winter guide 2014

CITYNEWSPAPER'S

WinterGuide

2014

Hot-chocolate round-up

Outdoor social groups

14 can't-miss winter events

2 CITY WINTER GUIDE 2014

CITY 3rochestercitynewspaper.com

On the cover: Photo illustration by Matt DeTurck

Publishers: William and Mary Anna TowlerAsst. to the publishers: Matt Walsh

Editorial department [email protected] editor: Eric Rezsnyak Contributing writers: Kathy Laluk, Trevor Lewis, Adam Lubitow, Colin McCoy, Rebecca Rafferty Art department [email protected] director/production manager: Matt DeTurckDesigners: Aubrey Berardini, Mark Chamberlin

Advertising department [email protected] operations: Matt Walsh New sales development: Betsy MatthewsSales Representatives: Nancy Burkhardt, Tom Decker, Christine Kubarycz, Bill Towler

Operations/Circulation [email protected] manager: Katherine StathisDistribution: Andy DiCiaccio, David Riccioni, Northstar Delivery, Wolfe News

Winter Guide is published by WMT Publications, Inc. Copyright by WMT Publications Inc., 2014 - all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, photocopying, recording or by any information storage retrieval system without permission of the copyright owner.

FOOD & DRINK ............................. 4

OUTDOORS .................................. 8

EVENTS ..................................... 12

RECREATION .............................. 16

BOOKS ...................................... 18

I am writing this introduction roughly a week after the Polar Vortex proved that, when it comes to winter in Rochester, Mother Nature means business. Will those few days in early January be the worst we have to suffer through this season? Or are we due for more arctic blasts and umpteen feet of snow? Only Punxsutawney Phil (and his hairdresser) knows for sure. Regardless of the weather, you are a Rochesterian. You are hardy. You must commit to making the most out of the next three months. Look around you: there are too many fabulous winter opportunities. You can’t let them pass you by. Consider snowshoeing, for instance. This is an easy-to-pick-up, relatively cheap outdoor activity, and there are ample venues in the Greater Rochester area. Don’t have any snowshoes yourself? You can even rent the equipment by the day. Check page 16 for the scoop. If you want something more social, we have an article on group outdoor activities on page 8. At least one involves consuming mass quantities of alcohol. Or you can always grab your friends and check out one of our 14 events for winter 2014 (page 12). If you’re looking for something a little warmer, a little sweeter, turn to our hot chocolate round-up on page 4. Even if you hate the cold you can’t deny that winter provides a great excuse for drinking your weight in hot chocolate. Of course, if you must stay indoors, you might as well read a book. We spoke to some of Rochester’s literati for their winter-read suggestions. What’s on your book shelf this winter?

[ INTRODUCTION ] BY ERIC REZSNYAK

2014

Highs and lows

WinterGuide

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Winter brings with it a mixed bag of emotions. Annoyance is one, like when you have to read all the snow-related complaints on Facebook and Twitter. Seriously people, we live in Rochester. You should be used to this by now. But winter also inspires joy, such as the joy we experience when indulging in a cup of hot chocolate. What better feeling is there in the winter than coming in from the freezing cold to a nice cup of the sweet, heavenly creamy drink? I’m not talking about the pouches you buy at the store with the mini-marshmallows. No, I’m talking about serious hot chocolate, the barista-made drinks. I went to several coffee shops in the Greater Rochester to sample some of the best cocoa our city has to offer. Below find my take on the hot chocolates created by eight local venues. Obviously I couldn’t make it to every spot. If I missed a place you thought should be included, please tell us about it in the comments section of this article at rochestercitynewspaper.com.

New Roots Coffeehouse1273 LONG POND ROAD, GREECE |

453-8828 | NEWROOTSCOFFEEHOUSE.COM

New Roots is a fairly new coffee shop in Greece. If you decide to check it out, keep an eye out for the entrance as it is kind of tough to see. As for the hot chocolate, it’s definitely the best value on the list, coming in at under $2 for a good-sized cup. I guess the simplest way to describe the taste would be a cup of Swiss Miss that’s been injecting itself with taste steroids. Very basic, but very tasty.

Starry Nites Café696 UNIVERSITY AVE. | 271-2630 |

STARRYNITESCAFE.COM

Starry Nites arguably has the best atmosphere of any place on this list. It’s a cozy, relaxing shop with a giant mural of Van Gogh’s “Starry Night” on the wall of the lounge. It’s an ideal spot to sit and think things over. I got the chocolate chai, which is I’m considering a really fancy hot

chocolate. Honestly, I had to resist the urge to stick my pinky out while drinking it. It has a ridiculously smooth milk chocolate finish to it, and there’s this layer of froth on top that adds an extra dimension to the flavor. Bear in mind that chai has a spicy zip to it that can be divisive. But if you like your flavors a bit bold, give this drink a try. The chocolate chai is to hot chocolate what Godiva is to regular chocolates.

