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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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Fire it up

The calendar is quickly filling up with holiday parties, from cheesy office gatherings (maybe the kind you’d rather skip) to black-tie dinners and all-night New Year’s Eve parties. ’Tis the season for holiday glitz, glamour, and three-dimensional sparkle, especially after a few years of “less is more” party dressing. For something flashy, try Michael Halpern’s …

Lucky number sixty-seven

The Amerks will provide fans plenty of excitement inside Blue Cross Arena again this season. There are going to be ups and downs in the course of a sixty-seven year lifetime, but as the Rochester Americans (aka the Amerks), who were born in 1956, embark upon a new season, there are a lot more ups …

Books, art, and amiability

Located at 439 Monroe Avenue toward the back of the parking lot, past Eli’s B&W Bar and Voula’s Greek Sweets, through two doors, then at the end of a hallway, Before Your Quiet Eyes is not (as in the 1950s song) Hernando’s Hideaway; it is Ken Kelbaugh’s bookstore. And the doors open easily, without a …

In search of the perfect bottle

The holiday season is upon us, and with that comes the challenges of entertaining at home, traveling to visit family, hearty feasts, and, of course, gift giving. Not surprisingly, one of the most popular gifts this time of year is wine. It’s widely known in the wine industry that the fourth quarter is the busiest …

Fuel your fire

Celebrating its ten-year anniversary, the Rochester Arc + Flame Center is the only facility in upstate New York to offer it all—try your hand at welding, blacksmithing, and glass working through interactive workshops or training programs. Executive director and founder of Arc + Flame, Michael Krupnicki, has been involved in the business for more than …

Corning Museum of Glass

Immerse yourself in one of the most versatile materials and artforms, learn the history and the science, and even make your own creations at the Corning Museum of Glass. Located in New York’s Finger Lakes region, this not-for-profit museum rests on a ten-acre campus devoted to exploring the wonders of glass. Corning’s Innovation Center—the science …

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