EVENTSCALENDAR
ELMIRA STREET PAINTING FESTIVAL
The streets come alive with art, vendors, food, kids’ activities, and music on June 8, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and June 9, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Water Street & Main Street in Downtown Elmira. Don’t miss Chemung County’s premier art event of the summer! This is free and open to all participants.
TRUNK-OR-TREAT
An annual community Halloween event that takes place on Main Street at Wisner Park in Downtown Elmira on October 25 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
ANNUAL TREE LIGHTING
Come help Santa and his reindeer light the Christmas Tree on Tuesday, November 26 at Wisner Park!
ANNUAL DOWNTOWN ELMIRA HOLIDAY PARADE
Join us for our annual Holiday Parade complete with over twenty floats, characters to meet, and smiles to go 'round on Friday, November 29, at 10 a.m.
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Eldridge Amusement Park Turns 100
The generosity of Dr. Edwin Eldridge more than 150 years ago helped establish one of the most cherished parks in Elmira. In 1870, he opened to the public his fifteen-acre private residence replete with lakeside recreation, walking paths, picnic spots, and a beautiful sculpture garden.
Over the decades it expanded into a fulcrum of family fun, open Memorial Day to Labor Day, thanks in great part to Robert A. Long Jr., who was no stranger to Eldridge Park or merry-go-rounds. His first-hand knowledge and indelible memories of both shaped his commitment to the amusement park at Eldridge.
As a boy, Bob spent summers there with his father, who installed and maintained the first steam powered merry-go-round in 1910. As an adult, Bob and his wife, Ruth, moved to Elmira from Philadelphia in 1924 to install an original 1890s Charles Looff Carousel, which he spent fifty-five years caring for, and which started the amusement park.
Today, it’s a touchstone of the past and draws those seeking a day of fun at this beloved family amusement park where generations of visitors have held tight to the gallopers, reached for a brass ring, and enjoyed the speed during a thrilling ride on the fastest carousel in the country. Hop on the tilt-a-whirl for exhilarating spins, or soar above the park in a seat on the Thunderbird flying scooters.
Those who prefer both feet on the ground may play a round on the Mark Twain Mini Golf Course or cool off at the new 2,500-square-foot splash pad. For first timers under the age of six, Kiddieland won’t disappoint with classic rides like pony carts, kiddie boats, the turtle chase, and a miniature train.
Pack a picnic lunch or treat the family to something from the café, then enjoy a tranquil paddleboat ride on the lake. Stop by the museum and gift shop, enjoy an ice cream, or check out the live performances.
“Eldridge Park is Elmira’s little hidden gem,” says Park General Manager Trisha Elwood. “I enjoy seeing and meeting our customers, discovering their history with the park, and watching them build lifelong memories with their family like I’ve done with mine.” No surprise that her favorite ride is the carousel: “One ride can make a bad day better!”
In honor of its 100th anniversary in 2024, the park kicks off a full season of fun on opening night, Friday, May 24. For park hours, tickets, and the complete list of events including concerts, karaoke, and food trucks, visit eldridgepark.org or their Facebook page, or call (607) 732-8440.
~Ann E. Duckett
12 #ExploreELMIRA
365 Davis St., Elmira • (607) 732-6625 • ryebarandrestaurant.com bar and restaurant café and espresso bar 357 Davis St., Elmira • (607) 731-6607
Grove Street Boat Launch
The Grove Street Boat Launch, on the Chemung River in downtown Elmira, is the most popular launch on the forty-three-mile river. The launch is easy to access and boasts a concrete boat ramp, picnic pavilion, picnic tables, informational kiosk, and plenty of space for parking and maneuvering boat trailers. The dirt and stone parking area is surrounded by a grassy river plain and forested areas, and is bordered by a twenty-five-foot-tall grass-covered levee the top of which is popular for walking and running, with or without a dog.
The river is wide here, with little current, thanks to the Chase-Hibbard Dam a thousand yards downstream. It slows the river to a crawl and maintains a steady river level. But don’t paddle over the dam. Just downstream is the Don Hall Portage on the river’s south bank, offering a safe way to bypass the dam, get back on the water, and paddle to other launches downriver.
For solo paddlers, this spot offers the opportunity for a good workout with no need to arrange a shuttle. The faint current at the Grove Street launch lets you paddle upriver for nearly two miles, then back to your vehicle. Along the way, you’ll see forests, meadows, and cyclists and walkers using the dirt trail along the riverbank.
You might spot a bald eagle sitting atop a tall tree or an osprey swooping down from the sky to snatch a fish from the water. White-tailed deer, red foxes, beavers, muskrats, and the occasional black bear enjoy the river.
Not a paddler? The grassy riverbanks make comfortable places to sit and fish for walleye, bass, catfish, bullheads, carp, and plenty of panfish. Visitors can also enjoy nature photography, exploring, or simply sitting and watching the water flow.
