Month: September 2017

Visiting the Corning Museum of Glass with Kids

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(Thank you to the Corning and the Southern Finger Lakes and the Corning Museum of Glass for hosting us.  As always, all opinions are my own.)

The first thing people associate with Corning, NY is the Corning Museum of Glass (CMOG). There are a bunch of good reasons why so many people come to the Finger Lakes region of New York each year to visit this museum. It houses an extensive collection of glass, with pieces dating back 3,500 years. Guest artists visit from around the world and give demonstrations of their work.  Plus, there is a Changing Exhibitions Gallery with new pieces being shown regularly.

You might not think a building full of glass is a great place to bring kids.  However, after recently visiting with my two children (ages 9 and 11) I can tell you that this museum is indeed a kid-friendly destination. I will admit, visiting with kids creates a very different experience of the museum versus visiting on your own or with other adults.  You will still have a great time.  To help you get the most enjoyment from your trip, here are some tips for visiting the CMOG with kids:

1. Prior to your visit, sign up for a Make Your Own Glass project – These projects are created in The Studio, located in the building across the parking lot from the CMOG.  Projects range in price from $13 for sandblasting to $30 for hand-blowing glass ornaments, glass forming flowers, fusing picture frames and more.  There are recommended age ranges for each project.  Classes fill up quickly and if you wait until the day of your visit, they might be all booked up.  This is a memorable experience for the kids, plus they will have a keepsake from the visit to take home.

2. Visit the Contemporary Art + Design Wing – There are many glass exhibits throughout the museum.  However, if you are short on time, I highly recommend you make sure to visit this exhibit.  This wing is part of a 100,000 square foot addition that was completed in March of 2015.  This section is spacious and bright with large, colorful, eye-catching exhibits, sure to interest even the youngest children.  Although we didn’t download GlassApp, the museum’s app, there is a Scavenger Hunt available on it for this wing.

3. Participate in a Gallery Hunt in the Glass Galleries – Near the entrance to the Glass Collection Galleries, there are several different gallery hunt booklets and pencils.  While there are no prizes for completing the gallery hunt, it will help give kids a focus while walking through the galleries.  These galleries have hundreds of pieces of glass and it can be a bit overwhelming for children. My kids enjoyed the “Searching for Animals” gallery hunt.  You can also download the different gallery hunt sheets as PDFs from the museum site to have before your visit.

4. Watch at least one glass demonstration – There are many different glass demonstrations held throughout the day.  The demos range from 15 minute glassbreaking, optical fiber and flameworking demos, to 30 minute hot glass demonstrations.  Each demonstration is held many times throughout the day, in one of six different locations.

During our visit we sat and watched two different hot glass demos.  We saw one in the Courtyard Hot Shop before we even entered the museum, and the other in the Amphitheater Hot Shop.  The amphitheater demonstration has a special camera inside the furnace so you can watch the glass being heated on one of the many large screens.  The shows are narrated, so you learn about each step of the glass making process as they are happening. It’s amazing to watch a glob of molten glass turn into a pitcher or a sculpture in a span of 30 minutes! These demonstrations were one of the kids’ favorite things to do at the museum.  We probably could have sat there ALL day and just watched the gaffers (master glass makers) create different pieces.  At some of the demos, the gaffers give away some of their glass pieces.

5.  Visit Innovations – This is the hands-on section of the museum.  Here kids can look through a periscope and see a 360 degree view of the town of Corning.  They can also look through a telescope, see the difference between regular glass and Low-E glass, bend glass, try to break glass, and participate in several other activities.

6.  Make a stop at the “You Design It; We Make It” – This is a great place to take a little break and let your children’s inner artist come out.  In this little area, kids can use paper and markers to create a design.  If they are lucky, their drawing may be chosen to be recreated in glass!  Each week, glassmakers from the Hot Glass Demo team choose two drawings to recreate in the Amphitheater Hot Shop during a special “You Design It; We Make It!” demo. The Flameworking team also chooses a drawing daily to create at a special Flameworking demo.  Both of my kids sketched designs which unfortunately were not chosen.

