Street Photographs 2 - a few hats and a pair of boots

I don’t know, and I don’t know if I want to know, but it seems to me there’s something about the return of hats that puzzles me. I'm not being critical here, just curious. I think a hat is a terrific accessory: it keeps the wind out of the hair; it protects against the cold; it is a sunshade on a bright day; it can be waved to catch someone’s attention. Once upon a time, I used to wear one, and if it wasn't for someone saying to me, the first time she saw me with it off, that she always thought I was bald, I might still wear one. But now, I’m seeing a lot more of them around town.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s not as if everyone is wearing one, it’s just that there are lot more of them on people’s heads than there was a few years ago, and the numbers are going up.

\Here’s a few examples of what I’ve seen the past few days. Three men, two women, and I guess the last one’s a man too. I don’t know if what he’s got on his head is a hat but it sort of looks like a wig on top of a hat. He was in a hurry to get somewhere, or maybe he was in a hurry to get away from somewhere. He went running past me on Park Ave. South near Union Square.

The first picture made me think Natasha Fatale waiting for Boris Badenov – cue the Rocky and Bullwinkle music. Or maybe Greta Garbo. What do I know? And that woman on the bench in Madison Square Park is a 21^st Century Annie Hall with boots to match her hat, black velvet blouse, tweed  jacket and an iPhone. I had to get a close-up of the boots. They are very stylish, indeed. 

The rest? Well you make up your own captions. I had fun taking them. If you are curious, the ones in the park were shot in Madison Square Park, the ones on the street on Madison Ave. between E. 28th and E. 35th Streets. 

Hmm. I wonder if all these people are bald under those hats. 

Finger Lakes Mini-vacation - Day 2 part 5 and Departure

Last photos and a few words. Well, more than a few, but not too many.

Keuka Lake

Ravine at Ravines Wine Cellars

Abel Gonzalez of Ravines

This is it. The end of the line for the mini-vacation in the Finger Lakes. The photos were taken at two wineries and a bed and breakfast. Mostly they are pictures of people doing things they enjoy. The last pictures show the exterior of the John Morris Manor and a view toward the northern end of Cayuga Lake from just in front of the B&B. The other pictures were taken at the Anthony Road Wine Company’s tasting room and the Ravines Wine Cellars’ tasting room, except for one picture of Keuka Lake – which is where Ravines is, and of one of the eponymous ravines. We chose to visit fewer wineries this time, but spend a little more time at the ones we visited, talking with both the pourers and the people around us, who were also tasting.

My overall impression of the wineries and winemakers is that they like making wine, and are proud of the quality they are achieving. A couple of years ago, we attended a wine tasting dinner at the Red Newt Bistro. The winemakers whose wines were being tasted were all in attendance, and we sat at the table with Morton Hallgren, the Ravine’s winemaker and Lisa Hallgren, his wife, co-owner and chef. They were very enthusiastic about their own wines, of course, but what impressed me was how much pleasure they took in the all of the wines we were tasting, and their passion for the region, too. I put it in my mind that I had to get over to see their place, and I’m glad we did, even if I didn’t have a chance to speak with them.

Ann and John Martini are the owners of the Anthony Road Wine Company. I’ve met John a few times at the Union Square Greenmarket. He comes down most weekends to sell his wines, talk to the customers and promote the Finger Lakes wineries in his own way. Meeting him, you just know you have to stop by the winery. It’s situated on a rise above Seneca Lake, with a spectacular view of the lake and the farther shore. It shouldn’t take your mind off the quality of the wine. 

The John Morris Manor Bedand Breakfast is a great place to spend a weekend, or a week, though I've never been there for a week, I am. It is the labor of love of Tony Masullo and John Petronius. They’ve been running it for most of the past decade, and it is what a B&B should be: friendly, inviting, unique and comfortable. I found it while looking for a place to spend a weekend ab0ut five years ago, and we’ve been going back a couple of times a year ever since. I look forward to seeing them, to the homey rooms – each one different for the others, and to Tony’s spectacular breakfasts. I highly recommend the place. The building is a large Federal style house, with a comfortable front and back parlor, and a dining room whose windows look out across the broad lawn toward the lake. The only caveat is this: they have dogs; so if you don’t like dogs, beware. On the other hand, they are most definitely a pet friendly place.

