CITY May 2025

12

FESTIVALS

SEAN MCCARTHY’S TENTS ARE FESTIVAL SEASON’S NOT-SO-SECRET WEAPONS. BY

PATRICK HOSKEN

14 PET PARADE THE ANNUAL DACHSHUND PARADE IS A DOGGONE GOOD TIME. BY

ALYSSA KOH

280 State Street Rochester, New York 14614 feedback@rochester-citynews.com phone (585) 244-3329 roccitymag.com

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Rochester Area Media Partners LLC, Chris Hastings, chairman

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EDITORIAL

Editor: Leah Stacy

Arts reporter: Patrick Hosken

Multimedia reporter: Roberto Felipe Lagares

Editorial intern: Alyssa Koh

Contributors: Sarah Murphy Abbamonte, Jenna Curcio, Gino Fanelli, Jon Heath, Liz Hogrefe, Steve Johnson, Daniel J. Kushner, Megan Mack, Rebecca Rafferty, Brian Sharp

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Director, Strategy: Ryan Williamson

Art director: Jacob Walsh

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OPERATIONS/CIRCULATION

Operations manager: Ryan Williamson

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CITY (ISSN 1551-3262) is published monthly 12 times per year by Rochester Area Media Partners, a subsidiary of WXXI Public Broadcasting. Address changes: CITY, 280 State Street, Rochester, NY 14614. Member of the Association of Alternative Newsmedia and the New York Press Association. Copyright by Rochester Area Media Partners LLC, 2025 - all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, photocopying, recording or by any information storage retrieval system without permission of the copyright owner.

Show, don’t tell

by someone who works for one of the organizations benefiting from funding.

BY LEAH STACY

For the past few years, I’ve been part of a local Facebook group that monitors new construction projects. It’s a worthy endeavor — a sort of neighborhood watch for improvement — and results in many interesting conversations within the group’s membership. I tend to observe and refrain from commenting, but the other day I made an exception. There was a link posted with the headline “$300 million revitalization fueling the city’s comeback.” So, I clicked. It was written

I’ve been in this business long enough to know what sponcon (sponsored content) is, and this was a good example. Is it erroneous information? No. But certainly very selective. And to present it as journalism to the untrained reader feels misleading. Not to mention, Rochester isn’t getting that entire $300 million, we’re sharing it with Buffalo and Niagara Falls as part of the overall Regional Revitalization Partnership… I digress.

Here’s why it got under my skin a little. I am all for revitalization of downtown. It’s why I live, work and

spend my dollars downtown. Why I’ve worked for a decade producing a festival that happens completely downtown. It’s why we do the work we do at CITY. I am a cheerleader for Rochester. I want us to thrive and become a destination.

But we — Rochester, this region — have to show up for the things we say we want. Sharing an article or a social media post isn’t enough. Never has been, and especially not now.

In the following pages, you will find a comprehensive listing of festivals in downtown Rochester and beyond, from May through October. We hope this serves as a planning guide and inspiration for the coming months — but more than that, we hope that our

readers actually get out and experience the region they call home. It’s easy to be a keyboard warrior, but let’s show up for the things we believe in. Spend money at small businesses where parking might be a challenge. Walk to grab lunch at a downtown festival during the week. Choose a Friday night arts performance outside your neighborhood or suburb. To phrase it colloquially, “put your money where your mouth is.”

The greatest way to effect change is in your own community, with your time, energy and resources.

Show, don’t tell.

PHOTOGRAPH BY MAX SCHULTE

Community at the core

BY JENNA CURCIO

Awalk through the grounds of Festa Italiana in the August heat is filled with the scent of pasta al forno drifting through the air, the chorus of Italian and English conversations overlapping and the shimmer of green, white and red decorations. There’s a magic, a deep sense of comfort and belonging — family and a stream of familiar faces — friends to sit with for a quick espresso that never ends up being quick. Maybe the magic is the festival itself: loud, proud and full of heart, a place where community feels effortless.

Rochester has long been home to a vibrant Italian immigrant population, with various waves of newcomers arriving from the old country as far back as the late 1800s. In search of a better life and ample opportunities to make that happen, many traveled across the ocean, leaving everything and everyone they knew behind. The latest influx of immigrants, in the �80s, was during the heyday of Rochester’s manufacturing boom — when companies like Kodak, Xerox and Delco reigned supreme — and many Italians from the South of Italy, who were facing economic hardship back home, made their way here with the same dreams and ambitions.

This wave of immigration brought hundreds, if not thousands, of new people to the Rochester area, along with a renewed sense of cultural pride and identity. It marked a major turning point for Rochester’s ItalianAmerican community, especially on the city’s westside towns like Gates and Greece. Families from Calabria, Campania, Basilicata and Puglia brought with them traditions, dialects, recipes and a deep-rooted authenticity that revitalized the community in a big way. Children grew up alongside one another in the same neighborhoods, their parents working at the same factories or offices, gathering all together for every holiday, birthday or long summer weekend — on many occasions, during the Festa Italiana.

Over the years, the festival underwent major changes, including a move to its current home at the Italian American Community Center and nearby Padre Pio Chapel in Gates. Along with the new setting came a noticeable shift in energy — whether from lower attendance, less enthusiasm or simply an aging community, it just wasn’t quite the same.

Though many members of the Italian American community found ourselves asking “why,” the answer isn’t clear. Evolving from the days of yesteryear, the Festa Italiana itself has taken action to change alongside the developing community.

“We recognize that to keep our culture alive, we need to make it accessible and relevant to younger generations,” said Joe DiFabio, president of the IACC. “That’s why we’ve integrated contemporary Italian music alongside traditional folk performances, modern Italian street food with classic dishes and social media engagement that helps bridge generational gaps.”

In an effort to bring about more festivals and cultural celebrations, newer organizations from local Italian Americans have popped up over the years; Cugini di ROC is a prime example. Not only did they pave the way for the city of Rochester to designate the first Sunday in October as Italian Heritage Day, but the multigenerational, grassroots group spearheaded a massive effort to recognize Indigenous Peoples Day as an official holiday in Rochester,

highlighting the importance of the Italian community embracing and uplifting the Indigenous community.

“[We are] committed to inclusivity and collaboration, fostering relationships and connections with various community stakeholders,” said Cugini di ROC member Kathy Castania. “[We aim] to create a welcoming environment for all Italians, emphasizing the celebration of our culture without compromising the contributions of other ethnic or racial groups.”

Despite not always being on the same page or agreeing on methods of celebrating shared culture, the hopes and visions for the local Italian American future are virtually unanimous. Whether it’s connecting with younger generations through educational cultural programs, live cooking demonstrations, historical presentations, recreating the concept of a traditional Italian café or “bar,” promoting pathways to dual citizenship, travel opportunities to Italy or Italian language sessions, a common thread runs through it all: the collective hope to honor Italian heritage in renewed, modern ways.

As Rochester’s Italian American community continues to evolve, so does the approach to honoring its heritage. The future of these festivals may look different, but the heart behind them remains the same: preserving culture, building connections and passing something meaningful on to the next generation and generations to come.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Slices from Forno Tony, a business owned by young Italian Americans who vend at Festa Italiana. PHOTO BY ROBERTO F. LAGARES

Crafting community

BY ALYSSA KOH

Summer is when Rochester truly comes alive — blossoming, first, with the Lilac Festival, and then playing gracious host to many festivals throughout the subsequent months. Laughter rings out from the streets; the air feels sweeter, even. However, for college students who are only here from fall to spring, this way of engaging with the city holds an elusive joy, one only accessible to those with an internship in town or sticking around with some other plan. And for some students who stay, summer becomes an opportunity to step outside the campus bubble and engage with local culture in a new way: by selling their artwork at festivals.

Kevin Colgan had never heard of the Corn Hill Arts Festival before finding an Instagram ad to apply for a booth. As a fourth-year mechanical engineering major at Rochester Institute of Technology, his photography was just an outlet, a step away from the rigor of academic studies and a push to get outside. Being accepted as an emerging artist for Corn Hill was Colgan’s first foray into the world of professional art and, due to his intense workload and preference for nature, one of the longest periods he had spent downtown.

“There’s no time during the school year,” he said. “Photography is a good excuse to go out. Sometimes it’s what drives me to actually step away from the computer.”

Students engage with the city by giving vending at local festivals a college try.

Kevin Colgan, below, works in the RIT Electric Vehicle Team's workshop in the SHED when he's not outside taking pictures.

PHOTO BY ALYSSA KOH

Originally from Columbus, Ohio, Colgan spent half of last summer working with his dad’s old film camera, learning how to print his work and hosting mock shows — complete with a full tent setup — in his garage. After driving up to Rochester for the weekend, he found that his $50 application was a great investment. He was the only photographer in his section, so a couple friends watched his tent while he looked around, chatting with other artists. Since his experience at Corn Hill, he has been taking photography classes at RIT to foster his growth.

“People are pretty focused on engineering, so if [anyone is] having artistic adventures, they’re not too open about it,” he said. “I definitely think there should be more students trying to get into these art shows.”

In contrast to Colgan, Leo Richmond knew he wanted to get involved in the festival scene from the beginning. As a fourth-year illustration major at RIT, Richmond found his artistic interests often varied from that of his peers, who were focused on designing for movie or game studios rather than his preferred medium of comics.

“People are like, ‘I want to be an engineer, I want to be a doctor,’” he said. “I want to be in craft fairs.”

Richmond found the comic scene after years of drawing characters with friends on bus rides, and chose RIT due to the degree centered entirely on illustration. His first craft fair was the Rochester Indie Comics Expo (RICE), and he spent his junior year in an independent study prepping to vend at the fair. Since then, he’s also sold work at RIT’s Zine Fest and The Lucky Flea — he’ll also have a booth at Queer Handmade Rochester’s art sale at the Allendale Columbia School in July, which he found through chatting with other artists.

“You really do start to notice there’s a tightly woven community of makers and crafters around here,” he said. “I’ve got a spreadsheet of things to apply to now through word of mouth.”

While Richmond will head home to Syracuse after graduating in May, everything he’s learned in Rochester — both formally and through the connections made in the vendor world — makes him antsy to come back to the festivals here.

“I’m an indie, underground kind of guy, so I have to go to the indie underground places,” he said. “They’re

special to me — they’re where I got my start.”

Vic Cohen will also be at the Queer Handmade Art Sale, as well as the Spring Renaissance Festivus at Three Heads Brewing in May. A senior at the University of Rochester with a double major in brain and cognitive sciences and psychology, Cohen got into making chainmail jewelry during a long spell of staying on campus as a resident assistant

during summer move-out.

“I was shopping on Etsy and I was like, ‘Oh my god, it’s so expensive to buy cool chainmail earrings,’” they said. “And then I was like, ‘No, I think I could make that.’ So I ended up buying $20 worth of materials and just going crazy.”

From there, Cohen started selling jewelry to other students and their families and friends out of town. Interest in their work skyrocketed; they trundled

a milk crate of Facebook Marketplaceacquired supplies to the Art Jam Market at Boulder Coffee Co. last year, had a blast and never stopped.

Next year, Cohen will be studying at the Warner School of Education for a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling. Alongside their studies and work in a suicide risk lab, they plan to continue their chainmail work, with the support of a full Discord server of fellow creators through Queer Handmade Rochester.

“A lot of people talk about different vendor experiences they have — it’s a useful little community,” they said. “A lot of them will meet up together and rent a makerspace or coworking space to all do crafts together.”

Cohen has also gained a newfound love for the city due to their vendorship.

“I went ice skating a few weeks ago and I recognized someone from a craft fair,” they said. “I know so many people that are afraid of certain parts of Rochester, will not leave campus, don’t really know what to do on the weekends besides just sit in their dorms — it’s so fun to be able to actually get out there and know people.”

Leo Richmond, above, puts together his zines on tablets in RIT's medical illustrations lab.

PHOTO BY ALYSSA KOH

Vic Cohen, above, crafts stainless steel chainmail jewelry after classes in their bedroom.

PHOTO BY ALYSSA KOH

Under the big top

FESTIVALS

BY PATRICK HOSKEN PATRICK@ROCHESTER-CITYNEWS.COM

Ask anyone at his company: Sean McCarthy needs his flannel shirt.

The sartorial choice is part work uniform, part personal trademark. McCarthy, owner of McCarthy Tents & Events, dons it in his team photo as well as in his recent headshot for August’s Hoochenanny Whiskey & Music Festival, for which he is the event producer and co-owner.

In fact, before CITY could even begin to interview McCarthy, he asked a colleague to locate a flannel to put on over a T-shirt. And then, crested with green patterns, he explained what makes his company succeed.

“We’ve never not made it,” said McCarthy, 44. “We’ve never been like, ‘I’m sorry, we’re just not going to get this done in time.’ That’s never happened.”

That commitment has paid off. Since he started in the event business 26 years ago — spanning weddings, fests and other events — McCarthy has seen his tents pop up at every major summer fête in the region.

Ordering a drink between bands in Highland Park near the blooms? Watching free live music on Gibbs Street? Enjoying the artisans on the Erie Canal in Fairport? It’s not an exaggeration to say anyone who has attended one of these fests has stood under a McCarthy tent.

“We know what we need to be successful or not successful,” he said. “If we know things are not where they need to be, we kind of help with layouts and drawings,

Sean McCarthy started his events company in 2007. It now provides tents for Rochester Lilac Festival, Rochester International Jazz Festival, ESL Rochester Fringe Festival and more. PHOTO BY ROBERTO F. LAGARES

because we just need to go there.”

Jenny LoMaglio, the executive producer of the Rochester Lilac Festival, chalks the success up to efficiency. By now, she said, McCarthy knows how to solve any logistical problem that could arise during the city’s official festival season kickoff.

“It’s almost his own backyard as well,” she said of the fest, which begins May 9 this year. “[McCarthy Tents & Events has] the tools and the knowledge to have our needs taken care of. They really treat us like the crown jewel of this city.”

The prep work and polishing for that care begins when there’s still snow on the ground.

“We’re a little rusty from cleaning chairs and painting equipment and doing all the winter activities,” McCarthy said. “But throughout the progression of the rest of the season, it’s every festival, plus all the [other] events. It’s all unique, depending on what else is happening during those timeframes.”

And none of it can happen without crisp, clean, white tents. The team spends the winter using a 5,000 square-foot wash bay in its Henrietta warehouse to clean and dry thousands of pieces of fabric. (Picture the dry-cleaning conveyor a giant would use.)

That’s in addition to the team’s 22,000 square-foot facility and showroom in Webster. It’s filled with dozens of boxes of event mainstays like drapes, chair cushions, tables and silverware — and spare flannel

shirts. The upkeep is endless.

“If you buy 5,000 folding chairs all in boxes of eight, do the math,” McCarthy said. “You have to unload thousands of boxes sometimes for an order, brand them all [and] put stickers on them.”

After a year spent living in San Francisco during his 20s, McCarthy returned to Rochester and began the company in 2007 without even dollies to carry his tents across big fields. In 2022, McCarthy acquired Nolan’s Rental, Inc. and greatly expanded the business.

He said the work has been good throughout New York State and

even as far south as Washington, D.C. — McCarthy provided the media tent during President Trump’s first inauguration in 2017, a connection made through a local audio/visual company.

While he used to spend “six or seven days” each summer on the road doing events, McCarthy is more present these days. The larger staff and added resources from the Nolan’s acquisition help.

“All these things happened at once that made us more efficient and made me more available,” he said.

McCarthy has time to try new

endeavors, like Hoochenanny, which hits Camp Eastman from Aug. 8-10 and features headliners like Joan Jett and the Blackhearts and Dark Star Orchestra. He partnered with Tommy Brunett — who founded the fest two years ago with a mission to “cultivate the uncommon” — to expand its reach.

Brunett said McCarthy knows his chops.

