Directory/Arts & Culture

Arts & Culture

63 locations in Rochester

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Auto Co-op

This is an interest-gathering page. I am not aware of any auto-related co-ops/DIY groups in this area, and would like to see one get started. The concept would be something roughly similar to the Southwedge tool library for home-improvement related equipment, but with a designated location with a hard, level surface where work could be performed. Potential Advantages Tools, obviously. No need to own and store your own 10-quart drainpan or jackstands. Helping hands. Most basic auto work is a one-person show, but another hand can speed things up and avoid mistakes. Better cleanup. Lots of drivers make a mess when changing fluids, and irreponsibly dispose of toxic chemicals. Pooled knowledge. Even if you can't find a guru for your particular make/model, general experience from others can go a long way in diagnosing problems and removing and installing new parts. Interested persons: JonRobins - I've done a little bit of everything except transmission/driveshaft work. Familiar with 80s-90s GM cars and currently own and maintain a Subaru Legacy.

Chamber of Commerce Building

The Chamber of Commerce Building is located on St. Paul Street. It was designed by Claude Bragdon, and built in 1916. The building was a gift to the community from George Eastman. Bragdon and Eastman had a falling out over the design of the building. 1 The building is now home to SUNY Brockport MetroCenter (website). The trustees of the Greater Rochester Metro Chamber of Commerce allowed the sale of the building following the merger of the Chamber with the Industrial Management Council into the Rochester Business Alliance. Notes and References Listed in National Register of Historic Places- Monroe County on October, 4, 1985 Architecture of Braddon on LibraryWeb.org has photos and information. vintage postcard of the building on VintageViews.org. 1Bragdon on LibraryWeb.org

Cassius Marcellus Coolidge

Wikimedia Cassius Marcellus Coolidge, famous for his "dogs playing poker" paintings, was a banker, drugstore owner, writer, inventor, and painter who founded a drugstore in Rochester in 1872. He returned to live in Rochester after an 1873 trip to Europe. While living in Rochester he was a travel writer for the Watertown Times. There are other references on the internet that indicate that he spent a fair amount of his life in the town of Antwerp, NY, which is up near Watertown. So, some of the information above may not be entirely correct. Two of his "dogs playing poker" paintings sold at auction in 2005 for over $590K. Coolidge is also credited with inventing the "Comic Foreground", painted wooden cutouts for taking pictures at carnivals, etc. For local examples, go to Lagoner Farms to be photographed as a flower, fruit, or vegetable. Coolidge was the illustrator for "Prophet of Peace", a 1906 book by his cousin, Asenath Carver Coolidge which was dedicated to her brother, John Townsend Coolidge, "a believer in peace and jollity". Google Books - Notes and References Material above derived mostly from the DogsPlayingPoker.com biography page Photo Gallery on DogsPlayingPoker.com Furry Wiki Page Posters at Art.com

High Falls Gift Shop

The High Falls Gift Shop was a gift store located in the The Center at High Falls within the High Falls District. They were one of the few places in the city that carried Rochester-branded souvenirs, such as pens, keychains, snow globes, t-shirts, books, baseball caps, magnets, and so forth. They carried general gifts as well, along with prints by local photographers Sheridan Vincent and George Wallace. The High Falls Fine Art Gallery in the same building had more high-end creations from Rochester artists. The gift shop, along with the the gallery and Center, closed at the end of June 2013 on the grounds that they cost the City too much to run and didn't make enough money.

EvenOdd Creative

At work in their studio. Samples of bags made from old banners. EvenOdd Creative is a small Rochester-based design group that produces unique, handmade accessories from upcycled materials such as bicycle inner tubes and vinyl banners. Products include messenger bags, tote bags, wallets, wrist cuffs, laptop sleeves, and iPad sleeves. They describe their aesthetic as urban and gritty. EvenOdd Creative was founded in 2009 by a pair of designers named Ashley and Liza. They have a retail location in the Hungerford Building and also offer online shopping. Other locations where EvenOdd products may be purchased include the following: Bert's Bikes and Fitness Freewheelers Full Moon Vista Memorial Art Gallery Tom's Pro Bike Shop R Community Bikes Images courtesy of EvenOdd Creative.

