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My brother and sister-in-law recently took their two boys to the drive-in movies. The younger one couldn’t understand how they were going to see a movie from inside the car.

I think it’s a shame that there aren’t as many drive-in theaters left. When we were kids, we’d pile into the car and drive to Watertown to the drive-in. Mom and dad had five kids at the time, and at one-price-per-car, it was a bargain! As hard-working young farmers, it was the only way to take your family to the movies.

Today, the Watertown drive-in is no longer there. Thankfully, there are some throughout New York State, and I’ve compiled a list of those still in operation. If you know of any I’ve missed, please email me and I’ll add it to our list. Be aware that drive-ins now charge per person instead of per vehicle.

Here they are, in no particular order:

(Right click to open in a new window.)

Valley Brook Drive-in

Burdicks Crossing

Lyons Falls

Phone: (315) 348-6315 or

(315) 493-3456

56 Auto Drive-in, Massena

2 miles south of Massena, NY on Route 56

Phone: (315) 764-1250

www.jscinemas.com/56auto.html

Bay Drive-in Theatre

Alexandria Bay

Phone: (315) 482-3874

http://www.baydrivein.com

West Rome Drive-in

Rome, NY

Phone: (315) 336-9440

http://www.westromedrivein.com

Midway Drive-in Theater

West River Road

(State Route 48)

Between Fulton and Oswego

Minetto, NY

Oswego Phone: (315) 343-0211

Fulton Phone: (315) 593-0699

http://www.midwaydrivein.com

Buffalo Drive-in

3085 Harlem Rd.

Buffalo, NY 14225

Phone: (716) 893-0406

Finger Lakes Drive-in

Route 5

Auburn, NY 13021

Phone: (315) 252-3969

Ozoner 29 Twin

Route 29

Broadalbin, NY 12025

Phone: (518) 883-5735

El Rancho Drive-In

6070 SR 5

Palatine Bridge, NY 13428

Phone: (518) 673-3515

Overlook Drive-in

Overlook Rd.

Poughkeepsie, NY 12602

Phone: (845) 452-3445

www.overlookdrivein.com

Glen Drive-In

Lake George Rd.

Glens Falls, NY 12804

Phone: (518) 792-0023

Vintage Drive-in Theater

Rt 15, North Of Rt 20

East Avon, NY

(585) 226-9290

The Sunset

120 Telegraph Rd.

Middleport, NY 14105

Phone: (716) 735-7372

Transit Drive-in

6655 Transit Rd.

Lockport, NY 14094

Phone: (716) 625-8697

www.transitdrivein.com

Warwick Drive-In Theater

5 Warwick Turnpike

Warwick, New York  10990

(845) 986-4440

Hyde Park Drive-in

4114 Albany Post Road

(Route 9 Opposite FDR Estate)

Hyde Park, NY 12538

845-229-4738

Fair Oaks Drive-in

Route 17M

Middletown, NY

845-361-5774

www.driveinmovie.com/NY/FairOaks/schedule

For more information on drive-ins, including locations all over the US, visit http://www.drive-ins.com/. They also have some great tips for first-timers.

The night of July 14, 2006, is one that Cindy Henry, owner of the Orwell Diner, will never forget.

“We were at another restaurant with family, and my son Darrick called,” Cindy said. “He said that our restaurant was on fire.”

They rushed to the scene, but by the time that they got there, it was all over.

Cindy and her sister-in-law/waitress Teresa Ward stood across the street, holding each other for support, as firemen finished wetting down the ashes. Family, friends and customers stood by with them. Cindy’s beloved diner had been totaled, but she had already decided to rebuild.

“There was never a doubt,” she said. “I had to, for the community, for the family, for everyone.”

“My first thought was ‘how soon can I start doing something?’ ”

There’s not much besides houses in downtown Orwell. There’s the post office, and the town hall. There used to be a store, but that’s closed now. To the north of the four corners, there’s a Methodist Church and a volunteer fire department.

The Orwell Diner was where people came for meals and conversation. Townspeople and tourists, construction workers and church groups would sit at tables and talk to each other across the room. Lively banter and the latest news were served along with home-cooked meals and coffee. Like the TV show Cheers, it seemed that everyone knew your name at the Orwell Diner.

Cindy wasn’t only the owner: she was usually the cook, sometimes the waitress, sometimes a listener and advisor, always a friend. It wasn’t rare for a customer to give Cindy and Teresa a hug before they left.

So when the diner burned, it left a void in the town that was more than just physical. When the rebuilding began, the people of the town overwhelmed Cindy, Teresa, and the family with their generosity.

