The Underrated Vibes
Can We Talk About the Chicken French?
While Rochester, like many other cities, has been blessed with some interesting cultural dishes, the Garbage Plate is far from the only dish worth raving about. It’s time to talk about the Chicken French.
First Fridays are Cultivating the Arts in Downtown Roc
First Friday is a special time of the month for artists and art enthusiasts. On the first Friday of each month (as implied), all around the city of Rochester, especially downtown, you will find artists displaying works at numerous art galleries or studios in the region.
The Sie Film Center in Denver is a Hub for Cinema
What really gives the Sie Film Center its identity is the unique and ongoing festival culture.
The 5 Spot Rules the Night in East Nashville
The 5 Spot in East Nashville is a different type of music venue, one that feels more like a neighborhood dive bar that the locals hit up for more affordable craft beers, cool touring bands, and to support Nashville-based artists.
Seize the Night at this Petite Goth Bar in Buffalo
The Merry Shelley on Hertel Avenue in Buffalo’s North Park neighborhood is perhaps one of the city’s most intriguing bars. It is an eclectic space that pays homage to its namesake, the famed 18th-century English author Mary Shelley, best known for her iconic gothic novel, Frankenstein.
An Interactive Experience with Senojfromtheroc
If you’re not following along with Senojfromtheroc’s music, then you’re already missing out on one of Rochester’s best artists, whose recent 2025 album release, Dark Skin Trail Mix,is a genre-blending “no skips” hit.
Two Lost Souls in a Ramen Bowl
Every Wednesday night at the Public Market in Rochester, Public Provisions, a full-service cafe, restaurant, and cocktail bar, is serving some of the finest ramen I have ever tasted.
A Stage Dive Into the 585’s Rising Music Scene, Part 2
To understand the 585’s rising music scene, one must see the value of local talent, as there are over 3,000 unique bands performing regularly at local bars and music spaces regionally. Rochester has an eclectic artistic underbelly, and while local music venues tend to be smaller, they excel at offering a closer connection between the audience and performers.
Unwind at this Stylish Enomatic Wine Bar in Downtown Rochester
Unwine’d at the Grove in Downtown Rochester is truly a gem in the center of the city. The space is beautiful with comfortable and inviting seats, an energetic, yet relaxing ambiance with a trending playlist that sets the mood. If you visit the wine bar on weekends, you’ll find that the room is alive with energy, and guests in stylish apparel.
Modern Love: From Nashville With Love
On a winter trip to Nashville, I found myself wandering downtown for a bite to eat before I departed the Music City for my life back in Rochester, New York. It was my last stop on a 4-day trip. I decided to stop for some coffee and brunch at a 1960s-style cafe, bar and eatery, Modern Love.
A Taste of the Philippines in Buffalo’s Theater District
While I came to Pinoy Boi expecting an authentic taste of the Philippines, I also found a small taste of home. Inspecting the menu, smelling the aromas, and placing my order at the counter brought me to a familiar place, and eating a generous plate of charred, tender and buttery, smoky, and flavorful pork Sisig, a helping of sticky rice, an over-hard fried egg, and two crispy, savory, and seasoned Lumpia pieces served with a side of a fresh sweet chili sauce brought me gratitude.
Denver’s Meow Wolf is an Otherworldly Experience
Meow Wolf’s Convergence Station in Denver is a treasure to behold. It is many things everywhere all at once: it’s a maze, it’s a museum, an exhibit, an art installation, a destination, a playground for both kids and adults, it’s full of puzzles and interactive artifacts, it’s bizarre and whimsical, wonderous and chaotic, but importantly, it is an escape from the ordinary, and a place to get lost in a world of pure imagination.