The launch abuts the site of a former Civil War prison camp. The Friends of the Elmira Civil War Prison Camp host tours of the full-size replicas of the camp’s buildings. For more information go to elmiraprisoncamp.com.
The Chemung River starts in Painted Post and empties into the Susquehanna River in Athens, Pennsylvania. It has eleven public launches offering paddle trips for a few hours, one day, or overnight.
The boat launches are maintained by the Friends of the Chemung River Watershed, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and sporting groups. The Friends website, chemungriverfriends.org, provides real-time river levels, river maps, paddling guides, and safety tips. Call them at (607) 846-2242 with questions or to volunteer.
~Jim Pfiffer
14 #ExploreELMIRA
15 102 S. Main Street, Horseheads • (607) 739-4555 louieshanoversquare.com 1020 S. Center Street, Horseheads • (607) 739-6395 giuseppesmenu.com 211 W. 2nd Street, Elmira • (607) 732-5600 lightscoffeeshopandpizza.com
Arnot Art Museum
In the Picture Gallery of the Arnot Art Museum at 235 Lake Street, Matthias H. Arnot’s private collection of European paintings and sculptures continue to gaze down at visitors in the original space they were displayed. It was his habit to open his home on random Sundays for residents of the area to come in and enjoy the art. From those initial 200 pieces, the collection has grown to 2,000 objects and still adheres to the original idea of a “well rounded, thoughtful and purposely built” presentation, according to Rick Pirozzlo, executive director and chief curator. Opened in 1913, the Arnot Art Museum is one of the country’s oldest and has stayed close to the world of realistic art, landscapes, and portraits that depict life as it was, as well as to classical subjects such as arts, culture, and heroic images from mythology and early civilizations.
On occasion, the Arnot will partner with other museums, like the Rockwell in Corning, to create the “one exhibition, two venues” concept. They also occasionally lend masterworks to museums nationally and internationally for specialized exhibitions.
But the museum is a living thing that evolves and expands, as evidenced by other galleries featuring some American and more contemporary work, including the famed Hudson River School exhibitions. The commitment to encouraging everyone to love art is strong and manifests in an educational partnership with area schools that brings young people in and instills in them a sense of museum etiquette.
“Art museums can have an elitist vibe, like it’s only for the well-to-do. Secret handshakes and all that,” says Rick. “We don’t subscribe to that at all.” Matthias believed that art was for the masses and that its enjoyment could build a sense of community. “The museum welcomes students to read and study amongst the artwork. We are very proud to host the Scholastic Art Awards Exhibition for hundreds of school-aged artists across the region.”
Work continues on the museum campus in an effort to return the main building to more of what the original home looked like. A year-long process of restoring the entranceway columns will take place in 2024. “Big white columns, a heavy door…I know people drive by and think ‘Am I allowed in there?’” Rick smiles. “They are not only allowed, they are welcome.”
The Arnot Art Museum is open Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Visit arnotartmuseum.org, follow them on Facebook, or call (607) 7343697.
~Maggie Barnes
16 #ExploreELMIRA
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Clemens Center
The Clemens Center, at 207 Clemens Center Parkway, began in 1925 as a vaudeville and silent film house, and, after floods and renovations, has evolved into a premier performing arts center with two performance spaces. Powers Theater, a proscenium stage with orchestra pit and balcony, seats over 1,600 and hosts touring Broadway companies, concerts, and performers. Every year four or more Broadway shows come to the Clemens, and tickets can be purchased individually or for the series.
The second performance space, Mandeville Hall, was added in 1987 as a multi-use “black box” theater that can be configured differently depending on the show. With this addition, the Elmira Little Theatre became one of the Clemens Center’s resident companies. Celebrating its eightieth year in 2024, ELT has presented live performances every year since 1944, except for during covid when they went online. “We are a community theater, but we try to have serious fun,” says Craig Bond, who is president of their board.
The actors rehearse at their building at 1000 Laurel Street, a former fire station, until they can move into the Clemens Center for tech week. Each of the four productions runs for two weekends—six performances—and approximately 3,600 people see ELT shows each year. Since actors are volunteers, ticket prices are affordable, with discounts for seniors, students, and groups of six or more.
“We are trying to build a larger base that sees all our shows,” Craig says, explaining they look for shows with name recognition. A season usually contains one musical and three plays, with a mix of comedy and drama. The tentative 2024-25 season includes the musical Sweeney Todd and the plays Rumors, The Humans, and Shakespeare in Love. “If you haven’t attended one of our plays, our eightieth season is a great time to start,” says Craig. “It’s really the work of our community trying to do the best for our community.”
