The Rochester dating scene provides some unique challenges, especially to daters who are wary of media images that perpetuate impossible standards of beauty. Rochester, New York is widely regarded as the "Image Center" of the country, in no small part because of its ties to the Eastman family. And the Rochester Institute of Technology boasts one of the greatest collections of darkrooms and processing labs in the entire U.S.

If you're the type of person who spends hours in front of the mirror primping, priming, and preening before a date, maybe Rochester's not the best town for you. You won't find yourself the subject of hounding paparazzi per se, but the very concept of image-consciousness is impossible to escape in a town that's dominated by photography and other representations. As you'd expect, then, cinema is also given its due in Rochester, which is good news for film buffs.

Alternatives on the Rochester Dating Scene

Lest you should think the entire Rochester dating landscape is one graphic depiction itself, rest assured that there are plenty of alternatives to photography museums and experimental cinema art houses. There's also the New York Museum of Transportation, the Susan B. Anthony House, and a host of other cool cultural attractions from which to choose. For a great hands-on exploration of American history, the environment, political movements, and social causes, be sure to check out the Strong Museum, which is also fantastic for kids.

Again, it's less important what you do in Rochester than the person with whom you're doing it. Spend some time in Rochester chat rooms and on internet dating sites getting to know fellow residents of the city. You may start out merely making a few friends, but over time realize that those friends are folks you'd like to get to know more intimately. More than a few legendary romances have begun in this modest fashion.