Latest news with #Rochesterians
Business Upturn
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Upturn
The Mercantile On Main & The Duke at Sibley Square: Premier Event Space in the Heart of The Rochester International Jazz Festival 2025
Rochester, NY, June 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Mercantile On Main, a premier food court and event space in Rochester, NY, is thrilled to announce its prime position for 2025's Rochester International Jazz Festival. Located in the Sibley Building, a historical icon to Rochesterians, the Rochester International Jazz Festival at The Mercantile On Main takes place in the venue's newly renovated event, wedding, and intimate performance space, The Duke, and is a featured destination for all 9 nights (18 shows) of this incredible event. The Duke has also been chosen as one of the festival's bespoke Club Pass venues, with tickets available at the door for $30 on a limited basis. 'It's one of the world's leading jazz festivals – and the place to experience June 20-28, 2025, all genres of creative improvised music,' said a spokesperson for the festival. 'Explore the unique musical sounds from many countries, highlighting international artists' take on the only truly American art form—jazz. Our European-style format makes it easy to navigate. Park once and walk to and from all 18 venues.' With 18 Stages, 1,750 Artists, and 285+ Shows over 9 days, the Rochester International Jazz Festival brings the joy of music to Rochester, New York, and the opportunity to see legendary performers, familiar favorites, rising stars, and new discoveries in an immersive, memorable festival experience. Some of this year's Jazz Fest events include: Club Pass Shows: Boasting 171 shows at 10 venues, the festival's signature Club Pass Series features all styles of jazz by a collection of legends and familiar favorites to rising stars. Ticketed Headliners: From Smokey Robinson and JLCO with Wynton Marsalis to The Wood Brothers and Thundercat, the festival's ticketed headliners offer reserved seats to top industry names, along with access to mouthwatering food and beverages. Free Headliner Shows: Whether rain or shine, the opening shows start at 7 pm and feature a selection of unmissable international acts, such as Jesus Molina, Los Lonely Boys, and Lettuce, while offering access to a delicious array of food and beverages. Jazz Workshops: Available for students of all ages, the Rochester Jazz Festival's free series of five structured jazz workshops provide an unmissable opportunity for music enthusiasts to play, meet, and learn from professional jazz musicians performing at the festival. Late Night Jam Sessions: Starting at 10:30 pm until late and with no cover, as well as a selection of food and drinks available, the festival's late night jam sessions are led on Fridays and Saturdays by Ryan Johnson and Escape Terrain and Sunday thru Thursday by Bob Sneider. When the festival is over, The Mercantile On Main offers a stunning location for exquisite weddings and extraordinary events. The unique space has recently installed a new pizza shop in Rochester, NY, called Red Zone Pizza, offering a variety of mouthwatering slices. Other additions include Seasons' Noodle, which delivers authentic Chinese cuisine, and Rooteins, serving a range of delicious soups and salads. Whether visiting this year's International Jazz Festival or seeking the perfect location for a special occasion, this premier event and wedding venue in Rochester NY provides an unforgettable destination. About The Mercantile On Main The Mercantile On Main is a premier food court and event space in Rochester, NY, inside the Sibley Building, a Rochesterian historical icon. Going beyond simply offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the urban eatery has quickly become Rochester's newest and most unique event hub, catering to a diverse range of events for every occasion. More Information To learn more about The Mercantile On Main and its prime position for 2025's Rochester International Jazz Festival, please visit the website at 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
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Did you know these celebrities were born near Rochester?
