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ARTS. MUSIC. CULTURE.
Photo by Roberto F. Lagares
Walking each other home
BY LEAH STACY LEAH@ROCCITYMAG.COM
In my 20s and early 30s, I moved roughly every 12-18 months. The reasons varied from career changes and city relocations to grad school and relationship status; but it became sort of a running joke with my friends and family. Once I hit a year somewhere, wasn’t it time to move on?
(Needless to say, I started hiring movers rather than bribing loved ones with pizza and beer.)
Five years ago, I sold my little house flip in Brighton and toured a downtown apartment via video during the pandemic. I moved in without seeing another soul in the hallways and spent the quiet months of 2020 decorating and building furniture. I’ve stayed put ever since — maybe because it’s easier than moving, or maybe because I love the feeling of somewhere to land at the end of a long day. “In my own little corner, in my own little chair, I can be whatever I want to be,” as Julie Andrews sings in Rodgers + Hammerstein's “Cinderella.”
But I also haven’t found anywhere — or anyone — else that feels like home. The closest I got was this past July, when a condo in an old school went on the market (those who read my weekly newsletter may remember my chagrin at the final sale price soaring $100K over asking).
‘Home’ really is a funny word. Is it a place? When my parents sold my childhood home, I felt a bit unmoored, even though I was happy they could have a fresh start. When I sold the first house I purchased and a friend made it their home, I walked through the doors feeling as though I were entering the space for the first time.
Editing this issue has solidified my belief that home is a state of mind; a state of being. A person’s arms around us. A voice on the phone, even if it’s miles away. A good meal around a table full of people we love. A city where we found ourselves. And perhaps, a longing for an even greater destination beyond this life.
Being a person in the world isn’t always easy, but our “village” is what gets us through while we are here.
At the end of the day, we are all just walking each other home. L
SAVE THE DATE
For us Rochesterians, home isn’t just where the heart is, it’s where the art is — and there’s a lot of it here in the Flower City. Over the last six weeks, we asked you to write in your nominations for the Best Of Rochester 2025 awards, and on October 1, final voting begins for the top nominees in each category. Vote through November 28, and SAVE THE DATE: winners will be announced at our Best Of Awards Party on Saturday, January 3 at Anthology.
Mac and Monty, who can make themselves at home anywhere.
PHOTO BY LEAH STACY
CITY Social
Showroom meets showstopper
BY HALEY CHOUINARD
On an unassuming street in downtown Rochester, just a block away from Louise M. Slaughter Station, sits a design lover’s treasure trove — DL Home & Garden. The store boasts 11,500 square feet of furniture, art and decor and, since it opened in 2014, has become a staple for both the interior design community and design-savvy homeowners in Western New York and the Finger Lakes regions.
“When we opened, there hadn’t been a furniture store in downtown Rochester in nearly 25 years,” said Brian Coutu, who co-owns the store with interior designer Bob Breissinger.
The pair bought a trio of vacant Victorian-era buildings on Central Avenue (one of which was formerly a hotel), gutted them and turned them into a sprawling, inviting showroom. They added an additional space across the street in 2018.
Part of the location’s appeal was that the buildings had dedicated parking and two courtyard spaces, which Coutu and Breissinger use to showcase the store’s outdoor furniture offerings. The renovated courtyards have a transportative quality, with string lights and fruitbearing lemon and fig trees that complement the furnishings.
“We wanted it to have a European feel and show our customers the kind of environments it’s possible to create,” said Coutu.
DL Home & Garden is a go-to for the region’s design lovers.
“At night, we leave the string lights on, and it’s really beautiful. It creates a nice streetscape for the block. It has the feeling of a big-city store.”
That feeling of possibility ripples throughout the showroom, where pieces from high-end American brands Bernhardt, Century, Baker, Palecek and CR Laine — among dozens of others — are on display. The quality of the furniture has remained a differentiator for DL Home as mass retailers like West Elm and Arhaus set up shop in Rochester in recent years.
“Most of our sofas feature springs that are eight-way hand tied, a 200-year-old tradition that gives you a better product and a better feeling than mass-produced pieces can offer,” said Coutu. “This is handbuilt furniture, most of which can be made to order. If the customer wants a custom width or a different cushion layout, we can accommodate that. And some of these manufacturers have in excess of 800 fabric choices for the customers to work with. That’s a real difference.”
Erin Eder, co-owner of local interior design and staging company
PHOTO BY ROBERTO F. LAGARES
The interior of DL Home & Garden. PHOTOS BY ROBERTO F. LAGARES
Cedar & Deed, said DL Home was one of the first places she and her partner Dee Dee DiMarco turned to when their firm began doing whole home projects.
“When you have a beautifully renovated space, you also need high-quality furniture because you’re talking about homeowners that are ready to invest,” said Eder. “They’re not going to be replacing these pieces in five years. They want things that will last.”
That need led the duo to DL Home, a space Eder said is like Candyland for interior designers.
“It’s a really amazing resource to have in our community,” she said. “I love being able to shop there and ask Brian and Bob for their opinions. It’s a special place.”
To curate the store’s assortment, Breissinger and Coutu travel to trade shows across the U.S. from High Point Market in North Carolina to shows in Las Vegas, Atlanta and New York City.
On a recent trip to Las Vegas Market, the pair found an artisan who specializes in creating hand-dyed pillows out of the hide of springbok, a breed of antelope found in South Africa.
“We try to differentiate ourselves from the typical furniture store by having highly unusual things,” said Coutu.
Breissinger ran a sister business, the to-the-trade Designer’s Library, in different locations for over 30 years. Designer’s Library now sits above the DL Home space, giving regional interior designers access to over 60,000 hanging fabric samples in addition to wallpaper, rug, flooring and hardware samples. Coutu said Designer’s Library is the largest trade showroom in the state outside of New York City.
“Whatever the designer or their customer needs, we can usually satisfy that,” said Breissinger.
In addition to taking pride in what they put on the showroom floor, the duo takes pride in their location. That love prompted them to lease additional space on Central Avenue from the state in order to plant and maintain greenspace around the store. Coutu designed the landscaping himself, a project that he felt aligned with his personal values.
“We’re very civic-minded,” he said. “Being across from the train station, we felt an obligation to create a nice image when people arrive in Rochester. We’re located at a gateway to the city, and creating a welcoming environment felt important.”
Breissinger summed it up simply.
“We love downtown.” dlhomegarden.com
PHOTOS BY ROBERTO F. LAGARES
Like coming home
COMMUNITY
BY HELANA SHUMWAY
To some, a home is synonymous with a house. A physical structure or a dwelling, varying in sizes and shapes, styles and sidings. To others, a home is the community of people who have taken residence within. They encapsulate the vibrancy of the human experience — a shared experience, at that.
At Isaiah House, there’s a lot of living going on.
This may come as a surprise, considering Isaiah House is a comfort care home for the dying. But to the residents, their families and the dedicated volunteers (of whom there are well over 100), the house really is a home devoted to life.
“This is a place where you can learn to live better, to appreciate more things,” said Kristin Kildea, director of Isaiah House. “It’s the most basic of gifts.”
Isaiah House was founded in 1987 with the original intention to care for those dying of AIDS. Its current mission is to serve society’s most marginalized and those with the greatest psychosocial needs, offering them a place to live and die. The comfort care home was at 71 Prince Street until relocating a few years ago to 1005 East Avenue.
Isaiah House provides a soft place to land.
PHOTO BY MATT BURKHARTT
The move was made possible after the parents of a man who died at Isaiah House donated the majority of the funds to purchase the new property, in gratitude for the care and love their son had received.
Built in 1865 for Edward Harris (who started the law firm that later became Harris Beach), the colonial mansion of nearly 6,200 square feet has an offwhite exterior with forest green shutters, hints of red brick and a front porch complete with a swing. The porch is protected by a large beech tree — a spry 155 years in age — that Kildea believes soaks up the grief and sadness from those sitting adjacent.
Isaiah House can shelter two residents at a time, each in one of two rooms on the first floor. With stained-glass windows, herringbone wood floors, stunning built-in bookshelves, a fireplace, a grand staircase and relief plaster ceilings, the house is both ornate and warm. Nearly every piece of furniture was donated by community members. Behind the house sits a vast English rose garden that has been on the property for decades.
“It takes an hour and a half to water the garden,” said Mark Cleary, retired CEO of City Blue Imaging and the previous owner of 1005 East Avenue.
Though Cleary moved out in 2022, he and Kildea have become close friends.
“I never thought that I would have involvement with the people that took over my house,” said Cleary, who is a call away when Kildea needs help with the fireplace or has questions about plumbing needs in colder weather.
The relationship between past and present owners is indicative of the kind of community Isaiah House nurtures on a daily basis.
“Community for us, really, is just one beautiful human being after another who has so much
love to give,” said Kildea.
In the 38 years since opening its doors, Isaiah House has helped over 600 people in the Rochester community live and die with dignity. This looks different for each person, and Kildea and volunteers make it their primary purpose to discover exactly what their residents want and need.
“We’re committed to making sure that we can help you live the best day you can possibly live, every single day,” said Kildea.
For one resident, this meant early Christmas shopping. She knew she would not make it to Christmas morning and worried
community that bears witness to humankind and chooses to love deeply, bravely. A place where people don’t question their value, because they are reminded of it with every hug and every hand held in moments of quiet and uncertainty.
“And what greater purpose can we have if we are at the bedside than to help someone feel like their life mattered before they die,” said Kildea. “It’s the being afraid when it’s starting to get dark, but knowing that there’s someone willing to sit beside you through that fear of the darkness. That’s home.”
Kristin Kildea, director of Isaiah House, places her hand on Gus, 71, one of the residents.
PHOTO BY MATT BURKHARTT
Rosemary Gaden, a volunteer at Isaiah House, prepares a room.
PHOTO BY MATT BURKHARTT
Kildea, welcomes Amy, 60, an incoming resident.
PHOTO BY MATT BURKHARTT
Isaiah House, a comfort care home on East Avenue.
What it really means to be a “Sanctuary City” in 2025.
A place of refuge
BY GINO FANELLI GFANELLI@WXXI.ORG
Unless you’ve been on a complete screentime fast or live far away in an isolated mountain compound — on both fronts, a state deserving of envy — you’ve likely become very familiar with the phrase “Sanctuary City” over the past year or so.
It’s a designation that brought the ire of the Trump administration onto cities like Rochester, Chicago and Los Angeles, spurring federal lawsuits, protests and updated legislation meant to solidify a city’s stance on immigration enforcement. It is also a self-proclamation that has few rivals for being so poorly understood, the credit for which has to be given to willful misrepresentation in political rhetoric.
Rochester is currently embroiled in a federal lawsuit brought by the Trump administration over its sanctuary policy, and, in August, updated its policy to include protections for LGBTQIA+ and gender nonconforming individuals as well as clear outlines for disciplining employees who violate the policy.
So, what is a Sanctuary City? Why are they so despised by the federal administration? What does the designation do? Here’s the run down.
A CITY FOR ALL
A Sanctuary City is a very simple idea: it’s written policy believing that all people — regardless of immigration status — can work and live without fear of persecution by immigration enforcement.
That does not mean that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or any other federal immigration enforcement can’t operate in Rochester. It simply means the city's police and government workers aren’t supposed to help. They are forbidden from asking questions about immigration status, arresting people for being in the country illegally or working with immigration enforcement solely to arrest undocumented immigrants.
The premise is under the Tenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which states that “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”
Immigration enforcement is a solely federal power. Therefore, Sanctuary Cities operate under the legal grounding that they have the ability to choose whether or not to aid in enforcement.
The city’s top lawyer, Patrick Beath, argued that the federal government suing the city over it declining to help immigration enforcement is tantamount to the administration commandeering local police. The lawsuit against the city stemmed from a traffic stop in March 2025, during which Rochester police aided immigration agents in arresting three men from Guatemala. Afterward, all 10 officers were briefly taken off the street for additional training.
“Federal law enforcement agents at the scene unlawfully conscripted local police to engage in federal civil immigration enforcement in violation of the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution,” Beath wrote in his response to the complaint. “This suit represents the federal government’s formal ratification of the commandeering of local police to enforce federal immigration regulations and policy.”
But that doesn’t mean police can’t respond to immigration scenes. They can — and they can help federal agents, if it’s in the interest of public safety. That role is largely relegated to securing scenes and safety.
SO WHY IS TRUMP SUING?
Under the second term of Donald Trump, immigration enforcement has ramped up radically.
In June alone, 1,374 detainments were made in New York by ICE, according to data provided by the agency. That’s about the same as June, July, August, September and October of 2024 combined.
Against that backdrop, Sanctuary Cities provide a challenge to that sort of ramp up. Without a free, willful exchange of assistance between law enforcement, the federal government is on its own.
Now, the federal government argues something called the ‘Supremacy Clause of the Constitution, which simply means that federal law is the supreme law of the land, superseding state and local law.
Essentially, the federal government argues that by Sanctuary Cities not actively aiding federal immigration enforcement, they are obstructing federal law.
“The law and policies intentionally obstruct the sharing of information envisioned by Congress, thereby impairing federal detention of removable aliens, including dangerous criminals, as required by federal law,” the complaint reads.
WHAT CAN ROCHESTER DO?
When faced with a challenge like the federal government suing over its policies, a city has two choices: cede to pressure or double down. Rochester doubled down.
In August, the Rochester City Council unanimously approved a new Sanctuary bill; its first revision since 2017 and second since the city first adopted the status in 1986.
