Things to do, places to eat, shows to see, places to stay in Madison County, NY      

As found this morning on the Madison County Courier website:

Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean that Central New Yorkers can’t enjoy locally-produced foods. Meadowood Farms and Circa Restaurant of Cazenovia have organized a “Fourth Saturday” Winter Farmers’ Market.
On Saturday Feb. 27, from 9 a.m. to noon, a group of local producers will gather at Circa Restaurant to sell their farm-raised products. Meadowood Farms will offer pasture-raised lamb and beef, wool blankets and sheepskins. They will be joined by several other local producers, including Ingallside Meadows Farm, selling pastured pork, beef, and eggs; Dutch Girl Cheese, selling artisan goat and cow’s milk cheeses; and Owen Tallman, selling gourmet mushrooms.
In addition, Alambria Springs of Lebanon will share information about their Community Supported Agriculture program.
Bee Tolman, manager of Meadowood Farms, explains that in past winters, her customers have had to come to the farm to pick up their lamb and beef.
“They risked life and limb, leaving the tropics of Cazenovia and Manlius, to brave the blasts of frozen precipitation up here on the ridge,” Tolman said. “Now our customers can pick up their meat in a warm place, even relax and have a cup of Alicyn’s coffee if they’d like.”
Furthermore, she says, it’s a nice environment for the farmers in the winter.
“Winter can be isolating,” Tolman said. “Now we get to chat with one another. I talk to Daniel [of Ingallside Meadows] about his pasture management and visit with Renata about her experiences making incredible cheese.”
Circa Restaurant’s chef and owner, Alicyn Hart, has long been a supporter of locally-produced food, Tolman said. All of the farmers at the Fourth Saturday market also supply her restaurant with menu ingredients.
“I like hosting this market because it offers my customers and the larger community an opportunity to meet the farmers who grow our food,” Hart said. “It’s an extension of the farm-to-fork initiative that I’ve been part of for the last four years.”
The Fourth Saturday Winter Farmers’ Market at Circa Restaurant will also be held Saturday, March 27 and Saturday, April 24, from 9 a.m. to noon. Circa Restaurant is located on Main Street by the traffic light in the center of Cazenovia.
The farmers at this new market invite everyone to come and discover the variety of local farm products available, even in the depths of winter.

The annual Buy Local Week focusing on local farms and their products will be July 18-25th in 2010. The very popular Open Farm day will take place on the 25th.  You will be able to tour local farms, taste local products and even buy direct from the source.  Check out the Agriculture Economic Development site for more information and when we get closer to the date the Passport that will be available!

The fourth and final installment of the Tastes of New York State features Madison County once again.  This webisode shows off winter activities across that state and at the 5:42 mark of the video Madison County is featured.  They visited Critz Farms, Nelson Farms, the village of Hamilton and had dinner at the Copper Turret.  Check it out!

Create a stunning scarf in only a few hours and learn about the fastest-growing fiber technique called feltmaking. During class you will create an amazing lightweight fabric that will result in a beautifully soft and cozy scarf for the winter weather. Easy to learn, you will be felting a small amount of colored merino wool with the wet felting technique.  No felting experience is necessary. Come ready to get wet and roll your holiday cares away! 
Dates Offered: Saturday, Nov 7th, Sunday, Nov 29th or Sunday, Dec 13th
Time: 10AM to 4PM (Bring your lunch and a beverage)
Class Cost: $45.00 per person
Skill Level: Everyone
Instructor: Elizabeth Moldenhauer
Materials Cost: $20, payable to instructor 
Materials Required:
Instructor will supply merino wool & felting tools needed for class. Cost of wool for scarf - $20.00.
PLEASE BRING THE FOLLOWING:
·         Several sponges as well as a couple of newspaper bags or plastic grocery bags
·         Olive oil bar soap or dish soap
·         Quart size container
·         Several towels (2-3)
·         Scissors

OPTIONAL ITEMS TO EMBELLISH SCARF:
o   Needle and thread
o   Beads
o   Yarn- 75 – 150 yards of novelty yarn, ribbon yarn and/or wool yarn

Please call Elizabeth Moldenhauer - fibre artist
Fibre Heart Originals
118 Malden Road
Syracuse, NY 13211
315.214.8355
Email: emoldenhauer@twcny.rr.com

