As of the latest reports, most of the Finger Lakes is turning colors with the southwest corner nearing peak while the rest of us have a lot of green remaining.
So if you've been meaning to take the long way home, this is the week. Pick a road you don't usually drive and give yourself an extra twenty minutes.
If you’ve got Monday off, it might be a good time to spend a day outdoors and soak it up.
👾 GAME DROP 👾
There’s a new game in town!
This one is a classic. Memory with a Finger Lakes theme. Flip the cards over one at a time and match the picture.
The game tracks your flips and total time. You can play once per day. Keep your streak going and see if you can top the leaderboard!
And in case you haven’t played it before, FLX Trail is available at the same link. Enjoy!
📜 HISTORY WITH KEMI 📜
At first glance, this photograph looks peaceful: a quiet stretch of Seneca Lake, open water, and a handful of homes overlooking the shoreline. But Geneva's waterfront has never stood still for long.
Over the next century, this same stretch of shoreline would be transformed by industry before eventually becoming the public waterfront we enjoy today. The lake itself never changed. What changed was what each generation believed it was for.
Looking at old photographs like this one reminds us that landscapes aren't static.
Sketch by Édouard-Charles-Victurnien Colbert (public domain), courtesy of Historic Geneva
They are living records of the values, priorities, and dreams of the people who came before us.
Kemi Ajisekola is the creator and host of Common Ground FLX, a local radio show and podcast exploring the history, ecology, and everyday stories of the Finger Lakes. Listen wherever you get your podcasts and subscribe to Field Notes from the Finger Lakes for occasional essays, seasonal observations, and stories from the show.
🎃 DIDN’T WIN? 🎃
Congrats to Gretchen, who won the 4 tickets from Moore Family Farm last week. And thank you to everyone who replied!
If you didn’t win but want to go check out the good times at the farm, including a 5-acre corn maze, pumpkin patch, apple cannons, bounce area, and more, then you’re in luck.
They’ve create a special discount code for readers. Use FLXEffect3 for $3 off each admission ticket. Tickets can be purchased here: Moore Family Farm Tickets
👻 A SPOOKY QUESTION 👻
How does wine, spooky tales, and tasty snacks sound? We’re planning something for October 27 around Seneca Lake that you might want to check out…are you game?
Does wine, spooky tales, and tasty snacks sound like a good time?
🔆 QUICK HITS 🔆
Did you know there’s a Finger Lakes Effect Book Club? Join here.
Be A Contributor, and you help keep the Finger Lakes Effect going. More of the good stuff, and more people to share it with.
Dinner Club is heading to Canandaigua. Join us on Oct 29.
The Bulletin
Interested in partnering with the Finger Lakes Effect? Reach 13,300+ engaged Finger Lakes readers. I feature local businesses worth knowing. Get in touch here.
Got a community event or shout-out? Submit it here.
Boundary Breaks Vineyard - This winery is a reader favorite. Swing by on the east side of Seneca and find out why!
Finger Lakes Public House - Quality ingredients, tasty food, and quick service. If you’re near Canandaigua and looking for a place to go, head over.
Word Scramble Answer - HONEYCRISP (from last week’s newsletter)
🔔 UPDATES 🔔
Sunrise: 7:09 AM
Moonrise: 3:43 AM
Air Quality: 27 GOOD
Sunset: 6:37 PM
Moonset: 5:10 PM
Property: Grab a home between two wineries
📅 EVENTS 📅
Top Picks
28th Annual Greater Ithaca Art Trail Open Studio Weekends (Ithaca - Saturday)
I Love New York Path Thru History Free Admission Day (Canandaigua - Saturday)
Johnston House Open House Days (Geneva - Saturday)
Wednesday, October 7
Art Exhibit, Phoenix Rising: Margery Pearl Gurnett (Geneva) — Explore mixed-media resin art and paintings by Margery Pearl Gurnett celebrating resilience and renewal after loss, October 7 - November 1.
Samara Joy and her Septet (Geneva) — Experience Grammy Award-winning jazz vocalist Samara Joy and her Septet performing timeless standards.
Come Over October: Tapas & Wine Experience (Penn Yan) — Join six Finger Lakes wineries for an evening of tapas, wine tastings, and community celebration across multiple locations.
Pretzel & Wine Pairing at Fulkerson Winery (Dundee) — Discover perfect pairings of five pretzel flavors with five wines at this interactive tasting experience.
Book Character Pumpkin Decorating Contest (Penn Yan) — Decorate a pumpkin as your favorite book character for a community contest displayed throughout October.
Thursday, October 8
Synergy (Ithaca) — Enjoy free performances by Ithaca College's Jazz Ensemble and Wind Ensemble in an evening of college music.
Friday, October 9
Ethan Setiawan & Fine Ground (Auburn) — Witness virtuosic bluegrass from the Northeast with Ethan Setiawan & Fine Ground's creative and athletic musical performance.
Live Music – The Time Riders (Freeville) — Experience classic rock from the '60s-'90s performed live by The Time Riders, uniting audiences of all ages.
Food & Wine Experience: Fall Series at Fox Run Vineyards (Penn Yan) — Tour Fox Run Vineyards' harvest operations, taste seasonal wines, and savor a locally inspired autumn lunch.
Saturday, October 10
Music for an Autumn Evening (Auburn) — Celebrate autumn with live music from the Carol Bryant Quartet and pianist Robbie Padilla, supporting local charity.
FallFest 2026 at Lincoln Hill Farms (Canandaigua) — Enjoy seasonal activities, animal encounters, games, live music, and Halloween surprises for the whole family.
28th Annual Greater Ithaca Art Trail Open Studio Weekends (Ithaca) — Explore over 35 artist studios open to visitors during peak fall foliage with art sales and raffle prizes.
Johnston House Open House Days (Geneva) — Discover 19th-century farm life through exhibits and hands-on activities at this historic Scottish immigrant home.
I Love New York Path Thru History Free Admission Day (Canandaigua) — Tour the Granger Homestead Mansion free of charge and learn about Postmaster General Gideon Granger's fascinating history.
Grisamore Farms Fall Festival (Locke) — Pick apples and pumpkins, enjoy a sunflower maze, live music, wagon rides, and farm treats at this free festival.
Circus Extreme 250 (Elmira) — Experience thrilling circus acrobatics, stunts, and performances that captivate audiences of all ages.
Couple's Welding Workshop: Candle Holders (Springwater) — Create decorative welded candle holders with your partner while enjoying fall foliage and quality time together.
Danby Down and Dirty Trail Race (Danby) — Run through Danby State Forest during peak foliage in a 10K or 23K trail race with hills and scenic views.
Gelli Plate Printing with Ginny Deneka (Penn Yan) — Create one-of-a-kind prints using gelli plates and water-based acrylics with varied materials and techniques.
Sunday, October 11
Virgil Cain Live at the Oasis (Hector) — Enjoy an afternoon of live music, wine, and dancing with Virgil Cain performing pop and classic rock hits.
Mary Malaney and Friends in a Spooky Cabaret (Ithaca) — Enjoy spooky musical performances and a costume contest benefiting the Hangar Theatre's youth programming.
Recurring Events
Limited Duration - click here
Trivia - click here
Kid Friendly - click here
See you out there!
Thanks for being part of the Finger Lakes Effect.
Adam Moody