The new bill does a multitude of things, including barring discrimination based on
gender identity, blocking city contractors from discriminating based on immigration status and requiring all buildings with single-person bathrooms to label them gender neutral. Most notably, it gives clear outlines for discipline if a city employee violates a rule, up to termination.
Councilmember Stanley Martin was among the authors of the bill.
“The biggest thing I feel is, I want people to know that we as a city, care about immigrants. We care about the (LGBTGIA+) community, the communities that have historically been under attack,” she said, in an interview following the August vote. “I’m going to sleep hoping that people feel more supported today than they did before this was passed.”
ILLUSTRATION BY JACOB WALSH
New York State farms
sell seasonal memories through agritourism.
From corn mazes to kangaroos
RECREATION
BY VERONICA VOLK VVOLK@WXXI.ORG
Suzanne Stokoe stood on the edge of her family’s 3,500acre farm in Scottsville, cradling a baby wallaby in her arms.
“This is our newest addition to the Roo Ranch,” she said. “This is little Arlo.”
The Roo Ranch is home to kangaroos, wallabies, emus and even a porcupine. It’s one of the more whimsical attractions at Stokoe Farms, where visitors can also take wagon rides and pick pumpkins or try out zip lines and jumping pillows.
The blend of agriculture and entertainment is part of a growing trend across New York, as farms increasingly turn to agritourism, sometimes called “agritainment,” one of the state’s fastest-growing recreational sectors.
Stokoe Farms has been in the family since 1812. Suzanne represents the seventh generation and credits her father with pioneering the farm’s agritourism in the 1980s, when he added you-pick berries and cut-your-own Christmas trees.
“My father was integral (to) that,” she said. “He said we needed to create something special to get people to come out.”
Grace Dixon feeds a goat while sitting on her mother’s lap at Wickham Farms.
PHOTO BY NATASHA KAISER
Today, the farm’s Harvest Fest sprawls across 40 acres with more than 40 attractions, from animal encounters to giant slides.
“We’re trying to just make something that’s a little different than everything else,” Stokoe said, “and then you throw in some kangaroos.”
Lindsey Pashow, New York State’s agritourism specialist, said the sector has become critical for many small and mid-sized farms.
“The idea is that you’re bringing outside consumers to the farm to learn about agriculture, but also to sell products and have an educational experience while they’re there,” she said.
According to USDA data and a 2024 report from the state comptroller’s office, agritourism revenue in New York jumped nearly 80 percent between 2012 and 2022. Nearly 950 farms now earn a combined $55 million per year through pumpkin patches, corn mazes, farm tours and festivals.
That’s still a small share compared to food sales, but Pashow said the income is often essential. That was especially true during the pandemic, when families sought safe outdoor activities and farms scrambled to expand.
Still, it’s not for everyone.
“I always feel like agritourism is not for the faint of heart,” she said. “You’re going to have customers from all walks of life coming onto your property. It takes someone who enjoys communicating with the public and sharing their farm experience.”
On another farm east of Rochester, Dale Wickham is that someone.
“It’s amazing to see people light up,” he said. “To touch something with your hand, to pick an apple, it’s a really cool thing.”
Wickham’s parents began with a roadside pumpkin stand in the 1980s. The farm moved to its Penfield location in 2019 and now spans 120 acres, employing about 250 seasonal workers and drawing more than 100,000 visitors each year. Families pay for entry — and sometimes purchase season passes — for wagon rides, apple cannons and themed play zones.
“We’ll always be trying to improve,” Wickham said. “But while we do that, we want to stay true to our agricultural roots. That’s at the core of what we do.”
CONTINUED ON PAGE 19
Suzanne Stokoe brushes a kangaroo, Mac, while another kangaroo, Khan, waits his turn at Stokoe Farms. PHOTO BY NATASHA KAISER
Jess Robert plays with a bubblemaker at Wickham Farms. PHOTO BY NATASHA KAISER
For Webster resident Laura Karger, those roots and new experiences keep her family coming back.
“My kids love it. The corn pit, the zip line, the big slide, the jumping pillow,” she said. “It’s great that they keep adding things that work for both older and younger kids.”
With so many farms entering the agritourism space, competition is becoming fierce. Stokoe said she’s not just up against other pumpkin patches and orchards, but also Rochester’s festival scene, youth sports schedules and other weekend events.
“You’re competing for people’s free time,” Stokoe said.
Back at the Roo Ranch, she tucked baby Arlo into a pouch slung over her shoulder and looked out across the family fields.
“I have a great life,” she said. “Who else gets to look out (their) back door and see Christmas trees, farmland, your heritage? It’s a good life. Hard sometimes, but it’s a good life.”
BLUE BARN CIDERY, HILTON
Summer concerts, cider yoga, a fall boo barn bash
BLUEBARNCIDERY.COM
COBBLE CREEK, SPENCERPORT
Foliage hayrides, corn cannons, a straw crawl
COBBLECREEKFARM.NET
LONG ACRE FARMS, MACEDON
Amazing Maize Maze, winery, tire mountain
LONGACREFARMS.COM
STOKOE FARMS, SCOTTSVILLE
Kangaroos, dog shows, dinosaur discovery trail
STOKOEFARMS.COM
WICKHAM FARMS, PENFIELD
Giant slides, crawl-around corn barn, mini golf
WICKHAMFARMS.COM
Beckham Smith rides the zip line at Wickham Farms. PHOTO BY NATASHA KAISER
Dale Wickham. PHOTO BY NATASHA KAISER
STRONG ROOTS
CULTURE
BY PATRICK HOSKEN | PATRICK@ROCCITYMAG.COM
Before she became a fixture on hit sitcoms “Mom” and “Dharma & Greg,” actress Mimi Kennedy got her start on stage with the Rochester Community Players. The group’s former home on South Clinton Avenue (now Swillburger/The Playhouse) remains a landmark. Unsurprisingly, when Kennedy looks back on her hometown, she remembers its architecture: the Art Deco charm of The Little Theatre, of course, but also the Central Library and Eastman Theatre, near where she took ballet classes on Swan Street.
“I think architecture is really important for cities,” Kennedy said. “Europe teaches us that, and I just hope that Rochester preserves some of what it has.”
Rochester’s historic organizations are one way to do so. Another? The sights, emotions and memories that live on in the hearts of other notable folks who’ve left the area geographically but remain rooted here spiritually. CITY asked nine of them about their ideas of “home” and what they’ve taken with them.
COMEDIAN AND CONTENT CREATOR
I am a pretty obnoxious Bills fan and I still shop at Wegmans! But I’d say Rochester really inspired me in a creative way, too. There’s so much art here. I grew up visiting art fairs, seeing live music, going to festivals. I was a dorky theater kid growing up, too, and Rochester has an amazing theater community where I’ve met some of my best friends to this day. I definitely take that love for the arts with me! Home to me is the place where I feel most like myself, and I’m never more “myself” than when I’m on a boat on Lake Ontario shoving a DiBella’s sub in my face.
WINEMAKER/PROPRIETOR OF MONTE RIO CELLARS
Schaller’s has always been my first go-to place. As a child, it was my absolute favorite and it held a special place in my heart. My parents would take me and my siblings there as kids a lot. As a teenager, I worked as a busboy at the Crescent Beach Hotel, which made it a very convenient place to go. I also had a friend who lived on Edgemere Drive who had a halfpipe in his backyard. We would spend countless hours there, riding the ramp and skating down the block to get a burger. Some of the most significant moments of my life were spent at Schaller’s. And of course, their burgers are incredible!
ACTOR, “ABBOTT ELEMENTARY”
I don’t think I’m being hyperbolic when I say Rochester gave me everything. Much more than I ever gave it. The great loves of my life; art, nature, and people all took root in the ROC. First stop is always grandma‘s house for pasta. Second stop is a toss-up between Rubinos, Charlie’s or Wegmans. I come home a couple times a year now and I look forward to getting lost. It’s very hard to get truly lost in Los Angeles or New York City. Rochester is a safe haven for me and a direct plug back into the ground. I spent the first 18 years of my life here and so it’s impossible not to cringe with a sort of wistful gratitude. Go Bills.
JULIA LEAHY
PATRICK CAPPIELLO
CHRIS PERFETTI
DRUMMER FOR STEPHEN MALKMUS & THE JICKS
Rochester is such a humble, beautiful, down-to-earth place, and the people are honestly amazing. There’s also a really big art community, which a lot of people don’t realize. I grew up competitively dancing, and that world shaped so much of who I am. I’ve carried both that down-to-earth vibe and my love for movement into my modeling career. After living in New York City for so long, I’ve realized how special Rochester really is. We get every season, and there are these beautiful freshwater lakes where we spend as much time as possible. Every time I fly back, I feel this deep breath of relief, like my whole body just relaxes. It’s that mix of nature, family and nostalgia that really feels like home to me.
Rochester gave me a sense of freedom to express myself. There were very, very few times, if any, that I can remember that my creativity would have been stunted here. The first time I was really checked was when I went to L.A. for the first time, and I realized, whoa, okay, this is a different pond I'm swimming in. In Rochester, there was never any that energy. Everyone was so welcoming and so encouraging. That’s what I took out of this place: the openness and willingness to express yourself and also to lift others up. There is no local music scene if you don't support each other 100%.
I brought my wife to Rochester for the first time last year, and we had to go to the House of Guitars and get a garbage plate. The latter didn’t work out so well, but it got us to a Wegmans real fast, so we got to check that off the list, too. Home is where your heart and community are. I’ve been in Portland over 25 years and have found that here for sure. But I learned how to find and build one in Rochester and WNY, that’s for sure!
Rochester gave me my love of photography. Both of my paternal grandparents worked for Kodak, and my childhood was filled with yearly trips to the George Eastman Museum. I went on to major in photography at the Fashion Institute of Technology in 2011, and received my BFA in 2015. I nowV work as a freelance photographer in New York City, but if not for the rich photographic history of my family and my home city, I’m not sure I would have fallen so in love with the art medium that has become my life. Home is where I began making photographs at the age of 15, right in my parents’ backyard, so coming back is a lovely reminder of the start of my artistic journey and what inspired me to begin creating there almost two decades ago.
Rochester was very much a part of my formative years as an adult — junior high and high school, and of course my parents lived there over 35 years, so it really is home. I often tell people that Rochester is the biggest small town I know — the long-standing relationships and friendships across the city make it feel small, but it has all the attributes of a larger city when it comes to food, the arts and industry capabilities.
My early musical experiences — in Fairport public schools, at Eastman School of Music, in the RPYO, with my early bandmates, and with other local musicians — gave me a strong foundation for a life in music. A lot has happened since then, but I couldn’t have done any of it without those formative experiences. It’s a musical town. The most basic association with “home” for me is family, wherever they might be. Otherwise I travel all the time, so I have learned to keep it simple. The main things I need are daylight, a good piano and a pen and paper. I get a lot from the Buddhist teaching of “coming home to yourself.”
RACHEL HILBERT MODEL
JON DRETTO
GUITARIST & TOURING MUSICIAN FOR CHAKA KHAN
JORDAN TIBERIO PHOTO-BASED ARTIST
VIJAY IYER MUSICIAN AND COMPOSER
JAKE MORRIS
PAMELA MELROY FORMER DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR OF NASA
It’s high noon and the grounds of the Stone-Tolan House are serenely quiet. If not for the ambient noise spilling over the tall concrete walls that separate the historic site from six lanes of traffic on the expressway, it’s easy to believe this is a country road on the outskirts of civilization. Instead, the red and gray trimmed Federal-style home — the oldest building in Monroe County — sits on its original East Avenue plot dating back to 1792, a stone’s throw from the nearest Wegmans.
Originally the home of Orringh and Elizabeth Stone, the dwelling served many purposes in its formative years. The tavern — the oldest portion of the site — doubled as the town’s watering hole while offering a bed for those passing through 19th-century New York.
Currently owned and maintained by the Landmark Society of Western New York (LSWNY), the Stone-Tolan House, at its foundation, is viewed by the organization as an educational responsibility. For decades, the grounds have been toured by busloads of children on field trips to learn and experience history firsthand.
The barn located behind the main building — though not original to the property — was added for historical accuracy, much like the garden, orchard and farm animal fences near the smokehouse. Today, the barn is used as a classroom and starting point for the aforementioned school visits.
In keeping with the Landmark Society's commitment to preservation and historical accuracy, the home underwent an intensive paint analysis which ultimately determined the white siding and dark shutters it featured for decades were inaccurate; repainting to match the original red with gray trim became a topic of public controversy for many years.
Holding steadfast to historical preservation is not easy, and in the case of the StoneTolan House, increasingly unsustainable. “Museums are not what they used to be,” said Larry Francer, assistant director of LSWNY. “Preservation organizations around the country for the past decade have been dealing with this concern that people are just not coming to house museums.”
The cost to maintain any home can be great, especially when that home dates back over 230 years.
“The hardest part is the funding,” said Wayne Goodman, executive director of LSWNY. Donations and grants to support historical sites vary greatly; for example, a recent grant secured by New York State Senator Jeremy Cooney will cover repairs to the white fence framing the orchard along with other necessary repairs to the home.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 28
From tavern takeovers to an annual orchard dinner hosted by Restaurant Good Luck, the Landmark Society has held various events on the property in an effort to unlock new revenue streams and increase exposure. “One thing that we hear often, particularly at the (Good Luck) dinner, is people are in awe and had no clue that this was even here,” said Goodman.
The potential to buy a large plot of land on East Avenue in Brighton is far from overlooked by eager property developers. Over the past decade, the organization has been contacted in hopes they would sell. “The answer has been no, and it’s going to continue to be no,” said Goodman, adding the goal is to ensure the historical integrity of the property and find a sustainable path forward.
