Highlights Archive

4 Wheel Bob • WXXI-WORLD

Tells the story of Bob Coomber, an intrepid adventurer who sets out to become the first wheelchair hiker to cross the 11,845 foot Kearsarge Pass in the Sierra Nevada of California.

4 Wheel Bob airs Wednesday, October 23 at 7 p.m. on WXXI-WORLD.

The one-hour documentary follows the inspirational journey of Bob while encouraging us to look at our own self-imposed limitations and perhaps reach beyond what we think is possible.

This film is presented as part of Move to Include™ , a national initiative in partnership with WXXI and The Golisano Foundation that uses the power of public media to promote inclusion. Click here to learn more.

Photo: Bob Coomber • Provided by Tritone Films

Grantchester, Season 9 • WXXI-TV

It’s 1961, and a new vicar arrives in Grantchester. Will Geordie and the locals accept him as their own?

Grantchester, Season 9 premieres Sunday, June 16 at 9 p.m. on WXXI-TV.

It’s 1961 and times are changing in Grantchester. Will has begun to seek new challenges elsewhere, while Geordie and Cathy deal with an independent Esme being free in a dangerous world. It’s not long before Reverend Alphy Kottaram arrives as the new vicar, immediately enchanted by the glorious village. But will the locals ever be able to accept him as one of their own?

Photo: Will Davenport (Tom Brittney), Geordie Keating (Robson Green), Alphy Kottaram (Rishi Nair) • Credit: Kudos, ITV, and MASTERPIECE.

Hochstein at High Falls: Debbie Kendrick Project

Rochester’s Queen of the Blues is back at High Falls for another great performance on Thursday, June 20 at 12:10 p.m.

Due to the heat advisory, this concert will take place at MCC’s Downtown campus, 321 Main Street.

Vocalist Debbie Kendrick carries on a tradition of many great blues and gospel artists that goes back to the legendary Son House. Her group has an acoustic vibe and its influences harkens back to the early days of blues, gospel, folk, and jazz music. The Debbie Kendrick Project includes drummer Pete Monacelli, a veteran of the local jazz scene; bassist Mike Patric, who also accompanies the legendary Joe Beard; guitarist Aleks Disljenkovic, whose acoustic fingerstyle guitar provides a solid rhythmic background for Debbie’s powerful vocal melodies; and vocalist Ann Culbreth. Kendrick inspires audiences across New York and Canada with her improvisational performances, laughing with the band and chatting with the crowd.

More about the concert series:
Hosted by Ryan Yarmel of The Route/WRUR 88.5, the concerts begin at 12:10 pm in the outer parking lot at 4 Commercial Street, corner of Browns Race. Please note that this is an alternate location for this summer, due to ongoing construction on the Pont du Rennes.

Concerts take place rain or shine. In the event of inclement weather, the rain location will be announced by 10:30 am on Hochstein’s website and via Hochstein’s social media. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own seating and lunch. Each performance will run approximately 40 minutes.

Hochstein at High Falls concerts are presented by High Falls Business Association, The Hochstein School, and The Route/WRUR 88.5. The new look for this year’s Hochstein at High Falls concerts was designed by Brandtatorship.

Hochstein at High Falls concerts are made possible by a number of local organizations, including Brandtatorship, LaBella Associates, Monroe Community College, and The Zoghlin Group.

Photo: Debbie Kendrick
Provided.

When I’m Her On-Demand

When I’m Her follows the double life of a dancer who inhabits an alter ego. A luminary figure at American Ballet Theatre in New York, Michael Cusumano had a stellar career ahead of him, but after past trauma prevented him from realizing his artistic and professional potential, he finds refuge and liberation by becoming Russian ballet instructor Madame Olga, the mentor he never had for himself.

Available to watch by 6/21/26

Hochstein at High Falls: Watkins & the Rapiers

The Hochstein at High Falls lunchtime summer concert series returns to the city’s High Falls District, kicking off with Watkins & the Rapiers on Thursday, June 13 at 12:10pm.

Watkins & the Rapiers play an eclectic mix of acoustic music incorporating echoes of Cajun, country, jug band music, reggae, soul, and swing. The band’s repertoire includes more than 60 quirky original songs written by band members, as well as covers of songs by artists as diverse as The Band, Travelling Wilburys, Steve Earle, and Colorblind James, among others. The band has been rocking out in the Greater Rochester area since January 1996, when the band was formed on a lark to fill an empty performance slot at the Rose & Crown Pub. The band includes Scott Regan, Kerry Regan, Tom Whitmore, Marty York, Steve Piper, and Rick McRae.

Hochstein at High Falls concerts are made possible by a number of local organizations, including Brandtatorship, LaBella Associates, Monroe Community College, and The Zoghlin Group.

Photo: Watkins and The Rapiers
Provided.

WXXI Ducklings

In mid-April a duck made her nest near the front doors of WXXI on State Street and laid 12 eggs. We quarantined off the area so as to not disturb her, but kept a close eye on her. We are happy to report that all 12 eggs hatched on May 20 and mama and the ducklings safely left the nest the morning of May 21 headed to the High Falls area for water and better shelter.

WXXI Security Guard Sherwin Drakes captured this video of our ducklings being safely led by their mama to water.

WXXI at the Rochester International Jazz Festival • Jazz Street • June 21-29

Come visit us on Jazz Street every evening of the festival.

We’ll be setting up our booth all nine days of the Rochester International Jazz Festival. So, if you’re headed there, be sure to stop by our booth on the corner of Main Street and Jazz Street (aka Gibbs Street) and say hello to our staff and volunteers! And be sure to enter our drawing to win some fabulous prizes.

For a list of performers and venues, visit rochesterjazz.com.

Photo: Gwilyn Simcock and Tommy Smith (They perform on 6/22 at 6pm + 9pm at Kilbourn Hall)
Credit: Provided by RIJF