To Market, To Market

My first memories of going to a farmer's market are a mixed bag of joy at simple pleasures and annoyance. When I was younger my parents would sometimes go to a market in the next town over (our own town didn't offer one, I don't think) held in the parking lot of a church. We'd casually stroll down the rows, most frequently picking up fresh corn and, if we were good, my sister and I would each get an array of stick candy offered at five cents a pop. These were candies that didn't have fancy wrappers or cartoon characters, weren't offered in the regular store or advertised on TV - but they came in a variety of flavors and jeweled colors, so to me they were a major treat. The only thing I didn't like was that going there meant hauling myself out of bed early on a Saturday morning (sacrilege!) to walk about on the shadeless pavement.

I am now older and wiser, but damn if I still don't have a hard time getting up early on a Saturday, now compounded by the fact that I don't get home from work until well after midnight. However this past Saturday a magic thing occured, one of those rare miracles like a solar eclipse or a butterfly landing on your hand to rest for a moment: I woke up early on a Saturday. And I mean early. Like, "Hey, I forgot what 6:00 int he morning looks like!" To celebrate this wondrous event, Loverman and I decided to take a swing down to the Rochester Public Market.


Now there are plenty of farmers' markets all over the place, and I could rattle off several locations off the top of my head - including a few places that are closer to our home than the Public Market. But these small, town markets are nothing compared to the Rochester Public Market.

The first and most obvious difference is that the Rochester Public Market is a permanent fixture. As I understand it, the venders do need to bring there own stands (or at least some do), but there are buildings with roofs, or at the very least beams with eaves (there needs to be some shelter from snow come winter!). More to the point though, is the sheer size of the Market. Whilst the markets in the towns usually take place in parking lots of various businesses, the Rochester Public Market consists of three large, sheltered buildings (the term "building" used loosely, as some of them are, as mentioned, just beams supporting eaves), several small businesses (mainly food stands, tiny breakfast joints, at least one coffee shop), and even a sort of "customer service" stand and a You Are here map that reminds me of a mall. They also run events occasionally, including Market Flower Days, a community "garage sale," local artists, and more. Live music is a frequent feature, and Saturday we were serenaded by a gentleman with a washboard who fancied himself to be something of a Dylan-esque singer.

There are all manner of foodstuffs to be found at this market. There is, of course, the local produce from local farmers (with several organic varieties available), but then there are the specialty pastas, the array of butchers, the handful of fishmongers, the local businesses that show up (such as Health & Harmony Natural Foods, a store in Victor where I bought gluten-free lentils and beans on this trip, and The Pierogi Guy who, well, sells pierogies), some hippie-dippie clothing stands, fresh eggs (I also saw live chickens - not sure if they were for sale), designer knock-off purses, and a number of stands I tend to think of as Random Crap for Sale - stands with supermarket bread still in the package, or an assortment of cardboard boxes with cheap plastic Made In China toys or "fashion." There are the regional goodies, like local honey, local cheeses, Mennonite pies... I stopped by the stand of a local vineyard, Arbor Hill, where I could not only buy their wine, but also their honey, their preserves, grape pie filling (a regional specialty in the Finger Lakes), and a prouct new to me that I could not resist: "grape twists," which are kind of like if Twizzlers were grape-flavored and not overwhelmingly sweet.

Loverman and I walked away on Saturday with the aforementioned grape twists, lentils, and beans, but also with two varieties of sausage (garlic onion, which became dinner the following night, and breakfast maple, which became part of a delicious breakfast thanks to Loverman when we got home), an array of local cheeses (fresh mozzarella balls, crumbled gorgonzola, a lovely round of colby jack, and a chunk of muenster that also made it into our awesome breakfast), a quart of blackberries which became a miserably failed attempt to make fruit leather, 2 tilapia fillets which became a rather unsuccessful gluten-free beer-batter (lots of food mishaps this week, it seems), 2 tuna steaks, 3 lemons; a pint each of peaches and apples, 4 oranges, a cantaloupe, and a pineapple (yeah, there are some non-regional foods there too) that became a fruit salad thanks to Loverman. I took out $60 at the ATM and didn't spend it all - and though that is partially because Loverman also paid for some of it, we still got a pretty danged good haul. I mainly stopped looking because my string-beany arms were getting too overloaded.

Some time ago I friended the Rochester Public Market on Facebook, and I kept receiving these updates asking me to vote for them in a national competition for best farmers' market in a contest sponsored by American Farmland Trust. Well guess what, folks? It won! When it comes to the large-market category, we officially have the best farmers' market in the country!

Every time I go to the Market, I get a little overwhelmed by the crowds, but I am ultimately seduced by the many, many possibilities at my fingertips, crying out to be cooked, boiled, mashed, or just enjoyed raw. As the weekend approaches again, I am thinking to myself "You know, maybe getting up early on a Saturday isn't such a terrible thing after all."

What's in a Place-Name Specifier?

Here in Rochester - and other places, I am sure - we have a proud tradition of having businesses named for one area when they are, in actuality, nowhere near said area. There is the Park Avenue Bike Shop, naming the store for an upscale part of the city when it is actually in the suburb of Henrietta with another location in the suburb of Brighton. There is the Pittsford Seafood Market, a cute family-owned store named for a high-falutin' suburb when it is actually on Monroe Avenue in the city. There is the Brighton Animal Hospital, naming it for one suburb when it is actually in the suburb of Penfield. Why are these places touting to be from one area when they clearly or not? I don't know.

Then there is the subject of this post: Park Avenue Pets. As I mentioned, Park Avenue is one of the more upscale neighborhoods in the city. However this shop is not on Park Avenue, but on Monroe Avenue. Apparently once upon a time the shop was located on Park Avenue, however the owner decided not to rename it when the shop moved.

The store is significantly smaller than any of the big box pet stores, but don't let this fool you. The selection is just as big as you could ask without superfluous nonsense. And since it is a small, locally-owned spot, the selection is much more interesting than you'd find in a big box store.

Collars!!!

I recently had cause to go into the pet shop for reasons other than pining after cuddly animals I could not get. I knew some of the items I needed, but not all. and I had no idea what types of the items I knew I needed that I should get. The owner was helpful without being pushy. She showed me various options and did not push the more expensive items but allowed me to make my own decision, even if that meant I picked the cheaper one. I appreciated not only the help, but that she did it without pitching anything.

Despite the small size of the store, there are comforts for pretty much any creature you can conceive. It's not just the standard dog-and-cat supplies, but also fish, bird, lizard, and various rodents - including live crickets (which if you have to get for your animal companion, you have more nerve than I do). Definitely a varied local business I'm happy to have around.

Regional Religion

Something that I think is key to having a cultured, accepting city is that multiple different faiths can practice openly. Rochester and the Finger Lakes definitely succeed on that point - between the churches of various denominations of Christianity, various synagogues, and at least one Baha'i center, mosque, Hindu temple, and Buddhist center, I'd say we're pretty darn welcoming to people of other creeds.

But did you know that a religion was actually founded in the Finger Lakes region? I sure didn't until my AP U.S. History class in high school! I am surprised it took me reading it in a textbook to actually learn this when I might have learned it if I paid closer attention to headline that gets press once a year.

In 1830, the Book of Mormon was published for the first time out of Palmyra, NY. Joseph Smith, to those who believe, found ancient tablets near his home in Manchester (pretty much a town over) under the instructions of an prophet named Moroni on a hill that is now considered a sacred place to Mormons. He garnered a following and preached what he believed to be the word of God.

Then an angry mob drove them out of the town.



But I digress.

Now, I am not a Mormon, so how do I know all this - and why do I think I should have known all this before high school? Well every year there is a show to re-enact the Book of Mormon on said holy hill: The Hill Cumorah Pageant has been performed since the 1920s and every year that I can remember, it has been mentioned on local news channels.



Last night (it is an evening performance) some friends and I decided that even though none of us are Mormon, we wanted to partake of the pageant. After all, it is a piece of local culture and history, and we had heard nothing but good reviews - oh, and did I mention it's completely free? We were not disappointed.

First off, let me tell you: This is not just a small, local festival. This is a major event that attracts Mormons from all over. As we were leaving we played license plate Bingo, seeing plates from as far away as California, Florida, Arizona, and of course, plenty of Utah. There were several tour buses parked outside, I'd estimate at least five. Literally thousands of people were in attendance last night - and yet, everything was so organized it was insane.

