Kim's Thoughts
Just a few thoughts I feel worthy of jotting down!
As seen on the way to Letchworth
Today was our monthly Ladies Lunch and, like every September, we made the trip to Letchworth State Park to eat our lunch at the Glen Iris Inn. I left way early so that I could stop to snap photos of things that caught my eye along the way. Good thing I left when I did cause with the quick photo stops, I made it just barely 15 minutes early for the lunch! WHEW!
So……here is what I saw that caused me to stop along the way and a few of my favorites from the ones I took at Letchworth:
ON THE WAY:
Saw this on Main St in Albion…..poor thing was left just barely 500 feet or so from the canal……so close, and yet, so far!!!
Absolutely LOVE this sculpture of a family in someone’s side yard!
OK, all you coffee fans……here’s a tall one for ya!!!!
This person obviously does wood carvings – there are lots on the porch, but I love the hand…..and they are in process of carving one with the peace sign, too!
An old rusty buggy of some kind……looked cool!
AT LETCHWORTH:
ME!!! A selfie at Inspiration Point!
Lunch – Waldorf Chicken Salad Croissant Sandwich…..loaded with chicken, grapes, walnuts, and red onions! Oh, it was soooooooo good!!!
Our waiter doing his magic with my flaming dessert!
Dessert – Berry Hill – blueberries and strawberries sauteed in butter, then flambeed in Triple Sec, then he added some brown sugar and served it on top of two scoops of vanilla ice cream……OMG – I died and went to Heaven!!!
Middle Falls – the most spectacular of the three waterfalls – located across from the Glen Iris Inn
View from Inspiration Point with the Middle Falls and the trestle……and I even was able to capture a train going across the trestle!!!
View from Inspiration Point…..without my face in it!
Wolf Creek waterfalls
The drive through Letchworth is so beautiful and peaceful!
The roadway snaking through the 18 or so miles of the park!
Beautiful break wall along the roadway!
That’s all for today…….I’ll leave you with another selfie I took in my car at the Glen Iris:
One HOT Festival – St. Rocco’s!!!
Every year I think about attending the St. Rocco’s Italian Festival in Hulberton – a little town on the canal between Albion and Holley – but, every year something else seems to be going on or I just plain forget to go! This year, I agreed to go, take some photos, and talk to some people for an article for the Orleans Hub about the festival. So, I was definitely going to get to go this year!!! Then, Sunday morning came and it was shaping up to be one HOT day with some wicked humidity, to boot! If I hadn’t made a commitment to Tom, I probably would have chosen my air conditioning over being out in the hot sun on a day like that! But…..I DID make a commitment, so I went! And, you know what? I am sooooooo glad I did!!! I had a BLAST!!! The heat wasn’t THAT bad….well, yeah, it was bad…..but not enough to ruin the day for me! I stayed a couple hours and then went back a little later! It was a GREAT event!
So, let me tell you about St. Rocco’s Italian Festival…….it is definitely ITALIAN!!! hehehe It is hard to say whether the main attraction is the massive amounts of Italian food or the WNY Bocce Tournament or the people you run into! Guess, that is up to the person……for ME, it was all three!!!
First…..the people! I LOVE that I can count on running into dear old friends and newer friends just about anywhere I go! I was able to chat a while with several friends that I ran into. I wanted to take a photo of my dear friend, Debbie, giving out one treat that helped cool everyone down – the Italian Ice Cream – but, she wouldn’t let me……can’t say as I blame her, though – as pretty as she is, she still looked about as wilted from the heat as I felt!!! And…..I managed to meet and talk to some new people that I found totally delightful!!!
Then, there was the food……OMG!!! I didn’t even see all the food that was available…..there was Italian sausage piled high with onions and peppers, hot dogs, hamburgers, Italian ice cream, popcorn, and a spaghetti dinner to die for……and I heard there was some totally awesome homemade eggplant Parmesan and other amazing Italian and festival type treats! I promised myself I wouldn’t go crazy with the food, but had to give the spaghetti dinner a try when I went back later in the day…..YUM!!!
Just look at all that food being cooked up by Sean Poprawski, Doug Heath, and Bill Austin! And the aroma coming off that grill was so incredibly amazing….I could have stood there all day long!
I found that when you say you’re doing an article for the Hub, people like to pose for you!!!
For $7.50, I got this huge plate of spaghetti with two LARGE and spicy meatballs, a salad loaded with assorted veggies, a glass of refreshing lemonade, and each table had a big basket of Italian bread! Sooooo good!!! I hate that I couldn’t finish it all…..what a shame to see any portion of this go to waste!!!
Just look at all the people waiting in line for some of that delicious food…..and it was early – the line grew as the day progressed!!!
