Monday, August 1

THEATER: Ladies, it's time for a night out. Last year Geva found success with "Girls Night: The Musical," a frothy summer show stacked with familiar girl-power anthems that encouraged - nay, demanded - audience participation. This year Geva brings in "Girl Talk: The Musical," a show by the same author and producers, as part of its Sizzling Summer Series. "Girl Talk" follows as a radio show of the same title prepares to come to an end, and its staff decides to go out in style. Expect songs from divas new and old, including Jennifer Lopez, Aretha Franklin, and Carrie Underwood. "Girl Talk" runs July 25-August 27; tickets go on sale June 30. For more information on the show, including a performance schedule, visit gevatheatre.org. (ER)

Tuesday, August 2

MUSIC: Hope you didn't wait until August to read about the amazing summer offerings at the Eastman School of Music. Head over to esm.rochester.edu right away. There are credit and non-credit courses for children, middle- and high-school students, undergrads, and adults. Try South Indian Percussion, viola, sax, guitar, trumpet, and more. Each class ends with public performances, as well, and, if you didn't already miss it, mark your calendar for the July 21 performance of the conducting students with the RPO at Kodak Hall. One of the summer workshops is a trombone institute that runs July 31-August 4. With six faculty members, this intensive workshop for trombone players high school and up will run the gamut from trombone trios to master classes to improvisation to individual lessons. The final recital will take place August 4 at 7:30 p.m. in Kilbourn Hall. The concert is free. (PC)

Wednesday, August 3

MUSIC: One of the most exciting shows of the summer comes to CMAC tonight as Girl Talk takes the stage with Wiz Khalifa. Girl Talk is the stage name of Gregg Michael Gillis, a digital musician who has garnered major industry attention for his mash-ups. Girl Talk's songs feature familiar raps floating over an ever-changing river of samples. Songs feature snippets of everything from classic U2 to Jackson 5 to Lady Gaga to Banarama to Simon & Garfunkel. His 2008 album, "Feed the Animals," was named one of Time's Top 10 albums of that year, and received similar praise from Rolling Stone, Blender, and NPR, and you can download his newest disc for free at illegal-art.net. Gillis will be joined at this show by rapper Wiz Khalifa, who got major attention for his album "Rolling Papers," released earlier this year. The show begins at 7 p.m. and tickets cost $35 (plus service fees). Other CMAC concerts this summer include Steely Dan with Sam Yahel (July 23), Kid Cudi with Chip Tha Ripper (July 27), Guster with Jack's Manneiquin and Ra Ra Riot (August 13), Lyle Lovett and His Large Band (August 27), and many more. For the full schedule and more information visit cmacevents.com. (ER)

Thursday, August 4

THEATER: Spend your Thursday night at "Sunday in the Park with George" at Blackfriars Theatre. "Sunday" is one of two summer productions running at Blackfriars this season (the other, "The MOMologues," runs July 8-17). "Sunday" is the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical by Stephen Sondheim that offers a fictionalized account of the life of painter Georges Seurat as he composes his masterpiece, the pointillist "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte." Among the show's score is the incredibly catchy "Putting it Together." Blackfriars originally staged the show 25 seasons ago, and this version will be radically reinterpreted to take advantage of the theater's current thrust stage. The show runs July 30-August 13. Blackfriars is located at 795 E. Main St. For more information and a full schedule of performances visit bftix.com. (ER)

Friday, August 5

FESTIVAL: Get out your eye patch, peg leg, and practice your "y'arrr!"s for the Palmyra Pirate Weekend. This festival returns for its fifth year August 5-6 in the village of Palmyra. Friday features a free screening of the pirate-themed family classic "The Goonies" under the stars at Palmyra Village Park (East Main Street, near Routes 21 & 31). Other weekend events include the Palmyra Pirate Ball, which includes dinner, a silent auction, and dancing to music provided by DJ Stinkeye the Pirate. Also, don't miss the window-painting contest, pillage ‘n the village parade, and bed racing, boat tours, food, crafters, and more. Man, pirates have a lot to do this weekend. For more details and a full weekend schedule visit piratesoftheeriecanal.com. (JH)