The organization began when we entered the parking lot. A very polite young parking attendant asked how we would be leaving the pageant in the end, and based on where we were heading he directed us accordingly to the appropriate section of the parking lot. All the other parking lot attendants directing internal traffic were a well-oiled machine - they have had a lot of practice, I suppose - and parking was just smooth as could be. Same thing when we eventually left: Sure it was time consuming for all these people to leave at the same time, but everything was directed with amazing precision.

I don't know about you, but I have heard the stereotype that Mormons are all ridiculously nice. I can't speak for all Mormons of course, but I can tell you that everyone that was working last night that my friends and I encountered completely supported that stereotype. The attendants were nice. The pageant-goers were nice. The "ushers" were nice. And I don't mean fake nice or make-you-feel-uncomfortable nice, I mean genuinely nice. Of course I know that not all people are going to fit this stereotype, but all the folks we spoke with last night were just gosh-darn nice people.

As I mentioned, my friends and I were not Mormons. I actually kind of expected the pageant-workers to be uncomfortably preachy. We were thankful to see that this was not the case. Maybe it was because we got there immediately before the pageant started, but we did not get the preaching or pamphlets we had all been expecting.

There are several rows of seats prepared for the audience, however the crowds are so large that there are more people without seats than with them. People are welcome to bring their own chairs, sit on the grass - whatever. Photography didn't seem to be frowned upon and many people took advantage of that. Even though we were way back in what might have been called "discount seats," the stage looked effing huge. It had multiple levels - maybe 10? - plus the side of the actual hill itself. The cast has over 600 people and the stage holds all of them!

The pageant itself was quite the production. The script was written by Orson Scott Card (did you know he was Mormon? I didn't!) and the effects were actually pretty darn impressive. I was surprised how much they were able to accomplish with well-placed fire jets, water/mist jets, and lighting. There is one scene where Jesus appears to descend from the heavens onto the stage (oh man, there was an absolute sea of cameras snapping away at that point), and since the play was at night, the wires were not visible and the actor truly did appear to be levitating down. That was cool. The show was only about an hour long, but it didn't seem too short - nor too long, at that.

Even though this is not my personal faith, what I like best about the pageant is that it attempts to be accessible to everybody: The pageant? Free. Parking? Free. Handicapped? Accessible. Deaf or hard of hearing? ASL interpreters available. Spanish-speaking? Spanish translation available. Before the show cast members in full costume mingle in the crowd. Sure, concessions cost money - but you are welcome to provide your own food and drinks - minus alcohol - as long as you pick up after yourself.

There were some protesters outside the parking lot calling the Mormons liars and sinners and evildoers - including kids and preteens heckling pageant-goers. We all agreed they had every right to be there, hold up their signs, and say what they were saying - and thankfully their protest was limited to the parking lot and did not disrupt the actual pageant. But at the end of the day there was a group of people who seemed like bad guys, and I'll tell you what - it wasn't the Mormons.

To be honest, before this production, with the exception of a few paragraphs in my high school history book, the extent of my knowledge of the Church of Latter Day Saints was pretty much limited to the Osmonds, the polygamists in Utah that are not recognized by the wider church, and that episode of South Park (incidentally, the version of the Book of Mormon as portrayed by South Park picks up right where the pageant leaves off). After attending the Hill Cumorah Pageant, I have more firsthand knowledge about the background of this religion. Did it change my mind and make me consider conversion? No. But I am glad to live in a place that, with the exception of the protesters, is pretty cool with people not only holding their own beliefs, but in them publicly celebrating said beliefs with the degree of showmanship, majesty - and kindness - as the Mormons did last night.

A Rainbow in Rochester

Another post! If I can keep this pace up I might actually grow up to be a Real Blogger!

Part of the frenetic pace this blog has taken as of late (at least compared to my first several post which were spaced out by about a month at a time) is the fact that so many exciting events have been going on in the region as of late! I fully confess that I have been unable to keep up 100% with telling you all the awesome things that are going on here that you can’t really find elsewhere.

Across the country, June has quite recently been declared Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Month, and here in New York State many cities are celebrating Pride this weekend, the annual celebration of acceptance of all people regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. Here in Rochester, our Pride is a bit belated this year, celebrated July 10th – 18th but that doesn’t mean the Finger Lakes LGBT community is any less active.

I have heard say in the past that Rochester had actually made a list of top ten gay-friendly cities. Although I am not sure as to the veracity of this statistic – or, even if it is accurate, how old it is – I can say that while there are certainly pockets of intolerance and ignorance, as a whole the Flower City is pretty darned open-minded, I think. We have several gay bars, many of which feature weekly drag shows. We have stores that are openly gay-friendly, whether be it because the owner/s are gay, they support gay employees, or sell rainbow products – and I can even think of one particular adult-store that caters largely to the Leather and BDSM subcultures (although no, one does not have to be gay to enjoy either subculture). There is Equal Grounds, a coffee shop in the trendy South Wedge neighborhood that is openly an LGBT-happy java stop (with some kick-ass hot cider in the fall, by the way). There is even the Rochester Gay Men’s Chorus and Lilac Squares, a gay square-dancing group (I totally didn’t know about the latter until doing some background searches, and it made me smile far more than it should have when I did)!

At the forefront of the LGBT Community here in Rochester is the Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley (GAGV), an organization with a mission to help those who are gay, bi, transgender, questioning, or otherwise identify as Queer. They publish a monthly newsletter called The Empty Closet addressing local and national LGBT news. They run youth programs for LGBT and Questioning teens, as well as programs for Rainbow Seniors. On a weekly basis, free STD rapid tests are offered to anyone who comes to their office.



They are also very active in terms of getting out into the community for education. For example, I recently graduated from a Master’s program in Mental Health Counseling. Two representatives of GAGV (who also happened to be wives to each other) came into our course on Counseling Diverse Populations to discuss not only what is not helpful in counseling someone who is not straight, but also to describe the Coming Out process (no, it’s not just a singular event) to those who might not have been in the know.

They do also run lectures at their home base including a class series called InQueery. I for one wish I had not had my own class to attend last night (one last class to officially get that diploma!), because I could have gone to a lecture describing Rochester’s particular history during the Stonewall Era and beyond. I think it would have been a fascinating history lesson, and I am sorry to have missed it. Look at their calendar and see what else is coming up!

Tonight through Saturday, 6/26, another agency is offering a fundraiser to benefit Pride 2010: Method Machine, a local performance and art company (of who, I confess, I didn’t hear about until now) is presenting The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later. This production revisits those originally interviewed in The Laramie Project, a landmark play written from speaking with those in the town of Laramie, Wyoming following the brutal murder of Matthew Shepherd, a college student who was killed for no reason other than the fact that he was gay. Tickets are available at the aforementioned Equal Grounds, Outlandish Gifts (the adult store mentioned above), and the GAGV website for $10 each.

No matter which way you slice it, growing up as a LGBT or Questioning kid has a large likelihood of sucking a lot more than other kids’ youths if that Rainbow child does not have a supportive environment. Although kids can still be cruel and some families just as hateful, to me it is an encouragement to have such a wide-reaching, positive agency in the area like the Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley. If their message can reach these kids, tends, or even adults who might feel they aren’t accepted, these former outcasts can rest assured that at least somewhere in this world, they are welcomed exactly as they are.

Reproductive Rochester

In my previous post on the "Upstate" debate, I touched briefly on the idea some of us "Upstaters" have proposed that it may be more beneficial for the supposed Upstate and Downstate regions of New York State to secede from one another. I neglected to address how that could potentially change the political make-up of this region of the state. It has been suggested by some that in the unlikely event that New York State was rent in twain, with New York City, Long Island, and possibly some of the Hudson Valley counties as the new New York State and the rest of the state as a new entity, this would leave the downstate region as a Blue State thanks to all the forward-thinkers and liberals in New York. It is theorized that we of the former "Upstate" region (what would we be called? Old York? New Netherlands? Upstateland?) would become a Red State - after all, what would be left of us would be a great deal of farmland and small, largely rust-belt cities, both of which tend to embrace what might be considered "traditional family values."

As for me, as a dirty-hippie-tree-hugging-bleeding-heart-liberal, this would surely lead me to many beating of breasts and gnashings of teeth during election seasons, the main time I actually pay attention to politics. However, when I heard of this thought initially, that we of the "Upstate" region (Upstaters? Upstatians?), it led me to ponder about my own region - are we in Rochester and the Finger Lakes region so conservative? While the Mayor of Rochester has been a Democrat for as long as I can remember, the town elections tend to be a fairly even spread between Reds and Blues.

When I think about how I measure the political temperament of an area, one of the things I take into account is how open it is in terms of sex education and reproductive rights. Whilst I tend to bumble a good deal in terms of different political causes, I personally believe in everyone's access to information and resources in terms of contraception, honest reproductive options (versus misleading scare tactics), and affordable pre-natal care.

