Life in the Finger Lakes Winter 2013

Winter Book Reviews • Moog Music in Trumansburg • Onondaga Toy Museum

SINCE 2001

The Region’s Premier Magazine

PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS Page 44

Fun with

SNOWSHOES A SPORT ON THE RISE Page 38

LifeintheFingerLakes.com GREAT PRICE! $4.95

DISPLAY THROUGH FEB ‘14 DIGITAL MAGAZINE CODE: dm1111

Winter 2013

SATISFY YOUR

Sweet Tooth Page 54

Weddings • Venues in the Valley • A Touch of Tiffany Page 26

SINCE 2001

Volume 13, Number 5 • Winter 2013

F E A T U R E S Weddings in the Finger Lakes

Venues in the Valley The Genesee Valley is a great place for a wedding

by Kay Thomas

A Touch of Tiffany The Chapel of the Spa Apartments in Clifton Springs makes for a unique wedding location

by Laurel C. Wemett

Snowshoeing in the Finger Lakes A Beginner’s Guide

26 31

38

This winter sport is great exercise and a lot of fun

by Matthew Timothy Bradley

The Twelfth Annual

Photo Contest Winners showcase talent and patience with fine photographs

Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth

44 54

From soda fountains to vegetableinfused truffles, these sweet shops promise to find your fancy

by Olivia Hall

Cover: A pair of traditional wooden-framed snowshoes is ready and waiting to go.

Photo by John Adamski

This page: Grace Church Willowdale, built in 1875, is on East Lake Road in Geneva. Photo by Theodore Robie

WINTER 2013 ~

1

SINCE 2001

Life in the D E P A R T M E N T S

4

MY OWN WORDS thoughts from the editor

5 6

LETTERS

18

reader feedback

FINGER LAKES MAP areas of interest in this issue

8

HAPPENINGS news and events

12 A PROUD COMMUNITY cities and villages Bath

Serving lunch, dinner & late night Located downtown on the Ithaca Commons corner of Tioga/Seneca Streets

607-273-2632 www.kilpatrickspub.com

18 BOOK LOOK reading reviews

68 HISTORY

24 FINGER LAKES TOURISM

narrative of the past Robert Moog’s musical store in Trumansburg

explore and discover ‘Twas the sights before Christmas

44

74

MILLENNIAL PURSUITS a new generation Brett’s Toy Musuem in Onondaga County is from another galaxy

81

INDEX OF ADVERTISERS

88 OFF THE EASEL

34 MADE IN THE FINGER LAKES

creating art Dan Mitchell transforms wine barrels into usable art

unique products From trees to toys - the work of Gunther Keil

61 HUMAN INTEREST stories about real people Julie Cummins – daring to be different

65 FRUIT OF THE VINE wine, spirits and brews Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards

2

~ LIFEINTHEFINGERL AKES.COM

12

Robert is a resident of Aurora, NY and serves the investment needs of individuals and families in the Finger Lake region.

www.germanbrothers.com

My Own Words

3907 West Lake Rd www.germanbrothers.com www.germanbrothers.com

585-394-4000

thoughts from the editor

A Slower Pace, and Easier Living

I

had a conversation recently with a friend who moved to the Finger Lakes Region after spending many of her professional years in New York City. Her family is from this area, so she was able to adjust fairly quickly.

One of the things she noticed was immediately different was the pace of everyday life here compared to the pace of a metropolitan area.

This region is mainly rural, with villages and cities sprinkled throughout, and many of us would agree that living here is a little slower, a little easier. Driving through the country, and even the city, it seems the majority of people in vehicles are courteous and respectful. Shop clerks take the time to chat and share a little bit of what’s going on in their lives.

People may think that by living here, compared to a large city, they are giving up culture and good food. There are, however, many venues within driving distance for someone to experience good theatre, art and music.

Each local city, whether large or small, features signature restaurants that serve excellent fare. Even nearby wineries and breweries provide delicious food and, of course, wine and beer.

Don’t forget about dessert – there are a number of chocolate/candy shops

creating innovative delicacies, like coconut-curry truffles, in the area (page 54). The locations of many of these establishments are simply beautiful – with views of rolling hills, farmland or the Finger Lakes themselves.

Another reason the region is special is because of the many opportunities to get out and enjoy the

natural beauty of the area. My editor’s choice this year from the annual photo contest (page 44) is a heartwarming photo of a man and his dog enjoying the scenery at Ontario County Park.

This photo, taken by Julie Bertram, epitomizes the essence of why we love to live here: the simple enjoyment of spending time outside in a beautiful area with your best friend.

mark@lifeinthefingerlakes.com

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Call by Dec. 13 to guarantee notification by Christmas

Five Issues A Year!

reader feedback

I spent a gorgeous fall day in Ithaca this September. The Ithaca Farmers Market had an ad in the Fall 2013 Issue, and it was the best experience visiting the market and the city. It was great sitting right on the water, and there were very cool organics, kefer cheeses, red raspberry wine, flowers, musicians and much more. Ithaca is a spot that you could spend days in and not see all of the best there is.

I live an hour north of New York City. My cousin in Palmyra sends me your magazine, which I thoroughly enjoy. Soon after receiving the Summer 2013 Issue, a friend gave me this picture, which was taken in her yard in West Milford, New Jersey. What a beautiful variation of the Eastern tiger swallowtail butterfly.

Margaret Gulick, Sloatsburg, New York

Letters

Please keep up the great coverage of the Finger Lakes.

Nicole Mahoney, Pittsford

K.C. Fahy-Harvick, Brighton via Facebook Thanks for the wonderful surprise in my mailbox today. The article on New York Wine Spotting is terrific. We really appreciate your support and help getting the message out. This is an important movement. We are looking forward to seeing it grow.

Love love love your magazine too!

I like what you did with the article titled “Bound and Determined” in the Fall 2013 edition of the magazine. Actually, this issue is one of your best. Lots of good photos and lots of articles.

Paul Anderson, Penn Yan

convenient & affordable flights

AIRPORT VALET PARKING... We Park - You Fly!

rocairport.com WINTER 2013 ~

5

Finger Lakes Regional Map Camillus (43) Canandaigua (57) Castile (27)

4 5 6

Clifton Springs (31) Corning (48) Geneseo (26)

7 8 9

Geneva (56) Ithaca (55) LaFayette (65)

10 Livonia (30) 11 Lodi (58) 12 Odessa (47) 104 04A 4A

260 60

1 19

Lake Ontario

259 5

Chimney Bluffs State Park

Hilton Sodus Point

26 260

255 250

188

386 8

31

Spencerport

286

Baldwinsville

Lima

Honeoye Lake

Conesus Lake

Can an da igua L a ke

Penn Yan

54

13

Keuka Ou

tl et

Lodi Point State Park

436

11Interlaken

Keuka Lake State Park

5 54

34B

15

ka L ake

22 227

Watkins Glen State Park

54

41 S C H U Y L E R 414

221 22

41 266

From Binghamton

Buttermilk Falls State Park

96B 6B

79

TOMPKINS

38 38

34 9966

133

Elmira Heights 352

CHEMUNG

427 42 27 15

Van Etten

3 34

Elmira

nk Cr.

2233 22

Candor o tat Ca

Pinnacle State Park

Horseheads

River

96

3344 k Cayuta Cree

225 22 25

Addison

Spencer

Mark Twain State Park

Chemung

4177

Marathon 221

r.

4177

36

1 13

414

Painted Post

Corning 5 Rexville

38

366

224 24

144 1 86 4415

366

Ithaca

22 224

17

2488

Robert H. Treman State Park

12

144

eC Catharin

r

14

Dryden

Cayuta Lake

Montour 228 Falls Odessa

er

248 24 48

STEUBEN

215 15

79

Riv

Canisteo Rive

n cto

Canisteo

79

Watkins Glen

226

Coho

From Jamestown

The Finger Lakes Region of New York State

79

.

Cr

81

13

Burdett

Bath

3666 366

Cayuga Heights

8

Allen H. Treman State Park

14A 4A A

Lamoka Lake

Hornell

Lansing

222288

227

4 414

l Fal

13

89

96

Keu 5 54

Avoca

4 415

41 41

McGraw

11

38

Taughannock Falls State Park

230

Waneta Lake

Hammondsport

86 17

CORTLAND

Cortland

Groton

r ive aR

36

34

91

Homer

iog

53

41 90

hn

Cohocton

133

41A 41 41A A

Trumansburg

390

211

Filmore Glen State Park

89

Dundee

133

Moravia

wa s

14A 4A

53 37 371 Stony Brook State Park

34

222

54A A

70

Long Point State Park

g Tiou

Wayland 211

91

et Inl

Dansville

4 436

41 41A

90

96A

15

80

388

414 1

Branchport

911

38A 8

Aurora

Ovid 96

144

YATES

Naples

9 90 Deans Cove Boat Launch

11

80

co

256 25 256

9 96

Sampson State Park

41

an ea t

k

CAYUGA

3664 364

st We

34 34B

144

14A 4

11A A

La

Sk

e

9666A A

245

3366

Nunda

411

38

20

9 91

ke

2 7 247

20

O

390

258 408 088

344

Union Springs

89

Letchworth State Park

63 63

e

41A 1A

9 91

ONONDAGA

326 26

Cayuga Lake State Park

SENECA

36 364

644

Harriet Hollister Spencer State Recreation Area

1 15A

7

4 41

La es el

Honeoye Lake Boat Launch State Park

Honeoye

Geneva

5

Cayuga 414 14

Auburn

17 173

92

Manlius

81

17774

20

5

e ak o L

15 15

Waterloo a and nec

20

Cayuga

e Lak Cayuga

408 08

LIVINGSTON

20A

20

36 364

41 414

Seneca Lake State Park

ake Seneca L

e ock Lak Heml

2566

Canadice Lake

Conesus Lake State Marine Park

5 Canandaigua Lake State Marine Park

Hemlock

15

488

2O N T A R I O Canandaigua

21

96

481

Clark Reservation State Park

80

Skaneateles 175

Seneca Falls

318

Phelps

Fayetteville

173 173

175

Marcellus

sc Owa

20A

90

Clifton Springs

21

Green Lakes State Park

o isc Ot

20

.

Cr

Livonia 10

Mt. Morris

Bloomfield

Honeoye

39 63

3

332 Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion State Historic Site

Avon

6

4

96 96

Ganondagan State Historic Site

64

321 5

From Utica

290 90

State Park at the Fair

Syracuse

3188

344

38 38 14

S

390

R.

ee

R.

s ne Ge

Victor

15

Geneseo

Weedsport

l

Newark ndaigua Outlet Cana

Honeoye Falls

298

481

690

1Solvay

3 31

na

Caledonia

366

Jordan

31

655 251

31

North Syracuse

57

4488

90

Palmyra

90

90 383 8

690 900

31 90

Clyde

Lyons

Ca

3 36

Macedon 311

490

6 64

WAYNE

21

350 550

31F 31F

Barg

Fairport 252

155

383 833

38 386

5

4811 37 370

4114

e

E. Rochester

33 490

31

337700

88 38

33A 3

366

11

34

89

4441 41

N

370 70

Oneida Lake

81

57 57

104 144

Rochester

490

259 5

From Watertown 176 7

Wolcott

35 350

104

36

Sodus

104

Webster

Irondequoit Bay State Marine Park

Brockport

From Buffalo

100044

TIOGA

ego C r.

MONROE

10044A A

Sodus Bay

Seneca R.

104

38

261 6

18

al

360

From Oswego

Fair Haven Beach State Park

Hamlin Beach State Park

Can

272 27

13 Penn Yan (88) 14 Savona (44) 15 Trumansburg (34)

Newark Valley

Ow

1 2 3

areas of interest in this issue

388 88 9966

Owego

17C 7C

Newtown Battlefield State Park Two Rivers State Recreation Area

Waverly

14 14

177CC

86 17

From Binghamton

427 277

Editorial & Production

Contributors...........................Matthew Timothy Bradley

Editor .............................................................................. Mark Stash ................................................ mark@lifeinthefingerlakes.com

.....................................................................................Jason Feulner

Senior Graphic Artist ..............................Jennifer Srmack

...................................................................................Sue Henninger

Graphic Artist ........................................Lindsey Williamson

..............................................................................James P. Hughes

For Advertising Inquiries - 800-344-0559

Associate Editor...................................................Tina Manzer

..............................................................................Jessica Robideau

Rhonda Trainor........rhonda@lifeinthefingerlakes.com

Assistant Editors ................................................ J. Kevin Fahy

.........................................................................................Kay Thomas

.......................................................................................Alyssa LaFaro

..............................................................................................Jon Ulrich

...................................................................................... Carol C. Stash

....................................................................................... Olivia M. Hall

..............................................................................Laurel C. Wemett

Life in the Finger Lakes is published by Fahy-Williams Publishing, Inc. and owned by Eleven Lakes Publishing, Inc. Co-owners: Mark S. Stash; Timothy J. Braden. Copyright© 2013 by Eleven Lakes Publishing, Inc. No part of this publication may be reprinted or otherwise reproduced without written permission from the publisher.

TO SUBSCRIBE, RENEW OR CHANGE ADDRESS: write to Life in the Finger Lakes, P.O. Box 1080, Geneva, NY 14456, or call 315-789-0458. Subscription rates: $14.95 for one year. Canada add $19 per year. Outside North America, add $37 per year.

For renewal or change of address, include the address label from your most recent issue of Life in the Finger Lakes. For gift subscriptions, include your own name and address as well as those of gift recipients.

Editorial Office ....................................................315-789-0458 Director of Advertising .................................... Tim Braden .................................................... tim@lifeinthefingerlakes.com Advertising Production Mgr. .... Christie McConnell ........................................... christie@lifeinthefingerlakes.com

For Subscriptions Tricia McKenna ..................................................315-789-0458 ...................................... subscribe@lifeinthefingerlakes.com Business Office...............315-789-0458, 800-344-0559 Business Fax ......................................................... 315-789-4263 Life in the Finger Lakes 171 Reed St. • P.O. Box 1080 • Geneva, NY 14456 LifeintheFingerLakes.com Serving the 14 counties of the Finger Lakes Region Printed by Vanguard Printing LLC, Ithaca, New York

6

~ LIFEINTHEFINGERL AKES.COM

Quality Walk-In Care in modern medical facilities.

We treat non-emergency issues, including: sprains and strains ¾Y W]QTXSQW headache earache diarrhea minor burns coughs and colds urinary tract infection Locations throughout the region.

X-ray available.

Scan the code below or visit www.arnothealth.org/walk-in-care

for hours and directions.

For hours and locations call Health on Demand at 607-737-4499 or 800-952-2662.

COME TO EXPECT THE BEST

WINTER 2013 ~

7

news and events

DECEMBER Through December 21...Hungerford Artists Holiday Open Studios Music, refreshments, all types of arts and crafts.

Special holiday hours to shop local artists and artisans at 1115 East Main St., Rochester. Open Thursdays and Fridays, 4 to 7 p.m. and Saturdays 11 to 4 p.m. Shop until 9 p.m. on December 6.

585-394-9052 beckwriter@aol.com

7...Dansville’s Winter in the Village 2013 The annual Arts & Crafts Sale, Santa lighting the Christmas trees in Church Park, and many local businesses, vendors, artisans and entertainers located throughout the downtown district are an annual delight to many visitors. The tradition of the Wine Tasting Tour has become an annual highlight, featuring a multitude of New York wineries.

585-335-6920 facebook.com/pages/ Dansvilles-Winter-in-the-Village

Through December 24...Dickens Christmas Join Charles Dickens, Queen Victoria and their entourage for the 20th edition of Dickens Christmas, noon to 4 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday through December 22, with an abbreviated production (noon to 3 p.m.) Christmas Eve day.

Located in downtown Skaneateles.

315-685-0552 skaneateles.com

7-8...Holiday Barrel Tasting Get into the holiday spirit, and enjoy a behind-the-scenes tasting with the winemaker, holiday hors d’oeuvres and special discounts on wine at the fifth annual tasting. Takes place at 11 a.m., 1 p.m.. and 3 p.m. each day. Please call for reservations.

Located at Keuka Spring Vineyards, Penn Yan. 315-536-3147 keukaspringwinery.com

1-23...Festival Of Trees at the Ward W. O’Hara Agricultural & Country Living Museum Display of over 30 trees in the Museum and Educational Center. Weekends 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Weekdays 4 to 8 p.m. Located at 6880 East Lake Rd., Rt. 38 A, Auburn.

7-8...Christmas Around the World on the Lake Ontario Wine Trail There are 11 stops along the trail. Tickets are $100 each or 2/$15. Tickets can be purchased online inn advance or at your starting winery. The self-guided tour runs from 12 to 5 p.m.

315-986-4202 lakeontariowinetrail.com

7...Historic Palmyra’s Homstead Holiday House Tour Five amazing homes will be decked out to get you in the holiday spirit. Begin at 4 p.m. at the Wm. Phelps General Store and home where Sibyl will show you her home then head to Cuyler, West Jackson, West Main Street and Quaker Road.

Finish at the Alling Coverlet Museum for refreshments and a holiday gift from Historic Palmyra.

