Who wouldn't want to relax with this as their backdrop?

Our wine tasting series will be happening all summer long on Wednesday afternoons. All of the tastings are complimentary, too, so it’s a great way to explore new–and favorite–Finger Lakes wineries. The complete list of events is on our website.

The team from Skillet and Embers was on hand, as well as several members of the Inns of Aurora staff. The event was incredibly successful, raising thousands of dollars for its purpose, and everyone went home well-fed to boot!

It is events like these which cause us to stop, look around, and appreciate the family, friends, and neighbors that we care for and are lucky to have. Aurora would be beautiful, but far less special without the people who live, work, and love in this tiny village.

Thanks for the turn out, everyone!

The abundance of plant life is one of the prettiest and most scenic aspects of an entirely, totally scenic area. Everyone and her neighbor has a garden worth gawking at, and there is an abundance of gardening talent in the area, as Alex mentioned in his blog post last weekend. Mackenzie-Childs, just up the street, features gorgeous gardens and grounds, and a mere stroll through Aurora conjures aspirations of gardening genius.

If you’re out and about, either hiking at Montezuma or Bear Swamp, or even just toodling about the village, keep an eye open for these native plants. See how many you can spot! Lilacs are easy, and the Inns’ ubiquitous rose bushes and geraniums are a dead give-away. But some, like elderberries or dragon’s mouth orchid, you may have to travel further far afield to spot.

E.B. Morgan

If our recent birthday bash weren’t proof enough, we kind of adore our founding fathers around here. Lynda is frequently heard to reflect on E.B. as though he’s still hanging around the House, and last night I found myself referring to “Henry and Ezra” like old friends, explaining the history of Wells College, and Henry Wells’ friendship with Ezra Cornell.

But old friends or not, these founding fathers have legacies too, and like with any good legacy, they make good stories. This column published in the neighboring city of Auburn’s Citizen explains the historical impact of one of E.B. Morgan’s most savvy–and kind of rock star–business decisions.

To make a long story short, E.B. is frequently celebrated as one of the co-founders of The New York Times, but he actually saved The New York Times from dissolution and less-savory individuals… Well, just take a gander at the article: author Andrew Roblee explains the story quite well. And now we have even one more reason to love E.B.

pink

Spring is here! The first thing I think about as soon as the Forsythia begins to bloom is scrubbing the winter out of everything in the house. The second is tucking away sweaters and wool pants and finally breaking out color. This spring I’m finally embracing pink, and I wish that I had sooner. Paired with classic khaki and navy, I’m one happy–and brightly hued–guy.

ravines chardonnay

Before I started at the Inns, I almost exclusively drank Pinot Noir–at times venturing into the world of Cab Franc if I felt adventurous. After tasting new wines added to our dining room’s list, attending a wine maker’s dinner, and continuing to explore the Finger Lakes, though, I began to develop a sincere appreciation for whites. I am consistently and immeasurably charmed by almost everything Ravines Wine Cellars do, and their Chardonnay is no exception. I tasted it at almost room temperature at their stunning new location on Seneca Lake last month, and it’s now a staple at my house. Bring on the deck wine!

geraniums

One of the unexpected perks of working here has been the absolute abundance of gardening knowledge floating around. Lynda at the E.B. Morgan House is a watering wizard, Mary Beth knows exactly how much care our plants need, and Dale (our actual gardener) is a walking horticulture compendium. Now that the sun has decided to rejoin the village of constant dawn, the front Boxwood are out and new Geraniums are in. Let the watering commence!

f. scott fitzgerald

I’ve read The Great Gatsby–my absolute favorite (if a bit cliché) novel–for the past six summers running, and this month the world finally seems to agree with me. If you’ve somehow missed the media frenzy, Baz Luhrmann is directing a shining cast in a saturated new film adaptation that’s set to debut in just five short days. I rarely make it to the movie theaters, but Nick Carraway is one good reason to brave the crowds.

Spring is well and truly here, and that I will gain ten pounds within the next two weeks. It would be criminal to pass up lunch in our dining room once… or twice… or three times a week. I mean, all in the name of marketing, right?

Today I tried the Pork Belly Bahn Mi which is just as decadent as it sounds. Perfect for the carnivores among us, yet not so heavy as to be overwhelming.

It was also the first day of serving on our veranda for the season, and not a moment too soon. The weather is criminally gorgeous, and spring is finally here to stay.

Here is the menu… what will you be trying first?

