Ablaze in color!

"Autumn - with all it's sights, sounds and smells, is the perfect mediator. It gladly grabs the torch from summer and carefully passes it on to winter. All the while, helping to soften the shock of the transition." My friend wrote that this morning on Facebook, and I thought it was brilliant.

"Fall" means it's time for cooler weather. The trees and garden will soon be ablaze in reds, yellows, oranges and all colors inbetween. It's time for apple picking and pumpkin pie. For raking leaves and pulling out the sweaters. For halloween costume preparations and holiday baking plans. Crisp morning air is a sure sign that winter is coming, but let's take the time to enjoy one season at a time. The days will get shorter, and the temperatures will fall. Watch out for the leaves sign that summer is officially over. They will turn into a fiery glow before falling.

Did you know that pumpkins can grow to be over 1,000 pounds? Did you know that there are over 100 shades/names for autumn colors? Aubergine, Goldenrod, Persimmon, Sienna, Raw Umber, Plum, Pumpkin, Amethyst, Moss, Terra Cotta... and the list could go on.

Being in the Finger Lakes region during the Fall is a special treat! Have you ever been Apple Picking, then had a piece of Hot Apple Pie? Have you picked your own pumpkins? Of course, our Wineries are bustling with activity now, as it’s grape harvest time! It’s a great time to visit the Finger Lakes Cheese Trail too! On Fridays, make a stop at the Watkins Glen Farmers Market (open through October). On October 13th, I hope you will attend the Deb Whiting Harvest Celebration! Formerly known as A Taste of the Finger Lakes, this was renamed in honor of Deb Whiting, a local resident who we lost this year.

Of course, after a day exploring the area, you need to have dinner at the Montage Italian Grill! Try the Italian Steak and Peppers – Yummy! The view is spectacular during the fall, with the surrounding hills ablaze with color.

Every autumn, nature puts on a brilliant show of colors! I hope you can take time to enjoy everything that Fall offers. If Fall isn't your favorite time of year, you can always pretend you are like our friends in the Southern Hemisphere and celebrate Spring! Aqua, Cantaloupe, Lavender... Oh, those are colors for another day!

Happy Fall!

Memories!

Vintage Weekend is almost here!
A fun weekend, dedicated to Memories and the Spririt of this Community. Last year, an estimated 20,000 spectators visited Watkins Glen to take a walk back in time... To celebrate the history and heritage of motor racing... The history that embodies The Glen.
While you are enjoying the tribute to the Original Grand Prix races, take the time to slow down. Think back to the time of those 1948-52 Watkins Glen races. Leave your cell phones off. Smile at the people you pass. Really enjoy the beauty that is Watkins Glen. Sip a little local wine. Talk to a long time resident.
And when you get home, mark your calendars for next year. I know you'll be back!
For information: go to www.grandprixfestival.com

11 Turns- Part 2

The Village of Watkins Glen beckons you to walk the downtown district and enjoy the feelin of being in another time when life was slower paced and simpler. WHAT? Slower? After all, this is the Birthplace of American Road Racing. Yes - slow down. Look down. History is under your feet. Racing greats walked these streets. Many still do when they come to visit, to race, to celebrate their heritage. One makes Watkins Glen his home.

Vic Franzese, Owner of Glen Motor Inn, has a treasure trove of memories and memorabilia relating to racing.  The Franzese Family are long time Watkins Glen residents. Vic is quoted as saying "My Grandfather chose this land, my father began this business, and my family and I want to continue the tradition". The Glen Motor Inn was once the Lake Breeze Cabins, then Glen Motor Court.
There is a long connection between GMI and the racing heritage in the Glen. Just visit the lobby of GMI to see the famous photo gallery. Derek Bell, raced in his first Formula 1 race in 1968. He said "The Glen Motor Inn was a major part of the US Grand Prix, and whenever I come to the Glen I want to stay there. Every Grand Prix driver used to stay in that hotel. It's a Watkins Glen tradition." Hurley Haywood stays in the same room at GMI since his first stay in 1969.
Vic loves to share his stories about the Glen history. He enjoys going to his famous gallery and telling you what people were really like. He recalls conversations and meetings with all the greats. What he doesn't talk about so much is his own racing career. Vic's name is written in those racing history notes.

