Best Record Store: Record Archive

[
      {
        "name": "500x250 Ad",
        "insertPoint": "5",
        "component": "15667920",
        "parentWrapperClass": "",
        "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
      }
    ]

click to enlarge

Photo provided

Record Archive
33 ⅓ Rockwood St. | 585-244-1210
recordarchive.com

Each of Rochester’s record stores seems to have its own personality. Our voters came out in convincing numbers in favor of Record Archive and its vast warehouse of CDs, DVDs, vintage clothing, audio equipment, gag gifts, and vinyl that you regret having sold years ago. Founded in 1975 by one of the city’s unique characters, Richard Storms, the place has anything and everything for the serious audiophile, toy collector, and novelty nerd, with a wine and beer bar to boot. Record Archive’s Backroom Lounge — with the only bar among Rochester’s record stores — is also one of the best-sounding rooms in the area.

Finalists: Bop Shop | House of Guitars | Needle Drop Records

click image

In This Guide...

Best of Rochester

Best Place to Take a First Date: Swillburger

If your date doesn’t like this place, then find a new date, because there is no helping that person.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Outdoor Ice Skating: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park

There were once several outdoor rinks in the area, but of those that remain, the kidney-shaped ice surface at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park is a gem.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Bowling: Radio Social

This pristine playground-for-adults is fit with 34 lanes of bowling alongside astro-turfed space for corn hole and giant Jenga.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best of Rochester: Shopping and Services

Whether you're looking for flowers, a haircut, or that special gift for a four-legged friend, CITY readers recommend . . .

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best of Rochester: Recreation

From first dates to dancing and shooting hoops, CITY readers have the scoop . . .

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Camp for Kids: Rochester Museum and Science Center

Do your curious youngsters love building robots? Engineering forts? Learning wilderness skills? Rochester Museum and Science Center is for them.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Antique Shop/Dealer: The Shops on West Ridge

The Shops on West Ridge is actually a collection of some 200 smaller “shops'' that sell all kinds of goodies from the distant and near past.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Cross-country Skiing: Mendon Ponds Park

Mendon Ponds Park is gorgeous year-round, but the 2,500-acre park is downright magical when it’s covered in a fresh coat of snow.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Day Hike: Letchworth State Park

The views of the "Grand Canyon of the East" from the high points of the Gorge Trail are truly awe-inspiring and humbling.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Bike Shop: Full Moon Vista and Towpath

Great bike shops don’t just sell bikes. They’re run by a knowledgeable staff of cycling enthusiasts who build community with classes and host events to get people rolling.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Bridal Shop: Heart to Heart Bride

This bridal boutique in the heart of Webster prides itself on stocking the largest inventory from the wedding gown industry’s top designers and its own private collection.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Car Detailing: Warren Buff-It

Warren Mapes details everything from McLarens and Porsches to minivans and SUVs and everything in between.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Day Trip with Kids: Seabreeze

Not so big that you can’t see and ride everything in a single visit, and not so small that you feel like you’re at the local fireman’s carnival.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Dog Park: Ellison Park Dog Park

Like their humans, dogs need exercise, mental stimulation, and to socialize, all of which a romp at this dog park provides.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Family-Friendly Attraction: The Strong National Museum of Play

Consistently ranked atop the list of Rochester’s tourist attractions, The Strong, as the museum wants to be known, is a wonderland for kids and kids-at-heart.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Fishing Hole: Irondequoit Bay

Irondequoit Bay is home to varying aqueous environments where you can nab everything from channel catfish to walleye, perch, and bass.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Foot Race: Lilac Run

This 5k and 10k run kicks off the warm-weather running season.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Guided Tour: Mount Hope Cemetery

At Mount Hope Cemetery, the dead have a lot of tales to tell. Hearing them is best done with the aid of people who know the history the cemetery holds.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Local Sports Team: Rochester Red Wings

The oldest continuously-run minor-league team in professional sports, the Red Wings have been a major source of hometown pride since 1899.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Outdoor Swimming: Hamlin Beach State Park