Being a resident company of the Clemens Center requires some flexibility, as ELT must fit their productions around the other shows that use the dressing rooms and facilities. But having a state-of-the-art performance space right in the center of town is well worth it. The Clemens Center offers shows aimed at kids and families too, with their Mary Tripp Marks School-Time Series and Family Connex Series designed to give everyone a chance to enjoy live theater.
Keep up to date on the full schedules of shows at the Clemens Center at clemenscenter.org and for ELT at elmiralittletheatre.org. Or call the Clemens Center at (800) 724-0159.
~Lilace Mellin Guignard
18 #ExploreELMIRA
19 arts & CulturE Take a walk through time and discover treasures from the past through interpretive exhibitions, education programs, and publications that tell the county’s history. Highlighting the Civil War and Mark Twain, the museum regularly changes gallery exhibits and programs throughout the year. bringing history alive. Open Monday-Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 415 E. Water St., Elmira, NY 14901 • (607) 734-4167 www.ChemungValleyMuseum.org $100 Off Admission WITH THIS AD Expires1/31/25 Exits 48 or 51A off Route 17 & 86 NATIONAL SOARING MUSEUM SoaringCapitalofAmerica info@soaringmuseum.org Open 10-5 Daily May-October 51 Soaring Hill Dr. Elmira, NY 14903 607-734-3128 www.soaringmuseum.org Featuring one of the largest collections of Gliders and Sailplanes in the world. PEOPLE’S PLACE GALLERY: A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CREATE 114 Baldwin Street, Elmira (607) 767-7724 • peoplesplacegallery.org
John W. Jones Museum
Atiny four-room farmhouse on Davis Street, once the home of John W. Jones, has become a museum dedicated to celebrating the accomplishments of this extraordinary man and the history and contributions of other African Americans who settled in New York. Born into slavery, he self-emancipated and made his way to Elmira as a young man. “He had one season of learning,” says board president Talima Aaron. “I describe him as an American hero. You’ve got to appreciate a person who escaped slavery.” And who used his freedom to help so many others.
John had an engaging personality and a tireless work ethic that helped him become the wealthiest black person in the region. While serving as sexton for a church in downtown Elmira, he also quietly worked as a stationmaster on the Underground Railroad, assisting more than 800 people to freedom, partly helped by a network of local abolitionists including Jarvis Langdon, father-in-law of Samuel Clemens (better known as Mark Twain). During the Civil War, John W. Jones was responsible for the burial of nearly 3,000 Confederate soldiers who died in the army prison camp in Elmira, keeping meticulous records and treating each burial with such respect that Woodlawn Cemetery was designated a national cemetery.
His farmhouse, on the National Register of Historic Places, was moved to its current site across the street from the cemetery in the 1990s—both its previous location and this one were part of Jones’ productive sixteen-acre farm. The house had previously seen hard use as a tenant house and been condemned. But it was rescued through the efforts of local activist Lucy Brown, who was determined to see it become a museum, which happened in 2016. The structure is said by many to have previously been part of the Elmira Prison Camp. The ongoing preservation work on the house aims to retain its period authenticity, Talima says. A modern addition currently planned will add classroom and exhibit space at the back of the building, as well as a bronze statue of John W. Jones, due to be erected and dedicated in early summer 2024.
The museum is open noon to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays from May through October. Admission is free, but donations are appreciated. In the off-season, it’s possible to take a virtual tour on johnwjonesmuseum.org, but visiting in person at 1350 Davis Street is encouraged. “There’s something about standing in the space where he lived with his wife and three children,” Talima says. You can contact the museum at johnwjonesmuseum@gmail. com.
~Karey Solomon
20 #ExploreELMIRA
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Marc Rubin Associates
On the evenings Marc Rubin teaches a class, light pours from the large windows of his studio in the historic Mark Twain building at 166 North Main Street across from First Arena. It’s hard not to stop and stare into the room where people are laughing, hugging, and painting.
It’s okay to stare. And it’s okay to go inside and ask about classes. “Jim Capriotti recruited me to move here—he wanted to bring the arts downtown,” says Marc, who, along with his wife, Penny DeRenzo, who manages everything, moved from Church Street to Main Street just over two years ago. Small paintings lean against the window below the graphic stencil stating Marc Rubin Associates: designer, painter, instructor.
Marc studied graphic design and illustration in college and has been a graphic designer for decades, creating branding for companies including the Hilliard Corporation, New York Sports Club, and Tyoga Container. In the early 1990s, he started painting with the renowned Corning artist Thomas Buechner. They met twice a week almost until Tom’s death in 2010. Marc remembers, “When I started painting with him, I wanted to get good at craft. I chose one or two objects to concentrate on at a time, and this grew into my style.”
