The Weekender: May 17 - 19

The weekend is in sight - we made it! And was that the sun we saw today?! Unheard of.

We’re looking forward to a weekend at home after some travel this week. The Farmers’ Market is calling our name on Saturday morning, and Tom doesn’t know it yet, but building a window box just might be in our future :) Here’s what else we’re hoping to fit in:

Have a great weekend!
Bri + Tom

P.S. In case you missed it, we chatted with Natascha Pearl-Mansman of Darling Doughnuts here!

Six Trends to Wear this Spring

The birds are chirping, the sun is peeking through the clouds and flowers are starting to bloom again. That means Spring is making its debut and with the change of season comes new fashion trends to try! Below are some of the most wearable trends that everyone can incorporate into their wardrobe for Spring 2019.

Sunshine Shades

Sunshine Shades: The colors you would typically see for the spring season are pastels like lavender, mint or blush. But this Spring, I’m seeing warmer tones like mustard, terracotta and orange. These “sunshine” colors are bold, happy and look great on just about any skin tone. Yellows especially are a stand out color that you will see in spring, summer and will continue into fall designs.

Practical Shorts

Neon

Practical Shorts: Say goodbye to booty shorts and say hello to Bermuda shorts! The runways are jam packed with shorts that are longer in length and it’s a trend that is comfortable and practical. For a chic work look, try pairing Bermuda shorts with a structured top or a blazer and your favorite pair of heels. For a weekend outfit, try longer length denim shorts with a simple tucked in tee and cute sneakers.

Neon: Neon brights were all over the catwalks for the new season and it’s a trend that you’ll see on a lot of celebrities. Lots of shocking pinks, electric yellows and sassy greens! If you’re on the fence about these highlighter colors, try wearing them in your accessories. Go for a neon colored strappy sandal or a bright clutch to stay on trend. I’m a fan of neon pink and I think wearing this color in my jewelry is the route that I’m going to take when I try this trend.

Utility Style

Utility Style: This is a big trend that you’ll see a lot this season. I love the classic “utility colors” like olive and khaki because they are very neutral and are easy to incorporate into your wardrobe. For this trend, think cargo pants and shorts, trench coats and boiler suits. A simple way to wear this style is to pair some utility inspired cropped pants with a simple cream tank and toss a khaki trench coat over the outfit to pull everything together. An effortless and timeless look.

Layered Necklaces: This is an easy trend to try because you can use what you have at home and stack them up! If you’re looking to buy some new layering necklaces, you’ll see a lot of coin inspired jewelry and necklaces that are adjustable so you can change the length yourself. Gold is very trendy, but feel free to mix your metals for an eclectic, on trend look.

Tie-Dye + Layered Necklaces

Tie-Dye: As soon as you bring up spring trends, your mind automatically goes to florals. Yes, florals are always a safe spring staple, but designers are mixing it up a little this year and throwing it back to the hippie era with the exploration of tie-dyes! It’s the season of color, so if you don’t like color, 2019 might not be the year for you! You don’t have to go crazy with every color in the rainbow in your tie-dye, but perhaps try two complimentary colors. Or, if you’re more daring, go all out and have fun with this throwback trend! I personally would leave the crazy colors to the younger crowd, but I might rock a subtle tie-dye maxi dress or simple tie-dye tee.

This wraps up my trend forecast for Spring 2019! This list was created to give you some fashion inspiration for the warmer months that we so look forward to! Don’t forget that fashion is supposed to be fun, so play around with the trends that call your name and always be unapologetically you! What fashion trends are you loving?

Maura Forcier is the owner of MinkyMink in downtown Glens Falls, NY - a boutique offering curated clothing & accessories at affordable prices.

Spring Fever Event!

To find all these great styles mentioned above and more join MinkyMink and these participating stores on Thursday, May 16 from 5-8pm …

Beauty Bubble
Finders Keepers Consignment
Fountain Square Outfitters
Lake George Olive Oil Company
LARAC
Milk & Honey
Northeastern Fine Jewelry
Rude Betty
Shine Style Boutique
Whisper Boutique
42 Degrees

… for a night of shopping, discounts and giveaways!! Every shop will offer a special or discount and serve refreshments. This is the time to shop in Downtown Glens Falls! Have some fun while supporting our city's small businesses! Details here.

My Glens Falls: Natascha Pearl-Mansman

This week, we’re catching up with Natascha Pearl-Mansman! If you’ve been lucky enough to make it to a Darling Doughnuts Pop-Up, you’re sure to recognize her (and you’re sure to be addicted to those sweet treats!). Read on to find out what downtown department store her Dad’s family owned, her go-to spot for breakfast with her husband, and what’s next for Darling Doughnuts!

Tell us about yourself!

Hello! My name is Natascha Pearl-Mansman. I’m an artist, wife, stay-at-home mama, and owner of Darling Doughnuts Artisan Doughnut Pop-Up Shop. 

On Life in Glens Falls

I grew up in Glens Falls and have lived here most of my life. Upon graduating from high school I felt like I needed to get out, move to a big city and see the world. I lived in Boston for almost five years, and even spent a summer semester in China! I didn’t truly appreciate all that Glens Falls has to offer until I left, and moved back home in 2010. My biggest complaint about big city life - it never got dark enough at night to see the stars! Glens Falls has all the perks of city life with a small-town feel, and in just a few minutes drive you can be in nature. Within a few hours drive you can be in Montreal, Boston, or New York City, but we have world-class attractions right here in our own backyard. 

Both my parents have spent most of their lives in Glens Falls as well, and we have a lot of family that lives in the area. My Dad’s family owned Pearl’s Department Stores which was in business from the 1920s through the 1980s, and they had a warehouse in the old WO building on Maple St. He collects historical architectural details, and I grew up in a house built in 1832 over by the Bay St Cemetery - it even still has thumb latch doors! Apparently the land the cemetery sits on used to be the fields of the person who built our house, and the surrounding homes were built for his children. I love seeing the preservation of our historical architecture around the city - I’m especially excited to see the restoration of that tiny home over on Culvert St! 