“What’s of the highest importance for us is the hospitality and the experience that people will have, and Sean can do it,” he said. “He’s got the infrastructure. He’s a little crazy like I am, so we get along really well.”

Good news for Brunett, a career musician and industry professional: the pair bonded over music, too.

“Sean’s the kind of guy who will go by himself to a three-day punk rock festival in California,” Brunett said.

“That’s why it worked.”

For his part, McCarthy is always in motion. This interview found him roving throughout the warehouse, checking in with workers, cracking jokes and taking a phone call or two. There’s always more to be done, he said, especially right before festival season begins.

Unlike his flannel attire, McCarthy’s entire professional path was not planned, he said. So, he keeps moving.

“It’s not like a chosen career, you know?” he said.

“It just happens.” mccarthyevents.com

The McCarthy Tents & Events team spends the winter cleaning and drying thousands of pieces of fabric ahead of festival season.

PHOTO PROVIDED

PHOTO BY ROBERTO F. LAGARES

PHOTO BY ROBERTO F. LAGARES

PHOTO PROVIDED

A gooddoggone time

BY ALYSSA KOH

During the Rochester Dachshund Parade, Wendy Kerr and Emily Mourgides will be helping dunk neon-vested dogs in a bucket of ice water.

The duo runs Couch Potato Collection, which specializes in pet knitwear, and — since most of their vendor events take place during the summer — felt jackets built to keep furry friends cool in sweltering weather. These stylish “doxies” (the colloquial term for a Dachshund) can beat the heat in Washington Square Park, standing (not so) tall alongside the barrage of hot dog costumes.

“There’s always a car full that barks the entire time that we set up,” said Kerr. “We go as early as possible, but you don’t have time — once they arrive, it’s packed.”

Kerr and Mourgides, who sell their clothes at animal-related festivals throughout Rochester and beyond, have been attending the parade since 2018, but last year they had to cancel the night before due to their own dog, Bailey, falling ill. He died shortly after. A few months later, Mourgides’s mother, Connie, who taught the couple to knit, ended her work with Couch Potato at age 98. Returning to the parade this year without the two of them is bittersweet, but they’re looking forward to the experience

More than 300 Dachshunds will parade around downtown on May 10.

even without a dog of their own.

“It’s a very dog-friendly city,” said Mourgides. “The fees [for attending] go to help the dogs, which is great, and then we get to dress all the puppies.”

The two hours of the Dachshund parade are a whirlwind: within that span of time, the couple makes as many sales as they would in a full day at other events. Their creations can be found scattered throughout the parade, with hundreds of little snouts poking out from beneath sparkly pom-pom hats and stubby legs covered in knit couture scuttling across the park. People ask to give their dogs a dunk — each moment passes in a furry blur.

Even for those not overwhelmed by customers, wading through dogs at Washington Square Park during the parade can be a lot. People travel in from as far as Hawaii and flood the park in droves. Nevertheless, for Dachshund parents, it’s the highlight of the year.

“It’s impossible not to leave with a full heart and new favorite day of the year,” said Danielle Raymo, who attends the parade with her three-year-old mini Dachshund, Archie. Raymo has a couple friends who also have dogs, but the biggest meetup she attends annually is the parade. There, being as devoted to the Dachshund club as possible is pure, unabashed fun.

The energy at the parade is full of vibrancy, and at the heart of all the singing and barking is a family effort. Alan Frost, current chair of the event, has been involved since 2007; his wife, Jackie, and son, Rob, are part of the parade as well. Frost has also taken up the mantle of parade emcee, which he enjoys for its connection with the crowd.

“About 10 years ago, I was on stage,

and someone asked me to marry their dogs,” Frost said. “So, I married them — after they changed out of their clothes [and] into their wedding costumes.”

Frost also leads the crowd in an awards presentation, which gives out Pet Supplies Plus gift cards to those who have traveled the farthest, as well as to the oldest Dachshunds at the parade.

Jennifer Geedy, whose Dachshund Rylie won the latter award last year before dying at age 23, will be bringing her other dog, Rosie, to the parade this year. For them, the parade is a source of light and a positive reminder of all of the wonderful moments spent with both their pets.

“Rylie wasn’t just the oldest Dachshund three years running — she was a reminder of why we love them so much in the first place,” Geedy said.

“From meeting fellow Dachshund owners and their incredible pups, to singing the beloved doxie song, cheering on the costume catwalk and marching in the parade, every moment is filled with laughter, wagging tails and pure joy.”

For Frost, supporting the Dachshund community through the parade is incredibly rewarding. As an organizer, he gets to contribute to Rochester Hope for Pets with the donations made to the parade. As a dog lover, he’s made connections with others who have also supported the parade for decades and commiserated over the struggles and successes of Dachshund ownership.

“There’s a lot of connections I’ve made over the years,” he said, “but the Dachshund community is probably the closest to [my] heart.” dachshundparade.com

It's common to find Dachshunds sporting custom couture across the event, which includes Couch Potato Collection's knitwear. PHOTO PROVIDED

Jennifer Geedy, left, and her husband celebrated their dog Rylie as the oldest Dachshund at the parade last year. PHOTO PROVIDED

Kerr and Mourgides came up with the concept for their business after struggling to find a sweater to fit their greyhound. "You go into a PetSmart, and it's one size fits all," Mourgides said. "For a lot of our stuff, we do custom." PHOTO PROVIDED

Poetry in the (Highland Park) Bowl celebrates the power of the spoken word.

Oral tradition

BY REBECCA RAFFERTY

Festival season is filled with events that celebrate flowers, music, cultural heritage, regional history and the arts. Last June, a new category joined the roster when Writers & Books inaugurated the city’s first annual Poetry Festival at the Highland Park Bowl.

Writers & Books executive director Alison Meyers wanted to found an open-air poetry festival that would bring together a diversity of voices and audience members from all walks, celebrate the power of the spoken word and bridge presumed divides.

Her work and faith in the community paid off — over the course of three weather-blessed evenings, more than 500 people gathered to hear the poets’ voices resound in the natural amphitheater. Attendees brought blankets, picnics and pups to the sylvan hilltop park, creating an idyllic scene on the sloping lawn that could have been pulled from an antique painting. Passersby on evening strolls and bike rides were drawn in by the voices and lingered, some returning on subsequent nights.

“It’s as out in the open as it could possibly be — a space everyone knows,” said Tyler Barton, one of the 2024 poets who is now artistic director at Writers & Books. (He was previously based in Saranac Lake and served as the program manager for the Adirondack Center for Writing.)

“It was a beautiful and rewarding way to spend a summer evening,” Barton said. “I’m used to reading in clubs or bookstores, small corners of spaces where there are often

other things going on and the poetry reading is just kind of shoved in the corner. It was great to have poetry take center stage.”

Barton kicked off his turn at the mic with a reading of “I Come from There” by Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish, who died in 2008. Barton reminded a receptive audience about the enduring silencing of Palestinian voices.

“Writers are an essential part of any society, and if we let ourselves become ignorant to the deaths of the hundreds of journalists killed in Gaza over the last year and a half, then we’re only training ourselves to be silent when writers, artists, and the press face oppression here in America.”

Bearing witness to diverse and sometimes suppressed perspectives is entirely the point of such a festival, which last year also included local and regional treasures Lu Highsmith, Albert Abonado, Chen Chen, Jessica Cuello and Cornelius Eady. Rochester-based writer, educator, and community activist Tokeya C. Graham will read this year, including work from her new book, and reflections on her community-

based initiative, “The Black Healing Project.”

Graham believes writers have a responsibility to tell the truth, but also embody the possibility of love and hope. She noted that, in a time of stepped-up censorship of the written word and danger to writers themselves, in-person meetings and spoken words are paramount.

“I believe that art is political, right from the moment that a person decides to claim their voice — from an oral tradition, to use that voice to tell news, to create a lasting family history, to agitate a system, to love, to laugh, to sing, to emote — writers and poets have always been the storytellers, the history makers and keepers,” said Graham.

This year’s event has an emphasis on intergenerational connections and the role of writers in creating social change; an influence of the headlining artist, New York State Poet Laureate Patricia Jones Spears. She has been collaborating with Writers & Books throughout the spring to present “Across Generations: Creating New Democratic Vistas,” a statewide set of

workshops and programs meant to elevate civil discourse and promote work toward a shared future.

Toward that end, the 2025 roster features both established and emerging poets, including tweens from Rochester Academy, who will present work created during the Writers & Books in-school creative writing program.

The festival will also feature Brooklyn-based, disabled and queer poet of the Bangladeshi diaspora Ashna Ali; “In the Tradition” with local poet-actors Reenah Golden, Anderson Allen and David Shakes; Hobart and William Smith Colleges professor Kathryn Cowles; writer, educator and cultural worker Kathy Engel; and SUNY Brockport professor emeritus Ralph Black, who said the festival’s intergenerational focus is essential — something that has connected communities of poets since Homer.

While he stands with 20th century poet W.H. Auden in grappling with the usefulness of political positions in poetry — can art truly affect change? — Black said lately, he’s found himself writing about ecological collapse.

“You know, the fires are burning pretty fiercely, and goddamn it, you need to sort of stand up there and say your piece, because it’s a lot better than keeping silent,” he said.

Black will share a range of work that may touch on politics but will center on family, nature and food — a defiant celebration of the deep joys of human life and connection amid the horrors. Modern poetry, he said, has a direct line to humanity’s earliest traditions of storytelling, when people were singing songs to each other around the fire.

“Done well, there’s a real intimacy to it.” wab.org/poetryfestival-2025

POETRY

PHOTO PROVIDED

Downtown, hopefully

BY BRIAN SHARP

BSHARP@WXXI.ORG

Outdoor movies. A riverfront Happy Hour. Oh, and yoga with some goats and puppies.

These are some of the events that are part of a refocused effort to bring more public activities to downtown Rochester.

“Something a little unusual, a little different, get you out of your typical day-to-day to enjoy the river and the warmer weather,” said Galin Brooks, president and CEO for Rochester Downtown Development Corp. “And experience Austin Steward Plaza, we want to make sure to introduce as many people as possible to the great new space right on the Genesee.”

The Sunset Sips and Yoga on the Riverway — both happening in June — are expected to be the first public events at the refurbished plaza, located behind the Wyndham Rochester Downtown, formerly the Holiday Inn on State Street.

The programming is an outgrowth of the failed push to establish a downtown Business Improvement District (or BID). That effort faced strong opposition from some in the community, leading organizers to pull the plug 18 months ago.

A push to create more community events in Center City.

But they remained focused on the overall objectives.

“The need is now,” Brooks told WXXI News last spring, as leaders regrouped with an eye toward 2025. “We know that people want to see more from their downtown.”

And that urgency hasn’t gone away. If anything, it has increased, said developer Ken Glazer, whose Buckingham Properties is one of the largest property owners downtown.

“You see a lot of good things going on, but we’re still not attracting a lot of people outside of the events to come downtown,” he said.

Glazer backed the BID and remains convinced that one of its more controversial proposals — for downtown “ambassadors” or guides — still needs to happen in order to help make the area feel more inviting and safe, as well as improve street outreach to those in need of services such as someone to walk them to their car.

“We sort of took a step back and said, ‘Look, we can do this privately. No one says we can’t put people on the street if we’re willing to pay (for) it,’” Glazer said. “And it’s membership. RDDC is membership-funded, so we all feel like it’s worthwhile. ... We talk about that a lot.”

The challenge is how to enliven a Center City where the pandemic zapped momentum, emptied offices and accelerated the transition from commercial district to residential neighborhood.

backwards again.”

There is money to do the work — but how much is unclear.

The county alone committed $300,000. There is still $900,000 in a state grant left to be disbursed that aimed to promote and revitalize riverfront spaces in connection with the ROC the Riverway series of projects. And then there are major stakeholders, like Glazer.

“We’re still committed,” he said. “We don’t really have a choice but to commit because, again, the urgency is now. [With] any momentum, which we kind of are getting again, we gotta

The epicenter of downtown events — Midday Bash, Movies with a Downtown View, RPO Under the Stars and Fall Fest — is Parcel 5, the former Midtown Mall. Apartments have taken over the former Xerox and Chase towers, now renamed Innovation and Manhattan Squares, respectively.

“But the city isn’t designed to really be a neighborhood,” Glazer said. “We’re trying to get it to be a neighborhood, and that’s just going to take a long time.”

The city-sponsored events also play a role, with popular draws like Party in the Park. And there have been millions of dollars invested in remaking Main Street. RDDC is also looking for ways to

support small businesses, with a new program expected to launch in the next month or so. Increased awaiting redevelopment, and the recently redone Austin Steward Plaza across the river sits in the shadow of a towering and largely density there,” Glazer said. “We have a hard enough time filling Parcel 5 and Washington Square.

At Washington Square, RDDC is part of a collaborative effort to bring small-scale, seasonal programming, adding temporary tables and chairs, Brooks said, to “give people a reason to linger.” Because things are, gradually, coming together.

“I still believe that Rochester is one of those cities that, once it clicks, it’s going to take off, and we’re going to be one of those great cities,” Glazer said. “I expect this summer to be better than last summer downtown, and we’re going to keep growing it.” rochesterdowntown.com/events

Parcel 5 in center city has become a hub for events hosting concerts, movies and festivals.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Rochester's Genesee riverfront has become the focus of a massive redevelopment effort under the banner of ROC the Riverway.

PHOTO PROVIDED

a festival town

by CITY Staff

Our annual guide to the region’s unofficial fifth season

Rochester’s reputation as a “festival town” is one we herald proudly from May through (at least) October. From downtown to the Finger Lakes, our region features festivals celebrating everything from flowering trees and craft cocktails to the Erie Canal and folk music. So break out the calendar and save the dates, because it’s time for CITY’s annual roundup of all the fests we could find from now ‘til fall.

