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davecallahan Says: Wegmans Food Market sponsors the Concerts by the Shore summer series. These are local and national talent that either donates their time or is paid by Wegmans to entertain for three hours in Ontario Beach State Park. It is free. You bring your chair or get there very very...
cruise on the Harbortown Belle
davecallahan Says: Take a cruise from the Port of Rochester up the Genesee River from Lake Ontario or around Irondequoit Bay.This river paddleboat looks like one of the old Mississippi river steamers. But it has padded seats, air-conditioning (heater in the Fall of the year) and a snack...
davecallahan Says: Within the confines of the Ontario Beach Park is the 100+years-old Dentzel Carousel.My grandparents took my parents who took me who took my kids who took my grandkids to ride on this animal extravaganza. The carousel has seen some renovations over the years and the colors...
Charlotte Beach (Ontario State Park)
davecallahan Says: Tourists call it Ontario Beach Park or Ontario State Park, but to us it is just plain old Charlotte beach. Since before my grandfather's time (late 19th century), the sandy area north of the Charlotte Lighthouse was "the beach". The land has been filled-in several times as...
Mr. Dominic's: Where the retirees all go to eat
davecallahan Says: It doesn't look like much from the outside but it is quite comfortable and clean inside.There is a little cafe-style set of chairs and umbrellas out front during the summer but the store front is pretty austere in the winter.The prices are very reasonable and the first week...
Bellancas: Overlooking the Port of Rochester
davecallahan Says: UPDATE 2007THIS BUSINESS HAS GONE BANKRUPT AND THE BUILDING IS EMPTY ALTHOUGH THE SIGNS STILL ARE IN PLACEIf you like Prime Rib or Italian, then Bellancas is the place for you to eat.For $25 you can get a juicy slab of Prime Rib, a side salad, rolls and coffee.You get a view...
JAMS Bavarian: a nut by any name is still a nut....
davecallahan Says: This shop is a little nutty. Literally! It is an unassuming little shop that sells all kinds of nuts. Cashew, peanuts, shelled nuts, roasted nuts, pistachios, almonds, pecans.... etc.etc.For $3 you can get a large bag of fresh roasted, honey and cinnamon coated, cashews that...
davecallahan Says: Good Italian dinners at very reasonable prices.Veal Parmigiana, Stuffed Eggplant, Shrimp Fra Diavolo, Haddock Marinara, Chicken Saltimbocca and more and more. Every meal is under $20 and the portions are more than you can eat.This small restaurant has some of the best,...
LDR Char-pit: great beef sandwiches
davecallahan Says: This diner is a Charlotte institution. I first went there about fifty years ago and it basically looks the same now as it did then. The food is just as tasty too.It is a throw-back diner like in the fifties and sixties; counter and stools, formica tables and red vinyl seats...
davecallahan Says: This was the first Pontillos we ever tried over 40 years ago and although the original owner is long gone, the pizza tradition he started is going strong still today. The store itself used to be next to Charlotte Appliances but moved down the street to its present...
Schaller's Restaurant: happy days of rochester.....
davecallahan Says: People are there of all age groups and genre: families, young first-daters, hot-rodders, older bikers (looking to eat not drink), me. And they all have one thing in mind.... fast access to meat and taters. So you step up to the low counter (waiters/waitresses are behind the...
Pelican's Nest Restaurant: On the Genesee River....
davecallahan Says: (this page is also in the Rochester guide where more people may see it)This is a seasonal restaurant, open in the summer month's when there is a flow of people to the Charlotte Beach and pier area. There are indoor and outdoor tables with views of the Genesee River and...
Abbotts Frozen Custard: Abbotts Custard at the Beach
davecallahan Says: Silky smooth, Icy cold, Several flavors (chocolate's best), in Charlotte.... must be Abbotts.A New York State company with heavy presence in Rochester, NY.They make some of the best whipped ice cream (with secret ingredients included) you have ever had. When you go to...
davecallahan Says: If you are looking for a quiet place where you can sit and contemplate your navel and have a couple of drinks, then this is the place. A simple neighborhood bar and grill (mostly bar at night) which doesn't look like much from the outside but is peaceful and comfortable...
