Spot features a large wrap-around coffee bar in the center of the first floor, with coffee drinks, desserts, and a sandwich menu available. Tables of all sizes are available, from smaller two-tops along the windows to larger tables perfect for meetings. A large curtained area is located along one wall with comfortable couches for more privacy, and a smaller seating area is along the opposite wall, as long as tables along the rail on the second floor. During nice weather, Spot also has outside seating available.

For those looking for a place to work, Spot offers free WiFi connectivity. It isn't unusual to visit on a weeknight and see a mixture of customers, from college students from the nearby University of Rochester and Eastman School of Music, to suited executives at an after-hours meeting, to visitors looking for a great cup of coffee and more interesting place to break out the laptop. The coffee is excellent, with a large variety of coffee and tea drinks available as well as other choices, and the desserts are delicious and generously sized. My companion and I didn't get a chance to sample the other offerings, but several students appeared to be dinner regulars.

Spot is within walking distance of several Rochester attractions, including the Eastman Theatre and Little Theater. On-street parking surrounds Spot, and a parking lot is located across Matthews Street for a reasonable fee. Hours vary, so it may be advisable to call to check earlier in the day or later at night to verify opening and closing times.

Spot Coffee
200 East Avenue @ Matthews
Rochester, NY 14604
585.613.4600
http://www.spotcoffee.com

The Fairport Canal Days Festival is located in Fairport, right along the historic Erie Canal, approximately 15 minutes from downtown Rochester. The festival features artisans, ethnic foods as well as festival favorites, crafts, and tons of entertainment including local bands, school groups, dancers, storytellers, children's activities, and fireworks Friday night as well as a performance by Rochester native Gap Mangione. Over 300 artisan booths, more than 40 food and drink vendors, and tons of different entertainment offer something for just about everyone.

With the festival taking place right along the Canal, festival-goers can take rides on the Canal, or walk right along the Canal on paths.

The festival is organized by a volunteer group, with proceeds benefiting non-profit merchant events and local charities.

Festival hours are 4:30 PM to 11:00 PM Friday, June 1; 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM Saturday, June 2; and 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM Sunday June 3; with fireworks from 9:00 PM to 9:30 PM Friday evening.

For directions and a complete schedule of festival events:

Fairport Canal Days Festival
Fairport Perinton Merchants Association
6 N Main Street
Fairport, New York 14450
585.234.4323 (voice mail)

The Downtown Fitness Club East End Music Festival marks the kick-off of the 17th year of East End Festivals, which provide an opportunity for Rochester visitors and residents to experience the city as well as a fun night out. The schedule for this festivals acts is:

East Avenue & Gibbs Street Stage

5:30 PM - 8:30 PM: Dean's List
8:45 PM - 11:00 PM: 50/50

Broadway Stage

5:30 PM - 8:00 PM: Coupe de Villes
8:30 PM - 11:00 PM: Joe Beard

Swan Street Stage

5:30 PM - 8:00 PM: Stone Boy
8:00 PM - 11:00 PM: The Skycoasters

High Fidelity's Parking Lot Stage

5:00 PM - 6:15 PM: Jared Campbell
6:45 PM - 7:45 PM: The Mercies
8:00 PM - 11:00 PM: Uncle Plum

East Avenue and Matthews Street Stage

5:00 PM - 6:30 PM: Simplelife
6:45 PM - 8:45 PM: The Taint
9:00 PM - 11:00 PM: Hassan Chop

For additional information:

Downtown Fitness Club East End Music Festival
50 Chestnut Street
Rochester, New York 14604
585.756.4090

Maps of festival locations

It's that time of year again for the Rochester Greek Festival, an annual celebration of Greek culture held at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Rochester, New York. This year's festival will be held this weekend, from Thursday, May 31 through Sunday, June 3, 2007.

The festival features Greek food ranging from familiar favorites to new experiences, entertainment, and art, including cooking demonstrations, tours of the church, and scheduled dance exhibitions, while an area designed especially for children will help keep little ones entertained. Vendors and artisans will have authentic music, clothing, jewelry, and more for sale.

Tours of the church are scheduled for 3:00 PM, 5:00 PM, and 7:00 PM Thursday, 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM, 3:00 PM, 5:00 PM, and 7:00 PM Friday and Saturday, and 1:00 PM, 3:00 PM, 5:00 PM, and 7:00 PM on Sunday.

