The Trevor Project is a national non-profit organization that promotes acceptance for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, and questioning youth, including suicide prevention and crisis intervention. They also work with LGBT-causes and acknowledge LGBT-friendly media.
What does that have to do with Rochester and the Finger Lakes? Recently The Trevor Project's Facebook page featured a same-sex parody of Taylor Swift's "You Belong with Me" by the University of Rochester a capella group the Yellow Jackets:
I must say this made me smile - not only was it a LGBT-friendly parody, but it was benign and respectful both towards the LGBT community and towards the original source material. Also, in my opinion, hearing the positive reactions from the crowd just goes to show how accepting the community in Rochester is of the LGBT community (well, and also how popular the Yellow Jackets are, I'm sure). If you'd like to see their video put to the original Taylor Swift song, you can watch it here.
***If you are in need of Trevor Project's services, please click the link above or call 24/7 at 1-866-4U-TREVOR(1-866-488-7386).***
Friday, March 19, 2010
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Coffee in Chili
For those of you who do not live in Rochester and the Finger Lakes, I must blow your mind before I write about this next place: The town named in the post title is pronounced CHY-lie, not CHIH-lee. When I have pointed this out to my out-of-town friends the reactions range from bemusement to befuddlement.
At any rate, the town of Chili has been growing in recent years, expanding to include a small but respectable Target, several drug stores, and even more chains just down the way at the next town over, Gates (pronounced just how it looks). For coffee one might think one has to just stop in a gas station, drive through at McDonalds, or go down to the new Starbucks in Gates. Well, you could do that. Or you could put your money into a local business instead!
Leaf and Bean started up when I was in high school (some time between 1998 and 2002) and it has been providing awesome coffee and munchies ever since. It was originally housed in a rather diminutive shop but has since moved to a larger, hipper space. In the summer there is seating outside and in the winter there is a wide array of hot cocoas and even eggnog. Coffee not your thing? Cocoa, hot cider, and chai are available as well. Feeling hungry? There is a wide array of pastries (more good cakes than I can begin to remember), and at lunch there is a vast choice of sandwiches, soups, and salads. If you decide you really like them you can also buy coffee tea, travel mugs, shirts, and other merchandise there.
One of my favorite things about Leaf and Bean is the atmosphere. While the place is roomier than its tiny original location, it is not sprawling either. If you are lucky you can grab one of the squishy armchairs in the back. The music playing is always something I enjoy (usually alternative, indie, etc - you can hear Seal, Dar Williams, Box Car Racers, and that band you like but don't remember their name in one sitting easily), and they frequently feature live music. A dear friend of mine started out there, I have heard a jazz trio playing there, and it's definitely a location for up-and-coming soloists and groups to keep in mind when looking for venues to start out.
I grew up in Chili, and for the longest time I'd have to go to another town or into the City to go out to coffee with my friends. When this shop opened up I was thrilled to have a place just down the way where we could enjoy good drinks, good food, and good music in a relaxed atmosphere. Although I no longer live in Chili I still feel a sense of happy nostalgia whenever I enter the doors. It's easy to fall into long conversations with friends here, and I can't count the times I have found myself staying until closing. If you are looking for a local coffee place that is both mellow and professional, loof no further than Leaf and Bean.
At any rate, the town of Chili has been growing in recent years, expanding to include a small but respectable Target, several drug stores, and even more chains just down the way at the next town over, Gates (pronounced just how it looks). For coffee one might think one has to just stop in a gas station, drive through at McDonalds, or go down to the new Starbucks in Gates. Well, you could do that. Or you could put your money into a local business instead!
Leaf and Bean started up when I was in high school (some time between 1998 and 2002) and it has been providing awesome coffee and munchies ever since. It was originally housed in a rather diminutive shop but has since moved to a larger, hipper space. In the summer there is seating outside and in the winter there is a wide array of hot cocoas and even eggnog. Coffee not your thing? Cocoa, hot cider, and chai are available as well. Feeling hungry? There is a wide array of pastries (more good cakes than I can begin to remember), and at lunch there is a vast choice of sandwiches, soups, and salads. If you decide you really like them you can also buy coffee tea, travel mugs, shirts, and other merchandise there.