Rochester Spring Renaissance Festivus

May 4

From 12-5 p.m. on the first Sunday in May, Three Heads Brewery turns into a court of post-medieval delights. The Roc Spring Ren Fest, organized and hosted by Carnie Cat Con and Ren Rat Randy, brings axe throwing, a whimsical puppet show, the stringed musicmakers of Merry Mischief and food and craft vendors to Atlantic Avenue — and helps raise money for Mended Little Hearts of Greater Rochester. rocwinren.wixsite.com/2024

Geneva Music Festival May 15 — June 8

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Violinist Geoffrey Herd founded this fest — which spans venues around Geneva — back in 2011, which makes this season its 15th anniversary. To celebrate, organizers have booked artists who transcend typical chamber-music signifiers (the electronicsavvy W4RP Trio) as well as a more traditional cohort who will bring German Romanticism selections to life. String group The Sebastians, jazzy Cecile McLorin Salvant & Sullivan Fortner Duo and bluegrassy Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper round out the lineup. Regional wineries will be at select shows for tastings. genevamusicfestival.com

Rochester Lilac Festival

May 9 — 18

The Flower City lives up to its name every May, kicking off festival season with purple blooms and groovin’ tunes in Highland Park. Now in its 127th year, the Lilac Festival features music, food trucks, vendors and more. The 2025 edition features high-profile performances by a diverse crop, including: Afrobeat star Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 (May 15), New Orleans royalty The Dirty Dozen Brass Brand (May 17), indie rockers The Aces (May 16) and Beach Weather (May 18) as well as Nashville’s Katie Pruitt (May 10), Austin’s Sir Woman (May 8) and more. There’s “Art in the Park,” the Lilac 5K & 10K, and, of course, more than 500 blossoming lilac shrubs. roclilacfest.com

Tree Peony Festival of Flowers

Saturdays and Sundays, May 17 — June 1

Starting in mid May, the private Linwood Gardens opens its grounds to the public every weekend for the blossoming of the tree peonies, which turn the already serene spot into a veritable paradise. The grounds are open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, and reservations are required. Admission is a $15 suggested donation per adult (kids get in free) or $20 per adult for the guided historical tour. The tour lasts an hour and includes information about the history of the summer house, family and gardens at 1912 York Road West, Linwood, Livingston County. Sweet Arts Bakery will be on site with light lunch and treats for purchase. linwoodgardens.org/festival

The Nitrate Picture Show

May 29 — June 1

The Nitrate Picture Show is the first and largest festival in the world devoted entirely to screening original nitrate prints, showcasing films made between the 1910s and the 1960s, from the silent era to Technicolor features, noir classics and experimental shorts. The George Eastman Museum's Louis B. Mayer Conservation Center, is a state-of-the-art vault that houses more than 24,000 reels of nitrate film, meticulously preserved under strict temperature and humidity controls to maintain the medium. (The museum’s Dryden Theatre is the only institution on the East coast that is able to project nitrate prints — some of them more than 100 years old.) The full festival program will be announced on May 29; tickets range from $22-$225 for individual screenings and full passes. eastman.org/nitrate-picture-show

Reel Mind Mental Health Film Festival

May 20, 27, 29

Reel Mind Film Festival returns to The Little Theatre with three individual films centered around mental health and neurodiversity. The 2025 theme, “Speak Up, Speak Out,” encourages openness, breaking silence and building connection through shared stories. Each screening will be followed by a panel discussion with filmmakers, mental health professionals and individuals with lived experience. $10-$25. reelmindfilmfest.com

GlassFest

May 23 — 25

Appropriately hosted in Corning, home of the Museum of Glass, GlassFest celebrates all things glassmaking. In addition to guided public art tours and live glassblowing on Main Street, GlassFest features food and drinks, crafting, local dancers, Native American storytelling and the Wineglass 8K Race. Free live music soundtracks each day, with headlining sets from alt-rock band Vertical Horizon (May 23) and country singer Tony Jackson (May 24). gafferdistrict.com/events/glassfest

Annunciation Rochester Greek Festival

May 29 — June 1

Spanakopita, gyros, lamb shanks, flaming cheese, dancing, refreshing drinks, kids' activities, and shopping at the Greek marketplace await at the Greek Orthodox Church, 962 East Ave. And for dessert, don’t forget Greek coffee and a baklava. From 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, but closing at 9 p.m. on May 31. rochestergreekfestival.com

South By South Wedge

May 31

SXSW in Austin doesn’t get to have all the fun, thanks to The Submarine School of Music. Founders Ben and Katie Morey stage this showcase of up-and-coming bands — student bands, to be precise — in the garden of Bookeater, 836 S Clinton Ave., along with performances from Morey’s band, The Eyes, as well as local indie-rock group Comfy and string band Clinton’s Folly. Proceeds will benefit The Submarine School’s scholarship fund. $10, and kids get in free all day. 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. thesubmarineschool.com

Caledonia Trout Festival

May 31

For the third year in a row, Caledonia’s premier fishing fest brings demonstrations and plenty of vendors to Main Street and Pioneer Street in Caledonia in the spirit of both community and helping folks connect to the great outdoors. The fun runs 10 a.m.-6 p.m. bigspringsmuseumcaledonia.org

Rochester Cocktail Revival

June

2 — 8

Raise a glass to Rochester Cocktail Revival, the largest (and longest-running) spirits festival of its kind on the eastern seaboard, which returns for year 12 with more than 75 events at 30 partner venues downtown. Offering something for industry members and cocktail enthusiasts alike, RCR hosts annual pairing dinners, educational seminars, concerts, late night parties and headline events including a garden soirée at George Eastman Museum on Wednesday, June 4; a High Falls Happy Hour showcasing New York State vendors at the Pont de Rennes Bridge on Friday, June 6; an immersive theater production featuring local performers on Saturday, June 7; and the climactic Bar Room Battle Royale on Sunday, June 8 at Radio Social. A portion of all proceeds each year is donated to Cancer Support Community at Gilda’s Club Rochester; RCR has raised more than $260,000 to date. Full schedule and speaker lineup at rochestercocktailrevival.com.

Fairport Canal Days

June 6 — 8

The Erie Canal turns 200 this year, which makes Fairport Canal Days even more resonant in its 48th year. Dozens of art merchants will line the water in the middle of Fairport along with plenty of live music and food vendors, as well as the popular rubber duck race for charity. Kick things off during this scenic weekend fest with the Chicken BBQ Friday night, shop on Saturday and stick around for Canal Nights featuring live entertainment. fairportcanaldays.com

19th Ward Square Fair

June 7

Each first Saturday in June, the 19th Ward Community Association — the oldest neighborhood association in Rochester — hosts the Square Fair, a festival that celebrates the vibrancy of the neighborhood and has been going strong since 1965. The event features games and activities for kids, local vendors, a mechanical bull to ride and more. A parade kicks off the fun.19wca.org

Rochester Real Beer Expo

June 7

This year showcases 75+ breweries, craft cideries, kombucha makers and craft beverage makers in the concourse at Innovative Field with a focus on local breweries as well as non-alcoholic fare. The fun is accompanied by live music and ballpark food vendors and takes place from 6 to 10 p.m. VIP preview hour kicks off at 5. Tickets are $56.50-$76.50 ($16.50 for DD), and the event sells out every year. All proceeds from the event will fund public art, community events and neighborhood improvements in the South Wedge, where the event began in 2012. Free shuttle from Postler & Jaeckle at 615 South Ave. from 4-6 p.m. and from the venue from 9-10:30 p.m. rochesterrealbeer.com

Quiet on the Set! Film Festival

June 8

Ithaca has become a haven for creative youths interested in making their own short films — the silent kind. Quiet on the Set! entries nod to the region’s early filmmaking history and can be submitted by kids ages 11 to 18 from anywhere in the Finger Lakes, the Southern Tier and Central New York. Submissions, one to five minutes in length, are reviewed by a jury of local arts professionals and educators. Screenings of all the entries and a ceremony for the top three takes place at 2 p.m. at Cinemapolis, 120 East Green St. in Ithaca. whartonstudiomuseum.org/quiet-on-the-set

Low Bridge High Water

June 13 — 14

The Village of Brockport’s signature event, Low Bridge High Water is an annual celebration marking the summer opening of the Erie Canal, which celebrates its 200th anniversary this year. Expect family activities, kayaking, biking, music, a Barge Charge 5K and food, all at the Brockport Welcome Center. facebook.com/LowBridgeHighWater

The Fast & the Furriest

June 14

A must-attend event for animal lovers, The Fast & the Furriest Dog Walk and Pet Fest returns, featuring a 5K and 10K race along the Genesee River and a dog walk downtown, live music, food trucks, sponsor giveaways, vendors, pet contests and other activities for families, including, of course, the furry ones. Proceeds from the race and fest help fund food, shelter, enrichment and medical care for shelter animals and support adoption, lost and found and spay/neuter programs. The festival takes place from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Brown Square Park across from Rochester Animal Services, 184 Verona St. vsas.org/the-fast-the-furriest

Adirondack Mountain Club's Outdoor Expo

June 14

Can’t pitch a tent? The 26th annual Outdoor Expo has you covered. From 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., you can partake in demonstrations and workshops for hiking, canoeing, kayaking, backpacking, camping, bicycling and other related outdoor activities, as well as sustainability, all presented by a variety of local clubs and organizations. Live music from Golden Link Folk Singing Society, and plenty of food (including ice cream), will be there — plus a petting zoo. Sponsored by the Genesee Valley Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club and Monroe County Parks, the festival will take place at Mendon Ponds Park, in the beach parking lot near Canfieldwoods Shelter. Admission is free. gvc-adk.org.

Poetry in the (Highland Park) Bowl

June 11 —13

Featuring local and international poets alike, this festival aims to be accessible to everyone, on all fronts, with considerations for mobility, provided ASL interpretation, support-how-you’re-able ticketing (free to $50) and live-streaming for those who can’t make it to the park. wab.org/poetry-festival-2025

Keuka Arts Festival

June 14 — 15

Festivities along the Keuka Lake Outlet Trail, just a short walk from downtown Penn Yan, include hundreds of fine arts and crafts vendors, food, wine and live blues and jazz. The free event also features family activities, clowns and art demonstrations. keukaartsfestival.com

New York State Yoga Festival

June 14

If “yoga in front of a breathtaking waterfall” needs an even sweeter sell, how about “waterfall yoga with a ‘90s theme”? This celebration of movement (and nature) features classes set against the backdrop of Letchworth State Park’s natural beauty, including hiking and live music from groups like Head to the Roots. If you’re more of an MTV yogi, “Britney One More Time” and “TLC: Twists, Lunges and Core” ought to do the trick. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Tickets run $32.75-$69.51. nysyogafestival.com

Rochester Harborfest

June 20 — 22

Rochester Harborfest marks the opening of the summer season at Ontario Beach Park with a celebration of the waterfront. Featuring free family activities like a sand-sculpting competition, a huge car show and a Saturday night boat parade of lights, the fest also boasts food vendors, a kids’ fun zone, tours of the historic Genesee-Charlotte Lighthouse (just down the road), free rides on the 120-year-old Dentzel carousel and more. ontariobeachentertainment.org/harborfest

Rochester International Jazz Festival

June 20 — 28

R&B legend Smokey Robinson, Wynton Marsalis’ Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and singer-songwriter Rickie Lee Jones are just three of the headliners this year on Gibbs Street. Rounding out the lineup are roots band The Wood Brothers and soulful bass virtuoso Thundercat — possibly the only artist with multiple “Dragon Ball Z” references in his discography to be a Jazz Fest marquee act. But with hundreds of performances at dozens of concert venues and clubs, there is, as always, something for everyone across nine days in downtown Rochester. rochesterjazz.com

Chautauqua Institution 2025 Season

June 22 — August 25

For more than a century and a half, Chautauqua Institution has long been a hub of culture and ideas, as well as arts, education, recreation and religion — the four pillars it was founded upon. But this year, perhaps more than ever before, the programming skews toward the mainstream. Laufey, Counting Crows, Guster and The Mountain Goats will all perform at the historic Amphitheater across Chautauqua’s nine-week season; speakers include Morgan Freeman, Lewis Black, Roy Wood Jr. and George Saunders. As such, the entire summer feels like a festival. chq.org

Finger Lakes Chamber Music Festival

June

27 & July 25

For two evenings in the summer, Hunt Country Vineyards (4021 Italy Hill Road in Branchport) becomes a music destination. The first night of this fest (June 27) sees pieces from Beethoven, Charles Ives, Charles Tomlinson Griffes and Florence Price come to life by musicians from the Manhattan Chamber Orchestra. The second, a month later on July 25, features Shostakovich’s “String Quartet #8” and Smetana’s “String Quartet in E Minor” on the program. Both shows are free to attend, though donations are welcome and appreciated. fingerlakes-music.org

Arts at the Gardens

June

28 — 29

Canandaigua’s Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion State Historic Park provides a florid backdrop to artists’ paintings, ceramics, jewelry, prints, woodworking and fine art from other mediums. Add a wine and beer garden, live music and food to the mix, and you’ve got a full-fledged summer festival. Expect a juried art show and a tent for emerging artists as well as, for the first time, dedicated space for non-juried artists, too. Admission is $10, kids 15 and under are $5 and kids under 3 are free. Arts at the Gardens runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. sonnenberg.org

Sterling Renaissance Festival Saturday and Sundays, July 5 — August 17

This festival at 15385 Farden Rd. in Sterling may seem niche to the casual observer, but it’s a popular one in this neck of the woods. This celebration of the post-Middle Ages era of enlightenment and cultural boom is more the stuff of idealized myth than historical fact, but it’s plenty of fun all the same. Each weekend of the Sterling Renaissance Festival focuses on a different theme, from Romance with a Renewal of Vows Ceremony and Ale Fest to Pirate Invasion and Fantasy, Fairies & the Future. Expect plenty of theatrical performances, music, food and general merriment. There’s no better festival for escapism, so grab a turkey leg and a tankard of ale, or have tea with the Queen. Early bird single-day tickets are $26.21 for kids 4 to 11, $41.71 for adults. Early bird kids’ season passes are $133.60, adult passes are $244.30. sterlingfestival.com

Glimmerglass Festival

July 11 — August 17

A must-visit festival every year in historic, glorious Cooperstown features a month’s worth of top-level opera productions featuring up-and-coming pro singers. This year’s lineup includes Puccini’s “Tosca,” the company premiere of Stephen Sondheim’s “Sunday in the Park with George,” an opera adaptation of author Sandra Cisneros’ 1984 novel “The House on Mango Street,” Stravinsky’s “The Rake’s Progress” and “Odyssey,” Ben Moore and Kelley Rourke’s take on Homer’s classic epic. glimmerglass.org

Corn

Hill Arts Festival

July 12 — 13

This Rochester festival isn’t as high-profile as those highlighting jazz music, flowers and Fringe performers, but as a staple of the community, it’s right at the top of the list. 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.-6 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday. cornhillartsfestival.com

JCC Ames Amzalak Rochester Jewish Film Festival

July 13 — 20

The Rochester International Jewish Film Festival enters its 25th year of telling Jewish stories from all over the globe. In addition to film screenings, there are related events such as Q&As with filmmakers and social events. Festival passes information is forthcoming. When it is released, the schedule of films will be available at rjff.org

ROC Pride

Entire month of July; parade and fest on Sat., July 19

The cornerstone of ROC Pride Month, a celebration of the LGBTQ+ community shepherded by the community based group ROC Pride Collective, is the iconic parade, which marches down South Avenue to Highland Park on Saturday, July 19 at 11 a.m. From there, the Pride Festival begins with food and drinks, games, vendors and live performances. But the festivities last all month with an ImageOut film screening, a Pride Night with the Rochester Red Wings, Pride Day at Seabreeze, a Pride (bike) Ride in Genesee Valley Park, open mics, concerts, dance parties, an art sale and more. Watch for related events beginning in June, including a pop-up Pride Day at the zoo. trilliumhealth.org, rochester.lgbt

Downtown Canandaigua

Art and Music Festival

July 18 — 20

This cultural staple of Canandaigua ushers in its 36th year with a juried art competition of more than 150 artists, live music, activities for kids, food and more. Festivities take place on Main Street and the Central on Main area. Hours are 12 p.m.-7 p.m. on Friday, and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. downtowncanandaigua.com

ChamberFest Canandaigua

July 18 — 25

This classical festival celebrates all things chamber music with virtuosic classical guitarist and native Buffalonian Jason Vieaux and scintillating string trio Time for Three as headliners, bringing their chameleon-like approach to genre. There’s also a July 22 concert paired with a five-course meal at The Lake House on Canandaigua, an evening of “Rhythm and Rapture: the Brahms Effect” at Finger Lakes Community College (featuring a quartet) on July 23, and a children’s concert on July 24. chamberfestcanandaigua.com

Seneca Falls Convention Days

July 18 — 20

It’s been 177 years since the Women’s Rights Convention was held in 1848, and Seneca Falls knows how to commemorate the historic event with its annual Convention Days festival. This year’s theme is “Ripples of Reform,” in commemoration of the Erie Canal’s bicentennial. The Women’s Rights National Historic Park hosts a series of events including talks given by historians, presentations by living history performers and programming for families — all with “the movement of ideas and people through Central and Western New York State” in mind. nps.gov/wori

F.L.X. Summer Fest at the Glen

July 26 — 28

This year, what was formerly called the Finger Lakes Wine Festival officially rebranded to F.L.X. Summer Fest at the Glen, a “multi-day celebration of the Finger Lakes region with a focus on music, food, drink and local craftsmanship” that takes place at Watkins Glen International. The fest’s big beats are all still there, with a few tweaks. As it takes place at a raceway, high-speed cars will go around the track during the day. A 5K whirls around the track on July 28, plus kids’ activities and craft workshops abound. Onsite camping is available in the infield. Tickets run $33.30 to $61.05. theglen.com/events/flxfest

Indigenous Music & Arts Festival

July 26 — 27

The story of Haudensaunee culture is also the story of our region. You can celebrate at Ganondagan State Historic Site with a robust schedule of storytelling music, dance, trail walks, traditional crafts, Indigenous cuisine and activities for kids.The headlining performers are yet to be announced, but they will be listed on Ganondagan’s website. ganondagan.org

Canandaigua Lakefront Art Show

July 26 — 27

Now in its 52nd year, this festival boasts the opportunity to check out the work of regional artists while catching a beautiful lakeside view at Kershaw Park on Lakeshore Drive. The event also brings local food vendors. 10 a.m to 5 p.m. both days. Admission and parking are both free. lakefrontartshow.com

Spencerport Canal Days

July 26 — 27

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 43nd Canal Days 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. Free admission. spencerportcanaldays.com

Waterfront Art Festival

July 26 — 27

Webster's Charles E. Sexton Memorial Park once again hosts this party in its 52nd year. As its name suggests, the setting is the stuff of an idyllic summer. The event itself 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.-6 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday. $5 admission; kids 12 and under get in free. waterfrontartfestival.com

Skaneateles Festival

July 31 — August 23

Co-artistic directors Jula Bruskin and Aaron Wunsch continue to program compelling music that goes beyond classical music to include the worlds of jazz, folk and the blues. Skaneateles Lake provides the picturesque backdrop to top-flight performances from Béla Fleck, Edmar Castañeda & Antonio Sánchez Trio and Esperanza Spalding. Numerous additional concerts — featuring such artists as Bill Charlap Trio, the Jasper String Quartet, trumpeter Brandon Ridenour and more — run throughout August, including programs meant to highlight the refugee communities of Central New York. skanfest.org

Puerto Rican Festival

July 31 — August 2

To celebrate its 55th anniversary, this high-energy festival — one of the longestrunning ethnic festivals in the region — will once again take place at Parcel 5. The commemoration of Puerto Rican culture features, in the words of organizers, “three days of live music, delicious food, cultural events, celebrity guests and much more.” Details, including the artists’ lineup, will be available at prfestival.com.