In terms of this, I believe that Rochester scores pretty well. Our primary resource is Planned Parenthood of the Rochester and Syracuse region, and our particular chapter is really quite active. This includes education, advocacy, and resources. This Thursday, 6/24, they are sponsoring their first Sex and Justice on Tap, a get together to meet their steering committee for REAL (Rising Educators Advocates & Leaders for Planned Parenthood, "a group of young, professionally and socially active people who are dedicated to building and strengthening PPRSR ties in the Rochester community") and to collaborate and raise funds with the aim of assisting all in having access to the information to manage their own sexual and reproductive health. Why is it called "On Tap?" because it is being hosted by Tap & Mallet, a small gastro-pup in the trendy South Wedge area, who is even offering complimentary drinks and nosh (and by the way, their drink selection is amazing and their food delicious - expect a post about them upcoming!). I think it's inspiring that a successful local business is putting itself out there to support a cause they believe in this manner. Kudos to you, Tap & Mallet.

If it were simply this, I would smile to myself that an awesome business is supporting a cause in which I believe. But wait, there's more! What is even more inspiring to me is when young people can also take a stand for their beliefs - hell, it's uplifting enough that they even form their own beliefs, let alone that they express them.

Enter Max Kamin-Cross. He's a Pittsford teen I had never heard of up until recently. Apparently, certain students in his high school had planned a pro-life day, including wearing shirts with such phrases as "Abortion Kills A Person." Now, I know when I was a teenager some kids wore shirts like this, and while I knew they were entirely within their rights to do so, it still made me silently seethe. Not young Mr. Kamin-Cross. He wrote to the local Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice America who donated shirts, pins, and bumper stickers to him and his own cohort of students who chose to wear their own Pro-Choice shirts. Interestingly, on the day of the scheduled "day of the shirts," only 25 wore pro-life shirts whilst over 100 wore pro-choice gear, an interesting turn of events given that Pittsford is a predominantly Republican area.

Politics aside, here what is even more inspiring about that story: Kids on both sides of the debate were involved. Both voiced their opinions in a non-offensive, respectful manner. Remembering how confrontational high school could be, I suppose it is likely that individuals on both sides of the fence could have been outright jerks about their particular viewpoint ("I AM RIGHT YOU ARE WRONG AND SHOULD JUST SHUT UP ALREADY!") - but still, this was, in essence, an organized, passive protest. The fact that young people are doing that, regardless of their beliefs, did that, is enough to give me hope that when these kids enter the world they will aspire to create the change they wish to see.

Green Granola Girls

As I have mentioned before, I like to dabble in a variety of crafts - admittedly, with varying degrees of success. When I was younger I would try to utilize scraps of fabric, stray pieces of pretty ribbon, and bits of yarn. In today's language we would probably say that I was a budding found-objects artist. In reality, my collection of materials just made me look like a bag lady with a collection of odds-and-ends to sell to have money to feed her 86 cats.

Whilst I now turn to more conventional materials for my craftings, I greatly admire others' ability to reinvent something lowly into something high-end. So, when I read about EvenOdd in the Democrat & Chronicle, I admit I kind of squeed at the thought.

You see a lot of businesses with vinyl banners promoting their "OMG COME TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR GREAT DEALS - WHILE THEY LAST!" but what happens when the sale is over? Well, usually businesses just throw out those banners. That's not so green friendly. The awesome ladies at EvenOdd, self-described "granola, hippie types," take such castoffs as these and "upcycle" them - i.e. they recycle them into something more upscale than the original intent - into some pretty bitchin' bags:



They make bags of all sizes, from messenger bags to reusable shopping bags. The D&C article also indicates the ladies are interested in branching out into wrist cuffs and also clutches. What's even cooler is that they have "recycling partners," local agencies that donate their old banners and other items to EvenOdd for materials. Not only do they prevent these items from going into the landfill, every bag is an original creation!

Their green creations are made out of their Neighborhood of the Arts studio (also their home) and sold in the South Wedge trendy boutique Thread. With prices between $20 and $60, the cost is admittedly somewhat more than conventional bags. Still, when one considers that traditional bags tend to be mass-manufactured in sweatshops overseas, it is preferable to spend some more money on a unique, locally-made, creative endeavor. In the end, as with so many things, it's about quality over quantity, and EvenOdd has the former in spades. Don't believe me? Check out their website and consider buying a bag there. Then you can brag, "Oh this? One of a kind." Just like you, right?

Local High School Students' Winning PSA

The first time I ever received a text message, it took me the 15 minutes that it took for the sender to arrive for me to finally figure out how the hell to respond to the damn thing. Nowadays I am an accomplished texter, and it is a favorite way for Loverman and I to send sweet nothings to each other since we work opposing schedules.

Our sickening cutesiness aside, Loverman and I are hardly alone in our affinity for texting. Just about everyone does it these days, especially those young punk kids, dontcha know. Although New York State does have a law against texting and driving, it still happens with concerning frequency.

Side note: Monroe County actually had a texting-and-driving law before the State did. In fact, Monroe County's law was far harsher than the current one: Whilst under the original county law an officer could pull over a driver for no reason other than observing them texting behind the wheel, under the current state law an officer can only add that as a charge if s/he observes the driver committing some other driving offense, such as reckless driving. Personally, I think the old law did more to deter texting-and-driving, but my opinion is neither here nor there.

Some National Honor Society students from one local high school, Pittsford Sutherland, made this brief PSA against texting and driving. They even won $2,000 in grant money, and the spot will air locally. You can read more bout these students here



Now I don't know about you, but I remember when I was in National Honor Society I attended a bunch of boring meetings - well, when I felt like it. I'm sure other, more motivated students used their powers for good rather than for sloth, but I know my membership was largely spent merrily reflecting on how it was padding my resume for college applications. Good for these kids for actually doing something positive with their NHS experience. It's refreshing to me to see youth involved in activism.

Update on the Eyases!

Very brief update, but I thought I would share for those of you who are interested: The little baby falcons I told you about a few posts ago? They now are banded for future tracking and have names! Welcome little Jemison and Callidora!


Awwww...

I am curious as to how exactly names are chosen for these little guys. It's a good thing there is no falcon school, otherwise these two wee ones would be due for their fair share of sniggering.


They had to shoo the parents away in order to band the babies. I can just imagine Mama Falcon shouting, "HEY! Don't touch my babies!"

And for one last gratuitous birdie-pic before I belatedly slip off to bed, I stopped at the live-streaming falcon-cam shortly after 2AM (hey, I work nights, I am awake for a while after I get home). Look at this precious little screencap!


Fuzzy falcon cuddles!

Sleep tight, little eyases.

Flour-Less in the Flour City

Today I was surprised and also somewhat ashamed to discover that if one runs out of bacon, yet is craving something salty and vaguely meat-like, frying Oscar Mayer bologna in the pan is a fairly acceptable alternative. Certainly not a perfect substitution and nowhere near as fulfilling as bacon, don't get me wrong, but in a pinch it can make do.

Unlike most people, before I boldly slapped my bologna in the pan, I not only read the ingredients, I Googled more specific nutrition facts. Daring, I know - a terrifying notion to most - but in my case, I had no choice: Just prior to New Years 2010, I was diagnosed as having gluten intolerance, aka Celiac Disease, an autoimmune disorder that prevents the body from digesting the gluten protein.

Gluten is found in many naturally occurring grains (such as wheat, rye, barley, bran, bulgur, durum, einkorn, faro, semolina, farina, spelt, triticale, kamut - just to name a few) but where it becomes tricky is all the hidden gluten to be found in food, particularly artificial ingredients that might have a gluten-containing base. Even trickier are those foods that are naturally gluten-free, but are prepared in areas where gluten-containing foods are as well, thus contaminating what should be "safe" foods (oats are a good example of this: naturally gluten-free, but prepared with wheat or other "dangerous grains"). Thus my quest to learn all the unsavory parts I was contemplating consuming in my bologna before just going ahead with my mad culinary scheme.

As you can probably guess from reading the above list - a list which I assure you is by no means comprehensive (side note: this list is incredibly helpful to learn more about safe/unsafe foods for someone with gluten intolerance) - changing from a "normal" diet with no limitations to a gluten-free diet is incredibly challenging. Think about it: After years and years of eating anything and everything you wanted, now you can't have traditional bread, crackers, pasta, croutons, pastries, pizza, beer, anything breaded (deep fried is difficult too because the vat of oil may be shared with gluten-containing items) - and now all of a sudden those polysyllabic artificial ingredients in your processed foods become pretty darn important to know what they actually mean. It forces one to become more conscious of what one eats, which is not always a fun thing.