Saturday, August 6

SPECIAL EVENT:I can't think of a better way to spend a sultry summer evening than in a gorgeous garden, surrounded by the lilting tunes of a classical instrument. This is just what you'll get when you attend the Midsummer Night's Tasting event on Friday, August 5, or Saturday, August 6, at Hurd Orchards (17260 Ridge Rd., Holley). Harpist Grace Wong will perform 6-8:30 p.m. each evening to noshing audiences under a setting sun and then lantern-lit trees and candlelight. The event is $55 to attend, and reservations are required. Call 638-8838 or visit hurdorchards.com to RSVP, and to check out their listings of events that run through December and include luncheons, nature workshops, and events for children. (RR)

Sunday, August 7

FESTIVAL: If you like to shop for trinkets, stuff your face with kettle corn, or just wander around and ogle your fellow human beings, then get on down to the Park Avenue Summer Art Festival, which celebrates its 35th year in 2011. Open Saturday, August 6, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sunday, August 7, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., the Park Ave Fest essentially claims the approximate mile from Alexander Street to Culver Road as its own, filling the stretch with entertainment stages, food booths, as well as hundreds of artists and vendors, including the Park Avenue businesses ready for their moment in the sun. Visit park-avenue.org for more information, leave your pets and open beers at home, then cross your fingers in hopes of blue skies. (DP)

Monday, August 8

CLASS: So, you've decided to join a CSA - that's community-supported agriculture, for the uninitiated - to support your local, sustainably grown food industry. But maybe you need a little help with figuring out how to prepare all those new-to-you veggies, like chard and rutabaga. Fear not: "From Farms to Friends: The CSA Way" are CSA-specific cooking classes offered at the New York Wine and Culinary Center (800 S. Main St., Canandaigua). On select Mondays through the summer and fall, Jeff Christiano will demonstrate how to create scrumptious, seasonal, good-for-you meals from fresh farm produce and local ingredients. Each week, Chef Jeff will help participants transform a share's worth of produce from Fellenz Family Farm in Phelps, which will vary week-to-week, as well as a locally-sourced protein, into unique and creative dishes. Classes take place 6-7:30 p.m. and cost $25 each. Registration is required and classes fill quickly; call 394-7070 or visit nywcc.com for more information. (RR)

Tuesday, August 9

HOLIDAY: August is typically ridiculously hot around here, or else dominated by humidity-related torrential downpours. So being that August 9 is Book Lover's Day, I suggest finding a nice place in the shade, or in your favorite armchair, and settling into that stack you've been meaning to tackle. You know, your "to-read" shelf? Or head to one of the remaining small-biz booksellers in our area, like Rick's Recycled Books (737 Monroe Ave.), Greenwood Books (123 East Ave.), or the Yankee Peddler Bookshop (274 N Goodman St. in Village Gate), and support local businesses while you seek treasure and savor the printed page before we're all staring at all of the screens, all of the time. Viva los libros! (RR)

Wednesday, August 10

SPECIAL EVENT: If the occasional carriage ride at a local festival just leaves you wanting more, here is your chance. Go as a spectator or competitor to the annual Walnut Hill Carriage Driving Competition hosted by the Pittsford Carriage Association. A five-day schedule of events running August 10-14 offers visitors the opportunity to look back to the 1890's in the picturesque town of Pittsford. This was a time when the horse and carriage reflected quality of life and was more than just a means of transportation. Look for carriage-dog performances, a carriage-delivery contest, a fancy dress-costume competition, and more. All activities take place at Walnut Hill Farm (397 W. Bloomfield Road, Pittsford) including the Sunday morning pleasure drive, which departs at 9 a.m. and travels through Mendon Ponds Park. For more information visit walnuthillfarm.com. (JH)