“We want something that’s going to allow people to experience this historic site,” he said. “If we’re spending a lot of time and resources preserving this, there should be a public benefit to that. And if people don’t even know it’s here and aren’t experiencing it, something has to happen.” landmarksociety.org
todo DAILY
Full calendar of events online at roccitymag.com
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 5
FESTIVAL
Hilton Apple Fest
Hilton Community Center grounds, hiltonapplefest.org
Apples = fall, and this westside village is throwing its 43rd tribute to the humble fruit during the first weekend of October. If apples aren’t your jam, there are lots of other things to do — music, kids’ entertainment, artisan booths, food vendors and more. Admission is free, and so is parking at Hilton High School, where you can catch a shuttle bus. DENISE YOUNG
RECREATION
Haunted Hayrides of
Greater Rochester
Williamson, hauntedhayridesrochester.com
These hallowed hayrides happen on the site of a former fruit farm known for the infamous “Harvest Night Slaughter” of 1859, when over two dozen farmhands were found tortured and butchered. Since then, the property has been designated as a New York State “hotbed site” of haunting. The rides return this fall for the first time in five years, kicking off a 23rd season with all the usual shenanigans — costumed characters, jump scares and other ghoulish surprises — as well as a brand-new Haunted Beer Garden where patrons can sip (boo)ze pre- or post-ride. Friday through Sunday nights until October 26; tickets start at $33. LEAH STACY
MONDAY, OCTOBER 6
MUSIC
John Valby
Fanatics Pub, Lima, fanaticspub.com
Valby is known as “Dr. Dirty” for his R-rated ditties, so if the prospect of getting a few laughs with your music is appealing, head to Livingston County for his show. According to his bio, he learned how to play the piano at McQuaid Jesuit High School (always that Rochester connection). And while we’re not sure if his former teachers there would approve of how he’s made his living, audiences clearly do: Valby’s been doing his raunchy act for about 50 years. DY
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7
LITERATURE
David Grann
Asbury First UMC, rochesterspeakers.org
As a Martin Scorsese film, “Killers of the Flower Moon” received 10 Academy Award nominations. That’s thanks in part to its source material, David Grann’s thoroughly reported nonfiction book about the murders of wealthy Indigenous people in the 1920s, which “The New York Times” called soul-searing. How powerful is it? A 2021 bill passed by Oklahoma’s state legislature propelled one teacher to remove the book from her classroom, citing racial concerns. Grann has been outspoken against the dangers of that kind of censorship. He’ll speak more at this 7 p.m.
inaugural event for the Rochester Speaker Series, a new initiative with another event planned for the spring. PATRICK HOSKEN
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8
COMEDY
“40
Years of Foley”
Comedy @ the Carlson, carlsoncomedy.com
Those who don’t know the name Mick Foley can be filled in with key descriptors: thumbtacks, Mr. Socko, hardcore wrestling. But that only tells half the story of the longtime WWE fixture, celebrated author and genuine ray of sunshine. The rest is told by Foley himself in this one-man show that concludes with 45 minutes of audience Q&A. 7 p.m. performance for 21+; tickets start at $40. PH
FILM
¡Presente! Latin Film Series: “Gilda”
The Dryden Theatre, eastman.org/ latin-film-series
For Hispanic Heritage Month, the ¡Presente! Latin Film Series presents a curated lineup of five weekly, free screenings at the Dryden Theatre; 1949’s “Gilda” in 35mm is the fourth in the series, with 2001’s “The Others” to follow on October 15. Spanning nearly 70 years of cinema history, this series shines a spotlight on legendary Latin and Latin American film artists whose contributions are too often overlooked. Each screening begins at 7:30 p.m. and features expert introductions and select postfilm discussions, offering a deeper connection to the works and their cultural context. LS
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9
ART
Fashion Week Rochester: Magic Downtown
Rochester Riverside Convention Center, fashionweekofrochester.org
Lights, camera, fashion — it’s the annual showcase of dazzling designs, stunning runway walks and creativity. This fashion event celebrates local and global designers for a cause; funds raised during Fashion Week Rochester are used to help support homeless youth programs and shelters at The Center for Youth. Shows through Saturday, October 11. Doors open at 6 p.m.; tickets start at $38.
ImageOut LGBTQ+
Fall Film Festival: Opening Night Salon
Boulder Coffee Co. Cafe and Lounge, imageout.org
ImageOut’s LGBTQ+ Fall Film Festival kicks off its 33rd anniversary with the first-ever Opening Night Salon, hosted by Anna Parade and Rachel Wiley and featuring slam poets, musicians and storytellers as well as the festival’s trailer reveal. The event starts at 6 p.m.; tickets are $10. ImageOut continues daily through October 19 with in-person and virtual film programming, numerous special events and more. A full calendar is available online, along with links to individual tickets; full festival passes start at $275. LS
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NATASHA KAISER
FILM
YEARS, COUNTLESS MEMORIES: 50
THE ENDURING LEGACY OF ‘LIVE FROM HOCHSTEIN’
“Live from Hochstein,” the longest-running live broadcast concert series in Western New York, celebrates its 50th anniversary this year and kicks off its fall season on Wednesday, October 15, with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. The series, which runs every Wednesday from 12:10 to 12:50 p.m. through December 17, comes to us live from the Performance Hall at The Hochstein School. The series presents performances by some of the finest artists from the Rochester area’s musical community.
The best part — the concerts are free and open to the public. And, if you can’t make it in person, you can enjoy the music by tuning to WXXI Classical or streaming it on WXXIClassical.org.
The series is hosted by WXXI Classical music director Mona Seghatoleslami, who believes what makes the series unique is its “live” factor. “Not ‘as live’ but really ‘live in the moment,’ which has surprised some visiting performers who have been on similar shows where things are pre-recorded,” she explains. “It makes the show both exciting and fun for the performers and audience, and a little bit ‘scary’ as the host sometimes. Once, a performer was backstage and didn’t know they were supposed to join the RPO on stage, so I had to talk until we found the last oboist! Another time, someone had to walk off with a nosebleed, and we re-arranged the show on the fly!”
The first show of the noontime series was on November 12, 1975, featuring flutist Glennda Dove and pianist Joseph Werner, and was originally called “Noontime at Hochstein.” It was organized by Hochstein’s piano faculty member Robert James and did not have a broadcast component until 1977 when the concerts began airing live on WXXI Classical.
The concerts were originally broadcast from the first floor “Lounge” area of the Hochstein School with host Simon Pontin, who was accompanied by WXXI engineers Gary Warren and Paulette Pecca, who worked on a small mixing board. Other hosts have included Mordecai Lipshutz and Chris VanHoff.
Just as was done 50 years ago, The Hochstein School still selects the performers for the series. Selections are made with a strong focus on the Rochesterarea music community, including artists from The Hochstein School, Eastman School, Roberts Wesleyan University, and Nazareth University, as well as community groups like Musica Spei, Cordancia, fivebyfive, and more. Since 1991, the series has included concerts by the winner of the David Hochstein Recital Competitions, an awards competition for advanced high school students from the Greater Rochester Area, the annual Cup of Good Cheer with Madrigalia, and performances by the Eastman Horn Choir.
“What I think is particularly nice is that the performers get to select their music – as long as we make it work with the time limits of the radio show,” explains Mona. “So, I have learned about fascinating composers and pieces that I might not have otherwise known because the musicians brought them to the show!”
When asked what her favorite part of hosting has been, Mona shares that it’s the moment right at the end of the show when, after the applause dies down, and her producer lets her know she’s clear. “I turn off the ‘On Air’ light and then give the audience a thumbs up to let them know that it’s a wrap. Then I lead the audience in one more round of applause for themselves and a successful show,” she said. “Oh, and of course: it’s the music! Right there, live in front of us! And knowing that even more people who can’t make it there in person are sharing in this magical experience.”
For the complete schedule of this “Live from Hochstein” season, visit WXXIClassical.org.
PHOTOS BY AARON WINTERS
Stefan Reuss, cello
Cinema Nomad
Saturdays at 11:30 p.m., starting October 4 on WXXI-TV
MUST-SEE SHOWS IN OCTOBER 3 Celebrating the Bicentennial of the Erie Canal
This art and culture-focused travel series explores various nations through the lens of the country's cinematic past, present, and future. In each episode, our cinephile host Stephanie Gardner takes you on a journey around the world through the eyes and experiences of 30-something filmmakers from a diverse set of backgrounds, delving into their hopes, dreams, and desires. Photo: Stephanie Gardner in Flateyri, Ireland Credit: 2018 Steadmans Go Global Productions
Brian and Maggie
Reflections on the Erie Canal
Tuesday, October 7 at 9 p.m. on WXXI-TV
Sunday, October 5 and 12 at 8 p.m. on WXXI-TV 1989. When two old friends - the “much-feared inquisitor” Brian Walden and “Iron Lady" Margaret Thatcher - come together for their last-ever TV interview, little do they realize they're about to embark on one of the most famous political exchanges of all time. Helmed by Steve Coogan as politician-turned-journalist Brian Walden and Harriet Walter as Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, this drama recounts the end of a political era and a long-term friendship, tensely reconstructing the seismic London Weekend Television interview that reshaped national opinion and signposted the end of Thatcher’s premiership. Brian and Margaret never spoke again after their final encounter.
American Masters:
Marlee Matlin
Not Alone Anymore
Tuesday, October 14 at 9 p.m. on WXXI-TV
Learn about the life and career of 4-time Emmy nominee Marlee Matlin as she shares her story in her native American Sign Language. Known for roles in The West Wing and CODA, at 21 years old, Matlin became the first Deaf actor to win an Oscar. This film is presented as part of Move to IncludeTM, an award-winning national initiative to promote disability inclusion, representation, and accessibility in public media. Repeats 10/17 at 4 p.m. and 10/18 at 3 p.m. Photo provided by PBS
This film explores the past, present, and future of the canal. In 1825, the state of New York inaugurated a monumental economic engine - the Erie Canal. Born from an audacious ambition to secure financial power and seal New York’s status as the Empire State, the canal was a triumph of engineering and determination. Two hundred years later, the human-made thread crossing the state of New York from West to East has a much broader legacy that deserves definition and exploration.
America’s Stairway
Monday, October 20 at 9 p.m. on WXXI-TV
This film places the historic Flight of Five locks on the Erie Canal in Lockport, New York, squarely in the American narrative as a symbol of a young and developing nation. It draws a direct line between the Erie Canal, the Flight of Five, and the birth of American tourism to today’s heritage tourism industry, which is inextricably linked to community-based, grassroots preservation efforts and a community’s sense of place.
15 Miles on the Erie Canal
Watch on-demand at video.wxxi.org
This 2006 WXXI production travels from Palmyra to the Genesee River. Throughout the program, canal expert and historian Thomas Grasso offers great insight into the making and the history of the canal, while SUNY Brockport associate professor, accomplished musician and expert in Erie Canal songs, Dr. William Hullfish provides the documentary’s soundtrack.
Canal Towns
Watch on-demand at video.wxxi.org
Produced by WXXI in 2000, this film explores the Erie Canal from the perspective of some of the people and communities it touches. Produced in collaboration with the Landmark Society of Western New York.
Photo provided by PBS
Completed in 1825, the Erie Canal was a marvel of engineering—the longest man-made waterway in the world and the most ambitious public works project North America had ever seen. It put New York on the map as a powerhouse, fueling explosive growth in population, industry, and economic dominance. It transformed Rochester from a remote town into a booming city by providing transportation and trade to the Midwest and the East Coast markets.
To commemorate the 200th anniversary of the completion of the Erie Canal, WXXI is proud to bring you the following specials.
RETURN TO OZ
(Projected on 35mm film)
Friday, Oct. 3 at 7:30pm
Dorothy, saved from a psychiatric experiment by a mysterious girl, finds herself back in the land of her dreams, and makes delightful new friends, and dangerous new enemies.
GOOD BOY
OPENS Oct. 3-9
One of the year’s most buzzworthy titles, GOOD BOY is a horror movie from the POV of a dog. Starring Indy, director Ben Leonberg’s own dog (presumably a good boy).
MAD MONSTER PARTY
Sunday, Oct. 5 at 12pm
When Dr Frankenstein decides to retire from the monster-making business, he calls an international roster of monsters to a creepy convention to elect his successor in this 1967 stopmotion animated film.
From ghosts to Ghostface, vampires to werewolves, mad scientists to haunted video tapes, The Little’s Spooky Season is here to fill your October with harrowing, haunting films and events! Tickets available online at thelittle. org and at the box office.
HALLOWEEN
Saturday, Oct. 4 at 8pm
Cue the iconic John Carpenter score, HALLOWEEN (1978), a Saturday Night Rewind staple featuring the ultimate final girl, Jamie Lee Curtis, is back!
THIRST
Sunday, Oct. 5 at 7pm
Through a failed medical experiment, a priest is stricken with vampirism and is forced to abandon his ascetic ways, in this 2009 horror picture from the masterful Park Chan-wook (Oldboy, The Handmaiden, 2025’s No Other Choice).
CRONOS
Monday, Oct. 6 at 7:30pm
A mysterious device designed to provide its owner with eternal life resurfaces after four hundred years, leaving a trail of destruction in its path in this 1992 film from Oscar-winner Guillermo del Toro.
SNR Double Feature:
SILVER BULLET
+ THE HOWLING
Saturday, Oct. 11
Silver Bullet at 6:30pm and The Howling at 9pm.
It’s a night for the werewolves!
