A spectacular spectacle of shamrocks: The 2025 Rochester St. Patrick's Day Parade
The team from News 8 WROC attend the festivities every year, and just as they look forward to the tradition, so do many families in our community.
'I love that Rochester has so many opportunities for people to get out, get together and have a good time,' Roc Around Events organizer Robyn Karma said. 'This parade is definitely one of my favorites. I was out here last year too, and it always blows a fresh breeze of air into my sails.'
The parade stepped off at the corner of East Avenue at Alexander Street at 12:30 p.m., stretching along Main Street and ending at Main and Fitzhugh Streets.
Some folks, including Nick Benes, enjoy the positivity festivities like this radiate.
'This is what brings everyone together, this is what we need in the world is everyone coming together and just celebrating, having a good time and enjoying themselves,' Benes said.
Along the parade route, local vendors sold merchandise, many bars around East and Alexander opened early for patrons and restaurants were packed.
For many, the St. Patrick's Day Parade marks the start of festival season in the community, and they're looking forward to the next opportunity to come together and celebrate.
'I love interacting with the people of our community and getting to meet everyone,' Benes said. 'I love getting to talk to them, hear their stories and get a piece of the culture around here. It's awesome!'
Some upcoming festivities in the Rochester area as the weather warms up include the Rochester Jazz Festival and the Lilac Festival.
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Business Upturn
4 hours ago
- Business Upturn
Five Farms Irish Cream and Holladay Bourbon Bring Spirited Flavor to Tales of the Cocktail 2025 in New Orleans
By GlobeNewswire Published on July 25, 2025, 20:30 IST New Orleans, La., July 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In a city where every cocktail tells a story, Five Farms Irish Cream and Holladay Bourbon made a memorable mark at Tales of the Cocktail 2025, weaving their distinct heritages into the vibrant fabric of New Orleans' world-famous drinks festival and conference. The weeklong celebration brought together bartenders, brand leaders, and beverage creatives from across the globe, all drawn to the energy of the French Quarter, where the spirit flows as freely as the stories. Against this backdrop, the Missouri-made Holladay Bourbon and Cork, Ireland's farm-to-table Five Farms Irish Cream stood out for their authenticity, craftsmanship, and sense of place. On Thursday, July 24th, Five Farms took to the Irish House at Mambo's on Bourbon Street for an immersive three-floor showcase hosted by Bord Bia-The Irish Food Board. The event highlighted the evolution of Irish spirits through bold cocktails and international collaboration. Guests flocked to the rooftop bar where Five Farms, in partnership with Nickel City (recently named one of North America's top bars) and Slane Irish Whiskey, shook up Frozen Irish Coffees made with Five Farms' whiskey-forward cream liqueur. The indulgent yet refreshing serve quickly became the signature sip of the afternoon – a smooth collision of tradition and innovation, topped with a view of the Quarter's iconic balconies and music-soaked streets. 'There's a richness to Five Farms, not just in flavor, but in the story behind it,' said Matt Jacquinot, National Brand Specialist. 'Bringing that to life at Tales, especially in partnership with world-class bartenders and other Irish spirits, was a proud moment for us.' Earlier in the week, Holladay Bourbon took the spotlight with multiple activations, including an elevated Happy Hour at The Vue, where bartenders poured creative riffs on Southern classics using both Ben Holladay Bourbon and fan-favorite Soft Red Wheat Bourbon. Among the favorites was the Holladay Bourbon Smash, a vibrant, citrusy cocktail that offered a refreshing twist on traditional bourbon serves. Served on a rooftop at golden hour, it was a moment of Midwest-meets-NOLA magic. — Holladay Bourbon Smash 2.0 oz Holladay Soft Red Wheat Bourbon 0.75 oz Honey-Cinnamon Syrup 0.75 oz Lemon Juice Shake over ice and strain into a rocks glass with fresh ice. Garnish with mint. — As Tales of the Cocktail celebrated innovation, inclusion, and hospitality, Five Farms Irish Cream and Holladay Bourbon brought heart, heritage, and a whole lot of flavor to the party; a reminder that great spirits are about more than what's in the glass. About Holladay Bourbon Rooted in the rolling hills of Weston, Missouri, Holladay Bourbon is crafted at the historic Holladay Distillery – established in 1856 and still proudly operating on its original site. The brand honors a rich legacy of American bourbon-making, using the same mash bill and natural limestone spring water discovered over 160 years ago. Aged in traditional rickhouses on-site, Holladay Bourbon offers well-balanced, robust expressions that pay tribute to tradition while appealing to today's discerning whiskey drinker. About Five Farms Irish Cream Liqueur The world's first farm-to-table Irish cream liqueur, crafted exclusively from single batches of cream from five family-owned farms in County Cork, Ireland. With ten times more Irish whiskey than other Irish creams, it delivers a luxurious texture, rich flavor, and unmistakable warmth that make it a standout — whether served neat, in coffee, or shaken into cocktails. Attachments Holladay Bourbon Smash Five Farms Irish Cream in New Orleans Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same. Ahmedabad Plane Crash GlobeNewswire provides press release distribution services globally, with substantial operations in North America and Europe.