The Bocce Tournament was really cool! I have seen people play bocce on TV and heard about it, but never saw it played in person. I learned from talking to Randy Bower – tournament organizer for the past 20+ years and local candidate for Orleans County Sheriff – that people come from all over the state and even from Canada to play in this annual tournament. The bocce tournament courts that are a permanent fixture on the Hulberton festival grounds are the only ones in Orleans County. Now, that is cool! And…..these guys (and a few girls) really take this game seriously! It is a time honored Italian tradition! I watched them play for quite a while…..it really takes some skill! From what I could gather by watching, a small ball is rolled out onto the court as the target ball (probably not what it is called, but you get the idea). Then, players take turns rolling their balls to see who can make their ball come to rest closest to the target ball – when all the players on both teams finish the round, the player whose ball is the closest to the target wins the points. But, then the strategy…..and fun…..comes in —- if a player has a ball pretty close to the target, a player from the opposing team can roll their ball with the intent of whacking it out of play……oh, you bugger, you…..and the next player on that team can roll more precisely to land close to the target to grab the points for the team!!! They play in elimination rounds until a winning team is declared. It was really interesting to watch and listen to the teams talk about their strategy and get all excited when someone on their team played their turn well! I hoped to go back and get photos of the winners, but I was told there was no way to tell me when to come back – all depends on how fast the rounds go – and it would likely be well into the evening hours and probably too dark to get a good photo! I hope I get to hear who won!
This guy is Frank Ruggiero. He’s from Rochester and has been doing this tourney for about 15 years. I loved him! He looked, to me, like the quintessential bocce ball player…..and, what sealed the deal for me was his broken Italian accent! He was sweet!
Not to foster a stereotype, but the players in this tournament were predominantly men – in particular, older Italian men! So, when I saw this young girl playing, I thought “that’s different” and really wanted to include her in my photos! Then, when I talked to her, I fell in love with her story!!! This was Cortney Quaranto’s first time playing in this tournament. She told me that her father has been playing here since she was a baby and her brother usually plays with him on his team. But, her brother is in the Air Force, now, and wasn’t available to play this year, so Cortney stepped in to play on her Dad’s team! How great is that story?
Louis LaPietra was also a very nice man from Rochester who has been coming here to play for about 10 years.
This is Randy Bower (center) – the tournament organizer and candidate for Orleans County Sheriff – pictured with Paul Quaranto (left), who played for Team Red and I believe is Cortney’s father, but I didn’t get a chance to confirm that (that’s Cortney walking away from us on the right), and Libby DiPardo (right), who came here from Niagara Falls, ON to play on The Gamblers team.
Basket Raffle…….I love theme basket raffles……I like to buy my strip of tickets and walk around the table sizing up the different basket choices and decide where best to place my tickets! I usually bid on baskets that I want for myself and some that I know would make great gifts to give family or friends. At the St. Joseph’s Lawn Fete a couple weeks ago, I won a basket that I walked past several times thinking it wasn’t anything I was interested in…..then, I had one ticket left and thought, “what the hell” – it was a coffee themed basket that I wouldn’t use cause I don’t drink coffee, but my brother and his wife do and it was Tim Horton’s coffee, which I also know they like – so, I popped my last ticket in that basket and I won it!!! THIS time, I used the same strategy, but I was REALLY hoping for two baskets that I would definitely keep for myself and I put multiple tickets in each one……and, guess what……I won the one I wanted MOST!!! It is called “Curl Up With a Good Book” basket and has a gorgeous handmade afghan, boxes of tea, a mug for the tea, Milano cookies (love them) to go with the tea, a candle, a book that looks like it is going to be a really good read, and a word find book! That basket couldn’t have been better for me if it was made specifically with me in mind!!! I am going to love that afghan this winter and can’t wait to start the book right after I finish the one I’m currently reading!
Black, white, and gray……a stunning combination and looks so cozy!!!
And….finally…..all proceeds from this festival benefits St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Holley – it is their big fundraiser each year! This year marks the 150th anniversary of St. Mary’s, so there was a booth with information about the historic milestone and several commemorative items for sale, like t-shirts, magnates, etched wine glasses, and more. I bought an etched wine glass to add to my other commemorative wine glasses.
St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church on S. Main St. in Holley is a stunning example of Medina Sandstone!
And, so…….the moral of this story? Life is too short to miss out on something wonderful just because the weather might not be exactly to your liking……get out and grab the gusto……you will rarely regret it…….and, you just might have the time of your life!!!
As for my article for The Orleans Hub…….this was the first time I’ve done an article for editor and friend, Tom Rivers. I hope he thought it was good enough to ask me to do it, again…..it was fun and I found it challenging to censor myself to write more like a reporter!!! I am not a journalist – I’m a creative writer who writes just like I think and talk…..not really the right style for the news! But, I do love to write and this was a cool change for me! Click here to read it!
