(585) says: Good news!

August 21, 2020

Jinelle Vaiana,

Dear (585) friends,

Hang on to your summer!

We’ve got one final full week of August ahead of us—if you can believe it.

How will you spend it? Backyard barbecues? Hiking a local park? Soaking up the sun on the shores of Lake Ontario? Tweet us at @585mag.

We have plenty of ideas to add joy to your week, which we’ve shared below:

Over the past five months, our idea of what a hero looks like has changed—frontline workers have taken on a new importance in our world. This year’s benefit for Rochester Regional Health, The Gala: A Night at Home, will raise funds to support our health care heroes. Tickets are already sold out, but you can still support the organization by tuning in for the live event on 13WHAM ABC at 7 p.m. on Saturday, August 22. Anyone who donates before and during the event will have their name listed during the broadcast. The event will feature performances by Colbie Caillat, John Rzeznik (of Goo Goo Dolls), Andra Day, and Andy Grammer.

Stop by Genesee Valley Park’s River Bend Shelter today, August 21, from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. for Mental Wealth Fest: The Creative Cookout Edition. Holistic vendors and practitioners will be present, as well as local food vendors, with vegan options. Art vendors will also be on site, selling their wares. Attendees are encouraged to bring art pieces “that helped you heal this year” or to create a new piece on site. There will also be drummers performing and outdoor games to play. Admission is $2. For more, follow @mentalwealthfest on Instagram.

Support local small businesses with THEMATA: The Market at the Armory from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. this Saturday, August 22. This outdoor, mini artisan market is hosted by Peppermint and the Culver Road Armory in an effort to support local artists. The free event will feature ten to fifteen vendors offering natural skincare, stationery, clothing, housewares, and more. This event will also take place on September 12 and 26.

Remember concerts? It’s one of the things I miss most about our “old normal.” Well, they are back—albeit looking a little different—in Canandaigua with Drive-In LIVE at Roseland Water Park!. Almost Queen, a Queen cover band, will play on Saturday, August 22. Dark Star Orchestra, a Grateful Dead cover band, will play on September 4, and G. Love & Friends will play on September 5. Patrons will drive up to their parking spot and watch the show from inside or in front of their car. All patrons will have one empty parking spot for folding chairs, coolers, blankets, etc. Large LED screens and speakers bring the tunes right to you, and one ticket gets a carload of four people in.

Ever wanted to spend some quality time with a potbellied pig? Lollypop Farm is inviting folks to do just that at 11 a.m. on Saturday, August 22, with Potbellied Pig Belly Rubs (reoccurring most Saturdays from now until mid-October). Visit and pet the rescued pigs while learning about rescue efforts and the animals themselves, including debunking the myths about “micro” and “teacup” pigs. Guests will be required to wear a mask, respect social distancing guidelines, and use hand sanitizer.

Paint some pottery and sip some wine, all for a good cause, on Thursday, August 27. Proceeds from Pottery, Wine & an Inspired Design will benefit Al Sigl Community of Agencies, which assists children and adults with disabilities. Participants will pick up an event package the evening before, consisting of a piece of pottery, paints and brushes, wine, and a light snack. Thursday night, participants will log into Zoom for a virtual painting class. Registration will be open until August 25; pottery choices may be limited.

Bring your yoga practice outdoors and shop local vendors at Hikyoga Day at Letchworth Park this Saturday and Sunday. Tickets for the festival—formerly called the NYS Yoga Festival—are $20 and will include an outdoor yoga class, access to vendors, and a Hikyoga session (yoga-infused hiking). Letchworth State Park entrance fee is $10 per car and free before 9 a.m. Registrants will choose a time slot to attend, ensuring no more than fifty attendees at one time.

Friends of Rochester’s AIDS Remembrance Garden at Highland Park will be hosting an August Garden Cleanup Meetup at 10 a.m. this Sunday, August 23. Wear your mask, bring a rake and work gloves, and get to work beautifying this area in Highland Park. The AIDS Remembrance Garden is an honorarium to those who have been impacted by the AIDS Crisis.

Please be sure to pick up a copy of our July/August edition of (585) Magazine!

And let us know what you’d like to see in upcoming newsletters and issues of our magazine.

Stay well,

– Jinelle Vaiana, contributing writer
jvaiana@585mag.com