Discussion Forum - Northstar Chevelle Club

John D · 2K+ Club

What to do in Rochester... NY

Lost in the 60s · President

With the huge storm moving this way from Alaska, you may get to experience one of their 6 ft snowfalls...

There must be a Hooters nearby..

That's a long time for training. Are you learning a new career ?

Bowtieman427 · Active Member

You are not to far from the Falls about 75-85 miles. Wish I was going could visit some family. I you like to fish I am sure you could catch a charter and go salmon trout fishing in Lake Ontario if it is still in season this time of year. Along the lake is pretty nice. If you like to drink visit Genny beer. The Cream Ale is very traditional. "Genny Screamers" though the next day if you drink to many Scott P. may get the joke : )

Scott Parkhurst · Super Poster

Scott P. gets the joke LOL!

You hit it with the Kodak deal- that's probably the most interesting thing to see. This might sound odd, but get pizza and chicken wings while you're there. Some of the best in the country.

Lost in the 60s · President

I did a search of "things to do in Rochester"....

Find the closest Hooters...

dashboard · 2K+ Club

Only seventy-five miles to the west is some real GM history. Gm’s Tonawanda Engine Plant, home of the big block.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Big-Block_engine

Just north of there is the falls; would be chilly this time of year but worth seeing. Best view is from the Canadian side however. Check for passport requirements first.

Or you could drive down to NY and visit with the occupiers on Wall Street, but then somehow I just can’t see that happening.

Other than that, stand by for the winter storm and enjoy the hot wings at Hooter’s, last time I was there they did have cold beer available.

-- Edited by dashboard on Wednesday 9th of November 2011 10:42:05 AM

Scott Parkhurst · Super Poster

How bad is Rochester when going to Buffalo is a solid recommendation? LOL

Bowtieman427 · Active Member

Well if he goes to Buffalo that is where he should get the Pizza and wings. I grew up there and have never been to "Anchor Bar" but I can reccomend "Duff's Wings" I think Sheridan and Millersport off 290 If still there... Bocce's Pizzi on Bailey.
The Tonawand plant is no long the cool Big Block Chevy plant it use to be is now called or part of the GM powertrain div. I think they even got rid of the coolest water tower. They had a huge water tower there and it had a huge Bowtie with Chevrolet int he middle.

If you go to Falls bring pastport and go on the Canadian side it is much safer and nicer. There is a ton to do over there. Plus since people like Hooters so much ask about the "Canadian Ballet" it is much 10X better then Hooters the beer and scenery ; )

Scott Parkhurst · Super Poster

Anchor Bar is really cool and Duffs is still there too.

Try Ted's for foot long dogs and Anderson's for Beef on Weck. Go hungry..

Bocces is good pizza too.

The Tonawanda plant is massive. It might be worthwhile to see if they give tours.

The Canadian side of the Falls is a lot of fun. You have to check out Clifton Hill and they have a nice casino too. And ya- the Peelers are exquisite...mostly former Soviet bloc girls now but that's fine if you can get past the accent. The Canadian accent isn't much better...LOL!

John D · 2K+ Club

I've got about 1/2 day of school today, then exams for "Module 1000". Then all day Sat & Sun to do sightseeing. I may run out to Buffalo... I looked on GM's website and nothing was mentioned about tours, but it wouldn't hurt to go find out. Plus the food you've described is making me hungry.

(Canada doesn't like me, and paying the fees/fines for my past exhuberances "in the States" to see Soviet/Canadian mams isn't worth it.)

Bowtieman427 · Active Member

John, If you stay on US side go over to goat Island. If if you like fish and history here is a list of things to check out.
1) Goat Island is very nice there is a park and you can walk right up to the Falls. If you are an engineering geek like me they have a stautue of Nikola Tesla on the Island (This has to do with the Hydro power generation of the area Niagara Falls was the first to do this stuff). Something to thnk about when you turn yur lights on today and ironically if Edison had his way where would we be today.

2) If you head north from Niagara Falls up to Lewiston you will drive right over the US power dam and see the one on the Canada side. Not sure if they have tours on Sat or Sun. At the time it was a major underataking to build these power plants. Lots of old power engineering. Westinghouse use to be big into it. Weird they won the power war but GE is the company still going.

3) If You continue to Lewiston you can visit "Niagara on the Lake" Fort Niagara. It has some real cool history and was very active during the war of 1812. US and Canada were fighting al the time between Fort Niagara and the Fort in Queenston. Sadly US often got its but kicked and about 20-30 years ago they actually got there flag back after some Royal person died in UK.

