Rochester

[Patrick!]

Does it count as an official part of WNY? Give reasons and stuff.

I personally love both Rochester and Buffalo and couldn't choose between the two. My family's an old South Buffalo clan, but the tech jobs were in Rochester, so my dad rebelled. Western New York, IMO, counts as Buffalo to the Syracuse/Utica area.

[wagoncircler]

No offense, but there's something about Rochester that's, well, I don't know....annoying.

I went to RIT and lived there again for a brief period of time a few years back.

I sensed a great resentment toward Buffalo.

I don't know if it's still this way, but I remember there being far more fans of other football teams than Bills fans. I actually think there were more Cowboys fans than Bills fans.

Just as we have our traditions and favorite foods and such in Buffalo, they have theirs in Rochester, but theirs all suck. :)

Garbage plates? I liked them much better when they weren't all the same. Now they're just spiced up slop.

Zweigels? Second rate imitation Sahlens.

Country Sweet wings? Blech.

And maybe it was my imagination, but the people of Rochester just seemed to lack the warmth of Buffalo people.

And as long as I'm on a roll, I have to say it. Rochester is so ugly, even their waterfall is dirty.

I don't know what it is. It's just an odd place.

[Billsman]

They don't call it Crapchester for nothing.

[The Philster]

As far as I'm concerned, it's right on the edge of Western NY...except during Bandits season in which case, it's enemy land

[coryjd]

Does it count as an official part of WNY? Give reasons and stuff.

I personally love both Rochester and Buffalo and couldn't choose between the two. My family's an old South Buffalo clan, but the tech jobs were in Rochester, so my dad rebelled. Western New York, IMO, counts as Buffalo to the Syracuse/Utica area.

Sorry man, but the Syracuse/Utica area is not WNY. But I know, that's just your opinion.

[coryjd]

See for yourself - both look to be pretty comparable when we're talking about what ACTUALLY matters...


http://www.city-data.com/city/Rochester-New-York.html

http://www.city-data.com/city/Buffalo-New-York.html

[sukie]

Sorry man, but the Syracuse/Utica area is not WNY. But I know, that's just your opinion.

Yeah that is UPSTATE.

[joeystrass]

Nope, WNY stops at and does not include Rochester. Seriously though that city sucks. I went to a concert at the Blue Cross Arena. I thought it would be a cool area we could go walk around the city a little get something to eat. NO. There is nothing in that city except for their "famous" Dinosaur BBQ. I went and asked a cop where i could go to eat and he responded: "either the Dionsaur BBQ, or the Zweigels hot dog cart across the street". WTF??? How do you have a city and not have anywhere to eat??? Needless to say i have not been back there since.

[Snarf]

Rochester can be a cool place. The Dinosaur is awesome. the Garbage plate is awesome, but I would suggest you get it elsewhere then Nick Tahoe's, just because the place is a dump. Bill Gray's which is from Rochester and has a place on Main near Transit is awesome. Rochester has a great baseball stadium with awesome food.

[The Philster]

Nope, WNY stops at and does not include Rochester. Seriously though that city sucks. I went to a concert at the Blue Cross Arena. I thought it would be a cool area we could go walk around the city a little get something to eat. NO. There is nothing in that city except for their "famous" Dinosaur BBQ. I went and asked a cop where i could go to eat and he responded: "either the Dionsaur BBQ, or the Zweigels hot dog cart across the street". WTF??? How do you have a city and not have anywhere to eat??? Needless to say i have not been back there since.Yeah...that kind of blew me away. I was there last spring for the Bandits-Knighthawks regular season game and we ate at Nathaniel's Pub...good eats but a long wait...and one of very few places around the Arena to eat. I realize Toronto and Buffalo are both larger cities, but you can't go hungry near their arenas...lots of choices of places to eat

[coryjd]

Nope, WNY stops at and does not include Rochester. Seriously though that city sucks. I went to a concert at the Blue Cross Arena. I thought it would be a cool area we could go walk around the city a little get something to eat. NO. There is nothing in that city except for their "famous" Dinosaur BBQ. I went and asked a cop where i could go to eat and he responded: "either the Dionsaur BBQ, or the Zweigels hot dog cart across the street". WTF??? How do you have a city and not have anywhere to eat??? Needless to say i have not been back there since.

Last I checked, there's only one place near HSBC that's within walking distance to eat, and that's Pearl Street Brewery.

So Rochester sucks because there's the same amount of restaurants within ear-shot of the arena, as there are in Buffalo??? Buwhahahhahaha!

[smashingt2312]

Sorry rochester you are not in wny.

[d1220]

Yeah that is UPSTATE.


Actually Syracuse/Rome/Utica is Central NY, or CNY as they call it. :D I grew up there.

[mark3274]

They don't call it Crapchester for nothing.

yea and without Rochester the pathetic bills would have been gone years ago.


Buffalo has nothing over Rochester. Buffalo is in a continual state of decay that it will never recover from. Rochester's Police dept is light years ahead of buffalo's.

Health care in Rochester is better by leaps and bounds over buffalo. We have plenty of RN's who drive all the way from uffalo to Strong to work because everyone of them says theres not a hospital in Buffalo they would want to work for let alone walk in.

[M76]

lol @ rochester.. its like tv with all the crime murders and such.. 1 place around hsbc to go to? really how about the cobble stone or the irish bar that opened up last year the irish times is also close.. buffalo never going to come back? what does rochester even have to come back to exactly? there is shit goin on in buffalo that proves to me it is coming back

[coryjd]

lol @ rochester.. its like tv with all the crime murders and such.. 1 place around hsbc to go to? really how about the cobble stone or the irish bar that opened up last year the irish times is also close.. buffalo never going to come back? what does rochester even have to come back to exactly? there is shit goin on in buffalo that proves to me it is coming back

Dude, you're full of shit man. Those places are just as far in walking distance as the rest of the restaurants near by Blue Cross. Did you actually try to walk anywhere...or did you just limp your ass across the street to the Dinosaur?????

Get a clue dude - you don't know what you're talking about when it comes to Rochester.

[coryjd]

yea and without Rochester the pathetic bills would have been gone years ago.


Buffalo has nothing over Rochester. Buffalo is in a continual state of decay that it will never recover from. Rochester's Police dept is light years ahead of buffalo's.

Health care in Rochester is better by leaps and bounds over buffalo. We have plenty of RN's who drive all the way from uffalo to Strong to work because everyone of them says theres not a hospital in Buffalo they would want to work for let alone walk in.

Great post man. What M76 has no freakin' clue about, is the fact that 45% of the Bills season ticket holders are from Rochester. Hmmm.....why can't 45% of those tickets be bought by Buffalo residents??????

[The Philster]

Last I checked, there's only one place near HSBC that's within walking distance to eat, and that's Pearl Street Brewery.

So Rochester sucks because there's the same amount of restaurants within ear-shot of the arena, as there are in Buffalo??? Buwhahahhahaha!
If that's the only place you saw, then you weren't paying attention. There's Cobblestone right near the Arena, there's a couple places right next to the ballpark, there's Washington Square not far away. There's a few more I've seen nearby as well. Except Washington Square, those places are all even closer to HSBC than Pearl Street. I'm not trashing Rochester (except that my buddy who lives in Rochester agrees that the number of restaurants around BCA are lacking) but damn...if you're gonna bash Buffalo for anything, stick to facts. Dishonesty only wins debates in politics

[phishhead220]

I'm from a suburb of Rochester and for people in Mass. that don't know where it is I just say Western NY

[M76]

i've never been to crapchester and hopefully never will be.. 45% rochester season ticket holders thats a fallacy i could make up shit to but i wont go back to rochester and never come here again and dont root for our PRO teams losser

[billsfan69]

Great post man. What M76 has no freakin' clue about, is the fact that 45% of the Bills season ticket holders are from Rochester. Hmmm.....why can't 45% of those tickets be bought by Buffalo residents??????


Prove your point. I doubt the number is that high.

[McD]

Not that it matters, but I always believed WNY starts in the Rochester vicinity and over to B-Lo. I've never hated on Roch with the exception of the Red Wings and the Knighthawks :D

Being Military, I get to meet peeps from all over, and it's cool to meet peeps from back home. That to me usually encompasses Roch natives...hell we do share the same region, and we can relate with each other. Funny that someone mentioned being from Roch and being a Cowboys fan. There's a girl here with me know from Roch and she IS a Cowboys fan.

Let me say this too....I truly believe that the Bills marketing into the Roch area has in fact kept their lifeline going. I don't know if they can survive without Roch and S. Ontario. That's just the way it is these days.

[shotgun]

rochester the city is shit buffalo downtown is better. buffalo is also in the water and it's gorgus in the summer.

[slowpokemcgee]

rochester the city is shit buffalo downtown is better. buffalo is also in the water and it's gorgus in the summer.

Those windmills on the waterfront are really quite stunning.

[FamousAmos]

Those windmills on the waterfront are really quite stunning.

Naw dude, the windmills are in Lackawanna.

[Billsman]

Crapchester will always be Buffalos bitch.

[unklechucky]

For all of those defending Rochester...name somthing you definately pwn us on. The Hospital theory is a fallacy. Theres plenty of good hospitals around here.

[wagoncircler]

Health care in Rochester is better by leaps and bounds over buffalo. We have plenty of RN's who drive all the way from uffalo to Strong to work because everyone of them says theres not a hospital in Buffalo they would want to work for let alone walk in.

ROFL!!

What are you, an Octogenarian? Health care?

Do you do shots of prune juice on Saturday nights?

Vegas has casinos, NYC has culture, Miami has beaches and clubs...Rochester has HOSPITALS!

Party on, Rockheads!

[buffjills]

What's the difference? It's like comparing two pieces of sh*t...


Crapchester: "Hey, mine has corn it's the best" (http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bplive/2007/snapshots/PL3663000.html)

Buttfalo: "No way! Peanuts are better" (http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bplive/2007/snapshots/PL3611000.html)

(links to best places to live write-ups)

The only valid argument I can come up with is Buffalo has the Bills.

[wagoncircler]

What's the difference? It's like comparing two pieces of sh*t...


Crapchester: "Hey, mine has corn it's the best" (http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bplive/2007/snapshots/PL3663000.html)

Buttfalo: "No way! Peanuts are better" (http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bplive/2007/snapshots/PL3611000.html)

(links to best places to live write-ups)

The only valid argument I can come up with is Buffalo has the Bills.

And the Sabres. And one of the wonders of the world 10 minutes away. And great food every ten yards away.

And the fact that it lacks the miserable sacks of shit who live in Rottenchester is a huge plus.

[buffjills]

And the Sabres. And one of the wonders of the world 10 minutes away. And great food every ten yards away.