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — When spotlighting the most prominent Rochesterians — it's easy to quickly showcase Foreigner's lead singer Lou Gramm, abolitionist Frederick Douglass, and inventor George Eastman. Did you know these celebrities were born and raised right here in the Flower City? Known for providing the voice of Phineas Flynn on the Disney Channel animated series 'Phineas and Ferb' and playing the role of Chris Rock's best friend 'Greg' on 'Everybody Hates Chris,' Vincent Martella was born in Rochester before moving to central Florida during his childhood — according to the star's IMDB page. But the Martella family has stayed in the area — Captain Tony's Pizza & Pasta Emporium has been serving guests for more than 45 years, after Martella's relative Antonio opened in 1972. Vincent stopped by the pizza shop in 2017 for a special meet and greet before emceeing the Special Olympics that year. A new season of 'Phineas and Ferb' premiered on Disney+ on June 5. Did you know these movies were filmed around Rochester? His heart is a stereo — that was born and raised just 45 minutes from Rochester. Travie McCoy, co-founder and lead vocalist of the group 'Gym Class Heroes' was born in Geneva in 1981. McCoy formed the group with his friend, Matt McGinley, who he met in ninth grade at a Geneva High School. Gym Class Heroes has had top 20 albums on the Billboard 200 chart, and hit singles 'Cupid's Chokehold,' 'Stereo Hearts' with Maroon 5's Adam Levine and 'The Fighter' with OneRepublic's front man Ryan Tedder. McCoy was inducted into the Rochester Music Hall of Fame in April 2025. One of YouTube's first stars, Jenna Mourey — better known as Jenna Marbles — grew up in Rochester, New York and attended Brighton High School. Marbles' YouTube channel accumulated nearly 2 billion views, and 20 million subscribers at its peak. Marbles announced an indefinite hiatus on her YouTube account in 2020. Not born in Rochester, but spending a majority of his early years here, Gene Cornish is an original member of the popular 1960s group 'The Young Rascals.' The band recorded eight albums within five years, and had thirteen singles that reached Billboard's Top 40 chart. Cornish was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a founding member of The Rascals in 1997. Dubbed the greatest actor of the 21st century in 2014, Philip Seymour Hoffman was born to Rochester's nearby town — Fairport — in 1967. Hoffman attended Fairport High School, and before walking the stage, was accepted to New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. Hoffman won an Academy Award for 'Best Actor' in recognition of playing the role of author Truman Capote in 'Capote.' Other notable titles for Hoffman include 'Magnolia,' 'Charlie Wilson's War,' and 'The Master.' He died in 2014. 'Live from New York' comes naturally to the 'Saturday Night Live' star, since she was born near Rochester in Canandaigua in 1973! Kristen Wiig had a seven-season tenure on the hit TV show from 2005 to 2012, where she received four nominations for Primetime Emmy awards. Time Magazine named Wiig as one of the 100 most influential people in the world twice — in 2012 and 2025. After moving to Pennsylvania at the age of three, Wiig and her family returned to Rochester where she went to school at Allendale Columbia School and graduated from Brighton High School. Wiig's family has even closer ties as well. Wiig's paternal grandfather was a formed executive here at WROC-TV! Her mother ran a lake marina in Western New York, as well. These are just a few of the thousands of stars whose early days were spent in Rochester. Know someone who should be added? Reach out to WROCDigital@ for consideration. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
After lengthy restoration project, Rochester's Pont de Rennes bridge ‘isn't holding strong'
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — After a lengthy restoration project, the Pont de Rennes pedestrian bridge isn't holding strong. After walking down the bridge, News 8 noticed damage and spoke with the community about how they feel. 'When the surface of the bridge is deteriorating, people say 'Well, was this a waste of money?' and we're still trying to get answers on that,' Rochester's Kathryn D'Amanda said. Walking along the bridge, News 8 noticed nearly 40 areas with damage just like this. Now, this project went over budget at $18.7 million. 'When you do a big project like this, you hope that the public is going to have a joyful experience,' D'Amanda said. 'It was a long time coming and you don't want people being disappointed and sometimes I think that the City doesn't take… they invest a lot… but they don't in the end invest enough to make the difference that we need to have.' D'Amanda told News 8 the damage is upsetting after the time and money the City put in. The Pont de Rennes pedestrian bridge restoration project included repairs to the bridge's structural steel and the addition of a new deck railing. The project started in July 2023 and the bridge reopened in December 2024. But D'Amanda said even before this damage, the City could've done better with beautification. 