Elmira/Corning/Basque
On last week's program I heard a listener's comments on a previous
show which visited Elmira's minor league ballpark, Dunn Field ("Boys
of Summer"). As a resident of Corning, NY, twenty minutes up the
Chemung from Elmira, I too have many fond memories of Dunn Field, the
Elmira Pioneers, and the mid-game on-the-field fan-participation
publicity stunts (throw a ball through a plywood clown's mouth and
win a hamburg). I would really enjoy hearing the audio of the "Boys
of Summer" program.
By the way, Corning, NY is another peculiar place worth visiting. Did
you know it's the third largest tourist attraction in NY State after
NYC and Niagra Falls? It's situated in the lovely Finger Lakes Region
with its pristine glacial lakes nestled among hills whose sides are
covered with vineyards and farmhouses. Corning itself is obviously
famous for its glass factory and world-renowned glass museum. It's
beautiful historic downtown has been excellently preserved, it's the
home of Cinderella Softball and hosts the international Cinderella
World Series annually. Originally a company town more working-class
than managerial, Corning is still the HQ for the multi-national
Corning Inc., but almost all of its factory operations are located
abroad now. The numerous devil-may-care shift-change watering holes
on Market St. are now home to coffee shops, brew pubs, and lava
lounges. However, the roadhouses on the outskirts of town remain
unaffected by these economic trends and still thrive as best they
know how. Also, Corning is home to the Rockwell Museum of Western
Art, the largest collection of its kind east of the Mississippi.
Corning is tops in state high school lacrosse outside of Long Island
to whom they lose almost every year in the state finals. Corning is a
30 minute drive from Watkins Glen Speedway, once home to the Grand
Prix and a 60s rock festival larger than Woodstock. Bordering Corning
are towns with names rich in American and Native American history
such as Painted Post and Horseheads.
Steve
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