Get ready to get muddy!

23 Aug

When I was taking a bike ride around the Webster Recreation Center the other day, I saw that preparations are well underway for the second annual Mud Run, scheduled for Sept. 17.

The Mud Run is a a non-competitive, untimed, one-mile run/walk, sometimes through water and mud, with some challenging obstacles. What’s really neat about it is that kids and their adults can do it together. It’s only $5 per person, and the organizers promise that there’ll be swag, fun and food.

And judging from what I saw, there’s going to be a LOT of mud.

I was out of town last year for this event, but am definitely going to make sure to sign up this year. It sounds like it’s going to be a blast. Here’s a little teaser video sent from the Rec Center to get you excited:

Click here to register. You can sign up for any 15-minute wave between 10 a.m. and noon. The Webster Recreation Center is located at 1350 Chiyoda Drive, off of Phillips Rd.

See you there!

* * *

email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Twitter and Instagram.

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Follow Me” link on the right side of this page.

(posted 8/23/2022)

Tags: , , ,

Bridgerton comes to Webster

22 Aug

Fans of the very popular Bridgerton books and historical-romance television series on Netflix will be excited about this news, especially if you enjoy the dances on that show.

The Country Dancers of Rochester will be hosting a Bridgerton Ball on Saturday Aug. 27 from 6:30 to 10 p.m. at the Harmony House, East Main St. in the Village of Webster.

It will be an evening filled with easy English country dances in the style of the Bridgerton mini-series. Fans of Jane Austen and Mr. Malcolm’s List will also love this event designed for novice dancers.

Outrageous Regency costumes are encouraged and will be admired, but they are certainly not required.

David Smukler, who wrote two original dances for this event, will be calling. Music will be provided by the Bridgertune String Quartet, featuring Alyssa Rodriguez and Margaret Ball on violin, Katie Marshall on viola and Kathy Zager on cello.

The ballroom is well air-conditioned, so don’t worry about the heat.

Cost is $30 general admission at the door. Proof of vaccination and booster required. Covid masks are optional. For more information, click here.

* * *

email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Twitter and Instagram.

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Follow Me” link on the right side of this page.

(posted 8/22/2022)

Tags: , ,

Beautiful night, beautiful music for Webster Jazz Fest

21 Aug

What a terrific few days we just had in the Village of Webster.

The 2022 Webster Jazz Festival is in the books, and it will certainly go down as one of the best ever. Six different bands kicked off the festivities Friday night with Jazz in the Pubs, this year made even better by the mini street fair, complete with vendors, a professional sidewalk chalk artist, a photo booth and more.

But that was just a teaser for the main event, Jazz in the Streets on Saturday. The music began at 4 p.m. on the big West Main Street stage and continued well into the evening.

In the many years I’ve attended the Jazz Fest, I can’t recall ever seeing so many people. When I got into town at about 6:45, the street, sidewalks, even alleyways and driveways were already packed with tables and chairs and coolers. I didn’t think it could get any busier. But as the evening went on, people kept coming, and by the time Prime Time Funk hit their first downbeat at 9 p.m., people had filled in pretty much every nook and cranny along West Main.

The Village of Webster always looks its most charming for the Jazz Fest, too. Twinkly lights stretching back and forth across West Main made the entire scene look like a musical fairyland. Food and drink vendors set up along the street, combined with spectacular weather, made the whole evening a great chance to reconnect with friends and neighbors, or just enjoy an inexpensive evening out with the whole family.

Kudos to the Webster Business Improvement District for another wildly successful Jazz Fest. You make the Village of Webster proud.

Here are just a few photos from Saturday night. Click here to see a gallery with many more.

* * *

email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Twitter and Instagram.

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Follow Me” link on the right side of this page.

(posted 8/21/2022)

Tags: , , , ,

First-ever Jazz Fest Street Fair a success

20 Aug

West Main Street was hopping last night during the first annual (I hope) Webster Jazz Festival Street Fair.

There were perhaps a dozen or so vendors and street artistans set up, most of them enjoying brisk business from the hundreds of adults and children in attendance. Especialy fun was the photo booth sponsored by LaLa and Whimsies, and the Dancing With Denise table, where Denise was handing out tiaras, fairy wands and sparkly bows.

I know for a fact that the Webster Business Improvement District (BID) — and especially chairperson Elena Bernardi — organized the event on less than a month’s notice, to coincide with the first night of the Webster Jazz Festival. I’m sure Elena would’ve liked more vendors and artisans to participate, but it turned out to be a really nice event for its first year. I hope the BID considers doing it again next year. With more planning time, it should be even better.

