![The City recently painted over this mural, a fixture in Manhattan Square Park for probably 30 years. [PHOTO: Kristen Cavanaugh]](http://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/manhattan-square-park-mural.jpg)
I haven’t been able to find anyone who knows exactly when this mural was painted, but it’s been a fixture in Manhattan Square Park 
for at least 30 years, says Charles Moreland, Executive Director of Rochester Parkour . The outdoor venue has been mostly abandoned for the past 10 years, but its concrete walls and irregular geometry make it ideal for practicing the fine art of Parkour. Charles’ group can often be found moving throughout the park. Yesterday Charles noticed the mural had been covered with a fresh coat of gray paint…
Archive: ‘Rochester Destinations’...
Manhattan Square Park Mural Erased
Tuesday, May 14th, 2013Tags: art, Charles Moreland, Chestnut Street, City of Rochester, downtown Rochester, Fringe Festival, Gay Alliance, Graffiti, Ian Wilson, Manhattan Square Park, mural, Roc Pride Festival, Rochester, Rochester NY, Rochester Parkour, Wall-Therapy
Posted in Art + Culture, Events, Rochester Destinations, Rochester Images, Rochester News, Urban Development | 16 Comments »
High Falls Visitor Center Will Close, June 30
Sunday, April 7th, 2013![High Falls Visitor Center will be closing at the end of June. [PHOTO: Wayne Senville, Flickr]](http://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/center-at-high-falls-01.jpg)
Sally Wood Winslow has operated the High Falls Visitor Center , gift shop, and art gallery for 20 years. During that time she has personally greeted every single visitor with a boisterous “HELLO THERE! Welcome to the Visitor Center at High Falls!!” And, she has become a very good friend of mine, so this one hurts me personally. Today Sally announced the visitor center and gallery will be closing on June 30…
Tags: Browns Race, Center at High Falls, GardenAerial, High Falls Visitor Center, Sally Wood Winslow, sunken garden
Posted in Art + Culture, Rochester Destinations, Rochester News | 23 Comments »
Filling in: Parks and Reparation
Thursday, April 4th, 2013![Columbs Circle, maybe early 1970's? [PHOTO: andrewcusack.com]](http://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/filling-in-reparations-01.jpg)
The following is a guest post submitted by Matthew Denker.
Submit your story today.
Dear readers, let’s take a short break from redeveloping Rochester. Instead, can we take a moment to consider that which we’ve lost? That which we can still repair?
This week, let’s talk about parks. Specifically, let’s talk about Lomb Memorial Park, and Schiller Park. But first, take a look at Columbus Circle in New York City (above). Oh man! Look at poor Christopher Columbus hanging out there all alone in the middle of traffic. At least he has a convenient parking spot for his car. Wait, what? You say that Columbus Circle doesn’t look anything like that? Well, I guess it doesn’t, now…
Tags: Andrews Street, Christopher Columbus, Columbus Circle, downtown Rochester, Franklin Square, Franklin Street, Freidrich von Schiller, Henry Lomb, Henry Lomb Memorial, Inner Loop, Lomb Memorial Park, Matthew Denker, New York City, Rochester, Rochester NY, Schiller Park, Upper Falls Blvd.
Posted in Reader Submitted Stories, Rochester Destinations, Rochester History, Rochester Images, Transit + Infrastructure, Urban Development | 30 Comments »
Climb Up Inside UofR’s Rush Rhees Library
Tuesday, March 19th, 2013![University of Rochester's Rush Rhees Library, originally completed in 1930 and named for Rush Rhees, the university's first president (1900-1935). What do you say we climb up inside this? [PHOTO: RochesterSubway.com]](http://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/university-of-rochester-rush-rhees-library-01.jpg)
She’s a thing of beauty, don’t you think? Hundreds of thousands of square feet packed with mind-strengthening knowledge, all wrapped in 16 stories of brick and limestone, and capped off with 6,668 pounds of bronze bells. It’s the largest musical instrument in the city of Rochester, and also one of the top 50 research libraries in North America.
