It usually starts with soup. Every season, new visitors undertake the pilgrimage to the American Hotel in Lima fueled by reverential recommendations for one or more of over 60+ varieties. Rose Reynold’s flavorful repertoire includes the standards (Beef Barley, Split Pea, French Onion, Corn Chowder), as well as slightly more upscale offerings (Butternut & Apple Bisque, Sweet Potato & Leek, Dijon Beef). But the real counterpoints to the traditional setting are offbeat entries like Banana Bisque, Lentil & Franks, Double Squash with Pesto, and Cold Blueberry. Then there’s Cheeseburger Chowder, a perennial customer favorite that third generation co-owner Pat Reynolds describes simply as “everything but the bun.” Call ahead to find out which varieties will be featured on any given day.

Rose’s soup makes a fine meal alone, or accompanied by a grilled pretzel roll. And there’s also a selection of sandwiches (including fried baloney or Limburger cheese), plus spiedies, burgers, and dogs. The atmosphere is grand aging pub (the bar serves over 30 varieties of beer), and there is much to discover throughout, including back-room murals (ask for the story), an original wood telephone box, and overnight accommodations at the top of the weathered staircase. The ambiance is particularly magical during December, when the rooms are lovingly outfitted in vintage holiday style.

The American Hotel is decidedly homespun. Yet the sense of comfort you’ll experience is not confined to the food or fixtures. The place is also richly animated by the stories of its owners, employees, and patrons, both past and present. Photos and newspaper articles stud the faded walls, and Pat and Rose serve up additional tidbits as they watchfully tend kitchen and bar. If it’s quiet, ask to meet Bridget, the celebrity lab-in-residence. And remember to save room for the fresh little cookie that will sweeten your already reasonable bill.

Vegetarian and gluten-free options available.

Soup: $3.50 - $4.50

Sandwiches: $3.75 - $6.75

American Hotel
7304 East Main Street
Lima, NY 14485
585-624-9464

Directions
americanhoteloflima.com

2 Comments »
Posted in Caledonia, Avon, Lima, Dining

CONSTRUCTIONS #84: NO!, Detail
2007©NANCY CROW
Photograph by J. Kevin Fitzsimons

MARKINGS #3: INNER TURMOIL
2007©NANCY CROW
100% Cottons mono-printed by Nancy Crow
Hand-quilted by Marla Hattabaugh with pattern denoted by Nancy Crow
20 x 21
Photograph by J. Kevin Fitzsimons

If the quilting world has rock-stars, then Nancy Crow is one of its brightest. The class she held last year at Schweinfurth attracted participants from across the country, and another is already scheduled for Summer 2010. But don’t picture a gaggle of grannies dutifully stitching ho-hum hope chest fodder. Crow’s quilting classes (along with juried competitions and the Center’s popular Quilting by the Lake conference and classes) reflect a focus on contemporary fiber and folk arts. During your visit, you’re just as likely to encounter a poignant hand-stitched critique of modern health care as a masterwork of abstract geometry.

Changing exhibits also feature local, regional, national, and international fine art, photography, sculpture, mixed media, and fiber art, and the Center offers a range of hands-on classes, workshops, and lectures. Adults can explore cool topics like Deconstructing the Screen and Image and Signs and Symbols, as well as participate in special Director’s Tours and a Night Writers poetry group. Then there’s Schweinfest, a family-friendly annual event with live entertainment and demonstrations, food, beer tasting and more. The Center also provides year-round activities for kids. Blossoming artists can make pop-up holiday cards (seasonal), explore their individuality through “The Story of Me” textile projects, and delve into drawing and painting, fiber arts, and sculpture during a 6-week Summer Art Camp.

Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center hours: Tuesday-Saturday 10am - 5pm, Sunday 1 - 5pm. Closed on Mondays and all major holidays.

Note: Every 6-8 weeks the Art Center is closed to the public for installation between exhibitions.

Suggested Admission: $3 for adults. Art Center members and children under 12 are always free. Special rates may apply for certain exhibits.

Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center
205 Genesee Street
Auburn, NY 13021-3304
(315) 255-1553

Directions
SchweinfurthArtCenter.org

2 Comments »
Posted in Attractions, Auburn Area

Chalets are an uncommon sight in Western New York (being indigenous to Switzerland and all). So when you spot something like a big alpine lodge along the roadside in Batavia, you’ll know you’ve arrived at Oliver’s.

This architectural tip o’ the cap is absolutely apropos. Like the Swiss people, Oliver’s carries a fanatical flame for its milk chocolate mistress. All throughout the year, cocoa beans are sniffed, snubbed, or selected; then the lucky few are coaxed into small batches of melty chocolove. The end results are noir nuggets so fresh that supermarket specimens simply need not apply.

