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).

Came to get some apples and spend a nice day outside…read more The pulled pork poutine was amazing and LOADED! Felt like prices weren't sky high for it being sooo popular! Great local spot and fall activity!

**The following review is my personal opinion and based on my individual experiences**…read more It's disappointing to see a once-beloved local brand begin to resemble the kind of corporate operation it once seemed proud to distinguish itself from. Since January 2025, it feels to me like there's been a noticeable shift in Beak & Skiff's priorities. Pride-related messaging and products that were previously visible around June have disappeared. The Pride flag was temporarily removed during the Warren Zeiders concert last summer, only to be put back up the following day. Is that an insult to Warren Zeiders fans by assuming they're all bigots who would be offended by a rainbow flag? Whatever the reason for taking it down, the inconsistency raises fair questions for me about whether certain expressions of inclusion are actual values of Beak & Skiff's or simply marketing strategies when culturally "cool". It feels to me like recent changes reflect a greater emphasis on their bottom line being the priority now. A local organization rep I know told me that her recent request for a cancer tournie fundraiser basket was declined. And the updated property and programming, to me, seems geared toward ticketed events (nice to see they added women musicians to their live music schedule, though!). It feels like activities that once helped make the orchard accessible to a broad range of families at varying income levels now come at a higher cost. And the "patriotic" NYS fair drink was an interesting choice given the current political climate, in my opinion. From my perspective, Beak & Skiff now seems to be catering to a narrower demographic than it once did. The emphasis on community, accessibility, diversity, and inclusion feels considerably less visible than it used to. For a company that has historically presented itself as family-run and community-minded, that change is unfortunate and worth acknowledging...in my opinion, that is.

Alchemy Works is pretty cool. I'm not a practicing Wiccan, but I do love their selection of herbs,…read moreseeds, and plants. I love the idea that plants have different properties or powers (for example, I use white sage for smudging rituals in my home after illness, big arguments, or in other places that I feel need to be rid of negativity). I've ordered black flower seeds (I have yet to plant them, but how cool would it be to accent your garden with black flowers?) and white sage seeds from Alchemy Works. I think that the black flower seeds must have gotten lost in the mail, because it took more than 2 months to receive them! The white sage came within about 2 weeks. The prices for seeds are very reasonable, and Alchemy Works offers seeds that aren't easily found (white sage is often harvested irresponsibly from the wild, with entire hillsides being ripped out, plus, its growing area of the Southwestern United States is often threatened by wildfires, so seeds aren't easy to find). I'll continue to order from the Alchemy Works web site and grow my own white sage responsibly. It's nice to be able to find cool seeds, plus incense, oils, and "supplies for magick," if that floats your boat, all in the same place.

While I haven't visited the store personally I have ordered seeds from Alchemy Works online, in…read morefact, I just got my seeds today. I ordered Belladonna, Henbane, and Mandrake seeds. Each seed packet has a custom-printed label with the botanical and common name of the plant, as well as growing instructions for that plant. Included also was a two-page document on how to germinate, grow, and cultivate Mandrake. If you're ordering online like I did, a word of caution. It took a full month from the date I placed my order until I received a confirmation e-mail stating my seeds had been shipped. An e-mail I sent to admin@alchemy-works.com went unanswered. I'd have rated Alchemy Works 5 stars if not for these two inconveniences.

I had read about the light on Tipperary Hill. I happened to be in neighborhood after leaving…read moreBurnett Park looking for great views of Syracuse I saw the sign welcoming folks to Tipperary Hill and decide to detour up hill before h3adung to Schiller Park. As described, I drove up a small hill past two green lights then came to this red light! Syracuse landmark found a recess coffee after I made right at light.

I've always been told of the legend of the traffic light with the green as the top light, and the…read morered as the bottom. Figuring me, a naive child, I thought it absolutely silly, ridiculous even! BUT, little did I know the true impact of the odd little traffic signal. Little did I know that not only did this traffic signal EXIST, but that I would be coming to visit it in my late 20's during a trip to Syracuse, after my cousin reminded me that it was even a thing when we were trying to figure out how to spend our time in town. The traffic light is in a neighborhood. It's said that the "Irish Youths" kept breaking the red 'British' light because it was above their Irish green. Yeah. That's definitely something an Irish person would do. (I'm Irish. I've seen worse. I've acted worse.) It's honestly such a testament to the pride and persistence of humanity. They tried to switch the lights back to the way they're supposed to be displayed (because of the colorblind) but the stoplight continued getting vandalized. This went on for three whole years. Amazing. There's a few irish pubs in the neighborhood, so once you drive through the intersection of this traffic light, be sure to stop somewhere for a pint of Guinness and toast to the Irish youths who made this a thing so we could write Yelp reviews for it a hundred years later.

Basketball used to be a very slow spot where players would just hang on to the ball for really long…read moreperiods. Boring! And then, someone figured out how to speed it up and shot clocks are now part of football and baseball too! The 24-second shot clock was invented by Syracuse Nationals owner Danny Biasone and general manager Leo Ferris in 1954. It is a way to increase scoring and reduce stalling tactics that were commonly used before its inception. It has been credited with increasing fan interest. There is a historical marker here. It reads, "This clock honors the rule that changed basketball and saved the National Basketball Association. The 24-second shot clock, which put an end to stalling tactics that were threatening the league, was used for the first time in an NBA scrimmage organized by Danny Biasone on August 10, 1954 at Blodgett Vocational High School in Syracuse. In the first season with the clock, league scoring would rise by 13.6 points per game." [Review 1537 of 2024 - 453 in New York - 22560 overall]

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]

It's Pittsford Village! While there is a lot of traffic during the daytime, it's still an…read moreincredibly pedestrian friendly place to visit. Parking is pretty easy to find, either on the street or in the two village lots or at Shoenplace.

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!