Hello Sourcers!

As usual, we’ve got a lot to get to, so let’s dive in!

🏡 Porches!

📣 Noises!

🌀 Fifth Dimensions!

🌱 Shakespearean Gardens!

🎨 Arts Trails!

🎃 Pumpkin Patches!

☕ Coffee!

Whew. Even that list left me winded.

Let’s start with what’s closest to my heart and my house. This Sunday is Porchfest in Ithaca! I love the proliferation of Porchfest as a concept, and I love how many towns and cities even within our region (and beyond) have made the idea their own.

WSKG will be helping to staff the information table in Thompson Park from noon to 6pm, but we’re also hosting performances of our own at Northstar Public House (202 E Falls St). SingTrece (2pm), Get Off My Lawn (3pm), and the Neo Politans (5pm) will be playing, and I’ll be emceeing along with WSKG News Director Phoebe Taylor-Vuolo! We’ll have some neat swag to give away, so please stop by and say hello.

If you’re in Ithaca the night before, and are up for music of a different kind, you should come by the Community School of Music and Arts for Naked Noise, an experimental ensemble music event put on by Ithaca Underground!

Maybe you’re in the mood for something…stranger. SerlingFest in Binghamton might be just the thing. This celebration of the Binghamton-born Twilight Zone creator is going on all weekend at the BU Forum, and features special guests David Bianculli (of NPR’s Fresh Air) and Frank Spotnitz, who wrote over 40 episodes of the X-Files (so he's essentially who I hung out with on Friday nights as a teen in the 90s).

At the Cutler Botanic Garden in Binghamton, this Sunday is the rescheduled Much Ado in the Garden event, featuring Morris dancing, harp and flute music, an abridged performance of Two Gentlemen of Verona, and a Renaissance parade for kiddos.

And all across Broome County, this weekend kicks off the 6th annual Art Trail, featuring 75 artists and musicians over two weekends! This event is put on by the Broome County Arts Council, and in case you don’t know, everyone at BCAC is fantastic.

 Also there is a trolley, and you know folks working with PBS love a good trolley.

Finally, Corning’s Gaffer District is shutting down the streets Friday and Saturday for their Harvest Festival, with food and music and vendors. I am always down for a fest, although sometimes they fall short of a full day activity, so may I suggest that the Harvest Festival would pair well with a trip to the Rockwell or the Corning Museum of Glass? 

Lot of bases covered today before we even get to the beverages. Be sure to scroll down to see a big birthday party announcement in the events section as well. I’m still finalizing a couple details, but if I play my cards right, there may be donuts and fried chicken.

Let me know what else is coming up while the leaves are coming down.

Yours,

Bob Proehl

Locally Sourced editor

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It’s the time of year when we start to see leaves changing, cooler temperatures in the morning and lots and lots of pumpkin ale on store shelves. I’ve been a big fan of trying out these seasonal offerings…Pete, not so much. With that in mind, I took Peter to Wegmans in Johnson City to go Pumpkin Picking!

Since Wegmans only sells singles as a six-pack, we’ll share 3 of our finds this month and three more next month.  These aren’t local picks, but they are choices you can find locally.

I’m going to hand over the tasting responsibilities to Peter this week and get his reaction. Up first  - one of my favorite seasonal offerings, Voodoo Ranger Atomic Pumpkin (ABV 6.4%). This is dubbed as a “spicy release,” and that it is! I never thought I’d go for a beer that has habanero chili peppers in the mix, but I love the “bite” this ale offers. 

Pete’s Pumpkin Perceptions:

From looks alone this could pass as a traditional ale, beautifully amber and clear. On the nose there is not much (I’ll give our readers some insight: my sense of smell is horrible, so maybe I just can’t smell it) but there is a very faint smell of spices. I’ve had my fair share of chile spiced beers. One of my old favorite local breweries that closed a while back had one. The taste is good, a little bit of the clove/allspice blend that I would expect, but the chile comes in right behind it. It’s not hot, but overpowering, it’s really all I taste from this one. Personally it’s a little bit of a gimmick to me, but I still enjoy the beer.

Next I tried Seattle, Washington’s Elysian Brewing Night Owl Pumpkin Ale. (ABV 6.7%). Clear, Dark Amber and Lightly Spiced on the nose, Night Owl looks like any other rich ale, my eyes prepared for a biting hop bitterness, but my tastebuds were delighted by the well balanced spices and malty backbone. Again, I’m not a pumpkin beer person, I prefer my pumpkins in pie form, but this gets close enough, and I enjoy it for that reason.

Last, I stayed within New York State for Pumpkin Ale from Saranac Brewery in Utica. (ABV 5.9%) Slightly lighter in color than Night Owl, and more Ale than Pumpkin on the nose, Saranac is one of my favorite New York breweries. While I normally stick to their hoppy options, this one is very pleasing to my palate. It’s very fitting to the currently time I’m enjoying it, when the fall season isn’t yet in full swing, this is a pumpkin beer for those that don’t want to be in Fall yet, but are getting ready. Overall this is my favorite of the three, but that’s because it’s the most like a normal ale.

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Sometimes the best coffee shop moments come from stepping out of your usual routine—and this time, I actually ordered a hot drink instead of my go-to iced (yes, I shocked myself too). I wandered into Hound & Mare in downtown Ithaca on a crisp September day, and it couldn’t have been a better call.

Right away, the vibe was relaxed but full of energy. The shop is modern and bright, and I love that they showcase local artists—there was even a sign by the register inviting local talent to submit their work to hang on the walls. How cool is that? Coffee + community = my kind of place.

But let’s talk about the drink. I decided to lean into the fall spirit and ordered their NY Maple Latte. Now, the plain white cup it came in might not look like much (see photo), but don’t let it fool you—the flavors inside were anything but boring. Warm, cozy, and perfectly balanced with maple sweetness, it tasted like autumn in a cup.

I sat outside with an WSKG coworker [EXCLUDED EDITORS NOTE: Marley and coworker did not invite me for coffee--Bob], sipping my latte and soaking in the sunshine. Being downtown, it was also prime people-watching territory. There’s just something about enjoying good coffee while watching the world go by—it felt like the perfect pause in an otherwise busy day.

Hound & Mare nailed it for me: a drink that matched the season, a welcoming atmosphere, and a little extra creative spirit with their local art feature. Next time you’re downtown, I’d definitely recommend stopping in—whether for a latte, a spot to hang out, or maybe even to see (or showcase!) some local art.