Come to Palmyra and take advantage of the somewhat quieter pace in our nineteenth century village after Labor Day. The opening of school does make a difference. Shops are less hectic, restaurants calmer. Tour busses still come to visit the sites of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the museums of Historic Palmyra. If anything, more cyclists and walkers come in off the Erie Canal trail than in the heat of summer. Boaters still tie up at the Port of Palmyra marina and explore the shops and restaurants of Main Street. Still, the pace is more leisurely. The air has a different feel to it. People stroll more slowly and have time to look, to explore, to savor, to talk to local folks a! bout the history of the village and the plans for its future. It is a time for sitting in our Main Street Park or at the Port of Palmyra marina park and watching the world go by.

This leisurely tempo changes abruptly for Palmyra’s annual CanalTown Days, Saturday and Sunday, September 18^th – 19^th. There is literally something for everyone in the family, individually and as a family, from the toddlers to great-grandma and everyone in between. There are two very full days with all kinds of activities to choose from. Saturday features an art show, an antique show, a 100+ car show, a park full of craft items for sale, a flea market, boat rides from the Port of Palmyra marina, guided walks along the canal, and food, food, and more food. (Everyone knows that food consumed at a festival or celebration such as this has no point value or calories since it is all for a good cause. Remember that! An! other theory: if you wear open toed shoes, e.g. sandals, the calories will run out your toes. Why not?) Throughout the day there is free entertainment on Main Street to amuse and amaze. The day is capped by the finest parade in western New York. And following the parade there is more entertainment on the street and still more food.

Sunday sees the traditional horse drawn parade as well as the crafters and flea market. Musical entertainment from the bandstand in the park adds to the festivities. A fine time is had by all.

The entire CanalTown Days celebration is held within the Village of Palmyra on Main Street (Route 31) or just off of it. Free parking is available at the Wayne County Fairgrounds, on block south of Main Street and a free shuttle provided the few blocks to the center of the village. Once there, it is just one block to the Port of Palmyra marina and the Erie Canal. Come, bring the family and experience CanalTown Days. If you do, you will come back next year. I guarantee it.

For more information on Palmyra and its happenings, call 315-597-4849 or 800-527-6510. You can also check us out at www.palmyrany.com.

THE MAGIC OF PARK AVENUE

by Jim Catalano

Hi everyone, I certainly missed writing my column for you last month, sorry to say I became caught up in the excitement and last minute planning details of our annual Park Avenue Summer Art Festival. I certainly did enjoy all your e-mails and questions that you had sent and hope I was of some assistance to you all.

Feel free to keep those questions coming. We might just begin publishing them, and start a whole NEW column here on PORT OF ROCHESTER.com.

Well, even with the cooler weather during festival weekend, the festival was a total hit. I actually think the cooler temperatures brought out more of a crowd, and I am hoping that our Toronto visitors enjoyed themselves. I would like to thank some of our visitors that read my column and spotted our home and annual “Open House” for stopping to say hello and introduce yourselves. It was a pleasure to meet you, and find out how much you are enjoying the monthly newsletters issued by our fellow writers and myself.

Life as we know it has since returned to our beautiful neighborhood. Our heavy population of apartment dwellers is now on a “turnover” as college students begin their trek into the area to prepare for the beginning of the school year. Former students who have now found a place in Rochester’s commerce now graduate to “grander spaces” in some of the elegant converted mansions that line our streets.

As the summer season begins it’s closing act, some of the best times can be found at Park Avenues sidewalk cafés and restaurants that pepper the neighborhood. Their charm will continue with outdoor seating until it is just impossible to do so. The restaurants each offer their own signature and variety. Three of Park Avenues favorite restaurants and probably the longest “residents” of the Avenue can be found just a few feet from each other. The Park Avenue Pub, which celebrated its thirtieth anniversary last summer, is a wonderful choice for finer dining in a VERY RELAXED atmosphere. Aged Angus Beef is one of my favorites on their menu, and if you enjoy delicious crab cakes as a starter, you will find theirs to be the best in town. Just next door is number two of our Park Avenue institutions, Charlie’s Frog Pond. Charlie started this restaurant in the 70’s with a unique and unusual menu of omelet’s, dozens and dozens of them actually. All with their unique flair and distinct taste. We sadly lost Charlie to cancer several years ago, and the restaurant was turned over to Betsy Wilson, who had been a waitress at the restaurant since it’s inception. Betsy has remained true to Charlie’s dream and the bounty of omelets has remained, but it’s the daily lunch and dinner blackboard specials that attract my partner and I, as “The Frog Pond” is one of our “spots”.

Finishing off the block is another Park Avenue, as well as Rochester institution, Jines Restaurant. Jines is a family owned and run business, it is immaculately clean and the owners are forever redecorating and re-arranging to accommodate the always-constant crowd. Delicious Greek favorites are found on their menu, as well as an exciting array of traditional American fare. To tell you I have a favorite menu item would be a lie. You will just need to try everything. If your visit to Rochester brings you on a Friday night. Be sure to give a Rochester favorite, a “Fish Fry” a try. This tasty treat is a simple concoction of batter dipped or breaded haddock filet traditionally served with French fries and coleslaw. Simple…. yes…delicious…you bet. Rochesterians that have moved from the area, always return to their favorite “fish fry spot” when returning to visit the area.

Jines as well as the Frog Pond begin their days at the crack of dawn to handle the breakfast crowd, and stay open until the later evening hours.

Well, it is great to be writing to you again and I look forward to hearing from you all as you plan your visit to Rochester and to Park Avenue.

Don’t forget, if you have a question you can reach me at jimmy@portofrochester.com, and you can learn more about Park Avenue by visiting www.park-avenue.org. I will close this month with a another photos from this year’s festival.

The Photography of Carl Chiarenza

On September 10th I will be at a reception for an exhibition of my new work (and signing my last two books) at the Carl Solway Gallery in Cincinnati (424 Findlay Street, 513-621-0069). The exhibition runs through December 24. This exhibition includes work from the new books described below.

Two new books are at the publishers and should be released before the end of the year:

Peace Warriors of 2003 (Nazraeli Press) — a 17X14” limited edition (500) book with an original print on the cover. The book will be enclosed in a slip case. The images were all made in 2003.

Solitudes (Lodima Press) — a small intimate book, approximately 9X10” with 24 pages and 10 images from a series produced this year.

Meet the Editor

ROCHESTER's OWN OUTDOOR ADVENTURES

. . .

A letter to new friends...
by Bruce Iuppa

Rochester/NY Event Tickets

In This Issue...

My Rochester

My Toronto

Rochester's Own Outdoor Adventures