Feb. 5 & 6 (daytime school performances) and Feb. 6 (public performance) Walk the Walk: Encounters with Rochester's African American Ancestors: In this moving collection of dramatic vignettes, African Americans from the city's past describe the freedoms and frustrations they experienced in American's first boomtown. School performances at Hochstein School of Music, 10 a.m. (teacher registration forms available here). Public performance at Mt. Olivet Baptist Church, 141 Adams Street in the Historic Corn Hill District, 7 p.m. FREE

March 21 & 28 City Living Saturday Bus Tours Designed for prospective homebuyers and open to the public, these bus excursions, guided by Landmark expert Cynthia Howk, are a great introduction to Rochester's historic neighborhoods. 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Landmark Society, 133 S. Fitzhugh Street. Free, reservations required

April 3 Stone-Tolan House Museum Reopen This rural tavern on the frontier in Brighton, NY reopens for groups & individuals. Normal hours are Friday and Saturday 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm. Group tours of six or more can be scheduled daily, except Monday. 2370 East Ave. $3 adults, $1 children (members free).

April 6 Your Old House Workshop Tracy Gaus, owner of Herbly Wonderful, will talk about growing, harvesting and preserving herbs. She will be bringing lots of plants as well as pots, soil, and seeds for the group to plant during the workshop. Beverly Gibson, The Landmark Society’s horticulturist for 18 years and owner of the garden design and maintenance business Yankee Gardener, will introduce attendees to soil preparation for growing herbs. 6-9 p.m. at the Stone-Tolan House Museum, 2370 East Avenue, Brighton. Pre-purchase $25; door $30. To register, please call (585) 546-7029 x10.

April 13 Your Old House Workshop Craig Prince will discuss the issues involved in and solutions for treating wet basements and provide attendees with respite from the frustrations of dealing with this problem. Mr. Prince is the owner of Mason Trenching Co. - bonded, licensed, master plumbing contractor firm since 1977. 6-9 p.m. at the Stone-Tolan House Museum, 2370 East Avenue, Brighton. Pre-purchase $25; door $30. To register, please call (585) 546-7029 x10.

April 27 Your Old House Workshop Marty Naber will talk about care and maintenance of masonry buildings and focus on evaluation, repairs and re-pointing of chimneys. Mr. Naber is an architecture graduate from Syracuse University and the owner of Naberhood Restoration, for more than twenty-five years. 6-9 p.m. at the Stone-Tolan House Museum, 2370 East Avenue, Brighton. Pre-purchase $25; door $30. To register, please call (585) 546-7029 x10.

April 27-30 Montreal and Quebec City Four days/three nights motor coach tour. Stunning views of the Laurentian Mountains and the St. Lawrence River await you in Quebec City, founded in 1608 by French explorer Samuel de Champlain. Montreal is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada, and known as one of the largest French speaking cities in the world. Come explore the incredible culture and stunning architecture and history of both cities with us! $1,332 pp. Includes gift copy of Historic New York: Architectural Journeys in the Empire State.

May 2 23rd Annual Regional Preservation Conference: "Maintaining Hometown Character in the 21st Century." If you work with, live in, or want to save a historic property, you won’t want to miss The Landmark Society’s 23rd Annual Regional Preservation Conference. With an eye to national trends, this year’s conference is all about economics: from the economic benefits of reusing historic downtown buildings to the ways homeowners can save money by preserving their homes’ original features, you’ll learn how historic buildings and landscapes contribute to economically and environmentally healthy, sustainable communities. $45 ($40 for Landmark Society members) before April 27, 2009. Lunch included with all registrations received by April 27. Registration (space permitting) after April 27 is $50 for everyone and does NOT include lunch. Preservation Board/Commission members SPECIAL REGISTRATION RATE OF $40 PER PERSON if you register by April 27, 2009! Online registration coming soon; to register by mail, download the printable registration form here or register by calling (585) 546-7029 x10.

May 4 Your Old House Workshop Lee B. Bradley, the owner of Lee B. Bradley Flooring, Inc. for over 20 years and Craig Dupra, a National Wood Flooring Association certified instructor and hardwood flooring contractor for over 20 years, will discuss the problems and issues involved in the repair of hardwood floors. 6-9 p.m. at the Stone-Tolan House Museum, 2370 East Avenue, Brighton. Pre-purchase $25; door $30. To register, please call (585) 546-7029 x10.

May 8-17 Ellwanger Garden open during Lilac Festival: Discover a hidden oasis just blocks from the Lilac festivities at this historic landscape originally planted by famed nurseryman George Ellwanger in 1867. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Ellwanger Garden, 625 Mt. Hope Ave, Rochester, New York. $5 suggested donation.

May 11 Your Old House Workshop Steve Jordan will talk about window repair for older homes, focusing on the benefits of using historic windows instead of replacement windows. Mr. Jordan is a preservation consultant with over 30 years in the old house repair business, and the former rehab advisor for The Landmark Society. 6-9 p.m. at the Stone-Tolan House Museum, 2370 East Avenue, Brighton. Pre-purchase $25; door $30. To register, please call (585) 546-7029 x10.

