Go 'n Groove to Fashion Week of Rochester '12

What a wonderful four days we had over the 3rd Fashion Week of Rochester! Over $100,000 was raised to benefit the Center For Youth in Rochester NY.

Lovely Ladies During The Boutique Crawl Outside of Embrasse Moi

 The events started with the Boutique Crawl on Thursday evening. We had two limos full of fun women (30 in all)! Equipped with wine, food, music, etc. these women were ready to enjoy themselves and shop! We started with the shops in Pittsford and then proceeded up Monroe Avenue with many stops along the way in Pittsford & Brighton. Then we made our way to the Park Ave. shops in downtown Rochester. Too many shops & boutiques...too little time! At the end of the night it was relaxing and unwinding at Jo Jo's.

Limo Equipped With Wine & Finger Foods

Lovely Ladies Enjoying Scott Miller Salon, Sponsor of the Event

Friday night took place at the newly renovated Culver Armory. It was a beautiful evening and the place was rocking! Ten of us met at TRATA, the new restaurant there. From there it was over to the Art of Fashion. With the fun music of young DJ Fulano, the fashions were high end, edgy & fun! After that it was back to TRATA for a night cap before calling it a night.

Monica Flaum With Gail Riggs Prior To The Event

Culver Armory Rocked It!

The Height Of Fashion took place at the Memorial Art Gallery, but we started our evening at Pittsford Wines for a tasting of NY State Food & Wines with Marie & Nick Cascini, proprietors of the shop, and their wonderful PR Chick, Shannon Byrd. Naturally we wished we had more time to spend there, but there's never enough time when it comes to food & wine! Then downtown to the MAG for the show. Exotic models welcomed us as did tasters from MU. Wine was provided by Casa Laga and we enjoyed perusing the goods of many great vendors. Then inside for the show. Another great one! From there it was out for more fun for most of the group and a quiet night for the organizer, me!

Great Tasting of NY State Food & Wines at Pittsford Wines/Via Girasole

The Lovely Ladies That Enjoyed The Tasting

Fashion Show at the MAG

The shows wrapped up with a family friend show at the Farmers Market of Rochester. Despite the chill in the air, the Flavor of Rochester had a full crowd as those as young as 3 took the stage in their frolics. Great music by local teenage musicians as well as a very fun emcee! After that it was time to relax, unwind and start talking about next year!

The Chill In The Air Couldn't Keep Us Away On Sunday

The Farmers Market of Rochester was a Great Venue for the Family Friendly Show

Why do so many take their time to volunteer and get involved in Fashion Week of Rochester? As Elaine Spaull of the Center For Youth says at the end of every show, "it's all for the children." The Center For Youth, the beneficiary of Fashion Week of Rochester is the best organization to turn to for young people seeking to deal with, explore, or understand issues of importance to them - from their perspective, and on their terms. Started by kids, for kids, all Center services - from counseling, to shelter, to education, to referrals - are rooted in, and delivered with the knowledge that youth want to, and can, take responsibility for their life choices.

Meghan, Elaine & Chanitza, the ladies that make FWR happen

Go 'n Groove to Fashion Week of Rochester '12

Go 'n Groove to Canandaigua '12

Abbie & Karen

The trip started with a fun time in Pittsford NY as early arrivals came in (Abbie for the annual Mac Kenzie Childs sale, Katie from Boston, Joan from Texas and Karen & Donna from Miami) and we lunched at the Village Bakery and enjoyed the lovely ambiance of the Del Monte Lodge. From there it was off to the "triangle"! Drinks at the Pittsford Pub, dinner at Jo Jo's and end of the evening fun at Thirsty's. Loved sharing the Village with them!

Jill, Shari & Katie

Karen, Donna & Joan

The next morning it was quite a scene as we drove into Canandaigua with a stream of (8) cars & SVU's with bikes on top or on the back of their cars. As we packed up John's truck and enjoyed picnic lunches from the Bristol Harbour, we hurried to avoid the rain that threatened us. Despite Karen's (from Miami) mishap as her shoe broke in half, but it was nothing duct tape and Jeanette couldn't take care of! Weaving in and out of the hills along the west side of the lake was no problem for these veterans and newbies. After a Corona or two at the Sand Bar it was a post ride stretch and yoga session overlooking the lake with Leslee from TUNE Yoga. Quite a scene for the fellow guests! After a brief rest or swim in the pool it was an easy walk to the NY Wine & Culinary Center where we had a wine tasting in one of their classrooms followed by a great dinner in their private dining room.

Wine & Cheese Tasting at the NY Wine & Culinary Center

The following morning brought warm biking weather as we rode along the western hills of Canandaigua and weaved our way over to the lake with a stop for lunch at A+ Treats. Wasn't I lucky that Katie's chain broke and she had to take her bike in to be repaired as she was then on call as my son, George, texted me that morning that he was in the ER in Penn Yan with bronchitis! They enjoyed the day in their room watching Criminal Minds. That evening we ventured over to Rio Tomatian for a scrumptious filling Mexican food.

Miami Babes:  Donna, Karen & Karen

Our last day was HOT HOT HOT! As we cycled along the eastern shore of the lake we didn't take too many breaks as the heat index was soaring. We even had a construction crew stop traffic for us as we took a shortcut to what John said would be an easier hill. Easy and hill in Canandaigua are two words that just don't go together no matter how much one tries! It was brutal, but the view was well worth it. Finally back at the Bristol Harbour it was lunch, naps & pool time. Then our wrap up party in our condo that overlooked the lake. Food was catered by Chef K2 (Kristin Klock) who I highly recommend and our bartender was a family friend, Robert Cleary. Lots of fun and laughter ensued during this final dinner together along with some tears as we presented Katie with a collective donation in honor of her cycling Lake Tahoe with her Team In Training team raising funds for leukemia and lymphoma research.

Presenting Katie with her donation to TNT 

Leslee of TUNE Yoga doing our Post Ride Stretch

The next morning it was a glorious breakfast overlooking the lake and then it was time to pack up and say our good byes. Never fun, but at least we know they'll be plenty more Go 'n Groove fun in '13 as we Cayuga & Skaneateles. Until then.

Beautiful View Just Before The Down Hill

Thank you to each of you that joined Go 'n Groove to Cananadaigua '12: Abbie (Summit NJ), Sally (Webster NY), Karen (Miami FL), Katie (Boston MA), Jeanette, Karen & Kerry (State College PA), Terri & Susan (Avon NY), Karen & Donna (Miami FL), Joan (Austin TX) and Geri & Janice (Toronto CN). Day Riders included Shari & Tina (Pittsford NY), Leslee & Victoria (Canandaigua NY) and Olga (Rochester NY). Also thanks to Jill (Pittsford NY) for joining us Saturday for the fun, to Kayla (Pittsford NY) for joining us for dinner on Sunday, to Amy & Ginny (Fairport NY) for joining us Monday and to Beth (Fairport NY), Kay (Brighton NY), Shari (Pittsford NY) and Victoria (Canandaigua NY) for being a part of Tuesdays dinner. And as always a BIG thank you to John (SKI) as we couldn't do these trips without you!

Group Before Departure on Sunday

Go 'n Groove to Canandaigua Slideshow