Well, we've officially crossed into "where do I put more snow?" territory. Hope you're staying warm and your shoveling arm is holding up.
Good news on the horizon though. The burger contest is happening. Thanks to everyone who voted - we had a 91%+ “YES” vote.
I'll have all the details below, but start mentally preparing your appetite now.
And the cold isn't going anywhere for a bit. But some of the best moments happen when you bundle up and get out there anyway. I put that to the test yesterday when we strapped on snowshoes and headed out for coffee at sunrise before making a hasty trek back to warm up!
Let’s go!
🍔 SUBMIT YOUR FAVORITE BURGER 🍔
You’ve spoken, and I hear you loud and clear! Over 91% of votes were in favor of a “best burgers in the Finger Lakes” event, so let’s get this going.
First step: submit your favorite burger using the link below.
Next step: we’ll have a week or two of voting to narrow things, down depending on how many submissions we get.
Final step: we'll narrow it down to a dozen or fewer, then do a final round of voting and in-person visits before crowning the best burger in the Finger Lakes!
❄️ WINTER WONDERLAND ❄️
I heard from Hannah, she’s helping with business development in Phelps. The Phelps Frozen Fest is coming up Feb 6-7 and they’ve got some great events in the works.
There’s something for everyone: family friendly (and free) activities, food & drink, and some really cool igloo experiences. Highly suggest checking this out!
Ice skating
Igloo Experience
Phelps Express train rides
Games
Music
Don’t forget about the Sweetheart Sip N Stroll - and if you’d like to win 2 FREE tickets to the Sweetheart Sip N Stroll, reply back to this email and let me know who you’d bring with you and why they’re awesome.
Winner will be chosen randomly from all replies (only 1 reply per person, please!) before next week’s newsletter goes out.
Your response gets you one entry; forward this email to a friend interested in FLX events and CC me, get another entry!
Want to find out more? Go here.
🌰 THE RETURN OF THE AMERICAN CHESTNUT? 🌰
If you’ve read the last couple of newsletters, you know that American chestnuts used to be everywhere around here - like, a quarter of the trees in Appalachian forests before a fungal blight wiped them out in the early 1900s.
They've been pretty much extinct for decades, but there's a cool effort underway to bring them back, and a lot of it's happening right here in New York.
Researchers at SUNY ESF in Syracuse have been working on this for years. They've developed a tree called the Darling 54 - basically an American chestnut with a single wheat gene added that helps it neutralize the blight's toxins. It looks and grows like the original, but it can actually survive to maturity. The trees are currently working through the final stages of federal approval.
There's also a more traditional approach - breeding American chestnuts with blight-resistant Chinese chestnuts - and some debate between the two camps.
Chestnut gathering
Either way, the goal is the same: getting these trees back on our ridges and hillsides.
More information about restoration here.
👋 Contribute To The Effect 👋
The Finger Lakes Effect is 100% free to read, independently owned, and locally operated (it’s me, my wife, and a cat).
Your contributions go toward keeping the Finger Lakes Effect going so we can have more fun, build more connections, and not have each edition filled with ads. I appreciate any and all support from this great group! - Adam
The Bulletin
Want to spread the word about your business, project, volunteer opportunity, or give a shout-out to 9,300+ friends in the Finger Lakes? Get in touch.
Brew & Brats at Arbor Hill - Brats, steaks, potato salad, charcuterie, cider, wine, beer, and a wood-burning stove? Yes, please! Swing by and fill up.
Rip Tide BBQ - Looking for good BBQ with a different take? Prepared daily in-house (sauces included!) you’ll find something that will put a smile on your face.
📅 EVENTS
Top Picks
Wednesday
Bow Studio Valentine’s Day Paint and Sip @ Adonia Salon & Spa (Auburn) – Paint, sip, relax, and get cozy with a creative Valentine-themed night made for winter fun.
Mike Lucey Acoustic @ Lake Life Brewery (Penn Yan) – Live acoustic tunes, craft beer, and an easy midweek hang with local Finger Lakes vibes.
Swing Dance Party @ TreeHouse Studio & Lounge (Ithaca) – A fun, welcoming swing dance night with great music, easy vibes, and room to move.
Latin Dance Night @ VOLO (Corning) – A late-night Latin dance party bringing high-energy rhythms, movement, and nightlife vibes to midweek.
Thursday
Chamber Night at the Ice Bar @ Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel (Watkins Glen) – Ice sculptures, fire pits, drinks, music, and fireworks turn the harbor into a winter playground (if you’re already a member, could be a great event!).
Short Doc Premiere: Getting Almost Naked @ Liquid State Brewing Company (Ithaca) – A bold short documentary on burlesque, vulnerability, and self-expression, plus a post-screening discussion.