These days, Marc, a classical, representational oil painter, is teaching more than ever before. His classes run six weeks for two hours each week, focusing on the same still life but adding a new layer in each class. Students all work from the same still life that Marc sets up using a wide variety of objects, including taxidermized animals. They never paint from photographs. Students currently range from age eighteen to seventy-six, and there are classes for all skill levels: beginner classes for those who have no experience or haven’t painted in a long time; beginner-intermediate classes for those with some knowledge or experience in oil painting; and intermediate-advanced classes for the more experienced oil painter. Private lessons are also available.
Marc’s whimsical and thought-provoking paintings are on display in his studio as well as in several galleries across the country. You can see more on his website marcs.art, where you can also sign up for classes. The next sessions start May 16, 21, and 22. Call the studio at (607) 734-1058 or text (607) 765-0694. The studio is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
~Lilace Mellin Guignard
22 #ExploreELMIRA
23 BoutiquEs & spECialty shops 1100 Clemens Center Parkway Wegmans Plaza • (607) 215-0923 Monday - Saturday 9 to 9 Sunday 10 to 5 ANNIE S THE Beauty Supplies Open Tuesday-Saturday Call for Hours 224 W. Water St., Elmira (607) 735-0694 Breathing new life into your treasured antiques Call for a free estimate! (607) 734-2006 capabilites.org 1149 Sullivan St., Elmira NY Also Offering: • Employment Services • Vocational Services • Business Solutions Chamberlain Acres Garden Center Nursery Full Service Florist 824 Broadway, Elmira (607) 737-1313 chamberlainacres.com Monday, Wednesday-Friday: 10-5 Saturday: 11-3 Sunday: 11-3 Farmers Market With Love bridal boutique withlovebridalny.com 126 Lake st Elmira,NY 14901 607.526.5236
Annies
“Girl, you are going to be stylin’!”
Olinda Sapp (above) beams at the young lady who leaves the store at 224 West Water Street with a hat, furry and brilliant red.
Annies beauty supply store has sent a lot of folks out “stylin’” in thirty years of service to the Elmira community. Known primarily for wigs, Annies carries an impressive collection of hair products and supplies, accessories, make-up, handbags, shoes, socks, and the occasional red hat. She carries items for men, for kids, and for those facing the loss of hair due to illness.
“We’ve cried a lot of tears in here,” Olinda says. “We try to make it an upbeat process. And if a wig doesn’t look good, we will tell you. We want you to look your best.”
The original owner, a woman named Gail Wantuck, passed away from cancer eight years ago. (Annie was her grandmother.) Olinda was helping out at the store as Gail’s condition worsened. When Gail’s will was processed, Olinda was stunned to hear that Gail wanted her, and only her, to take over the store. If she didn’t want it, it was to be closed.
“This is a multi-cultural business. We support all races,” Olinda says with pride. “The community needs this place.”
Annies has wigs of all materials, both human and synthetic, and every style and color imaginable from chestnut brown to hot pink. “If you don’t see it, we can order it,” says Olinda. Customers come from a 100-mile radius, and the store does virtually no advertising, depending on word of mouth from a fan base that spans the generations.
Olinda’s daughter is ready to step in at Annies when her mom retires. And there is a granddaughter in the wings, so the future of the shop is secure.
Olinda still misses Gail, but she knows her friend’s spirit is close by. “I wanted to sell handbags, and she didn’t. After she passed, I ordered some and hung them on that wall over there. The next morning, they were all on the floor. Neat piles of them. Not another thing was disturbed, and I said, ‘Darn it, Gail, you put me in charge of this place, and we’re selling handbags!’”
Annies beauty supply is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. Follow them on Facebook or call (607) 735-0694.
~Maggie Barnes
24 #ExploreELMIRA
25 BoutiquEs & spECialty shops goDandy.com Largest Brand Name Selection in the Area Professional Shoe Fitting Front Door Free Parking MR. PANOSIAN’S FAMOUS SHOES 303 N. Main Street | Elmira (607) 734-2000
Craft Farm
Part showroom, part kitchen, all parts warmth and fragrance, the Craft Farm shop at 228 South Main Street is where Allison Duncan Delano creates her soaps and skin care products.
Formerly employed by Corning Incorporated, Allison has always been a maker, a graphic designer with a passion for glassblowing, and a nature and botanical enthusiast. Missing the creative part of her life in corporate America, she began making soap in 2015, selling her creations at farm markets. As the popularity grew for the soaps, she had to find a dedicated space to work in, and she opened the storefront in 2020.
“Not an ideal time to start a business, but it helped that expectations were pretty low,” she smiles as she loads an order. But with a young son at home, running her own schedule worked out well.
Allison uses both cold and hot processing for her soap, depending on the organics she is including. Her skin care products seem to be the most popular, but the shop offers other things like natural bath sponges and mini bath bombs for kids. She buys salt for her exfoliant products from U.S. Salt in Watkins Glen that was harvested from Seneca Lake. Ingredients are all natural, including colorants and scents. Goods are packaged in recyclable paperboard and returnable glass bottles and jars.
