Monday, December 20, 2010
Ruh Roh!
I don't want this blog to focus on the negative. That said, the less said about The Chocolatier in Hammondsport, NY, the better. Lovely setting - the place looks GREAT. Wonderful dog and cat on the premises. The person behind the counter spoiled the ambiance. The three of us will not go back because said person hit us with a barrage of un-sought-out-for information and opinions. Yikes. Maybe this person was having a bad day? Let's hope so... Here's the link: http://www.chocolatierofhammondsport.com/
Girls Gone Wild in the Finger Lakes!
Girlfriend Weekend Alert!
Three of us decided to hit the Finger Lakes during the first weekend in December. Time to get our collective act together and think about who's been naughty and nice this year and find some local gifts for our peeps. We wound our way up Route 96 to Interlaken and headed west towards Lodi. We hit the Seneca Wine Trail and stopped in at one of my favorite wineries: Lamoreaux Landing. We were out of sync with the wine trail festivities but that was ok. We had an agenda: Drink good wine. Explore gift options. Eat good food. Repeat.
Gabe at Damiani Winery won our hearts. We did a tasting and because they are so generous, I had to bow out at one point so that I could continue to be our designated driver. Gabe was informative, charming and introduced us to virtually all that this stellar winery has to offer, all served in their new location on Route 414 just north of the Distillery. At Damiani the focus is on red wines - and the maturity and nuance that the winemaker brings to the wine making process is exceptional. Here's the link: http://damianiwinecellars.com/ Stop in and experience the ambiance that is Damiani.
Stay tuned for more about our trip west in the Finger Lakes!
CCat, 11:04pm, 12.20.10
Three of us decided to hit the Finger Lakes during the first weekend in December. Time to get our collective act together and think about who's been naughty and nice this year and find some local gifts for our peeps. We wound our way up Route 96 to Interlaken and headed west towards Lodi. We hit the Seneca Wine Trail and stopped in at one of my favorite wineries: Lamoreaux Landing. We were out of sync with the wine trail festivities but that was ok. We had an agenda: Drink good wine. Explore gift options. Eat good food. Repeat.
Gabe at Damiani Winery won our hearts. We did a tasting and because they are so generous, I had to bow out at one point so that I could continue to be our designated driver. Gabe was informative, charming and introduced us to virtually all that this stellar winery has to offer, all served in their new location on Route 414 just north of the Distillery. At Damiani the focus is on red wines - and the maturity and nuance that the winemaker brings to the wine making process is exceptional. Here's the link: http://damianiwinecellars.com/ Stop in and experience the ambiance that is Damiani.
Stay tuned for more about our trip west in the Finger Lakes!
CCat, 11:04pm, 12.20.10
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Getting Psyched!
I'm planning a trip with two friends and frankly, we are all really, really psyched to enjoy a road trip in the Finger Lakes. Soon we'll be heading west to Watkins Glen and Hammondsport, NY. Must-visit destinations include Skyland Farm and Lime Berry. Both are places I've been to in the recent past and both have beckoned me to return ever since my last visit. These galleries will help even the most jaded person delight at seeing what gifted artists are capable of creating.
Skyland Farm is on the east side of Seneca Lake in Burdett, NY on Route 414. The gallery itself is a work of art and the artisans, whose works are on display, are amazing. As an added feature, the owner has renovated a farmhouse next to the gallery and the work that's been done is nothing short of fabulous. The farmhouse is available for family reunions and other functions and I'm pondering what event we might host there at some point in the - I hope - not too distant future. You have to visit as I don't feel capable of doing either location justice tonight. But trust me, you'll be enchanted, inspired and you're bound to purchase something that catches your fancy. Blown glass, jewelry, ornaments, pottery, fine knives, paintings, candles, garden art and much, much more....I really can't wait to go back! An added plus: resident goats and cats. (www.skylandfarm.net - the website is perfunctory and doesn't really do justice to this fine business. Don't let the website stop you from visiting soon!)
