Latest news with #Rochesterians
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Did you know these celebrities were born near Rochester?
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — When spotlighting the most prominent Rochesterians — it's easy to quickly showcase Foreigner's lead singer Lou Gramm, abolitionist Frederick Douglass, and inventor George Eastman. Did you know these celebrities were born and raised right here in the Flower City? Known for providing the voice of Phineas Flynn on the Disney Channel animated series 'Phineas and Ferb' and playing the role of Chris Rock's best friend 'Greg' on 'Everybody Hates Chris,' Vincent Martella was born in Rochester before moving to central Florida during his childhood — according to the star's IMDB page. But the Martella family has stayed in the area — Captain Tony's Pizza & Pasta Emporium has been serving guests for more than 45 years, after Martella's relative Antonio opened in 1972. Vincent stopped by the pizza shop in 2017 for a special meet and greet before emceeing the Special Olympics that year. A new season of 'Phineas and Ferb' premiered on Disney+ on June 5. Did you know these movies were filmed around Rochester? His heart is a stereo — that was born and raised just 45 minutes from Rochester. Travie McCoy, co-founder and lead vocalist of the group 'Gym Class Heroes' was born in Geneva in 1981. McCoy formed the group with his friend, Matt McGinley, who he met in ninth grade at a Geneva High School. Gym Class Heroes has had top 20 albums on the Billboard 200 chart, and hit singles 'Cupid's Chokehold,' 'Stereo Hearts' with Maroon 5's Adam Levine and 'The Fighter' with OneRepublic's front man Ryan Tedder. McCoy was inducted into the Rochester Music Hall of Fame in April 2025. One of YouTube's first stars, Jenna Mourey — better known as Jenna Marbles — grew up in Rochester, New York and attended Brighton High School. Marbles' YouTube channel accumulated nearly 2 billion views, and 20 million subscribers at its peak. Marbles announced an indefinite hiatus on her YouTube account in 2020. Not born in Rochester, but spending a majority of his early years here, Gene Cornish is an original member of the popular 1960s group 'The Young Rascals.' The band recorded eight albums within five years, and had thirteen singles that reached Billboard's Top 40 chart. Cornish was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a founding member of The Rascals in 1997. Dubbed the greatest actor of the 21st century in 2014, Philip Seymour Hoffman was born to Rochester's nearby town — Fairport — in 1967. Hoffman attended Fairport High School, and before walking the stage, was accepted to New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. Hoffman won an Academy Award for 'Best Actor' in recognition of playing the role of author Truman Capote in 'Capote.' Other notable titles for Hoffman include 'Magnolia,' 'Charlie Wilson's War,' and 'The Master.' He died in 2014. 'Live from New York' comes naturally to the 'Saturday Night Live' star, since she was born near Rochester in Canandaigua in 1973! Kristen Wiig had a seven-season tenure on the hit TV show from 2005 to 2012, where she received four nominations for Primetime Emmy awards. Time Magazine named Wiig as one of the 100 most influential people in the world twice — in 2012 and 2025. After moving to Pennsylvania at the age of three, Wiig and her family returned to Rochester where she went to school at Allendale Columbia School and graduated from Brighton High School. Wiig's family has even closer ties as well. Wiig's paternal grandfather was a formed executive here at WROC-TV! Her mother ran a lake marina in Western New York, as well. These are just a few of the thousands of stars whose early days were spent in Rochester. Know someone who should be added? Reach out to WROCDigital@ for consideration. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
After lengthy restoration project, Rochester's Pont de Rennes bridge ‘isn't holding strong'
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — After a lengthy restoration project, the Pont de Rennes pedestrian bridge isn't holding strong. After walking down the bridge, News 8 noticed damage and spoke with the community about how they feel. 'When the surface of the bridge is deteriorating, people say 'Well, was this a waste of money?' and we're still trying to get answers on that,' Rochester's Kathryn D'Amanda said. Walking along the bridge, News 8 noticed nearly 40 areas with damage just like this. Now, this project went over budget at $18.7 million. 'When you do a big project like this, you hope that the public is going to have a joyful experience,' D'Amanda said. 'It was a long time coming and you don't want people being disappointed and sometimes I think that the City doesn't take… they invest a lot… but they don't in the end invest enough to make the difference that we need to have.' D'Amanda told News 8 the damage is upsetting after the time and money the City put in. The Pont de Rennes pedestrian bridge restoration project included repairs to the bridge's structural steel and the addition of a new deck railing. The project started in July 2023 and the bridge reopened in December 2024. But D'Amanda said even before this damage, the City could've done better with beautification. 'They invested a lot and they did a lot of work under the bridge which is very important but they didn't take the final step in painting it which makes it look to the public as if the work wasn't done,' D'Amanda said. But a few Rochesterians, like Gary Silco, say it's a cosmetic issue, so it's not much of a bother. 