<p>I will be traveling to Rochester early next month to visit RIT; I'm planning to stay an extra day so I can visit the city and the surrounding area. Any tips on what I should expect and/or any suggestions on what to visit? Thanks</p>
<p>RIT is pretty suburban. The Strong Museum is very nice and there are a lot of nice shopping malls around. I know a lot of people who have gone/go to RIT and they really like it there.</p>
<p>Is anyone a photography or film technical buff? </p>
<p>I haven't explored it myself, but hear that the Eastman Kodak company, which started in Rochester, has a great historic archive of films and daily showings, if you want to get off your feet. These films can't be seen elsewhere in their original form, as you can there.</p>
<p>If you need food supplies or even a meal, look for a supermarket sign called "Wegman's" Go in and have a freshy cooked meal with their chefs; buy their home-baked bread or soups, and many other food choices. It's a fun, upscale, attractive supermarket experience. Unique!</p>
<p>Corporate headquarters are in Rochester. I find Wegman's remarkable, and was shown it on my H's job search to help attract us to nearby Buffalo.</p>
<p>Things</a> to do in Rochester, NY & Rochester Attractions . - Yahoo! Travel</p>
<p>Greater</a> Rochester Visitors Association</p>
<p>Rochester</a> Attractions | MyTravelGuide.com</p>
<p>Rochester can be pretty grim in early March/April until things start greening up a bit. So go expecting it. RIT is a great technical school. If students get really involved they can be very happy hanging out on campus most of the time.</p>
<p>It really sounds pathetic to have wegmans food stores as a main attraction but....they are. Like a little live jazz w/ your most excellent Fri. night fish fry? This is the place to be. I always stay in Rochester thru friday night as I need a fish fry fix.</p>
<p>Paying3: so did wegmans seal the deal?</p>
<p>If you have a strong interest in women's history, visit the town called Seneca Falls; it'll be a drive away. It has the Women's Hall of Fame, a labor history museum, a few life-size statues of early suffragettes meeting on a bridge.
ONly do that if you can't find stuff in Rochester, however. I think it's a drive; rather modest tourist-history visit to a small town. For history majors, though, it's hot. </p>
<p>Sax, thanks for the link. I think the film showings might be in the George Eastman House, which is on your link.</p>
<p>I see it driving on Route 90, but have never visited: Montezuma Wildlife Refuge.</p>
<p>Sax is right about the weather that season. It could be muddy with the snow melt, or have some ice/rain/snow precipitation, even then. It could also surprise you on a given weekend and have the hint of warmth of an early Spring day. Bring a range of clothing so you don't get cold and uncomfortable; but layer it, so you can enjoy if the sun shines a bit on the mud/non-green. Imagine it lovely, verdant by mid-May; when you see bare deciduous trees (even with tiny buds then) next to the evergreens, imagine those bare trees open with green leaves by April and then GLORIOUS in October foliage.</p>
<p>Good take-home souvenirs: l00% maple syrup, in perfect season! Try a "Cortland" apple, too (from Cortland, NY) or an "Empire" from the Empire State of NY, although fall is really their best season.</p>
<p>If you are in a good breakfast restaurant and order pancakes, ask for l00% maple syrup so they don't bring you cornstarch (AKA, "maple-flavored syrup") Real maple syrup is worth the extra 50 cents or whatever...</p>
<p>Sax, yes, wegman's sealed the deal! </p>
<p>How can you not love a community where the supermarket sends a bus to transport the elderly, living beside one Wegman's, over to their other store during construction? Usually, the able-bodied seniors from the assisted living center walk across parking lots to buy their take-out homemade soup, bringing more home for friends. </p>
<p>The seniors needed their Chicken Soup, so Wegman's bussed them between stores, until their interior construction was complete.</p>
<p>C'mon that is too sweet. We moved here; the people have hearts of gold. I like my life here very much, including that international airport l0 minutes from home with no traffic in the way...</p>
<p>Wegman's is great. Rochester's best export since Kodak film.</p>
