Archive: Around Town

This week is preparation for Valentines’ Day, Wine trail Mari gras, and Lunar New Year!! It is the Year of the Tiger in the Chinese calendar. Mary is busy with a costume for herself for once, and an addition to one of Jim’s earlier costumes for the Mardi gras competition. Not saying what the outfit will look like -- tune in next week to find out and see if they won.

Being so busy, we revisited a local favorite this week but decided to try breakfast instead of lunch. The bacon, egg, muffin sandwiches at Lansing Fresh Café are a completely different item than the fast food version. The muffin is toasted, the egg is poached, but hard, and the bacon is crisp! Jim and I had dessert since it was more like brunch: a fresh scone and a raspberry cream cheese Danish completed the treat. He likes the house blend of Gimme! Coffee while I really prefer the Mocha Java with double cream. We sat by the little gas log stove and relaxed for the first time all week.

One of the things I find interesting is how quickly the owners have picked up on local holidays and the customs of their adopted country. The room is currently in Valentine mode with candy message hearts on the counter to take by the spoonful!! They are both very friendly and outgoing and so willing to try new suggestions that it is no wonder they are becoming a popular place for local folks to take an unhurried break. They have welcomed the young people from the Skateboard Park next door who come for endless inexpensive hot dogs and snacks and this week they are setting up a table with checkers, chess and other table games from 1-4pm on Sunday. We hope it becomes a popular thing for families; we might even challenge John to a round.

With the recent huge influx of 100 animals at the SPCA people in Tompkins County are especially aware of the need to protect and help abandoned or, unfortunately, confiscated, animals. The folks at Rogues’ Harbor will be joining this effort with a special Valentine’s Wine and Chocolate event in the grand ballroom this Thursday, Feb.11 at 6pm.Unfortunately we found out about it too late to put it in last week, but we’ll let you know how much fun the event was next week. Eileen is also generously donating a portion of the dinner proceeds that evening to the cause in addition to the profits from the fundraiser.

We will be out and about on the wine trail all weekend and then take part in the Ithaca Loves Teachers events next week. Hope to see you out and about too.

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