Early One Foggy Friday Morning
I love the fog – it is so pretty! When I woke up this morning, I realized it was going to be a nice foggy morning, so I leaped out of bed, threw on some clothes, and headed out to try to get some photos before the fog lifted and burned off! I think I got some good ones……it was definitely worth upsetting my morning routine to get them!
I got a couple good shots right on my own street. Then, my first stop was the canal – it is close and I knew it would look cool in the fog! Then, I headed out to Mount Albion Cemetery to see if I could catch some foggy scenes among the grave stones. I got a few more cool shots in Eagle Harbor on my way out to Waterport to see if the fog was still hanging out at Lake Alice – it was pretty much gone by then, so I came back home!
Here is what I was able to capture:
The intricate work of a busy spider through the night (one of my hanging plants):
At the end of my street:
On the canal:
From the Main Street Bridge looking towards the Ingersoll Street Bridge
Ingersoll Street Lift Bridge
Web on the Main Street Lift Bridge
Ran into my friend, John Borello, as he was starting out on his daily job as a canal walker
Main Street Lift Bridge with the sun peeking out over the trees
Looking towards the Gaines Basin Rd bridge
The gates along Eagle Harbor – Albion Rd
Presbyterian Church steeple from the Main Street Lift Bridge:
At Mount Albion Cemetery:
Sun and fog through the trees at the tower
Can’t go wrong with photos from up high at the tower
Entrance to the Soldiers and Sailors Monument (Tower) with a little remaining fog in the distance
I love when the sun rays make their way through the trees!
On Eagle Harbor Road:
Looking south toward the dip in the road
Just after I pulled back onto the road from the “dip” shot, I found this field full of geese in the fog!!!
Field of geese along Eagle Harbor Road
More geese playing in the field
Can’t really see the geese that well in this shot, but I still like it – the sun was so bright through the fog!
So, how did you spend your morning……I sure enjoyed mine!!! Have a GREAT day!
Sunday Stills – Statues
Albion has some pretty impressive and beautiful statues. I was sitting in front of Christ Church on Main Street after church this morning talking on the phone and gazing at the gorgeous statue in front of the Holy Family Parish…..thinking how nice a post with photos of some of our statues would be! So, I drove around and snapped photos of a few…..and here they are:
At Holy Family Parish (St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church)
At St. Joseph’s Cemetery
At the Old St. Joseph’s Cemetery on Brown Rd.
At Mount Albion Cemetery
Mount Albion has many large, impressive monuments, but mostly Obelisks (spires), draped urns, columns, fountains, etc. There aren’t many figures – religious or otherwise, as in the Catholic cemeteries. But there are a few…..most notable are these:
Happy Sunday!
Spontaneity…..its a good thing!!!
Spontaneous……impromptu……unplanned……off-the-cuff……these are words that used to make my blood curdle…..words that would totally upset my apple cart and send me off the deep end! Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I am and always have been a planner…..I want to think all my options through, consider everything very carefully, and plan out every detail to the nth degree……I am the Queen of check lists, pros and cons lists, and synchronized calendars…..and, when I have made my plans, don’t you dare throw a wrench in them unless you want to watch me spiral into a tizzy that may take all day to settle down from!
Until lately…..
Lately, I have grown to love spontaneity and have been known to take the term “winging it” to a whole new level!!! It was one of the hardest changes I made to my lifestyle when I retired – it was a LONG time before I stopped thinking that I had to plan out my time in order to get everything done….that I had to do certain things on certain days…..and losing the fear that if I didn’t do it NOW, I may not have time again to do it until it was way too late to bother!!! But, once I reconciled with all of this, I am enjoying my life so much more than I ever have!!!
I have learned that plans are changeable – it isn’t the end of the world to change a plan at the last minute! I have learned that it is OK to head out without any specific plan at all and just “wing it”! I have learned that, with a few important exceptions, even if it is already planned, scheduled, or booked, it can be changed, moved, rescheduled, unbooked! It’s OK! It won’t cause me to fall into a deep, dark hole that I need to claw my way out of! Spontaneity is a good thing…..it keeps you on your toes…..it allows you to experience grand new adventures that thinking and planning might have overlooked!
Case in point……take today, for example:
I woke up and began my day like every other day…..took care of my dog, did up the dishes I put to soak before I headed up to bed last night, got dressed and primped, and turned on the computer to read the news, daily favorite comics, and check out Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, etc. etc. etc……I thought briefly about what I might want to do with the day – nothing was on my calendar and I didn’t have any tentative plans! So, I just decided to make it a lazy day…..I went out to fill the bird feeders and was going to sit on the porch for a while to take photos of the blue jays and squirrels and other birds as they began the inevitable frenzy that fresh bird seed and peanuts always tend to cause! Then, later, I would decide if I wanted to go for a ride to see what catches my eye to photograph or if I’d rather just sit out on the patio and read or what, exactly, I might want to do that didn’t require a lot of energy…..then, cap the day off with dinner with Mom for Fish Fry Friday!!!
