Imagine a street lined with bookstores that are filled with books and treasures of all kinds from the floors to the ceilings. This dream for book lovers is a reality in the Catskills. Readers of every age will enjoy a visit to Hobart Book Village, where the Main Street of Hobart, New York is filled with eight independent book shops.
This book village is the brain child of Don Dales. This local entrepreneur established the Hobart Book Village in 2005, where it has since grown to become a travel stop famous on social media. Even the Oscar Mayer Weinermobile has made a stop in this tiny village. Two major book sales are held during the Memorial Day and Thanksgiving weekends. While you can still score some great book bargains, these are also the most popular times to visit, with hundreds of book lovers descending on Hobart. Each of the eight shops is unique in its own way. See a short description of each below.
Book Shops in Hobart Book Village:
William H. Adams’ Antiquarian Books (602 Main Street) – The antiquarian bookstore sells “uncommon books at reasonable prices.” The three floors of the bookshop contain tons of books, many of which were printed prior to 1850! They have books on all different subjects, including a large collection of history, art, poetry and biographies.
Blenheim Hill Books (698 Main Street Suite A) – Blenheim Hill Books has the largest selection of children’s and young adult books. Many of these books are brand new and recently published. They specialize in poetry, women’s history and women’s studies. There are a handful of chairs throughout the shop to sit and relax in.
Creative Corner Books (607 Main Street) – If you have any interest in cookbooks and/or crafts, this is the store for you! Creative Corner Books has a large room filled with shelves of cookbooks, including vintage cookbooks, and craft books. Handmade gifts and housewares can also be purchased here.
Liberty Rock Books (698 Main Street) – This bookstore is the largest of them all, encompassing over 5,000 square feet. If you are a first time visitor, the shopkeeper at the front register will give you a quick overview of the space when you arrive. Beside the hundreds of used and rare books filling the store’s shelves, you can also peruse their consignment room.
LionEyesBooks (722 Main Street) – LionEyesBooks houses an eclectic collection of new and used art, philosophy, spirituality and psychology books. You’ll also find general fiction, children’s books and more among the shelves.
More Good Books (645 Main Street) – More Good Books has a small collection of fiction books. Many of their books are focused on railroads, automobiles, games and sports. Most of the books in this shop are overflows from Blenheim Hill Books and Williams H. Adams.
New York Books & Ephemera (615 Main Street) – Connected to Creative Corner Books, New York Books & Ephemera, as the name suggests, carries books all about New York. They sell new, used and vintage books on a variety of topics including history, geography, travel, memoirs and more. They also sell food products, gifts and other NY made products.
Quarry Books (645 Main Street) – This tiny, two room bookshop specializes in mysteries and science fiction books. The shop is not staffed and purchases are based on the honor system, with a money box and change box available.
Unfortunately, the only café in town, “The Coffee Pot”, was closed on the day of our visit. If you are looking to eat, you will have to travel to neighboring towns. Please check each store’s website for the most up-to-date hours. Most of the book shops are open on the weekends only from 11 AM to 5 PM until Memorial Day, when they start daily operating hours.
We stopped at Hobart Book Village before our stay at the Roxbury Motel in Roxbury, NY, which is a 25 minute drive away.
Thank you to Visit Rochester for hosting NY Foodie Family. As always, all opinions are our own.
Located in the north west region of New York state, Rochester is approximately a 5 hour drive from Westchester County or a one hour flight from NYC. We recently enjoyed a winter weekend in Rochester and can say there’s plenty to do! Even though it’s the fourth largest city in the state, Rochester has different neighborhoods that give it a small-town feel. Be sure to check out our Instagram page to see lots more pictures from our visit!
WHERE TO STAY:
We stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn Rochester University & Medical Center (30 Celebration Drive, Rochester, NY 14620). As the name suggests, this hotel is located next to the Medical Center and Rochester University. Almost all major attractions are less than a 15 minute drive away. Located in College Town, there are many restaurants and shops within walking distance.
