The decorated tiki bar at Easy Sailor has a large red octopus wall sculpture, vintage-style paintings, rustic wood walls, and nautical decor.

A bowl of ramen with sliced pork, halved soft-boiled eggs, chopped green onions, spinach, seaweed, and noodles in broth from Public Provisions in Rochester.

A band performing on stage with blue and red curtains, three musicians are visible: one singing and playing guitar, one playing bass, and a drummer in the background. The scene is lit with colorful stage lights at the 5 Spot in Nashville, TN.

Colorful sculpture of a one-eyed monster with purple arms and a pizza body, surrounded by a pizza-themed backdrop and blue curtains at Denver's Meow Wolf.

Filipino food plate with rice, fried egg, diced beef stir-fry, and spring rolls from Pinoy Boy in Buffalo, New York.

A stage decorated with candles and white drapery, with a person dressed in dark clothing performing under blue lighting, at an event called the Edgar Allen Poe Speakeasy.

A pour over coffee from AM:FM Coffee in Rochester, NY

Senojfromtheroc performing at the Rochester Institute of Technology.

Arts

Music

Culture

Cuisine

Drink

The Underrated Vibes

Andy Gold 7/11/26 Andy Gold 7/11/26

Filipino Culture & Community Bloom at Coffee Sarap

Coffee Sarap is a Filipino-inspired and women-owned, third-wave coffee shop that connects tasty baked goods with flavorful specialty espresso drinks and a passion for uplifting the culture and community.

Andy Gold 6/11/26 Andy Gold 6/11/26

RCR: 13 Years of Spotlighting Rochester’s Finest Cocktail Experiences

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.

Andy Gold 6/4/26 Andy Gold 6/4/26

Rochester Is Becoming an Exceptional Coffee First City

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.

Andy Gold 5/12/26 Andy Gold 5/12/26

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.

Andy Gold 3/13/26 Andy Gold 3/13/26

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.

Andy Gold 3/10/26 Andy Gold 3/10/26

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.

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