Then…..the upheaval happened……I got a phone call from my “adventure buddy”, Cathy……she said she was going to Batavia to the Farmer’s Market and Kohls and asked if I wanted to do a ride-along! I’ll admit, I hesitated – my first reaction was to slip back into my old ways…..I thought, rut ro – I already thought through what I wanted to do, today – no, they weren’t important or even really solidly finalized plans, but they were plans, just the same!!! But…..luckily, the new me jumped up to take over and I said, why, yes! yes, I would like to ride along!
And…..the spontaneity continued……I finished filling the bird feeders and waited for her to pick me up. We headed to Batavia where we did lots more than the original suggestion……we went to Office Max, Kohls, Marshalls, the Farmer’s Market, and lunch at O’Lacy’s……then, Cathy wasn’t able to find everything she was looking for, so we decided to hop over to Brockport to shop at Wegman’s!!! I bought something in every store we stopped at (my original plans wouldn’t have cost me anything…..spontaneity is sometimes quite costly)……and, I still made it home in time to cap off the day with dinner with Mom for Fish Fry Friday – if she’s still interested in going!
And…..the best part???? Today wasn’t unique…..it isn’t the exception to the norm, anymore……MOST of my days are filled with last minute adventures and changed plans and “let’s just head out and see where we end up” kinds of days!!!
AND….I…..LOVE…..IT!!!!!
End of an era…..
Growing up in Albion, things rarely changed. Back then, it was a busy little Village with a downtown full of successful businesses. Within a few close blocks, you could walk around and buy fine jewelry, get fitted for a new pair of shoes, purchase an evening dress or a new pair of bell bottom jeans, get your prescription filled, find the perfect sailor hat or pea coat, pick up some scrumptious baked goods, take your pick of several options for a nice lunch, get an ice cream sundae or soda, get whatever you may need at the hardware store or the Five and Dime, enjoy a cocktail, get a room to stay, see a movie at the theater, take home a bag of penny candy along with the daily newspaper or latest magazines, get your groceries, and any number of other items and activities you may want! You rarely had to go out of the downtown area to get whatever was needed! And, it was a friendly, safe place to be where neighbors and friends were sure to stop you to chat or watch out for the youngsters out enjoying the day!
When I returned home after living in NC for 26 years, things had changed……downtown still looked very much the same, but most of the store fronts were either occupied with new businesses or stood empty waiting for a new owner to come wake them up. I found much of my home town “the same, but different” and had to rediscover so much.
And then there was Fischer’s News Stand……standing exactly where it was when I was a little girl, looking exactly the same, and offering exactly the same goods for purchase.
With the exception of the addition of the lottery ticket station and a couple small details, I walked in the front door and was instantly transported back to the 1960s and early 1970s when I would wander in there as a small child / young girl with a dollar and some change to buy a bag of penny candy, a comic book, a bottle of pop, and the newest edition of Tiger Beat so I could read up on all the latest gossip about Davy Jones, Bobby Sherman, David Cassidy, and the other teen heart throbs of my teen and pre-teen years! It was where everyone got their newspapers and magazines. It was where I’d often buy pipe tobacco and cigars for my Grandpa – long before there were restrictions on children buying such things because we were still trusted to take them directly home to Grandpa….and the owner knew us, so we knew our parents would find out and we’d get our tails tanned if we didn’t! It was the best place for candy – they had it all – mallo cups, bit ‘o honey, candy cigarettes, bubble gum with baseball cards, cracker jacks, those little wax bottles with kool-aid inside, fireballs, candy necklaces, and so much more!!!
When I lived in the Village, I walked there……when we moved out to the country, I’d ride my bike in to town – stopping at the orchard up the road to pick an apple to eat on the way, making a pit-stop at the little corner store in Eagle Harbor for a bottle of pop, and then in to town to meet up with friends and the inevitable visit to Fischer’s! It played a big role in my childhood – lo those many years ago……and, yet, upon my return to good ole Albion in 2011, there it was – still there – still the same! Oh, yes, the lottery signs are a clear sign that it has evolved to keep up with the times…..and the girly magazines that my brother used to try to sneak a peek at are no longer on the top shelf just out of reach……and the smokes are no longer on prominent display just inside the entrance……but, the same tall counter is there – the one I used to have to tippy toe and stretch to reach up to pay for my candy and still feel small beside…..the right hand wall is still loaded with any and every magazine you could want the entire length of the store……the candy racks are still there in the back and filled with treats to delight the children of today! Yes, the years barely touched this wonderful downtown fixture and just driving by brings back so many amazing memories!
