7 PHOTO ESSAY ROMANCE FOR AMERICA’S FAVORITE PASTIME CONTINUES AT GENESEE COUNTRY VILLAGE & MUSEUM. BY ROBERTO F. LAGARES
16 DESSERT THREE FINGER LAKES ICE CREAM SHOPS BRING THE HEAT. BY MEILI SHEPARD
18 CULTURE THE NATION’S FIRST FARM ANIMAL SANCTUARY MARKS 40 YEARS IN WATKINS GLEN. BY HELANA SHUMWAY
22
50 FILM ON THE POIGNANCY AND PURPOSE OF CINEMATIC PRESIDENTS. BY JOHANNA LESTER LGBTQ+ THE VETERAN-OWNED RAINBOW CAMMO IS A GATHERING PLACE FOR THE QUEER COMMUNITY. BY AUSTIN ALBANESE
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The great Finger Lakes
EDITOR'S LETTER
BY LEAH STACY LEAH@ROCHESTER-CITYNEWS.COM
Now, if you find yourself falling apart
Well I am sure I could stand on The Great Salt Lake
Following home
We want one
Following home
We all want one
If ever beat down
We know will we ever
They all know we want one
So goes some of the lyrics (at least the way I hear them, sources are conflicted) from the Band of Horses ballad “The Great Salt Lake,” on their 2006 album “Everything all the Time.” The indie rock band will play an anniversary show on July 12 at Point of the Bluff Vineyards on Keuka Lake (details on page 36).
The Finger Lakes aren’t salt lakes, of course. The song is inspired by Lake Murray in South Carolina, where frontman Ben Bridwell grew up. But it always reminds me of our neighboring region, and it hummed around in my head as we proofread pages for this issue. I didn’t make it out to the Finger Lakes region enough last summer — save Fourth of July weekend, which included an epic pancake breakfast in an airport hangar — and I’ve already begun to mend my ways this year. As of print time, I’m heading southeast for the second time in a month to cover an international wine event happening on Seneca Lake.
That Band of Horses song — and the whole album — has a nostalgia about it that I associate with my college years (because, well, 2006 was smack dab in the middle), the peak of discovering more about myself and where I lived as I began to intern in journalism.
My favorite issues of CITY are those where I learn something new as I edit, and these pages are filled with interesting stories from the nation’s first animal sanctuary and ice cream(ery) roots to a socially conscious
dance company and traversing the expansive Finger Lakes Trail.
Following home
We all want one
If ever beat down
We know will we ever
They all know we want one
Your lakes; my lakes; lakes of the great Haudenosaunee people who
called them home first. And as the United States of America marks 250 years, that’s more important than ever to acknowledge. Contributor Matt Rogers has a thorough rundown of Finger Lakes history on page 6; WXXI reporter Brian Sharp writes on page 46 about Revolutionary War reckonings. Both pieces are a timely, necessary reminder: the Europeans were settlers, invaders.
For a few years now, CITY has devoted the July issue to the Finger Lakes. This year, we decided it will be the last such issue as we make a concerted effort to include more Finger Lakes content in every issue, all year.
Send us your ideas, and we’ll see you out on the (great) Finger Lakes.
The Finger Lakes 411
BY MATT ROGERS
Since the height of the pandemic in 2020, the central region of New York State has experienced a significantly renewed interest as an area in which to vacation, relax, explore and relocate from distant visitors and New Yorkers alike. For those of us who grew up around the lakes and casually claim one as our own (like we do with our most frequented Wegmans location), it may seem strange when visitors so revere that which we take for granted. The Finger Lakes have hosted human activity across cultures and generations since their creation more than 10,000 years ago. There is much to revere and much to explore here. So for those who might be thinking now is a good time to visit, here’s a primer for newcomers and old pros alike, to make the most of your first (or thousandth) time in this storied region of New York State.
WHO
Officially, there are 11: Conesus, Hemlock, Canadice, Honeoye, Canandaigua, Keuka, Seneca, Cayuga, Owasco, Skaneateles and Otisco. Geologically and historically, there were more, then less and then more again — adjacent lakes Silver, Onondaga and Cazenovia were formed similarly to the 11 and shared in the Lake Ontario watershed. Oneida Lake also shares in the watershed and was formed by glacial retreat, yet is shallow by New York lake standards, at 55 feet
A historical primer on Rochester’s sister region.
deep. Waneta and Lamoka lakes were also carved like the 11 and are just south of Keuka Lake, but belong to another water network (making them more like distant cousins than siblings). The largest lakes were originally on their own as the six Finger Lakes, and the five smaller lakes joined them after 1955. The changes in definition are murky to track down — and the reasoning even more so — but we know it did change. Reviewing the geological survey, and looking from above, there’s evidence of other ancient Finger Lakes that once joined the party: one to the east of Canandaigua Lake, a couple more south of Syracuse and another “crooked lake” between Honeoye and Canandaigua lakes. Canandaigua Lake once resembled Keuka as a split lake, Hemlock and Canadice were once one and almost every current Finger Lake was at one time significantly longer. Why are only 11 deemed official? It’s more tradition than anything technical.
WHAT
The Finger Lakes are freshwater bodies that were formed when the Laurentide Ice Sheet started receding northward over 14,000 years ago. They were originally northward-flowing streams (which is how the Genesee River started) and through glacial activity were widened, deepened and naturally dammed to form lakes. Various aquifers and rains continuously run into the lakes as they feed various creeks and rivers that flow into Lake Ontario — or, in the case of Hemlock and Canadice Lake, supply most of Monroe County’s water.
WHERE
In the Empire State, there is passionate debate as to how certain areas are categorized — upstate, downstate, Western New York, Central New York, North Country, Southern Tier — even the New York State government’s regional maps by Empire State Development and NYS tourism department are not consistent. But coincidentally, Rochester is placed within the Finger Lakes region for both. The 11 official Finger Lakes are located south of Rochester and almost as far east as Syracuse.
WHEN
The 1950s brought confirmation of the Finger Lakes as both a region and a formal group of 11 small lakes (compared to the nearby Great Lakes). This is in line with the rise of automobile travel
and increased leisure time, when vacations were starting to become an established part of culture and destinations were being marketed to lure automobile owners to seek them out. The lakes themselves are 14,000 years older (as mentioned before), but interestingly, there is geological evidence that lakes existed in this area before the last glacial activity. These paleolakes weren’t so much created by the Laurentine Ice Sheet receding, merely revealed by it. Glacial Lake Nanette watched over the area where Cayuga Lake is now, roughly 50,000 years ago, and was re-buried in ice about 30,000 years ago.
WHY
The earliest record of the name Finger Lake, that we know of, is from a scientific paper published
by Wisconsin-born Thomas C. Chamberlin, who was enamored by glaciers and their geological sculpting of our American continent. His writing for the U.S. Geological Survey in 1883 is cited as the first official use of the name Finger Lake. He chooses not to elaborate on his choice of words (or cite them), though it may be that he was continuing a convention that was a misunderstanding of cultural tradition at best, and a convenient tokenism at worst.
The Finger Lakes, as an entity, have been known to European and Euro-American settlers for centuries, yet 1883 is the earliest known coining of that name. Native nations have known them for far longer, but never collectively named them (since each nation tended to hold certain ones sacred, and didn’t have the cultural instincts to classify everything as aggressively as other cultures). Early French and English
explorers named them sister lakes, small lakes and the chain of lakes, but never attributed them to body parts.
The origin story behind the name of the region was published in 1920 by Seneca Falls historian Fred Teller. It was a retroactive canonization of sorts, legitimizing the term by drawing from the Haudenosaunee myth of the great spirit and his guiding hand blessing the land with his imprint.
The problem is that there is no such Haudenosaunee-based
great spirit entity. The Six Nations’ creation myth centers around two brothers, known as Enigorio (the good mind) and Enigonhahetgea (the bad mind), who created everything we experience around us. Their workload was pretty even: Enigorio creating all things good for humans and Enigonhahetgea creating all things bad for humans. When there is talk of a creator in myth, it is Enigorio they’re talking about. Perhaps creator and great spirit could be interchangeable, if creator was ever mentioned in works that call on the popular myth. However, the attributions are so consistent in referencing a great spirit that it appears all the authors never bothered to confirm the story, simply to continue regurgitating.
HOW
From the natural environments the urban-suburban tourists seek for escape and the ever-expanding food
scene exploring regional ingredients to the award-winning wine and spirits industry and the history that welcomes all ages to explore, the Finger Lakes region is steeped in places to see and things to do. The “sometime” to see it is now.
Matt Rogers is a Rochester-based artist and storyteller who works to celebrate urban history, culture and pride in as many ways as possible. Follow him @thelostborough.
STOCK PHOTO
The 19th-century sandlot
Romance for America’s favorite pastime continues at Genesee Country Village & Museum.
WORDS AND PHOTOS BY ROBERTO F. LAGARES
By the time you’ve traversed through the 68 buildings that make up the 19th-century Genesee Country Village & Museum (GCVM) and made your way to the furthest point of the 600-acre grounds, your brain may be convinced you’ve traveled back in time. Especially once you step through a wooded tree line and beneath an arch donning the field’s name — Silver Base Ball Park — onto a 19th-century replica baseball field (think the 1919 Black Sox stepping through the corn in “Field of Dreams”), the first of its kind in the U.S.
On this field, America’s favorite pastime is kept to its purest form: teams outfitted in period woolen uniforms, wood benches instead of elaborately covered dugouts, brown balls, a simple fence lining the outfield and a single scorekeeper changing the games strikeouts and runs by hand over in left field.
GCVM is the largest living history museum in New York State and the third-largest in the United States. This year will mark its 50th anniversary, and the vintage base ball program is rounding 26 years. The volunteer league is made up of four teams: Rochester B.B.C., Flower City, Spring Creek and Oatka B.B.C. At Silver Base Ball Park, they play by the official 1867 rulebook, with a sprinkle of house rules mixed in.
“Of course, the biggest thing people first notice is no gloves,” said Ryan “Doc” Becker, a member of Flower City and one of the original founding players of the league.
Add to that a no-strike zone, a rack of thick (sometimes double-knobbed) bats and running rules like a hard stop at first base. These are just some of the legacy styles of play, alongside a hurler (pitcher) that’s both exclusively underhand and is, by no means, looking
CONTINUED ON PAGE 12
to strike out the striker (batter).
The majority of the initial rules in place for vintage base ball were built around creating a respectable, gentlemanly environment that focuses more on fair play and sportsmanship — such as fines for inappropriate language — than gameplay itself.
“(The 19th-century) players made most of their calls,” said Michael “Whiskey” Williams, a founding player from the league’s inception and team member of the Rochester B.B.C. “The umpire was not there to call the game, he was there to make sure that people played fairly.”
This ethos extends and amplifies when the ball leaves the diamond and makes its way to the ladies base ball program, where various versions are played. Cocaptain Nancy Rhodes, who has been a part of the ladies program since its inception in 2002, is quick to point out the emphasis on representation, entertainment and, of course, fun.
“(The) ladies program is more of a historical drama than a competitive baseball game that everybody would relate to,” said Rhodes. “The 19thcentury was a time when there was all sorts of upheaval and women were trying to get the right to vote. Suffrage is included in our program, so we’re playing for the fun of it, but we’re also trying to depict what ladies might have been doing in any spare moment that they had.”
It’s the same love of the game that brings people from different backgrounds and generations together — like the DeVito family, who now have three generations playing for the Rochester B.B.C. What began as a hobby for Steve “Stubby” DeVito became a family
tradition that now includes his father and his sons. (The baseball teams range in age from late teens to mid-70s, all playing side-by-side.)
“Our teams are family oriented and continue from one generation to the next, so that when we’re gone they’re gonna be there and (pass it on),” said Williams.
As the players take the field for their 26th season, the parallels to the game and the nation that took hold of it as a beloved pastime are more present on this 250th anniversary: a focus on key principles and simplicity that once began as a one-page set of rules.
