BeyondTheNest: Weekly e-newsletter for Rochester | |
Note from your publisher Spring in Rochester has a way of nudging us back out into the world, and this week’s newsletter is full of reasons to say yes. From concerts, comedy, theater, and art to museum exhibits, jazz, workshops, and baseball, there’s plenty happening for those of us who love discovering what our community has to offer... whether that means planning a full weekend out or simply selecting one event that feels just right.
Tomorrow evening will find ME glued to NASA's channel to watch the Artemis II splashdown in the Pacific, approximately 8:07pm Eastern time. Also: Happy 2-year anniversary of the total solar eclipse
(yesterday)! If you were part of the eclipse task force here in Rochester and might be planning to see the SPACE! concert reprise from the RPO later this month, email me back and I'll send along details about a little eclipse community gathering we have planned. 🌔 However you choose to spend April in Rochester, I hope we help you connect with something that lifts your spirits, sparks your curiosity, or gives you a good reason to invite someone along. —Debra Ross, publisher
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Cheer on the Rochester Red Wings as they take on the Buffalo Bisons at ESL Ballpark April 14-19! This exciting homestand is packed with fun, including Half-Priced Ticket Tuesday, Jackie Robinson Day on Wednesday, and Thursday Night Plates when the team suits up as the Rochester Plates. Fans can also enjoy a pre-game autograph booth before every game, giving kids a chance to meet a player up close. Saturday features Disability and Sensory Awareness & Acceptance Day, while Sunday brings extra fun with Kids Run the Bases and Bus Driver Appreciation Day.
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Embark on an interstellar musical adventure with this cosmic Pops program! Reprising last year’s Eclipse concert, Jeff Tyzik and your RPO soar through the galaxy with iconic tv and film themes and classical masterpieces. Experience the mystery and majesty of outer space with celestial soundscapes and stunning visuals—prepare for liftoff!
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Originally scheduled for Saturday, April 4, the Powder Hill Park Annual Fish Derby has been rescheduled to Saturday, April 18 due to flooding from the recent spring rains. The Derby, hosted by The Riedman Foundation, is a fun, safe, and educational event that celebrates our region's fishing opportunities, outdoor recreation, and environmental stewardship. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just casting your first line, this long-standing tradition offers a great opportunity to reel in some fun, test your skills, and compete for prizes. Ages 9+ pay just $5 to participate; kids 8 and under are free.
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Saturday, April 25, 2026: Welcome to the extraordinary! Imagine RIT: Creativity and Innovation Festival is a FREE signature event that showcases the imaginative and inventive spirit of RIT students. Visitors of all ages experience the breadth and depth of RIT through interactive presentations, hands-on demonstrations, exhibitions, performing arts, and research projects set up throughout campus. 350+ Student Exhibits, 2200+ Exhibitors, 300+ Volunteers. Join us on the RIT campus 10am-5pm on Saturday, April 25.
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Through May 3: The RMSC’s temporary exhibit explores the tasks and challenges required of a space explorer, requires teamwork to solve problems, and illuminates the science + tools needed to monitor damage to a spacecraft. Experience a rocket launch, explore how a lack of gravity can affect the body & mind, and discover how scientific observations and measurements can both differ in space. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to sleep, eat, shower, and use the toilet in space, Astronaut allows you the opportunity to explore your curiosities. On display at the Rochester Museum & Science Center through May 3 only, so it's a great time to head there now!
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The Eastman Opera Theatre closes its season with a lively take on Die Fledermaus, bringing the charm, wit, and champagne-fueled shenanigans of this timeless operetta into the spotlight.
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Friday, April 10: Rochester's favorite improv and sketch troupes gather to give you a rollicking night of laughs! Featuring all your favorite Rochester comedy improv & sketch groups! The house opens at 6:30 p.m, and we'll have concessions and adult beverages available for purchase! The show will run roughly 2 hours with a short intermission and feature:
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April 11 9:00 - 5:00 $175 This one-day class is for everyone who has been confused, frustrated, and otherwise unsure about how to choose from the vast array of finishing products, and how to apply them. The goal is to carefully explain the building blocks of all wood colorants and finishes so that students can confidently make informed choices by knowing “what’s in the can”. The class format is a mixture of lecture, demonstration and hands on activities.
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Saturday, April 11 at Kodak Center: Get ready for an evening of sidesplitting laughter as Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood, the dynamic duo from TV's "Whose Line is it Anyway?," take the stage in a one-night-only uproarious live show, Colin Mochrie & Brad Sherwood: Asking for Trouble.
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Internationally acclaimed father-son guitar duo Loren and LJ Barrigar bring their signature blend of jazz, gypsy swing, and acoustic favorites to Willard Memorial Chapel for an energetic and unforgettable afternoon of music. Join us as we kick off Willard Chapel’s first concert of 2026!
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Music banned by the Nazis. Celebrated in Rochester — this April. Chamber Music Rochester presents Gloriously "Degenerate" Wind Music on Sunday, April 12 at 3:00 PM at Beston Hall, Glazer Music Performance Center, Nazareth University.
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What is CSA? Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) offers the opportunity for people, of a specific geographic region to support a local farm, the local community and the rural economy. Through annual enrollment (by purchasing a share) the share holder helps the farmer with much needed funds at the beginning of the growing season while knowing the share holder will receive (on a weekly basis once the picking season starts) the freshest possible produce grown by the farmer. It gives the share holder the chance to really learn about and know who is growing their food. If you are interested in our 2026 CSA please email [email protected] for information.
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Special showings through end of February: Elton John has sold over 300 million records over 6 decades in show business, making him one of the biggest selling artists of all time. Laser Elton John celebrates his larger than life persona, bringing the Rocket Man’s powerful music to life in gorgeous laser light.
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Over a professional life spanning seven decades, Edward Steichen (1879–1973) established himself as one of the most important figures in the history of photography. What is less known is that for much of that time Steichen also devoted himself to the nurturing of plants and gardens, an activity that sustained him and through which he developed ardently held beliefs regarding the relationship among art, nature, and creativity.
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Friday, April 10: Put a little spring in your step with Petals, Pours, and Picasso! Enjoy half-price admission from 5:00-8:00 pm, and create a paper bouquet with our Creative Workshop in the Vanden Brul Pavilion (while supplies last).
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Join us Saturday, April 11 from 6:30–8:30 PM for an evening of live jazz in Downtown Rochester.
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Teens and Adults: Join Financial Advisor Robert Nestrick for four weeks of financial education at Mendon Public Library. These sessions are offered as a series or as one-off educational opportunities. Monday, March 30: Foundations of Investing. Monday, April 13, Retirement by Design. Monday, April 20: Rules of the Road (Strategy, Risk, Diversify, Quality, Long Term, Realistic Expectations, Balance, Preparing for Unexpected, What You Can Control, Annual Review). Monday, April 27: Creating Your Estate Document.
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April 16 & 17 at Kodak Center: Michael Carbonaro is an actor, magician, and comedian who has built a career turning the ordinary into the extraordinary. Best known as the star of the hit truTV series The Carbonaro Effect, he’s made millions laugh in astonishment by blending quick-witted comedy with jaw-dropping illusions in everyday settings.
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Lovely local experiences are in your future! |
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