<p>Niagara Falls is about an hour away, and that's certainly worth a trip if you have never seen it. Bring your passport so that you can go over to the Canadian side, where the views are much better. Niagara-on-the-Lake is another 20 minutes north from there on the Canadian side, and it is a cute, Victorian, touristy place.</p>
<p>I don't know where you are coming from, and how you are getting around, but Central New York, and especially the Finger Lakes region (which pretty much starts just south of Rochester and extends east about 80 miles and south about the same distance) is quite beautiful and full of vineyards, wineries, and prosperous dairy farms.</p>
<p>Visit the University of Rochester (they might give you a scholarship) and try to find the nearest Whole Foods grocery for truly upscale food shopping.</p>
<p>Except for Tastings, Wegmans is upscale without trying to be. Rochester's best export.</p>
<p>Wegman's is amazing! another fan here. wish they'd come to Albany...</p>
<p>It occurs to me this is sort of pathetic. The websites sax posted don't exactly make one feel excited about Rochester. P3t's suggestion of the Kodak archive is pretty good, but other than that everyone is raving about the grocery stores! </p>
<p>Now, I'll say that I am a supermarket fan, and have represented several supermarket owners over the course of my career, and Wegman's is a really, really great supermarket. If you've never been to one, definitely check it out. But, please, would someone suggest some reason not to shoot yourself if you are stuck in Rochester without a car, other than Wegman's absolutely superior merchandising? (Which, by the way, they are planning to bring to a neighborhood a lot closer to you than Rochester as soon as they can.)</p>
<p>Would also like to hear more about the Rochester area (not just supermarkets!). How is downtown after dark? Jazz clubs, etc? Does Eastman bring in big names? When a "nor'easter" rolls through, what do students do? Do they cancel classes, etc. Or just tough it out. Are there parks, rec areas, etc? Any info would be appreciated. Got the chamber of commerce info, but personal info would be helpful.</p>
<p>How is Rochester NY?</p>
<p>Cold</p>
<p>What do you like? Live music? Theater? Food?
Will you be driving to Rochester or flying in and renting a car?</p>
<p>In the city check out -
Downstairs Cabaret; Eastman School of Music (some free programs; Kilbourne Hall has wonderful accoustics), Eastman Theater, George Eastman House and its Dryden Theater (that's where the film archive is located); GeVa Theater; the public market (T, Th & Sat; something other than the wonderful Wegmans, yes it is wonderful); Nazareth College (may have a show on at their art center); the Strong Museum; the Strasenburgh Planetarium at the Science Museum; the Upper Falls area; see the big houses all along East Avenue; Memorial Art Gallery; the Village Gate; Park Avenue area</p>
<p>Driving around and hiking around-
Cummings Nature Center for maple syrup weekends (SE); Genessee Country Museum (W); Lake Ontario and Durand Eastman Park (N); Highland Park and its conservatory; U of Rochester; walk or bike along the Erie Canal (too bad the canal may not be filled yet, otherwise you can see the locks in action); feed the chickadees at Mendon Pond Park.</p>
<p>even farther out -
Finger Lakes wineries; Seneca Falls' Women Hall of Fame (as noted by P3T); Corning Glass Museum</p>
<p>I think there will be enough to fill your day. Don't forget to check out RIT's exhibits. Too bad you are not there close to the end of school year when they have student exhibits. Wonderful stuff.</p>
<p>For cjm,
If I remember correctly, downtown is quiet after dark except for shows and music and such around Geva, Eastman, Upper Falls. There are quite a few parks. The summers are beautiful and great for biking and hiking around. The winter is about 1 month too long but most people develop skills in skiing and snow shoeing as well as find good sledding hills within easy driving distance - Ellison Park, Mendon Pond Park, Cobbs Hill Park, etc.</p>
<p>Rochester does not shut down for much. They don't seem to worry much until the forecast starts to inch past 8-10 inches. Since most of the colleges are residential colleges, students can expect classes as usual more often than not.</p>
<p>My family lived in Rochester for years before moving south some 7 years ago. We still miss it, esp. Wegman's.</p>