By the way, don’t miss the main event, the Jazz Festival in the Street tonight! Check out my blog here for the schedule.

Here are a few photos I took from the event, and if you had your photo taken at the LaLas/Whimsies photo booth, click here to see that and all sorts of other goofy photo booth photos.

* * *

email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Twitter and Instagram.

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Follow Me” link on the right side of this page.

(posted 8/20/2022)

Tags: , , , , ,

Webster community mailbag

19 Aug

Yeee Haaaa!!! There’s a ro-DAY-o comin’ to town, and it’s gonna mean some SWELL eatin’!

For those of you who don’t know cowboy-speak, what I mean to say is that the Webster Marching Band’s annual Food Truck Rodeo is back this year on Tuesday Aug. 23 at a brand new location (because the Schroeder parking lot is kind of filled with school buses at the moment).

This year’s rodeo will be held at the Webster Firemen’s Field from 4 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday. Among the trucks which will be there are:

  • Macarollin’
  • Tuscan Wood Fired Pizza
  • The Meatball Truck
  • Roc City Sammich
  • Rob’s Kabobs
  • Rob’s Sweet Tooth
  • Eat Greek
  • Effortlessly Healthy
  • Terry’s Tips and Beef
  • Melt Truck
  • Brusters

Proceeds from this delicious event will benefit our 2021 State Champion Webster Marching Band, so bring a big appetite.

I understand the Marching Band will actually be performing at this event, so bring some lawn chairs and make it a family night out. Admission is free.

The Village of Webster would like YOUR opinions on how the village can be improved.

The Webster Economic Development Alliance, in conjunction with the Webster Business Improvement District, is competing for $4.5 million from the NY Forward community revitalization program. As part of the competition process, Webster must submit an application on how we intend to spend $4.5 million in our community.

So the coalition is asking for community input. They’ve put together a short survey, hoping to gather thoughts about things like

• your vision for the downtown area
• where you’d like to see the money invested
• how projects should be prioritized

It’s a quick, 5-minutes or less survey. Click here to take it and to get more information.

The Webster Museum’s huge barn sale is fast approaching, and the donations are piling up. Word is that toys and games, puzzles and stuffed animals have taken over one whole corner of the donation barn at 394 Phillips Rd.

There’s still time for you to add your donations to the pile, but please do so by Sept. 5 (Labor Day). You can just drive by the barn and leave your donations inside. The museum welcomes household goods, tools, toys, pottery, collections, books, music, games, etc.  Think small and easy to lift. Please DO NOT leave large furniture, clothing, shoes, computers, exercise equipment or skis.

The sale itself will take place at the barn on Phillips Rd. from Sept. 15-17. More details to come about that.

Questions? Call Jan Naujokas 585-265-3268.

* * *

email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Twitter and Instagram.

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Follow Me” link on the right side of this page.

(posted 8/19/2022)

Tags: , , , , ,

Barry’s Old School Irish honored … AGAIN

18 Aug

Barry’s Old School Irish is making Webster proud again.

Our authentic little Irish pub, located smack dab in the middle of the Village of Webster, has already racked up numerous accolades from places like the Irish Post and TripAdvisor, which have both named Barry’s one of the best Irish pubs in the United States. Today, Danny and Jessica Barry can add yet another distinction to the list.

TastingTable.com, a New York City-based website focusing on good food and drink, has just published their ranking of the “Best Irish Pubs in America,” and of course our very own Barry’s Old School Irish is on that list.

Tasting Table’s list includes 22 pubs located in 14 states stretching from Hawaii to New York, North Dakota to Florida. Each listing gives a little background of the pub and what makes it special. Barry’s listing reads:

A few years ago, Jessica and Danny Barry were on their honeymoon in Ireland. After falling in love with the charming pubs throughout the Irish countryside, the Barrys aimed to bring back a taste of that charm to their hometown, and Barry’s Old School was born.

Though locals love this pub, it has also been recognized as one of the top 20 Irish pubs in the United States and one of the best in New York state. With the typical drink fare and great food, the menu features favorites like the Barry family’s homemade potato and herb soup and the Bunratty wrap. You’ll also find favorites like the Reuben and shepherd’s pie.

Each year, the pub also hosts its own Irish festival, complete with Guinness sponsorship. With activities in yoga, kids’ activities, music, beer trucks, food trucks, craft vendors, and even an Irish dance performance, this festival certainly succeeds in the Barry’s goal of bringing the life of an Irish pub home.