This gave me a special warm, fuzzy feeling……knowing that it was true that the good things in life will endure and that some things never change……or do they???
Well, it appears they DO and that change is inevitable – eventually! It was recently reported that next Sunday, August 30th, will be the last day for this downtown treasure…..they will be closing!
Current owners, Gary and Denise Withey, purchased the business in 1995 and have kept it going for the past 20 years. Unfortunately, Denise passed away in February. Couple that with a decline in this type of business and Gary decided it was time to close the doors. Gary said he is very sad about his decision and if Denise were still alive, he’d probably try to keep it going. But, she isn’t, so it is the perfect time to make a change. He said he begins a new job in September – one where he can actually take a real vacation and have days off – something running a small town business tends to hinder!
I knew Gary in the 80’s when he played keyboard for my dear friend’s band – Defiance! These days, Gary plays with the local band Jonesie and the Cruisers. I, as with everyone in town, wish Gary the best of luck in whatever life throws at him from here on out. He and his news stand will be missed…….they leave a void in our downtown that will be very difficult to fill!
And, so…..the end of an era…….
Click here to read more about the closing on the Orleans Hub
Click here to read about Major League Baseball pitcher, Carl W. (“Lefty”) Fischer – Medina native who played for the Washington Senators, Detroit Tigers, and Cleveland Indians. Carl opened Fischer’s News Stand in 1959 and ran it until his death in 1963. He was known as the “Medina Mauler” and was famous for striking out Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Sam Byrd consecutively in a Detroit Tigers game against the NY Yankees in 1932. He also threw the pitches that lead to Lou Gehrig’s 41st home run in 1931 and Joe DiMaggio’s 21st home run in 1937. He was quite the local hero in his day and could often be found signing his baseball cards for little (and big) boys who visited his store!
Photos of Carl remain on the wall in Fischer’s News Stand, which still bares his name, to this day! Unfortunately, I do not know the history of the news stand prior to Carl Fischer’s ownership, but I believe it was a main street fixture for many years prior to that time under different ownership and likely a different name. Maybe someone can comment on this post with the prior history details and I can update this story to include that information.
Sunset at Point Breeze – 08-20-15
What do you do when you have a perfectly amazing day and you don’t really want it to end? Why, you go to Point Breeze and watch the sunset, of course! That’s exactly what I did this evening! It was a breezy evening, but not at all chilly, and the water was just ever-so gently moving with the breeze. There wasn’t hardly anyone around……probably because of the heavy rains, earlier in the day – they may have thought it wouldn’t be pleasant at the lake! But, they couldn’t have been more wrong! So, me, a lone fisherman, a couple out walking on the break wall, and an occasional person passing by, got to enjoy it all for ourselves…..and, the sunset was definitely not a disappointment……what a beauty!
The lone fisherman…..with three poles in the water under the crescent moon!
A couple strolling on the break wall
One of several ducks (or geese, not sure) that were flying around in the breezy sky
The lighted flag waving in the breeze against the dark night sky
The good Lord certainly blessed us with all his splendor, tonight…….life just doesn’t get any better than this!!!
Albion’s Second Annual Sip and Stroll Wine Walk
The Albion Merchant’s Association did it, again! Today – August 15, 2015 – was their second annual Sip and Stroll Through History Wine Walk and it was AWESOME!!! Last year, the inaugural event was on a slightly smaller scale to give it a try and it was pretty darned amazing – I had so much fun, I looked forward to this year’s event ever since – in fact, I bought the very first ticket sold! I bought my ticket from Lisa Stratton at the Hazy Jade Gift Shop even before word got out they were ready to go on sale!!!! This year, they amp’d it up with more local wineries, more merchants involved, and some extras to add to the experience and give people who may not want to do the wine tastings a reason to come downtown and join in on the fun! Some of the “extras” didn’t work out quite as planned, but that’s OK……the main event – the wine walk – was FANTASTIC and the rest has room for improvement and expansion next year!
All that said, I do need to get up on my soap box for a minute, here…….I get really sick of hearing people complain and whine about how there’s never anything fun to do in Albion – how it is a boring, dead town! Then, when the Albion Merchant’s Association or other organizations work their butts off to put together an awesome event like this one and many others, I don’t ever see any of the nay-sayers taking advantage of them! It is sort of like voting – if you don’t vote, you really don’t have a right to complain about the election results…….and, if you never take advantage of what is out there to enjoy about your town, you really don’t have a right to say there isn’t anything worth doing! OK – soap box neatly returned to my closet!
Don’t get the wrong idea about my rant — there was a nice size crowd at the event and everyone I saw was having a great time! It was a steady flow of groups – never over crowded at any point so you could really enjoy each stop without long lines and I didn’t go to any stop that didn’t have a nice group there and more coming as I was leaving. So — it was well attended, but I would have liked to have seen the streets REALLY packed……the organizers work hard to put these events on, so get the word out about how great this year was…..this event and others will only get better as they evolve, so let’s get out there and support the efforts of the organizers and show them how much we appreciate them!
