One week until the Conference!

The 2023 NY Statewide Preservation Conference starts in one week! It’s not too late to register and join us for three days of interactive programming, including thought-provoking sessions, walking tours, a downtown Meet & Greet, field sessions, and a Keynote Luncheon featuring Bonnie McDonald, President & CEO of Landmarks Illinois. The weather forecast looks sunny and warm, perfect for this year’s lakeside conference at the Emerson Park Pavilion.

If you’ve already registered for the conference, make sue to check out our Keynote Luncheon preview and Session #4 Spotlight.  If you attended last year’s conference in Syracuse, you may recall that “Bad Preservation: When Good Intentions Become NIMBY Nonsense” was postponed, so we’re excited for this long-awaited session!

Sacred Sites Tour

On Sunday, May 21st, join us for a tour of five of greater Rochester’s most iconic houses of worship.  We will explore religious architecture that spans over 150 years, from Gothic Revival edifices to contemporary landmarks by noted architects Louis Kahn and James Johnson. The five sites include The Church of St. Luke and St. Simon Cyrene (Episcopal) on S. Fitzhugh Street, St. Michael’s Catholic Church on N. Clinton Avenue, Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church on East Avenue, First Unitarian Church on S. Winton Road, and Temple Sinai on Penfield Road. Participants will drive between each tour stop, following a provided schedule of presentations with the first one starting at 1 pm and and the last one concluding at 5 pm. A team of experts will provide commentary at each stop: Joseph Kelly, Professor of Religious Studies (Emeritus) at Nazareth College, Christopher Brandt, Preservation Architect, and Cynthia Howk, Landmark Society Architectural Research Coordinator (retired.)

The Sunday, May 21st tour is strictly limited to 100 participants, so don’t hesitate to get your tickets, which also include a pre-tour lecture on Wednesday, May 17th.

Two weeks left to get free airfare for Gems of Eastern Europe!

Don’t forget!  Mayflower Tours has extended the free airfare deal for our upcoming Gems of Eastern Europe cruise on the Eastern Danube!  Join us for a 12-day trip (October 4-15, 2023) aboard a luxurious Emerald Waterways StarShip.  Visit five distinctive countries: Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, and Romania with expert guides and personal attention.  Rates start at $6,645 per person, depending on cabin selected. Reserve your spot with a deposit by April 20th, and your airfare is included!

More Architecture in the Wild walking tour classes now open for registration!

Spring Architecture in the Wild classes with the Rochester Brainery are live, and already selling out! “Exploring Rochester’s West Side” is completely full, but stay tuned, because we’ll be offering that one again in October.  Three other walking tours are now available to book:  Maplewood’s Lake View Park on Tuesday, May 23rd; the 19th Ward on Wednesday, June 14th; and Maplewood’s Seneca Parkway on Thursday, June 22nd.  Our popular tours, led by members of the Young Urban Preservationists (YUPs), are a great way to learn more about Rochester’s architecture, whether you’re new to town or have been here for decades.  You’re guaranteed to walk away with a new vocabulary and perhaps a new favorite style.

Want to learn more about the architects that designed some of the buildings you’ll see on our walking tours? Sign up for one (or both!) of our Rochester’s Great Architects classes (“The Rulemakers” on May 18th and “The Rulebreakers” on June 1st).  These indoor classes will be held at our office in historic Warner Castle, and will provide you with fun facts, great visuals, and a bit of historical gossip!  They’re the perfect complement to our walking tours.

Learn about Rochester's Jewish Landmarks at the Rochester Public Library

Have you heard of the numerous famous (and infamous!) Jewish architects, developers, businessmen, politicians, musicians, and activists who lived right here in the Rochester area? On Saturday, April 15th, the Rochester Public Library will present “Rochester’s Jewish Landmarks: Exploring Rochester’s Jewish History Through The Built Environment.” Join Landmark Society Preservation Planner Megan Klem to learn about the many buildings and sites associated with Rochester’s Jewish history and take a peek at the Jewish Landmarks Survey Report completed by The Landmark Society. This in-person event will also be streamed on the library’s YouTube channel.  The presentation is free, but registration is required.

Volunteer Open House - Monday, May 22nd

Volunteer Curious?

Join us on Monday May 22nd between 5pm and 7pm for an informal gathering at Warner Castle, and find out about all of the different volunteer opportunities with The Landmark Society.  We’ll share about such diverse activities as the House and Garden Tour,  garden volunteers,  tour leaders, beer/architecture scavenger hunts and more.

Whether you have never volunteered with us, or if you volunteer at one activity and would like to learn about the others – we’d love to see you!  Light refreshments and informal tours of the first floor of Warner Castle will also be featured.

Come with your questions and your calendar – take away information, or even sign up on the spot!

Please RSVP to Cindy Boyer so we have enough nibbles for everyone (and can give you parking instructions) at cboyer@landmarksociety.org

Upcoming Events

April 13th-15th: 2023 NY Statewide Preservation Conference in Auburn 

April 15th: Rochester’s Jewish Landmarks presentation

April 21 – May 2nd: Landmark Travels: Tulip Time on Jewels of the Rhine

April 24th: Rochester Brainery Class: “Landscape Architects of Rochester” (SOLD OUT!)

May 1st: Deadline to submit nominations for the 2023 Preservation Awards

May 13th & 14th / May 20th and 21st: Ellwanger Open Garden Days (Lilac Festival weekends)

May 15th: Rochester Brainery Class: “Architecture in the Wild: Exploring Downtown’s West Side” (SOLD OUT!!)

May 18th: Rochester Brainery Class: “Rochester’s Great Architects: The Rulemakers“

May 21st: Sacred Sites Tour

May 22nd: Volunteer Open House

May 23rd: Rochester Brainery Class: “Architecture in the Wild: Maplewood’s Lake View Park“

June 1st: Rochester Brainery Class: “Rochester’s Great Architects: The Rulebreakers“

June 10th & 11th: 2023 House & Garden Tour (Saturday & Sunday – more info coming soon!)

June 14th: Rochester Brainery Class: “Architecture in the Wild: Exploring the 19th Ward“

June 22nd: Rochester Brainery Class: “Architecture in the Wild: Maplewood’s Seneca Parkway“

5 Castle Park, Rochester, NY 14620
PHONE: (585) 546-7029 x10 · FAX: (585) 546-4788