Day trips to Hamlin Beach have been a summertime staple for generations of local families.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best CBD Shop: Mad Hatter’s Hideaway

Mad Hatter’s in Irondequoit offers an impressive array of hemp, CBD, and cannabis products, a mind-boggling selection of pipes, bongs, bubblers, and bowls, as well as boutique cigars and loose-leaf tobacco.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Corner Store: Bodega

Despite what its minimalist name might imply, Bodega aims to be more than a generic corner store.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Place to People Watch: Rochester Public Market

Consistently voted one of the best public markets in the country, the Rochester Public Market draws people from all walks of life.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Place to Play Pool: Dicky's Corner Pub

\What makes playing pool at Dicky’s Corner Pub is the all-around laidback vibe around the well-worn table.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Fitness Service: YMCA of Greater Rochester

From personal training programs to childcare, camps, and classes for all ages and myriad interests, the 12 local Y branches probably have something for you.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Florist: Kittelberger

Everyone needs a florist at some point or another and Kittelberger in Webster has been a go-to for more than 90 years.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Garden Center: Garden Factory

No nursery in the Rochester area comes even close to rivaling The Garden Factory in terms of size and scope.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Public Golf Course: Durand Eastman

Durand Eastman Park Golf Course's undulating landscapes, tree-lined fairways, and creeks and ponds are no walk in the park (although playing the course literally is).

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Haircut: Gallery Salon

Founded and owned by stylist Erika Sorbello, Gallery Salon has more than a dozen stylists, nail artists, and makeup artists offering a dizzying array of beauty services.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Hotel: The Strathallan

The Strathallan, a DoubleTree Hotel by Hilton, has the bona fides to back up its self-proclaimed title of “Rochester’s premier boutique hotel.”

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Housewares Store: Mayer Paint and Hardware

Mayer’s is about 5,000 square feet of hardware, power tools, paint, snowblowers, grills, and just about anything else anyone might need to get the job done.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Independent Bookseller: Lift Bridge Bookshop

Lift Bridge Bookshop in Brockport has two floors of current bestsellers, novels, books by local authors, magazines, and reference books to keep curious browsers busy for a while.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Public Park: Highland Park

When readers selected Highland Park to win this category, they handed the victory to Rochester’s first public park.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Local Radio Personality: Evan Dawson

Evan Dawson elevated the “Connections” brand at WXXI News when he took over as host of the afternoon radio talk show in 2014

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Weekend Getaway: Finger Lakes Region

With 11 pristine lakes nestled between breathtaking bucolic hillsides, waterfront hotels, world-class wineries and breweries at every turn, and dining options that range from fine to farm-to-table low-key, there’s plenty to love about the region.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Mechanic: Browncroft Garage

One of the oldest auto mechanic shops in Rochester, Browncroft Garage has been in the same spot on Atlantic Avenue since before most American households had cars.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Local Television Personality: WHAM 13's Scott Hetsko

Meteorologist Scott Hetsko is an affable guy who has endeared himself to viewers across the region with his upbeat and trustworthy delivery of all things weather.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Music Teacher: Ben & Katie Morey, The Submarine School of Music

Husband-and-wife team Ben and Katie Morey created the music ed hub in 2018, and it has quickly expanded .

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Musical Instrument Store: House of Guitars

House of Guitars isn’t just a Rochester institution. It’s a national landmark of sorts for touring musicians.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Pick-up Basketball: Cobbs Hill Park

The Tony Boler Basketball Courts at Cobbs Hill Park draw some of the best street ballers in the city year-round.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Tobogganing: Cobbs Hill Park

Trudging down the slope of Cobbs Hill Park by foot is one way to get back to civilization. But in the winter, when snow blankets the ground, the hill is ideal for tobogganing.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Neighborhood Garden: 490 Farmers

Started in 2017 as a community garden with 10 plots and a shed, 490 Farmers' space at Broadway and Meigs now has 55 plots for rent and more.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Stargazing Spot: Cobbs Hill Park

