The Beat

Wineries are offering a wide variety of experiences in which to indulge!

Watkins Glen, NY – The wineries on Seneca Lake are offering indulgent experiences to celebrate Valentine’s Day in a way that is both sensitive to health and safety protocols while also being truly enjoyable. With masks in place, social distance marked out, and capacity restrictions noted, wineries are ready to indulge you this Valentine’s Day!…

Popular Rochester eatery reopens as newest offering at the museum’s Thomas Tischer Visitor Center

Rochester, N.Y., January 28, 2021—Open Face Sandwich Eatery, formerly located on South Avenue in Rochester and closed since 2017, has reopened at the George Eastman Museum as Open Face at Eastman Museum. Dine-in or takeout are now available.

Founded by Jared Valentine and a partner in 2004, Open Face featured signature sandwiches, soups, salads, sides, and baked goods. At the Eastman Museum, Open Face offers similar fare, including numerous vegan or vegetarian sandwiches, such as corn mash, mashed pea, chickpea, and toasted brie. Sandwiches can also be made over field greens as salads.

Mumford, NY, Jan. 28, 2021 - Instead of hibernating this February, young and old alike can head to Genesee Country Village & Museum for nature-focused activities, online and in-person classes, camps for kids, and a Valentine’s Day treat. Utilizing the wide-open spaces available at the Nature Center and Historic Village, GCV&M offers visitors a variety of ways to get out and have fun while staying safe and socially-distanced.

The month kicks off with a two-part webinar that starts with the complicated history of society’s relationship with nature as told through fashion, then dives into the current-day conservation efforts underway at the Museum. “Caring for Nature, Yesterday and Today” runs for two Wednesdays, February 3 and 10, from 7-8 pm, and reservations are open now at gcv.org. For those looking for more entertainment they can enjoy from the warmth and comfort of home,…

Floral display will expand to three weeks for 2021; virtual offerings will enhance the experience

Rochester, N.Y., January 26, 2021—The George Eastman Museum will bring an early dose of spring to Rochester this February with its annual Dutch Connection floral show. The display will open to the public on February 5 and will remain on view for three weeks. The annual show is a welcome treat in the midst of winter, with thousands of tulips, hyacinths, daffodils, amaryllis, freesias, and spring annuals in various vibrant shades filling areas of George Eastman’s historic mansion. Tropical orchids courtesy of the Genesee Region Orchid Society will also be on display throughout the mansion. Dutch Connection will be on view through February 28.

Ontario County Tourism Promotion Agency wins two national awards

Canandaigua, N.Y. - Finger Lakes Visitors Connection's ongoing COVID-19 pandemic response is receiving awards for its strategic communications and the team's response to quickly assist small businesses in Ontario County. The official tourism promotion agency of Ontario County was recently awarded two platinum-level awards in the "Crisis Communication Plan or Response" and "Team Achievement" categories from the MarCom Awards, which honor excellence in marketing and communication.

Corning, NY — Steuben County’s official tourism promotion organization has created a new app to help local residents (and travelers once the time is right to visit) discover parts of Steuben they may not even know are there. Larger than Rhode Island, the county is vast and comprised of numerous small towns. As a result, many locals are often unaware of some of the wonderful things to be experienced right in their own back yard. The new Explore Steuben Trip Planner allows you to access information about all the awesome activities available in Steuben County right from your phone.

Mumford, NY, January 7, 2021-- Despite our tendencies toward hibernation, winter is the perfect time to enjoy the great outdoors, and Genesee Country Village & Museum is centrally located for a day out in nature. With over 600 acres of woodlands, meadows, ponds, and car-less paths, there are opportunities for walking, skiing, and snowshoeing along the trails and paths of the Museum. Starting now and running through the spring, Nature Sundays are a weekly opportunity to hike the trails, embark on a themed “story walk,” or visit the Nature Center lodge to learn more about the native plants and animals of the Genesee Valley, all in an open, physically-distanced environment.

Diverse and delicious offerings provide the perfect gift for everyone on your list

Watkins Glen, NY – Seneca Lake wineries have a wide variety of wine, experiences, and more, to make gift giving easy this holiday season. Shop local, shop small, and support these local businesses as they continue to weather the pandemic. Here are a few ideas!…

Partnership with Museum Association of New York for Building Capacity, Creating Sustainability, Growing Accessibility

The Museum Association of New York (MANY) is thrilled to announce that 98 museums from across New York State have been selected to participate in “Building Capacity, Creating Sustainability, Growing Accessibility”, an IMLS CARES Act grant project designed to help museums impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic share their collections and reach audiences who cannot physically visit their museums. 200 staff will be trained to use new hardware and software to develop programs that will engage their communities and reach new audiences.

Grant funds will be used to preserve three severely endangered nitrate feature films

Rochester, N.Y., December 3, 2020—The George Eastman Museum recently received a grant award for $65,350 from the National Film Preservation Foundation to preserve three severely endangered nitrate feature films from the museum’s collection. The prints of His Last Race (US 1923), Payroll Pirates (US 1920), and When Betty Bets (US 1917) are likely the only versions of the films that still exist. Due to severe nitrate decomposition in all three films, this is the last chance to save these unique prints.