CITY Newspaper's Winter Guide 2018 by CITY Magazine

16 CITY WINTER GUIDE 2018

A HEARTY BUNCH [ INTRODUCTION ] BY JAKE CLAPP

Many people’s knee-jerk reaction when the temperatures dip into the below-freezing territory is to run inside and hibernate. And we’re not crazy; sometimes you should listen to your instincts — like during the closing days of 2017 when the cold threatened frostbite to exposed skin in less than 30 minutes. But that instant reaction to huddle indoors during the winter can mean we miss out on some real Western New York natural beauty and outdoor fun. In this year’s Winter Guide, we wanted to highlight things that would make you want to dig out that snow suit and take advantage of the region during the cold season. Just remember to dress in layers, drive a little more carefully, and practice your penguin walk for the icy sidewalks. Everyone loves sledding. Admit it, you do. But for some reason, adults tend to think they’ve outgrown it, or it never comes to mind as a way to spend a Saturday. Writer Amanda Fintak in her “grown-up’s guide to sledding,” on page 18, says “set your ego aside,” grab a Rubbermaid lid, and recapture some of that childhood winter nostalgia. A lot has already been said about the Finger Lakes region’s wine industry. But there’s an interesting detail that isn’t often discussed: The Finger Lakes region is one of only a few places in the world where ice wine can be produced organically. The region’s soil can grow hearty grapes, and Upstate winters get cold enough to freeze those grapes on the vine. Nicole VanDenBergh on page 20 writes more about that process and about Casa Larga’s annual ice wine festival. Maybe you’re itching to get out of the house, but not sure where to go. On page 24, Hassan Zaman highlights seven area parks to explore and lists what activities — like cross-country skiing, sledding, and snowshoeing — can be done there. Then on page 26, Rebecca Rafferty talks with Jeff Bleier, an award-winning regional ice sculptor, about his art and running the annual Caledonia Ice Festival, which takes place in February. And if you’re looking for more events to check out this season, we end this year’s Winter Guide with a round-up of 18 events for the first quarter of 2018. While we’re all addicted to Netflix and nice blankets, there’s a lot of fun to be had out there this winter. What makes you get out of the house during the Rochester winter? Let us know below this article online at rochestercitynewspaper.com.

INSIDE RECREATION............................... 18 DRINKS...................................... 20 PHOTO.. ...................................... 22 OUTDOORS................................. 24 ART............................................ 26 EVENTS .................................... 28 On the cover: Illustration by Max Wilkins Publishers: William and Mary Anna Towler Editorial department themail@rochester-citynews.com Arts & entertainment editor: Rebecca Rafferty Music editor: Jake Clapp Special Sections editor: Adam Lubitow Contributing writers: Amanda Fintak, Kurt Indovina, Rebecca Rafferty, Nicole VanDenBergh, Hassan Zaman Art department artdept@rochester-citynews.com Art director/production manager: Ryan Williamson Designers: Renée Heininger, Jacob Walsh Advertising department ads@rochester-citynews.com New sales development: Betsy Matthews Sales Representatives: Bill Towler, David White Operations/Circulation kstathis@rochester-citynews.com Business manager: Angela Scardinale Circulation manager: Katherine Stathis Winter Guide is published by WMT Publications,

Inc. Copyright by WMT Publications Inc., 2018 - all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, photocopying, recording or by any information storage retrieval system without permission of the copyright owner.

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A GROWN-UP’S GUIDE TO SLEDDING [ RECREATION ] BY AMANDA FINTAK | PHOTOS BY RENÉE HEININGER

As an adult, it can be difficult to find the time for nostalgic, winter staples, like sledding. There is something so simple about racing down a frozen hill, uncontrollably giggling and forgetting about your obligations for a fleeting moment. Now that I’m older and wiser, but still a kid at heart, sledding makes

a long, bleak winter into something I’ve come to anticipate. I remember, one Christmas break years ago, I begged my dad to take me and my friends out sledding. He tied his oldfashioned, five-foot-long, wooden toboggan with red iron rails to the top of his old Buick

and we headed to Bullard Park in Albion. Inside the park is a steep hill with a rushing creek at the bottom. If you were a pro, like my friends and me, you knew how to not lose your sled: you had to take a sharp right before the old walnut tree. I’ve been chasing that thrill ever since.

