My sister let out a scream so mighty that I could hear it over the sound of my own panic. We both sprinted away from a crowd of people, none of whom seemed bothered by the projectile that was headed right for them. I pivoted to the left while my sister headed to the right, …

The quiet of winter is one of the best times to visit the Finger Lakes. I recently had the opportunity to take part in a “Handcrafted Holiday” tour, an exclusive event at six local wineries. We tapped barrels and tried wine in various stages of fermentation. We ate grapes fresh off the vine and got …

Soft circular light fixtures hanging from an open industrial ceiling snag my attention as I sit in candy-apple-colored seats against matte black walls, wooden tables, and a stainless-steel bar counter. The four garage door windows bring in enough light to complement them. Admiring the New York flare, I watch Adam Bierton carry out a tray …

Mondays are sacred in the restaurant world.  But in the early days of The Owl House, which turns fifteen this year, chef Brian Van Etten remembers spending Mondays—typically a day off—darting all over the quirky, converted Victorian house in Wadsworth Square, getting prep work done.  One minute, he’d be upstairs, moving things around in the …

Despite a fondness for pink and red as a color scheme and frilly little hearts and fat babies as decor, I’m not really a Valentine’s Day person. I was never set up for success in this department with parents who co-own a florist together. Valentine’s Days for me have historically looked like long nights on …