Time Magazine
12 hours ago
- Time Magazine
‘MAGA All the Way': Wrestler Hulk Hogan Remembered
Donald Trump said he 'lost a great friend' on Thursday. 'Hulk Hogan was MAGA all the way — Strong, tough, smart, but with the biggest heart,' the President posted on Truth Social. 'He entertained fans from all over the World, and the cultural impact he had was massive.' Terry Gene Bollea, who was better known by his ring name Hulk Hogan, was an icon of the wrestling world and, later in life, in the political arena. His family announced in a statement on Thursday that he died at age 71 in Clearwater, Fla., 'surrounded by his loved ones.' Bollea is survived by his wife, Sky Daily; ex-wives Linda Hogan and Jennifer McDaniel; and two children Brooke and Nick. Authorities said Bollea was transported to a hospital after they responded to a call for cardiac arrest and that there were no signs of foul play or suspicious activity surrounding his death. He had reportedly been suffering from health issues in recent weeks. 'He will be missed, but never forgotten,' the family statement added. 'May we all take solace in the wonderful memories he left behind for the millions of fans worldwide whose lives he touched for more than four decades.' 'Greatest WWE Superstar of ALL TIME' Bollea will likely be remembered first and foremost for his career in wrestling. Born in Georgia in August 1953 and raised in Florida, he dropped out of college and played bass guitar in local bands before he was discovered by professional wrestlers Jack and Gerry Brisco in the 1970s. The brothers convinced Bollea to try wrestling and connected him with trainer Hiro Matsuda, who according to lore broke Bollea's leg in an apparent test of his commitment to the sport. 'He was a nice-looking, big boy,' Matsuda, who died in 1999, wrote in his autobiography. 'I told him, 'I will give you the opportunity if you can keep up with me.' He agreed … and became the most famous wrestler in the U.S.' Bollea wrestled in Florida and nearby states alongside Ed Leslie, who would later become known as Brutus Beefcake. The two used the ringnames Terry and Ed Boulder or the Boulder Brothers, and Bollea would also compete under other ring names early in his career such as Super Destroyer or Sterling Golden. The ring name he'd become famous as was inspired by a 1978 appearance on a Memphis talk show with actor Lou Ferrigno, who played the titular superhuman in the Marvel comic-based series The Incredible Hulk. Bollea, who was 6 ft. 7 in. tall, appeared to dwarf Ferrigno, who was already renowned for his size. Bollea began calling himself Terry 'The Hulk' Boulder. In 1979, Vincent McMahon, who ran the World Wrestling Federation, met Bollea and reportedly wanted to give him an Irish name and dye his hair red. Bollea took the name Hogan but kept his hair blond. Bollea instantly found success on the national—and international—stage, wrestling for different promotions in the U.S. and Japan. New Japan Pro-Wrestling, which Bollea wrestled for from 1980 to 1985 and again from 1993 to 1994 and in 2003, said in a tribute that Bollea 'left a significant mark' on Japanese history. 'Hulk Hogan was the greatest WWE Superstar of ALL TIME, someone who was loved and admired around the world,' Vince McMahon, Vincent's son who ran the WWF and renamed it World Wrestling Entertainment in 2002 after a trademark dispute with the World Wildlife Fund, posted on X on Thursday. 'He was a trailblazer, the first performer who transitioned from being a wrestling star into a global phenomenon. His grit and unbridled thirst for success were unparalleled - and made him the consummate performer. He gave everything he had to the audience whom he appreciated, respected and loved.' Bollea 'was a central figure in WWE's rise from a regional attraction to the worldwide entertainment leader,' WWE said in a statement. Throughout the 1980s and into the '90s, a period that was dubbed 'Hulkamania,' Bollea—known for his dramatic entrances to the tune of Rick Derringer's 'Real American,' his bulging biceps that he called '24-inch pythons,' his legendary rivalries such as Andre the Giant, and his catchphrases including 'Whatcha gonna do, brother?'