The Start of a New Decade!

2010 – here we are! Ten years ago we were trembling at the thought of Y2K which would bring an end to the world as we knew it. Then Sept 11th happened, followed by wars in Iraq & Afghanistan, tsunamis across the world, Hurricane Katrina’s ruthless devastation of New Orleans and the list seems to go on and on.

And oh the new technology we enjoy; the world became smaller and more immediate through our wireless internet connections and smart phones. Face Book put us in touch with extended family members and friends both old and new. Google became a verb and my new “go to” source for everything -  I don’t think I could live without it. And who hasn’t shared a hysterical “You Tube” video with friends and co-workers?

To say the first decade of the new millennium was uneventful would be a far cry from reality. So much has passed in these ten years, twists and turns both good and bad, there’s no way to predict what lies ahead.

We’re up for the challenge and eager to see what’s in store!
And we’re glad you’re on the ride with us. Cheers to the New Year, another chance to get it right, as Oprah would say. Best wishes for peace, love and laughter, today and always.
Cheers!
Bruce, Tobi & Hillary

The Irish are Coming!

Date: Sunday, Jan 3, 2010
Time: 1:00 'til 3:00 pm
Where: Blue Heron Inn

This Sunday happens to be "Irish Sunday". That's when a group of  Irish players from all corners of the region sit in for a live jam session at the Blue Heron Inn. Come listen as they play; join us for lunch, tip a pint & taps your toes!

Winter Comes Alive

in Chautauqua County, NY!

Snowmobile! We're located on Trail #C-4

Snowmobile Special
Present your Chautauqua Lake Snowmobile Club card & receive a 10% discount on all food purchases (alcoholic beverages not included)

Snowmobile Packages
Overnight Package - Weekends:
Stay 1 night (Fri, Sat or Sun) and get the 2nd night at half price!

Overnight Package - Weekdays:
Stay 2 mid-week nights & the 3rd night’s on us!

Chautauqua Lake Snowmobile Club: 
                         -- maintaining over 200 miles of scenic trails!

Ski, Board or Tube at nearby Peek 'n Peak!

Winter is in full force! Peek 'n Peak's  slopes, terrain parks & the tubing arena are open. Conditions are prime for skiing and riding and best of all snow is in the forecast all week!

Pay no attention if there's no snow in your backyard - it's all here in Findley Lake!

Celebrate winter & think Peek 'n Peak!

Click here for current conditions

Sleigh Rides at Chautauqua Institution

Date:  Sunday, January 31
Time:    1:00 - 5:00 pm
Where: Chautauqua Institution
            Route 394
Cost: $3/adults, $2/children

The State Line Draft Horse Club has invited several teams and clubs to join them at Chautauqua Institution on Sunday, January 31, 2010 for a parade. Teams will meet in the South parking lot of the Institution to prepare for the 1pm start of the parade through the streets of this beautiful Victorian village.

Following the parade, clubs will be offering sleigh/wagon rides to the public. Tickets may be purchased at the Chautauqua Bookstore on Bestor Plaza. For more information go to www.tourchautauqua.com.

 
"open year round ~ close to home but far from everyday life"

Let the Celebrations Continue!

Please join us for

NEW YEAR’S EVE DINNER
at the Blue Heron Inn

Starters
NE-style Seafood Chowder
Shrimp Cocktail
Salad of Mixed Greens

Sample of Dinner Entrees
NY Strip Steak
Mixed Grille of Baby-back Ribs & Chicken
Maryland Lump Crab Cakes
Grilled Salmon or Cajun Catfish
Steamed Shrimp Plate

Serving 5:00 to 9:00 pm
Reservations, please  -   P: 716.679.7852
___________________________________________________________

PEEK ‘N PEAK – SKI . RIDE . TUBE

Winter has arrived! We received more than a foot of fresh powder over the last 24 hours & it's still snowing. Conditions are prime for skiing and riding and snow is is the forecast all week.

Pay no attention if there's no snow in your backyard
- - it's all here in Findley Lake!

