I happened to be walking by Eastman Business Park this week when I noticed workers messing with the big Kodak sign. My heart of skipped a beat as my first thought was, they must be taking the sign down. I know it’s just a sign. But it’s also part of our collective story. I’d be disappointed to see it go. So I stopped and asked one of the guys if this was the case…
Author Archive...
Kodak Sign, of the Times
Friday, September 13th, 2013Tags: Eastman Business Park, Kodak, Kodak Park, Ridge Road, Rochester, Rochester NY
Posted in Rochester Images, Rochester News | 7 Comments »
Two Upsets In One Year? Not Likely.
Wednesday, September 11th, 2013
In what’s being called one of Rochester’s biggest election upsets, City Council President Lovely Warren handed Mayor Tom Richards his hat in this week’s Democratic primary for mayor.
In another, unrelated election race, Rochesterians are now asking if RochesterSubway.com has any shot of upsetting CITY Newspaper for Best Local Website of 2013 in CITY Newspaper’s own “Best Of” contest 
(on line #74).
Spoiler alert: The answer is NO! — N… O.
I mean, come on! It’s CITY’s own contest. This ain’t no mayoral race.
Tags: Best of Rochester, City Newspaper, City of Rochester, Lovely Warren, Mayor Thomas Richards, Rochester, Rochester City Newspaper, Rochester NY, rochestersubway.com
Posted in Rochester News | 1 Comment »
Grave of Francis Tumblety
Wednesday, September 11th, 2013![Grave of Francis Tumblety at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. [PHOTO: Chris Clemens]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/francis-tumblety-01.jpg)
The following is a guest post submitted by Chris Clemens.
Submit your story today.
Rochester has a number of famous people buried within its cemeteries, but Francis Tumblety (spelled: “Tumuelty” on the grave stone because Francis’ parents changed it) is probably one of the few infamous people to rest in peace, right in the historic Holy Sepulchre Cemetery on Lake Ave. Known for a number of his high profile arrests, Tumblety’s name has been cleared numerous times of various committed atrocities, but the stigma associated with his sordid lifestyle and relationships has managed to remain his legacy…
Tags: Abraham Lincoln, Charles Dickens, Chris Clemens, Francis Tumblety, Hall Caine, Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Jack The Ripper, Lake Avenue, Napolean Bonaparte, Rochester, Rochester NY
Posted in Reader Submitted Stories, Rochester History | No Comments »
Bike Rochester: Downtown to Lake Ontario and Seabreeze
Monday, September 9th, 2013![Turning Point Park boardwalk. [PHOTO: Ryan Green]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rgbike-bike-to-lake-ontario-25-turning-point-park-boardwalk3.jpg)
The following is a guest post submitted by Ryan Green.
Submit your story today.
The second part of The Biking in Rochester Series showcases the route from downtown to Lake Ontario, following the Genesee River Trail. It is 20 miles, roundtrip, from downtown to the end of the pier at Lake Ontario Beach Park and back. Actually, I’ll take us a bit further and ride along the lake shore, east to Sea Breeze – adding another 8 miles to the trip.
Although this route is not as consistently scenic as the first one, it has much better rewards, and you get more of a workout. We’ll pass by 3 waterfalls, 3 beaches, 3 lighthouses, and two piers out onto the big lake. The western portion of this route is on the Genesee Riverway trail, a mostly completely dedicated bike path such as the one on the canal. The eastern portion is on King’s highway/Goodman street…
Tags: Beach Avenue, bicycle path, bike path, Brewer Street, Colonel Patrick O'Rorke Memorial Bridge, Culver Road, downtown Rochester, Durand Eastman Park, Genesee Brewery, Genesee River, Genesee Riverway Trail, Goodman Street, hidden sidewalk, High Falls, Kings Highway, Kodak Research and Development, Lake Avenue, Lake Ontario, Lower Falls, Main Street, Maplewood Park, Middle Falls, Parkside Diner & Whispering Pines Miniature Golf, Pont De Rennes Bridge, Ryan Green, Seabreeze Amusement Park, secret sidewalk, Turning Point Park, Veterans Memorial Bridge
Posted in Reader Submitted Stories, Rochester Destinations, Rochester Images, Transit + Infrastructure, Urban Exploration | 6 Comments »
Bike Rochester: Downtown to Fairport
Tuesday, September 3rd, 2013![Ryan Green takes us on a bike ride from downtown Rochester to Fairport. [PHOTO: Ryan Green]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rgbike-erie-canal-path-return-04.jpg)
The following is a guest post submitted by Ryan Green.