Lime Berry is located in Hammondsport and features a number of artists including the phenomenal Leland Holiday. My partner and I were wandering the Village last summer and the whimsical gardens and grounds of this converted house caught my eye. (I'm an avid gardener and like nothing better than playing in the dirt in my ever evolving postage stamp of a yard/perennial garden. So I had to go and admire the plantings and garden art at this unassuming gallery.) But then we ventured inside and met one of the owners, Melissa Carroll. She's a warm, welcoming and engaging woman who, with her husband, Joe, is also working on opening a vineyard by the same name. Her energy, graciousness and charm is a welcome relief from the sometimes stuffy, pretentiousness that one can sometimes experience in art galleries. Let's hear it for real people who champion the arts!
But, back to Mr. Holiday...suffice to say that we were so taken by his artwork that we spent the better part of at least an hour trying to decide what pieces we would purchase. We walked out with paintings of a coyote and moose that now adorn our dining room. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THEM BOTH. Don't miss Lime Berry if you venture to Hammondsport. I'm hoping to find another piece by Leland Holiday for my office during this upcoming visit! Lime Berry is located at 64 Shether Street and, in addition to featuring his work (exclusively), you'll find exceptional wood carvings and handmade carpets and more. Wow! (www.LimeBerryOnline.com, www.LelandHoliday.com).
Time for bed. CCat 1:40am 11/5/10
Skyland Farm is on the east side of Seneca Lake in Burdett, NY on Route 414. The gallery itself is a work of art and the artisans, whose works are on display, are amazing. As an added feature, the owner has renovated a farmhouse next to the gallery and the work that's been done is nothing short of fabulous. The farmhouse is available for family reunions and other functions and I'm pondering what event we might host there at some point in the - I hope - not too distant future. You have to visit as I don't feel capable of doing either location justice tonight. But trust me, you'll be enchanted, inspired and you're bound to purchase something that catches your fancy. Blown glass, jewelry, ornaments, pottery, fine knives, paintings, candles, garden art and much, much more....I really can't wait to go back! An added plus: resident goats and cats. (www.skylandfarm.net - the website is perfunctory and doesn't really do justice to this fine business. Don't let the website stop you from visiting soon!)
Lime Berry is located in Hammondsport and features a number of artists including the phenomenal Leland Holiday. My partner and I were wandering the Village last summer and the whimsical gardens and grounds of this converted house caught my eye. (I'm an avid gardener and like nothing better than playing in the dirt in my ever evolving postage stamp of a yard/perennial garden. So I had to go and admire the plantings and garden art at this unassuming gallery.) But then we ventured inside and met one of the owners, Melissa Carroll. She's a warm, welcoming and engaging woman who, with her husband, Joe, is also working on opening a vineyard by the same name. Her energy, graciousness and charm is a welcome relief from the sometimes stuffy, pretentiousness that one can sometimes experience in art galleries. Let's hear it for real people who champion the arts!
But, back to Mr. Holiday...suffice to say that we were so taken by his artwork that we spent the better part of at least an hour trying to decide what pieces we would purchase. We walked out with paintings of a coyote and moose that now adorn our dining room. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THEM BOTH. Don't miss Lime Berry if you venture to Hammondsport. I'm hoping to find another piece by Leland Holiday for my office during this upcoming visit! Lime Berry is located at 64 Shether Street and, in addition to featuring his work (exclusively), you'll find exceptional wood carvings and handmade carpets and more. Wow! (www.LimeBerryOnline.com, www.LelandHoliday.com).
Time for bed. CCat 1:40am 11/5/10
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Great to be back!
I spent 10 days in Ocean City, MD recently. It takes a lot for me to get motivated to leave the Finger Lakes area during the peak of fall leaf season. BUT, some good friends offered us the use of their time share so...leave we did. What a place! It was right on the bay and I do mean right on the water. So close that one could fall in if one wasn't very careful on the deck after enjoying a glass of wine! (No, no one fell in.) Wow!
