Local Author's day at NT History Museum

Check out this event taking place tomorrow. Stop by and say hello to me.

The North Tonawanda History Museum will hold its first "Spring Local Author's Day" on Saturday, May 16 from 10 am. to 5 p.m. The History Museum has served as a venue for purchasing books by local authors on a wide variety of historical subjects for the last several years.

Suzanne Simon Dietz, author of “Honor Thy Fathers & Mothers: Niagara Frontier’s Legacy of Patriotism and Survival,” will be present to autograph copies of her book. Dietz is the Town of Porter Historian and is also author of both Porter and Lewiston Arcadia Publishing Images of America Series books and a contributing author to many other local history publications.

Bob Kostoff, author of many books on local history, will be present to autograph “Remembering Niagara: Tales from Beyond the Falls.” Kostoff has been writing feature stories on local history for decades, published in the Buffalo Courier Express, Niagara Gazette, and the Lockport Journal. For the last several years, he has been a contributing writer in the Niagara Falls Reporter. The current book is a sequel to his book, “Nuggets of Niagara County History.”

Christine A. Smyczynski, author of “Western New York Explorer’s Guide,” will also be present. Smyczynski writes travel articles regularly for the Buffalo News, the Democrat & Chronicle, and several other local and regional publications.

Books will also be available for purchase by local author, Jeanne Treat ("Dark Birthright") and her mother Clara Treat's book, "Heartland Verses," and Violet Kolecki, widow of John H. Kolecki who passed away on December 31, 2008, will be present to meet with attendees with the three books her late husband wrote on growing up in North Tonawanda as a Polish American: "The Hybraid Amerykaniec: Dziadzi," "On the Avenues and Beyond," and "Spy, Szpieg, Spion."

Guest speakers will be present throughout the day at the following times to discuss their books:

11 a.m - Amy Santi Bull, author of “Believe, A Collection of Inspirational Poetry” and “My Inner Strength: More Poems of Faith and Hope” and her newest book.

Noon - John W. Percy, local historian and author. with his newest book, "Buffalo-Niagara Connections: A New Regional History of the Niagara Frontier”

1 p.m - Diane M. Meholick, local author with her three books: “Painting Katherine,” “A Switch in Time,” and “Buffalo Stories”

2 p.m.- David Lawrence Reade, local author and photographer. with his three books: “Western New York Wild: Celebrating Our Rich Natural Heritage,” “Beyond Buffalo! A Photographic Journey and Guide to the Secret Natural World of Our Region” and “The Four Seasons of Letchworth: A Celebration of the Grand Canyon of the East”

3 p.m. - Bertamaie Ives, local author of “Ring in the Holidays.”

4 p.m. - Kevin H. Siepel, local author of “Joseph Bennett of Evans and the Growing of New York’s Niagara Frontier”

For more information contact:
Donna Zellner Neal,
Executive Director
North Tonawanda History Museum/Lumber City History Center
54 Webster Street
North Tonawanda, NY 14120
716-213-0554
www.nthistorymuseum.org

Parkside Tour of Homes

Here's an interesting event that's coming up in a few weeks.

Parkside Community Association's
11th Annual Tour of Homes

Contact: Kathleen Peterson
Address: 2318 Main Street
Phone: 716-838-1240
Email: PCA2318Main@verizon.net
URL: www.parksidebuffalo.org

PARKSIDE, BUFFALO, NY


The Parkside Community Association presents the 11th Annual Tour of Homes on Sunday, May 17th from 11:30 am – 4:30 pm. This popular tour will have TEN outstanding homes for you to explore. Visitors are promised a fascinating look inside historical residences in Buffalo’s beautiful Historic District of Parkside. Some of the homes reflect their 19th century origin in architectural style with their interiors and furnishings. Others offer an exciting contemporary approach to city living. Onsite docents will provide history of the homes and will be available for questions.

Come see for yourself why Parksiders and out-of-towners alike say this event “is the best tour”. The tour begins at the Church of the Good Shepherd, on the corner of Jewett Parkway and Summit Avenue in Buffalo. Information, tickets, and maps will be available at the start of the tour. A mini tour of the Darwin Martin House Complex is included in the ticket price. This includes the Gardener’s Cottage, Barton House, Carriage House, and the new Pavilion. Tickets are $13 in advance, $15 the day of the tour, and $11 for PCA members. Advance tickets can be obtained by visiting the PCA office, 2318 Main Street in Buffalo or by calling the office at 838-1240 during regular business hours. Proceeds benefit the continuing work of the Parkside Community Association. No children under the age of twelve please. Event is held rain or shine.

The Parkside Community Association is Buffalo’s oldest, largest and most
active neighborhood associations in the City of Buffalo. The Parkside
area contains superb examples of such diverse architectural styles such as
the American Four Square, Victorian, Colonial Revival, Craftsman, and the Arts
& Crafts bungalow. The 1880 thru 1930 building period includes designs by
prominent local architects E.B. Green and William Sydney Wicks.