Dark Horse Coffee274 N. GOODMAN ST. (IN VILLAGE GATE) |

730-8035 | DARKHORSECOFFEE.NET

Yes, this coffee shop is literally next door to the City Newspaper offices, and as such it’s a fairly obvious inclusion. But the hot chocolate here is an absolute treasure. Anyone who watches “Seinfeld” will surely remember the episode where Jerry talks up the “racially harmonious” black and white cookie. Well, the Dark Horse Hot Chocolate is that and more. A blend of white chocolate syrup and regular hot chocolate, you get the best of both worlds in this one. Instead of looking to the cookie, look to the Dark Horse Hot Chocolate.

Java’s Café16 GIBBS ST. | 232-4820 | JAVASCAFE.COM

I’d never been to this coffeehouse — a favorite of Eastman School of Music students, Jazz Fest patrons, and RPO concertgoers — and apparently this fact makes me a poor Rochestarian. But at least I’m making an effort now. I had the Aztec Mocha, which is a hot chocolate made with espresso, cinnamon, and chilies. The taste is unique, a hot chocolate with a good kick of spice to it. While it was tasty, it was difficult to reconcile with my OCD. A chili pepper floats atop this hot chocolate, and it just kind of bobs up and down like a buoy while you’re drinking it. Mine even still had the leaves on it, and all I could picturin was Wilson from “Castaway.” A delicious, yet melancholy experience.

Sweet Disposition

[ FOOD & DRINK ] BY TREVOR LEWIS [ PHOTOS ] BY MARK CHAMBERLIN AND MATT DETURCK

Taste testing some of the best hot chocolates in Rochester

continues on page 6

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I’d heard that Italian hot chocolate is out of this world, so I had to include an Italian café in this round-up. Kudos to you if you can walk out of this place without a box full of pastries. Seriously, there are bakery cases just filled with temptation. Luckily I have no will and left with some tiramisu bars. Here the hot chocolate is called ciccolaato, and even for the seasoned hot-chocolate consumer this is a truly different experience. It’s pretty thick, and you quickly understand why it’s referred to as “drinking chocolate.” Like solid chocolate, the flavor is quite rich. If you prefer lighter fare this may not be for you, but man oh man, is it delicious. You may be put off when you see the seemingly sparing amount you’re given, but trust me, you’re not meant to drink a full mug of this chocolaty goodness.

Leaf & Bean Coffee Co.3240 CHILI AVE. | 889-8270 | LEAFAND-

BEANCOFFEE.COM

At Leaf & Bean I tried the salted caramel hot chocolate. Salted caramel is definitely the trendy hot chocolate variety of the moment. At this coffee shop you’ll get whip cream and salt on top, but once you get to the hot chocolate itself it tastes pretty much like traditional cocoa — at least at first. It wasn’t until I got halfway done when the true flavor kicked in. The last half of the drink had that salty-sweet mix you’d expect from an actual salted caramel, and this is a drink any purveyor of fine chocolates must try.

Java Junction56 MAIN ST., BROCKPORT | 637-9330

Being a SUNY Brockport graduate, this was shockingly my first time stepping foot in the coffee shop everyone in school worships. The hot chocolate was definitely on the darker side of the spectrum — more bitter than sweet — but it was a welcome change of pace from the mostly lighter hot chocolates I’d had. Much like New Roots, it’s cheap and it’s good. What more do you need?

Café Macchiato123 S. UNION ST., SPENCERPORT

| 617-4912

I don’t remember the last time I stepped foot in Spencerport before taking a trip to Café Macchiato, but this place made me wish I came more often. The hot chocolate was just the bare bones variety, but there was something special about it. It was by far the sweetest tasting one in the roundup. It kind of reminded me of when you have Cadbury chocolate and realize how much better it is than Hershey’s.

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What's your favorite place inRochester for hot chocolate?Comment on this article at

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During the bleak Rochester winter, it can be tempting to go into hibernation mode — grab the warmest down comforter you own, pop open a box of bon-bons, and curl up for a Netflix marathon. However, staying active during the winter is important, not only for your physical health, but your mental health as well. Studies have shown that regular physical activity during the winter can help fight the effects of seasonal depression. If there’s one thing we know, it’s that Rochester can be particularly depressing in the seemingly never-ending snowy months. But why confine yourself to a sweaty gym when there are plenty of fun, social, outdoor activities all around the Rochester area? This article takes a look at some of these alternative activities and is intended for those seeking something different than the usual winter fare. Perhaps you don’t ski, or maybe you’re a little squeamish about ice skates ever since Will Ferrell’s “Blades of Glory.” Just bear in mind that this is by no means a comprehensive guide to outdoor opportunities in Rochester, just a starting point. If you have other ideas on how to stay in shape and still be social during the winter, leave them in the comments section of this article on rochestercitynewspaper.com.