Dances are scheduled at 6:30 PM, 7:30 PM, and 8:30 PM every evening of the festival, with an additional 9:30 PM dance on Saturday, a 5:30 PM dance on Sunday, and possible dances at 3:30 PM Saturday and Sunday.

Cooking demonstrations will be held on Saturday and Sunday with Baklava at 12:00 Noon, Greek cookies at 3:00 PM, and Spanakopita at 5:00 PM.

Admission is free for the whole family at the Rochester Greek Festival, and hours are 11:00 AM til 10:00 PM Thursday through Saturday, and 1:00 PM til 10:00 PM Sunday.

A portion of the festival proceeds will be donated to this year's chosen charity, the Epilepsy Foundation of Rochester.

Rochester Greek Festival
Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation
962 East Avenue
Rochester, New York

A Club Pass will set you back $123.00 ($119.00 + the obligatory service charge) and lets you wander from venue to venue, seeing whatever shows you like. Acts this year include Gap Mangione, Jerry Lee Lewis, King Solomon Burke, Wynton Marsalis, Madeleine Peyroux, and Dr. John, as well as local favorites such as the Bob Sneider Trio.

The Rochester International Jazz Festival features free concerts as well, with shows at downtown stages as well as at local museums and galleries. Free shows include local student groups, including groups from Rochester's own Eastman School of Music, as well as artists such as Shooter Jennings, Rusted Root, and Los Lonely Boys. The festival draws upwards of 80,000 people and showcases a fantastic variety of jazz musicians with something for everyone from the casual jazz listener to the aficionado.

All the venues for the festival are located in downtown Rochester within walking distance of each other as well as hotels, bars, and restaurants. Nightly jam sessions are a regular festival feature, often lasting into the early morning, and different each night depending on the artists who decide to participate. A full schedule of acts as well as maps of the venues can be found on the festival's web site.

Rochester International Jazz Festival
Festival Hotline: 585.234.2002

The Highland Park Diner is an historic 1948 Orleans diner (the kind you see on Food Network that look like Airstream trailers). In 1986, it was redone with an Art Deco style, giving it an eclectic look that adds to the restaurant's ambiance. Typical diner fare is served, with breakfast available until 3 PM each day. The Highland Park Diner is open 7 days a week, with breakfast only served on Sundays.

I was a frequent patron of the Highland Park Diner when I lived in Rochester's Upper Monroe Neighborhood, but haven't been there for several years. During a recent afternoon at the Lilac Festival, I was able to visit there again, and was pleased to find that the food and service were just as good as I remembered. Portions were generous and the food was excellent, no matter which meal you chose: of my party of five, four had lunch, but I had a former breakfast favorite, which isn't to be missed!

One of the Highland Park Diner's signature breakfasts is the banana bread French toast. Three thick slices of banana bread are dipped in batter and fried, and served with a whole sliced banana and banana butter. The portion is enormous, and I took half home for breakfast the next day. The Reuben sandwiches are also great, piled high with a generous serving of corned beef. The shakes are another don't-miss.

Whether you are looking for something different from the standard festival fare after a trip to the Lilac Festival in May, or just looking for great food in an historic setting, the Highland Diner is a great, affordable restaurant.

Highland Park Diner
960 South Clinton Avenue
Rochester, NY 14620
585. 461.5040

images © 2007

The Rochester Public Market features special events as well throughout the year, including "Greatest Garage Sale Ever," "Flower City Days," and "Homegrown at the Market." Many of these special events are held on Sundays, giving you additional opportunities to experience the market. Community Garage Sale and "Super Flea" Market Days for 2007 are June 17 and 24, July 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29, August 5, 12, 19, and 26, September 9 and 16, and October 7, and 14.

Flower City Days are a terrific opportunity for gardening buffs to buy plants, flowers, and other garden equipment and items at the Rochester Public Market. Dates for Flower City Days in 2007 are May 13, 20, 27 and June 3, and 10, 2007, as well as Memorial Day Weekend, Friday, May 25 and Monday, May 28, from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

In addition to the great shopping opportunities, the Rochester Public Market gives you a great opportunity to get out and meet people from all over the Rochester area, and experience some of the great products made right here in the Rochester area.