My husband and I rent a duplex apartment close to Downtown in Glens Falls with our daughter and our two cats. We’re in walking distance to shops, restaurants, schools, and parks, so I think we’re pretty well situated! Plus, my brother-in-law and his wife live upstairs so we couldn’t ask for better neighbors. My commercial kitchen space is only a few blocks away - at least I don’t have very far to travel when I’m pulling all-nighters making doughnuts! 

Some Glens Falls Favorites

My favorite thing about Glens Falls is all the events and activities we have throughout the year - from the LARAC and Zonta Festivals in the summer, to the Balloon Festival in the Fall, ice skating on Crandall Pond in winter, and Thursday Markets at the Shirt Factory starting up again in spring - there’s always something to do. We’re lucky to have a thriving arts community, and places like the Hyde Museum, the World Awareness Children’s Museum, the CR Wood Theater, and the Crandall Public Library to enjoy. I love seeing all the small businesses opening up and thriving downtown, it’s really come a long way since I was a kid. 

A Perfect Glens Falls Day

On days when I’m not working, I love to take my daughter out for a brunch date downtown, usually Rock Hill Bakehouse Cafe (now the Exchange Cafe) for soup and sandwiches (and a cookie, of course!), or Samantha’s Cafe - their bananas foster oatmeal is so yummy! Then after a nap, we’ll pack up the stroller and take a walk to Crandall Park or down the bike trail - and stop at Cooper’s Cave for ice cream (I love their ‘baby’ cone - it’s the perfect size for a little one!).

On the occasion that my husband and I are both off on the same day, we like to go out to Poopie’s Diner for breakfast (love their homefries and the Villa Bread toast!). Admittedly between owning my own business and being a mom, and my husband’s work and his band (Joe Mansman and the Midnight Revival Band) we don’t get many opportunities for date nights - but when we do I love to go out for margaritas at Raul’s, have dinner at Aroy Dee (I either order the chirashi sushi or drunken noodles) or Downtown City Tavern (sunnyside up egg on a pizza, yes please!), and catch some live music somewhere. 

On the Past

I still remember that epic snowstorm, I think it was ‘93 or ‘94 - we got almost 4 feet of snow and everything was shut down for the day. People were cross-country skiing down the road, and we had enough snow that we built an igloo in our back yard. I think it was that same year on my sister’s birthday that we caught a rare glimpse of the northern lights! A lot of people complain about the cold in upstate NY, but I love the changing of the seasons. When I’ve brought friends from around the country (and around the world) to this area they’re always blown away by how beautiful it is here! 

…and On the Future

I would love to be able to open a brick-and-mortar location for Darling Doughnuts at some point! I started my business after my daughter Clementine was born. My goal was to earn enough money working nights and weekends to make my monthly student loan payments so that we could afford for me to stay home with her. I’ve always baked for fun - I make awesome bagels, pretzels, and even fully-laminated croissants and pan au chocolat, but it was my husband Joey who finally convinced me to get over my fear of the deep fryer and try making doughnuts. I knew right away that I was on to something! Our area has a ton of great cider donuts (we even had some in lieu of cake at our wedding!), but is lacking in the kind of flavorful yeast-raised doughnuts that you can find in the big cities. Sometimes I wish I had chosen to make something less time and labor-intensive (they take 10-12 hours to make depending on the batch size), but the response has been incredible. I’ve sold nearly 5,000 doughnuts in my first year in business, and have had the opportunity to work with many great local businesses and organizations. I rent a shared commercial kitchen space in town, but have reached the point where the demand has exceeded my current production capabilities, so I’ll be keeping my eyes out for a brick-and-mortar storefront in the future! 

Anything else?

Starting May 16th you can find me at Thursday Markets at the Shirt Factory nearly every week til mid September! It’s great to see a building from Glens Falls’s industrial age reimagined as a space for artists and artisans to showcase their wares - and the food truck corrals are fun for the whole family!

Thanks, Natascha! We can’t wait to try the new Doughrogi!!

P.S. See more of our My Glens Falls series here.

The Weekender: May 10 - 12

Happy Mother’s Day weekend! It always feels like the official start to spring since it usually coincides with everything coming into bloom, and we couldn’t be happier to finally spot some color around here. The allergies, though, we could do without those.

In addition to stocking up on more allergy meds, here’s what we’re hoping to fit in:

Have a great weekend!
Bri + Tom

P.S. Looking for more to do? Check out Susan Siplon’s picks for Five Shows to See this Month!

Mother's Day Gift Guide

With Mother’s Day coming right up (this Sunday to be exact!), we’re rounding up just a few ideas that would make a perfect gift. There are so many great shops in the city that it’s easy to find a great gift and hard to include them all in just one post! We hope this helps get you started, and mostly, we hope it gets you downtown to do your shopping! :)

a sure bet

Flowers: Snipped from your lilac bush if yours blooms in time (or look for flowers at the Farmer’s Market!) - always a favorite!

FOR THE FOODIE

Olive Oil: Having great olive oil on hand always makes us feel like we’ve got it together in the kitchen. Lake George Olive Oil Company has an awesome selection, with traditional options as well as infused olive oil to add a little something extra. Not to mention the pretty new cutting boards and other home decor!

Spice Mix + Dip: Make her life a bit easier with Spice and Dip Mixes from Rachel’s Spice Company. And these might just go perfectly with the aforementioned olive oil - just sayin’!

Cookies: Need we say more? We’ve been eyeing The Muffin-Top Baker’s cookies for a while now, and this cookie bouquet would make the perfect gift. Get your order in via Facebook or Instagram for pick-up before Sunday (limited slots left!).

