Explore Rochester

All praise , and its hip South Wedge barcade, located in a former House of the Lord. Actually, this one’s kind of a “twofer”, considering that Bookeater is right next door.

Even though the barcade fad is somewhat overdone in my current city, Denver, I always enjoy visiting The Playhouse when I’m home. I love the concept of repurposing an old church and the gorgeous restoration of the rosary window matched with Staach’s flawless interior design. Chef’s kiss.

To quote their website, “The Playhouse isn’t just somewhere to go, it’s something to do.” Whether you’re looking to entertain the kids, or if you’re craving a burger and craft cocktail, or if you’re just wondering what retro toy item has been added to the display- there’s a little something for everyone. To me it feels like a late-night Museum of Playhouse.

I originally fell in love with this remodel when I returned from living in Spain, at a time when I was quite interested in street art. Unfortunately it is no longer, but the original wheat paste by 𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐈𝐄𝐃𝐀𝐍 that decorated the Playhouse façade was my favorite work of local art, and quite possibly one of my favorite street art pieces of all-time. There still exists a collection of photos/videos of this masterpiece on the WALL THERAPY website- check it out!

Photo taken on my very first iPhone circa 2015

The Playhouse // Swillburger // Gabriele Johnson 6/8

This former dance hall, turned “world’s largest music store”, music school, venue, and museum, puts Rochester on the map of rock’n’ roll lore. Although I’m not a musician per se, I have a deep love of music, if you haven’t picked up on that already. It’s always been so fun to wander around the House of Guitars, gawking at all of the unique instruments, the rare collectors items, and even to overhear burgeoning artists, plucking away at their potential new muse. This house embodies the physical chaotic good of rock ‘n’ roll.

Every time I’m here, I wonder what amazing talent got their start after finding the perfect “axe” amongst the inventory. As if the House of Guitars is the “Ollivanders” of musical instruments. And I wonder what famous person has bought their guitar from here or who might walk through the door next – ya never know?

Most importantly what I love about this place is their loyalty to musicians and the local music scene. The dedication is palpable from the moment you walk throigh the flier- covered doors, and there’re experts at-the-ready to “talk shop”, upcoming gigs, or to reminisce. -Or send you out the door with a “Support Your Local Musician” sticker.

As a traveler, I’m always keeping my eyes peeled for Buffalo Bills gear or Flower City logos, but I am particularly pleased when I come across someone with a House of Guitars T-shirt. It tells me they’ve been to the heart of Rochester.

House of Guitars // Gabriele Johnson 5/8

Okay, so this one wasn’t a private dwelling, but rather a former Victorian fire house, Engine Company No. 6 - but I still think it counts.

Having lived right around the corner on Merriman St. for nearly a decade, if I bought you a gift during that time, odds are it came from Craft Company No. 6. Not only is Craft Company a bright spot in the neighborhood, it boasts goods from over 350 North American artists. This artisanal gift store, and its labyrinth of rooms, clocks in at over 6,600 sq feet and can feel more like a museum than a store. Even the firefighter poles are still in tact!

A very brief internet search tells me that the original fire house was constructed in 1888, with the current building being reconstructed around 1960. The first floor was originally a stable used to house the equine brigade and later used to store fire trucks. In 1927 The fire company’s final, beloved, “Chubby the Horse” retired to a local farm where he died in 1933 (I’m trusting this “retired to a farm upstate” trope). In 1980 Craft Company No. 6 moved in and began the transformation and restoration of this unique building.

Stop in for some holiday shopping (great way to get beautiful, meaningful, gifts for several people on your list) or to treat yourself to some handcrafted jewelry (my personal favorite). And of course, give “Chubby the Horse” a pat on your way by!

Craft Company No.6 // Gabriele Johnson 4/8

This one is pretty self-explanatory. A beach house turned oasis tiki bar in a region that sees fewer than 100 days of hot sun per year. When the weather is good, Marge’s is great!

Drive just a few miles up to the lake, float around Durand and get a little tan. Then hop over to Marge’s for a drink- something with an umbrella- and a front-row seat to a stunning sunset. Stick around after dark for some live music and a view of the stars ( and hopefully the Perseid Meteor Shower if you go this week). The perfect summer evening!