315-597-6981 bjfhpinc@rochester.rr.com

7-15...Annual Holiday Tea Five-Tier Tea includes house soup, finger sandwiches and accompaniments, house entrée, scones with fruit and dessert. Saturday and Sunday December 7 and 8 at 1 p.m.; Friday through Sunday December 13, 14 and 15 at 1 p.m. Located at Pumpelly House Estate B & B, 44 Front St., Owego.

607-687-0510 pumpellyestate.com

7...Arts in Bloom Pre-Holiday Shopping Day Shopping event at participating Steuben County artist’s studios and galleries. Open from noon to 5 p.m.

607-569-3767 steubencountyartsinbloom.net artsinbloom.net

8...Teddy Bear Tea The members’ council from the Everson Museum of Art in Syracuse invites children, teddy bears and adults for an afternoon of tea, entertainment and activities. The event will take place at the Oncenter from 12 to 2 p.m. Reservations are required. everson.org

WILDLIFE CROSSING

8

Photo courtesy Bill Wingell

Happenings

~ LIFEINTHEFINGERL AKES.COM

Photo by Steve Knapp

e plan to publish in next fall’s edition of the magazine, an article on the great work and awesome outreach of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Among the lab’s most popular activities is its annual winter Project FeederWatch, now in its 27th year. We’d love to hear about the feeder-watching experiences of some of the Finger Lakes folks who’ve joined the 20,000 people across North America now taking part in this unique “citizen science” project.

It’s also occurred to us that the birders among our readers might have some questions — perhaps about bird behavior; population trends among species; effects of global warming, pollution and habitat loss — that we could put to the experts at the Lab. And we’d also like to hear from readers about their favorite birding places in the 14-county Finger Lakes Region. A map of those spots will accompany the article.

Contact the magazine by e-mailing the editor at mark@lifeinthefingerlakes.com or e-mail writer/photographer Bill Wingell at bwingell@gmail.com.

Wingell’s phone is 607-625-4950.

W

13...10th Annual Tinsel ‘N Lights This free event features ice sculpting, horse and wagon rides, live reindeer, live holiday music, fireworks, the Tinsel Trot fun run, warming fires, free food and, of course, Santa Claus.

Music will be performed inside the Waverly Presbyterian Church and the Waverly Baptist Church. Held from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Muldoon Park, Pennsylvania Ave., Waverly.

607-565-3319 or 607-565-3570

28...Winter Birds and Bird Feeding This program will help you identify the birds at your feeder and show you ways to create simple feeders.

Participants will create a peanut butter and seed feeder to take home. A short winter bird walk will follow the indoor program. The program is free and open to the public. Held at 1 p.m. at the Sterling Nature Center.

315-947-6143 or 315-224-5378

13-14...Murder Mystery Wine Dinner A four-course wine dinner with Standing Stone Vineyards, interrupted by an inconvenient murder in the parking lot! One of the guests for the evenings wine dinner fails to make it in the door. Someone in the Bistro is to blame, and no one leaves until we discover who is guilty. Located at Brown Hound Bistro, South Bristol.

585-374-9771 brownhoundbistro@yahoo.com

31...New Year’s Eve Celebration Ring in the new year with style.

Enjoy a four-course limited menu skillfully prepared by our culinary team, and ensconce yourself in our luxurious dining room – complete with live music. Menu includes oysters, winter squash consommé, Waldorf salad, American Kobe strip loin, local duck and frozen hazelnut chocolate tortes. $100 per person, $30 wine pairing option.

Located at the Inns of Aurora.

315-364-8888 info@innsofaurora.com

13-15...It’s A Wonderful Life Festival This year’s event in Seneca Falls will not only feature the Bailey sisters – actresses Karolyn Grimes who portrayed little Zuzu and Carol Coombs-Mueller who portrayed Janie – but also Donna Reed’s daughter, Mary Owen, and author, Bob Welch. Other featured events will include a screening of the film, autograph signing, special presentations, the annual “Dance by the Light of the Moon” and the “It’s A Wonderful Run 5K,” which last year attracted more than 3,000 participants.

315-568-5838 therealbedfordfalls.com 21-31...Let’s Move! Let’s Play!

Pick up a “Let’s Move! Let’s Play!”

Activity Guide at the museum’s admission desk and move your way through a variety of physical challenges amid the interactive exhibits.

In conjunction with the national Let’s Move! museums and gardens initiative. Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, 12 to 4 p.m. Closed Christmas. Located at the National Museum of Play at The Strong in Rochester.

585-263-2700 museumofplay.org

JANUARY Through March 30...Winter Scenes in Onondaga County This exhibit at the Onondaga Historical Association will feature oil and watercolor paintings, photographs, drawings and prints of contemporary or vintage winter scenes of Onondaga County. cnyhistory.org Through January 12...

The HeART of the Holidays Some of the best loved arts and culture venues, hotels and restaurants in Syracuse will come together to offer day planning, downtown holiday event ideas, and discounts to the participating public. The HeART of the Holidays is pleased to announce it is comprised of nine arts and culture venues, eight restaurants and two hotel partners. gotocnyarts.org.

Post and Beam Homes Locally crafted in our South Bristol New York shop

5557 Rt. 64, Canandaigua, NY 14424 585-374-6405 • www.timberframesinc.com Building the Finger Lakes since 1977

Need a porta-potty?

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We have the best prices in the area.

Serving: Conesus, Hemlock, Canadice, Honeoye, Canandaigua, Keuka, and Lamoka Lakes Porta-potty rentals by weekend, week or month Septic systems cleaned and maintained We are clean, professional, timely and consistent Matt Wall Co-owner/tech

(Continued on page 10)

Add your calendar event online - FREE! Visit LifeintheFingerLakes.com and click on “Calendar of Events/ Post your Events.”

Hornell, NY • larrylatrines.com WINTER 2013 ~

9

Happenings The Fate of the White Deer at the Seneca Army Depot

T

he Seneca County Industrial Development Agency (IDA), the owner of the Seneca Army Depot, recently announced that in 2015 the U.S. Army will be leaving the Depot. This leaves an uncertain fate for the white deer and wildlife that reside there, as the Army maintains the 24-mile long fence that encloses the Depot’s 10,000 acres.

The continued maintenance of not only the fence and roadways, but most importantly the management of the entire deer herd, will be the IDA’s responsibility when the Army leaves.

“The IDA is not prepared to handle deer and wildlife management, or become a landlord, so the need to do something now has never been more pressing,” explains Dennis Money, president of Seneca White Deer Inc. (SWD). The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Agency, the U.S. Forest Service and the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation have all declined to take free ownership from the Army.

In response, SWD is launching a drive to raise millions of dollars to save a significant part of the Depot property, recruiting volunteers, and putting pressure on political representatives to save the wildlife.

10

SWD proposes to build an ecotourism area that features wildlife education and preservation along with recreation pursuits, like birding, camping and horseback riding. The paved roads could also support motor tours.

“The former Depot is a crown jewel of a natural resource with a rich military and civilian history that is worth preserving for future generations,” says Money. “We need people to get involved now before it’s too late.”

To make a tax deductible donation or to volunteer, visit senecawhitedeer.org, or call 585-394-1287. Those interested should also contact state Senator Michael Nozzolio and Assemblymen Brian Kolb and Phil Palmesano to express support for the organization’s plan.

~ LIFEINTHEFINGERL AKES.COM

Photo courtesy Dennis Money

11-20...Bargain Bash Think of Bargain Bash as being like a big, trailwide spring cleaning, garage sale where the early bird gets the proverbial worm. Participating wineries take the opportunity to clean out their inventory and drop prices on select items consisting of everything from wine to wine glasses, clothes and other retail items.

877-536-2717 senecalakewine.com 24...Winter Village Bluegrass Festival Great bluegrass bands from New York and New England. Tickets for the festival are now for sale exclusively through the Ticket Center in Ithaca.

Held at the La Tourelle Resort, 1150 Danby Rd., Ithaca. wintervillagebluegrass.org 25...Dr. Lonnie Smith and His Octet Concert begins at 7:30 p.m. and box office opens at 6:30 p.m. Dr. Lonnie Smith’s work includes unique interpretations of Jimi Hendrix, John Coltrane, the Beatles, Jeff Beck, and the Eurythmics.

Located at the Corning Museum of Glass.

866-463-6264 corningcivicmusic.org (Continued on page 85)

Photo by Al Johnson

Come stay awhile

with a 3-Month Trial to know you’ve made the right choice.

Choosing where to retire is an important decision.

Take your time with our short-term rental program.

Rent a furnished one- or two-bedroom lake-view apartment at Ferris Hills and enjoy: • Chef-prepared meals • Fitness center and walking trails • Complimentary • Social and educational events transportation • Starting at $2,500 per month!

• Housekeeping We’re confident that once you experience the freedom that comes with the Ferris Hills lifestyle, you’ll want to make this your new home.

Call today to arrange for a personal tour or visit our website for more information.

585.393.0410 | www.FerrisHills.com WINTER 2013 ~

11

A Proud Community

Visiting Bath is like turning the pages of a rare old book.

cities & villages

Bath – a Village of

Arch Merrill ~ Southern Tier (1954)

History, Tradition and Celebration

story and photos by James P. Hughes

I

n the spring of 1793, Colonel Charles Williamson stood on a precipice far above the Conhocton River, surveying the densely forested hills and valleys to the east, west and north. Williamson, land agent for the Pulteney Land Syndicate of London, had picked a spot near river’s edge for the land office site of the syndicate’s massive Genesee Country possessions. There he envisioned a planned city of noble homes and buildings. The community would be named Bath, after the English city, and honor Sir William Pulteney’s daughter, known as Lady Bath.

A covered overlook stands on that precipice today, easily accessible as part of Bath’s Mossy Bank Park. The splendid bird’s-eye view of the village, sprinkled with church steeples and stately buildings, is one of the finest in the Finger Lakes Region. Take in the view, then spend time picnicking or strolling the park’s nature trails. Wildlife abounds. Osprey and bald eagles have been spotted nesting on the rocky hillside.

Bath never quite reached the status that Colonel Williamson imagined as the shire city of his widespread ventures, yet signs of

The gazebo in Pulteney Square/Park.

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Interior of the First Presbyterian Church. The church was designed by famed architect Jacob Wrey Mould with an interior design by Louis Comfort Tiffany, noted for his stained glass artistry.

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A Proud Community his vision remain in Steuben’s county seat. In 1793 came Pulteney Square, still the heart and soul of the village.

Spreading from the square are broad streets with symbolic names: Liberty (for the nation’s newfound freedom), Steuben (for the famed Prussian general of the American Revolution), Morris (for landowner and financier Robert Morris) and, naturally, Washington.

Early on came mills, a tavern and eventually, dignified homes. A theater was constructed, designed to bring a measure of culture to Williamson’s capital in the wilderness. From the enduring hub of Pulteney Square to a spot on Gallows Hill where a faded historical marker reads “Robert A. Douglas was hung April 29, 1825 before a crowd of 10,000,” a rich and varied history meanders through the village of Bath. “We certainly have quite an intriguing past,”

admits Joe Paddock, a Bath resident and trustee emeritis of the Steuben County Historical Society.

The town’s history is on full display at the historical society’s home, Magee House, a fine brick structure dating from the 1830s. Columns, leaded windows and multiple marble fireplaces offer a glimpse of fashionable life in the 19th century. The museum highlights area history through books, artifacts, maps, photographs and its extensive collections.

One collection features the history of a treasured and historical event – the Steuben County Fair held in Bath each August. Kicking off in 1819 with exhibits, category judging, and the dust of horse racing rising from its oval track, the exposition is now the longest continually running fair in the United States. It remains a classic mix of raucous noise,

Left, from top to bottom: A Farmers’ Market is held on Wednesdays and Saturdays during the summer months.

The 3 Sister Houses – built in the late 1800s by a business partnership to promote their products. Each home’s interior is finished in different woods and styles.

The campus of the Veterans Administration Medical Center at Bath. The site has provided medical services to military veterans since opening in 1878 as the New York State Soldiers and Sailors home.

A view of Pulteney Park and the First Presbyterian Church.

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Bath National Cemetery

Bath on the Web villageofbath.org steubenhistoricalsociety.org steubencountyfair.org pungent odors and giddy fun. There are 4-H displays, farm animals, brightly colored fruits and vegetables, a one-room schoolhouse dating to 1845, a pioneer cabin, traditional contests, a truck pull, musical acts, carnival rides and food galore – everything that makes a fair a fair. With its vintage 1863 fairhouse and other 19th-century buildings scattered about the grounds, the fair is a colorful blend of the present with a perennial taste of times gone by – true Americana.

In addition to the fair, Bath has its share of community celebrations. The Spirit of Christmas in early December offers everything seasonal from hot chocolate to chili, and from sonorous carolers to Santa Claus. In the middle of May, the Bath Community Expo, held in and around Pulteney Square, showcases classic cars, music, abundant vendors, a lumberjack contest, quirky games and a bathtub race that winds through obstacles past an enthusiastic crowd on Liberty Street. For over three decades Bath has been the traditional starting point for October’s Wineglass Marathon, an ever-growing race that ends 26.2 miles later on Market Street in Corning.

In contrast to the noise and bustle of its community events, Bath has its quiet and peaceful spots as well, none more impressive than the Bath National Cemetery adjacent to the campus-like Veterans Administration Medical Center.

Since the first burial of Civil War veterans in 1879, almost 15,000 veterans of America’s military conflicts have been laid to rest along its winding lanes. In 1987, the unidentified remains of 28 American veterans of the War of 1812 were brought from Canada and reinterred in the Bath National Cemetery.

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A Proud Community Some of the more than 30 local artist-members

David Kingsbury

who own Handwork are potters...

Marjory Martin

Stop by - they may be working!

Renata Wadsworth

Rows of uniform white headstones cast long shadows on a cold but sunny winter’s day.

Spring and summer breezes carry fragrant scents of surrounding evergreens through its rolling hills. Any season is the right time to pause and absorb the cemetery’s beauty and solitude, and to take a moment to appreciate the service of those who remain there for eternity. Every Memorial Day, local schoolchildren decorate each grave with a small United States flag, an impressive display and a fitting tribute from the community.

Village churches are in tune with Bath’s historical architecture. The imposing stone exterior of St. Thomas’ (“the welcoming Episcopal Church behind the red doors”) greets visitors to Bath’s Liberty Street business district.

Across the way, the more contemporary Centenary United Methodist Church has retained its historical stained glass windows from an earlier structure.

At the other end of Liberty, the spire of First Presbyterian rises above Pulteney Square. The structure was designed by celebrated 19th-century architect Jacob Wrey Mould, designer of many churches on several continents, and instrumental in the construction of New York City’s Central Park. “First Presbyterian is Mould’s only remaining church in America, and we’re quite proud of that,” says church historian Helen K. Brink. The sanctuary was created between 1895 and 1897 by Louis Comfort Tiffany using rich materials and his celebrated stained-glass artistry. From the “Rose Window” to the “Acorn Lights” to the pulpit and chancel rails carved of white mahogany from

Above: The Liberty St. Pub, a popular pub and eatery.

Syracuse Canandaigua

Geneva

Watkins Glen

Bath

India, the recognizable mark of Tiffany is everywhere. Tours are scheduled throughout the summer months or by appointment.

With its wealth of history, a walking or driving tour around Bath is time well spent. Guide booklets for each are available through the Historical Society in the Magee House. Take time to appreciate the serenity of the Bath National Cemetery. Include a drive to the Mossy Bank Park overlook, and enjoy the striking view of Bath and surroundings from the same spot where Charles Williamson may have created his vision in 1793.

Over a half century ago, historian Arch Merrill expressed his admiration for the village when he wrote, “Bath will always be ‘The Grand Dame of the Southern Tier.’”

HANDWORK Ithaca’s Cooperative Craft Store

102 West State Street The Commons, Ithaca www.handwork.coop 607-273-9400 Magee House, home of the Steuben County Historical Society

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Book Look

reading reviews

Snuggle Up TO A Good Read

Whether in a comfy chair by the fire, nestling under a quilt on the couch, enjoying a cup of tea or looking out at the snow, this time of year is especially lovely for snuggling up with a good book.

Some of this issue’s featured authors have written earlier books that have been reviewed here. These titles are noted at the end of the review, and you can find them archived at lifeinthefingerlakes.com.

by Laurel C. Wemett

The Ghost Horse

by Joe Layden (2013)

A

horse named “Lisa’s Booby Trap” is at the center of a true story of love and loss. Joe Layden, an award-winning journalist with many books to his credit, recounts the real-life story of a racehorse and its owner/ trainer, Tim Snyder. How a horse that seemed less than sound captured the imagination of the horseracing world for a time is compelling and heartwarming.

This tale unfolds around tracks like the Finger Lakes Racetrack in Farmington, where Snyder meets and marries Lisa Calley. Calley, who has a background in equestrian riding, is willing to put up with Snyder, a race track “lifer.”

Their happiness is shattered by her tragic death from cancer in 2003. Before her

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passing, she says she is coming back as a horse. Calley later buys a 3-year-old filly with serious vision problems and other physical limitations. Perhaps in response to his late wife’s end-of-life prediction, he names the horse Lisa and combines it with the name of his favorite topless bar to create the horse’s unusual moniker.

