'Roses & Rosés' gala set for Sonnenberg

Aerial view of the Sonnenberg estate.

CANANDAIGUA, NY -- Organizers of the 4th annual "Roses & Rosés" wine and dine gala at Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion are promising 2,500 roses in bloom for the June 13 event.

The event will open Sonnenberg's "Rose Week" (June 13-19), showcasing flowers, wines and New York-grown foods. Restaurants, chefs and wineries from the region will feature their specialties for attendees.

Wineries scheduled to participate this year:

• Moore Winery
• Arbor Hill Grapery & Winery
• Casa Larga Vineyards
• Heron Hill Winery
• Billsboro Winery
• Dr. Frank's Vinifera Wine Cellars
• Anthony Road Winery
• Deer Run Winery
• White Springs Estate Winery
• Lakewood Vineyards
• King Ferry Winery
• Eagle Crest Vineyards
• McGregor Vineyards & Winery
• Goose Watch Winery
• Sheldrake Point Winery
• Fox Run Vineyards
• Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards
• Eleven Lakes Winery
• Glenora Wine Cellars

Silent auction items will be up for bids. Admission is $30 in advance,m $40 at the door, with member discounts. Pre-paid reservations may be made online or by calling (585) 394-4922.

Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion is a State Historic Parj and one of the nation's longest-surviving Victorian Era estates. The Queen Anne-style mansion was built in 1887 as a summer home for New York financier Frederick Ferris Thompson. It now is operated as a non-profit organization. It is located at 151 Charlotte Street.

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Golden Nose: Be a wine judge for a day

CANANDAIGUA -- Have you ever wanted to be a wine judge, if just for one event? The Golden Nose Award can help you with that.

The Friday-Saturday, June 4-5, event will allow consumers to award the best wines from the Finger Lakes region during sampling at the New York Wine & Culinary Center.

Visitors also will be able to learn techniques of wine judging from local winemakers, and then award medals during a professionally-run competition. In addition to the awarding of gold, silver and bronze medals, a special “Finger Lakes Riesling Champion” will be crowned by consumer judges.

Golden Nose originally was sponsored by the Seneca Lake Wine Trail and held in Corning from 2006 to 2008. The event was suspended was suspended in 2009, but revived last year by the New York Wine & Culinary Center. Volunteers from the Seneca, Cayuga, Keuka and Canandaigua wine trails staff the event.

The weekend schedule:

Friday, June 3

7-9 p.m.: Golden Nose Meet-and-Greet Kitchen Social

Saturday, June 4

8:30-9 a.m.: Registration and continental breakfast
9-9:30 a.m.: Judge welcome and "Introduction to Judging" session
9:30-11:20 a.m.: Judge training
11:20 a.m.-Noon: Buffet lunch
Noon-4 p.m.: Golden Nose Competition
4-5 pm.: Riesling champion judging
7-9 p.m.: Golden Nose Award Celebration

The Wine & Culinary Center is located at 800 South Main Street, on the shore of Canandaigua Lake. For ticketing, lodging and other information, call (585) 394-7070.

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Big Apple no longer a big ashtray

NEW YORK -- Now that the official ban on smoking in many of the city's public spaces has gone into effect, the fallout is as dense as a cloud of ... smoke.

The ban, which began this Monday, prohibits anyone from lighting  up in parks, beaches, public plazas and on boardwalks.

The Bloomberg administration says the ban will protect people from second-hand smoke and help make parks and beaches cleaner. Violators are subject to a $50 fine for each violation, although the city is hoping peer pressure plays as big a part in the success of the ban as does police presence.

Some critics of the law say it's a matter of civil liberties. Others say the definition of such terms as "public plazas" is unclear. However, those who object to second-hand smoke and first-hand litter seem to like the ban, which comes a decade after the city banned smoking in bars, restaurants and other public indoor spaces.

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Troy riverside redevlopment project unveiled

DRAWINGS BY F.X. FOWLE

 A BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF MONUMENT SQUARE AND THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT.

TROY, NY -- Mayor Harry Tutunjian today confirmed a poorly-kept secret -- that a company called Troy City Center LLC had won the bidding to redevelop the former City Hall site on Monument Square, a $31.5 million project that is expected to increase both residential and commercial property in the heart of the city.