Proudly watching over the Eastman Quad , Rush Rhees Library at the University of Rochester seems to call out, “Come to me. Come to me and get your education on.” Personally, I’ve always wondered what the views are like from the top of that bell tower. What do you say we all climb up inside there and race to the top? Let’s go…
Tags: A.W. Hopeman and Sons, architecture, Arendt Willem Hopeman, Bloomfield, carillon, Fauver Stadium, Gordon & Kaelber Architects, Halloween Scare Fair, Harry Potter, Hopeman Carillon, Hopeman Memorial Chime, Immanuel Kant, Jeff Le, Michigan, Plato, René Descartes, Robert B. Goergen Athletic Center, Rochester, rochester images, Rochester NY, Rochester panorama, rochester photos, Rush Rhees Library, University of Rochester, UofR, urban exploration
Posted in Rochester Destinations, Rochester History, Rochester Images | 10 Comments »
The Rochester Landmarks Poster, by Richard Margolis
Monday, March 4th, 2013![Rochester Landmarks Poster [IMAGE: Richard Margolis]](http://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rochester-landmarks-poster-richard-margolis.jpg)
When I first moved to Rochester’s Swillburg neighborhood thirteen years ago, my favorite place to eat was Highland Park Diner. I remember this Rochester Landmarks poster, by Richard Margolis, hung over one of the booths there. I used to stare and study those landmarks all the while shoveling Aunt Bee’s Homestyle Meatloaf into my face. Ah, my first taste of Rochester. Today I own that poster, and I’ve now been to all but one of the 38 landmarks on it. It’s a great feeling!
Now you can get your hands on a copy of this Landmark poster from the RochesterSubway.com Gift Shop, and start checking them off your list too. Can you name all 38 landmarks? No peeking! The answers are after the jump…
Tags: Aqueduct Bridge, ARTwalk, Browns Race, Bust of Goethe, Center at High Falls, Charlotte Lighthouse, Colgate Divinity School, Cutler Union, Don’s Original, Driving Park Bridge, Eastman Theater, Erie Canal, First Universalist Church of Rochester, Genesee Brewery, Genesee River, George Eastman House, Geva Theatre, gift idea, Gift Shop, High Falls, Highland Park, Highland Park Diner, Hojack Swing Bridge, House of Guitars, Hoyt-Potter house, Jack Rabbit, Jines, Kodak World Headquarters, Lamberton Conservatory, Landmark Society, Let’s Have Tea, Little Theatre, Lower Falls, Main Street Armory, Memorial Art Gallery, Naval Armory, Nick Tahou's, Ontario Beach, Oxford Street Magnolias, Park Avenue, photo, photographer, Poet’s Garden, poster, Richard Margolis, Robach Community Center, Rochester, rochester images, Rochester Landmarks poster, Rochester NY, rochester photos, Rochester Public Market, Sacred Heart Cathedral, Sam Patch, Schoen Place, Seabreeze Amusement Park, Seneca Park, Seneca Park Zoo, Stone Tolan House, Susan B. Anthony Square, The Powers Building, Writers & Books
Posted in Art + Culture, Rochester Destinations, Rochester History, Rochester Images | 2 Comments »
The Old Barber House
Monday, February 11th, 2013![The old Barber House at the corner of Short Tract and Oakland Road in the Town of Portage. [IMAGE: Emily Stauring]](http://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/abandoned-barber-house-portage-ny-01.jpg)
John Failings Barber settled in the area of Portage, NY during the pioneer days. He struggled with tragedy and hardship and eventually became a prosperous farmer and banker. He built this home—which he called, “Chestnut Place”—on the corner of Short Tract and Oakland roads . Before I continue, please be advised, this house is on posted private property.