“I’d like to see people shake hands again,” said Williams. “That shows sportsmanship, and (with) the world we are in right now, we really could use some sportsmanship and compassion amongst people.”
Baseball is a game that brought working class people a space to escape and unwind; a game where the score was far from the most important part. A game that, today, hopes to inspire both its major league counterparts, fans and those who’ve yet to tune in to return to the roots that connected communities like the lines of chalk (or, in this case, flour) between bases. A game that spanned generations, healed post-war wounds and didn’t just break records and bats, but racial barriers on a national level. And at GCVM, that game lives on in its purest form, pitched underhand to a wool-wearing striker choked up on a double-knotted 19th-century bat — ready to “hit ‘em where they ain’t.”
The National Silver Ball Tournament, which includes eight teams from around the nation, takes place July 31 through August 2 at GCVM. gcv.org
You can follow him @bertoscamera.
Roberto Felipe Lagares is CITY’s multimedia reporter and ball-knower.
No chill
Three Finger Lakes ice cream shops bringing the heat
BY MEILI SHEPARD
Milk, cheese, yogurt, artisanal ice cream: while the Finger Lakes may be lesser known for its dairy production, the region is a quiet cornerstone in New York’s lactose industry.
During the summer months especially, ice creameries boom, from classic mom-and-pop shops to artisanal makers that specialize in unique styles and flavors.
CITY visited three creameries providing unique experiences that highlight the Finger Lakes.
Spotted Duck
Upstate New York is no stranger to frozen custard. With origins tracing back to Coney Island, soft serve’s silkier, denser cousin is deeply rooted in local culture largely due to Abbott’s, which will mark 100 years this summer. Spotted Duck in Penn Yan deviates from the classic frozen custard recipe, while staying inspired by the concept.
In 2010, original founders Daniel and Elizabeth Hoover started using duck egg yolks and A2 milk from local farmers as their custard base. They found swapping chicken egg yolks for duck egg yolks created a denser and richer texture without artificial thickeners or stabilizers, resulting in a signature custard that is smoother than the traditional version. The unique recipe has placed Spotted Duck in the national spotlight — something current
owner Sam Solomon said is helped by being the only duck egg custard producer in the country.
“On a good Saturday, we see about 800 to 1,000 people,” he said.
The masses of visitors to the shop aren’t the only sign of the custard’s popularity. Solomon says that Spotted Duck was ranked the seventh best ice cream shop nationally in 2025 on the restaurant ranking app Beli (Yelp’s more hip, Gen Z-preferred competition). Looking ahead, Solomon is expanding Spotted Duck through wholesale retailing and nationwide shipping, with plans to open a second shop around the Rochester area in the near future. spottedduck.com
Shtayburne
In a region dominated by wine and cheese, it’s rare to see a different take on a charcuterie boards. But at Shtayburne Farm Creamery, a family run farm in Rock Stream on Seneca Lake, they’re known for their cheese and ice cream boards.
Shtayburne started crafting cheese in 2010 and added ice cream production to its dairy roster in 2019. Co-owner Alicia Hostetler recalls how the pandemic inspired the invention of their cheese and ice cream boards.
“We used to do samplings,” she said. “But after 2020, a lot of rules changed so this was our way of switching it up and offering people samplings, in a sense.”
The cheese and ice cream boards are essentially side-by-side flights, and have grown to become the highest-selling item at Shtayburne.
“People often say they’ve never heard of this before,” said Hosteler. “You can have cheese and ice cream on the same plate and people seem to really like that.”
Shtayburne makes both the cheese and ice cream on site, with milk from their own dairy cows. While this can be time-consuming, Hosteler said is proud that three generations of her family contribute to the process, allowing them to prioritize the small batch nature of their products while keeping the familial roots of the farm. shtayburnefarmcreamery.com
Cayuga Lake Creamery
8421 State Rt. 89, Interlaken
215 North Cayuga St., Ithaca
Jeff Kostick never expected to be in the food industry, let alone the ice cream business. But after being laid off from an IT career, Kostick decided to try something new. He noticed a lack of ice cream shops along the Finger Lakes wine trail, specifically around Cayuga Lake, where he owns a cottage — and he decided to open an ice cream shop as a summer project. Twenty-two years later, Cayuga Lake Creamery has two locations — in Interlaken (where the ice cream is handbatched) and Ithaca — and is a year-round destination.
The creamery has gained local notability for its wine ice creams and sorbets, in particular, a fusion that was originally inspired when the creamery catered events for local wineries. Since then, it has evolved into a frequent collaboration between Kostick and various vineyards.
“Local wine trail wineries will come to us and say, ‘can you make a wine ice cream using such-and-such wine,’” said Kostick. “A lot of times it (is) a discussion with the winemaker, (asking) what fruit do you think would go well with this wine.”
Beyond the winery collaborations, Cayuga Lake Creamery is committed to sourcing its ingredients from local farmers and businesses for both the
ice cream and onsite eatery in Interlaken. Renee Rose, who has managed the creamery for 10 years, attributes the partnerships with neighborhood businesses as one reason for the creamery’s high-quality ice cream.
“We know (the farmers) are making an exceptional product, so it’s going to make everything taste better,” she said. “If we can support other small local businesses versus getting a commercial product, we want to.” cayugalakecreamery.com
Meili Shepard is a Rochester-based freelance writer and student at the University of Rochester. Follow her @meilishepard.
Home on the (free) range
BY HELANA SHUMWAY
It’s 1986, and Gene Baur is selling vegan hotdogs at Grateful Dead shows. Surrounded by the sounds of Jerry Garcia and company, Baur spends his time educating fellow “Deadheads” about the cruelties of animal agriculture, providing firsthand accounts from his investigations at factory farms, stockyards and slaughterhouses.
Then Baur finds Hilda, a discarded sheep left for dead at a stockyard in Pennsylvania. What started as Baur’s act of compassion to save Hilda’s life transformed into Farm Sanctuary, the country’s founding farm animal sanctuary, in Watkins Glen. This year marks the organization’s 40th anniversary.
“Farm Sanctuary is a place where animals are our friends, not our food, where being vegan is normal and where everyone is welcome,” said Baur, the organization’s president and cofounder.
Currently, the organization has two locations — the original in Watkins Glen and a second in Acton, California. Situated between Keuka and Seneca Lakes, the 275-acre Watkins Glen sanctuary is home to nearly 350 animals that roam free.
Notable residents include cows, goats, sheep, pigs, chickens and ducks. Every animal has been rescued from their original fate in the cycle of factory farming. To date, Farm Sanctuary has rescued more than 10,000 animals.
In the United States, nearly 10 billion animals are raised and killed for food production every year, and 99% of these animals are in factory farms. Baur and his team at Farm Sanctuary focus on animal rescue, education and advocacy to combat the abuses of animal agriculture and factory farming.
The two sanctuary locations welcome between 7,000 to 10,000 visitors each year. Tucked back on a gravel road among the rolling hills of the Finger Lakes, the Watkins Glen location welcomes public visitors May through October.
“Farm Sanctuary is one of the Watkins Glen area’s most unique attractions and a
tremendous asset to the Finger Lakes Region,” said Nigar Hale, executive director of the Watkins Glen Area Chamber of Commerce. “Drawing visitors from across the country, it offers an experience centered on compassion, education, and sustainability unlike any other in the region.”
Hourlong, all-ages guided tours include information about the realities of animal agriculture, with tour guides encouraging questions. During
the summer, Farm Sanctuary also offers child-focused tours for ages four through 10.
The tours provide visitors the opportunity to spend time with residents like Pietro, a roughly 1,900-pound Holstein cow rescued from a dairy farm. Male calves born on a dairy farm have no purpose, as they cannot produce milk. Pietro had a broken leg either during birth or soon thereafter, and he was going to be killed until a worker on the farm advocated for his rescue at three days old. Today, Pietro is a thriving five-year-old with black speckles on his nose who is often found greeting passersby in the grassy pasture. Visitors will learn that he prefers his scratches under the chin, not dissimilar to a dog.
Other residents, like Olive the goat and her daughter Maggie, are also up for petting on tours. Depending on when the pigs last
Gene Bauer with sheep.
PHOTO PROVIDED
PHOTO PROVIDED
ate, they might be asleep on the hay looking for belly pats. Some of the sheep like gentle rubs behind their ears. Each resident has their own needs and desires, and at Farm Sanctuary, those needs and desires are not only acknowledged, but respected.
“The tour is a great way to learn about the history of Farm Sanctuary and to also hear the stories about the animals that are lucky enough to have a home there,” said Amy Mehnert, a threetime visitor to the sanctuary. “In spite of the traumatic circumstances that brought the animals there, it’s a beautiful place. There’s a feeling of peace and relief in knowing that the animals are safe, loved and cared for.”
PHOTO PROVIDED
Emily Grizzell, animal wellness manager.
PHOTO PROVIDED
The animals at the Watkins Glen location are overseen by 16 caregivers on the wellness team (including two co-managers and two vet assistants) and an additional 12 caregivers on the environment team.
Aside from tours, visitors can enjoy a plant-based meal at The Kitchen or peruse the gift shop. There are also opportunities for
overnight stays in the cabins and tiny houses on the sanctuary grounds, or at the nearby camping area.
Hilda, the sanctuary’s first ambassador, lived for another 10 years following her rescue in 1986. She is buried at the Watkins Glen location, and visitors finish their tour at her gravestone. The epitaph is an encapsulation of Farm Sanctuary’s mission, a place where animals have free range to live out the rest of their lives: “Died of old age.” farmsanctuary.org
Helana Shumway is a Rochester-based writer who enjoys shedding light on kind humans doing remarkable things in our community. Follow her @helanashum.
Gentles Farm Market
Selling local fresh fruits and vegetables for over 100 years.
9am-6pm Sunday 9am-5pm Open May-October gentlesfarm.com
PHOTO PROVIDED
PHOTO PROVIDED
Making space
BY AUSTIN ALBANESE
During the pandemic, Malcolm Keim was making soap in about 200 square feet of basement space. What began as a hobby, sparked in part by a college assignment illustrating scientific concepts through soapmaking, gradually grew into something larger. Artist markets led to a website. A website led to appearances at the Rochester Pride Festival.
“It was a pleasant surprise to see such a community pop up around it,” said Keim, a Marine Corps veteran who served during the final years of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’
In August 2025, Rainbow Cammo opened its storefront in Suite B128 at Village Gate Square — it’s a queer- and veteran-owned soap and fragrance shop, complete with a custom scent bar and shelves lined with handcrafted bath and body products. Beyond that, Keim has more planned.
“Retail was not our number one focus,” he said.
The storefront has evolved into something harder to find: a soberfriendly gathering space where Rochester’s queer artists, makers, veterans and community groups can meet, collaborate and be visible.
“It is nice to be able to have spaces in Rochester that are queer and safe but more importantly are sober friendly,” said Keim, who also works full-time as a clinical laboratory scientist. “I’m not against any of the bars. They’re just loud, hard to socialize in sometimes. We
The veteran-owned Rainbow Cammo is a gathering place for the queer community.
wanted queer-coded safe spaces that don’t have those pressures.”
That vision has shaped the programming that now fills the shop’s calendar.
In recent months, Rainbow Cammo has hosted leatherworking and bootblacking skill shares, fundraisers for local artists and the first installation of the Queer Veterans Project, an oral history and photography exhibition documenting the experiences of LGBTQ+ military veterans across Western New York.
“The exhibit at Rainbow Cammo is the very first installation,” said historian and photographer Jovana Babović, who co-created the Queer Veterans Project with Buffalo photographer Mel Porter. “Malcolm has been a great supporter.”
Babović sees Rainbow Cammo as part of a broader ecosystem of queer community spaces Rochester needs.
