Weekly Rochester Events #409: The Power of Barbarians

Thursday, November 9, 2006

On Thursday last week, a friend of mine posted to our college-friends mailing list and said he and his wife didn't want to celebrate Christmas with traditional gifts. Rather, they would like to see things homemade or have donations made in their honor. Someone else quipped that they'd like to make something but their experience with vacuum systems would relegate their gift to something like a light-bulb. In a flurry of ideas, I quickly thought about making a home made LED light to replace household lights, but then I thought about how cool it would be if people just bought them for me, then I thought "eco-gifts."

It sounds good to me: I mean, my biggest annoyance with the consumer-frenzied holidays is that products are purchased only considering their outside appearance. I'd feel better about giving and receiving if gifts were socially responsible and ecologically neutral. Gifts have often seemed "dirty" to me if they were made by child slaves in China, even if they're really cool. That, or if they are made by child slaves, at least they could be made from organic materials, or have something to do with reduced energy usage or renewable energy.

I guess I'd think it would be really cool to get a solar panel system with a grid-tie controller — although it would be cost-prohibitive for almost everyone I know. The geek in me admires the LED lights with 50-year life-spans and 1-watt power consumption. I've been tinkering with building my own using those super-bright LED's, but it would be, well, just easier to get one as a gift.

But the other suggestion of making a donation seems pretty neat. Everyone is a bit different, and your mom might not be too keen on a donation in her name to the Pro-Gay-Marriage Consortium. However, the idea of finding common ground — a charity which you think is good and who you think the recipient would like — is a really nice way to connect. In my opinion, that's what make giving worthwhile.

Anyway, on Thursday night, Ali and I went to George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) to check out the films there. The animal-centric short films were okay ... as either an exploration of the subject or as cinematic art, I thought they fared just okay. The feature, Chats perchés (The Case of the Grinning Cat) was more about the social climate in France than about the graffiti Cheshire cat icons dotted through the cities. Well, I guess it was about the cats, but there was a lot of time spent giving context to the events in which the cats appeared. It definitely had a French dry wit to it — so dry it turned some people off (and at least two people asleep) — although overall I liked it quite a bit. I had to stretch some to remember the French electoral system and their system of government, but it was okay because I didn't have to think very much.

I went out later to Monty's Krown (875 Monroe Ave.) to see a couple bands there. First was Diane and the Shell who were this 3-piece from Italy. They're mathy, but really captivating instrumental rock. Local chaotic rockers Gaylord sounded really good — I really liked their set list tonight.

Friday night I went to A|V Art Sound Space (N. Union St. at Trinidad St., #8 in the Public Market, formerly the All-Purpose Room) but, as usual, things didn't start at the time they say they started. I left and came back an hour later and things were picking up. First was The Clan of the Cave Bear which was a thrashy, staccato drum and guitar duo ... I liked them quite a bit. Blktygr did an amazingly good-sounding hybrid of looped guitar, distorted keyboards, drums, and spoken-word approaching bluesy vocals. Finishing up the night was Donna Parker who sounded almost exactly like I read she'd sound like: she does effects-pedal-driven feedback-noise with a peculiarly notable feminine edge. It was a good show all around.

Saturday night I went to George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) to see Next Stop, Greenwich Village. Actor and filmmaker Paul Mazursky was on hand to introduce his semi-autobiographical account of moving to Greenwich Village in the 1950's. I liked the film a lot ... it had a warm, friendly tone. As an added bonus, Paul Mazursky seemed like a really swell guy in the question-and-answer. I met up with Ali at A|V Art Sound Space (N. Union St. at Trinidad St., #8 in the Public Market, formerly the All-Purpose Room) later and missed most of the bands, but The Lobster Quadrille put on a great show.

Sunday evening Ali and I got a chance to see a sneak-preview of Matt Ehlers' new film, Smoking Laws. It was really quite funny — a bit challenging to introduce the many characters, but for being vignette-based, it really worked. I even got to see myself as an extra. I'd like to see some more work done, but otherwise I think it'll be a reasonably successful and popular film.

Tuesday was election day and I got in my vote. I spent a while going through all the candidates on the ballot and figuring out their platform. I voted across party lines, and I tended to favor voting for candidates on multiple parties by selecting their alternatives — particularly if they were Libertarian or Working Families. Anyway, as it all shook out, I guess there's now a Democratic majority in Congress, although I doubt much will really change.

