hearing impaired. 18+ $22$25 716-481-2843. laugh@ mybigfunnypeter.com. Webster High Back-to-School Comedy Show. 8 p.m. Webster Schroeder High School, 875 Ridge Rd. International comedian and Webster graduate, Peter Bisuito $17 before October 7th. $22 after October 7th. $25 at the door. 716-481-2843. laugh@mybigfunnypeter.com. mybigfunnypeter.com.
Dance Events SPECIAL EVENTS | HOLIDAY EVENTS
The holiday spirit infects the city of Rochester this week as several events help to kick off the festive season. The Park Avenue Merchants Association will be putting on its annual Park Ave Holiday Open House, which will take place Thursday, December 5, 5-9 p.m. More than 50 Park Avenue businesses open their doors to passersby, offering candy, food, and all sorts of sweet treats. There will also be caroling and holiday music, wagon rides, ice sculpting, as well as an opening ceremony menorah- and tree-lighting on the Park Avenue green at Barrington Street. For more information visit park-avenue.org/park-avenue-holiday-open-house. Saturday, December 7, sees the debut of a new holiday event, this one geared entirely toward adults. Breakfast with Krampus is devoted to the demonic European anti-Santa, Krampus. Stop by MuCCC (142 Atlantic Ave.) between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. with a new, unwrapped gift to donate to charity. Krampus will greet you on stage. If he likes your gift, you’ll get a free breakfast treat. If he thinks it’s crap, he’s going to publicly harass you — and maybe drag you to hell. You can also shop an alternative arts & crafts sale, a Germanic bake sale, make crafts, and buy Krampus merchandise. Admission is free. For more information visit breakfastwithkrampus.com. (Note: Breakfast with Krampus is run by several City Newspaper staffers, but is not a City event.) The South Wedge will also be celebrating the holidays Saturday, December 7, with its annual “It’s a Wonderful Life in South Wedge.” The event will start at 11 a.m. and feature numerous deals at a wide variety of South Wedge shops, bars, restaurants, and businesses. There will be a tree-lighting ceremony at Star Park at 5 p.m., caroling by Rochester’s Oratorio Society 2-4 p.m., as well as $3 pints available at area bars. Holiday wagon rides, visits from Santa, and holiday wreath and tree sales will also be on offer during this event. Visit the BASWA Facebook page for more information. Also on Saturday, December 7, don’t miss the lighting of Rochester’s Liberty Pole which will take place 4:30-5:10 p.m. Vocal Point and Prime Time Brass will perform as Mayor Richards lights up the monument (in front of the Sibley Building, Main Street). Following the event at the Pole a holiday parade will travel to Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Park (formerly Manhattan Square Park), where there will be a figure-skating exhibition, a free open skate to live music by Beal’s Rock and Roll Review ($3 skate rental), horse-drawn wagon rides, and more activities lasting until 8:30 p.m. For more information visit cityofrochester.gov. — BY COLIN MCCOY
Comedy [ THU., DECEMBER 5 ] Kevin Downey Jr. Dec. 5-7. Comedy Club, 2235 Empire Blvd Webster Thu 7:30 p.m., Fri-Sat 7:30 & 10 p.m $9-$12 6719080. thecomedyclub.us. [ SAT., DECEMBER 7 ] Break Room Bad Boy Christmas
Party. 8 & 10:15 p.m. Holiday Inn, Rochester Airport, 911 Brooks Ave. $10, RSVP 3286000. Brian Regan. 8 p.m. Auditorium Theatre, 885 E. Main St. $35.50. 222-5000. mail@rbtl.org. rbtl. org. My Big Funny Peter. 9 p.m. The Little Theater, 240 East Avenue Interpreted for the
24 CITY DECEMBER 4-10, 2013
[ WED., DECEMBER 4 ] Dime-a-Dance. Dec. 4-5, 7:30 p.m. Rose L. Strasser Studio, Hartwell Hall, SUNY Brockport, 180 Holley St., Brockport Donations welcom. brockport. edu/finearts. Garth Fagan Dance. Through Dec. 8. Nazareth College Arts Center, 4245 East Ave Tue 7:30 p.m., Wed-Fri 8 p.m., Sat 2 & 8 p.m., Sun 2 & 7:30 p.m $40-$55 3892170. artscenter.naz.edu. [ THU., DECEMBER 5 ] Geneseo Dance Ensemble in 46Live: Songs of the Body. Dec. 5-8. SUNY Geneseo, 1 College Rd. Thu-Sat 7:30 p.m., Sun 2 p.m. Alice Austin Theatre $10 245-5873. bbo.geneseo.edu. Swing-from-Scratch with Esther Brill. St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church, 2000 Highland Ave. Thursdays Dec 5, 12, 19. Lesson 8-8:45 p.m., DJ dance 8:45-10:30 p.m $30, register 721-8684. estherbrillpartnerdance.com. [ FRI., DECEMBER 6 ] 7th Annual Red Hot Holiday Ball. 7 p.m. Visual Studies Workshop, 31 Prince Street. Free onehour beginner swing dance lesson starting at 7 p.m. No partner or experience necessary Free 845-706-2621. info@ groovejuiceswing.com. Winter Dance Gala: Nutcrackering. 7:30 p.m. Hochstein Performance Hall, 50 N Plymouth Ave. 454-4596. Sarah.Gullo@hochstein.org. hochstein.org. [ TUE., DECEMBER 10 ] Stardust Open Ballroom Dance Series. 7:30 p.m. Edgerton Community Center, 41 Backus St Big Band era live music $3 admission 4286755. cityofrochester.gov/ ballroomdanceseries.