If you’re like me, then your running consistency takes a real dip during the wintertime. There is just something about running on a treadmill that is especially

torturous; sweating profusely as your face flushes and you choke on stale air. Why put up with this drudgery, when you could run in the Snow Cheap Winter Trail Series (yellowjacketracing.com/fleet-feet-snow-cheap-race-series)? Sponsored by YellowJacket Racing and Fleet Feet Sports, this event takes place every-other Wednesday night at 7:15 p.m. in Cobbs Hill Park, and is based around nighttime races. (The final race takes place on March 5.) The Snow Cheap series encompasses all levels of commitment and skill. The races are chip timed for the especially competitive, but there are plenty of people who participate more socially. “Essentially, everybody just comes out to play in the woods,” says event organizer Ellen Brenner-Boutillier. The races take place at night, so headlamps are required, and they take place in all weather conditions (snow shoes are donned for especially snowy conditions). The race series has 250 to 300 participants every year, with 200 or so people taking part in each individual race. Individual races cost $12, or you can pay $50 for the whole six-race series. Not only does this offer a great opportunity to get those endorphins flowing, but it’s also a great way to get out and meet fellow runners. “It’s a really economical and fun way to remain fit during the wintertime,” says Brenner, who has been taking part in Snow Cheap Trails for several years, and who has met several friends through the series.

If the social aspect of a running club is what appeals to you, then you might want to check out the more raucous group, the Flour City Hash House Harriers. Described on its website (flourcityhhh.com) as a “drinking club with a running problem,” this group combines running with vulgarity and alcoholic beverages. According to club senior member Marcus Vendittuoli, the activity of “hashing” actually dates back to the Revolutionary War days when British expatriates would get together and go running to sweat off their weekend hangovers. Afterward, they would turn in at the local hash house for some cheap food (also called “hash”) and some pints…to replenish the alcohol they had just sweated out. Today, hashing has evolved into a more structured game, where runners are separated into two groups, the “hares” and the “hounds.” The hares start first, creating a course using biodegradable household items like flour, baking soda, and toilet paper while the hounds chase after them and try to keep after the trail. Along the way there are mandatory stops where participants have to stop and chug a beer. The Hash House Harriers meet up for runs every Sunday during the winter, and they always encourage new people, deemed “virgins” in club lingo, to come out and join. “We love having virgins, mostly because we love to see the shock and awe on

Good cold fun

[ OUTDOORS ] BY COLIN MCCOY

Get some exercise – and get social – with these winter activities

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their faces when they see us in our glory” says Vendittuoli. Aside from the drinking, this glory includes innuendo-inspired nicknames, raucous vulgar chants, and plenty of playful banter between members. In fact, at the end of each hash, members engage in a post-hash ritual where they sing songs and take turns levying ridiculous accusations against each other in attempt to get each other to drink more. “People are there to have fun; it’s a fun-loving atmosphere and it provides a chance to get away from the drone reality of your job,” says Vendittouli. “I like it because it makes running fun.”

If you prefer to relive the glory days of gym class, where your biggest responsibility was kicking a red rubber ball as hard as you could, then be sure to check out outdoor kickball this winter. That’s right — outdoor kickball. In the winter. Known colloquially as “winterball,” winter kickball takes place outside even if there’s a foot of snow on the ground. “Playing in the snow is a lot of fun. People are diving all over the place, it’s harder to kick, the ball gets covered with snow so it’s harder to throw,” says Ryan Kimball, founder of the Kickball League of Rochester (kickball-rochester.com). “To me, it’s one of my favorite seasons, because the playing field is more leveled.” While KLOR’s winterball league is already underway, it’s never too early to start thinking about getting a team together for next year. Alternatively, NACKA Kickball (nackakickball.com) is hosting the PAWSome Winter Challenge Charity Kickball Tournament on January 25 as part of its annual fundraiser for animal wellbeing group PAWS of Rochester. The tournament will be held outdoors at Camp Eastman Park and will start at 9 a.m. regardless of the weather conditions. For more information, including registration procedures and specific rules, visit NACKA’s facebook page.

If you’re looking for something on the less-strenuous end of the spectrum and like exploring, then consider geocaching this winter. If you’re not already familiar with the activity, geocaching can be described as a kind of outdoor Easter egg

Get some exercise – and get social – with these winter activities

continues on page 10

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hunt. Someone hides a small package, known as “cache,” in some location (usually a park), and then uploads the GPS coordinates for that cache to the international geocaching website geocaching.com. People can then download the coordinates to their GPS device and go out searching. While the contents of caches vary, they usually contain small trinkets or mementos of a previous cacher. You are welcome to take these items, but only if you leave something in return. As Kurt Devlin, one of the administrators for the Rochester Geocaching website (georoc.org) describes it, “Geocaching is a self-pollinating community.” With geocaching it’s not the destination, but the journey that’s rewarding. As Devlin explains, geocaching is really about getting out and exploring new areas. “It takes you to some beautiful locations, locations that you may not have known about before,” he says. “You may drive by a park for years without paying any attention to it, but then you’ll go and find a cache there and have a new appreciation.” Devlin has been caching since 2007 and has found more than 2,200 caches. With more than 1,700 active caches in Monroe County alone, there are plenty of opportunities for exploration. And with ever-increasing smartphone technology, geocaching is more accessible than ever. Geocaching by Groundspeak is the official app of geocaching.com, but there are several other top-rated apps for geocaching, such as Geosphere or C:geo, which is a free app for Android devices.

