The toughest part of putting together the Annual Manual each
year isn’t finding stuff to write about- it’s fitting all of Rochester
into one publication. It’s impossible to condense any city into a few dozen
pages, and Rochester is certainly
no exception. City Newspaper could put out an Annual Manual every week and
still not cover everything there is to know about the Flower City.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย The 2011
Annual Manual ended up taking an interesting, totally unintentional angle: it
focuses more in the tiny details of our community instead of the bigger
institutions that usually define the area. Many of the big guns are still
mentioned- the Memorial Art Gallery, Little Theatre, Rochester Philharmonic
Orchestra, Highland Park, the garbage plate, etc.- and rightfully so. It wouldn’t
be Rochester without them. But the
majority of the content focuses on people, places, and things that help to make
this area special, but don’t get as much of the limelight.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย For
instance, Rochester has not one,
but multiple blogs and webcams
devoted to the falcons that roost in our city. The region is home to dozens of
tiny, fascinating museums that explore everything from Jell-O to lighthouses to
coverlets. Thousands of our residents participate in sports leagues focused on
disc gold, table tennis, and more. And if a city is judged on the quantity and
quality of its neighborhood pizzerias, then Rochester
is in good company, indeed.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย We hope
that this year’s Annual Manual will illuminate areas of Rochester
living that even lifelong residents may be unaware of, as well as provide
visitors and newcomers with plenty of ideas on how to get out and explore this
rich, fascinating city and its suburbs. If you’re hungry for more, check out
previous editions of Annual Manual at rochestercitynewspaper.com, and make sure
to pick up City Newspaper every Wednesday, free at countless distribution spots
across the city and MonroeCounty.
Now get out there and explore.
This article appears in Mar 16-22, 2011.