Ski Conditions
   Slopes - 100% open
    180 & 360 Terrain parks - open
    Tubing Arena - open!

Celebrate winter & think Peek 'n Peak!
___________________________________________________________

BLUE HERON INN

IS LOCATED ON

SPUR #C-4 OF THE


CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY SNOWMOBILE TRAIL

____________________________________________

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

     “For last year's words belong to last year's language
     and next year's words await another voice.
     And to make an end is to make a beginning.”
                                                      ~ T.S. Eliot


“Happy Holidays &


Cheers to 2010!”

from all of us at the Blue Heron Inn

GIRL’S NIGHT OUT – SATURDAY, DEC 12, 2009

YOU’RE INVITED!!!

Sat, Dec 12th
5:00 - 9:00 pm

Celebrate the season at GIRL'S NIGHT OUT at the Blue Heron Inn & Nostalgia in Findley Lake, NY!

The evening will feature:

• Wine Tasting
• Hand Massages
• Gift Certificate Give-aways
• Mystery Discounts
• Purchases earn "Blue Heron Bucks"
• "Wish List" Gift Registry
• Register to WIN an Overnight Stay
  @ the Blue Heron Inn!

Holiday drink specials – we’re serving Tom & Jerry's!

RSVP by Dec 11th to receive a free "goodie bag"
Bring your friends – the more the merrier!

  Happy Holidays from

the Blue Heron Inn!

Bruce, Tobi, Hillary and

the Blue Heron Inn Staff

The Season to Give Thanks

 
“Thanksgiving is the holiday of peace,
a celebration of work and the simple life …a true folk festival  that speaks the poetry of the turn of the seasons,
the beauty of the harvest, the ripe product of the year and the deep connection of all these things”
                               ~  Ray Stannard Baker

Thank you for your continued patronage and best wishes from our family to yours for a Thanksgiving filled with love, light & abundant turkey! 

Bruce, Tobi and Hillary Ahlquist
and the staff at the Blue Heron Inn

Shine on Harvest Moon!

The Harvest Festival was a huge success and the event closed with an unforgettable firework display that danced by the light of the moon. It’s quiet by the lake; now is the time to enjoy a relaxing day or overnight stay in Findley Lake at the Blue Heron Inn.

Summer is officially over, the kids are back in school and we’re adjusting to our new Autumn schedules. Soon the night air will pick up a chill, the grapes will be ready for harvest and the hillside will be ablaze in the gorgeous colors of the fall foliage.

In no time at all the holidays will be knocking at our door. It’s not too soon to think about holiday gifts; gifts for the kids, your significant other, hostess gifts, teachers’ gifts and of course, gifts for oneself (my favorite!)

New items are arriving daily at Nostalgia ~ the coolest store in town:
     --  new Melissa & Doug toys & games are on their way
     --  hand-crafted Findley Lake coasters, magnets & ornaments
     --  unique baby gifts for the youngest members of the family
         and much more

HOURS

Shop Hours:
Tues – Sun – 11:00 am – 5:00 pm; Fri & Sat ‘til 8:00 pm

Restaurant Hours:  (until Oct 11th – new hours to be announced)
Tues – Sun – 9:00 am – 2:30 pm
Thurs/Fri/Sat – dinner from 5:00 – 9:00 pm
Sun – dinner from 5:00 8:00 pm

Thanks to our guests, patrons and friends
for another great Findley Lake summer!

Cheers! Tobi & Bruce

Technorati Tags: findley lake,blue heron inn,fall foliage,holiday shopping,toys,games,gifts,overnight stay,inn,harvest festival,fireworks,grapes

AFTER THE “CRASH”

Yes, I’m finally back to update the blog. My laptop’s hard drive crashed 2 weeks ago & required 2 new hard drives to get the system up & running. No thanks to DELL – this experience left much to be desired as far as their customer service is concerned. Not the front line techs – they were great. But the mid-management know-nothings and their “Dell doesn’t do that” mantra have finally pushed me across the isle – my next computer purchase will be a MAC.

