Our Enthisiasts' Guide to Rochester: Lets GO!

The Strong Museum of Play

LL says – Never been myself but I hear it is fun. They have a butterfly-shaped (architecturally) room that is filled with many varieties of live butterflies.

John says, “Makes you wonder. Exhibits of games and toys from childhood? No, that can’t be it. Please, please, please, please can we go?!!!!!!”

The Eastman House and Museum

Exhibit going on the week of the wedding - Ansel Adams: Celebration of Genius

LL says - The best photography museum I have visited. Eastman was revolutionary.

John says, “Everyone from the region visited during high school. You didn’t appreciate it and you know it. You don’t have any excuse not to go again. And you’ll see movies here that are not showing anywhere else.”

Memorial Art Gallery

LL says – MAG is the fine art museum in Rochester. Been there many times.

John says, “I have to get out of the house more.”

Rochester Museum and Science Center

LL says – The planetarium is playing a rocket film and an under the sea film that are beamed over their round theater screen the week of the wedding. Pre-Imax baby!

John says, “Pink Floyd laser light shows. No comment necessary.”

Casa Larga winery

LL says – Wine tasting anyone?

John says, “Literally, ‘house of extra large.’ I’ll pass.”

High Falls Downtown

For walking tour information for the high falls area, see: http://www.cityofrochester.gov/index.cfm?id=648

LL says – When I was a teen I climbed under a fence, into an abandoned building and down a drainage pipe and saw the falls from below. They’re nice from above too!

John says, “She’s really lived, this little woman of mine.”

Seabreeze Amusement Park

LL says - The Jack Rabbit is the third oldest operating roller coaster in the country. (It’s old school…made of wood.)

John says, “She said ‘wood’. Heh, heh, heh.”

Mount Hope Cemetery

LL says - You can take a tour or just stroll through
on your own. Mt. Hope Cemetery is one of the most remarkable Victorian cemeteries in America.

John says, “Also here. Another place I haven’t been. I can wait. I feel pretty good; recovering nicely. Getting better all the time.”

Seneca Park Zoo

LL says – Lions, tigers and bears, oh my!

John says, “Oh dear.”

The Little Theater

LL says – Only independent Movie theater in Rochester. They serve brownies and pastries that can you can bring into the theater.

John says, “See a movie and help keep this kind of operation open. ‘You don’t know what you got ‘til it’s gone…’.”

Our Enthusiast's Guide to Rochester: Let's EAT

This is the first in a series of things to do, see, and eat in Rochester. TWIL is the enthusiast. I am the arriviste (read "jaded"). You be the judge.

Best “ice cream”: Abbots Frozen Custard – Chocolate almond frozen custard is the crowd favorite.

TWIL says, "Creamy, yummy, better than ice cream."

John says, “Why haven’t I been there?”

Best original burger: Don’s Original. The fries and dogs are delicious, too.

TWIL says, "The fries are greasy and salty and perfect. The charred Zweigle’s dogs couldn’t be better."

John says, “Reminds me of the first fast food burger I had in Auburn at Carrol’s Drive In. But better.”

Lunch on Park Ave: Hogan’s Hideaway (next to Parkleigh)

TWIL says, "Soup and salad in a crunchy atmosphere."

John says, “Do your imitation of Col. Klink. They love that.”

Best Pizza: Pontillo’s

TWIL says, "What can I say... I love it. They do something with the cheese…"

John say, “…Unspeakable things. Yeah, it’s good, traditional pizza, but I don’t know what the hubbub is about.”

Best Pancakes: Perkin’s. Like an IHOP, but better.

TWIL says, "Been eating these since I was a tyke…Ahhh, the silver dollars."

John says, “Breakfast? You have to be awake for that, don’t you?”

Best Italian: Veneto Wood Fired Pizza & Pasta (318 East Avenue, Rochester, NY 14604, 585- 454-5444)

TWIL says, "This is one of my bro’s favorites. You get atmosphere but the cheese is nothing like Pontillo’s."

John says, “Now this is some good pizza. She doesn’t know flavor. Cheese maybe, but flavor?”

Best Bakery: The Little Bakery

LL says, "The cake is great and even I like the frosting."

John says, “All their baked goods are above average, but it was the buttercream frosting that sold me on their wedding cake.”

Best Elegant Restaurant: 2 Vine Restaurant. A mix of delicious foods - gourmet, fresh ingredients.

LL says, "Very nice, almost like we’re in Boston."

John says, “I notice that we haven’t been here either. I suspect there’s an old flame still burning in the kitchen.”