“We always need more queer spaces,” she said. “Rainbow Cammo is a community space and an artisan shop. I’m grateful for [it] the same way I’m grateful to have queer bookstores, queer coffee shops, queer bars. Places where you can feel seen, in a way.”
She described Keim as “a connector, the kind of person who is aware of the nuances
of building community and is actively doing that.”
Stephen Williams, founder of the Upstate Bootblack Collective and organizer of Rainbow Cammo’s bootblack socials, seconded that the shop provides something not often found elsewhere: a queer space that was simultaneously sober, accessible and welcoming to newcomers.
“The reason I brought the (bootback socials) about is because of COVID and how, later, there was a lot of interest (in community), but we were not finding anything,” Williams said.
At the socials, participants gather around tables to learn leather care techniques, work on projects and share knowledge. Some are experienced practitioners, others are attending for the first time.
“People just wanted to be together,” Williams said. The gatherings are intentionally low-pressure. People bring leather projects, trade advice, sit together and, Williams said, end each social with chocolate cake — a bootblack tradition. The events have attracted a varied crowd, including many transgender, nonbinary and genderexpansive participants who may not feel comfortable in other kinds of leather spaces.
“If it ends up being a safe entry
point for people who are not cis men to feel included, I’m all about that,” he said.
For Keim, the sense of inclusion is inseparable from visibility.
“It is important to be visible because, frankly, we need to do it for the next generation,” he said. “There are kids who believe they are better off dead than being gay and we need to show they are worthy and are loved.”
The storefront itself may have grown far beyond the basement workshop where Rainbow Cammo began, but Keim said the mission remains unchanged.
“I want to support people, I want to do good things and I want to make people happy.”
rainbowcammo.com
Austin Albanese is a Rochester-based historian and writer focused on memory, local history and overlooked stories from American civic life who is especially drawn to stories where local history reveals larger questions about belonging and community. His work has appeared in “The Forward,” “Rochester Beacon,” “The Christian Century” and “The Washington Post.”
PHOTO BY ERIN CONNORTON
Sip & Scent for Community: A celebration of Rochester’s Queerness on June 5
PHOTO BY ERIN CONNORTON
The Witches of Water’s Edge dance to benefit others.
A coven of change
BY KALYSTA DONAGHY-ROBINSON
It’s a Wednesday night in Seneca Falls, and a group of women prepares for another busy weekend of performances. In a few days, they’ll don pointy hats, grab their broomsticks and dance into their roles as modernday witches. But they aren’t just dancing for spectacle — they’re raising awareness.
The Witches of the Water’s Edge, a volunteer dance troupe that started recruiting members in March, uses performance, community and creative expression to establish visibility, support and raise money for survivors of domestic violence.
While similar ‘dancing witch’ groups exist elsewhere in New York, co-founders Jes Sherwood, Keri Heyde, LouAnne Leddy and Debbie Koch established the troupe after they noticed there was little-to-no presence in the Finger Lakes region.
“There was kind of a void between Auburn and (the) Rochester, Buffalo area,” Sherwood said. “One of our girls was in Seneca Falls, and we were like, ‘let’s get something going out here!’”
The group joins a worldwide network of dance troupes inspired by the German Wolfshäger Hexenbrut witch dance. While some groups exist primarily for entertainment, the Witches of the Water’s Edge chose to center their efforts around philanthropy.
Jes Sherwood, one of the founders, at the Ovid Strawberry Festival on June 13th. PHOTO PROVIDED
“We perform at festivals, parades (and) different events at different venues. We dance and we collect donations, and we take those and we donate them to charity,” Sherwood said.
Their chosen charity is Safe Harbors of the Finger Lakes, a nonprofit organization that provides free, confidential services to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse and human trafficking in Ontario, Seneca and Yates counties.
Safe Harbors executive director Marisa Przepiora said the collaboration has helped them reach more people throughout the community.
“This partnership has already spread so much awareness about our agency and our services, and we’ve received so much feedback about them,” Przepiora said. “It’s allowing us the visibility that we need, so people know there’s an agency out there [where] they can reach out for help, for free.”
Since launching the troupe, Sherwood said the community response
has been astoundingly positive.
“We’ve had venues and event coordinators contacting us, wanting us to come dance at their events,” she said.
The group has 14 active members and a nearly-full performance schedule through Halloween. The mission, Sherwood said, holds a large significance for many of its members.
“With domestic violence being our cause, we tend to draw in the women that have been affected by that directly or indirectly, so there’s a lot of shared experience there,” Sherwood said. “It’s kind of a place where we all feel safe to be vulnerable with each other.”
Sarah Smolinski, who joined the group in March, is one of those women. Although she had not danced much since childhood, Smolinski said she was drawn in after seeing similar groups perform and learning that a new chapter was forming in Seneca Falls.
“I was super, super excited,” she said. “Jess and Keri have amazing personalities and are just so
PHOTO PROVIDED
The Village of Brockport presents
empowering of women that I was like, ‘Oh, I could really do this.’”
The organization’s charitable cause resonates deeply with Smolinski’s personal life as well. She owns Ashia’s Closet, a thrift store in Seneca Falls that supports domestic violence initiatives and honors Ashia Gray, a local woman who was killed in an act of domestic violence in 2020.
“My mission is domestic violence and being able to give back to that community,” Smolinski said. “Being with a group of women that have the same mission is just really neat.”
The most engaging part of the group, Smolinski said, has been the overwhelming feeling of community and female support.
“Once you join it, you’re part of the family,” she said. “It’s a great way to meet people and hang out with some pretty powerful women.”
This sense of community extends beyond the troupe itself. Przepiora said organizations like the Witches of the Water’s Edge help bring conversations about domestic
violence into public spaces, reminding community members that these issues affect people in every town and neighborhood.
“When people start to learn that [those] in their own lives are experiencing these issues, it opens their eyes,” Przepiora said. “A lot of people think ‘that’s not me, that’s not my people, that’s not my community’ — but it really is.”
And for survivors, those connections can be an important part of healing.
“When the community surrounds a survivor, they can draw strength from that,” she continued, “and I believe it’s incredibly important in their healing journey from trauma.” facebook.com/ watersedgewitches
Kalysta Donaghy-Robinson is a multimedia journalist and writer based in Upstate New York covering arts, culture and community-focused stories.
SummerSerenades
ursday evenings in July and August.
At the Brockport Welcome Center
Free & family friendly. Bring a chair!
11 Water Street
More info: brockportny.gov or call 585-637-5300 ext 112
Rain location: St. Luke's Episcopal Church
July
July 7..........................RPO*
July 16..........Big Mike and the Motivators
July 23............Joey Stempien Big Band
July 30....................Feedback
*Tuesday at the SERC on SUNY Brockport Campus
August
August 6.........The Swooners August 13..... Waiting for Jacob August 20.............. Rochester Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra
This event/project is funded in part with support from the NYS Canal Corporation and the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor.
WXXI kicks off the celebration with an encore presentation of The American Revolution, directed by Ken Burns that examines how America’s founding turned the world upside-down on Friday, July 3 at 9 pm. Watch the first episode on Friday, and then binge the rest of the five-part series Saturday, July 4 starting at 9:30 am on WXXI-TV and streaming live on the WXXI and PBS apps.
A Capitol Fourth: 250 Weekend Celebration
Saturday, July 4 at 8 pm on WXXI-TV
From the West Lawn of the Capitol Building, enjoy musical performances — plus spectacular fireworks!
The
Statue of Liberty
July 12 at 2:30 pm on WXXI-TV
WXXI is proud to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary through engaging content that examines the formation of the United States, highlights its history and treasured artifacts, and showcases performances and the artistic works that continue to redefine America as we know it.
Celebrating American 250: Made with Love
Sunday, July 5 at 1 pm on WXXI-TV
Explore America’s founding spirit through the works of modern artisans keeping traditions alive.
In this lyrical, compelling and provocative portrait of the statue, Ken Burns explores both the history of America's premier symbol and the meaning of liberty.
Lucy Worsley Investigates the American Revolution, Eps. 1 & 2
Thursday, July 9 at 4 pm on WXXI-TV
Lucy Worsley investigates the tensions and turning points that led to America’s declaration of independence from Britain in 1776.
WXXI and PBS KIDS at American 250 Celebration
Sunday, July 12 at 5:00 pm
ESL Ballpark, One Morrie Silver Way
Free and Open to the Public — No ticket required WXXI’s Eary Learning Team is pleased to be part of this communitywide celebration of America’s 250th anniversary! OurEducation team will be there hosting PBS KIDS interactive activities and sharing resources!
Nationwide Storytelling Project for America’s 250th America’s story is made up of millions of individual stories. Connect250, StoryCorps, NPR’s Morning Edition, and WXXI are inviting people across the country to connect across differences and share meaningful conversations in honor of America’s 250th birthday. Record a conversation with someone from another community and contribute to a historic collection that will be preserved at the Library of Congress for future generations. To learn more & pre-register visit: connect250.org.
AmeRica 250 Radio Celebration
July 1-July 15 on FM 91.5 and streaming live on WXXIClassical.org
As we celebrate America 250, WXXI Classical hosts will focus on American composers, cultural heritage, and orchestral storytelling by presenting 250 pieces of American music the first two weeks in July.
AmeRica 250 SeRies FRom WXXI News
The week leading up to Independence Day, WXXI News presents a series of America 250 stories including a piece on the Daughters of the American Revolution, a look at the myths surrounding a celebrated drummer boy, and a report on The Sullivan Campaign, a Revolutionary War campaign that had lasting impacts on the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois).
People of The American Revolution & Women's Rights Screening
July 9 at 4:00 pm at The Central Library (115 South Ave, Rochester)
Join us for a short film from PBS’s American Revolution series about everyday life during the era, plus a discussion on the rights women lacked after the Revolution and their ongoing fight for equality. Panelists include leaders from the National Susan B. Anthony Museum & House and the Women’s Rights National Historical Park. Learn more and register at WXXI.org/events.
For WXXI’s full slate of programs, events, and activities visit u
Hot town, summer in the city!
It’s summer in Rochester and that means Summer Sessions on Connections! Every week at 1PM, we’ll bring the heat and feature a new theme while taking a deep dive into the topic. To find out what's on tap, visit WXXINews.org
Opportunity Knocks returns with a marathon presentation of Season 3 on Sunday, July 19 from 12:30 5:00 pm. In addition to airing on WXXI-TV, the series is also available on PBS Passport, PBS.org, YouTube and OpportunityKnocks.net where you can also catch past seasons.
A thread through New York State
Exploring the 580-mile Finger Lakes Trail system.
WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY
SARAH WOODAMS
Tucked among the farms, hills and glens of the Finger Lakes region lies a trail that could take a traveler as far west as North Dakota; 580 miles of this hiking path is known as the Finger Lakes Trail (FLT).
What started in 1962 with the formation of the Finger Lakes Trail Conference (FLTC) is now made up of part-time staff, a managing board, officers and over 1,400 dues-paying members, but continued maintenance of the trail system wouldn’t be possible without a widespread network of volunteers.
“We’re professionally managed and volunteer-powered,” said FLTC executive director Nathan Hayes.
The full trail system, including the main trail, branches, loops and spurs, totals 1,000 miles, with volunteers
logging approximately 20,000 hours of trail work every year.
“The Finger Lakes Trail connects dozens of wild spaces across the state — wildlife management areas, state forests, land trust preserves — and in between the thread that connects all of those things is a relationship with private landowners,” Hayes said.
Agreements with private landowners aren’t always secure, meaning the FLT may be re-routed when ownership changes hands. Eventually, the FLTC is aiming to achieve an “unchanging corridor.”
“We purchase properties that the trail passes through when they’re up for sale, put a legal easement on it, and then find a new property owner, and sometimes it’s New York State,” Hayes said.
The conference also currently owns 12 properties across the trail that they plan to maintain in perpetuity.
