Over the river and through the woods, to grandmother’s house we go! My dad knows the way to fix the sleigh, when the radiator decides to blow, OH! When I was a kid, my favorite part of the holiday season was the road trips. We have family all over northern New York and Canada, and my parents were adamant about…
3.11.2026
’Tis the season! The holidays are stressful—wholesome, but stressful. And one of the easiest ways to break the ice with Mom’s second cousin once removed whom you last saw when you were six, is to have a great cocktail in hand. Ryan Dooling runs The Classic alongside owners Drew and Marie Nye and has been in the hospitality business for…
3.11.2026
The Long Island with warm garlic butter The shores of Lake Ontario might not be brimming with lobster, but it’s not hard to find a top-tier, fresh, juicy roll right in the (585). I like a lot of foods, but seafood is my favorite, and I don’t think that will ever change. East Coast and West Coast, I’ve had it…
3.11.2026
Pasta Bolognese The cheese tray at the brewery was built for four people, not the crowd of us circling it like vultures fifteen minutes into a two-hour panel discussion. We stood there staring at what looked like a Polly Pocket accessory, doing the math on how a roomful of thirty adults were supposed to split eleven cubes of pepper jack. …
3.11.2026
Lynne Hooker It was 1967, and Monroe County was still gun shy, especially in my neck of the woods in the northeastern corner of Chili. Just six months earlier, my friends George-Ann Formicola and Kathy Bernhard had disappeared. They remained missing for a month and were found brutally murdered. So there was an immediate shudder of horror when word came…
2.11.2026
Six mornings a week, long before the lunch line begins to form, the staff and volunteers at St. Peter’s Kitchen tie on their aprons and get to work preparing lunch for the 300-plus guests who will walk through its doors midday. Outside, the aroma drifting from the kitchen evokes Thanksgiving dinner. Inside, it’s even more inviting as team members move…
2.11.2026
Growing up in Webster, Bill Polito heard all about the town’s annual Turkey Trot, a running event held each Thanksgiving morning. In 1988, he moved to a house on Holt Road, a mile from the starting line, and decided to join in the fun. “I ran in high school and decided to give the Turkey Trot a try,” he says.…
2.11.2026
Ashley Cross is a third-generation foster parent who has devoted her life to her community, providing free programs and services to Rochester youth and families through HOPE585, a relationship-centered community where marginalized youth and their families can hope, heal, and thrive. While living in Oklahoma, Cross started the first professional foster home for young ladies preparing to age out of…
2.11.2026
You may have had pie from Special Touch Bakery without even knowing it. “When you go to Wegmans and see the pies that have the hearts on them? We help make those for them,” says Jillian Nalivyko, marketing and public relations manager at the School of the Holy Childhood. Special Touch Bakery has an integrated workforce. Its mission is “Purpose…
2.11.2026
Back to Archive

A little Mozart

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 …

Cheshire keeps its chic speakeasy vibes alive in new space

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 …

Why Salty Bread Pizza Cafe is the best place to spend your dough

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 slices at Salty Bread Pizza …

Edibles’ culinary maestros serve up harmony on a plate

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 …

Living in a landmark: Inside the Corn Hill Holiday Tour of Homes

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 …

Singing loud, singing proud: The Rochester Gay Men’s Chorus

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 …

Subscribe to our newsletter