This just in from the Chamber …
American League of Bicyclists names Rochester “Bicycle Friendly Community”
- Trails put city among elite group -
ROCHESTER, Minn. (May 25, 2010) – Rochester has sped away with a “Bicycle Friendly Community” award from the American League of Bicyclists. The city is one of only 21 communities nationwide to be honored by the organization and among just five west of the Mississippi River.
Plaquemarket
Rochester Magazine wins 12 SPJ awards
“Oh my God, you guys, I seriously do not have a speech prepared whatsoever,” said Christina Aguilera after winning her first Grammy. “I’m shaking right now.”
We felt exactly the same way on May 21.
Rochester Magazine took home a dozen awards–including four firsts–at the annual Society of Professional Journalists Page One Awards, held in St. Paul on May 21. And we got to hear featured speaker David Simon (writer of HBO’s “The Wire”). All awards were in the Magazine category:
Best issue: First Place
Steve Lange
Jamie Fitzgerald
Megan Malugani
Rochester Magazine
“Warrior from the Sky,” January, 2009
Best profile story: First Place
Steve Lange
Rochester Magazine
“Warrior from the Sky”
Best feature story: First Place
Megan Malugani
Rochester Magazine
“A Day in the Life of Courtroom One”
Best department: First Place
Steve Lange
Rochester Magazine
“10 (or so) Questions”
Best feature design: Second Place
Jamie Fitzgerald and Ken Klotzbach
Rochester Magazine
“Silicon Prairie”
Best feature story: Third Place
Steve Lange
Rochester Magazine
“Summer School”
Best column: Third Place
Steve Lange
Rochester Magazine
“Editor’s Note”
Best department: Third Place
Megan Malugani
Rochester Magazine
“Catching up with …”
Best service package: Third Place
Anna Stevens
Megan Malugani
Steve Lange
Rochester Magazine
“Outdoor Adventure Guide”
Best illustration: Third Place
Rick Dahl
Rochester Magazine
“A Day in the Life of Courtroom One”
Best cover: Third Place
Jamie Fitzgerald
Rochester Magazine
“Warrior from the Sky”
Best page design: Third Place
Jamie Fitzgerald
Rochester Magazine
“Game On”
The 2010 Down by the Riverside concert series has been released. What do you think?
NIGHT RANGER   Sunday, July 11, 2010 @ 7:00 PM in Mayo Park www.nightranger.com/ …an impressive string of `80s landmark hits including the monster hit power ballad “Sister Christian” and the similarly-slowed tempos of “Sentimental Street”, “Goodbye”, and “When You Close Your Eyes,” to the guitar-driven radio anthems “(You Can Still) Rock in America”, “Sing Me Away”, and “Don’t Tell Me You Love Me”. |
Sponsored By Think Mutual Bank KRPR Opener: Jukes of Hazzard
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ROCHESTER CONCERT BAND & CHOIR  Sunday, July 18, 2010 @ 7:00 PM in Mayo Park riversideconcerts.com/ensembles/index.aspx?tab=0 Rochester’s own 55-piece symphonic wind ensemble and 50-voice concert choir, under the direction of Chuck Blattner, will perform in this annual event celebrating the rich and diverse talent of our community. Selections to include,”Victory At Sea!”, “Bayou Breakdown” and “The Sound of Music”. |
Sponsored By Think Mutual Bank KNXR
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JOSH THOMPSON  Sunday, July 25, 2010 @ 7:00 PM in Mayo Park www.joshthompsonofficial.com/ Working-class country has found its most authentic spokesman in a generation. Thompson’s songwriting reflects both the gritty realities of blue-collar life and the beer-fueled release of the Friday-night honky-tonk. His top 20 single, “Beer On The Table,” is one of the most down-to-earth working man’s anthems in years. |
Sponsored By Think Mutual Bank kwwk Opener: Lost Highway
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MOJO & THE BAYOU GYPSIES  Sunday, August 1, 2010 @ 7:00 PM in Mayo Park www.redhotmojo.com/ This rousing group of Zydeco and Cajun performers rock the house ala Luzianne! This is foot-stompin’ bayou boogie! Put on your best dancin’ shoes, your finest Mardi Gras duds, and catch a lifetime memory with Mojo and the Bayou Gypsies…”the mos’ fun y’all ever gonna have wit’ y’all’s clothes on!” |
Sponsored By Think Mutual Bank KROC-AM Opener: Key Lime Special
