There are few places Rochesterians talk about with such fondness as the old RKO Palace Theater that once stood on Clinton Avenue. Looking at old pictures, I can see why. The place was all dressed up and sparkled inside and out like a glitzy Vegas showgirl. But like many of Rochester’s brick and mortar beauties, she grew old, was chopped up into little pieces, and buried where she stood. All in the name of “urban renewal.” Fast forward fifty years. RGRTA breaks ground on a new bus terminal. And guess what shows up? That’s right – the skeleton of Rochester’s most beautiful movie theater…
Posts Tagged ‘Rochester NY’...
RGRTA Digs Up Rochester’s Old RKO Palace Theater
Thursday, August 23rd, 2012Tags: bus terminal, Clinton Avenue, demolition, downtown Rochester, old movie theater, old photos, old photos of Rochester, old theater, Regional Transit Service (RTS), RKO Palace Theater, Rochester, Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority (RGRTA), rochester images, Rochester NY, Rochester Theater Organ Society, RTS Transit Terminal, Saint Paul Street, urban explorers, urban renewal
Posted in Rochester History, Rochester Images, Rochester News, Transit + Infrastructure, Urban Development | 101 Comments »
Rochester Police Department Draws Fire at Council Meeting
Wednesday, August 22nd, 2012
I attended last night’s City Council meeting to speak in opposition to proposed changes to Rochester’s Zoning Code. About 5 or 6 people spoke against the changes. No vote was taken on that issue this time around. So we’ll wait and see if the Mayor makes changes to his changes, or if Council will vote at a later date. In the meantime, the other HOT topic in Council’s chambers this night was community relations with the Rochester Police Department.
Police Chief Sheppard was in attendance, as was Mayor Richards to acknowledge the service of several 9-1-1 dispatchers and a RPD officer who were retiring. And during the 1-hour “Speak to Council” session where the public has a chance to speak on any topic of concern, at least 8 to 10 individuals called into question the actions and practices of the RPD – including one guy wearing an infamous mask for dramatic effect…
Tags: Alex White, anonymous mask, Emily Good, Occupy Rochester, protest, Richard Yaniak, Rochester, Rochester City Council, Rochester NY, Rochester Police Department, Rochester Police Department Points System, V for Vendetta
Posted in Rochester News, Video | 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]](https://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 | 4 Comments »
Sample the First 100 Years of Music in Rochester
Sunday, August 12th, 2012![A Sibleyd's department store window display featuring a mannequin seated at a piano, a second piano, a saxophone and an accordion. (1940). [IMAGE: Rochester Public Library]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rochester-sibleys-window-instruments.jpg)
The Atlantic Cities blog recently posted a map of U.S. cities with the highest concentration of musicians per capita. It probably surprised many people to see that Rochester ranked #9, immediately behind cities like Las Vegas, Portland, and New Orleans. But Rochester has a long history of music making. Remember Cab Calloway, Chuck Mangione, Eastman School of Music, the House of Guitars… We even have our own Rockin Rochester U.S.A. surf tune. Amazing!
Tags: Cab Calloway, Chuck Mangione, East Rochester, Eastman School of Music, Edgar Sherwood, Florence Newell Barbour, George Gross, Goodwill, Henry Russell, House of Guitars (HOG), Irving Berlin, Kendrick Shedd, music, Percy Grainger, R. Nathaniel Dett, Rochester, Rochester NY, Sergei Rachmaninoff
Posted in Rochester History | No Comments »
RochesterSubway.com for Best Local Blog of 2012
Saturday, August 4th, 2012![Vote RochesterSubway.com for City Newspaper's 'Best of 2012' ...the only blog for fans of Selleck, sandwiches, waterfalls and Rochester NY. [IMAGE INSPIRED BY: The Selleck Waterfall Sandwich Blog]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/selleck-sandwiches-and-rochester-ny.jpg)
There is literally a blog for everything. Don’t believe me? Pick three completely random things… let’s say… Tom Selleck, waterfalls and sandwiches. YES, there’s a blog for that . But what if you’re a fan of Tom Selleck, waterfalls, sandwiches, and Rochester NY? Thankfully, there’s RochesterSubway.com.
If you’ve enjoyed flipping thru these pages with me over the past 12 months or longer, why not show your support by voting for RochesterSubway.com in the CITY Newspaper’s Best Of Rochester 2012 Reader’s Poll ? (Vote “RochesterSubway.com for line #66: “Best Blog”)
And if you’re a newcomer to the Subway (or you’re just nostalgic like me), let’s take a look back at the most popular stories we dug up over the past 12 months…
Tags: best blog, Best of Rochester, blog, Rochester, Rochester City Newspaper, Rochester NY, rochestersubway.com, subway blog, Tom Selleck
Posted in Opinion, Rochester News | 2 Comments »
Blink. You missed it.
Saturday, July 28th, 2012
It’s no secret. We all love a good implosion. So like any good citizen I woke up early (9:45am) and made my way over (and around police barricades) to the wrecking site so’s I could shoot some video of this one. I should apologize for the quality, however. With all the local streets closed off to traffic and officials encouraging people not to come out, this was the best location I could find. But you’ll get the idea. It’s an implosion. Wooo hoooo. Roll the video…
Tags: building implosion, demolition, Heritage Tower, implosion, Irondequoit, Rochester, Rochester NY, St. Ann's Community
Posted in Events, Rochester Images, Urban Development | 2 Comments »
A Race Riot in Fairport?
Tuesday, July 24th, 2012
Today marks the 48th anniversary of Rochester’s 1964 “Race Riot” . While doing a little research on the 1964 riot I stumbled upon a completely different (and lesser known) incident. This one could also be called a “race riot” and it occurred 44 years earlier, on the streets of Fairport, NY.
Tags: civil rights, Deputy Clarke L. Burlingame, Deputy Sheriff George Brasser, Fairport, Fairport riot, Jack "Cutie" Kauffman, James Noey, Joseph Avenue, race in Rochester NY, riot, Rochester, Rochester history, Rochester NY, Rochester riot
Posted in Rochester History, Rochester Images | 12 Comments »
Susan B. Anthony Neighbors Unite to Save Old Main Street Church
Wednesday, July 18th, 2012
Dawn Noto, President of the Susan B. Anthony Neighborhood Association says this section of the city is in the early stages of a renaissance. But the turn around of West Main and the Susan B. Anthony neighborhood isn’t happening by accident. Years of planning, community involvement, public and private investment, and careful preservation of valuable historic assets have been key factors. Noto knows this progress is fragile. That with one short sighted development decision, years of work could begin to unravel.
Tags: 660 W. Main Street, Bret Garwood, Caitlin Meives, City of Rochester, Dawn Noto, demolition, Dollar General, Landmark Society of Western New York, Main Street, Marvin Maye, Rochester, Rochester NY, Susan B. Anthony Neighborhood, Westminster Presbyterian Church, zoning
Posted in Rochester News, Urban Development | 6 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, 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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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