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September and October are perfect months to enjoy the bouquet of visions and experiences the Finger Lakes offers!

1. 

   Enjoy a Harvest Progressive Dinner at Sonnenberg Gardens

   The Marvelous Wonderettes at Merry-go-round Playhouse – Wed. September 14 – Sat. October 1. See schedule for times. $37-$39. Auburn.

2. Galactic Cowboy Orchestra at Smith Opera House - Fri. September 16. General Admission $15,  Seniors and Colleges Students $10, Students Grades 12 and under Free. Geneva.
3. Finger Lakes Cork & Fork – Fri. September 16 and Sat. September 17. Friday VIP Partners & Pairings $50, Saturday Main Event $25. Seneca Falls. (See the Travel Maven’s Article “Finger Lakes Cork & Fork Showcases Region’s Finest Food & Wine”)
   
4. Roseanne Cash at Harro East Ballroom – Fri. September 16 @ 8 p.m. $45. Rochester.
5. Historic Maplewood Home Tour – Sat. September 17 @ 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Day of event $12, Advance $10 and $8 for Seniors. Rochester.
6. Leaves & Lobsters on the Lawn at Glenora Wine Cellars – Sat. September 17 & Sun. September 18 @ 1 – 5 p.m. (service until 4 p.m., music until 5 p.m.) $52 plus tax. Dundee.
7. An Evening with Garrison Keillor – Sun. September 18 @ 8 p.m. $39.50 – $69.50. Ithaca.
8. Purple Foot Grape Stomping Festival at Casa Larga – Sun. September 18 @ 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. $10 pre-sale, $12 at the door, under 21 Free. Fairport.
9. Greentopia Festival – Sat. September 17 – Sun. September 18. See Schedule for music, culinary events, speakers, etc. Free. Rochester. (See the Travel Maven’s post “Greentopia Festival: Eco-movement Takes Root at Rochester’s High Falls – September 17-18, 2011” or check out my “video postcard” for the festival of a longer piece I’m working on.
   
10. Prohibition Party at the George Eastman House – Sat. September 17 @ 6 p.m. $250. Rochester.
11. Harvest Progressive Dinner at Sonnenberg Gardens – Sun. September 18 @ 5 p.m. or 6:30 p.m. Members $50, Non-members $55. (Advance reservations and payment required). Canandaigua.
12. German Festival at Lucas Vineyards – Sun. September 18 @ 12:30 – 4:30. $5. Children 12 and under Free. Interlaken.
13. TheatreRocs Annual Showcase at Geva Theatre Center – Mon. September 19 @ 6:30 p.m. $25. Rochester.
14. Finger Lakes Trails & Greenways Conference at Cornell - Fri. September 23 (afternoon workshops and reception @ 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.) & Sun. September 24 @ 8:45 a.m. – 4:45 p.m. See schedule for events. $50 for conference, additional fees for Fri. Workshops. Ithaca.
15. Crystal City Jazz & Harvest Festival - Fri. September 23 @ 5:30 – 9 p.m. and Sat. September 24 @ 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Free. Corning.
16. Fall Skyrides start at Bristol Mountain – Sat. September 24. Adults (13-64) $9, Children 3 – 12, Groups of 20 or more and Seniors $6, Children under 3 free. Canandaigua.
17. Living History Event: Seneca Encounter with LaSalle at Ganondagan – Sat. September 24 @ 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.  Adults $5, Members, Seniors and Students age 6 – 18 $3, Children 5 and under $3. Victor.
18. Naples Grape Festival – Sat. September 24 & Sun. September 25 @ 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Free. Naples.

Coming Soon

• Diana Ross at the Auditorium Theater - Wed. September 28 @ 8 p.m. $ 59.50 – $119.50. Rochester.
• Jackson Browne Solo Accoustic at the Auditorium Theater – Fri. September 30 @ 8 p.m. $44 – $125. Rochester.
• Naples Open Studio Tour – Sat. October 1 & Sun. October 2 @ 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Free. Honeoye, Naples, Middlesex, Canandaigua.
• Culinary Compass Tours a Taste of Cayuga Lake East – Sun. October 2 @ 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. $75. Meet in Victor.