The Delmarva Peninsula is very narrow and flat and beautiful. Seafood restaurants abound even in the off season and we ate our share of crab, oysters, clams, rockfish, crabcakes, salmon and more. We saw wild ponies at Assateague and a variety of birds including loons, egrets and cormorants as we walked for miles and miles on the beaches and boardwalk. In fact, we even broke the pedometer we walked so much! We spent time with family and we sure did have a blast.
But this is a blog about the Finger Lakes and so, here's my point: Our vacation was fabulous but it's just so great to be back home! Back home and enjoying what's left of the fall colors and the green but slowly turning brown hills. I sure did miss the hills. Back home jogging -- or at least power walking -- 'round my quiet, quaint neighborhood with my dog (and sometimes my cat, but that's a story for another time). Back home and hanging out on the deck at Castaways on the inlet while the Indian summer weather holds! Back home and having an excellent meal, as always, at The Ithaca Ale House. Back home and seeing the lake smooth as glass. Life is indeed good. CCat 6:50pm on 10.28.10.
The Delmarva Peninsula is very narrow and flat and beautiful. Seafood restaurants abound even in the off season and we ate our share of crab, oysters, clams, rockfish, crabcakes, salmon and more. We saw wild ponies at Assateague and a variety of birds including loons, egrets and cormorants as we walked for miles and miles on the beaches and boardwalk. In fact, we even broke the pedometer we walked so much! We spent time with family and we sure did have a blast.
But this is a blog about the Finger Lakes and so, here's my point: Our vacation was fabulous but it's just so great to be back home! Back home and enjoying what's left of the fall colors and the green but slowly turning brown hills. I sure did miss the hills. Back home jogging -- or at least power walking -- 'round my quiet, quaint neighborhood with my dog (and sometimes my cat, but that's a story for another time). Back home and hanging out on the deck at Castaways on the inlet while the Indian summer weather holds! Back home and having an excellent meal, as always, at The Ithaca Ale House. Back home and seeing the lake smooth as glass. Life is indeed good. CCat 6:50pm on 10.28.10.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Bel Canto Farm Festival in TBurg
Saturday, September 25th defied weather predictions and ended up being a quintessential fall day. It was a perfect day for Cornell Homecoming (too bad Yale trounced the Big Red) and even better for enjoying the Festival at Bel Canto Farm in Trumansburg, NY. Fall colors have begun to pop up in Tompkins County and the drive out to Buck Hill Road was winding, pleasant and scenic. The festival was free and featured food, music, artisans and, the key drawing point for me: ALPACAS. Yep! fuzzy, quizzical, graceful and cute-as-heck alpacas.
We'd had the opportunity to see alpacas at the Farmer's Museum in Cooperstown last weekend but we decided that paying the $12 admission fee simply for the privilege of viewing these animals didn't seem to make sense in the current economy. So, I was psyched to see the announcement for this festival just a few days later.
There were an assortment of these wonderful creatures on site, at least 5 or 6 in black, chocolate brown and white from Bel Canto Farm and a lovely tan trio (including a 4 month old) from Cabin View Alpacas. The owners were friendly and informative and made sure to permit ample opportunities for petting these gentle camelids. There was a fantastic array of alpaca-related items on sale, including gloves, toys, hats, scarves and jackets made from alpaca wool that were on sale and we couldn't resist getting two tiny wool alpaca toys.
I suspect that one of my cats and my dog would love to have a herd of alpacas added to our family. Hmmnn - now that's an interesting possibility for retirement option. If I look into it, I'll let you know.
C. Cat @ 11:33pm on 11/26/10.
(Say, does anyone know how I can get the real Eastern Standard Time to appear on postings. I've started writing in the time on my clock because the site lists the time as much earlier. If you'd like to contact me, use this email address: CascadillaCat@gmail.com. Thanks!)
