Ok, people, tell Netflix you’re NOT going to watch another episode. Get off that therapist couch, throw your phone away (after reading this and posting it to Facebook), and run outside – it’s SPRING! I don’t care if you still need a winter jacket and three scarves, the calendar hits April on Sunday and there’s so much to do this year.

I, like you, am looking forward to the normal signs of Spring – blossoming trees, warmer weather, DSB – but there are also lots of unique events and changes happening this year throughout the region. Here’s some of what I’m MOST looking forward to in the coming weeks:

Raising the Musical Theater Bar

First, from April 18 to 21, the Corning Community College Muse of Fire Theatre presents Spring Awakening. There are already pictures on social media of the set design progress and rehearsals – and needless to say, I’m excited. It’s an ambitious undertaking for Professor Mary Guzzy’s cast and production team, but their overall talent will absolutely persevere. For $15 or less, go see it!

BEAUTIFUL – The Carole King Musical comes to the Clemens Center from Tuesday, May 15 to Sunday, May 20. While the entire “Best of Broadway” series has been great this year, this isn’t the average 2-day, middle of the week tour. BEAUTIFUL stays in Elmira for 8 performances, including weekend matinees and evenings. No excuses for missing this one.

Bringing New Businesses to Market Street

The ‘signs of Spring’ include literal signs for two new hangouts on Market Street: Liquid Shoes Brewing and Nine Elephants Seafood and Thai Cuisine.

Liquid Shoes will bring a new lineup of local craft beer to Corning, made by Elmira’s Shoemaker brothers who have been brewing out of their garage for years. Located at 26 E. Market St., the building facade has been completely renovated to include removable windows for those beautiful Spring and Summer days we’re all looking forward to. Follow along with the brewery’s progress on Facebook as they get closer to announcing an open date!

Last year, we joked on April Fools Day that Anne Hathaway was opening a restaurant in the old Panasia building. One year later, it’s no joke that Corning is getting a new Thai restaurant in that space – though unfortunately there are no signs of Anne’s involvement. There aren’t many details to share, yet, but stay tuned!

More Craft Beverages to Enjoy

Speaking of breweries, the Heritage Village (formerly known as the Benjamin Patterson Inn) is hosting its third annual Craft Beverage Expo on Saturday, May 19 from 3:30 to 7pm. They’ve already announced 5 participating breweries and expect more to sign on in the coming weeks. I went to this event last year and had a ton of fun – and the whole time, I was wondering why more people didn’t know about it. So even though I hesitate to share this hidden gem of an event with the rest of the world, it’s just too good not to share. Outdoor beer tastings, live music, historic buildings in a beautiful setting – there’s literally nothing bad about this.

Also, if you haven’t been to the Heritage Village lately, this is just one of several amazing things that are happening there and you should follow their Facebook page to learn more! (Did someone say “hearth dinner?!”)

GlassFest and Glass Barge

The Memorial Day extravaganza of classic rock (read: DSB) and street food vendors. We’d be remiss in making a post about Spring without mentioning Corning’s premiere festival, GlassFest! This year features the return of hot glass demos in Centerway Square, an 8K race, wine and beer tasting, fireworks, and live music (did I mention DSB?). Whether you pick one day or the whole weekend, there’s plenty to do with family and friends. Plus, you literally cannot miss DSB!

While it’s not an official part of GlassFest, the Corning Museum of Glass will also launch its GlassBarge tour through New York State around the same time. According to the CMOG website, “in 1868, the Brooklyn Flint Glass Company relocated to Corning, via the New York Waterways, and evolved into the company that is today known as Corning Incorporated.” The GlassBarge tour celebrates the 150th anniversary of this Journey (no relation to DSB) and it’s truly a can’t-miss event. Follow along online!

The first person to tell me there’s nothing to do around here gets a free slap from the whole team at Urban Corning. And the first person to inevitably complain that it’s too hot at some point this Summer wins a free, lifetime, one-way trip to Siberia. Good luck and Happy Spring!

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Sean Lukasik

Owner / Partner at Creagent Marketing

Sean is the owner and partner at CreAgent Marketing in Corning, NY. He helps businesses find their voice on social media and build their audience online. He helps individuals find delicious meals and great drinks throughout the Southern Finger Lakes.

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Woah, can you believe GlassFest is here already?

If you don’t recognize the byline, no worries. My name is Felicia and I’m new to Urban Corning. I’ll be their college intern for the summer, so keep a look out for more posts by me coming your way soon!

Anyways, let’s get back to the glass-themed festivities…

As a 22 year old college student who is home for the summer, it’s hard to see why I would find any appeal in GlassFest. It’s crowded, it can get expensive, and it’s in my hometown. Nothing exciting, right? Well, personally, I am willing to withstand the crowds for a few perfect bites and sips. Here’s my list of favorite things to do for GlassFest that any food (and wine) lover would be inspired by.

Thursday

Start the weekend out right with wine Thursday at 2300°: GlassFest. I know, you’re probably thinking it will be massively crowded, and you would be right. But come on, almost nothing is better than a delicious glass of wine on a Thursday night. It feels a little scandalous, like “ooh I have work in the morning, but I’ll indulge.” Plus the Slambovian Circus of Dreams is playing, which has been described as a hillbilly Pink Floyd (sounds like a hipster’s dream!).

Friday

After you’ve finished out the work week, its time to get drinking with every alcohol connoisseur’s favorite event: a wine and beer tasting! Make sure to buy your tickets ahead of time at the Info Center at 1 W. Market St. for the pre-sale price of $18. You’ll enjoy tastes from almost two dozen wineries, breweries and distilleries. What’s better? They are all local! You’ll also be able to get your hands on some awesome dining promotions and see Market Street before the hustle and bustle of the weekend.

