My article about traveling to New York City by train in Forever Young

Want to travel to New York City by train. Check out my article in the January 2014 edition of Forever Young Magazine.

http://www.foreveryoungwny.com/Forever-Young/January-2014/Getaways-All-Aboard-for-NYC/

My article about things to do this winter in January issue of WNY Family Magazine

Here is a link to my article about fun things to do in the winter, both outdoors and indoors, in the January 2014 issue of Western New York Family Magazine

http://www.bluetoad.com/publication/?i=190167&p=20

My article on the Abbey of the Genesee in the National Catholic Register

RURAL RETREAT. The rural setting of the Abbey of the Genesee and quiet church invite visitors to prayer; the bread shop — stocked with fresh-baked bread and other treats by the monks — is also a draw for visitors. Christine A. Smyczynski      

 

Feast on Monks’ Bread and Prayer in New York State

By Christine A. Smyczynski

 

Nestled in the tiny village of Piffard, among the gently rolling hills of the Genesee River Valley, about 35 miles south of Rochester, N.Y., stands the Abbey of the Genesee, a community of contemplative monks, Cistercians of Strict Observance, commonly known as Trappists. The brothers have dedicated themselves to a cloistered life of prayer and manual labor. They also observe silence, only speaking when necessary.

 

The 35 monks gather for prayer five times a day, beginning at 2:25am and ending in early evening. The public is invited to join them for prayer in the church, which is open daily from 2am-7pm.

On my most recent visit, I joined about two dozen other people in the church. The church is very peaceful, dimly lit on purpose, and silence must be observed. It is the perfect place to come and contemplate all the things on one’s heart.

 

The monks slowly and silently filed in; at the appointed time, a bell rang, and they began singing hymns, which were followed by a reading and the Our Father. They then all filed out in silence.

The Abbey of the Genesee is probably best known for the physical nourishment it offers. When the abbey was first established in 1951, Brother Sylvester, one of the abbey’s founders, began baking bread for the monks and visitors, using his own recipe. Soon, guests started asking to purchase the bread to take home. The monks decided to start a small bakery and began making “monks bread.”

 

The operation grew, and the monks began operating a large modern bakery, which supports the abbey financially to this day. The bread is sold at the abbey’s bread store, as well as in major supermarkets in Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse.

 

“The bread was made fresh this morning,” Steven, the cashier at the abbey’s bread store, told me. It smelled great in the store, and I had a difficult time deciding which kind to buy. Varieties include white, wheat, raisin with cinnamon, sunflower with rolled oats, maple cinnamon, 20-grain, 20-grain with golden raisins and rye. They also make a holiday bread, a sweet loaf with candied fruit peel and cinnamon, during the Christmas and Easter seasons. Because of their unique texture, the breads freeze very well, so visitors stock up.

 

The monks also make a variety of sweets, including brownies and fruit cakes. They also carry fruit spreads, jams and candies produced at other monasteries, as well as locally made Once Again nut butters, at the store. They even have several cookbooks, most written by monks. Can’t make it to the abbey? The bread and other items can be ordered online at MonksBread.com.

In the foyer outside the bread store, a variety of books about saints and other Catholic topics are available for purchase. Keeping up with technology, they even had “the Bible to Go” — the New Testament on a USB flash drive.

 

If spending an hour or two at the abbey doesn’t seem like enough time, silent monastic-style retreats are offered to both individuals and groups.

“These are not themed retreats,” said Father Jerome Machar, prior of the abbey. “People are encouraged to just come and pray with us.”

Retreatants are encouraged to participate in the daily prayers; however, they are not obligated to. Time is allowed for quiet contemplation and walks on the grounds of the abbey. The retreats are offered throughout the year at the on-site retreat houses.

 

As I put the fragrant bread in my car, I knew I couldn’t possibly wait to get home to have some. I sampled both the rye and the 20-grain. Then, eyeing the nut butter I bought, I remembered that I had some plastic cutlery in the car, so I made myself a nut-butter sandwich on 20-grain slices. Delicious.

