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Tag: VV Western New York

Mid July? Already?

And just like that July flew by… it is and will be a jam-packed month of change and finality. Here is peek into its everyday days thus far.. Through the Viewmaster looking glass… Let’s make lemonade! Making things with kids takes longer but you get all these little cute hands Read more…


The Northern Lights In New York!

With news that the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute was predicting the Northern Lights could be visible in New York, we set out for a night shoot facing the predicted view line. And somehow, some way, I got to see the Northern Lights for a second time in my life. Read more…


Vegan Ice Cream In & Around Rochester 🍦
Bruster’s Ice Cream

There are a couple of Bruster’s Ice Cream‘s around Rochester, New York. Though not as imaginative as their very long list of dairy ice cream options, they’ve got a few options that are definitely worth a trip. At this visit I tried their oat milk-based vanilla and chocolate hard ice Read more…


Many Cases of Kick-Ass Cauliflower
And a Really Good Vegan Bakery

There was a time when cauliflower hit a lot of menus as a vegan option. I wasn’t that excited about it, because I found it to be a lazy option, like a hummus plate. But now I’ve become pretty impressed by how eateries have upped their technique to successfully battle Read more…


Two Times at Grimes Glen Park
Naples, New York

With two visits in three days, Grimes Glen Park may just become my favorite day trip from Rochester. The easy streambed hike delivers you to not one but two 60-foot waterfalls surrounded by gorge walls. And you can step under their powerful force. Also–discovered there was a tree fossil over Read more…


Red, White, Blue and Boom 🧨

Let the red, white and blue festivities start! To begin, a blue spirulina smoothie bowl from SoBol, sans honey. Delicious and easy breakfast option… and they don’t use any frozen fruit. That’s pretty cool! Next up, the creation of some parfaits with vanilla cake, coconut cream and berries. All my Read more…


The Robins of Rochester {2023 Season}

Just like last year, the porch was the home for some gorgeous robin’s eggs! Here is papa bird who spent a good amount of time yelling at us to stay away. Mamma was more relaxed. She sauntering in after finding food and took her shift for warming the eggs. This Read more…


Lugia’s Vegan Ice Cream Options
Spencerport, New York

Just as I was describing how I longed to partake in the summer line-up outside an old fashioned ice cream spot, we past by Lugia’s Ice Cream in Spencerport, New York. I gave it a quick google search and saw that they astonishingly had vegan options! After checking on the Read more…


Blue Barn Cidery
Hilton, New York

Slowly checking off eateries from my vegan list, it was Blue Barn Cidery that was next for us to hit. They make some pretty fantastic ciders. On our flight: the Gingerberry Jam, Pop the Bubbly, Pineapple Jam, and Jasper’s Cut. My favorite was the Gingerberry Jam, described as a semi-sweet, Read more…


Misc. May Photo Dump

Like sands through the hourglass, and so are the days of our lives… The pistachio chocolate chip cookie from Yardsale is still in my rotation despite a severe sugar detox I underwent. 😬 Yes, I want the onion and the watermelon, sweet landlady. Henna-ed hair… not bad Lake Champlain Chocolate Read more…


Lots of Vegan Food in Rochester, NY {Part 10}

Another report of vegan eats in Rochester and I still haven’t eaten my way entirely through the city! Though there were a couple of repeats, I am reporting on yummy new options at those spots. Can’t wait to return and eat some more… Crisp I love that Crisp is right Read more…


Memorial Day 2023

A stop at the veterans’ field at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Rochester, New York. The Boy Scouts and other caring citizens put up the flags. And a trip the Rochester’s Public Market… to get the berries for a flag cake.


Scenes From The Unofficial Start
Port Bay, New York


Balloons Over Letchworth State Park

On my list this visit to Western New York, a early morning trip to Letchworth State Park for a hot air balloon launch. Somehow getting up at 4:30 am and setting out to the Castile entrance, an experience that was well worth the disrupted sleep: bright beautifully colored balloons floating Read more…


The Lilacs in Rochester, New York

Lilacs are “a thing” in Rochester. Celebrated since 1905, the Lilac Festival at Highland Park is a gorgeous display of over 500 varieties of the fragrant flowering bush. Though I missed the official festival, I thought I might still be able to check out the purple. . . And there Read more…


Date Night In Rochester πŸ½οΈπŸ’–
Ferona

Welcome to a new series of posts about vegan food in and around Rochester, New York! Date Night with a vegan and a non-vegan… I had stumbled upon Ferona somehow, learning they had a vegan paella dish. And since, it has been high on my list. The beautiful restaurant in Read more…


Chimney Bluffs State Park, Again

We were back at Chimney Bluff State Park to complete the Bluff Trail. It is on this trail where you can see the dramatic views of the pointy spires looking out at the blue expanse of Great Lake Ontario. A quick trip before my flight back to NYC… We’re down Read more…


Alleghany County Poorhouse

I would call the place a mess but it seems that even back in 1864 a county physician called it “rotten and filthy.” Still it persisted in some form until the 1960’s. Since then it lay on this land abandoned, a dumping site for many–which makes its allure multifaceted. Here Read more…


Vegan Pizza Wars πŸ•
Rochester, New York

Swan Dive is a hip bar that happens to have some pretty outstanding vegan options. I appreciate a completely cheeseless, or marinara pie–especially when each component hits with simple perfection. Pillowy crust dreamy enough to make this a filling pie despite no hearty toppings. If I had to make a Read more…


Hunting For Wonder In Western New York
Star Trails at Chimney Bluffs

After the mermaid shoot I had another photographic mission in Chimney Bluffs State Park: Star trails on a clear night looking out at Lake Ontario. The stars were crisp even though there was quite a bit of light about. Before my programmed sequence, some foreground shots standing on the bench Read more…


Mermaids of Lake Ontario (2023)

I’m getting ready for a mermaid shoot at one of my new most favorite places, Chimney Bluffs State Park. We’d shoot at dusk and stay for the stars. The chosen rock… Goodbye sun, hello mermaid It was really windy and the lake was cold. The inspiration from the Brooklyn Bodega: Read more…


In The Yard: Birds & Flowers

It finally feels like Spring. The birds, the bees, the flowers and the trees. So here a quick little celebration of the season in its early onset. To more green…


Hunting For Wonder In Western New York
Holy Sepulchre Cemetery

Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Rochester, New York has all the right stuff for gravers: the cemetery dates back to the late 1800’s; it has some beautiful angels and peaceful lush grounds including some resident deer. In any given plot is plenty to capture, but in this visit I tried the Read more…


Hunting For Wonder In Western New York
Highland Park Blossoms

After spending the afternoon in Rochester’s Highland Park, I told my guy it was like the equivalent of New York’s Central Park. As it turns out it was designed by the same man who designed the iconic Central Park, Frederick Law Olmsted–the founder of American landscape architecture. As I tend Read more…


Hunting For Wonder in Western New York
Owl Woods, Braddock Bay Wildlife Management Area πŸ¦‰

Braddock Bay in northwest Rochester has a special draw. A hiking trail popular with bird lovers runs through Owl Woods. Here, owls make a roosting pit stop, resting and eating before a long migratory flight over Lake Ontario. Determined to make use of every day of my spring break, I Read more…


Miscellaneous Rochester Outtakes

I knew when the snow was falling I had to see this angel. Holy Sepulchre‘s gorgeous Corona/Di Cesare angel. So much fluffy show How I look in the morning LOL Miscellaneous droids I liked Scenes from Krudco Skate Shop