In the era of AI slop and bot accounts, it’s easy to be nostalgic for the Internet of yore — somewhere around 2015, before courts were weighing the damage social media companies have done to youth and when influencers were still somewhat novel. That long-ago year is the setting for a phone-obsessed “The Taming of […]
Articles
Three Finger Lakes ice cream shops bringing the heat
Milk, cheese, yogurt, artisanal ice cream: while the Finger Lakes may be lesser known for its dairy production, the region is a quiet cornerstone in New York’s lactose industry. During the summer months especially, ice creameries boom, from classic mom-and-pop shops to artisanal makers that specialize in unique styles and flavors. CITY visited three creameries […]
The Finger Lakes 411: a historical primer on Rochester’s sister region
Since the height of the pandemic in 2020, the central region of New York State has experienced a significantly renewed interest as an area in which to vacation, relax, explore and relocate from distant visitors and New Yorkers alike. For those of us who grew up around the lakes and casually claim one as our […]
REVIEW | ‘Ultra Instinct’ by Hirko
Ego is a sticky thing. Brian Wilson famously took acid and wrote a song about letting go of his own, only to be persuaded by Mike Love to tone down the psychedelia. (“I Know There’s an Answer” still goes.) The Rochester rapper Robert Hirko, who uses his last name to release music, has now made […]
REVIEW | ‘Camp’
Campgrounds have been a key location for horror movies throughout film history. There’s something about that specific type of location that brings teenagers — in the midst of their coming-of-age — together and allows whatever inhibitions they may have at that point in their lives to run free. But, of course, something is always lurking […]
Dear Maggie: How do I encourage my daughter to take better care of herself?
“I worry about how it affects her daily life, relationships and how others perceive her — especially professionally.”
Eastman School’s 2026-27 concerts include Timothy Long’s Indigenous songbook, Chris Thile, Aoife O’Donovan and more
The Eastman School of Music has announced its concerts for the next school year. The new season includes student performances and a few guest stars. The celebration of America at 250 will be woven throughout the next year of concerts at Eastman in performances by students, faculty and visiting artists. Those concerts include “The North […]
REVIEW | ‘Como Me La Pida’ by Orquesta La Muralla
Rochester loves its hometown icons, and in that pantheon of lilacs and frozen custard there is a special place for the long-tenured local salsa band La Muralla. Founded on the city’s northside in 1973, this all-star mashup of musicians released a new album, “Como Me La Pida,” on June 28 that provides a delightful break […]
A familiar face in fashion makes a spirited pivot into wine
A circa-1835 cobblestone house in Victor’s otherwise new-build High Point development is now home to Bonesteel Wines & Spirits, a design-forward, community-oriented shop which opened April 24. The minority and woman-owned boutique wine and spirits shop is helmed by Tanvi Asher, who also owns Peppermint Boutique at the Culver Road Armory in Rochester. “The store […]
Gordon MacKay might offer to buy the shirt off your back
Standing just off the curb on a street downtown, Gordon MacKay leans into the rear passenger door of his car. He holds up a shockingly yellow T-shirt. An affable blue alien named Irbir holds up a four-fingered hand in greeting. He looks like a cross between E.T. and something Luke Skywalker would nod to inside […]
REVIEW | ‘fvck.me.up’ by Glasswaves
Have you ever felt a love so powerful you’d be willing to risk everything, including sense of self, just to stay close? Rochester native electronic metal group Glasswaves explores that love in the headbanging track “fvck.me.up,” released April 21 with their new label, SharpTone Records. A swirling, synth-y background and vocals from Noah Rich (halfway […]