It began with help cleaning up the debris. It continued with help pouring concrete, putting up the shell, siding, woodworking, and plumbing. People donated their time and materials. A local church group held a picnic for the workers, and a dinner “shower” to provide supplies needed to reopen. People who didn’t even know Cindy brought spices, towels, paper supplies and other items. Others put together to purchase a commercial toaster, a meat slicer and other equipment. A photographer replaced the photos that had been on the walls. A local woman painted a scenic mural on one wall. Another woman raffled off a handmade quilt to raise money for the construction.

Supervising every step of the rebuilding process and the strain of waiting until she could finally open the doors was exhausting for Cindy. It was a very happy day when she opened her new diner, and the customers came pouring in.

As a way of thanking the people of the community, Cindy held a free chicken barbecue at the town hall in October. The hall was crammed with people crowding around tables and enjoying the food. Cindy herself cheerfully dished out halves of chicken. It was a great way to show her gratitude, although most people would agree that it wasn’t necessary. Just re-opening the diner – the place to meet, eat, and socialize – was thanks enough.

The Orwell Diner is located smack in the middle of downtown Orwell. Their hours are 7 am to 2 pm, seven days a week.

Rich and Sue Freeman have written several books about New York State, including Take a Paddle – Finger Lakes and 200 Waterfalls in Central and Western New York. I recently read Cobblestone Quest: Road Tours of New York’s Historical Buildings, a handsome book about Cobblestone buildings in New York State.

The book includes a section about cobblestones, including what they are, where they come from, the history of cobblestone buildings, architectural styles, and how to spot a cobblestone building.

The second section includes 17 tours, complete with maps and detailed directions. The tours are located within a 65-mile radius of Rochester, where, according to the Freemans, over 90% of cobblestone buildings in the United States are located. (The reason for this is explained in the first section.)

Each tour takes you to cobblestone houses, businesses, schools, as well as museums and restaurants.

A third section has a handy list of cobblestone museums, bed and breakfasts, restaurants, antique shops, and galleries that are located on the tours, which is handy

Like the Freeman’s other books, this one is thoughtfully laid out and detailed. The cover has several beautiful color photos of cobblestone buildings, but unfortunately, the inside photos are only black-and-white.

For anyone interested in cobblestones, this is an excellent book, Even if you are not particularly into cobblestones, you’ll enjoy the tours, and you just may find yourself becoming quite fond of these unique and attractive buildings.

For more information on the Footprint Press, click here.

Book Review: Cobblestone Quest: Road Tours of New York’s Historical Buildings

Paperback: 208 pages

Publisher: Footprint Press, Inc. (July 18, 2005)

ISBN-10: 1930480199

ISBN-13: 978-1930480193

The Last Ride Haunted Hayride – Hastings, NY

 Guest post by Liz Skellington

Most people like to be scared once in awhile. That’s why we watch scary movies or visit haunted houses. My family likes a good scare, from watching Friday the 13^th to visiting haunted trails on moonless nights. We love Halloween.

I looked for something good to scare us in October, but found few choices. We went to one nearby place, but they were closing early.

We then drove south. I remembered a sign in passing and we figured we’d give it a try. Driving down Route 11 we found the sign – black – offering hayrides and a Haunted House. We took The Last Ride Hayride and it was fantastic, so we went back the next night for the Haunted House.

We all enjoyed the hayride. Due to recent rain there was a lot of mud, which added to the fun. One woman I talked to said that she had looked all over before discovering this place. Among the characters we saw on the hayride were witches that gave us candy, a pirate, and classics like Jason and Freddy. There were also the usual ghosts and ghouls.

The Haunted House was “spook-tacular. As you enter, Dr. Zombie the doorman tells you, “Once you enter there’s no turning back” and locks the door behind you. The day we went, they toned it down for my little girl. It was very dark inside and my husband ran into a wall. The Mad Butcher was my favorite. My son liked the Floating Heads the best.

Dutch, our driver on the hayride, told me that this setup was put together with the help of friends and family in three weeks. His son, Dan, owns the attraction. This year it ran weekends through October and everyday the week of Halloween. There is a concession stand with coffee, donuts, apple cider, soda, chili and other snacks available. There’s also a gift shop.

The property was purchases just for the attraction. Between Dan and Dutch, they’ve run trails and Haunts for over ten years.

This year, tickets were $8 per person for the hayride or the Haunted House. There is also a combo ticket that is $14 for both. Group rates are available. Call 315.529.0320 for info and directions. The Last Ride Haunted House and Hayride is located at 291 Johnson Road, Palermo.

Fall Foliage in New York State

It’s a bittersweet time here in northern New York, at least for me. The leaves are starting to turn, signaling the advance of fall, my favorite season. But it also means that winter is close behind. I like winter, but only the first two months or so. I feel that snow after Christmas is just not necessary!