There is a particular picture that hangs in the lobby. It's called October Heroes, by Roger Warrick. Without the permission to copy the picture here, I am including a link. You will see Watkins Glen Royalty. Click Here And right in the middle... yep- that's Vic.
Stop in, say hello, (Vic's bride Linda will be the first to greet you). Stay a while. Have dinner at the Montage Italian Grill. Stop into the Victory Lane Lounge. Never know who you might run into...



11 Turns- Part 1

Watkins Glen...
To many people in the US, when you say the name Watkins Glen, what do they think? A few know it's in New York State. A few know it's in the Finger Lakes area. A few might know it's in the beauty of rich wine country. Most just think Racing! But even those usually don't know that Watkins Glen is the Birthplace of American Road Racing!
Driving a pre-war Alfa Romeo, Frank Griswold won the first race in Watkins Glen on October 2, 1948. Since that date, Watkins has become a destination for motor enthusiasts and the stars of international racing.

A few months ago, I stood in front of the Start/Finish Line, in front of the Schuyler County Court House. I tried to picture what those early days were like. I wanted to take that 6.6 mile sentimental journey around the towns perimeter. Luckily for me, my guide has a name well known in Watkins Glen racing history - Franzese.

Leaving the Start/Finish, we passed the "White House". Actually, the white house is no longer there, but it was an homage to the Le Mans circuit in France. We passed the Collier Monument, marking the 1950 Grand Prix death of Samuel Collier. Next was School House Corner. I love the story of Cornett's Stone Bridge. In the 1948 Grand Prix, Denver Cornett flipped his MG. With borrowed parts, he repaired his car and finished the race in 7th place. Archy Smith's Corner was named for a local dairy famer. The Railroad Straight was reported to be a favorite with the drivers. During high speeds, they had to cross railroad tracks, causing many drivers to go airborne! Friars Curve marked the beginning of the descent into the village. At Big Bend, the view of Seneca Lake Habour is just breathtaking! Millikens Corner was named for William Milliken from Buffalo. In the 1948 race, he flipped his Bugatti, and walked away unharmed to the applause of the spectators. Then, the Finish Line. (Just a little side note of interest - One of the racers in the 1948 race was Charles Addams. While you might not recognize that as a name in International Racing History, he is known world-wide as the cartoonist who created The Addams Family!)
In 1956, the new track was built a few miles out of town. It started as a 2.3 mile track, but was expanded to 3.4 miles. Since that time, Watkins Glen has hosted Can-Am, Trans Am, Six Hours, Formula 500, CART, Indy Car, BMW Car Club, Porsche Club and many more. For decades, it was the home of the US Grand Prix. The track is famous for it's 11 turns, most notorious of these turns is called The Esses.
Terry Labonte won the 1st Nascar Busch Series race at Watkins Glen in 1991, and took 4 out of 6 races there. Three time winners are Formula 1 Driver Graham Hill, Sports Car drivers Al Holbert and Derek Bell, and Cup Driver Mark Martin. (Can Mark Martin take a 4th win next Sunday?)
As soon as the Nascar race in Pocono ends today, the focus turns to The Glen.
11 Turns...

Part 2- Coming Soon!

Upcoming Events in Watkins Glen

The next few weeks in Watkins Glen are full of "Don't miss" events.
August 5-7 is the Italian American Festival. To get the full line-up of activities, go to: www.watkinsglenitalianfestival.com
There is a Parade, Craft Marketplace, Pasta Eating Contest, and Fireworks.

August 11-14 is the weekend for Nascar!
www.theglen.com for information

If you are waiting to visit Watkins Glen - Stop waiting! It doesn't get much better than this!

Keeping Cool in the Glen

Oppressive heat has settled on Watkins Glen in earnest! There are several things you can do to stay cool, or at least trick yourself into thinking you are cool.