Best Grocery Store: Wegman’s

LL says, "There’s no place like Weggies… There’s no place like Weggies… There’s no place like Weggies! This is what I miss most from Rochester…well, my family then Wegman’s, I guess. Everything about it is delicious. The bread, the “Swiss chocolate chunk” cookies…I am speechless."

John says, “Please. If it weren’t for Wegman's people would not leave their homes all winter. It is a great grocery store. But I repeat, a grocery store.”

Best BBQ: Dinosaur BBQ

LL says, "Not quite Blue Ribbon, our local fave, but the best in upstate."

John says, “Ditto. But as my friend Tim correctly says, 'It isn't a meal if it doesn't squeal.'”

Best Steak Place: Scotch and Sirloin

LL says, "A Danielson favorite. Wear stretchy pants!"

John says, “You might as well. Everyone else does.”

Next time...Fun (close by), edifying (if not the Grand European Tour), and big (keep your expectations in check) things to do.

A little help!

How cool is the Internet? As cool as you make it.

If you click on the link Wedding Geography, right, you'll see a Google map with locations of the wedding, reception, rehearsal dinner, and Sunday brunch.

You'll also see hotel locations, including the Hampton Inn, where we blocked discounted rooms (because we couldn't block rooms in any other hotel. I mean really. We'd have done better if we could have.).

If you click here, you'll see the cause of the run on hotel rooms. But at the bottom of the page, you'll see the hotels in which the DCA is housing the band geeks, which should tell you where not to stay unless drum line is the different drummer to which you march.

One way to use the map, if you're Priceline savvy, is to make sure that you're bidding on hotels on the wedding side of town. In general though, when you're West of Albany, you're in the greater Midwest and distance means nothing there. Expect to drive a bit.

Also, a friend had hopes of using hotel program or American Express points at one of the hotels.

If your experience yields good advice for others, please leave a comment below. Click on the Comment link at the bottom of this post and follow the simple instructions (Type your comment, identify yourself, click Publish, and then type the verification letter/number string. Sounds complex, but it's easy.)

Yes, that's TWIL, working her creativity to the bone vis a vis invitations.

Lodging Ideas - Act Now!

*** Folks, what follows was corrected today, Monday April 9 ***

You thought Rochester was a sleepy, upstate NY, former film photography industry center. Ha! A sprawling drum corps competition will blare into town on the same weekend as the wedding. So will some hockey league gathering, which makes me concerned that the weather will be very cold indeed.

Book your hotel rooms as soon as possible. I’m sure everything will work out. Just. Fine. It’ll be. Fine. Aieeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hampton Inn & Suites Rochester/Victor: Convenient and comparable to the Holiday Inn (though not as new). 7637 New York State Route 96, Victor, NY 14564. 585-924-4400

We have set aside a block of rooms here at a discounted rate of $132/night. This is a pleasant, up-to-date hotel. If you have difficulties when calling the front desk, ask for Dan Calabrese, the sales coordinator.

Brookwood Inn. 800 Pittsford-Victor Road, Pittsford, NY 14534. 585-248-9000. Convenient location. Clean, comfortable, spacious rooms. Hotel bar. Room availability limited.

The following list of hotels is also convenient to the wedding location, marked on this map by a green arrow. However, we were not able to block discounted rooms.

Woodcliff Lodge: A very good, conveniently-located hotel where L and I stayed one Christmas. Room rates can be higher than the Brookwood and will be higher than the discount rate above. If you are able to make your plans soon, consider calling to see whether any rooms remain. 199 Woodcliff Drive, Fairport, NY 14450. 585-381-4000

Holiday Inn Express: Relatively new, and in my past experience, comfortable; amenities, yes; services, few. According to the hotel they have some rooms available. 2835 Monroe Ave, Rochester, NY. 585-672-2100. Standard rate: $135/niught

Hampton Inn & Suites Rochester/Victor: Convenient and comparable to the Holiday Inn (though not as new). Room availability unknown. 7637 New York State Route 96, Victor, NY 14564. 585-924-4400

Fairfield Inn: We haven’t visited the property, but these are usually clean, simple, and comfortable hotels on a par with Hampton and Holiday Inn Express. 915 Hard Road, Webster, NY 14580. 585-671-1500

Microtel You’ll see the word “motel” hidden in the name of this place. Coincidence? I don’t think so. But it is in fact a small, economical hotel. I haven’t visited this property but a few rooms were available when I called last week. 7498 Main St, Victor, 14564. 585-924-9240. Standard rate: $60/night

The Del Monte Lodge, A Renaissance® Hotel & Spa is where you’ll stay if luxury is a necessity. 41 North Main Street, Pittsford, New York 14534. 585-381-9900

Bed and Breakfasts: Because you’re a B&B person or you’re not. We're not. The following are leads, not recommendations.