Reminder Local Author's Day tomorrow

The annual local author's day at the Buffalo History Museum (Formerly Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society is tomorrow from 12-2pm. Hope to see you there! It's located on the corner of Elmwood Avenue and Notingham Terr, right near the Albright Knox and Buffalo State College

Good prime rib dinner

My husband and I had dinner at Eckl's in Orchard Park this evening. I had gotten a gift certificate a few months back and we finally got an opportunity to use it. The service was fast and friendly and the food was really good. We both had prime rib, which is only served on Saturday and Sunday. They are also noted for their beef on weck sandwiches; we will have to try those next time.

Their house salad, made with a hot bacon dressing is good, and I tried one of their signature cocktails, a raspberry sour, yum!

Eckl's, 4936 Ellicott Road, Orchard Park, 662-2262. They are open daily 4:30-9:30.

Local author event planned for November 30th

Here's a press release I received from the Buffalo History Museum about the local author event that I'm participating in that will take place next Saturday Nov. 30th from 12-2pm. Hope to see you there!

 

THE BUFFALO HISTORY MUSEUM 

PRESENTS 10^th ANNUAL
LOCAL AUTHOR BOOK SIGNING

  More Than 50 Local Authors on Hand to Autograph Books 

Buffalo, N.Y. – Nov.13 –The Buffalo History Museum offers a fun holiday shopping  at its 10^th annual local author book signing event on Saturday, November 30, from 12:00 noon to 2:00 p.m. at the Museum, located at One Museum Court at Elmwood Avenue and Nottingham Terrace intersection.

More than 50 local authors will be on hand to meet and greet readers and sign purchased books. This year’s event includes, but is not limited to, the following local authors:

Amy Ludwig VanDerwater, Angelo Congilio, Anthony Rudnicki, Brian Meyer,  Mark Ciemcioch, Budd Bailey, Charity Vogel, Chef Bruce Wieszala, Christine Smyczynski,

Cynthia VanNess, Dan Murphy, David Brown, David Smeltz, Deborah Gromek, Donald Mang, Donna Hok,e Dr. Mark Donnelly, Ellen Dunwoodie, Erno Rossi, Frank Kowsky, George Kunz, Gerald Halligan, Christa Glennie Seychew, Graham Millar, Gretchen Duling, Jan Sheridan, Jessica Saddleson, John Allen, John Fagant, John Koerner, John Percy, Josef N. Ferri, Julianna Fiddler-Woite, Kate Karyus Quinn, Lorna Czarnota, Marlene Young, Mary Ann Giordano, Mason Winfield, Matt Gyrta, Mike Vogel, Nancy Mingus, Nellie Moran,Nicholas & Zoie Kin, Paul Moore, Penelope Ploughman, Renee Oubre, Richard Feltoe, Rick Ohler, Steve Cichon, Sue Knott, Tim Bohen, Timothy Shannon, Wendy Essrow, William Kae

 

In addition to books, the Museum Shop offers unique Buffalo-themed gifts, including jewelry, fine art prints, maps, educational toys, and special 1901 Pan-American Exposition-themed items. Many items are crafted by local artists and or made in western New York.   Museum members will receive 10% off discounts on many items

The Local Author Book Signing Event is free and open to the public and parking is complimentary and convenient. For more information, the public may call The Buffalo History Museum at (716) 873-9644 ext. 0. Find us facebook and twitter. Visit the website: www.buffalohistory.org 

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The Buffalo History Museum is Western New York’s premier historical organization, serving since its founding in 1862 to collect, research, interpret, and share the Niagara Frontier’s rich history. Its collections include more than 100,000 artifacts, 200,000 photographs, and 20,000 books. The Buffalo History Museum annually presents a wide array of programs, exhibits, tours, outdoor events, and activities for all ages.

Historical Hull House - Forever Young - November 2013 - Buffalo, NY

Read about the Hull House in the November issue of Forever Young
Historical Hull House - Forever Young - November 2013 - Buffalo, NY