  --Wet your hair! The evaporation will cool your head.
--  Run cold water over your wrists for 10 seconds, which will reduce your body temperature for about an hour.
--If you don’t want to go swimming, at least put your feet in the water. The body radiates heat from hands, feet, face and ears.
--Wear light colors.
--Always-Always-Always wear sunscreen and reapply often.

Make sure to hydrate. Of course, water is the #1 choice, but what are the #2 choices? You can beat the heat with cool summer drinks! The best choices are full of flavor, subtle or fruity, and just plain refreshing.

There’s no end to the array of icy drinks available at the Victory Lane Lounge! For some pure summer refreshment, let me recommend the following:

 Andrew’s Famous Rum Runner- A citrusy mixture topped with a generous lashing of rum.

Cranberry Mojito- These are ideal for lazy yet important summer conversation.

Ametista-This cocktail, almost decadent, tastes like the “Tropics in a Glass”.

Sprizza Pesca- Mix Sparkling Prosecca with Peach Mango Rum, add frozen peach slices for garnishment for pure summer refreshment. 

 Gin and Tonic- Crisp, classic combo

I'm not a beer drinker, but have it on good authority that Blue Moon (served with an Orange wedge) is the perfect summer beer.

Don’t forget- Drink Responsibly!

Seneca Lake

This weekend is indeed the Finger Lakes Wine Festival.

While this is a well attended and fun event, I hope that everyone will see more than the wine. There are beautiful lake views, hills of grape vines, blossoms of purple wisteria, and lots of sunshine!

Seneca Lake, the second longest of the Finger Lakes is named for one of the Iroquois Nations. The name means "People of the Great Hill". The Lake is 38 miles long, and at the southern tip, sits Watkins Glen.

Seneca Lake is the "Lake Trout Capital of the World"! Because the Lake is so deep, it doesn't freeze. The average depth is 291 feet, and at the deepest point is between 625-798 feet deep, depending on who you ask. At one time, it was used as a submarine test site because of the depth. The water is basically cold, but in the summer, the top 10-15 feet warms up to 70 to 80 degrees.

If you could go back in time, you would find this area was the center of Seneca Indian Nation. In the 16th Century or earlier, the Iroquois League was formed by the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga and Seneca Nations. The Tuscaroro Nation joined later. Iroquois ancestors have lived in the Finger Lakes area since at least 1000 AD. "Iroquois" translates to "People of the Longhouse".

At the height of their power in the 17th Century, there were about 12000 Iroquois. Iroquois villages dotted these shores. The Iroquois were known to be great farmers, fishers and hunters. Deer were plentiful in the area. "The Three Sisters", corn/beans/squash were the mainstays. During the Revolutionary War, most were wiped out when the villages and crops were burned to the ground. An epidemic of smallpox that came from French Traders also dimished their numbers.

White settlers arrived in the area around 1790. Life was hard for these settlers, until the 1820's when the Erie Canal was opened, and the area was perfect for trading. The remaining Iroquois lived peacefully among the settlers, and remain in the area today. Currently in New York State, there are about 17,000 Iroquois, with about 7,500 being Seneca decendents.

I hope that you will take a few minutes during this weekends Wine festivities to think about those times, those people, The People of the Great Hill.

The Joy of Enduring Winter

Icewine is a rare gift from a magical Finger Lakes winter!

It is believed that icewine goes back to Roman times. But the popular legend is that a German winemaker was away from his vineyard during harvest and when he returned home, his grapes were frozen on the vine. He carried out an unorthodox harvest and pressed the frozen grapes for fermentation. The result was the first eiswein. He was amazed by the high sugar content.

Watkins Glen and the Finger Lakes Region is a natural for icewine production with its warm summers and cold winters. It’s one of the coldest wine regions in the world, with deep snows and bone-chilling temperatures. The grapes are left on the vine past normal harvests. The freezing and thawing of the grapes dehydrates the fruit and concentrates the sugars, acids and extracts in the fruit, intensifying the flavor and adding complexity to the wine. The harvest is done by hand, and the optimal time is mid-December to mid-January. Without the extreme cold, there would be no icewine. (One note: grapes that are artificially frozen are not icewines, but ice-style wines.)

