Fall Guide 2013

Arts Preview, Events and more

ILLUSTRATION BY MEGHAN MURPHY

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A seasonal menu

I feel like people could not wait for fall to start this year. Before I even flipped my calendar to September 1 the pumpkin lattes had appeared in coffee-shop chains and the spice-scented harvest decorations had popped up in the vestibules at Wegmans.

I can't blame America's marketers for getting a jump on autumn. It's my favorite season, too, in part because of all of the fantastic events heralded by the cooling temperatures and the changing of the leaves.

That's especially true of our arts community. In our annual fall arts preview, City's cultural critics sound off on their picks for the most exciting art exhibits, theater shows, dance performances, music concerts, and films coming in the 2013-14 season. These are by no means comprehensive lists of what's coming — for that make sure you check out the calendar section of each week's City Newspaper, or visit the events section of our website at rochestercitynewspaper.com. It's just our experts giving their opinions on what you absolutely cannot miss while digging in to the cultural smorgasbord about to be served.

Fall is also arguably the best time to get outdoors in Rochester. This year, take in the stunning foliage transformations and explore the area's waterways with an autumn boat tour. We've got a whole feature on some of the local options available to you (there's more than you might think). And it's not really fall without at least one gulp of delicious apple cider. While nobody's going to judge you for drinking cider straight from the jug, this Fall Guide includes a few recipes using that sweet concoction that will brighten up any autumn evening. -- Eric Rezsnyak

In This Guide...

Fall Guide

ART: A separate piece

Artist residencies in Rochester

I don't know how many artists in Rochester make their living solely from their artwork, but life being what it is, it's certainly not the easiest endeavor. So working artists cram their passions where they fit, between day jobs and second jobs and perhaps parenting duties, and amid all of the little details that must be attended to.

By Rebecca Rafferty Sep 18, 2013
Fall Guide

ART: The end is the beginning

As 2013 comes to a close, local art spaces come alive with fantastic exhibitions

Even though autumn heralds the close of the year, and the death, decay, or otherwise slumberfest of nature, to me the crisp, fresh air always feels like a beginning. This probably comes in part from our everlasting association of autumn with going back to school.

By Rebecca Rafferty Sep 18, 2013

Visual art Preview Memorial Art Gallery George Eastman House Visual Studies Workshop Rochester Contemporary Nazareth College Mercer Gallery Axom Gallery 1975 Gallery SUNY Brockport Genesee Center for the Arts Hartnett Gallery
Fall Guide

THEATER: The trials of trying out

Local theater companies take different approaches to auditions

When depicted in the movies, theater auditions are usually fraught and drama-ridden. They can be that way in real life too, but most theater companies try to save the drama for the production, and to be as fair as possible.

By David Raymond Sep 18, 2013

Theater auditions community theater Webster Theater Guild Off Monroe Players Out of Pocket Players TheaterROCS
Fall Guide

THEATER: The next act

The 2013-14 theater season is awash with classics and contemporary works

I've always heard Rochester described as a "theater town," a distinction that seems like a rare one in the days of TV on demand, web series, and all the other performance media that keep a distance between you and the performers. Judging from a look at the Greater Rochester area's 2013-2014 theater calendar, we're still a theater town — and a very busy one, at that.

By David Raymond Sep 18, 2013

Theater Preview Geva RBTL JCC Blackfriars MuCCC Pittsford Musicals community theater
Fall Guide

DANCE: On their toes

Rochester's leading dance organizations have a busy 2013-14

You can't discuss the dance year in Rochester without bringing up Garth Fagan Dance, now in its 43rd year. Most locals — at least those with an interest in the arts — know about this powerhouse troupe, but, then again, the name should trip automatically off the tongue of anyone citing Rochester as their home town.

By Casey Carlsen Sep 18, 2013

Dance Preview Garth Fagan Rochester City Ballet NTID Nazareth College Arts Center RIT SUNY Brockport Bill Evans
Fall Guide

MUSIC: The sounds of autumn

A dozen popular-music concerts to add to your fall calendar

The summer concert season might be dominated by large-scale festivals, giant outdoor concerts, and get-together shows everyplace that can throw together a stage. But just because summer is ending doesn't mean that the musical good times have to stop once the leaves hit the ground.

By Willie Clark Sep 18, 2013

Music Preview Water Street Music Hall German House Abilene Main Street Armory Blue Cross Arena Lovin Cup
Fall Guide

MUSIC: Classical smorgasbord

No matter what your tastes, the 2013-14 classical season has a flavor for you

This is the first classical season since I started writing for City that I believe includes a concert and a composer for everyone. For someone like me, with far-flung musical tastes, it means I will be at concert after concert, throughout the entire season.

By Paloma Capanna Sep 18, 2013

Classical music Preview Eastman School of Music RPO EROI Ying Quartet Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra Symphony ESM opera new music organs
Fall Guide

FILM: Cinema paradiso

The fall movie schedule is packed with promising pictures

It used to be that there was a sharp, clear-cut line dividing the popcorn-movie trifles of summer from the highbrow, cerebral films of the fall movie season. But over the past several years, it's become virtually impossible to distinguish between the two.

By Adam Lubitow Sep 18, 2013

Film preview Oscars independent films blockbusters George Clooney Tom Hanks
Fall Guide

OUTDOORS: Whatever floats your boat

Fall boat tours offer relaxing views of Rochester's past and present

When fall rolls in, and the temperatures cool down, spending time outdoors becomes even more enjoyable. No more sunburns, no more sweating, and no more humidity.

By Alexandra Carmichael Sep 18, 2013

Outdoors boats tours Genesee River Lake Ontario Irondequoit Bay Erie Canal Schoen Place Corn Hill Navigation Sam Patch Mary Jemison Colonial Belle Harbor Town Belle
Fall Guide

FOOD: Cider house rules

Make the most of fall's most flavorful fluid with apple-cider-based recipes

It's one of those magical signs that fall has arrived: our favorite autumnal flavors show up on restaurant menus. Pumpkin and apple everything are suddenly everywhere.

By Kathy Laluk Sep 18, 2013

Food Recipes Apple cider Cider Fall ice cream alcohol
Fall Guide

CALENDAR: Special Events Guide

Summer may be over, but it's not time to head indoors yet. Rochester has plenty of events to keep you busy through the fall.

By TREVOR LEWIS Sep 18, 2013