Working with the horse helps Snyder deal with his grief. The trainer unlocks the horse’s potential and, for a time, Lisa’s Booby Trap becomes a winner. While this is a “feel good” story, author Layden balances the tale of survival with insights into the harsher realities of horse racing.

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press Website: stmartins.com Edition(s): hardcover, ebook

Unknown Museums of Upstate New York

by Chuck D’Imperio (2013)

D

iscover numerous unfamiliar public collections in Upstate New York in this book by Chuck D’Imperio. Objects as divergent as clocks, drain tiles and coverlets entice the reader to explore these intriguing museums. “Museums act as the best primers one can use to experience a place,” writes D’Imperio, as he brings together some of the most unusual museums in the regions outside New York City known simply as “Upstate.”

This title presents “50 treasures” divided into nine Upstate New York regions. The Finger Lakes Region alone includes 14 museums. The author involves the reader in each tour by sharing the observations of a

knowledgeable staff person, such as the museum’s director or curator.

The author uncovers a “wow” factor at each site – one item that causes visitors to “pause, reflect or even laugh,” or just say “Wow!” when they discover it. The history of each facility is accompanied by helpful information, including other places to visit nearby, as well as the the “nuts and bolts,” like museum hours, directions, contact and other relevant information.

Publisher: Syracuse University Press Website: syracuseuniversitypress.syr.edu Edition(s): softcover, ebook Previous review: Monumental New York! A Guide to 30 Iconic Memorials in Upstate New York, Winter 2012

Wicked Syracuse: A History of Sin in Salt City

by Neil K. MacMillan (2013)

L

aw-abiding readers may be intrigued by all the wrongdoings linked to the history of Syracuse.

They will discover countless illegal activities were carried on there from the early 19th to the mid-20th centuries. Some of the more notorious crimes may be familiar, but the author also presents numerous long-forgotten misdeeds.

Crimes from bank robbery to gambling and from prostitution to kidnapping are featured. Concisely written thematic chapters demonstrate that New York’s “Salt City,” like any major urban center, had sinners mixed among those who walked the “straight and narrow.” A historian and Syracuse native, MacMillan believes that not acknowledging “the darker side of history” is akin to reading a book with “half the pages missing.”

The book’s black-and-white illustrations are drawn from archival sources that recall earlier times and enliven these accounts of Central New Yorkers behaving badly.

The writer often injects an amusing aside while relating an act of wrongdoing. He offers a comparison to

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contemporary standards. Of gambling he writes, “It can be hard to remember that it wasn’t terribly long ago that gambling was illegal in Syracuse and New York State.” When summarizing his thoughts in a final chapter entitled “Then and Now,” MacMillan admits unlawful human activities persist today, perhaps just in different forms.

Publisher: The History Press Website: historypress.net Edition(s): softcover, ebook

GARDNER CONSTRUCTION & DEVELOPMENT

Heroes in the Attic: The Untold Story of Two Civil War Soldiers

by Dennis P. Bielewicz (2012)

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etired school librarian and military veteran Dennis P. Bielewicz has compiled a compelling true story of the Civil War era. His youthful discovery in Nunda of primary source materials in an abandoned house led him on a quest to learn more about their meaning and significance. The documents, found in the late 1960s, have long engaged the author, and the reader learns how he augmented their content through considerable additional research over several decades.

Starting with papers found in an old trunk, Bielewicz uncovers the details of the lives of two cousins, H. Seymour Hall and Benjamin S. Coffin. In 1861, the pair left behind their studies at Genesee College in Lima (the present-day Elim Bible Institute) to join the Union Army and enlist in Company G of the 27th Regiment NY Volunteer Infantry. For two years they were engaged in battles

including Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville.

The post-war lives of Coffin and Hall are chronicled, and are an indication of the author’s dedicated research.

The book is attractively designed by the author’s son, Matthew Bielewicz.

Reproducing documents in sepia tones and accompanying these with artifacts, maps and photographs gives the book lushness and an authentic period feel.

Researchers will benefit from the thorough documentation and index.

Congratulations to the author, who garnered the Silver Medal in the U.S. Northeast Best Regional Nonfiction category for 2013 from the Independent Publisher Book Awards.

Publisher: Dennis P. Bielewicz Website: dennispbielewicz.com Edition(s): softcover

Stonebridge Conspiracy

by David Moore (2013)

W

hen two young canal workers – Jake McCleary and Ben Blackburn – find long-lost gold bars in the Barge Canal, their lives are changed forever. It is the beginning of the 20th century, and America has been drawn into the war in Europe.

Before the pair can plan for a better life with their lucrative discovery, one is murdered and the other is headed off to battle.

This is the author’s second book set

WINTER 2013 ~

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in the fictional Upstate New York village of Stonebridge. The action centers on Jake, the surviving canal worker. It is apparent that some of the pillars of the community are at the root of a conspiracy that threatens the life of the surviving canal worker-turned-soldier. Woven throughout the story is Jake’s attraction and interaction with two women from very different backgrounds. As the conspiracy is uncovered, the protagonist discovers his true feelings.

This historic novel includes a long sequence focusing on Jake’s transformative wartime experiences in Belgium and France during the Great War. The life-threatening battles prepare him for dealing with the disreputable characters who confront him after his return from Europe. The young protagonist doggedly pursues his friend’s murderer at considerable risk to his own life. The outcome is an unexpected twist, sure to keep the reader engrossed and guessing.

Publisher: CreateSpace Website: davidmooreauthor.com Edition(s): softcover, ebook Previous Review: Stonebridge Secret, Winter 2013

Legends and Lore of Lake Ontario

by Susan Peterson Gateley (2013)

A

uthor Susan Peterson Gateley is a self-described “lake watcher.”

With a background in science

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and sailing, she chronicles stories related to Lake Ontario, the easternmost of the Great Lakes. Named by the Hurons, Ontario means “Lake of Shining Waters,” and the lake is the northern border of Monroe, Cayuga and Wayne Counties in the Finger Lakes Region. Gateley’s newest title is a collection of legends and mysterious activities that surround the lake. Some are manmade, while others veer toward the supernatural.

Gateley has quite literally “plumbed the depths” for tales of ghosts, mirages and creatures linked to Lake Ontario.

There is the story of “Carcagne,” Lake Ontario’s version of the Irish banshee or a night-flying African-Caribbean jumbie, which has been seen soaring over the waves on stormy nights. Along with the legends, the author also explores natural landmarks, sightings that defy explanation, and weather events that have spawned tales.

The author also delves into accounts of smuggling activities on the lake, shipwrecks and rescued ships, legendary yachts and even fish stories.

The latter refers to the “Legendary Lake Ontario Trio” – the sturgeon, the silver salmon and the American eel.

The book, illustrated with over 50 images, will interest anyone familiar with Lake Ontario who wants to learn more about its secrets.

Publisher: The History Press Website: historypress.net; silverwaters.com

book look Edition(s): softcover, ebook Previous reviews: Twinkle Toes and the Riddle of the Lake, Winter 2010; The Edge Walker’s Guide to Lake Ontario Beachcombing, Winter 2005

Passing Seasons: The Finger Lakes in Painting, Poetry & Prose

by Brett Scheifflee & Sam Share (2012)

T

his small book brings together the artwork of Brett Scheifflee with the words of Sam Share.

There are 24 full-color images of original, Finger Lakes-inspired paintings by RIT graduate Scheifflee. Wells College alum Sam Share’s carefully crafted poetry and prose thematically complement each image.

The collaborative volume was released as a limited edition, each copy numbered and signed by both the author and artist.

Every painting in the book was painted in the Finger Lakes, from the beautiful land around Keuka Lake to Cazenovia. There are sunsets, waxing moons, fields in February, plus stormy and billowing clouds. A building or occasional cow may inhabit a view. Each expresses the feel and appearance of a particular season through its composition and use of light and color.

Scheifflee writes: “A goal in many of my paintings is to imply a quiet sense of narrative in a relatively reserved image. I aim to make paint echo experiences from our surroundings, and create an illusion of something peaceful and provocative for the viewer to study and enjoy.”

This title’s paintings with their paired readings are bound to encourage quiet contemplation.

Publisher: Instant Publisher Edition(s): softcover Available at: Copperesque and Ithaca Bakery (Union Springs) or contact brettscheifflee@gmail.com

WINTER 2013 ~

23

Finger Lakes Tourism

explore and discover

BEFORE

hristmas

by Jessica Robideau, Finger Lakes Tourism Alliance

V

isions of sugarplums, reindeer and sleds are all wonderful iconic winter images, but what would your Finger Lakes version of the holiday classic “’Twas the Night Before Christmas” poem look like?

When you’re looking to explore all that local tourism has to offer here in the Finger Lakes Region, visions of relaxing spas, warm beds and fireplaces at area accommodations, and a glass of local wine or beer at the end of a frosty day on the ski slopes come to mind.

Bristol Mountain Ski Resort

Museums galore to fill your time, with reasonable prices that cost just a dime The Finger Lakes Museum in Branchport hosts educational seminars on local wines and foods, as well as historical and geological information about the long, finger-shaped lakes. With new exhibits constantly showing up at keystone museums – like The Corning Museum of Glass, the Museum of Science and Technology (Syracuse), the

Rochester Museum and Science Center

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The Finger Lakes in winter may seem a little slower, but that’s the time to have conversations with locals, discover unique products and gifts, and have a one-on-one experience with the owners of local establishments.

Explore your local chamber of commerce or tourism bureau, or visit the Finger Lakes Tourism Alliance website – fingerlakes.org – and let us help you explore everything this amazing region has to offer this winter.

Rockwell Museum of Art (Corning) and the Rochester Memorial Art Gallery – there’s a new exploration at every turn.

Nestle yourself in a hotel bed, as visions of relaxation dance in your head Wouldn’t it be nice to get away for a day? There are over 130 hotels and motels, 112 bed and breakfasts, 51 vacation rentals, and 35 campgrounds that offer accommodations for tourists to book their next Finger Lakes stay,

Hope Lake Lodge at Greek Peak Photos courtesy FingerLakes.org

and for locals to explore their backyard.

Make a point to have a day-cation, or mental health day, and explore all those locations right around the corner that you keep meaning to visit.

Area accommodations offer extremely competitive rates during the week in the winter months, and also offer reduced seasonal pricing for weekend stays. If you’re looking for accommodations for a specific busy holiday weekend, the Finger Lakes Tourism Alliance offers a way to search for regional availability throughout the Finger Lakes with the “Book a Room Now” feature on its website, fingerlakes.org.

Go outside to play in the snow, and the cold winter won’t seem so darn slow The Finger Lakes boasts several ski resorts, as well as snow tubing locations where you can blow up that old tractor tire and careen through slopes with built-in bumps made for laughter and fun in the snow. Also, many state parks are closed for the season, leaving snowmobile trails open to be explored.

The winter months aren’t short of events, either. Make sure to check your favorite business’ website for a calendar of events to see what’s happening. On any given weekend in the Finger Lakes, there are hundreds of events to attend.

Do some research, sign up for a newsletter – and check out Life in the Finger Lakes’ “Happenings” section (page 8 ) – to discover the wide breadth of opportunities you can take advantage of.

Don’t hesitate to try some wine and some beer; it will warm your soul as well as your ears There are over 65 wineries, breweries and distilleries in the area, all offering world-class refreshments for your enjoyment. Red, white or hoppy, you will experience quality one-on-one time with owners, managers and staff at local establishments in the less busy winter months. Many times, industry professionals will also offer exclusive cellar or production facility tours as an added benefit of visiting their business in the less hectic time of year.

Some Finger Lakes businesses, like Belhurst Castle, have spa and winery locations all on site, so you can relax with

a massage and a glass of wine in hand.

After a long day out on the ski slopes of Bristol Mountain, for example, Woodcliff Hotel and Spa has a location where you can melt away the aches and tight muscles of the day, and retire to beautiful accommodations to rest your head.

The holiday season is a time to shop, for scarves and sweaters and more till you drop The Waterloo Premium Outlets has

huge sales during the holiday shopping season. And with Destiny USA’s three floors to explore in Syracuse, you’ll be shining your new shoes within the first 30 minutes. Visit the downtown Ithaca Commons, bursting at the seams with shops and restaurants, and check out the upcoming events hosted there – both Winter Festival 2013 and Restaurant Week begin November 30.

Voted One of the Most Romantic Places in New York State, The Belhurst also offers fine food, beautiful accommodations, perfectly memorable events . . .

Chambers in the Castle, Vinifera Inn, White Springs Manor, Edgar’s Fine Dining, Stonecutters Casual Dining, Belhurst Estate Winery & Gift Shop, Isabella Spa ~ Salon.

Castle

The Belhurst is open every day of the year.

315.781.0201 Gift Certificates available online at www.Belhurst.com

LODGING • DINING • WINERY ~ GIFT SHOP • SPA ~ SALON WINTER 2013 ~

25

weddings

in the Finger Lakes

Venues in the

Valley The Genesee Valley’s history and beautiful countryside make it the perfect place to have a wedding, no matter the time of year

by Kay Thomas

R

ustic country barns, historic landmark inns and homesteads on the National Register litter the Genesee Valley. That scenery, combined with a convenient driving distance from Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse, make it an ideal area to host a wedding.

More and more couples seek venues that encourage guests to visit together comfortably, and share in other group activities besides the actual ceremony and reception. The venues here encourage exactly that, featuring overnight accommodations, restaurants and bars, open spaces like porches and lawns, and much more. Here’s what the Genesee Valley has to offer.

Night on the town at Big Tree Inn The Big Tree Inn is a landmark brick building on Main Street in Geneseo, with 125 years of history and hospitality. The charm of the surrounding small village makes it inviting and convenient for a wedding. Socializing on the expansive porch is a Big Tree tradition.

The Tavern – a full bar and grill – features cozy dining areas situated near the front of the building for lunch and dinner.

There are eight guest rooms upstairs and ample onsite parking in the rear.

Restored in the past few years, the interior space reflects much of the elegant, ornate detailing of an earlier period. With the addition of the event center, it continues to

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Big Tree Inn

Photos provided by Big Tree Inn, Glen Iris Inn, Wingate Barn, Sweet Briar Spa and Resort, and Wadsworth Homestead.

maintain its charm and intimate feeling of the main building, while providing seating for up to 150 guests. There are two side rooms for small functions.

The garden provides a place for an outdoor wedding ceremony of 75 guests or less. The photo opportunities are endless with the greenery, grand staircase and front parlor.

The event coordinator, along with the Big Tree’s chef, plan with the couple, suggesting dinner options from standard fare to ethnic or contemporary meals tailored specifically to their needs. Bridal couples celebrating their wedding reception at the Event Center are invited to spend the first night of their honeymoon in a complimentary luxury suite at the Inn. Location: 46 Main St., Geneseo Contact: Dan Mullin, general manager Phone: 585-243-5220 Website: bigtreeinn.com

Behind the scenery at the Glen Iris Inn The Glen Iris Inn, originally the home of William Pryor Letchworth, has welcomed guests since 1914. The stately inn is within the 14,350-acre Letchworth State Park in Castile, which is often called the “Grand Canyon of the East” by tourists. There is a winding park road to the inn and a waterfall pool garden upon arrival.

The wedding ceremony may be located a short distance outside the inn, overlooking the Middle Falls of the Genesee River. Guests are seated in chairs on the lawn for the service, and the reception is held in a cathedral tent on the side of No longer is there a single the inn away from the public. approach to a wedding event Letchworth Park provides any more than there is to the numerous scenic overlooks, traditional white wedding gown, according to event coordinators in wooded spots and historic the Genesee Valley. It’s all about areas for photography. There the lifestyle of the couple and are accommodations at the the choices that they make. Cost inn, The Pinewood Lodge, factors vary, although the Genepark houses or camping in see Valley remains economically the cabin area. A historical feasible for weddings compared museum is also across the to other sections of the state. road.

There is a wedding coor“Every time I think that I have dinator for the entire event. seen it all in a wedding,” admits Rafting, hiking, hot air balDenise Coffey, Glen Iris Inn assistant general manager, “ looning and horseback rides there is another different one.” may be planned in advance for groups. Casual rehearsal parties with a barbeque meal may be arranged at the picnic pavilion.

The Glen Iris Inn has a full dining room that serves three meals a day, as well as a gift shop, front sitting rooms and a spacious porch that is also open to the public.

Location: 7 Letchworth State Park, Castile Contact: Denise Coffey, assistant general manager Phone: 585-493-5803 Website: glenirisinn.com

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27

weddings

in the Finger Lakes

Everything’s coming up roses at Sweet Briar Spa and Resort The Sweet Briar Spa and Resort is on the National Register of Historic Places.

This homestead just outside the village of Geneseo offers five guest rooms, spacious and clean gardens for a wedding ceremony, and a heated tent.

