Escape the deep freeze of winter and jump into spring. With an abundance of spring activities available this season within the city of Rochester, you are guaranteed to not have a boring night. Tantalize your nose with the aromas of lilacs at the Lilac Festival. Laugh your head off with the all-women comedy troupe at EstroFest 3. And if you’re a sports person, watch the Rochester Brigade and the Rochester Red Wings kick off their new seasons. Here is a small listing of some things you can keep yourself occupied with during the next few months.
Festivals
Estrofest
8 p.m. April 12, 13, 20, 26 and 27, May 10 and 11; 2 p.m. April 14School of the Arts Ensemble Theatre
Estrofest is a five female sketch comedy troupe. They perform “irreverent and zany” comedy acts dealing with such issues as religion, sex, fashion and food. The act is composed of sketches, commercial parodies and a musical finale with an underlying theme. Tickets are available at Record Archive for $10 and $15. For more information, call 473-3820.
Lilac Festival
May 10 – May 19Highland Park
The highlight of this longest-running festival in Rochester is, of course, the lilacs. Over 500 varieties cover 22 acres of Highland Park’s 155 acres. Although the lilacs are the centerpiece of the festival, the Pansy Bed on Highland Avenue near Goodman Street, the Conservatory on Reservoir Avenue, and the Tulip Bed on South Avenue are also worth visiting.
There will be something to do in every corner of Highland Park over these ten days. May 10th will feature a parade with over 100 entries followed by an all-day arts and crafts show. Throughout the 10-day period, many local bands and artists will also display their works. For more information, check out the festival’s official Web site at www.lilacfestival.com.
Music
Open Jar Jam
March 31219 Monroe Avenue
The Bug Jar is quite different from all the other stores on Monroe Avenue ? it’s a haven for local alternative bands. Not only is the music mostly unusual, the decor is as well; check out the chairs nailed to the ceiling.
Diana Krall
8 p.m. April 16Auditorium Center
This jazz pianist and singer has dazzled crowds with her deep alto voice and Bill Evans-style. Every jazz enthusiast out there should go. Contact TicketMaster for tickets.
Moe
8 p.m. April 24Auditorium Center
Moe goes on tour this spring holding its third tour show in Rochester to promote its latest 3-album “Warts and All ? Vol. 1.” Tickets are available through Ticket Master.
Theater
Ghosts
April 2 – May 5Geva Theater
The characters in Ibsen’s Ghosts live within their own separate worlds ? a mother guarding her son from his father, the son tormented by his secret, a minister trying to preserve his reputation. With characters trapped by their own yearnings, Ghosts weaves an intricate web of emotion that is riveting in its execution. Tickets can be obtained through www.ticketmaster.com.
Aida
May 1 – May 12Auditorium Center
The Rochester Broadway Theatre League was founded in 1957 by a small group of volunteers to stimulate interest in the arts. The RBTL has grown substantially through the years and is producing Tim Rice’s and Elton John’s Aida, a story about the plight of the Nubians in the hands of the Egyptians. Tickets are available through www.ticketmaster.com.
Sports
Rochester Brigade
Arena FootballBlue Cross Arena
The Rochester Brigade are part of the Northeast Division of the Arena Football 2 league. They enter their second season this year with a home-opener against the New Haven Ninjas on Saturday, April 6th. Training began March 18 and will continue till March 31, whne the final team roster will be determined. Highlighting the training period will be a scrimmage against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers at 7 p.m. tonight at the Blue Cross Arena. To obtain more information about Brigade ticket packages, check out the team website at www.rochesterbrigade.com, or call the main office at 292-1530.
Rochester Red Wings
Minor League BaseballFrontier Field
Take yourself out to the ballpark for the home season-opener April 6th against Syracuse. For 45 seasons, the Red Wings have provided the community with title-winning baseball. After a losing season landing the Red Wings at the bottom of the league, the Red Wings hope to redeem themselves after the Baltimore organization got 15 new players.To get more information, you can reach the Box Office at 423-WING (9424) or check out the official Web site at www.RedWings Baseball.com.