Emily Stauring is a photographer from Arkport, NY. She took most of these photos while out for a drive with a friend…
Tags: abandoned, abandoned house, abandoned mansion, abandoned places, Barber House, Burned Over District, Cayuga County, Chestnut Place, Emily Stauring, Graffiti, Joan Schumaker, John Barber, John Failing Barber, Luke Myer, mansion, Marjorie Frost, Nathaniel Alward, Nunda Historical Society, Oakland Road, photography, Portage NY, Portageville NY, Robert Gath, rochester photos, Roy Gath, Short Tract, Tom Cook
Posted in Rochester Destinations, Rochester History, Rochester Images | 25 Comments »
40 Days After Lake Road
Sunday, February 3rd, 2013![40 days after the insanity on Lake Road. Rochester, NY. [PHOTO: RochesterSubway.com]](http://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/lake-road-rochester-01.jpg)
Forty days after the insanity on Lake Road I thought I’d take a drive out there to see it for myself. To have some quiet time. And to reflect. These photos were taken on Saturday, February 2, 2013…
Tags: arson, crime scene, gun violence, Irondequoit Bay, Joseph Hofstetter, Lake Ontario, Lake Road, Michael Chiapperini, Rochester, Rochester NY, shooting, Theodore Scardino, Tomasz Kaczowka, William Spengler Jr.
Posted in Opinion, Rochester Destinations, Rochester History, Rochester Images, Rochester News | 4 Comments »
Saving Car 60: The Last Passenger Car From Rochester’s Subway
Tuesday, January 15th, 2013![The last remaining Rochester subway car... #60. [PHOTO: Christopher Hauf, Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum]](http://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rochester-subway-car-60-RGVRRM-01.jpg)
Hopefully you caught yesterday’s story, “Rochester’s Adventure in Optimism” about the defunct Rochester subway. If you missed it give it a read. Originally published in the City Newspaper in 1983, the article mentioned the sole surviving subway car, car #60, and the effort to bring it back to Rochester and restore it to working order. Yesterday I received a more detailed explanation of those restoration efforts from Otto M. Vondrak, one of the trustees of the Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum in Henrietta, NY. Here’s the story of subway car #60 from Otto…
Tags: City Newspaper, history of Rochester, Jim Dierks, National Railway Historical Society (NRHS), New York Museum of Transportation, New York State Museum, NYMT, Otto M. Vondrak, Rail City, Rochester, Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum, Rochester City Newspaper, Rochester history, Rochester NY, Rochester Subway, Rochester subway car 60, Rochester Subway photos, Rochester Subway tunnel, Sam Grover
Posted in Rochester Destinations, Rochester History, Rochester News, Rochester Subway, Rochester Subway Stories, Train/Railroad Stuff, Transit + Infrastructure | 2 Comments »
A Tour of Rochester’s Times Square Building
Monday, January 7th, 2013![A photo of a photo of a man atop the Times Square Building, Rochester, NY. [PHOTO: Ryan Green]](http://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/times-square-building-rochester-02.jpg)
Ryan Green is a student at University of Rochester. Last month, after joining up with the University’s Urban Explorers (UrbEx ) club, he toured Rochester’s Times Square Building, formerly the Genesee Valley Trust Company . You probably know it by the enormous set of wings on top of it. Aside from maybe the Mercury statue, those “wings of progress” are easily the most recognizable element of Rochester’s skyline. And while they have a story all their own, there’s plenty more history to be found on the fourteen floors beneath.
