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All About Glass From the Crystal City and Around the World

Program Number: 9535RJ
Start and End Dates:
12/3/2012 - 12/6/2012; 12/3/2013 - 12/6/2013;
Duration: 3 nights
Location: Corning, New York
Price starting at: $498.00 - Price may vary based on date, departure city
Program Type: Arts, Misc.; Crafts
Meals: 10; 3 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches, 3 Dinners    
Meal Options: Low Fat; Low Salt; Vegetarian    

In the heart of the beautiful Finger Lakes region of New York, experience the history and mystery of art glass as you delve into the world-renowned collections of the Corning Museum of Glass. Lectures by leading glass scholars and artists set the stage for in-depth gallery exploration of this amazing 3,500-year old love affair between artists and the medium of glass.




Highlights

• Create your own glass ornament and fused glass decoration during a workshop at the Corning Museum’s studio.
• Learn about Steuben Glass and its founder Frederick Carder before visiting the Rakow Research Library and the home of a Steuben collector.
• Walk along the Market Street Historic District and enjoy an opportunity to explore its hot glass shops.



Activity Particulars

Walking and/or standing for up to one hour at a time. Wheelchairs can be accommodated.




Date Specific Information

12-3-2013

Enjoy the latest in hearing technology — listening devices — on this date.



Coordinated by Watson Homestead Conference and Retreat Center.




Corning

The southern gateway to the Finger Lakes region in western New York, Corning is a charming and historic community best known for the world-renowned Corning Museum of Glass, as well as nearby glacial lakes and gorgeous panoramas.
Accommodations
Conference center on nearly 400 acres of unspoiled land with heated indoor pool.
Meals and Lodgings
   Watson Homestead Conference & Retreat Center
  Painted Post, NY 3 nights
 Watson Homestead Conference & Retreat Center
Type: Conference Center
  Description: Watson Homestead has been an Road Scholar super site since 1982. Comprised of over 500 acres, the site is located 15 minutes (8 miles) west of Corning. It was established by Thomas J. Watson (founder of IBM) on his birthplace - hence Watson Homestead.
  Contact info: 9620 Dry Run Road
Painted Post, NY 14870 USA
phone: 607-962-0541
web: www.watsonhomestead.com
  Room amenities: Heat and AC, some rooms feature an outside patio and are located one level below the dining room and classroom level - via stairs. Since we are a retreat center, individual guest rooms do not have television sets. There are television sets in three lounge areas available for guests.
  Facility amenities: Amenities on site and at no extra charge to participants include indoor heated pool, hiking trails, daily group newspapers, wi-fi capable in classroom and lounge areas, chapel, 24 hour coffee/beverage, free parking and snacks.
  Smoking allowed: No
  Additional nights prior: $85 Add-a-room accommodations for participants may be available, depending on availability. Please inquire.
  Check in time: 3:00 PM
  Additional nights after: $85 Add-a-room accommodations for participants may be available, depending on availability. Please inquire.
  Check out time: 10:00 AM


Travel Details
  Start of Program:
11 am. arrival You will be staying at Watson Homestead Conference & Retreat Center that night.
  End of Program:
10:30 am. departure You will be staying at Watson Homestead Conference & Retreat Center the night before.
  Required documents:
The Road Scholar Health & Safety Form is required.
  Parking availability:
Parking at Watson Homestead is available at no charge.
Transportation
To Start of Program
  Location:  Painted Post, NY
  Nearest city or town:  Painted Post, NY
  Nearest highway: Interstate 86 (also called NYS Route 17)
  Nearest airport:  Elmira-Corning Regional Airport (ELM) located at exit 50 of I86.
  From End of Program
  Location: Painted Post, NY
    (Additional transportation information same as above)
Travel Details
 

ELM

 

From Airport

 
 

Service:

 

Hotel Shuttle
Watson Homestead
phone: 607-962-0541
Advanced Reservations Required

 

Per Person/One Way:

 

$25
Prices are subject to change.
 

Travel Time:

 

thirty minutes 
 

Distance:

 

25 miles
   

Watson Homestead staff are available to pick up participants from the Elmira-Corning Regional airport (ELM) with prior reservations. Airlines serving ELM include USAir, Delta and Continental.
 

Corning

 

From Bus Terminal

 
 

Service:

 

Hotel Shuttle
Watson Homestead
phone: 607-962-0541
Advanced Reservations Required

 

Per Person/One Way:

 

$10
Prices are subject to change.
 

Travel Time:

 

15 minutes 
 

Distance:

 

8 miles
   

Watson Homestead staff are available to pick up participants from the bus terminals in Corning or Gang Mills with prior reservations. Bus companies serving these two cities are Shortline (www.coachusa.com/shortline) or NY Trailways (www.trailways.ny.com).
 