Friday night is also the GlassFest edition of Urban Arts Crawl! And to stick with the food and wine theme, the Radisson Hotel Corning is hosting the Post-Crawl Meetup beginning at 8pm in the outdoor lounge (“Market Street Social”). Don’t miss a chance to hang out, eat, and drink in Corning’s newest outdoor space.

Saturday

Take a moment to sleep in. You might be feeling the two nights of drinking catching up to you. When you’ve recovered, there will be plenty of food waiting for you in downtown Corning, and even some drinks, if you’re into the hair-of-the-dog kind of remedy. Find some parking (good luck!) and bring an umbrella. Rain is in the forecast.

I recommend starting on one end of the street and working your way towards the other end. Each block will be packed with artists, businesses and food vendors and oh yeah, tons of people, so it’s best to have a plan. Here is mine (warning: this weekend is not a good time to start your diet):

Block 1: Wall St. to Cedar St.

Start off with a snack to get you going with Pleasures of the Palate for some German roasted nuts, or if you’re ready to dive right in, try the Silo Food Truck with its extravagant selection of fried chicken.

Block 2: Cedar St. to Pine St.

Switch it up with something sweet from Dimitri’s Treats or compliment your fried chicken with some mac and cheese from Macarollin’.

Block 3: Pine St. to Walnut St.

Getting hot? Cool down with Abbott’s Frozen Custard. Not quite ready for dessert? Stop by Cheesed and Confused for some awesome and unique grilled cheeses.

Block 4: Walnut St. to Chestnut St.

Ready for dessert now? Or how about a beer? If you’re anything like me, they are one in the same. Snap out of your food coma by drinking a nice refreshing beer from Burgers & Beer of Corning. Wanna know what they have on tap? Check out the app, UNTAPPD, where they update daily.

Make sure to stay out for the fireworks happening at 9:45pm!

Sunday

By now, you may be ready to just skip the crowd and recover at home. But if you’re up for it, the Cellar is having a limited menu brunch and they make a killer chicken and waffles that is bound to soak up your hangover. Plus, even if the menu is a little limited, who doesn’t love a good brunch?!

For all the official GlassFest events and schedule, head to their website, http://www.gafferdistrict.com/glassfest.

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Felicia LaLomia

Felicia is the Urban Corning/Creagent intern for the summer and loves to roam around downtown in search of inspiration and new places to grab a bite. Find out what she's up to on Instagram and Twitter: @falalomia

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This weekend is a packed one with tons of events happening all over Corning as the summer weather finally kicks in!

Thursday

Take your lunch break on Thursday and walk over to the Corning Farmer’s Market in Riverfront Park! Pick up some local produce, flowers and meat for your kitchen, and maybe even grab some nibbles to bring back to the office!

Find all the info right here!

Get your workout in Thursday evening by trying Hikyoga! What’s Hikyoga, you ask? Well, it’s hiking and yoga combined! Join yoga instructor Elizabeth Day as she brings Hikyoga to the Southern Tier! Enjoy the scenic views of Houghton Land Preserve hiking trails, stopping along the way for meditation and peaceful yoga flows from 6 to 7:30pm.

Suggested attire includes comfortable clothes, appropriate hiking shoes, a water bottle and a friend. A $5 donation is suggested to benefit the Finger Lakes Land Trust. 

For more information, click here.

Not in the mood for a workout? Spend the evening in Centerway Square for Music in the Square! Listen to the Sam Pallet Band while enjoying the sunshine, and maybe even grab a bite on Market Street afterwards.

Friday

Stop by everyone’s favorite glass museum to spot guest artist Wayne Higby. Higby has worked with everything from tile to sculpture to architecture installation, but this will be his first time working with a glass medium. Check out Corning Museum of Glass this Friday before 3pm to see how he’s doing!.

All the information is right here.

Looking to get out of town this Friday? Explore German wine varieties at Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery on Keuka Lake. Sip on these European assortment of grapes while snacking on some German inspired foods to pair.

Want to register? Click here.

Saturday

If you feel inclined to listen to more music, Brick House Brewery will be supplying rock all weekend! On Friday, they are hosting Payton Clark, a young singer-songwriter who covers Americana classic rock, at 5:30pm. Stick around after for Mike Cavalier at 9pm to hear an eclectic mix of acoustic funk-rock. On Sunday, Bob Kosty will be playing some rock and roll at 4pm. And on Saturday, if you’re in the mood for some classic rock, C-4 will be playing from 9pm on.

Sunday

Reminder! It’s Father’s Day! Don’t have any plans for dad? Don’t worry, we’ll cover you this time. Head on up to Seneca Lake for the Old Time Fiddlers Gathering and Folk Arts Festival at Lakewood Vineyards to listen to some tunes from the past. At this annual event, local fiddlers will mix old traditions with new styles.

Have more questions? Click here!

Visit our monthly events calendar, presented by Brick House Brewery, for more information on the events mentioned above.

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Felicia LaLomia

Felicia is the Urban Corning/Creagent intern for the summer and loves to roam around downtown in search of inspiration and new places to grab a bite. Find out what she's up to on Instagram and Twitter: @falalomia

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I am definitely one to scream for ice cream. There are so many things a simple bowl of ice cream can do. Heal wounds, dry tears, be your movie buddy. Ice cream is always there when I’m down. So I did what any logical intern would do: I tried all the ice cream in Corning to figure out which one is the best to take home on a Friday night.

