What makes a neighborhood a good neighborhood? Convenience and walkability factor in. Safety is essential. Beautiful architecture helps, as does a diverse population that enriches everyone and a sense of community.A really great neighborhood might also have a unique vibe and offer singular retail and dining experiences. Rochester’s South Wedge has all these things, along …

I watch my friends anxiously as wrapping paper flies everywhere–I saved their best presents for last, and I can’t wait to see their reactions. With the soft glow of Christmas tree lights reflecting on her face, I see Madge’s expression first: intrigue. And then: confusion. She removes the tissue paper from the box and pulls …

The Great American International Wine and Cider Competition has a rich history that started its evolution in 1999. Peter Parts, a member of the Camp Good Days & Special Times board of directors, was inspired by a charity wine auction in the Napa Valley and set out to bring a similar concept to upstate New …

Before me I see timeless nostalgia served with a side of waffle fries, an Oreo shake, and a steaming cup of Joe …  I’ve walked into Rochester’s iconic railcar diner more times than I can count; the pastel yellow exterior leads into cherry red booths, chrome barstools lining the long counter, and neon accents surrounding …

In the dining room at grist, a cast-iron scale nearly as tall as the hostess stands near the bar. It’s a holdover from the building’s first life, when the Lower Mill on North Main Street ground grain for the village of Honeoye Falls. Built in 1827, it fed the town for more than a century. …

Few houses inspire curiosity quite like a cobblestone. Once far more prevalent in the Rochester area, these distinctive homes are now increasingly rare, tucked along country roads and inviting questions from passersby: Is that house really made of stones? Who gathered them all? And what does the inside look like? In today’s world of subdivisions …