Submit your story today.
This is the first in a series of photo tours aimed at encouraging people in the Rochester area—regardless of cycling ability—to get out and enjoy the plethora of trails we have. It is written as an introduction, although most people around here are probably already familiar with some of the trails. Disclaimer: I am not a local… and no where near a veteran cyclist!
Before we begin, I want to point out an advantage Rochester has over some of its upstate neighbors of similar size using Google maps… Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse/Central NY, Albany/Capital District. Granted, these maps are not 100% accurate. Nor are many of the paths paved. Still it helps give us an idea, in part, why Rochester was named the most bike friendly region in upstate New York (just barely making it on to the top 50 bike friendly cities in the USA ).
Tags: bicycle path, bike path, Bushnell's Basin, downtown Rochester, Erie Canal, Erie Canal Path, Erie Harbor Apartments, Fairport, Genesee River, Genesee Riverway Trail, Genesee Valley Park, Pittsford, Ryan Green, Schoen Place, Towpath Cafe, University of Rochester
Posted in Reader Submitted Stories, Rochester Destinations, Rochester Images, Transit + Infrastructure, Urban Exploration | 5 Comments »
Man vs. The 100 Ton Hunk of Slag
Friday, August 30th, 2013![The Port of Rochester shrouded in a thick orange haze. Smoke from an epic battle going on right now. [PHOTO: RochesterSubway.com]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/slag-button-charlotte-beach-rochester-07.jpg)
For the past few weeks workers have been attacking a 100 ton hunk of slag that was discovered at the Port of Rochester last spring. Yesterday I noticed the giant plume of smoke from the O’rorke Bridge and made my way down to the scene of this epic battle. When the dust settles, who will remain standing? Man? Or The Slag?
Tags: Bethlehem Steel, blast furnace, Charlotte Beach, City of Rochester, construction, iron button, iron mill, Ontario Beach Park, Port of Rochester/Charlotte, Quinnesee Iron Mining Co., Rochester, Rochester Gas & Electric (RG&E), Rochester NY, slag, steel mill
Posted in Rochester History, Rochester Images, Rochester News, Transit + Infrastructure, Urban Development | 5 Comments »
Inner Loop Informational Meeting Tonight
Wednesday, August 28th, 2013
Reconnect Rochester has alerted us to an important informational meeting tonight about the Inner Loop’s future (or lack thereof). As we wait to find out whether or not this project will be a recipient of a USDOT TIGER grant, the City is moving forward with plans to scale down a large portion the underutilized 12-lane highway. Ultimately that will mean greater connectivity between downtown and the neighborhoods to the east, and lower road maintenance costs in the long run. If there was ever a big road project to support, this is it.
Read what Reconnect Rochester has to say about the project and attend the meeting tonight to learn more… 6-8pm on the third floor of City Hall .
Tags: Anderson Park, City of Rochester, East Avenue, Inner Loop, Inner Loop East Reconstruction Project, Main Street, Reconnect Rochester, Rochester, Rochester NY, Union Street, USDOT TIGER grant
Posted in Events, Opinion, Rochester News, Transit + Infrastructure, Urban Development | 7 Comments »
Greentopia Film Festival Returns; Bigger & Better
Monday, August 26th, 2013![This year's Greentopia Film Festival will feature an array of unique films and equally unique screening locations; such as the roof of 1 Capron Street. [PHOTO: Jason Schwingle, TheRochesteriat.com]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/greentopia-2013-rooftop-screening.jpg)
In just its third year the Greentopia Film Festival (September 10-15th) has grown to become the second largest documentary film festival in New York State. Filmmakers’ submissions to the 2013 event were triple the number of those received in 2012, coming in from 31 countries on six continents. Of those films selected as features, four will have their New York State premieres at Greentopia – revealing themselves to Rochester audiences even before New York City moviegoers can see them…
Tags: A Will for the Woods, Dear Governor Cuomo, Green Visions, Greentopia Festival, Greentopia Film, Greentopia Urban Forest Cinema, Kidtopia, Maiden Trip, Manhattan Square Park, The Human Scale
Posted in Art + Culture, Events, Rochester Destinations, Rochester News | No Comments »
The Northeast Regional Beard and Moustache Championships
Wednesday, August 21st, 2013![On Saturday, August 17th the Rochester Beardsmen Society hosted the Northeast Regional Beard and Moustache Championships at Water Street Music Hall. [PHOTO: Chris Clemens]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/beard-and-moustache-championships-01.jpg)
The following is a guest post submitted by Chris Clemens.
