1. Garbage Plates
This magnificent dish, originally created at the famous restaurant Nick Tahou's in the heart of Rochester, is a staple of the great city. The infamous platter consists of half macaroni salad and half home-fries on the bottom, topped with either 2 cheeseburgers or 2 hot dogs, smothered in meat sauce, onions, and mustard. There are several variations of the recipe as well, such as baked beans in place of Mac salad, or French fries in place of home-fries, etc. The possibilities are endless for this heaping monster of a menu item. Outside Rochester and Buffalo this concoction is hard to find, so its a treasured Upstate gem that you can only get in the Flower City.
2. George Eastman
Born in 1854, George Eastman brought life and entertainment not only to Rochester but the entire technological world. By starting the Kodak photography company, he revolutionized the camera game and essentially ruled the photo industry for decades before film cameras became obsolete. Also an avid music lover and art collector, he created the Eastman School of Music in 1921 before his death in 1932. The Eastman School of Music along with its corresponding stage The Eastman Theater is globally known for its grand display of the arts and teaching young musicians and artists to follow their passion, just like Eastman did all throughout his life.
3. Wegmans
The grocery chain Wegmans originated from Rochester in the form of a fruit and vegetable cart in 1915, operated by John Wegman, that soon became a huge power in the consumer industry. Wegmans is a super hybrid of a Whole Foods, Target, and Price Chopper, complete with organic and vegan options of all different varieties along with a slew of different buffet stations that make the grocery store more than just average, but every housewife's dream. With over 100 stores across 6 states, it seems that this once small mom and pop company is striving to become the next Walmart.
4. Susan B. Anthony
Iconic woman's rights activist Susan B. Anthony moved to Rochester in 1845 and fused her views with those of the community, with her newspaper The Revolution. She outed racists and those who lynched African Americans in the 1890's, as well as fought for anti-slavery and the right for women to vote. Anthony made the area famous and attracted feminists and other activists from far and wide. Her final resting place can be visited at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Rochester N.Y, where during the recent election, thousands of women placed their "I Voted" stickers on her gravestone to pay tribute to her attributions to women in society and the female political spectrum as a whole.
5. The Lilac Festival
The Rochester area is known for many things but the one rare and beautiful aspect of the city, is its large flower gardens. Lilacs in particular, grow in The Flower City's own Highland Park, where a festival is held annually to celebrate the bloom of these flowers every summer. The festival attracts thousands from all areas of Upstate New York, as well as neighboring states. Although some may say that participants come for the live entertainment and crafts booths, they're really present to observe the lovely display of the aromatic plant and appreciate its early summer growth.