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18 CITY WINTER GUIDE 2018

No matter your age, it’s still possible to catch those sledding thrills. But being all grown up, you’ll need to reconsider the gear you bring, the beverages you pack, and the hills you chose to bomb. Just set your ego aside and let the good times roll.

Sleds

Let’s be realistic, most adults without kids don’t have sleds sitting around. If you need to buy something (or improvise), remember, you’re not the size of an 8-year-old anymore. You’ll need something sturdier. If you’re on a budget, the easiest, most malleable object to grab is the lid to a Rubbermaid trash can. I’ve even used a twin-sized air mattress before. Just apply some cooking spray to the bottom of either DIY sleds and you’re good to go. You can also find $5 plastic saucers at any dollar store in town, and Wilson Hardware on the corner of Monroe and Canterbury has sled options. If you decide to splurge on something inflatable, make sure it’s made of PVC, so it doesn’t pop on the first run. Handles and a rope are crucial for the hike back up the hill. In my experience, it’s not much of a thrill with more than two people on a sled, but if you decide to go that route, multi-person sleds should have plastic on the bottom and foam on top. Treating those sleds with ski wax will give it less friction.

Warm fuzzies

The great thing about going sledding as an adult is the ability to sip on some spirits while reliving your childhood — and flying down a cold hill at 20 miles per hour. The Holy Grail of sledding cocktails, in my opinion, is a simple hot cider mixed with Maker’s Mark

Bourbon. But fill up that trusty Thermos with any number of warm drinks: mulled wine, spiced Irish coffee, Kahlua and hot chocolate, or buttered rum. Remember though, while booze makes you feel deceptively warmer, it actually drops your core temperature, so make sure you are keeping warm in other ways. Proper layering is key, and reliable winter gear is a must when spending a couple hours in below freezing weather. I’ve learned that water-resistant gloves go a long way while gripping to your sled for dear life, and snow pants or coveralls are crucial for keeping all that snow out and the heat in. And even with brand new boots, placing a plastic bag inside of them will keep your feet warm and dry.

The sweet spots Cobb’s Hill Park

There are two different major hills inside Cobb’s Hill Park, each with its own risk factors. The most frequented hill is at the top of the reservoir. If you’re night-sledding, the only way to access it is by climbing the hill from Monroe Avenue. Caution: you can pick up some serious speed here — I’ve slid past the utility building at the bottom and into the street. And watch out for a few handmade jumps that can seriously knock the wind out of you upon landing on your soon-to-be-sore ass.

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The other hill is located near the former School 1 on Norris Drive. It’s also doable after the sunsets, but if you’re a speed demon like me, this one doesn’t quite cut it. On a positive note, though, it’s easier and faster to hike up than on the main hill.

maybe even a full 360 — leaving you slightly discombobulated and possibly nauseous. This is a slope that’s definitely not for the inexperienced sledder, but definitely for thrill-seekers. Highland Park

Northampton Park

Northampton Park is located on Hubbell Road and Rt. 31 in Brockport. The park itself contains five trails, open all year around. On one side of the road is a downhill ski area operated by Swain, with rope towing. The sledding area can get crowded with kids on the weekends, but if you explore to the right of the hill, there’s a small, tree-lined trail. It can be dangerous, but it’s more fun than dodging toddlers. The bottom of the summit tends to fill with water if there was a mid-winter melt, so — coming from personal experience — roll off the sled before reaching the scummy pond. Black Creek Park

In 8th grade, my best friend broke her leg on this hill. I know there are bigger hills, but this one is definitely the fastest. If you turn into the Union Street entrance and park at the Woodside Lodge, you will see a massive slope to the left. At the pinnacle of this hill, gravity takes hold like a rollercoaster about to freefall. You’ll pick up speed and physics will take over, resulting in 180 degrees spins,

