What The FLX?!

Each year in October, there is a one-of-a-kind event that takes place in Corning, New York. The Days of Incandescence transports you to the late 1800s when a mysterious little boy blew the first glass bulb for Thomas Edison’s incandescent lamps and helped bring light into the world! The event is a nod to the mystery surrounding that historic event. On this episode, we talk with Meghan O’Toole, who’s creativity and collection of actors help create an atmosphere that brings 1880’s Corning to life.

It boggles the mind to think that Bison, which once numbered in the tens of millions, nearly went extinct in the early 1900s. On today’s podcast, we chat with Chris Comstock who owns Mud Creek Bison Ranch, a little spot out in Savona, where these massive creatures roam. We discuss self-guided driving tours, the bistro, and raising livestock.

This week finds us on a quiet country road in Prattsburgh where an unexpected dream is coming true. We’re talking about Black Sheep Distillery, a relatively new endeavor by Dean and Kim Massaro that embraces the idea of being different. We chat about the call of Keuka Lake, serendipity and the kindness of strangers, as well as the awesome vibe and cocktails being created at this veteran-owned farm distillery proving that being the Black Sheep can actually be a very good thing.

https://blacksheepdistilleryny.com/

We’re out in Arkport for this week’s podcast at Savor Vineyards and Wines. Bill and Suzanne Piatt discuss the transition from being home winemakers sharing vintages with their closest friends to creating a rural oasis where guests are encouraged to slow down, take their time, sip award-winning wines, and spend an afternoon listening to live music or laughing at the routines of standup comedians from far and wide. A place where everyone feels like a friend.

This episode Amy Ruza from The Rockwell Museum along with muralist, artist and teacher Alice Mizrachi from Queens, NY stop by the What the FLX?! studio to discuss art. Not just world-renowned exhibits found at traditional institutions like museums, but public art which often offers a more direct and intimate connection between the artist and the community. And, in the case of The Rockwell’s Alley Art Project, public art is also a unique chance for local students to engage with their community, with other artists, and with themselves in ways they would never otherwise know. 

A visit to Black Sheep Inn provides us a glimpse into the playful, witty, passionate nature of owners Simon and Miranda who left England and found their way to Keuka Lake and Hammondsport to pursue a shared dream of hospitality as bed and breakfast owners. During our visit, we discuss the unique octagonal architecture of the historic B&B, the delicious vegan foods Miranda creates for their guests, and Simon’s passion for making music.

Sometimes the life you planned and the life you’re ultimately drawn to are quite different. Today we chat with Allison Lavine-Ziegenhagen, one half of the dynamic duo behind ZiegenVine Homestead, a couple who already had successful careers and no interest in “going all in” on farm life until they did. The results have brought them a lot of hard work and an abundance of joy. We’ll learn about farm stays, the adorable goats (and kids) who take part in goat yoga, other happenings on the homestead, and maybe even someone's fear of goat eyes. 

Today’s podcast finds us in the concert pavilion at Point of the Bluff Vineyards where we get to know Sydney and Katrina who are part of a team of people passionate about community working for a collection of hospitality businesses around Keuka Lake that strive, often collaboratively, to create experiences for others that reveal “the magic” that is the Finger Lakes.

This episode includes a chat with Boat Captain, Glider Pilot, and Restoration Shop Volunteer Rob Whitcomb at the Finger Lakes Boating Museum where we discuss Rob’s diverse background as well as the role of restoration shops which provide a sort of second life to volunteers and to the many objects found on display in history museums. Among other things, we’ll discuss the thousands of hours spent restoring an historic mail boat, The Pat II, which now offers historic tours folks on Keuka Lake. 

Today’s podcast is a chat with local glass artist Chris Giordano who, after spending several years working at The Corning Museum of Glass (CMoG), has ventured into creating his own glassmaking studio. You might still see Chris leading a workshop at the museum, but most of his time at the furnace these days is spent shaping beautiful pieces for sale which you can find in the museum shops at CMoG or on his website.