Lima Crossroads Festival

July 31 — August 3

This festival in Livingston County is all about the blues — and the heat. The 2025 performer lineup boasts two tents full of acts like Judah, Steve Grills and the Roadmasters, Johnny Rawls, Kat Riggins Band and more; 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. limafest.org

St. Stanislaus Polish Arts Festival

August 1 — 2

This parish festival features Polish food staples like potato pancakes and specialty beers, live music, raffles and outdoor activities, including “pisanki,” or traditional egg decorating. The festival goes Friday from 4 to 9 p.m. and Saturday 3 to 9 p.m. St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, 1150 Hudson Ave. polishartsfest.org

Pan Afrikan Festival

August 2

Formerly called the Afrikan American Festival, Rochester A.B.O.V.E.’s one-day festival at the Highland Bowl celebrates the various cultures of the African diaspora with plenty of live music throughout the day, plus food and other vendors. The fest runs 11 a.m.-7 p.m. $10 standard tickets, $15 day of event. Children 12 and under get in free. For updates, watch panaffestival.org

Pageant of Steam

August 6 — 9

There have been 65 years of steam at this festival featuring antique steam-powered vehicles. Events include tractor pulls, sawmill demonstrations, live music, food and a worthwhile flea market. The Pageant of Steam runs from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day at 3349 Gehan Rd. in Canandaigua. General admission for adults is $10, kids under 12 are free. nysteamengineassociation.com/pageant-of-steam

Lucille Ball Comedy Festival

August 7 — 10

The National Comedy Center in Jamestown, the premier museum and cultural institution dedicated to comedy, will feature Jon Stewart, Bill Murray & His Blood Brothers and "SNL"’s Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidell at the 35th annual Lucille Ball Comedy Festival. “An Evening with Jon Stewart” will take place on Saturday, Aug. 9; and on Sunday, Aug. 10, a stand-up showcase will be followed by a rock ‘n’ blues concert headlined by Bill Murray & His Blood Brothers. comedycenter.org

Hoochenanny Whiskey & Music Festival

August 8 — 10

This three-day experience returns with a new location and co-ownership after its inaugural Geneseo-based iteration in 2023. Tommy Brunett of Iron Smoke Distillery and Sean McCarthy of McCarthy Tents and Events have joined forces to produce this year’s fest, which will feature 18 musical acts — including Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Dark Star Orchestra, moe. and Charles Wesley Godwin — alongside more than 30 whiskey brands on 14 acres at Camp Eastman in Irondequoit. Live music will be presented on two outdoor stages, while numerous whiskey experiences, including samples, bottle shops, craft cocktails, a rarities bar and more will be hosted in seven custom-built tent structures. One-day tickets and weekend passes range from $50 to $400. hoochenanny.com

Rochester Summer Soul Music Festival

August 9

2025 marks 30 years of this shindig of soul. Innovative Field will once again host a full day of compelling music performances and, as organizers promise, community spirit. This year’s lineup will be unveiled soon; past performers have included Dru Hill, Troop and Jimmie Highsmith Jr. Ticket and VIP information will be available at rocsummersoulfest.com.

Avon Rotary Corn Festival

August 9

Corn on the cob might just be the perfect summer food. Why not celebrate at the Avon Rotary Corn Festival, now in its 37th year? You don’t even have to participate in the corn-eating contest to enjoy the festival. There are plenty of arts and crafts vendors, live entertainment on two stages and games. Free of charge, the festival takes place on Genesee Street in the Village of Avon. Free parking and shuttle available at Avon Middle School; reserved handicapped parking onsite. avoncornfest.com

JA Z Z

Victor Music & Food Festival

August 9

For one afternoon and evening, the Village of Victor’s Mead Square comes alive with this celebration of food and drinks, along with live music from twangy, crowdpleasing, down-home favorites. The fun begins at 4 p.m. and goes until 10 p.m. victormusicfoodfestival.com

Brockport Arts Festival

August 9 — 10

This village festival has been going strong for 29 years and shows no signs of stopping. The gathering sees Main Street in Brockport filled with live music, artists’ work for purchase, live music, a rubber duck derby on the canal, and food — including a wine garden and farmers' market. The free festival is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. brockportartsfestival.com

St. Josaphat Ukrainian Festival

August 14 — 17

Rochester has long been home to a thriving Ukrainian community, so this annual festival — which started in 1973 — is an essential celebration of the culture. St. Josaphat's Ukrainian Catholic Church on East Ridge Road in Irondequoit hosts a free celebration of traditional Ukrainian folk music and dancing, arts including ceramics, wood carvings and Ukrainian Easter eggs, food like pierogi and holubtsi, church tours and more. Thursday, 6 p.m.-10:45 p.m.; Friday, 6 p.m.-12 a.m..; Saturday, 1 p.m.-12 a.m..; Sunday, 1 p.m.-7 p.m. rochesterukrainianfestival.com

Flour City Brewers Fest

August 22

The New York State Brewers Association brings this sudsy celebration to the Rochester Public Market. If you like your beer to be local, the offerings here seem infinite at what organizers call the longest-running craft beer festival in New York State. Sample your preferred brews and munch on food from 5-9 p.m. More info forthcoming at flourcitybrewersfest.com

Rochester Tiki Week

August 25 — 31

The second annual Rochester Tiki Week — operated by the crew behind Jack’s Extra Fancy and Easy Sailor — returns earlier this year, featuring rum-soaked cocktail events across multiple bars, “all for the love of tiki.” The culminating event is a Swizzle Contest at Marge’s Lakeside Inn, which will take place at just before sundown on Sunday, August 31. instagram.com/rochestertikiweek

Irondequoit Arts & Music Festival

August 30

The third annual suburban event features live music, food and local art vendors — all hosted by Dino Kay of The Wease Show, Radio 95.1. The family friendly fest takes place from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. at 400 Bakers Park, next to the House of Guitars and I-Square. Free parking and admission. For the most up-to-date info, visit artcenterrochester.com.

Barry's Irish Festival

September 5 — 6

The sixth annual Barry's Irish Festival will take place at the Webster Fireman's Field. This is the second year the two-day fest celebrating all things celtic returns to Webster; it previously took place at the Hilton homestead of Jess and Danny Barry, former owners of Barry's Old School Irish Pub in Webster and current producers of Barry's Irish Cream Liqueur. From 4 to 9 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, the fest will have live Irish music, crafts and games for the family, food trucks, Irish brews and spirits, raffles, arts vendors, a kilt-wearing contest, Irish dancers, bagpipers and more. $17 general admission includes both days, rain or shine. thebarrybrand.com

M&T Bank Clothesline Art Festival

September 6 — 7

For more than 60 years, Clothesline has been a showcase for work by fine artists and craftspeople and an opportunity for those artists to connect directly with community members on the lawn of the Memorial Art Gallery. In addition to more than 400 artists from around the country, there will be music and dance performances, food, art-making activities and more. New this year is the $5,000 Luvon Sheppard Award for Creative Excellence, celebrating artists across different media types from the Finger Lakes region. Open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Shopping for MAG members starts at 9:30 a.m. both days. mag.rochester.edu/events/clothesline-festival

ESL Rochester Fringe Festival

September 9 — 20

Named “one of the country’s more prominent multidisciplinary events” by The New York Times, Rochester Fringe Festival returns this fall with more than 500 ticketed and free performances at arts venues and public spaces around the city. The 12-day event brings in local, national and international acts ranging from theater and comedy to dance and visual art for audiences of all ages and is among 250 Fringe Festivals in the world and approximately 50 across the U.S. rochesterfringe.com

Turtle Hill Folk Festival

September 12 — 13

This annual celebration of folk music traditions, presented by the Golden Link Folk Singing Society, is custom-fit to focus on both professional and amateur musicians alike. A full slate of events include evening concerts on both days, workshops and small presentations. This year’s festival takes place at Greece Baptist Church, 1230 Long Pond Rd. Featured performers include Anna Egge, The Brothers Blue, Gathering Time and Joe Jencks. goldenlink.org.

Borderland Music + Art Festival

September 12 — 14

Since 2018, East Aurora in Erie County has become a bit of a music destination, thanks to Borderland, which welcomes perhaps its most notable crop of headliners this year. Vampire Weekend, Khruangbin, Mt. Joy, Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats, Band of Horses, the Teskey Brothers and Trampled By Turtles are all slated to perform at the fête, which also features tent and RV camping. Ticket prices go up at the door, though kids under 10 get in free. borderlandfestival.com

Festival of Food

September 15

Spend an early fall evening tasting (and voting for your favorite) food and beverages prepared by myriad area eateries set to a backdrop of live music at the Rochester Public Market. All proceeds benefit Foodlink, the region’s largest food pantry serving 10 counties. 2025 marks the festival’s 20th anniversary. From 6-8:30 p.m. General admission is $85; VIP tickets are $115. foodlinkny.org/fof

Indigenous Peoples Day

October 13

This one-day celebration for all ages will begin and end with ceremonies at sunrise and sunset, respectively, in Cobbs Hill Park. Over the course of the day, there will be numerous activities at Lake Riley Lodge, including dance and music performances (with audience participation); lacrosse demonstrations; storytelling and guest speakers; Indigenous educational displays; craftmaking; food and Native vendor booths. Volunteers and vendors may still apply. Free admission, all ages welcome. indigenouspeoplesdayrocny.org

Soundtrax Film Music Festival

October 16 — 18

The home of motion picture film and one of the world’s best music schools seems like an ideal setting for the first film-music festival in North America. The Eastman School of Music and the University of Rochester, in partnership with UR's Hajim School of Engineering, will pioneer the inaugural Soundtrax Film Music Festival this fall. Live concert films will include “John Williams Reimagined,” “Interstellar in Concert” and “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 — In Concert,” along with notable performances and keynotes from guests like Spike Lee’s frequent composer Terence Blanchard. There will also be a conference portion of the festival, with topics like AI in music production. Tickets and festival passes, along with a full schedule, will be announced soon. soundtrax.org

Discover WXXI on YouTube

If you’ve just been watching WXXI on TV, let us introduce you to WXXI on YouTube! Simply search for “WXXI YouTube” or visit youtube.com/@wxxirochester, and you’ll find a collection of classic programs like In the Key of Z and Arts in Focus, or playlists from Move to Include and Your Hometown

Now if that’s not enough, the WXXI News YouTube page at youtube.com/@wxxinews has the newest episodes of Connections with Evan Dawson, shorts from the program, or a Live Stream of the show! You can also settle in for some Voice of the Voter Debates or stories from our news reporters.

Credit: Natalie Sinisgalli

House in the Garden: Shofuso and Modernism

Saturday, May 3 at 5:30 p.m. on WXXI-TV

The environmentally and culturally sensitive design philosophies of George Nakashima, Junzo Yoshimura, and Antonin and Noemi Raymond continue to influence architecture and design today. Check out these stunning visual explorations of three architecturally significant sites in the Philadelphia region that highlight the influence of traditional Japanese architecture on these four masters of modernist architecture and design.

Photo provided by APT

The Boys Who Said No

Monday, May 12 at 9 p.m. on WXXI-TV

Through dynamic archival footage and compelling interviews, this film is the first documentary to profile the youth-led movement of nonviolent civil disobedience against the Vietnam War, a critical part of the antiwar movement that eventually forced an end to both the war and draft conscription.

Photo provided by APT

Bugs That Rule the World

Wednesdays, May 7-May 28 at 10 p.m. on WXXI-TV

Explore the fascinating world of bugs, their beauty, and ecological importance. From pollinators and insect predators to the clean-up crews purifying our planet, scientists examine the decline of these essential yet least appreciated creatures.

Photo provided by PBS

Great

Performances “Yellow Face”

Friday, May 16 at 9 p.m. on WXXI-TV

Enjoy Tony winner David Henry Hwang’s comedy starring Daniel Dae Kim as an Asian American playwright who protests “yellowface” casting in the musical “Miss Saigon” only to mistakenly cast a white actor as the Asian lead in his own play.

Photo: Daniel Dae Kim and Greg Keller • CreditL Joan Marcus

Hey Parents!

Check out these new series from PBS KIDS.

American Experience “Mr. Polaroid”

Monday, May 19 at 9 p.m. on WXXI-TV

Meet Edwin Land, a pioneering tech disruptor and inventor of the midcentury icon, the Polaroid camera. Introduced in 1948, it revolutionized amateur photography, making it instant and accessible to all.

Photo: Edwin Land holding Polavision camera with Bill McCune • Credit: Library of Congress

National Memorial Day Concert 2025

Sunday, May 25 at 8 p.m. on WXXI-TV

America’s national night of remembrance, live from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, brings us together as one family of Americans to honor the service of generations of our men and women in uniform, our military families, and to pay tribute to all those who have given their lives for our country.

Photo: Members of the U.S. Armed Forces • Credit: Capital Concerts

Skillsville

Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. on WXXI-KIDS 24/7

This dynamic animated series encourages kids ages 4-8 to “power up” the skills they need for future success by depicting the benefits of one of the most popular forms of media—video games. Taking its cue from some of the best elements that gaming has to offer, the series centers on three best friends, Cora (ParCora), Dev (Devosaurus), and Rae (Racer Rae), who love to play together, whether it’s on the playground or in their favorite digital game, “Skillsville.”

Fun Fact: The character Rae is voiced by Jessy Yates, who plays Harper Simms on the Netflix series Pulse.

Jamming on the Job podcast

Available on the PBS KIDS app, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify

This is a music-inspired podcast for kids ages 4-8 and their parents and caregivers. Join Christina and Andrés, along with Magic Beatmaster Boombox, voiced by musician Pierce Freelon, as they tour the country and perform songs about the world of work. Each place they go, they meet a grown-up with a different kind of job who helps them along their way.

