Brian’s PhotoPile

I realize I’m a bit late for posting photos from Halloween, but thought you might enjoy them.
Having slithered out of my crypt that evening I visited some of the other spooks in my neighborhood. In our travels we found a party at a house that backs up to Highland Park just within walking distance of the cemetery. Many varieties of beings seemed to have flocked to this location safe in the cradle of the night. My favorite room was the kitchen for here I was able to lick my chops on some of the best pies I’ve ever had the pleasure to eat. Drinks were on the house. Loaded, I traveled north into City Center. Here at the East End I found a veritable hive of activity. Stumbling about, I walked past many faces, phantoms in the night, only to be seen for these brief dark hours.

Village Gate Bop Shop Night. During intermission “Air Play” start tossing and spinning balls, bowling pins, knives, and wands with flames. On a one wheeler an acrobat juggled while balancing six feet off the ground. Margaret Explosion, their music is so groovy, it’s for me, my music of the spheres. Later, at the Keg, Watkins and the Rapiers on stage. Their song about Santa Claus having to go to Washington to get some bail out money was great. While riding my bike downtown on relatively empty streets I saw this groovy psychedelic truck parked by Downtown Cabaret Theater. And then across the street from the YMCA the street lamp in front of the blue construction tarp hanging from the facade of the new addition to the Eastman Theater. I picked up on the Virgin Mary statues while on the way to World Wide News.

Not only where the Ukrainians dancing (see previous entry) but us fans of Bobby Henrie and the Goners where also kicking up a storm Sunday afternoon. The Abilene’s deck was a perfect venue for relaxing and having fun with friends while listening to Bobby Henrie on Guitar and vocals, Brian “Wildman” Williams on Standup Bass and vocals, and James Martin Symonds on Drums and vocals.

Judy and I visited the Strong Museum of Play Friday afternoon to experience the Butterfly Room. On the way over to Sara’s Tapas party I stopped to listen to the ElectroKings at the Village Gate courtyard.

Bright sun while under forest’s street during the Park Avenue Festival yesterday meandered and lingered in fantasy reverie.

Maybe he was on his way to a date, but wouldn’t be nice if we all could dress so well and not have to worry about being slammed by a car while not wearing a helmet. I like his hat. I wish him the best. Well dressed bike rider, cool car (the cadillac), and a train with gang graffiti – all out the side window of the truck. The garden at George Eastman’s old mansion.

Just as I was starting home from the Bop Fest the Gay Pride parade was coming up Goodman Street. Always a lover of parades I parked my bike and started taking snapshots of the oncoming onslaught of people and floats. I may have gone a little overboard with the number of pictures I’ve posted, but as a proud grandparent of a gay granddaughter I want their voices to be recognized. As Rochester parades go this was by far the most colorful.

Saturday afternoon I rode over to the Village Gate courtyard to listen to Jenna and the Horse Lovers. Tom Kohn of the Bop Shop is the moving force for this event. Phillo Beddo opened with Tom Krasz’s gritty voice belting out some powerful rock’n lyrics backed up by Aron Bahr on bass and Grimey on the drums. I was able to hear the drum beat two long blocks away as I approached the Village Gate. They lowered the volume after the first song for the rest of the set. The first two photos are of them and the rest are of Jenna and the Horse Lovers. I look forward to hearing a CD from Jenna.

Last Saturday I went to Highland Park to see Rochester Community Shakespeare Players production of Hamlet. The field by the railroad tracks near Main Street pops up in two of the photographs today, the blue sky graffiti train car and the photo taken from across the street with my iPhone. It’s of a group of folks with white cloth covering their heads, most of them are sitting in rows listening to someone who appears to be leading them in some kind of service, also with white cloth head, they also wore white gloves. Judy and I were off to somewhere; Judy didn’t even want me to stop to take a picture, but I did anyway, unfortuneately from some distance with the only camera I thought I had at the time… the iPhone. This is only a real small part of the original image. When I got home later that afternoon I discovered my Sony behind the seat. It would have been perfect for capturing the image. Over at the Corn Hill Art Festival, the Genesee Center for Arts and Education and a local girl scout group where busy with the help of volunteers making what promises to be the worlds largest sheet of handmade paper. The car with all the stickers was over by  Abundance Grocery, our local co-operative natural, healthy, organic food, general store. Yesterday, students at the  Visual Studies Workshop were taking tintype photos. I had one taken of me and the red photo is of the picture being processed. I’ll be notified when the picture is ready for me to pick up after it has been dried and varnished

Wednesday evening the Apple computer users group I belong to had their annual picnic. My wife calls it the annual geek fest. We had some cool door prizes and some of the members showed off their new iPhones. I’m amazed at what these little gadjets can do. Thursday night RoCo had a closing party for their 6X6 show. Margaret Explosion’s sonic waves permeated the atmosphere within the gallery with their “infinite, eternally elegant, and mystical” vibes. After the gallery party many of us hit Abilene Bar and Lounge to listen to the Chinchillas. The Chinchillas dish out some great sounds, mostly written by members of the local band.