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…
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Off the Beaten Path: Rochester’s Beach Avenue
Monday, July 16th, 2012Tags: architecture, Beach Avenue, Charlotte Beach, hidden sidewalk, preservation district, Rochester, Rochester history, Rochester NY, secret sidewalk
Posted in Rochester Destinations, Rochester History, Rochester Images | 9 Comments »
Genesee/North American Brewery Demolition. Photos by Rick U.
Thursday, July 12th, 2012![Genesee Brewery, demolition of historic Cataract Brewhouse. [PHOTO: Rick U.- RocPx.com]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/genesee-brewery-demolition-00.jpg)
I received a message yesterday from a RocSubway reader named Rick U. Rick wanted to share some of his images from Genesee Brewery’s (aka North American Brewery’s) demolition of the once historic Cataract Brewhouse. By now I’ve seen just about all I can stomach of this disaster. I mean, this is how we create jobs in Rochester? Building parking lots on historic buildings? BUT, putting all that aside, this series of images is quite exceptional. And these are just a sampling from a MUCH larger album which I’ve linked to at the bottom of this gallery. Take a look…
Tags: Cataract Brewery, Cataract Street, demolition, downtown Rochester, Genesee Brewery, North American Breweries, photography, Rick U., Rochester, rochester images, Rochester NY
Posted in Rochester History, Rochester Images, Rochester News, Urban Development | 4 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 | 9 Comments »
Mom Delivers Baby on NYC Subway; Alone
Monday, July 2nd, 2012![These 'subway heroes' ain't got nothin on Wanda Dueno. [PHOTO: BuzzFeed.com]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/subway-heroes.jpg)
Every so often I like to post true tales of subway heroism… A boy who lived in the NYC subway system… A drunk woman pulled out of the way of an oncoming train in the Boston “T”… No pants subway riders… uh… hem hem.
Anyway, here comes the story of one woman who truly deserves to be called an underground super hero…
Tags: Jessica Wakeman, Libasse Dueno, New York, New York City, New York City Subway, New York Post, subway childbirth, Wanda Dueno
Posted in New York City Subway, Subways Around the Globe | No Comments »
The Island President. Little Theatre. 7-19-2012
Wednesday, June 27th, 2012
Maldives is a country like no other. A Shangri-la of breathtakingly beautiful turquoise reefs, beaches, and palm trees. It is composed of 1200 coral islands off of the Indian sub-continent, of which 200 are inhabited. But this amazing country is in danger of disappearing.
On July 19th at 7pm, Greentopia | FILM and The Little Theatre will be co-presenting the Rochester premiere of The Island President…
Tags: climate change, event, global warming, Greentopia Festival, Jon Shenk, movie, The Island President, The Little Theatre
Posted in Art + Culture, Events, Video | No Comments »
Preservation v. Progress: Rematch on Main Street
Monday, June 25th, 2012
The church shown above sits vacant at 660 W. Main Street 
. It’s on the City’s list of historic buildings and potentially eligible for the National or State Register of Historic Places. Unfortunately the building’s owner is itching to demolish it… to clear the way for a new Dollar General store…
Tags: 660 W. Main Street, City of Rochester, demolition, Dollar General, Main Street, Rochester, Rochester NY, Susan B. Anthony Neighborhood, Westminster Presbyterian Church, zoning
Posted in Rochester Images, Rochester News, Urban Development | 8 Comments »
ROC Transit Day, June 21
Saturday, June 9th, 2012
If you’re like most people, you’ve used public transit in other cities—maybe while sightseeing in NYC or backpacking through Europe—but then you come home to Rochester and you get right back in your car and drive everywhere you need to go. We may not even think about it. It’s just habit.
On those days when I do leave my car at home and take the bus to work, it’s like being on vacation; from my routine. I don’t have to hunt for a parking space and lock up my car, or hike thru a nasty parking lot or gloomy garage. I just step off the bus and I’ve arrived.