Fairport Erie Canal Liftbridge

Wikimedia Commons Feb 2010, BradMandell The Fairport Erie Canal Liftbridge, a bridge located over the Erie Canal on Main Street in Fairport, is an engineering marvel: "Did you know it's the only bridge in the world built on a bias? The south end is higher than the north end. Plus, it's an irregular decagon. No two angles in the bridge are the same. No corners on the bridge floor are square, earning it a place in "Ripley's believe it or not" 16 times." 1 Information and Photo References Fairport Lift Bridge from Fairport Village Partnership Images of the Fairport Lift Bridge on ErieCanal.org is an excellent collection of historic and recent photos. Satellite View and Info on Wikimapia.org with pictures and information Fairport Lift Bridge on Waymarking.org Fairport Lift Bridge and Colonial Belle Movie - a 9mb zipped video on RocPic.com Photos

Pirate Toy Fund

The Pirate Toy Fund is a nonprofit organization located on East Main Street, that supplies toys to over 70 local agencies that bring comfort and aid to thousands of children-in-need throughout the Greater Rochester region. Since 1995, the Pirate Toy Fund has collected and distributed almost 400,000 toys. The Fund was started by children's entertainer Gary The Happy Pirate inspired by the extraordinary life of Christie Simonetti. The Toy Fund accepts new, unwrapped toy donations year-round at Eastview Mall, The Mall at Greece Ridge, The Marketplace Mall, and Strong National Museum of Play. Every year during the holiday season, the Pirate Toy Fund hosts a week-long televised toy drive to collect more toy donations from the community. 1 1Fund Press Release (pdf)

Lincoln First Bank

Lincoln First Bank tower (also known as Chase Lincoln First Tower) was a building in downtown Rochester. Completed in 1973 by John Graham and Company of New York City, it was known for its structure failure, in which large sections of the marble facade crumbled under their own weight. The post-mortum on the event indicates that the marble had a abnormally high water retention weight, and the thickness on the slabs had been reduced during the design phase. This left very thin slabs of marble, which absorb more water (and pollutants, etc) out of the air than the nominal values in architecture reference books. Hence, they weakened, crumbled, and collapsed. The falling panels were the source of much local derision and kept the editorial cartoonists busy for a while. The sidewalks were blocked off while they were figuring out what to do with the panels, of course. Painted sheets of plywood were used in the interim until a more permanent solution was eventually found. Ya' gotta love Rochester, and its crumbling buildings! (Across Stone Street from the South Avenue garage. Coincidence?) An image via Monroe County Library A D&C Business Section Article, June 6, 2006 described a $21 million infusion at Chase Tower To participate in a survey on local architecture visit, Rochester Archipedia Survey

CJS Architects

CJS Architects is an architectural firm with offices in downtown Rochester and Buffalo. They used to share a building with Roc Brewing Company but moved down the street at the end of 2019. Some of their work that can be seen around Rochester: Strong Museum expansion Vida Apartments Gold Street Lofts on Mt. Hope 625 South Goodman Eastman Theater expansion

Canto Magazine

Canto Magazine is an online literary publication. They feature poetry, short stories, and art. According to their website: Canto publishes high-quality pieces from new and established voices in Rochester and beyond. Each month we unveil a new issue, with new content added daily. Canto was founded by Emily Brasley and Najia Zayed in September 2013. Links Canto Magazine Bursts Upon the Literary Scene in Rochester - Kenneth Warner in the D&C Rochester Blog (2013-09-13)

International Center for the History of Electronic Games

The International Center for the History of Electronic Games, formerly the National Center for the History of Electronic Games, is located at the Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester. The center "collects, studies, and interprets electronic games and related material and the ways in which electronic games are changing how people play, learn, and connect with each other." 1 Center Facts Collections: houses one of the largest and most comprehensive collections of electronic game platforms, games, and related materials in the US (nearly 20,000 items). See their Collections Page for details. Exhibits: displays some of its holdings within the museum itself for guest viewing or interaction. A major exhibit title eGameRevolution is slated to open late 2010. See website for details. Access: All collections are accessible to researchers on site. The museum is currently cataloging its entire collection of video games and its electronic-games-related toy catalogs through grants from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. - bringing the info on-line in the future. Publications: articles and book reviews about electronic games in the American Journal of Play, an interdisciplinary scholarly quarterly of the museum. FAQ: more info available on their website. 1Website About Page

