Annual Manual 2013

The Definitive Guide to Rochester

March 27, 2013

PHOTO BY MATT DETURCK

The real living social

In the age of social media, we're supposedly more connected than we've ever been. And yet most of us spend hours of our days glued to our laptops, tablets, or mobile devices leading virtual lives, and not living, you know, actual lives.

For this year's Annual Manual, we took inspiration from popular social networks and techy applications — Pinterest, Instagram, Spotify — and used them as a way to frame the various aspects of Rochester.

So look inside for a guide to local record stores, presented as Top 5 album lists. Get a glimpse of our fair city via some funky photo snaps. Or get inspired by taking a closer look at some interesting local architecture.

No matter what you do, spend this year actually getting out and exploring Rochester — the real one, not the one on your screen. - ERIC REZSNYAK

In This Guide...

Annual Manual

On the streets where you live

Get to know six local communities

Monroe County is about as diverse a community as you can find: a mid-size city, rural areas with orchards and farm markets, suburbs with 20th-century tract houses and shopping malls, and quaint, Victorian villages. The Genesee River and the Erie Canal bisect the county, more or less vertically and diagonally, so geology and history are a constant presence, shaping everything from traffic patterns to architecture and public festivals.

By Tim Louis Macaluso and Jeremy Moule Mar 27, 2013

Chili, NY Roberts Wesleyan College Roberts Wesleyan College Community Orchestra Genesee Land Trust Black Creek Park Perinton, NY Powder Mills Park Riedman Fish Hatchery Lollypop Farm Casa Larga Vineyards Fairport, NY Erie Canal tourism Bushnell's Basin Irondequoit Creek Mushroom House Scottsville, NY Cooper Vision Oatka Creek Scottsville Free Library Wheatland-Chili School District Canawaugus Park SWAN Southwest Area Neighborhood Trinity Emmanuel Presbyterian Church Bull's Head Culver University East neighborhood East Avenue Wegmans East Avenue George Eastman High Falls Browns Race Kodak Frontier Field Genesee River Pont de Rennes Center at High Falls
Annual Manual

The people's buildings

A look at some of Rochester's best-known public architecture

The best American public buildings are open and accessible. Even in a nation worried about security, we enter them largely without fear or even concern.

By Michael Lasser Mar 27, 2013

Slideshow
Annual Manual

The stuff of Rochester

A look at local memorabilia, past and present

There is no shortage of affection for Rochester. Despite the heartbreaks this city has endured — lost landmarks, miscarried projects, fallen corporate keystones — hope is still the holdout.

By Katherine Stathis Mar 27, 2013

Slideshow
Annual Manual

All creatures great and small

A look at Rochester's pet-related resources

Rochester is probably no more pet-conscious than any other city, but we definitely have plenty of resources for any kind of furry friend you may have, or want to have. Once you've welcomed him or her to your home, Fido or Puff can live the life of Riley in the Flower City: healthy, well-fed, spiffed-up, socially connected, and beautifully behaved.

By David Raymond Mar 27, 2013
Annual Manual

The young and the restless

Get connected with area young professional groups

To some people, networking is a dirty word. It brings to mind a bunch of rich men in suits getting together to drink scotch and hire each others' nephews.

By Alexandra Carmichael Mar 27, 2013
Annual Manual

Pick up the pace

Whether novice or expert, Rochester has a running club for you

Running seems like the simplest form of exercise: just get off the couch, put on your shoes, and get going. But around Rochester, things are not that simple.

By Jason Silverstein Mar 27, 2013
Annual Manual

How Pinteresting

Local artists and art houses spread the word through Pinterest

Given the image-saturated nature of Pinterest in our image-literate culture, there's great potential for artists and art dealers to benefit from the use of this emerging social media platform. The site boasts roughly 25 million unique monthly visitors, many of whom help link-bearing images go viral by re-pinning them.

By Rebecca Rafferty Mar 27, 2013
Annual Manual

Maximum rotation, maximum joy

The top albums for local record stores

It ain't fair, it ain't fair! I know that asking people to pick their five favorite records is limiting and frustrating.

By Frank De Blase Mar 27, 2013

Music Record stores Rochester music Bop Shop NeedleDrop Lakeshore Record Exchange House of Guitars Record Archive Albums
Annual Manual

Feed your calendar

A Twitter-style look at upcoming special events

UPDATED 3/29/13 to correct the date for the Park Avenue Summer Arts Festiva. No matter if it's spring, summer, fall, or winter, there are so many events going on in Rochester on any given week that it's almost impossible to keep track of them all.

By Jason Silverstein Mar 27, 2013