Her best seller is the Almond+Shea Everyday lotion. Lip balms in tins are convenient and popular. Farm Girl is a much-loved rustic soap with lavender and orange oils and a gentle wheat germ exfoliant. Shower Steamers will help you wake up in the morning or decongest during cold and flu season. The mini bath bombs are ideal for kiddie time in the tub without using up Mom’s good supply.
Knowing that people often like to shop in person for personal care items, Allison has arranged for shelf space in thirty or so retail locations stretching from the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes to the Capital District region. Of course, she has an online store as well and ships goods out every week. There’s even a small area where she can deliver, within reason. The Elmira location is open on Saturdays only, though Allison is often there concocting new scent combinations during the week. Drop by or call (607) 442-0350 or shop at craftfarm. co. You can also find Craft Farm on Facebook.
~Maggie Barnes
26 #ExploreELMIRA
27
WMC North Jazz Club
“We like to be a nook, a hideaway,” Kaylen Knox (above) says from behind the counter where he shakes a French martini into existence. WMC North opened in August of 2022 at 223 West Water Street. The name is a nod to the Williamsburg Music Center, a black-owned jazz venue in Brooklyn. The downstairs is narrow and deep, with the bar near the front door. Past that, the room opens up into a small area with tables and a stage that sometimes has a couch below the large window facing the river, and sometimes holds musicians. Upstairs a stage in front of the window holds larger bands, with the whole floor dedicated to couches and high tops.
Kaylen claims he’s just the bartender, but that’s not true. Like his mother, Susan Knox (above), he is a Le Corden Bleu-trained chef. Susan says her son is the genius behind it all. But that’s not the whole truth either. They say the credit belongs to Susan’s father, Jesse Knox, who worked for fifty-seven years at some of the best Elmira restaurants before he died in 2007. “He is the foundation of why we’re here doing what we’re doing,” Kaylen says. “Elmira is a rebounding community with amazing people and cultural diversity. We’ve learned so many new stories from people that come in who worked with him or ate his food. He was the first visionary chef we ever knew.”
The food lives up to their lineage. An iPad digital menu boasts fresh vegetables and seafoodbeef pairings, and other unique offerings like lamb chimichurri or catfish sandwich. When plates go by, en route to the lucky table, you can’t help but sigh.
Saturday nights they have bands upstairs. Friday evenings there’s a solo piano player downstairs and later karaoke, which tends to be different from other places. “Less bubblegum stuff,” Kaylen says. “Some of our best singers are in their seventies.”
“We are a bar that serves food,” Kaylen says frequently in his deep voice, meaning that happy patrons come to relax with friends, have a few drinks, listen to music, and, while there, eat amazing food. It’s not a restaurant with a large wait staff and cooks. If lots of folks have put in their orders before you, you may be there a while.
That’s not a bad thing.
WMC North is open Wednesday and Thursday from 5 p.m. to midnight and Friday and Saturday from 3 p.m. to midnight. Find them on Facebook or call (607) 846-3935.
~Lilace Mellin Guignard
28 #ExploreELMIRA
Hours:
Tues-Fri 9am-6pm; Sat 9am-5pm (607) 733-6759
650 Pennsylvania Ave. Elmira
(607) 733-0199
29
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Open Tuesday to Saturday 4-9pm 106 West 5th Street, Elmira (607) 733-2752 • libssupperclub.net
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Ill Eagle
Part tap house, part restaurant, part event center. Ill Eagle at 200 East Church Street is located in a historic building that once was the federal courthouse and post office in the center of downtown Elmira. Ill Eagle is casual enough for Friday happy hour with coworkers and still special enough for birthdays and anniversary celebrations. Owner Nick Difasi said the original building “spoke to us. We had a vision to repurpose a historic building to bring the community together for a fun, social atmosphere.”
There are multiple levels of spaces in the building, complete with high ceilings, marble floors, and restored woodwork. Here a couch and a TV, over there a highboy table beneath antique chandeliers. The design allows for lots of people to meet in different areas, and the place never feels crowded. Private rooms are tucked into nooks throughout the building, perfect spots for small gatherings. (Be advised—those private areas go fast on the weekend.) Walking the wide marble staircase with an ornate newel post recalls the iconic stairs of Union Station or Hogwarts. Luckily, there is an elevator for those with mobility issues. Barb Whitman and Danielle Baldwin handle special events for the business, and Danielle says they have a room for everyone. “We can accommodate small groups of ten to twenty, all the way to more than 100. We’ve hosted all kind of parties.”
The menu is simple and fresh and features paninis, flatbreads, sandwiches, and specialty items like shrimp tacos and po’boys. Want to try something different? How’s a bison burger sound? There’s always a new brew on tap and the best small batch sodas.
