Homes across Rochester’s 19th Ward were filled with laughter, conversation and good food on Feb. 7.
The neighborhood’s annual candlelight dinners returned — a potluck tradition that brings friends and neighbors together.
The dinners work like this: Some neighbors open their doors as hosts, cooking up the main course, while others join as guests, bringing along appetizers, sides, desserts or drinks to share.
Before the big night, hosts inform their guests when to arrive, what to bring and where to go, and an evening of community, connection and home-cooked meals unfolds.
A beloved neighborhood ritual brings familiar faces back to the table
This year, there were 10 host homes with 82 people in attendance — exceeding last year’s participation record.
Each dinner was different — some included young children, others featured vegan or vegetarian menus and each gathering reflected its host.
Justice Marbury and Marili Vaca attended a 19th Ward Community Association candlelight dinner hosted by Karen Emerson. The annual potlucks have brought friends and neighbors together for nearly 40 years.
Democrat and Chronicle social media reporter Marili Vaca and I attended a turkey dinner hosted by Karen Emerson.
Upon our arrival, we noticed some familiar faces — Brad and Karen Files — who we had the pleasure of meeting during the dinners last year.
We enjoyed roasted turkey, kale salad, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing made from Emerson’s own sourdough, a vegetable dish and the dessert Marili and I prepared. Appetizers and wine rounded out the meal.
The table was beautifully set with a brown plaid tablecloth, porcelain plates with a pinkish purple flower in the middle, unique silverware and glowing candlelight.
Then came the conversation.
It spanned a range of topics, from where everyone lived in the neighborhood to careers, travel, movies, Upstate New York’s greatest ice cream shops and beyond.
We shared photos of our vacations and crafts that we picked up over the years.
This year, I wasn’t the newest 19th Ward resident attending. We all welcomed Laura Mack to the neighborhood. Our group already has plans to go to Mack’s house for corned beef and cabbage in March.
Again, the experience was unforgettable, and I’d gladly do it again.
—As a Rochester native, Justice Marbury entered the world of journalism to create work where voices like hers were heard—the voices of minority communities. Marbury covers small businesses, neighborhood concerns, and the interesting people who live in Rochester’s 19th Ward. As the 19th Ward reporter, she has helped implement community outreach ideas by asking what people in various communities want to read about themselves in addition to regular news. Contact her on Instagram @justice_marbury and by email at jmarbury@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: A record turnout for the 19th Ward’s warm winter potluck