If you park at the top of the reservoir, you can see a literal bowl in the landscape. I wouldn’t define this area as much of a hill; it’s more like a demolition sledding derby. Kids and adults alike are speeding down the inclines from three sides, with a variety of pine trees scattered about — sledding there is more like a level of “Crash Bandicoot.” If that’s not your thing, scoot on down to the amphitheater. The hills there are more kid-friendly, with a slower pace and fewer obstacles. Perinton Community Center

Much like Black Creek Park, there is one impressive hill that will appeal to sledders over the age of 10. The younger kids can utilize the gentler slope beside the main hill — although, I did notice some busted sleds at the bottom; I’m curious if I didn’t take the right descending lane. I have only experienced this hill once, due to the long climb back to the top. I wouldn’t recommend buzzed sledding here, either, since it’s the most populated hill in Fairport.

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20 CITY WINTER GUIDE 2018

[ DRINKS ] BY NICOLE VANDENBERGH

Rochesterians love to incorporate wine into any season. Wine slushies are a centerpiece of the Lilac Festival, and local companies make it easy to plan robust winery tours in the fall. The frigid winter months, those bring a thick, sweet dessert wine known as ice wine. Ice wine is a highly concentrated dessert wine known for its sweet flavor and syrupy mouthfeel. The first recorded

ice wine harvest occurred in 19th century Germany, and by the 1960’s, “Eiswein” harvests became increasingly common and eventually migrated west. While the Finger Lakes region is already lauded for producing quality wines, it is especially well-positioned to produce ice wine. The region’s rich soil grows hearty grapes, and Upstate winters get cold enough to freeze those grapes on the vine. When harvested

and processed, these thick, frozen grapes produce the stickiest and sweetest natural ice wines. Winemakers in other regions can artificially mimic the process, but the Finger Lakes area is one of only a few places in the world that it happens organically. The ice wine trademark is that grapes are left on the vine to freeze before being pressed. Regular harvest grapes are typically picked in the fall between the middle of September and the beginning of November. According to Matt Cassavaugh, head winemaker at Casa Larga Vineyards, this is when he identifies his best ice wine grapes. “We select some of our nicest, healthiest fruit and designate them to stay on the vine until we get the proper picking conditions,” Cassavaugh says. Heartier grapes, says Steve DiFrancesco, the winemaker at Glenora Wine Cellars, produce the best ice wines — Vidal, Riesling, and Cabernet Franc grapes are his preferred varieties. The timing of an ice wine harvest is often determined by Mother Nature. Casa Larga uses 18 degrees Fahrenheit as its benchmark temperature for an ice wine harvest, while Glenora harvests ice wine grapes at 13 degrees Fahrenheit. This allows the grapes to freeze completely solid and remain that way throughout the entire pressing process. “If grapes thaw during pressing, some of the sweetness is lost,” DiFrancesco says. A completely frozen grape yields the rich caramel flavor that ice wine connoisseurs expect. While a similar end product can be made with grapes that are frozen after picking, the term “ice wine” has been reserved for wines that were produced in the traditional method, from grapes that were naturally frozen on the vine. Casa Larga’s ice wine series is called “Fiori Delle Stelle,” or “flower of the stars,” for the cold, clear nights on which the winery harvests its ice wine grapes. Glenora produced its most recent batch of natural ice wine in 2013, but that hasn’t stopped them from producing what DiFrancesco calls “cryogenic” ice wine. These grapes are picked during the normal harvest and are cryogenically frozen before pressing. The process is more artificial, but “the end result is cleaner and more technically perfect,” DiFrancesco says. Not to be confused with the naturallymade product, these wines are labeled as “iced wine.” This helps regulate pricing, as DiFrancesco says that organically-made ice wine can be sold at a higher price than its artificial counterpart. While local temperatures and soil conditions may be favorable, the arduous

pressing process makes ice wine a rare delicacy. Out of hundreds of Finger Lakes wineries, only a few produce ice wine. Casa Larga uses a special presser that removes excess water from the process. Less water content means quality ice wines with a signature fruity-thick taste. “The hallmark of ice wine is concentration,” Cassavaugh says. “Concentrated sugars, acidity, flavors, and aromas create a precision and focus that really demonstrate the true qualities of a grape.”