Marge’s Lakeside Inn // Gabriele Johnson 3/8

Starting the week off with . I’ll tell you what I told Mr. Deutsch last week- Abilene is one of the best bars, best venues in the world. This bar does it all: rip-roaring honky-tonk parties to a quiet evening on the back patio. I’ve laughed till I cried and cried till I laughed in this joint.

Trying to share a memory here is a bit of a challenge because, although the memories are abundant, most of them are a wee-bit blurry. But I can tell you how hard to stomped my feet when Auld Lang Syne played “My First Soul”, and how loud I sang along when they covered The Stones’ “Sweet Virginia”, and I can point out the spot on the floor where Mathew dropped me while swing dancing, and I sure won’t ever forget the feeling of a warm spring night when the magnolia tree out back is in full-bloom. It’s a place where music becomes a multi-sensory and metaphysical experience.

There is too much to be said about this place in one social media post. I’ve heard rumors that it was once a brothel, and it’s verified to be one of the oldest houses in that area, and Tara (Abilene’s predecessor) was a keystone in the Rochester gay scene back-in-the-day. There’s a great WXXI article titled, “Abilene, the Little Corner Saloon that Could- And has for Fifteen Years” by Jeff Spevak from March of 2023 that I’d encourage you to read.

To Abilene, and Danny, and to all of the musicians and artists and friends I’ve enjoyed in this house over the past 17+ years- a sincere thank You. // Gabriele Johnson 2/8

Perhaps I’m a bit partial because I’ve had lots of friends that worked here, or perhaps because my grandmother once own a gift store called “The Owl’s Nest” (also in a house), but the Owl House is hands-down one of my favorite brunch spots around.

I was privileged in my youth to have had “Hotelie” friends at Cornell University that I, admittedly, wanted to impress when they came to visit Rochester. I brought them here. With the cozy atmosphere, quaint patio, and veg-friendly menu, it was my go-to for much of my twenties. Plus- the wine list and pear/ Gorgonzola salad were a hit with the culinary friends, to my great relief and pride. Since then I’ve celebrated birthdays and bridal showers, experienced first dates, and even spent time as the bar guinea pig when new drink menus dropped. Most recently, I met my Colorado- Rochester friend (also in town) for some brunch, adding to the ways this place feels like home.

Highly recommend a savored bunch on the patio!

Owl House // Gabriele Johnson 1/8

Introducing our week 606 (Yr. 12 Wk. 33) contributor: Gabriele Johnson
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Hi There!

I’m Gabe, or Ms. Johnson, as some of you may know me. I’m a world-traveler turned mountain-maiden visiting home for the summer. Most days you can find me outside, no matter the weather, swimming in a waterfall, snowboarding with friends, or just enjoying the view.

While my passport declares “Rochester, New York” as my birthplace, and while it is certainly the place I feel most at home, Rochester has often served as more of a “home base” around which I orbit. When I return home, sometimes I stay for a decade, sometimes just a few nights, but regardless, I always end up back here. At home.

In Colorado, my current residence, I’ve managed to serendipitously surround myself with other Rochesterians, Colorado Hots garbage plates, Westfax Brewing Company Bills games, and even Denver Choir League, directed by an Eastman grad. Sometimes Rochester finds me when I’m not even looking for it, like in the case of a Wegmans bag at 11,000 feet altitude that led to me finding my ski bum crew… 

In preparation for this assignment, I began thinking about what makes Rochester feel like home beyond the obvious spectacular waterfalls, world-class music, and the tight-knit community. There is a charming, home-y, ambiance to this city and its repurposed, antiquated dwellings that makes Rochester truly unique. Homes. Houses, rather, become our local haunts, date spots, and music venues. I love the way an old built-in bookcase and tin ceiling fit seamlessly into a classy cocktail bar, or how a backyard bonfire beckons you to stay awhile. There are countless examples of  gorgeous, repurposed spaces in Rochester. As such, I have decided on a theme for this week’s photos: “Houses-to-Haunts”   

I hope you enjoy seeing some of my favorite repurposed house and house-like structures around town.   

Photo: My graduation photos  taken  at the George Eastman Museum by my talented friends Along Photography 
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What does it feel like to discover beauty in the places that inspire you?

The lore of Upstate New York is found in its parks. Whether it’s Stony Brook, Letchworth, or Mount Morris, there is something special about the spaces that remind us to slow down, breathe, and reconnect with the world around us.

