I've always believed that there are many artists whether Actors, Artists,Singers, etc., that are…read morenever discovered but continue to do their work with great pride. And right here in Rochester are many. Graffiti and Murals have always been one of my favorite joys in photography. I've done 2 videos on Graffiti and Murals in the city. One was by Black artists in the city, the other was by Spanish artists. Rochester has many great "unknown" artists!

Rochester has a ton of cool wall art/graffiti/street art. The one I specifically saw was in the…read morealley way left of Roll'n'Yen Thai Rolled Ice Cream on South Avenue (no idea if this is part of the Wall Therapy project but it was great to look at and looked to be in this realm of art). I love cities that proudly display art with very powerful and bold statements. They are beautiful and fun to look at and make a destination a little more memorable. Graffiti can sometimes be seen as vandalism or a nuisance but it's hard to deny how wonderful it is when it is objectively obvious that the artist who created it has unique talent (vs. a random scribble on the wall that look like it took 2-seconds to do).

Home town of the Pen Fields Five. Oh wait…read more If you ever come up on a field full of pens you may be here. It's a really nice rural butt suburban area to the east of Rochester. I meant to say "but" but my phone decided it prefers the word "butt." It takes after Daddy. Really though, Penfield is one of my favorite parts of the region. And one of my favorite people in the region looks here. I meant to say "lives" but "looks" is accurate too. Hottie. Actually two of them. One of them is a Yelper. Hi bae. There aren't too many good food options around here. For that you should go down to Henrietta. But there are lots of cute girls and a really good YMCA. And some nice Farms. But not Funny Farms. Just because I grew up on one doesn't mean I go looking for them.

To know Rochester, NY is to love Rochester, NY. Given that I spend my working days writing love…read morenotes to businesses around our fair city, I thought forced quarantine would be a nice time to reflect and share with the community how lucky I feel to live here every day. Will I be able to accurately and succinctly encapsulate my feelings? No clue. But I DO know that being unable to experience the full breadth of Rochester's panache has left me with some thoughts on what makes us, us. I love the way Rochester ticks. I love the feeling of a perfectly imperfect Rochester day. Stopping by the market on a sunny Saturday to ravage a Flour City Bread pastry. A run around Cobbs Hill Reservoir that's just an excuse to admire the city's dogs for an hour. Swearing at people in the East Ave Wegmans parking lot. Coffee and chats at Ugly Duck or Fuego. Mimosas at Roam. Board games at Starry Nites. A show at Blackfriars. Selfies with South Wedge murals. Accidentally drunk at Swan Dive. $5 movie Monday at The Little (and chilly walks through that little Little alleyway.) A zip trip out to Chili to see my parents and grab noms from Leaf & Bean. And, of course, staring out at the Genesee River from the brewhouse roof, wondering how many more days there are until Kolsch season. I have a million more examples that I'll spare you for now, and instead invite you to think about your best, most *Rochester* day. What did it feel like? Did it smell like lilacs? Or hops? Or coffee beans? Or Parcel 5? Maybe, but also maybe not. The building blocks of my best Rochester days always have and always will stem from the community I've shared them with. The thing that gives Rochester its special tang is it's access to whatever community of people you might be looking for or needing at any moment. For me, it's been the ROC theatre community, social media and marketing communities, my family and friends, and, of course, the generous and supportive Yelp community that I've come to love so deeply. Wherever community lays for you, I know you must be missing it hard right now. I am right there with you, and while I am no longer counting the days to Kolsch season (IT IS HERE, Y'ALL), I am counting the days until I can see Rochester in its full glory again: filled with various communities of people doing the best they can to make a meaningful life in our small NY oasis. I see you and I love you and I hear you, and I take comfort in the fact that we're all in this together. (As for 30 Church Street, the building for which this Yelp page is associated, ALSO five stars! The kindest security guards, stunning architecture, and convenient parking in the Sister Cities garage across the street. BOOM.)

There's a lot of history with in Rochester. Some of the countries most successful companies were…read morefounded here. And a long with that were the many people who came from other lands to make Rochester their home. Here's a mural that was painted a few years ago on the corner of Lyell and State.

We participated to the City Walk of the Neighborhood of the Arts tonight. Amy Riposo was our…read moretour guide and she lined up an excellent list of establishments for us to visit. This was a fantastic event. We visited @Edibles, @Nosh and @ThreeHeads brewery. All three were exceptional and the food was fantastic. At Edibles we had pasta along with tater tots with chipotle sauce. At Nosh we had pizza, Korean fried chicken wings and Tuna Noshos. At Three Heads we were treated to @KissMeCookie cookies filled with alcohol infused frosting. We were also treated to a farm stand out on by @HuberHatchery who treated us with a sale of fresh farm eggs. I highly recommend you visit all of these establishments.

Neat-o way to see and sample some of the city. It's truly a sample so you might want to eat before…read moreor plan to after. It's put on by Rochester A List and Roc-connisseur. Get ready to have you picture taken for social media, you can decline if you like.