And the fact that it lacks the miserable sacks of shit who live in Rottenchester is a huge plus.

You attribute your cheery disposition to Buffalo?

[coryjd]

And the Sabres. And one of the wonders of the world 10 minutes away. And great food every ten yards away.

And the fact that it lacks the miserable sacks of shit who live in Rottenchester is a huge plus.

Yeah - one of the 7 wonders of the world, that nobody stays in Buffalo to see, they just keep going to Canada to get a better view. This video (the clip for Niagra Falls) wasn't even shot in America, FOR American tourism, it was shot in Canada...

http://discoveramerica.com/#Top

Bunk argument dude.

Buffalo is a great city, yes - but this has really turned into a stupid-ass thread, away from the point.

[phishhead220]

Honestly I don't understand any of the hatred for Rochester. I spent most of my life growing up there (well technically the suburbs of Rochester). It's nothing special but it's a city that loves its minor league sports. Support of the Red Wings, Amerks, Razorsharks, Rhinos, as well as the major league lacrosse teams is fantastic.

The downtown areas has its issues in some parts, but the bars and clubs around East Ave are a pretty good time. There is also the good area of arts with the Eastman school and the city hosts a wicked good Jazz Fest.

As for food, garbage plates and Dinosaur BBQ are some of my favorites.

I like Buffalo too, I've never lived there, but the Sabres and Bills are my teams by way of my Dad who was born there. I just don't understand the hatred for Rochester and I figured I'd state some points.

Oh and Wegmans is the greatest store ever

[FamousAmos]

Buffalo has Roswell Cancer institute. It has saved both of my parent's lives.

Nuff said! Buffalo pwns

[Scary Good]

No it's not WNY.
And now, without the Amerks being the farm team, Rochester is now as meaningful to me as Dallas, Tx.

[buffjills]

No it's not WNY.


is too...

http://www.westernny.com/regions.html

I still don't understand why that's something to brag about.

And now, without the Amerks being the farm team, Rochester is now as meaningful to me as Dallas, Tx.

How a Bills\Sabres fan could compare Rochester to a place that generated 3 championship loses for Buffalo is beyond me.

[wagoncircler]

Honestly I don't understand any of the hatred for Rochester

Rochester isn't important enough to hate.

Pity is closer to the truth.

[mshafer71]

Yeah...that kind of blew me away. I was there last spring for the Bandits-Knighthawks regular season game and we ate at Nathaniel's Pub...good eats but a long wait...and one of very few places around the Arena to eat. I realize Toronto and Buffalo are both larger cities, but you can't go hungry near their arenas...lots of choices of places to eat

Um....that sounds exactly like downtown Buffalo...especially around the arena...the only thing in walking distance is Pearl Street...although a few bars have opened in the Cobblestone....still next to nothing...why Pick on Rochacha?...both cities are alike and both are down on their luck.

[The Philster]

Um....that sounds exactly like downtown Buffalo...especially around the arena...the only thing in walking distance is Pearl Street...although a few bars have opened in the Cobblestone....still next to nothing...why Pick on Rochacha?...both cities are alike and both are down on their luck.

how much time have you spent near the Arena? I'm not saying there's a dozen or more places near there, but Washington Square is only a little bit further away than Pearl Street...there's a restaurant right next to Dunn Tire park and there at least used to be one right across the street from that one. I've also seen a bar that's basically right on Main just a bit closer to the Arena than Washington Square

[pcnorth22]

Rochester is part of WNY...and the cities are pretty similar...

but I really don't like Rochester all that much...I can't even pinpoint why...

its probably some hidden jealousy with the wealth of the suburbs in Rochester, Strong memorial, U of R....

maybe jealousy, maybe ire...not sure....

I prefer my public universities and my blue-collar suburbs...

[coryjd]

Rochester is part of WNY...and the cities are pretty similar...

but I really don't like Rochester all that much...I can't even pinpoint why...

its probably some hidden jealousy with the wealth of the suburbs in Rochester, Strong memorial, U of R....

maybe jealousy, maybe ire...not sure....

I prefer my public universities and my blue-collar suburbs...

PC - you've hit it on the head. Instead of penis envy, I think the Rochester-haters have wealth envy.

[pcnorth22]

PC - you've hit it on the head. Instead of penis envy, I think the Rochester-haters have wealth envy.

I think its wealth-envy, but carrying that further, Rochester's relative wealth makes it seems bland and antiseptic...

there is no Allentown grunge, and the art/music scene is not as prominent...

[phishhead220]

I think its wealth-envy, but carrying that further, Rochester's relative wealth makes it seems bland and antiseptic...

there is no Allentown grunge, and the art/music scene is not as prominent...

the art/music scene is pretty good. The Eastman School of Music is regarded as one of the best around. Rochester hosts one of the best Jazz festivals in the country.

Waterstreet draws a good number of shows to it downtown.

There is an art museum but it is nothing compared to the Albright Knox one in Buffalo

[TonyT]

I grew up in North Tonawanda, but I moved to Rochester 1982 to work for Kodak, at the time Rochester was great plenty of really good jobs that Buffalo never had, in fact I worked for Penwald Lucidol for couple of months before Kodak called in 1982 , I started at $10,000 as a Chem Tech -but Kodak doubled my salery right off the bat. Rochester is beautiful it's best parts are not as great as Buffalo's but it's worst parts are no where near as bad as Buffalo's, so there are good and bad parts to both cities , and since Buffalo's population is down to 280,000 ?? and Rochester's 210,000?? we're not that far apart, I do miss being able to easily goto Sabres and Bills' games , I've never really got into the minor league sports here but going to a Redwings game is well worth the exepierence, great food and fire works, traffic isn't a big deal and there still are good jobs to be had here that Buffalo still doesn't offer , Rochester is a White Collar town alot of entrepenuers and small businesses , our county taxes are lower than Erie and Niagara Counties, quality of life is good.

[joeystrass]

Yeah - one of the 7 wonders of the world, that nobody stays in Buffalo to see, they just keep going to Canada to get a better view. This video (the clip for Niagra Falls) wasn't even shot in America, FOR American tourism, it was shot in Canada...

http://discoveramerica.com/#Top

Bunk argument dude.

Buffalo is a great city, yes - but this has really turned into a stupid-ass thread, away from the point.

yeah, do you think they are going to show people in Canada for an American tourisim video? Of course they shot it from Canada. If you are going to take pictures of New York City do you take them from in the city (where everything is too close and big to really grasp), or do you take them from New Jersey where you can see the entire city and scale of the area? I would take the latter. I think thats the point of the video, plus why would you want to show people how much better the Candian side is? That wouldn't be very effective marketing.

[coryjd]

yeah, do you think they are going to show people in Canada for an American tourisim video? Of course they shot it from Canada. If you are going to take pictures of New York City do you take them from in the city (where everything is too close and big to really grasp), or do you take them from New Jersey where you can see the entire city and scale of the area? I would take the latter. I think thats the point of the video, plus why would you want to show people how much better the Candian side is? That wouldn't be very effective marketing.

lol

They're not showing people how much better the Canadian side is. In fact, the Buffalo News even did an article, questioning as to why this was shot in Canada, if it's a film about American tourism.

Your own paper dude, said it was bunk to be shot in Canada.

[mshafer71]

how much time have you spent near the Arena? I'm not saying there's a dozen or more places near there, but Washington Square is only a little bit further away than Pearl Street...there's a restaurant right next to Dunn Tire park and there at least used to be one right across the street from that one. I've also seen a bar that's basically right on Main just a bit closer to the Arena than Washington Square

I spend enough time to know that there isnt much in downtown...shit, I live in the B'lo....my point was more directed at the put downs toward Rochacha....both cities are down on their luck so why lambaste the other?

[coryjd]

This pretty much helps sum up the comparison of Buffalo to Rochester. :)

http://www.menshealth.com/debt/

The lower the number, the better the city is.

Rochester - 31

Buffalo - 71

[mshafer71]

how much time have you spent near the Arena? I'm not saying there's a dozen or more places near there, but Washington Square is only a little bit further away than Pearl Street...there's a restaurant right next to Dunn Tire park and there at least used to be one right across the street from that one. I've also seen a bar that's basically right on Main just a bit closer to the Arena than Washington Square

Washington Square????...that's 8-10 blocks from the arena!...I live in the B'lo so I know exactly what it's like....

[Newman]

Well can you all agree with me in saying both cities are better than Syracuse?

[Buffal0B1LLs_fan]

For all of those defending Rochester...name somthing you definately pwn us on.

House of Guitars

[The Philster]

Washington Square????...that's 8-10 blocks from the arena!...I live in the B'lo so I know exactly what it's like....
it's closer than Pearl Street, actually...driving wise.... 3/10 of a mile to Washington Square and 6/10 to Pearl Street. Obviously walking distance is a bit different but it sure as hell ain't a long distance from the Arena...I've walked to and from both places and I have some friends who've done the same who aren't in great shape and they can handle the walk as well. It's not like it's up on Chippewa...it's still walking distance

[biggbrd27]

No offense, but there's something about Rochester that's, well, I don't know....annoying.

I went to RIT and lived there again for a brief period of time a few years back.

I sensed a great resentment toward Buffalo.

I don't know if it's still this way, but I remember there being far more fans of other football teams than Bills fans. I actually think there were more Cowboys fans than Bills fans.

Just as we have our traditions and favorite foods and such in Buffalo, they have theirs in Rochester, but theirs all suck. :)

Garbage plates? I liked them much better when they weren't all the same. Now they're just spiced up slop.

Zweigels? Second rate imitation Sahlens.

Country Sweet wings? Blech.

And maybe it was my imagination, but the people of Rochester just seemed to lack the warmth of Buffalo people.

And as long as I'm on a roll, I have to say it. Rochester is so ugly, even their waterfall is dirty.

I don't know what it is. It's just an odd place.

Grew up there and lived there for over 30+ years. Went to Fisher, RIT & SU for various degrees. There was a book written about Rochester in the 50s called "Smugtown USA". Because of all the Kodak and Xerox execs Rochester was always high-tech and white-collar. And very affluent. Whole different feeling from Buffalo. The Industrial crash of the 70s & 80s passed Rochester by. Their high-tech base prevailed and Rochester sailed smugly along, watching Buffalo's industry die from a comfortable distance. However, the digital age has not been so kind. It just took Rochester longer to go into the toilet and become an official member of the Rust Belt. BTW, the Lakeshore in Rochester is incredibly nicer than Buffalo's. No industry, basically suburban. Lived on Lake Ontario for many years, and is the one thing we really miss about Rochester. We also miss being close to family, but that goes when you relocate to anywhere, even a place as close to Rochester as Amherst. Realistically, the burbs of both places are joining in the middle near Batavia. Growing up in the 50s & 60s, the cities were seperated by a lot of open nothing, not any more...

