Good Morning, Rochester!
It feels like we are living in two different seasons this week—in the middle of the week we’ll experience a somewhat "warm winter" followed by a classic flash freeze by Friday. Whether you are hunting for last-minute gifts or cheering on the Amerks, make sure you keep an umbrella handy and the snow boots on standby.
This week’s highlights:
A massive $60M facelift announced for the Riverside Convention Center.
The Roc Holiday Village is in full swing (Wed–Sun).
Hometown heroes Joywave return for a two-night residency.
THE BIG SCOOP
A New Era for the Riverside Convention Center
The City of Rochester has officially launched a massive revitalization effort for the Joseph A. Floreano Rochester Riverside Convention Center. With an estimated budget of $60 million, this project aims to overhaul the facade, modernize systems, and reimagine the skyway connectivity to make downtown more walkable. Design work is targeted to start next summer with construction eyeing a 2029 kick-off.
Roc Holiday Village: Know Before You Go
The epicenter of holiday cheer at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park is open this week from Wednesday through Sunday (Closed Mon/Tue). Highlights include free ice skating (bring your own skates if you can—rentals run out fast!), the Shopping Village featuring over 25 local merchants, and the heated Lodge for a post-skate drink.
Regional Health Win: Jones Memorial Ribbon Cutting
In a big win for regional healthcare connectivity, Jones Memorial Hospital is holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony this Thursday, Dec 18. The expansion includes a new Oncology and Infusion Center and a modernized Sleep Lab, ensuring better access to critical care for the Southern Tier and Western NY network.
WHAT’S HAPPENING
WEDNESDAY (12/17)
Downtown | Roc Holiday Village Shopping | The Shopping Village and Mini Makers Market are open 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM for prime gift hunting. | Starts 4:00 PM
THURSDAY (12/18)
Downtown | Grand Kyiv Ballet: The Nutcracker | The world-renowned Ukrainian ballet company performs Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece at Innovation Square. | Starts 7:00 PM
FRIDAY (12/19)
Downtown | Amerks Teddy Bear Toss | The most heartwarming game of the year; bring a new stuffed animal to toss onto the ice after the first Amerks goal! | Starts 7:05 PM
SATURDAY (12/20)
Marion | 5th Annual Marion Holiday Parade | A classic small-town parade with floats and Santa, just 30 minutes east of the city. | Starts 6:00 PM
CIVIL NEWS
Weather Alert: Friday Flash Freeze
Heads up, commuters: Friday, Dec 19 is going to be tricky. We are expecting a "flash freeze" scenario where temperatures drop from a rainy 48°F during the day to a snowy 20°F at night. This will likely create black ice on untreated roads and sidewalks during the evening rush—especially for those heading to the Amerks game or RPO concert. Plan for extra travel time.
LIVE MUSIC LOW DOWN
Tuesday
Temple Theater | Samantha Fish, Cedric Burnside & Jon Spencer | 7:00 PM
Friday
Anthology | Joywave (Night 1) | 7:00 PM
Friday
Temple Theater | Candlelight: Christmas Carols on Strings | 7:00 PM
WEATHER
Monday
28°F 🌡️ 18°F | ☁️ | 3% | 💨 15 mph (13.0 knots)
Tuesday
32°F 🌡️ 19°F | ☁️ | 1% | 💨 10 mph (8.7 knots)
ROCHESTER SPORTS
Knighthawks Soar in Opener
The Rochester Knighthawks started the NLL season with a massive statement, dominating the San Diego Seals 15-7 in their home opener.
Rochester Knighthawks (NLL) 12/14 vs. San Diego Seals | W 15-7
Rochester Americans (AHL) 12/13 vs. Lehigh Valley Phantoms | L 1-2 (Shootout)
THANK YOU!
Thanks for reading The ROC Scoop! If you found this helpful, forward it to a friend who still thinks there's "nothing to do" in Rochester during the winter. Stay warm out there!