Troy City Center LLC is a coalition of the Nigro Companies Inc, of Albany and The Richman Group Development Corporation of Connecticut. The latter actually would own the land and buildings.

The plan calls for extensive space for restaurant and bar activity, along with a piazza that would be a pedestrian extension of Broadway. That thoroughfare would be flanked by a pair of buildings containing 106 apartment units and ground-level retail space.

"It is a rare opportunity to be able to transform the very character of a city and its downtown," Tutunjian said of this Rensselaer County city. "Today, we are unveiling a vision that embraces Troy’s pedestrian-friendly personality, evokes our historic architecture and quite literally looks toward the waterfront as the future of economic development."

City Hall being demolished.

Right now, a row of businesses on River Street, beginning with the Dinosaur Bar-B-Que just south of the Green Island Bridge and ending with the River Street Cafe just north of the bridge is the only real swath of drinking-and-eating places along the river. Included in that row are Ryan's Wake, Jose Malone's, Cafe Deli-icious and Brown's Brewing.

Elizabeth Young, executive director of the Troy Business Improvement District (BID), quickly posted her reaction on her blog, saying "It is quite simply a transformative proposal -- a very serious proposal -- that will be the push we need to take off. Our speed has been steadily building over the past several years downtown -- projects big and small have helped us accelerate -– but this 31 million dollar development, at the very heart of Downtown, is the lift that will take us airborne."

The style of the proposed new buildings would fit into the neighborhood -- something the hideous City Hall structure never did -- by complementing such existing structures as the Rice and Cannon buildings. And, the idea of extending Broadway to the river for pedestrians is a gem.

 

THE BROADWAY EXTENSION, SEEN FROM THE RIVER

 

THE RIVERSIDE PORTION OF THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT PROJECT.

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Finger Lakes revival story part of a series

• From FingerLakes.com

A Finger Lakes success story of lakes, land, people and wildlife will unfold before your eyes in "Back From the Brink: The Story of Hemlock and Canadice Lakes," the inaugural program of the Finger Lakes Museum.

The programs will take attendees on a journey spanning 150 years as experts trace the history of Canadice and Hemlock lakes, the rescue of the Bald Eagle and the permanent protection of the lakes for all to enjoy.

The series includes three programs, which will be presented June 4, 16 and 23 at the Rochester Museum & Science Center, on July 2, 14 and 28 at Keuka College and Aug. 6 and 18 and Sept. 1 at the Finger Lakes Wine Center in Ithaca. The series is open to the public at no charge, although advance registration is requested online or by calling (315) 595-2200.

In addition, family-oriented outdoor events such as lake paddles, hiking and a plant and folklore walk also are being offered.

John Adamski, chairman of the museum, summarized the focus of the programs: "Learn how these two lakes evolved to become wild and undeveloped; how America’s bald eagle was saved from the brink of extinction, beginning at Hemlock Lake; and how inspiring community action, spanning more than a century, has protected both lakes, so they now offer visitors a glimpse of the past when all the Finger Lakes were wild."

In July 2010, the state completed a landmark conservation agreement with the City of Rochester and the Nature Conservancy by purchasing Hemlock and Canadice lakes and nearly 7,000 surrounding acres, creating the Hemlock-Canadice State Forest. These lakes, the last two undeveloped Finger Lakes, now are classified as forever wild.

"This was, without a doubt, the most important land acquisition project the state has undertaken outside of the Adirondack and Catskill Parks in more than a generation," said Pete Grannis, then commissioner of the state Department of Environmental Conservation.

The series will begin with "From the Brink of Extinction: The Bald Eagles of Hemlock and Canadice, at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 4, in the Eisenhart Auditorium at the Rochester Museum & Science Center, 657 East Avenue.

[Go here for additional information.]

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Iconic Elaine's, hangout of the famous, closing

Woody Allen with Elaine Kaufman

NEW YORK -- Elaine's, the iconic Manhattan bar and restaurant that was known as much for its clientele as its food, is closing next week.

Founder Elaine Kaufman died on December 3, 2010. Diane Baker, the restaurant manager, inherited the business and said she would try to maintain it as long as possible. That effort lasted barely six months.

Elaine's was located at 1703 Second Avenue. Among its regular patrons was Woody Allen (shown with her at right), one of numerous celebrities -- many in the literary world -- Kaufman protected from paparazzi who seldom bothered anyone because of her admonitions.

