A BIG Thank You!

The Rochester Convention and Visitors Bureau has been an invaluable asset both as a resource and consultant for the launching of A Taste of Rochester.  The CVB has an incredible pulse of the community and ingenious ways that hospitality can remain vibrant and effective at serving both area residence and visitors alike.  Look to the CVB for many great events happening throughout the calendar year by viewing their calendar and services.

Thank you to the staff at the Rochester Convention and Visitors Bureau for all you do!

Rodney and Deb – Co-chairs
A Taste of Rochester

Getting to Know Chester Bay

INDEPENDENT rock band Chester Bay has been devouring the Midwestern Music Scene like a raging torrent, leaving nothing but a trail of satisfied concert-goers in their wake. They’ve been described by the Minnesota Star Tribune as “sheer musical ability” and by the Rochester Post Bulletin as “unique” and “eclectic”.

Thanks in large part to their “ska-tinged sound” (Twin Cities Music Blog), Chester Bay has recently won a National Competition sponsored by Rhapsody Music and Land Shark Lager. Fresh off their win, the band released their debut full-length album: “Get Free” through ReapAndSow Entertainment. In a full page editorial, Rolling Stone Magazine called their first release a “bluesy blend of hook-laden tunes”, which also describes their signature sound.

Chester Bay is no stranger to the stage, sporting a tour history of more than 400 shows in the last three years. Since their inception in 2005, Chester Bay has made appearances at some of the country’s biggest music festivals including Wisconsin’s Summer Fest and Minnesota’s Basilica Block Party. They’ve headlined several shows and supported major acts including: The Avett Brothers, Eric Church, Los Lobos and The Bodeans.

A quintet of skilled musicians; the band is well-versed in genres including: funk, rock, blues, metal, and jazz. These influences shine through the energetic live show that the band has become known for.

With plans to tour heavily in 2011 in support of their debut album, Chester Bay is on pace to hit every state in the Northern US, spreading their passion and music across the country. You can see Chester Bay at A Taste of Rochester Sept 17 when they hit the stage at 4:30pm.

On Your Mark, Get Set, GO!

Children’s Museum of Rochester exhibit philosophy is founded on the belief that learning is child’s play. Our goal is to cultivate learning by inspiring children’s natural creativity and imagination, arousing their curiosity and encouraging exploration in a safe, fun and interactive environment.

“Ready, Set, GO! Racetrack” traveling mini-exhibit teaches kids about how cars move at different speeds depending on how they are constructed and the surface in which they go down. The kids can construct their own style of car complete with what color of wheels they would like to have.

This Racetrack can be found in the Family Fun Zone at A Taste of Rochester.  For a full schedule of events happening in the Family Fun Zone, click HERE!

Trolley Schedule

Trolley Shuttle to Partner Hotels

:10 Marriott/Kahler downtown (normal trolley boarding station)
:20 Doubletree
:30 Hilton Garden Inn
:40 Courtyard Marriott (drive through Pill Hill)
:50 Soldiers Field (arrive)
:60 Depart Soldiers Field
Repeat Cycle

Hop On, Hop Off

Rochester Trolley Company

The Rochester Trolley Company has begun Hop On & Hop Off, fully narrated, sightseeing tours of Rochester. Our classic red and green Victorian Era Trolleys begin the day at 10:00 am Tuesday thru Saturday and go to Rochester’s top sites and attractions. The second trolley will leave one hour later and cover the same route. The full tour will last about one hour and forty-five minutes and will stop along the way to allow passengers the opportunity to “Hop Off” and spend an hour at any of the many attractions along the way, and then “Hop On” when the next trolley comes by and continue the tour.

In conjunction with A Taste of Rochester, the Rochester Trolley Company will be providing two options for attendees of the event.  The first option will be a fully narrated tour of Rochester, along our normal route, showcasing some of the highlights of Rochester and the historical sights and points of interest that our city has to offer. Trolleys will arrive at Soldiers Field for the Taste event the tour.  Tickets on this special day for the fully narrated tour will be $10 for everyone.  The second option will be a trolley running a continuous route to the partner hotels from the event site.  This trolley will be free for guests of the partner hotels and other attendees of the event.

Trolleys will board in front of the Downtown Marriott Hotel, at the top of every hour and also will also take on passengers at Virgil’s Auto Clinic, across from St. Mary’s Hospital at thirty minutes past the hour. Tickets will be $10 for an all day pass and can be purchased from our ticket agent in the red vest, the Information Kiosk on the Peace Plaza, Go Rochester Direct in the lobby of the Kahler Grand Hotel and Virgil’s Auto Clinic on Second Street.  These tickets can also be purchased at these locations on a presale basis. The last trolley will depart the Marriott at 6:00 pm and will not include the Hop On Hop Off option except for the Taste event.  The last trolley servicing the hotels will leave the Taste event at 8:00 PM.