I still remember the way I felt the first time I used the bus in Rochester. It was almost euphoric, really. I felt like I was free. Exactly the opposite of the way this video makes me feel…
Tags: Gary Jacobs, mass transit, mass transportation, Reconnect Rochester, Regional Transit Service (RTS), ROC Transit Day, RTS, TEDxRochester, wayfinding
Posted in Events, Rochester News, Transit + Infrastructure, Urban Development, Video | 2 Comments »
Cataract Brewhouse Demolition To Begin Monday, June 18
Thursday, June 7th, 2012![Cataract Brewhouse as seen from behind. [FLICKr PHOTO: _Yoshi_]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/cataract_building_yoshi.jpg)
According to an anonymous source working closely on the Genesee Brewery project, demolition of the infamous Cataract Brewhouse is scheduled to begin on Monday, June 18…
Tags: Cataract Brewery, Cataract Street, Crystal Pix, demolition, downtown Rochester, Genesee Brewery, Rochester, Rochester NY
Posted in Rochester Images, Rochester News | 17 Comments »
The Lackawanna Blues: How Smaller Cities are Destroying their Future by Demolishing the Past
Friday, June 1st, 2012![This is the former Bethlehem Steel North Office Building in Lackawanna, NY. Designed by noted New York City architect Lansing C. Holden, this magnificent Beaux Arts building was originally designed for the Lackawanna Steel Company in 1902. It will likely be demolished within weeks. [Photo: Derek Gee, Buffalo News]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/buffalo-bethlehem-steel-headline.jpg)
The following is a guest post submitted by Joel Helfrich.
Submit your story today.
Historic buildings are under attack, especially in Western New York. Indeed, the month of May is potentially the saddest month locally for historic structures in recent memory. Within a short time, the Otisca Brewery building in Syracuse, the Cataract Brewery buildings in Rochester, and the Bethlehem Steel North Office Building in Lackawanna will be gone—ashes on the dust heap that is our shoddy collective memory. All of these buildings were once useful—integral, in fact—pieces of our industrial past. Soon, these structures will be removed, thus helping three communities to ponder if they were ever part of the “rust belt.”
Tags: Joel Helfrich, Lackawanna, Otisca Brewery
Posted in Opinion, Reader Submitted Stories, Urban Development | 5 Comments »
2 Minutes with Rochester’s Roadside Guitar Guy
Friday, May 25th, 2012
The song is Patience by Guns N’ Roses. The man behind the guitar is Dave. I’ve seen Dave playing on the side of this I-490 service road in downtown Rochester for years. Today I finally got out of my car and spent a few minutes with him. He’s a real good guy. Stop and say hello if you see him…
Tags: busker, Dave the roadside guitar guy, downtown Rochester, Guns N' Roses, music, New York, Patience, Rochester, rochester music video, Rochester NY
Posted in Art + Culture, Interviews, Rochester News, Video | No Comments »
Visualizing Ethnic Boundaries in Rochester
Monday, May 21st, 2012![This is a map of racial and ethnic populations (and divisions) in Rochester. It was created by Eric Fischer using 2010 Census data. Inspired by Bill Rankin's 2009 map of Chicago. [FLICKr: Eric Fischer]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rochester-ethnicity-map.jpg)
When I saw this image of Rochester I was immediately struck. Pointillism is a style of painting in which small, distinct dots of pure color are applied in patterns to form an image. Think of works by masters such as Van Gogh or Georges Seurat like A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatt 
. From a distance we see one thing. Upon closer inspection we may see something entirely different…
Tags: 2010 U.S. Census, Bill Rankin, Eric Fischer, ethnic makeup of Rochester NY, ethnic makeup of the united states, Georges Seurat, pointillism, race & ethnicity map, race in Rochester NY, Rochester, Rochester neighborhoods, Rochester NY, segregation
Posted in Rochester History, Rochester Images | 2 Comments »
Countdown to Destruction
Sunday, April 29th, 2012![Doomed Brewery buildings as seen from Cataract Street from Saint Paul Street. The High Falls Historic District and Kodak Tower are in the background. [PHOTO: Crystal Pix, Inc.]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/genesee-brewery-cataract-demolition-01.jpg)
As North American Breweries / Genesee Brewery are preparing to demolish the Cataract Brewhouse, we are preparing to capture the tragic event as it unfolds. Crystal Pix, Inc. (Fairport, NY) has graciously volunteered to document the development of the GardenAerial project, and as part of that story, the demolition of 13 Cataract will be immortalized as well… sadly.
