Think big thoughts and discuss big ideas this week in the Canandaigua area

Mike Murphy, Canandaigua Daily Messenger
·3 min read

For that moment in your life when you wanted to add your two cents to the debate on lofty world affairs, enjoy the ballet, learn how to make maple syrup in your backyard, find out if grandma’s glassware is worth as much as you think it is and cap off an evening by sampling the food and drink of the Finger Lakes — all at virtually the same time — then you’re in luck.

Here’s what’s happening this week.

1. Think big in Canandaigua

The first in a series of group discussions, Great Decisions, a global affairs education program, will be held 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 2, at Ferris Hills at West Lake. Topic one is “Mideast Realignment.” Interested community members may attend as many of the eight scheduled sessions as they choose. Optional “Great Decisions” discussion books are available for purchase online at www.fpa.org. You can best get to Ferris Hills from the 3300 block of West Lake Road in Canandaigua, via Peg Rayburn Drive.

2. Enjoy the ballet in Canandaigua

Rochester City Ballet's "Peter & the Wolf" will be performed at noon and 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 3, and noon Sunday, Feb. 4, at the Fort Hill Performing Arts Center, 20 Fort Hill Ave., Canandaigua. The performance, which features new choreography from Artistic Director Shannon Rodriguez, will also feature excerpts from Act III of “The Sleeping Beauty.” A free special sensory-friendly show is scheduled for 2 p.m. Feb. 4 for children and families on the autism spectrum or with other developmental disabilities and/or enhanced sensory restrictions. To purchase tickets or reserve a seat at the sensory-friendly performance, visit rochestercityballet.org.

3. Satisfy your curiosity in West Bloomfield

Lisa Hochgraf leads a Feldenkrais method session at the 2023 Day of Curiosity. This year's Chautauqua-style event will be Feb. 4 at the West Bloomfield United Church of Christ.
Lisa Hochgraf leads a Feldenkrais method session at the 2023 Day of Curiosity. This year's Chautauqua-style event will be Feb. 4 at the West Bloomfield United Church of Christ.

A “Day of Curiosity” is planned from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 3, at West Bloomfield United Church of Christ, 9035 state Route 5. The second annual event includes one-hour presentations on an eclectic range of subjects including a panel on youth mental health, backyard maple sugaring, cybersecurity, root causes of racism, artificial intelligence, Feldenkrais, methods of deep discernment and a demonstration tour of the church’s 1875 Davis organ, conducted by a virtuoso Eastman School of Music graduate. Attendees can choose up to four sessions. Preregistration is encouraged at http://tiny.cc/dayofcuriosity2024.

4. Visit the library

Take Your Child to the Library Day is Feb. 3 at libraries across Ontario, Wayne, Wyoming, and Livingston counties. Launched in 2011 in Connecticut, this annual event raises community awareness about the importance of the library in the life of a child and promotes library services and programs for children and families.

5. How much is this piece worth? Find out in Geneva

An antiques and collectibles roundtable will be held at 2 p.m. Feb. 3 at the Geneva History Museum, 543 S. Main St., Geneva. Attendees can bring in antiques or vintage items they would like to learn more about or simply discuss with antiques dealers Christina Champion, Peter Jablonski and Michael Haskins, who will examine and comment on items brought to the meeting. Suggested items include paintings, prints, bottles, china, glassware, oriental rugs, decorative accessories, artwork, primitives, textiles and small furniture. The meeting is sponsored by the Antiques Club of the Finger Lakes and is free and open to the public.

6. Eat, drink and have fun in Victor

Enjoy “An Evening of Great Tastes” from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Feb. 3 at Cobblestone Creek Country Club, 100 Cobble Creek Road, Victor. Visitors to the Farmington-Victor Kiwanis Club event will enjoy tastings from 20-plus wineries, breweries, distilleries and eateries. The cost is $35 per person; $60 per couple. Tickets are available at the Victor and Farmington branches of Canandaigua National Bank, the Farmington branch of Lyons National Bank and KiwanisClubOfFarmingtonVictorNY.org. Call 585-433-5926 with questions.

If you have an event you'd like to see listed in the "Things to Do" column, email Mike Murphy at mmurphy@messengerpostmedia.com.

Mike Murphy covers Canandaigua and other communities in Ontario County and writes the Eat, Drink and Be Murphy food and drink column. Follow him on X at @MPN_MikeMurphy.

This article originally appeared on MPNnow: Think big thoughts, debate big ideas this week in the Finger Lakes