In Western New York in the 1790s, food was not simply what people ate. It is how they survived and how they made meaning in an unstable world. The familiar image of the colonial table: simple bread, a roast, a pot left to simmer, does not hold for long once you look closely. At living history sites like Genesee Country…
The Rochester Red Wings has a mouth-watering philosophy when it comes to the endless list of food offerings at ESL Ballpark. “Food is fun,” says Jeff DeSantis, the Triple-A baseball team’s general manager of food and beverage. “People love the experience of coming to the ballpark and trying a variety of excellent food.” Red Wings general manager Dan Mason has…
Coffee has kept us together. Dave, Grant, and I, professors at RIT, had for many years met regularly for coffee breaks on campus when, in winter 2020, COVID arrived and the world screeched to a halt. We were confined to home and teaching online. We decided, since everything else was happening on Zoom, we would have virtual morning get-togethers over…
Opening the door to Don’s Original is like being transported to another time and place. Friendly faces behind the counter welcome you as the nostalgia hits; old-fashioned candy and a wall covered in photographs pay homage to the original owners. Eighty-one years ago, Donald Barbato and Robert Pearl started a roadside hot dog stand named Don & Bob’s. Dubbed “hot…
The sweetest part of living in Rochester might be its donut shops. Three local favorites draw on rich culinary histories and family wisdom and maintain strong relationships with their customers. These crowd-pleasing, locally owned businesses continue to make us happy with both classic and innovative products. If you’re stopping by to get treats for the office—or for any reason at…
Zara Bronwyn has a way of crafting magic. Or at least that’s how it feels when viewing her striking pieces born from a love of mythology, a fervor for fantasy, a fascination with religion, and a devotion to the feminine experience. “I never really had another plan; I’ve always done art,” she answers when asked how she made her way…
Diane Prince to retire after decades in decor Diane Prince was convinced she would retire nine years ago when she decided to close her furniture and gifts business on Liftbridge Lane in Fairport. She was nearing eighty years old and had operated Diane Prince Furniture & Gifts on Liftbridge for more than thirty years. But then a space opened on…
Everyone’s heard of food and wine pairings. Why not food and books? After all, a romance novel may conjure up feelings that can only be subdued with chocolate. A tell-all memoir may require a four-course meal followed by a stiff drink. And a chapter book could make your mouth water for whatever the characters cook up in its pages. So…
