The Eastman School of Music presents more than 700 concerts a year, including jazz, classical, chamber, and opera, among others, at the Eastman Theatre and other venues in Rochester. For concert information, call tel. 585/274-1100 or visit www.rochester.edu/Eastman. The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra also plays at the Eastman Theatre. Call the box office at tel. 585/454-2100 or see the schedule at www.rpo.org. The Rochester International Jazz Festival (first 2 weeks of June), one of the city's biggest festival and music draws, features more than 50 concerts by major players at 15 venues. Contact the hotline at tel. 585/234-2002 or visit www.rochesterjazz.com.
The Geva Theatre Center, 75 Woodbury Blvd. (tel. 585/232-4382; www.gevatheatre.org), is the major venue in town for theater productions, and the most-attended regional theater in New York State.
Free laser light shows are projected in the gorge at High Falls on Friday and Saturday nights beginning at 9:30pm from Memorial Day to Labor Day; families and couples on dates hang out on the Rennes bridge that spans the river. The High Falls district is on the way up, with a number of new pubs and restaurants moving in. Expect more on the way. The East End "entertainment district", along East Avenue, is one of the best spots to hang out on weekends. The cool Art Deco Little Theatre, 240 East Ave. (tel. 585/232-3906), shows independent and foreign art-house films and often has live music in its cafe. The St. Paul Quarter, along St. Paul and Main streets, is also replete with lively bars and restaurants. Among its hot nightspots is Club Industry, 155 St. Paul St. (tel. 585/262-4570). Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, 99 Court St. (tel. 585/325-7090), a biker bar and lively ribs joint in the old Lehigh Valley Train Station downtown, has live blues bands on weekends and can get pretty raucous.