Thank you not only to the Albion Merchant’s Association and those who worked to organize the event, but also to the following downtown shops who opened their doors as the tasting locations. And a very special thank you to the wineries who came offering their finest products for us to taste – I’ve included links to the various winery web sites – click on their names below to visit them. Each winery brought several wines to chose from for tasting – and you could purchase bottles at a discount at most tastings, if you found one you really liked (I was a good girl, I only bought two bottles, this year…..but, I made a mental note of the wines I enjoyed from wineries I haven’t visited, yet). Each representative from the wineries was very knowledgeable and explained their wines, talked about their wineries, and helped the tasters really have a good time! Also, each business had food available to munch on and pair with the wines. It was more like a sip and eat and stroll event!!! 🙂
- Hoag Library – Zambistro‘s, Medina, NY, catered the VIP reception at this location
- Pullman Memorial Universalist Church – Leonard Oakes Estate Winery – Ridge Rd, Medina, NY
- The Hazy Jade Gift Shop – Schulze Vineyard – Burt, NY
- Dance Reflections – Vizcarra Vineyard at Becker Farms – Gasport, NY
- Shay’s Shamrock – Lake Effect Ice Cream – Lockport, NY (offered wine infused Popsicles)
- Bindings Bookstore – Victorianbourg Wine Estates – Wilson, NY
- Arnold’s Auto Parts – Schwenk Wine Cellars – Kent, NY
- Xpress Fitness & Tanning – Five Sons Winery – Brockport, NY
- Uptown Browsery – A Gust of Sun East Winery – Spencerport, NY
- Knight’s Pride and MMIM – 810 Meadworks – Medina, NY
- Morrison Realty – The Winery at Marjim Manor – Appleton, NY
- Krantz Furniture – Chateau Niagara Winery – Newfane, NY
- Downtown Browsery – Lake Ontario Winery – Hilton / Webster, NY
- Empire Trading – Salamanca Estate Winery – Albion, NY
So — of course, I took a ton of photos…..here are just a few:
Registration and VIP reception at the Hoag Library
Zambistro’s did a great job decorating and with the food! The Library and the Historical Society put out books with entire years of old local newspapers (think they said they were Albion Advertisers, but might have been Medina Journal Registers) and type plates – nice touch to the theme “Sip and Stroll Through History”!
The Pullman Church always goes all out for these events – here are Pastor Lee Richards and church member, Jim Knight, dressed as Bacchus, “God of Wine”
Before others started to arrive
Aren’t these wine necklaces cool? I should have bought one – would have been fun to wear to other wine tasting events!
The Leonard Oakes Estate Winery representative with Bacchus
Look for the purple and green balloons – that’s where the wine is!!!
Inside the Hazy Jade Gift Shop! Why, there’s Skip Stratton – friendly UPS man and husband of shop owner, Lisa Stratton!
Schulze Vineyard offering delicious tastes in the Hazy Jade!
Vizcarra Vineyards in Dance Reflections
Inside Shay’s Shamrock – they offered wine infused Popcicles from Lake Effect Ice Cream – YUM!
Bindings Bookstore
I peeked over a book rack to get a shot of the Victorianbourg Wine Estate rep pouring some wine for a happy taster!
Schwenk Wine Cellars was at Arnold’s Auto Parts
Nice selection from Schwenk Wine Cellars
I’ve been wanting to try some of Schwenk’s wines – they didn’t disappoint!
Oh, goodie – more purple and green balloons!!!
Not sure how I missed getting a photo inside Xpress Fitness – I loved the wines that Five Sons Winery had to offer, so I was definitely in there!
Uptown Browsery with A Gust of Sun East Winery
Knight’s Pride hosted 810 Meadworks – they are Western NY’s first Meadery – a fermented alcoholic beverage made from honey with a beer-like taste. I’ve wanted to try their beverages – I didn’t particularly care for the one they brought (sorry, that’s just me, I’m sure), today, but it was interesting enough that I definitely want to try more!
Looks like I also missed getting a photo inside Morrison Realty, too! They hosted the Winery at Marjim Manor and I tried this year’s Katapalooza – they made it with a different fruit base than in the past, but it was just as incredible as other vintages….love Katapalooza!
Chateau Niagara pouring inside Krantz Furniture – that’s my friend and store owner, Linda Krantz Smith at the end of the table in the center with the red shirt
Krantz Furniture looking mighty festive!
Lake Ontario Winery with several offerings in the Downtown Browsery
Music by the Sophisticates – very, very nice – jazzy!!!