The rooms are typical for a mainstream hotel and either have a King bed or 2 Queens. There are a couple of one bedroom suites that have a King bed and a small separate living room area with a pullout couch. Our room had two queen beds with a mini fridge, microwave and Keurig. The hotel has a pool and fitness center onsite. If you like Italian food, Grappa restaurant is located on the hotel ground floor. Parking at the hotel is free, even though you’re technically in the middle of a large city.
WHAT TO DO IN ROCHESTER:
Winters in Rochester can be cold and snowy. If you are not a fan of either, don’t despair! The city is full of fun indoor and outdoor places that are worth visiting in the winter.
The George Eastman Museum is the world’s oldest photography museum. It is located on George Eastman’s estate and visitors can tour both the museum and his mansion. Eastman invented the Kodak camera, helping to make photography more accessible to the public. The museum collection has more than 400,000 photographs and photography-related objects. There are always three photography exhibits on display in the museum and currently you can view Joshua Rashaad McFadden: I Believe I’ll Run On (through June 19, 2022), James Tylor: From an Untouched Landscape (through June 5, 2022) and Selections from the Collection. There are also digitized films from the George Eastman collection playing in the Multipurpose Hall (through March 27, 2022) and an exhibit of George Eastman in 1922 in the historic mansion.
From mid-February to the beginning of March, Dutch Connection takes place. Eastman loved flowers and, during this annual event, the mansion is decorated with the kinds of flowers that he enjoyed. The colorful display includes different varieties of tulips, daffodils, hyacinth and more.
There are not many cities that have a waterfall running through its center. This 96-foot waterfall is one of three that spills from the Genesee River. The pedestrian bridge, Pont de Rennes bridge, provides the perfect viewing platform of the falls and makes it easy for cyclists and pedestrians to access different parts of the city.
Mendon Ponds Park Wild Wings Bird of Prey Facility and Nature Center Fairy Trail and Birdsong Trail 27 Pond Road Honeoye Falls, NY 14472
Mendon Ponds Park is Monroe County’s largest park, consisting of 2,500 acres. Rochester gets a lot of snow in the winter and you can take advantage of it at this park. There are two designated sledding hills, more than 20 miles of groomed cross country skiing trails and snowshoe rentals. These are available for $5/an hour at the Wild Wings, Inc. shop. Every visit to Rochester should include a stop at the Wild Wings, Inc. Bird of Prey Facility and Nature Center. Meet rescued animals and birds of prey that, due to a variety of injuries, would not be able to survive out in the wild.
Make sure you leave time for a walk down the Fairy Trail! Look high and low for two dozen fairy houses, located both up on tree branches and down on tree stumps. They are colorful, inspirational and add a bit of whimsy and fun to the great outdoors!
Bring a bag of birdseed with you (or buy a bag for $1 and support the Wild Wings, Inc. facility) and head to Birdsong Trail. The birds, including black-capped chickadees, nuthatches and titmice, will fly down and eat the birdseed right out of your hand! This was such an unexpected and fun experience!
If you happen to visit in January, you can experience the park’s annual Winterfest, an all-day festival filled with fun activities and learning opportunities.
The Memorial Art Gallery (MAG) is the University of Rochester’s art museum. The MAG holds a collection of over 12,000 objects in their permanent collection. They also host many temporary exhibitions, concerts and family-friendly programs.
The collection spans over 5,000 years and you can see everything from an Egyptian mummy and Greek pottery to works by Monet, Cezanne and they even have a Kusama. There is a small sculpture park on the grounds of the museum worth checking out as well.
Current temporary exhibits include Kota Ezawa’s National Anthem (through August 14, 2022) and Chitra Ganesh: Sultana’s Dream (through June 5, 2022).
Radio Social is a great attraction to visit with teens. This entertainment venue has 34 bowling lanes, indoor games including shuffleboard and ping pong, and video games. There are two eateries: Ophira, a sit-down Middle Eastern restaurant located at the entrance of the space, and Shortwave, a counter-service-only snack bar. There are also two bar areas.
