📧 Finger Lakes Effect Updates

No, you’re not dreaming - this newsletter is hitting your inbox much earlier than usual.

While it was going out around noon on Wednesdays, I wanted to try getting it out earlier so you could see what’s going on before getting busy for the day.

Like the new sending time? Don’t like it? Let me know!

📈 We’re Growing

Over the weekend, we grew past 1,000 readers and have shared hundreds of events in just the last month, and you’re a part of it! I appreciate each and every one of you and I’m looking forward to seeing where it goes - especially with the inaugural happy hour - details below!

🍻Happy Hour Tickets

Alright everyone, the inaugural Happy Hour tickets are available! There’s a limited number, so get yours, and come have a drink with your neighbors. Hope to see you there!

P.S. The first 10 can use this code to get $5 off their ticket: EARLYMEETUP

 🎟️ Get a ticket before they’re gone 🎟️ 

TRAIL OF THE WEEK: Burnt Hill & Interloken Trails

Also, is it “Inter-Low-ken, or “Inter-lock-en”?

Asking for a friend.

📅 EVENTS

Wednesday

• QuizBowl Wednesday (Trumansburg) - Trivia at Atlas Bowl in Trumansburg.

• Trivia Night @ Liquid State (Ithaca) - 7pm, groups of 2 or more - grab some Silo Food Truck chicken while you’re there.

• Trivia @ Ithaca Beer Co (Ithaca) - 7 pm, with your host DJen.

• Even More Trivia! (Geneva) - Ok, the emphasis is mine, but Wednesday seems be the THE day for trivia. Grab a glass of wine and enjoy the event space at Ventosa Vineyards for more trivia.

Thursday

• A Cider & Cheese Affair (Ithaca) - Celebrate Cider Week with a bold and flavorful afternoon as Moosewood, Visit Ithaca, and NY Cider present Terroir & Texture—a curated cider and cheese tasting that showcases the best of the Finger Lakes.

• Tour Of Chinese & Asian Plants (Ithaca) - Take a guided stroll through Cornell Botanic Gardens to explore East Asian plants and culture, with a preview of the planned Asian Summer Garden—registration is limited!

• Rena Guinn Live @ South Hill Cider (Ithaca) - Experience the raw emotion and soulful sound of Rena Guinn—an Americana singer-songwriter whose voice, guitar, and foot tambourine will have you swaying, dancing, and feeling every word.

• Wing Night @ Laurentide (Penn Yan) - $20 for a dozen LBC Wings and a 32oz pitcher of an LBC brew!

• Mother’s Day Brushes & Brews (Dresden) - Join Michelle from White Dog Arts & Photography at Seneca Stag Brewing. $35 cost includes 1st drink, all materials & step-by-step instructions.

Friday

• 2-Day Basic Carpentry Skills For Women (Ithaca) - Learn the fundamentals of carpentry in a supportive, hands-on 2-day workshop for women at Hammerstone—no experience needed, just curiosity and a can-do attitude!

• Freight Live @ Two Goats (Hector) - Get moving with Freight, an Ithaca-born folk-rock duo blending playful grooves, electric organ fuzz, and twangy riffs into a danceable, foot-stomping sound.

• VIVID: a celebration of Brilliant Color (Corning) - Kick off the Brilliant Color exhibit in style at VIVID—an electrifying night of live glassblowing, bold cocktails, and nonstop dancing under the lights!

• Birds, Bees and Brews Tasting Celebration (Rochester) - Raise a glass and celebrate spring at the Birds, Bees, and Brews tasting event! Stroll the Zoo after-hours as you sample some of our region’s best brews.

Saturday

• Friends Of The Library Book Sale Cont’d (Ithaca) - Don’t miss the iconic Friends of the Library Book Sale in Ithaca—150,000+ books, games, and more, with prices dropping daily. May 10-12 & 17-20.

• Cisco PL & The Soul Benders Live @ Grist Iron (Burdett) - Catch The Soul Benders live this Saturday from 5–8 PM—an electrifying blend of blues grit and rock energy that’ll move your soul and shake the stage.

• Launch Lillee’s Pad 5k (Savona) - Join the inaugural 5K and Kids Fun Run to honor Lillee Rae Bronson and support Lillee’s Pad—a joyful splash pad and legacy of love benefiting the community and local students.