Submit your story today.
On Saturday, August 17th the Rochester Beardsmen Society hosted the Northeast Regional Beard and Moustache Championships at Water Street Music Hall in downtown Rochester, NY. Competitors from the U.S. and Canada assembled to show off their facial hair and compete in 17 in different categories to determine who’s facial follicles could produce the top ranking tufts…
Tags: Austin Facial Hair Club, Beard and Moustache Championships, Chris Clemens, Growin’ A Beard, Jack Passion, Jack Schifano, Mo-vember Campaign, Rochester, Rochester NY, Water Street Music Hall, Whisker Wars
Posted in Art + Culture, Events, Reader Submitted Stories, Rochester News | No Comments »
The Rochester African-American Landmarks Project Needs Your Help
Monday, August 19th, 2013![African-American dancers among the performers at Bardos' Inn in Gates, N.Y. c1930-1935 [PHOTO: Albert R. Stone Collection]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/african-american-dancers-rochester-1930s.jpg)
The Landmark Society is reaching out to the Rochester community to gather facts, events, places, and stories that have been important in the lives of ordinary African-Americans in Rochester. We need your help with this important project…
Tags: African-American history, African-American landmarks, Austin Seward, Landmark Society of Western New York, Rochester, Rochester NY
Posted in Art + Culture, Rochester History, Rochester News | 1 Comment »
A Minute with Rochester Ukulele Orchestra (and SpongeBob)
Friday, August 16th, 2013![Sponge Bob at High Falls? [PHOTO: RochesterSubway.com]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/sponge-bob-at-high-falls.jpg)
Every Thursday during the summer months, Hochstein Music School puts on a free concert at High Falls’ Granite Mills Park. Can you believe yesterday was the last concert for 2013?! CURSE YOU, SUMMER! YOU’RE TOO SHORT!
Anyway, as a fun Friday diversion, I thought I’d share just a minute of video from this final performance with the Rochester Ukulele Orchestra. (co-starring: Old Man SpongeBob, Dancing Elvis Kid, and Jumpy Jumping Guy)…
Tags: Granite Mills Park, High Falls, Hochstein at High Falls, Hochstein Music School, music, Rochester Ukulele Orchestra, SpongeBob SquarePants, ukulele, video
Posted in Art + Culture, Rochester Destinations, Rochester Images | 3 Comments »
The Little Free Libraries of Rochester, NY
Wednesday, August 14th, 2013![The Little Free Libraries of Rochester, NY. [PHOTO: Chris Clemens]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rochester-free-library-00.jpg)
The following is a guest post submitted by Chris Clemens.
Submit your story today.
In an effort to promote literacy and the love of reading, two businessmen out of the Mid-West have been operating a grassroots, ground up neighborhood rallying effort to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to read. Since 2009 the group has been making available little wooden stands that at first glance look like large birdhouses, but are actually little, free libraries…
Tags: Arbor Drive, books, Chestnut Hill Road, Chris Clemens, free stuff, Freebies, Hartsville Lane, library, little free libraries, little free library, Newcrest Drive, Rochester, Rochester NY, The Curious and Uncommon, Whitlock Road
Posted in Art + Culture, Reader Submitted Stories, Rochester Destinations, Rochester News | 5 Comments »
River Clean Up Makes Some Progress
Wednesday, August 14th, 2013![Local photographer Clarke Conde has been snapping photos of the Genesee River all year. This patch of trash had been growing slowly like a giant, smelly tumor. [PHOTO: Clarke Conde]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/genesee-river-garbage-clarke-conde-01.jpg)
A couple of weeks ago photographer Clarke Conde shared some dirty photos of Rochester’s riverfront on Facebook. Those photos made me sad. Dead trees, algae and trash had been collecting in this section of the river for over well over year. Smelly algae and logs are one thing. But add piles of plastic bottles, clothing, styrofoam, truck tires, other undesirables, and let stew for a year or more? To me, that’s more than a cosmetic problem. If I’m from out of town, I’d probably think Rochesterians just don’t give a hoot.
