Updated website

For the time being use the following link to access my website, which has been updated http://wnyexplorersguide.sharepoint.com/. I'm still working on getting my custom domain to transfer to the new host

Wizard of Oz exhibit at Museum of Play

We took a trip to Rochester and visited the Museum of Play today. One of the current exhibits is the Wizard of Oz. It was a really cute exhibit. As with previous visits, we spent almost the entire day at the museum. My youngest, who is almost ten really enjoys going there, but probably in the next few years he will decide he is too old for it!

Afterward, we had dinner at one of our favorite Rochester restaurants, The King and I, which has really good Thai food. Even my husband, who is not really big on Thai food, enjoyed it.

Wine trail events this weekend

Below is a press release I received about an upcoming wine trail event that I thought I'd share with people. sounds like a nice event.
For
Immediate
Release
April 10, 2012
Contact: Julie Pfadt, executive director (814)
746-8414

Lake Erie Wine
Country to Host Popular Wine & Art Saturday

Lake Erie Wine Country, an association of 23
wineries between Silver Creek, NY and North East, PA, announces its annual Wine
& Art Saturday which will be held on April 14th. Guests will enjoy wine
tasting while perusing works of art by 32 member artists of the North Shore Arts
Alliance in Chautauqua County
and the North East (PA) Arts Council.

The artists will be on hand at the 21
participating wineries to display, sell, and demonstrate - from painters and
sculptors to photographers and glass artisans. Featured artists include eleven
members of the Chautauqua-Lake Erie Art Trail, the North Shore Arts Alliance’s
signature event.

This is a FREE EVENT. No tickets or reservations
are required! Event hours are 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Guests are invited to stop at any of the
participating wineries in any order to enjoy wine and art--a natural pairing.
For winery locations or other information, see: www.lakeeriewinecountry.org, www.facebook.com/LakeErieWineCountry . For more
information on participating artists, see www.northshoreartsalliance.com.

Lake Erie Wine Country, formerly the
Chautauqua-Lake Erie Wine Trail, is a non-profit organization founded to
“support and to market the wine and grape industries in Chautauqua County, New
York and Erie County, Pennsylvania through the promotion of excellence in wine
products, in winery and associate member facilities, and in the tourism
experience in the region.”

Featured Artists at New York Wineries:
· 21 Brix Winery: Tom Annear (painting); George Petrella (painting)
· Blueberry Sky Farm Winery: Works from Sue Wolfe (painting)
· Johnson Estate Winery: Lilla Johnson (painting); Sue Murphy (jewelry); Harold Nass (bird
sculpture)
· Liberty Vineyards: Sue Mackay (painting); Nancy Hutchinson (painting)
· Mazza Chautauqua Cellars: Elora Esce (photography)
· Merritt Estate Winery: Bill Smith (photography)
· Noble Winery: James Hoggard (photography); Sue Wolfe (painting)
· Quincy Cellars Winery: Alberta Parker (drawing); Tim Sivertsen (painting)
· Seven Vines Winery: Bill Karrow (photography)
· Sparkling Ponds Winery: Rebecca Tkawzyk (mixed media & painting)
· Vetter Vineyards Winery: Linda Lavid (painting)
· Willow Creek Winery: Steve Yunghans (abstract painting)
· Woodbury Vineyards: Ronnie Lafferty

Featured Artists at Pennsylvania Wineries:
· Burch Farms Winery: Jack Paluh (wildlife & landscape painting)
· Courtyard Wineries: Sara Frye (stained glass); Laura Mikula (painting & pastel); Sue
Rochester (oil painting)
· Lakeview Wine Cellars: Tajana Roehl (photography); Tamara Maas (painting)
· Mazza Vineyards: Peggy Campbell (photography & mixed media)
· Penn Shore Vineyards: Christine French (mixed media); Bryan Toy (drawing, painting); Toni
Kelly (watercolor & calligraphy)
· Presque Isle Wine Cellars: Becky Samler (photography)
· South Shore Wine Company: John Ballard (woodworking & mixed media); Jon Miller
(painting, sculpture & collage); Vanessa Mazza (painting & mixed
media)

Catholic women's conference

I had a wonderful time today at the Catholic women's conference at the Hearthsone Manor, which was sponsored by WLOF Catholic radio. There were 1.200 women in attendance and several wonderful speakers including Teresa Tomeo, Leah Darrow, Mother Olga and Maryalice Demler from channel 2. It was a very uplifting and informative day.

Lenten Fish Frys

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, a time of religious reflection and sacrifice as we prepare for Easter Sunday. However one of the ironies of Lent is that while we sacrifice by not eating meat certain days, we have a fish fry, which to me is not really a sacrifice!! A priest at a parish I belonged to years ago once commented that it would be more of a sacrifice to eat a bologna sandwich than to eat lobster on Friday in Lent…..hmmm something to think about.

Anyhow, below are a few upcoming fish frys that you might want to enjoy. Many churches will be having fish fries in the coming weeks, so watch for signs out in front of churches of all faiths as you drive around. For restaurants that offer fish fries, check out www.buffalofishfry.com

Brighton Community Church, 1225 Brighton Road, Tonawanda
Rachel Circle is once again sponsoring a fish fry dinner to benefit the general fund of the church. The dinner will be held Friday February 24th from 4:00 to 7:00 pm. Tickets will be $9.50 and will be available in advance or at the door. Take-outs will be available. We will also be offering a prize drawing in conjunction with the dinner. Tickets for the drawing will be $1.00 for one chance or $5.00 for 6 and will be available in advance or at the door the night of the dinner.

St. Gregory the Great, 250 St. Gregory Court, Williamsville (next to Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital)
All are welcome to attend our Fish Fry Fridays during Lent! Join us February 24, March 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30 from 4-7 pm in the School Gym. Your choice of Fish or Breaded Shrimp dinner comes with cole slaw, French fries, roll and butter, drinks and homemade desserts! Pre-sale ticket price is $8.00, tickets at the door are $9.00. Dine-in or drive-up and take-out available! Pizza will also be available for children for $1.00 per slice. Afterwards, join us for Stations of the Cross at 7:00 pm in the Church.

Festival of Lights at Fatima Shrine

A few days ago we headed up to Niagara Falls to check out the Holiday Market. I wasn't too impressed; perhaps it was better before Christmas. We did, however, enjoy the festival of lights at the Fatima Shrine in Lewiston. The shrine looks really nice, with some of the renovations completed. The lights will be on for about another week; check them out if you are in the area.

A very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from Western New York Explorer's Guide!

If you are looking for a last minute gift suggestion for that someone who is hard to buy for, consider the gift of western New York. Western New York Explorer's Guide is available in book stores, museum shops, and online.