Are your professors making you so mad that you want to smash a window? Well, now you legally can! iSmash is a family-owned business located in Rochester that allows you to let out some of that pent up rage in a safe environment. They also offer paint splattering and axe throwing if you don’t have any anger to let out. I, along with a few other members of the Cardinal Courier, had the opportunity to try all three activities.

First, we tried the smash room, which according to the General Manager, Alex Knowles, is their most popular attraction. In the smash room, you are given multiple tools to smash with, such as sledgehammers, baseball bats and crowbars, as well as different glass and ceramic objects and small appliances to break. They provide a speaker so you can play your favorite music while you smash your stress away.

As someone who doesn’t have a lot of pent up anger but rather stress, the room is still a super fun activity to release whatever feelings you may have. Our Managing Editor Brooke Eastman definitely showed us how to properly smash. Knowles recommends looking into the different packages ahead of time so that you get the best smashing experience. The different packages come with varying amounts of objects, such as more or less electronics, an all glass package, or even a car windshield add-on for an additional cost.

Watch the interview here.

“I know being a student can be very stressful, especially during exam time,” said Knowles. “So, you [can] come let some rage out in the smash room, break some things, come paint, throw some axes, and have some fun.” 

Next we did the axe throwing, which I will admit, I was awful at. This is the most collaborative activity they have, as the games available are competitive. Our Editor-in-Chief Mallory Schake beat me in every game, but I’m not bitter about it at all. You might think that axe throwing is so easy, but there’s a lot more going into it than most people realize.

Even if your professional axe throwing dreams are crushed by the end, it’s still a super fun activity to do with friends. Just remember to stretch your arms so you don’t pull a muscle, as there is a waiver you have to sign before you can start.

Lastly, we did the paint splattering activity. For this, you are put into a room covered in paint splatters with blacklights, given a canvas, a speaker, and lots of paint. This isn’t the place to paint your latest masterpiece but rather a space to let go of expectations and have some fun.

Of course, you get to take your painting home afterwards, but they won’t be offended if you decide not to display your splattered mess. Most of our time in the room was spent dancing to our Marketing Coordinator Lejla Zornic’s  awesome tunes, but personally, I think our artwork was museum worthy.

Overall, our iSmash experience was a great way to get together, let out some emotions and creativity, and have fun. While it’s recommended to book ahead, they do take walk-ins on a first-come, first-serve basis. If you’re in the Rochester area and looking for an stress-relieving activity, check out iSmash and share your experience with us. Happy smashing!