Fun Fact: Christina and Andrés won a Grammy for Best Children’s Album of the Year in 2024. Photo credit Maarten de

Acoustic Rooster and his Barnyard Band!

The special airs Friday, May 23 at 11 a.m. and Tuesday, May 27 at 1 p.m.

The shorts air during the morning kids’ block on WXXI-TV

This new series focuses on the importance of music in our everyday lives. The animated special and series of shorts introduce a new generation of kids to the vibrant world of the arts, specifically Jazz music, while reinforcing the importance of collaboration, creativity, and self-expression. Centered on the titular character, a guitar-strumming rooster arrives at the Bebop Barnyard to join a band for the Jammin’ Jazz Contest. Rooster learns to collaborate with other musicians and becomes a member of the “Barnyard Band,” learning that the heart of Jazz lies in everyone being free to play together.

Fun Fact: The series is based on "Acoustic Rooster and His Barnyard Band", the beloved children’s book by Emmy® Award-winning, Newbery medalist, and #1 New York Times bestselling author Kwame Alexander. Photo credit: Rowan Daly

Boer

Lunar Reflections: A Classical Journey Through the Phases of the Moon

Thursday, May 8 at 3 p.m. on WXXI Classical

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, this special presents a unique blend of classical music and mindfulness, designed to engage listeners in a deeply immersive musical experience. Each lunar phase is paired with evocative classical works, which help guide listeners through moments of introspection, creativity, and renewal. With a rich narrative and a thoughtfully curated soundtrack, this program offers a fresh way to connect with music, nature, and emotional wellness.

Valor & Victory

Monday, May 26 at 3 p.m. on WXXI Classical

This special looks at the anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe through the lens of classical music, which was a significant and sometimes surprising part of life during the war years and after. The war and its aftermath inspired composers to reflect feelings and events of the time. Music by Beethoven, Verdi, and Chopin played a role, as did works by Aaron Copland, William Walton, and Olivier Messiaen. Composer Masao Ohki was one of the first Japanese musicians to respond to the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki with his expressionistic Symphony No. 5.

Here & Now

Weekdays 2-4 p.m. on WXXI News (FM 105.9)

Here & Now reflects the fluid world of news as it’s happening in the middle of the day, with timely, smart, and in-depth news, interviews, and conversation. Co-hosted by award-winning journalists Robin Young and Scott Tong (pictured), the show’s daily lineup includes interviews with NPR reporters, as well as leading newsmakers, innovators and artists from across the U.S. and around the globe.

Credit: Liz Linder

Sound Opinions

Saturday at 3 p.m. on The Route (FM 88.5)

Whether you're an expert, or just a casual fan, Sound Opinions is your source for smart and engaging music criticism and conversation. Each week on the show, nationally respected rock critics Greg Kot and Jim DeRogatis interview artists, talk about pop culture and music industry news, review new record releases, and give trends a historical context. And, because on Sound Opinions, "everyone's a critic," listeners are invited to join in the debate.

Photo courtesy of NPR

Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra ‘24/’25 Season

Premieres Monday, May 19 at 8 p.m. on WXXI Classical and streaming on WXXIClassical.org

WXXI Classical brings you concerts from the ‘24/’25 season of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, hosted by Brenda Tremblay. Maestro Andreas Delfs conducts eight of the 14 programs while guest conductors JoAnn Falletta, Maximiano Valdes, Peter Oundjian, Vinay Parameswaran, Lidiya Yankovskaya, and Yaniv Dinur each lead the other concerts. Photo: RPO Credit: Smille Photo

Q&A

What has been your favorite RPO concert this 24/25 season and why?

The season opener with the group Time for Three was thrilling. It’s not every day you see the RPO audience bouncing on its heels, singing and shouting along. After the soloists played Kevin Puts’ Contact, a Triple Concerto for Two Violins, Bass, and Orchestra, they transformed Kodak Hall into a rock venue with an encore you’ll have to hear to believe. (airs May 19th and August 25th)

Is there a concert that surprised you or stuck with you after?

Pianist Stewart Goodyear’s performance of Franz Liszt’s First Piano Concerto radiated total self-assurance. He described the romantic masterpiece as an intense dessert. “It's almost like a protein yogurt,” he said, “and it is absolutely packed!" On days when I feel tired or discouraged, the memory of his casual virtuosity sparks a burst of delight in me. (airs June 30th and October 6th)

What is your favorite part of hosting?

Easy. It’s sharing the stories and performances of the musicians with people at home. Not everyone can get to Kodak Hall to see the RPO in person, and it’s a joy and privilege to help everyone access these concerts for free wherever they are, whether they’re streaming at WXXIClassical.org or listening to 91.5 FM.

What do you hope your listeners will get from these broadcasts?

Hope. Inspiration. Those who follow the news know that sometimes “The world is too much with us,” as Wordsworth put it. RPO broadcasts on WXXI Classical remind us that empathy, passion, and community still thrive in the most beautiful way.

To learn more about these RPO broadcasts visit WXXIClassical.org.

Friday, May 16 at 7:30pm Saturday, May 17 at 7:30pm

Tickets available at the box office and thelittle.org

Wake up, Donnie

Before STRANGER THINGS combined science fiction, Spielberg-ian thrills, and 1980s nostalgia to much acclaim, Richard Kelly set the high-water mark with DONNIE DARKO. Initially beset with distribution problems, it would slowly find its audience and emerge as arguably the first cult classic of the new millennium.

240 East Ave thelittle.org

Thursday, May 8 at 7pm

Film presented with Open Captions Post-screening discussion will be ASL interpreted

Experience the groundbreaking comedy Strait Undercover, the first action comedy to star an actor with Down syndrome as the lead hero, with no mention of their differences. Produced 100% in Rochester, NY. Starring Race Eberhardt — one of CITY Magazine’s “Rochester Ten” for 2024.

SATURDAY, MAY 24 AT 11:30AM SUNDAY, JUNE 1 AT 3PM TICKETS AVAILABLE AT THE BOX OFFICE + THELITTLE.ORG

1-800-ON-HER-OWN is a cinematic musical road trip through the life of feminist singer-songwriter — and Buffalo native — Ani DiFranco. Throughout the ride from her punk-folk past to her life today as activist, rock star and mother, she’s brutally honest, famously foul-mouthed and totally hilarious.

Immerse yourself in Björk’s spectacular stage production in this concert film, featuring bespoke instruments and choir joining a setlist spanning Björk’s iconic early works to the visionary Utopia (2017) and Fossora (2023).

Seven-time BAFTA Award-winner Steve Coogan plays four roles in the world premiere stage adaptation of Stanley Kubrick’s comedy masterpiece Dr. Strangelove.

This explosively funny satire, about a rogue U.S General who triggers a nuclear attack, is led by a world-renowned creative team including Emmy Award-winner Armando Iannucci and Olivier Award-winner Sean Foley.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 7 AT 7:30PM SUNDAY, MAY 11 AT 6:30PM

Tickets available at the box office and thelittle.org

THE CALEDONIA TROUT FESTIVAL IS A CELEBRATION OF FISH CULTURE.

WORDS AND PHOTOS BY ROBERTO FELIPE LAGARES BERTO@ROCHESTER-CITYNEWS.COM

The rich history of Rochester and its surrounding areas could serve as a longstanding source for the golden era (glass bottles) of Snapple Real Facts — and for the young bucks out there, well, you just had to be there. A new tie to the historical significance of this region of the world presents itself quite frequently. Most recently, I’ve discovered the oldest fish hatchery in the Western Hemisphere is located just 20 miles southwest of downtown Rochester, in the town of Caledonia.

Operating as one of 12 fish hatcheries by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), the hatchery is the focal point of what will be the town’s third annual trout festival this year.

“A lot of people don’t realize all the history that’s here,” said Stephen Galbreth, Fish Culturist 3 at the hatchery. “(The festival) is promoting history and recreational fishing opportunities, too.”

Built in 1864, the Caledonia Fish Hatchery was established by the “Father of Fish Culture” Seth Green, who was born in Rochester in 1817. Designed by Green’s son, William C. Green, the hatchery is responsible for introducing the brown trout — a species native to Germany — into the area.

“They’ve been here so long now that people think brown trout are native to North America (or) the area,” said Galbreth.

The entire hatchery produces about 250,000-300,000 fish per year. The fish start inside the hatchery in what are called “raceways,” fed by newly installed automatic belt feeders. Eventually, they rotate to the outside ponds — equipped with on-demand feeders and, occasionally, hand-fed — after the yearlings and 2-year-olds are relocated to other waterways. According to the NYSDEC, virtually all of the 2-year-old brown trout in their stocking program come from the Caledonia Fish Hatchery.

“All the water is from the creek. We pull 5,000 gallons a minute — every day, all year long — from Spring Creek right through the hatchery,” said Galbreth, noting the lack of pumps, as the entire system is gravity-fed. “It’s designed to flow all the way down through the hatchery and go back to the creek.”

The most important thing is flow and dissolved oxygen; keeping the screens between each pond clean requires cleaning a minimum of twice a day.

“Our main goal is to stock public waters for sport fishing purposes to enhance sport fishing opportunities for the public,” Galbreth said. “We don’t sell any fish. We don’t stock any private waters. We only stock public waters where anybody can go and fish.”

The third annual Caledonia Trout Festival on Saturday, May 31 will feature family oriented activities that introduce kids to fish culture, with prizes like tackle, rods and reels. One of the festival’s most popular attractions are the trout pools, where “every kid catches a trout, they don’t leave until they’ve caught one,” said Galbreth.

Although the celebration of fish culture is at the forefront — with notable keynote speakers, demonstrations and fisherman’s flea market — festival planning committee member Nick Sims emphasized the festival is for everyone.

“For people who aren’t involved in fishing or the history of trout aquaculture, we have food vendors and live music all day in the beer garden,” he said. “There’s different opportunities and something for everybody.” facebook.com/caledoniatroutfestival

todo DAILY

Full calendar of events online at roccitymag.com

SATURDAY, MAY 3

MUSIC

Jeezy

West Herr Auditorium Theatre, rbtl.org

Without Jeezy, trap music may have never gripped the mainstream. The Georgia-bred rapper spent his early career establishing, along with fellow MCs Gucci Mane and T.I., the fundamentals of the subgenre: drug raps over drum-machine beats. Before long, he appeared on a No. 1 hit (Usher’s “Love in This Club”) and worked with pop vocalists Rihanna and Christina Milian. As trap has since come to dominate the pop landscape, Jeezy hasn’t led up; he released his 13th album, “I Might Forgive... But I Don’t Forget,” in 2023. His tour swings through Rochester for an 8 p.m. show. Tickets $67-$179. PATRICK HOSKEN

FILM

“Thirteen”

Dryden Theatre, rochesterfilmfest.org

A mother fights for her disabled daughter to become a bat mitzvah in their synagogue. Written and directed by native Rochesterian Allison Norlian, and presented as part of the Rochester International Film Festival. 7:30 p.m.; free admission.

SARAH MURPHY ABBAMONTE

COMMUNITY

Browncroft

Garage Sale

Browncroft Neighborhood, browncroftna.org

The highly anticipated bi-annual sale, which began in 1981 with 100 houses, returns from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 3-4 with 175 houses in a concentrated radius just west of I-590 near Blossom Road and Browncroft Boulevard. This year, the Browncroft Neighborhood Association will offer a map of the houses, online sale listings and Porta Potties located at School #46 and at the Rose Garden near Merchants Road and Browncroft Boulevard. Onstreet parking is available. LEAH STACY

SUNDAY, MAY 4

MULTIDISCIPLINARY

“OZ - A Wicked Prequel”

Aerial Arts of Rochester, aerialartsrochester.com

This circus arts space teaches students how to defy gravity – so what better theme to grace a show than “Wicked”? This tween production will have tumbling and above-ground acrobatics such as the aerial silks and hoop. Tickets $16-$20. ALYSSA KOH

THEATER

“An American in Paris”

JCC CenterStage, jccrochester.org

George Gershwin penned “An American in Paris” in the spring of 1928 after, naturally, a trip abroad. It served as the springboard for director Vincente Minnelli’s musical film that arrived in 1951, with lyrics written by George’s brother, Ira. A half-century later, it came to Broadway as a musical for the first time and won four Tony Awards. That show, about an American solider at the end of World War II, arrives at JCC CenterStage with performances through May 18; the 2 p.m. Sunday, May 4 performance features a post-show talkback with three-time Tony Awardwinning Broadway producer Rachel Weinstein. Tickets $25-40. PH

MUSIC

“RGMC presents Miscast Cabaret”

ROAR, rgmc.ticketleap.com/ miscast2025

Ever wanted to hear “On My Own” from “Les Misérables” sung by a bass? What about “So Much Better” from “Legally Blonde”? This fundraiser for the Rochester Gay Men’s Chorus is all about putting a spin on casting norms. Listen in and hear more than what meets the eye. Doors open at 2 p.m.; show at 3 p.m. Tickets $15 in advance or $20 day of. AK

MONDAY, MAY 5

ART Flower City Figure Study

The Art Stop Studio, artstopllc.com/art-lessons

This Penfield art store cherishes its models like Lou Bega in “Mambo No. 5” - they need a little more of everyone in their life. In the shop's 200-followerstrong Facebook group, previous depictions of the person modeling get posted to advertise the event, serving as both a teaser and homage. Doors are at 5:30 p.m. Tickets start at $6, or $5 with a valid student ID. AK

TUESDAY, MAY 6

MUSIC

Bruce Hornsby & yMusic

Temple Theatre, brucehornsby.com

Bruce Hornsby’s accolades are numerous: pop chart-topper, former Grateful Dead touring member, piano virtuoso. And that barely scratches the surface. But in the 2010s, the singer-songwriter’s influence began to manifest in emerging indie acts like Bon Iver, who ended up becoming a collaborator. The middle of their Venn diagram is yMusic, the chamber collective specializing in both atmospheric accompaniment and original compositions. As “BrhyM,” Hornsby and the six-piece group created an aqueous, searching album called “Deep Sea Vents.” They’ll perform that material at this 7:30 p.m. show. Doors open at 6:30. Tickets from $71.78. PH

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MUSIC

Gringo Star & The Demos

Bug Jar, bugjar.com

Having trouble distinguishing between bands Gringo Star and Ringo Deathstarr? Remember this rhyme: If it’s garage-y and psych, you’ve got Gringo there, Mike. If it’s dreamy and down, you’re in Deathstarr town. This will serve you well for the former’s return to Rochester, with local support from The Demos, who mark their grand return to the stage after a hiatus. Doors at 8, show at 9. $12.30$17.70. PH

WEDNESDAY, MAY 7

RUNNING

Dirt Cheap Trail Race

Durand Eastman Park, yellowjacketracing.com

Running, like drinkable water and singing, is deceptively expensive despite its integral piece in human life and culture. Racing is even more expensive – to combat this, each of the four races in this program (including a bib, tracked timing and post-race food) are only $20 apiece. Embrace a competitive nature – and nature itself – for over three miles and focus on a goal beyond the stressors of a screen for a reasonable price. AK

THURSDAY, MAY 8

THEATER

“Jersey Boys”

OFC Creations, ofccreations.com

The final show of OFC’s Broadway in Brighton season is also Rochester’s first production of “Jersey Boys,” which follows Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons throughout their 1960s career. Stepping into the role of Valli is native Adam Marino, a performer previously seen in “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” and “She Loves Me.” It’s a role he knows well: This is his 11th time in the show as Valli. See it through May 25. PH

FRIDAY, MAY 9

THEATER

“The

Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes”

