redcorn through an anonymous newspaper column. Simpsons: Faith Off - Bart is convinced he's a faith healer after he helps a revivalist extract Homer's head from a bucket. Malcolm in the Middle: Stock Car Races - Hal secretly takes Malcolm, Reese and Dewey to the stock-car races on a school day.
M O N D A Y	There's another Camera Rochester meeting tonight at Atonement Lutheran Church at 1900 Westfall Road from 7:30 to 9:30. This week is a competition night and I just might give some of my pictures another try. Then again maybe not. Audience Quiz is at The Old Toad (277 Alexander St.)
T U E S D A Y	Open mic comedy at the Colosseum Caffe (262 Park Ave.) starting around 9:30. But skip that because most of the "good" comics are part of the Urban Legends Comedy Troup and will be at Monty's Krown (875 Monroe Ave.) They'll be there the first Tuesday of each month. Unfortunately, they have been slipping in quality due to infighting and such, so they might not last more than a month. Let's hope they practice a bit. Open mic poetry at Java's (16 Gibb Street) starting around 9:30.
W E D N E S D A Y	Did you get your tickets to High Fidelity for free? See last Friday. Well never mind ... I'll just wait for the weekend. The Nuts & Bolts Improv Troupe will again be at Club Vibes (150 Andrews St.) at 8:00 p.m. It's $5 to get in and it's way totally worth it.