Weekly Rochester Events #416: Coverings for Individual Legs

Thursday, December 28, 2006

Last Wednesday morning I dragged myself out of bed and went to do the radio show at WITR 89.7 FM at 7 a.m. ... I guess it's officially called The Coalition of the Shrill, in mocking reference (according to Tom) to the way right-wing talking-heads question "why are liberals so shrill?" We haven't really become very shrill, although for half the show people were listening to my voice through a microphone that was a few feet away. I think we end up being pretty funny although some stuff has been falling flat. At least Tom and Jen are pretty well informed ... I go as sort of a voice of the uninformed. At least this time we had lots and lots of coffee, allowing us to go for almost 2 hours.

That evening I had a pleasant time once again at Solera Wine Bar (647 South Ave) — I was there, in part, to check out Casual Conversations hosted by The Rochester Young Professionals (RYP). I ran into some friends from around town and ended up staying for a while ... long after everyone else left, in fact.

On Thursday I stopped by Drinking Liberally at Monty's Korner (355 East Ave.) to talk about the radio show a bit, then off to The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) to catch up with Ali, her friend Stacie and Stacie's sister from out-of-town. We caught the last song of Blue Jimmy and I got a taste of Burning Daylight — I liked when they sped things up and drifted into punk-rock territory but thought they otherwise did just good bar-rock. From there we went to Muther's (40 S. Union St.) for the Drag King Show featuring the drag-king alter-ego of the woman who set up Ali and I — both Maurice and Adam Andr-O-Matic were terrific. Their rendition of Hall and Oates was lip-synched spot-on and hilarious.

On Friday I headed out to Mex (295 Alexander St.) around 8 to participate once again in The George Bailey 5K. This year was better organized in some respects — we had lyric sheets for the carols, for instance — but it somehow lost some of its "familial-ness", so-to-speak. Maybe it was because were packed indoors to stay out of the rain, or that I didn't get very aptly dressed, but whatever the reason, I went on the run, sang some songs, yelled a lot, had a good time, sang at the churches, stopped at Java's (16 Gibbs St.) for egg nog, then just headed home. Maybe I miss the run through The Old Toad (277 Alexander St.) or the return to Mex for the singing of Auld Lang Syne. At least there were 80 people this year — in the rain, no less — which was more than last year's comparatively pleasant cold weather.

Afterward I stopped at Solera Wine Bar (647 South Ave) once again ... apparently my new favorite bar despite being (theoretically) just out of my price range. I figured I would stop in for a couple glasses of wine then head out. Well, I got done with a couple glasses when a friend of mine came in and bought me some more. So when they all left I was getting ready to go when a second group came in and I had some more. I didn't end up getting home until 1:30.

Then on Saturday morning I got before 7, picked up some bagels and coffee, and headed to Ali's. We got on the road by 9:30 or so, headed for my parent's house in Schenectady. By the time we got close my parents had already left to go to my Uncle Joe's Christmas Party, so I went from the bland, mindless driving of the Thruway to navigating Schenectady via 890 from the west — the opposite direction of my normal route. I find it peculiar that I drive around Schenectady and to my relatives' houses instinctively rather than by named streets — go past the airport then merge with the street by the plaza and go until you pass Bayou Cafe (507 Saratoga Rd., Scotia, NY) and take a left after the bridge over the stream — whereas in Rochester I'm always routing based on named streets.

Anyway, Ali finally got to meet the extended family. We all had a good time and I couldn't keep track of everyone (as usual) and ate too much (as usual). It seemed everyone liked Ali and she had a good time with them as well. We got back to my parents house, stayed up chatting, then obeyed the separate-beds rule for the night. We got up on Christmas Eve and had some breakfast then hit the road, getting back to Ali's place around 6. From there we only had an hour or so before heading off to her annual extended-family party at her aunt and uncle's house. We all had a good time and I couldn't keep track of everyone (as usual) and ate too much (as usual). It seemed everyone liked me and I had a good time with them as well.

On Christmas I was getting a bit ill — for the past two days I don't think I so much as looked at a vegetable (or anything with an appreciable amount of dietary fiber) — and my stomach was refusing to deal with any more grease, butter, or cheese. It put a slight gray cloud over the gift exchange between Ali and me in that we swapped a lot of snacks and candies that I couldn't bear to eat (well, except for one pumpkin-malted ball from Sweet Expressions (169 S. Main St., Canandaigua) that I couldn't help but try.) I liked all the neat things she got me — surprisingly being more excited about the nested Santa dolls (that she thought I'd think was silly) than the much more practical electric-heated, insulated travel mug; not to mention the great scarf she knitted for me ... oh, and the vegan scented soaps (that is, made from vegetable oils) she got from Wickedly Sent (94 S. Main St., Canandaigua). She very much liked the steel camera case I made for her ... it's fitted for her new digital camera and is covered in fabric but can probably survive being run over by a car [note to Ali: don't try that with the camera inside.]