Parkside is adjacent to Frederick Law Olmsted’s Delaware Park, The Buffalo
Zoo, and the Main-Amherst business district.

What do beer, wine and pizza have in common?

Here are three upcoming food related events.

Beerology
Friday April 24
6-9 pm
Buffalo Museum of Science
www.sciencebuff.org

This fundraiser examines the science of beer and gives attendees an opportunity to sample beer from local brewers, as well as other goodies. $20 museum members, $25 non-members

Buffalo Pizza Fest
May 2-3
11am-9pm
Hearthstone Manor, Depew
www.thebuffalopizzafest.com

Sample pizza from over 30 local pizzerias as they compete for prizes. There will also be many other activities to enjoy. See their website for specifics. Tickets $5 pre-sale or $8 at the door.

Wine, Herb and Cheese Weekend
May 2-3
Chautauqua-Lake Erie wine Trail
www.chautauquawinetrail.org

Visit the 21 wineries along the trail and sample wines and cheeses and other dishes at each. Tickets are $25 for Saturday and Sunday or $20 for Sunday only.

Try your hand at glassblowing

Here is a press release I got from Hands-on Glass Studio in Corning. We went here a couple years ago and really enjoyed trying glass blowing

Upcoming events at Hands-on Glass Studio
124 Crystal Lane
Corning, New York
Call: (607) 962-3044 or tollfree (866) 962-3044

*Glassblowing with Ed Schmid, June 14-16
*Flameworking with Sage Holland & Beau Anderson, June 9-10 & June 15-17

June Workshops (see descriptions below) are being offered in conjunction with
The Glass Art Society Conference in Corning, June 11-14, 2009
Visit www.glassart.org for more about the GAS conference.

Post-Conference Workshop: Glassblowing with Ed Schmid - June 14-16
A limited number of spaces are available to study glassblowing techniques at the furnace with Ed Schmid, author of "Beginning Glassblowing" and "Advanced Glassworking Techniques.">From those with little to no experience to intermediate and advanced levels, these will be structured as private tutorials that are sure to be fun, informative and highly rewarding in a relaxed comfortable setting here in the heart of Corning. Sessions with Ed will be available; Sun. June 14, Mon. June 15, and Tues. June 16. Call Hands-on Glass tollfree: (866) 962-3044.Flame of Mind: Two workshops in Flameworking & Beadmaking with soft glass, co-taught by Sage Holland and Beau Anderson

Pre-conference: Two-day workshop, 6/9 & 6/10
Post-Conference:Three-day workshop, 6/15-6/17

The first workshop will be suitable for beginners to intermediate and the second session for intermediate to advanced levels. Both will include sculptural as well as ancient and contemporary Beadmaking techniques for soft glass .There will be a special emphasis on joining multiple shapes and patterns together and integrating sculptural aspects into one piece. However participants can work at their own pace with ample one on one time with the facilitators. For more info call Sage @ (870) 363-4890 or email sageandtomemail@gmail.com Or Hands-on Glass tollfree: (866) 962-3044.

*Note: Workshops held at Hands-on Glass are in close proximity to the GAS conference site at The Corning Museum of Glass however we will offer rides to and from for those who need it!
For more info. contact: Rodi Rovner at Hands-on Glass:(607) 962-3044 or tollfree (866) 962-3044, or email: rodi@handsonglass.com We look forward to seeing you in Corning!!

Winemaker's tasting dinners

Chautauqua-Lake Erie WINE TRAIL
Winemakers Tasting Dinners
April 21, 6:30pm

Meet the winemakers! Your choice of location!
Reservations, for the dinner of your choice, $60/person.
Includes dinner, all wine, and gratuities.
Deluxe, multiple-course tasting or grazing dinners with paired wines.
See Tickets on Wine Trail website. Seating is limited.
Menus to be listed on Wine Trail website.
www.chautauquawinetrail.org, 877-326-6561

Quincy Cellars, Ripley, NY

Paired with wine from New York wineries

Appetizers
Smoked Salmon Topped with Creme Fraiche & Chives
Red Pear & Raspberry Butter Toasted Canapes

Soup
Roasted Tomato and Basil soup

Cheese and Fruit
Assortment of Fresh Quincy Bread with Dipping Oil & Fresh Fruit Kabob Platters with White Chocolate Dip
World Cheese Course Consisting of Spanish Manchego, New Holland Gouda,
U.K. Sage Derby, Wisconsin Buttermilk Blue and French Brie

Entrees
Mimosa Poached Salmon with Citrus Hollandaise
Filet Mignon Au Poivre w/ Torched Blue Cheese on Sweet Pea Blinis
Duck Skewers with Apricot-Ancho Barbeque Sauce