Anyway, I've got a lot of things going on ... check the schedule for The High Falls Film Festival stuff and I'll probably see you out at some of it.

T H U R S D A Y

This morning at 11 a.m. at The Strathallan (550 East Ave.) is Coffee With ... featuring filmmakers attending The High Falls Film Festival. [source: High Falls Film Festival website] Also at 11 a.m. today in Havens Lounge in The Wilson Commons at The University of Rochester (Library Road, details on River Campus Map) is a roundtable discussion titled The Archive in the Digital Age featuring Morris Eaves, Patrick Loughney, Melissa Mead, Barbara A. Seals Nevergold, Peggy Brooks-Bertram, and John O'Brien. Click on the title for more information. [source: University of Rochester Events Calendar] Updated: A special late-additon to The High Falls Film Festival this year is Shut Up & Sing in the Dryden Theatre at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) at 5 p.m. The film documents what happened behind-the-scenes after a remark by the lead singer of The Dixie Chicks about President George W. Bush shoved the band into the political limelight. The film will be followed by a Q&A from filmmaker Barbara Koppel. [source: the proverbial grapevine] Here are some picks from The High Falls Film Festival tonight. For the 7 p.m. block, I'm torn between two choices. First is Open Window in the Dryden Theatre at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) at 7 p.m. followed by a special appearance by star Shirley Knight. The film explores the aftermath of the rape of a woman in light of the established relationship she has with her boyfriend. This overlaps Screenplay Live: Beard's Creek by Maureen Tilyou at 7:30 p.m. in the Curtis Theatre which is a live, staged reading of a new script; a finalist of BlueCat Screenplay Competition contest. Next, in the 9 p.m. timeslot, I'm interested in: Unfolding Florence: The Many Lives of Florence Broadhurst at The Little (240 East Ave.) at 9 p.m. which is a documentary about a socialite designer and artist from Australia. Shoot the Messenger, also at the Little, at 9:20 p.m. in which a middle-class black Londoner loses his teaching job and begins a downward spiral of blaming other blacks for the problems in his life. Shab Bekheir Farmandeh (Good Bye Life) will also be at the Little, at 9:30 p.m. It follows an Iranian photojournalist who goes to a Middle Eastern war-zone essentially to commit suicide. Deliver Us From Evil will be showing in the Dryden Theatre at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) at 9:30 p.m. followed by a Q&A with Amy Berg. The film is a documentary about a Northern California priest who exploited children and what happened to those children (and him) in that 20-year period. [source: High Falls Film Festival website] Tonight starting at 7 p.m. at The Flat Iron Café (561 State St.) is A Night of Jazz and Wine Tasting with John Brahm of Arbor Hill Winery (6461 State Route 64, Naples) with music by Deborah Branch and Harold Pannell. [source: Flat Iron Cafe webstie] A|V Art Sound Space (N. Union St. at Trinidad St., #8 in the Public Market, formerly the All-Purpose Room) will be hosting Ill Ease, and Ian Downey is Famous starting around 9 p.m. [source: A|V Space website] Over at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) starting around 9:30 p.m. is Ed Gray and guests. [source: Bug Jar calendar] [18+] 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] Pure Kona Poetry Open Mic Night is at Daily Perks (389 Gregory St.) tonight starting at 7:30. [source: Daily Perks calendar] 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 morning at 11 a.m. at The Strathallan (550 East Ave.) is Coffee With ... featuring filmmakers attending The High Falls Film Festival. [source: High Falls Film Festival website] Tonight at Image City Photography Gallery (722 University Ave.) from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. is the opening reception for Stories by Daniel P. Crozet. The show runs through December 3. [source: Image City Photography Gallery e-mail] In a somewhat more straightforward evening of films at The High Falls Film Festival, here's my picks. At 6:55 p.m. at The Little (240 East Ave.) is a showing of Air Guitar Nation in which air-guitarists compete in karaoke-like competitions. Next, at 9:45 p.m. in the Dryden Theatre at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) is a showing of A Coat of Snow in which a bachelorette party turns into a night of soul-searching because the bride-to-be is hiding a dark secret. This will be followed by a Q&A with stars Jennifer Christopher, Sonya Joy Sims, and Abigail Spencer, and writer/director Gordy Hoffman. Finally, at 11 p.m. in back at The Little (240 East Ave.) is Renaissance, a stark, futuristic, noir animation. (Unfortunately, the last two films nearly overlap and there would be no way to make it to both.) [source: High Falls Film Festival website] Over at Daily Perks (389 Gregory St.) starting around 8 p.m. is Kathy Johnson, excellent acoustic soloist Maria Gillard, and another excellent acoustic soloist Kinloch Nelson. [source: Daily Perks calendar] [all ages] Tonight at Boulder Coffee Co. (100 Alexander St.) is Devall Music starting around 8 p.m. [source: Boulder Coffee website] [all ages] Oblivion Ensemble with their new CD, and Inward Becomes an Anthem will be at The Rochester Contemporary Art Gallery (137 East Ave.) starting around 8:30 p.m. [source: band e-mail] [all ages] Over at Java's (16 Gibbs St.) starting around 9 p.m. is The Capitals. [source: Java's calendar] [all ages] Tonight at A|V Art Sound Space (N. Union St. at Trinidad St., #8 in the Public Market, formerly the All-Purpose Room) is black-and-white checkered-print duo who do great dreamland synth-pop, Yip Yip, a disorienting blend of spoken word, electronic effects, and repetition from Gaybot, Beatrice is Dead, and simple, melodic synth-and-vocals from Roger Houston starting around 9 p.m. [source: A|V Space website] Tonight at TiLT Nightclub and Ultralounge (444 Central Ave.) is another Saints and Sinners "Bountiful Burlesque Beauties" show starting around 10. Note that Tom Foolery and the Shannanighans (not Shenanigans) will not be performing. [source: band flyer] [18+]

