I moved to Rochester
one year ago today.
           I realized this
as I sat down to explain why greater Rochester
is a great place to live in or visit. To be honest, it seems like more than a
year — but that’s a good thing. It seems impossible that in only 365 days
I’ve done and seen as many things as I have. I’ve strolled through the gorgeous
gardens of Highland Park, been awed by the performers of the Rochester
International Jazz Fest, coveted the city’s historic housing stock, snacked on
kettle corn at various summer festivals, watched the sailboats come in from
Lake Ontario, people-watched on Park Avenue, and brought my family to countless
kid-oriented events. And that was just within the first three months.
           I admit: I have
not yet eaten a legendary garbage plate. I guess I’ve been too busy.
           There’s just so
much to do in Rochester, and so
many amazing places to do it in. The city is big enough so that there’s always
something fascinating happening at any time, any day (really — you just have
to know where to look). But it’s also small enough that it won’t swallow you
whole. And it’s filled with so much history that even the seemingly mundane
parts offer up colorful stories once you scratch the surface.
           As I move into
Day 366 in Rochester, I realize
that even though I’ve already done so much here, there are still so many things
I have yet to experience. Hopefully, reading through this guide will help you
create a to-do list of your own, and give you the information you need to get
out the door and experience all the city and county have to offer.
This article appears in Mar 21-27, 2007.