Orienteering is similar to geocaching, combining hiking, running, and creative problem solving in a real-time setting. Participants are given a map with a series of points, called controls, which they need to log in order to complete the course. Participants must therefore “orientate” themselves constantly, navigating the course from control to control.

Orienteering caters to all skill levels, whether you’re in it for the workout or you’re just out to have fun. As Laurie Hunt, president of the Rochester Orienteering Club (roc.us.orienteering.org) points out, “We have highly competitive athletes and also people who come with their babies on their back packs.” The Rochester Orienteering Club hosts events at several parks around Monroe County, including Mendon Ponds, Durand Eastman, and Genesee Valley parks. Those interested in getting involved should visit the organization website and look at the schedule get more information about specific locations and dates. No matter the skill level, the only objective to orienteering it so collect all of the controls, so it doesn’t matter how fast or in what manner you do so. Part of the fun of orienteering is that participants get to plot their own courses. You could go for the more conservative, roundabout path to a control, or you could go direct and bushwhack through dense undergrowth. After each course, members get together to compare strategies, talk about controls, and fraternize with one another. “When you talk to people about a shared experience you get a real connection,” Hunt says. “What can be better than that?” Certainly not Netflix. Maybe bon-bons.

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ART Pop Art by Eduardo PaolozziBy mid-winter, Rochester tends to feel like nothing but a vast expanse of gray and white, and we all start to need a little more color in our lives. Happily, you can easily remedy this by checking out the Memorial Art Gallery’s exhibit on Scottish artist Eduardo Paolozzi, often credited as a founder of the Pop Art style. His 1970 portfolio, “General Dynamic F.U.N.,” is a collection of silkscreen prints and photolithographs centered around the artist’s major obsessions of technology and pop culture, from Liz Taylor to Mickey Mouse and comic books. The exhibit will be on display in the Lockhart Gallery starting January 31 and continue through May 4. The MAG is located at 500 University Ave., open Wednesdays through Sundays, and regular admission costs $5-$12. Find further information and gallery hours at mag.rochester.edu.

SPECIAL EVENT ZooBrrrewIf you’re anything like me, it’s been far too long since your last visit to the zoo. Correct that oversight by heading out to the Seneca Park Zoo’s ZooBrrrew, the winter edition of its popular summer ZooBrew fundraiser event. The evening will feature live music, “Around the World”-themed hors d’oeuvres and dessert stations (including fire pits for s’mores), and a cash bar serving a selection of seasonal beers and wines. ZooBrrrew will be held Friday, February 7, 5-8:30 p.m. Tickets cost $25-$30, are only for those 21 and over, and grant admission to the zoo along with a pass to get you into a summer ZooBrew later on this year. The zoo is located at 2222 St. Paul St. Visit senecaparkzoo.org for details and a listing of the complete menu.

SPECIAL EVENT Battledish: RochesterThe local chapter of the international food contest, Battledish, will pit six area chefs against one another in culinary competition. Announced contestants include chefs from Roam Cafe, Dorado, Cafe Cibon, Just Juice 4 Life, and the Blu Wolf Bistro. Each chef will present a dish and cocktail pairing for judging, with the winning dish earning its creator the title “King of Battledish.” Think of it as “Top Chef ” in your own backyard. The event will be held at multiple restaurants along Park Avenue on Saturday, February 8, 2-6 p.m. Ticket packages range from $40 to $125, and admission-only tickets are priced at $15, with sample versions of each chef ’s dish and paired cocktail available for $5 each. Full event details and ticket information can be found at dishcrawl.com.

ART Handmade Valentines at Genesee Center for the ArtsRemember back in elementary school, when Valentine’s Day meant stuffing tiny cards into the construction-paper

mailboxes taped to the fronts of your classmates’ desks? And waiting for the inevitable crying when someone realized that they’d been skipped over? Good times. Feel like you’re back in grade school again (hopefully without the tears) as the Genesee Center for the Arts (713 Monroe Ave.) opens up its paper lab on Saturday, February 8, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. to allow anyone who wishes to come in and make their own handmade valentines. Best of all, the event is totally free and open to all ages. Check geneseearts.org for more information.

FESTIVALLakeside Winter CelebrationThe 30th Annual Lakeside Winter Celebration transforms Ontario Beach Park into a destination for winter-themed family fun. The event will be held this year on Saturday, February 8, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sunday, February 9, noon-4 p.m. The list of events includes a chili cook-off, dog-sledding demonstration, a wine festival, snow-sculpture contests, and more. The popular Polar Plunge, now in its 14th year of letting Rochesterians freeze their butts off in the name of raising funds for the Special Olympics, will be held on Sunday, along with “Frostbiters”

14 for 2014

[ PREVIEW ] BY ADAM LUBITOW

Can’t-miss events taking place this winter

Yes, Rochester winters can often seem endless, but City is here to help you make it through these dark times with a selection of 14 can’t-miss events from the first quarter of 2014. Did we miss something especially exciting on your personal calendar? Add it to the comments section of this article at rochestercitynewspaper.com.