Some of the top attractions include: Rochester Art Center, Silver Lake (bike or boat rental) Assisi Heights, the Olmsted History Center, Mayowood Mansion (tour), Apache Mall, the Plummer House, “Pill Hill”, the Foundation House, and the Soldier’s Field Veterans Memorial.

The narrators are very knowledgeable regarding the history of Rochester and the pioneers that shaped the city into the medical center that it is today.

Get Ready to Try “The Best Pie In America” From Bakers Square

Bakers Square will be participating in the first annual A Taste of Rochester giving the community a chance to enjoy the Best Pie in America at the event. Bakers Square has won numerous blue ribbons for its award winning pies. We will be featuring our Triple Berry, County Apple and Strawberry Rhubarb pie at A Taste of Rochester.  Event goers stopping by the Bakers Square booth will also receive a $5 gift card for use on a future visit to one of the two Rochester Bakers Square restaurants.

For all of the pie lovers out there you can’t miss out on Pie Rush Wednesdays at Bakers Square. Every Wednesday from 10:30 AM till 11:00 PM guests receive a free slice of pie with the purchase of an entrée! Along with our award winning pies, we also features a full menu of breakfast, lunch and dinner offerings.

The Sweet Returns program at Bakers Square is a highly effective way to raise money for your organization, group, or school. Bakers Square offers cards redeemable for a whole pie at a discounted rate to your organization which in turn you sell at a higher price. Your group or organization keeps the difference. It is a no-risk program. Any unsold Sweet Returns cards can be returned to Bakers Square. You only pay for the cards you sell. Sweet Returns also make great gifts for your employees and business clients. For more information about Sweet Returns call or stop by your local Bakers Square restaurant and speak to a manager.

A Taste of Rochester is Happy to LIVE UNITED

United Way of Olmsted County is pleased to be part of A Taste of Rochester, a celebration of cuisine and community. We also appreciate that a portion of the proceeds from this event will go towards supporting the work of our donors, advocates, and volunteers.

We believe this event is a great opportunity to promote United Way’s message of LIVING UNITED and our mission of advancing the common good. In fact, what better way to engage our community than with great fun and good food?

In addition to showcasing local restaurants, A Taste of Rochester is the sort of community gathering that helps maintain the “social fabric” that is the foundation of our work and nurture the sociability upon which LIVING UNITED depends.

We also look forward to being a part of the Family Fun Zone with the Born Learning Trail – an activity that encourages learning interactions between parents and children, as well as the Imagination Library that currently provides a book a month to 6,000 Olmsted County pre-schoolers from birth to kindergarten.

And what better place and time to draw attention to call to service with volunteer opportunities to work with youth in our area.

We hope to see you at A Taste of Rochester, please stop by say hello. Its one more opportunity to LIVE UNITED and make a difference right where you live.

Karen R. Mathison, President, United Way of OlmstedCounty

Charter Communications Is Bringing a Guest!

Fall in Rochester – It seems too soon to be thinking of the crisp air and colorful leaves; summer just arrived! But at Charter, our team is really looking forward to the remainder of summer and the good things that fall brings, including the new event A Taste of Rochester.

We’ve invited our friend Scooby Doo into Med City for this event and he’s just as excited to see all the youngsters (and those young at heart) as we are. Being a good neighbor and getting involved in our local communities is something our employees take pride in. Supporting A Taste of Rochester is a perfect match for us at Charter. Why? Because we want to thank our customers for choosing us and what a better way to do that than support an event that brings the whole family together. Good eats, live entertainment and time with friends and family – we love it.

In fact, that’s what we focus on here at Charter with our products and services. Connecting you to what’s important in your life with Charter TV, High-Speed Internet and Phone. We’re committed to providing the best experiences which means outstanding service and great value. Check out some of the new products we’re offering now such as the multi-room Digital Video Recorder and On Demand (watch those HD programs when it’s convenient for you), Charter Cloud Drive, Charter Online Phone Manager and internet speeds up to 60 Mbps. Want to know more? Check out charter.com

We look forward to seeing you at A Taste of Rochester this September! And remember, we’re here to assist you all day, every day. Thank you for choosing Charter.

13 Days!

13 Days!!! That’s all you have left to convince your favorite Rochester restaurant to get in their application to the first annual A Taste of Rochester. For a small fee, restaurants will be exposed to hundreds of interested taste-testers trying to find their next go-to spot for dinner.

Not only will this event market their restaurant to potential customers, it’s going to be fun! Live music, happy-hungry people walking around, friends gathering and hopefully the sun will be shining! Encourage your favorite restaurant to fill out this application and get in on the excitement of A Taste of Rochester.

Do you own a restaurant? Better get your staff on board because you don’t want to miss this. Your competitors sure aren’t!