I love this event and I'm so glad they were able to do again. Looks like more people are taking…read morenotice too. Not only is it free and a chance to see some amazing color at the end of winter (a time of year that can a look a little drab), but even the food and venders are reasonably priced. I just got a large slice of pizza from Salvatore's for $4 and a bag of popcorn from Doc Popcorn for $3. A nice lunch for a Friday afternoon. I love walking around and finding all the little details that Airigami has included in their installation, it's like a life sized look and find. There is also a small store, with a photo booth ($5 for a keepsake photo). Just like last year they have created some events to tie into the exhibit, including an Enchantment Under the Sea Dance--with a nod to Back to the Future (2015--get it?). The dance is sponsored by Yelp Rochester. There will also be another popping party this year, where participants will get to pop the balloons (with golf tees I heard) and discover prizes inside the balloons ($10 a ticket). Can't wait to come back later this week with my family and my good camera. I always love seeing the creative things Airigami can do. They also do custom installations for meetings, conventions, parties and even weddings--in fact they created a piece at the Rochester Makers Faire for the NYSCATE Convention at the Convention Center back in November, which was really fun to watch them build. I hope this event continues to grow.

Balloon mania! Great temporary exhibit that is fun and very clever. The creativity is awesome -…read moreit is amazing what they can do with balloons. This is the second year we have gone to this exhibit in the Sibley building. Kudos to all of the sponsors of this event!

In a part of Rochester that I would call "up and coming," this artwork is on the traffic island at…read morethe intersection of Lake Avenue and Route 104. It's hard to miss. Three painted steel arches joined at the peak, connected by cables. It was built in 2006 and incorporates solutions to engineering challenges as part of its aesthetic: the structural beauty of tension and compression. It is 36 feet tall. Maplewood Arch is by artist Dejan Pejovic and it has a small copper plaque at its base that is very hard to read. I believe some of it says, "This gateway protector which includes this sculpture and the welcoming sign at the eastern end to our community is the product of a generous spirit of support among neighbors who, in concert with local businesses, city and state governmental agencies and many private individuals have created symbols of pride which will enhance the Maplewood landscapes for all to enjoy." It lists the names and titles of some public officials and several local businesses. [Review 1405 of 2024 - 409 in New York - 22428 overall]

Near the city of Medina in Western New York is an interesting piece of Erie Canal history, a road…read morethat goes UNDER the canal. While there are numerous bridges OVER the canal, Culvert Road, to this day, is the only one that goes UNDER the canal! The Erie Canal was called the Eighth Wonder of the World in 1825, when it was completed. Construction began on July 4, 1817 and remember, it was dug by hand! It was originally 7 feet deep and 40 feet wide, 363 miles long between Albany and Buffalo. There were 83 locks (57 on today's canal) because the canal rises 568 feet between the Hudson River and Lake Erie. The tunnel was built in 1823 and was even moved when the course of the canal was changed! It was also lengthened (twice!) when the canal was widened. It's a real experience to drive through it, when you remember there are tons of water above you and you see the seepage through the stones in the curved ceiling. Gulp. Just remember, that tunnel has been there since before your great-great-grandfather drove horses through there - it ain't goin' anyplace! Stop on the north end of the tunnel, there's a small parking area there. With any luck at all, a vehicle will come along and go through the tunnel. That way, you'll be able to experience the weird acoustics the tunnel provides. Sound carries through the tunnel as if there were a microphone setup in there. The day I visited, I laughed when I saw a guy kneeling to take a picture with his cell phone. I said, "I'd better get out of the way," and as I stepped to the side of the portal, he waved to me! A few seconds later, I heard footsteps on gravel. I didn't hear a car pull up, so I turned to look only there was no one there! I walked back to the portal of the tunnel, only to see the guy on the other end walking to his car. That was the source of the mystery footsteps and I was mostly relieved to learn I wasn't in a Steven King novel. A car going through from your end of the tunnel sounds like a train coming at you from the other end of the tunnel! Oh, one more thing. The tunnel was featured in Ripley's Believe It Or Not for being the only bridge UNDER the Erie Canal. If you're ever in Western New York, take a drive on Culvert Road between NY 31 and Ridge Road. The Medina Tunnel must be experienced, Believe It Or Not!

Update: Bay Vista Taqueria is the food truck…read more Fun last Wednesday of the season 9/25 food truck rodeo Music was a little loud for my liking. They could've used a few less speakers to project the noise. Wide variety of food trucks-30-40. The service at the truck I chose was fairly priced and delicious If I remember the name, I will edit my review.

Sammies -n- Sweets food truck from Spencerport, NY is AMAZING! We enjoyed their fare at a local…read moreNativity Night in Caledonia. The service was prompt and piping hot on a very cold night. We had combo #3 which included a red osier beef sandwich, Mac salad, drink and dessert. The beef on weck was served perfectly roasted with juicy meat and a delicious roll. The carrot cake was rich with a creamy cream cheese frosting! I'll definitely be following them to see where they pop up next!