Blackfriars Theatre, blackfriars.org

Elevator pitches don’t get much snappier than “a musical-hating man wakes up in a musical.” To execute that kind of high-concept premise, composers Michael Kooman and Christopher Dimond got to have a lot of fun. “Physicalizing Howard’s internal conflict as he unknowingly launches into his ‘I Want’ song provides the actor with plenty of opportunities for comedy,” the pair told Playbill in 2019. Blackfriars’ take is directed by former artistic director and managing director Danny Hoskins and runs through May 25. $20-$39.50 PH

THEATER

“Princess Ida”

Downtown United Presbyterian Church, off-monroeplayers.org

The comic opera “Princess Ida” dates back to 1884, when Gilbert & Sullivan set out to satirize feminism — a popular topic in Victorian England. Off-Monroe Players director Wayne Vander Byl sets the action for this local production in 1910, when women’s suffrage movements crested in both England and America, including here with Rochester’s own Susan B. Anthony leading the charge. This twist provides an added dimension to the show, which runs through May 18. ASL-interpreted performance on May 11 at 2 p.m. No charge for tickets, but reservations are strongly encouraged. PH

SATURDAY, MAY 10

MUSIC

Katie Pruitt

Highland Park, roclilacfest.com

One of the most striking moments in Nashville singer-songwriter Katie Pruitt’s catalog arrives as a duet with fellow rootsy vocalist S.G. Goodman. The song, “White Lies, White Jesus and You,” plays less like a sermon than a quiet, smoldering interrogation of faux righteousness. But Pruitt can turn up the volume, too, as she likely will do as a Lilac Festival headliner. The free show begins at 7 p.m., with local support from Spooky & the Truth at 5:30. PH

THEATER

“Describe the Night”

MuCCC, muccc.org

Playwright Rajiv Joseph was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2010, thanks to his Iraq War-set play “Bengal Tiger in a Baghdad Zoo.” In 2017, he premiered this one, a tale of Russian and East German history spans 90 years and seven people connected by a web of mystery and intrigue. Out of Pocket, Inc. presents this play as directed by local theater educator and artist Rachel Solomon. Shows run May 9-17. Presale: $15 students and seniors 65+; $20 adults. At the door: $20 students and seniors; $25 adults. PH

PETS

Rochester

Dachshund Parade

Washington Square Park, dachshundparade.com

Now in its 23rd year, this annual dose of serotonin kicks off at 10 a.m. with songs, oompah music, a doggie fashion show and plenty of sniffing. The parade begins at 11:30 a.m. Long- and short-sleeved T-shirts are available in Columbia blue; a portion of the proceeds benefit local animal services. Hot dogs from Dave’s Sidewalk Café. PH

SUNDAY, MAY 11

MUSIC

The Dandy Warhols

Anthology, thedandywarhols-rochester. eventbrite.com

At Glastonbury Festival in 2000, as The Dandy Warhols performed the song “Boys Better,” the band saw someone singing along. It was David Bowie. “I think I just about crapped by pants,” frontman Courtney Taylor-Taylor said years later. The poppy, slightly psychedelic, always spacey rock group later became Bowie’s backing band, between releasing more than a dozen albums since 1995 and touring the globe. The spaceship lands at Anthology for this 8 p.m. show, with doors at 7 p.m. Tickets from $47.52. PH

MUSIC

Remember Sports

Bug Jar, bugjar.com

Over a decade ago in Ohio, a band called Sports started making punkish poppy songs like “Saturday.” This Sports was a different one than what we had here in Rochester but no less great. One name change and a

relocation later — they’re now largely based in Philadelphia and called Remember Sports — the music has lost none of its power and, notably, none of its hooks. The crew hits Bug Jar along with local power-pop band Comfy, in which guitarist Jack Washburn also plays, for this 9 p.m., 18+ show. $17.70-$20.79. PH

FAIR

Mother’s Day Psychic Fair

Iron Smoke Distillery, ironsmokedistillery.com

Need a different kind of card this Mother’s Day for the maternal figure in your life? What about a tarot card? This psychic fair offers everything from tarot readings, metaphysical artisans, a spell jar bar, and MOMsas (with each zodiac sign assigned its own flavor). Enjoy live music from Nightfall Duo and slices from Freddie’s Wood-Fired Pizza. 2-6:30 p.m. Free. MEGAN MACK

MONDAY, MAY 12

SHOPPING

Lilac Local Farmers Market

Highland Park, roclilacfest.com

Music and flowers aren’t the only draws of this year’s Lilac Festival. Near the Lilac Adventure Zone, vendors will pop up on May 12 and May 14 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. selling local produce, dairy, olive oil, honey, maple syrup, canned goods, floral items, soaps and much more. PH

TUESDAY, MAY 13

THEATER

“Some Like It Hot”

West Herr Auditorium Theatre, rbtl.org

The premise alone is comedy fodder: Two male musicians don drag to escape the wrath of gangsters. But in the capable hands of stars Marilyn Monroe, Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis, the 1959 film became a sensation. Sixty-plus years later, “Some Like It Hot” found new life on Broadway, perhaps thanks in part to evolved explorations of gender expression. (Indeed, “The New York Times” called the Tony-winning musical an “invitation to liberation.”) The touring shows will be staged at RBTL through May 18. $46-$109. PH

WEDNESDAY, MAY 14

COMMUNITY

Evening Out with the Arts

Harro East Ballroom, racf.org/artsevent

Rochester Area Community Foundation creates a stage to celebrate the arts community and invites culture lovers to experience the glow. This annual evening to benefit local arts funding begins at 6 p.m. and features a program of vibrant performers, all emceed by the CITY team. Expect vivid brushstrokes and fluid movements, sharp lyrics and tight rhythms, soul-stirring voices and words that will strike deep and stay. Tickets start at $125. LS

THURSDAY, MAY 15

FASHION

Fashion Week of Rochester: Prism

Temple Theater, fashionweekofrochester.org

For those who grew up on “Project Runway,” the idea of a fashion show in

Rochester sounds intensely high-end and couture. However, the basis for each runway stems from something much more rooted in community — combating youth homelessness alongside The Center for Youth. Seeing designers from across Western New York and beyond is inspiring, but the project for the proceeds pushes the event past the runway.

Tickets $27-$106. AK

MUSIC

Seun Kuti & Egypt 80

Highland Park, roclilacfest.com

By the time Seun Kuti was born in 1983, his father, the Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti, had already released several major compositions at a quick clip, including some with his band, Egypt 80. After his father’s death, Seun took up the mantle of leading the group musically as well politically, loudly taking up causes against police brutality and oppression. The songs work perfectly for both body (dancing) and mind (challenging beliefs). Support on the Lilac Festival stage comes from the soulful hip-hop of Senoj from the Roc. Headliner at 7 p.m. Free. PH

FRIDAY, MAY 16

MUSIC

The Aces

Highland Park, roclilacfest.com

The first time I saw The Aces, the group covered “Smells Like Teen Spirit” between its own sugar-high dance-pop songs. It was a bold move that paid off and also cemented their ambitions. The four dazzling musicians in The Aces began playing together as kids in Utah; several albums later, they’re an even tighter live act, with melodies on songs like “I’ve Loved You for So Long” and “Fake Nice” that are sticker than Laffy Taffy. They’ll show off at the Lilac Festival beginning at 7 p.m., with local support from Pluck. Free. PH

SATURDAY, MAY 17

MUSIC

Dirty Dozen Brass Band

Highland Park, roclilacfest.com

For nearly 50 years, New Orleans’ premier brass band has helped accent tunes from Elvis Costello, B.B. King,

Modest Mouse and Norah Jones — on top of a flourishing career all their own that spans jazz, R&B, zydeco and more. Let the power of brass overtake you. The free show has local support from Public Water Supply. PH

SUNDAY, MAY 18

CYCLING

The Flower Pedal Populaire

Roundhouse Shelter, facebook.com/ KICCCRochester

When I first got a car, I swore off other forms of transportation in allegiance to my independence. Gone were the days of being at the mercy of the bus schedule — but what I lost was a sense of community in seeing the faces of my fellow travelers. I had forgotten all about the wonders of the bicycle. Pedal around with the petals on a sweet spring day, complete with a celebratory picnic at the end. Bring up your kickstands by 10 a.m. Free. AK

MONDAY, MAY 19

LITERATURE

“In This Moment” book launch +

panel

Dryden Theatre, inthismoment585.org

The latest subjects of the “In This Moment” chapbook series are ASL interpreter and spoken-word poet Christopher Coles and Dr. Myra L. Mathis-Uwanogho, the medical director for Strong Recovery at the University of Rochester Medical Center. They’ll join the essayists and photographers who brought their stories to life at the Dryden Theatre for the newest launch and a panel discussion about their respective work. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Free, but registration is required. PH

MUSIC

The Levin Brothers

Lovin’ Cup, bopshop.com

Tony and Pete Levin have been consummate session musicians since the 1970s, appearing on hundreds of releases and performing separately with artists as diverse as Stevie Nicks, Jaco Pastorius, Gap Mangione, Lou Reed, Seal and, notably, King Crimson. But they sound utterly vital when they play together, as they do as The Levin Brothers, purveyors of far-reaching jazz, blues and a unique fusion of many styles. This show begins at 8 p.m., with tickets $30 in advance and $35 day of show. PH

TUESDAY, MAY 20

MUSIC

Paula Cole

Nazareth University, bestonhall.com/ an-evening-with-paula-cole

Paula Cole’s two biggest pop-culture moments arrived in the late 1990s, when “Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?” hit the top 10 and earned her Grammy nods; follow-up single “I Don’t Want to Wait” became the theme to teen drama “Dawson’s Creek.” But Cole continued to probe new directions into jazz and folk and evolved her songwriting. A song from her 2024 album “Lo” is called “The Replacements & Dinosaur Jr.” and concerns the power someone can have on your developing music taste. She performs at Naz’s Beston Hall at this 7:30 p.m. show. $50-$70. PH

WEDNESDAY, MAY 21

MUSIC

WBEE’s Guitars and Stars

West Herr Auditorium Theatre, rbtl.org

A night of acoustic tunes, storytelling and a hefty dose of twang features five artists at the microphone on stage in downtown Rochester. Dillon Carmichael, Drew Baldridge, Zach Top, Locash and Kelsey Hart perform. Doors at 6:30 p.m., music at 7. Tickets $20-$135. PH

THURSDAY, MAY 22

MUSIC

Kane Brown

CMAC, cmacevents.com

For nearly a decade, Kane Brown has remained a big force on the country music scene (and the charts). He’s versatile, which has helped him roll with mainstream changes in the genre, like the adoption of hip-hop beats and an expansion of the sonic palette. His latest album, “The High Road,” features guests as diverse as Marshmello, Khalid and Jelly Roll — this is probably why one night at CMAC isn’t enough for Brown. He headlines May 22-23, kicking off the venue’s summer season with a bang. 7 p.m. $48-$250. PH

FRIDAY, MAY 23

MUSIC

Demola

Theater at Innovative Square, theaterais.com

Demola the violinist is a phenomenon. Able to color 50 Cent songs with string flourishes, inject classical flair into Sade tunes and write his own compositions with ease, the Houston musician spans genres, eras and tastes, offering a little something for everyone. Doors at 6:30 p.m. Show at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets $35.29-$55.87.

ANDY NAHAS

SATURDAY, MAY 24

MUSIC

Live at the BBQ

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Park, facebook.com/itsallloveroc

From 2-8 p.m., MLK Park turns into the center of the summer universe. DJs will spin favorites spanning hip-hop, R&B and soul and local vendors will set up shop so you can grab a plate. Early bird tickets $23.10. General admission $25. PH

SUNDAY, MAY 25

MUSIC

Jon Spencer

Skylark Lounge, theskylarklounge.com

What’s the sound of blues exploding?

For 25 years, Jon Spencer and his band provided a sonic answer that owed as much to punk, post-punk and New Wave as it did to the Delta. Though the band called it quits in 2016, Spencer will perform tunes from his blistering catalog at Skylark for this 21+ show. Doors at 7 p.m., music at 8 p.m. General admission tickets $23.18. PH

MONDAY, MAY 26

HOLIDAY

Memorial Day Parade

Downtown Rochester, cityofrochester.gov

The annual celebration returns to herald the unofficial start of summer — and just like for St. Patrick’s Day, this parade steps off at 10:30 a.m. at East Avenue and Alexander Street, then heads west on Main Street and finishes at Main and Fitzhugh. Bring the kids (and a lawn chair, if you don’t want to follow the procession). Free; all ages welcome. LS

TUESDAY, MAY 27

LITERATURE

Malaika Favorite

Writers & Books, wab.org

Visual artist Malaika Favorite is also a writer; her latest work, “After Color,” is an examination of “seeing color in a colorless world” and how that relates to staying true to yourself. This 7 p.m. virtual event finds her in conversation with Nina Alvarez, the founding editor of Cosmographia Books. Free, or choose the ticket price that works for you. PH

WEDNESDAY, MAY 28

COMEDY

Brian Regan

Kodak Center, kodakcenter.com

Comedian Brian Regan has a bit wherein he retells an overheard “story” about a series of lottery tickets purchased. I say “story” because it’s really just a list of numbers in no logical order. But in telling it, he reveals his great gift for observational humor. The punchline, it turns out, is less about inverting the setup and more about capturing the mundanities of life in excruciating detail. Regan brings his wit to town for a 7 p.m. show. $28.50-$50.50. PH

THURSDAY, MAY 29

THEATER

“A Tale of Two Cities”

MuCCC, theopenroadtheatre.org

What resonance does Dickens’ French Revolution tale have today amid a political, social and economic climate that skews toward seemingly endless reward for the rich and powerful and death, destruction and despair for everyone else? Who knows! But the Open Road Theatre’s staging of the story will explore those themes, as well as a question central to the novel: “Can a single act of honor and love counteract a world filled with hatred and vengeance?” Performances run through June 1, with an ASL-interpreted show May 30. PH

FRIDAY, MAY 30

MUSIC

Sophistafunk Weekend

Throwdown

Three Heads Brewing, threeheadsbrewing.com/events Characterizing Sophistafunk is tricky. The group with Central New York roots expertly blends funk and hiphop with the exploratory drive of a jam band, all the while adding in complex electronic elements. This unique blend made them a favorite of Guy Fieri — no small feat. The band takes over 3HB for the weekend. Openers include The Medicinals on Friday and Eli & The Everymen on Saturday. Doors at 7 p.m. Advance tickets $15; $20 at the door. PH

SATURDAY, MAY 31

MUSIC

Taj Mahal & Keb’ Mo’

Point of the Bluff, concertsatpob.com/ taj-mahal-keb-mo

Taj Mahal’s set at Jazz Fest in 2024 revealed his voracious placelessness: banjo, steel drum, Irish folk tunes and Delta blues numbers coexisting in a space all his own. This summer, he’s joined by California bluesman Keb’ Mo’ (who headlined the fest in 2023) for a concert that finds the pair celebrating a new collaborative album, “Room on the Porch.” Music’s at 3:30 p.m. $77-$154. PH

SUNDAY,

JUNE 1

COMMUNITY

ROC ’n’ Roll

Rohrbach Brewing Company, reconnectrochester.org

Reconnect Rochester’s annual fundraiser offers two options for cyclists: an 8-mile ride along the Riverway Trail and, for the more ambitious, a 30-mile ride across a mix of bike paths. The fun begins and ends at Rohrbach’s on Railroad Street, with an after party from noon to 2 p.m. featuring food, drinks and live music from Spring Drive. Pre-registration is $50; increases to $60 day of. Kids under 18 are $25. Riders get in free to the after party, but anyone is welcome. $25 gets you a plate of food and a drink. PH

CITY sits down with Stephen T. Lewis, whose biography of The Band’s

Richard Manuel is out in June.