Later that day we went to her parents' house for Christmas dinner and I attempted to keep from getting more ill and keep from touching any of the food in case what I had was some kind of stomach virus. Nonetheless, by the evening I was feeling better and managed to eat a modest amount of a delicious dinner with her family. We got back home a little earlier than we would have liked to stay because of me, but the evening went very well. Heck, the whole weekend was excellent.

On Tuesday she stopped by to exchange the cross-country ski boots (part of a ski set she got from her parents) for a better-fitting size — the store was not far from my house. We stopped at Dogtown Hots (691 Monroe Ave.) for some dinner — she had her heart set on hot dogs. I had their Cincinati Red dog which had meat sauce and cheddar on it along with a cup of vegetarian chili. Both were very good. Ali spun her own with saurkraut, Russian dressing, chili, and yellow mustard. Hers was great too (believe it or not). Dogtown's buns are toasted and of very high quality. All around, it's as good as hot dogs get.

So that was the week in review. We still haven't made any plans for New Year's Eve — actually, the standing plan is specifically not to plan and just wing it when it happens. Kind of the opposite of the Christmas weekend.

T H U R S D A Y

Today from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. at The Memorial Art Gallery (500 University Ave., near Goodman St.) is Kwanzaa Family Day featuring storytelling by Kuumba Consultants and Robert Djed Snead, music by The Nat Turner Drum Circle, dance by Ba Bes Dance, jazz-poetry from Whitney Marchelle and Anyango Yarbo-Davenport, and an introductory ceremony by Dr. David Anderson. [source: Memorial Art Gallery calendar] [all ages] The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing Miss Sadie Thompson starting at 7 p.m. a film in 3-D about a "good-time gal waiting between ships on a South Sea Island." Then at 9 p.m., it's another 3-D film, The Mad Magician about "an illusionist who sets out to destroy his rivals" along with the Three Stooges in 3-D with their short Spooks. [source: Eastman House calendar] [all ages] Over at The Flat Iron Café (561 State St.) starting around 8 p.m. is Deborah Branch, and Harold Pannell. [source: Flat Iron Cafe webstie] Over at Starry Nites Café (696 University Ave., formerly Moonbeans) starting around 8 p.m. is Teressa Wilcox. [source: Starry Nites calendar] [all ages] The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) will be hosting The Brokedown, and Old Boy starting around 9:30 p.m. [source: Bug Jar calendar] [18+] Pure Kona Poetry Open Mic Night is at Daily Perks (389 Gregory St.) tonight starting at 7:30. [source: Daily Perks calendar]

F R I D A Y

Today at 2:30 p.m. is a Reptile Romp with Dave Smith at The Rochester Public Library (115 South Ave.) in the Kate Gleason Auditorium. [source: City Hall press release] [all ages] 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] The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing House of Wax starting at 7 p.m. — a classic horror film shown in its original 3-D. Then at 9 p.m. it's Phantom of the Rue Morgue another 3-D horror film ... from the Eastman House description: "Unlucky in love, a mad scientist/zookeeper (Karl Malden) hypnotizes a gorilla and orders it to kill beautiful women. When the ape eventually falls for one of its intended victims, scientist and simian compete in a battle of wills and, ultimately, brute strength. Merv Griffin (yes, the Merv Griffin) co-stars in this true camp classic!" [source: Eastman House calendar] [all ages] Mike Strobel will be at Starry Nites Café (696 University Ave., formerly Moonbeans) starting around 8 p.m. [source: Starry Nites calendar] [all ages] Boulder Coffee Co. (100 Alexander St.) will be hosting Daniel Ball, Jr. starting around 8 p.m. [source: Boulder Coffee website] [all ages] Java's (16 Gibbs St.) will be hosting Joe Beard and the East End Percolators starting around 9 p.m. [source: Java's calendar] [all ages] Tonight at Water Street Music Hall (204 N. Water St.) is really good reggae-dub band Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad starting around 10 p.m. [source: Water Street calendar] [all ages] This weekend at Nextstage at Geva (75 Woodbury Blvd.) are more shows from Geva Comedy Improv. Tonight at 10:30 p.m. is Theatre Sports where two teams "compete" to dominate your amusement. On Saturday at 10:30 p.m. is Follow the Leader, where the audience gets to pick the direction of the long-form improv which Geva Improv can hopefully turn into something actually funny. Finally, on New Year's Eve at 10:30 p.m. is another Theatre Sports show. [source: Geva Comedy Improv e-mail] Tonight at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) is great rock-and-roll from The Grinders, very good punk-rock/hard-rock/rockabilly from The UV Rays, and great 1960's-style rock from St. Phillip's Escalator starting around 10:30 p.m. [source: Bug Jar calendar] [21+] Gregg Yetti and the Best Lights, very tight modern rock band Veluxe, and 5 Watt Bulb 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