Every bowling lane has either a high top table with stools or sofas. Food can be ordered and delivered right to your lane. We visited on a Saturday evening and the place was hopping! This is a popular place for locals to celebrate birthdays, as there were several taking place during our visit. Lanes are rented by the hour and start at $39.95. Friday and Saturdays have a higher rate of $45.95/hour. If you want to rent a lane during your visit, I highly recommend making a reservation since, as I mentioned, this is a very popular venue!
We had dinner while we bowled and were impressed with the food we tried here. We enjoyed the “Just” brick oven pizza with tomato, fresh mozzarella and basil and the veggie burger, made with black beans, poblano and feta. The seasonal veggie, olive oil and fresh herb hummus served with cucumber and pita was tasty as well. My son enjoyed a bacon cheeseburger which is topped with a tomato shallot jam and aged cheddar. The curly fries are served with a black garlic mayo and spicy ketchup for dipping. This is not your typical bowling alley food!
The Rochester Museum and Science Center is a great museum for kids of all ages. Their current temporary exhibition is Expedition: Dinosaur, which is on display through May 1, 2022. The RMSC holds three floors of hands-on science with exhibits on energy, sound, illumination, Native Peoples of the Americas, and lots more! I personally found the Fight to Freedom: Rochester’s Underground Railroad and Objectively Racist: How Objects and Images Perpetuate Racism particularly enlightening. While the museum was filled with younger kids, I enjoyed that my older teens were knowledgeable about the science behind many of the exhibits, as they have or are learning about the concepts.
The Strasenburgh Planetarium, adjacent to the museum has three different shows, including its newest, “Dinosaurs at Dusk”. This approximately 45 minute show compliments the museum’s current Dinosaur exhibit. Young dinosaur fans will enjoy seeing this movie on a big screen. Please note: it’s a movie about a father and daughter who travel through time to see dinosaurs. It is not a planetarium show focused on stars and space.
If you have young kids, the Strong Museum of Play is a must-visit when in Rochester. This is a one-of-a-kind museum with 100,000 square feet of interactive exhibits focused on toys and play. Kids can visit Sesame Street, shop at the Wegman’s Super Kids Market, visit the Toy Hall of Fame and more. Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood is a temporary exhibit through April 24, 2022.
Our family had fun in Pinball Playfields, where we got to play all kinds of different pinball machines. Pinball games and video games cost 25 cents per play. While there is plenty to see and do with a general admission, there are also attractions available for an additional cost. These include the butterfly garden, the Skyline climb, a train ride and a ride on the carousel.
Be warned, we visited during the winter break when schools were closed. Even though we arrived early, it was packed! In our opinion, children between the ages of 4 and 10 will likely have the most fun and enjoyment at this museum.
Visit Colleges
Having two teenagers, we’ve recently been visiting colleges on our travels. Rochester is home to several colleges including the University of Rochester and the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). The University of Rochester is minutes away from the Hilton Garden Inn Rochester/University & Medical Center. We took a drive through the campus to get a cursory glimpse of the school. However, you can schedule a visit to Rochester around an official college visit and tour.
WHERE TO EAT IN ROCHESTER:
A visit to Rochester is not complete without sampling it’s most iconic dish, the garbage plate. Trademarked by the historic restaurant where it originated called Nick Tahou Hots in 1992, almost every restaurant offers some variation. Garbage plate traditionally begin with a layer of either French fries or home fries, and either macaroni salad or baked beans. This layer is then topped with a protein which often is either hot dogs or hamburgers. However, some restaurants offer ground meat, sausage, chicken or even fried fish.
A city like Rochester is full of restaurants. From burgers and fast food to vegan restaurants and fine dining, there is something for everyone. You can dine at a different restaurant every day and still not visit them all. Below are the restaurants that we visited and can recommend.