Eduardo Paolozzi's pop art will show at the Memorial Art Gallery this winter.PHOTO PROVIDED

Check out the animals and grab some frosty beers at the annual ZooBrrrew event in February. PHOTO BY KELLI O'BRIEN


sailboat racing and a winter hike at Turning Point Park. Various merchants in Charlotte will also be offering discounts during the event. You can check out a full schedule of events at cityofrochester.gov.

MUSICRPO Plays “Singin’ in the Rain”Keep the Valentine’s festivities going when guest conductor Peter Bay transforms the Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre into the most lavish movie house around, leading the RPO in live accompaniment to the classic film “Singin’ in the Rain.” Starring Gene Kelly, Donald O’Connor, and Debbie Reynolds, the beloved movie focuses on the birth of talkies, delivering spectacular dance, romance, and comedy in what’s widely considered the greatest movie musical of all time. This is a chance to see the film as it was meant to be seen, and is a killer date night option, folks. The performances will take place Friday and Saturday, February 14 and 15, at 8 p.m., and tickets range from $15 to $92. The theater is located on Gibbs Street. For more information visit rpo.org.

FESTIVALNew York Ice Wine FestivalIce wine is basically the nectar of the gods, so it’s only natural that this heavenly beverage should merit its own festival. The 6th Annual New York Ice Wine and Culinary Festival at Casa Larga Vineyards (2287 Turk Hill Road, Fairport) focuses on the New York State-produced wines, with food tastings, live music, ice-carving demonstrations, tours of the winery, and of course, sweet, sweet libations. The Ice Wine Festival will be held Saturday, February 15, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Tickets are on sale now for $65. Visit casalarga.com for more information.

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This year the Polar Plunge into Lake Ontario will take place on Sunday, February 9, as part of the Lakeside Winter Celebration. PHOTO BY MATT DETURCK

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Girl On Fire, you may want to check out the Winter Cam Classic Archery Tournament at the PAC Center on the MCC campus. It’s $40 if you wish to participate (proceeds from the event benefit the Catch a Dream Foundation), but admission is free to spectators. The games begin on Friday, February 21, and continue through Sunday, February 23. For complete details, visit wintercamclassic.com.

COMEDYJohn Oliver at RIT FreezeFestPerhaps best known for his work as a lead correspondent on “The Daily Show” (he also charmed fans when he filled in as host during Jon Stewart’s absence early last year) as well as his recurring role on the popular TV show, “Community,” British comedian John Oliver will bring his wry brand of political satire to Rochester when he headlines RIT’s annual FreezeFest celebration. Oliver will perform standup comedy on Saturday, February 22, at 8 p.m. at the Gordon Field House. Tickets are $15 for RIT students, and $35 for the general public. Find full details and information about other FreezeFest

events — it runs February 21-23 — at campuslife.rit.edu/freezefest.

THEATER“American Idiot” Green Day’s Tony- and Grammy-winning rock opera, “American Idiot,” will have a one-night-only run at the Auditorium Theatre on Thursday, February 27, at 7:30 p.m. The acclaimed musical blends Green Day’s popular music with the moving story of three lifelong friends leaving the safety of suburbia to chase their big-city dreams. Following the show, at 10:30 p.m., local theater company Method Machine will be hosting “St. Jimmy’s Cabaret,” featuring performers from “Idiot,” at RAPA’s East End Theatre (727 E. Main St.). The Auditorium is located at 885 E. Main St. Tickets to the musical will run $35-$55, and are available through rbtl.org. Tickets for the cabaret cost $10-$30 and can be purchased at rapa.org or by calling 325-3366; for more information visit methodmachine.org.

THEATER“The Normal Heart”Prepare to be put through the emotional wringer when JCC CenterStage presents

“The Normal Heart,” activist Larry Kramer’s searing, semi-autobiographical, and award-winning play. The drama examines the H.I.V.-AIDS crisis in early 1980’s New York City through the eyes of a tight-knit and resilient group of friends. Timed to coincide with LGBT Health Month, each performance will be followed by a panel discussion of the topics raised by the play. The show’s run begins Saturday, March 8, and runs through Sunday, March 23. Tickets are on sale now for $26, $24 for members, and $18 for students. The Jewish Community Center is located at 1200 Edgewood Ave. Find full details at jccrochester.org.

SPECIAL EVENTMichael Jackson The Immortal World TourAt first, Cirque du Soleil and the late Michael Jackson might not seem like the most logical of pairings. But consider: they’re both intensely theatrical, a little mysterious, and totally nutty. Cirque du Soleil’s Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour pairs the King of Pop’s legendary music with the acrobatics, dance, and spectacle that you’d expect from the world-famous cirque troupe.

14 for 2014 continues from page 13

Classic screen musical "Singin' in the Rain" will be performed with live accompaniment by the RPO. PHOTO PROVIDED

The Green Day rock musical "American Idiot" comes to the Auditorium for one night only. PHOTO PROVIDED


In short, it looks nonstop bananas. The production makes its stop at the Blue Cross Arena (100 Exchange Blvd.) on Monday, March 10, and Tuesday, March 11, at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $50 to $150 and are on sale now through bluecrossarena.com.