At this point I find it appropriate to inform you lovely people that one of the first nicknames of Rochester is the Flour City, owing to the mills along High Falls making the then-fledgling city the number one flour producer in the United States in the mid 1800s. Nowadays the moniker has been changed to the Flower City, honoring the bounty of blooms in Highland Park so celebrated during the Lilac Festival. A homonym, I know, but to me the newer version sounds much cutesier and thus pleases me more. But I digress.

So with all this temptation around me - an abundance of bakeries, a gaggle of gourmet pastas all locally made - why not just give in and eat gluten anyway? After all, I had been eating it all these years. Well, as I mentioned, Celiac Disease means the body can't digest gluten. When a person with Celiac consumes gluten, it produces a wide variety of symptoms, most commonly severe intestinal distress, but also migraines, asthmatic responses, depression, anxiety, vitamin deficiency, even neuropathy, delayed puberty, short stature, and difficulties with fertility; my own doctor informed me that Celiac Disease manifests in so many different ways, that one could tell her any number of physical symptoms was due to Celiac Disease, she wouldn't be surprised. It really is something that can affect any body system, and as a result it often gets misdiagnosed as other illnesses like Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, and a variety of other ailments.

So you may be wondering to yourself, "Dude, why did it take so long for you to get diagnosed? Didn't you know something was wrong? Didn't your parents take you to a doctor as a kid? What tomfoolery is this?!" Well, believe it or not, my situation is pretty common. Since the symptoms are vague, it's not always a doctor's first suspicion. Hell, I only got tested when my older sister was diagnosed in November since there tends to be a genetic link. It is estimated by the Center for Celiac Research that approximately 3 million Americans have Celiac Disease, most of whom are undiagnosed.

Sadly, in this country medical research tends to be largely funded by the pharmaceutical companies. However, there is no pill that can cure or treat Celiac: the only treatment is to follow a gluten-free diet. Since there is no money where there is no option of a cure, research for Celiac Disease in this country is profoundly lacking.

Those of us affected by Celiac Disease know this is a huge problem. This Saturday, 6/12/10, is the ninth annual fundraiser Making Tracks for Celiacs, a walk to raise money towards Celiac research. It is the hopes that the more research is funded, the sooner people will be diagnosed with Celiac Disease and possibly the more food producers will be aware of the need for clearly labeled products and the need to prevent cross-contamination. In the Finger Lakes region, the walk will be taking place at Brockport High School with registration starting at 9AM and the walk kicking off at 10:30AM.

You may be asking, "Lex, you've only known you have Celiac Disease for, like, six months. How are you able to talk so much about this fairly new diagnosis?" Well firstly, when you know the only way to treat your ailment is to avoid certain foods, you learn quickly to adapt - admittedly with some growing pains (I can't count how many times I wailed, "I JUST REALIZED I CAN NEVER EAT *INSERT GLUTEN-CONTAINING FOOD HERE* AGAIN!"), but acceptance does come, in time.

Secondly, I cannot be grateful enough for the help of the local chapter of the Gluten-Intolerant Group, the Rochester Celiac Support Group. They have not only basic information on Celiac Disease for neophytes like myself, but a compilation of members' recipes, local shops that carry gluten-free products (some even specialize specifically in gluten-free baked goods!), and my personal favorite, a list of restaurants that have gluten-free options. While not comprehensive, it was a good jumping off place for me: The diagnosis, for me, meant a lot less eating out, but I didn't want to completely deprive myself of the occasional bite out, and it was good to know there were options out there that would understand my dietary needs and not just cock their head and ask "Wait, you're allergic to what?!" Their listserv is quite active and offers helpful hints as to local offerings that are safe - and also not so safe. Their information has made going flour-less in the Flour City not such a challenge.

Two members spoke on the local news on the upcoming walk in Brockport, as well as some basic information about Celiac Disease. There is no link for just the video, but you can watch it here.

If you have gluten intolerance or know someone who does, please look at the website for Making Tracks for Celiacs and consider donating. This is something that would not just benefit Rochester and the Finger Lakes, but overall health nationally. I know both my sister and I would have had considerably fewer health problems throughout our lives if we had been diagnosed sooner and we both feel much healthier than we ever have following a gluten-free diet. We'd like to see a world where other kids don't have to struggle to figure out what was wrong as we had to. My sister is even participating in the walk (yay!). No dollar amount is too small - if you are able, anything would be appreciated.

Rochester's Mayor a Future Lieutenant Governor?

I had intended to write an entirely different post today, however as I turned on my local news, my next post just about wrote itself! Funny how things work out.

I confess, I am one of "those people" so often lamented in our society. I tend to be somewhat oblivious when it comes to politics - at least locally. Oh sure, I can tell you the concerns the region has, but when it comes to which politicians are saying what, I can seldom tell you. Admittedly, not a great thing.

Recently, New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo announced that he would be running for governor. Today the announcement came that he was selecting Rochester Mayor Robert (Bob) Duffy as his choice for Lieutenant Governor.

Mayor Duffy has been in the fore of Rochester news for several years. Born and raised in Rochester, Duffy served seven years as Chief of Police before being elected mayor in 2006. Re-elected in 2009, Mayor Duffy has lately been in the local news over his controversial push to begin mayoral control over the Rochester City School District. The city schools have their share of issues from truancy, low graduation rates, poor test scores, drugs, and violence. Pointing to vast improvements under mayoral control in other cities, Mayor Duffy has been pointing to this as a solution for some of these problems. He has met a lot of opposition from parents, the school board, and other citizens.

Despite this, there have also been many successful initiatives Mayor Duffy has led. He started the 311 call center, a toll-free number billed as "one call to City Hall." He began Clean Sweep, an annual city initiative to beautify neighborhoods. To involve the community in helping out high-crime areas, he helped begin programs such as Pastors on Patrol, gang-prevention program Pathways to Peace, and police-citizen coalition PAC-TAC (Police and Citizens Together Against Crime). He lowered city property taxes. Hell, don't take my word for all this - his website has a List of Accomplishments during his reign as mayor (not exactly humble, but hey, that's politics for you).

There is some concern that if elected, many of the initiatives started by Duffy may fall by the wayside, including mayoral control of schools, revitalization of downtown sites, and some of the aforementioned programs that have already been successful. Some Rochesterians support his decision whilst others are concerned that he will leave Rochester in the lurch.

So why is someone who usually doesn't pay a whole lot of attention to politics spending so much time talking about Bob Duffy? As a fellow Rochester native, I am interested to see how, if elected, how this might affect Western New York State. Having lived here my whole life, I am pretty much used to the rest of the country - the rest of the world even - seeming to think New York State is pretty much comprised of New York City, Long Island, Westchester County, and a very ambiguous term called "Upstate" which is used to describe pretty much everywhere else. To illustrate, here is the message most people get about New York State:



Hm, that's an awful lot of nonentity there. In reality, here are the correct names of the regions of New York:

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We who are lumped into the generic "Upstate" label are pretty much used to being disregarded not only by the rest of the country, but by our own state government. Many "Upstate" regions voice feelings of neglect on the part of the government. In some ways, I can understand the error: It would be foolish to ignore that New York City is a mecca of national and international business, culture, and history. At the same time, Western New York, the Finger Lakes, and many other "Upstate" regions have been suffering economically.

Despite its many wonderful qualities (including being rated #6 on the Places Rated Almanac Best Places to Live in America out of 379 communities in America), Rochester is a rust belt city with businesses - and young people - leaving in droves. Where's the help for us, and cities like ours? In fact, in March of 2009 some state senators motioned for a vote to divide New York, seceding "Upstate" as its own entity that can focus on its own unique needs. Some citizens agree wholeheartedly with this motion, such as Unshackle Upstate. I'm not sure how I feel about that, but I think it illustrates a valid point: "Upstate" New Yorkers feel pretty darn neglected and are pretty miffed about it.

I'm not here to say the Cuomo/Duffy ticket is going to be a panacea for all of "Upstate's" woes - I may not be fully invested in politics, but I'm not that delusional. However I do think it would be interesting to see how having one of Rochester's native sons in such a position of power and how this may - or may not - ultimately lead to a closer understanding of the particular needs of this region.

Any other Rochesterians or New Yorkers out there? How do you feel Mayor Duffy's viewpoint could potentially affect government relations with "Upstate?"