He shall be released

BY DANIEL J. KUSHNER

The death of musician Garth Hudson in January marked a grim milestone: all five original members of The Band are now deceased. Yet their musical legacy — as Bob Dylan’s backing group and as their own influential cadre of roots players — looms large. For local author Stephen T. Lewis, it was time for pianist Richard Manuel to get his due. Lewis penned Manuel’s authorized biography, “Richard Manuel: His Life and Music, from the Hawks and Bob Dylan to The Band,” which is set for a June 17 release via Schiffer Publishing; CITY talked to the author last month to learn more.

CITY: You started writing the book, not on spec, but just as a passion project, in 2021?

Lewis: I saw the Robbie Robertson documentary “Once Were Brothers” and I thought Richard’s presence was underrepresented. That started the wheels turning. I’d written about [Richard] a couple times. I’d written about The Band, and I’d gotten some people who had sent messages like, “This guy needs a book.” So that was in the back of my head. I had been stockpiling

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ESTATE OF JANE EDMONDS

ideas for quite a long time and had notes, and I’ve always done concert reviews and bootlegs. I had some raw material. Then it was time to start doing interviews.

CITY: Did you ever check with Richard’s family about certain material? You wrote about the nature of his death and his alcohol addiction — was that taken care of ahead of time based on the trust you had built with them?

Lewis: They knew that Richard was defined by a lot of that, unfortunately. I talked with his son. I said it’s the elephant in the room, so I needed to talk about it, but I didn’t need to belabor it. There was no doublechecking. Honestly, the family hasn’t read the book yet, though they’re getting their copies when I get my copies. They’re first on the list.

[Richard’s wife] Arlie Manuel wanted to read the book [first]. That was one of the best moments I had. She [said], “I love Richard, and you got his essence. I could feel Richard in this book.”

The Band’s piano player, Richard Manuel, gets his due in a Stephen T. Lewis’ new biography. Photo courtesy of wattcasey.com.. PHOTO PROVIDED

CITY: Why do you think Richard, out of all the members of The Band, has fallen through the cracks in terms of people’s knowledge and understanding of him and his importance to the group?

Lewis: No matter who it is, when you have a tragic demise like that, I think that’s what people remember. Over time, The Band reuniting and moving forward without Richard and Robbie, that was another thing, even though they always included a Richard song on those albums — which was a testament to their love for Richard.

“The Last Waltz” has a lot to do with it. That was the neat little bow on their career, and there’s not one Richard Manuel-penned song played that night. Not one. I just think that’s insane, you know? One thing I think I did in the book is popped out a number of reasons why he shouldn’t be forgotten.

Excerpt from “Richard Manuel: His Life and Music, from the Hawks and Bob Dylan to The Band”

by Stephen T. Lewis (Schiffer Publishing)

The chemical reaction between Robbie and Richard had been reactivated: Richard was asked to lend vocals to a Tom Petty song, “The Best of Everything,” which also featured Garth. Robbie had been producing the cut for “The Color of Money” soundtrack, but record company red tape kept it from being released until Petty’s 1985 album, “Southern Accents.”

“The Best of Everything” was a beautiful Tom Petty composition that he called a favorite. Robbie produced it — adding sturdy horns, along with Garth and Richard — and executed the most Bandlike version of a non-Band song recorded. Richard’s harmony vocals are intensely passionate and embrace Petty’s lead, like a flowering vine wrapping around the sturdy slats of a fence.

Richard joins Petty on the chorus:

Wherever you are tonight I wish you the best of everything in the world And honey, I hope you found Whatever you were looking for

Richard comforts the edges of the notes, and at the end of the second line he sings “in the world” and elevates the song to a new place of exposed honesty, cracking open the melody, revealing its true intent. It’s a poignant musical moment that defies explanation and, in a way, is as significant as Richard’s debut vocals on “Music from Big Pink.” Very few singers in the world could offer a song what Richard gave freely and effortlessly.

Lewis will discuss the book at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 31 at Bop Shop Records, 1460 Monroe Ave. Early copies will be available. More info at schifferbooks.com/ products/richard-manuel.

Middlesex Music Festival is a small event

with a big history.

Quiet legacy

BY JON HEATH

Along the gravel road ahead, a wooden A-frame reads “Music Fest, this way.” Off to the side, cars line up in a grassy field. Families pull red wagons loaded with camp chairs, coolers and kids. Everyone dances towards a timber-framed stage at the bottom of a gentle slope where potted chrysanthemums dot the edge between amps and speakers. The wooded hillsides enclose the valley like an amphitheater.

Welcome to Middlesex Music Festival.

Most upstate New Yorkers have not heard of this festival and that’s not entirely by accident. But the one-day event has existed in some form for almost 40 years, predating both Grassroots in Ithaca and The Great Blue Heron in Sherman, New York.

Less than an hour south of Rochester, on the eastern shore of Canandaigua Lake, is Middlesex — a small town in Yates County where the population hovers around 1,500. But those folks harbor a secret: an annual event that celebrates the best in local music, from bluegrass and folk to rockabilly and zydeco. In its earliest days, the festival was held at the Middlesex Valley Airport, a grassy strip for private aircraft.

“We set up near the hangars and planes would land during sets,” said Middlesex native Logan Rockcastle, who grew up going to the festival and now runs operations. “It must have been weird to fly over and see a bunch of hippies down on the runway.”

A young Donna the Buffalo played in the early ‘90s along with

local legends like Bobby Henry and the Goners. Occasionally, bigger acts like The Horse Flies and Rusted Root would get top billing.

“[An] epic memory I have is giving up my bed and bunking with my brother Skye so Rusted Root could sleep at our house,” Rockcastle said.

After a few too many flyovers, the festival moved to the site it calls home today. With no formal marketing — just word of mouth and a few posters around town — it stayed small but deeply cherished. Locals came each year to eat good food and dance the day away.

Now in his 40s, Rockcastle and his friends are shepherding the festival into a new era. For him, it feels like a birthright (his mother Susie was once in charge); a responsibility to keep hometown roots and homegrown talent at the fore. With no overhead and no

budget, Middlesex stays true to itself and doesn’t worry about competing with bigger festivals nearby. Rockcastle volunteers his time, and any revenue goes straight to the bands.

The pandemic brought everything to a halt, but in the quiet years that followed, murmurs rippled through the valley: “When’s Middlesex coming back?” Rockcastle heard it from neighbors, old friends, musicians, even strangers at the bar. By 2024, he was ready.

He called Peter Gerbic, the festival’s founder and owner of the field where the stage still stood (in Rockcastle’s words, “the most epic old timer you’ve ever met”), and Gerbic’s answer was simple: “The property’s ready whenever you are.”

And so, Middlesex came back stronger than ever.

The 2024 lineup featured Eastern Boys in Western Shirts, Bobby

Henry and the Goners (keeping traditions alive) and Richie Stearns in cahoots with local songwriter Aaron Lipp. To close the night, Rockcastle tapped Buffalo rockers Folkfaces, led by the everenigmatic Tyler Westcott.

Matt Duffy, from nearby Vine Valley, is another native who grew up going to the festival. He plays lead guitar with Eastern Boys in Western Shirts, a zydeco band that also includes Rockcastle on accordion, Colin Swider on drums and other rotating childhood friends who’ve come and gone since the late ‘90s when they first jammed.

“I was just a kid when I first went,” Duffy said. “I fell in love with live music there, and I couldn’t be happier it’s back.”

Remembering their childhood, Rockcastle keeps Middlesex family friendly and safe for little ones. There’s an old apple tree in the field behind the stage and its lower boughs sag just enough for climbing. That’s where the children gather while parents keep an eye from afar without missing the music.

Last year’s weather was perfect, and Rockcastle hopes for the same again. The festival returns Saturday, Aug. 23 with Eastern Boys set to open. They’ll be joined by Mustard Tigers, the Sutton String Band (a new bluegrass group out of Naples) and, of course, Bobby Henry.

“He’s an icon, so I can’t have Middlesex Music Fest without him,” Rockcastle said. (He also hinted at a headliner — Flying Object — out of Rochester.)

The festival’s sense of lineage and tradition makes Middlesex unique, and Rockcastle strives to keep the essence of the valley and its 1,500 inhabitants intact.

“It’s a legacy thing,” he said. “Now I have nieces and nephews running around the festival, and one day, all this will be theirs.” facebook. com/middlesexmusicfest

Bobby Henry warming up at the 2024 Middlesex Music Fest. PHOTO BY JON HEATH

MUSIC REVIEWS

“VICTORY LAPSE”

BY ALEX NORTHRUP

Local singer-songwriter Alex Northrup’s ambitious new album “Victory Lapse,” out May 30 on Raincoated Records, dips its toes into most pools the listener can think of, from folk to electronic to indie.

Divided into four parts, each with its own distinct flavor, the 21-track project is led by the opening single “Mutually Assured Distraction.” The instruments bounce from organ to electric guitar to toy piano, the vocals range from hushed low tones to yells and it’s all just a taste of Northrup’s seeming delight in keeping the listener on their toes.

Although chamber and psychedelic pop are clearly strong influences, the album as a whole stretches beyond one definable genre, with Northrup trying a little bit of everything. Part I begins the album on the right side of the bed with some real jaunty numbers, but Parts III and IV left me wistful with nostalgic indie-rock influences.

But of the four sections, I found myself returning to the synthy and contemplative Part II, subtitled “Left on Red.” Single “Vespa Cosa II” is a bit surfy, with an optimistic acoustic guitar over a barely there, bubbling synth line. “Appetizers” is a spooky waltz that begs a dramatic slow dance, and “Deserters” starts slow before opening itself into my favorite moment: a positively ripping guitar solo.

It’s a classic cinematic track that builds steadily to its dramatic conclusion — a structure repeated later on (with another equally delicious guitar moment) on “Queer Country,” the nine-minute penultimate track.

Northrup eats from a kingly buffet of musical influences: Kurt Vile, Radiohead, Pavement, Pinegrove, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, Flyte and the Beach Boys, just to name a few. That range is not only a treat. It means there’s a track here to suit almost every mood.

— LIZ HOGREFE

“LOVE-LONGING”

BY CHARGER OF LEO

Music is often at its unexpected best when it requires leaning in. Anyone who’s ever turned up PJ Harvey’s “Rid of Me” only to be assaulted by drum pounds at the 2:10 mark can attest.

But what happens in those two minutes can be extraordinary.

In the case of “Rid of Me,” tension rises to a delicious peak. On “Love-Longing,” the EP self-released by folk artist Charger of Leo in March, the quiet is baked into the songs, demanding to be met where it is.

The five tracks from songwriter and performer Raimund S-F channel, in the artist’s words, “dream imagery and the subconscious.” This leads to interesting musical destinations and moods.

“Blues Number” rumbles with a lowend bass that threatens throughout. Played by Mickey Fitz, it’s the sonic equivalent of seeing the sky about to rain (as someone who ought to know once sang). It also sounds like Paul McCartney’s “Every Night” with the dread level dialed up.

Mood pieces abound. “Here in My Arms” aims for vocal grandeur that’s just out of Raimund’s range, and “Charlotte Lullaby” swings toward American primitive experimentation.

There are hiccups, like the dry vocal tone that can strip the otherwise atmospheric songs of any atmosphere. The artist’s rushed fingerpicking, too, creates a feeling of tipsiness that may be intentional.

And then there’s “Ruby,” the best track here, which begins like a blissed-out Meat Puppets tune and ends up close to Elliott Smith. Ditto for closer “Time Apart,” which is too ramshackle to be ordinary but not quite weird enough to be outsider pop.

This distinction works in Charger of Leo’s favor and ultimately positions the artist between the expected and many tempting side quests. “Love-Longing” works because it exists in that negative space.

— PATRICK HOSKEN

“CURVE” BY COMING DOWN

DIY label Hex Records started as an offshoot of a zine over 20 years ago in Syracuse, and that feeling of entrenched hometown roots is clear in Coming Down’s new album, “Curve.” Rory Van Grol, frontman for Coming Down, has known Hex Records founder Ryan Canavan for decades — he’s been in Rochester for almost 30 years and has watched the scene grow with him.

It’s obvious the band is comfortable in their sound; the members, who have been playing music together in various groups for many years, lean on moshable grooves and memorable melodic throughlines that keep each song chugging along.

The mix is full, and listeners are never without some sort of warmth in the soundscape, from the rich echo on the snares to the guitars and bass, which often hit a droning but energetic pedal tone in octaves to draw attention toward the vocals instead. Even the distorted guitars at the top of “Naturally” don’t screech with the unabashed pain of being a 20-something; instead, this album feels almost elegant and relaxed in its presentation.

This isn’t to say that the album is full of palatable elevator music — Coming Down is a vegan straight edge band; its music tackles tough subjects and searches for means of self-control.

On “You Feel Okay?” Van Grol’s vocals blare past the heartbeat of strumming bass to push the listener to confront their wasted time, and on “Doubt,” one of the tracks where one can really linger on the lyrics beyond the thumping rhythm, the song rails against fear and anxiety in a Rocky-esque anthemic way.

For those who feel like raging, these tracks balance both the proper intensity for a parking-garage scream session and the harmonic warmth for transitioning back to life as usual.

— ALYSSA KOH

“NOTKER BALBULUS: LIBER YMNORUM”

BY SCHOLA ANTIQUA

Back in the day — way back in the ninth century — a Swiss monk by the name of Notker had a problem. Well, two problems. One was a speech impediment that earned him the nickname “Balbulus,” or, “The Stammerer.”

The second, bigger problem was that he simply could not memorize the chants that were a part of daily life in the monastery. Alleluias were especially difficult because the cantors dragged out the final syllable for a long, long time to represent the joy they found in worship. There would be strings and strings of notes on that one syllable, and poor Notker could not keep track of them all.

Notker’s world opened up, though, when a priest from Jumièges visited his monastery. The priest had brought with him an antiphoner (book of chants) which had added lyrics to these lengthy passages, and Notker realized they made the tune easier to remember. In concept, he loved it; in practice, though, he found the poetry unimpressive. So he decided to write his own version: the “Liber ymnorum.”

This hymnal is available in a new recording by Schola Antiqua of Chicago under the direction of Michael Alan Anderson, a professor and chair of the department of musicology at the Eastman School of Music.

Listening to this album feels like a bit of historical escapism; I am taken back to a time and place that seems much simpler, if only because Notker and company aren’t here to describe the state of their own world. The free-flowing vocal solos invite me to take a moment to breathe.

I am no Latin scholar, but I am told that Notker’s poetry is quite refined and influential — and whether or not I understand, it feels good sometimes to bask in music few of us ever take a moment to enjoy.

— STEVE JOHNSON

A 30-something blacksmith in Honeoye keeps the flame alive.

Magic and fire at Spangler Forge

CULTURE

BY GINO FANELLI GFANELLI@WXXI.ORG

The overcast sky looms over the forested edge of Ben Spangler’s backyard in the town of Honeoye Falls.

It’s a quiet morning — the soft trickle of a nearby stream, a tributary to Honeoye Creek, broken momentarily by the crackling of coals on a small metal grill and the thwack of a mallet as Spangler pounds away at a piece of glowing steel.

As the orange-yellow glow fades to a red and then back to its dull gunmetal root, Spangler periodically brings it back to the coals. A small electric airpump — one of his few pieces of modern technical assistance — whirrs, stoking the flames and riling the steel back to a vibrant glow as steam rises into the crisp early spring air. He repeats this dance methodically. Each time the metal comes up from the anvil, the silhouette of a knife becomes clearer.

“Up until the 1920s, this really was magic,” Spangler said. “It was, ‘Oh, the old timer said you gotta sprinkle salt on the steel before you quench it.’ That’s not the way it works, but there’s so many old myths surrounding it, because it very much was magic.”

Spangler is among a dying breed of artisans. Throughout the 20th century blacksmiths became increasingly phased out, replaced by mass production of cutlery and other steel and ironworks. A few hundred professional blacksmiths remain in the U.S. these days. A large portion of them are focused on decor and railings for those seeking a particular rustic aesthetic.