Thursday, August 11

MUSIC: The 2011 Gateways Music Festival: get to it or wait two years. Gateways is a biennial festival, featuring African-American classical musicians. It was founded in 1993 by pianist Armenta Adams Hummings, and the title for this year's festival is "Opening the Gates." Musicians from across the United States come in for the festival, including members of the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony, and others. Thursday, August 11, at 5:30 p.m. is the opening forum for the festival, and it's followed by three days of concerts. On Friday, August 12, you can attend the Youth Showcase Concert at 5:30 p.m. at the Rochester City Hall. On Saturday, August 13, your concert selections include the Gateways Community Chorus at the Wilson Academy Foundation at 2 p.m., and a chamber music concert at the Mount Olivet Baptist Church at 6 p.m. Then on Sunday, August 14, you'll have your choice of venues for music at church services, as well as the Gateways Orchestra Concert at 4 p.m. in Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre. All concerts are free. For more information call the festival hotline at 234-2582 or visit GatewaysMusicFestival.com. (PC)

Friday, August 12

FESTIVAL: Wunderbar! It's time for the German Fest, running August 12-14 at the Spencerport Firemen's Field, hosted by the Federation of German-American Societies. Swing your stein and chow down the wursts, schnitzels, and krauts all day and all night. There will be activities for the kids during the day and live German bands at night. Admission is $6 per day, or a three-day pass is $12. For more information see RochesterGerman.com or call 426-7835. Rochester's list of ethnic festivals includes the Polish Festival (August 5-6), the Puerto Rican Festival (August 5-7), the Ukrainian Festival (August 18-21, see below), and the Irish Festival (September 9-11). And if you miss out on this German Fest, try the two-weekend-long Oktoberfest (September 16-18 & 23-24) put on by and in Irondequoit. (PC)

Saturday, August 13

SPORTS: Baseball and football might rule the sports scene today, but in this area's earlier days, lacrosse was the name of the game. Learn about the history of the ancient sport, including its spiritual aspects, on Saturday, August 13, 1-4 p.m., when Ganondagan State Historic Site will host a Wooden Sticks Lacrosse Game at Dryer Road Park in Victor. Visitors will meet professional league players, view demos, and watch a traditional wooden sticks game. Admission is $5, and free to Friends of Ganondagan members. To learn more, call 742-1690 or visit ganondagan.org, where you can also read about the Native Hunting and Trapping event on June 18, the Community Longball Game on July 9, the Native American Music & Dance Festival on July 23-24, Educators' Day - Eat, Play, Live: The Haudenosaunee Way to Health on August 24, as well as other sport, storytelling, and educational events. (RR)

Sunday, August 14

FESTIVAL: You need more art! And festivals! The 17th Annual Brockport Summer Arts Festival will be held Saturday, August 13, and Sunday, August 14, at the Sweden/Clarkson Recreation Center, (4927 Lake Road South, Brockport). The festival will be open to the public on Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and will feature arts & crafts vendors, food, live music, a farmers' market, vintage car cruise-in, a Wintergarden at 11:30 a.m. each day, Cool Kids entertainment acts on Saturday noon-3 p.m., and duck derby race on Sunday at 4 p.m. For more information, visit brockportartsfestival.com. (RR)

Monday, August 15

SPORTS: The Rochester Red Wings is the oldest and longest-running minor league franchise in the history of professional sports. The team is a significant part of Rochester's sports culture, and it's not really a summer here if you don't catch at least one game. On August 15 the Red Wings will play the Columbus Clippers at Frontier Field in the High Falls district. The game starts at 7:05 p.m., but make sure to get there early because from 6:25-6:45 p.m. a Red Wings Player will be signing autographs for free. Tickets range from $6.50 to $11.50 and can be purchased at redwingsbaseball.com or by calling 423-9464. (AC)

Tuesday, August 16

RECREATION: The definition of parkour on the newish Rochester Parkour organization's website is given as "the physical discipline of training to overcome any obstacle in one's path by adapting one's movements to the environment." I've been told that pros go for many-storied urban runs throughout buildings and even leaping between them. If this calls up images of the heroes in "The Matrix," you're not alone. But you don't have to be a heroic human fighting the machine to get into parkour - it's a great way to improve balance, grace, strength, and responsibility within us mere mortals. Get involved by joining one of the open training sessions at the Rochester Parkour Gym (121 Lincoln Ave.) on Sundays, 3:30-6 p.m., Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 6-10 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5-10 p.m., and Saturdays 5-8 p.m. Or you can book an intro session, which runs 60 to 90 minutes for $35. Kids as young as age 8 can get involved too; email info@rochesterparkour.com or visit rochesterparkour.com for more information. (RR)