BTW, the waterfalls look dirty because the Genesee has a lot of silt in from the all the farmlands it passes through to the South. If you live near River mouth on the Lake or go to a beach near it, there are huge sand bars way out into the Lake becasue of all that silt. It's not really dirty, just looks that way. Plus, think of that brown water next time you are having a Genny....

As for regional, institutionalized pettiness, the Catholic High Schools have been part of all the Section V playoffs and leagues since 1974. The arrogant HS athletic fiefdom potentates here could learn a lot from Section V Athletics.

[biggbrd27]

Well can you all agree with me in saying both cities are better than Syracuse?

I would agree except for two words: Tipperary Hill!!! Other than that, Syracuse is not a pleasant place to spend a winter.

[wagoncircler]

Grew up there and lived there for over 30+ years. Went to Fisher, RIT & SU for various degrees. There was a book written about Rochester in the 50s called "Smugtown USA". Because of all the Kodak and Xerox execs Rochester was always high-tech and white-collar. And very affluent. Whole different feeling from Buffalo. The Industrial crash of the 70s & 80s passed Rochester by. Their high-tech base prevailed and Rochester sailed smugly along, watching Buffalo's industry die from a comfortable distance. However, the digital age has not been so kind. It just took Rochester longer to go into the toilet and become an official member of the Rust Belt. BTW, the Lakeshore in Rochester is incredibly nicer than Buffalo's. No industry, basically suburban. Lived on Lake Ontario for many years, and is the one thing we really miss about Rochester. We also miss being close to family, but that goes when you relocate to anywhere, even a place as close to Rochester as Amherst. Realistically, the burbs of both places are joining in the middle near Batavia. Growing up in the 50s & 60s, the cities were seperated by a lot of open nothing, not any more...

BTW, the waterfalls look dirty because the Genesee has a lot of silt in from the all the farmlands it passes through to the South. If you live near River mouth on the Lake or go to a beach near it, there are huge sand bars way out into the Lake becasue of all that silt. It's not really dirty, just looks that way. Plus, think of that brown water next time you are having a Genny....

As for regional, institutionalized pettiness, the Catholic High Schools have been part of all the Section V playoffs and leagues since 1974. The arrogant HS athletic fiefdom potentates here could learn a lot from Section V Athletics.


Thank you. You simultaneously confirmed and explained 90% of what I posted/observed about Rochester.

It's a creepy place, and I really dislike it.

Nothing worse than arrogance in a shithole.

I don't even like driving by Rochester.

I wish we could just give it to Canada.

[nATEFan22]

I really feel like the utica/syracuse area should be considered part of WNY... I live closer to NYC and I think where I live now is CNY(my own dumb opinion).

[Dockwalliper]

I never used to consider Roch. as part of WNY but the Empire State Games and regionalization of the Bills and Sabres has changed that. The world is shrinking.

I have 2 questions....
Why did this thread turn into what city is better?

Is Olean part of WNY?

[Dockwalliper]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/85/Map_of_New_York_highlighting_ESG_Regions.PNG

The Western region covers Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara, Ontario, Orleans, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne, Wyoming, and Yates counties, including the cities of Buffalo, Corning, Niagara Falls, and Rochester.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empire_State_Games

[UBER PWNAGE]

Why did this thread turn into what city is better?



I don't know but it's starting to resemble two fats girls arguing about whose fatter.

[BillyT92679]

I think its wealth-envy, but carrying that further, Rochester's relative wealth makes it seems bland and antiseptic...

there is no Allentown grunge, and the art/music scene is not as prominent...

I've lived in both. Hell, I was born in the Syracuse metro area, lived for a while in the Utica-Rome metro area (neither of which are WNY-growing up there it really is Central NY, CNY has a combination feel of WNY and the Capital District and even blue-collar burbs of downstate). I went to undergrad at St. John Fisher and lived from 1997-2006 in East Rochester and Farmington. I moved here for grad school two years ago and, before, would come up to Buffalo-Niagara all the time to visit friends.

Rochester is a hybrid place... Sabres are popular, SU basketball moreso, but neither are as popular as with the fanbase in the originating cities. Bills are the most popular team, but you will find more Dolphins' fans there than anywhere outside of S. Florida. Rochesterians root hard for their minor league team, sort of amazingly so (one could argue that, proportionally, they support minor leagues more than Buffalo or Syracuse supports their major teams), and really support Buffalo and Syracuse's teams, yet also hate Buffalo and Syracuse very much.

Rochester is an old money town from the days of Kodax, Xerox, and B and L. It's very different from the rest of Upstate, other than Albany perhaps (since Albany's primary industry was government instead of heavy industry). Culturally Rochester feels like a midwestern town. It's Catholic, but not demonstrably so, like Buffalo/Syracuse/Utica. It's ethnic with Poles, Italians, and Ukrainians, but the area certainly does not have the feel of South Buffalo, the East Side, or Hertel (to say nothing of Tipperary Hill, East Syracuse, or other parts of the Salt City). The antiseptic comment is apt. Rochester feels blandly homogenized. Wonder bread so to speak... a great mass of WASPY folks.
Yet certainly it has its definitive strengths over Buffalo and Syracuse. The suburbs are stunning, much nicer than anything in the Buffalo or Syracuse areas, and I include Spaulding Lake or East Aurora here, or Fayetteville in Syracuse. Ontario County is gorgeous. However, the city of Rochester feels oddly derelict, in a way that even Buffalo or Syracuse doesn't. Alexander St is wonderful, but the other entertainment strips in Rochester totally suck (though Monroe Ave really is much like Allentown, even grungier if that is possible). Buffalo feels hip to live in, and downtown Syracuse is right next to SU. Rochester, other than the very specific Park Ave neighborhood, feels like a place you don't want to be. And if the East Side here s bad, don't ever go to Avenue D or Clifford Ave in the Flower City.

Rochester, unlike Buffalo or Syracuse, actually acts on its plans, but the plans (such as High Falls or the Fast Ferry) tend to be disastrous.

[wagoncircler]

I've lived in both. Hell, I was born in the Syracuse metro area, lived for a while in the Utica-Rome metro area (neither of which are WNY-growing up there it really is Central NY, CNY has a combination feel of WNY and the Capital District and even blue-collar burbs of downstate). I went to undergrad at St. John Fisher and lived from 1997-2006 in East Rochester and Farmington. I moved here for grad school two years ago and, before, would come up to Buffalo-Niagara all the time to visit friends.

Rochester is a hybrid place... Sabres are popular, SU basketball moreso, but neither are as popular as with the fanbase in the originating cities. Bills are the most popular team, but you will find more Dolphins' fans there than anywhere outside of S. Florida. Rochesterians root hard for their minor league team, sort of amazingly so (one could argue that, proportionally, they support minor leagues more than Buffalo or Syracuse supports their major teams), and really support Buffalo and Syracuse's teams, yet also hate Buffalo and Syracuse very much.

Rochester is an old money town from the days of Kodax, Xerox, and B and L. It's very different from the rest of Upstate, other than Albany perhaps (since Albany's primary industry was government instead of heavy industry). Culturally Rochester feels like a midwestern town. It's Catholic, but not demonstrably so, like Buffalo/Syracuse/Utica. It's ethnic with Poles, Italians, and Ukrainians, but the area certainly does not have the feel of South Buffalo, the East Side, or Hertel (to say nothing of Tipperary Hill, East Syracuse, or other parts of the Salt City). The antiseptic comment is apt. Rochester feels blandly homogenized. Wonder bread so to speak... a great mass of WASPY folks.
Yet certainly it has its definitive strengths over Buffalo and Syracuse. The suburbs are stunning, much nicer than anything in the Buffalo or Syracuse areas, and I include Spaulding Lake or East Aurora here, or Fayetteville in Syracuse. Ontario County is gorgeous. However, the city of Rochester feels oddly derelict, in a way that even Buffalo or Syracuse doesn't. Alexander St is wonderful, but the other entertainment strips in Rochester totally suck (though Monroe Ave really is much like Allentown, even grungier if that is possible). Buffalo feels hip to live in, and downtown Syracuse is right next to SU. Rochester, other than the very specific Park Ave neighborhood, feels like a place you don't want to be. And if the East Side here s bad, don't ever go to Avenue D or Clifford Ave in the Flower City.

Rochester, unlike Buffalo or Syracuse, actually acts on its plans, but the plans (such as High Falls or the Fast Ferry) tend to be disastrous.

Very nice post. Well reasoned.

I went to RIT, and worked in the nightclub business in Rochester in the 80s. I used to think that I was imagining the hatred that Rochesterians (aka "douchebags") have for Buffalo, but the more I talk to people who have lived in both cities, the more I find that it's not my imagination.

I lived in Chicago for ten years, and found it, other than the obvious size of the city and attendant money and opportunity, almost indistinguishable from Buffalo.

When I say this, I mean that the people of Chicago, their relative attitude and friendliness, even their accent (or lack thereof, depending on your perspective), and their work ethic, their sense of family and neighborhood, almost every measurable or perceptible quality, are strikingly similar to people from Buffalo.

I have always attributed it to a couple factors. One being a relative predominance of Catholic education, another, related in many ways, the large groups of descendants of Irish, Italian and Polish immigrants.

A third, perhaps more telling, is a sort of built-in inferiority complex, ironically, stemming from being second to NYC. For us, it's second in the state, for them, at least for most of the 20th Century, second in the country.

Buffalonians and Chicagoans share an appreciation for the underdog, and a striking disdain for arrogance.

I could never understand how it was that Rochester could be so close in proximity to Buffalo, yet so different in the character of its people.

Do you really think Alexander St. is all that special? I'm not trying to be a jerk about this, but I know quite a bit about those operations, and I'm profoundly underwhelmed.

I'm not particularly impressed by Chippewa St. either, for what it's worth, and I'm friends with the people who own 80% of the bars, and enemies with the guy who owns the other 20%. But I digress.

All in all, the differences make for a pretty fascinating conversation.

Might even be a good doctoral thesis for someone studying sociology or political science.

[BillyT92679]

Here is something fascinating
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inland_Northern_American_English

We speak the same dialect from around Utica to Chicago.

[BillyT92679]

I like certain bars on Alexander St. The Old Toad is fantastic, as is Monty's Korner.

[billsfan69]

Here is something fascinating
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inland_Northern_American_English

We speak the same dialect from around Utica to Chicago.

That is true also. My company has a branches in Chicago and South Bend and when any of their employees came to help us out, their dialect was no different than ours.