S A T U R D A Y

Veteran's Day Today from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and tomorrow from 11 to 4 at The Memorial Art Gallery (500 University Ave., near Goodman St.) is the Sixth Annual Fine Craft Show and Sale. [source: Memorial Art Gallery calendar] [all ages] Today's early points-of-interest in The High Falls Film Festival include a discussion titled Previews of Coming Distractions: The Panel at 10:30 a.m. in the Curtis Theatre at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) Then at 1 p.m. at The Little (240 East Ave.) is a showing of American Blackout, a documentary about efforts to prevent blacks from voting centering on a Georgia Congressional Representative who investigated the Florida 2000 election. Afterward is a Q&A with producer Anastasia King and star, Representative Cynthia McKinney. [source: High Falls Film Festival website] This evening's 5 p.m. selections at The High Falls Film Festival are going to require some choices, and are all at The Little (240 East Ave.) First, right at 5 p.m. is a showing of Freestyle: The Art of Rhyme preceded by the short Livin' Life. The feature film is a documentary about "freestylers" and "battle-rappers" whose code is to be non-violent and to create rhymes on the spot. At 5:40 p.m. is the Women of SoFA, short films created by female students of The RIT School of Film and Animation (SoFA). Then at 6:15 p.m. is Oyun (The Play), a documentary about a Turkish field-worker who decides that the story of she and her friends is worthy of a play. [source: High Falls Film Festival website] Tonight at Artisan Works (565 Blossom Rd.) starting at 9:30 p.m. is The Gala Night Party of The High Falls Film Festival. [source: High Falls Film Festival website] The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) will be hosting rock with a 1960's-style from St. Phillip's Escalator, excellent rock-and-roll from The Grinders, and loud, fast rock/psychobilly from El Destructo starting around 10:30 p.m. [source: Bug Jar calendar] [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

Today at Artisan Works (565 Blossom Rd.) from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. is the First Annual "Sunday With The Arts" Show & Sale [source: Artisan Works website] Today is the final day of The High Falls Film Festival and here are my picks. At 11 a.m. in back at The Little (240 East Ave.) is a showing of 21 Up America, the third installment of films documenting the lives of sixteen Americans every 7 years (so they're now 21 years old.) Also at 11 in the Curtis Theatre at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) is a discussion titled Documentarians Speak Their Minds. Then, at 1:30 p.m. at the Little is a showing of KZ, documenting the Austrian tourist town that was once the site of a horrific concentration camp. At 3 p.m. at the Little is The Cats of Mirikitani followed by a Q&A with filmmaker Linda Hattendorf. The film is a biographical documentary about a nearly famous homeless artist in New York City whom the filmmaker met on September 11, 2001. Competing with this at 3:35 p.m., also at the Little is When I Came Home followed by a Q&A with producer Nancy Roth. The film "looks at the challenges faced by returning combat veterans and the battle many must fight for the benefits promised to them." The at 5:15 p.m. at the Little is Shorts Program #3 featuring a variety of short films from around the world. [source: High Falls Film Festival website] Updated: Today at 2 p.m. in Gleason Auditorium at The Rochester Public Library (115 South Ave.) is a discussion about 25 Years of AIDS by Julie Eichhorn. [source: City Hall press release] 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]