For the mom who prefers experiences over things

Mani + Pedi: A little relaxation and self-care never hurt anyone, and we love the idea of a gift certificate to Studio Bari to get her nails summer ready!

Mother’s Day Brunch: Whether it’s breakfast in bed or taking her out to eat, breakfast is always a win! If you don’t want to worry about making the quiche, take her out to brunch and let someone else do the dishes! Looks like Morgan and Co., Park 26, Davidson Brothers and more are open for Mother’s Day.

Dinner + A Show: Summer shows abound in Glens Falls (especially with Adirondack Theatre Festival coming up!), and a gift certificate for dinner out on a downtown patio followed by a fantastic show at The Wood Theater or The Park Theater would make the perfect pair.

for her Closet

Jewelry: She’ll probably want everything at MinkyMink, but the jewelry by Buffalo Bannon on the front table caught our eye!

Spring Jacket: Since jackets are necessary around here until ohhh maybe August, we love the spring and summer colors of Patagonia windbreakers at Fountain Square Outfitters - and so would she!

Handbag: Can you ever have too many bags? A question Tom asks all the time! Since the answer is no, Milk and Honey has a great selection!

Hair Scarves: The best accessory for spring and summer (and only $8!) at Beauty Bubble.

THE ClASSICS

A Card: We can’t think of anything more meaningful than a handwritten note telling her just how much she means to you. This pretty card at Rude Betty makes it easy.

Notepad: For her never ending to-do list. This Today (or Tomorrow) notepad from Made in Upstate NY at The Shirt Factory seems awfully fitting.

Soap: You can’t go wrong with Beekman 1802! Rude Betty has a great selection of their soaps (and the packaging is so pretty, you don’t need to wrap it!).

Truth is, we could’ve snapped photos of gift ideas downtown all day. So many great options to make Mother’s Day special, and supporting local businesses at the same time!

Happiest Mother’s Day to all the Moms, soon to be Moms, hoping someday Moms, dog and cat Moms, and all the special ladies in between.

My Glens Falls: Joseph Girard III

This week, we caught up with Joseph Girard III - JG3! He likely needs no introduction, as most of us were cheering him on as he and his Glens Falls High School Basketball teammates won the State and Federation Championships earlier this year. Read on to find out a bit more about him, including his favorite places to grab a bite to eat, what he’s looking forward to about college, and a few words of advice for up and coming basketball players.

Tell us about yourself! 

My name is Joseph Girard III and I am a senior at Glens Falls High School. I will be attending Syracuse University after graduation and will be playing basketball for the Orangemen. I will be leaving for SU on June 30th and taking classes over the summer while working out with my future basketball coaches and teammates. The SU basketball team will be heading to Italy in August for an exhibition tour and play in some exhibition games. I am looking forward to this trip! When I am not in school or playing basketball, I enjoy hanging out with my friends, playing video games and enjoying summertime activities like boating, tubing, hanging by our pool and miniature golfing.

On Life in Glens Falls

Glens Falls has always been my home. You can say I am a “local”… born at Glens Falls Hospital, live in Glens Falls and go to Glens Falls High School. My parents grew up in Glens Falls as well. My mom is a graduate of Glens Falls High and my dad attended St. Mary’s School in Glens Falls. I think it says a lot that they both went away to college (LeMoyne College in Syracuse) and returned home to start a career and raise a family. I believe many of us feel that Glens Falls is a community to be proud of and a great place to raise a family.

What I love about my neighborhood is that we are centrally located to the places I go to the most - the bike trail, walking distance to the YMCA and Crandall Park, walking distance to the School and Downtown Glens Falls. Although I say “walking distance”, I used to ride my bike all over with my friends, and now I usually drive!

What I love about Glens Falls overall is the community feel and support. It was an honor to play in front of so many supporters and community members during our football and basketball seasons. Playing in the Basketball Federation tournament to a sold-out crowd at the Cool Insuring Arena was incredible! We also appreciated all the people who came out for the Parade honoring the basketball team. Glens Falls community members support each other!

What I love about my school is that I have a lot of friends and know many kids from all grades. Our smaller class sizes and neighborhood schools allow students to get to know their classmates. It is also neat that many of our teachers and administrators are Glens Falls graduates. I like to hear their stories about how school was “when they were in our seats”.

Some Glens Falls Favorites

As a true basketball fan – one of my favorite things about Glens Falls is hosting the NYS High School Basketball Tournament and the Federation tournament. I grew up attending the tournaments at the Glens Falls Civic Center (now Cool Insuring Arena). My grandfather, Joe Girard Sr, was on the basketball committee (s) – so as a treat he would let me go with him to “volunteer” and help out. I especially loved when I missed school for it! I enjoyed watching players – like Lance Stephenson, Dajuan Coleman and of course, Jimmer Fredette. I remember wishing and wanting to have the opportunity to play in the tournament and be a State Champion one day. How ironic we won the State tournament in Binghamton this past March, the last year it was being held there before coming back to Glens Falls! I am so thankful my team and I made it to the Federation Tournament this past March to win the title in front of our home crowd!

A Perfect Glens Falls Day

My friends and I always seem to congregate around a basketball hoop or the football field. Going to the “turf”, our high school football field, to throw the ball around or the YMCA for basketball or a friend’s house to play mini-ball is usually the perfect day for me. For down time we play video games – Fortnite or Madden.

And then of course we eat! Some of our favorite spots are:

Talk of the Town – Buffalo Chicken Pizza is a must!

Angelina’s Pizzeria – pizza and wings

Sam’s Diner – breakfast

Recovery Sports Grill

O’Toole’s

During the summer – we spend a lot of time on Lake George – boating, tubing and maybe a little cliff-diving. Martha’s Ice Cream is always a must-do also.