The only tasting location I missed – and I’m not sure how I missed it – was the Empire Trading Company! And, I really wanted to try the wines offered by Salamanca Estate Winery! I’ve seen their building just off the Ridge on Hindsburg Road in Albion and have been curious about them! DANG! Well, I guess I just have to stop in at their winery and try them there!
This is the old Citizens National Bank building – the historic site that is etched on this year’s commemorative wine glasses
This year’s commemorative wine glass
The two wines I bought, today – both from Schulze Vineyard – they are very grapey and so delicious! There were others that I made mental notes about getting in the future, but my wine rack is well stocked right now, so promised myself I wouldn’t go overboard…..but it wasn’t an easy promise to keep!
Bad Ash BBQ was there, but they sold out by 4:30…..I didn’t even get a chance to get down to where they were and get a photo before they were packed up and gone! Good for them! Also, some farmers were set up on Bank Street with a market, too, and there was also a book signing going on at Bindings Bookstore and a “anything on wheels” car show at Arnold’s Auto Parts! It was a great day!
I am already counting the days until next year’s Wine Walk……again, thank you to the Albion Merchant’s Association for caring enough to put on this and other amazing events for our Village!
Cool Stuff in Batavia
On the second Tuesday of each month, a group of ladies from my church gather for lunch. Every month we go somewhere different – sometimes close by, sometimes further away. This month, we went to the restaurant at Terry Hills Golf Course in nearby Batavia. Batavia is about a half an hour (if that) south of here – it is a straight shot down route 98 from downtown Albion right into Main St. in Batavia. I never used to go to Batavia much – with the exception of going for brunch at The Firehouse or pizza at Pontillo’s, Batavia didn’t hold much attraction for me in my younger years. But, in the last few years since I’ve been back home, I go fairly often. I started going that way mainly because my nephew and his family live there…..then, I started using a dentist in Batavia. Whenever I would go for either, I’d check out what else might be worth the short trip. Batavia has a Target and an Office Max – both of which I like to occasionally visit, but there are also several really good restaurants. I’m finding more and more that Batavia has a lot to offer. I also always enjoy looking at the beautiful old buildings I drive by whenever I am driving through town – they have some stunners!
So, when I got ready to head out for the ladies lunch, I put my camera in the car – I thought I might take a couple photos of the firehouse and the jail and a few other cool places – just a few shots….not many….just make a couple stops on my way out of town. Well…….I paid more attention than usual and found OTHER stuff to stop and photograph……and, in attempting to get a place to park in some of the spots, I had to go around a few blocks and discovered MORE stuff……the plan to take a couple photos on my way out of town turned into about two hours of driving, stopping, walking, and photographing all kinds of things that caught my eye in Batavia! So……here are just a few of the almost 200 photos I took!
Just thought this was a cool name for a dog grooming business!
Another business name that made me chuckle!
And, I really liked the name of this day care!
This gorilla is announcing how BIG the slices are at Batavia’s Original Pizzeria
Batavia’s Original Pizzeria used to be Pontillo’s! After a change in ownership and some legal battles, there’s no more “Pontillo’s” in Batavia, but I hear the pizza here is still AWESOME! I need to check it out sometime!
You know I can’t resist cow or horse statues! This one is right on Main St in front of the beautiful Cooperative Extension building!
And, then, there is this lovely horse at Oliver’s candy store….I cheated, I didn’t stop and take this photo yesterday – I knew I had one in my files from a previous post, so I decided to use the one I had and save my time for other photos! hehehe
I pulled into a parking lot to get a shot of a church across the street and noticed this on another church – beautiful!!!
The church across the street
I pulled in behind Main St in a parking lot to so I could walk around some and found this little waterfall! This is Tonawanda Creek! I knew there was a large creek or small river that flows through Batavia, but didn’t know anything about it and certainly didn’t realize there was this peaceful setting and small
waterfall right there in the middle of the bustling downtown!
I’ve noticed this International Peace Garden many times and always wanted to stop for a closer look! It commemorates the War of 1812 and spreads out along a nice size stretch of Main St. The next few photos show many of the elements of the Peace Garden.
LOVE this cool bench in the Peace Garden
Beside the Peace Garden is the Holland Land Office Museum. The museum is operated by the Holland Purchase Historical Society and preserves and showcases local history. The Holland Land Company consisted of a group of Dutch investors from Amsterdam who purchased a large tract of land covering all of Western NY, part of Central NY, and into Western Pennsylvania in 1792 and 1793. This building was the fourth land office in Western NY, built in 1815. After the Holland Land Company disbanded, the building was used for many things until the Holland Land Office Museum opened in 1894. I’ve often wanted to check this out, so I finally did!