Days like today just beg to be enjoyed as lavishly as possible. How? Doubtful you need to ask, but if you need some ideas…

1. Brunch at the Aurora Inn Dining Room. We’re huge brunch advocates, obviously, so this one’s a no-brainer.
2. Visit Bet the Farm for a wine tasting. Kit and Nancy are as happy as we are about the fantastic weather, and will be tickled to help you pick out a bottle.
3. Take a stroll down our dock. Sit for a while.
4. Pick up a coffee at the Village Market & lounge on the picnic table for a bit. Watch the world go by. 
5. Grab a copy of our walking tour and hit the sidewalks of Aurora.
6. Wells College has tennis courts, a golf course, and one heck of a pretty campus. Feel free to meander.
7. Visit Long Point Park. Any excuse to be outside is a good excuse, and a nice park is as good an excuse as any.
8. Pop into the Arts & Design Center, and get some shopping done for those summer birthdays.
9. Ditto at Jane Morgan’s Little House. Mother’s Day is coming up soon, soooo…
10. Visit the Fargo. Drink a Blue Moon on the patio. And maybe grab a burger, if you’ve had the chance to digest that prodigious brunch.

Photo courtesy of Tammy Swales

It is a beautiful day here in Aurora, as I sit and put my thoughts into words. The birds are chirping, the sun is shining, and a gentle breeze is skimming across the lake. The E.B. Morgan House is in the midst of change: the porch furniture has been placed out, the Adirondack chairs line the lake, gardening has begun, and the swimming dock has found its summer home. This elegant home is very dear to the hearts of many local residents, Wells alumnae, and hotel guests. It is especially meaningful to Lynda Logan and me, as we call it home for part of each week.

E.B. Morgan would be turning 207 years old on May 2, and we are honoring his birth with an intimate gathering in his home at 431 Main Street. We like to think that he would still be enamored with his beautiful village on the East side of Cayuga Lake. This year we celebrate with a one-night stay on May 1, $50 toward dinner at the Aurora Inn, crisp champagne to toast Mr. Morgan, birthday cake, fireside coffee, excerpts from his personal diary, and more. To book, call the front desk at 315-364-8888.

E.B. Morgan was indeed a generous, dedicated man, and we take this opportunity to pay homage to his life and home.

One of our guests’ favorite discoveries time and time again is the old grist mill located on the edge of our lawn, by the lake. Now tumbled down and more scenic than anything, the mill was a component of the local economy when Cayuga Lake was a bustling waterway, connected to the Eerie Canal. Now, it’s merely a pretty backdrop for some gorgeous wedding photos.

Photo Courtesy of Tammy Swales Photography

Alex (Marketing Associate): I love the E.B. Morgan House library. Whether it’s raining outside and the fire is on, or it’s summer when sun is pouring in from the south window, that room always feels like home to me. The book collection is so personal to the house and well-curated, and it’s the space where guests are first welcomed by the innkeeper. If I was lucky enough to live in the house, all my days would be spent there.

I also love the somewhat hidden outdoor corridor to the south of the Lakeside Room. It’s a beautiful path that’s often overlooked, with elegant ivy growing up the brick wall to the veranda. In the fall, the Japanese Dogwoods sprout whimsical, bright red berries. It’s the perfect spot to take a quiet moment in an often jubilant atmosphere.

Lynda (Head Innkeeper): There aren’t many things as beautiful as the way the sunset turns the living room and dining room at EB Morgan House into a golden, peace filled picture.  Everyone watches the sun set in the sky and I watch the magical way the sun sets inside the house. The light is amazing.   It can’t be captured on film.  I have tried.  You have to be there and experience the golden tranquility of the fleeting moments, just before the sun sets.  It is hard to even describe.

Emily (Event Coordinator): I love the back patio space behind the Fargo Bar and Grill. I was a Fargo girl before I came ‘across the street’ as we say to work at the Inns. Many of my closest friends still work there, and there are few evenings I love most than the ones I spend with my favorite people, relaxing after work in the balmy summer air with cold beers in hand.

Meryl (Marketing Director): I love the wine cellar, because it’s the best place in the whole building. It’s cold, it’s organized, and it’s full of wine! Bedsides, it’s good anger management. I get to throw boxes and break them apart.

Mary Beth (Front Desk Manager): At all of our properties, I love the ability to be outside but in such close proximity to beautiful architecture and history.  At the Inn it’s the balconies along with the expanse of terraced lawn that allows this.  Porch swings and rockers, hammocks and Adirondack chairs, a fire pit, the dock, kayaks and canoes.    All of them afford you the pleasure of enjoying your first cup of coffee or your last glass of wine while gazing out over Cayuga Lake or over the sweet town of Aurora.

At the E.B. Morgan House it’s the back porch.  No matter how many times I’ve been on it, there is this relaxed yet sumptuous feeling that comes over me.  And I LOVE the black wicker antique furniture on it along with the splash of peach and pink from the cushions.