On the Past

My parents tell me I was putting the ball in the hoop before I could walk. Apparently, I would crawl with the ball to make the shot in the basket on my Fisher-Price hoop. I never stopped…. as I grew bigger, so did the basketball and hoop. I could not wait to play on a basketball team. I started at the YMCA playing Saturday mornings when I was maybe five (5). I remember being so excited and made sure I had a basketball uniform to wear and basketball sneakers. When I was in third grade, my dad put together a Glens Falls team with me, my cousins and friends. We would play against other schools and go to small tournaments. It wasn’t until 7th grade that I played on a school team and played AAU basketball for Albany teams. My dad started teaching and coaching me at basketball and my grandfather would give me advice on how to better my game. I always strived to be a better player than both of them. Of course, Jimmer has been an inspiration and mentor to me. I grew up watching him play at Glens Falls and followed him at BYU, in the NBA and in China. He has been a great role model for me because he is humble, hard-working and dedicated. I have enjoyed our workouts together and appreciate his words of encouragement and advice on how to be a better all-around player.

My favorite high school moments were winning two (2) football state championships and a basketball state championship – the only ones in the School’s history.

On the Future

I chose Syracuse University because I felt it was the best fit for me. I built a strong relationship with Coach Boeheim and Coach McNamara and was comfortable with how they recruited me and made me feel a part of the team. I look forward to playing and contributing to the team. I plan to study Communications and Syracuse University has one of the top programs in this field -– Newhouse School of Public Communications.

While at school, I will miss my family and friends, for sure. I’ll have to find some favorite eating spots in Syracuse to replace the places I will miss here. But it is nice to know I am only a few hours away from home if I get a craving for something!

I am looking forward to getting to know my teammates and experiencing being part of a Division 1 basketball team. Like every college student, I will be adjusting to living on my own and taking care of things that I don’t necessarily think of now, but I am excited to grow as a person, a player and a student while at Syracuse University.

My goals at college and beyond is to help SU win a NCAA Championship, obtain a great education and play in the NBA.

Words of Advice for Up-and-Coming Basketball Players

Work hard and practice hard. Playing with older kids who were bigger and faster than me pushed me to work harder. If you set a goal for yourself – do what it takes to reach that goal. There will be sacrifices along the way – but trust me, it is worth it!

Thanks, Joseph, and good luck at Syracuse! We’ll all be cheering you on.

P.S. Check out our other recent My Glens Falls features here.

Five Shows to See in May

While spring is trying to find its way to Glens Falls, and leaves and buds are peeking out to see if it is safe, we have many reasons to come out of our homes to blossom. By listening to live music! Oh joy! There are so many choices in this area and I encourage you to add one or all of my recommendations to your calendar this month.

May 5 • Glens Falls Symphony • Glens Falls High School

It is amazing to have a world class symphony in our little city of Glens Falls. Truly something to celebrate and support. The Glens Falls Symphony season finale concert: Bernstein's Chichester Psalms and Beethoven's spectacular Ninth Symphony will be performed with a chorus of around 180 voices from local choral groups, including Adirondack Voices and Queensbury High School Madrigals and Concert Choir. There are still tickets (get yours here!) but it looks like they are going fast! It will be a true ode to joy!!

May 5 - Albany Pro Musica - Troy Savings Bank Music Hall

I would be attending the Glens Falls Symphony concert if I wasn’t singing on the same day with Albany Pro Musica! By far the best chorus I’ve ever sung with - we’ll be singing Mozart’s Mass in C Minor and a new commissioned work by APM Composer-in-Residence Ola Gjeilo. Two great options to choose from in one afternoon! Find more information here!

May 9 • Ustad Shafaat Khan • Crandall Public Library

Every Thursday I look forward to heading over to the library after dinner and popping in for the FREE concert series. I am amazed by the quality of the curation and how easy and accessible it is to attend. I have had a good amount of exposure listening to Indian music live - I lived in Fiji for a number of years where there is a large Indian population and sat for hours on a hard wooden bench during a wedding or puja and first heard the sounds of the sitar and tabla. I am looking forward to reliving some of these fond memories in the comfort of the library space listening to a world-renowned Indian classical musician, Ustad Shafaat Khan. I support world music performances in Glens Falls whenever I am able to as I value diversity and want to encourage more opportunities to open eyes and ears to the world. Music is a comfortable bridge that unites.

Ustad Shafaat Khan has performed all over the world and recently performed with Stevie Wonder at the world famous Bonnaroo Festival. And he’ll be right here in Glens Falls in the Crandall Public Library! Get the details here.

May 11 • Hui Cox and Laura Roth • Caffe Lena

When I first met Hui and Laura at Spector over a cup of coffee a few years ago, I understood why they were viewed as “celebrities” in Glens Falls. They are both so passionate about music and working together and they are fun and fabulous people! One of the highlights of my time at The Park Theater was having them perform there monthly. They put on a spectacular show and drew a loyal following. Laura has got a “show-stopper” voice and personality and Hui backs her with finesse on guitar. They will be celebrating the release of their new CD together “Karma Bound” at Caffe Lena and it will be a great night! Find all the details here.

May 17 • Traveler’s Tales • Hyde House

The Hyde Museum is one of my favorite spots to spend a rainy afternoon in Glens Falls. You can find me there a lot lately! I am excited to see it come to life theatrically as guests are lead through the museum and presented with tales of artwork from the perspective of guest characters. Art in the Public Eye is doing a fabulous job creating unique and enjoyable art opportunities for us to attend in Glens Falls! I’ll be at this one! More information here!

Susan Siplon is a singer, actor, artist and arts enthusiast who has been both on the stage and behind the scenes as a producer, festival director and venue manager. Susan recently moved to Glens Falls after living all over the country and in Fiji and New Zealand and has found the arts scene in this area to be one of the most vibrant and easily accessible that she has ever experienced.  

