Name: Bill Pugin: Fly on the Wall
Start: 2026-10-17
End: 2026-10-17

The Strong National Museum of Play is the ultimate play destination for all ages! Explore upstate New York’s largest year-round cultural attraction and experience two floors—more than a city block long—of hands-on, dynamic, interactive exhibit spaces. Discover the world's largest collection of toys, dolls, and games. Play your way through video game and pinball history, leap into the world of American comic book superheroes, and move like a playing piece on a giant game board. Enjoy a 1918 carousel; indoor, tropical butterfly garden; food court; diner; and more. Meet history’s playful side in The Strong’s three halls of fame. Go hands-on with the toys beloved by generations in the National Toy Hall of Fame; learn about toy industry luminaries such as Milton Bradley, Walt Disney, Jim Henson, and George Lucas of the Toy Industry Hall of Fame; and see how electronic games are changing the way people play, learn, and connect with each other in the World Video Game Hall of Fame. The Strong is open 362 days a year and is centrally located in Rochester, New York. Visit museumofplay.org or download The Strong Museum Guide mobile app to plan your visit today. Parking is available in the museum's garage for $5. ATM on site.

The Strong Museum

Save $5 with code ROCSPORTS

Strong National Museum of Play - Rochester’s ultimate destination for hands-on fun and adventure for all ages

Stop by Flight Downtown and meet the new owner, see the beautiful changes and follow us on social media for entertaining events. Flight Downtown offers wines, beers, ciders and small plates. We will always have something new to try. During the nice weather, enjoy our delightful covered patio. Reach out to us for information on private events and fundraising. Cheers!

Flight Wine Bar Downtown

Every Monday, Flight gives 10% off your final bill.  Reservations are always encouraged.

Writers & Books is a nonprofit literary center that promotes reading and writing as lifelong activities for people of all ages and backgrounds. With programming headquarters and an on-site indie bookstore in Rochester, the organization also owns and runs Gell, a Naples, NY-based retreat center for creatives, groups, and businesses.

Writers & Books

Located in the vibrant Neighborhood of the Arts, Image City Photography Gallery stands at the heart of Rochester's rich artistic tapestry. Known as the 'Image City of the World' and hailed as the 'Photo Capital of the World,' Rochester's legacy in photography is unparalleled, and our gallery is proud to be a part of this heritage. At Image City, we're committed to curating quality exhibitions and providing enriching learning experiences for both photographers and the art-loving community. Our captivating exhibitions showcasing diverse photographic styles in 13 different annual exhibitions, provide something for everyone to explore and enjoy. Join us as an exhibiting photographer or as a patron in celebrating the art of photography and the boundless creativity of our community. Whether you're a seasoned photographer or simply passionate about the visual arts, we invite you to immerse yourself in the unique atmosphere of Image City Photography Gallery.

Image City Photography Gallery

Pour-your-own candle and custom fragrance bar. We sell natural soy candles and premium home fragrance products, and offer a unique custom fragrance experience. With 100+ distinct scents available, customers can come in to our shop to blend their own fragrances to make custom candles, melts, diffusers, sprays and more.

Scents by Design

Have a great time with us! Cool people making award-winning craft beer in the Neighborhood of the Arts. 16 freshly made beers on tap with live music every Saturday and Sunday. We feature a large tasting room with snacks and a huge patio to enjoy the outdoors. Our flagship brand, Kind IPA is Rochester's signature craft beer. Gluten free and N/A options available, along with NYS wine and cider. Space available for large groups and events. Checkout our website for upcoming events, https://threeheadsbrewing.com/events. Bands & Shows: Get out your dancing shoes and join us for some great tunes. From yoga to private parties, we’ve always got something fun going on. Three Heads Brewing is comprised a perfect combination of talent, friendship and commitment to great beer. Each of the crew brings unique ability to the business and has a distinct background. We hope to continue to grow and always make beers you enjoy.

Three Heads Brewing

Chef Dan Martello and team find their culinary inspiration in dishes to be shared, and through this lens prepare cuisine specializing in house made pastas, dishes from our smokehouse, and vegetable preparations reflecting the best the region and seasons have to offer. Enjoy the energy of our bar and award-winning craft cocktail program, as well as our dining room with a group of friends or for a special date. Hours: Wed-Sat 5 p.m. - 2 a.m. For parties of 25-350 guests, checkout Jackrabbit Club. This spacious, 7,000 square foot space features a full on-site kitchen and flexible layout for happenings of all sorts. Jackrabbit Club is located directly adjacent to Good Luck.

Good Luck Restaurant

Established in 2006, Stacy K Floral is a women-owned business founded by Stacy K Ercan with a mission to bring joy to the community through flowers, gifts, and creative design. While delivering daily throughout Monroe County and providing event florals statewide, the Rochester storefront has evolved into a vibrant, collaborative destination. Guests can now experience a unique fusion of local brands under one roof, including the newly added Winter Swan Coffee, where you can enjoy the intoxicating aroma of freshly brewed specialty coffee nestled right among the fresh blooms.