A sunny Saturday was the perfect time to explore a few sections of the trail. A friend and I started in the Finger Lakes National Forest (New York State’s only national forest), where, for the first time in a long time, the ever-present sounds of traffic were absent. Only birdsong and our footsteps broke the silence. After making a pit stop in Watkins Glen, which is located along the trail, we headed over to Templar Falls, where a small group was enjoying the natural pool at the base of the falls. Our final stop of the day was the Sugar Hill State Forest fire tower, originally built in 1941
Heading east along the FLT within the Finger Lakes National Forest.
by the Civilian Conservation Corps and one of the few fire towers in the state left in good condition despite remaining unstaffed for decades. The cabin at the top invited us to marvel at sweeping views over the region, catching glimpses of Keuka and Seneca Lakes borders — a reminder of how much ground the trail encompasses.
Just under 600 people have officially traversed the entirety of the 580-mile trail, and thru-hiking (completing the trail in one go) is uncommon. Many hikers take years to complete the trail.
One of many FLT trail markers.
Sugar Hills State Forest fire tower.
FLT volunteer end-to-end coordinator Jacqui Wensich spent two years on the trail, chipping away at the distance through day hikes with two friends and her German Shepherd, Mina.
“What’s nice about the Finger Lakes Trail is you see New York State in a totally new way,” she said. “Miles and miles of openness, beautiful hills, forests and little towns you’ve never heard of.”
Wensich provides informational support for prospective hikers and maintains a list of volunteer car spotters who offer hikers rides and restocks of supplies along the way. She took over for Ed Sudoti, the third person recorded to complete the entire trail.
“He came up with the car spotter system as well as the county hikes program to help people finish the trail,” Wensich said. “After I completed my first end-to-end hike in 2004, he met me at the finish to give me my patch and I started helping him.”
It wasn’t long before he was ready to pass along the torch — and his massive, decades-old records collection — to Wensich, who took it upon herself to digitize several aspects of the recordkeeping, creating a spreadsheet for car spotters and a tracker for hikers to present proof of their journeys in completing the full trail and its branches.
Wensich and Hayes both credit the County Hikes program as key to the popularity of the trail, as it provides an easy way to day-hike large chunks. This summer, county hike events traverse Cattaraugus County and run through September.
“The connectivity (of the FLT) is really exciting,” Hayes said. “A kid in Naples can put on a backpack and hike to North Dakota or Vermont if they want to — (a) system exists that makes that possible.”
Sarah Woodams is a Rochester-based freelance writer and photographer when she’s not busy supporting climatetech companies. You can find her at @swoodamsphoto.
Wensich (middle) and her end-to-end hiking partners and dog, Mina.
Wensich (left) with the previous (and first) end-to-end coordinator Ed Sidote.
Hikers earn distinct patches by completing different parts of the Finger Lakes Trail.
todo DAILY
Full calendar of events online at roccitymag.com
MONDAY, JULY 6
ART
Free Art Collective Community Art Night
Flying Squirrel Community Space, thesquirrel.org
The Flying Squirrel is a gathering space for community, artists and activists located at 285 Clarissa St. This weekly art night runs 4-8 p.m., is free to attend and offers a space for creative folks to make something with like-minded people. NOELLE EVANS
TUESDAY, JULY 7
PHOTOGRAPHY
“A Study of Light and Land”
Image City Photography Gallery, imagecityphotographygallery.com
Gil Maker’s exhibit spans photographs he captured in Belize, Ireland and Scotland rendered in stark black and white. The results present the two subjects of the title, light and land, in conversation with each other through both hushed whispers and commanding roars. On view through July 12. Image City’s hours run 12-6 p.m. PATRICK HOSKEN
WEDNESDAY, JULY 8
CULTURE
“Turtle Island”
Ganondagan State Historic Site, ganondagan.org
The creation story of the Haudenosaunee comes to vivid life via a giant inflatable turtle sculpture designed by G. Peter Jemison, with an assist from France’s renowned street theater group Plasticiens Volants. The Skywoman Iroquois Dance Theater, in conjunction with musicians, storytellers and choreographer
William Crouse Sr., unfold the “Turtle Island” spectacle as a piece of living narrative that is as much experience as story. 2 p.m. Free and open to the public. PH
RECREATION
Wednesday Nite Fun Races
BayCreek Paddling Center, baycreek.com
The start time for this two-mile race taken by kayak, canoe, paddleboard or surf ski is up to you. Participants are welcome to food and refreshments after. It kicks off at 1099 Empire Blvd. 5-7 p.m. Award ceremony begins at 6:30. $15-$30. NE
THURSDAY, JULY 9
THEATER
“The Taming of the Shrew”
Highland Park Bowl, rochestercommunityplayers.org
“10 Things I Hate About You” cleverly set Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew” in a 1999 Seattle high school. Rochester Community Players return to Highland Bowl this summer for an equally fresh update: 2015, smartphones rampant, influencers taking over. It’s the perfect canvas to explore shifting dynamics in gender roles, thanks to one of the Bard’s most enduring comedies. Free performances through July 25. Curtain up at 8 p.m.
CULTURE
Pride Celebration Day
Memorial Art Gallery, mag.rochester.edu
There’s no shortage of pride at the MAG, both in the galleries and outside in the Sculpture Garden. The Pride Celebration Day event spans each location, complete with free museum admission and activities that promote acceptance, community and love. The party runs 5-9 p.m. PH
EDUCATION
Twilight Tour
Mount Hope Cemetery, fomh.org
Explore the grounds of Mount Hope Cemetery with a guided tour and meet some of the peaceful residents therein. The tour begins Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. and runs until 7:45. Free for members of the Friends of Mount Hope; non-members pay $15. NE
FRIDAY, JULY 10
MUSIC
Trashy Annie
Abilene Bar & Lounge, abilenebarandlounge.com
High-energy, gritty Southern punk rock led by Austin’s Annie Davis, who took home the Americana Artist of the Year award at the 2023 CMA of Texas ceremony. 9:15 p.m. $10. NE
What does America at 250 sound like? Conductor Evan Roider leads the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra in a program of film scores and works by composers from the good ol’ U.S. of A. The music begins at 6 p.m., the event is free and lawn chairs are encouraged. PH
SATURDAY, JULY 11
MUSIC
“Rainbowland
Rhapsody: Songs of Dolly Parton”
Hochstein Performance Hall, thergmc.org/events
The Rochester Gay Men’s Chorus presents this tribute to the iconic Dolly Parton, also featuring the Flower City Pride Band, as is Pride Month tradition. Bring your sparkliest rhinestones to this 7:30 p.m. show. $15-30. NE
FESTIVAL
Corn Hill Arts Festival
Corn Hill Neighborhood, cornhillartsfestival.com
A tradition dating back a half-century, the Corn Hill Arts Festival revels in the cultural contributions of local artists (including an Emerging Artists Expo) and musicians. Plus, there are beer and wine gardens, family-friendly attractions like the Fairy Houses Showcase and bounce houses. This can’t-miss festival runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Free; all ages welcome.
LEAH STACY
COMMUNITY
Roc Con Poder
International Plaza, cityofrochester. gov/internationalplaza
As one of the International Plaza’s signature events, Roc Con Poder is a festive day of music, cultural performances and community for all ages. This festival, which runs 1-7 p.m. at 828 N. Clinton Ave., showcases local and regional talent
while highlighting the strength and creativity of Rochester’s Latino community and beyond. The Plaza maintains a small parking lot onsite; carpooling, walking, cycling and public transit use are encouraged for attendees. LS
SUNDAY, JULY 12
MUSIC
An Evening with Band of Horses & Dinosaur Jr.
Point of the Bluff, concertsatpob.com
Continuing a streak of booking unexpected acts to play their vineyard venue in the heart of the Finger Lakes, Concerts at Point of the Bluff will feature indie rockers Band of Horses and Dinosaur Jr. Doors at 5 p.m., music at 7 p.m. for the Sunday night show; Band of Horses will celebrate 20 years since their 2006 album “Everything All The Time,” and Dinosaur Jr. will perform “Where You Been” in its entirety. Tickets start at $68 plus fees for general admission. LS
HOLIDAY
America 250 Official Celebration
ESL Ballpark, america250rochester.com
Visit Rochester, Monroe County and the City of Rochester band together to gather the region for an official “America 250 Celebration,” a free, once-in-a-generation, communitywide event in honor of America’s 250th anniversary. The festivities, sponsored by COMIDA, take place from 5-9 p.m. and include live music, food and drinks, community exhibits, sports and skills games, interactive all-ages
activities and a spectacular fireworks finale at dusk. Open to all ages; no tickets or RSVP required. LS
COMMUNITY
Rainbow Ride and ROC Pride Picnic
Genesee Valley Park, rainbowseniorsroc.org
The Rochester Rainbow Riders host a casually paced, no-traffic bike ride along the trails near Genesee Valley Park. Take in the scenery by the river and canal, make friends and end with the 54th annual ROC Pride Picnic, family friendly gathering at 235 Elmwood Ave. with raffles, music, artists and food. Bike ride 11:30 a.m.3 p.m.; picnic 12-6 p.m. Free and open to all. NE
MONDAY, JULY 13
MUSIC
Hudson Freeman
The Bug Jar, bugjar.com
With “If You Know Me,” Hudson Freeman sounded the string bend heard round the infinite scroll. The Brooklyn singer-songwriter wrote a great song and memed it beyond recognition on social media in the name of tenacious self-promo. Did it work? John Mayer covered it, so you tell me. With local support from Bugcatcher and Comfy. Doors at 7 p.m., music at 8. Tickets $20+. PH
MUSIC
Charlie Parr
The Bop Shop, bopshoprecords.com
Country blues has rarely sounded better than when it emanates from Charlie Parr’s resonator. The singersongwriter returns to the red-curtain backdrop of the Bop Shop for an 8 p.m. show, but there are no frills to be found. Just a rustic workingman’s take on the blues, complete with flannel. $30 tickets. PH
TUESDAY, JULY 14
MUSIC
RPO Outdoors
Maplewood Rose Garden, rpo.org
There is no shortage of outdoor symphony shows to indulge this summer. The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra hits the road with performances at Bristol Mountain, SUNY Geneseo and the Genesee Country Village & Museum, but this 6:30 p.m. free post-work show is right at home. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and catch a string quartet in the rose garden. PH
WEDNESDAY, JULY 15
WRITING
Writing Your Way Forward
Writers & Books, writersandbooks.org
This reflective writing workshop is for adults looking to explore their life experiences and inner experiences in a group setting with a focus on curiosity and discovery. All skill levels welcome. 6-8 p.m. $40 members, $60 nonmembers. NE
MUSIC
Garden Vibes Concert Series
George Eastman Museum, eastman.org/events/live-music
The beloved outdoor series returns this summer with performances by bands from across the state. Set against the stunning backdrop of the Museum’s Schuyler C. Townson Terrace Garden and the historic mansion, this outdoor series invites music lovers to the East Lawn to enjoy three unforgettable Wednesday evenings for the whole family (July 15
and August 19 remain). Blending the grounding sounds of classic roots with messages for modern times, the Finger Lakes-based Mosaic Foundation (with members hailing from Ghana, Hong Kong, and Jamaica) plays July 15. Tickets $15 general admission, $12 museum members, free to children ages 12 and under with paid adult admission. Purchase onsite the day of the event. No refunds; no rain dates. LS
CONTINUED
THURSDAY, JULY 16
MUSIC
Almost Queen and Philadelphia Freedom
Martin Luther King Jr. Park, rochesterevents.com/partyinthepark
What do Rami Malek’s 2019 Oscarwinning performance and a celebrated tribute band have in common? They’re both Almost Queen. The four-piece comes to downtown Rochester to rock Party in the Park along with the Elton John-themed tribute act Philadelphia Freedom, complete with fringe and sunglasses. 5 p.m. Tickets start at $7. PH
FESTIVAL
Rochester Comedy Festival
Comedy @ The Carlson and others, carlsoncomedy.com
The first-ever Rochester Comedy Festival, a four-day event that brings together top touring comedians, rising local talent and a diverse lineup of live shows celebrating stand-up, improv and podcasting takes place July 16-19. Kicking off the festival is the finale of Rochester’s Funniest Stand-Up Contest, where local contestants will compete for a $1,000 cash prize, a paid spot on the “Best of the Fest” showcase and the title of “Rochester’s Funniest Person 2026.” The finals will be hosted by Rochester native comedian and improviser Tommy Bechtold (“Jimmy Kimmel Live,” “Abbott Elementary,” “The Middle”). The festival will conclude with a special headlining performance from national touring comedian Pete Correale on July 19. Tickets available a la carte; most events 21 and over. LS
FRIDAY, JULY 17
ART
“Locals! Experimental Variety Show”
Visual Studies Workshop, vsw.org
The second-annual “Locals!” offers a platform for experimenters to showcase “media, performance and everything in between.” Niche short films, projected presentations, audiovisual acts that defy classification — all will fill the program at the VSW Theater for this 7 p.m. show. PH
FILM
Octavia Spencer
George Eastman Museum, eastman.org
She won an Oscar for “The Help” and was nominated for two more, thanks to her work in “Hidden Figures” and “The Shape of Water.” But have you ever seen Octavia Spencer in “Ma”?
