There's so much to do in Rochester in the summer. So much, in fact, that just looking at pages and pages of endless listings can leave you, dear reader, nearly paralyzed by the sheer number of events that fill nearly every day of the next three months. So let us do the work for you. City has played social planner, picking one activity for you to indulge in every single day of the summer, from the Summer Guide publication date (June 17) to Labor Day (September 7). Given those limitations it isn't a comprehensive listing of everything that's going on - for that you should pick up City Newspaper every Wednesday for that week's events, or visit our online calendar at rochestercitynewspaper.com - but it's a good mixture of festivals, special events, concerts, art exhibits, stage shows, and more that will practically guarantee that you make the most of the summer.

JUNE

Wednesday, June 17

[ MUSIC ] Take in Day 6 of the 2009 Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival. The night's headliner is jazz legend Dave Brubeck, whose quartet plays the Eastman Theatre at 8 p.m. But there's plenty more music to go around: funky trombone quintet Bonerama plays Harro East, West African musician Baye Kouyate will be at Kilbourn Hall, charming Brit vocalist Tessa Souter sings at Christ Church, and you can finish off the night with Bob Sneider's after-hours jam at State Street Bar & Grille. The 2009 Jazz Fest continues through Saturday, June 20. For more details and a complete schedule visit rochesterjazz.com.

Thursday, June 18

[ SPECIAL EVENT ] If you're looking for a night out, but trying to save a little dough for the weekend, the South Wedge Summer Stimulus Series has got you covered. The entire vibrant, artsy neighborhood gets into the act, with dozens of locally owned businesses offering deals on food, services, and more starting in the early evening; a free concert with Fred Vine and the Jive Mamas starting at 7 p.m. in Star Alley; and the unveiling party for 10 new sculptural bike rack "totems" designed by local artists at 6:30 p.m. at Nathaniel Square Park (corner of Alexander and South). The Summer Stimulus Series continues every third Thursday of month through August; check savorourflavor.com.

Friday, June 19

[ FESTIVAL ] Did you know there are more than 300 varieties of roses in the Maplewood Rose Garden? It's true. Make sure to check out at least a couple dozen of them among the more than 5000 flowers when you head to the Maplewood Rose Festival, which kicks off tonight with a party on the Driving Park bridge 7-10 p.m. Expect the three summer Fs: food, family entertainment, and fireworks. The festival continues through Sunday, June 21, with tours of the neighborhood's historic homes and gardens, garden photography workshops, perennial swaps, tours of the Lower Gorge, and other activities that celebrate the Flower City's horticultural past. For more information check maplewood.org.

Saturday, June 20

[ SPORTS ] Brassy women + roller skates + encouraged violence = a winning combination. And that's what you'll get when you check out ROC City Roller Derby vs. the Queen City Roller Girls' Alley Kats today at the Dome Arena in Henrietta. In their last match the Alley Kats stomped the Rochester gals 84-40, so this one's sure to be personal - and a hell of a lot of fun to watch. Consider that the RCRD features skaters with names like Queen Kicktoria, Hater Tot, and VenJence Von Slay, and that you can spring for "suicide seats" in the middle of the rink and possibly become part of the body count. For more details check rocderby.com.

Sunday, June 21

[ SPECIAL EVENT ] It's Father's Day, so do something nice for dear old Dad and take him to Artisan Works on Blossom Road for its annual Father's Day event. In addition to admission to the gallery - which is a treat unto itself, crammed with all manner of beautiful and bizarre things like giant wooden roller skates, a replica of Japanese tea room, and a sprawling rooftop patio - you and your Y-chromosome donor will also get to dine on gourmet food and take in some live music. All the attention might even make Mom jealous. And after all, isn't that the point of the day? It runs noon-5 p.m. and costs $12. For more details check artisanworks.net.

Monday, June 22

[ RANDOM ] Celebrate Stupid Guy Thing Day by playing disc golf at one of the several local courses, including those found at Ellison or Churchville parks. It's true that disc golf is not strictly a guy thing, and it's not completely stupid, but it still seems somehow appropriate. I'm sure the Rochester Disc Golf Club (grgdc.org) would strongly disagree. Fun fact: Rochester will be hosting the 2001 Amateur Disc Golf World Championships, so the sport must be popular locally. If disc golf - essentially golfing with Frisbees - isn't your thing, other options for Stupid Guy Thing Day could include spitting on cars from overpasses, drinking yourself into a stupor by 10 a.m., shaving your sleeping friend's eyebrows, or blowing all your money on a really impractical car. Discuss.

Tuesday, June 23

[ RECREATION ] Call in sick to work and spend the afternoon at the Seneca Park Zoo. There's always something fascinating going on with the animals - polar bears trying to pry fish from giant ice cubes at feeding time; tigers casually swiping at the poor maintenance person weed-wacking behind their pen; the monkeys playfully fighting over a tiny hat they somehow got their paws on - and this summer there are a few additional creatures added to the fray. A 500 lb. male white tiger is among the visiting animals for the next few months. The zoo is located of St. Paul Street, and open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. every day of the summer. Admission costs $6-$9. Make sure to browse the special events held throughout the season, including the popular Zoo Brews on select Fridays. For more information check senecaparkzoo.org.

