Loving where we live

Latest Editions

The Latest

Hearts in Bloom Buffalo

Feature

4 min read

From Pen To Peace

Suzie Wells

4 min read

Painting Is Good For The Soul

Local Insider

3 min read

Winter Hiking

Vivien Reed

3 min read

LOCAL GOODNESS IS FOUND HERE IN 2026.

We wrapped up our 2025 issues feeling incredibly grateful for our readers, contributors, and the local businesses that make our Rochester & Buffalo magazine what it is. Our magazine is built on the small businesses, creatives, and community members who make these cities such special places to live and shop.

Winter is a natural reset for many local businesses, a time to refresh shops, plan what’s next, and dream up new ideas, and our team is right there with them. While we’re working on other creative projects behind the scenes, we’re also planning our Hello, Spring issue, arriving in mailboxes at the end of March! Filled with fresh local stories, inspiring people, and seasonal favorites.

Follow us on Instagram @homepublications for story shares, local events, and a peek at what’s coming next. Have a positive, local story or non-profit we should feature this year? We’d love to hear from you. Fill out our form.

Want HOME magazine delivered straight to your mailbox? Subscribe today!

Here's to an exciting year ahead!

- The Home Team

Read Our Digital Editions

on the cover

Megan Forness

Building Communities Of Women Entrepreneurs. One collective at a time. Megan Forness is in the pursuit of empowerment.As an entrepreneur in Buffalo, she owns five businesses that focus on creating safe spaces for female business owners: Barretend, the Hiraeth House, Harbor House, Valvaere Collective, and She Gathers. Three of her businesses follow a collective model, where vendors are highly valued and have the opportunity to achieve success in a supportive work environment.

Helana Shumway

DL Home & Garden

A City Gem With Something for Everyone. Just steps away from Rochester’s downtown Louise M. Slaughter train station, DL Home & Garden sits at 283 Central Avenue. A historic part of the city, Central Avenue and the train station were the gateway to Rochester in the 1800s, greeting visitors in the bustling metropolitan center. Today, DL Home & Garden welcomes out-of-towners and Rochesterians alike to explore the 11,500 square-foot showroom, the largest of its kind outside of Ne

Helana Shumway

Food by DeLeo Catering

Customized Menus, Culinary Excellence, and a Family Touch. As the premier catering service in Rochester, family-owned and operated Food by DeLeo Catering is in the business of creating unforgettable culinary experiences. Jason DeLeo started the business 23 years ago, and if anything, he and his wife, Nicole, along with their son, Antonio, are only getting started. Antonio is Food by DeLeo’s Executive Chef, and he and his father are both graduates of the Culinary Institute of

Helana Shumway

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- The Home Team

Our mission is to help our neighbors thrive: we highlight local artisans and inspire the transformation of the places we live to the spaces we love. Home.

good

neighbors

Hearts in Bloom Buffalo

Showing Up With Flowers and Love Some stories stay with you. They linger because they’re rooted in love, loss, and the quiet moments when someone simply shows up. Hearts in Bloom Buffalo is one of those stories. Founded right here in Western New York by Catherine Szabad , Hearts in Bloom Buffalo is a nonprofit dedicated to delivering flowers, small gifts, comfort, and connection to those navigating grief — especially widows, widowers, and mothers who have lost a child. Throu

Feature

From Pen To Peace

Mindful journaling has a way of turning everyday thoughts into moments of clarity. For Alexis Russell, it’s been a path to creativity, healing, and personal growth. Originally from Washington, DC, she now calls Rochester home with her husband and two daughters. As the founder of Inspiring Experiences, LLC, and co-founder of EXP Studio, LLC, Alexis is passionate about creating spaces that inspire innovation and community. Her own journey through postpartum depression led her t

Suzie Wells

Buffalo's Merry Makers

As the season of giving shines bright across Buffalo, these inspiring women remind us that generosity doesn’t always come wrapped in ribbons. Sometimes, it looks like a shared toy, a tube of lipstick, a warm visit, or a child’s smile. Each of them has found a way to turn their personal stories into acts of kindness that ripple across Buffalo, proving that compassion is the city’s true holiday spirit. Hannah Bogdan: Keeping the Joy of Play Alive The Buffalo Toy Library is buil

Feature

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local creators

Painting Is Good For The Soul

Q&A with Laura Wolanin from @Praisethesunshop Rochester-based artist Laura Wolanin is known for her whimsical, colorful murals that infuse joy into every wall they touch. With a background rooted in fine arts and a heart full of curiosity, Laura’s work blends storytelling with a touch of magic, whether she’s painting a private residence or a local brewery. Fueling the Process What do you listen to while working—music, silence, something else? Never ever silence— always someth

Local Insider

Winter Hiking

Chasing snowy trails and beautiful views with Hike & Stroll Rochester Nature is a furious yet gentle atmosphere that constantly invites exploration. Walking outside is one of the most underrated, yet deeply favored, activities. Often, the real adventure and challenge is simply knowing where to go. That’s where Carrie, founder of Hike and Stroll Rochester, comes in. A lifelong hiker, Carrie understands the quiet power of being on a trail. She launched her online hiking resourc

Vivien Reed

Making Spirits Bright

Transform your Home with Holiday Cheer with Katrina Hess As the holidays approach, Victor resident Katrina Hess welcomes them with creativity, comfort, and nostalgia. As a registered nurse and creative mom of two, Katrina brings the magic of the season to life through baking, crafting, and decorating, all with her children by her side. Inspired by her mother and grandmother, who filled every season with joy, Katrina now carries those cherished traditions forward, adding her o

Trish Pino

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