Life + Culture

The Meaning of Home

Home Start Hope’s Thoughtful Approach to Stability and Renewal Article by Marie Gillette | Photography by Submitted For Kristin Mathis, president and CEO of Rochester’s Home Start Hope, the word home is rooted in lived experience and shaped by years of listening to the women the organization serves. Home represents more than shelter—it’s the foundation for stability, dignity, and the ability to move forward. Mathis spent many years as a single mother following a divorce, navigating the...

Home + Design

Timeless by Design

Blending Vintage Charm With Modern Living in Rochester Article by Katrina M. Randall | Photography by Paul Lossowski; Joshua Hubert Photography As an early American “boom town,” Rochester and the surrounding region are steeped in history. In its earliest days, the Genesee River and the Erie Canal fueled the area’s growth, transforming it into a bustling hub. Today, that history is still visible in the historic and vintage homes in neighborhoods like Corn Hill, Browncroft, and Cobbs Hill, and...

Life + Culture

Modern Homestead Movement

From City Yards to Country Hills Article by Sarah Keeler | Photography by Submitted A quiet but growing movement is taking root across the greater Rochester area. Homesteaders—locals committed to cultivating their own food sources and raising livestock—are redefining what it means to live deliberately in the 21st century. Once seen as a fringe lifestyle relegated to rural areas, homesteading concepts have come to be embraced by city dwellers and suburbanites alike. At its core, homesteading...

Home + Design

Home Through Life

How Aging Shapes the Way We Live Article by Katrina M. Randall | Photography by Submitted From front porches to community social hours, home takes many forms as we age. Not everyone gets the choice of whether to age in place or move to older adult housing. But for those that do get to choose where they age, home becomes less about the structure itself and more about how well it supports function, comfort, dignity, and connection.  For Karen Coffey of Brighton, the idea to age in place and be...

Shopping

Top Jewelry Trends for Winter

Winter 2025/2026 is shaping up to be one of the shiniest, most stylish, and most elegant seasons we’ve seen in jewelry in years — and we’re here for it. From vintage-inspired diamonds to the cool glow of sterling silver, this season is all about mixing nostalgia with modern luxury.Whether you're refreshing your holiday wish list, upgrading your everyday jewelry wardrobe, or searching for the perfect gift, here are the Top 5 Winter 2025/26 Jewelry Trends our gemologists, designers, and stylists...

Life + Culture

Rochester Love Stories

Four Couples, Four Journeys Article by Katrina M. Randall | Photography by Submitted Every love story is different—whether it began across the world or in your own backyard. Four Rochester-area residents share the moments and memories that shaped their journeys of falling in love. Stephen Cataldi: Near & Far For Webster native Stephen Cataldi, a second chance at love began when he met Carol Coleman on a Facebook speed-dating app. She was living in New York City; he was in Rochester, and a...

Food + Beverage

Flower City Pickers

Turning Food Waste Into Community Nourishment Article by Marie Gillette | Photography by Submitted On any given Saturday at the Rochester Public Market, thousands of pounds of fresh produce change hands in a matter of hours. What most shoppers never see is what happens after the crowds disperse, when crates of unsold fruits and vegetables, otherwise destined for landfills, become a lifeline for people facing food insecurity across the region. For a decade now, that transformation has been the...

Life + Culture

Building Lives Together

When Partnership Becomes Practice Article by Marie Gillette | Photography by Submitted For some entrepreneurs, business and personal life intertwine intentionally, as couples build together, navigating the rewards and challenges of working side by side, showing how trust, communication, and mutual respect can transform collaboration into both a livelihood and a way of life. Elevate Events: Building a Business and a Life Together For Elyse Jurutka and Darin Price, co-owners of Elevate...

Sports + Recreation

Embracing the Freeze

Four Locals Who Thrive in Winter Weather Article by By Sarah Keeler | Photography by Submitted When winter arrives in Rochester, the cold doesn’t send everyone indoors. As temperatures dip, some locals embrace the season as an invitation to move, connect with nature, and enjoy the winter sports they love. From early mornings on frozen trails to snowy Saturdays on the slopes, winter sports become a lifeline for physical and mental health during the darkest times of the year. Meet four...

Food + Beverage

Rochester’s Chocolate Scene

Craft, Tradition, and Flavor from Flower City Confectioners Article by Marie Gillette | Photography by Mylee Dondiz; Submitted Rochester’s chocolate scene spans century-old candy traditions and a new generation of artisan chocolatiers pushing flavor boundaries while remaining rooted in local ingredients and community values. Whether you seek the city’s best sponge candy or handcrafted truffles and vegan bark, Rochester offers a distinctly sweet experience shaped by its culinary heritage and...