Archive: Around Town

Out and About in the Finger LakesLast week was the start of preparations for the holidays but we had a few practical things to take care of before our daughter, Mouse, and her husband, Harry, arrive from Hawaii next week. We are working out at the YMCA when Jim is in Albany but he was in sore need of new sneakers last week. Being diabetic he has to be extremely careful of his feet and the “wear them around to break them in “school of shoe fitting doesn’t work for his extra wide feet.

We were off to Sarvay Shoe Co on Main St. in Cortland Saturday for new style, light weight sneakers. The owner, who has fitted Jim several times before, was there Saturday morning, his elegant moustache and ready shoe horn greeted us as we came in to the flow of steady customers that morning. Most of the people seemed to be repeat customers and, like Jim, folks who had the need for good quality shoes and custom fit, at a reasonable price.

Sarvay’s is one of the few places I know of in the area that is not a chain and the owner is there to fit shoes even on a Saturday afternoon. Jim found a fine pair of suede “cross trainers” in his 11 EEEE width actually in stock with a choice of color; amazing, he has had to take what he can find that fits or special order shoes elsewhere so the choice among three pairs was a tough one!!!!

Half an hour later, new brown suede sneakers in hand we were ready for lunch. Cortland has some nice choices on Main Street within a block of Sarvey’s in the middle of the one way section of down town Cortland. From the fast paced Downtown Grill with its soup and sandwiches, to the more leisurely Pita Gourmet for authentic Mediterranean food, or even the Blue Frog coffee house that reminds me of the Apple Blossom Café a few years ago in Ithaca, we had plenty of options.

We decided instead to go to a new place for Jim, the Pane di Casa, a little bakery with homemade soup and bread and delightful sandwiches!! Getting there is a bit of a trick since you must follow the signs on Main Street through a door to a long hallway then turn left before you get to the parking lot, or start out in the parking lot behind the HSBC near the drive through and follow the aroma of fresh bread. We had a cup of the butternut squash soup and split a BLT; it was plenty of food and very good! We couldn’t resist the fresh loaf of potato rosemary bread for Sunday dinner and a small loaf of whole wheat for toast. The café is small and friendly with quiet tables for your tray of coffee, tea, soup and, a sandwich to share with a friend. If you have left room for desert there are cookies, cupcakes, scones and other pastries to choose from as you linger over a second cup of coffee.

Next week’s holiday will come way before we’re ready, but our family will all be helping in the kitchen. Mary’s especially looking forward to making pies with Mouse, who is a professional baker and chocolatier, and Jim’s older brother, Jerry is looking forward to eating them. Forget the turkey and trimmings, the pies are the real reason Jerry comes to our house.

This weekend we’re out and about in cognito at the first weekend of the Cayuga Wine Trail’s Holiday Shopping Spree. If you have plans for this weekend already try to catch the event on its second incarnation Dec.5 & 6  when we will play Santa & “Mary, Chris’ Misses” at Sheldrake Winery Saturday afternoon and then have a “Supper with Santa” at the Creamery on Rt. 89 for kids later. If you’ve been a bit naughty this year Santa Jim will have your bag of coal ready for pick up in advance.

We hope to see you out and about in the Finger Lakes.

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