Although the building is not open for public tours, Richard Calabrese Jr., who manages the property, says he likes touring the urban explorer group because of their genuine curiosity. Although, if a fundraising tour is requested, Calabrese says he’d consider that. “I have all kinds of history that I’ve learned over the years.” Ryan Green had such a good time touring the building, he wanted to share these photos, and his experience, with us…
Tags: Cutler mail chute, downtown Rochester, Elwood Building, Genesee Valley Trust, George Eastman, Gmelin and Walker, James G. Cutler, Kodak Tower, Richard Calabrese Jr., Rochester, Rochester NY, Ryan Green, skyscraper, speakeasy, Times Square Building, University of Rochester, urban explorers, UrbEx Club, Voorhees, wings of progress
Posted in Rochester Destinations, Rochester History, Rochester Images | 19 Comments »
The Best Holiday Light Displays in Rochester v1.0
Saturday, December 22nd, 2012
Having kids has made me see the holidays in a different light. I find myself thinking about my own childhood and all the stuff I used to look forward to each December so I can do those same things with my own kids. Like when my dad would pile us all in the ’78 Caprice Classic and we’d cruise around to find the best—and most ridiculous—Christmas light displays in town. I know I know, not a very eco-friendly ritual; but most of us are gonna do it anyway. So last week on Facebook, I asked you where your favorite local light displays were. You answered. And I’ve begun mapping them all out in one convenient location so you don’t have to spend countless hours (and fuel) driving around Rochester trying to find them yourself…
Tags: best christmas light displays in Rochester NY, best christmas lights in Rochester NY, Christmas, Christmas houses, Christmas light display, Christmas lights, holiday light display, holiday lights, holidays, map of Christmas lights Rochester NY, map of holiday lights Rochester NY, Rochester, Rochester NY, rochester photos, synchronized Christmas lights, synchronized holiday lights
Posted in Art + Culture, Rochester Destinations, Rochester Images | 5 Comments »
Some Needed Attention for Saint Joseph’s Park
Tuesday, December 11th, 2012
Ted Collins Tree & Landscape is proud to announce that it will be working with the Landmark Society of Western New York in the re-landscaping and re-opening of St. Joseph’s Park – a downtown park that has been closed for over ten years. Greg Frank, co-owner of the oldest landscaping firm in the Rochester area, became aware of this special site through a conversation with colleagues who shared their desire to see the park re-open. After visiting the area around the site, he realized that redevelopment was beginning to take place and so approached the Landmark Society about donating his company’s services – along with plant and landscape materials – to bring the park back as a special place for gathering and contemplation.
Tags: downtown Rochester, Landmark Society of Western New York, Rochester, Rochester NY, Saint Joseph's, Saint Joseph's Church, Saint Joseph's Park, Ted Collins Tree & Landscape
Posted in Rochester Destinations, Rochester Images, Rochester News, Urban Development | 9 Comments »
Exploring the Caves of Rochester, NY
Thursday, November 15th, 2012![Rico Cave in the Genesee River gorge near Lower Falls. [Flickr PHOTO: bobbybeans]](http://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rochester-rico-cave-bobbybeans-1.jpg)
Just when I think I’ve done everything there is to do in Rochester, I discover another little hole in the wall. Literally. Check out these photos of what is unofficially known as “Rico Cave” near Lower Falls…
Tags: Driving Park Bridge, Genesee River, Lower Falls, Rico Cave, Rochester, rochester photos, urban exploration, urban explorers, video
Posted in Rochester Destinations, Rochester Images, Video | 10 Comments »
Greentopia
Wednesday, September 5th, 2012![The Greentopia Festival is coming once again to High Falls. Greentopia reminds us that we've only got one planet, and we're all in this together. [PHOTO: Twitter.com/greentopiafest]](http://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rochester-high-falls-one-human-family.jpg)
I’ve been keeping a close eye on these people who call themselves “green.” My wife is one of them. She forces me to do things like wash poop-filled diapers and collect rainwater off the roof of my garage. Recently I even started carrying my nacho chips to work with me in a cloth/velcro baggie instead plastic. She sold me one of these sustainable lunch baggies for five bucks. What’s this world coming to?
Actually, I kind of like this green tidal wave of change. It’s certainly made me think about leaving the world a little better for my kids. But I also like it because it’s created a whole new economy in which our region is positioning itself to capitalize in a big way. That’s not just hype. Like Rochester’s great Industrial Expositions of the early 1900′s, the Greentopia Festival will give Rochesterians a unique look at our future; and some good reasons to celebrate.
