The tram ride up to the mansion might have been fun on another day, but this day the rain that blew in the sides of the car magnified the cold and I was just thankful that I didn't have to walk. It wasn't the best day to tour Sonnenberg's gardens, but the dull gray sky, drizzle, and chill in the air was the fitting prerequisite for a hot cup of tea. The Victorian Tea was held inside because of the weather, which was an added surprise. Card tables were covered with flowered cloths, lovely mismatched china settings, and

When I hadn't received a reply from my second e-mail requesting a reservation for the Victorian Tea at Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion, I resorted to phoning. Too bad, sold out. I hate when that happens. I made reservations for the following week. I didn't do an event, but I did do something eventful. I went peddle boating, my absolute favorite summertime activity. There are just so many things I love about it, beginning with it being something I can do with only one other person, as they are typically two-seaters. I love one-on-one interactions. So,

We didn't know exactly where we were going for the Poags Hole Hillclimb on Sunday, August 17, but it wasn't a problem. We simply followed the motorcycles. At first they came in ones and twos, then they expanded in number the closer we got. As we stopped for gas at what looked to be the last place before turning off the main roads, I got a small dose of what we were in for. The large convenience store parking lot was rimmed with bikes and bikers, and my heart sped up a bit. "Danger, Will Robinson!

This past weekend, a family dressed in period costume gathered at the village square for East Bloomfield History Days. As they sprawled on a picnic blanket, the image was quintessentially American, and set the tone for the day. Cannons stood guard like sentinels on all four sides of the mound leading up to the Civil War monument -- an obelisk engraved with names and battles, with a pondering Union soldier perched atop. The square was also home to displays of local Civil War-era history, including quilt-making demonstrations, "veterans," and telegraph equipment. As I made my

It wasn't just the T&A that piqued my curiosity about Frank De Blase's "Peel & Squeal Appeal" lecture last night at the Dryden Theatre. I had spent many an hour in the Williams Research Center while in New Orleans, rolling through microfiche looking at the old Blue Book bordello menus. I've often had the feeling that, in a past life, I was once a madam managing such an establishment in New Orleans. And, although a burlesque story doesn't have the same ending as one set in a bordello, they both begin with a tease. I

In years past, the Rochester Public Market offered its summertime Community Garage Sales and Super Fleas once a month. They are now held every Sunday, and that might explain why only a portion of the available vendor spaces were in use. The day was bright and sunny, and upon entering the compound I was struck by the amount of doggy bags. That's dogs in bags, a practice that has become somewhat of an epidemic since "Legally Blonde." After questioning one such pet carrier, I was told the practice saves the pooch's paws from being trampled upon.

It's challenging to find anything good about the rising cost of gas. However, as I am a woman who loves words, the addition of two new words to the Urban Dictionary created by the soaring oil prices gives me the self-delusion of finding something redeeming about it. Daycation and staycation, while now admitted only into a rogue dictionary, may well someday end up in The Oxford.This past weekend I went on a staycation at a cottage on Canandaigua Lake. Arriving late afternoon on Friday, and having established the Top Secret House Rules, me and four of my gal pals proceeded to eat,

Last week I ran into a woman who told me that reading a City's Choice on an altered book workshop inspired her to attend. Neither of us knew the other had been there, but we discussed how cool we thought the books were, and also our own pitiful attempts at the workshop to make one. I blogged about it here. I say this because when I learned that the Memorial Art Gallery's "Rochester Biennial" was to include a book artist, I was excited.First, a gripe. The $10 admission seems a bit steep considering I can go to Buffalo's Albright-Knox, which

Thursday night I made my way down to the new Party in the Park site to see Los Lobos. Parking, as my friend texted me in all caps, F*CKING SUCKS! All parking is a walk from the site. And security rivals that of an airport. Or of Water Street Music Hall, where it seems they're always looking for a fight. Even my tiny paperback-sized purse was thoroughly checked for weapons of mass destruction.Once in, If ound that the Riverside Park space is big, but bigger is not always better. Ultimately, you're standing in a big-ass parking lot. A big, flat

Perhaps there wasn't much to begin with. Or, maybe it had already been pretty picked over, which is what someone leaving told me as I arrived.  Or, maybe the previous evening's preview party had been heavily attended and they scooped up the treasures. Regardless, when I took a look early Friday afternoon the Arts & Treasures sale at the Memorial Art Gallery didn't seem to have much of the latter.Well laid out, the items were placed on tables along the walls and an inside perimeter of Cutler Auditorium. The dishes, records, collectors' plates, linens, quilts, jewelry, rugs, silverwares, etc., seemed

