The Beat

The June 4 webinar will break down what makes seeing this film one of the rarest cinematic experiences of all time 

Rochester, N.Y. (May 26, 2020)—The George Eastman Museum has announced it will host a virtual discussion on the film Portrait of Jennie (William Dieterle, 1948) on Thursday, June 4 at 1 p.m. with members of its Moving Image Department. The museum’s 6th Nitrate Picture Show was originally scheduled to kick off with a screening of Portrait of Jennie on June 4, 2020, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the museum made the decision to postpone the festival to June 3–6, 2021. In lieu of welcoming patrons to the Dryden Theatre next month, the museum is offering everyone a virtual experience to explore the film in a new way from home.

Mumford, N.Y. (May 22, 2020) – Based on direction for reopening from New York State, Genesee Country Village & Museum continues to be closed to visitors, and will not be open for interpretation, tours, or programs until the Finger Lakes region reaches “Phase 4,” which at the earliest will begin at the end of June. As a result, GCV&M is cancelling Celtic Faire and 1812 Weekend (scheduled for June 13 & 14 and June 20 & 21 respectively) and postponing Kids Free Days (June 27 – July 3). It's also expected that going forward, the Museum will be restricted to holding events that do not concentrate large groups of participants and audience members, and with that in mind, GCV&M has also decided to cancel the annual Civil War Reenactment and Encampment (scheduled for July 18 & 19). …

The Hamptons, Long Island, N.Y. – Discover The Hamptons announces B&Bs For Nurses.  An initiative to provide frontline essential staff with donated lodging stays to rest and rejuvenate from their increased work schedules combating COVID19.  B&Bs For Nurses launches on May 6 during National Nurse Day. Local B&Bs, Inns, and Hotel hard hit economically from the COVID19 pandemic have band together to donate over $15,000 of luxury overnight stays for local Nurses. …

Restaurant opens second location amid pandemic

Rochester, N.Y. - Veneto Wood Fired Pizza & Pasta has been a staple on East Avenue in downtown Rochester for almost two decades. On Thurs., May 28, 2020 a second location, Veneto Westside, will open at 1308 Buffalo Road in Gates, N.Y. The restaurant will provide diners on Rochester's westside the opportunity to enjoy Veneto's delicious wood fired pizza, available in seven varieties, and its homemade pasta dishes that so many have come to love.

Long Island, NY (May 22, 2020) ­– Discover Long Island, the official destination marketing and management organization for the region, encourages residents to welcome the impending summer season with a renewed sense of gratitude and offers insight to navigating a different approach to promoting the destination as it enters into peak season and takes steps toward recovery.

 “Long Islanders wait all year long for our summer season and this year, while we will still enjoy the benefits of living where those long to vacation, it will be with a greater appreciation and a renewed sense of gratitude as we start to see our businesses and attractions begin to re-open,” said Kristen Jarnagin, President & CEO of Discover Long Island.

Lake George, N.Y. — The Lake George/Warren County region is preparing to welcome visitors this Memorial Day weekend – in a cautious, safe and respectful manner. 

Memorial Day weekend is the traditional kickoff of the region’s summer tourism season. Because the world has changed, this year it will be accompanied by a vastly increased emphasis on the safety and wellbeing of guests, employees and the community as the region progressively reopens under the New York Forward Reopening Plan.

Saratoga Springs, N.Y. — The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame announced today it will cancel the 2020 Hall of Fame induction ceremony and the Museum Ball as a result of the ongoing health and safety concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are incredibly disappointed we won’t be able to have these time-honored special events this summer, but the health concerns we are facing right now take precedence,” said John Hendrickson, president of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. “The Hall of Fame ceremony is an experience we want to be able to share with the fans. With racing at Saratoga this summer likely to take place without spectators, we believe it is in the best interests of everyone involved and for the integrity of the event to postpone the ceremony for a year.”…

The Waterfront is Open and Health and Safety Will Be the First Priority for Visitors

See visual of new signage at Canalside and the Outer Harbor here

Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation (ECHDC) and Be Our Guest are encouraging visitors to the Buffalo Waterfront to engage in responsible recreation during the ongoing COVID-19 public health crisis. ECHDC and Be Our Guest recommendations incorporate guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the New York State Department of Health for reducing the spread of infectious diseases and encourage everyone to enjoy local recreation areas while, practicing social distancing and using common sense to protect themselves and others.

Buffalo, NY - The Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens announced they will host a wide variety of NEW live online classes this spring and summer.  The newest online series is entitled Botanical Extras that includes several interesting, informative and entertaining classes; The Fantastic World of Mosses on May 21, The History and Future of the Botanical Gardens on June 4, Floriography: The Secret Language of Flowers on June 11, Dendrology Demystified on June 18, Indulge - Delectable Botanical Luxuries on June 25, The English Plantswomen on July 9 and Gardening for Butterflies on July 16.  An online Succulent Garden Workshop will also be offered on June 10.

World Renowned Hudson River School Collection by 35 Artists, Including Thomas Cole, Frederic Church and Asher Durand, Now Available to View Online

Project sponsored by Capital Region creative economy entrepreneur Tom Nardacci

Albany, N.Y. – The Albany Institute of History & Art today announced the launch of a new 3D digital tour of their Hudson River School exhibition. The Albany Institute has one of the largest collections of Hudson River School style paintings and now, using cutting-edge technology, visitors can explore the Christine & George R. Hearst III gallery and discover the landscapes and scenes of the Hudson River School painters from anywhere in the world.