And as you can see from the photo above, the article is illustrated by just one of the special features that makes Barry’s Old School an AUTHENTIC Irish pub, the weekly traditional music session (every Saturday at 2 p.m. Don’t miss it.)

Congratulations, Danny and Jess Barry for this latest achievement.

Click here to read the entire article.

Barry’s Old School Irish is located at 2 West Main St. in the Village of Webster. Click here to see their webpage, and here for their Facebook page to learn more.

* * *

email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Twitter and Instagram.

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Follow Me” link on the right side of this page.

(posted 8/18/2022)

Tags: , , ,

The marching band has followed me to the village

17 Aug

For years, when we were still living in North Penfield just off of Hatch Rd., we would occasionally hear the Webster Marching Band practicing in the Webster Schroeder parking lot. The school was more than a mile away, but every once in a while the prevailing winds would carry the music all the way to our house, and we could clearly hear snippets of the tunes they were working on.

Hearing the music drifting in on the warm breezes was one of the little things I always enjoyed about summer. Since we moved to the village three years ago, I’ve missed that simple pleasure.

But I got it back this summer.

Thanks to some set of circumstances, the Webster Marching Band has been displaced from their usual stomping grounds at Schroeder, and this summer are holding their practices at Spry Middle School, basically right across the street from my village home.

It’s like I’m getting a preview of this year’s program. And if it’s anything like last year’s — when the band took top State honors — it will be an award winner.

That’s just one more great thing about living in the village: music at the pubs, music at the gazebo, music in the streets … and now music across the street from me.

At least for a few more weeks.

* * *

email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Twitter and Instagram.

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Follow Me” link on the right side of this page.

(posted 8/18/2022)

Tags:

Museum news: new ceiling being installed, new writers wanted

16 Aug

The Webster Museum is getting a new ceiling, which means it’s been having to close for a few days to get the work completed. This week, the museum will be closed on Thursday, but will reopen on Saturday for its regular hours of 2 to 4:30 p.m.

In other news, a call has been put out for writers who would be interested in helping complete updates to Esther Dunn’s Webster Though the Years book.

For the last several years, a small band of writers has been working to update the volume, which was originally pubilshed in 1970. Much of the work has been completed, but a few chapters remain and the group would love to have a few more hands to help get it across the finish line.

The volunteer position offers:

  • a personable, friendly and supportive group of researchers and writers and other volunteers
  • access to the museum’s written and electronic resources
  • assistance with computer issues and research as needed
  • colleagues proofread each other’s work
  • (best of all) no deadlines

There’s a link on the museum website to some of the work, so you can get a taste of what’s been completed. It will eventually also include extensive biographies of Webster personages and early history studies.

If you’re interested in helping out and sharing your love for Webster history, write to Kathy at ktaddeo5@icloud.com and she’ll get back in touch.

* * *

email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Twitter and Instagram.

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Follow Me” link on the right side of this page.

(posted 8/16/2022)

Jazz Festival and mini street fair come to Webster Village this weekend

15 Aug

Get ready to dance in the streets and in the pubs this weekend, when the Webster Jazz Festival returns to the village, with great music, food, drink, a mini-street fair and — this year — t-shirts!

The Webster Jazz Festival will stretch over two days this Friday and Saturday Aug. 19 and 20, kicking off with “Jazz in the Pubs” Friday evening beginning at 6:30 p.m. Six different bands are scheduled to perform at six different village pubs and restaurants, with staggered start times, so you can visit visit several (or all) of the venues for a drink and a bite to eat, and enjoy as many bands as you like.

Here’s the schedule (click on the name to get more information about each band):

West Main will also be hopping that evening with a brand new event sponsored by the Webster BID which they’re calling the Jazz Fair in the Street.

West Main will be closed to traffic for the evening, and the curbs lined with vendors, artisans, local business booths, and maybe even some fun and games. Plus, food and beverages will be available for purchase. (It’s kind of like a mini Village Days.) It’ll be a great chance to meet up with neighbors and friends, maybe do a litle shopping, while you’re meandering from one pub to the next to enjoy some live music.

Here are a few of the artisans and vendors you’ll see there:

  • Mayers Cider Mill cider and donut tastings
  • Catlan Samuels book signing
  • botique items
  • live, professional sidewalk artists
  • Roc City Empanadas food truck
  • craft items including tie-dyed shirts, waterfalls and bird baths, and laser-engraved pieces

On Saturday night the festival clicks up a notch when the music takes to the street.

