40th Annual House and Garden Tour - June 5 & 6, 2010
10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

The 40th Annual Landmark Society House and Garden Tour, taking place on June 5 and 6 in Brighton, offers a menu full of diverse architectural styles and innovative designs.
Tastings Through Time on June 4th combines food and architectural history.

Eight incredible homes are featured this year, ranging from the oldest house in Monroe County (1792) to a house built in the 1990s. Whether your taste is 19th century farmhouse, classic Tudor Revival luxury, or even 1950s modern and sleek, your palate will be nourished by the selections this year! And, as an appetizer...on June 4th, prepare to experience Tastings Through Time, our kick-off event at Stone-Tolan House in Brighton. This celebration highlights the time periods featured on the tour, with delicious fare from across 200 years.

History in your own backyard
Did you know the oldest house in Monroe County is on East Avenue in Brighton? The Stone-Tolan House has quietly resided here since its construction in 1792. For over 200 years, the Stone-Tolan House has been many things to many people. To Orringh and Elizabeth Stone, it was home and work: a farm and tavern. To neighbors, it was a place to gather for a drink in the tavern room, and plan the government for their new town of Brighton. To the traveler, it was shelter from the wilderness of early-19th century New York. To hundreds of school children each year, the Stone Tolan House Museum, a designated Brighton Landmark, brings their textbooks to life. This year, it’s a stop on our tour – and a chance for everyone to gain an appreciation for this hidden gem right here in our backyards.

In addition to this 19th-century landmark, the tour will showcase multiple residences built in various eras of the 20th century, constituting a well-balanced and diverse experience. See the 1957 Alcoa aluminum house, one of 24 Alcoa Carefree Homes built across the United States and designed by American architect, Charles M. Goodman. Another outstanding tour stop will be an American Tudor Revival home, complete with spectacular carved woodwork, stained glass and gorgeous décor, designed by Leander W. McCord, a distinguished Rochester architect. Several more homes blend the best of contemporary and classic design.

Start your weekend deliciously by attending Tastings Through Time, this year’s kick-off event. This celebration, hosted by Historic Brighton, highlights the diverse cuisine from the selected eras of homes on this year’s tour. We hope you’ll join us Friday evening, June 4th, from 6 to 8 p.m., at the Stone-Tolan House Museum. This party will be like nothing you’ve ever experienced! Travel through time sampling delicious nibbles reflecting the 200 years of architectural history showcased this tour weekend. Enjoy early-American inspired treats in honor of the Stone-Tolan House, retro hors d’ourves showcasing the 1930s classical revival homes, fashionable fifties food representing the 1957 Alcoa House, and contemporary dishes bringing us into the present. Of course, this time tour of edible delights will be accompanied by music, beverages and plenty of ambiance. Truly a night to remember!

Tickets for Tastings Through Time are $75 per person, and include a ticket to the House and Garden Tour. Stand-alone tickets for the House and Garden Tour are $20 in advance, $18 for Landmark Society members. House and Garden Tour tickets and the combination Tastings Through Time/House and Garden Tour tickets will both be available in May.

Tickets can be purchased in person at Parkleigh, 215 Park Avenue, Rochester. Day-of-tour tickets, if available, will be $25 at Tour Headquarters, located at the Baptist Temple, 1101 Clover Street. We're once again offering the prix fixe tour luncheon at Pomodoro Grill. $15 tickets available here.