The Weekender: May 3 - 5

Happy Thursday! We’re weekend ready and it’s going to be a great one! Kentucky Derby, Cinco de Mayo, and hopefully some good old fashioned relaxing on the back porch (60s this weekend!). Here’s what we’re hoping to squeeze in:

Have a great weekend!
Bri and Tom

P.S. If you’re looking for a Sunday drive, how ‘bout a ride out to Granville? See some of our recommendations here.

End of the Line for Mile Track

There was a hint of grief in The Post-Star report on Nov. 21, 1919, that work would begin that day on demolition of the barns and grand stand at the old Mile Track on Upper Coolidge Avenue, between Dixon Road and Sherman Avenue, in Glens Falls. “The passing of the Mile Track will bring many memories … to sporting men in this section and in fact the whole country.”

The old One-Mile Track at Broadacres, west of Kensington Road in Glens Falls, where harness racing was held in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Photo courtesy of The Folklife Center at Crandall Public Library.

In its heyday, it was known outside Glens Falls in the harness racing world as the “Billiard Table Track,” for its smooth surface and speed. “The horses whose feet graced the track were the very peers of their species in this form of sport.”

Sixty-seven trotting horses set records at the track, “universally considered to be the fastest one-mile track in existence,” according to the 1908 book “Glens Falls – The Empire City.”

In 1897 – 1901, the Mile Track was a stop on the Grand Circuit of racing, putting Glens Falls in an elite league of cities that included Detroit, Cleveland, Fort Wayne, Indianapolis, Buffalo and the Bronx.

There was excitement when George Finch, president of the Northern New York Horse Breeders Association, received a letter that Glens Falls would be accepted into the Grand Circuit, provided necessary purses could be raised.

“A grand circuit meeting would bring a great crowd of money spenders to Glens Falls, and the town would be benefited financially,” The Morning Star reported on Feb. 10, 1897. “There is every reason to believe that the breeder’s association would also realize a handsome profit from the venture.”

Anticipation turned to reality and 335 horses were entered in the debut meet Aug. 17-20, 1897.

“Promptly at two o’clock starter Frank Walker of Chicago will ring up the horses for the opening event,” The Morning Star reported on Aug. 17, 1897.

Admission was $1 for “gentlemen” and 50 cents for “ladies.”

By 1901, the meet was losing momentum, and in 1902 local organizers pulled the plug when the Glens Falls meet was moved on the schedule from August to mid-September, coinciding with another prominent meet at the Empire Track in New York City.

Local organizers feared they would not be able to draw enough entries for the local meet to be feasible.

“This news will be received with extreme regret in town, since there was no one thing which advertised this place more extremely than the annual circuit meeting. It brought visitors from the length and breadth of the country,” The Morning Star reported on May 20, 1902. The track was not used and fell into disrepair. A Post-Star editorial on June 11, 1918 urged the community to brainstorm to come up with a new use for the Mile Track.

“Glens Falls, noted for its civic pride, ought not to allow these grounds and grandstand to fall into decay,” the editorial stated. “Grand Circuit racing may never return here, but this track would make an ideal place for athletic events of school or municipal nature.”

The grandstand was still structurally sound, and with a little work could be put back in good condition.

“Too many of us are prone to forget, as we dream of the glories of some bygone days, what it is possible to do in the present. … Glens Falls should find some way to save them for the use of the younger generation.”

But a way was not found, and the barns and grand stand were demolished, and the land eventually redeveloped for housing.

All that is left are antiquated newspaper reports of trotting horse John R. Gentry setting a world record and of M.J. Cassidy of Colorado, a man with no arms or hands, driving trotting horse Raymond M.

“Other famous horses of the day that won great laurels and who will go down in history of trackdom as among greatest of the great and who competed at the old Mile Track are Star Pointer, Royal R. Sheldon, Indiana, Bingin and many other too numerous to mention,” The Post-Star reported on Nov. 21, 1919.

Maury Thompson was a reporter for The Post-Star for 21 years before he retired in 2017. He now is a freelance writer and documentary film producer specializing in regional history. Thompson is collaborating with Snarky Aardvark Films to produce a documentary about Charles Evans Hughes and the Adirondacks, which is expected to release in 2020. See the trailer here.

My Glens Falls: Cristina Laubenheimer

This week, we’re chatting with Cristina Laubenheimer! If you’ve ever popped into Juicin’ Jar, you’re sure to recognize her. We were so happy to get to know her better, including where you’re likely to find her on a free Saturday morning, her go-to dinner spot, and her dream for a future home.

Tell us about yourself!

Hello! My name is Cristina Laubenheimer. I am the owner and operator of Juicin' Jar. I live in Queensbury with my fiancé Daniel (we recently got engaged on Christmas last year!). We live with our dog Riley and our two kitties Rosie and Ralphie. I love all types of food and enjoy making dinner for friends and family. Most of my free time is spent working on projects with my fiancé, getting outside, or making a meal and watching a good movie!  

On Life in Glens Falls

I am not originally from this area. My parents were born and raised in Long Island which is where I was born. We moved up here to the Ballston Lake area originally. We moved around a lot as kids and I ended up graduating from Schuylerville High School. My mom bought her house in South Glens Falls 10 years ago, where we planted our roots in the area.

I attended Adirondack Community College (now SUNY Adirondack) and transferred to the Paul Smith's ACE program where I studied hotel restaurant tourism management. Over the last ten years I have worked a lot in the area and met a lot of people throughout the years of moving around and through college.