A riveting, disturbing, absolutely wonderful performance — the kind she’ll be recognized for when she receives the George Eastman Award at this 8 p.m. ceremony. Tickets for the gala run $125-$400. PH
COMMUNITY
Ice Cream Social
Lugia’s Ice Cream, campaignd.com
Cool off at this social outing with ice cream and sweet treats hosted by Campaign D, an Autism-led initiative to build acceptance, community and friendship. The deliciousness happens 3-5 p.m. at 4719 Lyell Rd. NE
SATURDAY, JULY 18
CULTURE
Rochester Pride
South Wedge, trilliumhealth.org/rochester-pride
The annual celebration returns with a whimsical theme: “Enchanted Pride.” Perfect for painting your face and showing your true colors in the parade, which begins at 11 a.m. at South Avenue and Science Parkway. The festival follows until 6 p.m., featuring food/bev, live music and plenty more celebration. PH
MUSIC
Death Cab for Cutie
CMAC, cmacevents.com
Ben Gibbard’s obit will (rightly) begin with a mention of “I Will Follow You Into the Dark.” But he released it more than 20 years ago. Death Cab itself is different, and Gibbard’s evolved plenty. Case in point: “I Built You a Tower,” the band’s great new album that gleans with an icy post-punk edge. The summer concert crowd (rightly) demands “I Will Follow You Into the Dark,” but they’ll stay for future favorites like “Punching the Flowers.” With support from Japanese Breakfast. 7:30 p.m. music. Tickets $40+. PH
MUSIC
Skachester Music
Extravaganza
Tropix Eatery & Lounge
Local favorites Some Ska Band and Turkey Blaster Omega anchor this skacentric celebration, but the lineup also features Montreal’s Planet Smashers, Boston’s Nick & The Adversaries, New England’s Cenzo and California’s Chris Murray. It’s an all day affair, so make sure to stretch before skanking. $30 advance, $35 day of show. Doors open at 3 p.m. Pick it up! PH
SUNDAY, JULY 19
OPERA
“Glory Denied”
RIT Panara Theatre, fingerlakesopera.org
Even 50 years after its end, the Vietnam War echoes throughout American culture. In Cipullo and Philpot’s opera “Glory Denied,” the POW experience both in and out of battle is delivered harrowingly. Finger Lakes Opera’s presentation stars active duty Sergeant Ben Edquist; the production team worked alongside Veterans Outreach Center to tell the story authentically. A panel discussion follows the 85-minute opera. 2 p.m. $38-$66. PH
FESTIVAL Oatka Festival
Downtown LeRoy, oatkafestival.org
Returning for its 36th annual year, LeRoy’s Oatka Festival begins with a gala music parade at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 18, a car show at 11 a.m. Sunday, July 19 and a duck derby on Oatka Creek at 5 p.m. the same day to close out the fest. The festival will run 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday with an arts and crafts show overlooking the creek, food and drink options and plenty of family friendly activities. Pets are not allowed. LS
MONDAY, JULY 20
MUSIC
The Blue Barn Cats
The Little Cafe, thelittle.org/music
Something about hearing hot clubstyle jazz in an actual cafe simply hits different. Don’t know what I mean? Try this experiment. Catch The Blue Barn Cats, who embody what Django and Stéphane did best, on an otherwise mundane Monday evening and see how your mood improves. In residency every Monday in July. 7-9 p.m. PH
TUESDAY, JULY 21
WELLNESS
Yoga on the Riverway
Austin Steward Plaza, rochesterdowntown.com
Spend a lunch hour centering yourself. From 12 to 1 p.m., this free yoga class provides great views of the Genesee River and a sense of community. Even if you’re feeling tight, it’s nothing a few deep breaths and a scenic vista can’t fix. PH
WEDNESDAY, JULY 22
MUSIC
Dave Matthews Band
Darien Lake Amphitheater, darienlakeamp.com
Take it from a dude who saw one of LeRoi Moore’s last shows: you simply do not want to miss DMB at Darien Lake. Even without Moore, who died in 2009, and other members who’ve departed over the years, the band remains a live power house with killer setlists. Just last month in Queens, they ripped “#41” into “Satellite” into “Pig” into “Lie in Our Graves.” If you understand any of this, tickets start at $69. Music’s at 7:30 p.m. PH
FESTIVAL ChamberFest
Canandaigua
Multiple venues, chamberfestcanandaigua.com
This milestone year marks a new chapter for the festival as renowned pianist Audrey Andrist joins cellist Amy Sue Barston as co-artistic director. The classical festival celebrates all things chamber music with Bridget Kibbey & Friends (Kibbey has been dubbed “Yo Yo Ma of the Harp”) as a headliner. There’s
also a July 23 concert paired with a five-course meal at The Lake House on Canandaigua and an evening where musicians of all ages and levels gather to perform a shared repertoire from memory at Cobblestone Arts Center on July 25. Tickets available a la carte online. LS
THURSDAY, JULY 23
FILM
“Caribbean Currents”
WXXI Studios, instagram.com/farrinmovie
Is there anything more American than a good coming-of-age tale? The upcoming indie film “Farrin” counts itself one, as it also explores themes of identity, family and migration. To help finish its production, this gala runs 6:30-8:30 p.m, featuring a live performance from Garth Fagan Dance. $25-$55.20. PH
FRIDAY, JULY 24
MUSIC
Midnight Cruisers
Brockport Welcome Center, brockportny.org
A little bit country and a little bit rock and roll, local classic rock cover band Midnight Cruisers soundtrack a summer evening out on the canal with this show beginning at 7 p.m. Skate a little lower now! PH
THEATER
“The Dresser”
MuCCC, muccc.org
The Ensemble Theatre Company of New York presents this Ronald Harwood tale of an aging actor and his personal assistant set during a war-torn WWII-era Britain. Directed by Kevin G. Shinnick, who continues the theater group’s commitment to staging forgotten and retired works. 7:30 p.m. PH
“Never tired of ballin’ so it’s on to the next sport.” He’ll get the chance to live it during a headlining show at downtown Rochester’s iconic ballpark. With his 12th album out this month and two decades of radio-fire singles under his belt (that he spent a stack on), Rozay has no shortage of material to get the crowd moving. He’ll do that beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $25 but increase on the day of show. PH
MUSIC
Alison Krauss & Union Station
CMAC, cmacevents.com
Summer in the Finger Lakes means many things. But undeniably, it means bluegrass. And if it’s bluegrass ye seek, look no further than Alison Krauss & Union Station. With star dobro player Jerry Douglas back in the lineup, the tried-and-true group brings its latest album, 2025’s “Acadia,” to life at CMAC with support from Theo Lawrence. Music’s at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $42. PH
FESTIVAL
Indigenous Music & Arts Festival
Ganondagan State Historic Site, ganondagan.org
This annual event, held at the Seneca Art & Culture Center at Ganondagan, showcases Haudenosaunee and Indigenous cultures. From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. July 25 and 26, enjoy dance, music, storytelling, traditional craft demonstrations, an arts market, children’s activities, raffles, guided trail walks, gallery tours, food and
more. ASL interpretation will be provided at the mainstage throughout performances. LS
SUNDAY, JULY 26
FESTIVAL
Waterfront Art Festival
Charles E. Sexton Memorial Park, Webster, waterfrontartfestival.com
As its name suggests, the setting for Waterfront Art Festival is the stuff of an idyllic summer. The event, now in its 53rd year, features hundreds of visual artists as well as a full lineup of live music, plus beer, wine and cider. The fest goes from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
on Saturday, July 25 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, July 26. LS
FESTIVAL
Spencerport Canal Days
Downtown Spencerport, spencerportcanaldays.com
Perhaps there’s no better source of local historical pride that also makes for a prime festival venue than the Erie Canal. Spencerport hosts its 44th Canal Days July 25-26 this year, and as always, you can meet with arts and crafts vendors, grab some grub, sample some wine and enjoy live music. Past years have brought classic car shows and chances to win prizes in the Canaligator Race. All ages welcome; free admission. PH
MONDAY,
JULY 27
ART
“Held in Atmosphere”
International Art Acquisitions, internationalartacquisitions.com
The landscapes conjured by French
painter Hervé Lenouvel call out and demand attention. Yet they’re not showy, just complex and hard to pin down as they trail into abstraction. The artist’s work is on display in this exhibition which runs through July 31. The gallery is open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. PH
FILM
Ames Amzalak Rochester Jewish Film Festival
JCC, jccrochester.org
This year’s programming spans a Gustav Mahler documentary, a Dutch narrative using sound in creative ways, a look at beloved comic actor Charles Grodin and more. July 26 through August 2. Films are presented at the JCC Hart Theater and at the Eastman Museum’s Dryden Theatre. JCC members pay $180 for the all-festival pass; $220 for non-members. Individual film tickets available. PH
TUESDAY, JULY 28
MUSIC
RPO Outdoors
International Plaza, rpo.org/summer
This free show features the Marimba Band filling North Clinton Avenue with gentle, twinkling sounds. Music’s at 6:30 p.m. Rain location to be announced (just in case). Bring your blanket and/or lawn chair and feel your ears escape. PH
WEDNESDAY, JULY 29
MUSIC
Cat Power
Smith Opera House, dspshows.com
The last time Chan Marshall came round this way, she played Bob Dylan songs in Ithaca. This trek brings the artist known as Cat Power to Geneva to celebrate one of her biggest albums: 2006’s “The Greatest.” She’ll run through the soulinspired album in its entirety. Tickets $44.18-$65.69. Music starts at 8 p.m. PH
WELLNESS Fitness in
Washington Square
Washington Square Park, rochesterdowntown.com
Instructors from Vault Rochester lead free classes every Wednesday to help keep folks fit, mere steps from the statues. This week, it’s a Vinyasa-based yoga class based around “movement, breath, balance and fun.” The free class runs 5:30-6:30 p.m. Bring your own mat. Registration recommended. PH
THURSDAY, JULY 30
MUSIC
Public Water Supply
Granite Mills Park, hochstein.org
A band called Public Water Supply playing at High Falls, where gallons of water rush onward every second as a living metaphor of the relentless forward march of time and reminder to enjoy every moment because this is all we have? Count me in. Music starts at 12:10 for this free Hochstein at High Falls performance. PH
FESTIVAL Puerto Rican Festival
Parcel 5, pr-festival.com
To celebrate its 56th anniversary, this high-energy festival — one of the longest-running ethnic festivals in the region — will once again take place at Parcel 5. The commemoration of Puerto Rican culture features three days (July 30-August 1) of live music, cultural cuisine and art, celebrity guests and pride. Free and open to all ages. LS
FRIDAY, JULY 31
FESTIVAL Lima Crossroads Festival
Downtown Lima, limafest.org
This festival in Livingston County is all about the blues — and the heat. The 2026 performer lineup boasts four nights (July 30-August 2) with two tents full of acts like the Pete Griffith Group, Steve Grills and the Roadmasters, Destini Rawls,
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Sugar Ray Rayford; a BBQ Rib Fest Competition adds additional temperature. There are also family events and activities for kids such as a scavenger hunt and a bounce house, an old-time jail, a 5K run and more. LS
FOOD + BEV
Food Truck Friday
Washington Square Park, rochesterdowntown.com
From 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m., Macarollin’ and Roc Bowlevard will be dishing out delicious grub while folk/Americana artist Matt Plessinger provides the tunes, as curated by The Local Sound Collaborative. Miss this one? No sweat; come hungry every Friday through August 28. PH
SPORTS
National Silver Ball Tournament
Genesee Country Village & Museum, gcvm.org
Woolen uniforms, brown balls and double-knobbed bats await. Indeed, the GCV&M features “one of the nation’s most comprehensive 19th-century base ball programs,” and if you’re wondering what separates “base ball” (two words) and “baseball” (one word), grab a spot near the diamond and find out. The tournament runs through August 2. Full schedule online. PH
SATURDAY, AUGUST 1
MUSIC
Plasmfest
Bar Bad Ending, animiculum.com/ plasmfest-2026
This inaugural concert celebrates the locally rooted musical collective Animiculum, featuring performances by Ben Baker’s That One Crocodile, the psych-rock Rectangle Creep, Pittsburgh’s Cul de Sac Kids, Rochester mainstay Nod, the live debut of R&B
band The Wine Glasses and more. Doors 5 p.m., music 6. $10. PH
FESTIVAL
Pan Afrikan Festival
Highland Park Bowl, panaffestival.org
Formerly called the Afrikan American Festival and currently in its 18th year, Rochester A.B.O.V.E.’s one-day festival (held this year on National Black Business Day) at the Highland Park Bowl celebrates and unites the various cultures of the African diaspora. Expect plenty of live music throughout the day, plus food, family friendly activities and artisan vendors. LS
MUSIC
Thornéd Crown
Bookeater, instagram.com/bookeaterroc Self-styled “dungeon-folk” group
Thornéd Crown celebrates the release of its debut album with this Bookeater gig. Support from Ellarr, Jennifer Robin and Ronnie. 5:30-9:30 p.m. PH
SUNDAY, AUGUST 2
FESTIVAL
Railroad Street Fest
Railroad Street, railroadstreetfest.com
After a successful kickoff in 2025, Railroad Street Fest returns, beginning at 12 p.m. Join anchor locations like Rohrbach Brewing Company, Bitter Honey, Katboocha and, of course, the Rochester Public Market in celebrating this vibrant corridor. Updates, including live music and family fun, to be announced. PH
MUSIC REVIEWS
“BRUTALIST”
BY ANDREW CLONINGER
There is a lot to process on Andrew Cloninger’s new album, “Brutalist.” Processing, in fact, could serve as the guiding concept behind the album. Song titles like “Archive” and “Field Notes” suggest raw sonic material of various sorts underwent a careful process of refinement, sifting or even distilling.