Locally made ice wines can be purchased at area liquor stores such as Lisa’s Liquor Barn, Marketview Liquor, and Century Liquor; as well as on winery websites and in person at tasting rooms. In addition to Casa Larga and Glenora, other area wineries that produce this delicacy include Inspire Moore (197 Main Street, Naples); Knapp Winery (2770 County Road 128, Romulus); and Standing Stone Vineyards (9934 NY-414, Hector). Casa Larga makes a full celebration

out of the ice wine season. Since 1998, the vineyard has held an annual ice wine festival to celebrate the harvest and its product. Over the years, the festival has expanded to include a culinary component and a myriad of other offerings including seminars; wine and craft beer tastings; an ice wine luge; and horse-drawn carriage rides. This year, the New York Ice Wine & Culinary Festival will take place on Saturday, February 24, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., at

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Casa Larga Vineyards (2287 Turk Hill Road, Fairport). “We are extremely lucky to work in a region where ice wine production is even a possibility,” Cassavaugh said. “There aren’t many regions that have a warm enough growing season to ripen grapes during the summer and fall, and then consistently cold enough winter temperatures to freeze those grapes on the vine.”

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ROCHESTER WINTER SURVIVAL KIT [ SARCASM ] BY RYAN WILLIAMSON | PHOTO BY JACOB WALSH

If you wear sneakers outdoors between October and March, this list is for you. If your tires aren't the nicest thing on your car, this list is for you. If your snow shovel wasn't inveted by a NASA engineer from Minnesota, this list is for you. If your snow scraper is still in the back of your ex's car, this list is for you. If you find yourself relating to our failed winter warrior (our model, Sean McVay, is one hell-of-an outdoorsman) then maybe it's time to either figure out how to operate in this climate or to move.

22 CITY WINTER GUIDE 2018

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Did you know ice melt doesn't work below 10 degrees? Why do they bother selling it here?

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Shop Local. Shop the Wedge.

You may have seen the meme of “Star Wars” characters under a heavy Hoth snowfall quipping, “Going to Wegmans. Need anything?” It’s true that the Upstate New York climate can be fickle in how it participates in the changing of the seasons — sometimes it feels like all we get is winter and construction season. Both can be equally oppressive and fraught with their share of detours. While Upstate winter can be windy and harsh, an attraction of Rochester is its versatility, with outdoor activities to enjoy in the summer and the winter alike. Whatever your seasonal preference, Monroe County and the surrounding area has a diversity of parks at which to find your center this winter and beyond. Here are seven parks to explore this winter, free of admission, and what activities can best be done there. Unless otherwise noted, you can find more information about these parks at monroecounty.gov/parks or by calling 753-7275.

Ellison Park

Ellison Park (395 Rich’s Dugway) resides east of downtown, emptying out from Atlantic Avenue. It’s a popular spot for group activities, with its mainly flat areas, lodges for rent, and two designated hills for sledding. Its sprawling lawns, gradual hills, and wooded patches make it a fortuitous spot for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. The quarry is a comely pointof-interest for morning walks, and an ice skating rink is located off Blossom Road (though visitors must bring their own skates). The park is open daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Powder Mills Park

Splayed in between Bushnell’s Basin and Eastview Mall, Powder Mills Park (154 Park Road, Pittsford) is located southeast of downtown Rochester. Its diverse and coarsely wooded topography could have you busy exploring a full weekend on snowshoes or cross-country skis. The bunny slope is an opportune spot to find footing as a novice snowboarder or downhill skier, and its several inclines and lodges for rent make it ideal for family tobogganing and group gettogethers. The park is open daily from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Hope Cemetery could include your visit to the park in a longer itinerary, or give you a chance to explore the 19th Ward and PLEX neighborhoods. The park is open daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.