'I don't feel that it's dangerous,' Silco said. 'I think it might be a hazard for people stepping on it perhaps but I don't think it's a danger to the bridge.' Ultimately, locals like D'Amanda and Silco told News 8 they love their city. 'I'm so excited to live in the city and I hope that the city will take the time and the money that it takes to invest properly,' D'Amanda said. According to a spokesperson for the City of Rochester, City employees are aware of the chipping of the non-structural concrete deck coating on the bridge. They are waiting for a report to figure out why this happened and they say the bridge surface will be redone, at no cost to the City, after they have determined the cause of the issue. In the meantime, the City says the contractor is set to do some patch work. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Former diner is transformed into classy Greek restaurant and wine bar
Mike Karipidis brought an authentic taste of his homeland to East Rochester when he opened El Greco by Mike, a Greek restaurant and wine bar, in October 2024. Karipidis grew up in Thessaloniki, a port city in Greece. He moved to the United States in 1982, but regularly heads back the sun-soaked country. 'I go and get ideas and refresh,' he said. He's recently found reason to visit Greece even more often, as his 19-year-old daughter, Maria, plays for the national soccer team there; she also plays for Mercer University. (He is equally proud of his older daughter, Eleni, who works as an EMT in Rochester.) When Karipidis first arrived in the states, he found work cooking in the kitchens of diners. "Because I love food, I became better and better by the day," he said. For 13 years he owned New Yorker's Pancake and Grill, a diner on West Commercial Street in East Rochester; he purchased the building in 2003. He closed the diner when he was suffering from back problems. After that, he leased the space, but none of the establishments seemed to find success there; four different owners opened and subsequently closed restaurants in the span of six years. "That's enough," he thought. "I might as well do something on my own here – something I really love.' He gutted the space and no hint of the previous diners remains. A large bar that seats 22 is the focal point of the room; a second bar is in back, facing the window to the kitchen. The remainder of the space is arranged into intimate clusters of seating: some high-top tables near the bar, as well as standard-height tables with white tablecloths and high-backed white upholstered chairs. The lighting is soft and the soundtrack, of course, is Greek. "Music and good food go together in Greece," Karipidis said. When the weather cooperates, El Greco by Mike has seating for 25 outside. Umbrella-covered tables wrap around the outside of the building, with olive trees and Greek music adding to the vibe. The menu at El Greco is entirely Greek and the menu is cooked from scratch daily. Some ingredients, like olive oil and octopus, are imported from Greece. "I use quality products because that's what makes the difference," Karipidis said. The most popular dishes are the ones Rochesterians find familiar: the gyro plate as well as the souvlaki plate (the lamb souvlaki is sublime but the dish is also available in chicken, pork or beef). Other standout dishes include: The dips, served with with cucumber slices and triangles soft pita bread. I've especially enjoyed the tzatziki (the yogurt-based dip with dill, cucumbers and garlic that people associate with gyros) as well as the tirokafteri, made with feta, garlic, crushed red pepper, olive oil and cream. Bougiourdi, a warm appetizer with baked tomato, feta, hot peppers and kasseri cheese, into which you dip pita bread. The tender octopus appetizer, which is grilled, then seared in a pan and served in a lemony sauce and sprinkled with feta. The lamb chops are marinated and cooked on a lava rock charcoal grill. 'It makes a big difference," Karipidis said of his grill. The lemony roasted potatoes, which come alongside every main dish, are tender and comforting. The bar is limited to beer and wine, which is partly due to the restaurant's proximity to a church. But Karipidis said that was the way he wanted it. 'I like the concept of a wine bar. It's more classy.' While the wine list features a few Italian and American wines, the best sellers are Greek. "It seems like everyone loves them," he said. "They come here for the Greek experience." It has a happy hour from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, when beverages are half price. It offers no corkage fee on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with a limit of one bottle per couple or four bottles per party. While Karipidis is chef and owner, Natalie Masten, his life partner, is a "big asset in this operation," Karipidis said. She runs the floor, works at the bar and even makes some of the dips and the baklava. The couple is ably supported by servers Dimitri Kiriazis, who is also from Thessaloniki, Greece, and Noah Brysten, who is an American of Greek heritage. El Greco by Mike, 165 W. Commercial St. in East Rochester, is open 4 to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Parking is on the street and a public lot is across the street, a bit down the road. Reservations are accepted; call (585) 203-1978. It hosts private events and offers catered lunches to nearby offices, for a minimum of 10 people. Accessibility: A ramp of sorts leads to the front door; it is fairly steep and is not level. The seating is a mixture of high and standard height tables. The music gets louder after 8 p.m. Tracy Schuhmacher is food and drink reporter for the D&C. Email her at TracyS@ Follow her on Instagram. This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: El Greco Greek restaurant in East Rochester offers authentic experience
