As we get into college, we find people from many different places. In Potsdam, New York, you find people from back home you did not even know lived around you. With that, you develop a strong relationship over your love for the Flower City. Us "Rochesterians" often find ourselves missing RocCity quite a bit. Why, you ask? There is so much substance to it that is underestimated from out-of-towners. But I am here to prove those people wrong.
1. Record Stores EVERYWHERE
Growing up, I always found vinyl interesting, and luckily for me, there were record stores everywhere! Lakeshore Records, Record Archive, NeedleDrop, BopShop-- all good places! Record Archive has bikes, incense, costumes, masks, vintage clothes, vinyl, movies, CD's, tapestries-- everything you could possibly imagine! After all, "The Record Archive is the place to go!"
2. Party In The Park
During the summer, Rochester often brings in the "creme da le creme" of musicians and performers like The Wailers, Moe, Lou Gramm, Dickey Betts. The list goes on. This all happens in a perfect venue like Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park where there are many grassy knolls and vendors to wander about.
3. Durand Eastman Beach
Durand Eastman Beach is one of my favorite places in Rochacha. Sorry Charlotte! Durand Eastman is a very long strip and is great to bring a blanket and candles and some speakers and relax. Some of the best nights of my life were spent here (with the best people)!
4. Highland Avenue
Highland Avenue is a more notable landmark in RocCity. It is in the center of Henrietta and the city of Rochester, and is also where the Lilac Festival is held every year in May. Lilac Fest is a great opportunity for hearing good tunes and enjoying the view (and the flowers)!
5. Corbett's Glenn
Corbett's Glenn is located in the suburbs of Penfield, where you can find beautiful tides and waterfalls you can take a dip in and paths that are breathtaking. It's perfect for picnics!
6. The Bug Jar
The Bug Jar-- a notable venue for the alternative music scene! With trippy murals and great tunes, it is located on Monroe Avenue-- one of Rochester's longest streets that runs from Pittsford (suburb) to the city of Rochester. Monroe Avenue is filled with many random shops, like smoke shops, tattoo and piercing shops, vintage clothing, hippie clothes, incense, musicians all along the strip, etc.
7. Mendon Ponds Park
Mendon Ponds Park: one of the most beautiful parks in Rochester. It's located in the town of Mendon (obviously) in Pittsford. Mendon is a very scenic town with big houses and long driveways, and open land available. Devil's Bathtub is definitely a fun spot to venture to in the park!
8. Spot Coffee
Located on East Avenue in the heart of Rochester near Eastman School of Music and the Little Theatre, Spot Coffee is an old Chrysler dealership converted into a coffee shop! How fun! Stop here for some macaroons and a refresher and go upstairs and read a book. It's the best time you could have!
9. The Little Theatre
The Little Theatre is the best movie theatre in Rochester! The Little is known for showing (amazing) indie films and old films like Breakfast at Tiffany's (which I saw there for the first time). The one thing I like most about the Little is that it has a big auditorium and their staff tries to make a movie-going experience a great one, every time.
