Tag Archives: Local business

Details about the Trick-or-Treat Trail in the village

18 Oct

The Village of Webster’s ever-popular Trick-or-Treat Trail returns to downtown streets on Saturday, Oct. 25 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

In case you haven’t heard about this great event yet, here’s what it’s all about:

Basically, for three hours on what is usually a beautiful autumn Saturday afternoon, children and their adults can wander the village, popping in and out of businesses, trick-or-treating. Full costumes are expected of course, and not just for the children! It’s always fun to see entire families dressed up, often as a common theme. I love taking photos of cool parents who get into the spirit.

The trick-or-treating will begin at 11 a.m., and the costume contest runs from 11:30 to 12:30. Don’t worry about missing out on any of the village festivities, because it only takes a few minutes to file through the Community Meeting Room and have your photo taken for the judging.

So grab your kids, get everyone into costumes (including you, too, Mom and Dad), then stroll through the village, visiting friendly merchants who will be handing out candy. (Participating businesses will have a pumpkin sign displayed in their window.) This is a great chance to check out some of the newer businesses in town, or even some older businesses you’ve never been in before.

And make sure you stop by the Webster Volunteer Fire Dept., because they’ll be holding their annual open house, complete with demonstrations, free fire hats, and candy of course. And turn the corner on Lapham Park to take the short walk to the Webster Museum. The volunteers there always have some sort of scavenger hunt planned.

New to the Trick-or-Treat Trail this year are a photo op display by Kittelberger Florist, ice cream treats from Netsins Ice Cream and a Halloween-themed lunch menu at Webster Hots

Keep an eye out for me and my camera; I’ll be wandering the streets, too, taking photos of as many kids and families in costume as I can. Then I’ll post a really big follow-up photo gallery. (Click here for my gallery from last year.)

The Trick-or-Treat Trail is sponsored by the Webster Business Improvement District. Stay tuned for more information about future village events, including the Bourbon Bash on Saturday, Nov. 22 and the Winter Wonderland celebration (with the ever-popular Parade of Lights) on Saturday, Dec. 6.

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

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 10/18/2025)

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Lovely You Aesthetics opening soon

14 Oct

A warm Webster welcome to Lovely You Aesthetics, one of the village’s newest businesses.

Owned and operated by Carla Ann Scheiber, FNP-BC, Lovely You is located at 82 North Ave. She’ll be offering a wide variety of services including bio repeels, chemical peels, micro needling, Botox, fillers, personal skin care evaluations, weight management and more.

The location is a beautiful old house built in 1914 which still holds much of its original charm including leaded glass, stained glass windows, and coffered ceilings. And despite the fact it hasn’t been strictly a private residence for a long time, every room still exudes that at-home feeling.

The final touches are still being completed on making every room perfectly suited for the new business. Eventually, the there will be two treatment rooms downstairs, four treatment rooms upstairs, and two bathrooms.

“It’s a nice big space,” Carla said, “and we’re going to grow into it.”

Carla’s been offering beauty-care services for a while, working out of the house and rented space. But this is her first brick-and mortar location, and she’s very excited to have found it. But it almost didn’t happen.

“When I started this,” Carla said, “I really saw myself in Webster or Penfield. I live in Ontario and have a lot of roots in Webster but I couldn’t find anything. So I started to widen my search. I found a space to lease in Pittsford, but after months and months of trying to get the zoning approved, they rejected me.”

But it was fate, because it turned out “it was the best thing that ever happened to me. Literally the next day my realtor sent me this (listing), and it was for sale.” She’d found the perfect place, a beautiful house, in a village which has welcomed her with open arms.

For now, Carla will only be joined by two other injectors as she builds her business. But in the future she’d love to add a massage therapist and aesthetician to her team, to build it into a “real medical spa.”

Her approach is already very people-focused.

