(585) says: Good news!

Your weekly dose of local news and happenings

Dear (585) friends,

Since our last update, the entertainment world lost screen legend Olivia de Havilland, TV personality and actor Regis Philbin, and Fleetwood Mac founder Peter Green. We’ve also recently gained a new MLB season and picked up where we left off with the NBA season.

In COVID news, the first phase three clinical trial of a vaccine in the United States has begun and is expected to register about 30,000 adult volunteers to test its safety and viability. The trial is one of twehty-five around the world.

For your local news and events, we’ve done the digging and shared below.

• The Secondhand Librarian isn’t your average used bookstore. The recently opened online shop is a carefully curated collection of books in multiple genres and in near-perfect condition, started by Taylor Thomas. In an effort to raise funds to open a physical space for her bookstore, which she says would be the first Black-owned bookstore in Rochester, Thomas created a GoFundMe page this month. She hopes to raise $5,000 to reach her lifelong goal of opening a store offering “sustainably sourced” books in an aesthetically pleasing environment—something she’s found lacking in many used bookstores.

• In 2016, a panel featuring racist, pickaninny artwork was removed from the Dentzel Menagerie Carousel at Ontario Beach Park after being on display for 111 years. The artwork, featured in “The Take It Down! Organizing Against Racism” traveling exhibit, made its way to a couple venues around Rochester before recently returning to the Rochester Museum & Science Center, where it can now be viewed. The exhibit takes a look at racism in the past and racism today and is on display alongside the Museum’s “Objectively Racist: How Objects and Images Perpetuate Racism … And What We Can Do To Change It” exhibit.

• ArtSpace36, Finger Lakes Community College’s gallery in Canandaigua, has launched a new website to bring their exhibits online for public viewing and items from their Maker’s Market for sale. “The Pruning Process” by Emily Glass, a senior lecturer in the School of Art at Rochester Institute of Technology, is the current featured online exhibit. The site’s shop features sculptures, jewelry, pottery, paintings, and more for sale.

• The City-Wide Tenant Union of Rochester is holding an Eviction Resistance Kickoff at the Rochester City Court on Exchange Boulevard at 5 p.m. on Thursday. While the Eviction Moratorium in New York has been extended through August 20, pre-pandemic court cases may begin the legal process as early as August 6. The union is ready to show their support in blocking any evictions when the moratorium is lifted.

• For the first time since March, The Red Fern reopened its doors for pickup and delivery only this week. The vegan restaurant, featuring gluten-free and other allergy-friendly options, is not offering any seating indoors or outdoors, and no curbside pickup. Customers can visit The Red Fern’s website to place an order for pickup or delivery, or call in their takeout order. Masks are required for pickup. Outdoor seating is tentatively set to open on August 11, and new hours include 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. Catering and special-order desserts are currently available.

• Nature lovers can still register for the Rochester Museum & Science Center’s free Eco-Book Club and Hike events taking place this Wednesday, August 5, and September 2. The August discussion of Lab Girl by Hope Jahren will be held virtually, and participants are asked to hike on their own, at their preferred location and time. September’s event may be in person, although that’s yet to be confirmed. It’s highly suggested (but not required) to read the book ahead of the event to participate fully in the discussion.

• For an evening of monologues, scenes, poetry, and songs written and performed by the Geneva Theatre Guild’s Youth Theatre, tune in to their presentation of “Youth in a Pandemic.” The Youth Theatre teamed up with industry professionals from as far away as New Jersey and completed courses in monologue, poetry, song, and scene writing; acting; Shakespeare; and the technical aspects of virtual production to prepare for this event. The performance will take place at 1 p.m. on Saturday at this link.

• Next Friday, hop on the Colonial Belle, the largest tour boat operating on the Erie Canal, for their Blues, Booze & BBQ event. The $56 package includes a three-hour tour, a dinner catered by Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, live entertainment by Alex Vine, and a cash bar. Dinner will include half a barbecue chicken, salt potatoes, corn on the cob, cornbread, and dessert. Maximum capacity will be limited to allow for social distancing. And a Beatles-themed cruise will take place on August 21.

Don’t forget to pick up a copy of our July/August edition of (585) Magazine!

And let us know what you’d like to see in upcoming newsletters and issues of our magazine.

Stay well,

– Jinelle Vaiana, contributing writer
jvaiana@585mag.com