Genesee Valley & Finger Lakes

Looking for a break from the chain restaurants, we found this local place offering contemporary Italian cuisine. This is not your typical spaghetti-and-meatballs place. The menu features appetizers, salads, pizzas, and entrées with the Italian names. Calamari fritti and zuppe del giorno top the antipasti (appetizer) list. Insalate (salads) are also offered as side dishes for a reduced price. Gourmet pizzas range from $9.95 to $11.95 and feature unique toppings, such as asparagus, rosemary, and Asiago and Ricotta cheeses on Pizza Bianca.

Service was prompt and welcoming. Portobello has an extensive listing of Italian wines, as well as those from other countries. Homemade, hot bread with seasoned dipping oil is served as a starter.

Dinner entrées are served á la carte, and each one is a unique creation by the chef. I chose Lingine Mona Lisa, chicken, baby spinach, and cherry tomatoes in a garlic wine sauce over linguine. My husband was pleased with his choice of pollo Raphael, sautéed chicken with shitake mushrooms and asparagus in a red wine sage sauce. Veal, fish, chicken, meat, and pasta entrées range from $13.95 for spaghetti carbonara or penne vodka to $ 23.95 for filetto stella.

Desserts are made on the premises. New York cheesecake, tiramisu, gelato, and bitter chocolate mousse are some choices to conclude your dinner.

The atmosphere was relaxed, with soft Italian music playing in the background. A small bar near the entrance was separated from the dining area by a partition. Tables were covered with white-and-black linens. We recommend it for a quiet, relaxing evening or lunchtime meal of unique Italian fare.

The Windmill is a friendly farm-and-crafts market in upstate NY. Open only on Saturdays from April to December, it provides a great outlet for local agricultural products and handcrafted items sold by 200 vendors. Several local wineries have tasting booths and wines for sale. There are many Amish and Mennonite goods, breads, pies and cakes, candy, and jams and preserves, along with furniture, garden shops, and quilted and wooden items - the list goes on and on. There's even a chiropractic office.

There are buildings, open-air market, produce shed, and street of shops. You can easily spend several hours browsing, taking in the sights, and purchasing unique items. Several food stands are spread throughout the market. Some favorites are pierogies, beer batter potatoes, funnel cakes, and fried dough.

You can also take a horse-and-buggy ride around the grounds. It's definitely worth a second visit. As their motto says, "Come as a stranger, leave as a friend."

Genesee Country Village is a treasure of the Genesee Valley and the third largest recreated historical museum in the country. Tucked away in the little town of Mumford, GCV boasts over 60 historical buildings that represent life in the 1800s.

Buildings were moved to the village from various towns in the region; some came on flatbed trucks, others in pieces to be reconstructed on the site. Of special note is the Livinston-Backus House, which was taken down in 2,000 pieces from downtown Rochester, placed in storage, and later rebuilt at GVC. All buildings are furnished and decorated according to the era and class of the occupants. Interpreters are in about half the structures to explain life in the 1800s. Learning the history of the region, the significance of the Erie Canal and seeing the various lifestyles of the times was most interesting. In addition to homes, there are churches, shops, schools, farm buildings, and animals. Several gardens beautify the village as well as the gazebo in Great Meadow.

John L. Wehle founded the village, which is supported by private donations and benefactors. An art gallery on site bears his name. When we visited, 19th-century quilts were on display along with sporting and wildlife art.

You can see many craftsmen at work: the potter, tinsmith, blacksmith, and printer, to name a few. The Silver Base Ball Park hosts games on weekends. There is also a nature center with hiking trails. A trolley brings visitors around the village and back to the entrance for those who prefer riding to walking.

There is a snack bar, sit-down restaurant, and picnic areas, plus two gift shops. This gem south of Rochester has something for everyone, and you can easily spend 5 hours there. During May and June, about 1,400 school children visit each day. It's a great place to gain hands-on knowledge of life in the 18th century in upstate New York.