Wine Stroll delights patrons with sophisticated evening

Ranging from dark reds to sweet, delicate whites, delicious local wines were just a part of the Evening in Autumn Wine Stroll. Hosted by the Geneseo Merchants Association on Oct. 3, the event also gave Geneseo students and community members a taste of several local businesses.

A leisurely walk down Main Street allowed attendees to visit 11 participating businesses and sample wine from eight wineries. Each winery offered a selection for all palettes alongside an array of fun snacks. This was the Merchants Association’s third wine stroll on Main Street.

The event also featured performances by student and local musicians and a cappella groups. Art by Geneseo-area artists hung in some of the businesses and was offered for sale––contributing to the classy atmosphere of the evening. Tickets were $10 and a portion of the proceeds will benefit Chances & Changes Inc., a program supporting victims of domestic violence.

As a newly legal 21-year-old student, I strolled to the starting line with few inhibitions and almost no developed taste. I knew little more than the fact that wine is made from grapes and some of it tastes pretty good. I considered the simplest and cheapest Riesling available to be my safest and only choice.

Each business on the itinerary offered something different that left me surprised at every juncture––every new setting was memorable. In the midst of the homemade soaps and beauty products at Brows, Brazilians & Bikinis, I enjoyed raspberry and chocolate-covered strawberry wine from Victoriansburg Wine Estate. I ate vanilla puppy chow and shopped for antiques at the Not Dot Shop while drinking mild reds from Deer Run Winery. To finish off the tour, I stopped at Touch of Grayce to enjoy jambalaya and a sample of Ithaca Apricot Stone IPA from the Village Tavern.

As the makeup of Main Street has transformed this fall, it was great to see businesses continuing to work together to create an event that was altogether awesome.

Member of the Geneseo Merchants Association and manager at Touch of Grayce Alyssa Cope said that the objective of the wine strolls is both to create community in Geneseo and to encourage people to visit and shop at local businesses. She added that student turnout was high for this particular wine stroll.

“We appreciate the student [attendance],” she said. “A lot of students were there right at 4 [p.m.] and ready to go.”

The event was organized to parallel wine strolls in other Finger Lakes region towns like Caledonia, New York and Dansville, New York.

Having wandered Main Street with students and community members alike to sample a surprising variety of wines, I think I might be developing some sort of taste for finer drinks—or at least a wine-oriented sense of adventure. And with that, I may never look at a can of Keystone Light the same way again.

“I think the wine stroll is a nice opportunity for college students to drink in a more adult setting,” Cope said.

The Merchants Association is currently planning wine strolls for 2015, which may take place later than this year’s 4-7 p.m. timeslot. The organization has selected May 1, July 31 and Dec. 4 for the 2015 season.

Amy’s Walk encourages community support of domestic abuse victims

Amy’s Walk drew students from their beds on the morning of Saturday Oct. 4, to walk or run a 5K course. The event occurred in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and all proceeds will go to Chances & Changes, Inc., a local charity that supports battered women and their families.

Fall into the chill with patterns, outerwear

With brisk weather quickly approaching, it's time for us to restock our fall and winter wardrobes. This season, don't be afraid of bold outerwear. Whether patterned, oversized or faux-fur, let your outerwear become one of your statement pieces.

Next time you're at a party, don't rush to take your coat off! Do a few rounds in your eye-catching outerwear and stand out from the tired all-black getup. And although leather jackets never really went out of style, they are making a huge comeback this autumn. Geneseo fall weather lends itself perfectly to coupling a leather jacket with your favorite pair of relaxed jeans. For a nighttime look, wear bright color pants, skirt or dress to complement the heavy aesthetic of your leather jacket.

This fall and winter is also the perfect time to wear white. Making appearances on the runway for Alexander Wang, DKNY and Ralph Lauren, white is becoming a huge hit for the cold weather.

Wear crisp whites with contrasting colors. You can go for the classically stylish black and white ensemble or wear white to bring out other earthy tones. While most people only wear white in warm weather, it is easy to wear white while still considering the weather with some chunky knits, jackets or accessories such as hats and gloves.