Okay, I didn’t try all the ice cream but I did try four staples: Hokey Pokey Ice Creamery, Peaches ‘n Cream, Old World Cafe and Ice Cream, and Dippity Do Dah’s. I picked one flavor, my favorite flavor, to try at all the places for consistency purposes: cookie dough. I looked for five different criteria: place (building, location and ambience), price, size of order, flavor, and texture.

Here’s what I thought:

Hokey Pokey Ice Creamery – Housemade – Size: Junior – $2

The Place: I’ll be honest. I had no idea this spot existed until I was doing my research for this experiment. It’s tucked away right off of Bridge St. on a quiet little corner. But there was nothing subtle about this place. Colorful tables with umbrellas of yellow and red line the parking lot. Flowers sprouting from big planters sit in the sun. Sounds of old classics like “YMCA” by the Village people play in the background. There are signs around boasting the “World’s Greatest Microcreamery.” It was almost a whimsical setting.

The Ice Cream: The ice cream was very different, unlike any cookie dough ice cream I had tasted before. Instead of having the classic vanilla ice cream with chunks of cookie dough and chocolate throughout, the ice cream itself was cookie dough flavored with no dough chunks. The texture was good: creamy but not too rich or sweet. It also wasn’t rock hard frozen, but instead easy to eat immediately, which is greatly appreciated. Nobody likes having to bite their ice cream, or even worse, wait for it to soften. Although I did love this ice cream because of its uniqueness, I was still yearning for my big pieces of cookie dough.

Peaches ‘n Cream – Perry’s/Hershey’s – Size: Baby – $1.45

The Place: Situated in the plaza that also holds a car garage, dollar store, nail salon, and Salvation Army, Peaches ‘n Cream always seems to be busy. Or at least the parking lot is always full. The downside? It’s right off of Park Ave., which is always full with cars buzzing by, so your ice cream experience might be a little loud here.

Editor’s Note: Peaches ‘n Cream has a second location on Beartown Road in Painted Post, part of a summertime market experience. If you’re bothered by the noise and traffic, just head a few minutes outside of Corning!

The Ice Cream: I immediately noticed the texture was harder. Even after waiting five minutes for it to soften, I still had to use my teeth. The flavor of the ice cream was classic cookie dough: vanilla with nice big chunks of dough and chocolate chips. The vanilla had a richer flavor than Hokey Pokey and because of the brand (Hershey’s and Perry’s), it reminded me of my childhood.

Old World Cafe – Purity Ice Cream Company – Size: Little Dipper – $2.55

The Place: There’s nothing like walking into Old World Cafe. It’s like walking into Grandma’s place. The floor is tiled, the walls are covered with florals, antique furniture, and plates, and somewhere in the corner is a grandfather clock ticking away.

The Ice Cream: This ice cream, too, was very hard, but it was forgiven when I was hit with the richness and creaminess of the texture almost instantly. The chocolate chips inconsistently sized and spread out in the vanilla made it feel very homemade. The vanilla itself had a true, authentic flavor and didn’t taste too artificial or sweet. My one complaint is the cookie dough. There were bits there, but not enough and certainly too small for me. I like to get hunks big enough you can put a few together and bake a solid cookie. But this ice cream had fragments, not hunks.

Dippity Do Dah’s – Housemade – Size: Kiddie – $2.75

The Place: If you didn’t know, Dippity Do Dah’s recently moved from their original location to right next to Donna’s. And the new place is a hipster’s Instagram dream. Brick walls, exposed piping, dark hardwood floors, and minimalistic furniture – your classic Market Street building. If you’re looking to get some more likes on your photo, this may be the ice cream parlor for you.

The Ice Cream: The look of the ice cream was different than the others. It had a darker tone, verging on tan. The texture was soft, creamy and easy to eat immediately. At the first bite, I got a different texture in my mouth: frothy. Frothy like the head of that first sip of beer you have after a particularly long week. It was surprising, and so good. There was a sweetness to the vanilla and its flavor came in hits, not hints. And to put the cherry on top (metaphorically), there were huge hunks and chunks of cookie dough.

Conclusion:

When I added up the scores, I was surprised. The totals were all within 2 points of each other, which tells me each place had its strengths. None of the ice cream was bad (can ice cream really even be bad?), but I was certainly amazed to taste four very differently made cookie dough flavors in one day.

But, we need a winner. And after much math and deliberation, the numbers don’t lie. My favorite ice cream in Corning is Dippity Do Dahs! Even though it was the most expensive place, the combination of the atmosphere, flavor and frothy texture pushed this one over the edge.

Let me know what your favorite ice cream spot is below!

The Scores

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Felicia LaLomia

Felicia is the Urban Corning/Creagent intern for the summer and loves to roam around downtown in search of inspiration and new places to grab a bite. Find out what she's up to on Instagram and Twitter: @falalomia

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Welcome back, weekend. We sure have missed you. There is so much happening starting Thursday and carrying us all the way till Sunday. Art, food, wine, fireworks, we have it all. Check out all the events on our events calendar, but catch all the details below!

Thursday

For all the early risers out there, get out of town for the morning to cheer on the bicyclists on the Tour de Keuka. The participants, who raised money to help feed families struggling with hunger with the Food Bank of the Southern Tier, will begin their ride in Hammondsport and cruise all around scenic Keuka Lake.

Find all the info here.

On your way home, stop by the farmer’s market for some groceries and local products between 10am and 3pm. Plus, everyone keeps telling me the donuts are spectacular, so grab some of those too, and let me know what you think.

In the evening, check out Corning Museum of Glass’s guest artist Courtney Dodd from 6pm to 8pm. She’ll be doing a live, narrated demonstration in the Amphitheater.