A portion of the class fee will benefit Divine Nature at BMR Acres Wildlife Rehabilitation.
All classes are held at BMR Acres, 2542 Pine Ridge Road, Canastota, NY 13032
For directions, call 315-697-5476 or go to www.bmracres.com

They will also host, "An Experience in Spinning", A one day spinning course.  This class is an introduction to spinning. Students will use a drop spindle, and will cover drafting techniques, different fiber types and preparations, and a bit of the history of the drop spindle.  Using a spindle is a very economical way to learn hand spinning for a beginner. They are inexpensive to buy, and also very easy to make.  Once you have mastered the spindle you will have learned the steps needed for spinning on the spinning wheel. During class you will have the opportunity to try spinning on a couple of different spinning wheels as well as various drop spindles.  

Skill Level: Beginner 
Instructor: Elizabeth Moldenhauer
Dates Course Offered: Sunday, Nov 1st, Sunday, Nov 22nd, or Saturday Dec. 5th
Time: 10:00am - 3:00pm
Class Cost: $40.00
Materials Cost: Will depend on fiber used and spindle choice
Class Size: 5 student maximum so reserve your place today!
Materials List:
·         Drop spindle  (available for purchase day of class) Drop Spindle Kit available for purchase in class ($10.00)
·         Ball winder and/or Niddy Noddy (optional)
·         Fiber – to be purchased the day of class with the instructor’s guidance 
·         Please bring your lunch and a beverage.  

Please call Elizabeth Moldenhauer - fibre artist

Fibre Heart Originals
118 Malden Road
Syracuse, NY 13211
315.214.8355
Email: emoldenhauer@twcny.rr.com
 

A portion of the class fee will benefit Divine Nature at BMR Acres Wildlife Rehabilitation.

All classes are held at BMR Acres, 2542 Pine Ridge Road, Canastota, NY 13032

For directions, call 315-697-5476 or go to www.bmracres.com

 

It is a busy, busy weekend in Madison County and the events are happening in every corner.  Fall is in full swing and the rainy, cold weather of this past week will be a thing of the past as temperatures are being forecast in the upper 60's for this weekend.  Here are your best bets for an October weekend:
1. Golub's Our Farm -- This Cazenovia family farm has been entertaining  kids and family for a number of years.  They open for the season with their "Giant" Corn Maze, "Boris" the pumpkin throwing catapult, a huge selection of pumpkins, petting zoo and more.  Check it out every weekend in October.
2.Fall Harvest Festival at Critz Farms -- Also in Cazenovia Critz is pressing cider this weekend at their Harvest Moon Cider Mill.  You can visit the Elephantastic Corn Maze (a salute to the Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse), pick your own apples, ride the cow train and so much more.  Do not miss out on a hot apple fritter while you are there.
3. Creepy Camp -- It's Baaack.  Again the folks at Camp High Esteem have put together one of the scariest attractions in Central New York.  You must check it out this year.  You can find Creepy Camp on Route 13, about 3 miles south of Chittenango.
4. Beatlemania Again! -- Recall the screaming girls?  It is that feeling all over again in Hamilton Saturday Night as the Palace Theater hosts Beatlemania Again presents the recreation of The Beatles phenomenon with an incredible simulation complete with fine tailored black velvet suits and the famous Beatles boots. The concert starts with “Meet The Beatles” featuring hits from 1963-1966 and climaxing with “Get Back,” the hits from 1968–1970. Experience the energy and excitement of the live performance with the original sounds of the albums using authentic instruments and amplifiers by The Beatles. Show starts at 8pm, tickets are $20.
5. Talons! Birds of Prey Experience at Stone Quarry Hill Art Park.  Lorrie and Talon Skye Schumacher present an exciting flying Birds of Prey show. Bring your cameras for a great photo opportunity! Meet the world's largest owl, falcons, hawks and play catch with a crow! Learn about raptors from all over the world and our role in preserving the delicate balance of the global ecosystem. Shows start at 11am and 1pm and last 45 min. Meet and greet the birds after the shows for photos and feeding! 11-3pm.
There are other great events all weekend long and you can find out about them right here. 

