With the name of “Mid-Winter Puppet Extravaganza” presented by a puppet theater company appropriately called ‘It’s a Riot Puppet Theater’, I am (perhaps overly) excited to publish my first Wild Card post. This event certainly seems to fit the bill: This Saturday there will be a single, after-dark performance of life-sized puppets! Perfectly ‘wild card’ sounding!
Adding to the mystery of the show, I know little about this event beyond the event announcement. Billed as an event for all ages, it will take place outside tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 1st from 6-7 p.m. behind the Standard Art Supply shop at 308 E. Seneca Street. It is hosted by the Durland Alternative Library and is free and open to the public; donations appreciated. Following the puppet show there will be live music and a reception with warm drinks. Dress warmly and have fun!
Though I am slightly breaking the rules by covering something just outside the Tompkins County line, I thought a mention of Hollenbeck’s Cider Mill too good to pass up. A longtime tradition of my husband’s family, and now mine, an October visit to this charming cider mill just outside Cortland is a festive and tasty way to indulge in the fall season.
An apple orchard, country store, farm stand, and cider mill, Hollenbeck’s feature attraction is the antique cider press that is still in use. On weekend days they do several open apple pressings for the public and onlookers are treated to just-off-the-press cups of the golden cider as it pours from the spout. The cider is cool, crisp, and sweet, and if your in the mood, you can pair it with an old-fashioned doughnut that they roll out hot on the spot from their doughnut maker.
Mr. Hollenbeck, who was been in the apple and cider business for decades, skillfully operates the giant wood and iron press. You can watch as a cascade of apples bounce and tumble into a chopper, then the resulting juicy pulp is carefully sandwiched into layers of burlap between wood planks as the press is prepared. The fun starts when the press jumps into gear and squeezes the heap of apple pulp and a waterfall of cool cider pours down into the cider spout.
After you’ve had your fill of cider and doughnuts, you can pick up bushels of fresh apples (there are dozens of varieties to choose from), pumpkins and other fall harvest goods, as well as homemade fruit and berry pies from the adjoining bakery and sundries such as maple candies, nut and chocolate fudges, cheeses, and honey products from the store. The store also has an unusually impressive offering of tasty-looking canned goods – everything from onion jams to pickled hot peppers to fruit marmalades.
Hollenbeck’s Cider Mill is located at 1265 New York 392. Be sure to call ahead at 607-835-6455 to ascertain whether they are doing a pressing later that day.
This time of year you can spend each weekend at a different u-pick apple orchard, but if you are serious about your apples then stop by the Cornell Apple Orchards for a tasting of unique Cornell-bred apples. Though the orchards are off limits for picking, their roadside store offers an abundance of fruits and cider as well as a selection of honey products, maple candies, Cornell Dairy treats, and locally-made cheeses. The Cornell Orchards is a collection of orchards, vineyards, and fruit farms managed by the Department of Horticulture. While the orchards are split into a variety of locations and their research facility is in Geneva, the Cornell Orchard shop site includes the storage and packing facilities, a cider press, and a research lab, and is surrounded by 37 acres of fruit plantings.
Upon entering the shop you are overwhelmed by a deliciously sweet and crisp fragrance of apples. Baskets of apples are laid out inviting visitors to sample all the varieties. Don’t be shy – try one of each! Bags of apples and other fall produce – corn, plums, pears, gourds, and pumpkins – line the shop shelves. At the back of the store workers sort bins of apples that cascade from a conveyor belt emerging from the back storage area.
The opening of the Cornell Apple Orchards is always a welcome fall treat, and I stopped in this past weekend. I was delighted to sample, among others, “Autumn Crisp,” a Cornell variety which is a cross between a Golden Delicious and a Monroe. Developed by Cornell (at the Geneva research station), it is the 63rd apple released from their breeding research station. It is juicy, crisp, and sweet, but not cloying. I loved it and bought a bag to take home.
There is also cider to sample and sometimes pears to taste. Upon asking one of the store clerks/researchers I was treated to a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the back storage room. Crisp, cool, and fragrant with an even more intense sent of fresh apples, the store room was stacked floor to ceiling with giant crates of apple in all varieties.
The Cornell Apple Orchards shop is open from mid-August through April. Hours change, so check the website. The shop (in Ithaca) is located at 709 Dryden Rd. (across from the Cornell Vet School).