RE-ANIMATOR
(40TH ANNIVERSARY)
Saturday, Oct. 18 at 8pm
Herbert West (Jeffrey Combs) is a new student at Miskatonic University. He also moonlights as a mad scientist, intent on perfecting a serum that “re-animates” corpses. Soon, everyone wants a piece of the action, including an evil professor and his army of neon-slimed deadites.
SCREAM 2
Thurs., Oct. 23 Craft Night show + Mon., Oct. 27 traditional screening
Final girl Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) once again is terrorized by Ghostface in this first sequel to the 1996 classic meta whodunnit slasher.
ARMY OF DARKNESS
Friday, Oct. 24 at 7:30pm
Uncle Bob’s Magic Cabinet podcast joins us for a live recording and ARMY OF DARKNESS screening. When Ash Williams is accidentally transported to 1300 A.D., he must retrieve the Necronomicon and battle an army of the dead in order to return home.
SINNERS
Saturday, Oct. 25 at 8pm + Sunday, Oct. 26 at 3pm
One of THE defining movies of 2025 makes its Little debut! Trying to leave their troubled lives behind, twin brothers (Michael B. Jordan and Michael B. Jordan) return to their hometown to start again, only to discover that an even greater evil is waiting to welcome them back, in Ryan Coogler’s instant classic.
REVENGE
Wednesday, Oct. 29 at 7pm
Coralie Fargeat’s first film (before THE SUBSTANCE) turns a subgenre upside down. A cheater takes his mistress on an annual guys’ getaway — things turn … violent.
THE RING
Halloween Night Screening, Friday, Oct. 31 at 8pm Free for Members of The Little! Rachel Keller is a journalist investigating a videotape that may have killed four teenagers. There is an urban legend about this tape: the viewer will die seven days after watching it. Rachel tracks down the video… and watches it. Spooky horror ensues!
EYES WITHOUT A FACE
Sunday, Oct. 26 at 7pm
A surgeon causes a car accident which leaves his daughter disfigured and goes to extreme lengths to give her a new face in this 1960 French horror-thriller.
WITCHES
Thursday, Oct. 30 at 7pm
Witches is a deeply personal film which explores the compelling connection between postpartum mental health illnesses and the history and portrayal of witches throughout pop culture.
FOR YOUR LISTENING PLEASURE
Exploring Music with Bill McGlaughlin
Monday through Friday from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. on WXXI Classical (FM 91.5)
This creative exploration of classical music and other genres delves into a wide assortment of topics in classical music. Each five-program series builds off a single theme ranging from composer biographies to explorations of various cultures, musical styles, and time periods. Photo courtesy WFMT
Science Friday
Fridays at 2 p.m. on WXXI News (FM 105.9)
Tiny Desk Radio
Sundays at 11 a.m. on The Route (FM 88.5)
This radio show is like a music discovery engine and a VIP venue for your ears. It’s where you’ll hear Tiny Desk performances from some of the most iconic artists of our time — from Hozier to Alicia Keys to Billie Eilish. Plus, you’ll hear new-to-you acts like Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso — they might just become your next favorite band. It’s intimate, unexpected, and larger than life — it’s Tiny Desk Radio, only from NPR Music. Photo courtesy NPR
This weekly series covers the outer reaches of space to the tiniest microbes in our bodies. Science Friday is the source for entertaining and educational stories about science, technology, and other cool stuff.
Photo courtesy WNYC
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10
SPORTS Rochester
Americans vs. Toronto Marlies
Blue Cross Arena, amerks.com
It’s that time of year again, so allow me to share with you my arena food regimen. Pre-game hot dog with fries eaten slowly enough to roll into the first period. Midway through, it’s either popcorn or pizza time, followed by third-period ice cream to maintain energy levels for a strong finish. And of course, high fives for The Moose as frequently as possible. Puck drops at 7:05 p.m. $19-$58. PH
MUSIC
Brave Strangers
Theater at Innovation Square, theaterais.com
How many musicians does it take to recreate the rock and roll grandeur of Bob Seger? In the case of tribute act Brave Strangers, the number is 14, give or take a few. There are no shortcuts to bring to life the sheer hum of “Hollywood Nights” and the dramatic arc of “Night Moves.” The professionals simply build it up from scratch, which they’ll do at this 7:30 p.m. show. Tickets $33-$48. PH
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11
FESTIVAL
Rochester Queer Arts Festival
Village Gate, queerartsfest.com
The second annual Rochester Queer Arts Festival celebrates the work of local queer artists from a variety of artistic backgrounds and moves to a new venue, Village Gate. From craft vendors and a student art gallery to a boundary-breaking fashion show and drag performances, the Queer Arts Festival offers a full day of free entertainment for all ages; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. NK
FAMILY
Pumpkin Patch Train Rides
Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum, rochestertrainrides.com
Here’s a unique way to pick up your Halloween pumpkin: take the train! The Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum is offering mile-and-a-half train rides to the pumpkin patch on its rural grounds in the Genesee Valley. Kids get a complimentary small pumpkin they can take home and decorate, along with refreshments and a special exhibit of Lionel Trains. Tickets are $35 for adults, $15 for seniors, $10 for ages 5-17; kids under four ride free. The train rides take place on weekends through November 1.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 12
MUSIC
Modest Mouse and Built to Spill
Kodak Center, kodakcenter.com
“I just want to feel good for a day.” That’s what Modest Mouse singer Isaac Brock said in 2004 about writing the band’s hit “Float On,” a song of optimism that feels even more necessary (and yet distant) more than 20 years later. How does it sound in today’s modern hellscape? Kodak Center is the place to find out, where Modest Mouse will perform along with the fellow Pacific Northwest guitar greats in Built to Spill. 8 p.m. show. Tickets start at $64. PH
ALEX CRICHTON
FESTIVAL Oktoberfest
The Lake House on Canandaigua, lakehousecanandaigua.com/events
In partnership with nearby Frequentem Brewing Co., The Lake House hosts an Oktoberfest celebration of live traditional music, authentic German cuisine and refreshing beer pours (the first 100 ticketholders get a commemorative Oktoberfest mug). Guests can also test their strength and endurance with the stein hold challenge, cheer on favorite contenders in the canal duck race and show off in the best dressed contest. Event runs 12-4 p.m.; $25 ticket includes first beer pour. 21+ only. LS
feature a 15-20 minute ride for all ages. Tickets start at $15 per rider (kids under two ride free), and advance tickets are recommended as admission is limited. AC
MUSIC
“A Continuum of Innovative Composers”
Beston Hall at Nazareth University, chambermusicrochester.org
HOME GARDEN
THEATER
“The Rocky Horror Picture Show”
Rolling Hills Asylum, rollinghillsasylum.com
Get thrilled, chilled, fulfilled at the 50th anniversary of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” at one of New York State’s (allegedly) most haunted locations, Rolling Hills Asylum in East Bethany. The evening includes a screening projected above a casket in the asylum’s Rec Room; live shadow cast from WNY Hoopla; complimentary prop bag; a taco bar; and a themed costume contest with prizes. The event begins at 6 p.m.; tickets are $99. LS
MONDAY, OCTOBER 13
RECREATION
Bristol Mountain Fall Sky Rides
Bristol Mountain, bristolmountain.com Fall is here, and Bristol Mountain’s Comet Express chairlift is a great way to see all the colors. The Bristol Mountain Fall Sky Rides run each weekend throughout October and
What do the composers Haydn, Sibelius, Debussy and Florence Price have in common? Per the Society for Chamber Music in Rochester, they’re all innovators. Their work will color the program of this daytime show, featuring pianist Elinor Freer, violist Ryan Hardcastle, cellist Benjamin Krug and violin players Shannon Nance and Tigran Vardanyan. Music at 3 p.m., with a pre-concert talk beginning at 2:30. $35. Students and children get in free. PH
FESTIVAL
Indigenous Peoples Day
Various locations, indigenouspeoplesdayrocny.org
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 and the Rochester Museum and Science Center, including dance and music performances (with audience participation); lacrosse demonstrations; storytelling and guest speakers; Indigenous educational displays; craftmaking; food and Native vendor booths. Free admission, all ages welcome. LS
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14
SHOPPING
Rochester Night Market
18 Flint Street, rochesternightmarket.com
Since it quietly began earlier this summer outside a warehouse off Flint Street, the Rochester Night Market has grown to hundreds of attendees. Happening every other Tuesday from 6-10 p.m. (current dates are posted through October 28), the market features food and drinks, arts and crafts vendors, books, furniture, secondhand finds and live music. The queer-owned, open air market takes place just outside Greenovation’s current location, making it a scavenger’s dream night on the town. Open to all ages; free. LS
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15
MUSIC
Gateways Chamber Players
Hatch Recital Hall, gatewaysmusicfestival.org
Composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor was named for the Romantic poet of a nearly identical name. The two also shared the remarkable ability to write stunning and beautiful compositions; listen to the musician’s “Nonet in F Minor” for proof. Better yet, hear the players perform it as part of Gateways Music Festival’s fall offerings at Eastman School of Music. 7:30 p.m. show, $20. PH
MUSIC Mushroomhead
Anthology, anthologylive.com
In 2002, it was easy to mistake Mushroomhead for Slipknot. Both exceedingly heavy Midwestern bands boasted nearly 10 members, explored darkness and sported masks and makeup to add a haunted-house
element. But Mushroomhead also unexpectedly veered into prog and even New Wave territory. Though the band has since embraced its heaviness above all else, it remains quite the live spectacle. 6:45 p.m. show, with support from Psychostick, Black Satellite and Mind Incision. Tickets $40. PH
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16
MUSIC
Terence Blanchard
Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre, soundtrax.org
What would the films of Spike Lee be without the powerful scores of Terence Blanchard? Luckily, we live in a world where we never have to find out. Blanchard brings a variety of selections from his robust catalog (he got Oscar nods for both “BlacKkKlansman” and “Da 5 Bloods”) with the Gateways Festival Orchestra and his own band, The E-Collective, to this unique concert as part of the inaugural Soundtrax Film Music Festival (which runs through Oct. 18). 7:30 p.m. show; tickets start at $25. PH
MUSIC
Coca Leaves & Pearls
Skylark Lounge, theskylarklounge.com
Chris Forsyth’s Philadelphia-based band of Neil Young tributaries return to Rochester for a night of, in the band’s words, “Ditch-era Crazy Horse and Stray Gator material.” If you’re not a Neil head, here’s a quick translation: songs from the albums “Tonight’s the Night,” “On the Beach” and “Time Fades Away.” In other words, the mid-1970s output, when Neil was, as one might say, really going through it. 7 p.m. show; tickets are $10. 21+. PH
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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17
MUSIC
“Mass in Blue”
Hochstein Performance Hall, rossings.org
The Rochester Oratorio Society kicks off its 80th season with this concert at Hochstein that it calls a bit of a “jazz mass.” The title composition by Will Todd is the centerpiece; other pieces on the program include Ron Nelson’s “Fanfare for a Festival” and Jeff Tyzik’s “Psalm 150.” 7:30 p.m. show; tickets start at $25. PH
HISTORY
Ghosts of Mt. Hope Ave. Walk
Intersection of Mt. Hope Avenue & Reservoir Avenue, rochesterghosts.com Who built the castle in Highland Park? Why is Mt. Hope Cemetery so unique? History and local ghost lore collide during this scenic walking tour of the historic Mt. Hope neighborhood. (Please note: the tour does not go through the cemetery or into buildings and does not involve actors.) Tour operates rain or shine every Friday in October. Tickets are $10 for ages 5-10, $20 for 10 and older. No pre-sale, cash only. LS
MUSIC
Weakened Friends with Flower Kitty and Croix
The Bug Jar, bugjar.com Flower Kitty, a recent addition to the Rochester music scene, is a powerful quartet capable of “successfully blending the nostalgic sounds of ‘90s grunge with a modern punk attitude,” per CITY freelancer Leah Joy. That vibe blends well with the loud energy of fellow local act Croix and the big fuzz of Portland group Weakened Friends, which comes to town for this 9 p.m. show; tickets start at $17. PH
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18
MUSIC
The Ronstadt Revue
Fort Hill Performing Art Center, forthillpac.com
Linda Ronstadt’s voice is one in a million, but Gesenia Gerena does a hell of a job paying tribute. That’s her job as the leader of the sevenpiece Ronstadt Revue, which honors the country singer’s 40-year career with songs sung in both English and Spanish. 7 p.m. show; tickets start at $44. PH
NIGHTLIFE
After Dark: Carnival of Curiosity
Rochester Museum and Science Center, rmsc.org/events/carnival
RMSC’s After Dark series features after-hours social events for adults 21+, with full museum and science center access, cash bars and refreshments. The Halloween iteration of After Dark includes a “Tent of Wonders” with rare objects, a costume contest, carnival games, a Bed of Nails demonstration and a fiery spectacle to end the night. Separate tickets can be purchased for “The Upside Down,” a Stranger Things Laser Show at the Strasenburgh Planetarium. 21+ only; tickets for the Carnival of Curiosity are $25. LS
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 19
MUSIC
“Subatomic Mysteries”
Sloan Performing Arts Center at U of R, fivebyfivemusic.com
Chamber ensemble fivebyfive presents a new kind of multi-disciplinary performance inspired by quantum mechanics. “Subatomic Mysteries,” in the words of the group itself, invites listeners to experience the world through its tiniest building blocks, including sound motion and light. As such, the group’s six musicians will provide the soundtrack to the exploration. 3 p.m. show with a preconcert chat. Free for UR students. $20 general admission, $40 family max, or pay what you can at the door. PH
MUSIC
Ben Folds
Beston Hall at Nazareth University, bestonhall.com