<p>You can also check out their local newspaper (democratandchronicle, just add www and .com for website) right before your visit to pin down some ideas for activities. It's not a great paper but may give you ideas and last minute update.</p>
<p>Due to the significant weather in Rochester in winter RIT has underground tunnels for students to use. </p>
<p>Parts of Rochester's inner city are sketchy though so use caution. A couple of blocks from Eastman school of music is a pretty bad area. Eastman itself is not in the greatest area but still pretty nice to visit.</p>
<p>Mormantie - my office is exactly halfway between the U of R and RIT campuses, I strongly suggest visiting both!</p>
<p>The local paper (the "Demagogue and Comical" as we call it) does have a nice weekend section on Thursdays that will list what is going in the area on the weekend you are here...PM me when the date gets closer and I will be sure to check what is going on...</p>
<p>Wegmans near the campus is OK, but nothing like the flagship store in Pittsford, if you want to do the ogling, go to that one, it is a short drive from RIT, and I can give you directions... </p>
<p>icy9ff8 - I would KILL to get a Whole Foods (or Trader Joe's for that matter) in Rochester!!</p>
<p>I was in Rochester once and remember a delightful scenic waterfall right downtown--what a surprise!</p>
<p>Rachacha--right now in Cincinnati we have</p>
<p>1) Trader Joe's
2) Whole Foods
3) a foot of snow</p>
<p>so I guess we're like Rochester, only better. ;)</p>
<p>Re: Nightlife. The biggest concentration of bars, resturants, clubs and theaters is on Rochester's East End. As Momof3Stars notes, however, there are some very sketchy neighborhoods bordering the entertainment district. Another area that is being developed is the High Falls district on the west bank of the Genesee River, below the falls. This area has potential, but there were only a limited number of restuarants/bars/clubs here the last time I visited about 2 years ago.</p>
<p>Maybe I missed it, but has anyone mentioned Rochester's famous "garbage plate" yet? If you are in Rochester you -- or a dining partner -- should give it a try just to say you've sampled the local "delicacy."</p>
<p>Rachacha- I can see how you chose your user name :D</p>
<p>I live right around the corner from Pittsford Wegmans and yes it is the one you have to see out of all of them. Otherwise, you just won't have good impression of Wegmans. You better learn to love it- it's the only supermarket around for miles (Tops just don't beat it). It's a total monopoly that they won't allow ANY other chain stores in including Whole Foods and Trader Joe's.</p>
<p>There are other things to do. But since you mention that you'll be here just for one day and I persume it'll be April. Here are two ideas:</p>
<p>For a sunny day- go for a walk along East Avenue/Park Avenue/University Avenue. This is where all the arts, cute shops, and cafes are. You'll walk by the Memorial Art Gallery- UR's art msueum and Eastman Kodak mansion. Or visit Pittsford Village.</p>
<p>For a rainy/cloudy/too cold day- Go to those museums above, explore Eastview Mall out in Victor...</p>
<p>Rochester is a very suburban area and you really do need to have a car on campus to make it work. Or just get a bike and you can pretty much bike along the canal as it runs from downtown Rochester through Brighton through Pittsford, Victor, and Fairport. Yes- the Erie Canal is also important. I only say it because I do a lot of my long-distance running on it and so I've come to appreciate it :) It really lets you see the beauty of the area and realize how close everything is! (Compared by car it seems to be bit of a trip!)</p>
<p>As for food, Rochester does sorely lack great food compared to Buffalo. Aside from Wegmans, there are other a couple of good restaurants like Dino BBQ (famous for "Garbage plate"), Aja's Noodles, Tokyo and a couple of upscale restaurants. Rochester is pretty modest despite the high quality of life. So don't let a restaurant break the deal of going to RIT.</p>
<p>There are a number of day-trips you can make such as to the Niagara Falls in Buffalo, Seneca Lake, Ithaca's gorges, and Corning.</p>
<p>But I will tell you that Rochester is NOT a college town like Ann Arbor or Ithaca. Instead, it's heavy on medical and technology professions along with education. So don't expect this place to cater to your needs as a college student in the same manner as other places. </p>
<p>Any more questions, feel free to PM me :)</p>