Driving Directions
  From Albany, Massachusetts & New England: Find your way to Interstate 88 (just north west of Albany, off I 90). Travel west on I 88 to Binghamton. Then go west on Interstate 86 (also NY State Route 17) to exit 42. At top of exit ramp, turn right onto Steuben Co. Route 26, Meads Creek Road. You will travel just over 3 miles to the Homestead entrance sign. Turn right on Dry Run Road and follow signs to the Main Lodge.
  From Canada and Buffalo: Take Interstate 90 East to Rochester, then 390 South. Route 390 T's into Interstate 86 (also NY State Route 17). Take I86 east to exit 42. At top of exit ramp, turn left onto Steuben Co. Route 26, Meads Creek Road. You will travel just over 3 miles to the Homestead entrance sign. Turn right on Dry Run Road and follow signs to the Main Lodge.
  From Jamestown and the West Travel east on Interstate 86 (also NY State Route 17) to exit 42. At top of exit ramp, turn left onto Steuben Co. Route 26, Meads Creek Road. You will travel just over 3 miles to the Homestead entrance sign. Turn right on Dry Run Road and follow signs to the Main Lodge.
  From Pennsylvania and South: Travel north on State Route 15 N (future interstate 99) from Harrisburg to Interstate 86 West (also NY State Route 17) at Painted Post. Take Interstate 86 West to exit 42. At top of exit ramp, turn right onto Steuben Co. Route 26, Meads Creek Road. You will travel just over 3 miles to the Homestead entrance sign. Turn right on Dry Run Road and follow signs to the Main Lodge.
  From the New York metropolitan area: Travel west on Interstate 86 (also NY State Route 17) to exit 42. At top of exit ramp, turn right onto Steuben Co. Route 26, Meads Creek Road. You will travel just over 3 miles to the Homestead entrance sign. Turn right on Dry Run Road and follow signs to the Main Lodge.
The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.


Daily Schedule

Day 1: Orientation and first lecture
(Monday, December 3)
   
 Lunch: Registration at 11 am in the lobby. Lunch in the dining room is served at 12:30 PM. Lunch buffet includes a full salad bar daily in addition to featured entres.
 Afternoon: We will introduce the site, staff and program details. Then we will introduce group members to each other. Next we will commence our glass program with a lecture or a video on the history of the Crystal City. Swimming pool available from 4:30 - 5:30 PM.
 Dinner: Dinner is served at 6PM in the dining room. We feature all-you-can-eat country-style buffet entrees with at least one vegetarian option and a salad bar with dinner.
 Evening: Lecture at 7PM on the Market Street Historic District and local regional history.
   
Accommodations: Watson Homestead Conference & Retreat Center
Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner

Day 2: Corning Museum of Glass, the Rakow Library, and blowing a glass ornament.
(Tuesday, December 4)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast entrees, hot and cold, are served at 8 AM in the dining room. Coffee, tea and decaf are available 24/7.
 Morning: Travel to the world famous Corning Museum of Glass for a tour through the 3500 years of glass artistry, the science and industry exhibitions and the Hot Glass Show and other demonstrations. We will also have a gallery talk by one of the Museum curators.
 Lunch: Lunch will be at the Corning Museum of Glass.
 Afternoon: Our appointment at the Studio of the Corning Museum of Glass to blow an ornament and make a fused suncatcher. We will also visit the Rakow Library. Exploration of the galleries continues with a tour of the Rakow Library and its rare boook holdings. Participants may wish to use the Rakow Library to research an aspect of glassmaking history, a glass artist or find out information about something they own. Upon return to Watson Homestead, swimming pool will be available from 4:30 - 5:30 PM.
 Dinner: Dinner is served at 6PM in the dining room. We feature all-you-can-eat country-style buffet entrees with at least one vegetarian option and a salad bar with dinner.
 Evening: Lecture on Steuben Glass during the Frederick Carder years (1903-32) and modern Steuben (1932 to 2011).
   
Accommodations: Watson Homestead Conference & Retreat Center
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: More at the Corning Museum of Glass and Market Street, wine reception.
(Wednesday, December 5)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast entrees, hot and cold, are served at 8 AM in the dining room. Coffee, tea and decaf are available 24/7.
 Morning: Our in-depth investigation of the Museum's holdings continue with two staff presentations and a tour of the Frederick Carder Steuben collection.
 Lunch: Lunch will be at the Corning Museum of Glass.
 Afternoon: This afternoon we will shuttle by bus to downtown Corning for an architectural walking tour of the Market Street Historic District with hot glass shops and architecturally significant examples of late 19th century brick and terra cotta commercial buildings. We will visit the private home of a Carder Steuben glass collector in Corning's historic Southside neighborhood disctict for a Finger Lakes wine reception.
 Dinner: Dinner is served at 6PM in the dining room. We feature all-you-can-eat country-style buffet entrees with at least one vegetarian option and a full salad bar with each dinner.
 Evening: This evening's activity, a Watson Homestead tradition, is for everyone to help crank the ice cream, then it's your choice of toppings or home-made maple syrup!
   
Accommodations: Watson Homestead Conference & Retreat Center
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Lecture on "Museum Under Water" and a hands-on glass object identification program.
(Thursday, December 6)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast entrees, hot and cold, are served at 8 AM in the dining room. Coffee, tea and decaf are available 24/7.
 Morning: Check out of rooms after breakfast. We will have two final morning lectures on the effects of the flood of 1972 on the Museum and city. Plus a final session of pass around and identify glass onjects, cut, pressed, engraved and iridized. Vouchers for admission to the Rockwell Museum of Western Art in downtown Corning will also be distributed.
 Lunch: You will create your own sack lunch at breakfast to eat at your convenience.
   
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Important information about your itinerary: Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information featured on this website. Itineraries are based on our best information at this time. Circumstances beyond our control may require us to adjust itineraries or other details. We regret any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding. Information will be sent to you from your Program Provider approximately three weeks prior to the program start date. The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.


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