You've only got seven, but there's something to do eight days a week.
Monday. Why not start the week large and in charge? Just take the mic on karaoke night at The Flipside Bar & Grill and prove once and for all that Isabella Rossellini's version of "Blue Velvet" can actually be topped.
The Bop Shop offers free jazz concerts in the Village Gate Atrium. Some truly amazing stuff has gone down here, and the music is frequently and gloriously out there.
Finish the night all pretty in pink while the Bug Jar's Manic Mondays DJs spin '80s pop hits 'til closing time. Relax; don't do it.
Tuesday. There's always a big band dance going on at the Stardust Ballroom, so you can cut you some rug to various big-and-brassy acts like the Jack Allen Big Band. And if you've got two left feet (and neither of 'em can dance) you can hook up with the Rochester Swing Dance Network, who frequently put on swing dances (complete with pre-dance crash course) at various church halls, Harmony House, and Eisenhart Auditorium at RochesterMuseum and ScienceCenter.
Bail outta the ballroom and head over to The Golden Link Folk Singing Society's Sing-a-Round at 12 Corners Presbyterian Church.
And once you're tired of rowing Michael's boat ashore, you can get down at Dinosaur Bar-B-Que with a half-rack of ribs in front of you while the blues band du jour rocks the joint.
Wednesday. There's always something going on at Kilbourn Hall. Eastman School of Music faculty --- as well as students studying jazz, classical, and all points in between --- put on shows of extraordinary variety and sparkle. They love what they do and you will, too. The majority of these showcases are free.
Head over to Java's after the show for some blood of the bean and find yourself surrounded by the buzz of conjecture and philosophy that comes from too much coffee, the right amount of the Pixies, and kids in '70s rock-concert jerseys. Entertainment here is sporadic, but when it happens it can go from free-form jazz to hip-hop to finger-snapping spoken word.
Or you could catch a non-googolplex, independent flick at the Little Theatre. Then you can argue esoterically about the plot over groovy desserts while some of the area's best jazz musicians bop in the Little Theatre Café.
Thursday. You could hit the performance hall at Hochstein School of Music, where it seems weekly the faculty flexes its might.
Thursday is the weekend's warm-up act, so a few more folks might actually hit the streets with you. The Bug Jar tries its damndest to get things rolling earlier on Thursdays with national bands of every conceivable alternative rock genre or Rochester bands of equal vision and viciousness. On any given night of the week you will see touring bands playing here who frequently outgrow the joint by the time they return. For a good many Rochester bands --- whether on the stage or a barstool --- this is home.
Milestones isRochester's original grab-bag club. On most nights you can find just about anything on the stage entertaining just about anything in the crowd.
Or hey, if you want tried-and-true and you want it blue, you can catch the Beale Street Blues Band as they hold court weekly at The Clarissa Room, located in the same spot as the now-long-gone legendary Pythodd Lounge. Here's a swank joint that rides the timeless blues/jazz fence nicely and nightly.
During our brief summer, you can see big-name acts for free in the Party In The Park series at HighFalls. The HighFalls entertainment district is also a good spot to stomp around, with a number of nightclubs, restaurants, and bars. Spring 2006 will mark the grand opening of Saddle Ridge in HighFalls, a multi-venue complex anchored by a country bar. This place will have everything... even bowling.
Friday. Friday night has an early launch time --- especially if you're a drinker --- at joints like Johnny's Irish Pub, where a band (from local acoustic to international electric) kicks off happy hour at 5 p.m., only to be followed by another at 9 p.m. If you're not careful, happy hour can quickly turn into happy hours, and eventually unhappy morning.
Then you can roll up on The Roost and line-dance to a contempo-country DJ. This line-dance thing is an endless source of fascination for me. It's like the Madison, only louder.
Back downtown to Montage Live for everything from local metal to international jazz in a supper-club setting.
Then it's Monty's Krown, the place up-and-coming bands --- mostly in the punk vein --- sharpen their teeth. You can round out the night at ClubNV, where world-class DJs steam the windows opaque.
Saturday. This is when it all happens, and it's best to budget your time. Nearly every joint has a band; the bars in the Alexander Street corridor like Mex, the Alexander Street Pub, and Daisy Dukes are teeming; WaterStreetMusic Hall no doubt has a concert rolling; and a band that may have arrived via space shuttle is squonking at A\V at the Public Market.
Step into Bullwinkle's and step back in time with this eclectic joint's cinematic cabaret. This may derail your all-nightclub-hopping jaunt, as you may not wanna leave. It's hauntingly romantic like no place you've ever seen.