Sweet Briar Farm is the name Horatio Jones gave to the land he was given by the Sweet Briar Spa and Resort Seneca Nation in gratitude for his part in helping to negotiate the house by a meandering flagstone the Big Tree Treaty. Jones gave sidewalk that was installed in 2006. the name to the property because, even The event planner personally hantoday, sweet briar roses grow abundles the details and catering. The facility dantly across the fields. provides the bridal party and guests In 1906, Winthrop Astor Chanler, with a private setting for their special an avid sportsman and foxhunter who time, including spa appointments. Wedhad fallen in love with the Genesee dings are required to rent the second Valley, bought the house and property floor accommodations for the night of overlooking serene rolling hills with the event. magnificent sunsets.

Sweet Briar can seat up to 60 peoLocation: 5126 Mt. Morris Rd., Geneseo ple inside in three adjoining rooms. For Contact: Will Wadsworth, larger parties, there is a 60- by 90-foot event coordinator white tent that will accommodate up to Phone: 585-245-8620 250 guests. The tent is on a level, hard, Website: sweet-briar.net carpeted surface and is connected to

A wedding for the history books at Wadsworth Homestead Without losing the charm and history of the historic Wadsworth Homestead at the south end of Geneseo’s Main Street, it is now opening its doors to weddings and parties.

Built by James Wadsworth in 1800, the restoration and addition of conveniences to make a venue include the rental of the downstairs and five guest bedrooms. The south porch overlooks the virgin oak trees of the Genesee Valley, providing a view similar to the pastoral lands from 200 years ago. Spacious walkways to a tented reception area lit with lanterns in early evening hours provide a wonderful backdrop for photos.

The downstairs contains artifacts of the past and rich stories of family events, guests and galas. No new elements have been brought in from the modern world. The stairway turns 180 degrees in its ascent to the second floor, its elaborate, hand-carved railings and posts blending architectural elements from various eras.

Glen Iris Inn at Letchworth

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Set Sail

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Life’s Journey

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A wedding planner is onsite to arrange catering and all other details. Downtown Geneseo is in walking distance. Activities for guests that include trips into the Finger Lakes wine country are suggested.

The fact that the Wadsworth family wishes to share this landmark site with the public makes for an unusual wedding venue that has only recently become possible.

Wingate Barn

Location: 4 South St., Box 127, Geneseo Contact: Will Wadsworth, event coordinator Phone: 585-764-9005 Website: wadsworthhomestead.com

Wadsworth Homestead

Kick it in the sticks at Wingate Barn In the neighboring town of Livonia, a Wells barn built in the 1920s with an openstyle high ceiling, wide plank board floors and large doors can be utilized for a wedding venue of up to 220 people. The red barn overlooks a working cornfield, and is an area landmark for parties in the community. The new owners (they’ve owned for the past five years) enjoy sharing the barn, so the site has become an ideal wedding venue in the area.

The barn can be rented for the weekend and includes full electrical service. The sprawling chandelier inside is a focal point that can be worked into any decorating theme, from burlap to lace, from Mason jar table decorations to silver candelabras.

The owner provides a suggested list of services including catering, and can be hired as the event coordinator if so desired. The couple, friends and family decorate with a theme, working together on the process.

Cleanup is part of the renters’ responsibility.

There is ample space on the lawn for games, an outside deck area for bar services and an archway for a wedding ceremony.

There is a bride room for preparation, as well as general restroom facilities.

There are no accommodations on the premises. However, there are motels in nearby Geneseo and Mount Morris, as well as in Rochester. Shuttle services can be arranged.

Location: 6653 Big Tree Rd., Livonia Contact: Dolores Cicero, owner Phone: 585-346-0262, 585-755-5085 (cell)

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in the Finger Lakes Renee Paddock, rpaddock4@hotmail.com

weddings

F

or a bride-to-be, a Tiffany setting may refer to how a diamond is mounted in her engagement ring. However, another “Tiffany setting” is in the heart of the Finger Lakes, and may be an ideal location for a wedding ceremony.

The focal point in the Chapel of the Spa Apartments at 11 East Main St. in Clifton Springs is a dazzling Tiffany artwork. Above the chapel’s altar is an 18-foot-long mosaic of “The Last

A Touch of Tiffany New York City’s Tiffany Studios leaves its imprint in Clifton Springs

Supper” that was made at the Tiffany Studios in New York City.

How did the Tiffany mosaic get to Clifton Springs?

Louis Comfort Tiffany (1848-1933), the eldest son of Charles Lewis Tiffany of the famed jewelry and silver store, began as a painter, but later turned to working with glass as an art medium.

He is probably best known for his work with stained glass and interior deco-

by Laurel C. Wemett

ration for homes, churches and public buildings at the turn of 20th century.

Inspired by the interiors of Byzantine churches, Tiffany’s mosaic technique used iridescent glass, mother-of-pearl and transparent tesserae backed with gold leaf.

The donors of “The Last Supper” mosaic were Myron and Velma Buck.

Buck, a native of Shortsville, owned a St. Louis-based railroad supplies business.

He came east in 1875 so his wife who

Photo courtesy Tim Parsons, Parsons Pipe Organ Builders

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weddings was in ill health could be treated by Dr. Henry Foster at the Clifton Springs Sanatorium. Dr. Foster had founded a water-cure facility in the village in 1850 due to the availability of sulphur springs. The sanatorium became known worldwide for its sulphur baths and Dr. Foster’s unique blend of medicine and faith.

With Mrs. Buck’s recovery, the couple’s ties to Clifton Springs strengthened. After Dr. Foster’s death in 1901, the Bucks visited the Tiffany Studios in New York City where they selected a memorial after seeing sketches of “The Specializing in Wedding Cinematography, Duprey Video Productions has been preserving wedding memories throughout the Finger Lakes area since 1989.

Directions to the Chapel and Spa Apartment Offices Please call ahead to visit the chapel.

It is on the first floor of the Spa Apartments. Visitors should stop at the Spa Apartment office on the ground floor in case the chapel is in use. From the ground level entrance, take the elevator to the first floor and then follow the hall straight ahead; the chapel will be on the right almost at the end of the hall. The Spa Apartments office is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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Last Supper” mosaic, which was then at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo.

The multi-pieced mosaic is based on a painting done by Frederick Wilson, who worked for L.C. Tiffany. The Bucks purchased it for the sanitarium chapel where it was later installed.

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By 1972, the sanatorium was threatened with demolition with the construction of a new Clifton Springs Hospital & Clinic. However, the large five-story sanatorium soon took on new life as the Spa Apartments, a senior housing facility.

The Spa Apartments Chapel has recently been completely renovated thanks to an anonymous donor.

Its stained glass windows made by a Boston firm – Spence, Moakler and Bell – and its best known feature, the

in the Finger Lakes Tiffany mosaic, were a focus of a major restoration carried out

by John Lord of Waterloo. Lord also oversaw the installation of new lighting over the mosaic. Other chapel improvements included new hardwood flooring, upgraded heating and air conditioning, along with painting.

Enhancing the chapel’s musical life Parsons Pipe Organ Builders of nearby Bristol located an appropriate historic pipe organ to replace an electric organ which had been used there since the 1950s. In a church in Brooklyn, Parsons found a long-silent instrument built in 1901

by William and Charles Pilcher. It may be the only organ in the world that the Pilcher brothers built together. The organ was destined for the landfill, but the American Guild of Organists

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pushed for its rescue. Parsons craftsmen put more than 3,000 man-hours into the restoration, which included replacing all the leather, cleaning all the pipes – plus straightening most – and restoring the keyboard with antique ivory.

The mechanical action tracker organ can be played with or without electricity. Parsons completed the historically accurate restoration in December 2012. The chapel was proudly re-dedicated with a pipe organ recital on the anniversary of Dr. Henry Foster’s birth on January 18, 2013.

The Spa Chapel is regularly used for church, funeral and memorial services, as well as concerts and weddings. It is also available for private meditation for those who live in the apartments.

For more information about the Spa Chapel, contact accounts manager Dedee Wilkes at dwilkes@spaapartments. com, or by calling 315-462-3080. The Spa Chapel seating will accommodate 150 to 175 comfortably. While no food or beverages are allowed in the chapel, the main lobby down the hall from the chapel may be used for refreshments. The Spa Chapel is closed to rentals from November 1 to April 1.

Eat. Drink. Repeat.

A site devoted to the culinary escapades of Madison County. ® I LOVE NEW YORK logo is a registered trademark/service mark of NYS Dept. of Economic Development, used with permissions.

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Made in the Finger Lakes

unique products

From

TREES TOYS to

Creations of an American folk artist

T

he similarities are obvious: fluffy white beard, workshop littered with exquisite wooden toys in various stages of construction. No, I’m not visiting the home of Kris Kringle, I’m in Trumansburg calling on master wooden-toy maker Gunther Keil.

For nearly 40 years, Keil has been creating “American folk art with a European touch, and whimsical wooden animal toys, organic and durable,” says his website, wildapples.com. Among his signature pieces are Noah’s Ark and the Nativity. Each piece is carefully

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story and photos by Sue Henninger

created by hand in his effort to express “the fragility and exquisiteness of life,” something he believes is too easily forgotten in our increasingly technical world.

Inspiration Gunther Keil emigrated from Berlin in 1968, and today raises sheep and bees on his 55-acre farm. Making toys may be his first love, but Keil is also a college professor and renowned authority on German literature.

The first toys he made were for his children. Later, when he began selling his wooden figures at craft fairs, Keil quickly realized that if he wanted to make a living as a toymaker he had to elaborate on his product line.

For ideas, he turned to his books on mythology, German art, plants and animals, and silhouettes. He was inspired by their illustrations.

“Books with illustrations are better resources for me than

photography books,” he explains. “When the pictures go through my mind rather than through a mechanical lens process, my creations have a better form; I can imagine them interacting with other things in their environment.”

For raw materials, Keil harvests the trees growing on his property. He tries to match their particular grain patterns and colors to the characteristics of the animal he’s creating. It’s a process that takes a lot of thought and experimentation, but is well worth the effort. He uses sumac with its green and brown/gold stripes to make crocodiles, and sycamore with its range of brownish-white to pale reddish-brown for giraffes. Other colors are added as needed using natural wood dyes.

Keil hires a logger to fell the trees, and then sends them to a saw mill where they are made into boards. The boards return to his farm to dry for about a year in his translucent solar drying kiln, “my greenhouse for wood.”

When it’s ready, Keil and his assistants get to work. They trace the shapes of the creatures on the wood and carefully cut them out with a band saw. Each one is meticulously sanded, colored with dye if needed, and sealed. When the toys are completed, they’re packaged and shipped to customers all over the world.

Classics and misfits His creations, especially his highly polished wooden animal banks, and his dragon and climbing-bear pull-toys, stand the test of time both in style and durability. “They’re made to last, and you can give them to anyone for any occasion,” he explains. Sadly, other ideas have been short-lived. Keil opens a drawer to reveal a polar bear habitat that includes a puffin, seal and arctic fox; and a Western habitat with a buffalo and wolf. We are both surprised that these unique toys are the least popular that he’s created. Today, they remain in limbo, too cherished to throw away, but not loved enough to be placed under the Christmas tree.

It’s just one of the many challenges of being an artist, Keil concedes.

Another is keeping everything going financially. “What’s happening in the world can have a huge impact on how people buy gifts, particularly art,” he notes.

Keil confesses to having a love-hate relationship with technology. He has to love it since most of his orders come from e-commerce sites. At the same time, simple computer tasks give him trouble – he forgets to “save” things or can’t find them when he does. “I work in tangibles so virtual reality is tough for me,” he admits.

For help, he turned to the Community Arts Partnership in Ithaca, and enrolled in a business course.

That’s where he found out about Etsy, an online marketplace where artisans sell their wares. Since opening his Etsy shop, Arks and Animals, his sales have increased by 300 percent.

After observing that many people surf websites looking for toys that are produced naturally in the United States, Keil says he’s happy to provide these online shoppers with quality products from the tiny village of Trumansburg.

Whatever the future holds

for Gunther Keil, it’s not retirement. “I like to be useful,” he explains. “I want to remain part of things. I don’t want to end up in my own used-toy drawer!”

In terms of introducing new products, he’s considering reviving his simple full-size wheelbarrow, recalling how popular it was at craft shows. It’s too bulky and heavy to mail assembled, but he believes there may be a market for wheelbarrow kits. And, since it’s December, he’s thinking about a design for a wooden Christmas tree advent calendar.

Gunther Keil creations are in the permanent collection of the Toy Museum in Nuremberg, Germany, and have been displayed at the “Toys for All Ages” Show at the Smithsonian, and the “Objects for Use/Handmade by Design” show at the American Craft Museum in New York. He hopes to someday see his toys exhibited in the Strong Museum of Play in Rochester.

To learn more about Keil’s toy company, Wild Apples, visit wildapples.com or call 607-387-6315 (toll free: 866-291-2882).

Surprises Keil’s Noah’s Ark is modeled after the highly detailed toys created in Germany in the 19th century, which even featured a pair of tiny insects.

Keil’s Biblical boats come with 30 pairs of intricately created animals, plus Noah and his wife. Along with the traditional ark animals are two llamas and two kangaroos because, on his ark, Keil wants every continent represented.

He’s committed to making his animals and people look as natural as possible by portraying them in action rather than as immobile statues. The allusion of movement, along with their engaging expressions, makes his wooden figures more interactive and thought-provoking. The Virgin Mary in his Nativity scene, for instance, can sit in a chair when an angel visits her, or perch on a donkey to travel to Jerusalem. Other Nativity figures are bowing, and a shepherd is portrayed walking towards something rather than standing still.

In all the familiar stories Keil tells with his figures, he adds a special touch unique to his work. In the case of the Nativity, it’s the addition of dog.

He feels it’s been strangely missing from most Nativity scenes, given the vocation of Christ’s visitors. “The shepherds had to have a dog to help them with their sheep!” the toymaker asserts.

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by Matthew Timothy Bradley

I

f you think snowshoeing is for hunters, loggers or mountaineers only, it’s time you tried a pair and got out on some trails. You’d be joining 4 million other Americans (last year’s count, according to SnowSports Industries) who strap them on to enjoy running, walking and hiking in wintry weather.

It’s easy to see why snowshoeing for fun is on the rise.

First, it’s affordable. A top-of-the-line pair of snowshoes can be purchased for $200 or less, roughly the cost of a weekend’s lift ticket and equipment rental at a ski resort.

If you don’t want to commit before trying them out, you can rent snowshoes. Eastern Mountain Sports offers good one-day or multiday rates. (Visit ems.com for more information, and to find a store near you.)

Third, you don’t have to be an expert to enjoy snowshoeing. “If you can walk, you can snowshoe,” the saying goes, and it is no exaggeration. First-timers can participate the minute they strap ’shoes on their feet, and, after only a few hours of practice, they can keep pace with experienced snowshoers (versus a few months or even years for other winter sports).

Affordability combined with a short learning curve makes snowshoeing a remarkably family friendly activity.

Even the shortest legs in the troop are able to keep up, and the longest won’t get too far ahead. There’s little to worry about as far as the group getting strung out.

Like running, snowshoeing is a great aerobic exercise. Unlike running, there is no risk of high-impact injuries like stress fractures.

As with all forms of winter exercise, snowshoeing is

Snowshoeing IN THE Finger Lakes A Beginner’s Guide

Photo by Bill Banaszewski

WINTER 2013 ~

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Snowshoeing IN THE Finger Lakes

A Beginner’s Guide

The author trekking during a late winter afternoon at the Indian Ovens in Green Lakes State Park.

effective in the prevention and treatment of seasonal affective disorder, a complaint with which residents of the Finger Lakes are very familiar, especially if they spend most of the winter cooped up indoors.

Best of all, a number of scenic and easily accessible snowshoeing venues are spread across our region.

Finger Lakes residents are blessed with a number of easy-to- moderate trails that wind their way through scenic parks. (Note: these trails are often shared with cross-country skiers.

An important point of etiquette for snowshoers is that they steer clear of skiers’ set tracks; a small courtesy that costs very little but buys a great deal of good will.)

Green Lakes State Park Located within easy driving distance of Syracuse, this park is north of Fayetteville in the Town of Manlius.

It offers visitors access to the Round Lake National Landmark, 800 acres of old growth forest and a big view of Oneida Lake. GPS parking coordinates are 43.05870 -75.97143.

Camillus Unique Area Located west of Syracuse on the grounds of the old Syracuse State School, it offers a climb through an open area to a nice view of the city,

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~ LIFEINTHEFINGERL AKES.COM

Photos this page by Matthew Timothy Bradley

followed by trails leading through a regenerating forest. GPS parking coordinates are 43.06996 -76.27723.

Taughannock Falls State Park This Tompkins County park is extremely popular for three-season use. Visit on snowshoes to experience the park without the crowds. A twomile loop trail is accessible from either the parking lot on Rice Hill near the skating ponds (GPS coordinates 42.54293 -76.61392), or the lot at the falls overlook (GPS coordinates 42.53877 -76.60802).

Bare Hill Unique Area On the eastern side of Canandaigua Lake midway between Canandaigua and Naples, the trails up Bare Hill provide an expansive view of the lake to the west. GPS parking coordinates are 42.74670 -77.30264.

Camillus Unique Area provides a map at the parking area.

You don’t wear clothes that are too big for you.

Ganondagan State Historic Site The trails southeast of Rochester, at a mid17th-century settlement site of the Seneca people, traverse rolling grasslands and forest. GPS parking coordinates are 42.96128 -77.41324.

