Get a little education in vintage glassware in a quaint town in upstate New York.
We found ourselves needing a weekend away from work at the end of May 2023, just as the weather was beginning to show signs of the summer heat. I landed on Corning in upstate New York, which would take us on a road trip 176 miles from Philadelphia and promised a little artistic enclave that was also home to a beautiful glass museum.
I am pretty loyal to Airbnb, having found countless really nice, affordable places to drop our bags and explore. I am rarely disappointed and most often have perfectly accommodating hosts, who mostly leave us alone but are there as needed.
This time, we stayed at a supremely adorable and convenient spot called Louise’s Loft (hosted by Mallory). The 1-bedroom space was located right on Market in the Gaffer District, which is where everything in town basically happens in terms of events, shows, etc. The vibe of Louise’s loft is fun, funky and vibrant and it sits atop a hair salon, with a comfy bed and cozy living room.
I have a friend Lloyd who used to call decorative moments “vignettes” and this space is all about the vignettes, giving your eye some lovely spots to rest.
There are tasteful touches of glass throughout, gorgeous wood floors that were nice to walk on and a large open kitchen. Zoe found the place comfy too.
Corning is the home of Corning Glass, hence all the…glass. The town also sits on the Chemung River and is in the Finger Lakes region of New York, so gorges and waterfalls are also close by if you'd like a little wilderness activity.
If you head opposite the river, you venture into the neighborhoods and onto some really pretty Victorians, lots of churches, and considerable blight in the way of rundown homes. For a progressive, there were an alarming number of American flags and questionable outdoor decorations.
A group of senior citizens playing pickleball on an old ice hockey rink was a good palette cleanser, after soaking in some of the more Get Out elements in Corning’s atmosphere.
Nickel’s Pit BBQ on Main St smelled amazing morning till night and got the stamp of approval from my partner on their wings. The various hacking tools hanging above the bar had a real air of “don’t bring your highfalutin city ways in here”. The bartenders were perfectly friendly, though. Which is exactly what you tell yourself when they invite you back to the house they share with their cousin who wears a dirty apron and mostly grunts, while he eyes your luscious calves.
The big draw in Corning is definitely the Museum of Glass (https://home.cmog.org/), which does not disappoint. From demonstrations by professional glass blowers, to kids spaces, to interesting exhibits — the whole place is an educational experience.
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Visitors will appreciate the many ways glass can be manipulated into art after visiting, and if you’re into vintage (like me), you can also learn about why Corning glass has become sought after by collectors.
It rained one of the days we were visiting, so we chilled mostly inside, made breakfast in, and tried some really good local beer. Before it started pouring, I was able to make it down to Soul Cup Coffeehouse (https://www.soulfullcup.com/), which has good strong coffee and a meaningful mission. One of my favorite stops to snap a photo was the Palace Theater, an art-deco beauty that houses two screens and shows modern movies.
After two and half days, it was time to head home, but not before stopping at Grovedale Winery in Wylausing, PA (https://grovedalewinery.com/). The setting is bucolic, and they have a very adorable dog that roams the grounds and is the inspiration for their semi-sweet Gusto white, made from Niagara Grapes. The wines were delicious and the cheese board was big, gorgeous chunks of cheese and quality crackers.
Second to the wines, the best part of Grovedale winery is the friendly hosts and the amazing covered patio. It was pouring down rain the day we visited, but we were still able to enjoy the fresh air and fabulous vistas.
And on to Philly! All in all Corning was a little bit weird, but mostly fun and interesting. I recommend to travelers as a stop-through on the way to your destination or for a quick and affordable weekend jaunt.