If a large, live, and loud dose of rock is what you need to scratch your rock 'n' roll itch, then you can jet over to either the Penny Arcade, the California Brew Haus, or SteelMusic Hall. Heads will bang, guitars will kerrang, and ears will bleed at these clubs forever.
Live Latin music blurs backsides and shakes Tapas into the wee hours. Lotsa good-lookin' sophisticates dressed in black and loosened up on sangria.
Richmond's rocks on this night only and frequently packs out. You'll definitely see someone or hear something you like.
But if you wanna see it all, you gotta stick 'n' move like the boxers do. Before you know it, it's Sunday morning and your ears are ringing.
Sunday. I've given up feeling guilty for Saturday night years ago; I ain't repenting for nothing. Still, I likes the quiet. Several churches, like ChristChurch, 141 East Avenue, have begun offering music over and above their typical Sunday liturgy. Beautiful acoustics, and you don't even have to kneel.
Milestones has Celtic music on Sundays nice and early so the pint-impact will be long gone by Monday a.m.
Follow instructions and repeat until desired effect is reached...
But that's only a sampling of what Rochester has to offer at night. Consult City's weekly music listings for events, or check the list below for a few more places to start.
Acoustic
Abundance Co-op
62 Marshall Street
454-COOP, www.abundance.coop
Blue Dahlia Coffee Shop
94 S Main Street, Canandaigua
394-0280, www.bluedahliacoffee.com
Boulder Coffee Co.
100 Alexander Street
454-7140, www.bouldercoffeeco.com
Coffee Cabana
123 S Union, Spencerport
352-9899
Daily Perks Coffee House
389 Gregory Street
271-2340, www.dailyperkscoffeehouse.com
Earthtones Coffeehouse
1217 Bay Road, Webster
671-3060, www.earthtonescoffee.com
Fairport Village Coffee & Wine Bar
6 N Main Street, Fairport
377-5880, www.fairportvillagecoffee.com
Java Junction
56 Main Street, Brockport
637-9330, www.javajunction.com
Northfield Coffee Co.
1790 Penfield Road, Penfield
381-0630
O'Loughlin's
5980 St Paul Boulevard
266-7047
On The Rocks NY Grill
1551 Mt Hope Avenue
271-7777
Paradigm Café
3118 E Henrietta Road
334-9520, www.paradigmcafe.com
Shamrock Jack's
4554 Culver Road
323-9310, www.shamrockjack.com
Sips Coffeehouse & Cafe
149 Pattonwood Drive
323-9360
SPoT Coffee
200 East Avenue
613-4600, www.spotcoffee.com
Starry Nites Café
696 University Avenue
271-2630, www.starrynitescafe.com
Willow Inn
428 Manitou Road, Hilton
392-3489
875 E Main Street
222-5000, www.rbtl.org
Blue Cross Arena
100 Exchange Boulevard
232-1900, www.bluecrossarena.com
DarienLake Performing ArtsCenter
9993 Allegheny Road, Darien Center
716-599-4641, www.darienlakeconcerts.com
Harro East Ballroom
155 Chestnut Street
454-0230, www.harroeastballroom.com
Main Street Armory
900 E Main Street
232-3221, www.rochesterarmory.com
Marvin Sands-Constellation Brands Performing ArtsCenter
4355 Lakeshore Drive, Canandaigua
454-2100, www.rbtl.org
Smith Opera House
82 Seneca Street, Geneva
315-781-5483, www.thesmith.org
689 South Avenue
271-4650, www.bealestreetcafe.com
ClarissaRoom
293 Clarissa Street
325-5350
Dinosaur Bar-B-Que
99 Court Street
325-7090, www.dinosaurbarbque.com
The Landing Bar & Grille
30 Main Street, Fairport
425-7490
Merchant Street Smokehouse
48 Merchant Street, Brockport
637-6020, www.merchantstreetsmokehouse.com
Rab's Woodshed
4440 Lake Avenue
663-4610
Smokin' Joe's
425 Lyell Avenue
647-1540
60 Gibbs Street
274-1100, www.rochester.edu/eastman
Geneva on the Lake
1001 Lochland Road, Geneva
800-3-GENEVA, www.genevaonthelake.com
Hochstein Performance Hall
50 N Plymouth Avenue
454-4596, www.hochstein.org
Kilbourn Hall