USA Today
16-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
The 'Block party' wasn't the only magical memory from 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill
The 'Block party' wasn't the only magical memory from 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill Show Caption Hide Caption The Green Mile at Quail Hollow threatens all contenders The Green Mile, the closing three holes at Quail Hollow Club, is one of the toughest finishing stretches on the PGA Tour. The 2025 PGA Championship is being held at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina. The 2023 PGA Championship, held at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, New York, drew approximately 225,000 spectators. Brooks Koepka won the 2023 PGA Championship, earning $3.15 million. Club pro Michael Block made a memorable hole-in-one during the final round of the 2023 PGA Championship. The final two rounds of the 2025 PGA Championship will play out this weekend as all eyes are on Quail Hollow Club and its famous "Green Mile" in Charlotte, North Carolina. Landing the PGA Championship is a major accomplishment for a country club and the host city. Around 200,000 spectators are expected at Quail Hollow, which has hosted 21 PGA events since 2003. Rochester is no stranger to the golf world, with the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club a recent memory for most Rochesterians. The club is scheduled to host the 2027 U.S. Amateur Championship, the most prestigious men's amateur golf tournament. It will be the 14th time the eyes of the golf world are focused on Oak Hill, according to veteran Rochester Democrat and Chronicle sports reporter Sal Maiorana. The club has hosted three U.S. Opens (1956, 1968, 1989), four PGA championships (1980, 2003, 2013, 2023), one U.S. Senior Open (1984), two Senior PGA championships (2008, 2019), and one Ryder Cup (1995). More: PGA Championship live leaderboard: Jhonattan Vegas leads, Max Homa zooms into contention As the 2025 PGA Championship continues at Quail Hollow in Charlotte, let's look back at Rochester's turn in the sun in 2023. PGA Championship photos: Crowds were huge at Oak Hill in 2023 No post-tournament attendance/economic impact numbers have been reported, but the 2023 PGA Championship was a sellout with about 225,000 spectators expected to attend. PGA Championship photos: Brooks Koepka wins 2023 PGA Championship Brooks Koepka took home $3.15 million for his two-shot victory over runners-up Scottie Scheffler and Viktor Hovland at the 2023 PGA Championship. Koepka is currently playing for the LIV Golf League for $100 contract that runs through 2026. His last PGA event was the 2024 PGA Championship. Greatest moment: 'Block Party' at the 2023 PGA Championship Michael Block, a club pro, won the hearts of many with his plucky play at the 2023 PGA Championship that culminated in an improbable hole-in-one on the 15th hole on the final day. "That magical shot at Oak Hill Country Club cemented the 'fairytale story' — as Jim Nantz put it — of Block's week at the 2023 PGA Championship," said Jack Hirsch in a 2023 retrospective. Rochester had already fallen in love with the underdog by that point of the championship. — Bill Wolcott is a producer who helps cover the Buffalo Bills, high school and Rochester sports in general. The lifelong New Yorker has been a journalist for 31 years.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Metro Justice calls for action from Rochester City Council to replace RG&E
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Metro Justice is back — calling on Rochester City Council to consider the possibility of replacing RG&E with a government owned utility. A full house signed up to speak to councilmembers about a range of issues, including concerns about high utility bills and a lack of customer service. At one time, city leaders agreed to spend $500,000 to conduct a feasibility study on replacing RG&E, but it was contingent on the county's support and county leaders did not agree to fund it. Still, members of the social and economic justice organization 'Metro Justice' want the city to move forward with the study. RG&E maintains its a waste of time and money. 'We've seen Rochesterians continue to struggle with out of control bills and shut offs,' Metro Justice Campaign and Policy Coordinator. 'The shut offs tripled to over 13,000 last year. Rochester has the third highest energy burden in the country. There's a common sense solution: Do a study to investigate replacing RG&E.' 'This notion that we're not doing anything is a complete outright lie,' RG&E Communications Manager Michael Baggerman said. 'We're constantly investing in our infrastructure, whether its the physical grid or its the customer service infrastructure. This idea that we're just raising rates all willy nilly… it's not based in reality.' Baggerman goes onto say a public owned utility would cost taxpayers more money and reduce service. Metro Justice maintains its stance that a study is harmless, and Phase 1 is essentially already paid for by the city. Thursday, they delivered a letter urging city leaders to commission the study. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