Brown's Race Historic District

The Brown's Race Historic District, an historic district of Rochester, is inside the High Falls District downtown. It commemorates the era when waterpower drove the mills that made flour and many industrial products along the Genesee River. The High Falls Center & Interpretive Museum is located here. National Register of Historic Places (added 1989 - Monroe County - #89000067)(110 acres, 15 buildings, 2 structures) Cultural Affiliation: 19th C. Urban Industrial Links ePodunk Info

Companies/Financial Services

Accountants See also Payroll & Benefits, below. ABW Financial Services Accu-Books BOMA Tax and Consulting The Bonadio Group Brophy, Dailey & Incardona, LLP DeJoy, Knauf & Blood, LLP Dunn & Pedro CPA's P.C. EFP Rotenberg, LLP H-2 Tax Associates Hufsmith & Associates CPA's Juanitas Tax and Business Services Journey Financial Planning & Tax Services Insero & Company CPAs, P.C. Llwe Business Services Plus The Tax Experience Thaney & Associates Certified Public Accountants Financial Advisors See also Investment Firms, below Investment Firms Charles Schwab Citigroup Upstate NY HQ. Howe & Rusling JP Morgan/Chase Smith Barney Wall Street Financial Group Financial planning. Lenders See also Banks and Credit Unions Merchant Services Continental Service Group - also known as ConServe - Website - Collections processing, Based in Fairport NY Electronic Merchant Systems Young & Company CPAs LLP Mortgage Brokers See also Banks and Credit Unions First Rochester Mortgage Corp. Nothnagle Home Securities Corporation Premium Mortgage Corp. Prime Select Mortgage Payroll & Benefits See also Accountants, above. Benefit Link LLC Website - Employee benefits administration and compliance.- Founded in Rochester Benefit Resource, Inc. Website - Employee benefits administration. Bond Financial Network Green Leaf Professional Services, Inc. InsuranceTrak Services - Website Commercial Insurance/Business Insurance - Founded in Rochester Landmark Group - Commercial Insurance & Employee Benefits Firm. Mary Perry Accredited Disability Representative - Specialist in Social Security Ovation Payroll Website - Formerly E-CHX, Inc., founded in Rochester PayChex USA Payroll Agency, LLC - Website Payroll Processing, etc. - Founded in Rochester

Ice Storms

Ice storms are a common problem across the Upstate NY Region. Here are some of the more memorable ice storms: Ice Storm of March 1991 The Penfield Library has a VHS copy of news footage covering this storm. Many were without power for 1-2 weeks. The Massaro Sculpture Garden was inspired by the debris left in a local artist's yard. Over 14,000 trees were destroyed and had to replanted over the next four years. Our front yard. Photo taken in March 1991 by Adrienne Dahler Our back yard. Photo taken in March 1991 by Adrienne Dahler 2003 WXXI's account a local resident account with pictures Ice Storm of October 2006 A surprisingly early ice storm hit the Buffalo area in October 2006. Its official name, given by the National Weather Service, was "Aphid",1 though it has also been called many other names, such as "The Columbus Day Massacre". The storm began in the evening on Thursday, October 13 and ended the following morning. Watch an AP news video about the storm

Frankfort

Frankfort was a name given to the early settlement of the High Falls/Brown's Race area prior to its annexation into Rochesterville. The name has since been lost as an individual settlement. It was in the vicinity of Brown's Race, Kodak Tower, and Frontier Field. There was a Frankfort Mill in the settelement. Source: Frankfort" Birthplace of Rochester's Industry large PDF from Rochester Public Library.

