Finger Lakes Effect

Subscriber meetup, Sundae Winner, Trees & Books, Events & More - Week of April 23, 2025

Author

Adam Moody
April 23, 2025

National Arbor Day is this Friday, April 25th.

It's the perfect time to lace up your boots, breathe in that good spring air, and appreciate the trees that are just starting to leaf out across the Finger Lakes.

Whether you're wandering through Taughannock, strolling around your favorite park, or heading into the gorge trails (once those brave scaling teams finish their work!), this is the weekend to reconnect with the outdoors.

And if you're like me, a good walk often pairs perfectly with a good book—especially one that brings the local landscape to life.

I recently met up with Michael Turback over a beer at Liquid State in Ithaca. Michael has written several books inspired by and about the Finger Lakes region. If you're looking for your next read, stay tuned—I’ll be sharing more about his work soon.

Ok, let’s get into it!

The First Finger Lakes Effect Members Only Meetup

Would you be interested in attending our first Finger Lakes Effect Happy Hour?

I'm planning a casual, subscriber-only Happy Hour—location TBD, May 15th (Thu), May 16th (Fri), or possibly May 22nd (Thu), depending on what works best for you.

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

TRAIL OF THE WEEK: Ebeneezer’s Crossing FLT

About 9 miles of great trail here (or more—it’s the FLT!) with a nice water crossing right off the bat, a lean-to soon after (with outhouse), and great scenery as things start to get more green.

👉 Trail details here.

Ebeneezer's Crossing

📅 EVENTS

Wednesday

  • Mycology 101: Outdoor Mushroom Cultivation (Penn Yan) - Get hands-on with mushrooms in this outdoor workshop led by expert forager Samuel Warren, where you’ll inoculate logs and learn how to grow your own future fungi feast!

  • Open Mic Comedy @ Deep Dive (Ithaca) - Make a splash every other Wednesday at Deep Dive with Dive Into Comedy, a bi-weekly stand-up showcase featuring local laughs, fresh talent, and good vibes hosted by Mike Stewart and Andre “Pnut” Williams.

Thursday

  • Scaling Our Gorges (Online - available on demand for free) - Watch Finger Lakes Park Rangers in action in this encore episode of Walk in the Park, as scaling teams rappel cliffs to keep our amazing gorge trails safe each spring.

  • Paint Night @ Upstate Brewing (Elmira) - Sip and paint at Upstate Brewing in Elmira on April 24th with The Party Brush—choose your sunny wood pallet design, enjoy your first drink, and create something fun during this hands-on evening workshop.

  • Brushes & Beers (Penn Yan) - Step by step instructions, materials, and first drink included in the fee at Seneca Stag Brewing.

Friday

  • Toddler Dance Party! (Penn Yan) - Got a little one who loves to boogie? Now’s your chance - outdoor boogie for toddlers at the Penn Yan public library.

  • Wine & Pickle Pairing (Rock Stream) - That’s right - 🍷 and 🥒 pairing! Available through the weekend in case you miss out on Friday 😀 

  • Cuse Comedy Throwdown (Syracuse) - Don’t miss a night of laughs and local talent as 20 upstate comics compete for $250 and the title of Funniest Person in Syracuse—all at POHO, with food, drinks, and proceeds supporting Golisano Children’s Hospital.

Saturday

  • Bloom into Spring Workshop at Fillmore Glen State Park (Moravia) - Celebrate spring at Fillmore Glen State Park with wildflower walks, nature games, and a “bioblitz” led by local naturalist Carlin Shew—fun and learning for all ages and abilities.

  • Between the Tanks Brewmaster Tour & Tasting (Geneva) - Join a 45-minute tour and VIP tasting to learn what makes a beer Belgian, how fruited beers are brewed, and enjoy a flight of the latest releases with the Brewmaster. $23.

  • Wild Water Derby 5k (Shortsville) - Run the Wild Water Derby 5K alongside the Canandaigua Outlet, with handcrafted medals, cash prizes, and proceeds supporting local fire departments.

  • La Monarka @ Apple Barrel Orchards (Penn Yan) - The first food truck of the season for Apple Barrel Orchards and the top recommendation for Mexican food in the Finger Lakes from last week’s survey! We’re planning to swing by with a visiting friend.

  • Take 3 Trio @ Abandon Brewery (Penn Yan) - Might as well swing by after some cider and La Monarka from good music and great beers!

  • Rotary Club Spring Trash Pickup Volunteering (Ithaca) - Lend a hand at the Ithaca Rotary Club’s Annual Spring Trash Cleanup—gear is provided, so just bring some sturdy footwear and clothes and help clean up Rt. 13 to fight plastic pollution and keep things looking great.