I like to think that it is something really cool to know that the land my house is built on was part of the Holland Land Purchase – it says so on my abstract…….but I do know that is not unique or special because ALL of Western NY was part of that purchase…..but, I still think it is cool!!! hehehe
I love the cool stuff you find just by looking UP and being observant!
This is the home of the Genesee County Jail…..an amazing building made of Medina Sandstone and brick!
The fire house on Main Street…..Love this building!!!
As with many historical towns, there is a monument in the center of the busiest section of town where Main St and Ellicott St meet
This is O’Lacy’s Irish Pub — I love this place!!! Just a little restaurant tucked away behind the busy downtown streets that has the BEST Irish stew I’ve ever had……Beef, Lamb, or Guinness, depending on which one they made the day you visit!
The walk-way to the door of O’Lacy’s is paved with Leprechaun foot prints!!!
This building is now the home of Center Street Smoke House but, it originally housed newspaper offices and printers
When returning to my car, I noticed this sign across the parking lot – cool name for a florist!
I’ve heard a lot about these free library stations popping up across the country, but this is the first one I’ve ever seen, personally! It was on a corner in a residential area I passed through while going around the block to get a parking spot!
Batavia is also home of the New York State School for the Blind founded in 1868
And, Batavia is home of Batavia Downs – horse racing and casino! I’ve never been inside, but would love to go to the horse races, sometime, and even try my luck at the casino!
I noticed a helicopter making his approach for landing at the county airport. I was close by, so I decided to see if I could get some photos of his landing……alas, he landed much further up the runway than where I was standing, but I did get some good shots of him taxiing in!
And, finally…..there is the best “find” of the day! This house took my breath away!!! The photo pales in comparison to how it looked up close and personal…..the colors, the detail, the amazing porch, the flowers, the wicker furniture on the porch……it just all comes together to make one absolutely gorgeous home that I would LOVE to live in!!!
So, that ends my adventure in Batavia……just a dent in what caught my eye and, I’m sure, an even smaller dent of what I could have found if I did even more exploring!!!
You Don’t See That Every Day!!!
I go through Mount Albion Cemetery 3-4 times a week to water the crocks on our family graves – sometimes more often, if it is a particularly hot/dry spell – sometimes less often, if we’re getting a lot of rain. But, in general, I go several times a week. It is so beautiful, there……quiet, shady, peaceful…….just a wonderful place to enjoy a lovely day!
Last Sunday, I went through after church. I entered the usual gate (the smaller one east of the main gate), drove to my Great Grandmother Freeman’s plot and watered that crock – deadheading any spent blossoms, then made a stop to take care of Charlie’s and my Grandpa and Grandma Freeman’s flowers, and then proceeded out the main gate……just like every time I go, except on days when I feel like just driving around and checking out the other sections. But, that particular Sunday, I was in the right place at the right time and witnessed something very strange and definitely not something you see every day!!!
As I pulled around the chapel to head out the gate, I noticed a small group of young people and it looked like they were setting up for a photo shoot. As I got closer, I noticed they were applying fake blood all over each other! I did a double take! The curious (read: nosy) side of me had to go back to check it out! So, I drove up the street, back in the east gate, and around to the chapel, parked the car, and went over to see what they were up to!
I introduced myself, told them I write a local blog, and asked if they minded telling me what they were doing and if I could take some photos. They seemed very happy that I was interested enough to stop and ask! (…..and for those who will jump right to the conclusion that they must have been filming one of those local movies……NOPE…..that’s not it!!!)
They told me they were participating in GISHWHES (The Greatest International Scavenger Hunt the World Has Ever Seen)! According to the flyer they gave me, “GISHWHES is the single largest contributor to Random Acts (click here for more info). Many of our scavenger tasks are to benefit the community and help get people out of their shells, others are just to have fun and be the goofiest you can be. GISHWHES has broken 5 Guinness World Records, including the most pledges to complete a random act of kindness in 2012.”
They told me that they are a team and they were completing one of the GISHWHES challenges to earn points. This particular challenge was to play croquet in a historic location…..as zombies!!! So, they had a croquet game set up in Mount Albion Cemetery (listed on the National Registry of Historic Places) and they were getting themselves ready to play by smearing each other with “blood” and “open wounds”! IT WAS A HOOT…..so cool to see!!!
Sooooo……why didn’t I run right home and post the photos? Why did I wait until a whole week later to share my cool and unusual find with the world? Well, there is a rule for their challenge – they can not share anything related to their challenge on social media until after the week long challenge period is over or they could get disqualified……so, I was a nice person and kept my promise to not write my post until today…..and here it is!!!
Here are some of the photos I took:
The team participants: (l-r) Henry Haines, Irene Youngman, Angel Smith, and Page Smith
Yep…..definitely NOT something you see every day!!!
Want to know more about GISHWHES? Here is a video that was posted on their web site and you can visit the web site by clicking here.
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