[The Philster]

I'm not one for bashing other cities all that much...but when an Arena doesn't allow cameras without special permission, isn't that rather second-rate? You need special permission to take a camera into the BCA...pathetic

[wagoncircler]

Here is something fascinating
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inland_Northern_American_English

We speak the same dialect from around Utica to Chicago.

Lol! That's great.

I had no idea what they were talking about for about half the article, but most of it was dead-on.

When I lived in Chicago for eight years, no one ever asked me where I was from. We sound almost exactly alike. There's a very subtle difference, but it's almost indistinguishable.

[ICRockets]

Rochester's certainly not a world-class city, but we're at least on par with Buffalo.

While you have more major league teams, the teams that Rochester has are rabidly supported by our residents. We also rabidly support the Bills and Sabres (ESPECIALLY the Sabres), as well as the Syracuse Orange.

I'd argue that our music scene is much better than Buffalo's, but I'm referring to classical and jazz, so those who care more about the indie bands and such would probably disagree. Hell, Rochester doesn't have a Goo Goo Dolls, so outside of classical and jazz, you probably win.

As far as food, it's really more of a wash than you'd like to admit. We have garbage plates, Bill Gray's, Dinosaur BBQ...you have buffalo wings. While the wings are certainly the best of all of those, it's a 3-on-1 advantage for rochester, and the wings are popular enough that you can get them anywhere, so they're really less regional than the things that Rochester has that are unique (though there's also a Dino BBQ in Syracuse).

And for the knockout punch, Wegmans is at least 25 times better than Tops.

I certainly don't mean to diss Buffalo, but I gotta stick up for my city. :)

[slowpokemcgee]

I'm not one for bashing other cities all that much...but when an Arena doesn't allow cameras without special permission, isn't that rather second-rate? You need special permission to take a camera into the BCA...pathetic

:rofl: You're calling a city 2nd-rate because they won't let you bring your camera into Blue Cross?

[Bills-RHRN]

c'mon people, we really have too much in common to be pinpointing the areas where we differ.

I'm from Oswego Ny, I lived in Syracuse for 2 years,
Phoenix AZ for two years, and now Rochester for the past 11.... I am proud to be a new yorker, period. I root for the Cuse, Bills, and Sabres as if they were my own home town teams, hell they pretty much are. I make it to each of the citys to see a few games from each team every season. I root for the Amerks and Redwings, and despise the Crunch, Chiefs, and Bisons, but that's only because we have our own teams in Rochester and there is such a "friendly" rivalry between the other citys.

Instead of focusing on how we are different, and why one is better than the other, shouldn't we be focusing on how alike we are, and trying to find reasons to support one another?? There is strength in unity.

I love Rochester, Syracuse, and Buffalo!

Go NEW YORK!

(as for the purpose of this thread, i voted Yes, Rochester is definately part of WNY, as indicated by the map posted by Dockwalliper in post #53)

[wagoncircler]

I'd argue that our music scene is much better than Buffalo's, but I'm referring to classical and jazz, so those who care more about the indie bands and such would probably disagree. Hell, Rochester doesn't have a Goo Goo Dolls, so outside of classical and jazz, you probably win.

As far as food, it's really more of a wash than you'd like to admit. We have garbage plates, Bill Gray's, Dinosaur BBQ...you have buffalo wings. While the wings are certainly the best of all of those, it's a 3-on-1 advantage for rochester, and the wings are popular enough that you can get them anywhere, so they're really less regional than the things that Rochester has that are unique (though there's also a Dino BBQ in Syracuse).

And for the knockout punch, Wegmans is at least 25 times better than Tops.

I certainly don't mean to diss Buffalo, but I gotta stick up for my city. :)

WTF? You can't claim Dinosaur BBQ for Rochester any more than Buffalo can claim Kentucky Fried Chicken. Dinosaur is from Syracuse, they don't just "have one."

If you're going on the basis of "having one", then you can remove Wegman's from your list.

And seriously, a garbage plate is really just an aptly named pile of shit.

Bill Gray's? Riiight.

As for your Jazz scene, I hope you're not claiming an advantage because Chuck Mangione is from there. He's the Kenny G of the Seventies. And he's easily matched by Spyro Gyra and/or Grover Washington Jr. or Bobby Militello.

For Pop music, we also have Rick James, Ani DiFranco and Brian McKnight.

Athletes? In 2007, the first overall picks in the NBA and the NHL were Buffalo natives. (Greg Oden, Pat Kane.)

One current and one future Sabre are from Buffalo, Kaleta and Kennedy.

Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Warren Spahn and future HOFer Orel Hershiser are from Buffalo.

Any Rochesterians ever play for Rochester's non-Minor league franchises? Oooops, you don't have any of those.

Harvey Weinstein, founder of Mirimax in Hollywood, got his start in the Buffalo bar business.

Two US Presidents have come from Buffalo.

Beyond George Eastman, all you have is a bunch of arrogant Garbage Plate eaters.

[wolfpack]

No offense, but there's something about Rochester that's, well, I don't know....annoying.

I went to RIT and lived there again for a brief period of time a few years back.

I sensed a great resentment toward Buffalo.

I don't know if it's still this way, but I remember there being far more fans of other football teams than Bills fans. I actually think there were more Cowboys fans than Bills fans.

Just as we have our traditions and favorite foods and such in Buffalo, they have theirs in Rochester, but theirs all suck. :)

Garbage plates? I liked them much better when they weren't all the same. Now they're just spiced up slop.

Zweigels? Second rate imitation Sahlens.

Country Sweet wings? Blech.

And maybe it was my imagination, but the people of Rochester just seemed to lack the warmth of Buffalo people.

And as long as I'm on a roll, I have to say it. Rochester is so ugly, even their waterfall is dirty.

I don't know what it is. It's just an odd place.

Could not of said it better myself. I lived in Rotenchester from '88-'91 and defended Buffalo, the Bills and Sabres as much as I have to down her in Raleigh. Don't forget about the pizza, yuck! Then again my cousin born and raised in Buffalo lives in Rochester and swears he will never go back.

[JEvans14]

Hey the Knighthawks won the NLL last year right?

[ICRockets]

WTF? You can't claim Dinosaur BBQ for Rochester any more than Buffalo can claim Kentucky Fried Chicken. Dinosaur is from Syracuse, they don't just "have one."

If you're going on the basis of "having one", then you can remove Wegman's from your list.

And seriously, a garbage plate is really just an aptly named pile of shit.

Bill Gray's? Riiight.

As for your Jazz scene, I hope you're not claiming an advantage because Chuck Mangione is from there. He's the Kenny G of the Seventies. And he's easily matched by Spyro Gyra and/or Grover Washington Jr. or Bobby Militello.

For Pop music, we also have Rick James, Ani DiFranco and Brian McKnight.

Athletes? In 2007, the first overall picks in the NBA and the NHL were Buffalo natives. (Greg Oden, Pat Kane.)

One current and one future Sabre are from Buffalo, Kaleta and Kennedy.

Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Warren Spahn and future HOFer Orel Hershiser are from Buffalo.

Any Rochesterians ever play for Rochester's non-Minor league franchises? Oooops, you don't have any of those.

Harvey Weinstein, founder of Mirimax in Hollywood, got his start in the Buffalo bar business.

Two US Presidents have come from Buffalo.

Beyond George Eastman, all you have is a bunch of arrogant Garbage Plate eaters.

I wish I understood how it's possible for somebody to have such an intense grudge against an entire city when he likely met at most 10% of it. You want to talk about arrogance, what about the arrogance of believing you know all you need to bother to know about us to make such an absurd statement that "all" of Rochester is made of arrogant douchebags. Have I met some? You ****ing bet I have. But to believe the entire city is similar to those bad eggs is fallacious to the nth degree.

For the record, I gave you pop music in my post with no dispute. Other posters have granted Dino BBQ as a plus for Rochester over Buffalo, so if you just now on the 3rd page have a problem with it, I don't know what to tell you. I give Rochester the edge because the Rochester Jazz Fest is known worldwide and gets increasingly better cred as one of the best Jazz Festivals every year.

If we're being fair, though (clearly you're not, but I feel like it because I have absolutely nothing against Buffalo), I did forget to give Buffalo Mighty Taco in the food category. That narrows the gap quite a bit, but I really still need to give Rochester the edge overall there.

[BuffaloSoldier2]

WTF? You can't claim Dinosaur BBQ for Rochester any more than Buffalo can claim Kentucky Fried Chicken. Dinosaur is from Syracuse, they don't just "have one."

If you're going on the basis of "having one", then you can remove Wegman's from your list.

And seriously, a garbage plate is really just an aptly named pile of shit.

Bill Gray's? Riiight.

As for your Jazz scene, I hope you're not claiming an advantage because Chuck Mangione is from there. He's the Kenny G of the Seventies. And he's easily matched by Spyro Gyra and/or Grover Washington Jr. or Bobby Militello.

For Pop music, we also have Rick James, Ani DiFranco and Brian McKnight.

Athletes? In 2007, the first overall picks in the NBA and the NHL were Buffalo natives. (Greg Oden, Pat Kane.)

One current and one future Sabre are from Buffalo, Kaleta and Kennedy.

Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Warren Spahn and future HOFer Orel Hershiser are from Buffalo.

Any Rochesterians ever play for Rochester's non-Minor league franchises? Oooops, you don't have any of those.

Harvey Weinstein, founder of Mirimax in Hollywood, got his start in the Buffalo bar business.

Two US Presidents have come from Buffalo.

Beyond George Eastman, all you have is a bunch of arrogant Garbage Plate eaters.

Wow, you hate Rochester almost as much as you hate Trent Edwards. :glassesslip:

I'm from North Buffalo and went to UR. And while I was there, I hated the city. It just reminded me of a less fun Buffalo. The bars weren't as good in my opinion. The food (especially the pizza) sucked in comparison. And all they had was minor league sports

Now, however, some of my best friends live in Rochester. And since it's only an hour away, I go up there all the time and have a great time. Then my boys come to Buffalo.

So while I'm gonna say either of these areas of the best, if you combine the cities, it makes for a pretty good time. So Rochester is definitely a big part of WNY. This past summer I was able to hit Thursdays in the Square (best Thursday spent in the entire country); Ten UglyMen fest in Rochester (great time); Park Ave Fest (you get so drunk you punch cops like Hargrove); and then weekends at Mickey Rats. It makes for a hell of a summer.

Though UR absolutely bitchslaps any Buffalo school academically. :glassesslip:

[The Philster]

:rofl: You're calling a city 2nd-rate because they won't let you bring your camera into Blue Cross?
I'm not saying the whole city...but that's kinda pathetic that you can't take cameras to a sporting event in Rochester without getting permission from the team (a team you can't even find contact info for on their website)

[UBER PWNAGE]

Beyond George Eastman, all you have is a bunch of arrogant Garbage Plate eaters.