“You’re not going to come here and get a sales pitch,” she said. “You’re gonna know us, we’re going to educate you, we’re going to actually care about you, building that trust and that education component so that people can make informed decisions.”  

Carla will be hosting a grand opening celebration on Friday, Oct. 17, so that’s a great opportunity to check out Lovely You Aesthetics for yourself. It all starts with a ribbon cutting at 3 p.m., followed by a “happy-hour-style” open house from 3 to 7 with signature cocktails, finger foods, vendors, raffles, giveaways and merch bags. She’ll officially open for business the next day, Saturday Oct. 18.

In the meantime, you can find out more about her new business on her website and Facebook page. You can also connect with her on Instagram (lovely.you.aesthetics).

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

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 10/11/2025)

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So what’s up with Roc City Empanadas?

6 Oct

There’s been some chatter on social media in recent weeks about the new Roc City Empanadas restaurant on South Ave. in the village. Luis Carrasquillo — better known as “Munchie” — opened the restaurant in early July and for a while did some brisk business. But then the open hours became sporadic, and more recently, it almost seems like it’s closed permanently.

Well, the sporadic summer hours were due to the fact that Luis was juggling his new restaurant responsibilities with a very busy food truck schedule. When that started to slow down, he started to focus more on the restaurant. But when the restaurant went dark again in early September, people started to question whether Luis was really committed to the village.

But here’s the real story, which I tell with Luis’ blessing, because he really wants people to know what happened.

About a month ago, Luis was involved in a frightening accident. He was on the shoulder of Five Mile Line Rd., helping a friend secure a fence to her trailer, when another driver struck him. The impact sent him flying ten feet.

Luis suffered a compound fracture to his leg and was losing blood rapidly. A veteran who happened on the scene applied a tourniquet, most definitely saving his life.

Last I spoke with Luis (about two weeks ago) he’d already had six operations to try to save the leg. I don’t know where things stand now (I’m trying to get in touch with him again), but I do know one thing: Luis Carrasquillo feels blessed.

Not angry, not depressed, not despondent. Blessed.

Luis’ religious faith is rock-solid, and he’s certain that God was with him that evening, not only because he survived the accident, but because so many other things went RIGHT. Like how he was thrown clear of the traffic and not into the roadway. Like how the tourniquet (which belonged to his friend) just appeared on the ground next to her crushed vehicle. How the veteran showed up and knew how and where to apply it. The ambulance got there in record time. And most important of all, how one of the MRIs revealed a growth in his forehead which was causing him headaches.

Luis still has a long road ahead, but he wants everyone to know that his commitment to the Village of Webster — his home — is unwavering.

“I want the people to know, don’t give up on me,” he said. “”I don’t want people to be sad. I am so happy with my lord and my community and I love all of you guys. … and I want to find the veteran and give him a hug.”

As Luis recuperates, he hopes that friends and family will be able to keep the restaurant open three or four days a week, mostly on the weekends, offering pretty much his entire menu. Those same friends and family are also working with the United Way to create a GoFundMe. So keep an eye out for the OPEN sign, and stay tuned for more information about that fund-raising effort.

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Update!

One of my readers (“Pooch”) posted a comment last night (which you can read below) saying the restaurant happened to be open last Friday, and he spoke to Luis’ son Angel. The GREAT news is that Luis was scheduled to be released last weekend. Let’s hope that happened.

Pooch continued,

Store hours will continue to be sporadic until Luis recovers. Please hang in there! Try to get there when they are open. Luis’s faith is really strong and he wants everyone to know that he apologizes for the delay in getting the store open with regular hours, but it will happen! Luis is a strong strong man, and a man of his word…

Thanks Pooch!

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

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 10/6/2025)


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Got any shoes you don’t need?

26 Sep

As a runner, I’m finding that I go through running sneakers pretty quickly. To some extent (like many of you, probably), when I get a new pair, all my other ones drop one rung down the usefulness ladder, relegated to walking sneakers, then schlep-around-the-house sneakers, then gardening sneakers. But when my used sneaker collection starts number four or five pairs, that system falls apart.

