Education

Conversations That Save Lives

You Never Know What Someone Is Going Through Article by Sarah Keeler | Photography by Submitted We often hear about organizations and people building awareness around important causes, but it's the impact that awareness creates that's most profound. Samantha Standing, area director for the Western New York American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), points to a story shared by one of the chapter's board members as an example of how education can change lives. After learning about...

Home + Design

Year-Round Outdoor Living

Two Local Design Experts on Building Outdoor Spaces That Offer Beauty, Comfort, and Purpose No Matter the Season Article by Marie Gillette | Photography by Submitted For many homeowners, outdoor living begins and ends with summer. A patio, a grill, perhaps a pool, and then the space sits largely unused once cooler temperatures arrive. Mike and Jesse Fink, founders of Fink Garden Studios, believe outdoor spaces can offer beauty, comfort, and purpose throughout every season, especially in...

Style + Beauty

A Business Built on Love

Stella Jones, of Stella's Bridal, Built a Business on Risk, Resilience, and the Belief That Women Deserve to he Seen Article by Katrina M. Randall | Photography by Stella's Bridal When Stella Jones was only 21 years old, she was approved for $25,000 on a Discover credit card and promptly maxed it out to make a dream come true: opening her own bridal shop. Her shop first opened its doors in the town of Leroy, followed by a second location in Pittsford, which she opened in the thick of COVID...

Life + Culture

Three Experts, One Big Day

Three Wedding Experts on Style Trends, Authenticity, and Human Connection Article by Katrina M. Randall | Photography by Kelly Kester & Others With "Say Yes to the Dress" haunting every bride-to-be and the pressures of wedding planning and all the choices that need to be made, it's easy to forget about the emotional dynamics that are involved in those special moments with friends and family. When Stella Jones, owner of Stella's Bridal, connected with a bride whose mother had just been...

Style + Beauty

Worth a Second Look

How Sarah Pavia Built a Rochester Boutique on Sustainability, Style, and Second Chances Article by Katrina M. Randall | Photography by Submitted Ever since Sarah Pavia was a little girl, she's loved the thrill of the hunt—thrifting, hunting down hidden treasures, and of course, a good bargain. When she decided to share her passion for pre-loved finds on a blog as an adult, she found an audience that soon began asking if her finds were for sale. That's when she started selling online. But a...

Education

Beyond Lemonade Stands

Rochester Youth Are Learning the Business of Entrepreneurship Article by Marie Gillette | Photography by Submitted A lemonade stand, often a first taste of entrepreneurship, is simple, hands-on, and full of early lessons in pricing, customers, and profit. Across the Rochester area, youth explore business ownership on a much larger scale through programs that teach leadership, financial literacy, product development, marketing, and real-world business skills. For more than two decades, Young...

Life + Culture

Screens, Smartphones, Parenting

Balancing Safety, Connection, and Screen Time Article by Colleen Farrell Raising kids has never come with an instruction manual, but for today's parents, the challenge comes with an added twist: navigating a world of smartphones, social media, and screens that didn't exist when they themselves were growing up. For local families like the Arnolds of Irondequoit and the Kowalskis of Hamlin, that means constantly weighing safety and convenience against worries about what their kids are really...

Arts + Culture

A Perfect Picture Dog

Jen Semmler Captures Dogs at Their Most Joyful—and Most Themselves Article by Katrina M. Randall | Photography by Jen Semmler Step into Jen Semmler’s photography studio and you might be greeted by a curious chorus of squawks and squeaks. Over the course of the three years she’s focused solely on dogs, a methodology has formed that she’s dubbed “tricks and treats.” Those squeakers and squawkers allow her to get her subject’s attention so she can get the picture she wants. “It’s all done very...

Health + Wellness

Doing Good Quietly

10 Lesser-Known Nonprofits Making a Real Difference for Kids and Animals in Our Region Article by Katrina M. Randall Each month, the team at ROC City Lifestyle strives to highlight a lesser-known nonprofit in our region. Rochester and the Finger Lakes are home to so many organizations working to make our communities better, more equitable places to live, learn, and grow. There were so many, in fact, that for our August issue, themed Kids & Pets, it was hard to pick just one. The stories...

Life + Culture

Pets Who Become Best Pals

Building Strong Bonds With Your Animal Companion Article by Sarah Keeler Long before pets slept on our couches or appeared on our holiday greeting cards, humans were forming close bonds with animals that provided both protection and companionship. People and animals can often form bonds that feel as strong as the bonds between fellow humans—the dog who waits at the door for their caretaker after a long day, the cat who treats its owner’s head like a lounge chair, or the rabbit that hops out of...