Flour, Flower, Arts and Industry

Celebrate the right to vote

Rochester has long been a stronghold for women’s rights, led by Susan B. Anthony. Her home is now a museum with displays, events and regular tours. Susan B. Anthony hosted the headquarters of the National American Woman Suffrage Association (of which Anthony was president) at her home as well.

2020 marks the centennial of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote. It’s also the 200th anniversary of Susan B. Anthony’s birth and the 75th anniversary of the museum. A parade is planned for September 12, 2020 in Rochester to commemorate the centennial and Susan B. Anthony’s contributions to women’s suffrage. It will also be broadcast virtually.

After touring the Susan B. Anthony House, take a short walk to the Susan B. Anthony Square Park. There is a marvelous sculpture by artist Pepsy Kettavong entitled “Lets Take Tea.” It features Susan B. Anthony and Fredrick Douglas sitting at a tea table.

Rochester seems to have a history of strong pioneering women. One of them is Catharine Anselm Gleason. Her father founded Rochester’s Gleason Works gear manufacturing company. Catharine later joined him at the company as an engineer — an especially male-dominated profession at the time. Gleason was the first woman to attend Cornell University in the engineering department, and the first woman to become a full member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. She went on to rescue several companies and build housing communities with her engineering acumen.

A boating kind of city

Rochester has a vibrant boating scene. There are several yacht clubs and marinas, most of which offer transient docking and a range of services. No matter what marina you end up at, you will have easy access to the Genesee River Trails, Ontario Beach Park and Turning Point Park.

If you are approaching Rochester from the Erie Canal, you may want to stop at Corn Hill Landing. You can dock along the concrete pier, which offers free shore power. The first 24 hours are free and $5 per day after that. Take a walk along the waterfront or stop at the patios of one of the restaurants, such as Silk District Pub, Tony D’s or Kainos. When the sun sets, enjoy the view of downtown all lit up in a display of color that reflects on the waters. It’s not far to downtown and easy to get to. Just make sure you have a map or good GPS.

Just a short distance from the Genesee River is the Irondequoit Bay, which has several marinas and restaurants, including the historic Union Tavern. Both the Genesee River and Irondequoit Bay are rather far from downtown, but there is Uber and a decent bus service, which you can use with a $3 unlimited all-day pass.

Good for hungry boaters

You don’t have to go far to find a number of fun restaurants. The Rochester Port Authority is a large facility at the mouth of the Genesee River that’s a full-service marina that also hosts several options to eat. You can also dock your boat at Pelicans Nest for some good food and a fun time, especially when there’s live entertainment. Prefer to leave your boat at your marina? Several restaurants are in easy walking distance, such as Whiskey Run.
Rochester has several great brewery options, thanks to a long history of brewing beer. The city’s first brewery, Aqueduct Spring Brewery, was established in 1819. By the end of the nineteenth century, the city had at least 50 breweries. One of the largest and oldest is the Genesee Brewing Company, established in 1878. Today you can take tours, enjoy tastings or enjoy a bite to eat at the Genesee Brew house. In good weather, you can even enjoy your meal on the patio overlooking the High Falls.

Don’t miss out on the many other craft beer breweries, such as ROC Brewing, Swiftwater, Last Borough, Fifth Frame and Three Heads Brewing. Most offer tours, tastings and food. For something a bit different try a pedal bike brewery tour.

Cruise through history

Rochester is a great hot spot for those hungry for history as well. You can stop to read a series of plaques with local history before the Colonel Patrick O’Rorke Memorial Bridge. The Charlotte Lighthouse museum is another stop for marine history.

Don’t miss Mount Hope Cemetery, opened on October 3, 1838 on 40 acres. It was the first municipal cemetery in the U.S. and today has grown to 200 acres (it is still in use). Many notable people are buried there, including Susan B. Anthony, Fredrick Douglas, Henry Alvah Strong and Nathaniel Rochester. The Friends of Mount Hope Cemetery offers regular tours, both general and themed, both public and private.

You can also choose to go on a historical tour by boat. The Harbor Town Belle is an 80-foot paddle wheeler that cruises the Genesee River, Lake Ontario and Irondequoit Bay. There are several cruises, such as music cruises, dinner cruises, beer or wine tastings, private parties and themed events. The captain will give commentary as the ship passes points of interest, which is why I always recommend this type of cruise even for those with their own boats.

Enjoying the arts

Rochester has a strong and vibrant art scene, with galleries, street art and world-class theater and dance. The Neighbourhood of the Arts (NOTA) is a walkable area known for its many artists, restaurants and cafes. You can find a nod to NOTA’s industrial roots with the Gleason Building, which still manufactures gears.

The largest gallery in Rochester is the Memorial Art Gallery. A mix of old and new architecture, there is plenty to see and do with fascinating exhibits, tours, talks and musical presentations. The gallery also organizes art tours to cities around the world.

Stroll over to Village Gate, a complex within NOTA that houses art gallery’s, shops, businesses and restaurants. Next door, the Anderson Arts Building is full of artist studios and galleries. Visit on the second Saturday of the month to hear the artists talk about their work in person.

Just a few streets over from NOTA is the Park Avenue neighborhood. Walk along the street and stop into the many interesting shops, such as Parkleigh, Statement Boutique, Useless Objects, Dorje Adornments or Salty Boutique. There are also quite a few restaurants, such as Park Avenue Pub, ROAM Café, Bacco’s Ristorante, Blu Wolf or Frog Pond. Many have outdoor patios, making them perfect for people watching.

I was particularly impressed with the Oxford Gallery in Park Avenue. It’s located on the lower floor of an apartment building, so you need to buzz to get in. When I arrived, I was immediately offered a glass of wine to enjoy as I toured the collection of contemporary and historic pieces.

Don’t forget about Rochester’s world-renowned theater and dance. Check out the Kodak Centre, GEVA Centre, Blackfriars or ROC Broadway Theater League — just to name a few. Rochester is also home to the CGI Rochester International Jazz festival. This nine-day festival started in 2002 and now attracts more than 200,000 people, utilizing 21 venues. The festival is normally held in June, but this year has been rescheduled for October (as of this writing) because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fun for family, too

There is plenty to keep the youngsters entertained in Rochester. Put the Seneca Zoo, the Seabreeze Amusement park and, most unique of all, the Strong Museum of Play on your list.

The Seabreeze amusement park is located in Irondequoit Bay, so it is easy for boaters to access. It’s fun for everyone with rides, kiddie rides and a water park. The Seneca Zoo is a family friendly attraction with excellent conservation and learning programs. There is also the Rochester Museum of Science and the Strasenburgh Planetarium.

Perhaps the most unique and interactive destination for both children and their families is the Strong Museum of Play. Founded by Margaret Woodbury Strong in 1968 and originally called the Margaret Woodbury Strong Museum of Fascination, the Strong is one of the largest history museums in the U.S. and the world’s largest collection of historic materials related to play. It is home to the National Toy Hall of Fame, The World Video Game Hall of Fame and the International Center for the History of Electronic Games. Its exhibits include a butterfly garden, aquarium carousel and train rides.

There is so much to see and do in Rochester, it could fill a book. Hopefully this will whet your appetite to sail on over and experience all Rochester has to offer.