Got My Eyases on You

I am hardly the expert as to Finger Lakes wildlife. In fact, most frequently my indications that interesting wildlife is in the area involve me pointing and shrieking "bunny!" with childlike glee. There are a few species here and there I am able to identify without consulting Audubon, including the occasional bird. Most commonly you'll see crows, robins, sparrows, even seagulls (which baffles me since we are nowhere near the sea) - but one of Rochester's prides is the Peregrine falcon.

Peregrines are native to regions other than the Finger Lakes, so what makes them so special to Rochester? In 1995 Kodak, whose headquarters is located in its hometown of Rochester, placed a nest box on their office building to simulate the cliff faces that Peregrines normally call home. It was not until 1998 that the first falcons nested, but ever since they have been sort of been sort of mini-celebrities - largely due to the web-cams that have been streaming live since then.

The Falcon-Cam is not just a gimmick but rather a quiet way to show the birds in their natural state. The Kodak falcons have become ambassadors for the species, with educational materials offered to teach kids or any other interested parties more about the Peregrine falcon.

Throughout the year, I confess the public tends to forget about the falcons - hey, they leave us alone, we leave them alone (well, with the exception of 24-hour surveillance. Anyway). But we get psyched out again come spring, when the babies hatch.



This is Beauty, the proud mama of these two little guys (who seem to be eagerly devouring a less fortunate feathered friend) who just hatched yesterday. As it turns out, a baby falcon is called an eyas. I learned something new today, how about you?

While the Kodak falcons are not as obviously a Rochester/Finger Lakes institution as some other things, the fact that we have this little habitat tucked up amongst the cityscape speaks to me as to the determination and innovation of Rochesterians to preserve wildlife by safely offering it a new habitat.

Lilacs Ahoy!

At the risk of pointing out the obvious, this blog is called Lilacs and Snowflakes. I chose that title based on two of the most common (though not always the most pleasant) features in the Finger Lakes region that I felt translated across cities, towns, and county borders. Thankfully, we seem to be done with snow for the time being (I hesitate to even commit that to print since just last weekend a few flakes were spotted to fall voernight) - just in time for the 2010 annual Lilac Festival!

The Lilac Festival is a ten-day event that takes place in the beginning of May. Located in Highland Park, the Lilac Festival is a sort of official herald of springtime in Monroe County. Highland Park is not only home to countless varieties of lilac bushes, but quite literally hundreds of other specimins of flora and fauna. I don't know about you, but to me there are few better ways to celebrate the reawakening of Nature than to take in its resplendant beauty.

"So there are a bunch of flowers? What's so special about that?" Well, you would-be pavers of paradise, there is a lot more to the Lilac Festival than just enjoying the lovely flowers: Enjoy parades? The event is opened by one featuring many local high schools, floats, and the crowning of the Lilac Fesitval Queen. Live music more your sort of thing? Take in the plethora national recording artists performing in one of the many outdoor arenas (this year's offerings include such artists as Sister Hazel, Vonda Shepard, Donna the Buffalo, and 10,000 Maniacs - sans Natalie Merchant). Want to support local business? There are rows upon rows of tents set up by local vendors peddling their wares - as well as local radio stations and local non-profits reaching out to the community. Worried about keeping the kiddies quiet? There are also performers with child-friendly entertainment. Feeling athletic? You can join the Lilac 10k, which will this year be joined by marathon runner Dick Bearsley. Oh, and did I mention all this is free?

In my post about Leaf & Bean, a coffee shop in Chili, I touched briefly on the unusual pronunciation of certain things here in the Finger Lakes. I feel obligated to include a local news segment featuring a fierce ongoing somewhat casual debate on the correct pronunciation of "lilac."



It has not been until developing my newly discovered love of my hometown that I have come to appreciate just how much national attention the Lilac Festival brings. In 2007, for example, Martha Stewart came to take in the gardens. While I myself was making my annual pilgrimage to Highland Park, I overheard a few people in the crosswalk discussing that they had come from out of town - one from another state (I can't remember where) and the other from England. It was even listed by the American Bus Association (no, I didn't make that up) amongst its Top 100 Destinations. I have heard say that this festival alone brings in a substantial amount of tourism, and looking at the variety of pleasures to pursue, it's not hard to see why.

Today was the opening day, but it will be running through May 23rd. If you find yourself in the Finger Lakes region in the beginning of May, come to Highland Park to stop and smell the lilacs.

Bits and Pieces!

When I am not working, interning, or blogging (which, as you can tell, is not nearly as frequent as it could be) I am a big fan of crafting. I am not always good at what I do, but I definitely enjoy getting my creative energies out by knitting, scrapbooking, decorating picture frames - well, a whole lot of other things too. As those of you who are also crafters know, sometimes these supplies can get pretty darn expensive - especially when you only need a little bit, but have to purchase a huge amount because of how it's packaged.

Enter Craft Bits and Pieces, a sort of craft thrift store located in Fairport Village Landing in Fairport, a sort of classy strip-mall a village on the east side. People can donate their unused, scrap, or excess craft supplies to the store, who sells them at a considerable discount. For example, if you have a small ball of yarn you'll never use up, a couple extra yards of fabric that just won't get used, or some lace that came from God knows where, you can donate it here. Sometimes you do get supplies in their original state, such as lightly used knitting/crochet needles or a whole skein of unwanted yarn. They also offer some lightly used toys, decorations, patterns, and also state on their website they'll accept half-completed projects.

If you have some extra craft items to drop off, your donation is tax-deductable. All funds go to support the Fairport/Perinton Senior Living Council, so your money is going to a good cause. The only catch is that the store can only accept cash, check, or money orders - no debit or credit cards.

I only recently learned about this place from a friend of mine who's even more into crafting than I am (and, I should add, more talented), and man, do I wish I had known about it sooner! I visited this past weekend and picked up two full skeins of a lovely green yarn for $1.50 each. You can't beat that with a stick! If you're a fellow crafter, make your way to the east side to see what these folks have to offer!

Trevor Project Acknowledges Benign Parody

The Trevor Project is a national non-profit organization that promotes acceptance for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, and questioning youth, including suicide prevention and crisis intervention. They also work with LGBT-causes and acknowledge LGBT-friendly media.

What does that have to do with Rochester and the Finger Lakes? Recently The Trevor Project's Facebook page featured a same-sex parody of Taylor Swift's "You Belong with Me" by the University of Rochester a capella group the Yellow Jackets:



I must say this made me smile - not only was it a LGBT-friendly parody, but it was benign and respectful both towards the LGBT community and towards the original source material. Also, in my opinion, hearing the positive reactions from the crowd just goes to show how accepting the community in Rochester is of the LGBT community (well, and also how popular the Yellow Jackets are, I'm sure). If you'd like to see their video put to the original Taylor Swift song, you can watch it here.

***If you are in need of Trevor Project's services, please click the link above or call 24/7 at 1-866-4U-TREVOR(1-866-488-7386).***

Coffee in Chili

For those of you who do not live in Rochester and the Finger Lakes, I must blow your mind before I write about this next place: The town named in the post title is pronounced CHY-lie, not CHIH-lee. When I have pointed this out to my out-of-town friends the reactions range from bemusement to befuddlement.

At any rate, the town of Chili has been growing in recent years, expanding to include a small but respectable Target, several drug stores, and even more chains just down the way at the next town over, Gates (pronounced just how it looks). For coffee one might think one has to just stop in a gas station, drive through at McDonalds, or go down to the new Starbucks in Gates. Well, you could do that. Or you could put your money into a local business instead!

Leaf and Bean started up when I was in high school (some time between 1998 and 2002) and it has been providing awesome coffee and munchies ever since. It was originally housed in a rather diminutive shop but has since moved to a larger, hipper space. In the summer there is seating outside and in the winter there is a wide array of hot cocoas and even eggnog. Coffee not your thing? Cocoa, hot cider, and chai are available as well. Feeling hungry? There is a wide array of pastries (more good cakes than I can begin to remember), and at lunch there is a vast choice of sandwiches, soups, and salads. If you decide you really like them you can also buy coffee tea, travel mugs, shirts, and other merchandise there.

One of my favorite things about Leaf and Bean is the atmosphere. While the place is roomier than its tiny original location, it is not sprawling either. If you are lucky you can grab one of the squishy armchairs in the back. The music playing is always something I enjoy (usually alternative, indie, etc - you can hear Seal, Dar Williams, Box Car Racers, and that band you like but don't remember their name in one sitting easily), and they frequently feature live music. A dear friend of mine started out there, I have heard a jazz trio playing there, and it's definitely a location for up-and-coming soloists and groups to keep in mind when looking for venues to start out.