26 Gibbs Street
274-1100, www.rochester.edu/eastman
336 East Avenue
325-4441
The Jukebox
5435 W Ridge Road, Spencerport
352-4505
The Roost
4853 W Henrietta Road
321-1170, www.roostcountry.com
359 East Avenue
232-5630
Blue Room
293 Alexander Street
232-2230
ClubNV
123 Liberty Pole Way
454-7230
Coyote Joe's
384 East Avenue
232-7170
Karma
355 East Avenue
454-7010
Liquor Room
154 St Paul Street
454-7750
Norton's Pub
1730 Goodman Street
266-3570
Pulse
1509 Scottsville Road
436-7573, www.feelmypulse.com
SoHo East
336 East Avenue
262-2060
8 Public Market
423-0320, www.avspace.org
Bullwinkle's Café
627 Lake Avenue
458-5530
Eastman Lounge
109 East Avenue
232-6000
Flat Iron Café
561 State Street
454-4830
Flipside Bar & Grill
2001 E Main Street
288-3930
German House Theatre
315 Gregory Street
303-2234, www.thegermanhouse.com
Glengarry Grill
4400 Nine Mile Point Road, Fairport
377-7250
Harmony House
58 E Main Street, Webster
265-9540
Honeoye Pub
125 E Lake Road
229-4535
Java's
18 Gibbs Street
232-4820, www.javascafe.com
Johnny's Irish Pub
1382 Culver Road
224-0990, www.johnnysirishpub.com
Milestones
170 East Avenue
325-6490, www.milestonesmusicroom.com
Montage Live
50 Chestnut Plaza
232-1520, www.montagegrille.com
South Bristol Cultural Center
5323 Seneca Point Road, Canandaigua
396-5950, www.southbristolculturalcenter.org
135 W Commercial Street, ERochester
248-8120
Bop Shop
274 N Goodman Street
271-3354, www.bopshop.com
Clark House
600 Whalen Road, Penfield
385-3700
The Grill at Strathallan
550 East Avenue
461-5010, www.strathallan.com
Horizons at the Lodge at Woodcliff
Route 96, Perinton
381-4000, www.woodclifflodge.com
Little Theatre Café
240 East Avenue
258-0412, www.little-theatre.com
Riffs
330 East Avenue
325-2010
Stardust Ballroom
41 Backus Street
428-6769
Tapas 177
177 St Paul Street
262-2090, www.tapas177.com
290 Alexander Street
262-3820
Argyle Grill at Eagle Vale
4400 Nine Mile Point Road, Fairport
377-2452, www.eaglevale.com
Bug Jar
219 Monroe Avenue
454-2966, www.bugjar.com
Café Jericho
985 Ebner Dive, Webster
288-6217, www.cafejericho.com
California Brew Haus
402 W Ridge Road
621-1480
Curley's Saloon
511 E Ridge Road
266-9559
Elixir
938 S Clinton Avenue
244-5350
Jam Room
3873 Buffalo Road
594-1212
Jimmy Mac's
104 Platt Street
232-5230
The Keg
315 Gregory Street
473-5070, www.kegsportsbar.com
Keys Martini & Piano Bar/Club Keys
233 Mill Street
232-KEYS, www.keyspianobar.com
Leadbelly Landing
4776 Lake Avenue
663-3210
McGhan's
11 Main Street, Victor
924-3660
Millennium
2235 Empire Boulevard, Webster
671-5359
Monty's Krown
875 Monroe Avenue
271-7050, www.montyskrown.com
Monty's Korner
355 East Avenue
263-7650, www.montyskorner.com
Otter Lodge
1776 Monroe Avenue
442-8790
Panorama Nightclub
730 Elmgrove Road
247-2190
Penny Arcade
4785 Lake Avenue
621-7625, www.thepennyarcade.com
Pelican's Nest
566 River Street
663-5910, www.pelicansnestrestaurant.com
Pineapple Jack's
507 Spencerport Road
247-5225, www.pineapplejacks.com
Richmond's
21 Richmond Street
454-4612
Short's
35 N Main Street, Fairport
388-0136
Six Pockets
716 E Ridge Road
266-1440, www.sixpockets.com
Slammers Bar & Grill
4650 Dewey Avenue
663-4455
Spenders
1600 Lyell Avenue
458-1040, www.newspenders.com
Spikes
655 Monroe Avenue
242-4880
Spy Bar
139 State Street
750-3575
SteelMusic Hall
1509 Scottsville Road
436-7573, www.steelmusichall.com
Stooges
511 E Ridge Road
266-9559
Taylor's
3300 Monroe Avenue
381-3000, www.taylorsdisco.com
Tiki Bob's
60 Browns Race
325-2430
WaterStreetMusic Hall
204 N Water Street
325-5600, www.waterstreetmusic.com
Whiskey
315 Alexander Street
232-7550
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