“It’s kind of a cliché, but it really is the end of an era,” Stephen McFadden, a regular at Elaine’s and an owner of another bar, McFadden’s Saloon at 800 Second Avenue, told The New York Times. “It was a full-blooded clubhouse. There isn’t a place in town that I think comes close to it right now, and as hard as the waiters and everyone tried to keep it going, it was like a wonderful candle that went out.”

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Brewery restaurant chain entering NYS

BUFFALO, NY -- A Tennessee-based restaurant chain plans to open its first New York State location in the fall.

Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant plans to open in the Walden Galleria in Buffalo in October.

The original opened in 1988 in Palo Alto, CA. It was acquired by the Big River Brewing Company in 1999 and since has expanded to 29 restaurants across the country and three locations in Taiwan.

The chain brews its own German-style lagers. Its seafood dishes include seared tuna, cedar plank salmon and lobster-and-shrimp mac 'n' cheese. Its menu also includes steak frites, lobster-and-shrimp tacos, and sweet-and-spicy cashew chicken stir fry.

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Coxsackie 'Riverside Brewfest' this Saturday

COXSACKIE, NY -- A reminder: The inaugural "Riverside Brewfest" is scheduled to roll out this Saturday in Riverside Park, at the end of Mansion Street.

The event will run from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $40 at the gate, or $35 in advance at The Cask and Rasher, 245 Mansion Street. Phone: (518) 444-8016. Jarrett Lane, owner of the Cask and Rasher, created the event.

Breweries included in the event include Chatham Brewing, Blue Point, Left Hand Brewing, Crossroads Brewing, Keegan Ales, Southern Tier, Brewery Ommegang, Dogfish Head, Troegs Brewing, Harpoon, Saranac, Lagunitas, Lake Placid Pub and Brewery, Stone Brewing and Long Trail.

The Village of Coxsackie is located in Greene County.

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'UK Beer Weekend' unusual NYC event

NEW YORK -- There are certain countries where brewing is so deeply embedded in the culture and history that they can't be pried loose. The United Kingdom is one of those.

Jimmy's No. 43, located at 43 East 7th Street in Manhattan, will be offering a broad range of Brit brews during the "UK Beer Weekend" scheduled for Friday and Saturday, June 11-12. More than 20 small-production English and Scottish beers will be featured, including limited vintage and cask beers. Admission covers tasting of all the beers, as well as typical pub-style snacks such as cheeses, sausages, bacon, and bread.

Sessions to choose: Friday, June 10, 2 to 5 p.m.; Saturday, June 11, 1 to 4 p.m. The $35 admission is for one of the two events. Advance reservations are required.

The tasting lineup:

Firkins (more to be announced)

Harviestoun Old Engine Oil

Kegs

Harviestoun Bitter & Twisted
Harviestoun Old Engine Oil
Thornbridge Hall Jaipur IPA
Thornbridge Hall Raven Black IPA

Bottles

Burton Bridge Empire India Pale Ale
Burton Bridge Old Expensive
George Gale & Company Conquest Ale Masterbrew
George Gale & Company Millenium Brew
George Gale & Company Prize Old Ale
Hambleton Ales Nightmare Yorkshire Porter
Hambleton Ales Toleration Ale (Gluten Free)
Harvey & Son A. Le Coq's Imperial Extra Dbl Stout
Harvey & Son Elizabethan Ale
J.W. Lees Harvest Ale
J.W. Lees Harvest Ale in Calvados - Matured in Calvados Casks
J.W. Lees Harvest Ale in Lagavulin Casks - Matured in Lagavulin Casks
J.W. Lees Harvest Ale in Willoughby's Finest Reserve Port - Matured in Reserve Port Casks
J.W. Lees Harvest Ale in Willoughby's Rayoso Cream Sherry - Matured in Cream Sherry Casks
J.W. Lees Manchester Star 1884
J.W. Lees Moonraker
RCH Brewery Old Slug Porter
RCH Brewery Pitchfork Bitter
Thornbridge Halcyon Green Hop
Thornbridge Jaipur IPA
Thornbridge Kipling South Pacific Pale Ale
Thornbridge St. Petersburg Imperial Stout
Wye Valley Brewery Dorothy Goodbody's Stout

Possible extras

Special vintage J.W. Lees Harvest Ales and George Gale's Prize Old Ales

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Craft brewery tours available in NYC

NEW YORK -- The craft beer renaissance that is sweeping the city is centered in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, in keeping with the city's brewing history.