I grew up in Chili, and for the longest time I'd have to go to another town or into the City to go out to coffee with my friends. When this shop opened up I was thrilled to have a place just down the way where we could enjoy good drinks, good food, and good music in a relaxed atmosphere. Although I no longer live in Chili I still feel a sense of happy nostalgia whenever I enter the doors. It's easy to fall into long conversations with friends here, and I can't count the times I have found myself staying until closing. If you are looking for a local coffee place that is both mellow and professional, loof no further than Leaf and Bean.

Scents-less

Two negative posts in short order! How unfortunate. Still, once I read about this, I knew I had to make a post about it.

I caught this article in the Democrat & Chronicle quite by accident, and boy howdy I am glad I did.

The article, for those who choose not to read it, is about a business in Pittsford (a rather well-to-do suburb of Rochester) called Scensibles, which manufactures scented sisposal bags for feminine hygiene products. One of the owners, Ann Germanow, said she was inspired by some of the deplorable conditions in ladies restrooms. Now the Germanows (the company is co-owned by Ann and her husband John) sell a product to companies across the country.

I have seen these bags in ladies rooms, and I must say, my first reaction was "Um, really?" Personally seeing the bags was more offensive than helpful - "Hey, not only are you too dumb to know that certain feminine hygiene products are not meant to be flushed, but your lady-parts stink on top of that." I had flashes of "My Angry Vagina," namely the third paragraph down, from The Vagina Monologues (monologue uses choice language, in case that offends you). I mean really? It's waste. Waste is going to smell (though I can honestly say that only in the most disgusting of restrooms have I ever had an issue with the feminine hygiene disposal being particularly rank). It is in a restroom, for heaven's sake - what do you think people do in restrooms on a regular basis? If it stinks - well, it's almost like people go in there and just pull down their pants and poop!

Not only this, but as far as I have seen, the presence of these disposal bags have really done nothing to change the cleanliness, or lack thereof, of ladies rooms. After all, human nature is human nature, and some people, regardless of the most hygienic and pleasant of accoutrement that may be available, are just going to do gross things anyway. No amount of floral-scented waste-bags is going to change the fact that some nasty, grody people are going to spoil things for the rest of us.

When You Don't Know Who to Call

There are times in life that we are down and out, at the end of our rope. At those times it cam be difficult to know where to turn for help. Sometimes people even think the only way they have out of their situation is to kill themselves.

There is help available to help in these dark hours. 2-1-1/LIFE LINE, a program of ABVI-Goodwill has been a hotline since the 1970s (then known only as LIFE LINE) as a support for the community. From a resource for agencies in the community assisting with certain needs to support for mental health crisis, 2-1-1/LIFE LINE is free and confidential and available 24/7/365. It is a non-profit agency that receives the majority of it support from United Way.

What do I mean when I say "agency referrals?" Well, for example, let's say you're having a hard time making ends meet: Money is running low and you need help getting food in the house. You can call 2-1-1/LIFE LINE, provide your zip code, and someone will look up for you the closest food pantries to your area that can assist you. Looking for a depression support group? Trying to find the phone number to that community center down the street? In need of emergency shelter? Not sure who to contact for free legal representation? 2-1-1/LIFE LINE can assist with all these needs and more.

And what exactly do I mean by "mental health crisis?" It's a time when you are overwhelmed and need to talk things out, when you don't know where to turn, maybe even feeling desperate. 2-1-1/LIFE LINE is available to assist people who are feeling suicidal and looking to talk out these feelings and hopefully find something to hold on to here. But a person does not need to be suicidal to talk to the telecounselors at 2-1-1/LIFE LINE: If you're distressed, confused, upset, and need someone to talk things over with, the service is available to you.

Crises arise at all hours and sometimes your own therapist, if you have one, may not be available. 2-1-1/LIFE LINE workers are trained phone counselors, but not professional therapists/mental health counselors/other mental health professionals. Please know that despite the wonderful support this service can provide, it is not a substitute for long-term counseling. If you would like to get linked with long-term counseling (including agencies who work on a sliding scale for those for whom money is tight or those whose health insurance - if any - does not cover mental health services), 2-1-1/LIFE LINE can look up agencies that can assist you.

How do you reach 2-1-1/LIFE LINE? The good news is there are several different phone numbers to get through! Those in its service area (Monroe, Ontario, Wayne, Seneca, Livingston, and Cayuga counties) should be able to dial 2-1-1. If for some reason the phone will not dial 2-1-1 (sometimes cell phones don't go through to it), you can also dial locally at (585)275-5151 or toll-free at 1-877-FLNY-211 (1-877-356-9211) or 1-800-310-1160. They do also have the majority of their agency referrals available on their website. Having trouble navigating the website? There is online chat available at times (the hours are not set for chat availability, but in general it is available until 11PM seven days a week).

2-1-1/LIFE LINE prides itself as being "who to call when you don't know who to call." It certainly succeeds on this front. From talking about the struggles you are having to seeking an agency that can provide assistance for free clothing, 2-1-1/LIFE LINE is an integral support to the community.


*If you are in mental health crisis and/or considering suicide, and you are not located in the above New York State counties, there is help available. Please call National Lifeline 24/7 at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255). It is free and confidential.*

Berating a Rochester Institution

That's right, this Rochester blogger is berating one of her own. One that she has never directly experienced no less! What gives?

A restaurant that many locals consider to be a Rochester landmark is Nick Tahou's Hots. They are a typical "joint," as my Dad would call it (i.e. nothing fancy, just short of a dive really) made famous by a dish called the Garbage Plate... Really. What is a Garbage Plate? If I am remembering correctly, it is home fries, either 2 hamburgers or 2 hotdogs, cold baked beans out of a can, and assorted other detritus; it has been lauded as great hangover food and also a heart attack on a plate. Yes, this is what made them famous - so much so that there are several other local restaurants that offer "plates," much to the chagrin of Nick Tahou's. Again, I ask - really? This is what makes it? When I hear of people taking their out-of-town relatives or celebrities there, I cringe inwardly that this is the culinary impression of Rochester that they get. "Wow, these people are so backwards they are excited to eat garbage." No, not literally, but you get the point.

When I tell fellow Rochesterians that I have never had a Garbage Plate, I am most frequently met with disbelief dangerously close to shame. "What?!" they marvel, "I thought you'd lived here your whole life!" Well, I have. But what makes you think I am so eager to consume something that so eagerly protects its "garbage" moniker? More to the point, even if this dish was called "Freakin' Awesome Plate," the ingredients alone all slopped together on the same plate, you would have to pay me a helluva lot of money to agree to take a bite, let alone attempt to finish. Call me a hater, but I can't bring myself to try it. Some may call it a Rochester institution. I just call it plain ol' trash.

Magnolia's Cafe

In the City of Rochester one of the more trendy neighborhoods is the Park Avenue area. There are plenty of cute shops and no shortage of restaurants. Small and unassuming, Magnolia’s Café has a great selection of items using simple ingredients paired just right. In the nicer weather they do also have tables out on the sidewalk.

Magnolia’s menu is comprised of sandwiches (named after local streets), wraps, paninis, soups, salads, and pizzas – however a caveat: Pizzas are only available after 3PM. I was reminded of this on a day when I was really looking forward to their pizza only to learn they wouldn’t be serving it for another couple of hours. Blast! When they are available, however, they are, quite frankly, ginormous. Although they are billed as being one-person servings, you can eat half now and half later – and trust me, I do not eat like a bird at all.

The pizzas are usually my favorite (or were until I was diagnosed with a gluten sensitivity), but the soups are great too – and served with crostini made in-house (well, at least toasted in house). I must especially vouch for the tomato-artichoke soup primarily because I normally hate artichoke with a flaming passion – but I can’t taste it in the soup; instead it lends a creamy texture that is just so beyond perfect. The French onion is nothing to sneeze at either. Keep an eye on the Specials Board too: The day listed above when I had to pick something other than pizza I grabbed a special of Emily’s Grilled Cheese, an herb bread grilled with swiss and goat cheese (I don’t know why, but I am a sucker for goat cheese) – which paired perfectly with the tomato-artichoke soup, an upscale version of an old classic.

I must complain that when they are busy they will not seat you or even take your name if your whole party is not there. Although I know it’s not unheard of, personally I think that’s lousy customer service – and who’s to say you couldn’t get at least an extra drink out of me while I wait? When they are slow, I am happy to report that service is usually better. Another complaint for them is there is no parking but on the street; albeit free, I personally am a very nervous Nellie about street parking. It’s really a minor complaint in the scheme of things, I think – especially since with many Park Ave restaurants, parking is decidedly an issue.