For a slightly more strenuous hike culminating in a big view towards Canandaigua, park at 42.96129 -77.43210 and follow the Granary Trail up Fort Hill.

Your Equipment Snowshoes – Anyone who has seen a pair of wood and rawhide snowshoes understands why the French word for this footwear is raquette. If you have that image in mind, you might be surprised when you ďŹ rst see today’s contemporary designs – they don’t really resemble racquets at all.

There are two basic variations; both come in multiple dimensions. In the ďŹ rst, a segment of Hypalon, a type of trademarked synthetic rubber, is suspended within a frame of aluminum tubing. In the second, the entire body of the shoe is composed of a piece of injection molded plastic. Picture a piece of corrugated rooďŹ ng panel, but made of thick plastic rather than metal.

An 8-by-30-inch snowshoe is probably the most common, and is a good size for ďŹ rst-timers. It is large enough to provide some oatation when the snow conditions are soft and powdery, but not so large that it’s awkward when trails are packed and icy.

In addition to the differences in form, contemporary snowshoes are better on packed and icy trails than traditional models, thanks to the addition of crampons. Snowshoe crampons are not sharp and long like mountaineering crampons. Rather, they are 1/2-inch- to 3/4-inch-long metal teeth that provide enough grip to keep the user’s feet up under him or her, even after the snow has been packed down, or has gone through several freeze-thaw cycles.

A typical arrangement includes a crampon riveted in the Hypalon behind

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Snowshoeing IN THE Finger Lakes

A Beginner’s Guide

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the wearer’s heel, and another at the wear’s forefoot beneath the binding.

While modern snowshoes are remarkably free of hassle, the bindings can be a tiny bit of a hassle from time to time.

The goal is a secure fit that is not so cinched down as to cut off circulation to toes and lead to cold injury. This is not to say that getting into snowshoe bindings properly is rocket science. But before you walk out of the door of the store, take the time to practice getting in and out of them with whoever you buy them from.

Long underwear – The most important piece of clothing for winter outdoor recreation is probably the first to go on. A good pair of long underwear keeps the wearer warm by moving sweat away from the skin and drying quickly. Underwear made from light merino wool, polypropylene, or polyester (available under a variety of trademarked names) functions ideally for this purpose.

Cotton does not! In fact, cotton underwear will make the wearer colder after it becomes wet with sweat, because cotton dries slowly and holds a large volume of moisture relative to its weight.

Outerwear – When choosing outerwear, remember that snowshoeing is a high energy output activity. In other words, snowshoeing in ski bibs and a parka quickly leads to the boil-in-a-bag effect! A medium-weight sweater or a nylon windbreaker with a fuzzy lining is a good choice for a typical winter day in the Finger Lakes.

Socks and boots – As long as the temperature is not truly frigid, un-insulated footwear such as trail runners can work well for snowshoeing. Pack boots are another good choice, and often include a notch at the Achilles to help hold the back strap of a snowshoe binding in place. Footwear

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~ LIFEINTHEFINGERLAKES.COM

Photo by Bill Banaszewski

should not be tight, and a thin liner sock combined with a medium or heavyweight wool sock will keep dampness and cold at bay. Seriously consider the purchase of a pair of gaiters (a passable pair should run $30 to $40) to prevent snow from entering your boots and socks, then melting.

Hat and gloves/mittens – A pair of wool gloves worn with a thin liner will work for most snowshoers. If you’re prone to cold hands, consider mitts rather than gloves. A lightweight beanie will keep wind off your ears, and a pair of sunglasses helps prevent headaches caused by sunlight reflecting off the snowpack.

Just in case Even if you will only be out for an hour or two, you should still tote along these important extras.

• A map is a necessity when trails are out-of-sight of roads and houses.

• A light snack is optional, but some water or energy drink is a must. Liquids need to be carried in a thermos, or stashed inside a pack lest they freeze. A CamelBak-type hydration reservoir is an option, as long as you clear the water from the tubing after each drink by blowing it back into the reservoir.

• You’ll appreciate a Gore-Tex shell jacket and balaclava if the wind kicks up.

• Chemical “shake it” hand warmers are also a nice just-incase option.

• A small headlamp or flashlight will ease your nerves if you find yourself still out there when evening sets in.

• A bookbag-sized daypack provides more than enough space for these extras. Lumbar (aka, “fanny”) packs are also quite popular among recreational snowshoers. They are a “just right” size for the items I’ve mentioned, though they might prove a bit small if you’re carrying extra for children.

WINTER 2013 ~

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The Twelfth Annual

Life in the Finger Lakes

Photography Contest

“A

dopt the pace of nature – her secret is patience,” once uttered transcendentalist Ralph Waldo Emerson. Out of the more than 1,000 photo submissions this year, I feel the 15 winners mirror this earthy declaration. The grand prize winner, for example, illustrates patience in the stillness of the boat, as if it awaits a storm. The crew at the biker bar featured in the first-place black and white photograph lingers patiently for the picture to be taken.

It’s safe to say that nature’s secret is the same secret the people behind the camera lens hold dear to capture these images. How long did it take Andrea Barber to get the perfect shot of the Icelandic mare in midstride in the black and white second-place winner? Was Daniel Schlegel merely in the right place at the right time as the fox approached the fish-gripping heron in the third-place color winner? Or did he stalk the prey of his lens for hours? Did Bob Gates just happen to capture the perfect expression on the balloonist’s face in the second-place digitally altered winner?

No matter the method of our photographers’ madness, albeit patience or the right place at the right time, all of this year’s winners deserve an applause. These snapshots capture nature’s patience, the splendor of the human experience (on both sides of the camera), and maybe most importantly, the beauty of the place in which we live – the Finger Lakes.

– Alyssa LaFaro

Grand Prize “Every year I spend at least a day or two in good company at Round Lake just outside Savona.

This old dock made for one of my favorite photographs.”

Nathan D. Miller • Rochester

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WINNERS

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First Place “Sunrise over Cayuga Lake” Bernadett Pava • Cortlandt Manor, New York

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COLOR

Second Place “Draft horses at Watson Homestead in Painted Post” Susan Nye-Bleiler • Odessa

Third Place “Standoff at Long Point Cove in Seneca Lake” Daniel Schlegel • Webster

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Second Place “Snow Girl – Icelandic mare in Mendon” Andrea Barber Honeoye Falls

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First Place “During the summer, Corning becomes a popular gathering place for motorcycle enthusiasts planning their tours throughout the Finger Lakes Region. This photo titled ‘After the Run’ was taken at a popular bar and grill. The moon appears on the horizon as people share stories of their travels. A 14mm wide angle lens was used with a flash diffused and slightly tilted upward on the camera. The primary lighting of this scene is a bright street light on the top of the pole to the left of the man standing on the sidewalk. This light shines more or less straight down on the bikes, causing the shadows from the bikes in the street.”

Gary L. Thompson • Big Flats

BLACK & WHITE Third Place “A tunnel of cornstalks at Rogers Farm in Skaneateles” Wayne Kunkel • Skaneateles

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DIGITALLY ALTERED

First Place “Sky and water – taken from the bridge on South Corning Road over the Chemung River” Dipak Chowdhury • Corning

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Second Place “Jamesville Balloon Festival” Bob Gates • Jamesville

Third Place “Hemlock Barn” Scott Hooker • Livonia WINTER 2013 ~

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HONORABLE MENTION

“Canoeing Beebe Lake in Ithaca” – color Richard Elkins • Moorestown, New Jersey

“I was feeding the horses one morning and saw this once-in-alifetime photo opportunity.” – color Kim Wickham Stanley

“Sunflower sunset on Springs Street in Caledonia” – digitally altered Larry Heins • Caledonia

“Reynolds Gully” – digitally altered Steve Clough • Fairport

“View through the ancient tree with moon.” – black and white Alain Van Rhyn Le Roy “Frosty morning in the Town of Farmington” – black and white Michael F. Sargent • Farmington

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Satisfy Your

Sweet Tooth *VSQ WSHE JSYRXEMRW XS ZIKIXEFPI MRJYWIH XVYJ¾IW XLIWI W[IIX WLSTW TVSQMWI XS ½RH ]SYV JERG] story and photos by Olivia Hall

Life’s So Sweet Chocolates in Ithaca

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E

ver tried a grapefruitbalsamic truffle? How about a chocolate-covered, caramelized onion?

Believe it or not, these exotic treats do exist. In fact, you can find them right here in the Finger Lakes.

Whether you’re spending the day in Ithaca’s gorges, roaming around Rochester’s museums, or strolling through Syracuse’s Armory Square, a chocolate-filled pit stop is just around the corner waiting for you to take a breather. From old-fashioned candies to modern, European-style confections, the delights at these local sweet shops are sure to quench your sugar rush.

Life’s so nostalgic at Life’s So Sweet Chocolates in Ithaca The nostalgic and colorful Life’s So Sweet Chocolates in Ithaca (the original store location still exists in Trumansburg) is filled with chocolates, candies and fun details meant to evoke memories in adults and create new ones in kids. Take, for example, three tables that lure customers over to play Candy Land on game boards from three different decades – 1955, 1984 and 2010.

Sweet Expressions in Canandaigua

A vintage, 1949 Bastion and Blessing soda fountain transforms employees into old-fashioned “soda jerks” – mixing syrup, water and carbonation. “It’s a real skill,” explains owner Darlynne Overbaugh. “My staff and I like to joke e that we’re earning our bubbles.”

Overbaugh, a self-taught chocohocolatier, was creating confections as gifts for friends and family when she was just 8 years old. She learned to craft the truffles, caramels, barks, creams, chocolate-covered nuts, dipped dried fruits and novelties stocked in the store’s display cases. Also offered are 10 nostalgic candies, homemade waffle cones with Purity ice cream and, seasonally, caramel apples and chocolate-dipped strawberries.

In hopes to root her store as much as possible to the region, Overbaugh uses many local ingredients that include fruit and honey. Most recently, she released the first installments of the Finger Lakes bark collection. Cayuga Lake bark, for example, consists of milk chocolate with butter toffee bits

and Ithaca Coffee Company beans. All 11 lakes and several waterfalls will be honored in special bark combinations over the next year.

Special events like demonstrations, “Chocolate After Hours” and chocolate tours keep visitors coming back.

Signature Selection: Waterfalls chocolate bark collection Exotic Flavor: Coconut-curry truffle Location: 116 W. Green Street, Ithaca; 27 W. Main St., Trumansburg Phone: 607-882-9842 (Ithaca), 607-387-4477 (Trumansburg) Website: lifessosweet.com

Whisper Chocolate in Geneva

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Whisper Chocolate

Explore the exotic at Whisper Chocolate in Geneva “You know the expression ‘whisper sweet nothings in my ear?’ Well, we want to whisper chocolate,” says Jasmine Mead. True to her credo, Whisper’s head chocolatier takes a French approach to her craft. “Compared to an American style, our flavors are more subtle,” she explains. “My philosophy is that the chocolate should be the center of what you taste.”

French Noel dark and white, and Belgian Callebaut milk chocolate are in the spotlight of Mead’s creations, such as the dozens of variations of bark that line the bright aqua walls of the store she runs with her mother and younger sister. Whether plain or studded with ingredients like sesame, goji berries, or cherries and cacao nibs, it can be found here.

Changing varieties of truffles rest in a brown display case. Every square is a work of art thanks to cocoa butter transfers that top each piece with colorful graphic patterns to identify different flavors. Among the choices are grapefruit-balsamic, pineapple-habanero, espresso and hibiscus-ginger.

Mead learned how to create such recipes during a one-year internship with Hedonist Artisan Chocolates in Rochester. For continued inspiration, she turns to a nearby natural foods store. “I go up and down the aisles, look at all their spices, fruits and nuts, and come up with things I think would taste good in chocolate,” she reveals.

“I also let myself be inspired by savory foods. For example, I came up with our cardamon-lime truffle after I went to

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Rue Claire in Lodi

an Indian restaurant.”

Though many of the ingredients are exotic, Mead uses local products such as Seneca salt, fair-trade coffee beans roasted by Dalai Java, Once Again nut butters and seasonal jellies from Nordic Farms.

In the future, she hopes to expand Whisper’s lineup further by opening a chocolate café for serving both drinks and desserts.

Signature Selection: Milk chocolate bark with Seneca salt Exotic Flavor: Mexican mole bark with pasilla chili, almonds, raisins and cacao nibs Location: 444 Exchange St., Geneva Phone: 315-789-1211 Website: whisperchocolate.com

Eat your fruits and vegetables at Lune Chocolat in Manlius

Lune Chocolat’s warm pink walls and brown wainscoting evoke European flair, and the open kitchen lets visitors peer in and watch the chocolates being made – a craft that Emily studied briefly at the Culinary Institute of America in Poughkeepsie. “I am an artist by trade,” she admits, “so creating things like these chocolates is a little easier for me.”

Their seasonal approach certainly is imaginative, as the couple takes the use of local ingredients to a new dimension by rotating through over 500 (yes, 500!) different chocolates, based on what fruits – and vegetables – are available at the neighborhood farmers market. In the summer, you might find tomato-cilantro truffles in Lune’s case, while at other times delicata squash with toasted seed brittle or pear and wasabi in dark chocolate. All are based exclusively on South American chocolate from

Chocolate wasn’t really the plan for Mike Woloszyn and his wife Emily.

Mike was working on his MBA thesis at Syracuse University when he researched big chocolate companies and went to watch an artisan chocolate maker in Albany to learn about the production process on a small scale. He was immediately hooked. “I loved the flow and the smell, and it was just beautiful to watch,” he says. The Woloszyns decided to take the plunge and launch their own chocolate store.

Sarah’s Patisserie in Ithaca

small, cooperative farms that eschew child labor.

Cake is the “other food group” for sale, like the Blue Moon cake with orange frosting. “We also have standards like caramels and butter creams,” Mike adds, “but we really try to focus on the unique and different.”

Signature Selection: Lavender and honey truffle Exotic Flavor: Flavors of Thanksgiving pack (sweet potato casserole, apple pie, cranberry, pumpkin pie, mashed potato with kahlua gravy) Location: 315 Fayette St., Suite 5, Manlius Phone: 315-692-4173 Website: lunechocolat.com

Obscure shapes add flavor to Sweet Expressions in Canandaigua Denise Chaapel likes to have fun with her candy. In her old-fashioned country store, the shelves – some of which used to hold books in the Rochester library – are stocked with big and small jars of jaw breakers, candy necklaces and penny candies.

A dozen varieties of fudge, from plain to sea salt-caramel, beckon in a display case. But the mainstay of the shop, which Chaapel runs with her husband Tim and up to nine employees, is chocolate.

An entire corner is dedicated to playful molds. “We probably have thousands,” says Chaapel, pointing to chocolate pigs, flip flops and basketballs. “You think of it, we make it.”

A particular favorite is a white chocolate deviled egg filled with lemon crunch and topped with orange sugar “caviar.” “Some people put one of those on a platter of regular deviled eggs, stand back and let things just take their course,” she laughs.

For her flavor experiments she will dip just about anything – from Swedish fish to bacon – in her American-sourced blends of milk, dark, white and orange-flavored chocolate. “Coming up with new WINTER 2013 ~

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Life’s So Sweet Chocolates

and unusual pieces is the most fun for us,” says Chaapel, who, with her husband, also owns a full-line music store a few doors down. The two only got into candy when they took over a closing chocolate business.

Most recently, Chaapel turned her attention to Finger Lakes-themed products for her many tourist customers, such as a Rochester chocolate bar and a molded chocolate grape cluster filled with Arbor Hill chocolate Cabernet sauce.

Chocolate bark, marzipan fruits, chocolate candies, truffles sourced from Vermont and Texas, and gift baskets round out Sweet Expression’s offerings.

Signature Selection: Dark chocolate almond bark Exotic Flavor: Chocolate-dipped jalapeño Location: 169 South Main St., Canandaigua Phone: 585-394 5250 Website: sweetexpressionsonline.com

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Walk the sweet and savory line at Rue Claire in Lodi Tucked away from the busy road, rising up beyond a small field of lavender, Rue Claire’s tiny white cottage invites visitors to make their way through the fragrant herbs toward this petite patch of French countryside.

“My husband built the shop for me as a first Mother’s Day gift,” says owner Claire Benjamin. “It’s my special getaway.” Here, among the antique wood furniture – the main display case used to sit in the much-missed Artisan Café in Trumansburg – she retreats from her nearby house to let her travels and general love for food inspire new variations of truffles.

While Benjamin’s grandfather owned a bakery in her native Philippines, she set her sights on chocolate-making, which she studied with master chocolatier Laurent Pages at the Chocolate Academy in St. Hyacinthe, Québec.

Now, in an off-site kitchen, Benjamin

turns her ideas into some 20 rotating varieties of French-style chocolates, including her “classics,” such as mint-fennel-licorice or chili, as well as “classics with a spin,” such as caramel-sea-salt-chipotle, bacon-sea-salt, or mango-tarragon. Based on a blend of single-origin Valrhona chocolate and, whenever possible, local butter, cream, and other ingredients, none of the truffles are very sugary – most walk the line between sweet and savory, rich and herbal.

