BeyondTheNest: Weekly e-newsletter for Rochester | |
Note from your publisher December in Rochester has a way of reminding us how much creativity lives here. As the days grow shorter, our community seems to respond by lighting up... sometimes literally, as you’ll see in our annual list of 150 spectacularly lit houses, and sometimes through music, theater, laughter, and shared traditions. This week’s newsletter gathers many of those moments in one place, from our 101 holiday happenings across Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, and New
Year’s Eve to concerts, comedy, and performances that make this season feel both festive and grounded. You’ll also find invitations to slow down and connect more deeply, whether that’s through a Winter
Solstice celebration in nature, a night of live theater or music, or an opportunity to support meaningful research for dementia caregivers. However you choose to spend these days—out on the town or close to home—I hope this week’s events help you mark the season in ways that feel joyful, thoughtful, and distinctly Rochester. P.S. If you’re still looking for a meaningful holiday gift, my new book The Eclipse Effect: How to Seize Extraordinary Moments to Build Strong Communities is a
lovely option for the leader, organizer, or eclipse-lover in your life. It’s available on all major platforms, and you can still get it in time for Christmas. (Here's an Amazon link.) —Debra Ross, publisher
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150 spectacularly-lit houses around Rochester Rochesterians are incredibly creative! Check out our annual list of 150 houses turned into holiday fairyland, organized by town. More houses are added every day for 2025 as reports come
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Are you 50 or older and caring for a loved one with dementia? The Connection in Caregivers study (funded by the National Institute on Aging) is examining how social relationships impact feelings of stress for dementia caregivers. This study is conducted remotely and lasts 6 months. You…
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Blackfriars Theatre presents Rumors, Neil Simon’s uproarious farce about a dinner party gone spectacularly wrong. When the first guests arrive to find their host unconscious and no sign of his wife, the evening spirals into a frenzy of cover-ups, confusion, and laugh-out-loud moments.…
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Celebrate the season at Cumming Nature Center on Saturday, December 20, from 10am–4pm! This festive day includes a guided Wild Walk at 10:30am, a peaceful Solstice Spiral, winter scavenger hunts, geocaching, Discovery Zone games, and the whimsical Gnome Roam. Hike, ski, or snowshoe to the…
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Celebrate New Year’s Eve without the late bedtime at New Year’s Eve Musical Mayhem at Blackfriars Theatre. Back for its third year by popular demand, this one-night concert takes place Wednesday, December 31, with performances at 4:00 and 7:00 p.m. Six Blackfriars artists perform…
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The show that set Broadway back 1,000 returns! Monty Python’s SPAMALOT, which first galloped onto Broadway in 2005, features a book & lyrics by Eric Idle and music by John Du Prez and Eric Idle. The original Broadway production was nominated for fourteen Tony Awards and won three, including…
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Friday, Dec 19, 7:30pm at the Auditorium: Get ready for an evening filled with music, laughter, and joy. Jim Brickman's charming and witty stage presence, combined with his incredible piano skills, make for a truly unforgettable Christmas music experience. Get tickets at https://rbtl.org/events/jim-brickman
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“Christmas Oratorio” by Camille Saint-Saens “Christmas in the Western World” by William Grant Still Excerpts from “Messiah” by George Frideric Handel Featuring Julia Figueras, narrator; Hochstein Youth Singers, Maryellen Giese, director; the Rochester Oratorio Society Symphonic Chorus and Orchestra Serenely inspiring music and a world of carols warm your soul this December. The beautiful Christmas Oratorio by Camille Saint-Saëns, William Grant Still’s Christmas in the Western World, and familiar choruses from Handel’s Messiah make the heart sing. Discounts on all advance ticket…
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December 19 - 21: Come in from the cold and celebrate the sounds of the season with Principal Pops Conductor Jeff Tyzik, your RPO, and the Festival High School Chorale! For more than three decades, Gala Holiday Pops has been one of Rochester’s favorite holiday traditions and a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of the season.
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Looking for something festive to do this holiday season? Your search is over! Join us for a Jazzy Christmas Concert featuring the The Rick Holland Little Big Band. Great Music, Holiday Drink Specials and Delicious Food
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A free figure skating show performance by skaters of all ages from Genesee Figure Skating Club. Join us for an annual tradition with skaters from beginners through competitive showcasing their talents. If you wish, please bring a new, unwrapped toy to add to our Pirate Toy Fund donation.
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Looking for some grown-up fun this holiday season? Head to Vine and Tap on Lake Ave for Laughs on Tap, a festive evening filled with laughter, wine, and craft beer! On Saturday, December 20 from 7–9pm, three of Rochester’s top comedians—Dario Joseph, Kai VonDoom, and Brian Enck—will take the stage for a night of sharp wit, hilarious stories, and unforgettable punchlines. Enjoy holiday drink specials like mulled wine and craft beer flights, and come early to grab dinner and the best seats in the house. Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door.
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Going for Baroque is a weekly series of mini-recitals at the Memorial Art Gallery, offered each Sunday at 1:30 PM and again at 3:00 PM. It offers the opportunity for students from the Eastman School of Music to perform alongside professional musicians on the Italian Baroque organ on the second floor of the museum. The 25-minute mini-recital is included with museum admission.
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Step into a Village Illuminated by Errands of the Heart! Join us at GCV&M on December 5, 6, 12, 13, 14, 19, & 20 for an immersive journey through the lives and the times of Western New Yorkers.
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The Rochester Theater Organ Society proudly presents “A Holiday Celebration!” on Sunday, December 21st at 2:00 PM at the West Herr Auditorium Theatre. Tim Schramm and friends will spread a variety of cheer in a celebration of the holidays. There will be music and songs featuring local artists accompanied by the Mighty Wurlitzer theatre organ!
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Wishing you and yours good health and happiness! |
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