Red Bird Market — Close to Home

Imagine a grocery store that specializes in locally produced foods and delivers to your home! Red Bird Market in Fairport is proving that locally produced food can fill a grocery store providing a host of unique and creative choices.

Some of the local specialties: Hand-pinched pierogies from The Pierogie Guy, Flour City Pasta made from wheat ground at the pasta factory in Pittsford, amazing butternut squash based hot sauces from the Karma Sauce Company in Bushnell’s Basin, a variety of cheeses from Miranda Cheese, Cuba Cheese Shoppe, Lively Run Goat Farm, and Yancy’s Fancy, grape twists and Healthy Purple fresh grape juice, natural salad dressings, and jams provided by Arbor Hill Vineyard in Naples.

Hours of Operation:

December – April:
      Monday – Friday 9am – 7pm
      Saturday 9am – 5pm

May – November:
      Monday – Friday 9am – 7pm
      Saturday 8am – 5pm

Armory Square, Syracuse

Walking around Armory Square you can find interesting shops and LOTs of places to eat

The Armory Square district in Syracuse was originally settled in 1804. The Erie Canal and later the railroad helped to put Syracuse on the map as a center for industry and manufacturing. Most of the area buildings were constructed between 1860 and 1890 as factories or warehouses.

Walking toward Armory Square on Jefferson

Part of  the Armory Square district consists of a circular street, West Jefferson, with Armory Square Park at the 12:00 spot (N) on the circle. The Jefferson St Armory was actually three buildings used to house both the cavalry and the infantry.

Today the area is bustling with hotels, restaurants, businesses, loft apartments as well as cultural elements such as the Museum of Science and Technology (MOST), the Red House Musical Theater on Fayette, and the Landmark Theater on S. Salina St.

We enjoyed a nice quiet lunch at Lemon Grass.

Well-known area restaurants include Pastabilities, and Lemon Grass and bc. We ate at Lemon Grass enjoying great service and a nice view onto the Circle.

Intrepid reporter working the square

This area is best known for its night life as it has a many bars close together, The Empire Brewing Company, Blue Tusk and The Syracuse Suds Factory, which in the summer open onto the square and street. It is fun to hop from one spot to another to listen to live music and sample local brews.

Map

Celebrate Christmas in the Finger Lakes

Christmas in the Finger Lakes has many places and faces. I took a day to explore what each town is doing and celebrate the season. I shopped for gifts, found the perfect Christmas Tree, enjoyed a hot meal and supported local business.

Live music, bare knees

Skaneateles is celebrating their traditional Dickens Christmas. Each year from Thanksgiving to the 24^th of December the town welcomes Charles Dickens and his cast of characters, to interact with residents and visitors in the streets, stores and restaurants.

Visit Finger Lakes has a great deal for Christmas. Stay two nights at any of the participating hotels during Christmas and you will get a third night free, as long as one of those nights is actually ON Christmas.

Enjoy free admission, holiday music and shopping at the Corning Museum of Glass. Make  your own glass ornament and see the Giant Glass Ornament Tree.

A trip to Corning is worth the drive because the museum’s permanent collection and a glass blowing demonstration are wonderful any day of the year. While you are in the area, visit the Christmas House in Elmira. They have events every day in November and December.

If you are looking for ideas on how to decorate your home for the holidays, drive down the eastern side of Cayuga Lake to the little town of Aurora, and visit the MacKenzie Childs Store.

For unusual gifting try visiting some of the great antique stores along Rts 5 & 20.  You can find depression glass, cookie jars, cookie cutters, period clothing and hand-made gifts.

If you get hungry, grab a warm bowl of soup at the American Hotel in Lima. This will be an easy hop after the antique stores. They feature several different homemade soups every day.

I passed by several Christmas Tree Farms on my journey. I love a fresh tree to bring the smell of the season into my home for the holidays.

This holiday doesn’t have to be about malls and crowded parking lots and slush and traffic. It can be filled with great adventures and fond memories. Enjoy!

NOTA: Rochester’s Neighborhood of the Arts

At the western edge of downtown Rochester there is a neighborhood full of turn-of-the century homes, restaurants, cafes and a bakery, gift shops, and dance and artists studios, referred to as the Neighborhood of the Arts (NOTA). It is only 15 city blocks long and three blocks wide, with boundaries reach north to Main Street, south to East Avenue, west to the Inner Loop that surrounds the center of the city, and east to Culver Road (East Avenue to Atlantic Avenue).

Downtown Skaneateles Walking Tour

Doug’s has the least wait around 3pm.

Downtown Skaneateles is charming AND tasty! Making stops at Doug’s Fish Fry, the Skaneateles Bakery,  and the Patisserie would be way too much food for one day, but great if you are here for a week. While you are here, stop in at Rhubarb and Pomodoro to check out the great gifts.

Skaneateles Bakery — Delicious breakfast or lunch

Skaneateles Bakery — Best Donuts in town — made fresh while you wait.

Best Granola, beautiful breads, baked goods and cakes

Wedding cakes in the window of the Patisserie

Great ideas and gifts for the kitchen and garden

Creative gifts, and the guys can sit outside on the porch in rocking chairs!

