Not many people know this about this. During the summer months they host a “Zoo Brew” night where adults 21 and over can drink beer and wine throughout the zoo. The zoo is open past its normal closing time so it’s a cool and unusual time to check out the animals. Basically you just walk around the zoo, going from one wine/beer booth to another. It’s really fun and tends to get quite intoxicating. Additionally, they have bands playing so it’s a bit like a party.
Things to do
This is a charming park that really sets the bar for what constitutes a “city park.” Frederick Law Olmsted designed the central building and it sort of reminds me of a Japanese Pagoda with a Western sensibility. Perhaps it’s the park’s flowers that really make the Japanese garden connection for me. Anyways, the park is beautiful and full of foliage that spans twenty acres. They have trails that are open to bicyclists, hikers, horse-back riders, ad skiers.
The Little Theatre is a Rochester gem. It’s the only independent movie theater like it in the area. They show independent, foreign, and art house films for a little bit less than what you’d pay at a Mega-Plex center. They also premiere International Film Festival series here sometimes. The concession stand here is adorable and their specialty is baked goods. The company Little Bakery provides the theater with sweets, sandwiches, and coffees that make the experience even more intimate.
