Things to Do in Batavia

The consortium of professional instructors at Fred Astaire Dance Studios, which was cofounded by the legendary toe tapper himself, shepherds students of all ages and skill levels through lessons that span the style spectrum. Low-pressure private sessions allow enthusiastic teachers to fine-tune individual students' techniques and form, using their expert eyes and mechanical dancing shoes preprogrammed to do the Charleston. Patrons can learn how to cavort through classic waltz and fox-trot romps or swivel through the modern steps of salsa, swing, or samba. For dancers hoping to hoof it up in a social setting, the group practice parties provide a one-night extravaganza of instruction, demonstrations, and amateur firewalking.

When Marina Lisser was 14, she decided to take up dancing, despite the fact that in her native Russia, she was considered much too old to start. Firmly flouting social convention, she thrived, competing at the professional level and landing a fifth-place finish in the European Cup finals. Eventually, she went on to earn a master's degree in Dance Forms and write a dissertation on the psychology of competition.

But none of that prepared her for the shock that awaited her when she landed in New York City to work for Fred Astaire Dance Studios in 1993. She hadn't realized she'd be teaching a totally new kind of student: adult amateurs. She'd only taught professionals and children who wanted to dance for a living. If 14 was too old to start dancing in Russia, how would she teach adults in America?

Through trial and error, she figured it out by ignoring, according to a feature in Democrat and Chronicle, whatever holds her students back. "I'm one of those horrible Russian teachers," Marina confessed. "We want what we want; there is no such thing as limits."

Today, she and her staff of instructors specialize in two styles: American Smooth and Rhythm, and International Standard and Latin. Students learn to waltz, tango, and foxtrot atop the ballroom's sprung wood floor, which cushions feet and joints, while wall-length mirrors help them self-correct their form. In addition to teaching social dance skills and helping affianced couples prepare for their first dance, the instructors also ready competitive dancers to take first place medals in everything from cabaret dancing to swing, often by deftly prancing over the laser security systems that guard them. Marina is certified in dance therapy, as well as social and competitive wheelchair dancing, to make dance accessible to everyone.

eSkoot Niagara equips day-trippers and prospective buyers with environmentally friendly electric choppers from Emmo, enhancing sightseeing with safe and efficient transportation. Each two-wheeled wonder thrives off a sophisticated lithium battery capable of going up to 70 kilometres on a single charge, allowing riders to take in the idyllic charm of the Niagara region’s shops, wineries, and lakefront without worrying about gassing up or shovelling coal into the engine’s furnace. Every vehicle in the store’s impressive fleet, from the heavy-duty GT5 scooter to the speedy, lightweight Mount 7 bike, operates under the same laws as bicycles, allowing passengers to enjoy open-air rides without the need for drivers’ licences or insurance.

Muscled superheroes duke it out with zombies and vampires for prime shelf space at Park Avenue Comics & Games, whose vast inventory of trade paperbacks, comics, and board games was voted the most geek-friendly in City’s Best of Rochester 2011 poll. Perennial comic powerhouses Marvel and DC are well represented in the store’s catalog, from new titles that chronicle Batman’s crime-fighting story to back issues that recount Captain America’s quest to memorize all the words in the Pledge of Allegiance. A pull-list service ensures dedicated fans don’t miss the newest issues and even slices off 15% from the price of all new titles. Though board games fly off the shelves on casual in-store game nights for the whole family, little ones should stay at home on Friday nights, when players morph into card-munching werewolves for Magic: The Gathering tournaments.

At Taylor Rental, a knowledgeable staff of handypeople and do-it-yourselfers rents out the tools and machinery necessary to complete a honey-do list of home-improvement endeavors. For interior projects, the shop's floor sanders make exceptional tools for smoothing hardwood surfaces and rendering statue faces anonymous, and its carpet cleaners swiftly rid floor toupees of dirt and grime. Green thumbs wishing to plant lush, emerald lawns can make great use of Taylor's aerators, overseeders, and sod-cutting machines. A collection of tents shelters picnicking revelers and their fine china from stormy showers, and balloon inflators, disco balls, and fog machines make house parties feel less like penitentiary visits. Taylor Rental's parking lot also plays host to a fleet of RVs and U-Haul trucks for movers and vacationers.