More info here.

Friday

Finally, the weekend has arrived. Kick off happy hour at Liquid Shoes, which recently opened its doors! Test out all their brews with a $10 flight and snack on freshly made sandwiches as you enjoy the open view out onto Market Street. After you’ve finished off the delicious beers, head over to Brick House Brewery. They’ll be hosting the classic rock band Still Kickin’ at 9pm (and Fridays are $3 margarita nights!). If Indie Rock is more your speed, the Family Ties band will be playing Saturday night at 9pm.

Here’s all the info.

Saturday

More music? You betcha. If you’re looking for a change of scenery, Ithaca is having a Reggae Fest all weekend, Friday to Sunday. Listen to some chill artists, both local and not-so-local, all while supporting a cause! A portion of the proceeds go towards protecting Cayuga Lake and funding education. #Reggae4Cayuga

More questions? Click here!

With the summer season comes firework season, and Set the Night to Music is one not to miss. This free show will start just after 9 pm, but if you head over to the Arnot Mall after 5pm, the parking lot will be filled with vendors like Hometown BBQ and M&M Hots. There’s even a cornhole tournament with prizes!

Find more info here.

Sunday

Wrap up your weekend with wine! Keuka Lake Wine Trail is hosting Fire It Up! Begin the event at one of the five wineries participating, and sample four delicious wines perfectly paired with hearty barbecue and grilled foods sourced from the local area. Make your way to the next winery and repeat until full (and maybe a little drunk).

Get tickets and find out more here.

Visit our monthly events calendar, presented by Brick House Brewery, for more information on the events mentioned above.

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Felicia LaLomia

Felicia is the Urban Corning/Creagent intern for the summer and loves to roam around downtown in search of inspiration and new places to grab a bite. Find out what she's up to on Instagram and Twitter: @falalomia

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A good burger can be simple. A juicy patty, a quality bun, some crisp lettuce, a sweet slice of tomato, and maybe some extra fixings. It’s a staple on most restaurants’ menus because it’s a meal everyone can get behind. From the time you are a child ordering off the kid’s menu to the time you qualify for the senior special, a burger was and will always be there. I took this week to find that perfect burger enjoyed by all ages, right here on Market Street.

There are a few key things to look for when eating a burger. One is juiciness. If those juices aren’t dripping down past your hands and onto the plate, it’s not a good burger. Another is flavor. If the patty’s essence isn’t the main star, it’s not a good burger. Next is the toppings. Whether it’s the classic choices like lettuce, tomato, onion and pickles or something a little outside the box like banana peppers, the toppings should perfectly compliment the burger. And finally, the bun. The bun is like the house that holds everything in. It should be soft, but sturdy enough to absorb the juices without disintegrating.

I picked four spots on Market Street that are known for burgers in some way: Market Street Brewing Company, Holmes Plate, Burgers and Beer, and R&M. All the burgers were cooked to medium rare, when asked, and although I mention some of the sides, I kept them out of the ratings.

Market Street Brewing Company – Pub Burger – $13.18

This burger was a half pound of Angus beef and came with lettuce, tomato and mayo on a kaiser roll. Pretty simple when it comes to burgers these days. It didn’t even come with cheese unless you were willing to pay the extra $1. But this burger delivered. The patty was so juicy, it coated the plate as I ate. It was flavorful enough that without the cheese I didn’t feel like I was missing anything. The bun was a little crisp on the outside and soft on the inside, just enough to soak up some of the delicious juices I didn’t want to lose to the plate. This burger was simple enough you could make it at home, but the complexity of the flavors make you want to come out for it. It came with a choice of side and I got sweet potato fries, which were ah-maz-ing. Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.

MSBC: The honest burger – No glitz, no glam, straight up just what you need.

Holmes Plate – Steak Burger – $13.54

This burger was a half pound ground steak that came with lettuce, tomato, cheese, and bacon on a house baked bun. The patty was definitely juicy but lacked the flavor I was waiting to taste. It also came with blue cheese instead of the cheddar cheese I asked for. Although I didn’t send it back because I’ve worked in the food industry and didn’t want to be “that person,” the flavor overwhelmed the whole burger (it’s a good thing I like blue cheese). The burger was also a little overcooked. My medium rare came out with no pink. Aside from the cheese mixup, the dressings were great. The bacon was a nice touch and I appreciated the pickle that came on the side to cut through the thickness of the blue cheese. The meal also came with house-made chips, which were delicious. Their inconsistent texture told you that they were homemade.

Holmes Plate: The pros and cons burger – fell short in some areas but exceeded expectations in others.

Burgers and Beer – Classic Cheese Burger – $6.43

This burger was one third pound of Angus beef that came with lettuce, tomato, onions, American cheese and pickles on a brioche bun. I had high hopes for this place. After all, if you’re going to put it in your name, you should make a damn good burger. But this one was mediocre. The patty was dry; after I had finished, there was much more pickle juice than patty juice on my tray. The toppings were okay but the pickles tasted exactly like the ones used at McDonald’s, so I felt like I was eating fast food. And the bun was probably the most disappointing. A brioche bun is something all buns strive after: soft, fluffy insides and a glazed, crisp, toasted outside. These buns hadn’t achieved brioche status yet.

Burgers and Beer: The disappointment burger – The appearance makes you think it will be good, but once you’re in, you’re let down.

