What do you get when you mix teens and pre-teens together with a kitty litter cake, soap making demonstrations, pizza party and an all night slumber party?  Not much slumber for sure!  It probably had something to do with the ghost stories told by the guests.  Can’t wait for the next teen event– a sweet sixteen slumber party next week!

Speaking of ghost-we don’t have any.  Sorry.  If that disappoints you there is always the Lizzie Borden B&B.  How exciting that would be for ghost lovers.

Ah and for excitement, life at the Ellwanger has certainly been that and more.  The month of May was chock full of guests celebrating anything from a graduation with a Harp Recital, to Breakfast at Tiffany’s Bridal Shower (see photo).

And now for some much needed R&R.  Do you need a respite from your hectic work and social schedule?

July is a great month to celebrate life with “Taking out the Knots” package.

• Nothing takes the knots out like an urban retreat, luxurious accommodations, touch therapy and a bountiful breakfast

Package Includes:

• Two nights accommodation in the Historical Ellwanger Estate
• Two– 1 hour massages
• Breakfast each morning
• Spa Gift Basket
• Late checkout of 2pm
• Price $465, Phone Reservations only @ 585–546-5103

*Guests are advised to make their spa reservations ASAP prior to arrival.  All packages are based on availability.  Excludes taxes and gratuity.

]]> http://ellwangerestate.com/blog/?feed=rss2&p=742 0 http://ellwangerestate.com/blog/?p=740 http://ellwangerestate.com/blog/?p=740#comments Mon, 05 Jul 2010 18:51:11 +0000 admin http://ellwangerestate.com/blog/?p=740

Even if you’re not a horticulturalist or a gardening expert, you can still appreciate all the beauty that Mother Nature has to offer with a garden stay at the Ellwanger Estate bed & breakfast. The Ellwanger offers a Zen-like sanctuary with stunning gardens and outdoor views that may inspire you to create your own secret garden.

The Ellwanger Garden is home to over 300 different varieties of perennials, roses, peonies, and also features award winning pear trees. Our guests are invited to walk through the meandering garden paths, or sit, reflect and mediate.  Or you may wish to sign up for horticultural seminars at the Rochester Civic Garden Center. And as a special treat, all guest receive heirloom seed packs, compliments of the Estate.  Hope to see you down the garden path.

Anyone who has ever looked into the glazed eyes of a soldier dying on the battlefield will think hard before starting a war.” Otto Von Bismark

Each year, Memorial Day gives us the formal opportunity to acknowledge and appreciate the men and women who have died in military service to our nation. The holiday was originally called Decoration Day. Though Waterloo, N.Y. was officially declared the birthplace of Memorial Day by Lyndon Johnson in 1966, it is likely that the holiday had many separate beginnings, with over two dozen cities claiming to be the birthplace of this day of remembrance. The first observance of Memorial Day was May 30, 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers in Arlington National Cemetery. However, the South refused to acknowledge the holiday and honored its war dead separately until after World War I–when the significance of the holiday broadened to honor all Americans who had died fighting in any war, not just the Civil War. In 1915, a poet, Moina Michael conceived the idea to wear red poppies on Memorial Day as a tangible expression of honor for servicemen who had died serving the country. This tradition ultimately spred to other countries as well, and the U.S. Postal Service honored Ms Michael in 1948 for her role in founding the National Poppy Movement with the issue of her likeness on a 3 cent red postage stamp. One of her poems conveys her reasons for choosing the poppy as the commemorative flower:

We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies.

Since the late 1950s,on the Thursday before Memorial Day, the 1,200 soldiers of the Third U.S. Infantry place small American flags at each of the 260,000 plus gravestones at Arlington National Cemetery. Additionally, since 1998, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts place a candle at each of the 15,300 grave sites of soldiers buried at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park on the Saturday before the observed holiday.

A sense of belonging, and tradition enriches all our lives. Most of us have an ancestor, a relative, a friend, a coworker who fought in one of the wars of this country…since the Revolutionary War in our fight for independence as a nation. And, in their deaths, these individuals have made us the beneficiaries of their ultimate sacrifice.

Mahatma Gandhi is quoted as saying, “The only tyrant I accept in this world is the ‘still small voice’ within me.” Moreover, he made the following poignant comments about the origins of violence:

“Seven blunders of the world that lead to violence: wealth without work, pleasure without conscience, knowledge without character, commerce without morality, science without humanity, worship without sacrifice, politics without principle.”