Though the inside of Oliver’s is decidedly utilitarian, don’t underestimate the pleasure of the olfactory experience. Fruits and caramels, creams and nuts—if it can be dipped, it adds to the rich symphony of smells. Yet somehow the air stays light—like the honeycomb center of the store’s famed sponge candy. If you’re not familiar with these little pillows of perfection (they’re a Western New York delicacy), try them here where they’ve been refining the recipe since 1932. Oliver’s also offers a Technicolor jamboree of other toothsome treats including licorice, gummies, fruit slices, and suckers. In the warmer months there’s hard ice cream (May-Nov) and frozen custard (May- Oct).

Check out the Oliver’s website for photos, orders, recipes, trivia questions, and video. You can also subscribe to an e-newsletter offering coupons and early warnings about approaching “candy holidays.”

Fun Fact: Oliver’s sells a 4-foot hollow Easter bunny that weighs 32 pounds.

Oliver’s Candies
211 West Main Street
Batavia, NY 14020
(585) 343-5888

Directions
oliverscandies.com

2 Comments »
Posted in Genesee County, Shopping

In New York and other big cities, nice little eateries are often wedged into narrow spaces behind unassuming facades. Such is the case with Bambino’s Bistro, a combination sit-down restaurant and pizzeria that serves up a fusion of Italian specialties and casual French fare.

For traditionalists, the menu offers the usual suspects including fettuccine, lasagna, and baked ziti. But if you’re looking for something with a more pronounced Italian accent, order the homemade Ravioli di Carciofi (Artichoke Ravioli) or Portobello alla Griglia (grilled Portobello mushrooms with roasted peppers, sun-dried tomatoes and goat cheese). Open for lunch and dinner, Bambino’s also features grilled wraps, panninis, salads, and a large selection of meat and vegetarian options. The dessert menu also spans the Italian/French culinary gambit, from gelato, tiramisu, and cannolis to chocolate mousse cake and crepes.

Note that Bambino’s has yet to acquire a liquor license, so feel free to bring your favorite libation.

Appetizers: $4.50 - $9.95
Main Course: $6.95 - $19.95

Bambino’s Bistro
105 Genesee St
Auburn, NY 13021
(315) 255-3385

Directions
bambinosbistro.com

3 Comments »
Posted in Auburn Area, Dining

There are a lot of businesses out there designed to make you feel nostalgic. But Tom Wahl’s is different. It IS nostalgia.

Born in 1955 during the heyday of car culture, this sprawling burger palace got its start as a humble trailer selling homemade root beer. The mellow brew is still mixed daily on the premises in a big vat. “I don’t even like root beer, but I love this,” one customer opines. “Less carbonation gives it a more creamy texture,” adds another. A third compares it to drinking a Werther’s candy.

Subtle soda pop aside, there’s much more to attract today’s tuned-in traveler. First, the food is comforting and classic (ground steak and pulled pork sandwiches, fish dinners, veggie burgers, a diet-flouting “55 Junker Plate,” and a bevy of satisfying sides). Then there’s the interior—a chrome, neon, and glass block cathedral replete with comfy booths, curved counters, and a real Wurlitzer jukebox. The place draws kids of all ages, especially in the summer when classic car owners roll in from several counties. And a pavilion out back offers plenty of al fresco seating, where the whoosh of passing traffic provides appropriate aural accompaniment for a quintessential drive-in experience.

Fun insider info: Tom Wahl’s makes homemade ice cream at the Avon location, which it ships to its other eight locations in the area. Those with an adventurous streak (or VERY particular tastes) should definitely plan a visit on April Fools’ Day. That’s when Wahl’s serves up dubious scoops of once-a-year flavors that have included ketchup, horseradish, and haddock!

Visit the Tom Wahl’s website for a complete menu, coupons, and a cool collection of billboards.

Tom Wahl’s
283 East Main Street
Avon, NY 14414
585-226-2420

Directions
www.tomwahls.com

1 Comment »
Posted in Caledonia, Avon, Lima, Dining

“First-nighters, packed earmuff-to-earmuff, jostled in wonderment before a golden, tinkling display of mechanized, electronic joy….” So reminisces Ralphie Parker about spellbound window shoppers in the holiday classic, A Christmas Story. Visitors to Adam Miller’s Toy and Bicycle will experience a similar sense wonder—albeit on a slightly less epic scale.

The mood is first set by the spunky neon sign that crowns Miller’s dapper brick façade. But the real pay-off comes as you step inside. Every surface in the nearly century-old structure is neatly outfitted with a different species of toy, game, or collectible. There’s a friendly phalanx of vintage toy robots (perfect for the creative director or pop culture aficionado/a in your life); orderly stacks of vintage and retro games (yes, Virginia, Dukes of Hazzard slot cars DO still exist); a formidable wall of Breyer’s models (a perennial favorite with anyone who ever wanted a pony); and a colorful cacophony of board games, sporting goods, toy soldiers, and model supplies.