Dell has forgotten that the only difference between computer companies is the service they offer – as a Gold level service account I was subject to mistakes, defective hardware & a lot of excuses. This was NOT a Gold service event! I spent close to 36 hours installing drivers, removing drivers, re-installing programs (twice) in the effort of restoring my system. And this was over Memorial weekend – the kick-off to the summer season! It was a nightmare & I will not soon forget Dell’s lackadaisical attitude. Nor will I forget to spread the word …

But I do have to sing the praises of www.mozy.com - they saved my life! I cannot stress strongly enough how important it is to back up your files. I bought an extra external hard drive years ago but because I couldn’t understand how to configure it I never used it. BAD move! So when I read about mozy.com’s on-line back up service (costs $6.00 per month) – I signed up. The account is set up to automatically back up my files every day. Although the restore feature wasn’t flawless ( my fault – for crying out loud I don’t know where all my files live!) I was able to restore my document files, e-mail & e-mail contact files & guest reservation database. For the life of me I just couldn’t find my payroll database so I was forced to recreate it – but I’m sure the problem was on my end. Run, don’t walk, to sign up for a mozy account – it’s sure to be the best $72.00 you ever spent!

FINDLEY LAKE “FRIDAY NIGHTS”
Although “Nostalgia” is open on Fri & Sat nights almost year ’round, the big news is that the rest of Findley Lake is now open for business on Fri nights throughout the season!

The restaurants are serving 'al fresco' and the local shops are now open until 8:00 pm every Friday night. Take advantage of the great weather - relax with a cocktail or dine on the Blue Heron deck. There are lots of reasons to kick off your weekend 'Findley Lake-style'! Come browse your favorite shops - we've stocked the shelves with fine gifts for giving and great gifts for keeping!

Add one of several new charms to your collectible Findley Lake charm bracelet. Plan an overnight stay; look around the shops, take in a game of golf, tour the wineries or the travel the Art Trail the next day.

Make Findley Lake part of YOUR summer season!

IN THE NEWS
Just thought I’d share a little blurb that came my way via the Findley Lake, NY “google alerts” that I set up on my computer:

“Showcase” Dining capsules
Published: June 11. 2009 12:01AM

BLUE HERON INN. Dinner at the Blue Heron Inn in Findley Lake, N.Y., is a pleasant way to spend a late-summer evening. Daily specials are offered, but the main menu has ample options. Graze on a "whole earth salad" made with fresh greens, mushrooms, sunflower seeds, walnuts, and raisins. Or satisfy a strong appetite with a 12-ounce New York strip steak.
I ordered the New England clam chowder followed by a mixed grille entree of a half-rack of barbecued ribs and half a chicken with Cajun seasoning. The ribs are parboiled, then char-grilled. I love them.
My companion's Middle East plant, consisting of spiced ground lamb kebabs, homemade hummus, and a small Greek salad with feta cheese, met with her approval. Her husband's crab-cake sandwich was the day's special, and in fact it proved to be very special. If you're inclined to breakfast at the inn, chef and owner Bruce Ahlquist makes a delicious Belgian waffle Benedict and cinnamon French toast with multigrain bread.
The skinny: Blue Heron Inn, 10412 Main St., Findley Lake, N.Y.
(716) 769-7852.  www.theblueheroninn.com. No smoking. Reservations appreciated for dinner. All credit cards accepted except American Express. Wheelchair accessible.

Full review appeared Aug. 21, 2008. www.goerie.com
-- by Floyd Lawrence

It’s crazy to think that we’re already staring at the middle of June! The year is flying by - hope you’re summer is progressing “swimmingly” (pun intended)!

Cheers to the lazy, hazy days we all love!

Tobi & Bruce

HOORAY FOR MAY!

Signs of spring are everywhere; the tulips are up, the flowering trees are in bloom, even the dandelions have awakened! The first baby goslings of the season have been sighted and we’re watching as new families appear each week. Life is reinventing itself all around us. Reinvent yourselves at the Blue Heron Inn!