Not trying to get in a pissing contest or an arguement over who/ how many came from where, but George Eastman isn't the only notable name from Rochester, NY. And I'll admit there's some here I never personally heard of, but there are also some fairly big names as well


* Martin Brewer Anderson (first president of University of Rochester)
* Susan B. Anthony (suffragist)
* Johnny Antonelli (baseball player)
* Philip Barry (playwright)
* Eric Bauman (founder of eBaum's World)
* John Jacob Bausch (co-founder of Bausch & Lomb)
* Tyson Beckford (model)
* Kenneth Bianchi (One of the Hillside Stranglers)
* Boris Bittker (legal academic)
* Douglas Brei (sports historian)
* Antoinette Brown Blackwell (first female minister in the United States)
* Bernie Boland (baseball player)
* Angelo Buono, Jr. (One of the Hillside Stranglers)
* Foster Brooks (Comedian)
* William Seward Burroughs I
* Ryan Callahan (NHL player)
* Cab Calloway (singer/bandleader)
* Francis Pharcellus Church
* Julie Lynn Cialini (model and actress)
* David Diamond (composer)
* Taye Diggs (actor)
* Frederick Douglass (abolitionist, born in Maryland, long-time Rochester resident, interred in Rochester's Mt. Hope Cemetery)
* Pete Duel (actor)
* Duke Jupiter (late 70's/early 80's rock band, hit song "I'll Drink To You")
* George Eastman (Kodak founder, philanthropist)
* Garth Fagan (Choreographer, native of Jamaica and long-time Rochester resident)
* Rory Fitzpatrick (NHL player)
* Renée Fleming (Opera singer born in Pennsylvania but raised in Rochester)
* Robert Forster (actor)
* Kate, Leah, and Margaret Fox (early Spiritualists)
* Steve Gadd (jazz drummer)
* Frank Gannett (founder of Gannett Newspapers, presidential candidate)
* Teddy Geiger (musician/actor)
* Brian Gionta (NHL player)
* Stephen Gionta (Hockey player)
* Malcolm Glazer (businessman)
* Emma Goldman (anarchist)
* Tom Golisano (Paychex founder, philanthropist, gubernatorial candidate, owner Buffalo Sabres NHL team)
* Kim Gordon (bass player and lead singer of Sonic Youth)
* Lou Gramm (lead singer of Foreigner)
* Seth Green (Rochester born, pioneer in fish farming)
* Heinie Groh (baseball player)
* Emil Gruppe (Impressionist artist)
* Mick Guzauski (mixer and sound engineer)
* Walter Hagen (golfer)
* Adolphus Hailstork (composer)
* Howard Hanson (composer and conductor)
* Davey Havok (Musician. Born in Rochester, raised in Ukiah, California.)
* Edward D. Hoch (mystery writer)
* Philip Seymour Hoffman (Oscar-winning actor)
* Garson Kanin (writer)
* Philip Kapleau Brought Zen Buddhism to western mainstream 1964. Formed Rochester Zen Center still in use today.
* Bob Keegan (baseball player)
* Mimi Kennedy (actress)
* Norman Kerry (silent film actor)
* Charlene Keys (singer, a.k.a Tweet)
* Frank LaLoggia (film director of Lady in White and "Fear No Evil")
* Joanie Laurer (wrestler, a.k.a. Chyna)
* Hudson Leick (actress, born in Cincinnati, Ohio, but raised in Rochester)
* John Lithgow (actor, raised in Ohio)
* Joe Locke (Jazz vibraphonist born in California, but raised in Rochester)
* Henry Lomb (co-founder of Bausch & Lomb)
* Art Long (former NBA basketball player)
* Lydia Lunch (singer, poet, writer and actress)
* Chuck Mangione (conductor, arranger, flugelhornist)
* Gap Mangione (jazz pianist, composer, arranger and band-leader)
* Clem McCarthy (sportscaster)
* Chuck McCoy (disk jockey)
* Jason McElwain (personality)
* Pamela Melroy (astronaut)
* Carolyn Merchant (philosopher)
* Mitch Miller (bandleader)
* Gorilla Monsoon (wrestler)
* Helen Barrett Montgomery (social reformer and women’s activist)
* Hugh O'Brian (actor)
* Sam Patch (daredevil - died jumping Genesee Falls in 1829, interred in Charlotte Cemetery)
* Danny Padilla (bodybuilder)
* Robert Putnam (Harvard Professor)
* William F. Quinn (governor of Hawai'i)
* Charley Radbourn (baseball player)[1]
* Walter Rauschenbusch (theologian)
* Marty Reasoner (NHL player)
* Tim Redding (baseball player)
* Frank Ritter (Dental chair pioneer, philanthropist)
* Benjamin Titus Roberts {Founder of the Free Methodist Church}
* Richard Ryder (actor)
* Savanna Samson (porn actress)
* George B. Selden (lawyer and inventor)
* Joel Seligman (current President of University of Rochester)
* F. Ritter Shumway (US Figure Skating leader, philanthropist)
* Hiram Sibley (Western Union founder)
* Mike Sigel (Billiard Congress of America Hall of Famer)
* Joyce Sims (vocalist, songwriter, pianist)
* Jeff Sluman (PGA Tour golfer)
* Bill Stern (sportscaster)
* Robert R. Thomas (Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Illinois; former NFL football player)
* Cathy Turner (Olympic gold medalist, Short-Track Speedskating)
* Jeff Tyzik (conductor, arranger, trumpeter)
* John Viavattine (saxophonist, band teacher, member of Mambo Kings)
* Tom Villard (T.V. and film actor Heartbreak Ridge & One Crazy Summer) (raised in Spencerport, New York)
* Bill Wadhams (singer in '80's new-wave group Animotion)
* John Wallace (professional basketball player)
* Jimmy Wallington (radio announcer)
* William Warfield (singer, born in Arkansas; raised in Rochester)
* Hulbert Harrington Warner (wealthy maker of patent medicines and patron of Astronomy)
* Abby Wambach (soccer player)
* Lee-Hom Wang (Asian pop/hip hop superstar)
* Kristen Wiig (Comedian, Saturday Night Live castmember)
* Frances Willard (suffragist and temperance reformer)
* Roland Williams (NFL tightend)
* Wendy O. Williams of The Plasmatics (singer)
* Joseph C. Wilson (Xerox)
* Wendy Wyland ('84 Olympic medalist, Diving)

[JEvans14]

I'm from Rochester... Teddy Geiger is nothing to be proud about.

Steve Gadd on the other hand is a music legend. And is on my high schools hall of fame.

[The Philster]

* Hudson Leick (actress, born in Cincinnati, Ohio, but raised in Rochester)
played Callisto on Xena...pretty hot

You left out the biggest name...at least as far as diehard Bills tailgaters are concerned...Pinto Ron

[wagoncircler]

Not trying to get in a pissing contest or an arguement over who/ how many came from where, but George Eastman isn't the only notable name from Rochester, NY. And I'll admit there's some here I never personally heard of, but there are also some fairly big names as well


* Martin Brewer Anderson (first president of University of Rochester)
* Susan B. Anthony (suffragist)
* Johnny Antonelli (baseball player)
* Philip Barry (playwright)
* Eric Bauman (founder of eBaum's World)
* John Jacob Bausch (co-founder of Bausch & Lomb)
* Tyson Beckford (model)
* Kenneth Bianchi (One of the Hillside Stranglers)
* Boris Bittker (legal academic)
* Douglas Brei (sports historian)
* Antoinette Brown Blackwell (first female minister in the United States)
* Bernie Boland (baseball player)
* Angelo Buono, Jr. (One of the Hillside Stranglers)
* Foster Brooks (Comedian)
* William Seward Burroughs I
* Ryan Callahan (NHL player)
* Cab Calloway (singer/bandleader)
* Francis Pharcellus Church
* Julie Lynn Cialini (model and actress)
* David Diamond (composer)
* Taye Diggs (actor)
* Frederick Douglass (abolitionist, born in Maryland, long-time Rochester resident, interred in Rochester's Mt. Hope Cemetery)
* Pete Duel (actor)
* Duke Jupiter (late 70's/early 80's rock band, hit song "I'll Drink To You")
* George Eastman (Kodak founder, philanthropist)
* Garth Fagan (Choreographer, native of Jamaica and long-time Rochester resident)
* Rory Fitzpatrick (NHL player)
* Renée Fleming (Opera singer born in Pennsylvania but raised in Rochester)
* Robert Forster (actor)
* Kate, Leah, and Margaret Fox (early Spiritualists)
* Steve Gadd (jazz drummer)
* Frank Gannett (founder of Gannett Newspapers, presidential candidate)
* Teddy Geiger (musician/actor)
* Brian Gionta (NHL player)
* Stephen Gionta (Hockey player)
* Malcolm Glazer (businessman)
* Emma Goldman (anarchist)
* Tom Golisano (Paychex founder, philanthropist, gubernatorial candidate, owner Buffalo Sabres NHL team)
* Kim Gordon (bass player and lead singer of Sonic Youth)
* Lou Gramm (lead singer of Foreigner)
* Seth Green (Rochester born, pioneer in fish farming)
* Heinie Groh (baseball player)
* Emil Gruppe (Impressionist artist)
* Mick Guzauski (mixer and sound engineer)
* Walter Hagen (golfer)
* Adolphus Hailstork (composer)
* Howard Hanson (composer and conductor)
* Davey Havok (Musician. Born in Rochester, raised in Ukiah, California.)
* Edward D. Hoch (mystery writer)
* Philip Seymour Hoffman (Oscar-winning actor)
* Garson Kanin (writer)
* Philip Kapleau Brought Zen Buddhism to western mainstream 1964. Formed Rochester Zen Center still in use today.
* Bob Keegan (baseball player)
* Mimi Kennedy (actress)
* Norman Kerry (silent film actor)
* Charlene Keys (singer, a.k.a Tweet)
* Frank LaLoggia (film director of Lady in White and "Fear No Evil")
* Joanie Laurer (wrestler, a.k.a. Chyna)
* Hudson Leick (actress, born in Cincinnati, Ohio, but raised in Rochester)
* John Lithgow (actor, raised in Ohio)
* Joe Locke (Jazz vibraphonist born in California, but raised in Rochester)
* Henry Lomb (co-founder of Bausch & Lomb)
* Art Long (former NBA basketball player)
* Lydia Lunch (singer, poet, writer and actress)
* Chuck Mangione (conductor, arranger, flugelhornist)
* Gap Mangione (jazz pianist, composer, arranger and band-leader)
* Clem McCarthy (sportscaster)
* Chuck McCoy (disk jockey)
* Jason McElwain (personality)
* Pamela Melroy (astronaut)
* Carolyn Merchant (philosopher)
* Mitch Miller (bandleader)
* Gorilla Monsoon (wrestler)
* Helen Barrett Montgomery (social reformer and women’s activist)
* Hugh O'Brian (actor)
* Sam Patch (daredevil - died jumping Genesee Falls in 1829, interred in Charlotte Cemetery)
* Danny Padilla (bodybuilder)
* Robert Putnam (Harvard Professor)
* William F. Quinn (governor of Hawai'i)
* Charley Radbourn (baseball player)[1]
* Walter Rauschenbusch (theologian)
* Marty Reasoner (NHL player)
* Tim Redding (baseball player)
* Frank Ritter (Dental chair pioneer, philanthropist)
* Benjamin Titus Roberts {Founder of the Free Methodist Church}
* Richard Ryder (actor)
* Savanna Samson (porn actress)
* George B. Selden (lawyer and inventor)
* Joel Seligman (current President of University of Rochester)
* F. Ritter Shumway (US Figure Skating leader, philanthropist)
* Hiram Sibley (Western Union founder)
* Mike Sigel (Billiard Congress of America Hall of Famer)
* Joyce Sims (vocalist, songwriter, pianist)
* Jeff Sluman (PGA Tour golfer)
* Bill Stern (sportscaster)
* Robert R. Thomas (Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Illinois; former NFL football player)
* Cathy Turner (Olympic gold medalist, Short-Track Speedskating)
* Jeff Tyzik (conductor, arranger, trumpeter)
* John Viavattine (saxophonist, band teacher, member of Mambo Kings)
* Tom Villard (T.V. and film actor Heartbreak Ridge & One Crazy Summer) (raised in Spencerport, New York)
* Bill Wadhams (singer in '80's new-wave group Animotion)
* John Wallace (professional basketball player)
* Jimmy Wallington (radio announcer)
* William Warfield (singer, born in Arkansas; raised in Rochester)
* Hulbert Harrington Warner (wealthy maker of patent medicines and patron of Astronomy)
* Abby Wambach (soccer player)
* Lee-Hom Wang (Asian pop/hip hop superstar)
* Kristen Wiig (Comedian, Saturday Night Live castmember)
* Frances Willard (suffragist and temperance reformer)
* Roland Williams (NFL tightend)
* Wendy O. Williams of The Plasmatics (singer)
* Joseph C. Wilson (Xerox)
* Wendy Wyland ('84 Olympic medalist, Diving)