View from the front lawn of the
John Morris Manor

John Morris Manor

Finger Lakes Mini-vacation Day 2 part 4

You might say to me, “what’s the big deal about Geneva, NY? You spent a few hours walking around, and now you’re acting like it’s the second coming of Great Barrington or something.”


 I would say, to you “Chill. You had to be there.”

This wasn’t my first time wandering around Geneva, NY. The first time I drove through this city was a long time ago, when I was at the University of Buffalo and instead of our usual route driving from Buffalo to NYC, we took US 20 east across the state, just to see what there was to see. We drove through all sorts of small towns, some attractive, some almost not there at all. We saw fields of corn and wheat; we saw apple orchards, lakes, power lines, the usual. What we didn’t see on that trip was eagle nests on top of the power line pylons, we didn’t see signs for wineries, micro-distilleries, cider-presses, and so on.

A couple of years ago, we were driving from a Bed and Breakfast in Seneca Falls - the wonderful John Morris Manor, photos of the exterior soon to be posted - to the western shore of Seneca Lake’s Wine Trail. The drive took us through Geneva. I saw a sign for the historical society so turned,  we parked and went into the Prouty-Chew House. Then we walked around the historical district, which is on a hill overlooking the lake on the western side of the town. What we saw was the lovely frame row houses, stately brick homes, elm tree lined streets, and it felt great. The next time we were in the area, we walked around the downtown. I like places that invite you walk around. I might’ve taken photos, I don’t remember. Perhaps I’ll go into the archive at some time and check. The town felt right to me, like a place that might happen soon, rather than a happening place. It was the same on subsequent visits.

Microclimate Wine Bar

Future location of  the
Microclimate Wine Bar

Microclimate Wine Bar

James-Emery Elkin

This time around, I stopped to talk with people as well as look around. Something is definitely going on. The guy leaning on the door is James-Emery Elkins. He came back from California, bought the building he’s standing in, and is building a soon to open wine bar that will focus on wines and their terroirs, including and featuring wines of the Finger Lakes, but not limited to them. It will be called the Microclimate Wine Bar. I look forward to tasting, drinking and eating there.

He told me about Milesand May Furniture Works - should be an ampersand in there but the html keeps changing it to something else. They moved up from Brooklyn – DUMBO I believe, changed their name from SMC Furnishings, bought the former Geneva Cutlery Company, later known as the Geneva Forge factory on Lehigh Street, renamed it the Cracker Factory, turned into their new manufacturing facility and an arts and entertainment center, and that’s attracting businesses into the district.

A little later in the day, visiting a winery on Keuka Lake (Ravines – photos to follow in a day or two), I mentioned my conversation with James with the person pouring for us, and he knew James and was excited about what James is doing.

South of the city, as I previously mentioned, are the wineries. Many of them are making excellent wines from grapes they grow themselves or from dedicated vineyards in the area. If you can’t find the wines at your local wine and liquor shop, search for them online. There are too many to mention here. The NY Cork Report is doing a good job following the winemaking, beer brewing and distilling industry in NY State, and the Finger Lakes in particular.

Anyway, I like Geneva enough to seriously consider it a place to relocate to when I’m ready to give up headhunting and settle down to write, shoot pictures and earn a living doing something else. That’s the future. It doesn’t exist until I make it happen. As always, click on the picture to enlarge it. Right or ctrl-click (cmnd-click on a Mac) to open in a new tab or window.

I’d like to thank Karen Osburn of the Geneva Historical Society for helping me with the name of the cutlery company that was in the Cracker Factory. She went out of her way to get the information for me. The Historical Society is definitely worth a visit when you find yourself in town. 

The backs of houses in the
Historic District

You guys come again
and we'll show you a
really great time!