Festivals [ WED., DECEMBER 4 ] Hanukah Party. Dec. 4. Temple Beth El, 139 S Winton Rd. Once the final candle on the menorah at 139 Winton Road South is lit at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, the community is invited to enjoy live music and sing-a-longs, a dinner of brisket and latkes, cookie decorating and the gallery of menorahs. Children will have the chance to partake in a PJ Library-sponsored story and song at 5:30 p.m., plus crafts, building and dreidel games after dinner Register: 473-1770. tberochester.org. [ THU., DECEMBER 5 ] Park Ave Holiday Open House. 5-9 p.m. 721-3299park-avenue.org. [ FRI., DECEMBER 6 ] Creche Festival Weekend. Dec. 6-8. Sacred Heart Cathedral,
296 Flower City Park. Free, free will offerings appreciated 254-3221. miller@dor.org. cathedralcommunity.org. Fifth Annual Madrigal Festival. 6:30 p.m. R. Thomas Flynn Campus Center Building, 1000 E. Henrietta Rd $15. monroecctickets.com. Light Up the Holidays. Dec. 6-7. Fri 9:30 a.m. City Hall Atrium Tree Lighting Ceremony. Sat 4:30 p.m. Liberty Pole Lighting. 5:15 p.m. Holiday Parade from Liberty Pole to Martin Luther king Jr. Memorial Park. 5:30 p.m. park dedication cityofrochester.gov. [ SAT., DECEMBER 7 ] Christmas with Santa. Springdale Farm, 700 Colby St. Breakfast seatings at 9, 10, 11 a.m. and noon. Guests may enjoy a pancake and sausage breakfast, a visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus, children’s crafts, a petting zoo, a nativity scene, and more. Children under age 2 are free but must sit on a parent’s lap $8, register springdalefarm.org. Light Up the Holidays. Through Dec. 7. See Dec. 6 listing.
Kids Events [ FRI., DECEMBER 6 ] Eddie the Elk and the Twelve Days of Christmas. 1 & 3 p.m Rochester Museum and Science Center, 657 East Ave. No shows December 22 Included in museum admission: $11-$13 271-4320. rmsc.org. Teen Iron Chef: Ultimate Gingerbread Challenge. 1 p.m. Penfield Public Library, 1985 Baird Rd. Grades 6-12. Create a gingerbread structure with teammates using goodies provided by the library. These creations will be judged on appearance, use of materials, construction, and interpretation of a secret theme to be revealed at the event. Free, register 3408720. penfieldlibrary.org. [ SAT., DECEMBER 7 ] Arc Breakfast with Santa. Dec. 7. KidStart, 5871 Groveland Station Rd. in Mt. Morris. The festive family event includes two sessions: children 12 and younger can dine with Santa at 8:30 a.m., while older kids and adults with disabilities can visit with old Kris Kringle at 10:30 a.m. Both sessions include food & drink, crafts, face-painting, caroling, and individual visits with Santa. Bring non-perishable food items to donate Free, register 658-2828. tsick@lwarc.org. [ TUE., DECEMBER 10 ] Trim-A-Tree for Wildlife. 3:30-5 p.m. Helmer Nature Center, 154 Pinegrove Ave. Grades K-6 $7, register 336-3035. westirondequoit.org/helmer. htm.