Enjoy beautiful landmark homes

Time Traveling Routes 5 and 20 on The Antique Mile, Chapter One

I took a different kind of trip when traveling the Bloomfield Antique Mile on Routes 5 and 20, with my cousin from South Carolina. She was hunting with a purpose, but I was an instant time traveler when upon spotting a Creedence Clearwater Revival Record, Lincoln Logs, Looney Tunes Glasses and Golden Books.

Genesee Brew House: Enjoy the Sparkling Waters of the Genesee

High above the “sparkling” waters of the Genesee River in Rochester NY, is the Genesee Brew House, once a century-old packaging center, the  Brew House has transformed the 9,200 square-foot space into a beer destination, featuring interactive exhibits, multimedia content, gift shop, pilot brewery and pub-style restaurant.

The Brew Pub offers all the classic Genesee Beers plus a changing array of delicious microbrews, I loved the Expresso Porter. The bar upstairs was built from old beer barrel boards. It was opened in September of 2012, after a LONG restoration process which is well documented.

The  retail store sells irresistible “Beer Gear,” the great selection of vintage t-shirts, with the full “Brew-story”. We were not wowed by the food, but the beer on the terrace with this fabulous view was well worth the price.

Hours: Mon-Wed 11am – 9pm Thurs-Sat 11am – 10pm Sunday Noon – 9pm 25 Cataract St. Rochester, NY, 14605 Get Directions 585-263-9200 Check out their reviews on Yelp.

F. Olivers takes flavor further on Park Avenue in Rochester

New location on Park Avenue, Rochester

Last year I wrote about a new store in Canandaigua featuring flavored olive oils and balsamic vinegars. F. Olivers has flourished on the main street of Canandaigua and have just expanded to Park Avenue in Rochester. They are in a perfect location right sandwiched between a bakery and wine store.

Michelle Cardulla, Director of MOCA

I was there to attend a special fundraising event for the Museum of Children’s Art, in Rochester.

While I was there I picked up a bottle of Squash Seed infused Olive Oil and a couple bottles of Pineapple Balsamic (2.00 of each bottle goes to MOCA). Everything tastes better in our kitchen. The balsamic makes a killer dip or stuffing for baby peppers, with cream cheese, shredded cheddar and a little thai hot sauce.

Locations:

Canandaigua:  129 South Main Street // Canandaigua, NY 14424 // 585.396.2585
Rochester:  747 Park Avenue // Rochester, NY 14607 // 585.244.2585

Book Barning at Phoenix

Take a massive barn and fill it floor to ceiling with room after room of books. Add a curmudgeon at the register, a bee hive located somewhere deep inside, and you have a visit to Phoenix Books.

Finger Lakes Summer Says Don’t Miss Greentopia Festival

The Greentopia Festival is a two-day “World’s Fair” of environmental education, arts, music, activism and inspiration taking place in Rochester New York, Saturday and Sunday, September 17 and 18.

Join us at Rochester’s sustainability celebration to explore green living, Rochester style. It’s a two-day “World’s Fair” of inspiration through art, music, ideas and activism.

Speakers like Author and Activist Ed Begley Jr and Author, Educator, Environmentalist Bill McKibben. There will be workshops, how tos and films  Learn how you can think greens and how to apply it creatively in everyday life. There will be unusual family activities, community recycled art installations, mouthwatering organic and local food and beverages, and all kinds of live music.

There will even be an opportunity to “Bike the Bridges.” This ride allows Rochesterians and their families a highly accessible way to view and experience the bridges and falls of Rochester up close with other cyclists in a fun and celebratory way.

Some Local Environmental Groups appearing at Greentopia that I am exceptionally fond of: Will be showcased Saturday, 12:30 – 1:20 pm @ The Atrium in Max at High Falls

Jim Howe, The Nature Conservancy
Protecting Hemlock & Canadice Lakes – Rochester’s Drinking Water

Gay Mills, Genesee Land Trust
Connecting to Nature in the City and other Projects of Genesee Land Trust

June Summers, Genesee Valley Audobon Society
Native and Invasive Plants

You can help keep Lake Ontario beautiful

Paul Sawyko, Water Education Collaborative & H2O Hero
Lake Ontario Needs Heros

ALSO:  Sunday, 11:00 – 11:30 @ Seneca Room in Max at High Falls. Sarah Meyer, Finger Lakes Institute & Paul Sawyko are doing a demonstration on Rain Barrels & Rain Gardens.

The Driftwood Sailors

Sunday at 12:30 there will be music by The Driftwood Sailors, who I just heard on the Sunday night Shakedown with Frank DeBlaise. Lead singer Amanda Lee Peers haas a lovely voice reminiscent of Amy Winehouse.

Greentopia will provide incentives for participants using greener modes of transportation. Everything that can be recycled at the festival will be recycled. Every plate, fork, spoon, knife, cup, bowl, napkin, coffee stirrer and sample cup will be 100% compostable. And all food scraps will be collected and composted. All Greentopia collateral will be made with recycled and/or earth-friendly materials. Every event sign will be designed with reuse in mind. Each piece will be made from environmentally friendly materials.

Greentopia is being produced by the The GardenAerial.

The GardenAerial is a 501(c)3 non-profit grassroots organization advocating for the conversion of pre-existing structures and trails along the Genesee Gorge at High Falls into a multi-use, extraordinary public green space.

It is their vision to transform the perimeter of the Genesee Gorge,  including the Ponte de Rennes bridge, into a magical hanging outdoor arboretum – becoming a real and lasting symbol of the “Flower City”.