We'd had the opportunity to see alpacas at the Farmer's Museum in Cooperstown last weekend but we decided that paying the $12 admission fee simply for the privilege of viewing these animals didn't seem to make sense in the current economy. So, I was psyched to see the announcement for this festival just a few days later.
There were an assortment of these wonderful creatures on site, at least 5 or 6 in black, chocolate brown and white from Bel Canto Farm and a lovely tan trio (including a 4 month old) from Cabin View Alpacas. The owners were friendly and informative and made sure to permit ample opportunities for petting these gentle camelids. There was a fantastic array of alpaca-related items on sale, including gloves, toys, hats, scarves and jackets made from alpaca wool that were on sale and we couldn't resist getting two tiny wool alpaca toys.
I suspect that one of my cats and my dog would love to have a herd of alpacas added to our family. Hmmnn - now that's an interesting possibility for retirement option. If I look into it, I'll let you know.
C. Cat @ 11:33pm on 11/26/10.
(Say, does anyone know how I can get the real Eastern Standard Time to appear on postings. I've started writing in the time on my clock because the site lists the time as much earlier. If you'd like to contact me, use this email address: CascadillaCat@gmail.com. Thanks!)
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Budget Travel Readers Rock!
I'm ecstatic! I received my October 2010 issue of Budget Travel on Friday and was immediately drawn to the bottom right portion of the cover: "You Picked the Best...Wine Region." The envelope, please! According to Ryan Bradley, the author of the article that begins on page 25, "...Budget Travel readers picked <the Finger Lakes>...as the world's most beautiful wine region- beating out heavyweights like France's Loire Valley, Italy's Piedmont, and, yes, Napa." Who knew?!
Mr. Bradley then goes on to describe, as I'd hoped to do here some day, a road trip up to Dr. Konstantin Frank's winery and Heron Hill Winery, both located in ever-so-scenic Hammondsport, NY. I had something of an epiphany on this very same road trip within recent memory and repeated it this past summer. The drive to Dr. Frank's literally took my breath away that summer. When this happened, I thought, "I've had my breath taken away before but, but, but: that was in Italy!" To have this happen again so close to home - and to have this vista overlooking Keuka Lake make my beloved Ithaca pale in comparison - was nothing short of life-changing.
Plus, the wines are great at both wineries! So don't think twice: go to Heron Hill and Dr. Frank's. It's well worth the trip. To be sure, I will share some more phenomenal finds in Hammondsport. But before I sign off, let me put in a quick plug for Mark Klammer, a ceramicist - aka potter - who is a neighbor of Dr. Frank's (http://www.klammerpottery.com). Love the glaze colors, love the neat, crisp design, love the location. A true artist that - I believe - left Ithaca for Hammondsport - and having made the trip, I confess that someday, I may do the same. C. Cat, 9.21.10@10:21pm.
Mr. Bradley then goes on to describe, as I'd hoped to do here some day, a road trip up to Dr. Konstantin Frank's winery and Heron Hill Winery, both located in ever-so-scenic Hammondsport, NY. I had something of an epiphany on this very same road trip within recent memory and repeated it this past summer. The drive to Dr. Frank's literally took my breath away that summer. When this happened, I thought, "I've had my breath taken away before but, but, but: that was in Italy!" To have this happen again so close to home - and to have this vista overlooking Keuka Lake make my beloved Ithaca pale in comparison - was nothing short of life-changing.
