Dec. 12, 2021 – America’s Popular Christmas Anthems
Presented by Michael Lasser
- Sunday, December 12, 2021
- 2:30 PM
- Brickstone Wintergarden
- 1325 Elmwood Avenue
Admission Free
Songs about celebration, winter, and, of course, love, all woven into Christmas and the holidays. At the center, though, is Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas,” America’s Christmas anthem, a melancholy celebration of America’s Christmas by a Jewish immigrant from Russia. It’s a uniquely American story and leads to a look at some of the other classic songs written for the holidays and the season by the songwriters of Tin Pan Alley.
About the Speaker: Michael Lasser is the former host of the Peabody Award-winning public radio program, “Fascinatin’ Rhythm,” which originated on WXXI-FM. He is the former theater critic for the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle and CITY. His two books about American popular music remain in print, and he’s recently completed a third, City Songs: The American Popular Song, 1900-1950. A graduate of Dartmouth College, he frequently speaks at museums and universities.
Oct. 17, 2021 – Frederick Law Olmsted –
Highland Park Genius of Place
Frederick Law Olmsted was hired in 1888 to design a park system for Rochester. Olmsted advised the Park Commission about land acquisition and designed three major parks between 1888 and 1891. He designed two major parks along the Genesee River because he judged the Genesee River to be Rochester’s fairest asset with natural settings that should be preserved. The third park was to be located on approximately twenty acres of land around the Highland Reservoir that Ellwanger and Barry Nursery Firm donated in January 1888. That tract of land was in the Town of Brighton.
Three deed restrictions regarded development of the land and Olmsted’s design for Highland Park did not match Ellwanger and Barry’s concept for the donated property. How was the difference between the design and the donors concept resolved?
The presentation will cover the resolution that came with Olmsted’s design principle of genius of place. Further, attention is given to the prominent Rochesterians and plantsmen who implemented Olmsted’s design.
Frederick Law Olmsted’s 200th Birthday Anniversary in 2022 offers the opportunity for Rochester to celebrate his legacy and to return a key lost element to Olmsted’s plan for Highland Park.
About the Speaker:
Edna Claunch developed a passion for Highland Park back in 1967 when she first walked in the park shortly after moving to Rochester. Edna has been actively involved with projects in the park since 1999. She serves as vice-president of the Highland Conservancy Board. She and Don Alhart are co-chairmen of the capital campaign to reconstruct the Children’s Pavilion in Highland Park.
Please note: You must be fully vaccinated to attend this program in person. We ask that masks be worn at all times.
- Reservations are required:
- Please use our Events Contact Form to request for both IN-PERSON and ZOOM reservations.
- Space is limited for in-person attendance. Please indicate your preference on the form.
- If you wish to watch the program on ZOOM, the link will be sent to you the day prior to the event.
Aug. 8, 2021 – Brighton Cemetery Event
Come celebrate with Historic Brighton on Sunday, August 8th, 2021 as we present a special program on the Mysteries and Lore of the Brighton Cemetery. Our speaker will be Town of Brighton Historian Mary Jo Lanphear.
Mary Jo’s talk will be held at the Brighton Presbyterian Church, followed by a complimentary box lunch provided by Wegmans, and a self-guided tour of the Brighton Cemetery.
You can download a copy of the event flyer here. Please note that you must RSVP in order for Historic Brighton to have a box lunch reserved for you. There is no charge, but we have only a limited number of reservations available. (The RSVP information is on the flyer.)