All Ben Folds needs is a piano, though a microphone certainly helps. This is the conceit of the “Ben Folds & A Piano” tour, which stops in Pittsford for this intimate concert featuring the longtime songwriter who can lunge from graceful and playful to borderline emo with a simple flick of the wrist. You can laugh all you want — 30 years after his band’s debut LP, he’s still got his philosophy. Doors at 6 p.m., show at 7 p.m.Tickets start at $98. PH
MONDAY, OCTOBER 20
FITNESS
Strangebird Run Club
Strangebird Brewing, strangebirdbeer.com
Harry Styles may have recently finished the Berlin marathon in under three hours, but he’s also been performing on global stages since he was a literal teenager. You can find your own way, too, even if that means a few miles around the block on a Monday after work. Meet at Strangebird at 6 p.m. and let your fellow runners take it from there. All ages and skill levels welcome. After all, you don’t know you’re beautiful — and that’s what makes you beautiful. PH
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21
THEATER “Clue”
West Herr Auditorium Theatre, rbtl.org “Clue” is not the original whodunit, but the board game (and later film) allowed the format to add an essential element: fun. This is why it works so well on stage, too. The zaniness of a
murder mystery makes all the dark comedy of its premise come to life. So, did Colonel Mustard do it in the study with the wrench? Or was it Mrs. Peacock in the observatory with the knife? Only “Clue” goers will know for sure. Eight performances through October 26. Tickets $48. PH
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22
MUSIC
Charlie Ballantine Trio
Bop Shop Records, bopshop.com
It takes a special musician to channel Thelonious Monk’s piano songs via the guitar, but Charlie Ballantine was up to the task on a 2021 LP. Now, Ballantine’s got bassist Quinn Sternberg and drummer Brendan Brady with him to pay tribute to another giant: Bob Dylan. This instore set promises highlights from Dylan’s early folkie days (“The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll”) as well as mid-period gems (“Shelter from the Storm”) and beyond. 8 p.m. PH
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23
THEATER
“Sancocho”
Geva Theatre, gevatheatre.org
Family dynamics are like the contents of a boiling pot: under pressure. In Christin Eve Cato’s “Sancocho,” the titular stew mirrors the longsimmering politics of Caridad’s relationship with her sister Renata, backdropped by the work to be done on behalf of their aging father. But with food (and family), there is always love. “Sancocho” runs through November 23 on Geva’s Fielding Stage. Its first performance is at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $48. PH
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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24
EVENT
Museum of the Dead
Memorial Art Gallery, mag.rochester.edu
Dressing as famous art pieces for Halloween allows for maximum creative flair. (I would like to go as Rothko’s “Untitled (Red),” personally.) But dressing up inside an actual art museum might be even better. The MAG’s popular 21+ bash returns for a night of food trucks, gallery tours and, of course, a costume contest, with prizes from local businesses. The fun kicks off at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $30. PH
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25
MUSIC
Los Straitjackets
Temple Theater, abilenebarandlounge.com
Rochester’s favorite luchador maskwearing, surf- and rockabilly-inspired instrumental guitar band returns for a night on the town. The group’s latest release, “Somos,” boasts a beer-soaked light blues tune called “Genesee River Rock” next to a twinkly and introspective sky-gazing number called “Polaris,” commanding you to simply consider their range. Doors at 6:30 p.m., show at 7:30. $35 advance, $40 day of show. PH
DANCE
“Ghost Factory”
Sloan Performing Arts Center at U of R, bridgmanpacker.org
Upstate New York has its share of abandoned factories, and each other those spaces has a (spooky) story. One way to tell those tales is through movement, which Bridgman|Packer Dance brings alive with a “Ghost Factory” performance at 7:30 p.m. It will be accompanied by “Places with Hidden Stories” oral histories in the lobby ahead of the show at 6:30 p.m. $15 general admission. PH
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 26
FOOD
Halloween at the Market
Public Market, cityofrochester.gov Boo! Don’t get scared away from Halloween at the Market where you can show off your spooky costume while you trick-or-treat, play games, watch live performances, do some arts and crafts and more. Come with family, friends or the ghosts that haunt your basement to experience a ghoulishly good time. Halloween at the Market is free and runs from 4:307 p.m. NK
MONDAY, OCTOBER 27
FILM
“Scream 2”
The Little Theatre, thelittle.org As funny as the “Scary Movie” franchise could be, there’s a case to be made that satirizing the “Scream” films was simply unnecessary. Wes Craven’s ‘90s slasher fare satirized itself, wringing absurdist black comedy out of nightmarishly gruesome moments. Case in point: the movie theater scene in “Scream 2” featuring a harried and wonderfully frightened Jada Pinkett Smith. It’s a hell of a way to begin a sequel — and
it’s perfect viewing for spooky season. 7:30 p.m. “craft night” screening, with Little Button Craft participating. PH
Every Tuesday, the two notable pipe organs at East Avenue’s Christ Church get their due. The Craighead-Saunders Organ and the Hook and Hastings Organ both fill the worship space with their thunderous yet sweet tones at 12:10 p.m. each week, in a unique partnership between the church, the University of Rochester and the Episcopal Diocese. Always free, though contributions are welcome. PH
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29
FILM
George Eastman Award Ceremony & Gala
Eastman Museum, eastman.org
As it has done in recent years with Jodie Foster and Goldie Hawn, the Eastman Museum will honor a Hollywood legend at its annual gala. This year, the George Eastman Award goes to “West Side Story” actress Rita Moreno, an EGOT winner whose body of work in cinema spans beloved musicals and gripping dramas throughout the 20th century and even “Fast X” alongside Vin Diesel. 8 p.m. Tickets for the black tie-optional affair start at $175. PH
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30
FILM
“The Phantom of the Opera”
Dryden Theatre, eastman.org/dryden-theatre
Long before Andrew Lloyd Webber dug his claws into this classic French tale of tragedy and horror, early screen legend Lon Chaney had a freakish star turn as the titular phantom. This film from a century ago showcases how, even in the first years of cinema, the horror of the unexpected could still knock viewers to the floor (metaphorically, or perhaps even literally). 7:30 p.m. Members are free,
$12 for non-members. Students pay $5 with ID. PH
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31
Masquerade
Anthology, anthologylive.com
Black Sabbath! Queen! The Rolling Stones! These are some of the legends that local bands will cosplay as during this fun and cheeky Halloween concert. Costumes are encouraged, as groups like Makeitstop, Checks and Exes, Spooky & the Truth, Haishen and The Byways take on those classic lineups, plus Gojira and Weezer. $10 presale, $20 at the door for this 18+ show. Music’s at 7 p.m. PH FILM
“The Ring”
The Little Theatre, thelittle.org Seven days. If you spend Halloween watching “The Ring,” you’ll have until November 7 to live out the rest of your life before, well, the evil videotape claims your life. That’s how the story goes, anyway, but to a modern audience, there may be a more pressing question: what the heck is a videotape? Go analog, baby. “The Ring” will always be here for you. 8 p.m. PH
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CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWERS
PUZZLE ON PAGE 62. NO PEEKING!
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1
MUSIC
Josh Ritter and the Royal City Band
Beston Hall at Nazareth University, bestonhall.com
His Pacific Northwestern and Midwestern roots may comprise his character, but Josh Ritter has spent two decades honing his craft of Americana songwriting in all the right places. He made an album with Jason Isbell in Nashville. He recorded in New Orleans. And he’ll bring all that history to Rochester with his band, along with a prolific catalog of a dozen confessional albums, featuring great entry points like “To the Dogs or Whoever” and “Getting Ready to Get Down.” Doors at 6 p.m., show at 7. Tickets $68+. PH
THEATER
“Still”
CenterStage Theatre at JCC, jccrochester.org
In keeping with their commitment to new works, CenterStage Theatre at the Jewish Community Center presents “Still,” a romantic dramedy about finding common ground and a rekindled love (or is it?) between two old flames. Playwright Lia Romeo will conduct a post-show talkback on November 1. The play is directed by Alexa Scott-Flaherty and is CenterStage’s season opener. Performances run through November 16; tickets start at $23. LS
NIGHTLIFE
Masquerade in the Museum:
A Deadly Sins Soirée
ARTISANworks, rochestercocktailrevival.com
Rochester Cocktail Revival’s annual masquerade returns at the most extravagant venue yet, with immersive experiences and a late night after-
party. Dress to thrill and wander a labyrinth of wonders, sipping themed cocktails concocted by Rumble & Stir. Throughout the winding corridors and cloisters of ARTISANworks, immersive performance company CAT + THE COYOTE brings the Seven Deadly Sins to fantastic life, tarot card readers tell fates and Silver & Salt Studios will create tintype portrait magic. After 10 p.m., a live DJ spins the event from dark desires to a pulsing dance floor. 21+ only; tickets are $55. LS
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2
MUSIC
Fiddlers of the Genesee
Fort Hill Performing Art Center, forthillpac.com
What’s the difference between a fiddle and a violin? It has to do with how you play it. But to really grasp the nuances, let scores of local fiddlers show you during this concert that covers Civil War tunes, bluegrass and swing numbers and even fare from the Appalachian Mountains — AKA fiddle country. 2 p.m. Tickets $24-$34. PH
MUSIC
Einstein’s Dreams
Bop Shop Records, bopshop.com
The folk group led by musical journeyman Eric Heveron-Smith has released its debut album, “Flight Manifest,” which blends solid song foundations with experimental atmospherics in the vein of Andrew Bird — but with horns. The band is eager to celebrate the milestone with this 8 p.m. album release performance. Tickets $20 in advance, $25 day of show. PH
LITERATURE
The Novel Affair: Book Fair
ARTISANworks, artisanworks.net/event-list
Enjoy mimosas, baked goodies and breakfast bites from Madeline’s Catering and coffee from Winter Swan while browsing an incredible lineup of bookish vendors (including a faux flower bar and literary flash tattoos), shared work from local authors and books for sale from regional shops. All ages are welcome; admission is $10 and includes museum access as well. LS
MUSIC REVIEWS
“FLOWER KITTY” BY FLOWER KITTY
Earbuds in, press play: the unforgiving drums mirror a beating heart and a banging head. This is “Bag Fumbler,” the lead track off Flower Kitty’s debut EP. The music transports listeners back in time to a 1990s garage show, watching the next band that might make it big. The lyrics poke jabs at the bag fumbler in question (Fridge always empty except for beer / ‘Cause you numb yourself out of fear), and powerful vocals drive each jab deeper. Looking for female rage? It’s right here, with amplifiers turned up.
“Rabid” begins more gently, pulling listeners in with a sweet melody. But the vigorous chorus and repetition of the lyrics I don’t chase / I attack serve as a reminder of who Flower Kitty is. And they don’t have to chase. The four members hone in on their target and pounce, successfully blending the nostalgic sounds of ‘90s grunge with a modern punk attitude. Melodic guitar drives their point home, grabbing listeners with its teeth and shaking them around until they’re dancing of their own volition.
“Unreliable American Narrator” opens with all the dissonant rage, patiently kept in restraint, gearing up for an absolute banger of a final track. Guitar tugs on heart strings, encouraging hands to rise up and dance above heads. Shocks of distorted vocals keep listeners grounded, and the track finishes out with satisfaction, whole.
Flower Kitty turns its audience into believers with this powerful debut. The femme grunge quartet is here to show fans how to rock out and what it means to be punk. Feeling invigorated after the first couple of listens and need to shake it out? Flower Kitty will perform with Weakened Friends during its “Feels Like Hell” tour on October 17 at The Bug Jar.
— LEAH JOY
“HALF-STAFF BLUES”
BY PETER PETER HUGHES
After Rochester bassist Peter Hughes exited The Mountain Goats in 2024, he fixed his attention on another passion: cars. Hughes, who loves vintage and unusual vehicles as much as good melodies, started an automotive podcast and resumed writing about cars, something he does distinctly well.
But Hughes, freshly (and amicably) split from his longtime band, also had some songs written. He could’ve recorded them at home, but he thought of a better idea. What if the people in his favorite Australian indie rock crew made it with him?
Hughes emailed Liam “Snowy” Halliwell, a member of the groups Pop Filter and The Ocean Club, asking if he might be interested. The answer (an affirmative yes) is “HalfStaff Blues,” Hughes’ first solo album since 2010’s synth-pop excursion “Fangio.”
Recorded down under, “Half-Staff Blues,” released last month, is an addictive bit of so-called “social collapsewave” that tries to wring humor out of impending apocalypse. It’s clear which songs date back to COVID lockdown.
But they’ve also found new life in the capable hands of Snowy’s mates. “Suicide Cult” bursts from its initial mid-2020 quarantine recording to seize the moment, powered by group vocals that would’ve been unthinkable five years ago.
Topically, the songs are bleak. “Gary’s Song” profiles a retired Reagan adviser treating himself to a Corvette, unfazed by his role in global destabilization. A digital airhorn matches the capitalist grindset unspooled in “Fintech Vest.”
But the music couldn’t be looser and livelier. The warmth of the Australian coast resounds in every note, and the digital textures on “Barack Obama Playlist” ping like summer cicadas.
As a songwriter, Hughes’ approach to world malaise is grounded in humor. For a final thought, he offers “Logging Off,” a brief acoustic ode to touching grass.
It’s what Hughes did. He just took a 22hour flight to grab it.
— PATRICK HOSKEN
“MOVEMENT” BY WREN COVE
In the realm of experimental cello work, Arthur Russell’s “This Is How We Walk on the Moon” remains kingly. The avant-garde composer’s ghostly tune from the 1980s anchored the instrument, warm and loping, amid sparse electronic elements. Even in changing technological times, Russell preserved the cello’s organic nature.