When the sun sets and the lights of the city are twinkling far below, there is nothing but darkness between the water and the heavens, making the elevated hilltop at Cobbs Hill Park the perfect spot to take in the night sky.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Public Tennis Courts: Cobbs Hill Park

The six tennis courts, which were renovated with upgraded lighting in 2013, are some of the most used among the three dozen or so in the city. Getting on a court, especially early on a pleasant summer morning, often requires a wait time.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Biking Trail: Erie Canalway Trail

The Erie Canal has been called “the nation’s first superhighway.” It is only apropos that CITY readers recognize its namesake recreation trail as the best place to hop and bike and move.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Place to Go Dancing: ROAR

There’s a neon sign over the door at ROAR: “A DJ and a Drag Queen Walk Into a Bar.” It’s the premise for Rochester’s reigning gay-owned nightclub, which scooped up six “Best of Rochester” awards.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best of Rochester: Drink

From Bloody Marys to teas, CITY readers know what places please . . .

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Nonprofit Organization: Lollypop Farm

Lollypop Farm is best known for connecting adoptable creatures with loving caregivers.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Bar to Drink Alone: Lux Lounge

Drinking solo? There’s plenty to keep you entertained at this South Wedge watering hole.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Pet-related Business: Bones Dog Bakery

Bones owner Dani Fischer wants her bakery to be a place where people and their pups can spend time together and the focus is on the dogs.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Place to Buy Kitsch: Parkleigh

Parkleigh began as a pharmacy at the corner of Park Avenue and Goodman Street in 1960 but became the castle of kitsch it is today in 1986.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Secondhand/Thrift Store: Greenovation

You can find anything at Greenovation, from vintage clothing to cookware, furniture, and knick-knacks.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Shoe Store: Fleet Feet

The Fleet Feet stores in Rochester and in Victor have become the hub of the running community and a go-to for casual athletes looking to comfort their soles.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Barista: Rory Van Grol (Ugly Duck)

A hardcore punk vocalist-turned caffeine purveyor, Rory Van Grol is one of those seminal Rochester characters that makes the city special, and is as much a conversationalist as he is a barista.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Social Media Account: The InnerLoop Blog

The Innerloop Blog bills itself as “Rochester's #1 source for fake news.” Our readers agree.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Bartender: Tony Hayward (Lux Lounge)

In the 15 years that Tony Hayward has tended bar at Lux, he has become an essential and beloved part of the community there, providing not only great service but also fostering a safe space to unwind.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Beer Selection (Bar or Restaurant): Rochester Beer Park

Rochester Beer Park features over 60 beers on tap, about half of them held under the craft umbrella.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Spa: The Spa at the Del Monte

This upscale spa located within the DelMonte Lodge offers a full menu of treatments from massages and manicures to body scrubs, as well as haircuts and color, of course.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Beer Selection (Store): Beers of the World

Beers of the World is a shop whose name speaks for itself. Whether your tastes lie in the Costa Rican mainstay Pilsen or a Russian Imperial Stout from Saint Petersburg’s Baltika Brewing, there’s a little something for everyone here.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Bloody Mary: The Revelry

The Bloody Mary at The Revelry stands out as a sleek, simple cocktail crafted with careful attention to freshness and flavor.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Cidery: Schutt's Apple Mill

Schutt’s Apple Mill has been making its crystal-clear and sweet apple cider the same way since Paul “Great Grandpa” Schutt opened the place in 1918.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Cocktails: Restaurant Good Luck

Good Luck is known for its inventive and flavorful cocktails as much as its food.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Tattoo Parlor: Love Hate Tattoo

Love Hate Tattoo has been a fixture of the local body art industry for more that 20 years.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Coffee: Ugly Duck Coffee

Ugly Duck began in 2015 as a pop-up espresso bar but has since grown into a popular brick-and-mortar coffee shop where you can get everything from an excellent cup of plain black coffee to The Snug.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Craft Brewery: Three Heads Brewing

The brainchild of three of the most distinctively Rochester characters you can find, Three Heads broke into the Rochester craft beer scene in the early 2010’s with its flagship The Kind.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Toy Store: Millennium Games