Instead of clean, repeatable melodies and chord progressions propelling songs forward, the Canandaigua artist lets simple melodic fragments, riffs and drones weave together and congeal into tape-saturated textures. That’s not to say this album is high on polish — the opposite, in fact.
Recorded to four-track cassette, “Brutalist” is a drone-ier, noisier take on lo-fi recordings like Arthur Russell’s “World of Echo,” but also more fleshed out, instrument-forward than William Basinski’s “The Disintegration Loops.” It resides somewhere on that wonderful tape spectrum.
For instance, if you were to take any of the ghostlier instrumental sections of “Nebraska” — Bruce Springsteen’s accidental entry into the genre — loop it, cut the speed in half, crank the echo and gently jam over it with various instruments and effects, you’d get pretty close to opening track “Snowflakes in December.”
Other songs move in surprising directions, like “Jellybean,” which begins with ethereal vocal washes reminiscent of Julianna Barwick before quickly shifting into something less angelic and closer to early Grouper. Certain songs like “Hudson” and “Charlevoix” recall Cloninger’s work with his Wren Cove duo, incorporating haunting cello from Allegra Whiting of A Girl Named Genny and violin from Chris Stephens of Aaron DeRuyter & The Confluence.
Taken together, “Brutalist” is a collection of well-crafted recordings that never overstays its welcome. The songs are surprisingly brief, fleeting even. The longest (“Type Mod”) comes in barely past six minutes. The brevity works. Cloninger knows when to stop processing, and that restraint keeps listeners engaged from start to finish.
— LOU BATTAGLIA
“ULTRA INSTINCT” BY
HIRKO
Ego is a sticky thing. Brian Wilson famously took acid and wrote a song about letting go of his own, only to be persuaded by Mike Love to tone down the psychedelia. (“I Know There’s an Answer” still goes.)
The Rochester rapper Robert Hirko, who uses his last name to release music, has now made two projects probing into his own ego, among other aspects of his identity. Last year’s “Ultra Hypnotic” was a brief journey; Hirko’s latest, “Ultra Instinct,” released in May, finds him riding the world’s metaphorical waves as they continue to rush around him.
The music suggests otherwise. Occasionally anxious but always reaching for whimsy, “Ultra Instinct” isn’t afraid to turn the volume down on the beat, allowing blooming keyboard sonics and glimmering soul samples to take the spotlight for a song or two.
Hirko’s tracks like “Hydra” and “Satisfied” rattle with a booming low end without sounding overly nostalgic. Yet there’s no mistaking how “Ultra Instinct” is firmly entrenched in a rhythm-heavy East Coast hip-hop tradition.
At the same time, flashes of contemporary influence appear like lightning strikes: “Ultra” bangs with the same bounce as Tommy Richman’s “Million Dollar Baby” while “Pride & Joy” moves with a gentle R&B sway.
Though he’s based in the Flower City now, Hirko originally hails from York, Pennsylvania — not exactly known as a rap haven, though it is the home of 1990s alternative rock radio heavyweight band Live. There’s commonality: postindustrial 19th-century northeastern cities that don’t see nearly enough sun. The kinds of places where ego remains complicated and thus worth examining.
In an age where the most famous rapper in the world is an isolated millionaire sending icy dispatches from his mansion, Hirko sounds refreshingly eager to unpack his own past and look toward his future.
— PATRICK HOSKEN
“HARD CANDY FOR HARD TIMES” BY HANDSY GRANDMA
Listeners who gravitate toward punk rock, fast-paced music that makes them jump as well as engaging messaging will feel a sense of belonging with Handsy Grandma. The band’s “Hard Candy for Hard Times,” available July 24, brings all the energy with 16 dynamic tracks ready to pump up listeners for the heat of summer.
The Rochester-based trio with an unforgettable name made their first debut back in 2025 with the EP “Sweaty and Weird.” Relatively new to the scene in this lineup, the group is here to showcase a penchant for punk on its first full-length album, “Hard Candy for Hard Times.”
Album opener “Digital Ghost” introduces Handsy Grandma’s gnarly skate punk sound, turning up the hype with breakneck instrumentals and vocals. This is what a solid day at the skatepark sounds like, sweat and spirit seeping through the speakers.
The band’s energy is high throughout the whole album, like on the groovy “No Escape,” the unapologetic “Alien” or the melodic anthem “Lie to Me.” It feels almost wrong to listen alone in a room rather than with a circle pit forming around oneself, pulsating along with the music. (Don’t miss out on experiencing the album live at its July 24 release show at Bar Bad Ending, 875 Monroe Ave.)
Handsy Grandma displays versatility on the final track, an acoustic version of “All These Years,” which translates beautifully to a gentler approach with dual vocals serenading. The power of the original is not lost; it remains a strong song in its raw form.
Beyond the music, the gritty and eyecatching artwork hits like a punch. The colorful cartoon, packed with detail, is something to examine and admire. Its loud style provides the perfect backdrop to “Hard Candy for Hard Times,” bold and impossible to ignore.
—LEAH JOY
“ROSA DE INVERNO”
BY ROSA BOEMIA
For the uninitiated, Rosa Boêmia is sultry summer samba, sans singing. The Rochester three-piece’s name translates from Portuguese to English as “bohemian pink,” and they play choro, an upbeat, classical style of Brazilian music with roots in 19th-century Rio de Janeiro.
If you’re unfamiliar with choro (as I was), “Rosa de Inverno” is a great entry point. On nine instrumental pieces, the compositions conjure a mood that, like jazz, reflects one of the more positive parts of the colonial encounter. The music draws on African rhythmic traditions and European forms, leaving lots of latitude to improvise. Although choro translates roughly as “little lament,” the pieces here are anything but sad; they’re bright and buoyant.
The force behind Rosa Boemia’s compositions is Ken Luk, a musicology faculty member at the Eastman School of Music, who plays the bandolim (a Brazilian/Portuguese mandolin) and other instruments. In lieu of traditional drumming, Darien Lamen plays the pandeiro, a Brazilian percussion instrument that sounds like a louder tambourine. Bernardo Marcondes Rodrigues rounds out the trio on sevenstring guitar, giving them a distinctly Brazilian foundation.
Rosa Boêmia has flair and demands to be heard, but the music is easy listening, virtuosic and relaxed. Captive to Latin rhythms, listeners might hear New Orleans on this album and Rosa Boêmia would sound right at home in that city. Lucky for us, they call Rochester home.
A standout track is “Um Pouco, Não,” in which guest flautist Laura Lentz adds a graceful overlay to the ensemble while the rhythm keeps the piece moving. The blend of polish and improvisation, along with the music’s larger Creole inheritance, comes through on “Não o Gato, Por Favor,” featuring guest violinist Marcos Kreutzer. African rhythms intertwine with European harmonies to create something neither tradition could have come up with on its own.
— BRENDAN DABKOWSKI
Rainbow connection
BY PATRICK HOSKEN PATRICK@ROCCITYMAG.COM
When Brian Hurlburt applied to host a radio show on low-power community broadcaster WAYOFM, the station didn’t technically exist yet. This was 2015, and organizers were still laying cables and installing power racks before launching. Hurlburt wanted in.
He’d worked in radio before, hosting a show in Batavia, and he dreamed of returning to the microphone with a purpose.
“I had a desire to get LGBTQ+ views out into our community,” Hurlburt said. “I heard about this station that was going to sign on the air and my late husband, Jim, encouraged me to go for it because I wasn’t 100% sure.”
WAYO sent its inaugural broadcast on January 4, 2016. “The Rainbow Roc Show,” Hurlburt’s creation, premiered soon after as one of the station’s very first programs. It still airs from 1-3 p.m. every Monday.
A decade — and 500 shows — later, “Rainbow Roc” has become a staple of Rochester radio, a haven for frank discussions of queer issues, a de facto news show with a tenacious, remarkably current lens on both local and national issues as well as a home for spotlighting queer historical figures who have changed the world.
In other words, the kind of
program that’s perfectly at home on WAYO.
“We play music from singers and songwriters that are LGBTQ+. We play bands that might have a member that’s LGBTQ+, or we’ll play people who are supportive of the LGBTQ+ community,” Hurlburt said. “Or we’ll throw in whatever we damn well please.”
The “we” grew quickly. Hurlburt added Michael Lill as cohost because, as Hurlburt said, “I forgot how to talk on the radio by myself.” The core of the show became Hurlburt and Lill having candid conversations with each other and some notable guests. One of their first interviews was Rochester drag icon Mrs. Kasha Davis, who has since appeared on the show several times.
“We ran Roc Pride from 2012 until 2015,” Lill said. “We got done volunteering doing that, because it was a lot. We were doing 60 hours a week extra just to try and get the Pride fest going.”