One of my favorite things about Leaf and Bean is the atmosphere. While the place is roomier than its tiny original location, it is not sprawling either. If you are lucky you can grab one of the squishy armchairs in the back. The music playing is always something I enjoy (usually alternative, indie, etc - you can hear Seal, Dar Williams, Box Car Racers, and that band you like but don't remember their name in one sitting easily), and they frequently feature live music. A dear friend of mine started out there, I have heard a jazz trio playing there, and it's definitely a location for up-and-coming soloists and groups to keep in mind when looking for venues to start out.
I grew up in Chili, and for the longest time I'd have to go to another town or into the City to go out to coffee with my friends. When this shop opened up I was thrilled to have a place just down the way where we could enjoy good drinks, good food, and good music in a relaxed atmosphere. Although I no longer live in Chili I still feel a sense of happy nostalgia whenever I enter the doors. It's easy to fall into long conversations with friends here, and I can't count the times I have found myself staying until closing. If you are looking for a local coffee place that is both mellow and professional, loof no further than Leaf and Bean.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Scents-less
Two negative posts in short order! How unfortunate. Still, once I read about this, I knew I had to make a post about it.
I caught this article in the Democrat & Chronicle quite by accident, and boy howdy I am glad I did.
The article, for those who choose not to read it, is about a business in Pittsford (a rather well-to-do suburb of Rochester) called Scensibles, which manufactures scented sisposal bags for feminine hygiene products. One of the owners, Ann Germanow, said she was inspired by some of the deplorable conditions in ladies restrooms. Now the Germanows (the company is co-owned by Ann and her husband John) sell a product to companies across the country.
I have seen these bags in ladies rooms, and I must say, my first reaction was "Um, really?" Personally seeing the bags was more offensive than helpful - "Hey, not only are you too dumb to know that certain feminine hygiene products are not meant to be flushed, but your lady-parts stink on top of that." I had flashes of "My Angry Vagina," namely the third paragraph down, from The Vagina Monologues (monologue uses choice language, in case that offends you). I mean really? It's waste. Waste is going to smell (though I can honestly say that only in the most disgusting of restrooms have I ever had an issue with the feminine hygiene disposal being particularly rank). It is in a restroom, for heaven's sake - what do you think people do in restrooms on a regular basis? If it stinks - well, it's almost like people go in there and just pull down their pants and poop!
Not only this, but as far as I have seen, the presence of these disposal bags have really done nothing to change the cleanliness, or lack thereof, of ladies rooms. After all, human nature is human nature, and some people, regardless of the most hygienic and pleasant of accoutrement that may be available, are just going to do gross things anyway. No amount of floral-scented waste-bags is going to change the fact that some nasty, grody people are going to spoil things for the rest of us.
I caught this article in the Democrat & Chronicle quite by accident, and boy howdy I am glad I did.
The article, for those who choose not to read it, is about a business in Pittsford (a rather well-to-do suburb of Rochester) called Scensibles, which manufactures scented sisposal bags for feminine hygiene products. One of the owners, Ann Germanow, said she was inspired by some of the deplorable conditions in ladies restrooms. Now the Germanows (the company is co-owned by Ann and her husband John) sell a product to companies across the country.
I have seen these bags in ladies rooms, and I must say, my first reaction was "Um, really?" Personally seeing the bags was more offensive than helpful - "Hey, not only are you too dumb to know that certain feminine hygiene products are not meant to be flushed, but your lady-parts stink on top of that." I had flashes of "My Angry Vagina," namely the third paragraph down, from The Vagina Monologues (monologue uses choice language, in case that offends you). I mean really? It's waste. Waste is going to smell (though I can honestly say that only in the most disgusting of restrooms have I ever had an issue with the feminine hygiene disposal being particularly rank). It is in a restroom, for heaven's sake - what do you think people do in restrooms on a regular basis? If it stinks - well, it's almost like people go in there and just pull down their pants and poop!
Not only this, but as far as I have seen, the presence of these disposal bags have really done nothing to change the cleanliness, or lack thereof, of ladies rooms. After all, human nature is human nature, and some people, regardless of the most hygienic and pleasant of accoutrement that may be available, are just going to do gross things anyway. No amount of floral-scented waste-bags is going to change the fact that some nasty, grody people are going to spoil things for the rest of us.
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