Millennium Games has been a cornerstone of hobby gaming in the region for 35 years

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Distillery: Black Button Distilling

Founded in 2012, Black Button Distilling is the first grain-to-grass craft distillery to open in Rochester since the end of Prohibition, and it uses only locally-sourced ingredients.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Vintage Clothing Store: Little Shop of Hoarders

Little Shop of Hoarders is a well-curated shop that is packed with vintage finds, from blazers to shorts, shoes, and lingerie.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Smoothies/Juices: Just Juice 4 Life

Health-minded customers order power tonics, smoothies, and juice flights at the counter, or choose from the juices and fermented items in the grab-and-go coolers. A set of juices ideal for a cleanse can be custom ordered.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Wedding Venue: Pomona at Blue Barn

Jill and Jeremy Wolf built the wedding and private events venue in Hilton when they wanted to get married in a barn but couldn’t find one that checked all their boxes.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Winery: Living Roots

Living Roots makes a variety of wines from sparkling pet nats to a shiraz made from Australian grapes. The establishment is as popular for its wines as it is for its classes and tastings.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Yoga Studio: Breathe Yoga & Juice Bar

Breathe Yoga offers guided yoga and meditation classes for beginners through advanced practitioners, both in person and online.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best of Rochester: Food

These are the places CITY readers head when they have a hankering for burgers, baked goods, and food of all kinds.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Plate: Dogtown

Dogtown, the beloved hot dog shack in the heart of Monroe Avenue, has become a local institution since its opening in 2006.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Sports Bar: Jeremiah's Tavern

What goes great with Jeremiah's award-winning wings? Watching football, of course. And baseball, and hockey, and soccer, and basketball, and anything that involves athletes running, jumping, and throwing things in ways impossible for us mere mortals.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Tea House: Tai Chi Bubble Tea

Founded in Henrietta, Tai-Chi is now a national chain. It first introduced Rochester to the sushi burrito, or sushirrito, a San Francisco-originated treat representing the sheer audacity of American cuisine.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Comfort Food: Dogtown

Dogtown, the beloved hot dog shack in the heart of Monroe Avenue, has become a local institution since its opening in 2006.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Late-night Eats: Dogtown

Dogtown, the beloved hot dog shack in the heart of Monroe Avenue, has become a local institution since its opening in 2006.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Wine Selection (Bar or Restaurant): Apogee

The wine list at Apogee is carefully curated. Patrons won’t find a book of pages and pages listing vintage bottles that sit in a dusty cellar here.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Bakery: Savoia Pastry Shoppe

Savoia has been a family-owned and operated neighborhood mainstay in the northeast corner of the city for nearly a century.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Wine Selection (Store): Marketview Liquor

The moment you walk into the doors of Marketview Liquor, cases of wine piled chest high stare you down.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Barbecue: Dinosaur Bar-B-Que

You can’t go wrong with this award-winning menu rooted in the traditions of Southern barbecue and slathered in spices and sauces that give Dinosaur’s dishes their own flair.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Bread Bakery: Amazing Grains

Many people know and love Amazing Grains for its “Salty Bread,” which sells out in a hurry at its store and others that carry it.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Breakfast: The Original Steve’s Diner

A highlight of the fare at Original Steve's is the variety of the diner’s famous hubcap-sized pancakes.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Burger: Good Luck

A rite of passage for any local and visiting foodie, the Good Luck Burger is an achievement in its simplistic perfection.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Calzone: Stromboli’s

Stromboli’s calzones are available in mini, 12-inch (small), and 16-inch (large) sizes. How much golden dough and melted cheese you can handle is up to you.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Candy Shop: Stever’s

The candy business never goes out of style. Stever’s, purveyors of homemade chocolate and candies, is a testament to that.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Caterer: The Meatball Truck

The Meatball Truck is a celebration of this simple, rustic, and elegant ground-meat dish.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Chef: Margherita Smith aka The Saucey Chef

Margherita Smith calls her offerings, which include jerk shrimp pasta, adobo wings, and lasagna made with sweet plantain, “elevated street food.”

