Siena Pullinzi
On a Thursday at Ugly Duck
Interview No. 135
Interview by Emily Hessney Lynch.
Published May 31, 2018.
Where are you originally from?
I’m from Batavia. My high school art teacher, Mandi Antonucci, encouraged me to apply to Nazareth College. I’m graduating this May with a BFA in Printmaking. I’ve loved the program and the teachers are fabulous. It’s amazing how much I’ve learned in such a small time frame!
What is your favorite part of living in Rochester?
The food. I’m such a foodie! I think I follow every restaurant in Rochester on Instagram. I love Gate House and the Daily Refresher most of all.
Do you have any favorite hidden gems around the city?
I’m in intern at RoCo, and the basement there is one of my favorite places. It’s kind of crazy! The back house of a gallery is just really intriguing. It’s so different than what you see in the front of the house.
What's the most unique event you've attended in Rochester?
First Friday at the Hungerford is one of my favorites. I always go to the Halloween one, and it’s always something different! Creepy haunted houses + art = my two favorite things. The first year I went, the theme was “haunted objects.” You would push on these black sheets and they’d try to touch you. Now they do more of a haunted house type thing in the basement.
If you had $100 and two hours to kill in Rochester, how would you spend the money/time?
I’d start off getting brunch at the Frog Pond, and then I’d head to Rochester Art Supply and spend the rest of the money there.
What's your favorite neighborhood?
The Park Ave area--all the restaurants and little shops put together, plus all the people who are so nice--it just feels like summer all the time when you’re in Park Ave.
Favorite coffee shop?
For me, it’s a tie between Cafe Sasso and Starry Nites. They have great teas at Cafe Sasso, but the best chai vanilla latte ever is at Starry Nites.
What is your personal coping mechanism for cold/gray weather?
Parts of it I kind of enjoy. I love to be cozy inside, wrapped up in a blanket watching movies with a giant bowl of popcorn and a big mug of hot cocoa.
What is your favorite Rochester memory?
Last semester I went to tapas for the first time, with my two Peruvian friends and my best friend Talia. Tapas 177 has Latin dancing on Thursdays, and our friends taught us some moves. It’s all about finding the rhythm and flowing your body.
What makes Rochester unique?
The people are so diverse, from businesspeople to artists to chefs. All these people combine to make the city what it is. It feels like we’re one. When you’re traveling and find someone else who is from Rochester, both of you always geek out for a second. As a city, we’re like one body, and one entity, because of the people.
What do you think could be improved?
As Rochester grows, certain places get abandoned. We need to bring new things in to bring new people to those areas and make Rochester alive again.
If Rochester was a drink, what would it be?
It would be a Cat’s Eye. When they make this cocktail, they set rosemary on fire in a glass! Rosemary is a nice savory herb, and like Rochester, there’s something about it that’s pleasing on the tongue. Setting it on fire symbolizes how things are poppin’ here, they’re always on fire. The richness of the whiskey also aligns with the richness of our culture and history.
What advice would you give to someone who's new to Rochester and wants to get to know the area?
Go out and explore the restaurants. I always learn about more places just by going to those spots. When food is involved, everyone becomes a family. And everything else just falls into place.
Siena Pullinzi is a recent graduate of Nazareth College, an artist, and a foodie. For more of Siena's perspective, visit our Instagram.
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