Activities at Ill Eagle are Barb’s passion, and she says, “We are building a sense of community here. We had a Great Gatsby party, a disco night, a whiskey and bourbon tasting. Two hundred people came for breakfast with Santa! We’re even doing fundraisers.” An adult Easter egg hunt was new this year.
One of the freshest spaces is also one of the most popular—the outdoor patio on the upper floor. Music, food pairings with drinks, and a pizza oven give off a block party vibe on those balmy summer nights. “It is an exciting time for development downtown,” Nick says, “and we are thrilled to be a part of it.”
They are open seven days a week, with varying hours, so it’s best to check illeagletaphouse. com or Facebook. If you are interested in having an event, call (607) 738-6651.
~Maggie Barnes
30 #ExploreELMIRA
31 Come and Eat with Us A local family-owned café offering a variety of fresh food with friendly customer service and a smile. Catering • Seasonal Outdoor Dining Mon-Sat 10:30am-3:30pm 311 College Ave., Elmira (607) 735-2400 VINCENZO’S PIZZERIA We Deliver There’s a little LVE in everybite. Langdon Plaza #4 303 N Main St., Elmira (607) 732-3647 or (607) 732-3746 Locally owned and operated by Vinnie & Dominic... 30 years of making great pizza! Monday to Friday 11am to 9pm Saturday & Sunday 4pm to 9pm VincenzosPizzaElmira.com 100 W. Water Street, Elmira (607) 735-2300 • elmira.coffee Truly Great Coffee Visit ClemensCenter.org for upcoming events! Clemens Center Downtown Elmira, NY The Region’s Premier Performing Arts Center Clemens Center – Downtown Elmira 207 Clemens Center Parkway Elmira, NY 14901 607-734-8191/800-724-0159 The Clemens Center, a 501(c)(3) organization, operates year-round. © Lee Speary
Lib’s Supper Club
When you own a restaurant that comes with the word “iconic” attached to it, you have to be careful about making changes.
So says Joe Spaziami, co-owner and chef for Lib’s Supper Club in Elmira. For seventy years, Lib’s has provided diners with a classic Italian restaurant experience, complete with rich colors, dim lighting, and a killer red sauce.
“When I add something to the menu, I watch it carefully,” Joe says, while keeping an eye on the front door traffic. “If it gets a good response, it stays.” Fan favorites include filet mignon, chicken parmesan, shrimp scampi, and prime rib. Takeout containers are standard, as Lib’s is famous for portions that cannot be eaten in one sitting.
The building at 106 West 5th Street began as an upscale hotel, including a ballroom. Joe remembers the family stories about vaudeville acts and bands playing at the restaurant. Maybe that’s how the celebrities got wind of Lib’s. The walls are covered with autographed photos of everyone from Laurel and Hardy to the cast of Frasier. Joe’s brother Bob, the other half of the team, has a fondness for the famous, and the collection is his.
Joe says he’s had offers to open other Lib’s in major cities, but he’s too hands-on to leave Elmira. “You have to love this work. I’m dead tired on Saturday night, but by midday Monday I can’t wait to be back in the kitchen.”
He knows Lib’s was fortunate to survive the pandemic. “The community really came through for us. I figured we’d do maybe 100 takeout dinners a night. It was actually 300 or 400.”
The establishment did not lose a single employee, many of whom have logged thirty or forty years of service.
Visitors from across the northeast make pilgrimages to Lib’s, and when companies bring in outside vendors, their first question off the plane is often, “Are we going to Lib’s?” All of this makes reservations an absolute necessity, especially on weekends. The family has purchased the building next door, and Joe says they are still debating on the best use for it. “Maybe a cigar bar. Or maybe just more tables. We can seat 350 if we use all the space now, but last night we did 450 meals. So, yeah, maybe just more room.”
Lib’s is closed on Sunday and Monday, opening at 4 p.m. the rest of the week until 8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Visit libssupperclub.net, follow them on Facebook, or call (607) 733-2752.
~Maggie Barnes
32 #ExploreELMIRA
Craft
Enjoy local favorites like Prime Rib and London Broil in the Spacious Dining Room. Check our website for breakfast and dinner hours.
Lodging is also available. Come stay in one of our many cabins or motel rooms at a reasonable price.
33 3600 State Route 419 • WatkinS Glen, nY 607-535-2014 Visit us at www.senecalodge.com
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First Arena
“We consider this a new era for the First Arena,” says Bob Kramarik, director of sales and marketing for the arena located at 155 North Main Street in downtown Elmira.
Built in 2000, the 3,700-seat facility has had a tumultuous history with a series of owners, and Bob admits there have been failures along the way. “The place was not maintained properly, and we are dealing with all of that now.”
But there is a new optimism about downtown these days, with a major grant being used to improve things from housing to entertainment options. “Our goal is to make this one of the centerpieces of the region, not just Elmira,” Bob says. To that end, the Industrial Development Agency, the current owners of the arena, are making investments in infrastructure, including roofing, lighting, and the ice plant that makes hockey possible. But Bob sees uses for the building beyond that sport.