Stacy K Floral & Winter Swan Coffee

ImageOut presents and supports LGBTQ+ arts and cultural experiences showcasing films, creative works, and artists to promote awareness, foster dialogue, and build community.

ImageOut: The Rochester LGBT Film & Video Festival

The George Eastman Museum is located in Rochester, New York, on the estate of George Eastman, the pioneer of popular photography and motion picture film. Founded in 1947 as an independent nonprofit institution, it is the world’s oldest photography museum and one of the oldest film archives. The museum holds unparalleled collections—encompassing several million objects—in the fields of photography, cinema, and photographic and cinematographic technology, and photographically illustrated books. The institution is also a longtime leader in film preservation and photographic conservation. There is always something new and different to engage, educate, or entertain you at the Eastman Museum: At all times, at least three temporary exhibitions on photography and cinema—most of which change about every four months—in the main exhibition galleries, the Project Gallery for contemporary works, the History of Photography Gallery, and on the second floor of the mansion George Eastman’s historic mansion and gardens, where one can see how this visionary entrepreneur and philanthropist lived for almost thirty years during the early twentieth century—one of only two National Historic Landmarks in Monroe County The beautiful 500-seat Dryden Theatre, which exhibits more than 300 different films every year and, as one of just a few venues in the world equipped to exhibit highly flammable nitrate film, hosts the annual Nitrate Picture Show—A Festival of Film Conservation The restored Terrace Garden, West Garden, and Rock Garden for quiet enjoyment Several times a day, docent tours of the exhibition galleries, mansion, and gardens Frequent talks by in-house experts and visiting artists and scholars Music recitals in the mansion almost every Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. A leading library of literature on photography and cinema in the world, accessible by appointment World-renowned hands-on workshops on historic and alternative photographic processes (advance enrollment required) View our virtual tour by visiting https://www.eastman.org/360-historic-mansion-tour

George Eastman Museum

Rochester, NY, is the third-largest metropolitan area in New York State, nestled along the southern shore of Lake Ontario. With a proud sports tradition, Rochester is home to iconic teams like the Rochester Red Wings (MiLB), Rochester Americans (AHL), Rochester Knighthawks (NLL), and Flower City Union (NPSL). Our vibrant sports culture thrives across all levels, from youth clubs and high schools to elite collegiate programs, creating a strong, year-round foundation for athletic excellence.

The Rochester NY Sports Commission champions Monroe County through the power of sports tourism. By attracting championships, invitationals, and tournaments across a wide range of disciplines, we help fuel the region’s economy and enhance the quality of life for residents and visitors alike. Each year, Rochester welcomes a growing roster of sporting events, showcasing our top-tier facilities, supportive community, and dedication to teamwork on and off the field.

We invite event organizers, rights holders, and sports professionals to discover why Rochester and Monroe County are ideal destinations for your next competition or tournament. Let’s play in Rochester!

Visit Rochester

*This is a hybrid event, taking place in person at Writers & Books and online via Zoom. All registrants will receive a Zoom link in the registration confirmation email that is automatically sent to your email after checkout.*

For over five decades, Bill Pugin has stood at the crossroads of two languages and cultures—bridging communication between the Deaf and hearing worlds. In this heartfelt and often humorous memoir, Pugin takes readers on a journey from his small-town Southern childhood to the global stages and studios where he built a lifetime of stories as a sign language interpreter, performer, and advocate.

From his first exposure to American Sign Language through his Deaf sister, to interpreting alongside Oscar-winner Marlee Matlin, Fly on the Wall celebrates the beauty of connection, the art of interpretation, and the human spirit’s unshakable drive to be understood. Pugin’s reflections reveal not just the life of one man, but the evolution of a profession—and a culture—rooted in empathy, expression, and resilience.

A moving tribute to the Deaf community and a master class in compassion, this memoir is a must-read for anyone interested in language, accessibility, and the extraordinary power of understanding.

**Bill Pugin** believes people can master the skills of powerful communication by being open to life’s experiences and developing natural tools of social observation. Signing started Pugin on his road to discovery. His sister, Mary Anne, is deaf and his great affection toward her inspired him to learn sign language. He attended Gallaudet University, a university for the Deaf in Washington DC, where he completed his formal training in Sign Language Interpreting in 1979. Along the way, Bill earned certifications with the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, National Association of the Deaf, California Association of theDeaf, and numerous other awards and recognitions.

Bill has traveled the world providing exceptional sign language interpreting services for four U.S. Presidents, His Holiness The Dalai Lama, World Leaders and Entertainment Industry Icons. He founded The Sign Language Company in order to offer the industry a higher level of talent and service. Bill is ‘hands on’ with the day-to-day operations at The Sign Language Company, ensuring his company maintains the high standards and industry reputation he established over 35 years ago. He is also a published author having penned his memoir in recently released Fly on the Wall.

**Join the conversation! [Buy your copy at Ampersand Books today](https://ampersandbooks.org/book/9798994264904)**

Bill Pugin: Fly on the Wall

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