We give an overview of a pair of constructions: on the geometric side, we describe Calabi-Yau manifolds, and on the algebraic side, we discuss Gorenstein rings. With certain hypotheses, Gorenstein rings give rise to Calabi-Yau manifolds [24]. Calabi-Yau manifolds are of interest for many reasons, one of which is the central role they play in physics of string theory. The first half of this note gives a brisk review of the geometry necessary to define Calabi-Yau manifolds, and the second half describes the construction of a special type of Gorenstein ring. The objects resulting from both constructions possess an internal symmetry; an open question is to find the mirror of a Calabi-Yau threefold constructed from a Gorenstein ring.