Sunday

  • 4H Duck Race 2025 (Ithaca) - Cheer on 2,500 rubber ducks (or enter your own) racing down Cascadilla Creek at the 4-H Duck Race—plus games, food, family fun, and a chance to win prizes while supporting local youth programs.

  • Big Red Marching Band Spring Concert (Ithaca) - Catch the high-energy Big Red Marching Band as they parade into the Ithaca Commons on April 27th for their annual spring concert, featuring lively sets of music, a mid-day break, and a grand musical finale.

  • Wild Walks: Spring Naturalist Series (Naples) - Join CNC educator Lann for a fun, family-friendly wetland walk to explore the weird wonders of skunk cabbage—yes, it smells, but it also makes its own heat and melts snow!

  • Seneca7 (Seneca Lake) - Keep your eyes open for runners on the road this Sunday - tons of runners will be making their way around the lake starting at 5:30 am and some finishing into the night. Race starts in Geneva.

Want to see your event in an upcoming Finger Lakes Effect newsletter? Click the button below and add your event details!

More Events? Less Events? Different Types? Hit reply and let me know!

The Board

Want to spread the word about your business, a project, a volunteer opportunity, or just give a shout-out to hundreds of friends in the Finger Lakes?

Woodpepper bread is as fresh as you can get it - when you stop by you might catch Dane in the middle of baking. Don’t forget to grab some butter and local meats from the fridge!

Lucky Hare at the Watkins Glen Marina is a good place to stop any time of the year, but with the weather starting to warm up, what could be better than a cold Lucky Hare beer, a burger, and a spot on the patio?

Forks On The Road: Eats & Drinks

The Spotted Duck: Custard with a Quackload of Charm

Tasty treats inside!

On a winding drive between vineyard views and lakeside breezes, The Spotted Duck Creamery pops up like a sweet little secret on Route 54, just outside Penn Yan on Seneca Lake. It’s not flashy—just a tidy farmstand, a yard full of picnic tables, and a lot of love—but it scoops up some of the richest, creamiest frozen custard in the Finger Lakes.

What makes it special? Duck eggs—from the farm itself. You can even see the ducks waddling around near the picnic tables while you eat. The custard is made on-site using eggs from the creamery’s own birds, resulting in a texture so smooth it’s almost unfair to regular ice cream. The whole setup radiates a kind of homespun magic.

So much deliciousness 😅 

We went big (because how could we not?) with the Seneca Flight—eight flavors, plus one extra scoop to get every flavor—and promptly gave up on picking a favorite. Fleur Bleu (a dreamy blueberry-lavender), Wicked Chocolate, Toasted Vanilla, and Lemon Meringue Pie all fought hard for the top spot, but honestly, every single flavor brought something special to the scoop.

As if that wasn’t enough, we also dove into the Cookie Monster Sundae: Real Cookies & Cream, Vanilla Crème, a chocolate chip cookie, hot fudge, and whipped cream stacked high like a dairy-based dream come true. It was as over-the-top as it was unforgettable—and not one bite was left behind.

With its relaxed picnic seating and farm animals ambling about, The Spotted Duck is the kind of place where you can settle in, slow down, and just enjoy a seriously good treat under the open sky. It’s local, it’s loveable, and it’s one stop you absolutely shouldn’t skip on your next Finger Lakes wander.

Jeney - The Forkin’ Local

Speaking Of Food - The Sundae Showdown Winner Was Announced!

If you weren’t there live to chow down on some tasty treats in person (I was in Albany 😢) you may not know that the winner of the 2025 Sundae Showdown this past Sunday was Sweet Melissa’s with the Warm Brown Turtle sundae!

Ready For Your New Pet? 🐱🐶

Meet Boo!

Boo is a 3 year old domestic shorthair cat that wants to be “the queen of the castle” - a one-cat-household type of cat that needs a good home.

Need a furry friend? Check out adoptable pets here (Auburn), here (Syracuse), or here (Ithaca) and set up a visit at the closest SPCA. But act fast—word on the street is that animals rarely last more than a week or two before finding homes.

Shout Out

Thanks for the recommendations for some great Mexican grub around the lakes - we’ll be tracking down a food truck, heading to Penn Yan, and making a couple other stops based on the survey input from readers. Expect to see some Forks On The Road writeups of our favorites before too long!

That’s all for now, folks

Until next week - have a great weekend and enjoy the area.

If you come across any great events or spots, hit reply to this email and let me know!

Adam Moody

P.S. The Finger Lakes Effect will be evolving as it goes - if you have an idea for the style, look, or topics, hit reply and let me know.