A radio show seemed like a less intense but still meaningful way of maintaining their advocacy, especially as the roster expanded.
Hurlburt invited the “charismatic” and showtuneloving Christopher Hennelly, Lill’s partner at the financial management business The Christopher Group, to join. A regular at the courthouse and at press conferences, Hennelly began unpacking complex, contemporary issues during the show, including homelessness, Medicare and parole.
“I’m more of a news addict,” Hennelly said. “I can’t help myself.”
And then there’s Silent Greg, a friend who hung around the studio long enough to become an actual cohost (when he chooses to speak).
“Brian would always tell me, ‘I envision one day where we have groups of different people instead of just the two of us,’ Lill said. “‘I want to have a roundtable, like an old “Charlie Rose” type thing, and get people of different opinions.’”
Kat Sweeney is one of them. She now provides a segment called “Herstory,” inspired by a spate of drag queens getting banned from performing in different communities. Each week, she spotlights an author, comic artist, actor, activist or notable LGBTQ+ community member.
It’s part of what makes “Rainbow Roc” special, she said.
“(The show) also provides a way for people to feel like they identify with somebody, because we all have different situations,” Sweeney said. “I have adult kids. I’m neurodivergent. Brian is dealing with some disability stuff. People listening to us often get a chance to say, ‘I empathize with that. I recognize that.’ I think people, especially right now in this community, really need to feel validated and seen and heard.”
Here’s how “Rainbow Roc” works. Each Sunday evening, Hurlburt prepares some songs — like a modern cover of Diana Ross’ gay anthem “I’m Coming Out” or a track from queer “American Idol” heartthrob David Archuleta — while the hosts assemble on Zoom for the episode recording.
After a block of music, the conversations begin.
The upcoming Pride parade route. A discussion about how many smaller Pride celebrations have become so reliant on corporate donors that, when the companies change their support as the political tides shift, the festivals suffer. The many adaptations of the TV series “Queer as Folk.”
None of the discourse would be possible without WAYO station manager Max Kelley, the hosts said. Once COVID hit, Kelley helped set up the mobile recording model the show still uses.
He’s pleased to see how “Rainbow Roc” perfectly embodies the station’s community mission.
“WAYO doesn’t necessarily have a news program or anything like that,” Kelley said. “But Christopher spends a lot of time watching court cases locally and
all sorts of local events and things in that social justice space going on in the community, and then uses the show as a platform to raise awareness, which I think is really cool.”
Hennelly believes in the importance of his work covering economic challenges, domestic violence in the queer community and trans prisoners who may be forced to de-transition due to draconian policy. But he also knows it’s only one segment of the larger patchwork of “Rainbow Roc.”
“These are serious issues, but that cannot make two hours of radio,” he said. “Thank god these folks here say, ‘OK, come on back out of that!’ I’m grateful because then it does reground me (in) the joy.”
Joy may, in fact, be the center of the show. As Hurlburt and Lill look ahead to their next decade on the air, they’ve got jovial dreams.
“My biggest hope is that (the news) is not always going to be so hard and dark,” Lill said. “When we first started the show, we had just gotten (federal) gay marriage and we had more artists coming out, and it seems like we’re seeing that kind of go back in. That’s one of the main reasons we continue the show: it’s needed right now.”
Hurlburt, naturally, stays focused on the music.
“I would love to see the first annual ‘Rainbow Roc’ LGBTQ+ concert type deal where there’s four or six bands and we all gather in the park,” he said.
“Sounds like Pride!” Hennelly quipped.
Hurlburt admitted it does, before adding a final novena: “Hopefully with a little bit more money, we can bring David Archuleta.” wayofm.org/shows/ rainbow-roc-show
Patrick Hosken is CITY’s arts and culture reporter. He was formerly the music editor at MTV News and a producer at Buffalo Toronto Public Media.
Christopher Hennelly, Michael Lill, Kat Sweeney and Brian Hurlburt host
‘The Rainbow Roc Show' on WAYO-FM, along with Silent Greg (not pictured).
PHOTO BY JACOB WALSH
Revolutionary reckoning
BY BRIAN SHARP
BSHARP@WXXI.ORG
In a clearing atop one of the tallest hills in Mount Hope Cemetery is the family burial plot of Nathaniel Rochester. His tombstone overlooks the historic cemetery, the University of Rochester athletic fields and, in the distance, the city skyline.
“Have you ever been up here?” asks senior tour guide Dennis Carr as he reaches the hilltop.
On this tour, Carr is highlighting notable burials with connections to the Revolutionary War; Col. Rochester earned his rank in the early years of battle. Also in the cemetery is Alexander Millener, a drummer boy enlisted in the First New York Regiment by his stepfather at the age of 10. And near a marker honoring the 80 or so Revolutionary War veterans buried here are the headstones of Lt. Thomas Boyd and Sgt. Michael Parker, who were ambushed, tortured and killed in Livingston County.
The Revolutionary War is central to the United States’ origin story, especially during the ongoing commemorations as the nation marks 250 years since declaring its independence. Along with those remembrances comes reflection on what the years following have brought.
How America’s 250th presents an opportunity for honest regional conversations.
“When we began thinking of ways to honor this milestone year, the phrase ‘evolution of the revolution’ came to the surface,”
Monroe County executive Adam Bello said this spring as he announced a slate of local events.
“It’s a reflection of our deep indigenous roots, groundbreaking Civil Rights leadership and remarkable contributions to science, industry and arts and culture.”
Inscribed on the granite edifice of Col. Rochester’s tombstone is the famous Latin epitaph: “Si monumentum requiris circumspice,” which translates to “If you seek his monument, look around you.”
The behest leads to a complicated, painful and conflicting story.
CHALLENGING THE NARRATIVE
Tens of thousands died in the Revolutionary War, more from disease than battle injuries.
“These wars were horrific, and they touched everybody,” said Phyllis Breen, who leads the local Daughters of the American Revolution chapter.
That included enslaved Black
soldiers and laborers who fought on both sides, forced into battle or promised — often falsely — that they could win their freedom; and the Haudenosaunee, whose territories were ravaged and whose people died in battle or succumbed to exposure or starvation.
Colonial women, too, “sacrificed terrible,” Breen said, both while supporting the soldiers, as the ragtag regimes relied on families for necessities, and as widows left without support for large families.
“That’s the importance of history — to study it and learn from it,” Breen said. “Not to try to erase it like sometimes people
want to do.”
And, for Michael Oberg, a history professor who focuses on Native American studies at SUNY Geneseo, to question.
“I’ve heard a lot of speaking about the unfinished revolution,” he said. “But after 250 years, if we have yet to create a society based upon the premise that all men are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, and that among these are life, liberty and pursuit of happiness — if we haven’t achieved that yet, maybe it’s possible a significant number of Americans don’t (and) haven’t believed in that.”
Oberg runs a grant program that pairs students with historians across the state to work on projects directly tied to the America at 250 anniversary and American independence.
“But I find the discussion of the revolution fairly deficient,” he said. “New York could not have become the Empire State without a systematic program of Indigenous dispossession, and that program of dispossession was launched on turbo during the American Revolution.”
PHOTO BY JACOB WALSH
PHOTO BY JACOB WALSH
“It gives us an opportunity to be able to have those discussions, to listen to different perspectives. But, again, within our own communities, making sure that our people know and understand the sacrifices that our ancestors went through.”
TRUTH VERSUS FOLKLORE
What made Col. Rochester notable was not his military career, which he spent under the North Carolina militia. He became a land speculator, politician, self-taught businessman and slaveowner who founded a city far from home that ironically, after his death, became a hub of the abolitionist movement.
Millener was born in Quebec, died in Ogden at age 103 and is, to this day, memorialized in historical markers as a bodyguard and drummer boy for Gen. George Washington. Neither is true, though Millener did meet Washington and had an extensive military career.
Boyd and Parker hailed from Pennsylvania and are remembered by some as martyrs who were tortured and killed for the patriot cause. Their ambush marked the westernmost point of the war in New York, and of a scorched-earth military mission that many historians now see as a genocidal campaign against the Senecas.
“No Continental line soldiers were born and raised in the Genesee Valley,” said Livingston County historian Holly Watson. “They would have been coming from New England and settling here later in their life.”
Because of that, many local communities don’t have a connection to the Revolutionary War.
“For better or worse, we do have this connection,” Watson said, referring to Boyd and Parker and what’s known as the Sullivan Campaign as “a thorny subject, difficult to talk about and not the fondest memories for many.”
Here again, Oberg is direct.
“Boyd and Parker were seen as martyrs to the cause of white settlement and white expansion,” he said, adding that accounts of the time are clear. “They weren’t very good at doing what they were doing. They were idiots. And they picked a fight — they didn’t know (who) they were fighting with and got wiped out pretty quickly. They met the fate of people who attacked Haudenosaunee towns. There was nothing special about their treatment at all.”
AN OPPORTUNITY
Seneca Nation of Indians President J.C. Seneca said the Sullivan Campaign is still talked about; it’s still part of a healing process. And maybe the 250th anniversary can be part of that process.
“It gives us an opportunity to be able to have those discussions, to
listen to different perspectives,” he said. “But, again, within our own communities, making sure that our people know and understand the sacrifices that our ancestors went through.”
Back on the hilltop, Carr — a founding member, past president and current trustee of the Friends of Mount Hope Cemetery — talks about the “monuments” credited to Col. Rochester. Ensuring the Erie Canal routed through his fledging Rochesterville was a big one, transforming the village into one of America’s first boomtowns. The canal, though, was devastating to the Haudenosaunee, slicing through ancestral lands and causing mass dispossession.
“Nathaniel Rochester did a lot of good things,” Carr continues. “The city we’re standing in would not be the city we know ... That doesn’t forgive any of his other activities. I think he was a man of his time, and I prefer to see him with all the warts and blemishes of any historical figure.”
Brian Sharp is an editor and reporter at WXXI who has been covering Rochester since 2005.
The drum of Alexander Millener. PHOTO BY MAX SCHULTE
On
the poignancy and purpose of cinematic presidents.
The eagle has landed
BY JOHANNA LESTER
Have you heard? America is celebrating its 250th birthday this year. And while, at times, that feels like throwing a party for an unruly teenager who’s been sent to their room, it’s also a crucial moment to reflect on how our country has been represented in culture over time. Specifically here: the role of commander-in-chief in movies. There are some excellent biopics available for those looking to scratch a historical itch (“Lincoln,” “Frost/Nixon,” “Idiocracy”) but more importantly, movie history contains a wealth of fictional presidents operating at varying degrees of efficacy, inspiration and physicality. It all comes down to this — who do you want on your side when aliens are invading or a devious Richard Dreyfuss is besmirching your girlfriend? Hail to the chief, indeed.
In the late Rob Reiner’s “The American President,” Michael Douglas (in the midst of his “these guys are really going through it” ‘90s run) portrays perhaps the platonic ideal of a movie president. Andrew Shepherd is a moderate, a widower and trying to get re-elected when he falls in love with the practically phosphorescent Annette Bening, an environmental
lobbyist. Douglas’s president is aided by Michael J. Fox and Martin Sheen (the latter would go on to play perhaps the most iconic television president, Josiah Bartlet, in “The West Wing”), but on his own, he’s a capable leader, and — as will become evident throughout this list — gives a great speech when the moment calls for it.
Speaking of great orators, has anyone delivered a motivational speech quite like Bill Pullman’s President Whitmore in “Independence Day”? He’s wearing a White House windbreaker over his work clothes and using a loudspeaker at the crack of dawn. He says things like, “Mankind…that word should have new meaning for all of us today” (because, you know, aliens.) This speech should probably be added as an amendment to the U.S. Constitution at some point, so ingrained has it become in our cultural memory. There’s a quiet comfort in Pullman’s presence; he projects a baseline competency that shouldn’t be overlooked or taken for granted.