The cool temperature should also not be your excuse to exclusively wear dark colors. Spruce up your fall and winter looks with bold color combinations. You can opt for combinations like blue and red, or yellow and green.

If you like a more neutral look, pairing your favorite basics with bold colors is a great way to diversify your look and wardrobe. If you're feeling brave, purchase a statement piece with cutouts. Whether bright or basic, cutouts will add the right amount of edge to any outfit.  Most importantly, remember that fall and winter fashion isn't as restrictive as it seems. Patterns, textures, layers and different lengths are all welcome this time of year. As long as you stay weather-appropriate, there is no way you can go wrong!

Student Association workshop outlines mandatory student activity fees

Nobody likes mandatory fees, especially when you don't know what you're paying for. In the case of the student activity fee, however, your payment may be providing you with more opportunities than you realize.

Student Association, with support from senior resident assistants, is holding a workshop at 7 p.m. Thursday Sept. 26 in the Niagara Hall Main Lounge to explain exactly what your yearly mandatory student activity fee allows you to do on campus. “[SA] is basically this overarching body that governs what student groups do,” SRA senior Marty Rogachefsky said. “It funds most student organizations and is the one responsible for the approximately $200 that you pay in student activity fees.”

The program is primarily aimed at educating freshmen on the different things that SA provides for the student body - including the different committees, the litigation services and undergraduate research and travel grants the organization provides.

The presentation will focus on the role the student activity fee plays in the funding of those services and how it supports programs like Geneseo Late Knight, Activity Commission's concerts, Upstate Escapes, media organizations including The Lamron and GSTV, Inter-Residence Council Academic Affairs Committee, GOLD Leadership Program and some club sports. “The fees are a part of running the college,” Rogachefsky said. “We wouldn't have the college community that we have now without them.” The program will also explain how SA supervises standing committees, and approximately 40 clubs on campus, by helping them form contracts and facilitate cooperation with SA Graphics, SA Tech Services, Campus Auxiliary Services Catering, and Campus Scheduling and Special Events Office.

The presentation is designed to be interactive and will also give freshmen an opportunity to become familiar with members of their student government. Students are encouraged to voice their opinions and ask questions during the workshop.

“SA is so, so involved in every aspect of college life,” Rogachefsky said. “And I think if students are able to understand the structure of SA as a whole, then they'll be able to take full advantage of all the different things that are available to them.”

Geocaching becoming a local, worldwide pastime

They're hidden everywhere: in the woods, on top of mountains, around vast deserts and even lurking around on the borders of Geneseo campus. They're geocaches - small, secret treasures that might be closer than you might think.

It may sound strange, but it's all part of the thriving pastime called geocaching, which, in recent years, has become one of outdoor enthusiasts' favorite hobbies.

Pronounced “gee-o-cashing,” the high-tech hobby has only been in existence since 2000, but has quickly gained popularity as a 21st century treasure hunting game. To play, participants use a GPS-enabled device to find a geocache hidden at a location attached to a specific set of coordinates listed on geocache location websites.

A geocache is typically just a waterproof container with a logbook, in which the geocacher can enter their name and the date the geocache was found. The geocacher then replaces the container exactly where it was found and leaves it for the next player to discover.

According to the Groundspeak website, “Geocaching is the real-world treasure hunt that's happening right now, all around you!”

And it definitely is everywhere; the unique pastime now reaches all over the globe. In fact, geocaching.com claims that there are approximately 2,226,360 active geocaches worldwide, with over 6 million geocachers originating from more than 200 countries.

While most geocaches are easily accessible, if you're looking for a real treasure-hunting trip, there are definitely some pretty extreme locations to explore.

Luckily, if you're just looking to start hunting for geocaches, you don't have to go that far. In fact, there are sites all around Geneseo, from Long Point Park at Conesus Lake to some historic sites in the village to the trails of Letchworth State Park - even on the College campus itself.

So if you're interested, give it a shot. It's cheap, it's active and it's an easy way to get outside before the weather turns cold. Plus, who doesn't love a treasure hunt?