From the moment the audience members stepped into the Auditorium Theatre on Tuesday night, there was magic in the air. Little girls flounced down the aisles in powder blue dresses and tiaras; elderly couples held hands and smiled as they pointed at towering, glittering trees onstage; and grownup girls sat giggling with groups of friends. As the …

Rochester is a very charming place to spend the holidays. Sure, there might be an unexpected blizzard warning every once in a while, but that white covering on the ground makes the holiday season all the more magical. When it comes to “getting in the holiday spirit,” many local villages, organizations, and churches offer festivities—but …

When it comes to brunch, the Jews fare pretty well. We might lag a little bit in holiday cuisines (can anyone say gefilte fish?), but give us a weekend mid-morning, and we’ll give you bagels piled high with cream cheese and lox, potato pancakes, and soft, creamy blintzes. One of our slightly lesser known brunch …

The scents of cumin, hot peppers, and spit-roasted meats fill the air at Rochester’s newest go-to for mediterranean cuisine. In May 2014, the extensively remodeled former Bagel Bin location reopened as a mini-food court located at Twelve Corners in Brighton. Sabra Grill, one of three eateries located inside, is the only kosher (adhering to Jewish dietary …

The Rochester Broadway Theatre League launched its 2014-2015 season on Tuesday night with Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, the Bible-based Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice musical extravaganza (also forever linked to Donny Osmond, who played the title role in the 1999 film version). An eager audience—ranging in age from nine to ninety—settled in the velvet seats of …

Nearly 2.8 million Americans have served in the armed forces since 9/11—but what happens to vets after they hang up the uniform? The exact number of vets who return to the Rochester area is not recorded, but for those who do return, they find jobs and continue to lead productive lives. Pat DiLaura, chief talent …