Similarly, Morgan Freeman’s President Beck in Mimi Leder’s “Deep Impact” guides his constituents through an extinction-level event in the form of an outsized comet hurtling toward Earth. Freeman sports at least one of the top five voices I’d like to hear coming out of my TV or radio in a time of crisis. He’s levelheaded and conveys believable sorrow when delivering devastating (‘who gets to go to the safety bunker; no, the rockets we launched at the comet did not work; most of you will die’) news. The movie as a whole is kind of a bummer (see above re: devastating news), but that might be why Freeman’s leader of the free world strikes such a chord.
In “The Contender,” Jeff Bridges plays President Jackson Evans. Can you imagine a world where we elect a man named Jackson Evans who looks like Jeff Bridges? This is why movies are important. Evans loves to send the White House chef
scrambling with last-minute requests for coq au vin, smokes in the Oval Office (this movie was made in 2000, take me back) and he’s nominated a woman (the perfect Joan Allen) to fill the vacated position of vice president. It was distressing to rewatch this 26-year-old movie and find it still so relevant (woman interviews for job, past moments from her personal life are put on trial in the court of public opinion, less qualified men do a lot of yelling about women’s bodies), but through it all, Bridges-as-Evans supports his VP nom, supports women and (despite his very obvious attention deficit issues) does a lot of active listening. The only major knock here is that Sam Elliott, who plays Evans’s chief of staff, does so sans mustache. There are several movies that revolve around the White House being under attack or a president in need of saving.
“Air Force One,” directed by Wolfgang Petersen, merges the two concepts by staging the attack on board the president’s airplane and looking to the president — Harrison Ford, four years out from “The Fugitive” and still in fairly peak action star mode — to do the saving. It’s a believable role for Ford, who probably could get elected president in real life. Like the non-terrorists on board, we, the audience, trust him implicitly with our lives, to get us safely back home and to do it in the most entertaining, pull-nopunches way possible.
Picture this: you’re a presidential lookalike, hired as a stand-in for the president but then kept on in the role after the actual president suffers a stroke and goes into a coma. Also, you get to pretend to be married to Sigourney Weaver. “Dave” is, in the vein of “The American President,” a political romcom, mining laughs and charm from the chemistry of its cast (led here by Weaver and Kevin Kline in the dual role of President Bill Mitchell and doppelganger Dave Kovic). “Dave” also includes the cleanest version of a racy joke about how Weaver discovered the man playing her husband was not her actual husband, which, in the hands of anyone other than Weaver and Kline, would surely have lost its spark.
If it seems like something is missing, that’s correct. We’re still waiting for a great movie to feature a female president. Maybe that’s on the docket within the next 250 years? In the meantime, Julia Louis-Dreyfus in “Veep,” Geena Davis in “Commander in Chief” and Téa Leoni in “Madam Secretary” (among a few others) all served their countries, enjoyably so, on the small screen.
Johanna Lester is a pop culture critic who mainlines movies, TV and the best cookies Rochester has to offer. She’ll also hold that grudge on your behalf. Follow her @theauntjojo.
FOOD AND BEV NEWS, GOSSIP AND GATHERINGS CURATED BY LEAH STACY
WHET YOUR PALATE
After closing on January 1, the area’s oldest LGBTQ+ bar — Bachelor Forum, 673 University Ave. — reopened under the new moniker Forum 73 on June 15, just in time for Rochester Pride.
After more than 25 years at the helm of Ristorante Lucano, 1815 East Ave., owners Chuck and JoAnn Formoso have sold the business to a four-person partnership, which includes a new (female) chef. Osteria Allora, a selfdescribed “farm-to-table modern Italian steakhouse,” will open in mid-July in Penn Yan. The announcement posted on Facebook defines the menu further as “steak and spaghetti, with locally sourced and seasonal ingredients.”
FOR THE LOCAVORES
Local custard icon Abbott’s hit 100 years in business this past March. The original Ontario Beach Park location was opened by Arthur Abbott, a traveling custard salesman who settled here to open a brick and mortar after visiting; there are now more than 30 franchises along the east coast (and even Japan at one point). The Abbott’s at 4791 Lake Ave. will celebrate with a July 17 party for the community.
Rochester Real Beer Expo returns Friday, July 11 at ESL Ballpark with more than 75 breweries, cideries, kombucha makers, wineries and more. All proceeds from the event will fund public art, events and improvements in the South Wedge, where the event began in 2012.
FOOD FÊTES
The Rochester Public Market’s monthly Food Truck Rodeo series takes place the last Wednesday of every month through October; July 29 will feature food, beer and live music from Buffalobased soul band Miller and The Other Sinners 5-9 p.m. And the Rochester International Plaza, 828 N. Clinton Ave., will hold monthly happy hours featuring local food and bev specials and live music 5-9 p.m. the last Thursday of each month.
The Coop, 23 Somerton St., an outdoor space in the Park Avenue neighborhood, will host a slew of events this summer — past pop-ups included an affogato bar and an ice cream-fueled daytime dance party for the whole family.
, 190 Monroe Ave., will host a drag brunch 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, July 12, with a buffet catered by Tavos and a drag show featuring queens Mrs. Kasha Davis, Aggy Dune and Carmen Adore. Tickets Radio Social , 20 Carlson Rd., will host Rolling with the Queens, a $30 ticket includes open bowling and drag performances by Aggy Dune and Ambrosia Salad; the 21+ only drag event coincides with the on-premise Radio Shack , a lobster roll pop-up happening every Thursday in July and August.
Dear Maggie,
Iwas accused of flirting with my friend’s husband. Not by the couple, but by a mutual acquaintance. This came about because I reached out directly to the husband to help with something around my home (I am friends with his wife but had his number from a previous group chat). I didn’t think anything of it, but when I casually mentioned it to the acquaintance, they said it was inappropriate to ask him without checking in with his wife or, at least, including her in the text. I’m a little shocked at the accusation, but my question is: did I cross a boundary I’m unaware of, or is the acquaintance basically calling me a homewrecker way off-base?
Sincerely, Confused Accused
This one is tough because while you did not do anything wrong, your friend might have a point.
Hear me out.
It is 100% acceptable to have friends who are in a relationship, and those friendships can be independent of the couple. That said, if you are not close enough with the pair to have been given his number directly, you may have jumped ahead a few steps. For some couples, it’s no big deal for a partner to text someone outside of the relationship. Others prefer group texts or a quick heads-up when plans are being made. If you don’t know the dynamics of the relationship, it is always better to err on the side of politeness and reach out to the person you have a primary connection with, or to the couple together.
If your friend and her husband did not raise an eyebrow, then it is likely not an issue. But if you’re worried, check in directly and say something like, “I hope I didn’t put you in an awkward position by reaching out to him.” Chances are she’ll either appreciate the consideration or tell you it wasn’t a big deal.
What IS a big deal is that someone else chimed in with a serious allegation. At worst, this was a social misstep on your part, not evidence of romantic intent. There’s a difference between saying, “I would have handled things differently,” and “Stop trying to steal that woman’s husband!”
To me, the allegation says more about the accuser’s assumptions than it does about your actions. Before addressing it, ask yourself whether this person’s opinion actually matters. You called them an acquaintance, so maybe they don’t know your character. Maybe they’re simply gossiping and, if that’s the case, you can choose not to engage. Not every accusation deserves a defense.
If you do choose to have a conversation, just be up front and let them know how it made you feel. Don’t address the text exchange. That is between you and the couple. Let the acquaintance know that suggesting you had ulterior motives was hurtful and unfair.
Then, leave it there. You don’t owe anyone a lengthy explanation for asking a friend for help, and you certainly don’t need to defend yourself against a story someone else invented.
Dear Confused Accused, xoxo, Maggie
AN ADVICE COLUMN FROM CITY MAGAZINE
Core Curriculum
BY S.J. AUSTIN & J. REYNOLDS
1. Diner breakfast option 5. First US president to own a car 9. As yet 14. Like your voice the day after attending a World Cup game, maybe 19. _____ no good 20. Persian royal title 21. Toothbrush brand owned by Procter & Gamble
22. Astronaut Ellen who was the first Hispanic woman in space
23. ** Fairy tale heroine of the highestgrossing film of 1938
25. ** Sharpshooting folk hero of Switzerland (but maybe not a great dad)
27. Japanese word for teacher that literally means “first born”
28. Gets out of bed
30. Comics creator with apt cameos in Marvel films
31. Hooray!
32. Like eyebrows and some doorways
34. Part of a basketball goal that is traditionally cut down after a championship
36. Musical Yoko
37. Lead in to girl or boy 38. Superlative suffix
40. American tech giant known as “Big Blue”
42. Pro sports league with 14 US teams and one Canadian team
46. The “Pale Blue Dot” in a 1990 photograph taken from space
49. “Mean Girls” actress Lindsay
52. Nobel-winning chemist Curie
54. Letters found in many a boomer’s email address
55. ** Computer CEO famous for devices with “i” in their names
57. ** 1971 hit with the line “Drove my Chevy to the levee, but the levee was dry”
60. Alternative to “swipe” at checkout
61. Aired again
62. Bygone airline that completed the first ever commercial flight around the world
63. Lab containers
64. Greek god of love and sex
66. “Tiny” boy in a Dickens tale
67. Military meal hall
68. Rooster’s mate
69. Jedi’s enemy
70. Tenant’s contract
72. Latin dance (or Mexican dip)
75. Writes (down)
79. Hebrew name meaning “high”
81. Film shot that might be numbered during production
83. Father-daughter boxing surname
84. Basic geometric calculation
Fruity
85. With 87-Down, 2018 Grammy Winner for the folk album “Mental Illness”
88. Yoga pose
90. Musical with the song “Don’t Cry For Me Argentina”
92. Foreign policy grp.
93. ** 19th century orchard owner whose nickname is still applied to the fruit varietal she developed
95. ** Computer brand that was officially shortened to its first three letters in 1999
97. Actor/director Howard
98. Two-sport pro athlete Sanders with “Neon” as a rhyming nickname
99. Like a zoo animal that has escaped its cage
101. Minute amounts
102. Years: Lat.
104. Droop
105. Rock’s _____ Fighters
106. “Ratatouille” protagonist
108. May honoree
110. Where you might get a gift card for 108-Across
112. Blood bank need
115. Some undergrad degs.
118. Agassi rival
122. Wipes clean
124. Home to Firenze
126. ** Theologian and scientist who formulated the theory of gravitation while sitting under a tree
128. Annual autumnal celebration in Hilton, NY where the answers to the starred clues might gather
130. Guy
131. Like a baseball shutout
132. Disgusting
133. Move, in realtor speak
134. Cheery goodbyes
135. Foolish title characters in a 1980 children’s novel
136. Biblical son of Seth
137. One side of a flippable retail shop sign
1. Impudent girl, pejoratively
2. Common sleep disorder
3. Poker faced
4. “_____ life?”
5. Concert souvenir
6. Hawaiian tuna
7. Palestinian political party defeated by Hamas in 2006
8. Not here
9. Plants seeds
10. Get situated
11. The “F” of “T/F”
12. More than most
13. Sluggers’ stats
14. Like the numerals in the year MCMLXXVII
15. “Don’t wait!”
16. Poet Silverstein
17. Flag holder
18. New Haven university attended by multiple presidents
24. App on many a home screen 26. Number in chemistry 29. Brainstorm
33. Energy (or nutritional) unit
35. Headpiece for a princess
37. Off-roader, for short 39. Villain/hero at Hogwarts
41. Hat edge
43. California wine region
44. Heat to 212º
45. Pub pints
46. _____ Park, CO
47. Arcade game pioneer
48. Transplant, in a way
50. Michelle who wrote “Becoming”
51. Television network owned by the QVC Group
52. High-I.Q. society
53. Roof edge
56. Kung Fu master who starred in “Lethal Weapon 4”
58. Curving billiards shot
59. Teenage Mutant _____ Turtles
65. Glossy finish
67. Intended
68. Caribbean country that’s third-largest by area and most populous