Anytime cello mingles with ambient elements, Russell comes to mind. But on “Movement” — the dynamic new release from tinkering duo Wren Cove out this month on DIY label Basement Factory Music — cello is but one color in a palette that also includes tape loops, guitar explorations and even tabla accompanying a raga.
Wren Cove’s guitarist Andrew Cloninger and cellist Melissa Davies have made music together for half a decade. As such, their chemistry allows these 11 tracks to attack and retreat, leaving room to breathe and take on cosmic shapes of their own. Both play the loops, and Cloninger is adept on the synthesizer pads, too.
“Warsaw,” a standout, features cello and guitar sketches, but its sensational performance is a shuffling live drum beat — human percussion always beats the mechanized alternative. Opening tune “Rushbird” finds the sacred space between Led Zeppelin’s “Kashmir” and a shimmering drone.
Wren Cove’s unplugged post-rock recalls groups like Balmorhea: too pop-minded to be academic and too direct to fall into the experimental deep end. This suits the music well.
“Movement,” engineered by Ben Morey, is always within reach, even as the sonics evoke the blur of motion. The humid and baroque “Wills” is led by a swelling cascade of cello, while “Havana” spans the other end of the spectrum with plinking electronics.
“Movement” follows and expands the scope of Wren Cove’s improvised 2022 EP, “Trees.” It also pairs beautifully with the wonder of “This Is How We Walk on the Moon.” The unique blend would’ve made the late Russell proud.
— PATRICK HOSKEN
THE SONIC ALCHEMISTS: DREAM RIVER
Where are we going? And how are we getting there?
These are pertinent questions during the first listen of a new album, especially one of all-original jazz compositions that explicitly evokes a sense of motion and change.
“Dream River,” the debut from jazz combo The Sonic Alchemists, travels wellworn paths from jazz history — the train and the river, journeys searching for freedom and connection — all while bringing plenty that is refreshing and new.
Transformation. It’s right there in the band’s name. The quintet is led by recent Eastman alum and jazz guitarist Eshaan Sood, who draws from his love of movie soundtracks, the blues, Bollywood and Indian classical music. The influences are present throughout, yet integrated into the ensemble’s sound.
The (al)chemistry is there from the opening track, “Mountain Muse,” first with bassist Brendan Nie, then Sood’s guitar joining subtly and Annie Orzen rounding out the sound with rich balance in her piano playing. Sam Scheaffer sets the pace with drums and Ivan Demarjian adds melodic counterpoint to the guitar and piano on tenor sax, soaring throughout.
The album resonates deepest through the interplay of each musician’s contribution to Sood’s storytelling. Each of his compositions have a story at their heart, and Sood’s own story is worth noting: he was born and raised in New Delhi, India and grew up to be a visual artist who wanted to write graphic novels. In 2015, he was in a devastating car accident that left him blind, so he turned to the guitar as his vehicle for expression, which brought him to study at the Eastman School of Music. He’s now based in Brooklyn, but stays connected to Rochester and the musicians who are part of his journey. It’s a connection we get to share as listeners.
— MONA SEGHATOLESLAMI
Where everybody knows your name
BY KELLEN BECK
Under a bright yellow sign and through a purplepainted door on Monroe Avenue sits an unassuming neighborhood bar: The Avenue Pub. The pub celebrated 50 years in September, making it one of Rochester’s oldest gay bars. It has stood strong since the 1970s alongside the 52-year-old Bachelor Forum on University Avenue; a pair of stalwart anchors for the LGBTQIA+ community.
Once upon a time, these two spots were among a dozen or so gay bars in and around downtown Rochester, and now find themselves in a company of just three, along with ROAR, which opened its doors on Culver Road in 2019. The Avenue Pub and Bachelor Forum, both owned by Peter Mohr, are living, breathing evidence of Rochester’s history as a haven for those who identify LGBTQIA+ and continue to be warm, hospitable spaces.
While the shuttering of so many gay bars across the city could be interpreted as a canary’s fatal warning in a slowly suffocating community, it seems to signify the opposite. With so many people and places being so open and welcoming to all people, the need for explicitly queer spaces has waned over the decades.
Again and again, Rochester has
The Avenue Pub celebrates 50 years as a staple in the LGBTQIA+ community.
NIGHTLIFE
been recognized as one of the most welcoming and safest LGBTQIA+ cities in the United States. For multiple years, the Human Rights Campaign has given perfect 100 scores to the local government and a handful of local institutions, including Eastman Kodak and Trillium Health, which was established in 1989 during the AIDS crisis and now specializes in LGBTQIA+ specific health care.
“Rochester has a long history of standing up for social justice and championing the rights of underserved communities,” said Jason Barnecut-Kearns, president and CEO of Trillium Health. “From Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass to our modern-day leaders, Rochester has consistently been a beacon of progressive values.”
In August, amid the regressive political push to roll back rights and protections under the Trump administration, the City of Rochester further solidified its status as a Sanctuary City, codifying protections for LGBTQIA+ communities and other targeted groups.
In every Rochester neighborhood there are pride flags, pro-LGBTQIA+ yard signs and messages of support and inclusion sitting in windows. Businesses like Equal Grounds Coffee House on South Avenue specifically advertise as queer friendly. The Pride Parade and storied ImageOut film festival draw massive crowds annually to celebrate Rochester and beyond. Behind the Memorial Art Gallery in the Neighborhood of the Arts, the Rochester Rainbow Union is a community space for LGBTQIA+ people, housing a sizable stash of clothing for newly transitioning people and the largest queer library collection in New York State, the Lilac Library.
“We have books that literally survived Nazi book burnings, which is quite relevant right now,” said Andrew Moran, president of the Rochester Rainbow Union.
Moran volunteers his time maintaining the space, coordinating with all kinds of groups that utilize their resources and applying for grants to keep the ship afloat, among
other tasks. His day job on top of all that, he said, involves working in HIV vaccine trials. And while Moran, 36, has only been a part of the Rochester Rainbow Union since 2022, he already sees the importance of avoiding stagnation, of stepping aside to let fresher perspectives take charge.
“You have to keep freshening up, and I want to give each generation a chance at leadership,” he said. “People in their 20s look at things differently, and I want to give them a chance to have a say in what the organization looks like.”
That’s the staple of progress. The goalposts keep moving forward — it’s iterative and iterative and iterative.
Decades before purchasing Bachelor Forum and The Avenue Pub, Mohr, 60, was finding his home and community in Rochester, visiting gone-but-not-forgotten gay bars like Club Muther’s and The Liberty in the ‘80s. He grew up in Phelps, a self-described country boy and son of a German father who, back then, thought being gay was a curse. But shortly before he passed at 96, Mohr said his father came to an enlightenment in 2022.
“When I bought The Avenue Pub and he came to the grand opening he said, ‘I didn’t realize you had a family here,’” Mohr said. “It is family, you know? The pub is known as the gay Cheers, where you walk in and everybody knows your name.”
There’s a tremendous amount of effort that goes into that kind of hospitality: nurturing of people and space, a mindset of constant care and love. This doesn’t happen organically. It takes work. It takes the attention and action of countless people to create not just a bar that feels like a safe space, but a city. The history of places like The Avenue Pub is intertwined with the history of Rochester, and its continued existence amidst the changing landscape is vital.
“It’s a reminder that our community has always been here, and will continue to be here, especially at this time when our communities are under attack from the legislative side and from rightwing activists,” Moran said. “Our community has always fought for itself. We have always existed.”
Peter Mohr is the owner of The Avenue Pub and Bachelor Forum.
PHOTO BY MIKE MARTINEZ
PHOTOS BY MIKE MARTINEZ
Ghost signs
BY GEORGE CASSIDY PAYNE
The fog drifts in like a breath held too long. The trees hush. Near the edge of Lake Ontario, a story lingers.
You’re walking the winding trails of Durand Eastman Park. Maybe alone, maybe not. Maybe you’ve heard the tale before, around a bonfire on the beach or whispered over too many Genesee Cream Ales. Or maybe you just feel it, the way the woods go quiet at dusk.
A woman in white, they say, walks these paths. Still searching. Still mourning.
She’s known as the White Lady of Durand, one of Rochester’s most persistent urban legends. Said to be the ghost of a mother whose daughter vanished near the lakeshore in the 1800s, the White Lady never stopped looking. And when she died, locals began spotting her ghostly silhouette in the fog, gliding through wooded gullies and past the crumbling ruins of what once was an elegant dining hall, often mistaken for the remnants of a castle.
The sightings haven’t stopped. Neither has the story. And now, it’s not just campfire lore. It has a sign.
Thanks to Legends & Lore, a national marker program recognizing oral traditions and community myths, the White Lady has earned her place — literally — in Rochester’s historical landscape. A bold red cast-iron sign was installed near the park entrance, placing her alongside other markers across New York that commemorate
BY
Roadside markers for folklore, oral traditions and local myths.
HISTORY
PHOTO
JACOB WALSH
Bigfoot, healing springs, alleged witches and folk icons like John Henry and Ichabod Crane.
Launched in 2015 by the Syracuse-based William G. Pomeroy Foundation, Legends & Lore was created to honor stories that rarely make it into textbooks, but never leave the public imagination. More than 2,800 of these markers have appeared nationwide, about 300 per year, on sites where fact and folklore blur and something deeper takes root.
Unlike traditional historical markers, Legends & Lore signs don’t require dusty archives or notarized documents. Applications are reviewed by professional folklorists who draw from oral histories, newspapers, and community storytelling traditions. The only real requirement? The legend must belong to the place, like the White Lady belongs to Durand.
The office of Irondequoit’s town historian Tim Judd looks like a time capsule — shelves of brittle books and stereoscopic cards, drawers of maps curling at the edges and stacks of manila folders spilling ephemera.
For Judd, the beginning (and end) of folklore is hard to define.
“Folklore is almost always rooted in something real,” he said. “But over time, it becomes harder to trace the original event. Imagination, fear, nostalgia — all of it layers on. Eventually, the facts fade and the meaning grows.”
He offered the example of ancient Sumer.
“Was there a great flood? Probably. But that story became the “Epic of Gilgamesh,” then reappeared in Egyptian mythology, and later in the Hebrew Bible,” he said. “Myths show us how people thought, what mattered to them.”
When it comes to the White Lady, Judd is cautious.
“Will we ever know if she was real? Probably not. There’s no name, no family connections. If she existed, she likely lived deep in the woods,” he said. “The story was probably invented both as entertainment and as a warning: children, don’t wander too far.”
That’s the pattern.
“Something happened,” Judd said. “But stories last not because they’re provable. They last because
they mean something.”
Musicologist and writer Dr. Anna Reguero sees folklore as a cultural glue.
“The benefits of folklore are in community building and in maintaining connections to the places we identify with,” she said. “But there’s a danger, too, in creating cultural memory that leaves people out.”
She sees the same dynamic in the folklore of music history.
“Think of Wagner, a Nazi sympathizer,” she said. “Maybe what we need is folklore that tells the truer side. People layer their imaginations onto stories to fill cultural needs or teach lessons. Sometimes, you even need someone to oppose.”
And of course, music carries its own folklore.
“A certain melody can transport you back to a place and time,” Reguero said. “As a culture, we have our lullabies, our popular songs, tied to stages of life. The same way a ghost story can.”
In Rochester, a city of migration, industry, collapse, renewal and reinvention, folklore helps capture the emotional residue that history books can’t always hold.
That’s where Legends & Lore comes in, giving official acknowledgment to the unofficial past.
The White Lady is just one of hundreds of legends enshrined in red cast iron. Others include the Leatherman, a 19th-century wanderer who walked a 365-mile loop through the Hudson Valley clad entirely in handmade leather; the notorious Loomis Gang, who terrorized central New York; and healing springs once thought to cure the sick.
“We wanted the signs to spark curiosity,” said Ellen McHale, executive director of the New York Folklore Society. “We wanted people to stop, to wonder, to ask questions.”
Not every marker is about hauntings. Some honor traditions of survival.
Take Pinkster, a spring festival brought to New York by Dutch colonists in the 1600s. Enslaved Africans transformed it into their own celebration: one of music,
drumming, oral history and community leadership. Though later suppressed, the festival was revived in the 1970s by folklorists and Black historians. Today it is celebrated again, and efforts are underway to place a Legends & Lore marker on the grounds of the state capitol in Albany.
For McHale, that is where the program moves from quaint to quietly radical.
“These signs don’t just commemorate,” she said. “They correct. They balance the scales. They give voice to the stories that never made it into the official record.”
The Pomeroy Foundation’s founder, Bill Pomeroy, is a leukemia survivor and lifelong history buff who remembers stopping on road trips with his father to read roadside markers. When state programs began to fade, he stepped in to save
foundation supports conventional history projects like Hometown History and the Lafayette Trail. But Legends & Lore hits a different note: it honors oral tradition, superstition, folk knowledge and imagination.
In an era of AI nostalgia and digital deepfakes when even memories feel downloadable, Legends & Lore reminds us that some stories still need to be told aloud, in person, in place, in the presence of someone listening.
Folklore lives between memory and myth. It isn’t static. It shifts with us, reflecting what a community fears, values and refuses to let go. These stories evolve, but they also anchor.
The White Lady of Durand may be just a ghost story. Or she may embody every mother who waited too long, every daughter who didn’t come home, every grief we keep trying to explain.
The markers don’t just preserve stories. They open doors into memory and myth, sparking curiosity and conversations. The markers remind us folklore isn’t buried in the past. It’s alive. It lingers. It haunts.