R&M – Big House Burger – $7.29

This burger was marinated ground beef that came with banana peppers, Monterey Jack cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion and special sauce on a bun. It’s no surprise this is a good burger; it was voted best in all of upstate New York. But this burger’s unconventionality still surprised me. Who had ever heard of putting banana peppers onto a patty? When I bit into the whole thing, I was hit with the flavor. You can instantly tell the meat is marinated with tons of deliciousness. Then, cutting through it all with a kick were those banana peppers. And holding it all together was the bun – buttery on top with a perfect dome shape to it, fluffy enough on the inside to hold in all the juices. I am always striving to find food with the perfect bite: all the elements come together in a beautiful dance that satisfies your taste buds. And this burger certainly has that.

R&M: The perfect bite burger – enough said.

Conclusion

Market St. has some great staples when it comes to burgers. You don’t have to walk far to find exactly what you are looking for. In fact, these four places are all within two block of each other. But my favorite was R&M. The marinated beef that gave the patty flavor, the surprising factor of the banana peppers, and the bun pushed this one over the edge to top out MSBC.

After three days of eating only burgers for lunch, I learned that in burgers lies diversity: the power to make a meal out of only a patty and bun, customizing it with any toppings. Everyone’s favorite is a matter of taste. Also, I won’t be eating any burgers for a while.

Tell us your favorite burger place below!

The Breakdown

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Felicia LaLomia

Felicia is the Urban Corning/Creagent intern for the summer and loves to roam around downtown in search of inspiration and new places to grab a bite. Find out what she's up to on Instagram and Twitter: @falalomia

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It is officially summer! Which means the sun is hot, the lakes are calling your name, and the firework shows are plentiful. We have an abundance of weekend events occurring in the Corning area to prep you for the mid-week Fourth of July. Check them all out below!

Thursday

If you haven’t already, go to the farmer’s market in Riverfront Park! What are you waiting for? (I finally tried the amazing donuts, by the way. Those alone are worth the trip.)

Friday

Kick off the summer season by joining us on the Urban Arts Crawl! This one is bound to be a great one, as you will literally be able to get into the art. At Exhibit A, you can to sit for a picture for Tyler Dean as he puts you into one of the artist’s pieces. All that and more! Find the info right here, and afterwards, join us for a drink at the Post-Crawl Meet-up at the Radisson Hotel at 8pm.

Later, make sure to stop by Brick House Brewery for the Royal Tease Album Release Party at 9pm. The band will be playing some of their original songs off the album!

More info here.

Saturday

Did you miss goat yoga last time? Don’t worry, you’re in luck! This Saturday, the ZiegenVine Homestead is hosting their very own goat yoga event again! Yoga practicers of all levels are welcome to join in for the 45 minute session. What’s goat yoga, you may ask? Practice your shavasana alongside goats as they hop on your mat, eat beside you or cuddle up. Get ready for a whole new kind of flow.

Find all the info right here!

Saturday is also your day for fireworks. Not one, not two, but three locations will be boasting fireworks shows on Saturday evening. Tioga Downs, Eldridge Park in Elmira, and Myers Park in Lansing will all be shooting off the colorful explosions, so pick the place closest to you and enjoy!

Sunday

Sunday seems to be a pretty chill day in the Finger Lakes region. My recommendation? Find yourself a water source – a pool, lake, pond, hose, whatever – and chill. The temperature will be close to 100 degrees! Stay cool, friends!

What are your plans this weekend? Tell us in the comments below! And let us know what’s happening for your Fourth of July!

Visit our monthly events calendar, presented by Brick House Brewery, for more information on the events mentioned above.

Author information

Felicia LaLomia

Felicia is the Urban Corning/Creagent intern for the summer and loves to roam around downtown in search of inspiration and new places to grab a bite. Find out what she's up to on Instagram and Twitter: @falalomia

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Every Thursday, Riverfront Park gets an early start. Tents get unfolded and set up, tables move from vans to walkway, carts of colorful produce are artfully placed on display, and the scent of fresh donuts starts to float around – the telltale sign that the farmer’s market has begun.

And each week, I make my way down just to observe all the commotion and take in the wonderful array of products. But, despite my grumbling stomach, I have never purchased anything from the farmer’s market. It felt a little hypocritical to be promoting the event in the weekly “What’s Going On” without ever supporting it myself. 

Seeing all the people bustling around, stocking up their pantries for the week, while simultaneously supporting local farmers and vendors, I figured it was time to shake any hypocritical guilt and try out some local products. And since I am much more of a dive all in kind of person than a dip one toe to test the temperature, I decided to make a full meal for my family of five, sourcing ingredients from the Corning Farmer’s Market. 

I had no recipe in hand, or in mind. I thought that would make the experience more exciting, trying to piece all the products from each vendor into ingredients for tonight’s dinner. 

The first ping of inspiration struck when I saw a sign for goat cheese. From there, I had my whole meal assembled in my head – three courses too, I may add! One hour and $50 later, I had enough ingredients in hand and in pantry (at home) to make dinner for five. I was able to hit five different vendors, buying no more than one product from each place. Here’s what filled my reusable grocery bag:

One whole chicken – $3.90/pound – $24

Peas – $3/quart – $6

Goat cheese – $8/8 ounces

Basil – $2/bunch

Strawberries – $5/quart

Donuts – $6 per 1/2 dozen

Even as a newbie, I felt a sense of home at the farmer’s market. The vendors were so quick to help you out, lend a hand, or dole out advice as to what type of meat would work best for my imaginary meal I was making up on the spot. They were knowledgable, friendly and made the experience so much smoother.

I got home and laid all my fresh ingredients out, organized by course. I opened the bag and could smell the aromas of the basil wafting out. Appetizers would be a grilled bread with goat cheese topped with a balsamic strawberry and basil bruschetta of sorts. Next would be a chicken with cream sauce made with wine (of course!) and garlic. I threw in the peas for good measure. And finally, dessert would be donuts. 