I think if you ponder Gandhi’s statement, you will see the rationale for every war we have fought to the present time somewhere in the text. We are a nation built upon the principles of liberty and justice for all. In efforts to preserve these principles both for our own nation, and to aid nations less fortunate than ours, citizens of our country have died in the process. And, as John Quincy Adams, our sixth President of the United States remarked, “The influence of each human being on others in this life is a kind of immortality.”

I’ll close this week’s Insight with a powerful poem composed as the author experiences the Vietnam Memorial. For all of you who have stood before this winding granite wall of names, you’ll identify with the images he evokes. Over 58,000 Americans died in this controversial war, and I think this poem speaks poignantly of them, and ultimately salutes all our war-dead.

Facing It

My black face fades,
hiding inside the black granite.
I said I wouldn’t,
dammit: No tears.
I’m stone. I’m flesh.
My clouded reflection eyes me
like a bird of prey, the profile of night
slanted against morning. I turn
this way–the stone lets me go.
I turn that way–I’m inside
the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial
again, depending on the light
to make a difference.
I go down the 58,022 names,
half-expecting to find
my own in letters like smoke.
I touch the name Andrew Johnson;
I see the booby trap’s white flash.
Names shimmer on a woman’s blouse
but when she walks away
the names stay on the wall.
Brushstrokes flash, a red bird’s
wings cutting across my stare.
The sky. A plane in the sky.
A white vet’s image floats
closer to me, then his pale eyes
look through mine. I’m a window.
He’s lost his right arm
inside the stone. In the black mirror
a woman’s trying to erase names:
No, she’s brushing a boy’s hair.
Yusef Komunyakaa

Stephen L. Hines, M.D.
May 2001

As a businesswoman myself, I know that I am interested in creature comforts that suit me as a female traveler: from plush robes to vanity mirrors. So the Ellwanger Estate has gradually been doing more to cater to the female traveler.

Everyone wants a safe, comfortable place to sleep, wash up, and maybe get some work done. So how does the Ellwanger Estate cater to women? You find out what they’re looking for and you give it to them. And women want a spa: everything from license massage therapy, thick bathrobes, curved shower-rods, vanity mirrors, book lights, I Pod docking stations, yoga mats, gourmet coffees and teas and satin-covered hangers.

There are more and more women in the workplace now and I think we don’t pay enough attention to their needs. By providing such items as fluffy robes, a ladies-only emergency kit containing pantyhose and tampons, make-up removal kit, hair dryers, magazines and large sizes of toiletry products, the Ellwanger Estate B&B has given women more space in their suitcases for shoes.

However, it’s not all about superior levels of service and amenities, it’s also about safety. Some concerns, such as safety, are important no matter what your gender. The Ellwanger Estate offers on site parking, steps from the front door. The grounds are surround by a gated stonewall, and a home security system. You have a sense that you are in a secret garden.

But it does not end there. Almost every woman I know who travels a lot works out a lot. Just a block from the estate is the Genesee River Trail. This trail runs up to 7 miles with loops from 0.6–2.6 miles along the scenic Genesee River. Great for a run or a stroll.

Travelers also expect to be rewarded for their loyalty. Loyalty is huge. So the Ellwanger Estate has a return guest 10% discount. For our return guest, the Ellwanger Estate provides consistency, and the more consistency you can have in your travel, the less disorienting it is.

One of our guests was so enamoured with the Ellwanger Estate, that by the-end of her trip she was a bit reluctant to leave, stating, “I wish we would of had more time to spend enjoying those spacious living rooms and reading nooks. Being in the historic part of Rochester with all the mature trees was excellent with the fall foliage. Whether being indoors looking out from a reading nook or out on the grounds of the estate –it was relaxing. “

The feeling is welcoming. The look is more European, yet clean and crisp. The response has been “positive, positive, positive.” And yes “The Ellwanger Estate is on my list”.

P.S. Please visit my kitchen interior designer Dani Polidor at this weekend’s Home and Garden Show!

http://www.thenewsroom.com/details/4079424

posted 3/25/2010

So the Ellwanger Estate is having it’s own Spring Awakening with re makes, re-do, and reconstruction, completing every thing from rewiring lights and doorbell, to plumbing, insulation updates, and plastering. And are we ready!

Since last season three gardens have been resurrected including George Ellwanger’s original rock garden and Jardin de Vie (Garden of life) in the South court. Inside creature comforts have been added with a guest beverage center/ refrigerator and updates to the rooms to include; trial linens by Compy Company, book lights, and interior decorating updates.