7.  Make use of the two consecutive days –  Your ticket is good for two consecutive days and I advise you to make use of it!  Let your kids temperaments and attention spans factor into how you structure your day.  If they are really into watching the glass demos, you may want to spend a large portion of one day watching the various scheduled sessions.  Consider visiting in the morning one day and the afternoon on the next.

The Details:

The Corning Museum of Glass
One Museum Way
Corning, NY 14830
(607) 937-5371

Parking:  Free parking

Hours:  Daily 9 AM – 5 PM (9 AM – 8 PM Memorial Day through Labor Day)

Admission:  $19.50/adults, $16.60/55 Plus, AAA members, military and Students with ID, Free/children 17 and under  (**Tickets are valid for 2 consecutive days)

Tips:  

There are plenty of seasonal activities and exhibitions.  If you will be visiting during the holiday season, try to plan your visit to take advantage of the seasonal fun.

Food is available in the Cafe (open 9 AM – 5 PM).  Here you will find soups, salads, sandwiches, pizza and more. Sample prices:  $2.50 for a slice of pizza, $8.95 for a Chicken Salad wrap, $10.95 for a Southwest Steak Salad. There is also a coffee bar serving locally sourced coffee and tea.

You can bring your own food as well.  If the weather is nice, there are picnic tables to use outside.

There is a huge gift shop selling all types of glass items from jewelry to decorative items.  There’s even a section with items created in-house.  Not everything in the gift shop is expensive!  You can find glass items including ornaments, flowers and marbles for under $10.

If you need to charge your phone, there are outlets in the “You Design It; We Make It” area.

 

28

August 2017 Reads

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It’s the second Tuesday of the month and I’m sharing my August 2017 reads in Steph and Jana’s monthly Show Us Your Books linkup. I was traveling with the kids a lot in August and did not get in a lot of reading time.  I’m hoping next month turns out better in terms of both quantity and quality of books read.  There was only one book this month that I loved and the rest were all so-so reads.

3 Stars

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Bull by David Elliott – This is a YA book told in poetic form.  It’s a retelling of the Greek myth Theseus and the Minotaur.  I was unfamiliar with the original version and had to do a quick Wikapedia search to catch me up.  I found the language in this book to be a bit much for a YA book but enjoyed the writing style.  The author even used a different poetic form for each character.  So, if you’re into Greek mythology or books in poetic form are your thing than give it a go. I read and reviewed this book for Kiss the Book where you can find my full review.

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The Crush by Sandra Brown – As jury forewoman, after delivering a not guilty verdict during contract killer Ricky Lozada’s trial, Dr. Rennie Newton becomes the object of his affection.  Soon after Dr. Newton’s co-worker is brutally murdered and Lozada is a suspect……along with Dr. Newton.  As Detective Oren Wesley works the case, he calls in his friend and ex-partner Wick Threadgill, who has personal reasons for Lozada’s capture. I’ve owned this book forever and it was on my summer reading list. It’s been awhile since I’ve read Sandra Brown.  Her books have been either hit or miss with me.  This one was a so-so romantic suspense read.

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Emma In the Night by Wendy Walker – (c/o Netgalley) – Three years ago, fifteen-year-old Cass and seventeen-year-old Emma disappear.  But Cass has returned without her sister and tells a crazy kidnapping tale.  Normally I like a good suspense book.  However, I found this to be a pretty unrealistic story with manipulative, psychotic characters. I read Walker’s previous book All is Not Forgotten and enjoyed that one a lot more.

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One Summer by David Baldacci – Jack is terminally ill and does not have much time left to live.  One night when his wife, Lizzie goes out to get him his medicine she ends up dying in car accident.  Their three kids are separated and sent to live with family members in different parts of the country.  Living out his last days alone in a hospice facility, a miracle happens and Jack somehow makes a full recovery.  He reunites his family at Lizzie’s childhood home in South Carolina, hoping to rebuild his family.  This book was off my own bookshelf and also part of my summer reading list.  Baldacci is an author known for his mystery thrillers, none of which I have read.  While the book reminded me of Nicholas Sparks and the romance/love stories by James Patterson, I didn’t enjoy it as much as I thought I would.