Because some stories refuse to die — and some ghosts will never let us forget.
Tim Judd, Irondequoit town historian.
PHOTO BY VERONICA VOLK
An p of Pinkster by Winslow Homer. COURTESY METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART
Home base
BY KATHERINE VARGA
When Anthony Vignare saw the Artists Unlimited production of “Peter Pan” as a young teen, he was in awe of the people literally soaring — in harnesses — across the stage.
“It was really cool, all the flying,” he said.
Not long after, those actors who caused his imagination to take flight would become his friends. While Anthony loved music, his family struggled to find an artistic outlet where his autism would be welcomed rather than seen as a barrier. They found a creative home in Artists Unlimited.
Founded in 2002 by Ed Schram, Artists Unlimited casts actors with a broad range of abilities — ranging from Down syndrome and blindness to autism and mobility challenges — to star in its high-energy, family friendly musicals. They specialize in spotlighting actors with developmental disabilities who may otherwise not be considered for roles in musicals. The group also puts on free annual choral and dance concerts through their “Inspire” program.
For artistic director Carl Wager, who has directed shows for the group since 2004, high quality is a top priority. He introduces new elements gradually so as not to overwhelm the actors, but by opening night, each show has full production value: sets, costumes, wigs,
Performers of all abilities find a place onstage with Artists Unlimited.
make-up, props, lights and, in the case of “Peter Pan,” a full flying system led by internationally recognized Broadway flight choreographer Paul Rubin, who is now on the board of directors.
An average show cast is 70 actors, many of whom are Disney enthusiasts. Previous shows include “Mary Poppins,” “Shrek,” and “The Little Mermaid.” Next up is a new production of the first show the organization produced, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” running November 7-15 at the Greece Central Performing Arts Center.
The show’s lead knows the musical well. Jordan Smith of Hilton, who is playing Joseph, debuted with the group in 2012 for their 10th anniversary staging of the Bible-inspired Andrew Lloyd Webber crowdpleaser. He was plucked out of his high school music class by the choir teacher (Wager), who was impressed by Smith’s singing voice. Upon learning Smith was autistic, Wager encouraged him to consider Artists Unlimited and cast him as one of Joseph’s brothers.
More than a decade later, Smith describes Artists Unlimited as a “big happy extended family.” He remembers attending a rehearsal on the anniversary of his father’s death, and when he explained why he was feeling off that day, the cast immediately reacted.
“I found myself in the middle of one of the biggest group hugs I’d ever seen,” he said.
The group helped Smith discover a love for acting, and he went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in theater at SUNY Brockport, with plans to pursue film and voice acting opportunities.
Another Artists Unlimited actor who has branched out beyond the group is Race Eberhardt, the star of “Strait Undercover,” a feature length action comedy filmed in Rochester and one of few movies led by an actor with Down syndrome.
For many members, though, Artists Unlimited remains their primary outlet for acting.
Now 25, Vignare works parttime in food service at Webster Thomas High School and enjoys playing flag football in his free time. But he has stuck with theater, his growth reflected through increasingly big roles.
“When I was a kid, I used to get nervous,” he said, “but now that I’m an adult I don’t, really.”
Last season was his favorite role to date: playing LeFou in “Beauty and the Beast,” for which he especially enjoyed donning a ponytail wig and doing silly antics with Gaston. Coming up, he’ll be sharing the role of narrator in “Joseph.”
Anthony’s mother, Vickie Vignare, appreciates that the group also offers opportunities for family members and community members to contribute — each show is powered by up to 150 volunteers, most of whom don’t have disabilities, working behind
the scenes and backstage. An ensemble of high school-aged volunteers perform onstage to provide support if needed during performances, without pulling audiences out of the world of the show.
Vickie has volunteered for years, including constructing costumes, helping with quick changes, and now co-leading the hair and make-up department.
“Everybody feels like they belong here,” she said.
Consistency is helpful in any theater artist’s journey, but even more so when navigating disabilities, and finding rehearsal spaces in Rochester can be a challenge for theater makers. Thanks to ongoing fundraising efforts from the board, Artists Unlimited was able to secure a permanent rehearsal space in September — a renovated former dance studio at Studio 44 on Dewey Avenue.
In the future, the group dreams of having their own performance venue as well. Until then, they remain focused on what makes Artists Unlimited a home: one another.
Smith is grateful to the friends he’s made over the years, and the unwavering, selfless support the actors have for each other.
“It’s a type of love and support that seems to be very scarce in today’s world,” he said.
“We’re just trying to change that.” rocartistsunlimited. com
Artists Unlimited members practice for their upcoming show “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.”
PHOTO BY NATASHA KAISER
The cast and crew of Artists Unlimited at the end of a dance practice at their new rehearsal studio.
PHOTO BY NATASHA KAISER
Indigenous
voices meet the light through this annual celebration of Native values.
Rise and shine
CULTURE
BY ALYSSA KOH
Sunrise greets the attendees of Indigenous Peoples Day with a grounding warmth. Those present at the early morning ceremony, which opens the day with music and dancing around a sacred white pine atop Cobbs Hill Park, are integral to establishing the welcoming energy that embraces all throughout the annual event. Thus, last year’s sunrise ceremony, hastily moved under the water towers, was electric to committee co-founder Kathy Castania.
“We had no contingency,” she said. “It was rainy, it was cold, it was windy, it was the worst. All these people start showing up. It filled that space. And it was so moving, really. It was one of our most beautiful ceremonies because it was a true testament to the level of commitment and caring and dedication that is out there.”
The volunteer committee, established in 2017, formed with the intent to replace Columbus Day festivities in the City of Rochester. Its members, many of whom are not Indigenous, joined to help reclaim space for a group staggering under centuries of suppression and abuse.
Film producer Courtney Shouse joined the team through a racial justice coalition, looking to further her learning while interviewing Haudenosaunee families. SUNY Geneseo employee Cheyenne DeMarco grew up with Indigenous history woven into her schooling, but witnesses limited awareness among students today. To maximize access to visibility,
each piece of the festival’s programming, from wampum displays to Native blues performers, centers Indigenous values and voices.
For those with minimal access to Indigenous culture, the festival serves as a touchstone to jump-start critical engagement.
“To be welcomed and to take part in a thanks-giving ceremony, where we say, ‘now our minds are one,’ and to hear a language that people attempted to erase, even though I don’t understand it, is maybe one of the most powerful things for me, personally,” said Kristy Liddell, who grew up in rural Arkansas and attended as part of the forestmanaging Friends of Washington Grove.
In return, the boon from creating a dedicated community has repeatedly softened the challenges that come with crafting the event.
The first sunrise ceremony in 2022 intertwined with a beach cleanup on Lake Ontario, and Onodowagan educator Patricia Corcoran searched for a low-budget, sustainable way to serve donated coffee in a planning crunch after the event was officially recognized by the City Council only a few months prior.
“I went to Flower City Arts, and I said, if you have a box full of mugs lying around that people have not claimed, could we have them?” she said. “They made us 50 mugs, (which) all disappeared because we had 200 people.”
The 2025 festival on Monday, October 13, supported by a private grant from the Greater Rochester Health Foundation, is primed to follow the event’s growing trajectory, even in the shadow of a federal administration actively hindering support for diversity programming. Thus, from sunrise to sunset at Lake Riley Lodge, the committee invites all to bask in the glow of song, dance and ceremony affirming Indigenous resilience — now claiming space to shine. indigenouspeoplesdayrocny.org
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FINAL ROUND VOTING NOW OPEN!
Estate sales provide memory and an ephemeral sense of home.
A museum of life
BY FLORENCE CADELLA
Something all-consuming happens when you walk into someone’s house for the first time; quick evaluations that steer what path you’ll take through the house. Is there a pile of shoes by the door, encouraging you to take yours off? Laughter, cooking smells and loud music flowing from the kitchen? These tiny details come together, even make you wonder what your life would be like if you lived there, too.
But what happens when all of the little bits and pieces that make a house a ‘home’ aren’t there any more? Are empty walls still reflective of their former inhabitants?
A large part of the estate and antiquities industry revolves around what happens after a person leaves their home. These are the folks that come in and pick up the pieces, helping usher the former residents into their next chapter.
“People have already come to terms with the moment they’re in,” said Greg Marra, owner of Flour City Estate Sales. “(We) try to usher a person’s belongings on to the next person that will love them, instead of into a dumpster.”
Flour City will sell anything from glassware and record collections, to half-used bottles of Windex. If it’s in good condition and has a use, it’ll usually sell.
As one of the largest estate sale companies in Rochester, the 25-person Flour City team has hosted over 500 estate sales since 2015. Since childhood, Marra has had an affinity for buying
Scenes from a recent Flour City Estates sale in Webster. PHOTOS BY FLORENCE CADELLA
and reselling items, but when he started Flour City in 2016 he didn’t know what to expect. Certainly not that he would be able to make it his full-time gig within a year.
A large, unspoken part of Marra’s job is functioning as a grief counselor to folks who are trying to let go of a space, and the objects that have filled it — sometimes because of death, sometimes because of downsizing, but always because there is no other choice.
His team steps into someone’s home — basically a museum of their life — and strives to treat it with respect. Before a sale even starts, Flour City ensures the family has thoroughly sorted through the house’s contents and said their goodbyes. Watching a team of professionals sift through your sacred space isn’t easy, so having a barrier makes the process smoother for all parties involved.
“Clients are trusting us in
their homes; they don’t know me personally but are still giving me a key,” said Marra. “You can’t take that lightly. You have to make sure everyone is treating the home and family with respect. It’s a privilege to be walking through this house and viewing [a slice of their] life.”
A fair amount of folks come to estate sales just to look around, especially the sales at historic East Avenue homes, where people are curious to see inside. Those sort of exquisite interior details are where Jim Wolff and Christina Jones, co-owners of Historic Houseparts, thrive.
The 20,000-square foot South Avenue storefront and its outhouses are filled to the brim with rare antique lighting, fixtures, doors and more. A museum in its own right, the store is packed with the meticulously organized finishing touches that a homeowner might need to complete a restoration or bring
a little bit of antique flare to a more modern home. The duo has salvaged more than 100 buildings in the more than 25 years they’ve owned the store, including convents being converted into senior housing, homes beyond repair, barns and warehouses. They’ve rescued wood paneling made from trees that have gone extinct, glass that isn’t made any more and light fixtures with early patent numbers that are long since out of production.
“We are in the business of rescuing treasures,” said Wolff. “(A home being salvaged is a lot like) an organ donor — just because a person is dying, doesn’t mean that some parts of them can’t go on to help someone else. (The) same with homes.”
Wolff can remember where every item in the store came from, and he loves sharing that knowledge with customers. Not everyone wants to know the story
behind a chandelier, but when he’s able to educate someone on the origins of an item he always will.
“Placing value on a door or a stained glass window certainly isn’t easy, but looking for value is,” he said, adding that they pride themselves on selling not the most expensive thing, but the right thing to the right person.
That’s what home finishing and furnishing is all about — the satisfaction of finding the perfect touch that brings a little bit of whimsy, nostalgia or intention into a space. A home is a reflection of the truest self, filled with quiet and loud details. Shopping for secondhand goods, whether that’s at an estate sale, a thrift store or an intensely curated antique center is, in essence, seeking a tiny bit of magic to take from someone else’s ‘museum’ and bring into your own.
Salvaged items at Historic Houseparts. PHOTOS BY FLORENCE CARDELLA
inaugural Soundtrax Film Music Festival unites two of Rochester’s artistic pillars.
Keeping score
BY PATRICK HOSKEN PATRICK@ROCCITYMAG.COM
the perfect place to do a festival,” Watters said.
Bocko agreed.
The Soundtrax finale is a live-to-picture performance of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 2” by the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. PHOTO PROVIDED
“My contribution was, I think I know how to go out and get some funding to get this thing started,” he said. “It’s a combination of having the thought and the inspiration to do it, and then turning that into reality is always the hard part.”
But not impossible. More than five years after their initial conversation, the Soundtrax Film Music Festival — billed as the first of its kind in North America — will run October 16-18, featuring a murderer’s row of visiting performers, lecturers and emerging ideas.
Marquee guests include Terence Blanchard, Spike Lee’s preferred composer; Carter Burwell, best known for scoring nearly every Coen brothers film; John Corigliano, whose work has landed him both a Pulitzer Prize and an Academy Award; and Roger Sayer, whose thunderous organ playing invigorated Hans Zimmer’s score to Christopher Nolan’s “Interstellar.”
Some — like Blanchard, Corigliano and Sayer — will come to perform. Others like Burwell, composers Conrad Pope and Nan Schwartz and rare instruments expert Bruno Price will speak about their experiences in the industry. Watters and Bocko, who co-direct the festival, said these free sessions with composers help demystify the process for music students as well as film fans with keen ears.
“I can hear five seconds of a score and know that that’s Carter Burwell. Why is that?” Watters said. “So much of the fascination is, what was the discussion like between you and the director that led to that music? What did he tell you that made you then pick those notes and those colors? These are things that are never discussed.”
At least, not in North America. Europe is a different story, boasting many celebrations of film music, Watters said. It’s not hard to get a composer on a plane to Poland or Belgium for a festival that celebrates their music. But to sell the same for Rochester, the Soundtrax team talked up the natural beauty of the area as well as the city’s continued love and
support of the arts.
It paid off. Blanchard’s performance is made up of excerpts of several of his film scores, performed by him and his band, The E-Collective, along with the local Gateways Festival Orchestra. (His recent work on Lee’s “BlacKkKlansman” and “Da 5 Bloods” earned him an Oscar nod for each.) This presentation is unique, Watters said, and shows how a festival allows Eastman to program special events that go deeper than traditional concerts.