—was the undisputed star of wrestling. 'WWE would not be where it is today without the larger-than-life characters that compete in the ring … and few, if any, loomed larger than Terry 'Hulk Hogan' Bollea,' former professional wrestler Paul Michael 'Triple H' Levesque, WWE's chief content officer, posted on X. 'He transcended and elevated the entire business to heights never before seen.' 'There was no one like The Hulkster and there very well may never be another,' Levesque added. Many other current and former wrestlers offered their own tributes to Bollea. 'Can't thank you enough for all that you did for me and for wrestling fans all over the world. I loved you and I will miss you,' posted Steve 'Sting' Borden, who called Bollea 'the greatest of all.' Ric Flair, whom Bollea called the greatest of all time, referring to himself as No. 2, posted a personal appreciation: 'Hulk Has Been By My Side Since We Started In The Wrestling Business. An Incredible Athlete, Talent, Friend, And Father! Our Friendship Has Meant The World To Me. He Was Always There For Me Even When I Didn't Ask For Him To Be. He Was One Of The First To Visit Me When I Was In The Hospital With A 2% Chance Of Living, And He Prayed By My Bedside. Hulk Also Lent Me Money When Reid Was Sick. Hulkster, No One Will Ever Compare To You!' Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson shared a remembrance on Instagram, alongside a video clip of their match in 2002. 'In 1984, I gave you your 'HULKSTER' headband back, in the locker room in Madison Square Garden - I was the lucky kid [who] caught it when you threw it in the crowd,' Johnson wrote. 'Just 17 years later, and still a kid at the age of 29 years old — I'm standing in the middle of the ring and facing you - one of my wrestling heroes in the main event of WRESTLEMANIA. The match was to decide who would go down in history, as The Greatest of All Time.' 'You may have 'passed the torch' to me that night, but you, my friend,' Johnson continued, 'you 'drew the house' meaning you sold out every arena and stadium across the country in your prime as Hulk Hogan, on your way of becoming the greatest of all time. From deep in my bones, and on behalf of this wild and crazy world of professional wrestling that we love, I say to you now, and forever…Thank you for the house, brother.' 'Superhero for so many' Actor Elijah Wood, 44, reminisced about Bollea after hearing of his passing on Thursday in San Diego. 'Even if you weren't a wrestling fan, they were a fixture of pop culture,' Wood said, speaking of how Bollea and his contemporaries seemed 'ubiquitous' for people who grew up in the 1980s and '90s. Actor and TV host Mario Lopez, 51, described Bollea in a post on Instagram as 'the only celebrity I've ever been truly starstruck by when I met.' Alongside a photo of Lopez as an adult with his own children meeting Bollea, Lopez wrote: 'Hearing about Hulk Hogan's passing hits deep — feels like a piece of my childhood is gone. The bandana, the flex, the leg drop, the larger-than-life energy… he was the superhero for so many of us. Rest easy brother.' According to an obituary in the Los Angeles Times, Bollea was the Make-A-Wish Foundation's 'most requested personality' in 1992 and 'visited as many as 20 sick children a week.' He also had 'hundreds' of official Hulk Hogan products—from action-figures to vitamins—and was a celebrity spokesperson in commercials for cereals, deodorants, and more. Bollea's popularity extended beyond the wrestling ring, especially as he expanded into other ventures, including acting. 'I had the pleasure of meeting this brilliant personality and showman when he was 26 years old,' Sylvester Stallone posted on Instagram alongside an image of Bollea's appearance in the 1982 boxing film Rocky III. Stallone said his 'heart breaks' at the news of Bollea's passing, describing Bollea as having been 'absolutely wonderful' and whose 'amazing skill' made the film 'incredibly special.' Throughout the '90s, Bollea starred in low-budget films such as holiday comedy Santa With Muscles and action flick The Ultimate Weapon. He also starred as a crime-fighting former Navy SEAL in the one-season series Thunder in Paradise and made appearances, often as himself, in a number of TV shows, including Suddenly Susan, a sitcom starring Brooke Shields. 