Hosted on June 6, Flower Fest was a celebration of the 50th anniversary of Rochester’s iconic city logo. However, for those of us who attended, it became a celebration of a historic space with new life. In my view, it became a reminder of what happens when the city gives one of its most historic spaces the attention it deserves, and crowds turn out to embrace the experience.

There is no doubt that as a mid-sized metro, Rochester’s rise as a craft cocktail-rich playground has been greatly shaped by the RCR’s presence, leadership, and community-driven efforts to unite novice and expert mixologists. It is the collaborative efforts that raise the bar for all and inspire new generations of bartenders to aspire towards greatness in the art of craft cocktails.

A 29-year old tradition that dates back to 1997, Rochester’s Greek Festival is one of the city’s most vibrant, culturally rich, and cherished annual summer events. It is estimated that the Rochester Greek Festival drew 25,000 guests or more to the neighborhood to celebrate.

What makes Rochester an exceptional coffee first city is the fact that you can walk into most coffee shops, and find a well-balanced single origin espresso, a shop that uses natural ingredients to produce seasonal syrups for specialty drinks, and importantly baristas that understand the appropriate measurements required for the specific coffee drink you’re searching for and who enthusiastically put care, love, and attention to locking in on each drink they make.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.