Strolling in gardens was the perfect way to spend the day with just one more night left of the Jazz Fest. It was rejuvenating and helped me break through my exhaustion barrier. As I do with most tours, I began with the last. It helps me avoid the crowds. There were seven spaces to explore in this year's Backyard Habitat Tour, sprawling from Rochester through Brighton, Pittsford, East Rochester, and out to Penfield. Arriving at each, I was given a fact sheet of garden highlights and a map, although toward the end of the day they had run out and

A few braved the downpours under a tent, but most retreated to the inside on Saturday, June 14, for Rochester's contribution to World Wide Knit in Public Day. While at its peak, the event's participants numbered in the 20s -- including a few men -- when I arrived only a dozen remained. They came from Fairport and Greece, although many were from the city and a few from close by. Knitting projects in progress included socks, a shawl, an afghan, scarves, and baby sweaters.I was assured that the humidity didn't adversely affect the yarns, although those using silk had to take care that

Last year was my first experience with the Dachshund Parade. I met up with another fur-loving friend and we settled down on a bench with our Mickey D's coffees and breakfast sandwiches, and began to giggle. So many hotdog dogs! Way more colors and types than we knew of. And after we did the sing-along of doggie tunes, watched the costume judging, and petted just about every one of the hundreds of doggies that paraded by, we were still giggling. Right then we decided it would be a yearly tradition. There's no better way to start your weekend then by giggling

Again, I begin by offering a confession (and I'm not even Catholic). I am one of the few who had never before visited the Greek Festival. However, many who had been told me it was all about the food, and I agree. Indeed, I think they should just go ahead and rename it the Greek Food Festival. By far the space was used mostly for food; the biggest tent being the dining tent, the next largest being used for serving.Parked cars lined both sides of East Avenue and its side streets for blocks. After circling around, I slid into a spot right

For the past month now a familiar group of professional and amateur musicians have been invited to host-band Hunu?'s basement clubhouse-like rehearsal space on University Avenue to prepare for the Bob Dylan Birthday Party. Each Monday evening was spent with the band learning and re-learning Dylan songs. With 34 acts and almost as many musicians, there are a lot of arrangements to collaborate on and instruments to plug in or change hands. This is the same every year.As each new act shows up -- hopefully with a six-pack in hand -- the band's members discuss the details with them. Those

I made my son a book safe when he was about 10. With an Exacto knife, I cut out the middle of the pages from a used hardcover book. It wasn't long before I realized it wasn't a one-sitting project, and that it would take days. The more pages I cut through, the harder it was to keep them still and straight. So after cutting an inch or so, I applied glue to the inner sides, and waited for it to dry before cutting some more. (You can glue the outside of the pages, but then it really does look

The timing for the Lilac Festival is just right this year. The opening weekend weather was ideal. The bushes and trees are bursting with colorful blooms, and their fragrances practically force a person to pause to inhale a deep breath. But with this perfection came its own set of problems -- crawling traffic, long hikes from the parking lots, long lines at the vendors, and almost fear-inducingly crushing crowds. Returning later in the week, and earlier in the day, I still noticed a stronger attendance than in years past. The Lilac Festival has become quite the destination.One newcomer is the children's area.

It would be impossible for anyone to see all the films offered at the Rochester High Falls International Film Festival -- obviously, since many of the films screen simultaneously. But there's also the question of just how many films a person can watch in five days. And how many parties can one attend? And still have a life. But I tried my best.The opening night party for the Rochester High Falls International Film Festival was similar to a family reunion for the local film community. Even Jerry Stoeffhaas, past executive director of the Rochester/Finger Lakes Film & Video Office, came

Whether or not you believe in the hereafter, or in communicating with those who have "passed on," Lisa Williams is a delight to speak with. Her exuberance is catching and her openness is assuring. She doesn't hesitate in her communications; she doesn't evaluate a spin, but lets it all out, not concerning herself with how you'll take it. That's not to say she doesn't care, but she's not preoccupied with convincing anyone. She knows what she is doing is real to her, and if it's not real to others, she's comfortable with their choice.Not having cable TV, I'd never seen

I must be old, because the presence of hippies in the lobby of the Tower Fine Arts Center at SUNY Brockport didn't strike me as strange until some of the more outlandish costumes and afros began to appear. I then realized they were the actors. The play "Hair" actually begins there -- in the lobby -- and continues within the theater, where the actors lounge around, blowing bubbles, juggling balls, joking, and interacting with the audience. On stage, girls do spaced-out tag dancing while a young man meditates to a singing bowl's song. It is only when a woman with a very large