Wednesday, August 17

EXHIBIT: It's always fun to get a little sneaky peek into the processes of an artist, especially one as iconic - and ubiquitous - as Norman Rockwell. Some folks love his innocent look at vintage America, while this style provokes eye-rolling in others. Love or loathe his work, you're still going to want to catch "Norman Rockwell: Behind the Camera" at the George Eastman House (900 East Ave.), which runs June 25 through September 18. Rockwell's drawings and magazine-cover illustrations will be paired alongside the meticulously staged photographs that served as studies for his finished works. Also on view through September 18 is the Rockwell exhibition's companion show, "Americana: Hollywood and the American Way of Life," which features 150 images from the collection of family-portrait-esque-motion picture publicity stills conserved at Eastman House, including "It's a Wonderful Life," "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner," and "Junior Miss." Admission to the Eastman House is $5-$12, and hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Thursday until 8 p.m., and Sunday 1-5 p.m. For more information, call 271-3361, or visit eastmanhouse.org. (RR)

Thursday, August 18

MUSIC: How many years have you lived in Rochester and not yet walked around High Falls? Hochstein at High Falls is the weekly music series for 10 outdoor concerts held at noon for your brown-bag entertainment. The variety of musicians scheduled promises something for everyone. On August 18, head over to hear Walri, a local band that performs music of the 60's up to now, from pop to jazz, funk, and rock-and-roll. Walri won the 2007 University of Rochester Battle of the Bands. The Walri concert is the last one of the summer series, which also includes jazz vocalist and bass player Katie Ernst on June 23, and Cashback for Johnny Cash-inspired country on August 11. Check hochstein.org for a full schedule and more information on Hochstein's summer events; you can also check highfalls.us. While these sites say bring your own seats, why not just take off your shoes and dance? (PC)

Friday, August 19

FESTIVAL: The 39th Annual St. Josaphat's Ukrainian Festival should win a most-colorful website award for its photography of traditional arts and crafts from woodworks to embroidery to the Easter eggs ("pysanky") made with beeswax, dyes, and writing tools. This year's event runs August 18-21. In addition to craft vendors, you'll have the opportunity to eat Ukrainian foods like potato and cheese dumplings and kovbasa (a sausage) with kapusta (sauerkraut), while watching brightly attired dancers leap through the air. This year, you can celebrate 20 years of the independence of the Ukraine from the Russian Federation, for which there will be a special celebration on August 21). All the information is at RochesterUkrainianFestival.com or 338-7500. (PC)

Saturday, August 20

SPECIAL EVENT: Celebrate one of Rochester's hippest neighborhoods by heading out to Wedge Stock. The South Wedge will be filled with activities, including a pet parade, live music, a craft market, kids activities, and food vendors, on top of the great local shops and restaurants that line South Avenue and its surroundings. There's tons going on in the Wedge this summer, including Rochester Real Beer Expo on June 25 and the Third Thursday free-concert series, which takes place June 16 (also featuring the Avant Garden unveiling), July 21, August 18, and September 15. For details on all these events check southwedge.com. (ER)

Sunday, August 21

SPORTS: Competition doesn't get much more rudimentary than this: ride a motorcycle to the top of a hill faster than everyone else. Oh, but that's if you can even get there at all, because we're talking a 625-foot hill here, with an incline of about 75 abrupt degrees at the crest. Of course, anyone who's not yet ready to compete can just go watch the Poags Hole Hillclimb, located off Route 36 down near Dansville. Only a small fraction of the riders actually accomplish their missions, so the vicarious spectator thrill lies in the attempts, which combine roaring engines with heart-in-your-mouth visuals, plus lots and lots of flying dirt. Gates open at 9 a.m.; the action begins at 12:30 p.m. Visit poagshole.com for ticket prices and more. (DP)