Of course, lavender from the plot outside – another gift from her husband – also makes its way into dark chocolate lavender truffles, as well as sachets, artisan tea blends and a variety of other lavender products on display in a corner.

“This is me, from gardening to chocolate to sales,” says Benjamin, surveying her sweet sanctuary. And she is happy to share, teaching chocolate classes and opening up her space

for weddings, bridal showers and other events.

Signature Selection: Hazelnut-bay leaf truffle Exotic Flavor: Caramelized local onion in dark chocolate with Seneca vanilla sea salt, red chili flakes and Finger Lakes grape seed oil Location: 9403 State Route 414, Lodi Phone: 607-582-7724 Website: rueclaire.com

A sweet history decorates Stever’s Candies in Rochester For the first two years of Stever’s existence, chocolate was not on its menu.

Rationing was still in effect when Douglas and Hilda Stever opened their candy store in 1946, just after the war. So instead, they focused on hard candies, caramels and brittles until the chocolate supply began to flow again.

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More Chocolate to Cure the Cravings PrĂŠliminaires Chocolat Small-batch chocolates by French master pastry chef (and glassblower) Christian Thirion, available in several shops around the region.

Location: Millport Phone: 607-738-3053 Website: preliminaireschocolat.com Sweet on Chocolate Handmade truffles, chocolates and novelties in Armory Square.

Location: 208 Walton St., Syracuse Phone: 315-478-0811 Website: sweetonchocolate.com NunBetter Chocolates & Custom Gift Baskets Chocolates and gift baskets made by the Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities.

Location: 2500 Grant Blvd., Syracuse Phone: 315-701-0920 Website: nunbetter.org

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Sarahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Patisserie French-style chocolates and pastries

by Tammy Travis, who trained with Jacques Torres at the French Culinary Institute in New York.

Location: 200 Pleasant Grove Rd.; 130 E. Seneca St., Ithaca Phone: 607-257-4257 (Pleasant Grove), 607-319-0272 (Seneca) Website: sarahspatisserie.com Lucienneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Artisan chocolate bars made from the bean up.

Location: 1889 State Route 96, Jacksonville Phone: 607-209-4100 Website: luciennes.com Hedonist Artisan Chocolates Truffles and chocolate treats handmade in small batches with French chocolate.

Location: 674 South Ave., Rochester Phone: 585-461-2815 Website: hedonistchocolates.com

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Today, the family business â&#x20AC;&#x201C; now led by the foundersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; grandson Kevin and his wife Leslie â&#x20AC;&#x201C; offers a wide range of traditional candies. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Kevin still makes all our caramels, brittles, nougats, fudge, creams and jellies,â&#x20AC;? Leslie explains. â&#x20AC;&#x153;And we do a full line of chocolate work, as well, with molding, truffles and enrobing the pieces that he makes. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the full spectrum, so we consider ourselves retail confectioners rather than chocolatiers.â&#x20AC;?

Their creations are packaged in white boxes, piled high around the shop, which is housed in a former telephone exchange building erected in 1911. Gigantic, colorful spiral and butterďŹ&#x201A;y lollipops adorn the case ďŹ lled with loose chocolates. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d say our look reďŹ&#x201A;ects us,â&#x20AC;? says Leslie, who calls her dozen staff members one of the shopâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best assets. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We like it vintage, retro and our customers have come

to expect the traditional.â&#x20AC;?

For Rochesterians, this includes dark chocolate. Consequently, Steverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s uses a darker blend for its milk chocolate confections than one might ďŹ nd in other cities, such as Buffalo, Leslie notes.

For his dark chocolate, Douglas Stever worked with the Van Leer company (later acquired by Callebaut) in the 1950s to create his own blend. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Van Leer liked it,â&#x20AC;? says Leslie, â&#x20AC;&#x153;and added it to their line. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s actually named â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Van Steverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; after Douglas. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been our blend for nearly 68 years.â&#x20AC;?

Signature Selection: Melt-A-Ways (milk, dark, orange, coffee, mint) Exotic Flavor: Chocolate with cayenne Location: 623 Park Ave., Rochester Phone: 585-473-2098 Website: steverscandy.com

Human Interest

stories about real people

Daring to be

Different A Canandaigua author writes children’s books about daredevils

by Laurel C. Wemett

J

ulie Cummins is happy to leave the writing of the “Great American Novel” to another author. The former children’s librarian and respected children’s literature specialist is delighted to write books for younger readers.

Most recently, she has been introducing young people to the world of real-life daredevils, explorers and pioneering aviatrixes of yesteryear, some with ties to the Finger Lakes region. In their day, the exploits of these courageous individuals made headlines. Today, however, many had been largely forgotten until Julie’s books brought them back to life.

Jumpers and pilots and barrel-riders, oh my Real-life daredevils have captivated Julie’s curiosity and imagination. Her enthusiasm for sharing their stories may date back to her first job as children’s librarian at the Charlotte Branch of the Rochester Public Library. She was often asked about Sam Patch, a well-known early 19th century daredevil obsessed with jumping into waterfalls. Although Patch is buried in the tiny cemetery near the library, Julie discovered that there was virtually nothing available for youngsters to read about his exploits.

“I had never heard of him since I wasn’t from the area.

But being a good librarian – and storyteller – I checked the files in ‘Local History,’” admits Julie. Sam Patch: Daredevil Jumper (2009) took several years to come to fruition due to a variety of “glitches, mishaps and roadblocks.” Young readers can now learn how Patch survived two leaps into the Niagara River near the base of Niagara Falls, but perished in the Genesee River on his second attempt to jump over Rochester’s 99-foot High Falls in 1829.

Julie’s first biography, Tomboy of the Air: Daredevil Pilot Blanche Stuart Scott (2001), tells of a pioneering female pilot who took great risks. “Blanche Stuart Scott was a different kind of daredevil,” explains Julie. “First of all, she was a woman in an era when women did not do wild and crazy things.”

Scott was the first – and only – female taught to fly by the Julie Cummins and her newest picture book biography, Flying Solo.

Photo courtesy Michele Kisly

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legendary Glenn Curtiss, the innovative motorcycle and bicycle racer and manufacturer who created early ďŹ&#x201A;ying machines in Hammondsport. Julie ďŹ rst learned of the aviatrix at the Curtiss Museum, where Scottâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s name and Rochester origins appear on a plaque of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Early Birdsâ&#x20AC;? as one of only two women who ďŹ&#x201A;ew before 1916.

Scottâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s aviation â&#x20AC;&#x153;ďŹ rstsâ&#x20AC;? begin in 1910 with her ďŹ rst solo ďŹ&#x201A;ight and public ďŹ&#x201A;ight by a woman. Before retiring from active ďŹ&#x201A;ying in 1916, Scott made the ďŹ rst long-distance ďŹ&#x201A;ight by a woman, and became the ďŹ rst woman stunt ďŹ&#x201A;ier.

A replica of Scottâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 1911 Curtiss biplane hangs in the Greater Rochester International Airport. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The daredevil angle was serendipitous,â&#x20AC;? says the author. After ďŹ nishing Tomboy, she began to wonder about other women daredevils. That led to Women Daredevils: Thrills, Chills and Frills (2008), which included 14 women who not only ďŹ&#x201A;ew, but drove and rode on an assortment of conveyances for a thrill-seeking public between 1880 and 1929. The book was selected for the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Kids Reading Listâ&#x20AC;? portion of Oprahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Book Club, a fortuitous achievement in the publishing world.

One featured woman is Annie Edson Taylor, who, in 1901, became the ďŹ rst person to go over Niagara Falls inside a wooden barrel and survive.

Taylor was 63, 20 years older than she admitted publicly. â&#x20AC;&#x153;She was a widowed schoolteacher who wanted fame and fortune,â&#x20AC;? explains Julie. â&#x20AC;&#x153;She achieved moderate fame, but no fortune, as she died in a poorhouse. After the stunt, she announced she couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t swim and that â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;No one should ever try that again!â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;?

From Canandaigua to New York and back again Julieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s love of storytelling began early. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My mother took me to the library to get a library card when I was 5 years old,â&#x20AC;? recalls the Ohio native, who learned to read at a young age. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A window to the world was opened to me; it was a huge discovery.â&#x20AC;?

By high school, she knew she wanted to write. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I still have short stories that I wrote in senior English.

Who knows, maybe theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll make a book

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Human Interest someday?” muses Julie, who maintains a file full of book ideas she hopes to develop.

After graduating from college in Ohio, she headed east, where she received a master’s degree in library science from Syracuse University. She and her librarian husband Blair Cummins moved to Ontario County when he became the director of the Wood

book, Inside-Outside Book of Libraries (1996), followed. It is a lively introduction to 13 different kinds of libraries.

Next, Country Kid/City Kid (2002) told the story of two youngsters who live in very different worlds, yet have many things in common.

No horizon is too far Julie hopes her books inspire her

E

readers to “dare to fulfill their dreams; and [realize] that no horizon is too far.”

Everyone she writes about is extensively researched before she brings them to life. Women Explorers: Perils, Pistols, and Petticoats (2012), a companion book to Women Daredevils, features the stories of 10, pre-1900 female explorers who made significant and dangerous explorations and expeditions.

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In New York City, as coordinator of children’s services for The New York Public Library, Julie had the daunting task of working with 86 branches in the nation’s largest municipal library system. Because the city is the heart of the children’s book industry, Julie came in contact with children’s book editors, opening the door to her literary career.

She gained respect through service to state and national library associations, and as a past chair of both the prestigious Newbery and Caldecott Award committees.

During the 1990s, she edited two reference volumes on illustrators of children’s literature. Her first children’s

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Human Interest Lucy Cheesman is one of Julie’s personal favorites.

“She loved insects,” she explains. “It was okay with her mother to bring them into her home. She wanted to go to veterinarian school, but they did not admit women.” Instead, Cheesman got a job in the insect house at the Zoological Society in London, and subsequently went to the South Seas to study insects.

There, Cheesman’s death-defying entrapment in a web spun by huge spiders is the stuff of an Indiana Jones movie.

Julie’s newest picture-book biography, Flying Solo (2013), tells of Ruth Elder (1902-1977), another fascinating pioneer aviatrix. Julie learned about her while doing research on the “Powder Puff Derby” of 1929, a cross-country air race with 20 women pilots participating

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to prove that women could fly as well as men. Flying Solo relates how, after Elder and others were seen powdering their noses before takeoff, the legendary competition got its name.

Julie enjoyed researching and writing about Elder because of the “great anecdotal material” of her colorful life.

Before the Powder Puff Derby, the world was transfixed by Charles Lindberg’s transatlantic flight, and Elder decided to try to fly to Paris. “She said she wanted to buy a Parisian evening gown,” says Julie. However, Elder and her navigator were forced to ditch the plane and were rescued by a passing ship. Elder’s fame did not fade, though – the barnstormer and beauty queen appeared in two Hollywood silent movies.

Are there more Julie Cummins children’s titles ahead? She reveals she has penned a tall tale about a farmer and a heat wave that awaits a publisher. “Timing is everything,” she admits. “It has to be a subject to capture the attention.”

Stay tuned. I dare you.

Fruit of the Vine

wine, spirits and brews

How Do You Like

Them Apples?

To celebrate the launch of its new line of spirits, Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards opens a new tasting room Visiting Beak & Skiff The Beak & Skiff orchard, country store and 1911 tasting room are all located just off of Route 20, roughly halfway between LaFayette and Skaneateles. For hours and operating details, visit beakandskiff.com (main site) or 1911spirits.com (wine, cider, and spirits).

story and photos by Jason Feulner

T

he same climate and soil conditions that result in excellent grape growing in the Finger Lakes also contribute to the successful cultivation of apples. While they are grown in nooks and crannies throughout the Finger Lakes, it is on the outer boundaries of the region that the apple harvest takes on commercial proportions.

The major apple production area is in Wayne County, just north of the Thruway and the Finger Lakes, and tucked under the influence of Lake Ontario’s vast waters. Of the secondary centers of apple production, the apples grown in the large glacial valley of LaFayette – just east of Skaneateles and Otisco Lakes, and south of Syracuse – are also wellknown for their quality.

It is the hills of LaFayette that Beak & Skiff’s 1,000 acres and 250,000 trees call home; perched on the apex of a north-south ridge that hugs the western portion of the valley. Founded in 1911 by George Skiff and Charles Beak, the company has evolved over the years from a commercial wholesale grower to a pick-your-own destination; then to a cider mill, and a comprehensive producer of spirits, wine, and hard cider.

To celebrate its 102nd year and to mark its emer-

gence in the alcoholic beverage business under its brand “1911,” Beak & Skiff opened a grand new tasting room during the 2013 apple harvest season.

“We have a 100-year history of being in lots of different businesses,” says Ed Brennan, owner and general manager for the 1911 brand, and a Skiff family member by marriage. Ed notes the orchard’s proximity to the Finger Lakes (Skaneateles lies just a few minutes’ drive west on Route 20) in their decision not only to get into the wine, cider, and liquor business, but also to create a tasting room experience much like the wineries found throughout the region.

“We spent a lot of time studying everything in the Finger Lakes when we designed this building,” Ed explains, motioning to the large barn-like tasting room that can easily accommodate hundreds of thirsty patrons.

Vodka and gin Beak & Skiff is not entirely new to the beverage business. After spending almost 30 years honing its

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sweet cider production, the orchard began to make hard cider and apple wine in 2001, opening a small tasting room on Route 20 just down the hill from the main orchard. In 2010 the company opened a distillery across the street from the wine and cider tasting room, hoping to take advantage of the burgeoning spirits market. “We have the first distillery license in Onondaga County since Prohibition,” Ed jokes.

The master distiller on the premises is Steve Morse (also part of the extended Beak & Skiff family) who leads the vodka and gin program year-round.

Like any organic product with glucose, apples can be turned into a mash that is fermented, distilled, and blended

into the alcoholic products with which consumers are familiar. Beak & Skiff favors long and multiple distillations for its vodka, cutting the result with pure water to bring it to its 80 proof (40 percent alcohol) mark.

Gin is treated with botanicals to create its distinctive herbal notes. The gin made at Beak & Skiff is Recipe #17, found after many trials that tried to create a distinctive yet familiar flavor for the popular spirit. “Our gin has 10 different botanicals,” says Ed Brennan.

“We tried to keep the ingredients as local as possible, although not every flavor is found in the Finger Lakes. We are proud that we can make this spirit using local apples as the base.”

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While I’m aware that fruits other than grapes can make for tasty wine, it’s hard not to show a little bias for the mastery of grapes in winemaking. I was happy to find that Beak & Skiff’s apple lineup did as well as one could hope. The Empire and Gala wines made it apparent that different types of apples can create totally different flavor profiles, and neither relied on the cloying sweetness that is the fallback of many fruit wines. The Northern Spy wine was the real standout here, demonstrating depth while creating interest with each sip.

The hard ciders were all very good, from dry to medium to sweet. The crisp and deliberate nature of these ciders stood out since so many mass-marketed ciders taste like juice with alcohol in it. These ciders were the outcome of a real vision. I was also impressed that the hints of fruit were subtle and complimentary in both the raspberry and blueberry infused versions, adding distinction instead of being a distraction.

The 1911 vodka is good. Really good. There is no lingering apple taste; crispness and hints of caramel rule the day, followed by a smooth finish. The gin, frankly, blew away my expectations. Too many gins are hindered by an herbal fixation that overwhelms. Beak & Skiff’s gin is infused with botanicals that strike the nose and build on the palette in nuanced layers, creating many harmonizing elements that remind one of bits of sage and forest aromas. Recipe #17 is a real winner.

Fruit of the Vine The tasting room is open all year long The wine and cider offered in the Beak & Skiff lineup is hardly an afterthought. The wine comes in three distinct flavors, relying on Empire, Gala, and Northern Spy apples to create varying tastes. The hard cider is of high quality. The mill produces a central 1911 Cider as its leading brand, but creates variations though a sweet and dry version of the main cider while also offering raspberry and blueberry infusions as well. The mouthfeel of the cider is particularly smooth due to fine filtration, allowing for the taster to focus on the subtle qualities and flavors found within the apple-based drink.

Asked why Beak & Skiff decided to add such a comprehensive lineup of spirits, ciders and wines to its already robust retail and commercial apple and sweet cider business, Ed Brennan says that diversification seemed like the order of the day as the apple business has gotten tougher over the years. The families felt that focusing on their history with the 1911 brand would create new opportunities for the next generation of owners. Ed’s son Steve recently moved back to LaFayette from New York to help with marketing and sales, becoming the fifth generation of the family to work in the business.

The challenge, Ed admits, is creating an attraction that extends beyond the traditional August-October busy season for apple orchards. He hopes that visitors begin to frequent the Beak & Skiff grounds throughout the year, and consider making their way to the new tasting room in the spring and summer as well as well as in the fall.

Although Beak & Skiff’s products are found in 50 liquor stores throughout the region, and its vodka was recently picked up to be served on cruise ships, Ed Brennan wants the new tasting room to be the focal point of the new brand. “We have over 200,000 visitors annually,” Ed says about the entire Beak & Skiff operation. “We want this new tasting room to be part of an even larger experience.”