The Penny Arcade: TPA... The Penny Arcade... place to be
davecallahan Says: Live Bands every night (three or more nightly), since the 1970's.Mostly local talent but with a few headliners thrown in to keep people coming back.The venue has changed over the years: started as a place to do what is now known as karaoke and local wanna-bes; then there was...
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I am not sure why they put two antique stores right on top of one another but it makes it easy for the shopper.... not far to walk.
Cindy's Secrets at 3319 Lake Avenue and Americana Hour Glass at 3313 Lake Avenue provide enough shopping pleasure for any shop-aholic.
There are rooms full of "stuff" (to me it is junk, to my wife it is treasures). Most of it looks like someone cleared out an old basement or attic and put the items here on consignment. Silver ware, colored glass sets, old magazines and school books, posters, pins, knickknacks,etc.etc.etc.
After about an hour, I got my wife away from the area and went down the road for an Abbott's ice cream.
Written Jul 10, 2007
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The annual Harbor Fest is held at Ontario Beach Park in late June. (see website below for schedules). It is a 3-day event that has tours of sailing vessels ("tall ships"); arts and crafts vendors along the road and in the park. There are plenty of food vendors so you won't go hungry or be thristy; and souvenier hawkers range the area trying to get you to buy their wares. Wegmans Food Market sets up a children's zone where fun activities for the kids abound (finger painting, face-painting, painting with sand, etc.)
Carnival rides are set up in the port parking lot along the Genesee River and their will be a parade of lights on small boats in the harbor at night.
Live entertainment is seen at specific times throughout the days. A fireworks display is the Saturday night highlight.
Fun is had by all (adults and kids) and you only need to pay for what you buy.
Parking is off-site and a $1 shuttle pass per day lets you ride to and from your car.
to get there:
take Lake Avenue all the way to its north end.... that is Lake Ontario and the Harbor Fest area
Updated Apr 4, 2011
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All of the crime statistics for Charlotte indicate it is in a "low risk" category.
All of my dealings in Charlotte have never ended in any type of problem, day or night.
Just do the things you do at home to be safe and you will be safe here.
Written Apr 21, 2007
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This is also on the Rochester page where more people are likely to see it.
Tucked away behind the grammar school which my wife attended on the north end of Lake Avenue in Rochester you will find (maybe!) the Charlotte Lighthouse.
It is one of the registered buildings on the list of lighthouses that dot the banks of Lake Ontario.
There are regular tours on the weekends and group tours can be scheduled. You used to be able to rent a room for the night but I am not sure that is still available (check the website). There is also reported to be a resident ghost and that folklore is part of the tour spiel.
Originally the distance from the lighthouse to the lake was five hundred yards closer than it is today. In the 1820's a pier and sandbar were built north of the lighthouse and that land eventually filled in to make what is today the Ontario Beach Park area.
The lighthouse is completely inactive today and its lights works were removed to be used on the Genesee River pier. But you can climb the stairs to the top of the structure for a nice view and be sure to stop in the volunteer-operated gift shop (donations are appreciated).
Updated Feb 16, 2007
Website: www.geneseelighthouse.org
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Favorite thing: here is a link to the weather cam that is on the lighthouse in Charlotte.
http://weatherbug.excite.com/LiveCameras/Excite/LiveCameras.aspx?zcode=z4639&lid=CTHDR
camera is usually pointing northeast across the Genesee River so that it is not looking into the sun
Updated Nov 21, 2007
Charlotte...... shahr-let (accent on shahr)..... that is in North Carolina. This is shur-lot (accent on lot), upstate New York. Small neighborhood of the city of Rochester, bordering on the towns of...
Build your own Charlotte page
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