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Chinese Restaurant: Han Noodle

Han has been touting its tagline of “No Fusion, No Gimmicks” in Rochester for over a decade.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Cooking Class: Rochester Brainery

The Rochester Brainery, a community classroom and event space in the Neighborhood of the Arts, offers a wide variety of culinary courses with local chefs.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Deli Sandwich or Sub: DiBella’s Old Fashioned Submarines

Subs are the focus, and the rolls are one reason DiBella’s remains so beloved.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Doughnuts: Ridge Donuts

Family-run for nearly four decades, Ridge Donut is in a class of its own when it comes to the fried pastries with the hole in the middle.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Farmers Market: Rochester Public Market

You’d be hard-pressed to not find exactly what you’re looking for, no matter how esoteric, in the Public Market’s wide array of fresh local produce, meats, dairy, eggs, and high-quality fresh seafood and imported goods.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Fish Fry: Captain Jim’s

Captain Jim’s is one of those unassuming hole-in-the-walls where you just know the food has to be great.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Food Truck: Le Petit Poutine

Known as founders of Rochester’s food truck scene, Le Petit Poutine serves its classic Canadian combination of fries, gravy, and cheese curds with a sprinkling of thyme to thousands of hungry customers every year.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Global Foods Market: Rubino’s Italian Food Market

Step into Rubino’s on any given day and you’ll be instantly greeted by the most pleasant ménage of scents this side of the Atlantic.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Ice Cream: Pittsford Farms Dairy

The Pittsford Farms Dairy was founded in 1888 and was once best known for its scientific agriculture and prize-winning Jersey cattle. Today, the dairy is best known for its delectable, made-from-scratch ice cream.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Italian Restaurant: The Pasta Villa

Pasta Villa sets the bar for classic, Italian-American comfort food.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Lunch Spot: Magnolia’s Deli & Cafe

Magnolia’s menu includes a robust selection of sandwiches and salads, with some soups as well pizza.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Mexican Restaurant: Neno’s

Tacos are where to start at Neno’s, but you’ll be back for more.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best New Restaurant: Strangebird

Strangebird made waves in the local beer world upon its opening, but Chef Nate Stahl’s playful menu of innovative pub classics accompanies the brews.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Outdoor Dining: Genesee Brew House

From their perch on the patio, diners can soak in a panorama of the historic High Falls District and the Rochester skyline.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Pizza: Pizza Wizard

Specializing in Detroit-style pies, Pizza Wizard serves square pies that hit all the notes a native Michigander would look for and that Rochester obviously wants.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Restaurant: Good Luck

Good Luck specializes in rustic fusion dishes drawing influence from Italian, French, Japanese, and virtually every other culinary tradition under the sun

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Restaurant for Desserts: Phillip’s European

No need to save room, just go straight for the desserts at Phillips European.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Restaurant to Dine Alone: Highland Park Diner

Housed inside the iconic 1948 dining-car at the corner of South Goodman Street and South Clinton Avenue, the Highland transports diners back in time.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Ribs: Dinosaur Bar-B-Que

Dinosaur serves its ribs St. Louis style, which means they're flat, fatty, sweet, and juicy.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Sushi: Plum House

Plum House has been a Monroe Avenue institution for nearly 20 years, and it has rightfully earned its place as Rochester’s premier sushi stop.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Sweets Bakery: Savoia Pastry Shoppe

Savoia has become well-known regionally for its wedding cakes and seasonal Italian tea cookies, but its pastries are the star of the show.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Thai Restaurant: The King & I

There’s no shortage of spots offering Thai cuisine in Rochester, but this year the mainstay The King & I wears the crown.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Vegetarian/Vegan Restaurant: The Red Fern

Andrea Parros opened The Red Fern in September 2013 and the restaurant's menu of vegan comfort food was a quick hit. Its popularity has only grown since.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Wings: Jeremiah’s Tavern

Jeremiah's knows what makes a wing a winner.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Bouncer: Lori Lippa (ROAR)