Closer to the wedding
1820 Springdale Farm B&B. 242 County Road 9. Victor, NY 14564. 585.924.5952

Liberty House B&B. 131 West Main St, Palmyra NY 14522. 315.597.0011

A little farther from the wedding
Edward Harris House: A pretty B&B in the arts district in Rochester, a neighborhood thatL and I often end up when visiting Rochester. 5 Argyle Street, Rochester, NY 14607. 585-473-9752 or 800-419-1213

The Dartmouth House. 215 Dartmouth Street, Rochester, NY 14607. 585.271.7872 or 800.724.6298

Rah-cha-cha! (Read "Rochester")

For those of you in the back of the room, a little review.

We wanted...

• A place where we could settle for a few days and invite friends,
• An outdoor location for the wedding,
• A grassy place big enough for the reception tent,
• Enough privacy to prevent the police from interrupting "Twist and Shout."
• A place that we could make beautiful with our own hands and help from People Who Love Us (PWLU)

Months ago, I observed, "Your dad's place has lawn enough. Too bad it's in Rochester." When we joked about the idea to Lee (TWIL's Dad) and Fran, they said they'd be glad to have the wedding. Which is just like them. But it was just conversation and we let it drop.

When the Rochester wedding notion came up in passing since July, it was a way of saying how frustrated TWIL and I were about finding a wedding house near the water. Remember, we have been searching since July 2006.

After Gatsby- and Martha-like illusions were stripped from our imaginations, Rochester and Lee's back yard offered the fewest complications. And if other locations presented obstacles we'd already sussed out, how hard would reality have bit me in the pale, pale ass?

Then again, Rochester? Hotels? Lower prices. Summer rentals? Close by. Family friendly? Very. Airport? Check. Driving distance? For most folks, principally our families. Familiar? Very, without being so familiar that it's bred contempt. And our friends, who do not live in Rochester, are better able to get up and go there, we think.

Remember Elise, the lady who wanted us to rent her house, but didn't want us to actually have a wedding too near by? Well, by contrast, Lee and Fran said first that they're willing, then that they're honored. Obviously, we asked them at the right moment - before they realized what they're getting into.

"Rochester - because it's easier" is our new motto and mantra. And that crack about "too bad it's in Rochester?" That lip-smacking sound is me eating my words.

The new date:

Saturday, September 1, 2007.

Watch for links from this date forward about what Rah-cha-cha as to offer that no other city built on the technology of the last century can hold a candle - er, LED - to. Here's what I mean.
Until the end of April this year, a luxury excursion:

A one-hour escorted driving tour of Rochester. Admission and tour of the George Eastman House for two people. Lunch for two at La-Tea-Da Tea House, including any lunch menu entree, drink, scone for dessert, tax and gratuity. Package price $98.00 per couple. Driving tour in purchaser's vehicle or through pre-arranged transportation with Carpe Diem Travel.

This offer not available in any of your big-city dee-lux Boston stores! No sir.

Whither, Bliss?

As if Christmas were not enough to knock us into January, where light and heat are scarce, we've been killing off our darlings. Well, that's what it's called writing. The clever phrase, the startling logical leap. They've got to go.

Seaside house? Gone. Pocasset was our second choice. But the good folks there gave us a belated maximum guest count of eighty five. One of you would not have been able to come. So, we looked North to Maine, and here in Boston again.

I struggled to find a story to tell you about why that beautiful warehouse space in Boston was worth considering, until we learned that the package starts - yes, starts - at $22,000. (Three zeros, not a typo.) And where's the drama in the icy, snowy visit to a Maine house that TWIL loved. The nice lady kept saying it's possible while also saying no. She was encouraging, and it was impossible. We could have the wedding, but next door. It wasn't a story. It was just spooky.

And then to the place that I loved, still farther North in Camden ME, where there was no punchline either. We went so far North that I feared it was Bhutan to our guests and the way there a death march to our joyous day. Hell, it's a five hour trip from Boston, allowing for traffic! The rambling place would still be perfect for friends, who it turns out could not come for the pre-wedding idyll we envisioned. And so we let the vision fade.

That's what we've been doing. Killing our darlings: Plan A, the destination house on the shore. Plan B: the modern, elegant location here in the city where we live (nearly). I won't go into the ideas that never reached "plan" status.

We would not have killed these dears and darlings if we hadn't had an ace in our hand. We'd have been over a wallet-extracting barrel, as many people end up. Our ace - I call it the knife in our sock, that is, the way you ward off the wedding thugs in the alley - turns out to beat the house.

Tomorrow: The NEW DATE and Playing the Ace.