About Monroe This Weekend
I found out about the Rochester Adult Book Fair the day after it started. By the time I saw the post, half the weekend was already gone. I made it to day two, but I spent the whole time thinking: How did I almost miss this?
That moment stuck with me, not because the event was life-changing, but because it wasn’t an isolated thing. I kept hearing about shows, pop-ups, readings, and weird little happenings after they’d already happened, or with so little notice that going felt like a scramble. And when I did find event listings, they were either aimed at tourists, packed with kid-friendly stuff, or buried in Instagram accounts I didn’t follow. As a childfree millennial living in Rochester, I felt like I was always on the outside looking in, even though I live here.
That’s why Monroe This Weekend exists.
This isn’t a tourism guide or a family activities roundup. It’s for people like me: singles, couples, throuples if that’s your thing, mostly in the 30–50 range, who want to know what’s happening locally without having to dig through ten different pages or find out too late. We’re looking for events that don’t break the budget, that feel worth the effort of getting dressed and leaving the house, and that aren’t centered on children. We want to feel in the loop instead of like we’re constantly missing out.
It’s Monroe County, Not Just Rochester
Here’s the thing: when I say Monroe County, I mean the whole county. I live in the city, but some of my favorite nights out have been 20–30 minutes away in places I didn’t even know existed. There are art shows in Fairport, live music in Brockport, weird little events in Pittsford and Brighton. City folks should get out more. Suburban folks should explore beyond their immediate area. And honestly? We should all stop thinking “Rochester” is the only place things happen.
I want Monroe This Weekend to help people expand what they think of when they picture their weekend options. Not in an “everything is amazing!” influencer way, but in a genuine “oh, I didn’t know that was happening” kind of way.
Who This Is For
You care about arts, culture, food, and music, but you’re not made of money. You want transparency: what does it actually cost, where do I park, when will I be home? You research before committing because every night out competes with savings, travel plans, or just staying in and cooking something good. You’re curious and experience-oriented, but you also want the night to feel worth it, emotionally, socially, and financially.
If that’s you, this is for you.
What I’m Trying to Do
I want people to feel connected to where they live. I want you to stumble into the same events multiple times and start recognizing faces. I want you to discover a venue you didn’t know existed, or an artist whose work stays with you. I want this to be a reason people stay in Monroe County longer, circulate their money locally, and stop feeling like they’re missing out on the good stuff.
I’m not trying to know everything or be the authority on what’s cool. I’m just a laid-back explorer on the same ride you are, trying to connect more with what’s happening locally. Monroe This Weekend is my way of making sure we don’t keep hearing about things after they’ve already passed.
The Long Game
There’s no rush to grow this into something massive. The goal is simple: help people meet others who care about what they care about, and maybe chip away at this loneliness thing we’re all living through. If this becomes a trusted weekend guide or a way for people to feel more rooted in Monroe County, that’s enough.
Let’s stop missing out on good stuff together.