My family is small but we all have found our home in this beautiful area. My oldest sister is now married and recently had our niece Eleana and my sister Nicole and I have been running the Juicin' Jar together for the past four years. My mom works for Glens Falls Hospital. My fiancé Daniel has a large family and was born and raised in Queensbury. We rent an apartment in Queensbury but are working and saving towards owning our own home, hopefully with some land where we can have horses and a small farm.

Some Glens Falls Favorites

My favorite thing about Glens Falls is the local small town charm. Each building, business owner, and street has so much character and charm. There are so many great places and events that happen. Summer is my favorite time of year with so many local events like Take a Bite, GemFest, and Wingfest. I’m sure people know, but the local community that makes up this city are very giving and involved people. There are many of us who support and see the full potential this city has and what it will become.

A Perfect Glens Falls Day

If I'm not at the Juicin' Jar (let's be honest, most of my time is spent there which truly does bring me joy to make people happy with delicious food!), my ideal day would be to wake up on a Saturday and go to the Glens Falls Farmers Market and pick up fresh produce and flowers. I’d make my way to a yoga class at Yoga Kayla where my sister Nicole is now an instructor! Or a restorative Yin Yoga Class at the Adirondack Salt Cave. My new favorite dinner spot is the Seasoned Restaurant that holds the culinary program for SUNY Adirondack. I love the gelato at the Lake George Olive Oil Co. For a special occasion, I will find the perfect dress at Minky Mink or any accessories or handbag at Finders Keepers Consignment. When I’m shopping for someone, I love Milk & Honey as they have the cutest baby clothes, nice trendy jewelry, and best smelling soaps and candles! Twice a year, Crandall Library hosts their book sale and you will find me there with three bags of gently used books! I am looking forward to trying the new restaurant [farmacy]!

On the Past

My favorite Glens Falls memory is the day we moved our business from South Street to Exchange Street. We had been on the search for the perfect spot for our business and from the kitchen to the outside patio, it has the charm that fits us perfectly. I have loved to see the changes that the perfect location makes for a business. I can hear my college business professor saying "location, location , location".

…And On The Future

I would love to see a larger parking area for the community! That is the number one thing I think tourists and the community need to be able to enjoy our beautiful city even more!

Thanks so much, Cristina!

P.S. Check out our other recent My Glens Falls features here.

Road Trip: Granville, NY

Have you taken a ride out to Granville lately? We went on a little day trip this weekend, and we can’t sing it’s praises enough. From the farms to the food to the friendly people, it’ll definitely be in heavy rotation for our Sunday drives this summer (especially since it’s only about 30 minutes from Glens Falls!). Read on for some favorites from our trip:

Dancing Ewe Farm

EAT + DRINK


Rathbun’s Maple Sugar House: We’ve been to Rathbun’s a few times during Maple Weekend, but we were never lucky enough to snag a table for breakfast during that busy season. Lucky for all of us, they’re open year round (!!) and we were so happy to cozy up in a booth for pancakes and french toast (…and eggs…and home fries…). It’s comfort food at it’s best, and you just can’t beat their maple syrup.

Edwards Market: I’m all about having a “second breakfast” on the weekend, but since we were pretty full from Rathbun’s, we settled on grabbing some sweets for the ride home. We spotted Edwards Market as we rolled through town, and loved the vintage inspired signage and of course, the mural on the side of the building. The charm continued inside, where we grabbed a few cookies for the road, and even got to try a sample of the danish - still warm and so good! Looking forward to trying the rest of the menu next trip, as well as their restaurant next door - West Main Grille!

Slate Town Brewing Company: We’ve heard such great things about Slate Town, and we couldn’t wait to check it out. The space has a super cool, casual vibe (we always love a great vintage rug and furniture), and of course, fantastic beer (two thumbs up from Tom for their Equinox IPA!). For those of us non-beer drinkers, they’ve got a great menu of local wines and hard ciders as well. And bonus - regular live music and food trucks, too!

SEE + DO

Dancing Ewe Farm: We lucked out with it being Fiber Tour weekend, and we loved visiting the sweet sheep (the adorable little lambs had us dreaming about buying our own farm!). They host lunch and dinner events throughout the year in the main barn, and we’re excited to make reservations for a dinner this summer - it looks like a dream!

Hicks Orchard + Slyboro Ciderhouse: Hicks is always a favorite for us in the fall, but we’ve been thrilled to see that they’ve been open here and there through the winter and spring! The Maple Glazed Cider Donuts that they’ve been serving up this season are to die for (we took half a dozen home!), and it’s always a must to visit (and feed!) the goats. Don’t leave without a cider tasting at Slyboro - or grabbing some to take home!

SHOP

Second Chance Barn: One of our favorites for vintage decor, we always love heading out to the barn to see what’s new. They’ve got a great (and always rotating!) selection of antiques, vintage furniture, old windows and doors, and basically everything you didn’t know you needed, but now you do. From vintage baskets in the summer to old sleds in the winter, we always seem to find something to bring home and give a “second chance”.

On our list for next trip: Shopping at The Gold Trout, and visits to the Slate Valley Museum and the Pember Library.

Until next time, Granville! We’d love to hear your Granville area favorites below!

P.S. If you’d like to keep up with future Glens Falls Living stories, we’d love to have you along for the ride! Sign up for our once a week email newsletter by entering your email address below.

The Weekender: April 26 - 28

Happy Thursday! How’s your week been? We’ve been savoring these sunny warm days with long walks and spending our afternoons working on the back porch. We’re crossing our fingers for more sunshine this weekend, because there’s lots going on! Here’s a few things to keep you busy:

Have a great weekend!
Bri and Tom

P.S. In case you missed it, the first featured wedding in our Celebrations series.

Just Married: George + Bethany Carpenter

We’re so excited to kick off our Celebrations section with a gorgeous wedding that took place downtown last spring. Read on to find out about the sweet proposal (loved this idea!), the beautiful venue they chose, and the one piece of advice they have for you if you’re planning your wedding!