Tags: GardenAerial, Greentopia Festival, High Falls, Michael Philipson, Rochester, Rochester NY, sustainability
Posted in Events, Rochester Destinations, Rochester News | 3 Comments »
The Burned-Over District; Sacred Sites of Western New York
Monday, August 20th, 2012![A stained glass window in Rochester's Saint Michael's Church, Rochester NY. [IMAGE: www.exploringtheburnedoverdistrict.wordpress.com]](http://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/saint-michaels-church-stained-glass-rochester.jpg)
The following is a guest post by Luke & Chris,
Exploring the Burned Over District Blog .
Submit your story today.
One evening sometime during the fall of 2011, my friend Chris and I were sitting around complaining about the ways of the world. The conversation eventually turned towards discussing how despite both of us having been born and raised in Rochester, NY, how neither one of us had ever bothered to visit any of the “cool looking” spiritual places of worship in the area, like St. Michael’s Church or St. Stanislaus Church…
Tags: Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima, Buffalo NY, Burned Over District, Church of Scientology, Hindu Temple of Rochester, John Humphrey Noyes, Lewiston NY, Luke Myer, religion, Rochester, Rochester NY, Second Great Awakening, St. Michael’s Church, The Oneida Community
Posted in Reader Submitted Stories, Rochester Destinations, Rochester History, Rochester Images | 3 Comments »
Off the Beaten Path: Rochester’s Beach Avenue
Monday, July 16th, 2012
With all of this amazing summer weather lately, I’ve taken the opportunity to enjoy some long bike rides up and down the lower Genesee River Gorge. A few nights ago I made my way all the way up to the beach at Charlotte via Lake Ave and took the bendy turn onto Beach Avenue. Not too far beyond the Ontario Beach Pavilion I noticed the sidewalk diverges from the street, making a rather abrupt turn between some very handsome looking beachside homes. So, I followed it. And I left the city of Rochester far, far behind…
Tags: architecture, Beach Avenue, Charlotte Beach, preservation district, Rochester, Rochester history, Rochester NY
Posted in Rochester Destinations, Rochester History, Rochester Images | 7 Comments »
Rochester, New York Jigsaw Puzzle
Tuesday, July 10th, 2012
I love collecting fun little bits of Rochester history. So a few years ago I bought this Rochester jigsaw puzzle on eBay. Well somehow it slipped behind my sofa and I just recently found it again. It’s like Christmas in July!
Entirely hand drawn, this 513 piece puzzle is jammed with local landmarks, businesses, and fun historic facts. Now I realize I’m a total geek-dork, but I could stare at this thing for days picking stuff out—it’s THAT much fun…
Tags: Cinema Theater, Col. Nathaniel Rochester, Colgate Divinity School, downtown Rochester, Eastman Theater, Ebenezer 'Indian' Allan, Frederick Douglass, George Eastman, German House, High Falls, Hiram Sibley, I-490, Irondequoit, Jonathan Child, Kodak Tower, Liberty Pole, Monroe High School, Punch's Nuts, Rochester, Rochester history, Rochester NY, Rochester Public Market, Sam Patch, Seneca Park Zoo, Silver Stadium, Susan B. Anthony, Toronto, WXXI
Posted in Rochester Destinations, Rochester History | 3 Comments »
New Gallery Exhibit: Revisiting Rochester
Thursday, February 2nd, 2012![High Falls, c.1900 [IMAGE: Part of 'Revisiting Rochester' exhibit]](http://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/revisiting-rochester-high-falls.jpg)
A new exhibition celebrating Rochester’s heritage encourages us to honor and preserve our past as we seek to revive our city for the future. Beginning February 3, a collection of digitally-enhanced images of Rochester during the Progressive Era will be on display at Joe Bean Coffee Roasters [map ] throughout the entire month of February.