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JOHNNY WINTER  Sunday, August 8, 2010 @ 7:00 PM in Mayo Park www.johnnywinter.net/ One of the most respected singers and influential guitar players in the blues/rock genre, Johnny Winter moves seamlessly from primal country blues to authentic Texas funk to scorching electric slide guitar. In 2003, Winter was ranked 74th in Rolling Stone magazine list of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time”. |
Sponsored By Think Mutual Bank KRPR Opener: Annie Mack
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STARSHIP STARRING MICKEY THOMAS  Sunday, August 15, 2010 @ 7:00 PM in Mayo Park www.mickeythomas.com/ …featuring material from Mickey’s tenure with Elvin Bishop (”Fooled Around and Fell In Love”), the hits of Jefferson Airplane (”Somebody to Love”, “White Rabbit”), Jefferson Starship (”Jane”, “Find Your Way Back”, “Stranger”) and Starship (”We Built This City”, “Sara”, “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now”). |
Sponsored By Think Mutual Bank Soft Rock Y105 Opener: Spindrift
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THE GUESS WHO  Sunday, August 22, 2010 @ 7:00 PM in Mayo Park www.theguesswhocafe.com/ The Guess Who virtually owned the pop charts in the late `60s/early `70s with a string of genre-defining hits including “Shakin’ All Over”, “These Eyes”, “Laughing”, “Undun”, “No Time”, “American Woman”, “No Sugar Tonight”, “Hand Me Down World”, “Share The Land”, “Albert Flasher”, “Rain Dance”, “Star Baby”, “Clap For The Wolfman” and “Dancin’ Fool”. More » |
here it is:
“The Church of St. John the Evangelist will host the 7th annual St. John’s Block Party on Friday, July 9, and Saturday, July 10, in downtown Rochester. This non-profit, community event is open to folks of all ages and is packed with music, entertainment, food, friends and fellowship.
The Block Party festivities will begin at 5 p.m. on Friday, July 9. Four bands will rock the main stage, including the Friday night headliner the Gear Daddies with Martin Zellar. Opening for the Gear Daddies is a returning favorite, Trampled by Turtles. Friday evening gets started with Nathan Miller and the Unstoppable Co. followed by The Irresistibles Sweet Soul Show featuring Mick Sterling.
On Saturday, July 10, gates open at noon, with the traditional two-stage format from years past. Headlining on Saturday is the Chicago-based Freddy Jones Band. Filling out Saturday’s lineup will be Solid Gold, Retribution Gospel Choir, Romantica, Roma di Luna, Belfast Cowboys (a Van Morrison tribute band), Unknown Prophets, The Idle Hands, and Rogue Valley.
New this year is a Battle of the Bands contest, which will take place on the main stage from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday. Five bands will compete for the coveted grand prize: a full day of recording at the legendary Pachyderm Recording Studio in Cannon Falls, Minn. (www.pachydermstudio.com).
Family entertainment will take place Saturday afternoon from noon to 4 p.m. Two stages will have family-oriented entertainment, including music by singer/songwriter Hans Mayer; music by Wiggle, Jiggle, Jam; ethnic dance by the Happy Hips; as well as magicians, face painting, balloon animals and more. Admission is free for children under the age of 12 with a paid adult.
Tickets will be available at a reduced price of just $20 each for Friday or Saturday (or $35 for both days) from Saturday, June 5, through Friday, July 2. Tickets the week of the event and at the gate will be sold for $25 each or $45 for both days. Children under the age of 12 receive free admission with a paid adult.
More than 400 volunteers from the Church of St. John help to make the St. John’s Block Party a reality — all in support of the mission to be a welcoming and hospitable community. Proceeds totaling more than $11,000 from last July’s successful community event have been distributed to 12 organizations throughout Rochester. In the six years of St. John’s Block Party history, more than $80,000 has been donated to organizations in need.
For more information, contact the Church of St. John at 507-288-7372, or check out the St. John’s Block Party Web site (www.sjblockparty.org).”
