Christian Cieri – Illustrator
It’s easy to feel bored and isolated on campus when we’re bordered by the cemetery and the river. You may be unsure as to what to do off campus other than going to the Marketplace Mall or Regal or Cinemark.
But, if you know where to look, there are a lot of different things to do in the city. Here are few options:
1. George Eastman House
George Eastman is a well-known name on the UR campus and in the city. He contributed a lot to the field of photography and played a key role in establishing the Eastman School of Music and UR. At the time of his death, Eastman’s entire estate was bequeathed to the University, which was converted to a museum dedicated to photography.
It also houses his beautiful garden and the Dryden Theater, which shows the museum’s collection of films, as well as new foreign and independent films. Take a tour of the breathtakingly huge house and learn about the history of photography.
2. The National Museum of Play
This one is exactly what it sounds like: an entire museum dedicated solely to the study of play. This museum exhibits different kinds of toys and games for people of all ages to enjoy. The museum features interactive games such as a giant kaleidoscope and an exaggerated perspective room. It’s easy to get lost in the museum and spend an entire day doing all sorts of different games.
It also has different exhibits, including one established this year called the World Video Game Hall of Fame, which recognized electronic games–like arcade, console, computer and handheld–that made an impact in the video game world and society in general.
3. Geva Theater
Rochester has always been culturally forward, and one thing that contributes to that title is the Geva Theater.
Housed in downtown Rochester, this theater showcases plays by many different playwrights, including some originating from Rochester. The theater is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, buildings that are deemed worthy of preservation. This is a great place to dress up and enjoy theater for an evening.
4. Seabreeze Amusement Park
Now that spring is finally here, and the weather is beautiful, it’s a great time to enjoy a beautiful day out visiting Rochester’s own amusement park. The park has everything from roller coasters and thrill rides to calmer children’s and family rides. There is also a waterpark inside, with a variety of rides as well. The close proximity makes it easy for any student to jump in a cab and have a great day.
Fun fact: Seabreeze opened in 1879, making it the twelfth-oldest operating amusement park in the world (fourth in the U.S.). The Jack Rabbit, one of the rollercoasters in the park, is the fourth-oldest operating coaster in the world (second in the U.S.), and the oldest continuously running coaster in the world).
5. Little Theater
The Little Theater, colloquially known as the Little, is a local theater placed about a half mile from the Eastman School of Music. The theater is one of the oldest in the country and is dedicated to showing unique movies (ones that don’t play in biggertheaters, either for publicity or financial reasons, as well as foreign films and classics).
Some of the recent movies that are playing in the Little are “Whiplash,” “It Follows” and “Ringu.” Before viewing, the theater also has a little cafe that plays live music every night while you grab a cup of coffee.
6. Rock Climbing
Our neighboring college, RIT, hosts pretty fantastic rock climbing walls at Red Barn.
A day-pass and shoe rental costs just $9, and it’s open 5-10 p.m. weekdays, 1-10 p.m. Saturday and 1-6 p.m. Sundays, so it’s an easy way to spend a day with friends or let loose after a long day of school.
The walls vary in difficulty, with absolute beginner to expert mazes. So even if you’ve never been there before, it’s a great place to start!
Take advantage of all that Rochester has to offer, and spend time exploring all of the nooks of the city to find what you like.
Kanakam is a member of the class of 2017.
