Interview by Emily Hessney Lynch.

Published March 6, 2020.

Where are you from? How did you end up in Rochester?

I’m from the middle of nowhere, Pennsylvania; I went to RIT to study animation and stuck around afterwards. A lot of people think Rochester doesn’t have much going on, but coming here from a place where there was actually nothing going on, Rochester is the coolest. 

What is your favorite part of living in Rochester?

There are a lot of little things! I just like that there’s always something going on. You can go find a new store or restaurant, there are so many different little festivals, and movie nights at the Little are the best. 

What are some hidden gems you've discovered around Rochester?

I really like Nox, it’s a cool geek bar that’s subtly geeky. Caramel Bakery on Park is amazing--they have the best macarons and an awesome brunch. I also love going to Jine’s with my family when they visit. They think Rochester has the best eggs benedict ever!

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

I really like the Clothesline Festival. There’s also the Letchworth Arts & Crafts Show, which I really like. It’s in the fall and the leaves are changing all around. RocGameDev has a couple of game festivals and I love going to those.

If you have $100 and two hours to kill in Rochester, how would you spend the money/time?

I’d probably go get a drink and food at Good Luck. That’s my absolute favorite bar in town. Or, I would go to Swillburger, get a burger and a shake, and play a bunch of games. It really depends on the time of day! 

What's your favorite local nonprofit? 

Lollypop Farm- that’s where I got my cat and it’s where I encourage all my friends to get their cats. 

What's the best place to get a garbage plate? 

Dogtown! I love Dogtown and their vegetarian version of a plate. Boxcar also has a trainyard plate that’s great--it has french fries, mac and cheese, fried chicken, cole slaw, and buffalo sauce.

What's your personal coping mechanism for cold/gray weather. 

Everyone always gets so upset, but I’m always so excited! I don’t really need coping mechanisms, I just look outside. What I like to do on a snowy day is stay home, curl up on the couch with the cat and dog, play video games, and drink hot cocoa or wine. I enjoy having all the windows open and watching the snow. 

What's one memory that captures what Rochester means to you? 

When I was in college, all of my friends and I would go to the Lilac Festival, and we’d hang out in the field in the center while music was playing. People would go get food and come back. That encapsulates it. Lilac Fest is a big thing, but I like that it’s a central hub, and people can go away and come back, which is representative of my friends now.

What makes Rochester unique?

I think it’s really artsy. It’s got a lot of art for a smaller-sized city. We have the MAG, art, and sculptures all around town. There are lots of people who do art and put it out there and have the opportunity to show it off.

What do you wish you could change about Rochester? 

It’s a hot topic lately, but I feel like everything is separated. There’s a lot of gentrification, and so many luxury apartments going up, and I don’t know who’s living in them. I wish there was more affordable housing and it wasn’t so separated. 

If Rochester was a video game, what kind of video game would it be? 

It would be one of those games where it’s a quest fetch. A collection-based game like Pokemon Go or Animal Crossing. “Have you been to this place yet? Go check out this place and get that thing!” 

Tell me a little bit about your blog, Wine and Game Pairing. What inspired you to start it? 

Wine and Game Pairing is exactly what it sounds like! I love the idea of playing games, and getting a sense of smell and taste with them, and broadening the experience. That’s my goal with it. I drink wine and I play games. I aim to make conscious choices about what I’m drinking while I’m playing games.

What's your favorite pairing you've discovered so far? 

I really like my Donut County pairing with chardonnay. I of course ate a donut with it too. That was a pretty perfect morning! 

What advice would you give to someone who wants to start a new creative endeavor in Rochester? 

Find like-minded people. At least from what I’ve seen in Rochester, everyone is really encouraging and helpful. People are totally willing to give you advice.