She’s an Avon makeup and skincare sales representative (yes, as in “Avon calling”) who moonlights as a bouncer at one of Rochester’s hottest nightclubs.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Bar: ROAR

There’s a neon sign over the door at ROAR: “A DJ and a Drag Queen Walk Into a Bar.” It’s the premise for Rochester’s reigning gay-owned nightclub, which scooped up six “Best of Rochester” awards.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Karaoke: ROAR

There’s a neon sign over the door at ROAR: “A DJ and a Drag Queen Walk Into a Bar.” It’s the premise for Rochester’s reigning gay-owned nightclub, which scooped up six “Best of Rochester” awards.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Trivia Night: ROAR

There’s a neon sign over the door at ROAR: “A DJ and a Drag Queen Walk Into a Bar.” It’s the premise for Rochester’s reigning gay-owned nightclub, which scooped up six “Best of Rochester” awards.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Pickup Bar: ROAR

There’s a neon sign over the door at ROAR: “A DJ and a Drag Queen Walk Into a Bar.” It’s the premise for Rochester’s reigning gay-owned nightclub, which scooped up six “Best of Rochester” awards.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best LGBTQ+ Bar: ROAR

There’s a neon sign over the door at ROAR: “A DJ and a Drag Queen Walk Into a Bar.” It’s the premise for Rochester’s reigning gay-owned nightclub, which scooped up six “Best of Rochester” awards.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Dive Bar: Lux Lounge

If Lux's "Pabst Smear" — a $3 order of a can of Pabst Blue Ribbon and a well liquor shot of your choosing — doesn't scream dive bar, we don't know what does.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best of Rochester: Arts & Entertainment

Nightlife, music, theater, and art, CITY readers know them by heart . . .

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Actor: Penny Sterling

Penny Sterling burst onto the local performing arts scene in 2016 with “A Spy in the House of Men: A One-Woman Show With Balls,” recounting her decades-long journey of transitioning from a man to a woman.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Art Gallery: Memorial Art Gallery

Visiting the Memorial Art Gallery of the University of Rochester, better known by its nickname “The MAG,” means journeying through 5,000 years of art history.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Artist: Shawn Dunwoody

Shawn Dunwoody needs no introduction. The prolific muralist and all-around creative is widely considered the face of the city’s art scene.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Arts Event: Rochester International Jazz Festival

For nine days in June, this international event draws an estimated 200,000 people to downtown Rochester. And yes, music is the draw.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Band (Cover): Something Else

Sometimes you just want to hear the hits, let your hair down, and let your feet loose. Rock trio Something Else can help you get there.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Club DJ: Mighty Mic (ROAR)

With DJ Mighty Mic in charge, expect a fun evening with plenty of energy.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Comedian/Comedy Troupe: Chris Thompson

Chris Thompson stomped into stand-up after being goaded by friends who liked his Facebook and Instagram quips.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Theater Company: Geva Theatre Center

Rochester has a lot of good theater, and not just “for a city of its size.” But Geva Theatre Center is in a league of its own.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Drag Performer: Dee Dee Dubois

After 24 years on Rochester’s stages, DeeDee Dubois has moved from a “Best of Rochester” runner-up in this category to top queen.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Published Poet: Chen Chen

It’s fitting that Chen Chen is back, living in Rochester, the place where his career as a successful published poet first began to take off.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Film Festival: Rochester International Film Festival

Three days. Dozens of short films. The Rochester International Film Festival is a celebration of movie-making brevity.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Published Author: Justin Murphy

Years of pulling thread on the troubled Rochester public school system led to D&C reporter Justin Murphy publishing his first book.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Place to See Comedy: Comedy @ The Carlson

Finding a place to see solid standup in Rochester is no joke. Comedy @ The Carlson is an exception.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Rock Artist or Group: Joywave

These homegrown rockers won this category by a ridiculously large margin and deservedly-so — even in a city blessed with many great bands.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Photographer: Jim Montanus