So right now I have a growing pile of worn out sneakers in the corner of my closet. But they won’t be there for much longer, because at the last Webster Chamber of Commerce breakfast meeting, I met Ruby Black.

In her day job, Penfield resident Ruby Black works full time as the Director of Community and Employee Engagement at Volvo Cars Rochester. But it’s her part-time job working with Designer Shoe Warehouse and its partner organization, Souls4Souls, which reflects her real passion.

Soles4Souls is a Tennessee-based nonprofit which turns unwanted shoes and clothing into opportunities for people in need. They have four key initiatives:

  • 4Relief, providing footwear and clothing to people in crisis situations, 
  • 4Opportunity, helping entrepreneurs in developing countries create sustainable businesses through shoe sales, 
  • 4EveryKid, delivering new shoes to children experiencing homelessness, and
  • 4ThePlanet, keeping shoes and clothing out of landfills to benefit both people and the environment.

Ruby has focused her efforts on collecting and distributing footwear to those in need, spending much of her free time gathering, sorting, and bagging shoes. She’s been collecting shoes for five years now, through donation boxes placed in businesses throughout the city. Last year, her efforts hit a huge milestone of 10,000 pairs, and this year she fully expects to reach 11,000.

Here in Webster, Ruby’s donation boxes are located at

  • LA Fitness, 929 Holt Rd.
  • Garber Chevy , 740 Ridge Rd.
  • Burn Boot Camp, 1847 Empire Blvd.
  • LaLa of Webster, 38 E. Main St.

(I recently learned that Friday Brighton Hair Design Tat 80 East Main St. in the village is also collecting shoes, but I don’t know if it’s for the same program.)

So next time you’re ready to ditch that old pair of shoes, drop it by one of these locations instead. Soles4Souls will take shoes of any style, size or condition. New and gently used shoes are especially helpful for the 4Opportunity program.

Other ways you can help is to host a shoe collection box at your workplace or special event, help spread the word about Soles4Souls and its mission, and participate in Ruby’s annual fundraising run, where every $20 raised provides a new pair of sneakers to children experiencing homelessness in the U.S. (The run is held every May, but you can also send monetary donations through that link.)

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

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 9/26/2025)

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Village of Webster welcomes Small Block Wine and Spirits

14 Sep

The Village of Webster finally has its own liquor store.

Small Block Wine and Spirits opened about two weeks ago at 205 North Ave., right off Rt. 104 between Pub 235 and Salvatore’s.

Opening the new shop was a two-year long process for owners Mario and Kailin Cristofori. Mario calls it their “little passion project,” a reflection of their love for wine and desire to share that love with the Village of Webster.

“I’m not a wine savant,” Mario admitted, but “we’ve been to Napa, to Sonoma, and I’ve been to Tuscany in Italy. … A lot of the things on these shelves are what we’ve had or from vineyards we’ve visited. I’ve probably tasted 75% of the wines that are here.”  

The new shop is small but mighty. When you walk in you might be surprised by the limited selection compared to the much larger liquor stores in our area. But that’s the way Mario likes it.

“We didn’t want to go for the typical liquor store footprint, where we have boxes lined up and really congest the (floor space),” he said. “We’re trying to keep it clean and simple and easy to find what you’re looking for, and have variety where at least everybody can find something in a jam.”

Which explains, in part, how they chose the name Small Block. They first heard the term several years ago when they were touring the Hess Persson Estates in Napa Valley. It was there they learned that a “small block” was “a little section of the vineyard that they block off for friends and family or is a very small vintage they don’t sell,” Mario explained. “They keep it for themselves. That’s kind of the vibe.”