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Something Like Family by Heather Burch – (c/o Netgalley)  Tuck hires a private investigator to find his grandson, Rave. When he’s found in a small town working as a waiter, Rave agrees to meet Tuck, the grandfather he didn’t know he had.  Abandoned by his drug addict mother, Rave has never really known what it’s like to have family.  He ends up creating a life with Tuck and learns a lot from his grandfather.  This is the first Netgalley book that I’ve read for review. While I enjoy a good family drama, it felt at times like I was reading a Christian fiction book.  This was another so-so read for me.

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The View From Penthouse B by Elinor Lipman – Sisters Margot and Gwen are living in Penthouse B at the Batavia. Gwen is a widow of two years and Margot’s husband is in prison.  After Margot lost all her money in Madoff’s Ponzi scheme, the two sisters decide to have gay, 20-something-year-old Anthony move in to help with the rent.  The three roommates become good friends as they try to help each other improve their lives.  This was my first Lipman novel and will probably be my last.  While Lipman is considered to be an author of “humorous novels” I didn’t think this book was that funny.

5 Stars

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Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling – During our summer travel around New York state we finally finished listening to Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince on CD.  I had previously only ever read up to the Order of the Phoenix, so this was new to me.  Wow, did so much happen in this book!  Once we got home, we had to immediately get the last book on CD and start it.

What are you currently reading?

 

4

Weekly Meal Plan {Week 84}

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2017 calendar
Happy Monday!  Summer has sadly come to an end and we are done traveling for the time being.  This means that the weekly meal plan posts will return to the blog.  If you are looking for some dinner time inspiration, my weekly meal plan is the place for you. Each week I showcase what was on my previous week’s meal plan, with pictures, recipe links and my family’s review of each dish.  There are so many food blogs, cookbooks and recipes out there and I am always on the lookout for new family-friendly recipes to try.  If you are new to meal planning, read more about how I make my weekly meal plan. Here is a look at what was on our menu this past week:

Saturday: We were in Rhode Island for Labor Day weekend.  My parents cooked steak, chicken, baked potatoes and sauteed veggies for dinner.  It was delicious, but sadly no pictures were taken.

Sunday: We were in Rhode Island last weekend and made a stop at Foxwoods before we came home.  My kids love the Wizard of Oz game at the arcade there and requested we stop so they could play.  While we were there we decided to eat dinner at California Pizza Kitchen.  Between the three of us we shared a Chicken Cobb Salad as well as a Spinach Artichoke Thin Crust Pizza and this Thai Chicken Pizza.  This is our favorite pizza there!

Monday: My husband made breaded eggplant sandwiches with fresh mozzarella and roasted peppers.  No recipe but really tasty! Even though the kids normally don’t like eggplant, they will eat it when it’s breaded and fried.  There was enough for some leftover sandwiches for lunch as well.

Tuesday: I made Honey Soy Chicken from Table for Two.  I made the honey soy sauce early in the morning and marinated the chicken in it all day.  Otherwise, I made the recipe as directed.  The chicken was very flavorful, I think from marinating all day.  I thought the leftover liquid in the pan was pretty greasy so I did not pour it over the cooked chicken, as directed.  I served the chicken with rice and roasted broccoli. The chicken bakes for 40 minutes, but otherwise is super easy to prepare.  To cut down on cooking time, next time I think I’ll cut the chicken up into bite size pieces and cook it in a pan on the stove.

Wednesday: I made Summer Chicken Parmesan from Cooking Light, July 2017.  Instead of baking the cutlets, I fried them.  I also added a dash of balsamic to the zucchini and tomato mixture.  Chicken cutlets are always a hit in our house and we all enjoyed these.  The kids even ate all the veggies.  I cooked up some extra cutlets which we ate for lunch during the week.  I served this with a Caesar salad and some garlic toast.

 

Thursday: I made Sausage and Peppers Pasta Supper from Epicurious.  This was a fairly quick and easy dinner.  Instead of cutting the sausage into 1-inch pieces, I removed it from the casing and crumbled and browned it.  I apologize for the lack of a picture.  Imagine a plate of penne pasta with sauteed peppers, onions and sausage crumbles, sprinkled with some shredded Parmesan cheese.