Tags: Joe Bean Coffee Roasters, Kind of the Hill, Mike Battle, old photos, old photos of Rochester, Rochester, rochester images, Rochester NY, The Simpsons, vintage views
Posted in Events, Rochester Destinations, Rochester Images, Rochester News | 5 Comments »
Party-On Rochester. BYOT! (Bring Your Own Train)
Saturday, January 16th, 2010
If you and the kiddies find yourselves moping around the house this winter watching the lint in your bellybuttons pile up, don’t blame the good people at the New York Museum of Transportation! That’s because NYMT is holding “Bring Your Own Train Sundays” every Sunday now through April 25. Visitors who bring there own model trains can take over the throttles under the supervision of museum volunteers. Visitors are also welcome to become a subway motorman for a day on the museum’s N-scale model of the Rochester Subway.
Tags: Casey Jones, HO scale, interurban, model trains, New York Museum of Transportation, NYMT, R&GVRRM, rail, railroad, railroad museum, railroad tracks, Rochester, Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum, Rochester Subway, Rush NY, things to do in Rochester, train museum, trains, transportation, trolley
Posted in Events, Rochester Destinations, Rochester News, Train/Railroad Stuff | No Comments »
A Rochester Church Organ is Featured in The New York Times
Friday, January 1st, 2010“The organ [at Christ Church, Rochester NY] is a unique instrument, not only because of its lovely sound, but also because it is a nearly exact copy of a late Baroque organ built by Adam Gottlob Casparini of East Prussia in 1776. The original stands in the Holy Ghost Church in Vilnius, Lithuania. There is no other contemporary organ quite like the one at Christ Church.” These were the remarks of Guy Gugliotta, writer for the New York Times in a recent editorial entitled New Pipe Organ Sounds Echo of Age of Bach.
My brother-in-law who lives in Delaware spotted the article in the NY Times and immediately sent an email to tell me he found another reason to come and visit us in Rochester—to which I wittily replied, “Like you need another reason?” But he was truly impressed—as was I. Having walked past the Christ Church on East Avenue a zillion times before, I’m embarrassed to say I had no idea there was such a local treasure inside. So last week, my family and I decided to break tradition and attend a 10 o’clock Christmas Eve service just so we could witness the Craighead-Saunders Pipe Organ first hand. My brother-in-law was so jealous…
(more…)
Tags: Adam Gottlob Casparini, Bach, Baroque, Christ Church, Christmas Eve, church, Craighead-Saunders Pipe Organ, Delaware, downtown Rochester, Dr. Davidsson, East Avenue, Eastman School of Music, Episcopal Diocese of Rochester, Goteborg Organ Art Center, Greek Revival, Guy Gugliotta, Holy Ghost Church, Lithuania, National Register of Historic Places, New York, New York Times, NY, organ, Prussia, Rochester, Rochester NY, Stephen Kennedy, Sweden, University of Rochester, UofR, Vilnius
Posted in Rochester Destinations, Rochester News | 8 Comments »
The Rochester Public Market to Get More Parking and a Shuttle
Saturday, December 19th, 2009
My family has a Saturday morning tradition. We all grab our eco-friendly shopping bags and pile into our not-so-eco-friendly family car. But that’s alright. Even if my car is a clunker I usually feel a lot better about myself after a trip to the Rochester Public Market. I can’t explain it—this place just makes me feel good. So how do you improve on a good thing?
I recently heard a rumor that the cool people down at Rochester’s very cool Public Market were considering buying a trolley. Yup, that’d be an improvement! Is the rumor true? I asked James Farr, Assistant Director of Recreation for the City of Rochester.
Tags: City of Rochester, CSX, Friends of the Market, James Farr, Juan & Maria's Empanada Stop, Marketview Heights, New York, NY, railroad, Rochester, Rochester NY, Rochester Public Market, Rochester Regional Community Design Center, RRCDC, things to do in Rochester, tram, trolley, Union Street, urban planning, urban revitalization
Posted in Interviews, Rochester Destinations, Rochester News, Urban Development | 2 Comments »
Rochester Business News