Plus, the wines are great at both wineries! So don't think twice: go to Heron Hill and Dr. Frank's. It's well worth the trip. To be sure, I will share some more phenomenal finds in Hammondsport. But before I sign off, let me put in a quick plug for Mark Klammer, a ceramicist - aka potter - who is a neighbor of Dr. Frank's (http://www.klammerpottery.com). Love the glaze colors, love the neat, crisp design, love the location. A true artist that - I believe - left Ithaca for Hammondsport - and having made the trip, I confess that someday, I may do the same. C. Cat, 9.21.10@10:21pm.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
The Debut of the Cascadilla Cat
Let me be clear: I am unabashedly in love with the Finger Lakes Region of New York State. I grew up in a city that bordered the Finger Lakes. I went to a summer camp on Canandaigua Lake as a kid and I had the wonderful fortune of working there as a young adult. While I was immersed in that experience (basically getting paid for having fun and living in a beautiful natural area), I mused about my future and I remember hoping that someday I'd be lucky enough to work and live in the Finger Lakes Region. I took it one step further and thought that if I was REALLY lucky, I actually might get to live ON one of the Finger Lakes.
Fast forward a few years and I found myself attending graduate school in Ithaca, NY. Like so many others who have landed in this funky, quirky college town in order to attend Cornell University, I never ventured far after I graduated. It took me a while but at some point it dawned on me, "I live and work in Ithaca. In the Finger Lakes Region. I DID IT."
Well, OK, so I still don't live ON the lake. Cayuga Lake. But, having acquired a kayak about one year ago, I can now walk one half block from my house to one of the many creeks that run through this little city, put in my boat, and I'm off. It's only a few minutes' paddle to the Farmer's Market. A bit farther and I'm paddling along in the Inlet and heading towards the Marina. A bit farther than that and I'm passing the lighthouse, and there you go: I'm ON the lake. That's a long way of saying that I've come to think of my house as having lakefront access. How cool is that?! And that's close enough for me, for now!
Why a Cascadilla Cat blog? I simply want to engage with people about the Finger Lakes Region (FLR). I'm not sure where this will go but for now, I suspect that I'll share observations and information about festivals, restaurants, galleries, wineries, artists, musicians, shops, happenings, hikes, paddles, local denizens, and other cool stuff. I'm drawn to the water, the land, the wildlife, and the people and, following a "staycation" in the FLR in late July, I was inspired to write about this exceptional place on the earth. Perhaps you'll become intrigued and decide to take a road trip to our region and visit one of our myriad state parks, stay in a gem of a village perched on the edge of one of our lakes or just enjoy some of the exceptional wining and dining to be had throughout the area. I sure hope so! Enjoy! C. Cat 9.16.10
Fast forward a few years and I found myself attending graduate school in Ithaca, NY. Like so many others who have landed in this funky, quirky college town in order to attend Cornell University, I never ventured far after I graduated. It took me a while but at some point it dawned on me, "I live and work in Ithaca. In the Finger Lakes Region. I DID IT."
Well, OK, so I still don't live ON the lake. Cayuga Lake. But, having acquired a kayak about one year ago, I can now walk one half block from my house to one of the many creeks that run through this little city, put in my boat, and I'm off. It's only a few minutes' paddle to the Farmer's Market. A bit farther and I'm paddling along in the Inlet and heading towards the Marina. A bit farther than that and I'm passing the lighthouse, and there you go: I'm ON the lake. That's a long way of saying that I've come to think of my house as having lakefront access. How cool is that?! And that's close enough for me, for now!
Why a Cascadilla Cat blog? I simply want to engage with people about the Finger Lakes Region (FLR). I'm not sure where this will go but for now, I suspect that I'll share observations and information about festivals, restaurants, galleries, wineries, artists, musicians, shops, happenings, hikes, paddles, local denizens, and other cool stuff. I'm drawn to the water, the land, the wildlife, and the people and, following a "staycation" in the FLR in late July, I was inspired to write about this exceptional place on the earth. Perhaps you'll become intrigued and decide to take a road trip to our region and visit one of our myriad state parks, stay in a gem of a village perched on the edge of one of our lakes or just enjoy some of the exceptional wining and dining to be had throughout the area. I sure hope so! Enjoy! C. Cat 9.16.10
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