They do also have a counter for take-out (no delivery), but as I have no experience with it I can’t comment either way. Same thing with the desserts: Haven’t had them, so I can’t speak to how great or not-so-great they are. Vegetarians rejoice – there are many options for you on the menu. Also if you would like to have a tipple with your food, they do serve wine and beer.

I first went to Magnolia’s when a friend who was much more savvy about what was available in the actual city brought me (I was still living in the suburb where I grew up) but I didn’t grow to truly appreciate it until I lived close enough to it to enjoy a long stroll out there. Definitely a good choice for brunch or lunch. OK, and probably dinner too – but to me the menu screams early or midday meal with their sandwiches and pizzas. Regardless, plenty of options that are sure to please.

Backtracking to an Intro

In all my excitement to start this blog, I neglecting something rather important: Introducing folks to the Rochester and Finger Lakes region!

Rochester, NY is a small/medium-sized city in western New York (though if we are talking to someone from New York City/Long Island, we may as well just say "Upstate" since it seems you folks designate any region north of Westchester County as "Upstate," amiright?). Formerly known as the Flour City for its flour mills, it is now more commonly called the Flower City for its many nurseries, and also for its famous Lilac Festival in the spring where a plethora of flowers of all kinds are featured in Highland Park. It is the county seat for Monroe County.

In 2008, Rochester had the largest state economy after New York City. Not terribly surprising when we have been birthplace to several national corporations, including Eastman Kodak (lending Rochester its nickname of "Image Capitol of the World"), Xerox (who have since moved their headquarters), Bausch and Lomb, and several others. Plenty of historical figures either started in Rochester or made it their home, and I hope to share some of these fascinating folks with you all.

Famous faces excluded, diversity abounds in Rochester, though admittedly the farther away from the city the population is generally whitewashed. There are people here every shade of the rainbow and a fairly large immigrant population from many countries (leading to many fine restaurants and nifty stores, I might add), though some neighborhoods have a larger concentration of people from certain regions. There is an active and open LGBT population, and Rochester has one of the biggest (maybe by now it is the biggest) concentrations of deaf people in one area, largely due to the National Technical Institute for the Deaf, part of Rochester Institute of Technology (which, in fact, is in the suburb of Henrietta).

The crime rate for the city is not great - it's unfortunate that some of us are saddened but not surprised to hear of the latest murder downtown - but it has been improving. And as of 2004, Rochester was rated the friendliest city in America (this according to my social psychology textbook at the time)! I find that an intriguing contradiction myself.

The Finger Lakes region, as one might imagine, refers to the area surrounding the Finger Lakes (shocker, right?). This generally includes Ontario, Wayne, Seneca, and Yates Counties, though some do also include Livingston, Genesee, and Orleans Counties to the west, some go east to Cayuga County, and some even stretch into the Southern Tier. Having lived in Monroe County my whole life, I am more familiar with it and therefore will likely write about that region most, but don't be mistaken: places within a short drive of Monroe County will be given their fair share.

Rochester and the Finger Lakes, in my opinion, make for a wonderful study in extremes. The City of Rochester alone paints a broad spectrum, with some areas destitute and decrepit, boarded up and graffitti'd over, the sorts of places where antsy suburbanites lock their car doors, assuming you could get them out there in the first place - then other places that are restored Victorian mansions with beautifully manicured lawns with up-and-coming businesses all within walking distance. Although Rochester is relatively small - especially when compared to places like New York City, Chicago, etc - I hear people who live in Ontario and Wayne Counties, both fairly rural areas, describe it as "the big city;" while I see those areas as "the boonies," they see my neck of the woods as "scary" and "ghetto" despite the fact that it's a nicer neighborhood in the city.

In reality, we are both right. This region has a small amount of hustle-and-bustle, but nothing overwhelming. There are petite sky scrapers and not too far away are stretches of farmland. The grapevines in one sleepy town make the wine sipped by the hipsters in the swankest new place downtown. Museums to feed the mind and manure piles to feed the crops (OK, so that one isn't so poetic).

And yes, it is even lilacs and snowflakes.

Be a Hedonist!

Valentine's Day is fast approaching meaning we can expect more overpriced roses, tacky lingerie, and cheap boxed chocolates than you can shake a stick at. You know, assuming you were inclined to shake sticks at things.

What's that? You want something fancier? Something that's still budget-friendly, but better quality? Something that helps support the local economy? Well, my dear friends, you are in luck.

Hedonist Artisan Chocolates are among the most fabulous of fabulous chocolates I have had the pleasure to eat - and I am a big fan of chocolate, folks. I first tasted their wares when they were at the South Wedge Farmers' Market - and to sweeten the deal even more, the ladies were just lovely human beings, very friendly. In my opinion, it's one thing to have a good product, but it's so much better if you're a nice person. They even have a blog!

The flavors they had are unusual but never contrary; no matter how unexpected, they somehow match in such a way as to make me think, "And why didn't I know about this before?!" My personal favorite is the lavender truffle, something I thought would taste like someone poured a scented candle on a ball of chocolate but instead was delicious: It was rich and savory with an earthy taste that edged on a pleasant sort of bitter from the cocoa and the flowers. Floral notes not your thing? They do also have truffles from the Keuka Lake wine trail, spiced truffles, drinking chocolates, fruit and nut collections, and various barks.

Not only this, but their chocolates have been earning them national attention as of late. They got a small spot in Country Living in a feature called The Online Farmer's Market. They were also mentioned in Wine Enthusiast Magazine's Unreserved A Chocolate Lover's Buying Guide, so if you like sweets and wine together, know you're in for a treat with these bad boys.

Their chocolates are available several places locally and in the Finger Lakes, including farmers' markets, Hedonist's brick and mortar store, and also online. Hear that, folks? No matter where you live, you can get them right now. What are you waiting for?

Edit: The business is owned by life partners and has been featured in the top ten lesbian Valentine's gift ideas, so I have added the LGBT friendly tag.

In addition to the feature in Wine Enthusiast Magazine's Unreserved, they have been featured in the local newspaper, Democrat and Chronicle with wine pairings, so I have added the wine tag as well.

Rochesterian a Contestant on Reality Competition!

Last night I tuned in to one of my new favorite guilty pleasures, RuPaul's Drag Race, a competition "for the next drag superstar" entering its second season on Logo (channel 438). Lo and behold, a Rochester drag queen is competing! Meet Miss Pandora Boxx:

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According to Pandora's website, RuPaul said of her in People "She’s quite the dichotomy, because she’s young and vivacious but she’s also part of old world drag aesthetic. She’s very smart and knows her pop culture." So far we have only seen some of this, but hey, last night was only the first episode. The show website further describes Pandora as "this season's funny girl" and "a real contender for the top prize." We did see Pandora help a less experienced queen learn how to use a sewing machine - good sports(wo)manship, Pandora! And did you know that in November 2009 she was voted by City Newspaper, the alternative news magazine for the area, as Best Drag Queen in their annual Best of Rochester awards?

As an aside, Pandora also has a blog of her own; while some of it is pop culture references and self-promoting (including for a show she did called The Lipstick Massacre that I missed and would love to see when it comes to GeVa's Theatre's NextStage), there are also a few posts on politics and various causes. I say good for her for taking a risk in discussing something important to her as an entertainer on a largely lighthearted blog.

Every Monday at Tilt, one of the gay nightclubs in downtown Rochester, they are having a viewing party to watch the latest episode (the episode starts at 9PM, but feel free to show up early). Drop in and meet Pandora - and all the other fabulous ladies. Don't get Logo and can't make it to Tilt? VH1 replays the episodes Tuesdays at 9PM. As for me, Monday nights I will be at home with my knitting and Loverman rooting for the hometown girl!

Rio Tomatlan

Last night I went out with Loverman’s family to what one of his sisters called “a new Mexican place in Canandaigua.” It turns out the place, Rio Tomatlan, is not a new restaurant but instead an existing restaurant (formerly called El Rincon Mexicano Dos) under new management, though I had never gone to the old restaurant. I looked at some website reviews on a few sites (most notably on RocWiki, which is a wonderful resource for Rochester and the Finger Lakes), all of which praised the restaurant with fairly minor, if any, critiques. Thusly, I expected we would all be in for a great dining experience. I am sorry to say, this was not the case.

Things did start on a very positive note, I must say. Since I have a gluten sensitivity, I tried to look up their menu online so I could prepare myself for what “safe” options I had, however as of the time of my searching, the website was down. Still, I did find a phone number, so I called. I let them know my concerns and also that their website was not working. The woman I spoke to went through some items that she knew I should avoid, and then also checked with a waiter who was formerly kitchen staff to check if a dish made with wheat tortillas (which I cannot have) could be made with corn tortillas (which are safe). She did address the questions that I had about the sources for some of their products as well. She also let me know that the options were clearly labeled on the menu. This was greatly appreciated.

