Each Friday in June, our very own Cynthia Howk (Architectural Research Coordinator and walking encyclopedia here at The Landmark Society) leads a quick lunchtime walking tour of a neighborhood in downtown Rochester.Timed to fit in with busy schedules and weekday lunch breaks, these FREE (!) 20 minute tours feature information on the history and architecture of downtown Rochester.

Last Friday we hit up the Four Corners. Being the hub of business and governmental activity downtown, Four Corners has a big lunchtime crowd and plenty of quick lunch spots (like Pizza Stop, Times Square Cafe, and Shirley’s Island Cuisine, to name a few). Landmark Society staffers Caitlin Meives and Larry Francer, along with our summer intern, opted for a burrito and tacos at Hot Rosita’s and stocked up on caffeine at Boulder Coffee so that we could keep up with Cynthia.

We then met up with a crowd of about 35 other tour-goers at the Powers Building. From there, we went across the street to the County Office Building, where we all marveled at the 4-story atrium, marble columns and walls, and the elaborate railings.

We ended on Fitzhugh St. at the St. Luke & St. Simon Cyrene Church and the recently rehabbed Free Academy Building.

So, if you’re an architecture buff or you like looking at pretty, old buildings or if you just want to get out of the office for a few minutes, join us for the last two installments of Architecture for Lunch:

>>Washington Square Park – Friday, June 21

>>Grove Place/East End – Friday, June 28