Rochester Public Market
280 North Union Street
Rochester, NY
585.428.6907

It's almost here! Rochester's Annual Lilac Festival begins Friday, May 11 with opening ceremonies taking place at 12:00 Noon at the Lilac Stage in Historic Highland Park. The festival runs from May 11 through May 20, and offers tons of entertainment, a separate children's entertainment area, two weekend art shows, 10K and 5K runs, and a chance to enjoy Highland Park's beautiful flowers.
Friday's opening day will feature performers from Ringling Brothers & Barnum & Bailey's Circus of Dreams as well as an evening concert by Mike Doughty. Saturday kicks off the first weekend's art show as well as the festival parade, which begins on Science Avenue off South Avenue and then heads down South Avenue to Highland Avenue, and Highland to Goodman Street.

The Lilac 'N Kids Zone is open daily for children, with weekend hours 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM, and weekday shows at 12:30 PM and 6:00 PM. Some of the children's activities may have a small fee (such as pony rides).

Tuesday the 15th is Latino Day at the Festival, featuring a celebration of Latino heritage, including performances by deSol and the Spanish Harlem Orchestra. Wednesday is Lilacs 'N Seniors day with a special luncheon for senior citizens (reservations required). Thursday features wine, jazz, and a special farmer's market. The festival closes on Sunday the 20th after the 2007 Medved Lilac 10K and 5K Family Fun Run.

A full festival schedule, including musical acts, sponsors, and exhibitors, as well as park information, festival history, and directions, can be found on the official Lilac Festival web site.

2007 Lilac Festival
May 11-20, 2007
10:30 AM to 8:30 PM daily
http://www.lilacfestival.com

Mykonos Cafe, located in Winton Place in Brighton, New York, just minutes from downtown Rochester, is a 24-hour diner with a mixture of typical diner fare as well as Mediterranean favorites.

Formerly located in the hip, urban Village Gate, Mykonos moved to their new location in 2005 and reinvented itself as a 24-hour restaurant, serving standard breakfast-through-dinner dinner food as well as Greek cuisine, making it an easy place to eat with a family that may include finicky children.

A recent trip to Mykonos confirmed that the food is decent, if not extraordinary. A children's menu includes perennial kid favorites like hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken fingers, and grilled cheese, and include fries, a drink, and a dessert item. For the grown-ups, a large selection of sandwiches, salads, wraps, pitas, and Greek favorites makes up the varied menu, as well as breakfast items available around the clock.

The food is decent, if not extraordinary, with average portion sizes and fair prices. The desserts are excellent, and will tempt you from the display case when you enter the restaurant. Mykonos also features a full bar and daily specials. Even with the bar, however, the restaurant is very family-friendly, with coloring pages and crayons available for little ones, as well as high chairs and boosters.

Mykonos is located in the middle of a plaza called Winton Place, near two major expressways. Reservations are recommended on weekends, and outdoor dining is avaialable, weather permitting. Mykonos is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and also has a full takeout menu available.

Mykonos Cafe
3423 Winton Place
Rochester, NY 14623
585.475.0040

Looking for more of a relaxing hike in natural surroundings? Mendon Ponds Park, located in Honeoye Falls, New York, about 20 minutes from downtown Rochester, is a fun trip for families.

Wild Wings, an animal rescue organization dedicated to birds of prey, is located within in the park (which is a part of the Monroe County Parks system), and provides a home for injured hawks, eagles, and other birds of prey who would otherwise have perished. Volunteers from the organization provide guided tours of the bird's living space during designated hours, as well as educating school groups. The birds can also be viewed without a guide by following the path around the bird enclosure.

The park itself also has 2500 acres containing trails for horseback riding, woods, ponds, wetlands, and the Bird Song Trail, which begins right near the Wild Wings area. Sunflower seed packs are available for purchase at the gift shop, and if you stop along the trail and hold the seed in your outstretched palm, chickadees will perch right on your hand to take the seed. Other song birds, including cardinals, can be spotted on the trail, but the chickadees are the most friendly.

A sensory garden is also located at the park directly behind the former nature center which is now maintained by Wild Wings.  Picnic tables are available for snacks or lunch, and shelters are available for rental through the Monroe County Parks system.

Wild Wings Inc.
27 Pond Road
Honeoye Falls, NY 14472
585.334.7790
http://www.wildwingsinc.org/