Beginning at 4 p.m., an outstanding lineup of musical entertainment will perform from the big West Main St. stage, featuring musicians from around Rochester and Upstate. There will be some tables and chairs set up, but they go pretty fast, so plan to bring your own, set them up in the middle of the street and enjoy music all evening long.

The schedule looks like this:

This is always a huge event, so you’ll really want to be a part of it. Admission is free.

And while you’re in town, make sure to stop by Woodland Silkscreening, 5 West Main (lower level), and pick up your official Jazz Fest 2022 t-shirt. Look for her table on Friday during the street fair, or stop by the shop anytime this week for a special pre-sale deal of just $10 each (they’ll be $15 the day of the festival). What a great price for something you can wear proudly every year to show off your love of Webster — and great music.

* * *

email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Twitter and Instagram.

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Follow Me” link on the right side of this page.

(posted 8/15/2022)

Tags: , , , ,

Bygone blog — a letter to my son

14 Aug

My husband and I spent Saturday moving my son Sean to the Bronx, where he’ll soon begin a new teaching job. It took us more than six hours to get there, and the rest of the day to unpack the U-Haul before turning around to drive three more hours to crash at my sister’s house overnight.

So basically, it was a nonstop day which didn’t allow me much time to think about what the move will mean to all of our lives. You see, for the last month, Sean has been living with us, having had to vacate his Webster apartment at the end of June. His comings and goings, culinary eccentricities and unkempt room were reminiscent of his college days.

It was wonderful.

But now he’s gone, and since he’ll probably love his new job and living in the Big City, I expect it’ll be for good this time. As I sat on my porch in the much quieter, much emptier house, I was thinking about that, and remembered this blog I posted in June, 2011. I’ve reposted it once before, but it seems especially appropos today.

A letter to my son at camp

(originally posted June 20, 2011)

Lenore Skenazy had a funny column in Sunday morning’s newspaper. Maybe you saw it; she had come across a website which actually gave instructions to parents on how to write a letter to their child at camp. Now, I didn’t go so far as to try to find that website, but I suspect the advice is aimed at parents whose young children are at a sleep-away camp, perhaps for the first time.

My daughter showed me the column yesterday.  She suggested I follow the website’s instructions and send a letter to my son, who left for camp Friday morning.  I thought that was a terrific idea.

But since my son is 21 years old and will be spending his entire summer as a counselor at the YMCA’s Camp Gorham in the Adirondacks, mine reads a bit differently:

Dear Sean,

I hope you had a safe trip to camp on Friday morning. Actually, I know you did; your dad took you there personally since we won’t let you have your own car until you can pay collision costs yourself for a change.

I miss you already. I was just remarking on that as I gathered your laundry from the floor in your room and rediscovered the color of your carpet.  I will miss all the charming peculiarities that make you unique and that bring us such joy at home.

Like your superhuman ability to eat an entire box of cereal in just two bowlfuls. And an entire 29-ounce can of peaches in one sitting.

I will miss seeing what new musical instrument you have decided to befriend this week. I will miss the way you can see music in everything. Like when you “conduct” the directional signal in my car as it makes its steady blinky noise, and how you can turn any surface in the house into an impromptu drum when we least expect it. I will miss having to high-step through my office so as to not step on a cymbal or flute or tambourine.

I will miss hearing the “SLAM!  THUNK!” when you come in from teaching in the evening, slamming the door behind you and dropping everything you carry within a one-foot radius. I will miss having to kick you out of the lounge chair because Dad and I want to use the TV ourselves for a change.  I will miss worrying if you’ll be up in time for your appointments because you stayed up all night playing video games.

Yes, I will miss all of these things, because as aggravating as they all are, they all mean you’re home and you’re safe. And that’s all a mom needs to know.

So have fun at camp this summer, Sean. I’ll miss you. But I’ll try to remember that I get you nine months of the year, so it’s only fair those kids at Camp Gorham get you the other three months.

They have no idea how lucky they are.

Love, Mom

I could have written pretty much this same letter today, with just a few changes towards the end:

So have a great life in the Bronx, Sean. I’ll miss you. But I’ll try to remember that you will come back to visit sometimes on long weekends and holiday vacations (emphasis on “WILL“), and it’s only fair that those kids at Horace Mann School will get you the rest of the time.

They have no idea how lucky they are.

* * *

email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Twitter and Instagram.

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Follow Me” link on the right side of this page.

(posted 8/14/2022)

Tags: ,

← Older Entries
Newer Entries →