Not sure how many of you are out there, but basically, the title says it. I just moved up here about a week and a half ago (for the summer, I’ll be here til mid-August), started my new job (hawking popcorn at a movie theater, whoo) and my days off are incredibly boring, because even if I knew some interesting places to go, I have absolutely no idea how to get there… it’s my first time living in a city with more than about 3000 people, so… yeah, help me out here!
I’m looking for places I can go and do stuff, and directions to get there. Coffee shops are great, even better if they’ve got an open mic night. Bookstores, parks, beaches, under-21 clubs (I’m 19), all sorts of things. And hey, if anyone wants to meet me at one of those places and hang out, a mini-Dope get-together thing, I’d be all for that, too. I’m living in Greece, so if yer gonna give directions, I need 'em from there. And keep in mind, I really don’t know jack about the city or where ANYthing is. Heh… I’m a little small-town Pennsylvania girl in the big city.
So… yeah, help me out. Email me if you don’t wanna post stuff directly, but c’mon, I’m sick of the mall cuz I’m poor, and I think the guys at Guitar Center are getting a leetle annoyed that I keep coming in and playing the guitars and not buying anything.
If you’re a guitar player in Greece, you definitely need to go to the House of Guitars (on Titus Avenue). It’s world famous in Rochester.
If you’re into music check out the Bop Shop, in Village Gate Square on Goodman St; the Compact Disc Exchange, in the KMart Plaza on Jay Scutti Blvd; Fantastic Records, on Monroe Avenue out in Perinton; Lakeshore Record Exchange, which is between University and Monroe on a side street whose name I’ve forgotten; and the two Record Archives, one on Mount Hope and one on East Ave.
Can’t help you with coffee shops or under-21 clubs. Unfortunately, the big chains like B&N, Borders, and Media Play killed all the local independant bookstores (including the legendary Village Green) in the city itself.
The Monroe Avenue area (between the inner and outer loops) is a major hang-out for the younger crowd. Restaurants, clubs, small stores (including three used bookstores), etc close enough together to walk between.
I’ve got bad news on the Rochester area doper scene for you; I was it and I moved away.
I exagerrate only a little. We were able to have one dopefest in Rochester (which we combined with OpalCat’s 3F board). Despite massive efforts (including paying for people’s travel costs) we were able to gather a crowd of eight people.
Myself - Moved out of the area
Melin - From 3F. Originally from Rochester but lives in California.
Doc Watson - From Connecticut. Now deceased.
Jens - From 3F. Still lives in Rochester as far as I know.
Michi - Lives in Florida. No longer on the board.
Freido - Went to school in Rochester but lives in downstate NY.
Surgosan - From 3F. Lived in Ithaca.
Booker - As far as I know, still lives in Rochester area. Haven’t seen him posting in a while.
I’m about 45 minutes or an hour away, yet I know nothing about Rochester except for what radio stations come from there and how to pass through the area. I don’t get out much, obviously. I could maybe try to attend any possible mini-Dopefest if it’s at the right time and the right place and I don’t chicken out. The not chickening out thing would probably be the deciding factor.
I’m in the Binghamton/Ithaca area myself. Maybe we should think about a Central New York Dopefest. You guys interested? We could have it in Ithaca, which is equally far from where I am and where you are in Rochester, I think. Also, it’s a very cool place with excellent restaurants and shopping. Think about it. My schedule suddenly becomes very free after June 27.
That’s too bad. I used to waste a huge amount of time and money at the Village Green. It was just a few blocks from my allergist’s office. I haven’t lived near Rochester since '91 and I didn’t know the store was gone.
Well, you can always go to Highland Park for the lilacs. This is the right time of year for that, isn’t it? Pick a weekday if you can, weekends are terribly crowded when they’re in bloom. It’s near the corner of Highland Ave. and Goodman St.
