I figure we missed the 2013 AND 2014 seasons at least… what with heart attacks, broken ankles, and more scattered around the family. But all three of us had the day off on July 3, and it was a beautiful day, so we went to The Windmill.
We always enjoy our trip, but the sunny sky, mild temperature, and light breeze made one of those perfect Finger Lakes summer days. What more could we ask for?
The Windmill bills itself as the first and friendliest farm and craft market in Upstate New York, and I’m willing to believe it. Parking’s free, admission’s free, and visitors find about 200 shops and vendors. That’s up from 89 on opening day twenty-eight years ago.
On their second day of operation (Saturday, July 4, 1987) traffic backed up for five miles in each direction.
That doesn’t happen much any more, but eight or ten thousand people drop by on a typical Saturday. From the start conservative Mennonites have been a key component of the operation; there’s a horse and buggy parking lot here, as well as lots for cars and motor coaches.
Right from the first discussion The Windmill was planned as an outlet for local producers and local craftspeople. So there’s all sorts of seasonal produce, depending on what’s coming in that week. There’s also honey; maple syrup; HICKORY syrup; cheese; pies; bread; wine; cider; beef… you name it.
PLUS… t-shirts, quilts, fabrics, kitchenware, woodwork, leathercraft, wool (from both sheep and alpaca)… you name it.
We weren’t having lunch that day, so we contented ourselves with soft pretzels and yellow mustard. Otherwise we might have indulged at one of several places, including Valhalla (Building 3), where Erik and I like the hot dogs, or Klute’s Kitchen (Building 2), which makes a good omelet with a nice choice of meats.
We started out at Building 3 (where Brittany’s Cove gets a gold star for carrying several of my historic photo books about the Finger Lakes… drop in and see her), then worked carefully through Building 4, because Joyce was planning on buying some produce. I checked out a couple of antique shops, where I was impressed with the number of Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, and Bobbsey Twins books. No copies, unfortunately, of Tom Corbett, Space Cadet.
After that we ambled over to Building 2 and stopped at Clute’s Maple to sample some of that hickory syrup. We used to make our own maple syrup, so we’re always interested in such things. It was good, and we liked it, but after considerable discussion we decided not to buy a jar just yet – it’s mostly used in cooking, and we couldn’t see that we’d make adequate use of it. We’re bearing it in mind, though, for a future visit.
Then we strolled across the way to Building 1, where more soft pretzels are available, in addition to a Gluten Free store and several shops for fudge and candy. There’s Faithful Heart Books, and The Quilt Room, in keeping with the Amish/Mennonite background.
At the north end of the Street of Shops the Dundee Steel Band was entertaining, and they’re always fun to listen to. We wandered up and down the boardwalk and into shops that caught our fancy, looking at heavy woolen socks (go back in the fall), railroading souvenirs (birthday gift for a family member), a wooden porch glider, children’s books, paintings and prints of the Finger Lakes, a huge selection of Corelle and CorningWare (in case you need to replace some pieces).
You never know what you’re going to turn up in the south end at the Street of Shops, which sometimes takes on sort of flea market feel. I once bought a VHS of “Things to Come” the 1930s cult-classic science fiction movie starring Ralph Richardson and Raymond Massey. So like I say, you never know.
On our way out we circled back to Building 4, where Joyce bought fresh potatoes, strawberries, and rhubarb (her rhubarb pies are great, worthy of my Aunt Eleanor, who was renowned for her pies and pickles). I’m still burning a candle for the hickory syrup.
Some odds-and-ends notes:
*The windmill is dog-friendly, and several vendors have outside spigots and bowls for water.
*People get thirsty too. Several vendors have honor-system coolers out front with cans of soda and bottles of water.
*The Windmill sponsors a classic car show every spring, and another every fall. The next one will be October 10. We’ve been, it’s fun.
*The Windmill is open every Saturday from the last Saturday of April through the second Saturday of December… plus Labor Day, Memorial Day, and Fourth of July (third of July this year).
*Admission is free, and operating hours are from 8:00 to 4:30.
*The web site is www.thewindmill.com.
*It’s in a very pleasant location, on the height between Keuka and Seneca Lakes… less than half an hour from Watkins Glen, Hammondsport, Penn Yan, or Bath.
*You should go. It’s a cool place to visit.