MUSICThe ChieftainsOriginally formed in Dublin, traditional Irish band The Chieftains has been performing its music around the world for more than 50 years now. Over the years, the Grammy Award-winning group has collaborated with artists ranging from the Rolling Stones and Van Morrison to Madonna and Bon Iver, and has made appearances on classic film scores like “Barry Lyndon” and “Far and Away.”

The group will make a stop in Rochester, just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, when it performs at the Auditorium Theatre (885 E. Main St.) on Thursday, March 13, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $32-$62 and are available now through rbtl.org.

SPECIAL EVENTVillage Gate Toy Show Instantly step back into your childhood by sifting through hidden treasures and find yourself getting nostalgic over old Happy Meal toys, Barbie dolls, and Hot Wheels at the Village Gate Toy Show, sponsored by Yankee Clipper House of Cards. A tradition for more than 20 years, the bi-annual show is next scheduled for Sunday, March 16, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Village Gate is located at 274 N. Goodman St. Admission is free.

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(top) The New York Ice Wine Festival takes place Saturday, February 15. FILE PHOTO

(bottom) Catch "Billie Jean" and other classic MJ hits as part of Cirque du Soleil's Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour, coming to Blue Cross Arena in March. PHOTO PROVIDED

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The whole “walking on water” idea is cool, but when the temperatures plummet in Western New York, walking on snow and ice will have to suffice. And it does for the thousands of snowshoers in our region area each year. Local groups say that the number of snowshoers is on the rise, thanks to the accessibility of the sport and the variety of sweeping views area parks have to offer snowshoe enthusiasts. “If you can walk, you can snowshoe,” says Mort Nace of Medved Running & Walking Outfitters, which sells a variety of snowshoe equipment in its Monroe Avenue store. That’s good news, for I am no athlete — but even I was able conquer snow shoeing with minimal difficulty. “For most people, once they give it a go, they’re hooked,” Nace says. Nace has helped many locals get hooked on the more competitive side of showshoeing — strapping on the clown-sized shoes and actually running in them. That’s a bit above my pay grade, but “it’s a great change of pace for runners looking to stay fit during the long Rochester winter,” Nace says. But you don’t need to race to experience the benefits of snowshoeing. Amateurs can pick up the activity fairly quickly and cheaply. Most sporting-goods stores, and many area nature parks, offer equipment rentals at relatively low costs — usually $10 to $20 per day for a set of snowshoes.

The snowshoes used today are very different from the ones you see on the walls at old camp lodges that look more like tennis rackets. Modern-day snowshoes are much smaller and typically consist of a frame made of lightweight metal, plastic bindings, and synthetic fabric. The oversized shoe distributes your weight over the snow, so it doesn’t sink completely into the powder — a feeling known as “flotation.” Beyond snowshoes, all you really need for the activity is a set of hiking poles, a backpack with some snacks and water, and warm clothes. But don’t be surprised if you start to peel off the layers as you go. “Most guys will end up in a t-shirt and maybe a windbreaker shell within five minutes,” says Andy Ryan of the Rochester Winter Mountaineering Society. “When you’re walking uphill in the summertime it can be quite uncomfortable and sweaty, but in the wintertime, the air cools you, so it’s actually very pleasant comparatively. But you’re still going to work up a sweat.” Most of the members of the Mountaineering Society, which has been around since the 1960’s, are more hardcore thrill-seekers, opting to use their snowshoes to get themselves to the top of major hills and mountains throughout the state nearly every weekend. And so long as you’re willing to take an introductory trek

with a guide to make sure you’re up for it, they’ll happily take you on one of their weekend outings to the Adirondacks or Catskills, or to international destinations like Sweden and Mexico. “Usually by the end of the weekend, people know if they’re game — they’ve either had a miserable time and they’re never coming back, or they love it and I’ll probably see them every weekend that winter out on the trails,” Ryan says. While snowshoeing is easy enough to pick up for anyone who can put one foot in front of the other, the method of walking is slightly different when you’ve got the oversized snowshoes strapped to your boots. Ideally, you want to lift the shoes slightly and slide the inner edges over each other as you step so that you avoid the awkward “straddle-gait” stance. The unnatural stance can be both uncomfortable and fatiguing. I also found that, when starting out, exaggerating your steps seems to work best. If you think you look like a fool, you’re probably on the right track. But often, that’s not a problem, because snowshoeing is about finding solitude in nature and there are rarely large crowds to laugh at you (which is great for when you trip over your shoes and faceplant — trust me on that). That said, the buddy system is definitely encouraged among snowshoers,

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just in case something goes wrong while you’re out in the elements. But many avid snowshoers say that going with a small group or just one partner still allows them to enjoy the beauty of nature while getting away from the busy, stressful, technology-filled lives we typically lead. “The solitude in winter is very relaxing,” Ryan says. “It’s a very pleasant winter experience that lets you soak in the beauty of your surroundings.” If those surroundings include hills, you’ll need to use a technique stolen from cross-country skiing called herringbone. You walk with your heels together and toes spread apart to increase your support. Or you can sidestep up a hill. Of course, what goes up, must come down. But getting down a hill can be more fun and less work, at least on smooth terrain. “A lot of times people will opt to slide down on their butts,” Nace says. While glissading may seem lazy, it’s actually a great way to rest your leg muscles and pack down the snow for fellow snowshoers. If the hill is bumpier, running down with an exaggerated step or using poles to support your weight will help.