“Hockey cannot be the sole focus. We want a diversity of events here.”
That menu of events runs the gamut from hosting established events like ‘Alive After Five’ and new offerings like concerts and, possibly, collegiate sports. Turf is coming to the arena, so games like lacrosse and soccer will be in the mix. “I would love to see outdoor sports hold their winter practices and events here,” Bob says.
He goes on to say that the arena is willing to experiment with new events, like the Cabin Fever event held this past winter. Families came in for inflatable play areas, skating on the rink, and refreshments. There are plans for an Octoberfest-type happening in the fall. A cabaret-style event is also in the works, using a section of the arena floor for tables and more intimate entertainment like comedians, singers, and ventriloquists. The ideal mix is sports-family-adult entertainment, so the arena’s eggs are in different baskets.
Bob says he will listen to any idea for events, as long as they are constructive and realistic. “We aren’t going to get Springsteen in Elmira,” Bob laughs. “And there is a lot of competition for shows from Buffalo, Rochester, even locally with casinos, wineries, and other venues.”
With thirty luxury suites, two bars, and full food service, Bob says the arena is looking for events that will appeal to a broad swath of the community. “From corporations to girl scout troops, we want to have something for everyone.”
Find out more about events at the First Arena at firstarena.net or call (607) 734-7825.
~Maggie Barnes
34 #ExploreELMIRA
35 our FinGEr lakEs “Largest Selection in the Finger Lakes” 412 N. Franklin St. • Watkins Glen, NY 14891 Open Year ‘round • 607-535-4952 www.famousbrandsoutlet.com Hours: Sunday-Wednesday 11am-9pm • Thursday-Saturday 11am-10pm 107 11th Street • Watkins Glen, NY (607) 210-6080 WWW.KOOKALAROCS.COM Inside or Outside Dining • Events • Catering • Merchandise Fresh never-frozen seafood! Exceptional Wines Since 1988 Mon-Sat 10am-5pm • Sun Noon-5pm 4024 State Rte. 14, Watkins Glen, NY 607-535-9252 Lakewoodvineyards.com
Beecher Family/Chapel Lumber
In 1913, a small lumber company opened in Elmira. In 1925, James Beecher joined the partners who owned it and eventually became sole owner. So began the Beecher family’s involvement with Chapel Lumber. The family continues as owners today. Theirs was one of the first families to settle in this area, and the prominence of the Beecher name can be seen down through the generations, including Beecher Elementary School.
Bill Beecher believes in tradition, and lives in the home he grew up in, in a tight-knit neighborhood in Elmira that features several branches of the family. Natasha, his wife, is an educator closing in on three decades in the school system. They believe Elmira is a great place to be. “Close, supportive, great schools, quality businesses,” Bill says.
The idea of tradition is strong in Chapel Lumber as well, with thirty- and forty-year employees the norm, and generations of families continuing to shop there. One employee is in his fifty-ninth year of service, and he has no intention of retiring. Neither does Bill, who finds his purpose in carrying the business forward for the next generation.
That next generation includes their sons, Bryce (above, with his parents) and John. Both passionate hockey players as kids, Bryce is set to take the reins at Chapel one day. “He’s got way more of a work ethic than I did at that age,” Bill says. “My dad left Chapel to me positioned to succeed, and I hope to do the same for my son.”
John left college early to enter the National Hockey League draft and was picked up by the Boston Bruins. Natasha and Bill are fascinated by the inner workings of professional sports and get to every game they possibly can. “I am still amazed by seeing who he gets to play with,” Natasha says. “It’s surreal. And we’ve made lifelong friends from the hockey world since the boys were young.”
Bill and Natasha are proud to continue a family tradition of “quality products with a high level of service.” Bill says, “A board is not just a board. It’s a part of someone’s house. If I sell 100 boards, I want to know you could use all 100 of them.” The Beecher family and Elmira have a connection that will go forward for generations to come, one board at a time.
Chapel Lumber is located at 1041 Caton Avenue. Open six days a week, they can be found on Facebook and at chapel-lumber.com, or call them at (607) 734-5221.
~Maggie Barnes
36 #ExploreELMIRA
37 3 YEARS IN A ROW! WINNER 607.936.4667 | fhfcu.org BECominG a loCal Real Estate Mortgage Title Insurance
Capriotti Properties
How does pizza dough bring about the renovation of Victorian homes in Elmira? It all began when Jim Capriotti (above) delivered goods from the bakery he owned in Hazelton, Pennsylvania, to Wegmans grocery stores. He admired the old houses in Elmira, the ones that had fallen into decline. He smiles when he says, “I could hear them calling my name. They just needed some love.” He tested the waters by buying an Eastlake style duplex and renovating it.