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Letchworth State Park

Letchworth State Park (1 Letchworth State Park, Castile), just around an hour southwest of Rochester by car, is a bucolic option on weekends when you’re longing for respite from urban slosh. This state park is the largest on this list. Its geological features are plentiful, frozen waterfalls are grand, and

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Durand Eastman Park

Durand Eastman Park (570 Lake Shore Boulevard), northeast of downtown, is at the shores of Lake Ontario. Its beaches are a comely location to enjoy serene winter sunrises and sunsets, ornamenting a frozen waterscape. There are cross-country ski paths carved out, and the beaches could be traversed on snowshoes. The rugged among us might elect to join the group of riders surfing Lake Ontario on sharp winter mornings. The park is open daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.

ponds are free to ice fish. Cabins are for rent, and robust transcendental scenery makes it an appropriate landscape for sojourns to work on creative projects and ruminate on snowy hikes. The park is open daily from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. 493-3600; letchworthpark.com.

Mendon Ponds Park

Mendon Ponds Park (95 Douglas Road, Honeoye Falls), southeast of downtown — between Clover Street and Pittsford-Mendon Center Road — offers a varied landscape, often coveted for its glacially created geological features, like Devil’s Bathtub, and the East Esker Trail. It’s the largest park in the Monroe Country system, featuring 2,500 acres of woodlands, wetlands, and ponds. Shelters and lodges are for rent year-round. Snowshoeing is welcome, and groomed trails are available for cross-country skiing. There are two designated hills for tobogganing as well. Open daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.

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Braddock Bay Park

Genesee Valley Park

Genesee Valley Park (1000 East River Road), southwest of center city, features the mighty Genesee River. This spot offers a rustic element to your lifestyle without having to leave city limits; a sturdy location to stretch your legs on a lunch break. Its indoor ice arena hosts ice skating, hockey leagues, and other special events. Its proximity to Mount

Braddock Bay Park (199 East Manitou Road) — northwest of Rochester — is located on the Lake Ontario shoreline, and is an ecological hotspot for birds migrating in the spring, making it an opportune park for birdwatching. Its boardwalk to the bay and observation platform offer excellent views and photo opportunities towards the flora, fauna, and horizon of the neighboring lake from which the bay pools. Its five ponds are available for fishing and hiking trails are available. Canoe and kayak launches are also available by the marina property. The park is open daily from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. greeceny. gov/braddock-bay-park; 225-2000.

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carving competitions in Pennsylvania, and he began to develop his unexpected enthusiasm into an art. “The brunch pieces were a little more solid, bulky, thick — something that’s gonna last indoors in the warmth for six to 10 hours,” he says. “A competition piece is thin, delicate, fragile, and it’s all about balance and outline. It only needs to last for 10 minutes after being judged. Then it can fall down and break and it doesn’t matter, ’cause they’ve judged the piece. Pushing it to the limit is what you want to do in a competition.” One of the works he’s most proud of creating is a sculpture of a motorcyclist doing the “Superman” stunt (where the rider holds the handlebars while kicking their legs straight behind them). Other dynamic creations, viewable on the “ice gallery” page of the inn’s website, include a bucking horse and rider, and a stag beneath an owl in flight — the antlers and outstretched feathers of the latter sculpture truly showcase the level of delicate detail an artist can eke from the ice. The contemporary tools of the trade have

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The phrase “ice sculpture” brings to mind, at least to my mind, two distinct pictures: Graceful tabletop centerpieces in elegant settings, slowly losing form as they equalize with room temperature, and archaic visions of frozen chips flying as an artisan chops away at a block with a chainsaw. Ice sculpting tools have become much more specialized, says Jeff Bleier, an award-winning regional ice sculptor. And the practice is a competitive, niche art-sport that can bring top sculptors all the way to the Winter Olympics. Bleier is owner-chef of the Caledonia Village Inn, which hosts the annual 26 CITY WINTER GUIDE 2018