Photography by Mindy LaVine

THE COUPLE - George and Bethany Carpenter

Tell us about yourselves!

George has been a Warren County Sheriff for the past 10 years. I am a 4th grade teacher at Big Cross Elementary school in Glens Falls. We just welcomed a baby boy named Paxton Thomas on March 23, 2019.

Where did you meet?

George and I met playing co-ed softball 5 years ago. We were on opposite teams and eventually became friends which turned into a relationship.

What do you two like to do together?

We like to play softball, go to hockey games, hang out with friends, play outside yard games and spend time with our new child.

What do you admire about each other?

I admire George's work ethic and kind heart. He is willing to help anyone out that asks for a favor. He is very loving and an amazing father. George admires my athleticism and great personality. He also likes the fact that I work with children and my patience.

THE PROPOSAL

We’d love to hear about the proposal!

George proposed to me on Easter in 2018. He set up an Easter egg hunt in our house and inside one of the eggs was a note that asked me to marry him. I was surprised but also had a feeling he was doing it that way because he isn't the best at keeping secrets.

The ring is absolutely beautiful. It was purchased from a friend who bought it through an estate. It originally had a diamond in the middle and a halo around the center diamond. George had it customized and took the diamonds from the halo to place around the band of the ring.

THE WEDDING - June 9, 2018

What was your favorite part (and/or the most challenging part) of the planning process?

Our favorite part of the planning process was being able to see our ideas come together. Every time we made a decision, it made the process even more exciting. The most challenging part was keeping the guest list under a certain amount. We have many friends but had to cut back due to the venue size.

What was the setting for your wedding?

The wedding was at The Queensbury Hotel. It was everything we could have hoped for. The food and staff were outstanding. We would recommend the venue to anyone who is thinking about getting married in the area. All of the new upgrades to the hotel made the venue very modern and beautiful.

What made you choose Glens Falls as the location for your wedding?

We wanted to stay close to home so that everyone that lived in the area could attend. We also love the look of downtown Glens Falls which is where we did most of our wedding pictures.

What was your color palette and style for the occasion?

The colors were blush, ivory and gold. The groom and groomsmen wore blue suits with pink ties. We wanted to keep the colors light and spring colors.

My gown was mermaid style and covered in lace. It had a blush layer underneath the lace to give it a little pop of pink. The bridesmaids dresses were blush as well and they were able to choose any floor length dress they liked. The flowers were pink and white roses with a lot of greenery. We wanted to keep the cake simple so it was ivory with roses and greenery as well. My mother, sister, and I made all of the center pieces. We had half of the tables with lanterns and the other half were tall vases with branches and roses.

How about your favorite moments from the day?

Our favorite moment of the wedding day was seeing each other for the first time as I walked down the aisle. We also enjoyed riding in the trolley after the wedding. We did not want the traditional limousine and had so much fun with the bridal party in the trolley. We also enjoyed taking pictures in downtown Glens Falls and in the middle of Glen Street.

And finally, one piece of advice for a bride-and-groom-to-be?

Our piece of advice for brides and grooms is to make sure that the day is about them and to take deep breaths throughout the day to reflect on what is going on. Like everyone says, the day flies by and it is important to step back for a moment and to take everything in.

Vendor Credits

Venue: The Queensbury Hotel
Food/Catering: The Queensbury Hotel
Cake: Gambles
Gown: Lily Saratoga
Hair: Brene Choppa
Makeup: Linette Cerrone
Photographer: Mindy LaVine (518-232-6395)
Florals: Adirondack Flower
DJ / Band: Cool Cat Entertainment
Ring Designer: Louis Jewelers
Transportation: Advantage Transit Group
Photo Booth: Queensbury Photo Booth

We’re looking forward to sharing the stories of engaged and newly married couples, births, milestone birthdays, retirements, and more.

Have a celebration to share? We’d love to hear from you! Contact us here.

My Glens Falls: Steph Rollo

This week, we’re chatting with Steph Rollo! As a registered nurse at Glens Falls Hospital for over 20 years, she’s seen quite the transformation in Glens Falls through that time! We were excited to find out what she loves about her job, how she hits reset after work, and the downtown shops she wishes would re-open.

Steph Rollo outside Glens Falls Hospital

Tell us about yourself!

My name is Steph Rollo and I have worked as a registered nurse at Glens Falls Hospital (GFH) for almost 21 years. I am a certified gastroenterology nurse (CGRN) and I am very active in our shared leadership structure at GFH. I love what I do. I go into work each day with a smile.

Being a nurse allows me to care for and interact with our community members. They are our neighbors, friends and families. I want to help take the best possible care of them. That can be in preventative medicine such as educating people about colon cancer prevention, for example. It can be helping to care for those who need treatment for existing health issues, actively participating in their procedures and recovery, as well as providing follow-up care.

Our mission statement at GFH is to improve the health of people in our region by providing access to exceptional, affordable, and patient-centered care every day and in every setting. As a nurse, I have had the pleasure of seeing firsthand the teamwork, pride, and genuine care that goes into what we do. I know the level of commitment that our nurses have for the care that we provide to our community and I am happy to be a part of that team.

It's pretty awesome when your work is also your passion. I’m very blessed to be able to do what I love.  

On Life in Glens Falls

I don’t live in Glens Falls, but I have lived in the area my whole life. I went to school in Lake George but Glens Falls is definitely my second home. More specifically, I guess the hospital is like my second home. Most of my family lives in the area as well.

I stay in this area because I genuinely love it and the sense of community that we have here. People go above and beyond to help each other. One of my close friends was new to the area and after running into several friends and people that I knew she asked me if there was anyone that I didn’t know. I don’t think that I have ever met a stranger and I can thank my parents for that. I love getting to know people and their “stories.” I’m fascinated by people. I love books and the stories within their pages, but nothing compares to real-life narrations and the richness of hearing people tell their stories. Thankfully, my profession provides me with countless opportunities to meet people.

