You probably know that the Finger Lakes has deep roots in aviation history. From Hammondsport — birthplace of Glenn Curtiss, a pioneer of the aviation industry, and now home of the Glenn Curtiss Aviation Museum, to Ithaca being the home of the Thomas Brothers Aeroplan Co. in 1914 and one of New York’s first airports (hello, Hangar Theatre!), we’ve got wings.

That’s just 2 interesting tidbits, and I'm leaving a lot out, like the Geneseo War Plane Museum — because what I really want to share still has to do with aviation, but with a twist.

You probably also know about the Wright brothers — whose claim to fame is, of course, being the first in the world to fly an airplane.

Before Wilbur defied what was then “common sense” — The New York Times famously ran a headline in 1903 saying “Man won’t fly for a million years” — he was assaulted by a man with a hockey stick who later went on to become a serial killer.

If I’m having a bad day, I’ll remember Wilbur. If he could bounce back and change history, my hump day probably isn’t so bad after all.

Tons of good events happening this week - we’ve got a few areas to cover first, but if you’re hungry for events, scroll down - it’s hard to miss the “Events” section.

Please keep sharing this newsletter with friends and/or enemies. Thanks!

A Question For You

Ready For Your New Pet?

Meet Snuffles! 👂👂👂

Snuffles is a “void” with some serious ears! She is a 1 year old domestic shorthair mix that has lived with other cats and could use a friendly home.

Need a furry friend? Check out the page here and set up a visit at the Tompkins County SPCA. But act fast—word on the street is that animals rarely last more than a week or two before finding homes.

TRAIL OF THE WEEK: Ravine Loop Trail

Sundae Showdown

There will DEFINITELY be a reminder about this before the 20th - more details on how to get your tickets to sample all of the recipe finalists!

EVENTS

Wednesday

• Animal Feeding At The Science Center (Ithaca) - Sciencenter - Join an Animal Keeper from 4—4:30 PM to watch snakes, lizards, frogs, and fish enjoy their afternoon snacks in this family-friendly event!

• Lucky Hare Run Club (Watkins Glen) - Lucky Hare Brewing Bar & Grill - meet up with other walkers and runners between 5:30—6 pm and follow the planned routes (1-3ish miles). Hang out for a drink or a bite after.

• Trumansburg Winter’s Farmers Market (Trumansburg) - American Legion - Swing by on Wednesdays from 4—7 PM for the Winter Farmers' Market — with fresh vendors and hot meals from the Legion’s kitchen!

• In My Boots: 5 Million Steps On The Appalachian Trail Author Presentation (Lansing) - Lansing Community Library - Join author Amanda K. Jaros for a book signing and presentation of In My Boots, her story of hiking the 2,160-mile Appalachian Trail alone — a journey of physical endurance and emotional transformation. 7—8 pm.

Thursday

• Jazz Thursdays with Eric Aceto and Dave Davies (Ithaca) - South Hill Cider - Eric Aceto and Dave Davies hosts of the regular Jazz Mondays are teaming up for this one night to offer their excellent musicianship.

• Astronomy On Tap (Ithaca) - Liquid State Brewing Co - Grab a beer at Liquid State Brewing for some laid-back space science talks, Silo chicken, and a glimpse into the latest astronomy research - and did I mention beer?

Friday

• Finger Lakes Environmental Film Festival (Ithaca) - Cinemapolis - The Finger Lakes Environmental Film Festival (FLEFF) returns March 28—April 13, celebrating global media and the theme of Movement at Cinemapolis. See link for full listing.

• Spring Wine & Cheese | Wine Trail Event April 11—13 (Seneca Lake) - Celebrate wine and cheese around Seneca Lake April 11—13 with a self-guided tasting tour featuring exclusive pairings, regional wines, and delicious bites at every stop!

Saturday

• TedXCornell 2025 Annual Conference (Ithaca) - Statler Auditorium - Explore the theme "Uncharted" with three remarkable speakers sharing bold ideas in technology, finance, art, and entertainment during an inspiring afternoon of TED-style talks.

• Blake Pouliot & Henry Kramer: Carnegie Hall Recital Preview (Geneva) - Gearan Center for the Performing Arts – Froelich Hall - Join world-renowned violinist Blake Pouliot and pianist Henry Kramer for an intimate preview of their upcoming Carnegie Hall recital.

• Line Dancing (Freeville) - Hopshire Farm & Brewery - Kick up your boots at Hopshire for $5 line dancing lessons led by Karen Benjamin Hayes—perfect for all levels, with craft beers and plenty of fun along the way.

• Urban Sketchers Meetup (Corning) - Steele Memorial Library - Wanted to sketch outdoors but not sure you could do it yourself? That’s what I was thinking when I came across this - join up with others and have some fun - beginner or experienced, give it a shot! (2—4 pm)

• Spring wine and cheese continues (see Friday for details)

Sunday

• Finger Lakes Guitar Club (Geneva) - Finger Lakes Welcome Center - Join the Finger Lakes Guitar Club on the second Sunday of each month at the Finger Lakes Welcome Center for a free, all-levels gathering of playing, listening, and musical inspiration.

• DJ Trivia with Dave Ashton (Lansing) - Crossroads Bar and Grill - Head over for some tasty food (trust me - used to live about a mile from there) and drinks and hang out for some fun Sunday evening trivia at 7 pm.

• Spring wine and cheese continues (see Friday for details)

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

Forks On The Road: Eats & Drinks

FLX Wienery: It’s OPEN!

I think I saw a $3000 bottle of wine there one time — I went with my $8 beer 😀 

I guess if you’re going to get a $3000 bottle of wine and a burger, give me a call, it would be a shame to let any go to waste.

We make it a point to stop in whenever we’re on the west side of Seneca and made a last minute run before they closed in the late fall last year.

I suggest building up an appetite before visiting — maybe hit up a trail in the Finger Lakes National Forest, then drive over for some delicious food.

This is me right now getting all excited about the Wienery opening back up for the season:

Full menu here. Go there.

Shout Out 📢

Thanks to Tony at Redline & Elmore Enterprises — he has offered to sponsor the Finger Lakes 50s trail races this year. I rented a roll-off dumpster from him a couple years back and the service and communication was amazing. Highly recommend checking them out for garbage disposal needs.

That’s All 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

Finger Lakes Effect

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.