Things to Do in Brighton

The Rochester Americans trace their roots back to the 1956–57 AHL season, when they entered the league with a bang by advancing all the way to the Calder Cup championship. They ended up losing the series to the Cleveland Barons, but their fast start did, indeed, portend future success; in a stunning spell of dominance, Rochester won three Calder Cups from 1964–68, losing in the championship series in 1966–67, the one season they failed to capture the title. The Amerks seized Calder Cup glory again in 1983, 1987, and 1996 for a total of six championships. Today, the Amerks are in their 31st season as the AHL affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres and remain one of the league’s most storied franchises.

The botany enthusiasts at Oriental Garden Supply care for a wide variety of greenery, including many Japanese and Asian plants and flowers. Their verdant nursery opens Sunday, April 15, allowing guests to peruse mini forests of korean fir, japanese maple, norway spruce, and overgrown toothpicks. Blossoming perennials and succulents await green thumbs in the greenhouse, which opens the first week of April.:m]]

On 134 acres of farmland outside of Fairport, the dedicated staff and volunteers of Lollypop Farm, the Humane Society of Greater Rochester care for thousands of stray animals each year. The open-admission shelter adopts animals of all breeds and species—including cats, dogs, rabbits, birds, horses, and pigs—and holds programs to educate visitors on the issues that contribute to the animals' overpopulation and difficulty in attaining advanced degrees.

The staff encourages families to visit the animals and enjoy the outdoor farm petting area, and oversees younger visitors as they build bonds with animals through education programs such as basic pet care for 3–5 year-olds. The Future Vets program teaches aspiring veterinarians in fifth–eighth grades how to conduct basic exams and begin working toward careers in animal care or pig-to-horse translation services. Summer farm camps also provide a hands-on experience as young visitors have fun feeding animals and caring for their own designated camp pets.

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.