The Genesee Brew House was established in 2012. However, the brewery itself dates back to 1878. The Brew House sits adjacent to the Genesee River and from the balcony or rooftop, offers spectacular views of High Falls. The first floor of the Brew House has a gift shop, a collection of brewery memorabilia and the Pilot Brewery.
The second floor of the brewery has a large bar and both indoor and outdoor seating. Whenever we are at a brewery, my husband has to sample a flight! The brewery had 14 brews on tap for him to choose from. We also enjoyed dinner here. The menu has some interesting items like Buffalo Chicken Pierogis and Potato Chip Tenders appetizers. My son enjoyed the ChicKing sandwich, which he devoured. However, my daughter and husband are vegetarians and I’m a pescatarian.
The three of us shared Bavarian pretzels, the Blush Beer Raviolis and a Goat Cheese Burger, minus the bacon. We were impressed that we could order any of their three burgers and substitute an Impossible burger for the beef patty. Although the menu had a limited selection of items that we could eat, everything we ordered was really good!
Jines is a family-owned restaurant that has been operating since 1971. It is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We visited for breakfast and were impressed with their offerings. They have an extensive omelette menu and serve eight variations of eggs Benedict!
The Wild Mushroom and Crumbled Blue Cheese was delicious, as was the Fresh Mozzarella, Fresh Basil and Tomato Omelette. My kids enjoyed the Belgian waffle with strawberries and the bagel with lox and cream cheese. If eggs aren’t your thing, Jines serves a variety of different waffles and pancakes, cereal, pastries, bagels and more.
Open Face George Eastman House 900 East Avenue Rochester, NY 14607
If you are visiting the George Eastman House, I recommend stopping by Open Face, the museum’s onsite café for lunch or a snack. The restaurant offers a variety of beverages, including a Tea Pharmacy that serves 18 different varieties. We were impressed with the selection of sandwiches on the menu and liked that there is an option to do a tasting and sample two different sandwich halves. We sampled three sandwiches, the Toasted Brie (with warm apricot preserves and tart cherry butter), the open-faced Corn Mash and the Chickpea, and can highly recommend all three! Many of the sandwiches are vegetarian and can be made vegan for an additional charge.
The Red Fern 283 Oxford Street Rochester, NY 14607
The Red Fern is located in the Neighborhood of the Arts. It is a 100% vegan restaurant and bakery and also has gluten-free and allergy-friendly food options. As vegetarians, and former vegans, we love being able to go into a restaurant and know that we can order anything on the menu. And they have a dessert case filled with vegan treats! The restaurant and dining space is small, so I highly recommend making reservations or ordering takeout. We ended up doing takeout on our visit since the dining room wait list was long!
We had to try the Compost Plate, The Red Fern’s version of the Garbage Plate, that I described above. Their version has a layer of macaroni salad and sweet potatoes topped with a spicy ‘meat’ sauce and choice of protein (we chose Italian ‘sausage’) and served with field greens and focaccia toast. It may not look appetizing, but this was one of my favorite dishes! We also shared a Steak Bomb sandwich and ABLT sandwich. We couldn’t leave without sampling a dessert and tried the cherry chocolate brownie.
The Rochester Public Market has been a city staple since 1905. It operates every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, all year long. We arrived at the market on a Saturday morning around 8:15 AM to get some breakfast. It was snowing and freezing cold when we arrived. While there are many food options at the Market, we started at the closest to our parked car. The Flour City Bread Company uses only organic grains and flours in their bread. Their selection is vast and, besides bread, they sell bagels, pretzels, hamburger or hotdog rolls, croissants, granola, danish and more. We chose to share a pretzel, chocolate croissant, potato focaccia and blueberry cronut. It was very difficult deciding on what to get and everything we tried was so good!
We then went next door to Best Coffee at The Market for some hot beverages. The kids enjoyed hot cocoas while I had a regular coffee and my husband ordered an Americano. This place was packed at 8:30 AM! They roast their coffee beans onsite, which is done right inside the entrance. You can also buy bags of their roasted beans.