Caledonia Ice Festival in celebration of the craft. The merry, mid-winter party — the seventh edition is scheduled for February 25 — is also held to help the community stave off the seasonal doldrums. Bleier speaks with a jovial, easy-going tone as he explains that he sort of stumbled upon ice sculpting in the mid-1980’s, when he was attending Monroe Community College for commercial art and working as a cook at the Hilton Hotel on Jefferson Road. In addition to running the kitchen, the chef at the time would create an ice carving for every Sunday brunch. The chef “ended up breaking his leg, and they needed someone to fill in,” Bleier says. “So I’m like, ‘Yeah, sure. I’ll give that a shot.’ That’s how it all started — carving for Sunday brunches.” Before long, Bleier met some other ice crafters and began traveling to national ice

come a long way, Bleier says, and now include die grinder bits and rasp bits, which enable the carver to create fine details, and different flows and symmetry into the ice. Each sculpture begins with a sketch, Bleier says, “then you expand the block by taking it apart, moving some pieces, and welding it back together with a fusing technique.” This is achieved by using heated aluminum flats that weld pieces of the ice together, Bleier says. “It just holds — the temperatures have to be right, sometimes you have to hit it with dry ice.” Bleier in the late-90’s began competing in the World Ice Art Championships, held annually in Fairbanks, Alaska. At the sixday competition, teams of four artists create a work from 12 four-foot-square blocks of ice, some finished pieces reaching 25 feet in height. Bleier’s team took second place in the championships a few of times, including in

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2002, which earned him a spot at the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. “The guy who had taken first was already qualified for the Olympics, so the seat went to second place,” Bleier says. He chose his brother as his partner, and their sculpture of Dorothy from “The Wizard of Oz” earned them 10th place. Bleier and his wife Lisa bought the

Caledonia Village Inn nine years ago this April. “With owning the restaurant, it’s hard to get away and compete anymore, to get up to Alaska,” he says. “It’s almost a full two weeks with travel, competing, awards, and all that. So it’s a lot of time for me to take off when we started the restaurant.” Bummed and missing the thrill of competing, Bleier started the Caledonia Ice Festival, which he hosts in the back lot of the inn each winter. During the afternoon and into the evening he works at shaping a massive sculpture while visitors take in live music, kids’ games, and can purchase food and drinks from regional vendors. It’s grown over the years to include bonfires, an outdoor ice bar, and photo booths. This year’s fest has a “Flintstones” theme, and Bleier says he’s planning a sculpture in the shape of Fred sliding down his brontosauruscrane’s tail as he’s leaving work. There’ll also be “Bedrock bowling” and other themed kids’ games, themed food, and an ice “shot luge” bourbon tasting. The organizers are hoping for a cloudy day on the 25th, but not so cold that the community stays in — the success of the event is a delicate balance between the sun staying hidden and the people coming out. “There’s just two things you get out of ice carving: Photos and memories,” Bleier says with a chuckle. “It’s not a lasting art. But yeah, it’s been a hobby that’s carried me through in the artistic thing, and given me the ability to create eye-pleasing sculptures that people enjoy and are fascinated by. And then boom! The sun comes out.”

rochestercitynewspaper.com CITY 27

18 FOR 2018 EVENTS WORTH BRAVING THE COLD FOR THIS WINTER [ PREVIEW ] BY KURT INDOVINA

The Rochester winter can be a brooding time of year that can occasionally feel a little hopless. Sure, you can stay inside in your own private hibernation — until the inevitable sense of cabin fever sinks in. So we’re here to fight that hermit-like temptation with a list of 18 events worth braving the weather for in the first quarter of 2018. Did we miss something you find especially enticing? Add it to the comments section of this article at rochestercitynewspaper.com.

COMEDY | Sebastian Maniscalco

Sebastian Maniscalco is something of an American success story. Born to Italian immigrants, the Chicago native got his start by moving to Los Angeles, where he began doing stand-up at open mics in bars and bowling alleys while hustling a day job. He worked his way into regular gigs and eventually landed on Comedy Central Presents, which then led him to a list of television gigs on shows hosted by Vince Vaughn, Jay Leno, and Jimmy Fallon, to name a few. Maniscalco will perform Thursday, January 25, and Friday, January 26, at the Auditorium Theatre, 885 East Main Street. 7:30 p.m. Thursday; 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on Friday. $42.75-$62.75. 222-5000; rbtl.org.

FILM | ‘Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India’

Back in 2014, the George Eastman Museum acquired 775 Indian film prints that were discovered in an abandoned multiplex in Southern California. Since November, the Dryden Theatre has been screening a selection of those films. “Lagaan” is considered one of the biggest sensations of modern Indian cinema — an epic tale of love and power (and sports!) set in a small village under British occupation. “Lagaan” screens Thursday, January 25, at the Dryden Theatre, 900 East Avenue. 7:30 p.m. $10 nonmembers; $7 members; $5 students. 327-4800; eastman.org/dryden-theatre.