Thankfully, we all know that isn’t true. We pulled together. And we made a difference…
Tags: City of Rochester, Clarke Conde, Clean Sweep, garbage, Genesee River, John Callaghan, New York State Canal Corporation, pollution, rochester photos, trash, William Sweitzer
Posted in Opinion, Rochester Images, Rochester News | 6 Comments »
ROC Low Line: A (new) Proposal for Rochester’s Abandoned Subway
Monday, August 12th, 2013![Nine RIT students collaborated to design a subterranean urban park inside the old Rochester subway called the ROC Low Line. [RENDERING: RocLowLine.com]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rochester-lowline-aquaduct.jpg)
Over the years there have been many proposals for the reuse of Rochester’s abandoned subway tunnel. Some would like to see the tunnel preserved and turned into a living museum open to the public. Others would like to turn back the hands of time even further, converting the tunnel back into a water canal – as it was part of the Erie Canal pre-1920s.
Even today as the City continues to take steps towards the latter option, new ideas continue to surface. The most recent concept comes from RIT’s architectural program, and a very interesting student project being called the ROC Low Line…
Tags: abandoned subway, Alexandra Bush, Allison LaChance, aqueduct, Aqueduct Bridge, architecture, Bridget Carney, Broad Street Corridor Master Plan, development plans, downtown Rochester, Dr. Alex Bitterman, Jennifer Danielle Harper, Kate Krueger, Matt Burke, Priyanka Sondhi, Rochester, Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), Rochester Low Line, Rochester NY, Rochester Subway, Rochester Subway tunnel, S. Adam Stoker, Sergey Selyuzhitskiy, The Lowline, underground park, urban parks & trails, urban planning
Posted in Rochester Destinations, Rochester Subway, Rochester Subway Stories, Transit + Infrastructure, Urban Development | 17 Comments »
The Walls of El Camino
Friday, August 9th, 2013![Art from the Wall Therapy project along Rochester's El Camino Trail. [PHOTO: RochesterSubway.com]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/wall-therapy-el-camino-trail-rochester.jpg)
I went to a big expensive university to study art for four years. I’ve traveled to Italy and marveled at the work of the great masters. I’ve gone out of my way to tip-toe through all the fancy art museums and galleries in New York and Toronto.
Earlier in the week I rode my bike down Rochester’s El Camino Trail. I’m not sure why, but art has never taken my breath away quite like this…
Tags: art, El Camino Trail, Graffiti, mural, Rochester, Rochester NY, street art, urban parks & trails, Wall-Therapy
Posted in Art + Culture, Opinion, Rochester Images, Urban Development | 11 Comments »
Rochester’s Park System: a model for the world
Wednesday, August 7th, 2013![One of the pedestrian bridges in Genesee Valley Park. This was not originally part of Olmsted's plan. [PHOTO: Rochester Public Library, Local History Division]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/genesee-valley-park-bridge.jpg)
If you’re a RocSubway reader and you love learning about Rochester as much as I do, you might want to check out 585 Magazine. It’s a pretty slick new bimonthly packed with tasty local bits on every topic imaginable. Plus, you might catch an occasional story on local places & history written by yours truly. In the current issue I attempt explore Rochester’s incredible, Olmsted-designed park system – in 800 words or less! Completely impossible, but I tried.