This summer, I had the chance to explore Letchworth State Park with my younger sister, and I was reminded of the beauty that exists right outside our doorstep. Standing near the falls, breathing in the fresh air, and feeling the mist from the water on my skin was a moment of pure presence.

There is something powerful about being surrounded by nature. It creates space to reflect, imagine, and dream.

One of the moments that left me in awe was seeing the hot air balloons floating above the park. Watching them move through the sky felt almost magical, like a scene from a storybook.

Even the event spaces throughout the park sparked my imagination. I found myself wondering what a wedding there must feel like. What would it look like to celebrate love surrounded by waterfalls, trees, and the beauty of nature?

That’s what I love about exploring. It’s not just about where you go. It’s about the feelings a place leaves with you and the stories it inspires you to imagine.

Letchworth reminded me that beauty is not always something we have to search far away for. Sometimes, it’s waiting right here.

What does it feel like?

It feels like wonder. 🤍 // Fphasieth Jimmeson 8/8

What does it feel like when creativity meets problem solving?

The best creations happen when people come together with a shared vision.

That’s what continues to inspire me about Trbleshooter (TRBLESHOOTER).

It’s more than clothing. It’s where art and craft collide. It’s a space built around curiosity, collaboration, and the willingness to ask, “How can we bring this idea to life?”
Being around this team has reminded me what collaboration is supposed to feel like. The process is organic, the energy is genuine, and every person involved brings something intentional to the work.

Fashion is often seen through the final image, the finished garment, the campaign, or the runway moment, but there is so much beauty in everything that happens before that. The conversations, revisions, experiments, and problem solving are where ideas begin to take shape.

Aquil is an incredible designer with a unique ability to transform concepts into tangible pieces. His approach to design is thoughtful, innovative, and rooted in storytelling. Watching an idea move from a thought into something you can physically experience is one of the reasons this brand continues to inspire me.

Through my work with Trbleshooter, I’ve been able to explore so many parts of creativity, from creative direction and styling to seeing these pieces represented in different spaces. It has shaped the way I view fashion, not just as something we wear, but as something we experience.

Clothing can carry emotion. It can start conversations. It can challenge perspectives. It can tell stories that words sometimes cannot.

As we prepare to return to ComplexCon this year, I’m reminded of the importance of supporting independent designers and creatives who are building with intention. The future of fashion is being shaped by people willing to experiment, solve problems, and create something authentic.

What does it feel like when art and craft collide?

It feels like watching a vision become reality. 🤍

Support the creatives who are pushing boundaries, asking questions, solving problems, and creating the future of fashion. // Fphasieth Jimmeson 7/8

What does it feel like to create a space where people can see themselves differently?

When I think about Rochester Fashion Runway (Rochester Fashion Runway), I think about community, creativity, confidence, and creating opportunities for people to step into spaces they may never have imagined themselves in.

Last year, I had the opportunity to work alongside our models to help bring the vision to life. My favorite part was watching confidence grow, seeing people challenge themselves, learn, and experience fashion from a different perspective. It reminded me why this work matters.

The final runway moment is beautiful, but much of the magic happens behind the scenes. It happens in the preparation, the conversations, adjustments, problem solving, and the moments when someone realizes they are capable of more than they thought.

That is the part of this industry I love most.

This year feels especially meaningful as we return to Hochstein, a place that holds a personal memory. I graduated from School Without Walls High School, and my graduation ceremony was held there. It was already a place that represented a major milestone in my life.

My relationship with fashion began during that chapter. For my senior project, I learned how to sew, and my final project was creating my own prom dress. That experience helped me realize fashion was more than something I admired. It was something I wanted to pursue.

To return to Hochstein years later and help create an experience centered around fashion, art, and storytelling feels full circle.

“Living Provenance” is a celebration of the stories we carry, the experiences that shape us & the creativity we continue to build together. Every designer, model, volunteer, and creative involved contributes a piece of the story.

Rochester has always been filled with talented people, and one of my greatest joys is helping create platforms where that talent can be recognized and celebrated.
What does it feel like to create opportunities?

It feels like watching someone realize they belong in a space they once only dreamed about.

Join us September 5th as we bring this vision to life. 🤍 // Fphasieth Jimmeson 6/8