Mario’s worked hard to stock his shelves with a little bit of everything, starting with a nice selection of wines from New York State, California, Oregon, Australia, France, Chile and Spain, including a line of organic wines, at prices ranging from $7.99 to $77.99. But there are also box wines; ready-to-drink seltzers, vodka iced tea, and vodka lemonade; chilled wines, Prosecco and champagne; and lots of spirits — bourbons, whiskeys, tequila, gin, Scotch and more.

“I won’t have everything for everybody,” Mario admits, but he does take suggestions if there’s something in particular you’d like him to carry. And since it’s the only liquor store in the Village of Webster, “it’s certainly a convenience for anybody who lives in the area. …I think there’s a big opportunity for anybody who lives east of here because the next liquor store to the east is eight miles. This is very convenient getting right off 250,” he added.

Mario and Kailin proved their commitment to the village just a week after they opened, when they took part in the Village of Webster’s Beer Walk, where they handed out samples of — well, wine, of course.

It won’t be the last time you’ll see them at special events. “As much as the village has, we’ll be involved,” Mario said, “in any and all events.”

Small Block Wine and Spirits is located at 205 North Ave., between Pub 235 and Salvatores. It’s open Monday through Thursday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, check out their Facebook page here. You can also call 585-236-1080.

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

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 9/14/2025)

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Play-a-Latte is officially open

13 Sep

Play-a-Latte, Webster’s new play café, officially opened to the community with a ribbon-cutting ceremony held Friday morning.

The new play café — located in Towne Center Plaza (Target Plaza) — offers families a bright, kid-friendly space where children can dive into imaginative play, and a coffeehouse vibe, where parents can sip, chat, unwind and catch up with friends while their kids explore.

The last time I was in the café, well before it was open, it was pretty much still an empty storefront. Co-founders (and sisters) Richelle Acker and Kristi Phillips tried to help me picture their vision of the final layout once they got everything set up, but until I walked in Friday morning, I still had little idea of how it would look.

In a word, it’s adorable.

Eight different custom-built playhouses (retail and service shops) line the walls, surrounding a “central park”-type area with picnic tables and ice cream cart, all encouraging imaginative play. There’s also a fenced-off area for very young children, a party room, and a separate sensory room: a quieter, calmer space with muted lighting, fidget toys and sensory tiles and boards. Plus, there’s plenty of comfortable seating for parents and grandparents, and a nice variety of refreshment options for both adults and children.

James loved the trucks
Cayden (2) and Nora (6) serving up ice cream

The word is spreading quickly about Play-a-Latte. Shortly after the ribbon-cutting ceremony, the café was buzzing with small children, who were offering haircuts at Richelle’s Hair Salon, scooping ice cream, parking cars at Chase’s Garage, and serving up treats at Kristi’s Cafe.

Mary Mungovan-Moss knew it would probably be busy, so she got to the café early with her 18-month old son James. She’d only found out about it a few days ago, and it didn’t take her long to check it out.

“We were super excited,” she said. “We were hoping for something like this in Webster so that we can take him somewhere to play while his sister’s at school, and be able to play with kids that are not just his sister.”

The 90-minute time slot she’d registered for was “the perfect time for this age,” she added. “Play with everything, get tired and go.”

Play-a-Latte located at the southwest corner of Towne Center Plaza (Target Plaza), 1028 Ridge Rd., next to Cold Stone. It’s open Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Friday 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and Saturday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Birthday party reservations are available after hours every day. Registrations are strongly recommended, because it’s gonna get busy and you don’t want to be turned away. Click here to make yours.

Find out more on their website here, Facebook page here and Instagram (playalatte_playcafe).

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

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 9/13/2025)

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Webster community mailbag

9 Sep

We’re going to start today’s mailbag with a look at what’s happening at the Webster Public Library this month.