BADFISH – A Tribute to Sublime @ Middle Ages Beer Hall (Syracuse) – A high-energy tribute night packed with reggae-punk anthems, nostalgia, and laid-back California vibes.
JOYCE MANOR Album Release Party @ The Squatch Den (Horseheads) – A communal album listening party celebrating a new Joyce Manor release with indie record store vibes.
Bendher (Acoustic Set) @ Junior's Log Cabin (Campbell) – A relaxed acoustic night with local favorites, sing-alongs, and cozy barroom vibes.
Friday
Gerard Burke @ Garrett's Brewing Company (Trumansburg) – A laid-back early evening of live Delta blues in a cozy brewery setting.
A Single Excellent Night: Conversation with Lee Carlson @ Buffalo Street Books (Ithaca) – An intimate author conversation blending journalism, reflection, and Zen-informed insight.
Shawn Duchsherer @ Abandon Brewing Company (Penn Yan) – Laid-back live acoustic music, craft beer pours, and cozy winter vibes for an easygoing Friday evening.
Dad On Arrival @ The Farm at Hopshire (Freeville) – Original tunes, clever mashups, craft beer, and cozy farm vibes for a feel-good Friday night.
Homebrewed Comedy @ McGraw Box Brewing Co. (Penn Yan) – Stand-up laughs, craft beer pours, and an easygoing comedy night to kick off the weekend.
The Shylocks @ ONCO Fermentations (Tully) – Acoustic blues, farmhouse brews, and a cozy, laid-back night of live music in a rural brewery setting.
Oliver Burdo LIVE @ Two Goats Brewing (Hector) – A stripped-down songwriter set pairing timeless folk influences with great beer and Seneca Lake views.
Saturday
Level Up Your Farm or Food Business @ Southern Tier Small Business Development Center (Binghamton) – Smart strategies for scaling farms and food businesses, pricing better, cutting costs, and boosting profits in 2026.
Kitestring Live Music @ Brewers Kitchen and Taproom (Ithaca) – An easygoing Saturday night of live music, good food, and relaxed vibes at a neighborhood taproom.
Mammoth Winter Fest @ Liverpool Public Library (Liverpool) – Winter crafts, cozy games, family fun, and a festive celebration of reading to close out the season.
Learn to Make Fire Cider Workshop @ The Human Services Complex (Montour Falls) – Hands-on herbalism, warming winter remedies, and making your own fire cider to take home.
Orbital – Digital Dome Show @ Corning Community College (Corning) – Immersive dome visuals, space, light, and perspective-shifting views of Earth from orbit.
Levi Gangi @ Treleaven Wines (King Ferry) – Live music, local wine, and a relaxed winter afternoon overlooking Cayuga Lake.
Planetarium | Two Small Pieces of Glass @ Link Planetarium (Binghamton) – A planetarium journey through telescopes, space discovery, and 400 years of astronomical wonder.
CNY Brewfest 2026 @ New York State Fairgrounds (Syracuse) – Unlimited craft beer, ciders, cocktails, live music, and a high-energy winter festival vibe
Wigging Out: Drag Comedy Show @ Clemens Center (Elmira) – Big laughs, bold drag, playful chaos, and nonstop comedy energy in a 21+ night out.
Sunday
Corn Hole for a Cause @ Elmira Elks #62 (Elmira) – Friendly competition, raffle prizes, and a feel-good winter fundraiser supporting accessible housing in the community.
Valentine’s Day Card Workshop @ Ivy Creative Designs Studio (Ithaca) – Hands-on Valentine’s card-making workshop with alcohol inks — all supplies included.
Cyanotype Workshop w/ Jaden Demarest @ The Ink Shop (Ithaca) – Create striking blueprints using historic photo techniques in this hands-on cyanotype workshop.
Stitch and Sip Embroidery Workshop @ The Rumour Mill (Phelps) – A cozy afternoon of embroidery, creativity, and sipping in a relaxed Finger Lakes setting.
Ithaca Big Band Summit @ Bailey Hall (Ithaca) – A free afternoon of big band jazz celebrating collaboration across Ithaca’s student and community music scene.
Quarterly Reads with Odyssey Bookstore @ Bar Argos (Ithaca) – A relaxed literary meetup pairing book discoveries with conversation and drinks in a cozy downtown setting.
Recurring Events
Limited Duration - click here
Trivia - click here
Kid Friendly - click here
Got an event we should feature in the Finger Lakes Effect? Click the button below and add your event details!
Finger Lakes Insider - The Finger Lakes Insider is here! This isn’t just a longer event list. It’s a well-curated, month-ahead game plan so you can lock in the fun stuff early, discover gems you’d miss otherwise, and stop last-minute scrambling (and annoying calendar overlaps).
Thanks for supporting the Finger Lakes Effect!
See You Out There
Thanks for being part of the Finger Lakes Effect!
Adam Moody