The Greater Rochester area offers plenty of parks and other ideal vistas in which to test out your new skills within a short drive — or right in your backyard, if you don’t want to venture too far. “Pretty

much anywhere there’s snow, you can snowshoe,” Nace says. Mendon Ponds Park in Honeoye Falls is not only vast (2,500 acres) and varied in terrain, but is a popular spot among snowshoers. Rental equipment is available through Wild Wings, Inc. (near the Nature Center; call 334-7790 to check availability). Snowshoeing is kosher at on designated hiking trails or open field in any Monroe County Park that’s open during the winter (and that’s most of them). Take a hike around Highland Park. Even without its signature lilacs in bloom, the park’s sweeping views will take your breath away — if the hilly terrain doesn’t wind you first. You may associate Durand Eastman and Ontario Beach parks with summer fun, but they’re fair game for snowshoers in the winter. It’s a bit more brisk up near the water, but the lakeside coated in a soft layer of snow makes for stunning views. Genesee Valley Park is pristine and pretty in the wintertime. There are ample trails along the river and canal in this 800-acre gem. Plus, if you want to take a break from the snowshoeing action, there are plenty of good sledding hills. Abraham Lincoln Park (formerly known as Irondequoit Bay Park East) also comes highly recommended. “Right on the bay there, you see more birds when you’re hiking the trails,” Nace says.

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It’s fairly common to suggest some escapist epics or saucy stories to take to the water’s edge during the warmer months. But when are we more in need of mental transportation than mid-winter? City thought it would be fun to flip the “beach reads” concept, and consider what stories are more suited to snowdrifts than sand. In addition, we asked two local literary specialists for their favorite winter tomes. Karen vanMeenan, editor of “AfterImage” and director of special projects at Writers & Books, suggested some phenomenal novels, and Peter Conners, publisher at BOA Editions, named the poetic collections he associates with winter. Here are a total of 10 titles to take under the covers, or to cozy up with beside a roaring fire. They aren’t necessarily overtly snow-themed — some are wild, yet deep, fantastical romps, and others will offer some proper catharsis as they rend your heart in two. Because we want you to take the journeys yourself, we’ve tried to avoid spoilers. Read on for our suggestions, and add your own winter favorites to the online version of this article at rochestercitynewspaper.com.

Each year, Writers & Books suggests a new powerful story for its “If All of Rochester Read the Same Book...” city-wide book club challenge. In the spring, various book discussions are offered, leading up to a visit by the author. The selection for 2014 is the deftly bittersweet work “The Snow Child” by Eowyn Ivey (416 pages, Reagan Arthur/Back Bay Books).

In the book, a husband and wife seek a new beginning in the Alaskan frontier after the death of their child. Urgent longing and a hand-built snow child yield the unexpected: a seemingly invulnerable wild girl who hunts in the woods near the couple’s homestead. The miracle snow-sprite seems summoned from a fairy tale, but in fact carries her own painful history. Ivey seamlessly blurs the territories of loving and letting go, and of myth and bleak, stark tragedy, ultimately offering no firm interpretation of the events that so dramatically alter her characters’ lives. Tom Robbins’ smirkingly brilliant “Jitterbug Perfume” (352 pages, Bantam) is a tale that spans the ages and many cultures as a handful of characters seek the components for a life-sustaining scent. Veterans of Robbins’ hilariously tangled yarns will recognize his penchant for dropping the story periodically to inject philosophical rants, the secret and magical lives of myths and inanimate objects, and his unapologetic gawking at human sexuality. (A friend once asked me to measure the sexiness of a book by saying, “On a scale from Prude to Tom Robbins, where does it fall?”). This one will help pretty much anyone to lighten up in the midst of winter’s darker days. “The Rooster’s Wife” (88 pages, BOA Editions), a prose poetry collection by Russell Edson, is among Peter Conners’ top picks. “Edson is an

American master of the prose poem and simultaneously one of our funniest and darkest poets,” Conners says. “The holidays are so filled with intense emotions; it’s a huge relief to pick up some Edson poems and see him disembowel — sometimes literally — our most sacred cows with a flick of his pen and a sly grin.”