The meal quickly turned into a family affair – everyone jumped in. Mom threw the toast on the grill for the app, Dad started filleting the chicken, and my brother and our exchange student, well, they set the table. 

Everything turned out so delicious, if I may compliment myself. The strawberry basil bruschetta toast was just the perfect bite of local freshness and so brightly colorful. The chicken was super fresh and moist with the sauce that was so good I could bathe in (could make a great soup too!). The peas added texture and color (and nutrition) and were so so so fresh. And the donuts were just incredible, oh and fresh. Did I mention how fresh everything was? In fact, the strawberries were so fresh, I found a little friend slithering around – don’t worry, I freed him into the dark, damp woods after taking his picture.

The extreme locality of all the products packed in the freshness that you just can’t get going to a grocery store. The whole meal not only tasted amazing, but it felt amazing to support these local vendors selling their produce or meat or pastries or cheese. It was so easy be inspired by their products that creating a whole meal came easy. And if it came easy to me, a 22 year old college student with minimal cooking skills, then the farmers market is bound to inspire even the most discouraged at-home chefs. 

Stop by the Corning Farmer’s Market every Thursday from 10am to 3pm in Riverfront Park to get inspiration for your next meal.

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Felicia LaLomia

Felicia is the Urban Corning/Creagent intern for the summer and loves to roam around downtown in search of inspiration and new places to grab a bite. Find out what she's up to on Instagram and Twitter: @falalomia

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It is just one of those foods everyone loves. Kids, adults, vegans, carnivores, wealthy, poor. You can get it fresh, dried, or out of a can. It can be topped with ingredients of all colors and can be shaped into any form. You can stuff it, twirl it, slurp it, or layer it. And you can make it at home with as little as two ingredients. But why would you when you have so many great options out?

That’s right. This week, I’m seriously carbo loading and trying four pasta dishes around Corning to find out which one tastes the best.

When trying out these pastas, I looked for four things: flavor of the sauce, noodle quality, price and size. For the sauce, I want complexity, I want drama, I want it to taste like an old Italian Grandma spent eight hours cooking it in her tiny kitchen back in the home country. For the noodle, I want al dente, or for it to have a little bite, and I want to be able to taste the love put into the dish. For price and size, I want a good ratio and I want to leave the place ready to go into a carb coma. 

CMOG Cafe – $10.41 – Spaghetti Pomodoro

Yes, yes I know. CMOG? and Pasta? Really? But in all fairness, when doing my research for this pasta extravaganza, I turned to TripAdvisor, searching for restaurants in Corning with Italian food. And CMOG came up as an option, so I had no choice but to include it.

And I have to give them credit. This dish was the fastest pasta I tried. I walked in, grabbed a tray, went up to the pasta station, ordered, paid and sat down at a table all in less than three minutes. But then, it all goes downhill after. The pasta was alright, not great, not terrible, but easily forgotten. The sauce was sad. It was chunky and watery – the tomato puree was separated from the juice. It also lack a punch of flavor; all I could pick up was tomato, nothing else. It was also super messy, and the sterile white tables CMOG has do not help that. The one upside was the size. It was a large portion that came with a breadstick – which I used as a mop for the splattered tomato sauce. But while my stomach felt full, my taste buds were still longing for some umph: garlic, basil, oregano, literally another any flavor to compliment the straight tomato puree that made up the sauce.

Tony R’s – $10.80 – Penne ala Vodka

This dish stepped it up a bit with penne ala vodka. The only pasta dish Tony R’s offers for lunch, I was excited to try it. The sauce was creamy and chunky – sliced garlic, diced prosciutto, and crushed tomatoes. I love, love, LOVED the garlic. It was cooked enough to take the bite out of it, but not too much where its essence was lost. The sauce’s texture added so much flavor to it, and it had some heat that slid in at the end of a bite and faded back out nicely.. One thing I could’ve done without is the prosciutto. Sure, it may have added a heartiness to the sauce, but they slices were too big and it didn’t dance well with the rest of the dish – it clashed. The pasta also was eh –  a little overcooked and a little underwhelming. 

Sorges – $11.87 – Spaghetti with tomato sauce

At Sorges, I went back to the classics with a simple spaghetti with tomato sauce. For a lunch size and the price, it was huge. I only ate half, and it filled me up. The dish itself looked like I googled a picture of spaghetti – it was near perfect. And then I tasted it. The sauce was loaded with intricate flavors – garlic, a myriad of spices, sweet tomato. And the color was beautifully dark and rich. Then I tried the pasta, and it was delicious – soft yet chewy and still had that nice bounce to it. The pasta is house-made, so it had to be good. The whole meal tasted as if Grandma Nonna was in the back serving it up to you until you are so stuffed you can’t eat anymore. After, I was so tired and full – exactly the feeling I long to get when I eat pasta. 

Cugini’s – $14.03 – Spaghetti & Meatballs

Cugini’s dish was the most aesthetically pleasing. It came out on a red triangular dish that made the marinara sauce pop, and the three meatballs were artfully placed for symmetry. The sauce tasted as good as it looked. Light and sweet, bright and colorful, like any good classic marinara sauce. The spaghetti was alright. It didn’t blow me away, but I certainly wasn’t mad about it. But nothing better than a box of Barilla from Wegman’s. Where this plate really disappointed was the price. For the portion size to price ratio, it was too small, or too pricey, depending on how you look at it. And that alone turned me off to ordering it again. As stated in the title, it did come with meatballs, which I wasn’t a fan of, but I kept them out of the judging.

