Rocha-chatter

1. snowshoeing
Typically, once it snows I think.... time for snowboarding. But I am starting to enjoy snowshoeing... it's great exercise, gets you outside... and it's not as life threatening. Mendon Ponds has some great showshoe trails.

2. ice skating

This year I discovered that Ellison Park turned one of their parking lots into an outdoor skating rink.

Ellison Park also has a sledding hill... I need a sled... any suggestions? Inner tube? Saucer? Flexible Flyer?

3. crepe making

For Rochester Cold Rush you can take crepe making lessons at the Simply Crepes located in the City Library.

I highly recommend this because you get to eat the crepes you make.

Labels: food, sports, winter

There seemed to be an inordinate amount of road construction in Rochester last year. I heard it was because it was an election year. Route 65 got a roundabout that some people love and some hate.

A little closer to me in the city, Atlantic Avenue was shut down for a complete overhaul. Yay for a new road with nice brick sidewalk inlays. Boo for several businesses that moved out because their accessablity went down the tubes while the work took place. The Elite Bakery and Leo's Bakery left and I no longer had readily available baked goods.

Atlantic is finished now and I just noticed that there is a new business moving in. The Lobster Trap in Fairport is opening up another shop right on Atlantic in the city. Most people I know swear by The Lobster Trap as THE place to get seafood in the area as they regularly go up to Maine to get fresh lobsters. There have been a couple times we were driving east of Rochester and spotted The Lobster Trap truck making it's rounds.

The cardboard sign in their window says they open on February 20th. So now instead of swinging by and picking up cookies I will be picking up lobsters.

(I, however, will still have no part in the cooking of the lobsters... I don't care if that squealing noise is just steam escaping and not the lobster wailing about his impending doom)

Labels: food

After spouting off ideas for Valentine's Day, I thought I would divulge what I did for the holiday.

My husband took me to the Simply Crepes dinner, where I consumed crepes til I thought I would pop. Savory crepe appetizers, thai beef stuffed crepe and crepes suzette made by the owner himself.


We had such a good time we are taking their crepe making class this Saturday! (more on that later)

Then we went to see Music and Lyrics. It was good. Not as good as the last romantic comedy I saw, The Holiday, but just okay.

It was really strange to see/hear Hugh Grant sing. Some actors do really well singing in movies. Ewan McGregor in Moulin Rouge... Katherine Zeta Jones in Chicago. Hugh Grant.... welllllll.

Not that he was a bad singer.... he even sang seven of the songs on the soundtrack. Only I couldn't look at him when he was singing. Look at him singing... "Eh!? Wha?!"... look away... "Oh hey, that's not bad". Very strange... I can't explain it.

Labels: food, movies

I'll admit it... I am a sucker for romantic comedies. Take Hugh Grant from Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill and Love Actually... pair him with Drew Barrymore from 50 First Dates, Never Been Kissed and Fever Pitch and you have the ultimate romantic comedy called Music and Lyrics. Hugh is a washed up 80's singer who needs Drew's lyrical talent to make a comeback. (how unrealistic... "Wake me up before you go go" is lyrical genius!)

I have been waiting for Music and Lyrics to open and those clever people scheduled it for Valentines Day.

If a traditional romantic comedy isn't your style, the Dryden Theatre is showing The Princess Bride on Valentines Day. I don't think I have ever met a person that didn't like The Princess Bride. Here is your chance to see it on the big screen again. Is there any way this wouldn't be the perfect Valentines date? INCONCEIVABLE!

If you would rather not sit in a warm cozy theatre for Valentines Day, they are offering carriage rides at Nazarath College. It sounds wildly romantic, but I don't know if I could get past feeling badly for the horses. If we get all the snow they are calling for maybe they could break out a sleigh instead.

Whatever you do I hope everyone has an enjoyable Valentine's Day!

Labels: holiday, movies

Have you made your Valentine's Day plans yet? If not, there are a couple places I have noticed around Rochester that look good for dinner.

Tastings is having a special Valentine's dinner... four courses with champagne.


Simply Crepes also offers a Valentine's dinner... five courses of crepes.

Unfortunately, we don't have a White Castle in Rochester. But if we did, you could treat your sweetie to a special dinner at this fast food restaurant. Yes, that is right. For one day a year, you can reserve a table at White Castle with hostess seating, candlelight and a server to bring you your sliders and fries. Fancy! Harold and Kumar would be proud.

Labels: food, holiday