  • Some beautiful music is in store on Friday, Sept. 12 when the Gold & Ivory Flute Duet performs from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. They play flute and piano music in styles ranging from the classical era to American pop. Registration is required.
  • This month’s community collection is picture frames. If you’ve got some you really don’t want, and could use a few others, bring them by the library and swap them out.
  • September’s Donation Station is accepting diapers to be donated to Webster NY Hope.
  • Family Fun Night on Monday, Sept. 29 from 6 to 7 p.m. will celebrate the start of Star Wars Reads Month in October with Star Wars-themed crafts and activities. All ages are welcome and no registration is required.
  • Tuesday, Sept. 16 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. will be a Play-Doh Play Morning. It’s National Play-Doh Day, so stop by for a morning of creativity and fun. All ages are welcome and no registration is required.
  • This month’s Drop-in Crafts will be autumn-themed. Stop in Saturday, Sept. 20 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to make something fun. All ages are welcome and no registration is required.
  • Children in grades 4 to 12 and adults are invited to Make it Monday on Sept. 15 from 6 to 7 p.m. This month the craft night features Perler Bead Bookmarks. Registration is required.
  • The next meeting of the Teen Library Club is Wednesday, Sept. 24 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Teens in grades 6 to 12 who like books, games, crafts, sharing your ideas, taking surveys and hanging out with your friends are encouraged to join. Click here to register.

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The Village of Webster’s annual September 11th Memorial Ceremony will be held Thursday Sept. 11 beginning at 6 p.m. at Veteran’s Memorial Park, 28 North Ave. This is always a very nice ceremony, and will feature patriotic music by the Webster Village Band.

On Saturday Sept. 13 the Village of Webster will host a Health and Wellness Fair from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Lattimore Physical Therapy, 70 Barrett Drive.

This free event will showcase many health-related businesses and professionals in our area. Learn more about all aspects of health and wellness, including physical, mental, environmental, social and financial health.

Also on Saturday Sept. 13, the Village will host a free shredding event from 11 a.m. in the Lattimore Physical Therapy parking lot.

This is a drive-through event, accepting paper only (staples do not need to be removed). Paper must be placed in cardboard boxes or paper bags, with a limit of five boxes per vehicle.

Click here for more information about the health fair and shredding event.

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Also on Saturday, Sept. 13, there’s a pharmaceutical collection event from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Eastway Wegmans, 1955 Empire Blvd.

Accepted Items include:

  • pills and liquid medications
  • prescription medications
  • over-the-counter medications
  • empty medicine bottles
  • ointments and creams
  • sprays and inhalers
  • EpiPens, sharps and syringes

Syringes/sharps must be in approved sharps containers or sturdy alternatives (two liter plastic bottles, rugged laundry soap bottles, etc.). All containers should be capped and labeled “SHARPS”.

Appointments are not required for this drive-up pharmaceutical event.

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There’s also a Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off on Wednesday, Sept. 20 from 7:45 to 11:45 a.m. at the Webster Highway Dept., 1005 Picture Parkway.

Residents may properly dispose of up to thirty (30) gallons of chemicals, such as paint, automotive fluids, fertilizers, household cleaners, and pool chemicals at no charge.

Registration is REQUIRED. Click here to learn more and schedule an appointment.

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The United Church of Christ on Klem Rd. is hosting a special performance titled “They Live On…in Word and Song to Support Mental Health,” on Sunday, Sept. 21 at 2 p.m. The community program will support those in various stages of caregiving and loss.

“They Live On…in Word and Song” features excerpts from Patricia Nugent’s memoir — They Live On: Saying Goodbye to Mom and Dad –paired with nine original songs by singer/songwriter Michael Jerling.

The performance will be held at the United Church of Christ, 570 Klem Rd. on Sunday, Sept. 21 at 2 p.m. Light refreshments will be served immediately after the performance. A CD of the readings and music will also be made available at the event. Tickets are $20, a donation to the church’s mission of supporting mental health awareness and education. Click here to get yours. For more information, email office@uccwebster.org.

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St. Martin Lutheran Church will hold its Fall Drive-Thru Chicken BBQ on Saturday, Sept. 20 at the church, 813 Bay Road, Webster. The event begins at 4:00 p.m. and will continue until all dinners are sold out.