'Rest easy, Hulk,' Shields posted on Instagram alongside a photo of her armwrestling Bollea on set in 1999. 'This moment and his entire guest episode,' Shields wrote, 'was a true highlight. Sending love to all of his loved ones today.' From 2005 to 2009, VH1 aired the reality show Hogan Knows Best followed by its spinoff Brooke Knows Best that followed the lives of Bollea, his first wife Linda, and their children Brooke and Nick. Bollea married Linda Marie Claridge, who took the name Hogan, in 1983. Hogan filed for divorce in 2007. Bollea then married makeup artist Jennifer McDaniel, who was 20 years his junior, in 2010, though they divorced in 2021. Bollea married yoga instructor Sky Daily, who was 25 years his junior, in 2023. Bollea's personal and professional lives were rocked in 2012, when a 2007 sex tape was leaked of him with Heather Clem, the then-wife of radio shock jock Bubba the Love Sponge Clem. Bollea and Bubba had previously been described as 'best friends,' and Bollea served as best man at Bubba's wedding in 2007. Bollea sued Bubba as well as media site Gawker, which had published part of the sex tape, for invasion of privacy. His multi-million-dollar lawsuit against Gawker, which was bankrolled by tech mogul Peter Thiel and bankrupted the media company, had a profound effect on digital privacy and has been described as Bollea's 'most lasting contribution to our culture.' After Bollea's death, Bubba told TMZ that he was 'heartbroken' and regretful. 'As everyone knows we had our issues and those issues were mostly my fault. I loved him as a friend while he was with us, and will continue to love his memory as a friend going forward,' he said. 'I'm saddened that I will never be able to tell him how sorry I am for the way I handled things that created the rift between us.' In 2015, Bollea faced more sex-tape scandal, when it was revealed that in the video with Clem he could be heard repeatedly using an anti-Black racial slur and admitted to being 'a little racist.' Bollea apologized at the time for the 'offensive language' that he said was 'inconsistent with my own beliefs.' Bollea said he was 'disappointed' with himself, and his lawyer said he resigned from WWE, though WWE said they terminated his contract. (He returned to WWE in 2018.) A number of Black wrestling stars defended Bollea, including Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, Michael 'Virgil' Jones, Laurence 'Mr. T' Tureaud, and Elijah 'Da Pope' Burke, who cited Bollea's decadeslong 'positive mark on humanity.' After Bollea's death, Burke posted on X: 'I'll never forget being able to share the ring with someone who helped shaped my childhood.' 'Trump-a-mania' 'Nobody's even asked me my opinion until now,' Bollea told late-night host Jimmy Kimmel in 2008. 'If I had to step out and say who I really believe in,' he said, 'I would say Obama.' 'He's the choice. He seems like the real deal,' Bollea said. Liberal media site HuffPost even created a fake political ad touting the endorsement. But Bollea's love for Barack Obama wouldn't last. In 2011, he told Fox News that he was disappointed with the President. 'I was a big Obama supporter and kinda, like, believed everything he said he was gonna do,' Bollea said, before lamenting that 'nothing's happened.' Bollea added that he was also 'a little upset that he didn't ask me permission to use my music,' after Obama made his entrance at the White House Correspondents' Dinner earlier that year to Bollea's wrestling theme song 'Real American.' Bollea joked that he himself would make a great President and went on to endorse Mitt Romney in 2012. In 2015, Bollea retweeted a post that said 'Bi-racial President Obama uses N word, is applauded and keeps his job. @HulkHogan uses N word, is vilified and loses his job' to his more than 1 million followers on the social media platform. Later that year, he said he would like to be Trump's running mate. Bollea cited his decadeslong ties with Trump, when he gave what Trump would call 'an absolutely electric speech' at the Republican National Convention in 2024. 