Monday, August 22

RANDOM: It's Monday, it's likely steaming hot, and at this point you're probably exhausted from your busy summer. Take it easy and grab some friends to visit your favorite local ice-cream stand. Rochester is home to a bunch of year-round ice-cream emporiums, but there's something quintessentially summer about standing in line in the parking lot of one of those seasonal shacks, debating between a soft twist or mint-chocolate-chip hard ice cream, cone or dish, rainbow or chocolate sprinkles. No matter what you pick, sit on one of the obligatory picnic tables or on the hood of your car and reflect back on everything you have left to do before the season ends. I know I'll get shouted down if I mention just one ice-cream place over all the others in town, but screw it: Lugia's on Lyell Road in Spencerport is an annual destination for its truly massive cones. On my first visit I ordered a large, and when I saw the size of it, I - forever a fat kid when it comes to frozen treats - whimpered in dismay and immediately knocked off two of the scoops out of self-preservation. You have been warned! (ER)

Tuesday, August 23

RECREATION: If you're new to Rochester, would like to get to know your city better, or just want to get out into the fresh air while the nice weather lasts, join one of the MVP Health Care Tuesday Nature Nights, which are free and open to the public, and take place each Tuesday during the summer at 6 p.m. On August 23, meet at the Pont de Rennes bridge in High Falls for a guided hike through the Historic High Falls District. Participants will enjoy the breathtaking scenery of the gorge and waterfall, and learn about the vision for Rochester's Great Next Park: Garden Aerial (gardenaerial.org) and the Greentopia Festival, which will take place in September. Fret not if this date doesn't work for you: guided bike rides take place June 21, 28, July 5, 12, 26, August 2 & 9, bringing participants through various neighborhoods and historic districts; guided hikes take place July 21 and August 23; and a guided canoe/kayak paddle will be offered August 16. For more information call 428-5990, or visit cityofrochester.gov. (RR)

Wednesday, August 24

MUSIC: Last year's Canandaigua LakeMusic Festival was an array of top classical musicians in venues from churches to Wegmans courtesy of artistic directors Amy Sue Barston and Edward Klorman. This year the programming looks to outdo last year's success. Beginning on August 17 and running through August 28, you'll have a chance to attend a variety of concerts, ranging from traditional classical to family-friendly. On August 24 you can catch a "classical blue-jeans" concert with RPO concertmaster Juliana Athayde at the Canandaigua Wegmans Market Caf� (6 p.m., $15-$50). Headlining the 2011 festival is cellist Mike Block, who Yo-Yo Ma has described as "my definition of the ideal musician for the 21st century." On August 19 at 7:30 p.m., Block will bring Ravel and Dvorak to life, as well as performing his own compositions; tickets cost $10-$50. Not far behind in the headlines is clarinetist Moran Katz, who the New York Times said plays with "assertive and at times explosive energy." She'll be on the soprano recorder for some Beethoven and the clarinet for Brahms. You'll find Katz in concert on August 21 at 7:30 p.m. for the same ticket price. For details on all the concerts visit LakeMusicFestival.org or call 690-1220. (PC)

Thursday, August 25

ART EVENT: Food, music, art, and some wine or beer really make for a winning Thursday night. Head over to Max at the Gallery Tapas Night any Thursday this summer to enjoy all of the above just inside the entrance to the Memorial Art Gallery (500 University Ave). Tapas (small servings of food popular in Spain) and drinks are served 5-8 p.m. for purchase. Wine and dine while listening to live music, or explore the gallery, which is open until 9 p.m. during the event, and gallery admission is reduced to $5 for adults. Also at the MAG this summer is the "63rd Rochester-Finger Lakes Exhibition," running July 24 through September 25, with an exhibition opening party on July 23. This exhibit showcases 100 works by 49 artists from western and central New York. For more information check mag.rochester.edu. (JH)

Friday, August 26

HOLIDAY: The 19th Amendment was ratified on August 26, 1920, giving women the right to vote after a 72-year struggle. Western New York, and particularly Rochester, played a big part of this history. This Women's Equality Day, celebrate suffragists by visiting the Susan B. Anthony House (19 Madison St.), the former home of one of the most significant leaders in the women's suffrage movement. You can also take a walk in Mt. Hope Cemetery, where both Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass are buried. If you want to travel a little further you can visit the Women's Rights National Historical Park in Seneca Falls. If nothing else, take a minute to appreciate all of the freedoms you have, as either a man or a woman, and remember that they were fought for by others. Visit susanbanthonyhouse.org or rochesternow.org for more Equality Day info. (AC)