                                 Cheers to Spring!  Tobi & Bruce

THE AWNING IS UP!

That’s right – they put the awning up early! We’re serving on the deck offering our guests a panoramic view of the lake.Come toast the season with a cocktail or a relax over a great meal ‘al fresco’.
As of Wed, May 13^th, the dining room will be open for breakfast & lunch daily Wed thru Sun. Dinners will be served on Fri & Sat nights & we’ll open for weekday dinners in June.

MOTHER’S DAY IS MAY 10^TH

Treat Mom to Mother’s Day brunch at the Blue Heron Inn! Serving from 9:00 am to 2:30 pm. Reservations, please.

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!

FINDLEY LAKE TRIVIA CONTEST

April’s Winner:  Congratulations to
Mary Knight-Strong of Harborcreek, PA!

May Question: Is Findley Lake a natural lake and for whom was it named?

This month’s prize winner will  receive a Lolita wine, martini or pilsner glass at NOSTALGIA, “the coolest store in town”! Send your answers to stay@theblueheroninn.com with the subject title: “Trivia Contest” and we will draw one winner from the correct entries. Entries accepted until May 30^th.

“NAME THE GIRAFFE” CONTEST

Nostalgia is celebrating its newest addition with a brand new contest, “Name the Giraffe”. Come visit our 5-foot tall giraffe & enter your favorite giraffe name!

The winner will receive a $50.00 gift certificate to Nostalgia, second place winner will win a $25.00 Nostalgia gift certificate. The contest will run until Memorial Day, May 25, 2009. No purchase is necessary and children 10 and under may register as many times as they wish. Come in & register; we’re receiving some very cool name choices …

ARTS & CRAFTS WEEKEND GET-AWAY

Chautauqua-Lake Erie Art Trail
Open Studio Tour Friday/Saturday nights – May 22 & 23

Put an artistic twist on this year’s Labor Day Weekend. Twenty Chautauqua-Lake Erie area artists and galleries hahave combined forces to offer an Open Studio Tour, May 23-24. This event features 19 artists in Chautauqua County in close proximity to route 20 running from Silver Creek, NY to Sherman, NY. Artists’ studios will be open to the public from 10 AM to 5 PM on Saturday and from 11 AM to 4 PM on Sunday.

Enjoy a  2-night stay, full breakfast each morning and Saturday night  dinner for two in the Blue Heron dining room.This is the perfect opportunity to learn about and support our regional artists.

All-inclusive Package Cost: $369.00 – 399.00 double occupancy (package requires 2 night stay and includes all above amenities)

ERIE AREA “GARDEN TOUR” WEEKEND GET-AWAY Sat/Sun, May 23 & 24

Attention gardening gurus & flower fanciers!
Visit 6 of the Best Private Gardens in the Erie, PA area on Sun May24th. Directions, garden descriptions and admissions tickets are available on the web site: www.opendaysprogram.org. Sponsored by The Garden Conservancy, the Open Days program is America’s only national private garden-visiting program, made possible by the work of hundreds of volunteers.

Enjoy a 2-night stay, full breakfast each morning and Saturday night dinner for two in the Blue Heron dining room. The Garden Tour tickets are on us, as well as tips on points of interest in proximity to the gardens.

$369.00 – 399.00 double occupancy (requires 2 night stay)


ROGER TORY PETERSON BIRDING WEEKEND 
June 4, 5 & 6

Guests who register for the Festival will
receive 20% off a two-night stay

The Roger Tory Peterson Institute in nearby Jamestown, NY will honor Dr. Peterson’s
legacy at the first annual  Birding Festival.

This festival will provide an entertaining and educational experience through activities including the showing
of re-mastered Peterson films, keynote speakers Kenn Kaufman
and Pete Dunne, workshops with Kaufman, Dunne, Lang Elliott
and John Rappole, and field trips to area birding hotspots
led by knowledgeable local birders.

To register, download the registration form and mail it to Birding Festival, 311 Curtis Street, Jamestown, NY 14701. You can also download a schedule of events and a checklist of the birds of Chautauqua County.

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