ACT Rochester

ACT Rochester provides an objective assessment of our community’s performance on key indicators. The website provides data for analysis on issues like health, children and youth, education and the economy. The website contains nine topic areas, and over 100 indicators for nine counties as well as links to more than 300 community initiatives and resources. ACT Rochester is an initiative of Rochester Area Community Foundation. Mission: To change the culture of community problem-solving and associated decision making through the use of credible, independent and timely data. This is accomplished when people LEARN about key issues, CONNECT with others in the community, and ACT to promote change. The ACT Rochester region also aligns to NYS Governor Cuomo's Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council region. Recently ACT Rochester has focused on racial and ethnic disparities that exist within our region. This section features ACT Rochester data that can be broken down by race/ethnicity, as well as community initiatives in this topic. This effort is in line with the Facing Race, Embracing Equity movement in Greater Rochester, centered on a 2013 exhibit at Rochester Museum & Science Center that focuses on race.

Genesee Country Village & Museum

Genesee Country Village & Museum is a nonprofit educational, living-history museum which attempts to replicate a 19th-century village. The museum is open May-October, and during that time visitors can tour a number of carefully restored houses, barns and businesses. Museum staff dress in period clothing and demonstrate 19th-century craft and commerce in facilities like the barns or restored blacksmith shop. In addition to the village, the complex also houses a number of other attractions. The John L. Wehle Gallery of Art has a large collection of wildlife and sporting art. The adjoining Genesee Country Nature Center has 175 acres which can be used for nature hikes in the summer and skiing in the winter. The Carriage Museum has a large collection of 19th- and 20th-century horse-drawn vehicles, and the Heirloom Gardens include 13 ornamental plots in different styles. The museum sponsors a number of events, including 19th-century baseball games played by teams in period uniforms. Check the website for details of all museum programs. Located in the hamlet of Mumford, town of Wheatland, New York. See also: Wikipedia article on Genesee Country Village & Museum

Greece Public Library

The Greece Public Library is located northwest of downtown Rochester along the shores of Lake Ontario. In addition to typical library offerings, they have a 20-foot long aquarium. They are part of the Monroe County Library System and receive more than 450,000 visits annually. Free Wifi The library also operates the Barnard Crossing Branch Library (Greece).

High Falls Fine Art Gallery

The High Falls Fine Art Gallery was an gallery located in the The Center at High Falls within the High Falls District in downtown Rochester. Established in 1992 in a historic building (circa 1873), the gallery had represented over 2,000 local artists. The two main galleries on the second floor were dramatic exhibit spaces with high ceilings, brick walls, and large windows overlooking the Genesee River. Solo exhibits could also be found on the first floor, where art displays enhance the historical exhibits in other areas of the Visitor Center. The gallery featured rotating themed exhibitions in photography, painting, sculpture, printmaking, fiber arts, and more. The gallery was also available for rental for moderately sized meetings or events. The gallery, along with the The Center, closed at the end of June 2013 on the grounds that they cost the City too much to run and didn't make enough money. It was pointed out that numerous other art galleries featuring local talent have sprung up since 1992, thus drawing business away from High Falls.

Bob Lonsberry

Bob Lonsberry is a controversial and at times reportedly humorous local radio figure on the AM dial. You can find his show on WHAM radio. Lonsberry is a dyed in the wool Republican, NRA member, and he also had a newspaper column for a few years. Controversy A response to Bob Lonsberry on WDKX.com Blog 2008-06-16 — "But when you are chewing on that dessert, please take a moment to think: What kind of man kicks a girl, a child, when she is down? What kind of morality is that? If you really answer those questions within yourself, I bet it becomes just a little bit tougher to swallow." 1 Sep 2003 - fired from WHAM over issue of calling Mayor Johnson an "monkey and orangutan" 2 Anti-Racism Movement protests ESL, Bob Lonsberry on Rochester.IndyMedia.org Notes and References Facebook Group "We Don't Like Bob Lonsberry" Lonsberry.com - his official site, including his daily Column About his editorial report on Marine Lt. Brian Chontosh in Iraq on Truth or Fiction 1http://www.wdkx.com/show_article/2008/06/16/A_Response_to_Bob_Lonsberry.html2http://radio.about.com/library/weekly/aa092903a.htm

