Rochester

So I am heading back to Rochester New York tomorrow, so sorry to all 2 of my readers but there will be no blog entries for the next 48 hours, unless I die then there will be no blog posts ever again but I'm sure you'll see that on the news. Anyway I digress...

Rochester is not a well-known city and for those of you who do know about, it's never good stuff. But just because it's a small city that is sort of dying doesn't mean it's not fabulous.

So this is to you Rochester. You aren't just Kodak, Xerox, fast ferries, and gangs. I know you, and I know you have more to offer than a Buffalo or a Syracuse.

This is something I wrote for the Rochester examiner last year but it still holds true:

Sure, Hollywood rules the pop-culture scene, but it does not have a monopoly on it. Every city has a unique flavor, and Rochester is no exception. What makes Rochester cool and fun is far more unique than even Lady Gaga.

Lets begin by exploring Rochester's food culture. Of course there are the food staples that can be found in every city like great Chinese, Italian, and French cuisine but what all major cities lack are Garbage Plates. These sinister meals have become a Rochester Pop culture phenomenon and its easy to see why, they are delicious. Meat, mac salad, hot sauce, onions, mustard, and home-fries piled on top of each other is something that everyone misses, as soon as they cross the county line.

While the food is famous, so is the store. This store makes shopping easy, fun, and an event.Wegmans is just one more thing that makes Rochester, Rochester. Danny and crew know how to run a grocery store and their influence can be seen in all of their competitors. Unfortunately for Tops, they just can't cut it.

Just a few honorable mentions for Roch's pop culture scene- The Bug Jug: a hipster paradise, the Spot cafe: a caffeinated hipster paradise , Park Leigh: gift-giving made easy, or check out a show at Water Street.

Rochester does not't have the celebrities, glitz, or mental instability of some of the larger pop-culture centers, but that does not't mean its culture can't compete. Next time you're bored stroll down Park, University, or Monroe Avenue, maybe even flip off Kodak headquarters. Check out the multiple festivals and indulge in a garbage plate. By the end of the day you may even be referring to soda as "pop," Reintroduce yourself to Rochester.