May 17-20 Cape May, New Jersey Four days/three nights motor coach tour. Located at the southeastern tip of New Jersey, Cape May is one of the oldest seashore resorts on the Atlantic coast, formerly rivaling Newport as a favored summer retreat for Philadelphia and New York socialites. You will experience three days of exciting activities, including house tours, lectures, a trolley tour through the historic district, dinner in the Twinings Tearoom, a tour of the Physick Estate, mystery dinners, and much more. $1,150 pp. Includes gift copy of Historic New York: Architectural Journeys in the Empire State.

May 21 East Avenue Stroll: The Gilded Age. Join Architectural Historian Cynthia Howk for a walking tour of Rochester's historic East Avenue corridor, home to some of Rochester's grandest homes. Cynthia will take you on a discovery of the beautiful, the unusual, the elegant and the eclectic. Those who have been on the tour with Cynthia know you’re in for an educational and entertaining look at the “architectural life styles of the rich and famous” along Rochester’s grand boulevard. 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. $16 for Landmark Society members; $18 for non-members. To register, please call (585) 546-7029 x10.

May 23, 24, and 25; May 30 and 31; and June 6 and 7 Linwood Gardens Tree Peony Festival of Flowers Visitors can tour the gardens, main house and enjoy the tree peonies of this unique American Country Place-era estate in western New York. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., suggested $8 donation. Guided tours $10.

May 29 Linwood Gardens Tree Peony Festival of Flowers - Special Guided Tour for The Landmark Society Join us for a special guided tour of Linwood Gardens. Located 35 miles southwest of Rochester, this garden landscape was designed in the early 1900s with an Arts and Crafts-style summerhouse, walled gardens with pools and fountains, ornamental trees, and a view of the valley below. The historic garden is known for its distinguished collection of Japanese and American tree peonies. $112 pp, includes transportation, lunch and guide service.

June 4 National Preservation Institute workshop Green Strategies for Historic Buildings. Jean Carroon, FAIA, LEED AP, will present the practical applications of using green building strategies for historic structures, demonstrating how the environmental goal of “reduce, reuse, recycle” can enhance the capital cost competitiveness of preservation projects. Workshop participants will also review the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards used to assess building performance and focus on preservation challenges relating to energy efficiency, windows, lighting, indoor air quality, HVAC, and local and national codes and regulations. Held at the Rochester Museum & Science Center’s Eisenhart Auditorium. $150 before April 23, or $175 after April 23 (Landmark Society and/or Preservation League members receive a $25 discount). Full-time students with valid ID qualify for a reduced rate of $125. Download registration form here or see site for more information.

June 6 & 7 House and Garden Tour: Rochester's most popular house tour opens the doors to some of the region's finest historic homes and their gardens on and around the splendor of East Avenue. Get a rare behind-the-scenes appreciation of this historic and neighborhood as 11 homes, businesses and cultural institutions open their doors! Each stop along the tour route tells its own unique story and history: Tiffany stained glass, ornate marquetry floors, beamed ceilings and grand sweeping staircases will delight and awe while one easily imagines the pageantry and pomp of yesteryear. As in previous years, the tour is self-guided and sites can be visited in any order. House and Garden Tour Ticket Information: Advance tickets are $20 ($18 for Landmark members). Tickets are available at Parkleigh (215 Park Avenue), Arena's Florist (260 East Avenue), through our secure server, by calling (585) 546-7029 x10, or by coming into our office at 133 S. Fitzhugh Street. (Landmark Society member tickets are only sold through The Landmark Society) Day-of-tour tickets, if available, will cost $25 at Tour Headquarters, George Eastman House, 900 East Avenue. New this year is a Friday night garden party event, Libations and Landmarks, held in collaboration with the George Eastman House. Tickets are $75 and include the Friday night party, weekend admission to both the House and Garden Tour and the George Eastman House, as well as spcial behind-the-scenes tours of the Eastman House. To purchase tickets to Libations and Landmarks, please call the George Eastman House at 271-3361 x290 or see their website. This year’s tour promises to be unforgettable! The tour runs both Sat. & Sun. from10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

June 12 Architecture for Lunch: This mini downtown tour, led by local expert Cynthia Howk, weaves together tales of significant buildings, architects and social history. You'll discover Rochester's historic financial, government, and legal district in the heart of Colonel Nathaniel Rochester's original 100-Acre Tract; meet at the Powers Building entrance, 16 West Main Street. 12:10 - 12:35 p.m. Free. 12:10 - 12:35 p.m. Free.

June 12 Buffalo's Frank Lloyd Wright Heritage Day tour. Visit the Darwin Martin House complex, Graycliff and enjoy lunch at the historic Roycroft Inn in Aurora. $149 pp, includes tours, lunch, gratuities and transportation.

June 13 & 14 Peony Weekend @ Ellwanger Garden Enjoy eighty different kinds of perennials, including strong collections of iris, peonies, roses and hostas in this English-style garden established in 1867. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Ellwanger Garden, 625 Mt. Hope Ave., Suggested donation $5.