Wednesday, June 24

[ SPECIAL EVENT ] Get spooked out while seeing clairvoyant/medium Lisa Williams at the Auditorium Theatre on East Main Street. You might recognize Williams from her Lifetime TV series, "Life Among the Dead" and "Voices from the Other Side." She is the granddaughter of a noted British psychic, and claims she can communicate with the dead, allegedly having spoken to a post-mortem Bob Hope, Princess Diana, Natalie Wood, Ray Charles, and Marilyn Monroe. Sounds like quite a party! During her stop in Rochester, Williams will do readings for members of the audience, so if you're desperate to reach out to the dearly departed, here's your chance. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. and tickets run $33-$73. Also at the Aud this summer are the Tragically Hip (August 25). For more info visit rbtl.org.

Thursday, June 25

[ MUSIC ] Party in the Park continues with jazz/funk outfit Medeski Martin & Wood. The band - now almost 20 years old - has played Rochester a bunch of times and typically draws a good crowd due to its exploratory jammy live shows. The PiP series continues every Thursday 5:30-10 p.m. through August 6 at the Riverside Festival Site at Court Street and Exchange Boulevard. Admission is always free. Other shows in the 2009 season include Average White Band (July 9), Michael Franti & Spearhead (July 16), and Gov't Mule (August 6); as of press time the headliners for the July 2, 23, and 30 shows had yet to be announced. For updated information check cityofrochester.gov.

Friday, June 26

[ SPECIAL EVENT ] If I had to guess what Rochester tastes like, I would go with chewy...salty...saucy. But that's just me. You can find out for yourself at Taste of Rochester, which runs today through Sunday, June 28, on Main Street in downtown Rochester. A full list of this year's participating restaurants has yet to be released, but in years past the event has included dozens of local restaurants (and, alas, some chains) offering up samples of their food, which you get by trading in food tickets. There are also beer and wine gardens, live entertainment, and all those other Rochester festival goodies. For more information check tasteofrochester.net.

Saturday, June 27

[ THEATER ] It's the final performance of Black Sheep Theatre Coalition's "Lysistrata." The relatively new, relatively small local theater group is staging the not-at-all new or small piece by ancient Greek playwright Aristophanes, in which the title character convinces the women Greece to withhold sex from their husbands in an effort to end the Peloponnesian War. Hmmm...I wonder if there could be a modern connection? Of course, Lysistrata's action end up whipping up a war between the sexes, and I'm not sure that's any better than a war on terror at this point. "Lysistrata" will be staged at Village Gate on North Goodman Street. Tickets cost $10-$16. For more information and a full schedule of performances visit blacksheeptheatre.org.

Sunday, June 28

[ SPECIAL EVENT ] Say that, like me, you just moved out of your apartment of three-plus years and you have discovered a ton of crap you no longer want or need. The Community Garage Sale & Super Flea at the Public Market is the answer to your prayers, and possibly the start to all-new problems. It's the solution because it offers anybody in town the opportunity to haul their used, unwanted goods (say, a still-working Super Nintendo with a crapload of games, or a lava lamp you never turn on) to a 10'x30' stall, and the deal-seekers will swarm to you. (Stalls cost $25; call 428-6907 for details.) But it's a problem because of that old maxim about trash and treasures. While you sell your junk, you'll almost certainly be tempted by the cast-offs at a table down the way. Oh, the dilemma. The Community Garage Sales run 8 a.m.-2 p.m. and continue on select Sundays throughout the summer. Visit cityofrochester.gov for more information.

Monday, June 29

[ MUSIC ] If you're still coming down from your Jazz Fest high, the Eastman School of Music's Dave Rivello Ensemble concert can get you your fix. Rivello is a locally based jazz luminary, a composer whose work calls to mind greats such as Charles Mingus and Igor Stravinsky. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. at Kilbourn Hall on Gibbs Street; admission costs $8. School may be out, but ESM offers a wide variety of concerts throughout the summer, from classical recitals to world music. For a full schedule visit esm.rochester.edu.

Tuesday, June 30

[ RECREATION ] Get a little exercise in with the MVP Health Care Tuesday Nature Nights Durand Eastman Park Boardwalk Tour. Meet at the eastern-most parking lot at Durand Eastman Beach. The tour explores the wetlands and woods that make up the park. Maybe you'll catch a glimpse of the White Lady who is rumored to haunt the place. Either way, after the tour Foodlink will have healthy foods for sale, so make sure to work up an appetite on your hike. The Tuesday Nature Nights run 6-8 p.m., and continue through August 25, ranging from walks to bike rides to canoe excursions. For more information visit cityofrochester.gov.