Friday: I made Tomato-Ricotta Pizza from Cooking Light, May 2017.  This was a tasty vegetarian pizza and a change from the normal cheese pizza that we usually make.  My husband made a cheese pizza for the kids, since they don’t like ricotta cheese.  But they both voluntarily ate a small slice of this one.

What is on your dinner menu this week?

3

Five on Friday {Back-to-School}

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After a long, but fun summer, the kids are back in school!  I officially have a 4th and a 6th grader and I am fortunate that they both love school.  I am hopeful that we will have another great school year. The school year has barely started and our calendar is already filling up!  We don’t have anymore big trips coming up at the moment, but we plan on partaking in as much local family fun as we can.  After a summer filled with travel around New York State I am looking forward to blogging all about our travels.  This weekend’s plans include our monthly supper club and a food truck festival.  My son is starting a new soccer league which begins this weekend as well.  Here are five from this week:

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Reading – I am currently reading Ruth Ware’s newest book The Lying Game.  I enjoyed both of her previous books and I’m always up for a good suspense/thriller book.  I just started this one but hope it’s good!

Labor Day Weekend – We made our final trip of the summer up to Rhode Island last weekend.  The weather was chilly but we still made a beach trip.  I couldn’t enjoy myself more sitting on a beach chair with my book!  Plus, we had our requisite clam chowder, clam cakes and some fried calamari!

Collaboration – My husband attended his first event this week representing NY Foodie Family!  I was invited to an Angel’s Envy bourbon tasting in NYC.  I’m not a bourbon drinker but my husband is.  Plus, it’s much easier for him to get to the city on a weeknight.  So, he had a nice night out representing the blog.  He really does try to help out with the blog as much as he can, editing my posts, helping to take pictures and now, attending events solo!

Enjoying – being back on a schedule! With the kids back in school, it’s nice to have routines again. I’m not going to lie, I also enjoy having some quiet time! I can actually get some work done and run errands in peace.

Family Time – Last Monday we attended Cornucopia, a local historical event celebrating all things corn.  We like to watch cooking demonstrations and we enjoyed seeing local chef Renee Kashuba make a corn soup.  We were able to sample it and I liked it so much that I plan to make it soon! We also walked through a corn maze, visited a mill where corn is ground, and my husband and son partook in a corn husking competition.

ICYMI this week on the blog:

Monday I wrote about Farmstead Flatbread, a restaurant in the Lake George, NY region.

Currently 2017

Wednesday I shared my September Currently and joined the monthly linkup.

Thursday I wrote about our kayaking experience with Southern Tier Kayak Tours.

Linking up with Katie, Andrea and April!  Have a great weekend!

7

Paddling the Palisades with Southern Tier Kayak Tours

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(Thank you Southern Tier Kayak Tours (STKT), Corning and the Southern Finger Lakes and the Chemung County Chamber of Commerce for hosting us!  All opinions are my own.)

My kids have surprised me this summer with their adventurous spirit and have been all about trying new things. Although kayaking isn’t new to us (the kids love kayaking around the lake near our friends’ house) we had never taken a guided tour before.

On the day of our kayak tour we arrived at the Senator William Smith Launch in Big Flats, NY a little earlier than our expected 9:45 AM meeting time.  I wanted to make sure we had on proper foot attire (i.e. water sandals and old sneakers) and had time to apply suntan lotion.  There were eight of us on this tour, plus our professional guide, Aaron from Southern Tier Kayak Tours (STKT).

Prior to our kayak trip, we were asked heights and weights so we could be fitted with the appropriate size kayak.  We had the option of getting a tandem kayak so I could paddle with one of the kids, but they both wanted to paddle their own. STKT provides the kayaks, paddles and life jackets.  On this trip we used sit-on-top kayaks, but they also have sit-in kayaks.  Although most of us on the tour had previous kayak experience, Aaron gave us a quick paddling lesson and safety talk.  Like most outdoor and adventure excursions, a waiver must be signed before setting off.  We helped carry the kayaks down to the river and Aaron ensured everyone got into their kayak safely before our tour began.