M O N D A Y

Veteran's Day (observed) Updated: Although The High Falls Film Festival is over, there are still two more showings: at 7 p.m. at The Little (240 East Ave.) is a showing of the Audience-Choice Best of the Festival Feature Film and then at 9:30 p.m. is the Audience-Choice Best of the Festival Documentary Film. This year's winning feature film is Das Leben der Anderen (The Lives of Others) about an East German secret-police agent who, during the course of spying on an anti-Establishment, intellectual couple in the bland manner of a detached civil-servant, he begins to be interested in their personal lives. It will be preceded by the audience-choice Best Short Film, Sintonía by José María Goenaga. The winning documentary is American Blackout which is about Cynthia McKinney, a Georgia Congressional Representative and a blazingly honest woman who spearheaded investigations into issues with the 2000 election in Florida and the 2004 election in Ohio. It will be preceded by the best film of the Women of SoFA program, Sticks & Stones by Rehema Imani Trimiew. [source: High Falls Film Festival website] Tonight at The Bop Shop (274 N. Goodman St., in Village Gate Square) is Matana Roberts starting around 8 p.m. [source: Bop Shop calendar] [all ages] 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. Today in the Gamble Room of The Rush Rhees Library in The University of Rochester (Library Rd. at Intercampus Dr., details on River Campus Map) at 5 p.m. is David Headlam discussing The Twelve-Tone Language of Ruth Crawford Seeger. [source: University of Rochester Events Calendar] Tonight at 6 p.m. in the Dryden Theatre at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) is a special lecture (on what would have been her 100th birthday) about film star and Rochester resident Louise Brooks: Lulu Forever with author and historian Peter Cowie, and Jack Garner. Then, at 8 p.m. (and included in tickets purchased for the lecture) is a showing of Die büchse der Pandora (Pandora's Box) From the Eastman House description: "An innocently immoral sexual predator, Lulu discards and destroys men as she tries to get ahead ... until she meets Jack the Ripper." With live piano accompaniment by Philip C. Carli. [source: Eastman House calendar] [all ages] Tonight at 7 p.m. at Downstairs Cabaret (20 Windsor St.) is a screening of the film Let's Have Tea about the statue of the same name by artist Pepsy Kettavong depicting Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass, located near Susan B. Anthony House (17 Madison St.) [source: the proverbial grapevine] Hirax, Anal Cunt, good, gimmicky metal from Blüdwülf, and Crucifist will be at The Montage Live Music Hall (50 Chestnut St., formerly the Montage Grille) starting around 8 p.m. [source: Montage Live Music Hall MySpace page] Water Street Music Hall (204 N. Water St.) will be hosting The David Grisman Quintet starting around 8 p.m. [source: Water Street calendar] [all ages] Tonight at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) is excellent, funny metal-influenced punk rock from Serious, and The Ghost Arm starting around 9:30 p.m. [source: Bug Jar calendar] [18+] Tonight at 7 p.m. at The Flat Iron Café (561 State St.) is the Hot as Fire Spoken Word / Open Mic. [source: Flat Iron Cafe webstie] Daily Perks (389 Gregory St.) is hosting an Acoustic Open Mic featuring JoAnn Vaccaro from 8 to 10. [source: Daily Perks calendar] [all ages] Autumn In Halifax will be playing at The Little Theatre Café (240 East Ave.) tonight starting around 8.

W E D N E S D A Y

Tonight at 7 p.m. in Hoyt Auditorium at The University of Rochester (Elmwood Ave. at Intercampus Dr., details on River Campus Map) is a lecture by Jeff McMahan titled Preventive War, Morality, and Law. [source: University of Rochester Events Calendar] The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing Funny Games starting at 8 p.m. in which a couple psychotic men hold a family hostage and make them perform disturbing games. [source: Eastman House calendar] [all ages] Costumed Japanese rock band Peelander-Z, Quit Your Day Job, and The Hounds of Hell will be at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) starting around 10:30 p.m. [source: Bug Jar calendar] [18+] 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 Milestones (170 East Ave.) is another The Comedy Block Party starting almost promptly at 8 p.m. 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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