The leaves here in central New York are probably at about 15 to 20 % right now, but I’m enjoying the contrast of purple and yellow flowers in green fields and rust-colored shrubs. Just a peek at what’s to come!

I’ve found some links to great sites help you enjoy the spectacular fall colors in New York State.

NYS Foliage Report
This site has a map of current foliage conditions as well as a report of where the color is in New York State, region by region. Check the links on the left to check out upcoming events, farms to visit, and an article about why leaves change color.

NYS Scenic Views
Part of the previous site, this page lists great places in New York State to view autumn color.

Driving Tours
Here you’ll find excellent suggestions for driving tours through New York.

Hot NY Deals
Check out this site to search for foliage lodging specials.

I’ll be posting more fall photos as I get them. Enjoy this beautiful season!

Favorite Paddles – Meandering Down the Oswegatchie

We slid our green canoe into the shallow water, climbed in, and pushed off. The sky was blue, punctuated here and there with white fluffy clouds. As we glided silently over the water, it seemed as though we were the only people for miles around.

My husband and I were canoeing the East Branch of the Oswegatchie River near Cranberry Lake, one of our favorite paddles. There were plenty of cars in the parking lot on this beautiful late summer day, so there were other canoeists and hikers around us. We couldn’t hear them though, just the wind in the trees and the chirping of birds.

The word “meander” is used often in describing this branch of the river, and it fits perfectly. The waterway winds leisurely this way and that, around beaver meadows and grassy banks, through riverscapes that “have changed little since Indian times”, according to Paul Jamieson and Donald Morris in “Adirondack Canoe Waters – North Flow”.

“It puts distance between you and the civilized world you have left behind.”

A few hours later, we stopped at a campsite on a bank overlooking the river to eat lunch. We had a perfect view of the river north, south and east. We usually canoe in late summer or early fall, so bugs were practically non-existent; but I’ve heard that they are ferocious in the late spring/early summer months.

We’ve never canoed the entire 13 miles or so to High Falls, but it is definitely on our to-do list. There are a number of campsites along the river, as well as a few lean-tos. The recommended minimum time allowance for the trip to High Falls is three days; two days up and one back.

To get to the boat access point, turn onto Sunny Lake Road (or Inlet Road) and take an immediate left. Sunny Lake Road is 1 mile south of Newton Falls Road (Route 60).

Sunny Lake Road is a long dirt road that leads to the parking area near the put-in. No motor boats are allowed on the river.

For more information, see: “Adirondack Canoe Waters – North Flow” by Paul Jamieson and Donald Morris.
“Quiet Water Canoe Guide – New York” by John Hayes and Alex Wilson.

Friends Lake Inn, in Chestertown, is a hidden jewel. My husband and I stumbled onto this luxurious inn on a weekend jaunt in the Adirondacks. We checked it out, decided to spend the night, and loved it!

Pine trees reflect in the windows of the balcony outside our room at Friends Lake Inn. Photo: ©Brenda Potter Reynolds

We hadn’t planned on a romantic weekend. My husband and I had loaded up our canoe and headed for Loon Lake in the Adirondacks.

When we got there, we found that we couldn’t launch our canoe – the launch site was closed.  Now what to do? We decided to explore the area, and found Friends Lake. While driving around the lake, we came upon Friends Lake Inn.

My husband was intrigued. He went in and checked it out, even though it looked like an upscale place and we were in shorts and sneakers. Soon, he came back out with a big smile on his face. They gave him a great rate, and dinner was included, so he had booked a room!

I didn’t know what to think as I followed him back in. The interior was beautiful, probably four-star. (I later checked, and it is indeed rated four-stars by AAA.) I explained to the desk clerk that we hadn’t packed for this type of stay, that we had planned a weekend of hiking and canoeing. She was very nice and told me not to worry.

So I didn’t. At least until it was time for dinner! But first, we went upstairs to our room – #5. It was wonderful – a Jacuzzi, four-poster bed, and a balcony overlooking the garden. The room was thoughtfully outfitted with robes, magazines and books, and coffee maker. We cleaned up, relaxed, and then went down to dinner.

The restaurant was upscale but relaxed. I felt a little uncomfortable about our attire but I saw other diners in casual dress, so I felt better. We had a very attentive waitress and waiter looking after us, making us feel a bit spoiled. The appetizer, bread and an olive oil dip, was excellent. I had the Baby Chicken and my husband had Glazed Pork Chops. The pace was leisurely and we loved the fireplace. The restaurant also offers an extensive wine list.

After dinner, we retired to our rooms. I spent some time on the balcony, until the cool spring air drove me in. We slept well on the comfortable bed.

Our stay included breakfast so we went downstairs and enjoyed another meal in the restaurant. It was served buffet-style and included fruit, juices, eggs and meat choices, cereal and toast. We chose a table near the windows with a view of the lake in the Lakeview Dining Room.

