Last week in this space we talked about making a visit to Lima, and this week I thought we’d discuss a visit to Corning.

That may seem superfluous for a paper published IN Corning, but the magic of the internet is that people could be reading his anyplace in the world. And even local folks often overlook what’s right in their own back yard.

For some background, once upon a time there were two Indian towns here – one at the “Painted Post” (at the point where the waters meet), and one at the Chimney Narrows… roughly near the Cedar Street bridge, on the Northside.

Both towns were under Seneca rule, as this whole region was, but the residents weren’t necessarily Seneca by ethnicity. The Southern Tier formed a sort of military frontier, and the Seneca took in distressed groups pushed out by Europeans. These settlers in their new towns formed a sort of distant-early-warning system against white encroachment.

After the Revolution, of course, the U.S. looted millions of acres away from the Iroquois, having already savaged their towns during Sullivan’s invasion. What we now call the Patterson Inn on Pulteney Street was already welcoming visitors in the 1790s, before their was any appreciable permanent white population out here.

What grew up was three settlements… one at the Painted Post, and called by that name; one on the Northside, called Knoxville; and one on the Southside, called Corning. Over time “urban sprawl” has connected them all, and even reached out to take in the Gang Mills. Technically there are three municipalities now… Town of Erwin, Town of Corning, and City of Corning. The incorporated Villages of Riverside, South Corning, and Painted Post remain parts of their towns.

It seems to me that people start their visits to Corning by either heading to the Glass Museum, or strolling down Market Street. Market was lined with saloons and strip joints prior to the 1972 flood, just as Tioga Street was rail tracks and factories. It’s a far more elegant setting today.

One feature seizing the custom of many visitors, not to mention area folks, is several Market Street antique shops. By the nature of things their stock changes constantly, so you never know what you’ll be turning up. Twin Tiers Antiques Plaza has two above-street levels. Market Street Antiques & Collectibles always has a good collection of old-time series books aimed at children – Bobbsey Twins, Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew and more. Mecca Books is a used-book store, where I frequently find comic books to strengthen my collection. Corning Bike Works lovingly keeps a classic “Whizzer” in the front window.

Any visitation of course includes dining, or at least eating. It’s always touchy to write about restaurants, because you just can’t visit them all. But over the years I’ve sampled a fair number.

*Sorge’s is a long-established Corning tradition, in the same family for decades and specializing in Italian food. It’s a very pleasant ambiance, and they’ve come back strong from a catastrophic fire several years ago.
*Rico’s makes excellent pizza, and serves specialty sodas.
*Aniello’s, at the other end of the street, is usually filled with happy chatter. Put in your order at the counter, and get a slice or two of pizza – just right for a quick lunch, especially if you’re by yourself.
*Soul Full Cup is a with-it coffee shop, which makes a good vanilla chai smoothie (among other things).
*Jim’s Texas Hots is a narrow little shop, with tables out on the sidewalk in good weather. They make the best hot dogs with meat sauce (Texas hots) in the four-county area.
*On or just off the street are several chain fast-food places, too.

There are plenty of other retailers, such as Connor’s Mercantile (they get a gold star – they carry my books). West End Gallery treats strollers to a Daliesque melting watch above the storefront. In fact, look up as you’re walking. Market Street is famed for its colorful and creative “blade signs” – merchant and business signs at right angles to the building front.

Up on Spencer Hill is Corning Community College, home to Spencer Crest Nature Center. Corning, in fact, can be a good spot for a few minutes of birding, even if you only have a few minutes. A peregrine falcon once laded right by me outside the library. I once saw a pair of eagles on the flats east of town. And all sorts of waterfowl drift by along he river. Go out on the Centerway pedestrian bridge, and see what you see. The bridge itself leads out from Centerway Square, with its visitor center and its 19th-century clock tower.

Of course, we haven’t even discussed those three significant Corning attractions – Corning Museum of Glass, Rockwell Museum (art of the American west), and Heritage Village of the Finger Lakes, built around the Patterson Inn Museum. Corning’s worth a trip. Have you made one lately?