June 13 & 14 Irondequoit Creek Day Tour. Spend the day with us discovering one of Rochester's hidden historical gems, as we paddle the wetlands of Irondequoit Creek adjacent to Ellison and Tryon Parks in our “war canoe”. Cost of tour $87 pp.

June 19 Architecture for Lunch: With architecture expert Cynthia Howk as your guide, explore Rochester's first park, originally destined to be the courthouse square for newly established Monroe County. Meet at Washington Square Park, at the Soldiers and Sailors Monument on S. Clinton Avenue (opposite Geva Theatre). 12:10 - 12:35 p.m. Free.

June 26 Architecture for Lunch: Tour the exciting East End Cultural District with its historic Victorian residential enclave and handsome early 20th-century landmark buildings. Cynthia Howk will be your guide. Meet at Eastman Place at E. Main and Gibbs streets, opposite the entrance to the Eastman Theatre. 12:10 - 12:35 p.m. Free.

July 13-17, 20-24, 27-31, August 3-7, 10-14 Pioneer Days Summer Camp Let your 3rd through 6th graders experience traditional crafts, outdoor games, special tours and other pioneer pastimes during our weeklong summer camps. Five one-week sessions in July and August. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays, Stone-Tolan House Museum, 2370 East Ave. $240, $195 for members. Fees include a one-year family membership. More than one child? Pay the member rate for additional campers!

July 14 Full Moon Flashlight Tours at the Stone-Tolan House Monroe County's oldest house. Munch on campfire-popped popcorn, splurge on a "S'more Kit" and share a story with fellow adventurers by the campfire. 7 p.m. $12.00 per family, $5.00 for individuals. No reservation needed.

July 26 Corn Hill Strolls One date only! Discover Corn Hill, one of the country’s best-preserved 19th-century residential neighborhoods right here in Rochester on this 90-minute guided walking tour. You’ll learn who lived here, how the area got its start, and how to recognize “clues” to the architectural styles found in this charming area. No reservation needed – just meet at The Landmark Society, 133 South Fitzhugh Street for a 1 p.m. departure. Admission is $5 for adults and $1 for children 12 and younger. Families welcome, recommended for 8 and up.

August 18 Full Moon Flashlight Tours at the Stone-Tolan House Monroe County's oldest house. Munch on campfire-popped popcorn, splurge on a "S'more Kit" and share a story with fellow adventurers by the campfire. 7 p.m. $12.00 per family, $5.00 for individuals. No reservation needed.

September 17-20 The City of Brotherly Love: Philadelphia. Four days/three nights motor coach tour. Philadelphia, PA is most famous as the birthplace of “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.” The Declaration of Independence was signed in the Pennsylvania State House, better known as Independence Hall, on July 4, 1776. In 1790, Philadelphia became the temporary capital of the new United States. Today its modern skyscrapers combine with famed landmarks to create an appealing mixture of past and present. $1,386 pp. Includes gift copy of Historic New York: Architectural Journeys in the Empire State.

September 18 Lockport, NY day tour. Looking for a fun way to experience the attractions of the Erie Canal? Come join us as we discover all that historic Lockport offers, from its five flights of locks built in 1825, to the widest bridges in the world. You’ll even see an upside-down railroad bridge! $163 per person. Included is transportation, all tours, lunch, gratuities and guide service for the group activities. Includes a gift copy of Historic New York: Architectural Journeys in the Empire State.

September 25 & 26 Inside Downtown Tour Celebrating its sixth year, this self-guided tour takes you inside urban gems, prime examples of adaptive re-use and trendy city dwellings.

October 9 Historic Wellsboro and the “Grand Canyon” of Pennsylvania. Day Tour. Join us for the day as we head south to beautiful Wellsboro, PA, known noted for beautiful elm and maple trees and wide boulevards with gas lights. We will tour the Robinson House, the Gmeiner Art & Cultural Center and Pine Creek Gorge in Tioga State Park. $142 pp, includes transportation, all tours, lunch, gratuities and guide services.

October 10 East Avenue Stroll: The Gilded Age. Join Architectural Historian Cynthia Howk for a walking tour of Rochester's historic East Avenue corridor, home to some of Rochester's grandest homes. Cynthia will take you on a discovery of the beautiful, the unusual, the elegant and the eclectic. Those who have been on the tour with Cynthia know you’re in for an educational and entertaining look at the “architectural life styles of the rich and famous” along Rochester’s grand boulevard. 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. $16 for Landmark Society members; $18 for non-members. To register, please call (585) 546-7029 x10.

October 16, 17, 23 & 24 Ghost Walk This ever-popular Halloween event revives true, gory tales from Rochester's past told by "recently returned Rochesterians" in period costumes. Lantern-bearing guides lead participants under the cloak of darkness to each performance then back to the church for Halloween refreshments.

November 22 Historic Preservation Awards & Annual Meeting The Landmark Society honors some of the area's best examples of restoration and care of historic structures. To nominate a candidate or property for an historic preservation award, contact chowk@landmarksociety.org. Free.

December 5 Corn Hill Holiday Tour Beautifully-decked out homes in one of the best country's preserved 19th-century residential neighborhoods are the perfect way to kick off the month of December and bring some holiday cheer.