Conclusion

Pasta is one of my most favorite dishes in the whole world. Its so easy and comforting and fulfilling. So when I go out for it, I’ll be heading to Sorge’s. Their sauce, with its complexity of flavors, homemade pasta infused with love, and generous portion sizes made me want to keep coming back for the delightful dish. While I go into hibernation from extreme carb overload, let us know what your favorite spots are for pasta around town!

Breakdown

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Felicia LaLomia

Felicia is the Urban Corning/Creagent intern for the summer and loves to roam around downtown in search of inspiration and new places to grab a bite. Find out what she's up to on Instagram and Twitter: @falalomia

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It’s the ultimate comfort food. Fast, easy, cheap, and most importantly, delicious. All you really need are three ingredients: butter, cheese, and bread. Add in a heat source, and there you have a delicious, melty delight for only a few dollars. This week, I tested out grilled cheeses from around town to find the best tasting one.

With such simple ingredients, it’s easy to just stay home and make the sandwich yourself. But with a little jazzing up, the flavors can be taken to a whole new level, making you want to leave the house for it. I tried four places to see which one gave me that feeling – the motivation to get up off my butt and buy a fabulous grilled cheese.

I judged each sandwich off of four factors – cheese quality, bread quality, size and price. The cheese has to be soft, melty, and stretchy. It has to be the star – adding the most flavor and depth to the dish. The bread has to be the house – holding in all that gooey cheese but still with a crunchy outer crust and soft buttery inside. The price has to be reasonable – after all, it’s the most basic of sandwiches, so the price should not deter me from wanting to buy it again. 

Poppleton’s – Provolone and Cheddar Grilled Cheese – $9.45

This sandwich had two kinds of cheese, as the name so clearly distinguishes, on sourdough bread. The outside of the bread had a nice crunchiness to it, which protected the soft inside. The cheese was warm, melty and stringy. Overall, great texture from the two stars. What was lacking was the flavor. I couldn’t quite pin it down, but something was missing. And with the use of two different kinds of cheese, I was surprised to find the lack of complexity. But this grilled cheese didn’t have that ump I was looking for. And certainly wouldn’t motivate me enough to get off my couch and go buy it, when I can make it just as well at home.

Mooney’s – Regular Grilled Cheese – $9.71

Before I even read through my grilled cheese choices, I was told this sandwich was not like my mommy’s grilled cheese. Big words, if you ask me. Big words that the sandwich didn’t quite live up to.  Let’s start with the bread. The bread was pretty gosh darn amazing. It was thick and crunchy, holding everything in perfectly. I would take a bite and could hear the outside crackling under my teeth. It was buttery but didn’t make my hands all oily. The cheese, however, could have made it my mommy’s grilled cheese. It was american cheese. Not just any american cheese, but the orange american cheese. I was a little disappointed. It was thick and almost too starchy. I like a little variation of flavors with my grilled cheese, especially if I am leaving my house in something other than sweatpants and paying $10 for it.

Old World Cafe – The Big Cheese – $10.53

And big it was. Three generous halves of whole wheat bread filled with Italian Fontina cheese and a slice of tomato. Just from picking up the first half, the cheese stuck to the plate and stretch a considerable amount – I was sold then. Although only one kind was used, it was all that was necessary for the cheese to give plenty of flavor to the sandwich. The tomato was the simplest but perfect addition as it cut right through the thickness of the cheese. The bread was alright. It softened under the threat of the moist cheese but it still had some crunch on the outside. Although this was a little bit more expensive of a sandwich, the portion size was plenty big to fill me up for lunch.

Carey’s Brewhouse – Grilled Bacon Cheese – $11.83

This sandwich was the most disappointing. All of the elements were there to make this the best grilled cheese. But somewhere along the way, it was lost in execution. The bread was great quality, sourced from Old World. But it was dry as it wasn’t buttered up like a classic grilled cheese. The cheese combination of fontina, gouda, and sharp cheddar was delicious: salty, complex, flavorful. But the cheese wasn’t completely melted. And the bacon sounded like a nice addition, but the texture and flavor bacon normally adds to a dish was lost in the layers of cheese. This one had so much potential, but there were just too many “buts” that brought this sandwich down.

Conclusion

A grilled cheese is such an innocent, simple sandwich. It’s only three basic ingredients, but when done right with quality cheese, bread, and butter, it can be oh-so delicious. And Old World Cafe outdid themselves this time around. Their gooey, melty cheese freshly made on crunchy bread and a simple slice of tomato gave this sandwich the trophy.

Tell us your favorite place to get a grilled cheese below, or what your homemade twists are.

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Felicia LaLomia

Felicia is the Urban Corning/Creagent intern for the summer and loves to roam around downtown in search of inspiration and new places to grab a bite. Find out what she's up to on Instagram and Twitter: @falalomia

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Almost two months ago, I received a text from some friends letting me know that Liquid Shoes, the brewery we had been anxiously waiting to visit for months, was finally open for business. Just a few hours later, I was at the bar enjoying the first taste of what would quickly become one of my favorite local beers.

The moment I walked through the front door, I could tell that Liquid Shoes was “my kind of place.” The atmosphere was every bit as welcoming as I had hoped it would be, and the decor definitely piqued my interest. Exposed brick, Edison bulbs, and visible tanks give it that industrial interior design vibe that a lot of my favorite breweries and taprooms – from Bissel Brothers in Maine to Burling Beer Co. in Vermont – seem to have in common. With a very large front window and an open air concept, the brewery seemed more like an extension of Market Street, rather than a new and unfamiliar space. I felt right at home.