WTF? Did you cut and paste the online phone book?

Quantity does not make up for quality. For instance, the CURRENT Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, John Roberts.

Richard Ryder? Art Long? Who are these people, your neighbors?

Foster Brooks was from Buffalo, BTW.

And Tim Russert is from Buffalo.

Try a list with people we've heard of.

eBaum's World?

Female soccer players?

WTF? You're pissing into the wind.

[billsfan69]

Who cares about a list of famous people from Rochester. We could waste time here printing a list just as large if not larger than that one. I'll start with two. Millard Fillmore and Grover Cleveland. Merely two Presidents of the USA from Buffalo.

[UBER PWNAGE]

Who cares about a list of famous people from Rochester. We could waste time here printing a list just as large if not larger than that one. I'll start with two. Millard Fillmore and Grover Cleveland. Merely two Presidents of the USA from Buffalo.

If you bothered to read what I said in the post you would have A)Noticed I said "Not trying to get in a pissing contest or an arguement over who/ how many came from where" and B) Realized the whole point of that was just to show that George Eastman isn't the only "big" name from Rochester. I realize Buffalo has more/bigger/names and a longer list to boot, as Buffalo should have more "big" names than Rochester because you guys have always had 100,000-200,000 more people than us giving you guys better odds that a "big" name would come from there rather than here, just like a city who has 100,000-200,000 more people than Buffalo probably has an even more/bigger/names and a longer list than Buffalo, and a city bigger than that and one bigger than that and one bigger than that etc. You see my point?. I just didn't appreciate someone from Buffalo saying "DUUURR Yous guys only big name is George Eastman, DUUURR."

[UBER PWNAGE]

WTF? Did you cut and paste the online phone book?

Quantity does not make up for quality. For instance, the CURRENT Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, John Roberts.

Richard Ryder? Art Long? Who are these people, your neighbors?

Foster Brooks was from Buffalo, BTW.

And Tim Russert is from Buffalo.

Try a list with people we've heard of.

eBaum's World?

Female soccer players?

WTF? You're pissing into the wind.


No, you know what, I actually took the time to look up "Notable Names from Rochester NY" and that was the list I was given so I highlighted it, copied it, and pasted it, I alter the list in any way, shape, or form and no all my neighbors failed to make the list unfortunately. I just thought it would be helpful in disproving your ignorant statement saying George Eastman is the only big name from Rochester.

[UBER PWNAGE]

The top Guard in this upcoming draft, Virginia OG Brandon Albert is from Rochester, just adding to the list of nobodies who've come from Rochester.

[wagoncircler]

If you bothered to read what I said in the post you would have A)Noticed I said "Not trying to get in a pissing contest or an arguement over who/ how many came from where" and B) Realized the whole point of that was just to show that George Eastman isn't the only "big" name from Rochester. I realize Buffalo has more/bigger/names and a longer list to boot, as Buffalo should have more "big" names than Rochester because you guys have always had 100,000-200,000 more people than us giving you guys better odds that a "big" name would come from there rather than here, just like a city who has 100,000-200,000 more people than Buffalo probably has an even more/bigger/names and a longer list than Buffalo, and a city bigger than that and one bigger than that and one bigger than that etc. You see my point?. I just didn't appreciate someone from Buffalo saying "DUUURR Yous guys only big name is George Eastman, DUUURR."

I think you and I just have divergent definitions of what a "big name" is.

Of course, given that you're from a third-rate shithole, that would stand to reason.

I spoose, for Rochesterians, female soccer players are the equivalent of NFL players.

Duuurrrrrr.

[JEvans14]

Abby Wambach = World Famous
Backups in the NFL from Buffalo = Not World Famous

Wambach wins

[Patrick!]

How many Oscar winners does Buffalo have?

The fact that aforementioned Oscar winner happens to be my godmother's brother is just a bonus. :D

He's sort of a dick though. Really selfabsorbed. I'll post a pic later if I can find it.

[UBER PWNAGE]

I think you and I just have divergent definitions of what a "big name" is.
That is probably the case.


Of course, given that you're from a third-rate shithole, that would stand to reason.
And your job losing, economy falling, population declining, corrupted government city isn't a 3rd rate shithole? Pot meet Kettle.

I spoose, for Rochesterians, female soccer players are the equivalent of NFL players.
Like JEvans14 said:
Most famous female soccer player in the world>>> NFL backups from Buffalo (Is there any NFL starters from Buffalo?)


Duuurrrrrr.

:bigwoot:

[wagoncircler]

Like JEvans14 said:
Most famous female soccer player in the world>>> NFL backups from Buffalo (Is there any NFL starters from Buffalo?)

BWWWAAAAAAHHHHAAAAAA!!!!!!

Women's soccer player, your cities claim to fame.

Pathetic.

Antwon Burton of the Broncos, Sean Ryan of the Dolphins are from Buffalo.

Ron Jaworski is from Buffalo. Justin Strelzyk and Mike Mamula, and former Cowboy Darryl "Moose" Johnston.

Did I mention Hall of Famer Warren Spahn? All time great Yankees Manager Joe McCarthy? "Sal the Barber Maglie?"

Oh, by the way, the author of the great American novel, F. Scott Fitzgerald was born in Buffalo.

Mark Twain worked in Buffalo. Aretha Franklin spent her childhood in Buffalo.

Now, I know none of these people are as famous as your (cough..cough...choke) FEMALE SOCCER PLAYER.....

Keep pissing into the wind.

[wagoncircler]

PS: The most (actually the ONLY) famous female soccer player in the world is Mia Hamm.

[The Philster]

PS: The most (actually the ONLY) famous female soccer player in the world is Mia Hamm.

Brandi Chastain got pretty famous a while back

[phishhead220]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6c/Wegmans_exterior.jpg/800px-Wegmans_exterior.jpg

Wegmans was started in Rochester and is the greatest store ever

[wagoncircler]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6c/Wegmans_exterior.jpg/800px-Wegmans_exterior.jpg

Wegmans was started in Rochester and is the greatest store ever

Sorry, wrong again:

http://www.metromanor.info/images/super-target.jpg

[twosheds]

And maybe it was my imagination, but the people of Rochester just seemed to lack the warmth of Buffalo people.

Noone wanted to sleep with you? ;)

[wagoncircler]

Noone wanted to sleep with you? ;)

Quite the opposite, actually. The Rochester girls were like cold dead fish.

[wagoncircler]

Oh, I almost forgot:

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/3189/kimalexiscc3bv9wn5.jpg

Kim Alexis

[billsfan69]

Oh, I almost forgot:

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/3189/kimalexiscc3bv9wn5.jpg

Kim Alexis

God, I'm getting old. She will be 50 in a couple of years.

[wagoncircler]

God, I'm getting old. She will be 50 in a couple of years.

I hear ya.

Maybe we have a shot now!

[treydawg]

Savannah is from Rochester I believe. Really though, this pissing match is retarded.

[wagoncircler]

Savannah is from Rochester I believe. Really though, this pissing match is retarded.

Savannah is from Georgia.

Just south of Augusta.

[marcus]

Look, both cities have their strengths and weaknesses but are part of the same region whether you all want to admit it or not. The economic decline in all of upstate NY just took longer to get to Rochester. Both cities are very proud places and there is a lot to offer in each place. Rochester has better universities and jazz, Buffalo has the Falls and better bars, so I guess it is up to personal preference. But to say that the people of Rochester are colder as a rule, that has not been my experience and I lived there for over 20 years. With the way things are going upstate today, everyone needs to pull together and having folks from each town hate on each other is just plain stupid.

Of biggest relevance to this site though, there is no question that without Rochester the Bills would have left Buffalo long ago.

[pmoon6]

Here's some actors from Buffalo, off the top of my head.

Jeff Fahey

William Sadler

Christine Baranski

Wendy Malick

Jeffrey Jones

Jeffrey DeMunn

Vincent Gallo

Nancy Marchand

[dilbert]

I am drawing a partial blank on the name, but Bill Fichtner (something like that) is another.