Maybe you've never had the change to see "Boris" the pumpkin throwing catapult at Golub's Our Farm just outside of the village of Cazenovia.  Maybe you've been back a number of times.  Either way you never get over the excitement of seeing a pumpkin fly 150 yards through the air to explode in a million pieces.  That is just one of the exciting attractions at Our Farm, which opens for the fall pumpkin season tomorrow in Cazenovia.  You can take a hayride, pick your own pumpkin, learn about agriculture and tackle the "Giant" corn maze.  There are many things to do and enjoy and this family attraction.  So with the weather looking nice for the weekend, and the foliage pushing its way towards, peak it is the perfect weekend to head on over to Our Farm and enjoy fall in Central New York State!

We hear it all the time, "Fall is my favorite season in Madison County."  It usually refers to how pretty it is around here with the leaves changing and the skies a crystal blue hue, but it also could be because there are awesome events going on all the time too.  This weekend is no different with events that range from the loud roar of tractor engines, to the smooth tones of Jazz.  Here are your best bets for a weekend of fun in Madison County:
1. Jazz in Caz -- This fall favorite is one of the most anticipated Jazz events in Central New York.  With national and local Jazz acts on stages around the village of Cazenovia, this festival has something for all tastes.  You can find a full schedule of events right here. 
2. Wheel Days -- Hosted at the county fairgrounds in Brookfield, this testosterone filled event features tractor pulls, a demolition derby, antique engine shows and more.  If it is on wheels they are celebrating it in Brookfield this weekend.
3. Community Day at the Rippleton School House -- The Friends of Lorenzo and event chairwoman Elizabeth Koennecke invite families and children of all ages to join 1880’s schoolmarm Mattie Buckland as she opens her classroom during “Community Day” from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, September 27th at the Rippleton Schoolhouse. Attendees will have the chance to become “students” for an afternoon in a restored one-room schoolhouse and also enjoy live music, square dancing, old-fashioned games, Victorian crafts, pumpkin decorating, wagon rides and cider and donuts during this annual free event.
4. Fall Harvest Celebration at Critz Farms -- It is the 2nd weekend of their celebration of all things autumn.  Pick your own apples or pumpkins, buy some cider or cheddar cheese and enjoy the tastes of Central New York fall.
5. It's National Alpaca day on Sunday and BMR Acres is celebrating.  BMR Acres, 2542 Pine Ridge Road, will be participating in the The Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association "National Alpaca Farm Day in the USA" and will be open to the public on September 27th. Local fiber artists such as spinners, felters, etc will be demonstrating their craft. BMR Acres Country Farm Store will also be open offering alpaca products for sale as well as local products such as honey, jams & jellies, maple syrup, soaps, lotions and more. And of course a line of ‘Melissa and Doug’ toys. Food and beverages will be available. See link- http://www.nyalpacas.com/Calendar/.
6. A bonus event.  Colgate is home this weekend for great college football action.  The Raiders are 3-0 on the season and seem to be headed for great things.  Kickoff against the Fordham Rams is set for 6pm at Andy Kerr Stadium.  Tailgate with your friends at the Colgate Inn before the game kicks off. 
There truly is something for everyone this weekend.  Please check out the full calendar of events and have a great fall weekend.

It is a tradition of fall.  Pumpkins, apples, cider, farm aged cheddar cheese, hot apple fritters, you can almost taste it just reading about it.  The fall season opens in Cazenovia tomorrow as Critz Farms kicks off its 2009 Fall Harvest Festival. 
This year Critz is featuring its Elephantastic Corn Maze, featuring animals from the Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse and on Sunday there will be a crew from the zoo with animals, bio-facts and more to enhance your day at the farm. 
As always the Harvest Mill Cider Mill will open tomorrow and it will be pressing fresh cider for you to take home.  U-Pick apples are ready and so are the pumpkins. 
The weather will be awesome tomorrow so you have little excuse not to stop in and spend part of your day at Critz Farms.
The weekend of fun kicks off at 10 tomorrow morning and runs until 6pm each day.  Admission this year on the weekends is $7 a person and for $30 you get a family pass.  Your admission is good for the entire season, so make plans to come back again and again.

Reports are scattered and vague at best, but there seems to be evidence of a giant creature in the hills of Madison County near Cazenovia.  Last night it seemed to have been spotted on Peth Road between Cazenovia and Manlius.  Residents are advised to keep their eyes open and report any sightings of this "big foot" type creature in the blog comments below.  We have obtained "satellite" images of foot prints in farmer Jimmy Golub's corn field.  This seems to prove that something is lurking out there.