'They invested a lot and they did a lot of work under the bridge which is very important but they didn't take the final step in painting it which makes it look to the public as if the work wasn't done,' D'Amanda said. But a few Rochesterians, like Gary Silco, say it's a cosmetic issue, so it's not much of a bother. 'I don't feel that it's dangerous,' Silco said. 'I think it might be a hazard for people stepping on it perhaps but I don't think it's a danger to the bridge.' Ultimately, locals like D'Amanda and Silco told News 8 they love their city. 'I'm so excited to live in the city and I hope that the city will take the time and the money that it takes to invest properly,' D'Amanda said. According to a spokesperson for the City of Rochester, City employees are aware of the chipping of the non-structural concrete deck coating on the bridge. They are waiting for a report to figure out why this happened and they say the bridge surface will be redone, at no cost to the City, after they have determined the cause of the issue. In the meantime, the City says the contractor is set to do some patch work. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Former diner is transformed into classy Greek restaurant and wine bar
Mike Karipidis brought an authentic taste of his homeland to East Rochester when he opened El Greco by Mike, a Greek restaurant and wine bar, in October 2024. Karipidis grew up in Thessaloniki, a port city in Greece. He moved to the United States in 1982, but regularly heads back the sun-soaked country. 'I go and get ideas and refresh,' he said. He's recently found reason to visit Greece even more often, as his 19-year-old daughter, Maria, plays for the national soccer team there; she also plays for Mercer University. (He is equally proud of his older daughter, Eleni, who works as an EMT in Rochester.) When Karipidis first arrived in the states, he found work cooking in the kitchens of diners. "Because I love food, I became better and better by the day," he said. For 13 years he owned New Yorker's Pancake and Grill, a diner on West Commercial Street in East Rochester; he purchased the building in 2003. He closed the diner when he was suffering from back problems. After that, he leased the space, but none of the establishments seemed to find success there; four different owners opened and subsequently closed restaurants in the span of six years. "That's enough," he thought. "I might as well do something on my own here – something I really love.' He gutted the space and no hint of the previous diners remains. A large bar that seats 22 is the focal point of the room; a second bar is in back, facing the window to the kitchen. The remainder of the space is arranged into intimate clusters of seating: some high-top tables near the bar, as well as standard-height tables with white tablecloths and high-backed white upholstered chairs. The lighting is soft and the soundtrack, of course, is Greek. "Music and good food go together in Greece," Karipidis said. When the weather cooperates, El Greco by Mike has seating for 25 outside. Umbrella-covered tables wrap around the outside of the building, with olive trees and Greek music adding to the vibe. The menu at El Greco is entirely Greek and the menu is cooked from scratch daily. Some ingredients, like olive oil and octopus, are imported from Greece. "I use quality products because that's what makes the difference," Karipidis said. The most popular dishes are the ones Rochesterians find familiar: the gyro plate as well as the souvlaki plate (the lamb souvlaki is sublime but the dish is also available in chicken, pork or beef). Other standout dishes include: The dips, served with with cucumber slices and triangles soft pita bread. I've especially enjoyed the tzatziki (the yogurt-based dip with dill, cucumbers and garlic that people associate with gyros) as well as the tirokafteri, made with feta, garlic, crushed red pepper, olive oil and cream. Bougiourdi, a warm appetizer with baked tomato, feta, hot peppers and kasseri cheese, into which you dip pita bread. The tender octopus appetizer, which is grilled, then seared in a pan and served in a lemony sauce and sprinkled with feta. The lamb chops are marinated and cooked on a lava rock charcoal grill. 'It makes a big difference," Karipidis said of his grill. The lemony roasted potatoes, which come alongside every main dish, are tender and comforting. The bar is limited to beer and wine, which is partly due to the restaurant's proximity to a church. But Karipidis said that was the way he wanted it. 