• NY Cider Week: Keuka Lake Cider (Penn Yan) - Sip local Keuka Lake ciders, savor authentic Thai bites from Moonchot’s, and enjoy live music by fan-favorite duo States Apart starting at 3 PM!

• The Dinner Detective Comedy Mystery Dinner Show (Syracuse) - Get ready for a hilarious night of mystery, dinner, and surprises as America’s largest interactive comedy murder show comes to town—where you might be the Prime Suspect!

• Trail Prom (Highlands Park) - Lace up for Trail Prom—an elimination-style team race through scenic CNY trails, where fun, friendly competition meets post-run party vibes with food, music, and miles of memories.

• Gateway to the Finger Lakes 5K Run/ Walk and 1K Fun Run (Bath) - Join the Bath Kiwanis 5K & 1K Fun Run on May 10 for a scenic, all-levels race through the Finger Lakes—every step supports local youth, seniors, and community programs!

• Middle Finger 5K (Geneva) - Join the Middle Finger 5K on May 10 in Geneva to tell cancer where to go—run, walk, eat burritos, and celebrate with tastings and community, all for a great cause!

• Right to Run (Seneca Falls) - Celebrate women's rights and history at the Right to Run 5K in Seneca Falls on May 10—run through the birthplace of the women’s suffrage movement or join virtually from anywhere.

Sunday

• Mother’s Day Brunch (Various) - If you don’t have reservations for Mother’s Day meals, you better start dialing! Some options include Taverni Banfi, Mother’s Day Cruise, Veraisons @ Glenora, Mother’s Day Weekend Wine & Food Pairing @ Domaine LeSeurre Winery.

• Gong Meditation (Ithaca) - After Mother’s Day activities you might need something more relaxing, how about some Gong Meditation?

• Drink With Your Dog @ Song Hill Winery (Victor) - Sip wine and socialize while your pup learns perfect winery manners in this fun 4-week “Drink With Your Dog” class at Song Hill Winery—tail-wagging approved! Spots may still be available.

• The Pancake Truck @ Sweet Farm (with wine!) (Himrod) - Grab brunch at the new Vineyard View Winery on Seneca tasting room. There's also Sweet Farm tours at 11am and 2pm.

• Mother's Day Garden Tour at Sycamore Hill Gardens (Marcellus) - A self-guided event where you can stroll the lawns and paths through 40+ acres of vibrant gardens, with amazing sights and surprises around every turn (including food trucks!).

• Women’s Distance Festival (Ithaca) - Celebrate women’s running this Mother’s Day at the Women’s Distance Festival 5K—a flat, scenic race just for women and girls on the beautiful Dryden Rail Trail.

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 Bulletin

Want to spread the word about your business, a project, a volunteer opportunity, or just give a shout-out to over 1,122 friends in the Finger Lakes?

Abandon Brewing Co is a great place for a weekend (or weekday!) stop for one of their excellent beers. Whether you’re an IPA fan, love a stout, or anything in between, they’ve got you covered. Great views off the deck, and live music + events.

The Cheese Club FLX - if you’re serious about cheese, or just want to try more cheese, then head here and find out about upcoming gatherings and so much more. Plus, Rachel offers a Monthly Cheese Box - yum!

Forks On The Road: Eats & Drinks

Aurora Brewing: Hilltop Flavor, Woodfired Charm, and Stunning Views

Balancing all that richness, the Caesar salad was a fresh, crisp counterpoint — with just the right amount of dressing and crunchy croutons, it helped lighten and round out the meal beautifully.

Aurora runs a self-seated, order-at-the-bar setup, so grab a table first, then head inside to order. There’s indoor seating (which fills up quickly on weekends), but the outdoor seating is where the experience truly shines.

With sweeping vineyard and lake views, it’s one of the best spots around to kick back with a pint, great food, and unforgettable scenery.

Jeney - The Forkin’ Local

Ready For Your New Pet? 🐱🐶

Meet Dolphin!

Dolphin is a 4 month old Retriever Labrador mix. A bouncy puppy with lots of enthusiasm and happiness 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 📢

Lots of upcoming races, as mentioned in the events above. If you’d like to join some upcoming races and support a non-profit running club, the Finger Lakes Running Club has many options in the coming months, including:

• Thom B Trail Run

• Twilight 5K

• Tortoise & Hare 10K

• Finger Lakes 50s

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

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.