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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…
2.11.2024
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…
2.11.2024
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…
2.11.2024
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…
2.11.2024
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…
2.11.2024
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…
2.11.2024
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…
2.11.2024
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…
2.11.2024
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…
1.11.2024
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Rain can’t stop ZBB

Zac Brown Band and Will Moseley play to a full house at CMAC The Zac Brown Band performed CMAC on June 2. The opener, Will Moseley, was this year’s American Idol runner-up and did not hold back. With swagger, confidence, and joy Moseley played to a near sold-out crowd. At the end of his set, …

A small act of rebellion

The family that steals plants together stays together At the break of dawn in the middle of a downpour, my dad and sister drive to a house in the center of the city with shovels in hand. Cloaked by the dim light of a drab November day, they jump out of the car and strike …

The Judgement of Rochester

‘The cork pulled ’round the world’ Have you heard about the Judgement of Paris? May 24 marks the forty-eighth anniversary of this historic event, the Paris Wine Tasting of 1976. For hundreds of years, France was the country that was undeniably on top of the world of wine . . . until the outcome of …

Chef’s tables, cooking classes, and more must-try culinary adventures

From a lakefront vista to a nineteenth-century village, our region is brimming with culinary experiences for everyone. Get your appetite ready! Here is a taste of what you can look forward to if you book a spot at one of these four locations. Aurora Cooks!283 Main St., Aurora, NY 13026innsofaurora.com/dine/aurora-cooks-demonstration-kitchen/  “It’s a beautiful place to …

Sea Me Go forgoes pho to shine the spotlight on banh mi

SEA Restaurant has become the most well-known pho place in Rochester since the owners opened their first location on Monroe Avenue. They have since opened other locations like Broth in Merc on Main and SEA on Mt. Hope. The most recent addition to the portfolio, Sea Me Go, focuses on another well-loved Vietnamese classic—the banh …

Ration Wine Bar raises a glass to history in Perry

Visitors hustling to nearby Letchworth State Park might blow through Perry without a second glance. But nestled in this sleepy rural hamlet is an unlikely hot spot punching above its weight class.  Ration Wine Bar beckons passersby to belly up to its rustic concrete bar, whether to sample the extensive wine offerings or feast on …

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