Imaging Solutions Group

Imaging Solutions Group's Logo The Imaging Solutions Group (ISG) was founded by engineers and is run by engineers. The company has extensive experience in various markets including Machine Vision, Medical, Industrial Imaging, Computer Vision Applications, Traffic and Surveillance. They have developed this expertise over many years by working successfully with some of the largest companies in the world as well as small entrepreneurial organizations. Imaging Solutions Group provides: plug-and-play smart cameras with standard interfaces to get you running quickly. Customized plug-and-play smart cameras create a specific function for a specific application. custom imaging systems, optimized for cost and performance using a vast library of intellectual properties. machine vision cameras for a variety of applications. For more information, please visit the Imaging Solutions Group website.

LIBRAWeb

The Monroe County Library System has a variety of search tools that allow the accessing of any materials in the large collection. At one time this search capability was known as LIBRAWeb, but that term has fallen out of favor. Now there just is a publicly accessible online library catalog database for the Monroe County area, allowing you to search and put holds on books from the comfort of your own home. Also offered through their site is the ability to search the libraries' index of Local History Photo Images. Tip: A search for 'Rochester' returns interesting results. Images more often than not come alongside useful information in summary form. It can be tremendous fun viewing historical images, and often allows you to learn a few unexpected things about the area. The original Cooley Airship article was a direct result of stumbling upon its image through their online search database. If you're looking for more resources useful RocWiki fact gathering, check out the Wiki Resources page.

Just Poets

Just Poets is a poetry-centered non-profit organization based in Rochester, NY, founded in 2004. Their goal is to celebrate both poets and poetry by encouraging and supporting area poets at all levels of ability to improve their work and find their individual poetic voices. They seek to do this through workshops, publications, readings and networking within the literary community. An anthology of member poetry, Le Mot Juste, is published annually. Just Poets also seeks, as part of its mission, to increase the public's awareness and appreciation of poetry through readings, a speakers bureau, written articles and other educational avenues. Meetings take place on the first Saturday of each month in either Pittsford or Penfield. A featured speaker presents on a selected topic, followed by the opportunity for individuals to receive feedback on one poem at the small-group workshop. Monthly readings are scheduled for the second Thursday of each month at Barnes & Nobles in Pittsford. A featured reader starts with a selection of their work before the Open mic begins, where all are welcome to share some words. Send an email to <justpoets AT yahoo DOT com> to find out more information. See also RocPoetry

Karen FitzMaurice-Camp

Karen is a local artist who mostly paints, but also sculpts and dabbles in a host other media. Her work can be viewed at a host of local galleries: * Little Theater http://www.little-theatre.com, * Gallery Spa http://www.galleryhair.com, * The Century Club http://www.centuryclubofrochester.org, * Venice Rosetta Gallery http://www.mariocarlenius.com * etc. or on the web at http://www.MuthersonArt.com. Karen's Artist Statement: Being able to express myself and tell a little story with paint is very fulfilling to me. I consider my art to be light-hearted, colorful, with a narrative humor. I get pleasure from having other people want to look at this expression of communication through paint. My childlike manner of painting has always been compared to Mattise's style. I put paint directly on the canvas with just an idea in my head and maybe a preliminary sketch on paper. I use all manners of materials, liking oils the best because of the fluidness and wonderful way of mixing chemically to surprise me with its outcome of different shades. I have a series of paintings that I call "Dot-to-Dot Paintings." These are primitive paintings indicative of indigenous people in Australia. They are usually colorful with maps being the usual inspiration for these paintings. Having traveled to Europe a few times, I have been influenced by the colorful innocense and look of Ireland and other European countries. Caribbean travels have given me a chance to experience life in hot climates with hot colors and pastels, and observe the different degrees in the way of living, from very rich to very poor. As an artist, I am always trying to get what is inside of me out on canvas. At 58 years of age, I have experienced a lot in life. Sometimes I feel a need to surround myself in art to get me going. That is when I will paint for months. Other times, I will have dry spells for months. I also have a need for competition. If I can paint surrounded by other people, I feel good. Isolation is another way I can have good paint days. I try to express a flow of thought through imagery from the unconscious to the canvas. If people enjoy this trip with me through my art, I am pleased.