12 essential experiences for Rochester students before turning the tassel
Sofia Tokar
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Director of Content From signature campus events to late-night chow, discover the must-do Rochester activities that you鈥檒l be reminiscing about for years to come.
Area attractions. Regional dishes. Street festivals. Game nights. 人妻少妇专区 traditions. Whether you鈥檙e a traditional student, transfer student, graduate student, or exchange student, the 人妻少妇专区 offers much to experience during your time on campus and in the Greater Rochester region.
In addition to rounding up the classic must-do activities, we consulted current students and alumni to compile these selections of what every Rochester student needs to do before graduating.
Missed one or more of these experiences? Fear not: Members of the Rochester family are always welcome back to the place they once called home for a second chance at checking off these bucket-list items.
Rochester鈥檚 Mini Met
Check out the Memorial Art Gallery鈥攊nside and out
A short shuttle ride from the River 人妻少妇专区 or an easy stroll from the downtown Eastman 人妻少妇专区 is the University鈥檚 Memorial Art Gallery, affectionately referred to as 鈥淢AG.鈥�
Nestled in the city鈥檚 trendy Neighborhood of the Arts, MAG鈥檚 permanent collection houses more than 13,000 objects spanning 5,000 years of world history. The extent and balance of the collection鈥攚hich ranges from an Egyptian sarcophagus to a Monet, among other highlights鈥攈as led some to dub it our area鈥檚 very own 鈥淢ini Met.鈥� Earlier this year, USA Today named it the in the country.
Even before entering the museum itself, you鈥檒l encounter Instagram-worthy spots across the grounds. During the day, whimsical sculptures and other public art, including a giant rainbow arc of painted steel rebar created by the artist Rashid Johnson, are open to the public. At night, you can bask in Argentum: Double Positive, by conceptual artist Jim Sandborn, which uses light to turn MAG鈥檚 1913 building fa莽ade into a celebration of Rochester history.
And the best part? MAG admission is free for current students with your University ID.
Regional delicacy
Feast on a 鈥減late鈥濃�攁 local favorite
A Rochester-style 鈥減late鈥濃�攎ost famously, the Garbage Plate鈥攊s arguably the area鈥檚 signature dish. Take two cheeseburgers or hot dogs, add home fries, macaroni salad, some baked beans, and a chili-like meat sauce, and serve with white bread. No late night on the town is complete without one.
The original Garbage Plate was created at Nick Tahou Hots downtown. Through the years, competitors have put their own spins and nicknames on the classic dish: trash plate, rubbish plate, junkyard plate, Rochester plate, and more.
In 2020, comedian Jim Gaffigan tried the famous Garbage Plate and on a late-night TV appearance with Conan O鈥橞rien. 鈥淭here鈥檚 obviously no health department in Rochester,鈥� he joked, 鈥渂ut it was delicious.鈥�
Vegetarians needn鈥檛 miss out on this uniquely Rochester dish. The Red Fern, a vegan and gluten-free eatery in the trendy Park Avenue neighborhood (on the University shuttle system鈥檚 route), offers its own version dubbed 鈥渢he Compost Plate.鈥�
Ever better on deck
Take me out to a Red Wings ball game
The Triple-A baseball team, just one step below the major leagues, has been around since 1877. Famous Red Wings alumni include Hall of Famers Cal Ripken Jr., Bob Gibson, and Stan Musial.
But you don鈥檛 have to be a sports fan to enjoy a game at downtown鈥檚 Innovative Field鈥攁 mere three miles from the River 人妻少妇专区. The reasonably priced tickets get you access to on-field promotions, entry for theme nights and giveaways, and the option of indulging in a variety of local flavors, including macaroni and cheese topped with BBQ, beef on weck sandwiches (another Western New York classic), and Buffalo wing chicken steak. And yes, there鈥檚 even a Red Wings version of the Garbage Plate (see above) named 鈥渢he Home Plate.鈥�
Who knows, you might even catch a foul ball.
Beside the Genesee, literally
Experience the Genesee River Trail
The University鈥檚 River 人妻少妇专区 is named for the Genesee River that runs alongside it. Parallel to the waterway is the Genesee River Train, a 24-mile stretch that extends from the Erie Canal to Lake Ontario, through Rochester鈥檚 historic and cultural areas, and offers access to stunning waterfalls, parks, and landmarks.
The trail offers a scenic escape, whether you鈥檙e a walker, runner, cyclist, or nature enthusiast. It鈥檚 your path to fresh air, exercise, sightseeing, and the chance to decompress from your daily routine.
P.S. During very early mornings in the fall, you can often spot the Rochester Yellowjacket men鈥檚 crew and women鈥檚 rowing teams practicing.
Take a bough
Enjoy a midday nap in a hammock on the quad
It鈥檚 not always sunny in Rochester, but when it is, students flock to the Eastman Quadrangle to suntan, listen to music, or play frisbee and spikeball.
Find a beautiful oak tree (our campus is an accredited arboretum recognized by Tree 人妻少妇专区 USA), tie a hammock to a sturdy limb, and take a siesta between classes. It鈥檚 an ideal place to people-watch, make new friends, or convene your crew. Hammocks offer a break from dorm life and the chance to recharge physically and mentally.