This afternoon, the Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing The Stranger Wore a Gun starting at an early time of 3:30 p.m., and then Gun Fury at 5:30 p.m. Both are westerns. Both are in 3-D. Then later at the regular Saturday evening show at 8 p.m. is the 3-D presentation of Dial M for Murder — Alfred Hitchcock versus camp 3-D. [source: Dryden Theater calendar] [all ages] Tonight at Starry Nites Café (696 University Ave., formerly Moonbeans) is Shawn Burleigh starting around 8 p.m. Now if my cyber-stalking ... er ... I mean cyber-investigative skills are correct, this is talented beat-boxing acoustic soloist Shawnee Boyeee. [source: Starry Nites calendar] [all ages] Over at Boulder Coffee Co. (100 Alexander St.) starting around 8 p.m. is The Dan Eaton Band, and good rock/power-pop, borderline-novelty band The Badenovs. [source: Boulder Coffee website] [all ages] Devall Music will be at Blue Dahlia Coffee (92 S. Main St., Canandaigua) starting around 8 p.m. [source: Blue Dahlia calendar] [all ages] The Sean Jefferson Quintet will be at The Flat Iron Café (561 State St.) starting around 9 p.m. [source: Flat Iron Cafe webstie] Tonight at A|V Art Sound Space (N. Union St. at Trinidad St., #8 in the Public Market, formerly the All-Purpose Room) is The Lazers, Loaded For Bear, Abrade, Four Brothers, and Bad Taste starting around 9 p.m. [source: A|V Space website] Over at Spy Bar (139 State St.) starting around 10 p.m. is great bar-rock punk-rock band Eddie Nebula and the Plague. [source: Spy Bar website] [21+] Tonight at The Montage Live Music Hall (50 Chestnut St., formerly the Montage Grille) is Bully, bland groove-rock band Junction Five, and Hip Toss starting around 10 p.m. [source: Freetime] Fun ska band Mrs. Skannotto, rock-ska band Room 30, and really great, tight, current punk-rock band 5 Watt Bulb will be at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) 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

New Year's Eve Kwanza Ends Today at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. is a Going for Baroque performance on the Italian Baroque organ at The Memorial Art Gallery (500 University Ave., near Goodman St.) featuring Patrick Henning. [source: Memorial Art Gallery calendar] [all ages] Like yesterday, this afternoon the Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing more 3-D films. First, at 3:30 p.m. is Miss Sadie Thompson, then at 5:30 p.m., it's The Mad Magician (both described above for their showing on Thursday). Finally, at 8 p.m. is Kiss Me Kate about a divorced couple who are brought together again for a production of Shakespeare's "Taming of the Shrew" preceded by The Three Stooges in the another 3-D short, Pardon My Backfire. [source: Dryden Theater calendar] [all ages] Tonight at Nazareth College (4245 East Ave., see also the campus map) is The Capitol Steps starting around 6:30 p.m. and again at 10 p.m. [source: Freetime] Over at German House (315 Gregory St.) starting around 8 p.m. is nice, well-executed jazzy swing from Bobby Henrie and The Goners. [source: Freetime] Tonight starting around 10 p.m. is the New Years Eve Steamboat Ball at Steamboat Landing (205 Lakeshore Dr., Canandaigua) featuring The Druids and wicked fun percussive groove-rock from The BuddhaHood. [source: band e-mail] Tonight starting at 10 p.m. on the Main Street Bridge and indoors nearby at The Rochester Riverside Convention Center (123 E. Main St.) is the city's New Year's Celebration with fireworks. [source: City Hall press release] Tonight at The Harro East Theatre and Ballroom (155 North Chestnut St.) is a New Year's Eve Masquerade Ball starting around 10 p.m. [source: Craigslist Rochester events]

M O N D A Y

New Year's Day Today Freetime Magazine lists exactly six (6) events on their calendar page for the 1st. Pick for yourself if you're up to do anything at all ... if you are, you might was well join The Greater Rochester Track Club for their Freezeroo Series: New Year's Resolution, a 7.5 mile run starting at 10 a.m. starting at the Stewart Lodge in Mendon Ponds Park (Hopkins Point Rd., North Entrance). [source: Freetime]

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. Paisan, Tamerlane, Straight No Chaser, The Creation of Nothing (CON), Blessed Relief for Mother, and Grandfather Clock will be at A|V Art Sound Space (N. Union St. at Trinidad St., #8 in the Public Market, formerly the All-Purpose Room) starting around 8 p.m. [source: A|V Space website] Over at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) starting around 9:30 p.m. is Porsches on the Autobahn. [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 from 8 to 10. [source: Daily Perks calendar] This evening around 9 p.m. at Café Underground Railroad (480 W. Main St.) is an Open Mic with Art Delgudico and friends. [source: the proverbial grapevine]

W E D N E S D A Y

This evening at 8 p.m. at Geva (75 Woodbury Blvd.) is the start of the new play The Underpants which runs through February 4. [source: Geva Theatre website] The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing Treasure Island starting at 8 p.m., "the first sound adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's oft-told tale, Wallace Beery stars as the legendary peg-leg pirate Long John Silver." Preceded by a portion of The Pirates from 1907. [source: Eastman House calendar] [all ages] The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) will be hosting Bent Left, Outlaw, and quite good punk-rock band The Flour City Knuckleheads 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 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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