Desserts
Lemon Curd Pie Disks with Fresh Sliced Apples and Pears
Amaretto Chocolate Mousse Cake Bars with Mocha Chocolate Sauce

South Shore Wine Company, North East, PA

Paired with wine from Pennsylvania wineries
Station 1
Champagne Poached Salmon en Croute
Lime Caper Ceviche * Avocado Shrimp Rice Salad

Station 2

Tea Rubbed Pork Tenderloin with Moutarde Sauce
Tomato Caprese Kabobs * New Potatoes Stuffed with Sour Cream and Bacon

Station3
Sliced Tenderloin of Beef with Basil Horseradish Sauce
Goat Cheese and Pesto Toasts * Pistachio Roquefort Grapes

Station 4
Balsamic Marinated Grilled Vegetables with Orzo Pasta
Cuban Bean and Rice Salad * Display of Imported Cheeses

Station 5
Peanut Chicken Satay * Hummus and Baba Ganouj * Tangy Oriental Pasta Salad

Station 6
Szechwan Beef Skewers * Chinese Ginger Soy Apricot Meatballs * Chicken & Scallion Fried Rice

Station 7
Strawberry Frangelica Canapes * Chocolate Almond Tea Cookie
Chocolate Mousse and Raspberry Canapes

Chautauqua-Lake Erie Wine Trail
8419 West Main Road
Westfield, NY 14787

Maple Weekend

The smell of maple syrup cooking will be in the air this weekend and next, as we celebrate Maple Weekend. Maple syrup producers from around the state will have their doors open to the public for tours and tastings at this annual family-friendly event. There are also other events, like pancake breakfasts and horse drawn wagon rides, like the picture above, taken at Merle Maple in Attica last year. Maple Weekend takes place March 21-22 and 28-29 from 10am-4pm each day. Be sure to dress for the weather and wear boots, as farms can be muddy this time of year. For more information visit http://www.mapleweekend.com/

Country Barn Quilt Trail

Discover the country barn quilt trail

Below is a press release I recently received about the Country Barn Quilt Trail. If you're looking for a place to take a Sunday drive, this is a really unique quilt display. I wrote an article about it in October 2007; here is a link to the article http://explorewny.home.att.net/quilttrail.html

PRESS RELEASE: use by March 20, 2009
Contact: Teresa Mitchell, Seaway Trail, 315-646-1000; Wayne Hale, Orleans County Tourism, 585-589-3199

Country Barn Trail Part of Seaway Trail Quilt Show March 21-22

Quilts made of fabric are not the only types of quilts being featured at the Great Lakes Seaway Trail Quilt Show on March 21-22 at the Seaway Trail Discovery Center in Sackets Harbor. A special exhibit of the Orleans County Country Barn Quilt Trail will invite show visitors to explore the Seaway Trail byway and a 22-mile loop tour that features quilt blocks made of wood.

More than 40 painted quilt blocks now adorn the sides of barns in the Town of Kendall, found along the western Lake Ontario stretch of the Seaway Trail between Rochester and Niagara Falls.

Travelers can follow a map or access a cell phone audio tour to find the blocks with names such as The Farmer’s Daughter, Carpenter’s Wheel, Circle the Field and Joseph’s Coat. The phone number to call and a map are available at Partyka Farms Market at 1420 County Line Road in Kendall – about three miles south of the Seaway Trail (Lake Ontario State Parkway Morton/Rt. 272 Exit).

Orleans County Tourism and Partyka Farms Market will have a display for the Orleans County Country Barn Quilt Trail at the Great Lakes Seaway Trail Quilt Show. Orleans County Tourism Director Wayne Hale says farm market owner Lora Partyka is among the local farmers and families that have sponsored the blocks on their barns.

“We share Seaway Trail’s innovative use of storytelling as a method of interpreting our cultural, natural and tourism resources. The Orleans County Country Barn Quilt Trail and its cell phone audio narration, the Great Lakes Seaway Trail Quilt Show, and the series of Seaway Trail outdoor storyteller interpretive panels placed the length of the 518-mile byway are developing modern-day storytelling traditions that add unique dimensions to the Great Lakes Seaway Trail travel experience,” Hale says.

The March 21-22 show also features more than 90 “Hugs for Heroes” quilts honoring America, her soldiers, and Presidents; quilted works by four international quilting author-artists; and a Viewer’s Choice competition of quilts and wallhangings of “My Favorite Seaway Trail Place(s) for $500 in prizes. There will also be demonstrations and vendors.

The Great Lakes Seaway Trail Quilt Show runs 10am to 5pm on Saturday, March 21 and Sunday, March 22 at the Seaway Trail Discovery Center in Sackets Harbor, NY. The show is sponsored by the Seaway Trail Foundation and Orleans County Tourism. Learn more online at http://www.seawaytrail.com/ or call 315-646-1000. The show is a Yellow Ribbon Event for military families. #