Tags: Cataract Brewery, Cataract Street, Crystal Pix, demolition, downtown Rochester, Genesee Brewery, Hotel Rochester, Kodak Park demolition, Mike Battle, Rochester, Rochester NY
Posted in Rochester Images, Rochester News | 4 Comments »
A “2nd Chance” for Community Gardens Near the Public Market
Saturday, April 21st, 2012
Community supported urban agriculture is an idea that’s been taking root in neighborhoods across Rochester for several years now. Brian Pettit and his partner Eugene are disabled veterans who have been working to convert empty lots near Rochester’s public market into community gardens. They dubbed their first garden lot “2nd Chance Central Park” because of its location (2nd Street & Central Park), its rejuvenating impact on the neighborhood, as well as the recycled materials in use.
This “2nd Chance” garden had been producing heirloom tomatoes, peppers and potatoes since 2009 until it was accidentally bulldozed by the City last Spring. And suddenly the name has taken on a whole new meaning…
Tags: 2nd Chance Central Park, 2nd Chance Community Garden, Brian Pettit, Central Park, community gardening, Ecopy Rochester, Rochester Public Market, sustainability, urban agriculture, urban gardening
Posted in Events, Rochester News | 6 Comments »
Mobile Recording Studio Seeks Freestyle Talent
Sunday, April 15th, 2012
Meet local rapper “Bricksonion”. Brick first started rapping when he was 13, but didn’t take it very seriously until he was about 23. Now he is known around town for his music , and for operating Rochester’s first mobile recording studio.
Tags: art, artist, Bricksonion, Chili Avenue, Clifford Avenue, hip hop, Hudson Avenue, mobile recording studio, New York, North Clinton Avenue, rap, rapper, Rochester, Rochester NY, video
Posted in Art + Culture, Interviews, Video | 2 Comments »
From Eyesore to Opportunity: Rochester’s Cataract Brewhouse
Wednesday, April 4th, 2012
All the controversy over whether or not to demolish the 120 year-old brewhouse at 13 Cataract Street got us thinking. Those in favor of demolishing the building say it’s an eyesore and a haven for drug dealers; even prostitutes. So, just remove the building and our problems go away.
Right?
But if we demolished every eyesore in Rochester, would we have solved all the City’s problems? Or might we end up tossing the proverbial “baby” out with the bath water? Over the past two weeks we’ve reviewed at some local eyesores …or rather, opportunities, nearly lost. Those include the Flatiron Building, Station 55, Hoyt-Potter House, Lehigh Valley Railroad Station (Dinosaur Bar-B-Que), Parazin Building, Partners Building, and the Powers Building.
Tonight the Preservation Board and Planning Commission will hear public comments and decide whether or not 13 Cataract will join the ranks of the reborn, or go the way of Rochester’s Bragdon Station and others.
Tags: adaptive reuse, Cataract Brewery, Cataract Brewing Company, Cataract Street, From Eyesore to Opportunity, High Falls, Rochester, Rochester NY
Posted in Rochester History, Rochester Images, Urban Development | 2 Comments »
From Eyesore to Opportunity: Rochester’s Teoronto/Smith Block
Tuesday, April 3rd, 2012
All the controversy over whether or not to demolish the 120 year-old brewhouse at 13 Cataract Street got us thinking. Those in favor of demolishing the building say it’s an eyesore and a haven for drug dealers; even prostitutes. So, just remove the building and our problems go away.
Right?
But if we demolished every eyesore in Rochester, would we have solved all the City’s problems? Or might we end up tossing the proverbial “baby” out with the bath water? For the next two weeks we’ll take a look at some local eyesores …or rather, opportunities, nearly lost.