A Spring Awakening Event is coming to the Ellwanger Estate B&B the weekend of March 19–21, 2010. Our guests will be surrounded by Spring glory; evening Spring desserts, a Saturday demonstration on flower arrangements, and answers to questions on spring planting.

We all look forward to ushering this Spring and a new season with you all at the Ellwanger Estate B&B.
posted 3/14/2010

Ah… Winter Equinox starts today and now for longer days. I can’t believe autumn is over. I honestly feel that I just got out the grill and soon it’s time to put it away-or maybe not. Next thing you know, I’ll be feeling the pressure of the holiday season… oh too late.

But what a season it has been! As the innkeeper at The Ellwanger Estate B&B 2009 was an adventure in the fine art of cooking (not to mention a marathon of 1000 other things). Conservation of calories was on everyone’s plate (no pun intended).

SO WE LOVE DIET TIPS…
As long as they don’t require a lot of gearing up (on food purchasing and will power) or eliminating too much of what we enjoy. As reported in 4woman.gov, weekends wreak havoc on the diet…gee, ya think? On the weekends, it looks like we eat an extra 225 calories on Saturday (that doesn’t seem like a lot to me) — and if we watch it or exercise more, we can keep our weight stable. That extra 225 of calories could be nine pounds in a year! Geez…being diligent on the weekends matters. Okay, note to self.

On a brighter note, if you keep a food diary, you can double your weight loss. That’s impressive. It turns out that what this does is makes you accountable to yourself. Using whatever method is easiest for you, you should do it right after you’ve eaten. It truly makes you think more about what you are eating and why. Consciousness is always a positive.

Lastly, it’s good to load up on what’s known as “volume foods”. Volume foods contain a lot of water and fiber. When we fill up on these foods, we feel full with not a lot of extra calories. Studies have shown that we eat more with our eyes — in other words we eat the same amount of weight or volume, not necessarily calories. We get discouraged with super small portions. The way to work with this and still lose weight is to load up on these foods, like salads, soups (not cream), beans, fresh fruit and whole grains — you’ll feel full and lose weight. Limit food like pretzels and crackers and chips, as they are dense in calories and easy to get carried away.

One more tip and that is to try and eat your protein and larger meals earlier in the day — lesser protein in the evenings — more carbohydrates. Keeping that meal to 500 or 700 calories can mean better sleep patterns and better sleep means a more efficient metabolism.

So eat and be well. And please visit the Ellwanger Estate B&B where a delicious voluminous breakfast is served and improved slept is to be had by all!

NEED A LAST MINUTE GIFT? CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE. Just e-mail the details and I will invoice you via paypals and send the certificate by email.

Happy Holiday!
Rosemary Janofsky
Innkeeper at the Ellwanger Estate B&B

http://sportsmedicine.about.com/od/sportsnutrition/a/123004a.htm
http://www.healthywomen.org/wellness/alternativemedicine/improvingsleepwithoutmedication
http://www.my-calorie-counter.com/Content/High-Volume-Foods.asp
http://www.4woman.gov/news/english/617386.htm

A Weekend Bed and Breakfast

The Ellwanger Estate

The home of George Ellwanger and family for 115 years has under gone a comprehensive historical restoration. We wish to share the Ellwanger Estate as your premiere lodge destination. Please share the excitement and energy of this landmark site.

Grand Hall

The historical Ellwanger Estate located in the heart of Rochester’s Mount Hope Cultural District is your premiere lodging destination. This beautifully restored home offers rooms with spectacular views of the lush garden and courtyards. Stroll in the famous Ellwanger Gardens or enjoy a cool drink on the home’s restored veranda. The natural beauty of the Mount Hope and Highland Park Preservation area, combined with the ambience of The Ellwanger will exceed your every expectation. The Ellwanger will be pleased to help you plan a special event or a simple weekend get-away. The Ellwanger Estate is the former home of George Ellwanger, world-renowned Horticulturist. The Gardens are owned and maintained by the Landmark Society of Western New York and the seasonal changes invite you to come back year after year.

Rochester offers many area attraction– The Susan B Anthony House, Strong National Museum of Play, Memorial Art Gallery, George Eastman House, Mount Hope Cemetery, Rochester Museum of Science,  Strasenburgh Planetarium, Highland Park, University of Rochester, and the Eastman School of Music, just to name a few. Ask our knowledgeable staff to assist you with the many possibilities to explore in the Rochester Area and about the many fine-dining establishments that Rochester offers.