Attendees and organizers of an event co-sponsored with Writers & Books gather with poet Craig Morgan Teicher at the Gell Center in South Bristol near Glen Hollow.
Our Mission
The library in Glen Hollow has hosted poets, novelists, and memoirists.
Glen Hollow is more than a vacation spot in the heart of wine country, it is a unique site that encourages exploration, invites relaxation, and inspires reflection. The historic property that is Glen Hollow FLX serves our broader mission which is to use creativity, discovery, and advocacy to connect people with their personal, professional, and civic communities.
Connecting with community happens in many ways: it can be as intimate as renewing the bonds with one’s romantic partner or family in a private setting, shared in the way of chance encounters with interesting people in a new locale, or the communal inspiration of a common idea or ideal. As professional writer-editors in our ‘day jobs’ at Glen Hollow, Ink, we apply this expansive view of community to our goal of making the time one spends in our Finger Lakes space uniquely invigorating.
To that end, we have been partners with the Academy of American Poets since our founding in 2018, providing residence-retreats to winners of their Lenore Marshall Prize and serving as a conduit to local literary arts organization Writers & Books, which has locations both here in South Bristol and in Rochester.
As a result, guests who stay here become part of a special community—one that includes writers and dreamers, idealists and activists, rejuvenators and the rejuvenated.
Henri Matisse once said that “Creativity takes Courage.” His words are the ground of being for the work we do at Glen Hollow, Ink, where as editors we provide guidance and support to a diverse range of voices. In addition to the winners of the Academy’s Lenore Marshall Prize, we have been proud to host the Glen Hollow Fantasy Writers Retreat for three years in a row. Other writers have stayed here as well; as clients, friends, and guests. Working on projects as diverse as poetry, memoir, PhD dissertations, and fantasy novels, Glen Hollow has been a home for thinkers and creators even before we officially opened to the public.
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Winner of the 2018 Lenore Marshall Prize, Craig was our first Glen Hollow Poet-in-Residence in April 2019. Craig will be conducting a virtual reading at Writers & Books April 6, 2021. Click here for free tickets.
With forty novels and over 100 short stories published, Jody is a beloved presence in the field of Science Fiction and Fantasy. In 2020 she was the workshop leader for the Glen Hollow Fantasy Writers Retreat.
Winner of the 2020 Lenore Marshall Prize, Hanif is Glen Hollow’s first ‘virtual’ Poet-in-Residence. Hanif will be conducting a virtual reading at Writers & Books April 15, 2021. Click here for free tickets.
Our exhortation to “Discover something beautiful” at Glen Hollow is an invitation to explore all that this property—and the surrounding region—has to offer. One of the largest viticultural regions in the country, the Finger Lakes tradition of winemaking started with the first bonded winery in the US (Pleasant Valley, 1860) and was revolutionized almost exactly one hundred years later by one of the modern pioneers of vinifera grape production (Dr. Konstantin Frank, 1962). Situated around eleven glacial lakes, the Finger Lakes is unique for combining a vast area of stunning physical beauty with rich cultural history (the homes of Susan B Anthony, Harriet Tubman, Mark Twain, and George Eastman can all be found here), a burgeoning food and beverage scene, and unique offerings in health and wellness. But if there were one thing that sets the Finger Lakes region apart from the bustling wine country of California, or the small town meccas of New England, it would be its authenticity. Poised at the threshold of becoming the next big thing, this is where you will make the most important discovery: the one you make your own.
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Culinary & craft beverages
With over 140 wineries in the region, it was difficult to choose only two as our official partners, but we have done so with Heron Hill and Domaine LeSeurre. In addition to the many great wineries, craft breweries and distilleries abound—especially near Canandaigua Lake. Of the many incredible restaurants in the region, FLX Table was named top new restaurant by USA Today.
Health & wellness
The history of the Finger Lakes as a tourist destination dates back to the mineral springs and spas of the 19th century. Our goal to make this a site of healing and restoration led to our partnering with Finger Lakes Forest Therapy who conducts sessions onsite. We also offer onsite yoga and massage therapy, and are launching our Cottage Spa in the summer of 2021.
Culture & the arts
The Finger Lakes are replete with historic sites such as the Women’s Rights National Park or the Seneca Art and Culture Center at Ganondagan. Our corner of the region has become a great location for music, with bands playing at Hollerhorn, Roots Cafe, and Arbor Hill, and national acts at CMAC. Every year, thousands visit the Naples Grape Festival for its arts, music and food.
Glen Hollow is committed to advocating for issues and institutions in a way that encourages open dialog and civil discourse, emphasizing the shared ideals that bind our community together. We have served as both a crossroad for conversations and a launchpad for activism, while maintaining ongoing support for culture and the arts in our region.
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South Bristol for Change
Sometimes, in order to keep the things you love, you need to change the way you think. A small, progressive organization in a majority conservative region, SB4C has supported candidates and aims driven by common sense and consensus in an effort to maintain—and improve—the quality of life in Ontario County, NY.
Writers & Books
A literary arts organization in our region for over forty years, Writers and Books has been in South Bristol for nearly that long. Gell: A Finger Lakes Creative Retreat, a site for literary activities and writing residencies, plans to reopen in summer 2021. We are proud to partner with them on bringing original voices to the area.
Social Justice
Located in a community that is 96% White, we felt that it was important to show that issues of social justice are relevant everywhere and to be vocal allies in the assertion that Black Lives Matter. We were privileged to play a small role in our local rally and march, emphasizing GOTV efforts and voter registration.
We were honored to host a visit by then-candidate Samra Brouk in her effort to bring attention to the plight of local businesses during the pandemic. Senator Brouk now represents our region in the 55th district of the NYS Senate.