Now, fans of such brews will be able to sample artisanal beers from four local brewers as well as get a first-hand look at how craft beers are made. They also will be served appropriate snacks and food pairings.

To top it off, they will be driven to the breweries in a tour vehicle that seats up to 20. The tour will begin at Chelsea Brewery, Chelsea Piers (Pier 59) in Manhattan, with drop-off stops made as requested at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, Grand Central Terminal, Empire State Building, Union Square/Heartland Brewery, and Chelsea Brewery.

The tour will cover Chelsea Brewery, Spuyten Duyvil, Brooklyn Brewery and Bohemian Hall. The tour will begin at 11:45 a.m. and last 4-5 hours. No one under age 21 is permitted to participate. Advance reservations are required for every date the tour is offered (listed on the website along with ticket details.)

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HV Art & Wine fest this Saturday

TARRYTOWN -- Twelve wineries, 18 artists and a lineup of experts in the fields of food, wine and art are headlining the inaugural "Hudson Valley Art & Wine: A Grand Celebration," which is scheduled for 1 p.m. this Saturday at the historic Lyndhurst estate here.

The festival, originally scheduled as a two-day event, was put together by Hudson Valley Wine magazine to pair up artists with wineries as their inspiration to create original works of art during the past year. The results will be unveiled here at the event. Guests will be able to sample local wines, foods prepared by a lineup of artisans and chefs from the region, and view the artworks. Live music and seminars also will be offered. Proceeds from the event will go toward the ongoing activities at Lyndhurst, a National Trust Historic Site located at 635 South Broadway. It will be held rain or shine.

Lyndhurst is a Gothic Revival mansion built in 1838. It once was the country estate of Jay Gould, the legendary financier and railroad tycoon, as well as New York Mayor William Paulding and entrepreneur George Merritt. It is situated on 67 acres overlooking the Hudson River, and was given to the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 1961.

Weather and planning difficulties forced the elimination of a planned Friday evening opening gala, but the Saturday schedule will go on as planned. Go here for tickets and other information.

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Monroe winery hosting 1812 Peace Garden

Typical IPGF peace garden marker.

HAMLIN, NY -- The War of 1812 ended 196 years ago, but it still is making news.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held Tuesday for a peace garden commemorating the war, at Mayer's Lake Ontario Winery & Bistro. Mayer's also is planning a nautical-themed tasting room that will feature 1812 artifacts and battle murals.

"This is an important day for Mayer's," said David Bower Jr., owner of the Monroe County complex. "There is so much history in this area, and people just don't know that much about it."

The Bower family donated 11,500 square feet of land at their vineyard and tasting room on Hamlin-Parma Townline for the project. Materials and design were donated by Terry Tree and RM Landscape. Other funds for the project will be raised through donations.

The garden is part of a trail of Bicentennial 1812 gardens planned by the International Peace Garden Foundation to commemorate the war and celebrate the peace that has existed between Canada and the U.S. since the conflict. Canada was part of the British empire during its war with the U.S.

The garden trail runs along Lake Ontario and the Niagara River on the American side and along Lake Ontario and sites in southwestern Ontario on the Canadian side. Each garden will have a plaque describing the site's significance. And, signs will be installed along the trail to help guide tourists.

Work also began today on Monroe County's second 1812 garden, at the Charlotte Genesee Lighthouse in Rochester near the Genesee River.

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George Washington's beer coming back to life

DOCUMENT IMAGE COURTESY OF THE N.Y. PUBLIC LIBRARY

NEW YORK -- First we had the re-creation of George Washington's rye whiskey from his own recipe. Now we're about to have his beer formula brought back to life.

The New York Public Library, which owns the beer recipe, announced today it is teaming up with the Coney Island Brewing Company in Brooklyn to make 25 gallons to celebrate the library's centennial this year. It will be called "Fortitude's Founding Father Brew."

Unfortunately for fans of craft brews, it will not be commercially available. Fortunately, members of the public will be able to sample it on the beer on Wednesday, May 18, at Rattle 'N' Hum, a Manhattan bar, and at the library's 100th birthday gala on Monday, May 23.