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History

narrative of the past

The Store at

Treman’s Village Fifty years ago, Robert Moog opened a storefront in Trumansburg. Popular music would never be the same.

by Jon Ulrich

T

revor Pinch is ecstatic.

From his office on the third floor of Cornell University’s Rockefeller Hall, he reflects on the recent announcement that the campus’s Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections will be housing Dr. Robert Moog’s personal archives.

Pinch, co-author of Analog Days: The Invention and Impact of the Moog Synthesizer and professor of science and technology studies, believes these materials have found their true home.

“The Moog synthesizer is one of the most significant musical inventions of the 20th century,” he says, “and it happened in Trumansburg, of all places.”

From Theremins to synthesizers

Photo shows basic complement of electronic music instruments in Moog studio Photo courtesy Ulysses Historical Society

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Robert Arthur Moog (rhymes with “rogue”) was born into the throes of the Great Depression in Queens, New York. An avid hobbyist, he spent hours tinkering with electronics in his father’s basement at a time when war surplus was plentiful. At the age of 19, after graduating from the Bronx High School of Science, he founded R. A. Moog Company and began selling Theremin kits from his home. (The instrument, named for its founder – Russian physicist Leon Theremin – is a unique electronic device that produces sound without direct physical contact by the musician.)

After earning two undergraduate degrees – one in physics from Queens College and another in electrical engineering from Columbia University – Moog moved to Ithaca to pursue a doctorate

E n j o y i n g in engineering physics at Cornell. From his apartment in Bethel Grove, Moog continued to sell Theremin kits, priced at $50, to subsidize his graduate studies.

In 1963, Moog rented a former furniture store on Main Street in Trumansburg to house his company, and later moved his family into a farmhouse near Taughannock Falls. Shortly after relocating, Moog bumped into experimental composer Herb Deutsch at Rochester’s Eastman School of Music. This began a collaboration that was to last decades, and one that sparked a discussion of how to develop what Deutsch called a “portable electronic music studio” – the synthesizer.

Chilling the follicles of H. G. Wells In 1964, Moog was awarded a $16,000 grant from New York’s Small Business Association. Deutsch visited Trumansburg that summer, and by October Moog was prepared to debut a prototype of their new instrument at the Audio Engineering Society’s convention in New York City. It was here that R. A. Moog Company of Trumansburg made its first sales.

By 1965, Bob Dylan had gone electric. Technology was changing the way musicians expressed themselves.

“There was a symbiosis between the instrument and the culture,” says Pinch.

“The Moog influenced music, but music influenced the development of the Moog itself.”

David Borden, a minimalist composer who still lives in Tompkins County, was among the first to have access to these instruments. “In retrospect, I was extremely fortunate,” he says.

Moog’s west coast salesmen, Paul Beaver and Bernie Krause, introduced the instrument to a wider audience at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967. This led to the use of Moog synthesizers, which were manufactured in Trumansburg, on recordings by The Doors, The Byrds, The Grateful Dead, and Simon and Garfunkel.

Remarkably, most Americans were introduced to the sound of the synthesizer not through popular music, but through advertising – composer Eric

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Photo courtesy Roger Luther, MoogArchives.com

Siday used an early Moog on an American Express commercial. “The listening public first became aware of the electronic medium subliminally,” a bemused Moog later wrote.

The watershed came in 1968 with “Switched-On Bach” by Walter Carlos (known as Wendy Carlos today). An unlikely hit, it rocketed into the Top 40, where it stayed for 17 weeks. The album, which featured the songs of Johann Sebastian Bach played on a Moog synthesizer, eventually sold over a million copies and earned Carlos three Grammies.

The results were nothing short of epochal, and production took flight. “It opened everything up,” says a former Trumansburg employee who still lives in the Finger Lakes Region.

Carlos later used a Moog to score the Stanley Kubrick film “A Clockwork Orange.”

These instruments, known as modular synthesizers, were expensive and unwieldy. Still, units like the one used

by Keith Emerson of Emerson Lake & Palmer possessed a grandeur that translated well to the theatrical aspects of live performance. In a feature for Creem magazine, Lester Bangs commented on the scope of Moog’s creation: “The sight of the massed ELP arsenal would chill the follicles of H. G. Wells,” he wrote.

While the modular was gaining in popularity (sales peaked in 1969), the engineers at the Trumansburg factory

Songs in the The Beatles, “Here Comes the Sun” (1969) – This George Harrison masterpiece included the use of a modular shipped direct from Trumansburg.

Emerson Lake & Palmer, “Lucky Man” (1970) – Keith Emerson used a Moog on the trio’s breakthrough hit.

Kraftwerk, “Autobahn” (1974) – The song that introduced German electronic music to the masses also snuck its way into the Top 40.

Pink Floyd, “Shine on You Crazy Diamond” (1975) – A concert favorite, this song explored the mental decline of the group’s founder, Syd Barrett.

Heart, “Magic Man” (1976) – This song from the group’s debut album peaked at number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and has since become a staple of classic rock radio.

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History

Production floor, Trumansburg factory

Photo courtesy Roger Luther, MoogArchives.com

were faced with a conundrum: Design a more ergonomic and affordable instrument, or risk extinction.

Unknown circuitry R. A. Moog Company continued to expand, and by the late 1960s the factory in Trumansburg comprised 42 employees. Pinch maintains that there were advantages to housing a business in this locale. “The women who Bob employed to assemble circuit boards were quilters, which is an Upstate hobby,” he says. “They were deft at manipulating with their fingers.”

“Bob hired local people at a time when the town was unresponsive to what we were doing,” says a former employee. “He was the most generous person.” Moog even staged a benefit concert, featuring a synthesizer quartet, at Trumansburg’s Charles O. Dickerson High School to raise money for the band’s uniforms.

In 1969, Moog patented what would become the most important element of his synthesizer’s characteristic sound – the low-pass or “ladder” filter. In an interview with gANK magazine, he touched on the importance of this invention. “At the time I developed the low-pass filter,” Moog said, “that kind of circuitry was unknown.”

According to Pinch, this was no coincidence – the Moog

Key of Moog Donna Summer, “I Feel Love” (1977) – A Top 10 smash, this song brought the sound of the Moog to the dance floor.

Parliament, “Flash Light” (1978) – Minimoog aficionado Bernie Worrell contributed the song’s bass line, which later became a hip-hop sample.

Rush, “Tom Sawyer” (1981) – Bassist Geddy Lee used a Minimoog for this song’s signature instrumental hook.

Michael Jackson, “Thriller” (1983) – Producer Quincy Jones used two Minimoogs to create the bass line for this song, which earned heavy rotation on MTV. Portishead, “Humming” (2002) – This English group used the instrument to simulate the sound of a Theremin, bringing Robert Moog’s work full-circle.

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family’s proximity to Taughannock Falls had a significant impact. “The sound of a waterfall is a natural form of white noise,” he says.

Later that year, chief engineer Bill Hemsath began taking time during his lunch breaks to tinker in the “graveyard,” an area of the factory where Moog left spare components. With his employer

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out of town, Hemsath began investing more and more time developing a smaller, more portable cousin to the modular, staging what Pinch refers to as an “engineering insurrection.”

It was this hobbyist’s spirit that contributed to the birth of a new instrument, one that would soon change the landscape of popular music.

The most important keyboard instrument ever made By the turn of the decade, things were looking grim for R. A. Moog Company. “Sales of the modular had dropped,” says Pinch. “They were on the edge of financial viability.” By his own admission, Moog was no businessman.

“I wanted to be an engineer,” he told gANK magazine. “That’s all I knew.”

The answer was to design a performance instrument. The modular, with its cost, size and confounding array of patch cords, was a creature of the studio. The climate was ripe for a new innovation.

In contrast to the modular, the Minimoog featured hard-wired circuitry and a unique addition that was to become

History the template for all future synthesizers: the pitch wheel. The instrument also benefited from a calculation error on the schematic – the synthesizer’s filter was overdriven, producing a rich form of distortion that gave the Minimoog a distinctive edge.

Although the notion of the world’s first portable keyboard synthesizer was alien to music retailers, the instrument’s greatest selling point was its sonic fortitude: For the first time, keyboard players could rival guitarists for the spotlight.

Progressive rock musicians were quick to embrace this new technology.

In the 2004 documentary “Moog,” Rick Wakeman of Yes commented on the Minimoog’s impact. “It’s the most important keyboard instrument that’s ever been made,” he said.

Although sales of the Minimoog had increased by 1971, R. A. Moog Company was deep in debt. In May of that year, venture capitalist Bill Waytena moved the company to Williamsville, a suburb of Buffalo. Trumansburg said goodbye to Robert Moog.

Now his archives – documents, hardware and reel-to-reel tapes – have returned to the Finger Lakes.

Coda On Main Street in Trumansburg, the R. A. Moog Company’s former storefront – what was once the birthplace of the analog synthesizer – is now an Italian eatery. The only reminder of the innovations that began there a half-century ago are a modest stone marker that reads: “Robert Moog created the Moog synthesizer here in 1964.”

How might the town’s identity have changed had Robert Moog managed to keep his factory in Trumansburg? What are the consequences of a technology that is now so ubiquitous we take it for granted? And why, if this is the Moog synthesizer’s spiritual home, is there not a proper memorial denoting its significance?

Perhaps this one sentence, etched into a block of slate, is all we need. After all, Robert Moog was no rock star. All he wanted to be was an engineer.

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Millennial Pursuits

a new generation

In a Galaxy

Not So Far Away ... story and photos by James P. Hughes

Brett chats with the Interactive R2D2.

This 15” droid uses sensors to follow you around, plays games, and responds to 40 voice commands.

… sits a barn atop a hill overlooking the scenic valleys and rolling terrain of Onondaga County.

While other barns in the neighboring countryside are used to store the usual animals/vehicles/machinery/tools, this one does not. It contains the largest private collection of Star Wars-related items east of the Mississippi; second only in size to the Guinness world-record holding Rancho Obi-Wan in California.

Brett’s Toy Museum, as the barn is called, is owned by teacher and landscaper Brett Rewakowski. He’s a good friend of my son, Jim, Jr. When they were eager youths,

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telephone lines buzzed in their circle of friends each time a new Star Wars figure appeared on the shelf of any local retailer. Jim, Brett and their network kept close track of such things. I recall making frantic trips all over the Syracuse area in search of that elusive character, or set of characters, that would help Jim retain Star Wars credibility with the guys.

The boys were too young to appreciate the debut of the original “Star Wars” movie in 1977, but by the time “The Empire Strikes Back” (1980) and “Return of the Jedi” (1983) hit local screens, they were hooked. Collections grew, and groups of friends bitten by the Star Wars bug got together regularly.

“We played for hours,” says Brett.

“Everyone had multiple figures, but one person would have the AT-AT Imperial Walker, someone else might have the Millennium Falcon, another the Death Star Space Station. The big pieces varied from house to house, so we rotated around.”

When figures wore out, new figures were created from excess parts and given new offbeat names.

As the boys grew older, some of their frantic collecting gave way to A grouping of characters in the museum

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other interests â&#x20AC;&#x201C; skateboarding, girls, cars, the usual things. Jim still collects, trades and sells at times through the Internet. Brett? Well, he has taken the whole Star Wars thing to another level entirely.

On a mission After he graduated from high school in 1993, Brett spread his college studies over an extended period of time and several locations. He attended Onondaga Community College, Buffalo State and Oswego State; and worked construction jobs and started a landscaping business to ďŹ nance his way. He completed his masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree in 2010.

He never gave up collecting Star Wars items, but sometime around the year 2000, Brettâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s obsession â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and collection â&#x20AC;&#x201C; experienced a major uptick. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was around that time I quit smoking,â&#x20AC;? says Brett. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I decided to purchase a new Star Wars ďŹ gure each day instead of a pack of cigarettes.â&#x20AC;?

From that point on, collecting became more than just a hobby. It became a habit, and also something of a business. For awhile, he handled $15,000 to $20,000 a year in purchases, trading, and selling his extras (of which there were many) on eBay. Some of the proďŹ ts were invested in more product. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When I drove to school in Oswego, I had a regular sequence of stops at various department stores and outlets, not only on the way to class, but on the way back as well,â&#x20AC;? he explains. For a few years it wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t unusual for Brett to hit every Target and Wal-Mart store in the Syracuse area every day. He became such a familiar ďŹ gure in so many stores that staff saved collectible packaging for him that normally would have gone out with the trash. His collection grew and grew. In due course, virtually every Star Wars ďŹ gure and ship ever made became part of it; multiples of most.

A piece is missing from the collection; one thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s considered the Holy Grail of Star Wars ďŹ gures. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the Rocket Firing Boba Fett, a prototype ďŹ gure from Kenner that was never mass produced. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If you can ďŹ nd one, it could be worth $15,000 to $20,000,â&#x20AC;? says Brett. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a lot of money for a 3-3/4-inch piece of

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The museum

plastic. It’s too rich for my blood.”

He collected on, while despicable characters from the Creature Cantina piled up. The R2D2s bumped into C3POs. Rancor Monsters tripped over Ewok Combat Gliders. Tie Fighters and X-wing Fighters battled for shelf space.

Something had to be done.

The barn was the answer – solid, spacious and awaiting Brett’s vision of a Star Wars museum. It would be the proper place to house and protect the collection, and provide an opportunity for viewing by fans of all ages. With his flair for design and carpentry (not to mention the wisdom of Yoda), Brett set to work building, hauling and arranging.

After months of labor, the doors opened to the public in January 2013.

Like a Jedi Knight Brett is a talented guy, something of a Renaissance man, with abilities that span his multiple fields of interest.

He’s an artist and carpenter, a teacher and a triathlete, an aquascaper and a landscaper. Brett can erect a tumbling waterfall, impart enthusiasm to his students, or create a rustic “Slice of Nature” painted landscape on a slab of wood. He’s also created items from jewelry to costumes, all Star Wars inspired.

On display at his museum are some 5,000 to 8,000 Star Wars figures, and hundreds of ships, posters, scenes and other collectibles. With an eye to future expansion, Brett still has “600 boxes Brett in the Wampa outfit he created.

of stuff” stashed away, awaiting spots, space and the light of day.

Personally, I have only a cursory knowledge of Star Wars. I know Darth Vader, Han Solo and Princess Leia (who doesn’t?), yet I wouldn’t recognize Admiral Ackbar from Bib Fortuna or Hammerhead. Brett certainly would. I can’t address with any authority the subtle differences between the “Jedi Knight Outfit” or the “Bespin Fatigues” worn by a Luke Skywalker figure, but Brett can, and he knows so much more. “I love to discuss the collection with visitors at all levels of Star Wars exposure,” he says, “but at the same time I try very hard to avoid ‘geekdom’ along the way.”

Whatever your Star Wars background, the size and variety of Brett’s collection is something that once seen will be appreciated, and not soon forgotten.

A tour at Rancho Obi-Wan is reportedly priced at $200, while a tour of Brett’s museum is a reasonable $5 (or three for $10) to encourage visitors. “It took a long time to conceive and construct. I would really like people to see and enjoy it,” he says. Brett donates half of his proceeds to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, an organization that grants wishes to children with life-threatening diseases.

Besides the overwhelming collection of packaged characters, ships and playsets, Brett has created three areas of special interest.

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(Continued on page 79)

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“mint” packaging, from the familiar (like Chewbacca) to the obscure (like Baron Papanoida).

Visitors to Brett’s Toy Museum can select a free souvenir from a box of loose figures when the tour is over, and most of the thousands of items on display are for sale. Stashed away in storage are several backup pieces of almost everything in the collection. Someday (years from now) he claims he will sell it all. “I consider this colossal accumula-

“The Vintage Tower” holds nearly every ship and playset made from 1977 to 1988, the “vintage stuff” from Brett’s formative Star Wars years.

“I want people, especially the kids, to handle and closely inspect certain things, not just stand and stare at the exhibits,” says Brett. Kids can maneuver a lightsaber to see if “The Force” is with them, and can ask and get answers to questions from an Interactive R2D2, everyone’s favorite droid. Serious collectors can inspect characters in

This exhibit will change every few months – it presently depicts the Hoth battle scene.

tion my 401K savings plan,” he told me.

But don’t be surprised in the end if he can’t part with a batch of original items that hold special childhood memories.

Since its opening, folks have arrived from all around the state and beyond.

“One gentleman from Thailand showed up with his two children,” says Brett.

The museum has no regular hours due to Brett’s busy schedule, but if you contact him (brettstoymuseum.com; brettrewakowski.com) he’ll do his best to arrange a convenient time for a museum visit.

There is an appropriate day in May celebrating the cultural phenomenon created by the Star Wars movies. It is celebrated globally with parties, film viewing, trivia contests and the like.

Brett has considered holding an event on that particular day and tying it in with his new Star Wars museum. If he does, and if you are able to attend on that special day, then … are you ready for this?

May the 4th be with you!

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marketplace

Culture & Attractions &RUWODQG &RXQW\ +LVWRULFDO 6RFLHW\

Glenn H.