Top spot
Tour the tower of iconic Rush Rhees Library
If you really want to see Rochester鈥攖he campus and the city鈥攈ead to the top of Rush Rhees Library. At 178 feet, it鈥檚 the tallest building on the River 人妻少妇专区 and can sometimes be spotted from the window seats of planes taking off and landing at the nearby airport.
Twice a year, during the annual Scare Fair around Halloween in the fall and in the days leading up to Commencement in the spring, Rochester students can ascend the library鈥檚 iconic tower. There, you鈥檒l get a spectacular 360-degree views of our signature skyline.
You鈥檒l want to snap and share a selfie, so don鈥檛 forget your phone.
Fun and games
Treat your inner child at the Strong National Museum of Play
Who wouldn鈥檛 want to visit the place where Mr. Potato Head, the Cabbage Patch Kids, and Care Bears reside?
Located in downtown Rochester, the is the only collections-based museum in the world devoted solely to the study and celebration of play. It houses more than half a million items鈥攄olls, board games, toys, video games, and more鈥攁nd is the home to the National Toy Hall of Fame, whose inductees include Barbie, Hot Wheels, Crayola Crayons, and the Hula Hoop.
Bonus: Earlier this year, the Strong Museum helped debut a new version of the classic board game Monopoly鈥攐ne that gives you the chance to land your token on the 人妻少妇专区, Medical Center, Eastman School of Music, and Memorial Art Gallery. (Don鈥檛 tell your opponents, but you might also draw a Community Chest card with a nod to the Laboratory for Laser Energetics.). A partnership between the City of Rochester and Monopoly, this special edition features plenty of local pride and hey-I鈥檝e-been-there landmarks.
Dinner and a show
Get medieval at the Boar鈥檚 Head Dinner
The hottest ticket in town during one of the coldest months on campus is for the annual Boar鈥檚 Head Dinner. A tradition for more than 90 years, the December gala is open to all University students. The event transforms a River 人妻少妇专区 space鈥攎ostly recently the Feldman Ballroom in Douglass Commons鈥攊nto a 16th-century English court.
There鈥檚 feasting, singing, juggling, and other merriments, all welcome diversions at the end of the fall semester. And yes, there鈥檚 even a boar鈥檚 head on display.
The medieval-themed menu traditionally consists of a five-course meal served family style, with guests seated at long tables. Many of Rochester鈥檚 premier performance and a cappella groups put on a show for the crowd throughout the evening and sing 鈥淔iggy Pudding鈥� as the desserts are wheeled out.
Spring fling
Ride the Ferris wheel during Dandelion Day
Dandelions鈥攖he official flower of the University鈥攕tart blooming in early spring. That鈥檚 about the time when Rochester students wrap up the semester, finish class projects, and take their finals. To mark the occasion, the University hosts the aptly named Dandelion Day, a Rochester springtime tradition that dates to 1951.
Each April, Wilson Quad transforms into an entertainment wonderland, complete with food trucks, Ferris wheels, carnival games, concerts, and more. Rain or shine, this signature event is a welcome diversion before everyone buckles down for exams.
Stock up
Discover the area grocery store with a devoted fanbase
It鈥檚 not often a grocery store inspires a cult-like following, but that鈥檚 just what Wegmans Food Markets has achieved. Annually ranked among the nation鈥檚 best companies and employers by outlets such as Fortune and Forbes, the franchise is known for its bevy of prepared foods, fresh ingredients, meals to go, and friendly staff.
Although there are more than 100 Wegmans stores in eight states, the headquarters is still located here in Rochester, New York. Not surprisingly, the hometown pride for the brand remains strong.
And did you know that we have a Wegmans on campus? Technically it鈥檚 Wegmans Hall, one of the newer academic buildings anchoring the Hajim Engineering Quad, but still!
Go, Jackets!
Cheer on your Yellowjackets听
With 23 varsity teams, from swimming to squash, the University offers athletics events for every season.
One of the main sports venues on campus is the outdoor, 5,000-seat Fauver Stadium. That鈥檚 where current New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll 鈥�97 honed his football skills. The other venue is the indoor Palestra, where the 1989鈥�90 NCAA Division III men鈥檚 basketball champion Yellowjackets played.
Music lovers will appreciate that the Palestra has, over the decades, also hosted an array of artists, including Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, Ray Charles, the Grateful Dead, the (Buffalo-based) Goo Goo Dolls, and Janelle听Mon谩e.
Swing time
Experience a modern-day Jazz Age
In town over the summer? Save the date for the annual Rochester International Jazz Festival.
For nine days each June, Gibbs Street in downtown Rochester鈥攚here you鈥檒l also find the University鈥檚 world-renowned 鈥攃hannels the blues sounds and jazz stylings of Bourbon Street. The University provides partnership-level support to the festival, one of the city鈥檚 and region鈥檚 most anticipated cultural events.
Hundreds of shows, an array of venues, and 200,000-plus attendees. Cue jazz hands!
Communications specialist Jim Mandelaro contributed reporting to this story.