[pmoon6]

I am drawing a partial blank on the name, but Bill Fichtner (something like that) is another.You're right, he was born in New York, raised in Cheektowaga. He went to Maryvale and is a huge Sabres fan.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001209/bio

[wagoncircler]

You're right, he was born in New York, raised in Cheektowaga. He went to Maryvale and is a huge Sabres fan.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001209/bio

And his beautiful Buffalo dialect is on full display in the movie "The Amateurs", a funny little Indy film about a small town getting together to make a porn movie.

It's not actually a porn movie, in fact it's surprisingly tame, given the subject matter.

Anyway, I never knew William Fichtner was from Buffalo until I rented that movie last week. I heard him talk and went directly to IMDB.

Good stuff.

[wagoncircler]

Here's some actors from Buffalo, off the top of my head.

Jeff Fahey

William Sadler

Christine Baranski

Wendy Malick

Jeffrey Jones

Jeffrey DeMunn

Vincent Gallo

Nancy Marchand

Jesse L. Martin of Law & Order is a proud Buffalonian.

David Milch and Steven Bochco, creators of NYPD Blue are from Buffalo.

James Whitmore is also Buffalo.

[wagoncircler]

To recap, we have two Presidents, a Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and a pair of Nobel Prize winners.

And we can even go higher than that.

St. John Neumann was Bishop Neumann of Buffalo, and soon, Father Baker may also be a Saint.

On the downside, as has been made crystal clear by our Super bowl and Stanley Cup appearances, God is obviously NOT from Buffalo.

[pmoon6]

And his beautiful Buffalo dialect is on full display in the movie "The Amateurs", a funny little Indy film about a small town getting together to make a porn movie.

It's not actually a porn movie, in fact it's surprisingly tame, given the subject matter.

Anyway, I never knew William Fichtner was from Buffalo until I rented that movie last week. I heard him talk and went directly to IMDB.

Good stuff.Buffalonians have a dialect?

I thought everyone else just talked funny.:D

[The Philster]

David Boreanaz of Buffy, Angel, and Bones is originally from Buffalo...his father was Dave Thomas of WKBW and Rocketship 7

[LiterateStylish]

No offense, but there's something about Rochester that's, well, I don't know....annoying.

I went to RIT and lived there again for a brief period of time a few years back.

I sensed a great resentment toward Buffalo.

I don't know if it's still this way, but I remember there being far more fans of other football teams than Bills fans. I actually think there were more Cowboys fans than Bills fans.

Just as we have our traditions and favorite foods and such in Buffalo, they have theirs in Rochester, but theirs all suck. :)

Garbage plates? I liked them much better when they weren't all the same. Now they're just spiced up slop.

Zweigels? Second rate imitation Sahlens.

Country Sweet wings? Blech.

And maybe it was my imagination, but the people of Rochester just seemed to lack the warmth of Buffalo people.

And as long as I'm on a roll, I have to say it. Rochester is so ugly, even their waterfall is dirty.

I don't know what it is. It's just an odd place.

When the Bills moved training camp to Rochester, we seemed to gain a lot of Bills fans which is good.

There was a time when I wished I lived in Buffalo, but not now. Nearly all of my extended family lives in Buffalo or a Buffalo suburb and I visit them and go to the games and Buffalo is not what it use to be. In my opinion Rochester is now slightly better.

You don't have to like the food, but it is certainly more well known than Buffalo's. Zweigles is well known, Garbage Plates are downright famous, and I think Country Sweet is over rated but a lot of people seem to love it.

Buffalo seems very dirty now, and power lines seem to be EVERYWHERE.

[M76]

tom fontana is from buffalo not sure if he was mentioned

[The Philster]

You don't have to like the food, but it is certainly more well known than Buffalo's. .I have one word to dispute that
WINGS

[Proteus]

When the Bills moved training camp to Rochester, we seemed to gain a lot of Bills fans which is good.

There was a time when I wished I lived in Buffalo, but not now. Nearly all of my extended family lives in Buffalo or a Buffalo suburb and I visit them and go to the games and Buffalo is not what it use to be. In my opinion Rochester is now slightly better.

You don't have to like the food, but it is certainly more well known than Buffalo's. Zweigles is well known, Garbage Plates are downright famous, and I think Country Sweet is over rated but a lot of people seem to love it.

Buffalo seems very dirty now, and power lines seem to be EVERYWHERE.

You're right, garbage plates are more well know then Buffalo Wings. Are you on crack?

[wagoncircler]

You don't have to like the food, but it is certainly more well known than Buffalo's. Zweigles is well known, Garbage Plates are downright famous, and I think Country Sweet is over rated but a lot of people seem to love it..

WTF? I guess you never, ever get out of Rochester, huh?

I've lived in Dallas, Chicago, Atlanta, Charlotte and Raleigh and I can assure you, nobody outside of Rochester has EVER heard of ANY of those things.

On the other hand, you could go to the furthest ends of China and people know Buffalo Wings.

Most people in BUFFALO don't even know what a garbage plate is. I'll bet most people in BATAVIA don't even know.

Once Kodak goes under, the most famous thing people will know Rochester for is the Mayo Clinic, and that's not even in YOUR Rochester!

[pmoon6]

WTF? I guess you never, ever get out of Rochester, huh?

I've lived in Dallas, Chicago, Atlanta, Charlotte and Raleigh and I can assure you, nobody outside of Rochester has EVER heard of ANY of those things.

On the other hand, you could go to the furthest ends of China and people know Buffalo Wings.

Most people in BUFFALO don't even know what a garbage plate is. I'll bet most people in BATAVIA don't even know.

Once Kodak goes under, the most famous thing people will know Rochester for is the Mayo Clinic, and that's not even in YOUR Rochester!Never heard of a garbage plate until I started reading this website.

[johndhall1]

And the Sabres. And one of the wonders of the world 10 minutes away. And great food every ten yards away.

And the fact that it lacks the miserable sacks of shit who live in Rottenchester is a huge plus.

Wagoncircler... I did'nt know you were from Rochester

[LiterateStylish]

I have one word to dispute that
WINGSYou're right, garbage plates are more well know then Buffalo Wings. Are you on crack?

I was thinking more of a meal type ... not a snack. Most people don't go out to eat and order wings for their main course.

WTF? I guess you never, ever get out of Rochester, huh?

I've lived in Dallas, Chicago, Atlanta, Charlotte and Raleigh and I can assure you, nobody outside of Rochester has EVER heard of ANY of those things.

I thought we were talking about NY? Did I mention any other state or city?

Although it is funny because about 12 years back when my sister was in her 2nd year of college, she had a roommate in Virginia who had heard of the garbage plate. Very odd.

On the other hand, you could go to the furthest ends of China and people know Buffalo Wings.

No argument there. As I said above, I wasn't thinking about Buffalo Wings because it is more of a "snack" in my mind than a meal.

Most people in BUFFALO don't even know what a garbage plate is. I'll bet most people in BATAVIA don't even know.

I would say that now you are just being ignorant. Most of this thread is filled with Buffalo people who were talking about the garbage plate. Whenever I go to a Bills game, and I say that I once lived in Rochester, they talk about the garbage plate. When the PGA came to Rochester a few years back, the garbage plate restaurants were packed with out of towner's who wanted to try it for the first time.

Once Kodak goes under, the most famous thing people will know Rochester for is the Mayo Clinic, and that's not even in YOUR Rochester!

MY, Rochester? What? I practically grew up in Buffalo.

I'm a not a huge fan of Rochester. I simply will back it up on certain subjects. Just like I am not a huge fan of Tom Brady, but I will back him up on certain subjects (Such as not intentionally hurting him just because one of his teammates hurt Losman).

[sukie]

Is it called Pop or Soda in Rochester? That determines it.

[LiterateStylish]

Is it called Pop or Soda in Rochester? That determines it.

Pop.

Although I'm not sure how Bills fans can hate on a city that really supports them a heck of a lot.

[sukie]

Then it is Western NY... Syracuse is "Upstate".

[LiterateStylish]

Then it is Western NY... Syracuse is "Upstate".

Syracuse calls it soda?

[wagoncircler]

Pop.

Although I'm not sure how Bills fans can hate on a city that really supports them a heck of a lot.

That's the first thing that tipped me off to the outright hatred of Buffalo by Rochesterians.

You see more Cowboy and Dolphin gear on people than you ever see Bills gear.

The longer I spent in Rochester, the more I learned of the disdain Rottenchester people have for Buffalo and our teams.

I was at RIT for 4 years and the longer I spent there, the more I observed how miserable and petty Rocheser people are on the subject of Buffalo.

[LiterateStylish]

That's the first thing that tipped me off to the outright hatred of Buffalo by Rochesterians.

You see more Cowboy and Dolphin gear on people than you ever see Bills gear.

The longer I spent in Rochester, the more I learned of the disdain Rottenchester people have for Buffalo and our teams.

I was at RIT for 4 years and the longer I spent there, the more I observed how miserable and petty Rocheser people are on the subject of Buffalo.

When did you graduate from RIT? 15-20 years ago?

When the Bills moved the training camp to Rochester, things seemed to change quite a bit. You see a lot more Bills fans now. Thousands of people drive up from Rochester every home game to see the Bills. That is a lot of support coming up to help the Bills.

Also, the further you are away from your home team, the more likely you are to adorn their jersey on non game days. When you see a person with a Cowboys jersey on in Rochester, go ahead and ask them if they are from Rochester. Pretty good chance they are not. I love the Bills and I don't wear my jersey very much, as I feel connected with them as I don't live very far away.

Hatred for Buffalo? No way. I live in Rochester and I love Buffalo.

[treydawg]

I think wagoncircler met one bad apple and now makes generalizations about everyone. Nevermind the fact that he went to school there, I'd be willing to be less than half of undergrads that attend RIT are actually from Rochester.

[wagoncircler]

I think wagoncircler met one bad apple and now makes generalizations about everyone. Nevermind the fact that he went to school there, I'd be willing to be less than half of undergrads that attend RIT are actually from Rochester.

Actually, I was a bouncer at the Club 747 for the entire four years that I was in college.

I met more people in that time than most Congressmen do. And maybe 5% of them went to RIT.

Things may have changed a little, but I doubt they've gone from night to day.

[LiterateStylish]

Actually, I was a bouncer at the Club 747 for the entire four years that I was in college.

I met more people in that time than most Congressmen do. And maybe 5% of them went to RIT.

Things may have changed a little, but I doubt they've gone from night to day.

And my guess is that the customers of Club 747 aren't exactly the type of people that I would want representing our city as a whole.

[wagoncircler]

And my guess is that the customers of Club 747 aren't exactly the type of people that I would want representing our city as a whole.

It's a mistake to guess about things you know nothing about.

The 747 was probably the biggest and most successful club Rochester has ever seen.

Its customers numbered about 3-4,000 per week.