Despite the frigid cold weather, there were many outdoor vendors set up. Most were farms selling produce. However, we also saw syrup, eggs and other goods being sold. There was also one food vendor braving the cold, selling empanadas, burritos and other Mexican dishes from inside a small food cart.
We made a stop at Juan and Maria’s Empanadas. This family business is housed in an indoor/ outdoor pavilion and has been operating for 21 years! We shared a cheese empanada and a vegetable breakfast empanada. They were both so good! Don’t forget to grab some sauces to enjoy with your empanadas. The Spanish mayo and the green & gold sauces were our favorite.
After warming up with our empanadas, we went into the indoor public market in building B. Here, vendors are selling everything from produce and seafood to freshly pressed juices, baked items and vegan food items. You can spend hours at this market, enjoying a meal and snacks and shopping from the vendors.
Simply Crepes has three locations in the upstate New York area. The restaurant serves separate breakfast and lunch/dinner menus. We visited for breakfast and ordered a mix of sweet and savory items. Since it’s part of the restaurant’s name, of course we had to sample the crepes! I ordered savory with the Vegetarian Scramble Crepe, while my daughter ordered the Nutella Fruit Crepe. Nutella, fresh strawberries, chocolate sauce and whipped cream are served inside the crepe, along with a side of vanilla bean ice cream. Yes, she had ice cream for breakfast!
My husband went with the Rumchata Banana French Toast (French toast with burnt sugar custard, bananas and Rumchata caramel) and my son ordered the Maple Sausage Stackers (two crepes piled with scrambled eggs, maple sausage, cheddar and topped with an apple wood bacon cream). The restaurant serves a lot more than crepes and it is all amazing!
There is so much to see, eat and do on a winter weekend in Rochester. This is only a sampling of some of the fun and delicious bites you can enjoy in this great city in New York. As you plan your next winter weekend getaway, consider visiting Rochester!
Nicknamed “Crystal City,” Corning, NY is perfect for a fun family weekend getaway. Situated in the southern Finger Lakes region, there is something here for everyone. Last summer I visited Corning with my two children and we had a great time. However, the town will appeal to art lovers, wine connoisseurs, or couples looking for a romantic getaway as well. The trip to Corning is a little less than 4 hours by car.
Where to Stay:
Staybridge Suites Corning
Staybridge Suites Corning is located a short distance from the Corning Museum of Glass. This hotel is perfect for families. Our suite had a small kitchenette with a table and chairs and a living room with a television. The kids shared one bedroom and each got a bed all to themselves, while I slept in the other bedroom. Getting ready in the morning was made easier with a bathroom in each bedroom. My kids loved swimming in the indoor pool. Breakfast is included with your stay, which is always nice when traveling, to save on expenses. The buffet had a decent selection of hot and cold choices including oatmeal, scrambled eggs, waffles, pastries, fruit and more. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings the hotel hosts an evening reception with complimentary food and beverages.
What to do:
Rockwell Museum
The Rockwell Museum is located in the heart of Corning, on the corner of Cedar Street. The museum houses a diverse collection of art that tells the story of the American experience through the works of American artists. Open at 9 AM, this is a great place to start your visit in Corning. You can easily spend a couple of hours viewing the paintings, sculptures, photographs and other works of art. You can buy a combo ticket to the Corning Museum of Glass and take advantage of the free shuttle. Read all about why this museum is great for families!
Corning Museum of Glass Most people associate Corning with the Corning Museum of Glass and of course it is a mandatory stop on your trip. The Corning Museum of Glass houses the world’s largest collection of glass art, with over 3,500 years of glass history exhibited throughout its galleries. During your visit you will also be able to watch live glass making demonstrations that are held continuously throughout the day.
Prior to your visit, be sure to make a reservation at the Studio if you want to participate in a Make Your Own Glass experience. For an additional fee, you can enjoy a memorable glass blowing experience and take home a souvenir of your trip. Because the glass needs to undergo a slow cooling process, it must remain at the studio overnight and can be picked up the next day or shipped to your house, for a fee. Read all about our visit to the CMOG.