For a sweet, old-time, country fair, head to the Ellis Hollow Fair today at the Ellis Hollow Community Center. With horse drawn wagon rides for kids and a berry pie stand, there is a homespun feel to this small fair. Each year the Ellis Hollow community comes together to put on this fair to raise money for the community center. Residents donate old household items, toys, furniture, and clothes to be sold in a ‘White Elephant’ sale. Unwanted house plants are donated and sold at a plant stand. Residents man the various booths – a pie stand, a country kitchen, farm vegetables, grilled corn on the cob, baked goods, and an ice cream stand. Fairgoers picnic on makeshift picnic tables and blankets as bands perform music. Kids enjoy face painting, relay races, games, and an ever-popular dunking booth. There is even a quilt raffle. Held each year on the first weekend in September, it’s usually still warm and sunny, but with high blue skies and a crisp edge to the air heralding the change of seasons, this is a delightful way to enjoy one last summery activity in the countryside. The Ellis Hollow Community Center is located at 111 Genung Road. The fair is held today, Saturday, Sept. 7th from noon to 5:00 p.m. and is free and open to the public.
A hot day at the end of summer seemed like an opportunity to fit in one last picnic lunch before the weather begins to turn, and so I found myself this afternoon at the Ithaca Children’s Garden. Likely you’ve seen the colorful sign at the entrance of Ithaca Children’s Garden on your way out of town via Route 89 but may have not stopped to visit. Next time you have a moment or if you have a child in tow, stop in to take a peek at this unique garden.
Built for children with the goal of introducing them to the outdoors, nature, and gardening and to the concepts of permaculture and sustainability, this park offers a fun array of activities, programs, and sights to explore. At one end of this park there is a huge mound of earth sculpted into a giant turtle. Artfully arranged stones create the turtle’s back and invite little ones to scramble over the turtle mound. At the other end of the park a mud pit, entitled “The Anarchy Zone,” offers carte-blanche to rambunctious kids to get crazy and messy. And in between lies a troll house, a tadpole pond, a maze, a sandpit, a rain garden (for water-loving plants), and various paths. A large beautiful tree in the center of the park offers shade and seating for organized storytelling sessions.
There is an edible garden where visitors are invited to sample the vegetables and herbs and help water the plants. Next to the garden there is an outdoor kitchen where workshops are held for kids to make their own pizzas, teas, or salads using the produce from the garden. A compost and a greenhouse, ingeniously made from recycled plastic soda bottles, also sit next to the edible garden and introduce kids to the full cycle of growing, gardening, and composting.
One of the sweetest and most moving parts of the Children’s Garden is the Bulb Labyrinth Memorial Garden which was planted to honor local babies and children who have passed away. Lushly filled with perennial bulbs, it becomes a beautiful sight to see in spring when it is in full bloom. Nearby a wildflower garden attracts bugs and nets and jars are available for children to capture and study the flying and creepy-crawling inhabitants of the wildflower garden. Future plans for the park include a edible forest where children can learn about foraging.
If you are interested in becoming involved, the Ithaca Children’s Garden is always looking for volunteers to help with gardening, maintenance, and running its numerous events and programs. The Garden works in partnership with the Cornell Cooperative Extension. It is located just south of Cass Park on Route 89 on the Cayuga Inlet and is open from sunrise to sunset every day. Pack a picnic, grab a kid and stop by this delightful garden and start exploring.
Welcome to 14850zine! Well, at least welcome to the approximately four people who are reading this initial post (hi mom, dad, husband, and, if lucky, at least one of my sisters!) My hope is that a readership of plus four will soon exist. After much time spent dreaming, planning, designing, and building, I am excited to launch 14850zine. Named after the main Ithaca zip code, 14850zine will cover all things Ithaca and surrounding area – with reviews on restaurants, free events, exploring hidden nooks and crannies in the gorges, classes, and much more. While 14850zine does not claim to be an exhaustive listing of events and things-to-do (see other great blogs, such as IthacaEvents.com or VisitIthaca.com, for up-to-date listings), this blog aims to cover interesting finds – both old and new, and celebrate the small jewels and quirkiness this area has to offer.
It has been a long time coming, but I am happy that the launch of this blog will catch at least the tail end of summer. Though there are more than enough stories to cover in every season, summer is especially abundant with exciting events: The ever-popular Farmer’s Market, the Scottish Festival, outdoor movies at the Straight, Shakespeare in the Park, Taughannock Falls concerts, salsa nights at the Big Red Barn, 4th of July festivities and fireworks, the Ithaca Festival, and of course the opportunity to explore the many surrounding trails and gorges.
Thank you for visiting 14850zine. Please check back regularly for more posts as we go forward and get in touch with us if you have ideas to share.