First, head over to 585 Mag and check out the story . Then come back here for fun extras, including Olmsted’s original plan drawings of Highland, Seneca, and Genesee Valley Parks, AND audio from my interview with JoAnn Beck, cochair of the Landmark Society’s Olmsted subcommittee…
Tags: 585 Magazine, Frederick Law Olmsted, Genesee Valley Park, Highland Park, JoAnn Beck, Landmark Society of Western New York, Rochester, Rochester NY, Seneca Park, urban parks & trails
Posted in Interviews, Rochester Destinations, Rochester History, Rochester Images, Transit + Infrastructure, Urban Development | 7 Comments »
A Better Bus Schedule for Rochester
Saturday, August 3rd, 2013
If you’ve been following along, you know how we’ve been trying to apply a little design for the betterment of our transit system. First we took a shot at designing a better bus stop sign for Rochester. RGRTA is currently studying that concept in anticipation of one day replacing their existing signs. Next we designed a better bus pass for which RGRTA gave a nod of approval. The new passes will be rolled out very soon!
But wait, there’s more! RGRTA has now asked for help redesigning one of the most important transit tools of all; their big, bad, bus schedules…
WHOA! Not so fast.
It appears RocSubway jumped the gun and accidentally published some information that wasn’t ready for primetime. New bus schedule designs are being worked on, but it will be some time before they are finalized and ready to be shared. If you caught the sneak peek, congrats. And thanks for providing your feedback!
To be continued…
Tags: bus, bus schedule, design, graphic design, Livingston Area Transportation Service (LATS), mass transit, mass transportation, public transit, public transportation, Reconnect Rochester, Regional Transit Service (RTS), Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority (RGRTA), RTS, timetable, transit
Posted in Opinion, Rochester News, Transit + Infrastructure | 9 Comments »
Eew! Photos Document a Growing River of Trash
Wednesday, July 24th, 2013
The City of Rochester recently put the finishing touches on some beautiful hardscaping and pathways connecting Mount Hope Avenue to the Genesee River Trail. Doesn’t a stroll along the river on a warm summer evening sound divine?
Umm, nah… I’ll take a rain check maybe. Have you seen our river lately?! LOOK at this…
Tags: City of Rochester, Clarke Conde, Clean Sweep, garbage, Genesee River, New York State Canal Corporation, pollution, rochester photos, trash, William Sweitzer
Posted in Opinion, Rochester Images, Rochester News | 14 Comments »
Hope for Pulaski Library
Monday, July 22nd, 2013![Rochester is trying to save the vacant Pulaski Library before it's too late. [IMAGE: RochesterSubway.com]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rochester-pulaski-library-01b.jpg)
Last winter the City of Rochester made a Hail Mary pass to save the historic Pulaski Library. They posted an offer to sell the vacant building for a thousand dollars to anyone with a serious plan to fix it up. I’m not sure how many proposals were submitted, but I’ve learned that Providence Housing Development Corporation has been given the green light.
[ Take a look inside Pulaski… ]
Providence Housing has worked on similar adaptive reuse projects such as Paul Wolk Commons on State Street, and the Holy Rosary Apartments on Dewey. Although Pulaski may be smaller, it could prove to be a much bigger challenge…
Tags: adaptive reuse, Designated Building of Historic Value, historic preservation, history of Rochester, Hudson Avenue, New York State Historic Preservation Office, Norton Avenue, preservation, Providence Housing Development Corporation, Pulaski Library, Rochester, Rochester history, Rochester landmark, Rochester NY, Rochester Public Library, urban exploration
Posted in Rochester History, Rochester News, Urban Development | 2 Comments »
13 Works of Art… On Traffic Signal Boxes
Wednesday, July 17th, 2013
In 2013 I gave myself a photo assignment: Take 13 snapshots of 13 different subjects. Early on, someone suggested I do a series of traffic signal boxes – you know, the ones with the murals painted on them? At first I thought the idea was a little too obvious. I also thought many of the murals to be a little cliché. But soon I began to notice these things everywhere I looked. And then I felt like I couldn’t not do it.
While they may not be master works of art, these murals are definitely a unique part of our landscape. Some of them are kind of folksy; some are tongue-in-cheek; and many tell a story about the neighborhood. So, with the help of my friend Nicholas Swann , here are 13 of our favorite murals on traffic signal boxes…
Oh, and you’ll notice an extra one at the end. I’ve decided to paint one in my own neighborhood. You can tell me what you think…
Tags: 13, 13 traffic signal boxes, 13x13x13, art, mural, Nicholas Swann, public art, Rochester, Rochester NY, street art, traffic signal box mural
Posted in Art + Culture, Rochester Images | 17 Comments »
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