As I scrambled into the kitchen and furiously scrubbed the sink, I heard the opening notes to the third movement of Mozart’s Sonata No. 11, Rondo alla Turca. Only then did I know that I was running right on schedule and could relax. I was cleaning an apartment in a senior living community; I had been a housekeeper there for…
Cheshire owner Evvy Fanning There’s no sign out front at 695 South Clinton Avenue, only windows covered in dark lace curtains. But stepping in through the side door, you know you’re in the right place: the Cheshire Lounge, a stylish but welcoming bar with an abundance of atmosphere and charm. “I think we got the reputation of a speakeasy because…
Salty Bread Pizza Cafe 4615 Culver Rd, Rochester 270-8383 saltybreadpizzacafe.com I’m a junkie for pizza. Literally any pizza, all the time—thin New York style, Chicago deep dish, even a premade frozen pie from Aldi (yes, I said it). But that doesn’t mean I think all pizzas are created equal. Of course, there are some that outshine the others, and the…
Edibles head chef Billy Burkle In a bustling corner of the Neighborhood of the Arts, a restaurant has mastered the art of culinary democracy. It’s a place where the burger arrives with a swagger—thick, juicy, and draped in melted cheddar and tangy Thousand Island dressing. Each bite is a delicious challenge to your composure, but you’ll be too blissfully content…
The Corn Hill Holiday Tour of Homes has been a cherished Rochester tradition for thirty-seven years. This year, on Saturday, December 7, the Corn Hill Neighbors Association invites the public to once again explore six beautifully decorated homes, ranging from historic to contemporary, each adorned with festive décor. The event will host three guided tours throughout the day, allowing visitors…
When he helped start the Rochester Gay Men’s Chorus (RGMC) in 1982, David Knoll wanted to foster not just a chorus but a community. Inspired by the gay choruses then developing in San Francisco and New York City, he wanted to help to create something similar here. The enthusiastic group that took shape quickly provided “a great alternative for meeting…
I discovered Frances Willard while researching drinking fountains erected by the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) throughout Western New York in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. These public sources of fresh water, often placed near saloons, were meant to turn men away from demon rum, however naïve that sounds. I located a small, inconspicuous WCTU fountain dedicated to…
Dizzy Gillespie and Susan Plunkett In her 2019 autobiography No Walls and the Recurring Dream, singer-songwriter Ani DiFranco recalls a story from 1990 about David Tipton, a poet friend from Rochester, who visited Buffalo for a spoken word event. He told her about a nightclub called Jazzberry’s and made the suggestion that she drive to Rochester to perform a set…
For more than one million people, greater Rochester is home. A foreign exchange student recently asked me what our city is known for. Certainly, we can claim the garbage plate and Kodak, but the truth is we are living in the birthplace of many other innovative people and ideas. You might be surprised to learn what else was made right…