Ending Soon

• Andy Warhol: Cowboys and Indians at the Rockwell Museum of Western Art – through Mid-October. Corning.\
• Norman Rockwell, Behind the Camera at the George Eastman House – Through Sept. 18. Adults $15, Seniors (65+) $13, Students w/ ID $8, Children 5-12 $3, Children 4 & under and Members Free. Rochester.
  
• Underneath It All: Underwear Through the Ages at The History Center of Tompkins County – Through September 30.  Free. Ithaca.

Ongoing

• On Golden Pond at Geva Theatre Center – Through Sat. October 2. See Schedule for performance times. $25-$53. Rochester.
• The Lady with All the Answers at the JCC of Greater Rochester – Sat. September 10 – Sun. September 25. JCC Member $24, Non-members $26, Students $18. Rochester.
• Glass Harvest at Corning Museum of Glass – Through November 30. Adults $14, 55 Plus $11.90, Students with ID $12.60, Military with ID $11.90, AAA Members with Card $11.90, Local Residents with ID $6, Kids & Teens (19 & under) and Museum Members Free. Corning.

Rochester's High Falls, once the cradle of the region's industry, now the cradle of a green movement

The High Falls district is a wonderful historic area of downtown Rochester that has long struggled for an identity.  During the 17th and 18th Century, it was the cradle of Rochester’s industry as the mighty Genesee River was funneled off into Brown’s Race, powering gristmills that led to Rochester being christened  the “Flour City.” Soon, other businesses cropped up around the gristmills, such as one of the world’s largest button factories, the Eastman Kodak Company and the Genesee Brewing Company. Click here for the history  and a walking tour of the High Falls and Historic Brown’s Race District.

In recent years, the district no longer had the same high traffic it once did, and excluding a recent attempt to turn it into an entertainment district, it has lain fallow, waiting for the right opportunity to flourish.  Recent endeavors to renovate buildings there and turn them into mixed-use complexes offer encouragement that this will be one of Rochester’s next growth districts.

One visionary company that has seen the possibilities of this district is the Philipson Group, a  marketing, design and  event planning group that is the driving force behind the upcoming Greentopia Festival taking place on September 17-18 in the High Falls District.  This will be an event unlike any other you’ve attended because of its focus on ecology, sustainability and environmental best practices. This event will also become  a “launchpad” for a new initiative to transform the Pont de Rennes Bridge into a suspended arboretum and park. “GardenAerial,” its prospective name, will be designed to encourage foot and bike traffic, showcasing the district’s history and its beautiful 96′ urban waterfall.

It is exciting how many organizations have gotten behind and are partnering on this initiative, demonstrating this region’s commitment to the environment.

There’ll be an exciting lineup of speakers both days.  Saturday will feature an array of Eco Quick-Talks, and on Sunday, keynoters Ed Begley Jr., Actor and Activist (live via Skype), Bill McKibben, Author, Educator and Environmentalist, Paul Watson, Animal Rights Activist and Conservationist (via skype), Patrick Cullina, V.P. of Horticulture and Park Operations (via skype) and Michael Cooper, Civil Engineer at Bergmann Associates will share insights. During the afternoon on Sunday, a variety of enviro-mentor panels gather speakers discussing green topics and issues.  All  speakers are encouraged to use a “TedTalks” style of fast-paced engaging presentation and the topics cover everything from waste reduction, urban living, health and wellness and alternative energy to green homes and more.

Attendees are also invited to “Bike the Bridges” on Saturday, September 17 from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. for a scenic tour of the area (be sure to see brochure and to sign waiver), and there’ll be plenty of music (more than a dozen groups will be performing), food (including culinary demonstrations by local chefs on the use of regional products) , kids’ activities, exhibitions and vending of consumer-oriented green products and technologies, and a showcase of alternative fuel low-emissions vehicles.

This event is free and open to the public and takes place in the High Falls Historic Browns Race District of Rochester.

I hope you’re as excited about this event as I am and I look forward to seeing you there.

P.S. If you’re there on Sunday, September 18, I’ll be participating on an enviro-mentor panel from 4 to 5 p.m. in the main room at the Center at High Falls.  The topic I’ll be covering will be “Sustainable Finger Lakes: The Greening of a Tourism Treasure.”  Check out my “video postcard” that will be part of the presentation and that offers a snapshot of a longer piece I’m working on that will include interviews and more tourism-oriented businesses.

Photo and text copyright 2011©Carol White Llewellyn.