Interview by Emily Hessney Lynch.

Published March 8, 2018.

Where are you originally from? What brought you to Rochester?

I’m from Medina, about an hour west on the Erie Canal. I’m an upstate lifer. When I was a kid, we’d come up to Rochester to go to the mall. I attended St. John Fisher College, then worked in Medina and Buffalo for a bit. I wound up in Rochester and have worked at City Newspaper for 11 years now!

What is your favorite part of living in Rochester?

We’re a nice, small, compact city but we have all the big city stuff. We have good, functioning neighborhoods here. I live in a neighborhood where I can go to a grocery store, bars, and restaurants all within walking distance, and in 15 minutes, I can drive out to the woods and nature. We have such a variety of scenery here. From the Genesee Valley Region to the Southern Tier to the Finger Lakes--they all have their own unique characteristics. The rolling hills of the south, that moment when you see the water below as you drive through the hills of the Finger Lakes--and it only takes an hour or two to get there! Plus, there are good breweries and distilleries along the way.

Do you have any favorite/secret Rochester spots? 

The back end of Ellison Park--there’s an entrance off Penfield Road. It’s not as manicured as the rest of the park--it’s hilly, rocky, and muddy--and I like to go back there with my dog. Any of the places around here with streams and hills; I just like to go be in nature.

I’m lucky to live in a neighborhood with tons of great spots to hang out. In the Wedge we’ve got Tap and Mallet with great beers, Playhouse where I can dump all my money into arcade games...I’m a pretty basic guy.

What's the most unique or interesting event you've attended in Rochester? 

When I was in college I went to a monster truck rally at Blue Cross. That was ridiculous and fun.

The East Rochester Fireman’s Carnival is great too. My friends like to go for the beer tent and the fireworks and to see who’s around that they know from high school. I just tag along for the unplanned fun of it.

Do you have a favorite charity/nonprofit you like to support? 

Lollypop Farm has a special place in my heart. That’s where I got my dog, Lucky. She’s 12 years old now and I’ve had her for eight years. My coworker Renee works on Girls Rock! Rochester, which is another really cool nonprofit. There are so many people doing wonderful things, it’s hard to choose!

If you had $100 and 2 hours to kill in Rochester, how would you spend the money and time? 

I can occupy my time so well for free here that I’d be able to spend the 2 hours and pocket $90 at the end of it! I’d probably go to the Little or the Eastman Museum. Maybe I’d go out to the lake and stare at the ice for awhile. If I were being irresponsible, I’d buy a 30 of Genny and see who’s around. $100 goes a long way.

Do you have a favorite neighborhood? 

I live in “Wedge adjacent” now, one block outside of the “official” South Wedge neighborhood. I used to live in Swillburg, and it was full of the friendliest people with tons of dogs. It’s interesting to watch the transitions of the neighborhoods. North Winton Village is coming back; the 19th Ward has always been a solid neighborhood. As folks get displaced through these transitions, we need to both help them and help neighborhoods thrive.

What is your personal coping mechanism for cold/gray weather?

Cold and gray weather doesn’t bother me. I just go about my life. I like the snow and hate 90 degree days. Even if it seems dismal out, you’ve gotta go do things. I go up to the lake to see the crazy ice that forms, and watch the waves crash. It’s worth braving the cold for; you always see something beautiful. I alternate between Webster Park, Ontario Beach, Seabreeze, and Durand Eastman at random.

What is your favorite Rochester memory?

One year for New Year’s, I went out with friends to Jillian’s at High Falls. It wasn’t busy there, so we were just able to drink, be stupid, play pool, and bowl. We wound up back at a friend’s house, ordered pizza, and fell asleep. Don’t worry, none of us drove. It was a fun time! I have a million memories of nights like that.

What makes Rochester unique?

We pack in a lot of cool stuff for a mid-size city. We have cool bars and restaurants, plus great vegetarian and vegetarian-friendly spots. I also love having the George Eastman Museum here.

What do you think could be improved?

I think about it a lot. I like seeing the emphasis on making the city more bike and pedestrian friendly. I’ve seen lots of improvement and would like to see us keep that up. I’d also like to see us focus on making our neighborhoods strong. They’ve all grown where they did for reasons; some used to be more self-sustaining. We should move towards more self-sufficient (but not isolated) neighborhoods. I’m also excited to see what happens with the former Inner Loop. With all the focus on downtown, I’m hoping it will start to be more inclusive for everyone rather than just catering to a wealthier group of people.

If Rochester was a drink, what would it be?

It would be a Genny. It’s iconic, and you take pride in it. It’s also dependable--you always know it’s gonna be good. It’s not a flashy craft beer that people will analyze the different notes of. When Rochesterians look at ROC, sometimes we want to dismiss it. But you shouldn’t! There’s so much to offer. Drink it up!

What advice would you give to someone who's new to Rochester and wants to get to know the city more?

We have lots of opportunities for people to learn. I love the idea of the Brainery, and I’m a member at Flower City Arts. Our museums are always doing different tours and events to help people learn about their collections. I’d encourage people to wander around and just show up to stuff.