The handwritten recipe is part of a collection of Washington documents housed at the library's Stephen A. Schwarzman Building on Fifth Avenue.

"We are thrilled to transform Washington's recipe into an even more complex and flavorful robust porter using a delicious array of the best small batch dark malts and hop varieties to produce a truly spectacular celebration for the contemporary beer connoisseur," said Jeremy Cowan, founder of Shmaltz Brewing Company, the parent of Coney Island Brewing Company.

Here's the first president's recipe "To Make Small Beer" (letters in parentheses have been added for clarity):

Take a large Siffer [Sifter] full of Bran Hops to your Taste. Boil these 3 hours then strain out 30 Gall[ons] into a cooler put in 3 Gall[ons] Molasses while the Beer is Scalding hot or rather draw the Melasses (sic) into the cooler & St[r]ain the Beer on it while boiling Hot. let this stand till it is little more than Blood warm then put in a quart of Yea[s]t if the Weather is very Cold cover it over with a Blank[et] & let it Work in the Cooler 24 hours then put it into the Cask—leave the bung open till it is almost don[e] Working—Bottle it that day Week it was Brewed."

'Made In NY' a 2-for-1 Upstate event

SACKETS HARBOR, NY -- The "Taste of New York" and the "1812 Beer & Wine Festival" are no more. The two annual events have been combined into a new entity, called "Made In New York."

The Saturday, July 2, event will do what the others had done, which is to draw visitors to this Jefferson County village on Lake Ontario where New York-made wines, beers, foods and crafts will be showcased, along with live entertainment by bands formed in New York.

The event, hosted by Lawler Realty and the Society for the Preservation of Madison Barracks, will raise money for Meals On Wheels of Greater Watertown.

The Spin Doctors

The headlining band is the Spin Doctors, a group that had several chart hits in the 1990s. Also performing at the event will be Clayton, NY, natives Joe and Albert Bouchard, founding members of Blue Oyster Cult. They will perform with their new band, Blue Coup. Watertown-based Wirlwind also will perform at the event.

The event will begin at 11 a.m. at the Madison Barracks Polo Field. Wirlwind and Blue Coup will perform at 4 p.m. and the Spin Doctors at 7 p.m. The entrance fee has not yet been set.

Cheryl M. Payne, president of the Sackets Harbor Chamber of Commerce, said combining two events into one was necessary because of the lack of proper resources and people to continue both.

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NYC 'restaurant week' for wine lovers

NEW YORK -- By now, you've probably gotten the hint: Restaurant weeks are in, everywhere in New York State. So, anything resembling another one needs a hook to get noticed.

"80 Sips Challenge" has that hook. The event, created by the wine industry digital media company Bottlenotes Inc., will run from Monday, May 16, through Friday, May 27. It's being billed as "a restaurant week for wine lovers." During the 12-day "week," wine enthusiasts are encouraged to sample six wines at their choice of more than a dozen New York restaurants.

The event was conceived by Bottlenotes founders Alyssa Rapp and Kim Donaldson as a spinoff of their "Around the World in 80 Sips" national event series. At those events, held several times each year in major cities across the U.S., up to 800 consumers taste 80 or more wines from the world’s top and emerging wine regions.

The "80 Sips" idea was tried in a pilot program in Chicago in January, but the New York event is the official launch. OpenTable.com is the restaurant reservation coordinator for the event.

To complete the Challenge, participants must leave a tasting note and rating for each of the featured wines -- Brancott from New Zealand, Conway from California, and Esterhazy from Austria -- and any wine from the region of Roussillon in Southern France online.

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Spa's Gideon Putnam continues re-do

Renovated lobby (l) and the historic exterior.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY -- The latest portion of the wholesale makeover of the Gideon Putnam Resort & Spa is nearly complete.

The renovations, part of a $20 million project by management company Delaware North Companies in partnership with Saratoga Casino & Raceway.

Major upgrades include the restaurant, bar, entrance, fitness center and spa, and the guestroom re-do is nearly complete. 

The Gideon Putnam, a National Historic Landmark Hotel, is part of the operating company's and raceway’s 20-year contract with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation. Renovations, which began in 2008, have exceeded $6 million so far.

