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Tag: VV Western New York

Beautiful Things at Mount Hope Cemetery

The turn of the seasons are my very favorite times to photograph cemeteries… And on foot, in the newly docile air, one discovers the gems not visible from the road… The van from afar Cat 1 Cat 2 Still snow on the ground Aren’t we? Sealed up A little birdhouse Read more…


It’s Maple Weekend in New York State 🍁

Maple Sugaring is something I was interested in learning more about! So on one of New York’s Maple Weekends, we headed over to Letchworth State Park for their pancake breakfast and a presentation on maple syrup production. We were able to do shots of each grade of syrup… except the Read more…


Family Date Night
The Gatehouse in Rochester, NY

We all headed for a proper meal at The GateHouse, a popular spot with varied offerings including some clearly labeled vegan options. My choice: The G. Eastman–it is in essence a whole grilled avocado topped with pickled carrots, micro-greens, a yummy Gochujang Veganaise on a ciabatta roll. It was flavorful, Read more…


Hello Spring

The little crocus that could on our front lawn… So potent with color and life A trip to Highland Park would bring plenty of color These baby blues are a regional Spring favorite Some pink emerges Paper white Buds So many colors Spring afoot A picnic in the park! And Read more…


The Spirit of Rochester
Abandoned on the Genesee River {Pictorial}


Tapas 177
Rochester Date Night

We finally got to Tapas 177 for a date night, which has been on my list since I was just visiting Rochester. You see, it has that thing that warms my heart so: a separate menu of all their vegan options. While it is a tapas place, meaning small plates, Read more…


These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things: Old Bowling Alleys 🎳

It’s been a bit since I added a new “These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things” to my blog. This entry has been a long nostalgic favorite: Old bowling Alleys. There is something fascinatingly grimy about an old school alley, something that the new and trendy lanes completely miss Read more…


Fire & Ice
Eternal Flame Falls

Another place I couldn’t wait to return to once winter came, Eternal Flame Falls. This naturally-fueled eternal flame is thought to be caused by potent gas seepage from the ancient shale bedrock, however some researchers believe this to be an incorrect hypothesis given the temperature of the rock relative to Read more…


Home is Where the ❀️ Is

Just a lot of pictures of this adorable house in the area. This is not a Valentine’s Day display… this is their house all year. I kind of love it.


The Big 5-0

My guy just turned 50 and I suppose I will be soon-ish too! It is very surreal to me; the passage of time seems to pass in modules–chunks of years spent in specific mindset, followed by the next evolution of your perceptions. It is why I cannot remember my age Read more…


January ’24 Outtakes

Month 1 of 2024 took its sweet time–the pace of ordinary, the pace of feeling things out. Here are some outtakes. The late 1900’s. A really yummy mac and cheese I made with that cheese sauce you make from potatoes and carrot. It is so damn good. I had a Read more…


Winter at Green Lakes State Park

With the first significant snowfall, I knew I had to return to Green Lakes State Park. I knew its emerald lake would look beautiful next to a soft white. Some quick shots before the wandering rabid emaciated raccoon attacks me or one of the many dog walkers. Some playful visitors Read more…


The Memorial Art Gallery
Rochester, New York

I have been wanting to see the Yayoi Kusama exhibit at Memorial Art Gallery since I moved to Rochester. For one, it wouldn’t be as annoyingly crowded than it’d be New York City, a motivation I use often here. In fact, when we arrived on their evening hours on Thursday, Read more…


h.n.y. 2024 πŸŽ‰

An early toast for a 2023 packed with change! And a 2024 filled with new. Getting ready for the evening now All my dresses don’t fit anymore πŸ™ This one does but I want to be comfortable… Festive! Yay, snow on New Years Eve We had a 10:30 reservation at Read more…


One of the Best Vegan Pizzas I Ever Had
The Dough Boyz & Red Fern Collaboration

When I saw a post about this collaboration between Dough Boyz and Red Fern, I knew I had to have it. This gorgeous specimen contains roasted butternut squash, dollops of vegan ricotta, coconut bacon bits, basil, garlic oil with a balsamic glaze and fried sage. It hit every flavor note Read more…


The Hunt for Good Thai Near Me
Sweet Basil in Victor, New York

Good Thai is hard to find… once you leave the NYC metro area, but I was determined. The first Thai eatery that satisfied my Thai cravings here in Western New York is Sweet Basil in Victor, New York. I started with these fantastic fresh rolls. Such great textures inside these Read more…


Mid December Outtakes
2024, Here We Come

Well we are half way through the last month of 2023. As time continues to fly, some mid-month outtakes. First, the tremendous pumpkin that the teenager picked out for Halloween, preserved nicely in the cold Western New York temperatures on the porch, would need to be processed. I needed the Read more…


Starry Starry Night
Chimney Bluffs State Park

With finally a clear night, we headed to the Bluffs to capture them and perhaps some remnants of the Geminids Meteor Shower. With warm base layers on, we basked in the crisp cold, thankful the automobile traffic would be less so than in the summer. When another car pulled up, Read more…


Vegan Potato Pancakes with
Vegan Polish Goulash at Polska Chata πŸ‡΅πŸ‡±
Rochester, New York

Polska Chata offers a potato pancake special on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturday. It’s two spectacular potato pancakes topped with a vegan version of the traditional Polish Goulash. After some Christmas shopping I just had to partake. Polska Chata is such a wonderful eatery in Rochester, New York. With thoughtful and Read more…


Big A** Vegan Pancakes
The “Love Cakes” at Steve’s Original Diner πŸ₯ž

Sometimes you just need an old school diner breakfast. But it is often difficult for a vegan in search of a classic breakfast. Fortunately there is Steve’s Original Diner and their huge vegan pancakes. Why is diner coffee so much better than any other coffee? Here, my singular “Love Cake” Read more…


November… Another One in the Books

Well, somehow it’s December. To follow, November’s outtakes. Trips to the playground which will likely not be a often in the winter… An amazing calzone from Create-A-Pizza… vegan ricotta, some vegan cheese and some mushroom bacon So happy to have found an amazing Indian lunch buffet: Tandoor of India Another Read more…


Mount Hope Cemetery
Autumn’s Color & Winter’s Frost {Pictorial}

There is so much to discover at Mount Hope Cemetery, one of the two beautiful historic rural cemeteries in Rochester. On this visit on Black Friday (i.e. “Buy Nothing Day”) I caught the last of the fall’s color before a cold snap would drop the rest of the leaves to Read more…


Rolling Hills Asylum
East Bethany, New York

A quick drive from Rochester is Rolling Hills Asylum, formerly The Genesee County Poor Farm and now a haunted attraction. I took the self-guided tour and was lucky enough to be the only visitor who showed up! To follow are some of my favorite shots of the day…


The Hideaway
Vegan Eats in Rochester

After a productive week, we toasted at The Hideaway! I was excited to try their vegan options, which are clearly labelled on their menu thankfully. First, Buffalo Cauliflower with a vegan garlic dill dip. Yummy as it always is, but was lacking some texture. I got the Mushroom Risotto: Roasted Read more…


Abandoned, Temporarily
Sylvan Beach Amusement Park

Ok, so this amusement park isn’t abandoned per se, but it is vacated for the winter season… shut down and stripped of its colorful cars… and exuding the same eerie energy. I captured the vacant color close to dusk on a brisk autumn day. The structures seemed to pang for Read more…


Oakwood Cemetery
Syracuse, New York {Pictorial}