'As an entertainer, I try to stay out of politics,' Bollea said from the stage in Milwaukee. 'I can no longer stay silent. I'm here tonight because I want the world to know that Donald Trump is a real American hero, and I'm proud to support my hero as the next President of this United States.' Bollea ripped off his shirt, his signature move, to reveal a red Trump-Vance tank top beneath and told the crowd: 'Let Trump-a-mania run wild, brother! Let Trump-a-mania rule again! Let Trump-a-mania, Make America Great Again!' 'Hulk Hogan was a great American icon,' Vice President J.D. Vance posted on X after Bollea's death. 'One of the first people I ever truly admired as a kid. The last time I saw him we promised we'd get beers together next time we saw each other. The next time will have to be on the other side, my friend! Rest in peace.' Other Republicans including House Speaker Mike Johnson and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis also offered tributes. Johnson called Bollea 'a giant in stature and in life.' DeSantis said he was 'a major icon' and a 'Floridian through and through.' Conservative activist and political commentator Charlie Kirk described Bollea as 'a genuine, uniquely American creation. Fearlessly original. Flawed but unbowed. He had the courage to stand on his own principles, and he never stopped fighting for his country.' Bollea outlined those principles at the height of Hulkamania in what he called his 'Demandments': train, say your prayers, and eat your vitamins. Later, he added a fourth: believe in yourself.


New York Times
14 hours ago
- New York Times
An Opera Takes A.I., Pronatalism and Hustle Culture to Space
If contemporary music sometimes feels like a perilous glacier to scale, then the works by the Irish composer Jennifer Walshe are more like climbing walls, with an abundance of reachable footholds to get you started and handholds to grasp if you get lost. In the past, Walshe has created 'Aisteach,' a fictional history of the musical and artistic avant-garde in Ireland, and 'Personhood,' about personal agency in an era of technofeudalism and surveillance capitalism. Her latest project, 'Mars,' which the Irish National Opera will premiere on Friday in Galway before the production travels to Dublin next month, continues in a similar, ideas-heavy vein. The Irish National Opera has described 'Mars' as 'about space colonization, reactionary futurism, pronatalism, the madness of hustle culture and the unsettling futures encroaching on our present.' Add to the list: fate, resistance, artificial intelligence, labor, the non-neutrality of technology, melancholy and loss. Mark O'Connell wrote the libretto. A journalist and author, he published the book 'To Be A Machine' (2017), a gonzo-style travelogue of encounters with members of the transhumanism movement, who believe that the evolution of humanity involves some integration of technology into people's bodies. Similar themes crop up in the opera: Four female astronauts board a spaceship in hope of preserving the human race on a new planet, only for their mission to be privatized halfway through the journey by a venture capitalist, their liberated lives suddenly jeopardized. Of the many questions 'Mars' asks of contemporary society, one of the most pressing is what happens when the future is sold off. In the opera, the imposition of a powerful pronatalist ideology, and set pieces like a soliloquy for a Marswife (a take on the tradwife trend) and an A.I. spaceship console's transformation into a productivity-obsessed fitness instructor, the implication is that this privatized future is actually regressive. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.