Saturday, August 27

SPECIAL EVENT: If you enjoy all things local - from fresh, organic food, to handmade crafts - then don't miss the dinner-in-the-vineyard event Cuisine Culture on August 27 at Inspire Moore Vineyard (197 N. Main St., Naples). The evening will begin with a winery and farm tour led by the vintners, Tim and Diane Moore, followed by five-course dinner featuring an all-local-foods (sourced from a 40-mile radius around Naples), served on handmade pottery, which will help you appreciate and celebrate the bounty of the Finger Lakes region. Artisans and farmers, who will join you for dinner, will provide information and samples, and the ceramic artists will talk about how they designed the dinnerware and the work that went into the production of the sets, which will be available for purchase later that evening. After dinner, live music will set the mood for dancing under the stars. For more information, and tickets, which cost $87, visit cuisineculturenow.wordpress.com. (RR)

Sunday, August 28

SPECIAL EVENT: Spend a hot summer day learning about and celebrating those who live to fight the heat at the Smoke, Flames and Courage Expo. This community event, running August 27-28, exists to help locals learn about the history of their local fire departments. Firefighting demonstrations include an 1800's firefighting reenactment, rescue simulations, and efficiency competitions. Other weekend activities include live music, horse-drawn steam engines, and a firefighter-history museum. Bring the kids, potential firefighters, or even a retired firefighter to enjoy two days of festivities at the Port of Rochester and Ontario Beach Park (Lake and Beach Avenues, Charlotte). For more information including a full schedule visit cityofrochester.gov. (JH)

Monday, August 29

RECREATION: Labor Day is only a week away, which means our all-too-brief summer is drawing to a close. But you haven't really done summer in Rochester until you've done Seabreeze Amusement Park. Now, if you're anything like this Irondequoit native, you've probably taken Seabreeze for granted. So after you do a bit of research at seabreeze.com, head toward Lake Ontario and remind yourself of all that this nifty little park has to offer, from the legendary Jack Rabbit (built in 1920, it's one of the oldest operating roller coasters in the world) to the dizzying Revolution 360 to the Raging Rivers Waterpark. Take in the Cirque En Vol acrobat show, play some skee ball, have a white hot and a sugar waffle. Then, and only then, is your summer complete. (DP)

Tuesday, August 30

THEATER: Former Catholic-school students will identify with the protagonists of "Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up?", the current production at Merry-Go-Round Theater in Auburn. The coming-of-age comedy follows a gang of kids navigating Catholic school in the 1960's, grappling with everything from hormones to bizarre urban legends to good old Catholic guilt. The show runs August 24-September 10. Merry-Go-Round is located in Emerson Park, off Route 38A in Auburn. The rest of its 2011 season includes "Anything Goes" (through June 22), "Hairspray" (June 29-July 20), "Cooking with the Calamari Sisters" (July 13-August 20), "42nd Street" (July 27-August 17), and "The Marvelous Wonderettes" (September 14-October 1). For more information visit merry-go-round.com or call 315-255-1785. (ER)

Wednesday, August 31

MUSIC: The price of gas and wages are probably on your mind. Instead of a vacation abroad, or even out-of-state, go just 90 minutes east to Skaneateles and you'll find a slice of classical-music heaven. The 30th Annual Skaneateles Festival boasts David Ying of the famed Ying Quartet as one of its artistic directors and performers. Last year's programming was pages long, and this year is no shorter. Best advice? Print it out, read it through, and good luck at only selecting one, two, or three concerts from August 8 to September 3; you'll want to attend them all. The concert on August 31 at 8 p.m. features a Rochester favorite, international concert pianist Jon Nakamatsu. The program includes Rameau's "Gavotte" and "Doubles," the fiendishly difficult "Dante Sonata" by Liszt, shimmering sounds of Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata," and Chopin's "Andante Spianato," and the spectacular "Grande Polonaise Brilliante." Wear comfortable shoes; you should plan to be on your feet for a while in a standing ovation. For all the details, including a schedule and ticket info, go to skanfest.org or call 315-685-4802. (PC)