The Georgian Revival-style hotel opened in 1935. It is located in Saratoga Spa State Park, home to several museums, golf courses and the Saratoga Performing Arts Center.

The full-service Putnam’s Restaurant & Bar has a new bar and new bistro-style seating. The entire restaurant has been remodeled except for the walls, still adorned with the original murals, handpainted in 1939 to provide a panoramic backdrop of Adirondack scenery and turn-of-the-century Saratoga Springs.

Executive Chef Brian Sterner recently was designated a Certified Executive Chef (CEC) by the American Culinary Federation. His seasonal menus offer light bites such as "Figs In A Blanket"  (dried black mission figs, honey almond mascarpone crepe and peppered arugula) as well as free range meats and sustainable seafood.

Chef Brian Sterner

Sterner has been with Delaware North since 2005 when he joined the company as executive chef at Top of the Falls Restaurant in Niagara Falls State Park. He came here when Delaware North began managing the property in 2008.

Prior to Delaware North, Sterner cooked at The Steelhead Irish Pub and Restaurant in Lewiston, NY, Hotel Viking in Newport, RI, and the Copperfield Inn at North Creek, NY.

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Cayuga 'Wine & Herb Festival' begins friday

Member wineries on the Cayuga Wine Trail will be celebrating the 19th annual "Wine & Herb Festival" Friday through Sunday this week.

Ticket-holders will receive a wine glass and a potted plant of either an herb or vegetable grown by Dickman Farms of Auburn, a plant carrier and a garden plan with growing hints.

The visitors will receive an herb or vegetavle plant at each winery, as well as a plant carrier and recipe cards. This year's plants include big bertha pepper, boxwood basil, Cajun belle (hot pepper), Cherokee purple tomato, cilantro, fern leaf dill, Napa grape tomato, oregano, rosemary, sage, savory, tarragon, Thai basil, thyme, white lavender and yellow sweet onion.

The schedule:

• Friday: 1 to 5 p.m. at King Ferry, Long Point, Montezuma and Six Mile Creek. Tickets still are available by calling (800) 684-5217.

• Saturday/Sunday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., all 16 wineries. Tickets can be purchased by calling (800) 684-5217, or at any area Wegmans market.

Ticket prices vary. Complete details here.

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Auburn park project will add restaurant

Emerson Park Pavilion

AUBURN, NY -- The historic Emerson Park Pavilion renovation project will, among other things, change it from merely an event space for rent to one that offers a restaurant and full-service operation.

A ceremonial groundbreaking was held Monday by officials of Cayuga County and the Fred L. Emerson Foundation. The $4 million project, financed primarly by the foundation with the county to provide labor and other in-kind assistance, is expected to be completed by next May, an ambitious one-year timetable.

A new main kitchen and satellite kitchen, a small private dining area with an outdoor deck, and other improvements are planned for the century-old pavilion that anchors the park sitting on the shore of Owasco Lake.

H&J Hospitality of Ithaca will provide exclusive catering services at the pavilion after submitting the winning bid on a three-year contract. H&J also owns Joe's Restaurant in Ithaca. The company will hold an event expo on Sunday, July 24, at the pavilion to meet local businesses in the industry and meet prospective clients. It is expected to begin hiring restaurant staff next April.

In its presentation to the county legislature last fall, H&J President Jamie Ciaschi revealed plans to offer dinner-and-a-show packages with the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse and partner with the Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES culinary program. He projected hiring between 20 and 25 employees locally and promised to work with local vendors whenever possible.

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'Taste of Finger Lakes' has 30 tasting stations

CANANDAIGUA, NY --  The "Taste of the Finger Lakes" will be offering 30 tasting stations for wines and foods at The Inn on the Lake when the 10th annual event takes place on Thursday, May 12.

The event, set for 6 to 9 p.m., will offer a lineup of Finger Lakes restaurants, wineries, craft brewers and specialty food vendors. In addition to the tasting booths, attendees will be able to bid on live and silent auction items. Live music will be provided by Greg Kane.

People’s Choice awards will be given in five categories: Best Taste, Best Sip, Best Specialty, Best Display and the Grand Prize Best Pairing.

Proceeds from event benefit the Canandaigua Business Improvement District, a non-profit organization that promotes, beautifies and improves downtown.

