READERS’ ROCHESTER

What are your favorite things to see and do locally? What are the best restaurants and shops? Share your thoughts with fellow Explore Greater Rochester readers: visitors and residents alike.

Submit a Comment >
Read Comments >

BEST BETS: April 8 to 14, 2011

Russian ballet at Naz

Sound the royal trumpets! Your presence is requested for the Royal Ball at the Strong National Museum of Play from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday. Come dressed in your most regal attire to take part in the live music, pageantry and courtly dancing. Complete a quest and get knighted by the queen, enjoy a feast at the royal banquet table and get a special bejeweled gift from the fairy godmother when you visit her to make a wish. And if you don't have royal garb, don't worry! You can create your own majestic attire and adornments, including crowns, scepters, shields and family crests. Ensemble performers include Mitzie Collins on hammered dulcimer and percussion instruments; John Heyer on the hurdy-gurdy, hammered dulcimer and recorders; and Roxanne Ziegler on Celtic harp and small percussion instruments. All Royal Ball activities are included with general museum admission. Visit museumofplay.org.

Concert honors Ukrainian poet
The Ukrainian Cultural Center of Rochester presents the Canadian Bandurist Capella from Toronto at 4 p.m. Sunday at the School of the Arts on Prince Street. The 40-member male chorus is accompanied on the multi-stringed Ukrainian bandura. The concert marks the 150th anniversary of the death of Ukraine's greatest poet, Taras Shevchenko (1814-1861). Visit uccofrochester.net for more information.

'Babes in Arms' at Naz
The Nazareth College theater department presents "Babes in Arms" on the Callahan Theater stage at the Arts Center April 9 to 17. "Babes in Arms" is the ultimate "showbiz" musical, in which the kids save the day! Boasting a hit-filled score by Rodgers and Hart, including "The Lady is a Tramp" and "My Funny Valentine," the show exemplifies the simple virtues of a '30s musical comedy. Tickets are $15 to $17. Visit boxoffice.naz.edu.

On the small screen: The Masters
Augusta National Golf Club legends Jack Nicklaus, 71, and Arnold Palmer, 81, were honorary starters for a Masters ceremony hosted by Chairman Billy Payne today. The sign on the first tee that usually posts a player's name and caddie number showed their ages. The first Masters Tournament was held in March 1934 at Augusta National. ESPN has live coverage today and Friday; CBS airs the Masters Saturday and Sunday. Visit masters.com.

Red Wings home opener
The Rochester Red Wings open the 2011 season today at Pawtucket. The home opener is Saturday against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Game time is 4:05 p.m. Top Twins pitching prospect Kyle Gibson is the scheduled Wings starter for the home opener at Frontier Field. Visit redwingsbaseball.com.

Guitar Festival and Competition
The first of its kind in Rochester, the 2011 Great Lakes Guitar Festival and Competition, is this weekend at various venues. The first evening concert on Friday will feature Canadian artists, Jeffrey McFadden and the ChromaDuo. Saturday concerts will highlight guitarists from the Eastman School, including professor of guitar Nicholas Goluses. The afternoon concert on Saturday will feature Eastman alum Evan Drummond with duo partner David Hindman for "Modal Kombat," an interdisciplinary performance that has been described as the first-ever guitar-controlled video game battle. The festival will close with the final round of the Great Lakes Guitar Competition on Sunday afternoon. Guitarists from around the U.S. and Canada will compete. For details, visit greatlakesguitarsociety.org.

On the big screen
The "Arthur" remake stars the delightfully hilarious Brit Russell Brand as the very rich and often drunk man who finally finds out there's more to life than money. Helen Mirren also stars. "Hanna" tells the story of a 16-year-old raised by her father to be the perfect assassin. She is dispatched on a mission across Europe, tracked by a ruthless intelligence agent. Danny McBride, James Franco and Natalie Portman star in "Your Highness," an epic comedy adventure about two princes on a daring mission to save their land. Find movie times.

Innovative dance at Geva
Geva Theatre Center presents two of the area's dynamic dance companies for their Nextstage debuts. Performances are Friday to April 17. The internationally renowned Bill Evans Dance Company will share an evening of four short rhythm tap dance works and five contemporary pieces in a variety of styles. FuturPointe Dance will perform original dance works in a wide range of global styles. The group is known for shows that blend dance and mixed media. For details and showtimes, visit gevatheatre.org.

Jazz piano concert
Jazz composer and pianist Antonio Ciacca and his trio will play an intimate show at Nazareth College Saturday. Ciacca is director of programming for Jazz at Lincoln Center and works with JALC's artistic director, Wynton Marsalis. He was born in Germany, raised in Italy and educated in the United States. He collaborates with some of the biggest names in jazz, among them Benny Golson, Steve Lacy, Wess Anderson and Steve Grossman, whom he calls his mentor. Ciacca opened for Marsalis on his 2004 tour of Italy and has performed in the jazz festivals of Rochester and Detroit. His most recent album is "Lagos Blues." The Nazareth College show begins at 4 p.m. in the Wilmot Recital Hall on the Nazareth campus. Audience members can meet the musicians at a reception after the performance. Visit naz.edu to find out how to reserve a seat.

Submit listing information

Help us provide readers with the most up-to-date and comprehensive information on dining, shopping, entertainment and the arts, wineries, sports and recreation, special events, museums and more.  

For information about submitting listings to Explore Greater Rochester, contact us by email.