Spangler’s focus on knives, swords and axes is a bit of a rarity. His interest in smithing started at age 14, after he found some old tools in his parents’ barn in Syracuse. As he got his education as a mechanical engineer at the Rochester Institute of Technology, smithing became a side hustle.

A booth at local festivals would serve as a means of supporting the hobby, alongside a volunteer gig as a blacksmith at the Genesee Country Village and Museum, which gave him both a means to educate the public and tap into his natural showmanship. But during the pandemic, Spangler made the jump to smithing as a fulltime vocation under the banner Spangler Forge.

At first, custom jobs were the bread and butter — specific knives made to the desires of whatever the client wanted. Many of those designs became regular productions for Spangler, and now his Etsy shop offers a broad range of tantos, seaxs, kukris and assorted belt and boot knives.

Ben Spangler of Spangler Forge grinds the edge of a belt knife at his workshop in Honeoye Falls.

PHOTO BY JACOB WALSH

In 2019, Spangler appeared on the History Channel’s blacksmith competition show “Forged in Fire.” He finished second, the final challenge being the production of a Hindu ritual blade called a ram dao (used in animal sacrifice rituals and designed to decapitate in a single swing).

Spangler’s affinity for smithing is a confluence of passions: art, design, history, engineering and science all rolled into one.

“We’re talking about material science, we’re talking about engineering, we’re talking about ‘how do you take steel and turn it into a blade?’” Spangler said. “Much of that can be done by machines now, but

there’s something that it lacks. There’s a character.”

Of particular interest to Spangler is the trial-and-error methodology which built the science of metallurgy. In the post-industrial era, what makes steel harder, more durable or takes on other unique properties became better understood as something aside from magic.

But that wasn’t always the case; he pointed to a Norse technique as a specific example. Viking production of a sword, known as an Ulfbehrt, was marked by the excavating of tombs for bones (or sometimes, animal bones), which were then ground and used in the smelting process.

Spangler does all the forging of a knife by hand using heated coals, a hammer and an anvil.

PHOTO BY JACOB WALSH

literally forged,” wrote archaeologist Ing-Marie Back Danielsson in a 2008 report, “Bodies and Identities in the Scandinavian Late Iron Age.”

Spangler sees those stories as evidence of what “magic” is: things that work, without the requisite knowledge of why.

“He’s on the battlefield, and this sword, it’s going to chop spears in half, it’s going to shatter other swords, it’s going to do all of this great stuff,” Spangler said. “That’s pretty good evidence of ‘this is my grandfather’s spirit.’”

It was a ritualistic undertaking with a practical result: to the Vikings, it was likely believed the process was imbuing the spirit of an ancestor into a blade, granting it their power, although little contemporary writings exist of the ritual itself.

Those in the modern era know it was adding carbon to the blade, making it harder and stronger than the more commonly found bog iron weapons. Swords that had undergone the process were found to have about three times the carbon content of other iron weapons of the era.

“By mingling soft iron with ancestral and/or animal bones (where the animal bones might have indicated ancestry as well), the heated intercourse produced in the forge ultimately resulted in a birth of, for instance, a sword, which carried the strength and characteristics of the chosen parents; a new ‘person’ was

From his exurban backyard, Spangler is not digging up bones or performing arcane rituals in the literal sense. But an argument can be made for the spiritual sense.

Each hammer strike follows thousands of years of tradition, long before anyone knew the exact reason the steel could be molded. Those strikes are born proudly on the blades of Spangler’s knives — left raw and unfinished, in contrast to the blade edges polished to a mirror finish by a belt grinder.

He could polish them to a shine but chooses not to. For him, leaving the roughness lets the holder know the spirit put into the knife’s making.

“There’s just something cool about holding something in your hand that has weight, feels right,” Spangler said. “I think people have been craving authenticity for a long, long time.” spanglerforge.com

Spangler examines the newly-forged curvature of the blade.

PHOTO BY JACOB WALSH

A single tap of the hammer embeds Spangler's insignia in the hot steel.

PHOTO BY JACOB WALSH

Oceanic (fever) dream

BY PATRICK HOSKEN PATRICK@ROCHESTER-CITYNEWS.COM

On a typically overcast day in early April, Eric Rozestraten is dreaming of tropical vibes. His second bar, the tiki-themed Easy Sailor, is set to open in June.

“That porthole window literally is the first thing you see,” Rozestraten said, standing in the space at 622 Park Ave. that will soon house his creation: a watering hole that aims to be an exotic getaway.

The porthole hasn’t been installed yet. Neither has the 18-foot bar backdrop that will house 300 rums, nor the cabana structure with the 200-year-old lumber beam that will hold it up, nor the kitchen that will serve up spicy noodles.

But Rozestraten and his Easy Sailor partners Dan Herzog and Kelly McDonald (who also partner with him on Jack’s Extra Fancy) and Jay Speranza (of Tony D’s and Cotoletta) are ready for a break from the doldrums.

They’re betting Rochesterians are, too, especially the Park Avenue nightlife regulars.

Tiki pop-ups, with their signature colorful, blazing mixed drinks and escapist vibes, have found a welcome home here, in a city with both a prolonged winter season and a revived interest in craft cocktails. In August, the Rochester Tiki Week mini festival returns for a second year of rumcentric libations and Oceanic

FOOD & BEV

cuisine; it’s preempted by the twelfth annual Rochester Cocktail Revival in June and the second Hoochennay Whiskey & Music Festival a few weeks before.

“Tiki is the flavor of escapism,” McDonald said.

That mindset is one that can be traced to the origins of the tiki aesthetic. The first two tiki bars were started up by white American men in California in the 1930s. As tiki grew, establishments fused Polynesian imagery, Chinese cuisine and Caribbean rum to create an exotic fantasia — a place for Americans to escape. This caught on, especially in the postWorld War II economic boom.

As the roots of tiki spring from an American amalgamation of other cultures, tiki culture itself has often been at the center of a discussion about cultural appropriation.

Taj Smith, the executive director for culture and diversity education at the Rochester Institute of Technology, said culture at large is meant to be shared across groups. But the way that process plays out is important.

“I don’t believe every individual comes at culture with colonial intentions; I think some earnestly think it’s a cool idea that they want to share with others,” Smith said. “For those who come from that position, they have to be invested in respecting the origins of a culture they have no deep and meaningful relationship with. Otherwise, they could find

themselves down the cultural appropriation rabbit hole.”

Some modern tiki bars have reckoned with this complex history. Others, especially those founded by BIPOC mixologists, have reclaimed or inverted the term, melding it with queerfriendly goth culture (in one New York City pop-up) and an overall superlative hospitality experience (in several more).

As such, tiki remains a vibe that people still gravitate toward, despite the complex conversations it can raise.

It’s a duality the Easy Sailor crew has considered. Nearly a century out from its inception, tiki culture now has plenty of its own lore, all of which they feel compelled to nod — and even add — to.

“Tiki is everywhere,” Rozestraten said. “It started off as this Americanized thing, but there are tiki bars now all over the world. There’s that experience that you can get that every single culture is kind of putting their own spin on. Being able to take a bunch of that and kind of incorporate it into one spot will be cool.”

Easy Sailor’s tiki theme extends beyond the bar fare. Rozestraten and the team have scoured Facebook Marketplace looking for tiki artifacts to make the space as authentic to the fantasy as possible. One such item, a fivefoot octopus that will cling to the wall, came from Carrollton, Texas

and was driven up north by a contact at Jack’s.

“I looked at a lobster trap the other day, and I was like, ‘Can we make a lobster trap work?’” Rozenstaten said. “And then all of a sudden, Maggie, my girlfriend, said, ‘Why don’t you turn it into a light?’ A big chunk of it is just [finding] something that’s close [to tiki] and saying, ‘How do we dress it up and make it work?’”

“Probably a third or half of all the drinks have some kind of fire element,” Herzog added. They’ll also be largely centered around rum, a spirit that has often taken a back seat to whiskey in the craft cocktail revival. Giovanni San Fillipo, a Western New Yorkbased marketing manager for the Caribbean-based Ten to One Rum, said it’s perfect timing for what he called a “rum renaissance.”

“People are really starting to get used to that rum is not just frozen daiquiris and things you can drink on the beach,” he said. “There are very elevated nuances to rums. So I think that this is something that will go a long way in Rochester.”

It’s hard to argue with that point. After all, what better way to remedy our region’s paltry 165 days of sunlight per year than with a Mai Tai or a flaming Zombie? instagram.com/easysailortiki

Eric Rozestraten, Dan Herzog and Kelly McDonald are the partners behind the tiki-themed bar Easy Sailor, opening on Park Avenue in June.

PHOTO BY ROBERTO F. LAGARES

The Dish

WHET YOUR PALATE

After 14 years on Monroe Avenue, Voula’s Greek Sweets will relocate to the North Winton Village neighborhood later this summer — right around the corner from their pending new coffee shop, Little House — taking over the former Morningstar Greek American Restaurant at 850 Merchants Rd. (As long as the lemon potatoes remain on the menu, we’ll follow wherever they go.) Seed + Stone Cider and Lucky Buzz Meadery, currently housed in the Hungerford Building on East Main Street, announced it will close both businesses June 21 — stop by and sip or stock up before then. Caramel Bakery and Bar, a popular dessert spot on Park Avenue, closed at the end of March. It will reopen (and rebrand) as Cecil’s, a wine and whiskey-centered restaurant.

Rochester will finally get its first tiki bar early this summer — the team behind Jack’s Extra Fancy, along

with partner Jay Speranza of Tony D’s and Cotoletta, announced they will open Easy Sailor at 622 Park Ave. in the plaza next to the UPS Store. In celebrity-adjacent news, Elvio Fernandes — keyboardist, guitarist and vocalist for the band Daughtry and ROC Star Academy founder — has opened Elvio's, a coffee shop at 1350 Empire Blvd. across from BarBill East.

FOR THE LOCAVORES

Three Brothers Wineries, a Geneva destination known for its massive campus where visitors can enjoy beer, wine, cocktails and several food options, is entering the craft beverage scene with the launch of Singria, a ready-to-drink, canned sangria. The launch is a strategic leap towards nationwide distribution after decades of self-distribution, as the winery targets Gen-Z imbibers in particular.

Strangebird won a gold medal at the 2025 New York State Craft Beer Competition, which took place in Albany in late March. Breweries from New York State were awarded 96 medals in 32 beer-style categories during the largest state-level beer competition in the U.S — 1,320 beers were entered by 207 breweries. Strangebird was recognized in the Belgian Other (Trappist, Strong) category for its Savoir-Vivre 10°, a Belgian Tripel.

FOOD FÊTES

Led by Paul Guglielmo of Gugliemo Sauce, Sunday Sauce at the Inn celebrates Italian tradition, community and togetherness. Beginning at 1 p.m. on the first Sunday of each month at Tourmedo’s at the Inn on Broadway, diners can enjoy a family style, homemade Italian meal at just $45 for adults, $15 for kids. Upcoming dates are May 4 and June 1. exploretock.com/ tournedos-inn-on-broadway-rochester

Living Roots will hold two pairing dinners this month; on May 13 in Rochester with new downtown restaurant Angelina’s helmed by Chef Steven Lara, and on May 15 in Hammondsport with beloved local spot The Park Inn. Tickets at livingrootswine.com/events.

Cinco de Mayo, but make it wine. On May 5 from 6 to 8 p.m., The Strathallan will host a 1920s Speakeasy Wine Tasting Experience featuring 35 wineries from around the globe pouring from over 100 bottles, along with live jazz music from Eastman School of Music and light appetizers. 1920s glamour outfits encouraged. Advance tickets $15; or $20 at the door. strathallan.com/ special-events

Before & After

PUZZLE

BY S.J. AUSTIN & J. REYNOLDS

escaping Florida?

49. FedEx competitor

50. TMZ subject

52. Sticky hair product

53. Cosmetic mogul Lauder 54. Milk: Sp.

56. Official currency for twenty nations

59. 6’ for many swimming pools

62. Campus activist org. revived in 2006

63. T, on a test

64. Reckless activity in a stolen car

67. “Essential” multi-level marketing products

69. Company that provides hints to help you and your friends solve a puzzle faster?

74. “Smooth Operator” singer

75. Takes a stab at

76. Desertlike

79. Michigan rival, for short

82. Mother, in Mexico

85. FG%, e.g.

86. Expressionless

87. Shopping bender

89. Asner and Sheeran, for two

91. _____ Gras

94. Broadband ISP offering

95. “Waking up with a headache and dry mouth? No problem!”

100. Twosomes

101. Google Maps calculation: Abbr.

102. Retort to “Are not!”

103. “_____ Hold Your Hand” (1963 bop)

104. [!!!]

105. Middle of many similes

106. Connoisseur

108. Toupees, disparagingly

110. Bit of ink

112. The North Star-at least for the next 13,000 years

115. Novelist Wharton

117. New York county that is home to Albion

121. Leveled (out)

122. Birthday celebration at a real estate showing?

124. *69 command on a touch tone phone (OK, boomer)

125. _____ shui

126. Division of una casa

127. Connected, as a 71-Down

128. Anxious

129. Joel’s smuggling partner on HBO’s “The Last of Us” 130. Horse gait

131. Where to see the sunrise, in Madrid

1.Carmaker with a four-ring logo

2. Baghdad’s land

3.“Simpsons” creator Groening

4. Gets some rest

5. In a manner of speaking

6. Uses more than one’s reasonable portion of the blankets, say

7. Fireplace residue

8. Get clean

9. President portrayed by Hartman and Hammond on “Saturday Night Live”

10. Meat sauce brand whose name literally means “meat sauce”

11. Fireworks utterances

12. Winter hrs. in LA

13. Heavenly gatekeeper

14. Computer function mentioned in many a passive-aggressive email signature

15. Competes against Jimmy Fallon in a certain “Tonight Show” battle

16. “Ah, yes: understood”

17. Not that

18. Director Gus Van _____

24. Cryptography org.

25. Shares temporarily

29. Arnaz who loved Lucy

31. Facial expression in many a reaction GIF

32. Book often touched during an oath

33. Crack in the crust

34. Deck where a long home run might land

35. Adopt a pet-or the locale where you might do so

37. Text that’s often an exaggeration

39. Yuletide quaff

40. Was in debt to

42. Grub

43. Like some wine and cheese

44. Concert merch items

46. Untouchable serve

48. National Capital Territory of India

51. Coffee grinder mechanism that is superior to a blade

55. Gasoline chain famous for its toy trucks

57. “The language of the unheard,” according to Dr. King

58. Smells

60. Charging spot

61. Early DVR brand

64. Actress Pinkett Smith

65. Newspaper opinion piece

66. Give off

68. Improvise vocally

70. Brief film appearance

71. Line on a garment

72. Los _____ Unis

73. Washes away

77. Social media app, familiarly

78. Musician portrayed by Chalamet in a 2024 biopic

79. Workplace watchdog grp.

80. Unwanted email

81. Funeral home receptacles

83. Aired again

84. Biblical garden

86. Bro’s sib

88. Extreme self-centeredness

90. Took a load off

92. Mai Tai ingredient

93. Milk-Bone or Beggin’ Strips, e.g.

96. In full color

97. Rams’ mates

98. Bluegrass sensation Billy _____

99. The “Y” of “YMCA”

105. “Relax, soldier!”

107. Basic geometry calculations

109. Halloween costume requiring only a bed sheet and scissors

111. Mt. Blanc, for one

112. South American nation with coastlines, mountains, and rainforests

113. Bakery staple

114. Beginning that might be buried

115. Fencing blade

116.Rec rooms

117. Norway’s capital

118. Greek war god

119. Cereal box abbr.

120. “Auld Lang _____”

122. Frequently, quaintly

123. Bygone Mideast grp.