Buffalo can be describe as a past booming place in the turn of the Century heavy industry and now is part of the RUST BELT. Dead and dying. If you seen the movie
The filmed the Natural there becuase many of the buildings in Buffalo were built of around 1900-1920s and it has been unchanged.
Niagara Falls is the same. The other thing they have a festival of lights but I think that happens closer to Christmas.

My grandparents would talk about how great it was to gro up there and never had to worry about anything. Today do nto get caught ont he East side and if down town be prepared for someone trying to "Bum Change" off you.

If you seen the movie the Natural there are many seens from Downtown and at the ballpark there. Many Diner seens were from Parkside candies. It is on Main North side of Town. Great stuff. Buffalo has the BEST Sponge Candy too : )
My grandparents lived near there and took me there when I was little

http://www.google.com/search?q=niagara+falls+hydroelectric+power&hl=en&rlz=1R2ADBF_en&biw=1024&bih=541&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=sYO9Tv3IMsmk2gWli92iBQ&ved=0CEUQsAQ#hl=en&rlz=1R2ADBF_en&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=parkside+candies&pbx=1&oq=parkside+candies&aq=f&aqi=g-S1&aql=&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=360879l369261l0l369402l48l24l1l6l6l7l792l6171l0.4.1.2.6.2.1l17l0&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&fp=d4e642155495059f&biw=1024&bih=541
Here are some links below:
Buffalo Food is awsome Pizza, wings, subs I never heard of Subway till I moved out here. I am sure they got some in Buffalo now but I will tell you the food in Buffalo from local mapa place is 10x better. Duff's was very good

http://www.buffalochow.com/buffalofoods.html

http://www.niagarafallslive.com/goat_island_in_niagara_falls_new_york.htm

http://oldfortniagara.org/

http://www.aquariumofniagara.org/

http://www.artpark.net/

http://www.teslasociety.com/adams.htm

http://nyfalls.com/niagara/niagara-falls-faq12.html

http://www.google.com/search?q=niagara+falls+hydroelectric+power&hl=en&rlz=1R2ADBF_en&biw=1024&bih=541&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=sYO9Tv3IMsmk2gWli92iBQ&ved=0CEUQsAQ

John D · 2K+ Club

Well, did a power-run out to Buffalo this afternoon. As said, once a mighty town, now caught in the death-throe's... Neighborhood after neighborhood of bam/bam/bam pre war-era 1-1/2 story bungalows (all similar) but all in varying states of disrepair. The industrial sections near the lake/canal are a series of peeled paint & busted out window buildings... sad.

I've got some type of Shleprock negative karma cloud that follows me when I'm out of town. In 2000 (probably the one & only time I'll get to Oahu/Hawaii) I get to Pearl Harbor and want to tour the "Mighty Mo"... and the friggin' boat is CLOSED - they're filming "Pearl Harbor".

Now I'm in NY, drive to the "Mecca of Chevrolet internal combustion", and it's closed... Veteran's Day and the UAW has the day off.

Oh well. I'll take solice in a 10-plate of Anchor Bar "hot" level wings and a few drafts. Now I've got THE reference point to judge ALL other wings against. And I must say Mama Bellissimo has an incredible recipe.

Scott Parkhurst · Super Poster

I'm glad you got to visit the Anchor Bar.

What you'll remember is how HUGE the wings there are. Others seem paltry by comparison. Yes- the flavor is somehow more perfect there....as it should be.

Leaving Buffalo for greener pastures when I was 18 ended up being wise in retrospect.

It was an okay place to grow up.

John D · 2K+ Club

Well, the last day of "free time". So, got in the rental ride and headed south to Corning. Toured the Museum of Glass at the Corning Glass Works. Very interesting. Didn't know that most of the innovations in glass manufacturing have happened in the last 70 or so years.

On the way there I saw signs for something that caught my eye. So after the glass museum I zipped about 17 miles up 414 to Watkins Glen. It was closed, but I chatted with the gate guard (an old-timer) who gave me some info and detailed how the grandstands are being replaced.

Lost in the 60s · President

So now it's 5 days of class and you can be on your way home...

John D · 2K+ Club

Sitting in the classroom, waiting for the instructor and catching up on Co. emails... .

Yeah right. Just keeping up with what you guys are doing.

Derek69SS · Founding Member

Watkins Glen in a rental car could have been fun.

John D · 2K+ Club

It would've been cool... I've got a Fusion SEL as a rental ride, and the thing is downright peppy. Has a 6-speed auto in it, with a "M"anual mode in the gate. There's a +/- rocker switch on the stick - not quite a paddle shifter, but close.
The thing won't let you get too crazy, and it will auto-downshift as you slow to a stop. The engine 'puter must have a retard or fuel cut between gears, as it dumps power slightly between shifts, but it's a fun little ride.