Tags: adaptive reuse, From Eyesore to Opportunity, High Falls, Mill Street, Rochester, Rochester NY, State Street, Teoronto/Smith Block
Posted in Rochester History, Rochester Images, Urban Development | No Comments »
From Eyesore to Opportunity: Rochester’s Powers Building
Tuesday, April 3rd, 2012
All the controversy over whether or not to demolish the 120 year-old brewhouse at 13 Cataract Street got us thinking. Those in favor of demolishing the building say it’s an eyesore and a haven for drug dealers; even prostitutes. So, just remove the building and our problems go away.
Right?
But if we demolished every eyesore in Rochester, would we have solved all the City’s problems? Or might we end up tossing the proverbial “baby” out with the bath water? For the next two weeks we’ll take a look at some local eyesores …or rather, opportunities, nearly lost.
Tags: adaptive reuse, Eagle Hotel and Tavern, Four Corners, From Eyesore to Opportunity, Hamlet Scrantom, Main Street, Main Street Four Corners, Powers Banking House, Powers Building, Rochester, Rochester NY, State Street, Value Properties
Posted in Architecture, Rochester History, Rochester Images, Urban Development | 6 Comments »
From Eyesore to Opportunity: Rochester’s Partners Building
Monday, April 2nd, 2012
All the controversy over whether or not to demolish the 120 year-old brewhouse at 13 Cataract Street got us thinking. Those in favor of demolishing the building say it’s an eyesore and a haven for drug dealers; even prostitutes. So, just remove the building and our problems go away.
Right?
But if we demolished every eyesore in Rochester, would we have solved all the City’s problems? Or might we end up tossing the proverbial “baby” out with the bath water? For the next two weeks we’ll take a look at some local eyesores …or rather, opportunities, nearly lost.
Tags: adaptive reuse, Entercom Rochester, F2 Design, From Eyesore to Opportunity, Handler Grosso Durfee Associates, High Falls, James Durfee, Mill Street, Norry Management Corp., Partners + Napier, Partners and Napier, Partners Building, Rochester, Rochester NY, Wolf Group
Posted in Rochester History, Rochester Images, Urban Development | No Comments »
From Eyesore to Opportunity: Rochester’s Parazin Building
Friday, March 30th, 2012
All the controversy over whether or not to demolish the 120 year-old brewhouse at 13 Cataract Street got us thinking. Those in favor of demolishing the building say it’s an eyesore and a haven for drug dealers; even prostitutes. So, just remove the building and our problems go away.
Right?
But if we demolished every eyesore in Rochester, would we have solved all the City’s problems? Or might we end up tossing the proverbial “baby” out with the bath water? For the next two weeks we’ll take a look at some local eyesores …or rather, opportunities, nearly lost.
Tags: adaptive reuse, Ben Kendig, Browns Race, From Eyesore to Opportunity, High Falls, Mill Street, Parazin Building, Rochester, Rochester NY, Selye Fire Engine Company, Triphammer Mill, WXXI
Posted in Rochester History, Rochester Images, Urban Development | 1 Comment »
From Eyesore to Opportunity: Rochester’s Lehigh Valley RR Station
Thursday, March 29th, 2012
All the controversy over whether or not to demolish the 120 year-old brewhouse at 13 Cataract Street got us thinking. Those in favor of demolishing the building say it’s an eyesore and a haven for drug dealers; even prostitutes. So, just remove the building and our problems go away.
Right?
But if we demolished every eyesore in Rochester, would we have solved all the City’s problems? Or might we end up tossing the proverbial “baby” out with the bath water? For the next two weeks we’ll take a look at some local eyesores …or rather, opportunities, nearly lost.
Tags: adaptive reuse, Carpe Diem nightclub, Court Street, Dinosaur Bar B Que, From Eyesore to Opportunity, John Stage, Lehigh Valley Railroad, Lehigh Valley Railroad Station, Max Farash, Rochester, Rochester NY
Posted in Rochester History, Rochester Images, Urban Development | 3 Comments »
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