Dinners will include a half chicken, salt potatoes, coleslaw, roll, butter and cookie, and will cost $15.

The event will be drive-through only and there will be no advance sales; first-come, first-served. Cars should enter the parking lot, follow the signs, and purchase dinners using exact payment of either cash or
check. Cars will then pick up boxed dinners.

Proceeds from the BBQ will support both St. Martin’s Little Free Pantry and Christmas Stocking Project, which reaches more than 500 local youth in Monroe and Wayne counties.

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Looking ahead to October, the Country Gardeners of Webster will be holding a “Frightful and Delightful” Halloween-themed flower show on Saturday, Oct. 4 from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Webster Presbyterian Church, 550 Webster Rd.

Explore floral designs, artistic crafts, an array of horticultural specimens and other surprises. Get ready to decorate your home for the Halloween season! Admission is free and there’s plenty of parking.

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

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 9/9/2025)

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We’re just days away from the Webster Garlic Fest

2 Sep

When we last visited the Webster Garlic Fest, I told you about all the great reasons to go to this year’s annual “stinkin’ good time.” Just today, as I strolled through the festival’s website and Facebook page, I found out about some fun NEW things happening this year that’s going to make it even better.

First, a reminder of the details:

The Webster Garlic Fest will return to the Webster Recreation Center on Saturday and Sunday Sept. 6 and 7.

This is a family-oriented festival for anyone who loves all things garlic. More than 170 vendors will be there this year, including crafters, food vendors, distilleries, wineries, food trucks, home goods merchants, and of course lots and lots of garlic growers. There are so many vendors that they’ll fill the gymnasium and spill out onto the Rec Center grounds. Many of them provide tastings, samples and demonstrations. (Click here for a complete list of vendors.)

But even if you’re not a big fan of garlic, there are a lot of non-garlic vendors, and plenty else to see and do. Like, you can cozy up to some alpacas and baby goats (who like to wear pajamas), and even a huge 70-year old tortoise. There’ll be demos, and Mr. Wally the Balloon Man will be there.

So here’s a new thing this year which is going to be kind of fun:

The Webster Garlic Fest Garlic Guys will be hiding in the booths. If you find one, you’ll be entered to win an Amazon gift card. The photo below shows what they look like, and if you really think they’re kind of cute, you can purchase one of your own at the One Nurses Menagerie’s booth. (Hint: If you go to the Webster Garlic Fest Facebook page, you might even be able to find out exactly what booths they’re hiding in!)

And this, too, is new this year: M.O. PASTA and Bruster’s Real Ice Cream have joined forces to create a “sweet garlic-y treat” which they’ll be unveiling at the Garlic Fest. So make sure to stop by their booths to find out more.

The Webster Garlic Fest will be held Saturday Sept. 6 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday Sept. 7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Webster Recreation Center, 1350 Chiyoda Dr. There’s plenty of parking in the Recreation Center lot, and even more across the street in the former Xerox parking lot, where free shuttles will be transporting guests back and forth.

Single-day tickets are only $5, and children Under 12 are free. Click here to buy your tickets, or you can get them at the door. Proceeds from the Webster Garlic Fest will benefit

  • Wreaths Across America: Honoring and remembering veterans resting in local cemeteries on National Wreaths Across America Day, December 13, 2025.
  • Blue Star Mothers ROC NY8 (military families): Building Care Packages for locally deployed service members and helping military families in our area.
  • Gold Star Mothers Rochester (mothers who have lost a child, spouse, sibling, or parent in active duty): Helping community veterans-in-need with meals, resources, and year-round support.

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

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 9/2/2025)

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Playtime for kids, coffee time for parents: a new café with something for everyone

20 Aug

A new play café will be opening soon in Webster, offering families the best of both worlds: a bright, kid-friendly space where children can dive into imaginative play, and a coffeehouse vibe, where parents can sip, chat, unwind and catch up with friends while their kids explore.