Photography is in the blood of this perennial “Best of Rochester” winner, who is perhaps best known for his images of area landscapes.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Music Festival: Rochester International Jazz Festival

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Rochester International Jazz Festival, which promises 325 shows spread across nine stages.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Instrumentalist: Herb Smith

Trumpeter Herb Smith is as affable as he is stylistically versatile.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Museum: Strong Museum of Play

Many people think of museums as stodgy institutions where touching exhibits is off-limits and fun goes to die. The Strong National Museum of Play is the opposite.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Live Music Venue (Small): The Bug Jar

Most live music fans in Rochester have a fond memory of the Bug Jar. Part live-music venue, part quasi-punk bar, the Bug Jar is a local gem.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Movie Theater: The Little

The Little Theatre is no mere art deco movie house, it's a beloved icon of Rochester's East End that has stood for more than 90 years.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Live Music Venue (Large): CMAC

The large outdoor venues are where the most enticing summer shows are found, and CMAC is the best of them.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Band (Original): Danielle Ponder

It’s easy to make the case that R&B-soul artist Danielle Ponder won 2022 — and not just because she won five “Best of Rochester” categories.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Blues Artist or Group: Danielle Ponder

It’s easy to make the case that R&B-soul artist Danielle Ponder won 2022 — and not just because she won five “Best of Rochester” categories.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Jazz Artist or Group: Danielle Ponder

It’s easy to make the case that R&B-soul artist Danielle Ponder won 2022 — and not just because she won five “Best of Rochester” categories.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Solo Musician: Danielle Ponder

It’s easy to make the case that R&B-soul artist Danielle Ponder won 2022 — and not just because she won five “Best of Rochester” categories.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Vocalist: Danielle Ponder

It’s easy to make the case that R&B-soul artist Danielle Ponder won 2022 — and not just because she won five “Best of Rochester” categories.

Jan 1, 2023

It’s easy to make the case that R&B-soul artist Danielle Ponder won 2022 — and not just because she took five different “” categories.
Best of Rochester

Best Country Artist or Group: Zac Brown Tribute Band

Live-music lovers know exactly what they’re getting with this good-vibin’ septet devoted to interpreting the songs of the Zac Brown Band.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Dance Company: Garth Fagan Dance

The world-renowned dance company is known for captivating audiences with dazzling choreography.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Folk Artist or Group: The Honey Smugglers

You can call The Honey Smugglers an Americana band, or even a jamgrass group. CITY readers call the sextet Rochester’s best folk group.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Hip-Hop Artist or Group: Moses Rockwell

Moses Rockwell's songs are observational. If he has an odd conversation or experience, he mines it for comedy and rhymes it in a song.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Mural or Public Art: Murals at MLK Jr. Memorial Park

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park is a year-round artistic backdrop with the vibrant Roc Paint Division murals

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best Media Outlet (Other Than Us, Of Course):13 WHAM

WHAM-TV (Channel 13) has been the dominant local news affiliate for the better part of 40 years.

Jan 1, 2023
Best of Rochester

Best of Rochester: The winners . . .

This year, some 10,349 discerning CITY readers cast 426,656 votes to determine the Best of Rochester winners across 110 categories. Here, we present the top picks of the people, places, and things that make Rochester home.

Oct 1, 2021
Best of Rochester

Best of Rochester: Arts & Entertainment

Nightlife, music, theater, and art, CITY readers know them by heart . . .

Oct 1, 2021
Best of Rochester

Best of Rochester: Food & Drink

Hankering for burgers, baked goods, or beer? CITY readers come here . . .

Oct 1, 2021
Best of Rochester

Best of Rochester: Recreation

From first dates to dancing and shooting stick to shooting hoops, CITY readers have the scoop . . .

Oct 1, 2021
Best of Rochester

Best of Rochester: Goods & Services

Whether you're looking for flowers, a haircut, or that special gift for a four-legged friend, CITY readers recommend . . .

Oct 1, 2021
Best of Rochester

Best of Rochester: Who we are

They rise above the crowd, they make CITY readers proud . . .

Oct 1, 2021