During that first visit, the brewery was exceptionally busy. Though the bar was standing room only, and I was a few rows behind those who had already bellied up, it took less than a minute for someone to notice that I was waiting to order. Surprisingly, and much to my appreciation, the bartender actually walked around the bar to take my order and then again to bring me my flight. Since that first interaction, I’ve been consistently impressed with how friendly, knowledgeable, and conversational the Liquid Shoes staff members are. That first evening, I must have spoke with five different people, from the owners to the wait staff. Each have remembered my name, and continue to greet me with a smile and a handshake before pouring the beer they instinctively knew I would order.

And that brings me to the beer. Finally.

The reason it has taken me so long to write this article is that Liquid Shoes’ beer is just too good. Yes, too good. During my first visit, I ordered a flight of the blonde ale, pale ale, IPA, and stout. I took detailed notes as I sipped each one. I commented on their color and flavor profiles, labeled them as “juicy” or “chewy,” and even went as far as to come up with witty puns and metaphors to use while describing them. I was going to tell you that the American Blonde Ale, with its slight sweetness and light amber color, was “light and crushable” and a “perfect introductory brew to craft beer.” I was going to suggest that anyone who enjoys cold brew coffee couldn’t possibly not love Liquid Shoes’ irresistibly smooth Shoe’s Stout. I was going to compare the East Coast Pale Ale to a refreshing summer’s breeze, and I was going to say that the IPA was hands down one of the best – if not the best – small batch IPA’s I’ve had outside of New England.

I was going to tell you all of that, but then I couldn’t. Before I even had a chance to sit down and actually write out my thoughts about the beers, they were gone. Sold out. Too popular to remain on tap for more than just a week or two.

The East Coast IPA was replaced with a bonafide New England IPA, and I was going to tell you that that had become my favorite IPA. And again, almost before I could write that very sentence, it was gone. It was replaced with a Summer IPA, which was replaced with “Kung Fu Bicycle,” which was replaced with “Jungle Bridge.” Even now, literally as I’m writing this, Liquid Shoes has released yet another new brew; this time a Double IPA named “6am Drum Solo” that clocks in at a whopping 7.9% ABV and what I’m assuming, from the messages on my phone telling me to get to the brewery ASAP, is a whole lot of deliciousness.

Each of those aforementioned beers were just as good as, if not better than, the ones that came before them. They were so good, and so popular, that very few of them lasted long enough to enjoy more than once. I can guarantee that “6am Drum Solo” will meet a similar, much deserved fate.

So maybe the real story here isn’t how “good” Liquid Shoes is, but rather how “consistent” the beers are. A colleague just reminded me that anyone can get lucky now and then and craft one or two good beers, but it takes some real talent to consistently release great beers. That’s exactly what Eric and Dave Shoemaker, the brothers behind the brewery, have done for the past two months.

In conversations with the brothers, I’ve learned that brewing beer has always been one of their passions. I also learned that each batch they’ve ever brewed, whether it be in the backyard or the garage or in the new brewery space, has been given the same care and attention. They don’t experiment just for for the sake of experimenting. They don’t plan on stepping out of their wheelhouse and personal interests just to match trends and please the Instagram crowds. They know what they make well, and they want to continue to hone that craft and brew the best possible beers. With that mindset, it’s really no surprise that Liquid Shoes has been so consistent.

I have a feeling that the last two months are just the tip of an enormously large iceberg of what’s to come from Liquid Shoes. If they keep up the trend of only releasing high quality, delicious, craveable beers – of which I’m most certainly sure they will – craft beer fans are in for a real treat.

Enjoying a Liquid Shoes Brown Ale and a beautiful day on Market Street, courtesy of the brewery’s open air design.

Liquid Shoes’ new releases do come and go ridiculously quickly. We definitely recommend following the brewery on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date with what’s on tap and other brewery news.

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Logan Sweet

Logan is a typical twenty-something, with the not so typical soul of an old man. He enjoys wandering throughout Upstate New York in the search for the perfect cup of coffee. You can join in on his adventures, on both Twitter and Instagram, by following @LoganSweet369.

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Felicia LaLomia

Felicia is the Urban Corning/Creagent intern for the summer and loves to roam around downtown in search of inspiration and new places to grab a bite. Find out what she's up to on Instagram and Twitter: @falalomia

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Author information

Felicia LaLomia

Felicia is the Urban Corning/Creagent intern for the summer and loves to roam around downtown in search of inspiration and new places to grab a bite. Find out what she's up to on Instagram and Twitter: @falalomia

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Author information

Felicia LaLomia

Felicia is the Urban Corning/Creagent intern for the summer and loves to roam around downtown in search of inspiration and new places to grab a bite. Find out what she's up to on Instagram and Twitter: @falalomia

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Logan Sweet

Logan is a typical twenty-something, with the not so typical soul of an old man. He enjoys wandering throughout Upstate New York in the search for the perfect cup of coffee. You can join in on his adventures, on both Twitter and Instagram, by following @LoganSweet369.

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Amelia Harnas

Amelia is 100% certifiably Corning-raised. Passionate about art, she is thrilled to help coordinate the Urban Arts Crawls. She is best known for her artwork made with red wine and is least known for enjoying the hit track, "Don't Stop Believin'."

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Sean Lukasik

Owner / Partner at Creagent Marketing

Sean is the owner and partner at Creagent Marketing in Corning, NY. He helps businesses find their voice on social media and build their audience online. He helps individuals find delicious meals and great drinks throughout the Southern Finger Lakes.

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