STUDENT SURVIVAL GUIDE ’10: Where to take your parents

  BY JESSE HANUS

There will probably be at least one weekend during your
college life when you set aside regular responsibilities, work, parties, and
really any chance of spending time you’re your friends, because your parents
are coming to visit. The goal for the weekend is to show your loving family
around the city without taking them any place where they could potentially
embarrass you — or you embarrass them.

            Instead of
leaving you hopelessly searching the internet for “parent-friendly” places in Rochester,
we’ve compiled a list of locales where you and your progenitors might actually
have fun together. For more specific ideas, check the extensive calendar
section of City Newspaper every Wednesday, or head to the searchable events
section at rochestercitynewspaper.com.

Arts & Entertainment

Whether your parents are art aficionados or film buffs, there
are plenty of galleries, museums, and theaters in Rochester
that will keep them — and you — entertained for an evening, or an entire
weekend.

            For an
artful experience, check out the Memorial Art Gallery (500 University
Ave., 276-8900, mag.rochester.edu) for events, workshops, exhibitions, or the
museum’s permanent collection of nearly 11,000 works of art, including
paintings, sculptures, and artifacts. Another great stop for art is the Rochester
Contemporary Art Center (137 East Ave.,
461-2222, rochestercontemporary.org), which features more daring
work by both renowned and emerging artists from around the region and country.
The unique exhibits and special events are the perfect excuse to head downtown,
especially during one of the monthly First Friday (firstfridayrochester.org)
gallery nights, which Rochester Contemporary organizes.

            The George
Eastman House (900 East Ave.,
271-3361, eastmanhouse.org) is the place to learn about photography and motion pictures. George Eastman was the
founder of Eastman Kodak Company, the company that defined film and photo in
the 20th century. Visitors have the opportunity to tour his 35,000-square-foot
colonial revival mansion and 8.5-acre gardens, as well as rotating and
permanent exhibitions that showcase the history and the future of photography.
While there, stop by the Dryden Theatre, which screens archival prints
from the museum’s extensive film collection, as well as foreign, classic, and
independent films you won’t see anywhere else in town. For a
schedule of Dryden film visit dryden.eastmanhouse.org.

            Another place
to see movies that your friends may not have heard of (but that you can tell
them about, smartypants) is The Little Theatre (240 East Ave., 258-0400,
thelittle.org), Rochester’s art-house theater. The Little
specializes in foreign and independent films, plus also has art exhibits and live
music in the attached cafe. Many of Rochester’s
numerous annual film festivals are also hosted at the Little.

            For live
theater, Geva Theatre Center (75 Woodbury Blvd.,
232-4382, gevatheatre.org) is the city’s professional stage. With options
ranging from the classics and musicals that your parents remember, to more
modern pieces and the theater’s own improv comedy troupe, you’re sure to find
something that you can all agree on. If you’d like to check out some Broadway
shows without actually driving the six hours to New York
City, look no further than the Rochester Broadway
Theatre League (Auditorium Theatre, 875 E. Main St,
222-5000, rbtl.org). RBTL presents a half-dozen touring Broadway shows per
season, as well as other shows including concerts and comedians.

            If you’re
looking for more local, community-based productions check out TheatreROCS (theatrerocs.homestead.com),
an alliance of nearly 20 local theater groups. Whether you want to have a good
belly laugh at comedy improv performances or catch a local production of a
classic show, you’ll find a group that’s right for you.

            If you want
to hear a night of music performed by a world-class orchestra, you can stay
within the city limits, because we’ve got the Rochester Philharmonic
Orchestra (usually performs in the Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre, 26
Gibbs St, 454-2100, rpo.org). Although the
orchestra focuses on classical music, its Pops series features a variety of specially themed concerts, ranging from Broadway to jazz.

Natural Spaces

For outdoorsy families, Rochester
has a wide selection of parks, beaches, and general strolling areas to keep everyone
happy and taking in some fresh air.

Home of the annual Lilac Festival, Highland
Park (accessible from Highland Avenue, 753-7275, monroecounty.gov) is open
year-round and was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, who also designed Central
Park in NYC. Today, it houses more than 500 species of lilacs along with
thousands of other gorgeous and unique plants. It’s also home to the Highland
Bowl Amphitheater, which is used to host summertime concerts, shows, and
movies, as well as a conservatory, sunken garden, and yes, a castle.

            For
something a little more alternative, learn about local history and famous
Rochesterians with a walk through Mt. Hope Cemetery (1133
Mount Hope Ave., 461-3494, fomh.org). Although you
can stroll unaided through the hilly graveyard and its stunning statuary during
the day, consider taking part in one of the many tours led by the Friends of
Mt. Hope. While it may seem creepy at first thought, these tours are actually
interesting and entertaining. Tour types include general, twilight, and special
themes, like fall foliage and a torchlit nighttime trek right around Halloween.

            If you want
to add water to the mix, take a short drive to Charlotte Beach (4650
Lake Ave, 753-7275, monroecounty.gov) on the shore
of LakeOntario
near the Irondequoit border. Get
your toes wet and sandy, walk out on the pier and try to catch a glimpse of Toronto,
or sample frozen custard, a local specialty. If you’re feeling really
sentimental, you could even ride the park’s historic carousel or build a
sandcastle with the folks.

            If your
parents are looking for a quaint afternoon stroll, PittsfordVillage (586-4332,
villageofpittsford.org) should do the trick. Take a walk along the canal before
stopping by the unique retail stores and restaurants. Eat crepes, buy some
wine, or feed the ducks. Just like the good old days, but more sophisticated.

            For a
different take on outdoor activities, head to Mendon Ponds Park (95
Douglas Road, 753-7275, monroecounty.gov) in Honeoye Falls. A boat launch,
sensory garden, and fishing are just a few of the attractions. There are also
several trails for hiking, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing during the
winter months.

            A place for
season-appropriate activities is BristolMountain (5662
State Route 64, 374-6000, bristolmountain.com) in
Canandaigua. Home of the RoselandWaterPark during the summer months, the
mountain is also a great place to go when the snow has taken over the city. Embrace
the cold by convincing your parents to try out skiing, snowboarding, or tubing.

Sports

Although Rochester
is a mid-sized city, it is home to a large number of sports teams. No matter
what season your parents are visiting, there’s almost certainly some kind of home
game to attend.

            For
baseball, the Rochester Red Wings (redwingsbaseball.com) will keep you
entertained at Frontier Field in the HighFalls district from April through
September. The minor-league team is a Triple-A affiliate
of the Minnesota Twins. If the ‘rents are more into soccer, check out the Rochester
Rhinos (rhinossoccer.com). The team — or teams, rather, as there are men’s
and women’s squads — plays from April through September at Marina Auto Stadium
off Oak Street.

            There is
also plenty going on during the cooler months, like our hockey team, the Rochester
Amerks (amerks.com). The Amerks are in the North Division of the AHL, and
from late September through April you’ll find them at the Blue Cross Arena at
the War Memorial.

Or, check out the Rochester
Knighthawks (knighthawks.net) for “lacrosse with an attitude,” the Rochester
Raiders (rochesterraiders.com) for our indoor football league, or our 2008
and 2009 Premier Basketball League champions the Rochester RazorSharks (razorsharks.com).

            If you’re
tired of the more typical sports, don’t fret; Rochester
is home to the Roc City Roller Derby (rocderby.com). Three all-female
teams gear up in padding, helmets, and of course, roller skates, to battle
visiting teams. Things can get rough, but the ladies always have a good time at
this family-friendly outing.

This article appears in Aug 18-24, 2010.