That one house planted a seed that has grown into fifty-six buildings in what is now Capriotti Properties. Jim’s business specializes in restoring old homes to their glory, updated and modern, yet keeping much of the charm and character their original builders envisioned. Woodwork stripped of years of paint, slate roofs replaced, and stain glass windows repaired are all hallmarks of a Capriotti restoration.
Often Jim is working with an old house that was split into multiple tenant rentals. “Much of it was not well done,” he says with a shake of his head. “What we do is divide, not chop. And with less density.” Jim says there is a logical order to reenergizing city centers. “Bring people back first. Then the businesses will follow. Then you deal with parking.”
Mike Kruzen, director of development for the business, says the developer wants to encourage people to live in the city proper again. “Keeping people downtown is good on multiple fronts. And it’s good business. People like it. We have a waiting list for apartments.”
All the work is done by a small group of employees working with local subcontractors. Jim handles much of the design work. Capriotti Properties is also working with major historic buildings like the Mark Twain building across from First Arena. The process of renovating 130 apartments is underway. Condos are planned for the former Izard’s Department Store. And Jim is proud of his efforts, noting that “80 percent of the tenants who have left, have [either] left the area or gone on to buy a house. They were successful renters.”
Jim believes in the community and notes that, “This is a business. Not an investment. I live here too.” The back and forth from Hazleton got to be too much, and Jim moved to the area full-time in 2014. He bought an old house. “It just needed some love,” he smiles.
You can view available properties and apply to rent by visiting capriottiproperties.com. Follow them on Facebook for photos of new offerings or call (607) 846-3680.
~Maggie Barnes
38 #ExploreELMIRA
39 BECominG a loCal Local agency for all your insurance needs! CONTACT US TODAY 607-734-4291 | perrycarroll.com PERRY & CARROLL Insurance since 1860 Southern Tier Orthodontics Discover Your CONFIDENCE Braces & Clear Aligners for Kids and Adults (607) 733-7163 440 E. Water Street, Elmira Interest Free Financing We work hard to ensure your maximum insurance benefit Complimentary braces and Invisilign evaluation Saturday availability during the school year Veteran Owned & Operated Chapel Lumber chapel-lumber.com 1041 Caton Ave., Elmira (607) 734-5221
Quarry Farm
When Samuel Langhorne Clemens (a.k.a. Mark Twain) talked, he’d quickly find himself with a rapt audience of devotees. Tales of his own adventures and writing best-selling books made him the nineteenth-century version of a rock star. He needed a refuge, and he found one at Quarry Farm in Elmira.
Clemens first visited Quarry Farm in 1869 where his friend Charles Langdon introduced Clemens to his sister Olivia, who won Clemens’ heart. Quarry Farm was purchased in 1869 as a summer home by Jervis Langdon, a wealthy Elmira merchant, abolitionist, and philanthropist, and father to Charles and Olivia. Clemens and his future wife were an unlikely pair, but Jervis took a liking to the rough-hewn, self-educated Missourian.
The summer cottage, left to Olivia’s sister Susan Crane and where the Clemens’ three daughters were born, remained in the Langdon family until 1982, when the original Jervis Langdon’s great-nephew, also named Jervis Langdon, donated the property to Elmira College, thus anchoring the Center for Mark Twain Studies. The agreement specifies the property be used “exclusively for the support of scholarship on the life and work of Mark Twain.” Quarry Farm Fellows, those Mark Twain scholars researching and writing on some aspect of Clemens’s life and work, can apply for a fellowship to stay at the farm for a twoweek period.
While visitors aren’t allowed to explore the house, they may experience the view and the peacefulness of the grounds, which enabled Clemens to accomplish substantial amounts of writing for the five to six months out of the year his family spent here in the late 1800s. In 1874, his sister-in-law Susan commissioned an octagonal study overlooking the Chemung River valley, which served the dual purpose of giving Clemens a dedicated workspace away from the hubbub of family life and spared them much of the fug of his beloved cigars and occasional earthy expletives. The restored building was removed to the Elmira College campus in 1952, where it’s open from Memorial Day to Labor Day, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed for college holidays), often with a student docent nearby to answer questions.
Twice a year—in May and October—visitors are welcomed to the farm for “The Trouble Begins,” a lecture series named for a handbill Clemens wrote to promote long-ago talks. The lectures in the barn-converted-to-lecture-hall are free and open to the public. For more information see marktwainstudies.com, or call (607) 735-1941
~Karey Solomon
40 #ExploreELMIRA
42 #ExploreELMIRA KENNEDY VALVE A Cornerstone of the Community Since 1907 607-734-2211 1021 East Water Street, Elmira, NY 14901 www.kennedyvalve.com Manufacturing life-giving & life-saving products for water distribution and fire protection.
