It’s February, and according to modern interpretations of the legend of St. Valentine, love is in the air! Whether you – the prospective student – envision focusing on yourself and your studies for the first year of school or seeking out your college soulmate, I’m here to provide all the Valentine’s activities you could possibly attend within and beyond our campus this month.
- If your Valentine is: in possession of a massive sweet tooth. Why not spend Valentine’s checking out Rochester’s dessert scene? A short drive from campus, you’ll find the White Rabbit Dessert Experience, which boasts fabulous waffles, crepes, cakes, sweet pizzas, and ice cream sundaes. Portions tend toward the large size, so you could totally split something to save room for your next stop. Heading further into Henrietta, you could stop by TikTok-famous Crumbl cookies and sample the flavors of the week, or check out Abbott’s Frozen Custard. But the real ice cream powerhouse in town is Pittsford Dairy out in Pittsford Village, with dozens of curated flavors. You could also check out Hedonist for artisan chocolates, and Cheesy Eddies for cheesecake so good we have a deal to get it on campus.
- If your Valentine is: a book lover before all else. If books are the way to your heart, I do have to preface that the Rochester libraries have got you covered. Even if your title of choice isn’t among our collection, you can request an Interlibrary Loan and our wonderful staff will borrow it from a different library. I read some really cool historical fiction novels this way! But if you’re looking for a date spot, you can’t do better than the Pittsford Plaza Barnes & Noble. It boasts a beautiful two stories and contains every genre your heart could desire. Also, check out their gift section by checkout to see the best tote bags ever made from their own “Out of print” line. I have a tote covered with candy hearts, except that all the messages on the hearts are about reading!! Once your bags are heavier and your wallet lighter, you can walk over to Trader Jo’s to grab some tasty snacks to munch on while you devour your new books.
- If your Valentine is: a warm drink and a furry friend. Take the Orange Line shuttle to downtown Rochester and enjoy a delicious specialty beverage at Java’s, one of our premier coffee shops near the Eastman School of music. Enjoy handcrafted beverages such as the Shot in the Dark or a London Fog, then head down the street and take a left to our local cat cafe! I always miss my cat at school, so meeting a furry friend is an excellent way to wane off the homesickness and warm your heart in the cold winter months. You might also be able to catch a performance at Eastman in the evening, so check their recital calendar!
- If your Valentine is: your math textbook. No, I’m not kidding, February is ‘Love Data Science Month’ within our libraries on campus. If you’re seeking to explore your data analysis horizons, or brush up on tools that you might be able to apply to your academic projects or research, attend any number of curated, well-organized workshops hosted throughout the month! Check out this year’s event lineup here :))
- If your Valentine is: a lover of shapes and colors. Hop on the shuttle to the Memorial Art Gallery, which is free for UR students. You can admire art from all sorts of time periods and creative movements, ranging from landscapes to an organ to a recreation of mummy’s tomb to modern art. If the weather’s not too bad, head outside to appreciate the sculpture garden featuring a pierce illustrating the story of Pygmalion and Galatea – the story of a Greek artist blessed by Aphrodite, whose beloved sculpture came to life with a kiss. If your Valentine is more of a creative doer than viewer, the MAG occasionally offers art classes (I did a summer course in jewelry-making), or you could check out Color Me Mine and paint pottery which will be glazed for a forever memento.
- If your Valentine is: ready to fall head over heels. Ever heard of East Coast swing? It’s a swing dance variant that has become widely practiced in the Rochester young person scene, thanks to a group of friends (some who are affiliated with UR!) who have established a vibrant dance community which meets every week in the South Wedge. No experience is required: you can get a quick intro or refresher at the start of every session, and once you have the most basic of basics down, you’re ready to hit the dance floor! Swing dance is a partnered dance, which means that you can get to know new people and learn more complicated steps with their assistance. You could also try swing as a way share a new experience with someone special!
- If your Valentine is: a not-so-closeted gamer. Get ready to swap cash for tokens and check out Swillburger in the South Wedge, a game bar featuring skeeball, Space Invader, shooting games whose names I can’t remember, and the largest array of pinball machines that I’ve ever seen. Seriously, if you love pinball, they even started a recreational league! Swillburger is open until fairly late, but is reserved for 21+ patrons after 10 PM. All of their menu items are named after video game references: I had the Princess Peach once, and it was a delightful drink! Spend an afternoon or evening competing for glory. If you’re more of a laser tag type of person, find a friend to drive you to any of the many nearby locations.
- If your Valentine is: someone who would love you even if you were a worm. Stop by my student theatre group’s fundraiser, Worms & Worms! Do you wish you could say ‘I love you’ with a string worm? Now you can! Available in every color of the rainbow, our adorable string worms have the perfect little shiny eyes to gaze up at the special someone in your life, as you ask whether they could still love you in worm form. We also offer anonymous worm delivery upon request, along with a cute little note with that million-dollar question ;))
- If your Valentine is: a lover of romcoms. Head down to the Little Theatre, an independent cinema which is home to many memorable Rochester traditions and events (Rocky Horror live shows, the Poe Speakeasy I attended, cult film screenings, and much more). Their lineup for Vday features a 30th anniversary screening of Before Sunrise, starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy. The Little is absolutely charming, and the surrounding neighborhood is great to walk in, with many a bar where you can warm up with a specialty cocktail. I’m very fond of Swan Dive, whose menu features the Big Pink. One of the bartenders also makes a custom drink not yet on the menu called the Starburst, which tastes exactly like cotton candy!
- If your Valentine is: the friends who make every day special. Host a Valentine’s party! Invite your nearest and dearest to stop by at any point in the midst of your evening plans, and enjoy the warm and fuzzy feelings of seeing your loved ones in a room together. My apartment will be hosting a party featuring a haul of Dollar Tree decorations, which gives us the opportunity to craft a photo wall out of our blank wall. It’s a win-win! We shall be experimenting with crafting a signature party drink, and the dress code will of course be pinks and reds :))
And while I have your attention, the number of people that I’ve known at Rochester whose parents met in college is kind of crazy to me. My parents met as adults! I can’t imagine knowing someone from freshman orientation to your shared tombstone!! However, I really have been privileged to meet the very best friends that I could have hoped for, who will stay in my life as long as I have anything to say about it (forever!) MJ, Anna, Annika, Bryan, and countless others: this one’s for you <3