After breakfast, we lingered, reluctant to leave. We walked around the property and checked out the outdoor sauna and the garden pond.

Friends Lake Inn has 17 rooms, some with Jacuzzi’s, some with fireplaces. The entire staff was friendly and incredibly helpful. The inn offers getaway packages like a Romantic Country Weekend and an Adirondack Adventure Weekend. They also host wine-tasting events.

It was closed while we were there, but in the summer, guests can swim, canoe or fish on the private beach.

For more information about Friends Lake Inn, visit their website  here or call 518 494-4751.

My husband paddles on Lake Durant. Blue Mountain can be seen in the background. Photo: ©Brenda Potter Reynolds.

Blue Mountain, in the central Adirondacks, is awesome from any angle. My husband and I got to see several of those angles from my favorite seat – in a canoe.

Lake Durant, a 327-acre lake near Blue Mountain, was ablaze with fall color when my husband and I paddled there in October. We stayed at the Lake Durant State Park Campground there, and launched right from our site.

Once on the water, it was hard to know where to begin. To our right was a bridge, to the left, beautiful waters that begged to be explored. Right in front of us was Blue Mountain, with its 3759-foot summit. We headed left, (west) towards Rock Pond.

The ever-green of pine trees contrasted with the yellow, orange and red colors of the leaves. It was one of those perfect fall days; warm and sunny with blue skies.

We soon came to a low footbridge that connected a hiking trail. After disembarking from the canoe, we were able to slide it under the bridge. Then we took a break, admiring the view while we rested.

Rock Pond lived up to its name. The outside was rimmed with large rocks, and more lurked below the surface. Near the end of Rock Pond, we startled a Great Blue Heron, who flew off to a more private place.

Paddling back, we stopped at the bridge for lunch. Several hikers passed through as we sat on the bridge and lunched, enjoying the lovely day.

Paddling back on Lake Durant, we followed the north shore, which hugs Route 30 in places. We explored the shoreline, stopping once to climb the bank and check out a road that led to the dam on the northeast end. Then we paddled up to the bridge, which crossed the dam.

The next day we arrived at Blue Mountain Lake. There were plenty of people milling about, but there weren’t many on the water.

We launched and headed west, turning often to admire the view of Blue Mountain behind us. We met a few kayakers as we crossed the lake, paddling past homes and cottages.

A handmade bridge marked our entrance to Eagle Lake. Built by William West Durant, the bridge combines stone with ornate woodwork, and demanded that we stop and take several photos.

We both enjoyed Eagle Lake. It was quieter, very peaceful, and there was little development.

Soon we entered Utowana, a lake we’d often admired from Route 28. This long body of water reflected the fall colors beautifully and encouraged lingering. We stopped at a hidden waterfall for lunch, eating among moss-covered stones. There were a few camps and one lean-to, otherwise we saw few signs of civilization.

We ended our trip at the end of Utowana. Before we left, though, we walked the carry to the Marion River, checking it out for a future trip.

Any day on the water is a good one – but this one was one to remember.

Karen & Jasper’s Bistro, Watertown

I found Karen & Jasper’s Bistro by accident. As my husband and I drove past the Kinney’s Plaza on Washington Street in Watertown, I noticed a sign that read Homemade Italian Food. I was surprised – I didn’t even know that there was a restaurant there.

After we finished our errands, my husband said, “I’m hungry. Where do you want to eat?” He loves Italian food, so when I told him about the sign, naturally he wanted to go there.

I walked in expecting a small diner, but when I saw the real tablecloths and candles on the tables, I knew that wasn’t so. There is a bar in the front and a dining area that was small but not crowded with tables.

The menu had plenty of Italian specialties, including lasagna, manicotti, and homemade gnocchi and meatballs, plus steaks.

I had the spaghetti and meatballs, which was very good. The sauce was tasty and a little spicy. Be forewarned – I don’t know how many meatballs the dinner portion comes with, but the lunch portion came with only one.  But it was it was a good-sized one.

My husband had Chicken Parmesan, his favorite dish. He pronounced it delicious, and I have to agree – the portion I stole off his plate was. Our salads were fresh and also very good.

After our meal, we talked with our waiter, who told us that the proprietors  used to own Benny’s Steakhouse, a well-known restaurant on the other side of Watertown. It had closed and was torn down to make room for a car dealership.

He also told us that the owners had totally renovated the inside of the building, which used to be another restaurant and that the owner built the bar himself in his garage, and then brought it into the restaurant.

We left, delighted that Benny’s legacy lived on, even if it was under a different name. My husband already wants to go back.

You’ll find Karen and Jasper’s at 1322 Washington Street, Watertown Plaza, Watertown. Their phone number is 315-788-4110.