Parking is all on the street, but downtown Canandaigua is, for lack of a better word quaint, so that is not such a big deal. The restaurant looks like a hole-in-the-wall but inside it was quite pretty, decked out with saints-candles and various Mexican art pieces. We did have to make reservations just to get seated, which was a little surprising. We did arrive a little early, so we had to wait for a table, but hey, we were early – no biggie.

Once we were seated, things did start to go downhill a bit. The seats were just fine and, as mentioned, the décor quite fun. The temperature, however, was unacceptable: Winter in the Finger Lakes is frigid, and that night on the drive over we observed the temperature on the dashboard thermometer to be a bitter 2 degrees Fahrenheit. We were seated near a wall of block glass windows, and cold air was just blasting through. I was wearing a button-up shirt and a sweater with Loverman’s leather jacket over my shoulders and my scarf wrapped around me and I was still freezing. One of Loverman’s sisters had a scarf around her neck and took a serape that was draped on her bench and spread it across her lap as a blanket; his other sister used her coat as a blanket.

Our waiter was polite and friendly, and he answered my questions about food items with patience. We ordered our meal with three of our party ordering margaritas and one ordering coffee. There were several options for me, but I opted for a special of carne asada – steak tacos in corn tortillas with peppery rice and refried beans. We did order chips and salsa for an appetizer.

And then we waited. And waited and waited and waited. Eventually, the chips and salsa came, though the drink orders had not (we did, however, all have water at our places already). The salsa was a bit spicy for my tastes, but I am admittedly a wuss when it comes to spice; still, the flavor was good, and it was not just spice for spice’s sake.

And then we waited some more. And waited and waited and waited. Eventually the coffee came. And then we waited a bit more. In time, the margaritas came, each exactly as ordered.

Our reservation was at 8PM, and it was not too long after that that we ordered. Out entrees did not come out till 9:30. I do believe that good food takes time, and although I understand that the restaurant was busy and that all these meals take time to put together, to me a wait time of an hour and a half is unacceptable.

I will say that once the food arrived, it was pretty good. My main complaints are again, the spice was a bit too much for my taste (again, remember I am a spice-wuss), but also that the steak was a bit ropy – I am not against chewy meat (or, as Top Chef Las Vegas finalist Kevin would say, “toothsome”), but this was just too much. Despite this, I didn’t find these things to be so egregious that the food was unpleasant. Reviews I have read state that this food is authentic Mexican, but as I have never been to Mexico, I can hardly be the judge of authenticity; I just know that once the food finally got there, it was pretty darn good.

After having read several positive reviews, I was admittedly disappointed. Still, I would like to think that perhaps this was just an off-night for the place: after all, the place was clean and appealing (the bathrooms had mouthwash!), the staff were friendly and responsive, and even though the wait time was far too long, the waiter did continue to check in on us to let us know the status of our various items and to refill our waters. If I do find myself back in Canandaigua around meal time, I would be open to giving them another shot – though preferably once the weather warms up, to be safe.

Strong National Museum of Play

I gotta be brutally honest, dear readers: When I was a kid, the Strong Museum was freakin’ lame. There were walls upon walls of old toys and collectibles, and that was really all that I can remember. Everything beside that was so uninteresting it didn’t even leave an impression in my memory.

I am happy to say that things have changed significantly since my tender years.

I went back again in 2001 for a school field trip – we were there to attend college lectures, but we had some time to play. At that time there was already what I still consider one of the coolest additions to the museum: an exhibit on Sesame Street. Seriously, how can you not like Sesame Street? There’s even Big Bird sticking his head out a window, the 123 Sesame Street doors, an interactive video where you can sing with your favorite characters – honestly, if you don’t at the very least crack a smile at this exhibit, I think you must have undergone a fun-ectomy at a young age.

(Seriously, how is this not a happy time?)


Another thing that had been added by then (which I still have not really checked out) is a miniature Wegman’s, the grocery mecca with its origins here in Rochester. I think it’s cute, preparing little ones to enjoy their futures as cashiers and baggers in their adolescence. One of my current coworkers says he has a little one who thinks it’s pretty much the best thing ever. Another thing that had sprouted up (something I was woefully too big for) was what can best be described as a jungle gym. Sure, there were displays on old toys and this section now (maybe it did then too?) sports a Dance Dance Revolution machine, but it was pretty much a giant place to play around in.

The improvement I saw in these school years from the not-so-impressive experience I had in youth lays in the evolution of the museum: During the mid-90s, the museum shifted its focus to more family-oriented activities. In 2002 the Strong Museum acquired the National Toy Hall of Fame, a tribute to the many idols of childhood. Each year toys are elected and eventually inducted into the Hall of Fame, varying from the high tech Game Boy to the humble stick. In fact the 2009 inductees made the “news” in 2009 on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart as seen here:

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
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The focus on the museum, it seemed, had shifted from the history of leisure to, well, just celebrating said leisure.

As the years go by, the museum continues to get cooler. There is a Reading Adventureland, another play area for kids featuring favorite characters from books (including a large section on the Berenstein Bears). There is a new exhibit called American Comic Book Heroes that I hear – and hope – will be made permanent. At the front of the museum is Rainbow Reef, one of the largest living reefs in the northeast (apparently it houses a sting ray and an eel, though I sure couldn’t see either of them). In addition to the National Toy Hall of Fame, the museum also houses the National Center for the History of Electronic Games. Really! Not only this, but the majority of their collection is not available to the public (though some is) but rather “accessible to scholars for research.” This begs the question as to how they determine someone is an expert and exactly how the research is conducted. But I digress.

One of my favorite new additions (my most recent visit was in early 2010) is the Dancing Wings Butterfly Garden, a sort of greenhouse filled with a multitude of butterflies, moths, and other wildlife (koi, turtles, and my personal favorite, the flightless – and adorably named – button quail). If you ever get a chance to go through a butterfly garden like this, I can’t recommend it enough. The one in the Strong National Museum of Play is timed (20 minutes) and since only a certain number of people are allowed inside at a time (to protect the butterflies, I assume), you do have to let them know when you buy your tickets that you want tickets for the Dancing Wings exhibit too. Once inside it really is beautiful. I find these exhibits to excite in me the childlike glee at the seeming magic of conjuring so many of these delicate creatures all around me. One can enjoy the Dancing Wings (or “the butterfly exhibit,” as I call it) even before one enters the building: The wing is made out of glass and shaped like a giant butterfly. If you walk by this side of the museum, you can frequently spy the flutter of little wings inside. It never fails to make me smile.

The day I went to the Dancing Wings was a bitter cold winter day. Loverman took a picture of this little guy looking outside. I can't tell if he looks sad to not be outside or glad he's not out in the frigid weather.


And here are two little button quails. I want some to just toddle around my home.


This museum has come a long way from its humble – and boring – beginnings. Sure they still have the same rows upon rows of antique toys – but now they have toys you can actually play with, props to climb all over, characters from beloved books and TV shows, and a garden where you will be greeted with joyous flutterings. Make a day of it and you can even eat at the food court or the 50s style Skyliner Diner (I can’t speak as to how they do or do not address various dietary needs) – or one of the many nearby restaurants (my favorite being Golden Port Dim Sum, which shall receive its own entry soon enough). Didn’t get enough fun stuff to do inside? Right next to the line to purchase tickets is the Elaine Wilson Carousel for one last hurrah. Whether you’re a parent with little ones or just feel like getting in touch with your inner child, the Strong National Museum of Play is an awesome option for a place to spend a few hours full of fun.

Finger Lakes Wine Takes Top Prize

I don't know about you, but I am far from being a wine snob. I like wine, mind you, but seeing as I tend towards anything that tastes like grapey sugar-water, my tastes can hardly be called discerning.

Palettes much more refined than my own have recently named Keuka Spring Vineyard’s 2008 Gewürztraminer the white wine sweepstakes winner at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. This is the largest contest for U.S. wines, so it's kind of a big deal!

Keuka Springs identifies this as a dry white wine, and further describes it as follows:

Very fresh, rich, floral, rose, lychee, and nutty notes with a soft finish. Off-dry. Keuka Spring "Gewurz" makes a wonderful aperitif. Or enjoy it with grilled shrimp or chicken, asparagus, strong cheeses, or Asian cuisine such as Thai curry. The character of this wine is perfect with spicy--or any-- food.

Dry wines are not my thing, but 60 wine experts from across the country tasted this, and the consensus was that this one was the best in the nation. Who am I to argue?