Mark Helprin’s “Winter’s Tale” (768 pages, Mariner Books) “has been a favorite since its publication in 1983,” says Karen vanMeenan. “It is an immigrant tale, a coming-of-age story, an adventure tale, a fantasy,” she says. The fantastical story is set in a gritty mostly-familiar New York City, takes place largely at the turn of the 20th century, and follows the magical adventures of a drifter thief, Peter Lake, and a milk-cart horse who discovers he can fly as he becomes Peter’s unlikely guardian angel. The Colin Farrell-starring film adaptation by Akiva Goldsman is set to hit theaters this year. “Shakespeare wrote ‘a sad tale’s best for winter,’ and I concur if it is a story by Richard Yates, such as the devastating ‘Revolutionary Road,’ which shatters the illusions of postwar America,” says vanMeenan. In the novel (355 pages, Vintage), the unhappily married main characters hurt one another repeatedly as they struggle to

reconnect to any form of security or meaning, and emotional isolation rears its powerful head. This is all underscored by the author’s summary of his own novel: “If my work has a theme, I suspect it is a simple one: that most human beings are inescapably alone, and therein lies their tragedy.” Ditto on the dark tones for Debra Dean’s “The Madonnas of Leningrad” (231 pages, Harper Perennial, and Writers & Books’ “If All of Rochester Read the Same Book....” selection for 2012). The book “moves between the staff of the Hermitage safeguarding the artwork during the siege of Leningrad and an aging woman struggling with Alzheimer’s in the current day,” says vanMeenan. But the keenly sensitive can rejoice: the story does not dwell on suffering, says vanMeenan, “but on finding hope and celebrating love amid the detritus.”

Conversely, ironic tragedy reigns in “Ethan Frome” (104 pages, Nobel Classics), Edith Wharton’s classic tale of doomed romance as the characters decide between following through on moral duty or giving the heart what it wants. This short novel is atypical for the author’s elite society-based tastes, in that it is set in a rural environment and features a host of common folk. Deep and isolating snow becomes a symbol for longing suffocated by circumstance, and the story contains what is without a doubt the most depressing sled ride in all of fiction. Travel back in time with the narrator as he unravels the tale behind the title character’s current predicament. While sunshine and balmy breezes draw us outside to play, this cold, gross weather provides far fewer distractions from the spell of a story. “Winter fireside

The cozy catalogue

[ BOOKS ] BY REBECCA RAFFERTY

10 wonderful reads to get you through winter


reads lend themselves to longer tomes,” says vanMeenan. “One of my all-time favorites is Luis Alberto Urrea’s ‘The Hummingbird’s Daughter,’ the story of a curandera [an herbal healer] in late 19th-century Mexico, both the true story of the author’s great aunt and a magical realist fiction,” she says. (499 pages, Back Bay Books) Family is ever a reliable source for a good yarn. “As I’ve gotten older, it’s become more important to me to listen to family stories,” says Conners. “The holidays are a good time to really tune in, listen to those, and ask some questions.” He suggests “Transfer” by Naomi Shihab Nye (128 pages, BOA Editions), in which the author dives deeper than ever into her own family heritage. “The book centers around her father and even uses his journals as the jumping off point for many poems,” Conners says. “Lucille Clifton is one of the rarest types of poets — her work can be shared at everything from funerals to birthdays to holiday dinner toasts, and her mixture of gravitas and wry wisdom will not only fit the occasion, but deepen it,” says Conners. “In short, reading Clifton’s work will deepen your own life experiences.” Conners suggests “The Collected Poems of Lucille Clifton 1965-2010” (720 pages, BOA Editions) as “the perfect companion to have at your side as the snow falls and the wind blows.”

Over in North Chili, Black Creek Park offers easy, intermediate, and difficult terrain. The more than 1,500-square-foot park is relatively undeveloped compared to most of the others in the county. “You really get a good feel for nature here,” says Liz, a snowshoer I passed on a recent trip there. Liz, who didn’t want to give her last name, has lived in the area pretty much her entire life. Even though our paths (and our shoes — my fault for stepping on her toe) crossed at Black Creek that day, her favorite snowshoe spot is Ellison Park. “Ellison’s got a little bit of something for everyone,” she says. The wide open fields and relatively flat terrain along some parts of the creek are easy enough for any novice to master and really enjoy. Hike a little further, and suddenly you’re on steep, more advanced terrain; a fun challenge for the more agile and coordinated crowd. Nearby Corbett’s Glen has a similar vibe and style, but is a bit less hilly. On a quiet day, you can catch glimpses of deer grazing nearby or ducks floating down the river. Many of the parks also offer other kinds of sporting activities during the weekend, such as cross-country skiing. Powder Mills Park is home to the fish hatchery in the spring and fall, but in the winter it’s the wild birds you have to watch out for (I had a hawk circling overhead for a good 20 minutes on a recent trek — a bit nerve wracking to say the least). Cobbs Hill Park in the city is small, but scenic and perfect for beginners. A few laps around the reservoir and you’ll have the skills down pat. In Henrietta, Tinker Nature Center has a limited number of shoes available for rent at $3 per rental (the best deal I was able to find in town). The park typically waits until the snow is at least 10” deep before doling out the equipment. The park is only open Tuesday through Saturday 9 a.m.-3 p.m. during the winter. The list could go on and on, and snowshoers are constantly exploring new trails in new places. “Rochester makes it too easy to get involved,” Nace says. “Once the snow falls, you just strap on your shoes and go off on an adventure.”

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