MUSIC | THAW X 2018

THAW is an annual celebration of the life, music, and birthday of the late, great Tony Cavagnaro, one of the original members of The Buddahood. This is the 10th 28 CITY WINTER GUIDE 2018

and final THAW concert, but The Buddahood, along with many of its friends, is leaving it with a packed lineup. Other acts include Bombshell Belly Dance, Jeffery Woody Woodruff, Addison Heffernan, and a lot more. All the proceeds go to the “Tony Cavagnaro Young Musician’s Scholarship Fund” to benefit Hochstein School of Music & Dance. THAW X takes place Friday, January 26, at Anthology, 336 East Avenue. 8:30 p.m. $10. 484-1964; anthologylive.com.

THEATER | ‘Anything Goes’

Skip the cold and take a trip on the SS American. The 1934 musical follows Billy Crocker, a young Wall Street broker who falls in love with a mysterious girl named Hope. When he sees her forced onto a boat heading from London to America, he boards the boat to save her, only to find out she’s an English heiress on the run. Music and lyrics by Cole Porter. “Anything Goes” will be onstage Friday, January 26, through Sunday, January 28, at Roberts Cultural Life Center, 2301 Westside Drive. 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturday; 2 p.m. on Sunday. $17-$23. 594-1008; roberts.edu.

MUSIC | ‘Winter Sing’

The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra will accompany a community chorus in a reading of the Brahms Requiem. The deadline to apply to participate passed in November, but it’s free to come by and watch. It’ll be directed by William Weinert, director of the EastmanRochester Chorus. “Winter Sing” takes place Saturday, January 27, Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre, 60 Gibbs Street. 1 p.m. Free. 454-7311; rpo.org.

THEATER | ‘Glengarry Glen Ross’

“Always be closing,” Alec Baldwin viciously repeated in his iconic role as a real estate salesman in the 1992 to film adaptation of “Glengarry Glen Ross.” In this case, Blackfriars Theatre is opening its 2018 with a rendition of David Mamet’s Tony-winning dark comedy about cutthroat real estate salesmen. ‘Glengarry Glen Ross’ takes place February 2 through February 18 at Blackfriars Theatre, 795 East Main Street. Thursdays at 7:30 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m.; Sundays at 2 p.m. $28.50-$36.50. 4541260; blackfriars.org.

ART | ‘No Soil Better’

Commemorating the 200th anniversary of Frederick Douglass’s birth, the Rochester Contemporary Art Center is featuring work that reflects on how Douglass has been memorialized and the importance of his legacy today. The exhibit will display new pieces by a diverse group of emerging and established artists. ‘No Soil Better’ will be on display February 2 through March 18 at Rochester Contemporary Art Center, 137 East Avenue. Opening reception Friday, February 2, 6 p.m. $2. 461-2222; rochestercontemporary.org.

KIDS THEATER | ‘The Gingerbread Man’

RAPA Theatre opens its 2018 with the tale of that brash gingerbread cookie that leaps from the oven and taunts a young girl to catch him. In her attempt to do so, she finds herself on adventure involving a karate-kicking donkey and a fashionable skunk. Directed by Adele Fico. “The Gingerbread Man” will be on stage

February 3 through February 11 at the Kodak Center, 200 West Ridge Road. 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturdays; 2 p.m. on Sundays; 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. on Thursday and Friday. A sensory-friendly performance will be held 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, February 4. $10-$20. 2540073; rapatheatre.org.

THEATER | ‘On Your Feet!’

The Broadway musical “On Your Feet!” follows the lives and music of husbandand-wife team Gloria and Emilio Estefan, who combined have won 26 Grammy Awards. The jukebox musical is now on its first US tour, with a stop in Rochester. “On Your Feet!” will be on stage February 6 through February 11 at the Rochester Auditorium Theatre, 885 East Main Street. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; 8 p.m. Friday; 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday; and 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sunday. $38-$78. 222-5000; rochestertheatre.org.