Pretty damn good sample. Spread it over 4 years and that's over 600,000 people. Granted many were repeat customers, but it's still a shitload of people.

[LiterateStylish]

It's a mistake to guess about things you know nothing about.

The 747 was probably the biggest and most successful club Rochester has ever seen.

Its customers numbered about 3-4,000 per week.

Pretty damn good sample. Spread it over 4 years and that's over 600,000 people. Granted many were repeat customers, but it's still a shitload of people.

No. It would be a mistake to make a generalization about people and not label it a "guess" - I labeled it as such, so to make it clear that it was simply a guess.

P.S. The 747 club was so popular that a Hyundai dealership has been sitting on its face for multiple years now.

Extrapolating numbers over years is faulty, especially in a scene like the 747 where repeat customers make up for more than half of the customers on any given day. That is simply statistics - clubs do not get 51% new customers every day. If that was the case, you would have far more than 3-4,000 a day.

And I still maintain that customers of a club that resembled an airplane are not the people I want representing Rochester as a whole.

BTW: You might want to check out some of the current clubs if you think that 3,000 people in a day is the "biggest and most successful club Rochester has ever seen."

[Rockstar]

Not trying to get in a pissing contest or an arguement over who/ how many came from where, but George Eastman isn't the only notable name from Rochester, NY. And I'll admit there's some here I never personally heard of, but there are also some fairly big names as well


* Martin Brewer Anderson (first president of University of Rochester)
* Susan B. Anthony (suffragist)
* Johnny Antonelli (baseball player)
* Philip Barry (playwright)
* Eric Bauman (founder of eBaum's World)
* John Jacob Bausch (co-founder of Bausch & Lomb)
* Tyson Beckford (model)
* Kenneth Bianchi (One of the Hillside Stranglers)
* Boris Bittker (legal academic)
* Douglas Brei (sports historian)
* Antoinette Brown Blackwell (first female minister in the United States)
* Bernie Boland (baseball player)
* Angelo Buono, Jr. (One of the Hillside Stranglers)
* Foster Brooks (Comedian)
* William Seward Burroughs I
* Ryan Callahan (NHL player)
* Cab Calloway (singer/bandleader)
* Francis Pharcellus Church
* Julie Lynn Cialini (model and actress)
* David Diamond (composer)
* Taye Diggs (actor)
* Frederick Douglass (abolitionist, born in Maryland, long-time Rochester resident, interred in Rochester's Mt. Hope Cemetery)
* Pete Duel (actor)
* Duke Jupiter (late 70's/early 80's rock band, hit song "I'll Drink To You")
* George Eastman (Kodak founder, philanthropist)
* Garth Fagan (Choreographer, native of Jamaica and long-time Rochester resident)
* Rory Fitzpatrick (NHL player)
* Renée Fleming (Opera singer born in Pennsylvania but raised in Rochester)
* Robert Forster (actor)
* Kate, Leah, and Margaret Fox (early Spiritualists)
* Steve Gadd (jazz drummer)
* Frank Gannett (founder of Gannett Newspapers, presidential candidate)
* Teddy Geiger (musician/actor)
* Brian Gionta (NHL player)
* Stephen Gionta (Hockey player)
* Malcolm Glazer (businessman)
* Emma Goldman (anarchist)
* Tom Golisano (Paychex founder, philanthropist, gubernatorial candidate, owner Buffalo Sabres NHL team)
* Kim Gordon (bass player and lead singer of Sonic Youth)
* Lou Gramm (lead singer of Foreigner)
* Seth Green (Rochester born, pioneer in fish farming)
* Heinie Groh (baseball player)
* Emil Gruppe (Impressionist artist)
* Mick Guzauski (mixer and sound engineer)
* Walter Hagen (golfer)
* Adolphus Hailstork (composer)
* Howard Hanson (composer and conductor)
* Davey Havok (Musician. Born in Rochester, raised in Ukiah, California.)
* Edward D. Hoch (mystery writer)
* Philip Seymour Hoffman (Oscar-winning actor)
* Garson Kanin (writer)
* Philip Kapleau Brought Zen Buddhism to western mainstream 1964. Formed Rochester Zen Center still in use today.
* Bob Keegan (baseball player)
* Mimi Kennedy (actress)
* Norman Kerry (silent film actor)
* Charlene Keys (singer, a.k.a Tweet)
* Frank LaLoggia (film director of Lady in White and "Fear No Evil")
* Joanie Laurer (wrestler, a.k.a. Chyna)
* Hudson Leick (actress, born in Cincinnati, Ohio, but raised in Rochester)
* John Lithgow (actor, raised in Ohio)
* Joe Locke (Jazz vibraphonist born in California, but raised in Rochester)
* Henry Lomb (co-founder of Bausch & Lomb)
* Art Long (former NBA basketball player)
* Lydia Lunch (singer, poet, writer and actress)
* Chuck Mangione (conductor, arranger, flugelhornist)
* Gap Mangione (jazz pianist, composer, arranger and band-leader)
* Clem McCarthy (sportscaster)
* Chuck McCoy (disk jockey)
* Jason McElwain (personality)
* Pamela Melroy (astronaut)
* Carolyn Merchant (philosopher)
* Mitch Miller (bandleader)
* Gorilla Monsoon (wrestler)
* Helen Barrett Montgomery (social reformer and women’s activist)
* Hugh O'Brian (actor)
* Sam Patch (daredevil - died jumping Genesee Falls in 1829, interred in Charlotte Cemetery)
* Danny Padilla (bodybuilder)
* Robert Putnam (Harvard Professor)
* William F. Quinn (governor of Hawai'i)
* Charley Radbourn (baseball player)[1]
* Walter Rauschenbusch (theologian)
* Marty Reasoner (NHL player)
* Tim Redding (baseball player)
* Frank Ritter (Dental chair pioneer, philanthropist)
* Benjamin Titus Roberts {Founder of the Free Methodist Church}
* Richard Ryder (actor)
* Savanna Samson (porn actress)
* George B. Selden (lawyer and inventor)
* Joel Seligman (current President of University of Rochester)
* F. Ritter Shumway (US Figure Skating leader, philanthropist)
* Hiram Sibley (Western Union founder)
* Mike Sigel (Billiard Congress of America Hall of Famer)
* Joyce Sims (vocalist, songwriter, pianist)
* Jeff Sluman (PGA Tour golfer)
* Bill Stern (sportscaster)
* Robert R. Thomas (Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Illinois; former NFL football player)
* Cathy Turner (Olympic gold medalist, Short-Track Speedskating)
* Jeff Tyzik (conductor, arranger, trumpeter)
* John Viavattine (saxophonist, band teacher, member of Mambo Kings)
* Tom Villard (T.V. and film actor Heartbreak Ridge & One Crazy Summer) (raised in Spencerport, New York)
* Bill Wadhams (singer in '80's new-wave group Animotion)
* John Wallace (professional basketball player)
* Jimmy Wallington (radio announcer)
* William Warfield (singer, born in Arkansas; raised in Rochester)
* Hulbert Harrington Warner (wealthy maker of patent medicines and patron of Astronomy)
* Abby Wambach (soccer player)
* Lee-Hom Wang (Asian pop/hip hop superstar)
* Kristen Wiig (Comedian, Saturday Night Live castmember)
* Frances Willard (suffragist and temperance reformer)
* Roland Williams (NFL tightend)
* Wendy O. Williams of The Plasmatics (singer)
* Joseph C. Wilson (Xerox)
* Wendy Wyland ('84 Olympic medalist, Diving)



I’m not so sure you’re cutting and pasting from a website you didn’t credit is as impressive as wagoncirclers posts based on his own personal knowledge.
I assure you my friend. You would surly loose in a battle of trivia with him.

[Rockstar]

I think you and I just have divergent definitions of what a "big name" is.

Of course, given that you're from a third-rate shithole, that would stand to reason.

I spoose, for Rochesterians, female soccer players are the equivalent of NFL players.

Duuurrrrrr.

OMG... It's very rare that anyone actually "laughs out loud" while posting. I drolled a little of my beer our of my mouth laughing so hard just now.

[Rockstar]

[QUOTE=LiterateStylish;1990929]I was thinking more of a meal type ... not a snack. Most people don't go out to eat and order wings for their main course.



ummm, I don’t know what kind of crap wings you are eating. But a good order of wings IS a meal. Have a salad before (like any diner) and a few beers and you have some dam good protein goodness.

[Rockstar]

And my guess is that the customers of Club 747 aren't exactly the type of people that I would want representing our city as a whole.

That is such a stupid statement. I love when people say that you can’t meet anyone good in a bar or club. Kiss my as#. Where do you meet people? At the gas station?

I guarantee 75 percent of the posters on this board over the age of 18 have spent a decent amount of time in a bar during a portion of their lives. It’s what you do when you’re single. Or not a virgin tool.
Listen I know dungeons and dragons is cool but the real girls are in the club. And even good girls. Yes, your girls, meaning girls you think are good,
(no not your Mother, I don't do Mother insults) have danced on a bar, made out wasted in a corner, and gone home with the bartender.
Haha, many of them still do.

[LiterateStylish]

That is such a stupid statement. I love when people say that you can’t meet anyone good in a bar or club. Kiss my as#. Where do you meet people? At the gas station?

I guarantee 75 percent of the posters on this board over the age of 18 have spent a decent amount of time in a bar during a portion of their lives. It’s what you do when you’re single. Or not a virgin tool.
Listen I know dungeons and dragons is cool but the real girls are in the club. And even good girls. Yes, your girls, meaning girls you think are good,
(no not your Mother, I don't do Mother insults) have danced on a bar, made out wasted in a corner, and gone home with the bartender.
Haha, many of them still do.

I never said you couldn't meet anyone good in a bar. I said I wouldn't take the opinions of customers at a club as the consensus of all Rochestarians. That is a sweeping generalization.


ummm, I don’t know what kind of crap wings you are eating. But a good order of wings IS a meal. Have a salad before (like any diner) and a few beers and you have some dam good protein goodness.

I'm glad that works for you. I personally don't often consider wings a meal.

[The Philster]

I was thinking more of a meal type ... not a snack. Most people don't go out to eat and order wings for their main course.

That's funny...cause unless I were to go to someplace that didn't serve wings, it's rare NOT to see people having wings as their main course

[Matt4105]

Rochester is definitely part of WNY.

[LiterateStylish]

That's funny...cause unless I were to go to someplace that didn't serve wings, it's rare NOT to see people having wings as their main course

I'm the opposite. I rarely see people eating wings as their main meal.

[coryjd]

This is ALL funny, because Buffalo is the second poorest city in the country, yet we're here trying to figure out whether or not Rochester is a part of WNY.

Pretty lame if you ask me.