For example, Jeff Beal, the namesake of the school’s Beal Institute, composed music for Ed Harris’ Jackson Pollock biopic as well as the HBO shows “Carnivàle” and “Rome” and the Netflix series “House of Cards.” He also happens to be good friends with Corigliano, Bocko said.
In that case, why not screen “The Red Violin,” the 1998 film that landed Corigliano his Oscar, with a live score? The music is much more complex than a typical production, but the pull of Eastman faculty — and the sheer talent of both instructors and students — allowed them to arrange such a special show.
“It’s not performed that often because the violin part is so darn hard,” he continued. “We have a wonderful violinist here on the faculty, YooJin Jang, who’s the soloist for that. We had all these pieces that just lined up. If you’re looking for a good reason for doing [the festival] in Rochester, that’s a really good example.”
The demands of a changing industry also necessitate that Soundtrax reckon with them. Watters and Bocko have programmed panels on video-game composition, emerging immersive audio technologies from giants like Dolby and Apple and even a session dedicated to artificial intelligence in music production.
It is an academic institution, after all. But Bocko said the goal is to keep the message digestible.
“I’ve been to my share of mindnumbing technical conferences,” he said, “and so one of our rules right from the start was, if anyone tries
to put up a slide that shows an equation, we’re going to boo them off the stage.”
The Soundtrax finale, fittingly, is a live-to-picture performance of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 2” by the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. It further cements the collaborative nature of the fest, Watters said, and highlights not just the art itself but also the robust arts community in Rochester.
On top of that, he said, there is nothing quite like forming an emotional bond with a film. That relationship often begins with the music.
“I think that’s what’s fun about going to a film music concert: it reminds you of when you saw it,” Watters said. “Music is the best way to bring you back into that initial experience.” soundtrax.org
“Frankenstein”
FILM
BY HENRY O'BRIEN
It takes Mary Shelley just two lines of the first chapter in her classic 1818 Gothic novel, “Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus,” to mention the titular mad doctor’s father. The book itself doesn’t focus heavily on the relationship between Victor Frankenstein and his father, but Shelley took influence from her father, who was himself a famous novelist.
Fatherhood is key to understanding Guillermo del Toro’s recent 2025 film adaptation of Shelley’s novel, which premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in September. The movie itself, which stars Oscar Isaac as The Mad Scientist and Jacob Elordi as The Creature, is faithful to the original text, but hones in on themes of abandonment and neglect of family.
The film’s 149-minute runtime could be interpreted as a notable flaw, but the extended first half of the movie, told from Victor’s perspective, details much of his paternal neglect and the cycles that perpetuate themselves with that neglect. Victor’s father (played by Charles Dance of “Game of Thrones” fame, a prime example of an uncaring paternal figure) shows his firstborn very little love, leading to a strained relationship between the mad scientist and his creature.
The real tragedy of the film, though, comes from the presence, or lack thereof, of Mia Goth. The British actor plays
Additional picks from the Toronto Film Festival:
“No Other Choice”
If there’s any film that serves as the perfect companion piece to South Korean director Park Chan-wook’s latest work (other of his movies include 2003’s “Oldboy” and 2016’s “The Handmaiden”), it would be the 2019 Academy Award winner for Best Picture, “Parasite.” The two films from Korean masters Park and Bong Joon-ho display capitalism’s coercive effect on the human psyche. In “No Other Choice,” Park shows the comedic and depressing lengths one man will go to get his job back, even if it includes murder. The film blends humor and violence that will leave audiences on the edge of their seats. “NO OTHER CHOICE” OPENS IN SELECT THEATERS ON CHRISTMAS, NATIONWIDE IN JANUARY.
“Dead Man’s Wire”
an entrancing dual performance of Victor’s mother and her sister inlaw, the latter of whom is a subject of affection. Goth’s command of her characters makes both of their deaths excruciating; a symbolic reckoning of when a father figure shows a lack of empathy or concern for their loved ones.
The truly expert performance is undeniably Elordi as The Creature. Elordi, who launched to fame with his struggling alpha male persona on the HBO show “Euphoria,” brings the right amount of pathos, while still holding an ability to unnerve and capture the audience’s undivided attention. Elordi equally understands how to play the initial innocence and subsequent increased intelligence of The Creature.
While Elordi’s performance serves as the highlight of “Frankenstein,” the movie’s visuals are undoubtedly the lowlight. Generally, del Toro has incredibly high standards for the aesthetic of his pictures (the
underwater shots in “The Shape of Water” or the Gothic detail of “Crimson Peak,” for instance). But the CGI in “Frankenstein” comes up laughably short, especially in a scene with wolves where the vicious animals look egregiously fake. The extreme positives and negatives from del Toro and his actors create an uneven experience, and the runtime doesn’t help in that regard. His adaptation of “Frankenstein” has enough of a personal touch to be worthy of some merit — he still has the storytelling chops that tackle the darkness inside man’s hearts, highlighted by the father-and-son relationship between Isaac and Elordi’s characters — but if del Toro wants to keep the attention of audiences, he will have to craft more imaginative visual worlds. In that sense, “Frankenstein” was terrifyingly drab.
The director behind “Good Will Hunting,” Gus van Sant, returns with a lean and mean thriller about the 1977 kidnapping by Tony Kiritsis (Bill Skarsgard) of his bank mortgager (Dacre Montgomery). With a lovely supporting performance from Colman Domingo, “Dead Man’s Wire” captures the foibles of a sensationalist, capitalist society; it’s good to have van Sant back on the big screen. THEATRICAL RELEASE DATE TBD.
“Arco”
This directorial debut from French animator Ugo Bienvenu is a true revelation. In a film akin to Studio Ghibli and “E.T. The Extra Terrestrial,” Bienvenu boldly asks, “what if rainbows are time-travelers?” and wonderfully threads a needle of the dire future of climate change with the power of children. In a year where Pixar and Disney films haven’t garnered unanimous praise, Bienvenu’s film, which has Natalie Portman as an executive producer, could pull a “Flow” and win Best Animated Film at the Oscars. “ARCO” OPENS IN THEATERS ON NOVEMBER 14.
Oscar Isaac stars in "Frankensein" from director Guillermo del Toro.
PHOTO COURTESY NETFLIX
The Dish
FOOD AND BEV NEWS, GOSSIP, AND GATHERINGS CURATED BY LEAH STACY
WHET YOUR PALATE
Frost and Foundry, a husband-andwife-owned shop that serves up Perry’s Ice Cream in cones, shakes and bowls, has opened at 1245 Park Avenue around the corner from Montgomery Court. At 184 Monroe Avenue, Pastrymancer satisfies both a sweet and savory tooth with items like Reuben rolls and jam puffs with Sun Butter drizzle. Rochester’s first Arabic coffee shop, Layali, 942 Jefferson Road, will expand downtown with another location on Park Avenue near Baker Street Bakery. And The Spirit Room may be closing, but some of the same crew seems to be working on a new project nearby: Biltmore Bar and Lounge, 47 State Street, labels itself the “newest cocktail bar/restaurant and music venue in the tradition of The Spirit Room.” Chef Cruz Nieves has opened the long-awaited Shell Restaurant on Pleasant Street to much fanfare; this is his brick and mortar answer to the roving pop-up series he’s been running since he left Rella. And now open in Candandaigua is smü cafe & market, a woman-owned, wellnessfocused community hub offering a variety of drinks and smoothie bowls. The building that once housed Ken’s Pizza Corner and Brownstein’s Bagel Bakery (which was still an operating kitchen for weekend pickup and wholesale) was destroyed in a massive fire in early September. The bakery has not announced whether it will continue.
FOR THE LOCAVORES
Seven downtown restaurants are now offering meals and a 10% discount to certain Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) beneficiaries, thanks to the little-known state Restaurant Meals Program and the work of Councilmember Mitch Gruber. For eligibility: otda.ny.gov/programs/rmp.
Actually, do call it a comeback — Black Button Distilling will remain in business, thanks to an investment from Blackstar Company, an affiliate
of the Lexington, Kentucky-based Blackstar Spirits. The company’s nine full-time employees will stay on, including master distiller and founder Jason Barrett, and Black Button will continue to distill, bottle and sell spirits.
New York Kitchen has released an exclusive 2024 Riesling made by acclaimed winemaker Nova Cadamatre and team; a portion of all sales supports the organization’s educational programming. nykitchen.com
FOOD FÊTES
Food Fight, the Rochester chef throwdown series that began at Jackrabbit Club, 40 Anderson Avenue last fall, has returned for year two. After a kickoff on September 28 featuring Nevin Price-Meader of Restaurant Good Luck and Christiana Northrop of Backwoods, the second round between Sarah Farmer of Pearson’s and Marko Kelly of Shell takes place on Sunday, October 12. Free and open to the public. Doors at 8 p.m., competition at 9 p.m.
For Bitter For Worse, a local woman-owned NA brand with backing from Grow NY and Launch NY, will host a speakeasy-themed grand opening on Thursday, October 23. There will be a selfie station in the bootlegger’s vault, charcuterie, zero proof drinks by AltBar, ribbon cutting, and a burlesque show. instagram.com/forbitterforworse
The Genesee Country Village & Museum has a packed lineup for October, including their 19thcentury dinners October 10-11 and October 31-November 1. In addition to a historically inspired seven-course dinner served family-style in one of the village’s charming buildings, guests can play parlor games (Oct. 10-11) or learn about fortune-telling and Halloween traditions (Oct. 31Nov. 1). gcv.org
Fright Night
BY S.J. AUSTIN & J. REYNOLDS
for a diplomat
37. Elevs.
41. Club with 13 Premier League titles
44. Clear as _____
45. One of 4,256 for Charlie Hustle
47. Element between platinum and mercury on the periodic table
48. Lights on vape pens
50. Socially active clothing brand
52. Soap-on-_____
53. Tavern offering
54. ** Disney [91-Across] in which Bette Midler portrays a witch
57. Latin word in a Christmas carol
58. “Taken” star Liam
60. Gas up outside a diner?
61. Barista’s tool
63. Blue Jays, on a scoreboard
64. Colorado ski resort
65. Did some K.P.
67. Sis, for example
68. Fivers
69. Verbal cringe
71. Sommeliers’ assets—or subjects
73. _____ Picchu
75. Bert who played the Cowardly Lion
77. “Tiny” Dickensian character
79. Subway entrances
81. Worshiper of Jah
84. Genre for Fall Out Boy
85. NBA notables Korver and Lowry
87. Fighting
88. Lean against
89. Certain Snap
91. ** Parody that spoofed “Scream” and “I Know What You Did Last Summer”—or the theme of this puzzle
94. Conclusion
95. How a trucker might go up a steep hill
96. Bird known as a diver in the U.K.
97. Hydrocarbon suffixes
98. 1962 Bond flick
99. Make scents?
101. Highways and byways
104. British student, sometimes
106. Semiaquatic salamander
107. Umbrage
109. Gives a damn
110. 1983 title role for Barbra Streisand
112. Place to display merit badges
114. Trunk
118. ** Tim Burton [91-Across] that won an
Academy Award for Best Makeup
123. ** 1978 [91-Across] that was Jamie Lee Curtis’s debut
126. Tavern offerings
127. One feeling the weight of the world?
128. Spooky-sounding canal
129. 103-Down agent
130. Vessel raced in the Olympics since 1936
131. Solar system rings
132. Bus. letter heading
133. Hook’s boatswain
PUZZLE
DOWN
1. Scoop water out of a boat
2. Mysterious mark
3. “ish”
4. Canonized
5. Prefix with -center
6. Scooby-_____
7. Parts of speech
8. As well
9. “_____ Butterfly,” 1915 silent film
10. General on a menu
11. Hit the lottery, say
12. What you need the aux cord to control
13. Goes fast
14. Epidemic not mentioned by Ronald Reagan until 1985
15. “Don’t leave”
16. Relative of a cedar
17. Sign (a deal)
18. Lao Tzu’s way
24. James of “Rebel Without a Cause”
26. Ireland’s second-best-selling musical artist, after U2
29. Yank’s foe
32. Raptor’s claw
33. Baldwin who has hosted SNL 17 times
35. Group of reliable voters
36. Severus’s boss
38. ** Bill Murray classic that is not exactly a [91-Across], but go with us here
39. Way to sneak, with “on”
40. Drives
41. Capital of Guam, old-style
42. Parts to play
43. ** [91-Across] with the tagline “heads will roll”
44. _____ on TV!
46. “Smooth Operator” singer
49. 1965 science-fiction novel that has sold 20 million copies
51. PC keys that may be hit in a panic
54. Put an edge on
55. Contents of a prepster’s closet
56. Rating that Roger Ebert gave “Zoolander”
57. Actress Jessica
59. Fortune teller
62. Targets
65. Drummer/vocalist Collins
66. Shiva, to Hindus
68. Light bulb moments
70. Eyelid inflammation
72. Attacks, in 38-Down
74. First Nations people numbering over 350,000
75. Wound
76. _____ honorable (formal apology in medieval France)
78. Prefix with -zoic
80. School founded by Henry VI
82. 1,000 kilograms
83. Choice words?
85. New Zealander, familiarly
86. Put points on the board
88. Vertical part of a stair
90. The Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe and Everything
92. Soon, poetically
93. Handbag maker Wang
96. Asset for a heavyweight
98. Renounces
100. Designate for development
102. Evaluate
103. Subset of the DOJ
105. Presidential action that literally means “I forbid”
108. Secondary instrument for many jazz saxophone players