Other Museums and Historic Sites
Located in or around Corning you will also find other museums including the Arnot Art Museum, Glenn H. Curtiss Museum, the Finger Lakes Boating Museum and the Erie Depot. History fans will also enjoy Mark Twain’s Elmira.
Watkins Glen International Speedway
Located approximately 30 minutes away is the Watkins Glen International Speedway. If you are into car racing, you may want to plan a weekend when a race is taking place. On specific dates, you can purchase a pass to drive your car around the raceway!
Shopping
The Gaffer District is home to over 50 shops. From clothing, jewelry, glass, wine, cigars, art and more, you will find something for everyone among the different shops.
Wineries & Breweries
The Finger Lakes is well-known for its wine trails. But did you know that the region is also home to many breweries and distilleries? While not something that I could partake in with the kids in tow, I can’t wait to return with my husband to enjoy the craft beverage trail.
Outdoor Fun There are many different outdoor activities to enjoy in Corning. Depending on when you visit you can kayak, hike, bike, fish, boat and even horseback ride. No matter what season you visit, you should make time for a stop at Watkins Glen State Park. A short drive from Corning, this New York State park is home to 19 waterfalls, a couple of which you can actually walk behind! During our visit we kayaked, went horseback riding, and also visited Watkins Glen State Park.
Where to Eat:
Old World Café
Within walking distance of the Rockwell Museum is the Old World Cafe. It sits in the heart of the Gaffer District, and is a perfect place to grab lunch. You can enjoy the homemade soups, sandwiches and salads, but leave room for some Purity ice cream, served in the parlor.
Hand + Foot
Back in the Gaffer District enjoy dinner at Hand + Foot. The have a drink menu featuring an extensive list of draft beers. Their menu features sandwiches and dishes made with seasonal ingredients. The restaurant focuses on community and has one long table for seating, conducive for meeting the locals and making new friends.
Nickel’s Pit BBQ
After a hike at Watkins Glen State Park, visit Nickel’s Pit BBQ located on North Franklin Street. The restaurant is located in the historic Watkins Glen fire department building. It serves all kinds of delicious BBQ in a casual, but fun atmosphere.
Village Tavern Restaurant
Located approximately 40 minutes away in Hammondsport, near Lake Keuka, is Village Tavern Restaurant. This European style bar and restaurant serves award-winning wines and over 100 different beers. While the restaurant specializes in fresh fish and seafood, the lunch menu includes a variety of salads and sandwiches. This restaurant is seasonal and is open May through the beginning of December.
This past weekend was the last of the Maple Weekends in New York State. For two weekends (March 21 – 22 and March 28-29) almost 160 maple producers throughout New York State held open houses for visitors to see how maple syrup is made, tour their facilities and offer samples. My family took an hour drive to Dutchess County, New York to Madava Farms, home of Crown Maple.
Madava Farms is located in Dover Plains, New York and sits on 800 acres of land. As you drive through the gates, the farm lets you know it is a modern operation. We were expecting perhaps a bunch of buckets tapped into the maple trees and a rustic collection of wooden buildings. Maybe there would be a smoky fire cooking down the sap at the sugar shack. We were way off. The facilities look brand new and whoever designed and built the property spared no expense. Instead of buckets, all the surrounding trees are snaked with miles of plastic tubing carrying the sweet sap directly to the gleaming holding tanks.
Outside the main building there was a fire pit where you could warm up on the brisk day or roast marshmallows. We started inside the building first though. Normally, maple tours cost $10 per adult and $5 per child. During the Maple Weekend open house, our “tour” was free. I say “tour” in quotes, since it was a more relaxed, self-guided tour, versus the sixty-minute guided tour that you pay for. When we walked through the main door we were greeted by a Crown Maple employee. He gave us a map of the facilities and pointed out some of the highlights. To the right of the entrance was the Farm Stand, the eatery where you can purchase food that is seasonal and locally sourced. To the left was the shop where you could purchase maple products. We walked through the lobby and into the large dining room/evaporation room.