The juice is typically fermented for several weeks followed by a few months of barrel aging, stopping naturally. Icewines are attractive while young, although some aging is practiced. The result is ultra-rich flavor with sweet honey-like nuances. The alcohol content is higher than regular wines, averaging 11.9%.

Icewine is intensely sweet! The balance is achieved by its acidity which gives a clean dry finish. The nose recalls lychee nuts. The seductive taste  will transport the palate to warmer climates. The tastes of tropical fruits with hints of peach nectar and mango are (reportedly) best when chilled, but I prefer mine from the freezer.

Icewine can be an appetizer, or served with dessert. There are several ways to use icewine, blend with Brandy to make a liqueur or to make jelly.  The jelly is fabulous, but I prefer the simple drink. Serve with fruit or fruit tarts, especially apple or pear tarts; with a plate of cheeses, particularly a nice blue cheese; blend two of the most delicate substances on the planet and serve with crème brulee (!); or serve by itself.
When you are visiting the Finger Lakes Wineries, make sure you taste the Icewines! Winters wonder juice. A rare gift from the magical Finger Lakes winter… handpicked at the coldest moment of a winter’s night, each frozen grape creates just one drop of icewine.  One smooth, luxurious, exquisite drop.

Chateau Lafayette Reneau

See below for information on the new "Featured Seneca Lake Winery".

Deb Whiting

To our friend: You will be missed.
Our condolences to the Whiting and Red Newt Families.

I'm not the only one to think so...

Wow!
Lots of activity around the Glen Motor Inn! Last night, the Victory Lane Lounge welcomed the WGHS Class of 1981! It's always nice to reconnect with people you don't get to see everyday.

1. Cambodia; 2. County Clare Ireland; 3. Denver; 4. Dominican Republic; 5. Finger Lakes!
These are the "Top 5 Value Travel Destinations in 2011" as designated by Shermans Travel!
We already knew this, but were reminded that Watkins Glen is one of "the most affordable wine country destinations in the United States".
A couple of weeks ago, I visited some of my favorite wineries on Seneca Lake, and had an amazing day. If you have never done a winery visit, this might be the time to try it! The tasting fees (if any) are less than $5, which is usually credited towards your wine purchase. Make sure to try the award winning Rieslings and Gewurztraminers, but also give a taste to my favorite - Ice Wine!
Those first four places are nice, (OK, I do love DR - especially in the winter), but try Watkins Glen!  You won't be disappointed!

The Magical Gorge

Some visitors to Watkins Glen never visit the Watkins Glen State Park... I think they are missing a magical walk.
But before I start telling you about this walk, one word of advice. Know that you will get wet! The trails go up and around waterfalls, so comfortable hiking shoes/tevas are advisable.
There are several entrances to the park, but the main entrance is right in the downtown area of Watkins Glen.
From the second you leave the parking lot, entering into the Gorge, you know you are stepping into historical and hallowed grounds. Some of the trails are centuries old, and Native Americans were the caretakers.
The trails are around 1.5 miles over and under falls along hundreds of stone steps. The stream descends 400 feet past 20 foot cliffs, with 19 waterfalls to be discovered. There are 3 main park trails, the Indian, the Gorge and the Southern Rim. The Gorge and Southern Rim trails are closer to the falls.
Soon after entering the park, you will see the Cavern Cascade. It is one of two falls you can walk behind. The tunnels in the gorge were hand cut into the rock in the early 1900's, offering an up-close-and-personal look at the falling water. The waterfall has eroded this narrow section of the gorge leaving deep pools below, and dazzling mesmerizing vistas along the walkways.

Along the way, don't get so wrapped up in the waterfalls that you miss the little things. I saw these amazing small flowers and delighted in their simplicity in such a dramatic setting.

First post

Watkins Glen will find it's way into your heart. It's the kind of place where you can wind down and relax, turn your cell phone off, experience nature, or go full out... whatever speed you want to go.

There are so many events and happenings, but no real "insiders guide". Let this blog become your "Tour guide/Concierge" to the Glen!