Tickets are $40 in advance or $45 at the door. They are on sale at Canandaigua National Bank’s Downtown Canandaigua and Lakeshore Locations or through the Canandaigua BID.
Confirmed participating vendors:

• Anthony Road Wine Company
• Arbor Hill Grapery
• Billsboro Winery
• Brown Hound Bistro
• Casa Larga Vineyards
• Deer Run Vineyards
• Eagle Crest Winery
• Fiddlehead Concepts
• Finger Lakes Beer Company
• Hartmann’s Old World Sausage
• Heron Hill Winery
• Hotel Clarence/Divine Kitchen & Bar
• Inspire Moore Winery
• King Ferry Winery
• Long Point Winery
• Muranda Cheese
• Naked Dove Brewing Company
• New York Wine & Culinary Center
• North Shore Grille
• Peppers Deli & Pasta
• Red Jacket Orchards
• Schooners Restaurant
• Simply Crepes
• The Inn on The Lake
• Wagner Vineyards
• Wegmans

The Inn is located at 770 South Main Street. Phone:  (585) 396-0300.

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'Crawfish Festival' at NYS Fairgrounds

SYRACUSE, NY -- The "pop-up" restaurant fad is big in New York City and environs. Now, an event that technically could be put in that same classification is coming here.

It's the 4th annual Crawfish Festival, which this year moves from the Inner Harbor to the Chevy Court at the New York State Fairgrounds for its one-day stand. In case of rain, the event will move into the Center of Progress building.

The fundraiser, scheduled for 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. this Saturday (May 7), supports Operation Southern Comfort (OSC), an all-volunteer organization based in Central New York but assisting people of the Gulf Coast hit by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita by rebuilding homes, one at a time.

The event will serve up an estimated 2,500 pounds of boiled crawfish and about 400 pounds of Gulf shrimp, according to OSC organizer Norm Andrzejewski.

Food vendors scheduled to participate are Dinosaur Bar-B-Q, Domino's Pizza, Joe's Restaurant, Henry's Snack Shed, Skinny Concessions, Mr. Whippy, Juicy Freeze, Walking Tacos, Pig Nix and Change of Pace. Several live bands are on the program as well.

The Fairgrounds are located at 581 State Fair Boulevard. Phone: (800) 475-3247 or (315) 487-7711. Admission and parking are free.

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Newcomers sweep TAP NY competition

HUNTER, NY -- A pair of comparatively new breweries swept the major cup awards at this weekend's 14th annual TAP NY Brewer's Festival competition.

Barrier Brewing of Oceanside, Long Island, which was founded in 2009, earned the F.X. Matt Memorial Cup, emblematic of "Best Brewery in New York State" status. The micro operation is run by Evan Klein and Craig Frymark.

Crossroads Brewing of Athens, Greene County, which was founded in 2010, won the Matthew Vassar Brewers' Cup as "Best Brewery in the Hudson Valley." In addition, it won  the new John Calen memorial Award for "Best English Style Pale Ale." The company was founded by Ken Landin and Janine Bennett.

Barrier Brewing is located at 3595 Lawson Boulevard, Oceanside. Phone: (516) 316-4429.
Crossroads Brewing is located at 1 Second Street, Athens. Phone: (518) 945-2337.


Brown’s Whiskey Porter, made by Brown's Brewing Co. of Troy, was named "Best Beer in New York State" for the second consecutive year after earning a silver medal in 2008.

Other award winners:

• New York State category:  Silver: Cortland Brewing Flight Level 410 Olde Ale; Bronze: C.H. Evans Hefeweizen.

• Hudson Valley category: Gold: High Point Brewing Double Platinum Hefeweizen; Silver: Brown's Brewing, Whiskey Barrel Porter; Bronze: Crossroads Brewing Outrage IPA.

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Shawangunk seeks logo opinions

The Shawangunk Wine Trail is a nice place to visit, but I've never cared for its rather ho-hum logos -- either the white-on-green roadway marker or the one that encourages us to "Get Gunked" (blech!).

Now, it appears consumers can have some say in what might well succeed those logos. The Trail is running an online survey evaluating four different designs, each with a black-and-white version and a glassware version. For those of you unfamiliar with the Trail, it consists of 11 wineries and wends its way down the Hudson Valley on both sides of the Hudson River.

If you want to add your opinion to the survey, just click here. Here are the four candidates, shown in both color and black-and-white versions.

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