The Chemung River was surprisingly calm and peaceful and our tour provided beautiful views of the palisades.  Aaron was a very knowledgeable guide and pointed out various killdeer, herons, ospreys and eagles.  On our journey we saw several eagles perched in trees and flying above us.  He also pointed out the invasive species of plants that are growing rampant along the river banks.

A couple miles into our paddle we stopped at a shallow area and took a stretch.  We spent a few minutes skipping stones (or in my case, attempting to).  Then Aaron showed us how you can tell the health of the river just by examining the wildlife growing under the rocks.  Picking up rocks he pointed out the variety of water pennies and snails that were thriving, indicators that the river is doing well.

After our little respite, we got back into the kayaks and continued our tour.  As you can see, some parts of the river were very shallow that day.  Paddling the river several times a week, Aaron is very familiar with it and he directed us to paddle towards certain sides of the river to avoid the rocks.  In one part of the river, there was a very small rapid we needed to navigate to continue onward.  Aaron got out of his kayak and stood in the water, ensuring that everyone made it safely through the rapid and was headed in the correct direction.

I have to note that I did not realize how tiring a five mile kayak paddle is!  By the last mile, our arms were tired!  After my son complained about his arms, Aaron took pity on him.  He attached my son’s kayak to his and towed him the last mile or so.  Although they make exceptions, these kayak tours are recommended for children 9 and up.  While my son turned 9 over the summer, I see why they have the age recommendation. FYI, this tour is usually six miles, but our tour was shortened by a mile to keep us on schedule for horseback riding (review on its way soon).

We had a great time kayaking down the Chemung River with STKT.  It is a calm paddle with beautiful, scenic views. Most of our enjoyment can be attributed to Aaron, our amazing guide.  His passion for kayaking is evident through the tour, ensuring everyone is having a fun and enjoyable ride.  If you are in the Southern Tier region, I highly recommend taking a kayak tour with STKT!

The Details:

Southern Tier Kayak Tours (STKT)
P.O. Box 293
Lansing, NY 14882
(607) 220-3642

Tours and Prices:
Paddle the Palisades (6 mile tour down the Chemung River, $55/person)
Chenango Charm (7.5 mile tour down the Chenango River, $55/person)
Sample the Susquehanna (6 mile tour down the Susquehanna River, $50/person)

Tours run April through October.  Check the STKT calendar for exact dates and times of the tours.

Tips:

Wear water shoes or old sneakers.  You will be walking in the water and it’s rocky in some areas.

Bring a water bottle.  There is a place to store a water bottle or two.  You will get hot and thirsty, especially on a warm, summer day.

Remember to apply sunscreen and wear a hat and sunglasses.  You are out on the water with no shade.

Bring phones and cameras at your own risk!  I put my cell phone in a Ziploc bag and then stuck it in a waterproof, athletic waist bag belt.

If you had a great trip, tip your tour guide.  Tips are not required, but your tour guide will appreciate it!

15

Currently September 2017

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Currently 2017
I think I say this every month, but I can’t believe that it’s already September!  We had such an enjoyable summer traveling around New York state and the time just flew by!  The kids just started school again and I am looking forward to all things Fall. I am joining Anne and her co-host Lowanda for the monthly Currently linkup.  Here is what I am currently:

Celebrating – My birthday this month.  As I’ve gotten older, birthdays aren’t a big deal to me anymore.  Sometimes, I actually forget how old I am! But September 16, I will be turning another year older so there will be some celebrating going on around here.

Watching – For the first time this summer I started watching Bachelor in Paradise.  Since I watched the most recent seasons of the Bachelor and the Bachelorette, I’m familiar with most of the cast.  It’s been surprisingly enjoyable and a recent guilty pleasure.  I just wish I didn’t have to commit four hours a week!

Welcoming – The kids had their first day of school yesterday.  I’m going to miss the relaxed, care-free days of summer.  However, I’m welcoming being back into a routine.  I think it’s easier for the kids when they have a set bedtime and a regular morning wake-up time.  Plus, with homework and after-school activities, they will be much busier and have less time to be on electronics or be “bored.”

Preparing – Is it too early to start preparing for next summer’s vacation?!!  I’m not totally joking though.  Next summer we’d like to do a tour of the National Parks out West.  It will most likely be a two week trip and figuring out all the logistics will take lots of time and planning.  So, I’m hoping to get started on the research and planning of this trip soon.