It’s called Play-a-Latte, and it’ll be opening in just a few weeks in Webster’s Towne Center Plaza (Target Plaza).

Co-founders (and sisters) Richelle Acker and Kristi Phillips still have a lot of work to do before they can open their doors to the community, but when they’re done the results will be charming. The once-empty storefront will have been transformed into a kid-sized small town, featuring eight different custom-built playhouses including a doctor’s office, supermarket, café, ice cream cart and more. A “central park” with kid-sized picnic tables will sit in the middle of it all.

It’s all meant to encourage imaginative play, giving children the chance to step into roles, tell stories, and let their creativity lead the way.

A separate sensory room will offer a quieter, calmer space for children who need it, with dim lighting, fidget toys and sensory tiles and boards.

But it’s not all about the kids. The comfortable couches, chairs and café tables sprinkled throughout will encourage parents to relax while their kids play.

“We want our focus to be on both,” Richelle said. “We want the parents to enjoy coming in and hanging out, while the kids play”; a place for moms (and dads) to gather and connect, get to know each other and make new friends.

And perhaps even enjoy a latte. No worries, though, if you don’t like lattes. The coffee bar will be serving up a variety of comforting beverages, including hot coffee, iced coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and maybe hot cider in the fall.

The idea for the play café first came up around last Christmas, when Kristi stumbled across something online that sparked her imagination. A teacher by profession, she envisioned it as the perfect way to stay home with her own son while still working with children. Teaming up with her sister Richelle, whose background in business and event planning was a perfect complement, made the venture feel like a natural fit.

As soon as Play-a-Latte opens, parents will be able to go online and book 90-minute playtime spots. (Pre-registration is strongly recommended so the space doesn’t get too crowded and they don’t have to turn people away.) Parents can also book private birthday parties in the café’s dedicated party room. And keep an eye out for special events throughout the year, like mommy-and-me yoga, or a build-your-own-bouquet class. Richelle and Kristi might even introduce a book club where the parents can meet while their kids play.

“We have infinite ideas,” Richelle said. “We want to start slow and build it up and introduce new things as we get up and running.”

Should be great.

You can check out the new Play-a-Latte space for yourself when they hold an official ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, Sept. 12 at 9:30 a.m., followed by their grand opening on Saturday Sept. 13. The café is located in the very southwest corner of Towne Center Plaza (at Ridge and Holt roads) next to Cold Stone Creamery. In the meantime, you can check out their Facebook page here and website here. They’re also on Instagram (Playalatte_PlayCafe).

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

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 8/20/2025)

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Business news in (and near) the village

16 Aug

Good things are happening in the village.

For starters, perhaps you noticed that there’s paper up in the windows of the former Garage Sale Store at 8 West Main, AND a “for rent” sign. This is an excellent turn of events, because that empty storefront has been an eyesore for a few years. And what a waste of good retail space. I look forward to seeing what will be moving in.

Plus, signs also went up this week in the windows of the former Roc Style restaurant at 5 West Main, announcing the imminent arrival of the Main Dive, which promises “good music, cheap drinks and a full menu.” I’ll be chatting with them in the next week or two, so stay tuned for more details.

The west half of the old Jeff’s Computer Service at 1 East Main (at the corner of South Ave.) has had black plastic up in its windows for a while now. I don’t have a line on what’s happening there, but will let you know as soon as I do.

Finally, just down the street — not in the village, but pretty close — a new “play café” will be opening soon in Towne Center Plaza (Target plaza), called Play-a-Latte. On its Facebook page, the owners describe the café as a “place offering imaginative play, birthday parties for children, and a place for parents to relax, connect, and enjoy a quality cup of coffee.” They’re planning a grand opening celebration in September, so stay tuned for more about them.

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

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 8/16/2025)

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