'I like the concept of a wine bar. It's more classy.' While the wine list features a few Italian and American wines, the best sellers are Greek. "It seems like everyone loves them," he said. "They come here for the Greek experience." It has a happy hour from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, when beverages are half price. It offers no corkage fee on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with a limit of one bottle per couple or four bottles per party. While Karipidis is chef and owner, Natalie Masten, his life partner, is a "big asset in this operation," Karipidis said. She runs the floor, works at the bar and even makes some of the dips and the baklava. The couple is ably supported by servers Dimitri Kiriazis, who is also from Thessaloniki, Greece, and Noah Brysten, who is an American of Greek heritage. El Greco by Mike, 165 W. Commercial St. in East Rochester, is open 4 to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Parking is on the street and a public lot is across the street, a bit down the road. Reservations are accepted; call (585) 203-1978. It hosts private events and offers catered lunches to nearby offices, for a minimum of 10 people. Accessibility: A ramp of sorts leads to the front door; it is fairly steep and is not level. The seating is a mixture of high and standard height tables. The music gets louder after 8 p.m. Tracy Schuhmacher is food and drink reporter for the D&C. Email her at TracyS@ Follow her on Instagram. This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: El Greco Greek restaurant in East Rochester offers authentic experience
USA Today
16-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
The 'Block party' wasn't the only magical memory from 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill
The 'Block party' wasn't the only magical memory from 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill Show Caption Hide Caption The Green Mile at Quail Hollow threatens all contenders The Green Mile, the closing three holes at Quail Hollow Club, is one of the toughest finishing stretches on the PGA Tour. The 2025 PGA Championship is being held at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina. The 2023 PGA Championship, held at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, New York, drew approximately 225,000 spectators. Brooks Koepka won the 2023 PGA Championship, earning $3.15 million. Club pro Michael Block made a memorable hole-in-one during the final round of the 2023 PGA Championship. The final two rounds of the 2025 PGA Championship will play out this weekend as all eyes are on Quail Hollow Club and its famous "Green Mile" in Charlotte, North Carolina. Landing the PGA Championship is a major accomplishment for a country club and the host city. Around 200,000 spectators are expected at Quail Hollow, which has hosted 21 PGA events since 2003. Rochester is no stranger to the golf world, with the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club a recent memory for most Rochesterians. The club is scheduled to host the 2027 U.S. Amateur Championship, the most prestigious men's amateur golf tournament. It will be the 14th time the eyes of the golf world are focused on Oak Hill, according to veteran Rochester Democrat and Chronicle sports reporter Sal Maiorana. The club has hosted three U.S. Opens (1956, 1968, 1989), four PGA championships (1980, 2003, 2013, 2023), one U.S. Senior Open (1984), two Senior PGA championships (2008, 2019), and one Ryder Cup (1995). More: PGA Championship live leaderboard: Jhonattan Vegas leads, Max Homa zooms into contention As the 2025 PGA Championship continues at Quail Hollow in Charlotte, let's look back at Rochester's turn in the sun in 2023. PGA Championship photos: Crowds were huge at Oak Hill in 2023 No post-tournament attendance/economic impact numbers have been reported, but the 2023 PGA Championship was a sellout with about 225,000 spectators expected to attend. PGA Championship photos: Brooks Koepka wins 2023 PGA Championship Brooks Koepka took home $3.15 million for his two-shot victory over runners-up Scottie Scheffler and Viktor Hovland at the 2023 PGA Championship. Koepka is currently playing for the LIV Golf League for $100 contract that runs through 2026. His last PGA event was the 2024 PGA Championship. Greatest moment: 'Block Party' at the 2023 PGA Championship Michael Block, a club pro, won the hearts of many with his plucky play at the 2023 PGA Championship that culminated in an improbable hole-in-one on the 15th hole on the final day. "That magical shot at Oak Hill Country Club cemented the 'fairytale story' — as Jim Nantz put it — of Block's week at the 2023 PGA Championship," said Jack Hirsch in a 2023 retrospective. Rochester had already fallen in love with the underdog by that point of the championship. — Bill Wolcott is a producer who helps cover the Buffalo Bills, high school and Rochester sports in general. The lifelong New Yorker has been a journalist for 31 years.