Here’s an email, apparently meant for the Rochester Magazine in New York:
“Regarding your reporting on the Pallet Express fire on Lyell Avenue in Rochester, I wanted to see if you might be interested in speaking with the former CEO of one of the world’s largest wood pallet companies. Bob Moore, who is currently CEO of a plastic pallet company, would be happy to speak with you about the fire safety concerns with wood pallets, why they post such risks and what can be done to make them safer.
I will give you a call to discuss.
Regards,
Jim”
That slam poem sounded a lot better with my beatboxing to back it up. Maybe I’ll put an audio file on the blog.
Anyhoo.
I’ll be one of the judges for the Slam Poetry Contest at the Art Center tomorrow night (April 2). They’re still looking for poets. Here’s the info:
First Friday of EVERY OTHER MONTH
$5 cover • 18+ • cash bar from Sontes restaurant
9 pm galleries open • 9:30 pm live performance • 11: 30 pm – 1 am DJ
The Rochester Art Center is home to Flux, a music, art and performance happening featuring house DJ Scott Stulen (aka Black Lacquer) along with monthly guest artists. On the first Friday of every other month a new music, art or dance performer will open the evening followed by music spun by house and guest DJs. Enjoy the views of downtown while meeting with friends and experiencing exciting new music and performances.
April 2: OPEN MICROPHONE POETRY SLAM
$5 cover for poets and audience
FREE admission for Rochester Art Centerand Fuel Rochester members
Doors open & night-of registration begins at 9 pm
Slam begins at 9:30 pm
DJ Joel Nehring from 11:30 pm – 1 am
Celebrate National Poetry Month at Flux and share your poetic talents. Contestants will be judged by both the audience and a panel of local experts for a chance to win one of many great prize packages including the opportunity to perform during RDA’s Thursdays on First & 3rd.
A poetry slam is like rap or hip-hop but kinder (usually). A poetry slam is a competitive event, like a spelling bee on steroids. Poets have three-minutes to perform their own original work. Slam poets must be good or bad on their own. And there are judges, like “American Idol,” only more (slightly) civil. There’s no smoking (though some poets may have before), people with berets are frowned on, and the audience doesn’t snap its fingers. Plus, the audience gets to vote by boo, hiss, cheer, or duck call on everyone and everything – from poets, judges, and the MC.
Participants will have three minutes on the microphone. Reserved entries are limited to 15 poets. Night-of registration will be taken on a first come-first serve basis. To pre-register, submit a sample of your poetry to: nanderson@rochesterartcenter.org
Here’s a note from a buddy …
“Don’t forget that the Honor Flight will be returning to the Rochester Airport on Saturday night at about 9:45 pm.
There’s a big party at the airport to welcome the WWII vets back from their trip. Come on down and bring the family, show your support for the heroes.
Come early and get a good spot. Parking is free!
For an upcoming issue, we’ll be running short profiles of a few area impersonators. We’ve got an Elvis. We’ve got a Wyatt Earp. Any other suggestions for someone who performs regularly, in character, for shows?
Rochester Magazine took part in the P-B’s “Create an Ad” contest, in which a classroom of kids submit an ad for one specific business–in this case us–and then judges choose the winners, each of which is published in a special P-B section. Our class was from Triton Middle School, a very cool group of kids with a cool teacher, Joe Hansen, and the coolest chalkboard I’ve ever seen. It was a computer touch-screen, and I was able to do things very much like you’d see pundits do when they’re breaking down presidential elections. I wasted a lot of time circling things with my finger like I was John Madden or someone. Anyway, we got some very cool ads, and I’m just glad I didn’t have to make the final call. Here, though, was the final call:
Pat DiNizio, the longtime lead singer for the Smithereens, will be playing an acoustic show in a setting almost as intimate as his recent string of in-your-house concerts, called “Living Room Concerts”–Goonie’s Comedy Club.
DiNizio cofounded the Smithereens in 1980, and the power pop/Brit rock sound made them a staple on the 1980s and early 90s college music charts, with singles like “Only a Memory” and “A Girl Like You” and “Yesterday Girl.” His recent solo setlists have included a mix of Smithereens, solo stuff, and songs from his Buddy Holly cover CD.
The show is a fundraiser for Legal Assistance of Olmsted County. Call 507-287-2036 or check out www.LAOCMN.org for info. Ticket prices had not yet been announced. But tell them you saw it in Rochester Magazine. Because this is where you saw it first. In Rochester Magazine. These aren’t the droids you’re looking for.
