Seneca Lake Wine Tour

I took my 2nd wine trip to Seneca Lake this year. I definitely felt it was much better than the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail I took last year. The wineries are much newer, and have much more varieties available. The area is also very beautiful, which is another great reason to visit. 

Seneca Lake Harbor is beautiful and the water is so blue, really lovely 

We had lunch at Belhurst Castle which I was really excited to visit, but overall not that impressed.

My lunch was not even worth photographing, the food other folks had looked better. It may have been because we were on a tour, our food was pretty mediocre to me. 

The outside is beautiful, and I am glad I visited but not sure I would go back. 

A chandelier made out of wine bottles is fun 

Necklaces you purchase when on a wine tour ( I did not however) 

I love pretty wine bottles as they make great vases for flowers after all the wine has been enjoyed! 

This was Magnus Ridge Winery which was a really gorgeous place. 

The wines were nice but I ended up buying cheese here as they had some really tasty flavors. 

Magnus Ridge is really a lovely setting done very well 

The Seneca Harbor Wine Center had the tasty Chocolate Lab wine which I did take home and was thrilled to see available in my local wine shop as well. 

They had us taste this wine mixed with others and it was amazing. Very good on it's own but really good mixed with other varieties such as Autumn Frost Strawberry White Zinfandel or Blackberry Merlot.

Lovely to see and taste champagne as well here - very large bottles for parties 

This was on the grounds of Belhurst Castle and was really beautiful 

I really enjoyed this area more so and this part of New York is really quite beautiful scenery. People come to the Finger Lakes region for wine all year long and I can see why. I may do another tour again in the future, but I am glad I finally got to see what all the talk was about. It is a lovely day trip and if you are a wine lover, it will make you very happy indeed! 

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10 Best Halloween Costume Shops in New York City

I can't say Halloween is my favorite holiday. When I was little, my Mom actually made all my costumes and they were pretty cool. She had quite a knack for doing things like that. I never did well in Singer Sewing School, just wasn't my thing. I would be more happy to purchase something, but not a plastic get-up from some basic store. Something unique, cool and maybe even classy! In New York City, there are so many options and even the vintage shops are a great place to get some neat apparel and accessories. The Manhattan Vintage Show is held the end of October, great place for guys and gals to find some very cool costumes!!

In no particular order, here is my top 10 list :

Spirit Halloween 
Ricky's Halloween Pop Up 
Screaming Mimi's 
Abracadabra Superstore
Patricia Field 
Early Halloween 
Trash and Vaudeville
Frank Bee Costume
New York Costumes
Manhattan Vintage Show

What was your favorite costume as a child? Mine was a princess, of course! My Dad made my wand and crown with cardboard covered with tin foil. My parents were pretty crafty folks!!

Bill Johnston's Pirate Days in Alexandria Bay New York

Our roving reporter Peggy visited the Alexnadria Bay area of New York a few months ago. She attended the Bill Johnston Pirate Days and I thought with Halloween tomorrow, this would be a good time for you to visit. How gorgeous does this photo above look? I love the US and Canada flags flying in the wind.  

Another beautiful shot as that water is so so blue !!  

It looks so relaxing here, don't you think?  The St Lawrence River is quite beautiful. 

This is near the 1,000 islands and that is Boldt Castle in the background which is a great place to tour. They are still restoring the castle, but, many areas are now complete that you can tour and enjoy.  

Pirates Days runs for 10 days with family fun and special events. Bill Johnston was a renegade after the Patriots War, who blew up the British steamer, Sir Robert Peel, hid among the 1000 Islands, and was hunted by both U.S. and Canadian authorities. The annual Bill Johnston’s Pirates Days celebration commemorates some of his exploits. Fill your senses with the sound and spectacle when pirate ships attack the village from the St. Lawrence River, as the brave villagers try to stave them off. The air is filled with smoke and the sound of musket fire and cannon, and eventually the villagers succumb as the pirates invade the town. After the Mayor turns over the key to the village to the invading marauders, everyone becomes a pirate. 

I just loved these pirate boats  

Look at all the vintage pirate accessories! I would be looking for Johnny Depp somewhere around here.  

This is Peggy's helper, Tara, checking out the pirate boats  

The 2014 Pirate Days will be held August 8 to August 17th if you are looking for something unique and fun to do I think it looks fabulous!! 

A BIG Thank you to Peggy for her lovely photos of the event. You can also check out her coverage of the Berlin, Maryland vintage car show HERE  which is wonderful! 

Today's Words of Wisdom: Life's pretty good, and why wouldn't it be? I'm a pirate, after all.
- Johnny Depp 

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The Museum of the City of New York "Notorious and Notable: 20th Century Women of Style"

This museum on the upper east side...all the way up to 103rd Street (easy access with the subway) has a wonderful exhibit which started September 14th and runs to January 3, 2011. 

from their website:

Co-presented with the National Jewelry Institute, Notorious and Notable: 20th Century Women of Style highlights 80 prominent New York women who used their style, talent, or wealth to capture the attention of society and the media. The exhibition features a runway of original attire—much of it created by the most important designers of their times—and an impressive selection of jewelry crafted from the dawn of the 20th century to its close.

The exhibition features such celebrated New York women as Mrs. Cornelius Whitney Vanderbilt, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Babe Paley, and Barbara Walters, as well as women from the arts world, including Isadora Duncan, Marian Anderson, Lena Horne, and Lauren Bacall. The exhibition offers an opportunity to encounter many of New York’s leading ladies past and present through their fashion and jewelry.

photo taken from their website 

"Tissue of Diamonds Dress" made for Lauren Bacall 1963

Black silk net studded with crystal brilliants, over peach silk charmeuse
Gift of Lauren Bacall

another gorgeous photo from their website of a 

Pendant worn by Edith Bouvier Beale
Maker unknown, 1910s
Platinum, diamonds, natural pearl
Courtesy of Vartanian & Sons, Inc.

This looks like a must-see exhibit if you are in the city during this time - please make a note of it !! 

Today's Words of Wisdom: Everyday is the best day regardless - It is all about attitude and desire 

Museum of the City of New York 

1220 Fifth Avenue at 103rd St.

New York, NY 10029

212.534.1672 Phone
212.423.0758 Fax
Museum of the City of New York

Museum Hours

Tuesday - Sunday: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. 

Closed Mondays (except holiday Mondays and May Mondays)

The Museum is open on the following holidays: 

Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Monday, January 18, 2010

Presidents’ Day | Monday, February 15, 2010

Public School Break | Monday, April 5, 2010

Memorial Day | Monday, May 31, 2010

Independence Day | Sunday, July 4, 2010

Labor Day | Monday, September 6, 2010

Columbus Day | Monday, October 11, 2010

Veteran's Day | Thursday, November 11, 2010

Christmas Eve | Friday, December 24, 2010

Public School Break | Monday, December 27, 2010 

New Year's Eve | Friday, December 31, 2010 

The Museum will be closed on the following holidays: 

Thanksgiving | Thursday, November 25, 2010 

Christmas Day | Saturday, December 25, 2010

New Year's Day | Saturday, January 1, 2011

Suggested Admission (as of April 15, 2009)

Adults: $10

Seniors, students: $6

Families: $20 (max. 2 adults)

Children 12 and under: free

Members: free

                              

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Cannoli Dreams for You.....until next post 

                               Rosemary