Photographing – Summer is over and I will be home now to cook dinner every night.  I am going to restart my Monday weekly meal plan posts.  So, this means I will be back to photographing dinner each night! LOL!  While traveling this summer, I also started using and experimenting with the manual mode on my camera.  I’m hoping to get out more while the kids are in school to continue practicing my photography skills.

Farmstead Flatbread {Queensbury}

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We were hungry after a long, fun-filled day at Six Flags Great Escape in Queensbury, NY.  In an attempt to avoid another amusement park meal, we stumbled upon Farmstead Flatbread.  The restaurant, located on Rt. 9, is only a few blocks south of Great Escape.  Originally known as Sutton’s Marketplace, after 40 years the restaurant re-branded and became Farmstead Flatbread.

When you enter the restaurant, you encounter a large bar and pool table.  It’s a great space for hanging out and grabbing a drink.  Outdoor seating is available and perfect for dining al fresco. The main dining area is spacious and has a casual vibe.  Strands of lights are strung across the ceiling and the deep gray walls are adorned with a mix of farm tools and wall hangings.

As soon as we saw the regional beer and locally-sourced dinner menus, my husband commented that this was “our kind of restaurant!”  Their extensive beer menu has 20 craft beers on tap that change regularly.

The real star of the restaurant is the hearth oven located in the dining area of the restaurant.  Guests can watch, either up close or from their table, as the chefs assemble and cook their flatbreads.  The menu features nine different flatbreads to choose from.  Or, you can create your own.  The restaurant uses organic and locally-sourced ingredients on the flatbreads including Lake George Olive Oil Company olive oil, organic tomato sauce, house made nitrate free sausage, and Nettle Meadow goat cheese.

Between the four of us, we shared the seasonal salad, and two small flatbreads. The seasonal salad at the time was a Greek Salad with romaine, Greek-style feta cheese, peppercinis, red onions and local cucumbers tossed in a house-made Greek dressing.  The salad tasted really fresh and the crumbled Greek-style feta was amazing!  If you aren’t in the mood for a salad, Farmstead Flatbread also serves wings.  They are lightly fried and made with a house rub.  You only have to choose the number of wings you want and the type of sauce (mild, medium, hot, BBQ or the flavor of the day).

The flatbreads come in two sizes, small and large.  It was difficult deciding which ones to get, but we finally agreed on a small “Cultivator” and a small “Grazer” flatbread.  The “Cultivator” (pictured at the top of the above picture) included organic tomato sauce, Italian cheeses, house-made meatballs, basil pesto and spinach.  The “Grazer” included organic tomato sauce, Italian cheese, peppers, red onions and nitrate free sausage.  Let me tell you, we were not disappointed with our decisions.  Both flatbreads were delicious with great combinations of flavors!  Unfortunately, when traveling, we can’t take leftovers with us.  So we might have finished both flatbreads.  It was a tough job, but someone had to do it!

We were too full after dinner to even think about dessert and just requested the check.  The staff were friendly and attentive throughout the meal, checking in and refilling water glasses. On Sundays, they have an amazing looking brunch menu that is served from 10 AM to 3 PM.  I wish I lived closer so I could try it out!  If you’re dining between the hours of 11:15 AM – 5:30 PM you can head upstairs and check out Starla’s Shoppe for gifts, jewelry, unique toys and more.

If you are looking for a family-friendly, delicious dining experience in the Queensbury/Lake George area, I highly recommend Farmstead Flatbread.

The Details:

Farmstead Flatbread
1066 State Route 9
Queensbury, NY 12804
(518) 741-6911

Hours:  11:30 AM – 9:00 PM, Monday – Thursday
11:30 AM – 10:00 PM, Friday – Saturday
10:00 AM – 8:00 PM, Sunday

Parking:  Free parking in lot adjacent to restaurant

Cost:  Small flatbreads range from $9.25 – $13.75, large flatbreads range from $15.00 – $22.75.  Beers range in price from $5-$7 per 16 oz. draft. (Credit cards are accepted)