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Patterson Inn Museum 59 W. Pulteney St., Corning, NY 607-937-5281 Open Mon-Fri 10am-4pm Museum complex features a tavern c1796, log house c1850, school house c1878, agricultural barn and 1870s blacksmith shop.

www.PattersonInnMuseum.org

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Index of Advertisers WINTER 2013 COMPANY ...................... PAGE ... PHONE .............WEBSITE / E-MAIL

COMPANY ......................... PAGE ... PHONE .............WEBSITE / E-MAIL

Adirondack Firestone Company ... 43....315-295-1068 ....adkfirestone.com

The Jewelbox .............................. 75 ....800-711-7279 ....ithacajewelbox.com

Al Fortunato - Furniture maker ..... 57....607-240-1046 ....alfortunato.com

Jim’s Equipment Repair ............... 70 ....607-527-8872 ....jimsequipment.com

Antique Revival ........................... 23....800-780-7330 ....antiquerevival.com

Kendal at Ithaca .......................... 17 ....800-253-6325 ....kai.kendal.org

Arnot Health .................................. 7....607-737-4499 ....arnothealth.org/walk-in-care

Keuka Family Dentistry ................ 66 ....607-776-7656 ....gls@keukafamilydentistry.com

Avon Stove and Fireplace Co Inc ...72....585-226-3430 ....avonstoveandfireplace.com

Keystone Custom Decks.............. 19 ....717-355-0592 ....keystonecustomdecks.com

Belhurst ................................. 25, 27 ....315-781-0201 ....belhurst.com

Kitchen Theatre Company ........... 42 ....607-272-0570 ....kitchentheatre.org

Belhurst Estate Winery ................ 63....315-781-0201 ....belhurst.com

Larry’s Latrines .............................. 9 ....607-324-5015 ....larryslatrines.com

Birkett Landing ............................ 62....315-514-0130 ....birkettlanding.com

Longview..................................... 41 ....607-375-6320 ....ithacarelongview.com

Brawdy Marine Construction ....... 15....716-741-8714 ....brawdyconstruction.com

The Loomis Barn.......................... 77 ....800-716-2276 ....loomisbarn.com

Bristol Harbour ............................ 57....800-288-8248 ....bristolharbour.com

Lyons National Bank .................... C3 ....888-946-0100 ....bankwithlnb.com

Bristol Mountain .......................... 73....585-374-6000 ....bristolmountain.com

Madison County Tourism ............. 33 ...............................madfoods.com

Carey Lake................................... 33....315-986-1936 ....careylake.com

Microtel Inn & Suites ................... 59 ....800-337-0050 ....microtelinn.com

Caves Kitchens............................ 73....585-478-4636 ....cavesmillwork.com

Mid-Lakes Navigation .................. 29 ....800-545-4318 ....midlakesnav.com

Cayuga Lake Wine Trail................ 60 ....800-684-5217 ....cayugawinetrail.com

Morgan Stanley Wealth Mgmt ...... 3 ....607-772-3491 ....morganstanleyindividual.com/ robert.deer/

Chemung Canal Trust .................. 10 ....800-836-3711 ....chemungcanal.com Clifton Springs Chamber of Commerce ........... 40 ....315-462-8200 ....cliftonspringschamber.com

Naples Valley Visitors Assoc ....... 71 ....585-534-5696 ....naplesvalleyny.com

CNY Arts ..................................... 69 ....315-435-2155 ....cnyarts.org

Pioneer Library System ................ 71 ...............................owwl.org

Cobtree Vacation Rentals ............ 19 ....315-789-1144 ....cobtree.com

Quail Summit............................... 22 ....585-396-1010 ....quailsummit.com

Cricket on the Hearth .................. 66 ....585-385-2420 ....cricketonthehearth.com

The Rabbit Room ......................... 29 ....585-582-1830 ....thelowermill.com

Downtown Ithaca Alliance .......... 67 ....607-277-8679 ....downtownithaca.com

Secor .......................................... 41 ....800-581-1939 ....secorlumber.com

Duprey Video Productions............ 32 ....315-539-0823 ....dupreyvideo.com

Seneca County Chamber ............. 64 ....800-732-1848 ....fingerlakescentral.com

Ferris Hills.................................... 11 ....585-393-0410 ....ferrishills.com

SignLanguage Inc ........................ 62 ....585-237-2620 ....signlanguageinc.com

Finger Lakes from Space Poster .. 60 ....800-331-7323 ....atwatervineyards.com

Six Mile Creek Vineyard............... 20 ....607-272-9463 ....sixmilecreek.com

Finger Lakes Tram........................ 69 ....315-986-8090 ....fingerlakestram.com

Spa Apartments .......................... 72 ....315-462-3080 ....spaapartments.com

FingerLakes1.com ....................... 58 ....315-712-0104 ....fingerlakes1.com

Starkey’s Lookout ........................ 42 ....607-678-4043 ....starkeyslookout.com

Five Star Bank ............................. 75 ....877-226-5578 ....five-starbank.com

Timber Frames .............................. 9 ....585-374-6405 ....timberframesinc.com

Gardner Construction & Development ........................ 20 ....315-573-1474

Tompkins Financial Advisors ........ 13 ....607-273-0037 ....tompkinsfinancialadvisors.com

German Brothers Marina Inc ......... 4 ....585-394-4000 ....germanbrothers.com

Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel .......... 53 ....607-535-6116 ....watkinsglenharborhotel.com

Granger Homestead .................... 32 ....585-394-1472 ....grangerhomestead.org

Wine Country Bar Rentals ........... 32 ....585-396-5926 ....wcbarrentals@gmail.com

Greater Rochester International Airport .................. 5 ....585-753-7020 ....monroecounty.gov

Woodmansee Farms Llamas ....... 75 ....315-696-8997 ....woodmanseellamas.com

New Energy Works ..................... C4 ....585-924-3860 ....newenergyworks.com

Waterloo Premium Outlets .......... C2 ....315-539-1100 ....premiumoutlets.com

Halco ........................................... 21 ....315-946-6200 ....halcoheating.com Halsey’s Restaurant .................... 77 ....315-789-4070 ....halseysgeneva.com

MARKETPLACE ADVERTISING Accommodations ........... Pgs. 78-79

Real Estate for Sale ........ Pgs. 36-37

Canandaigua ......................... Pg. 76

Seneca Lake Wine Trail .. Pgs. 82-83

Culture & Attractions ............Pgs. 80

Shopping & Services....... Pgs. 86-87

Naples ................................... Pg. 83

Wineries ......................... Pgs. 84-85

Handwork .................................... 16 ....607-243-9400 ....handwork.coop Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards................. 43 ....607-546-9463 ....hazlitt1852.com Helendale Dermatology ............... 29 ....585-266-5420 ....helendaledermatology.com Hilton Garden Inn Auburn ............ 27 ....315-252-5511 ....auburn.hgi.com Hilton Garden Inn Ithaca ................ 2 ....877-STAY-HGI.....ithaca.hgi.com Holiday Inn - Ithaca...................... 23 ....607-272-1000 ....hiithaca.com I-Wood-Care ................................ 70 ....800-721-7715 ....iwoodc.com The Inn on the Lake ..................... 67 ....585-394-7800 ....theinnonthelake.com Ithaca Farmers Market ................ 22 ....607-273-7109 ....ithacamarket.com

SUPPORT THESE BUSINESSES! Let them know you saw their advertisement in Life in the Finger Lakes magazine.

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Seneca Lake Wine Trail

A Wine for Every Taste!

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~ LIFEINTHEFINGERL AKES.COM

Five Issues A Year!

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Naples – Wineries, Artists and more

A Taste of Tuscany in the Finger Lakes!

• Sip Premium Award-Winning Wine • Enjoy lunch from our Café Toscana daily • Take in the magnificent view of our vineyards overlooking Seneca Lake from our breath-taking terrace • Create memories for your wedding reception, or private event in our La Vista é Bella ballroom

Produced by K & S Foods

Naples, NY 585-534-9257

Present this ad in our tasting room for a complimentary wine tasting

Please check our website for upcoming events.

3440 Rt. 96A, Geneva, NY 14456 315-719-0000

www.ventosavineyards.com

Best in Class – Cabernets

MONICA’S PIES Famous for our Grape Pies Available Year Round Local fruits to luscious creams we have your favorite!

Call to order yours!

A variety of pies available daily also chicken pot pies, quiche, jams, jellies & gifts.

Open 7 days a week, 9AM-5PM 7599 Rte, 21, Naples

585-374-2139 www.monicaspies.com

WINTER 2013 ~

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marketplace

Wineries

MAKE YOUR OWN WINE

WWW.SILVERTHREADWINE.COM

www.101winemaking.com

www.fallbright.com Secure online shopping Winemaking Information

Award-winning wines since 1985

Fall Bright, The Winemakers Shoppe Keuka Lake 10110 Hyatt Hill, Dundee, NY 607-292-3995

East side of Keuka Lake www.KeukaSpringWinery.com

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in a name?

Join us for a tasting of our premium wines and enjoy lunch at our deli, Ameliaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s.

Commitment to Quality, Local, Community & Hospitality Join us for your next culinary shopping adventure!

Open Thursday through Monday, 11 to 6 381 Main Street, Aurora, NY 13026 â&#x20AC;¢ 315-294-5643 â&#x20AC;¢ BetTheFarmNY.com

WINE & BEER TOURS Winter Business Hours: Winery Dec. and Feb.-March: Mon-Thurs: Noon-5 p.m, Fri, Sat and Sun: 10 am- 5 pm Jan: Sat and Sun: Noon-5 pm Deli Fri, Sat and Sun: 11 am- 4 pm

Quality Wine Tours offers Wine & Beer Tours 7 days week

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Quality Wine Tours

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~ LIFEINTHEFINGERL AKES.COM

Scenic, Fun & Tasteful

Call 800-344-0559 Today

Since 1996

or visit LifeintheFingerLakes.com

Happenings (Continued from page 10)

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Finger Lakesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Most Award-Winning Winery Since 1962

" !!! !

he 15th annual Canandaigua Classic Antique Show and Sale will be held at Finger Lakes Gaming and Racetrack, 5857 Route 96, Farmington, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be over 40 quality antique dealers displaying their wares. Wares include country and period furniture, clocks, lamps and lighting ďŹ xtures, jewelry, postcards, paintings and books, linens, and all kinds of antique accessories.

For more information visit canandaiguaantiquesclassic.org or call 585-394-2179.

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8-9...Say Cheeeese Receive a wine glass, a wine charm from each winery, and recipe cards as you travel along the trail experiencing ďŹ ne wines and creamy cheeses.

Held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail.

800-684-5217 cayugawinetrail.com 15...The Great Downtown Ithaca Chili Cook Off Featuring chili prepared by approximately 30 restaurants as they compete for the titles of Best Meat/Overall Chili, Best Vegetarian, and Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Choice Chili. The event will feature a farmers market with vendors and local wineries, breweries, and farmers sampling their goods. downtownithaca.com 26...The Smith Club Series Presents: The Wood Brothers Come see â&#x20AC;&#x153;An evening with The Wood Brothers at Club 86.â&#x20AC;? The Americana and Blues band consists of real brothers Chris (Upright Bass) and Oliver Wood (Acoustic and electric guitars) as well as recent addition of multi-instrumentalist Jano Rix. This performance will take place at Club 86, not the Smith Opera House. Show starts at 7:30 p.m. thesmith.org/events/club-series-wood-brothers

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Shopping & Services Great Holiday Gift Yates County Afghan - $49.95 Available only at Yates County History Center Phone Orders (315)536-7318 107 Chapel St. PennYan *Visa & MC accepted *We Ship

10% off total bill good only at our Country Store Only good from 1/2/14 to 3/31/14

Geneva, New York

An old fashioned country store with wooden slat floors and cheeses cut fresh off the block. We stock the full line of Heluva Good! products as well as gourmet foods, snacks and distinctive gifts. We also offer gift certificates and Mail Order Gift Items. Call for more information.

6152 Barclay Rd. Sodus, NY on the corner of Route 104

1-800-445-0269 www.heluvagood.com

Discover...

Winter Store Hours: Monday & Wednesday 10-5 Thursday, Friday & Saturday 10-5 Closed on Sundays & Tuesdays

C ORNELL S HEEP P ROGRAM

BLANKETS Two Floors of Distinctive Gifts, Including Our Year ’Round Seasonal Shops Normal Business Hours Mon-Sat Open Sundays in December 2 West Main Street, Clifton Springs 315-548-4438

Peter C. Miller 315-789-9046 cqsigncompany@yahoo.com

Over 700 REAL LOG HOMES Built in the Finger Lakes Area Since 1971.

Call for Monthly OPEN HOUSES www.loghomeguy.com www.realloghomes.com

Call Ed Schoen • 315-946-4360

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~ LIFEINTHEFINGERL AKES.COM

Created from the wool of Cornell Dorset and Finnsheep breeds and their crosses, these blankets are ideal for football games and cold nights, and as gifts for graduation, weddings, birthdays, Christmas, and other occasions. Red stripes near each end and red binding accent the 100% virgin wool. Your purchase of blankets helps to support the Cornell Sheep Program. Each blanket is individually serial-numbered on the Cornell Sheep Program logo label and comes with a certificate of authenticity.

Lap robe (60 x 48 inches, 3 stripes) $97 Single (60 x 90 inches, 3 stripes) $143 Double (72 x 90 inches, 3 stripes) $156 Queen (76 x 104 inches, 3 stripes) $193 King (90 x 120 inches, 3 stripes) $294 Additional information is available at www.sheep.cornell.edu (click on “blankets”).

Purchase from The Cornell Store, the Cornell Orchards, or the Cornell Plantations

Before

After

Fibrenew specializes in the restoration of leather, vinyl and plastics. Servicing five major markets: Automotive, Aviation, Marine, Residential and Commercial Furniture.

Mobile Service - We come to you.

www.fibrenew.com/fingerlakes

www.fingerlakescoffee.com 800-420-6154 Visit our locations.

Farmington Corner of Routes 96 & 332 (CVS Plaza) 585-742-6218

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Strong Memorial Hospital Thompson Hospital

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WINTER 2013 ~

87

Off the Easel

creating art

One Man’s Trash

is Another Man’s Treasure

by Alyssa LaFaro

Dan Mitchell transforms retired wine barrels into tables, wine racks and more

D

an Mitchell is a staving artist.

No, that is not a misspelling. A stave is a narrow strip of wood that helps form the side of a barrel. Dan uses lots of staves in the rustic wine barrel furniture he creates.

Luckily for him, there are roughly 30 staves in a wine barrel. “I also use the barrel heads for tabletops, and I make signs and shapes out of the hoop – the metal pieces that keep the barrel together,” says Dan, owner of Staving Artist Woodwork, and sales manager of Fox Run Vineyards in Penn Yan. Dan’s woodworking skills stem from his family. “My father always prompted me to use tools as a kid,” he says. “I was always helping him with some kind of project.

I also have a cousin who is a skilled woodworker. He showed me how to use a couple of the basic tools, but, for the most part, all of my woodworking is self-taught.”

As a member of the wine industry, Dan started “dabbling with barrels” in 2005 because he had easy access to them. “I love barrel heads. I’ve always thought they told a great story. So I bought some retired barrels from Fox Run, took them home with me and played with them.”

Each piece plays a part Dan makes all kinds of furniture, from tables to wine racks to candle holders. More importantly, he utilizes every part of the barrel in his woodworking. The staves are used as table

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~ LIFEINTHEFINGERL AKES.COM

Finger Lakes up on the wall, and hung them in almost their exact locations. I also made them proportionate to each other.”

legs, tied together to form plant holders and utilized as a design element. “I also bend the metal hoops,” he explains, “to make personalized name sculptures.

They can be used to make garden ornaments, too, and I also bend them into the shapes of the Finger Lakes.”

In fact, Dan created a full set of all 11 Finger Lakes that hangs on the wall in the tasting room at Silver Thread Vineyard on the east side of Seneca Lake. “I superimposed a map of the

Life Expectancy of a Barrel A wine barrel is, on average, used three to five times in the winemaking process. After that, it loses all of its functionality for aging wine – “the oak influence and palate feel are gone,” explains Dan.

Every barrel has a story “What a lot of people like about my work is the individual nature of each piece,” notes Dan. “I keep a lot of influence from the winery and the barrel. There are companies out there that mass produce these pieces, and they strip them down and make them look exactly the same.”

Dan likes his furniture to have a “more minimalist intervention in the wood.” He even delivered a piece to a customer that still had the stone from the crush pad meshed into the wood. “Those are the things that tell the story of the barrel,” he says.

Dan makes sure to tell each one of his customers where the barrel he used came from. “It’s a great selling point,” he explains, “and it becomes more personal for the customer, especially for fans of a certain wine made by a specific winery.”

Many of his barrels come from Fox Run, understandably, but he also uses barrels from Thirsty Owl (Cayuga Lake), Rooster Hill (Keuka Lake) and Ravines (Seneca and Keuka lakes), to name a few.

“From tables to wine racks to cutting boards,” notes Dan, “the artwork of Staving Artist Woodwork is as individual as the Finger Lakes wines themselves.”

To see more of Dan’s creations, visit stavingartist.com, facebook.com/ stavingartistwoodworks, or e-mail him at dan@staving artist.com.

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