We started our tour in the Mural Room, named for the large painted mural on the wall. We enjoyed listening to two Crown Maple employees talk about the tree tapping process. We got to see where they stored the tap as well as where the sap is clarified and concentrated. The filtering and refining process is very efficient and modern with a lot of water removed from the sap before any cooking actually begins.
The kids’ favorite part of the trip was getting to sample maple cotton candy, popcorn and granola.
We then went into the Tasting Room and sampled maple sugar as well as four different maple syrups ranging from light amber to extra dark amber. We then got lunch at the Farmstand, where they offered a special Maple Weekend menu. The four of us shared a Crown Maple Pulled Pork Sandwich and Maple Spiced Chicken Sandwich, both served with an arugula salad on the side. They were both tasty and I enjoyed sampling dishes made with their maple syrup. After lunch we headed out to the fire pit and roasted some marshmallows and enjoyed the view.
The farm has hiking trails, which we attempted on our way out, but it was super muddy and we didn’t have appropriate footwear.
We had a great time visiting Madava Farms! Although Maple Weekends are over until next year, we highly recommend visiting. This was a fun and informative experience. We will hopefully visit Madava Farms again soon!
On a recent trip down to New York City we saw this advertisement on the Metro-North Railroad. An October 2014 press release from Governor Andrew M. Cuomo reported that the Taste NY store opened in February 2014 in Grand Central Terminal. As a life-long New York State resident, this was the first of me seeing or hearing about it. Unfortunately, we did not have time to stop and peruse the shop, located next to the Biltmore Room across from track 37. On our next trip into the city we will be making sure to stop in and make a purchase.
So what exactly is Taste NY?
Taste NY is an economic initiative that Governor Andrew M. Cuomo began in 2011 to promote products made in New York. In an October 2014 press release Cuomo stated, “We launched the Taste NY program to highlight the world-class products that our food and beverage producers have to offer, and in doing so have boosted the profiles and sales of a wide variety of small business owners.”
In November 2014 the first Taste NY Harvest Fest was held at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse, New York to provide consumers with a tasting and buying opportunity to support local producers.
How can you support Taste NY? You can start by checking out the official website here. The site provides information on beer, cider, dairy, fruits & vegetables, maple, spirits, wine and specialty products. Each heading provides information on that particular industry in New York state, as well as useful links and information on where to purchase such items.
Visit a Taste NY Farmer’s Market at select Travel Plazas located on the New York State Thruway. Check here for additional information.
Check out the Taste NY store in Grand Central Terminal and purchase goods.
Or, depending on where in New York State you live, buy locally and help to support New York food and beverage producers.
What’s in the future for Taste NY? In his October 2014 press release, Cuomo proposed major expansions for the program, including being able to purchase products online via the Taste NY website. At the time of writing this post, products were not currently available for purchase through the site, although it looks like they will be using Shopify.
Adding Taste NY displays, vending machines and stores on all SUNY and CUNY campuses.
There are also plans to place Taste NY vending machines, at the Department of Transportation rest areas in Binghamton and Clifton Park as well as in state office buildings.
Additional retail Taste NY stores are in the works as well as Taste NY displays in New York state liquor stores with special tags on bottles to help identify them as “made in New York.”
A mobile phone app to be released through “I LOVE NY” which will identify Taste NY attractions throughout the state.
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I’m sure if you haven’t already seen the Taste NY logo and advertising, you will be seeing a lot of it in 2015.
This year, one of our family goals is to eat more food sourced locally from New York State, which helped to inspire this blog. We will be using the Taste NY site as a reference as well as buying from local farmer’s markets. We will hopefully be able to check out Harvest Fest 2015!
Have any of you seen any Taste NY signs, visited the store or seen the website?
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