Lectures [ WED., DECEMBER 4 ] Skalny Lecture: Michal Galas. 7:30 p.m. University of Rochester, River Campus Lecture on “Progressive Synagogues in Poland as Centers of Patriotic Teaching.” At Sloan Auditorium in Goergen Hall Free. 275-9898. rochester.edu/skalny. Symposium: 3D Digital Archaeology: Reconstruction, Analysis, and Conservation of Cultural Heritage. 12-6 p.m.
DANCE | GARTH FAGAN DANCE
Rochester-based choreographer Garth Fagan has earned international recognition for his work. In fact, in 2012 he was named one of “America’s Irreplaceable Dance Treasures” and his work was recognized as having significantly enriched American cultural influence. Despite all of these accolades, the Garth Fagan Dance troupe hasn’t forgotten its home city of Rochester, and returns this week to open its season at Nazareth College Arts Center (4245 East Ave). The program will feature a combination of the old and the new, with revivals of pieces “Easter Freeway Processional” and “Senku” along with new pieces, including “No Evidence of Failure” choreographed by Fagan himself, and “Gin,” a creation by principal dancer Norwood Pennewell. Performances will run through Sunday, December 8, with performances every night at 8 p.m. (Sunday at 7:30 p.m.) and additional 2 p.m. matinees on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets range between $36 and $55. For more information visit garthfagandance.org, artscenter.naz.edu or call Nazareth College Arts Center at 389-2525. — BY COLIN MCCOY University of Rochester, River Campus University of Rochester, Eisenberg Rotunda of Schlegel Hall. Lunch is included Free, register rlp@me.rochester.edu. rochester.edu/college/aths/3Ddigital-archaeology.
Literary Events
[ THU., DECEMBER 5 ] 21st Century Catholics in an Unfamiliar America. 7:30 p.m. Interfaith Chapel, University of Rochester, River Campus With George Weigel Free urnewman. org. Eastman Musicology Symposium. 4:30-6 p.m. Eastman School of Music, 26 Gibbs St New Sibley Library, 404. Ellen Harris: “How Did Handel’s Audiences Hear his Operas?: Mary Delany and Floridante” Free 274-1000. esm.rocheser.edu.
[ THU., DECEMBER 5 ] Book Thieves: Young Professionals Book Club Meetings. Dec. 5. Writers and Books, 740 University Ave Group meets at 6:30 p.m. to eat and mingle, discussion follows 7-9 p.m. “The Book Thief.” 473-2590 x105. facebook.com/book.thieves. Books Sandwiched In: “The Fine Print” By David Cay Johnston. 12:10 p.m. Brighton Memorial Library, 2300 Elmwood Ave. Free 784-5300. brightonlibrary.org. History Reading Group: Plantagenet Kings. 7-8:30 p.m. Writers and Books, 740 University Ave Hosted by Steve Huff Free wab.org. Poems for Lunch. noon. Central Library, 115 South Ave. Learn to become a good reader of poetry. Local poet and teacher, Kitty Jospe, offers a selection of poems and guides a discussion about them. No registration required. Drop-ins and brown bag lunches are welcome. Free 428-8375. carol.moldt@libraryweb.org. libraryweb.org. Pure Kona Open Mic Poetry Series. 7-10 p.m. The Greenhouse Café, 2271 E. Main St. 270-8603. ourcoffeeconnection.org.
[ FRI., DECEMBER 6 ] Neilly Series Talk: Gerald Oppenheimer. 5 p.m. Rush Rhees Library, University of Rochester, River Campus Hawkins-Carlson Room. “HIV?AIDS Political and Ethical Challenges” Free 275-4461. Pope Pius XII and World War II: the Documented Truth. 12:30 p.m. St. John Fisher College, 3690 East Ave Gary L. Krupp will make available and comment on the documented evidence. Basil Hall room 135 sjfc.edu. [ TUE., DECEMBER 10 ] Class and Race: What Happens when the Have-Nots Become Haves? 6:30 p.m. Downtown United Presbyterian Church, 121 N. Fitzhugh Street Discussion and dramatic reading of “Palmer Park” Free 325-4000. gdardess@yahoo.com.
[ WED., DECEMBER 4 ] The Writer’s Voice: Russell Banks. 7:30 p.m. Temple B’rith Kodesh, 2131 Elmwood Ave. Free 3952451. brockport.edu/wforum.
[ FRI., DECEMBER 6 ] First Fridays/Wide Open Mic. First Friday of every month, 7-9 p.m. Writers and Books, 740 University Ave Rochester’s