KIDS | Royal Ball Weekend

It’s not every winter you get to attend an event as royal as this one. Dress in your most regal attire and meet Her Majesty, the Queen of Play. The weekend will be full of dancing, lively music, quests to fulfill, and the chance to be knighted by the queen herself. The Royal Ball Weekend takes place February 10 and February 11 at The Strong National Museum of Play, 1 Manhattan Square. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday; 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Normal museum admission ($15 ages 2 and up). 263-2700; museumofplay.org.

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MUSIC | Tiempo Libre

Tiempo Libre is bringing the warmth of the Caribbean to Nazareth College with its dance-inducing mix of Latin Jazz and Cuban-influenced music. The Miami-based ensemble has been featured on “The Tonight Show,” “Live from Lincoln Center,” and “Dancing with the Stars.” Tiempo Libre performs February 10 at Nazareth College Arts Center, 4245 East Avenue. 8 p.m. $25-$35. 389-2170; naz.edu.

SPECIAL EVENT | Polar Plunge

Winter is no obstacle in this courageous feat. Plunge into the winter waters to show support and raise money for the Special Olympics. The plunge takes place Sunday, February 11, at Ontario Beach Park, 4799 Lake Avenue. Registration at 9 a.m. Plunge at noon. 5867400; polarplunge.net.

THEATER | Bronze Collective Theatre Fest

In its 4th year, the Bronze Collective Theatre Fest is a week-long celebration and display of local African-American and African Diasporic artists and producers. They’ll be a variety of spoken word, theater, storytelling, and more. The festival takes place February 12 through February 18 at MuCCC, 142 Atlantic Avenue. Nightly at 7:30 p.m., and 2 p.m. on Sunday. facebook.com/rochesterbronzecollective; muccc.org.

THEATER | ‘Two Tickets to Paradise’

Eddie Money’s claim to fame is a tale to tell, and what better representation then through the medium that took him to stardom: music. “Two Tickets to Paradise” is premiering in Rochester and will be narrated by none other than Money himself. “Two Tickets to Paradise” will be on stage February 14 through February 18 at the Kodak Center, 200 West Ridge Road. Wednesday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m.; 2 p.m. on Sunday. $34.50-$59.50. 254-0073; rapatheatre.org.

MUSIC | Tyler, the Creator

Tyler, the Creator is a force to be reckoned with. He came onto the hip-hop scene with an aggressive sensibility and a humorous grit few of his contemporaries could come close to. Vince Staples also performs on this bill. Tyler, the Creator performs February 21 at the Main Street Armory, 900 East Main Street. 7:30 p.m. $39.50-$105. 232-3221; mainstreetarmory.com.

SPECIAL EVENT | The Happiest Hour

Nothing warms the heart in the bitter cold quite like booze and a little child-like fun. Play with a purpose at the Happiest Hour, a 21-and-older, after-hours fundraiser to support the Museum of Play. The Happiest Hour takes place Wednesday, March 7, at The Strong National Museum of Play, 1 Manhattan Square. 5:30-9:30 p.m. $15. 263-2700; museumofplay.org.

THEATER | Miss Richfield 1981’s ‘Born Again’

Miss Richfield 1981 is a national treasure among the drag community, and has been referenced as the root of inspiration for Rochester’s own Mrs. Kasha Davis. She’s bringing her new show, “Born Again,” an off-kilter combination of interactive theatrics and improv comedy about finding a new religion to bring our divided nation together, to Rochester. “Born Again” will be onstage April 6 and April 7 at the Kodak Center, 200 West Ridge Road. 8 p.m. $35-$60. 254-0073; rapatheatre.org.

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MUSIC | Anthrax

If the winter isn’t over by the time Anthrax takes the stage at The Dome Arena, then Mother Nature is going to get a fist full of metal. This is a pretty savage lineup: Anthrax will be sharing the stage with Killswitch Engage and Havok Anthrax performs March 2 at The Dome Arena, 2695 East Henrietta Road. 7 p.m. $30-$250. 334-4000; therocdome.com.

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