And that’s BEFORE you get to the bicycles. Pass through the handsome arched doorway mid-shop, and you’ll discover a mini-mecca of green transport. The store’s legacy was literally built on wheels when Walter Davis opened Wheel Goods in 1918. In addition to bicycles, tricycles, toys, and pedal cars, the pragmatic Davis also pedaled (ahem) cigars and cigarettes; sharpened ice skates and lawn mower blades; and even strung tennis rackets- anything to keep the business afloat through the Depression and two World Wars. Ask current owners John and Cathy Roche for an introduction to the adjoining bicycle repair shop, where you’ll get a glimpse of the past (and future) of sustainable transportation.

Adam Miller Toy and Bicycle has weathered many decades due to the uncommon resourcefulness of its owners; the latest of whom also impart an easygoing warmth and helpfulness. Visit the store’s website to read more about its history, and to peruse the latest inventory. You can even schedule a tune-up for your ride. And click here to see their short ad on YouTube.

(585) 343-0548

Adam Miller Toys and Bicycles
8 Center Street
Batavia, NY 14020
(585) 343-0548

Directions
adammillertoyandbicycle.com

1 Comment »
Posted in Genesee County, Shopping

Devoted to deco? Nuts for neon?  Or maybe nothing puts you in the mood for buttery toast and hot coffee like a pink sunrise glinting on cool stainless steel. Regardless, the Hunter Dinerant in Auburn will satisfy your cravings for caffeine and kitsch in one fell swoop. Flanking Route 5 like a Jazz-Age railcar that decided to pull up its wheels, this modest eatery was actually built in 1951 by famous diner maker Jerry O’Mahony Inc. One of the top three diner manufacturers in their day, Jerry O’Mahony and his brother Dan have left their gleaming prefab legacy all along the American roadside. You can learn more about O’Mahony diners here. And for a brief and interesting history of the American diner, visit the American Diner Museum webpage.

Hunter’s Dinerant
18 Genesee St
Auburn, NY 13021-3612
(315) 255-2282

Directions

1 Comment »
Posted in Auburn Area, Dining

Housed in the former location of the venerable Hitching Post Gift Shoppe, the artful and airy Skaneateles 300’ boutique now provides spa-like sanctuary for choosy fashionistas. Owner Geraldine Lantier (a trained geologist) hand-selects gems that include smart Tibi dresses, premium denim (Citizens of Humanity, AG), artisan footwear (Frye, Sven, Cole Haan), and Archipelago candles in uncommon scents like Bamboo Teak and African Freesia. Make sure to look above the sparkling rows of bath gel and handbags for a small but charming selection of reasonably-priced artwork.

Skaneateles 300′
2 W Genesee St
Skaneateles, NY 13152-1005
(315) 685-1133

Directions
skaneateles300.com

1 Comment »
Posted in Shopping, Skaneateles

Who knew? There are people out there with a passion for station wagons. LOTS of people. This enthusiasm was recently on display in Seneca Lake Park, where visitors were greeted by rows of regal “grocery getters” - their hoods raised in snappy salute. Proud owners were eager to educate onlookers about the finer points of these “b-body” beauties, so named by General Motors to identify their full-size, rear-wheel drive platform. Glimpsing the faux wood panels stirred memories of fighting over the rear-facing seat, and getting home in time to watch “Eight is Enough.”

Ride on Wagon Rally-ers!

100 Waterloo Geneva Rd
Geneva, NY 14456-9288
(315) 789-2331

Directions to Seneca Lake Park
Park Website

1 Comment »
Posted in Bloomfield, Canandaigua, Geneva, Miscellaneous

Watching this windsurfer get underway was like seeing a great cicada rise from waves. At first he struggled to right the craft and shake the water from its lone wing. But within seconds, the skillful sailor had successfully courted the breeze and was zipping into the blue. According to the Cayuga Windsurfing Club, the best south winds for beginners and intermediates are at the north end of Seneca Lake in Geneva (where this series of photos was taken). And you needn’t think of windsurfing as a solitary sport. These graceful crafts come in various sizes, including child-sized and tandem (2-person) models.

Windsurfing Lessons
Canandaigua Sailboarding
11 Lakeshore Dr
Canandaigua, NY 14424
585-394-8150

Seneca Lake State Park
100 Waterloo Geneva Rd
Geneva, NY 14456-9288
(315) 789-2331

Directions to Seneca Lake Park
Park Website

1 Comment »
Posted in Bloomfield, Canandaigua, Geneva, Outdoors