I’ve seen such a positive transformation in Glens Falls over the last 15 years or so. There has been so much growth and new businesses seem to open up all of the time. Realtors and developers are recognizing the potential of Glens Falls.

I love the four seasons and the countless community activities that happen throughout the entire year here. The Wood Theater and The Park Theater are two great places to catch some live entertainment. Our area has been on the sports map for a long time with major teams considering our area as conducive to the development of their young players. Our family used to have season tickets to the Detroit Red Wings AHL affiliate, The Adirondack Red Wings. Many hockey players that were on their way up passed through our arena. As a result, many of the prominent athletes who spent time in our area, made it their home. When people come here, they stay here.

For me, this area will always read as home on my GPS.

While I do not own a home in Glens Falls, I have always admired and appreciated the vintage architecture, character and true hometown feeling that it has to offer. The buildings and homes each tell a story and add to the richness of our community. I love seeing people invest in older homes and renovate them to make them new again, while maintaining their character, heritage and history.

Glens Falls has a way of making you feel welcome and feel as if you are a part of things. I love that it is family-friendly and safe. I see our officers and rescue workers out and about daily making sure of it.

If you drive through town, you’ll see families spending time together, walkers and joggers, cyclists, and people with their dogs. We live in a very active area with plenty of fitness opportunities. We have area parks & recreation, The Adirondack Balloon Festival, concerts, Take a Bite, Taste of the North Country, the LARAC arts festival, the Glens Falls Symphony, vintage car shows, and so much more to enjoy. These are just some of the community events and activities that foster community connections. There is just always something to do.

Some Glens Falls Favorites

Glens Falls and our surrounding areas have such a uniquely strong sense of community. We rally around each other and support each other like no other place that I have seen. That’s my favorite thing about our area. When there is a time of need, people just lock arms and support each other. When we have local school activities and sporting events you will see family members, townspeople and local businesses all take part in the festivities.

Glens Falls is a town of traditions. One of my favorite annual events is the South High Marathon Dance. If you want to feel a palpable community pulse you cannot miss the way everyone pulls together to help local people, families and charities. Millions of dollars are raised by school kids, our community and the awesome businesses who contribute as well. That money stays in our community helping area people in need.

One hidden gem might be the Warren County Bikeway which offers over 18 miles of fun between Lake George and Glens Falls. It’s just another area activity that gets you outside and doesn’t cost you a penny to enjoy. That said though, I always tell people that mental health and physical health go hand in hand. So, go ahead and treat yourself to a little ice cream at one of shops while you’re at it.

A Perfect Glens Falls Day

My perfect day is usually one where I can hit the reset button, so to speak. I just like to take time to recharge and maybe do a little people watching while enjoying a hot tea or a latte.  My husband and I might take a wander through the Shirt Factory to check out local crafts, baked goods, food trucks and activities. Then, I would probably stop at a garden center (who am I kidding? …   probably a few) and grab-up some plants, trees and gardening supplies. I love spending time in my yard.

I always enjoy being home, sitting by a fire in my back yard, soaking up the sounds of nature. I like to watch my dogs play and spend time with family. My time is spent enjoying the natural attributes of the area. The beauty is that you don’t have to spend money to enjoy yourself here.

On the Past

Some of my favorite memories of Glens Falls center around the Adirondack Red Wings games and time with my family. Nights at the Civic Center brought people out no matter what the winter weather was.

As for favorite stores that I would like to see brought back, I really miss Downtown Charm and Muddy Boots Decor. They had some really cool vintage finds, chalk paint supplies and Pinterest classes with chocolate, wine and paint. I used to go there after work, with friends. The girls at the shops were always so much fun, too. If they announced that they were reopening, I could guarantee that I’d be right there to see it happen… and to get first dibs!

…And On the Future

I really think that our area is the package deal. The beauty of our region speaks for itself and there is so much to do. We have so many great restaurants, parks, bike paths, strong school systems, great local sports, and a fantastic library. I’m all for anything that promotes family time and strengthens our community.

I suppose if I could wave a magic wand the only thing that I’d ask for would be more time to enjoy what we already have.

Thanks so much, Steph! We could go for more time to enjoy what this area has to offer, too.

P.S. Check out our other recent My Glens Falls features here.

First Look: The Exchange

We know we weren’t the only ones who were bummed when we heard the news that Rock Hill Bakehouse Cafe downtown would be closing, and we definitely weren’t the only ones who were all the more excited when we learned that the cafe would live on under new ownership as The Exchange! After seeing the (super cute) new logo go up on the windows a couple weeks back, we couldn’t wait to pop in and see what was new.

We got to chat with the new owners, Sara and Chris Patten, and learned that Rock Hill had always been a favorite lunch spot for them. In fact, Sara had always wanted to open a cafe, but found it hard to justify since she would have just rather gone to Rock Hill to eat! :) We love that they kept the menu choices (and staff!) that made everyone love Rock Hill, while adding their own special touch. Sara’s love for cooking was easy to see, and she’s proud to offer a menu with a focus on fresh, quality food that makes you feel good (case in point: so many great salads and new dressings!).

The space is still cozy and welcoming, with new windows, updated decor, and fresh flowers adding a light and bright feel. And while the stage is gone (making room for some more seating!), it was fun to see that they kept the floor boards as decor for the wall! We hear they have even more renovations in store next year, and we can’t wait to see the changes they continue to make to the space.

So - the food! We grabbed a sunny table next to the window and quickly ordered the yogurt parfait (with honey, fruit, and local granola - so good!). I had to get the Rise and Shine Toast after seeing a photo of it on their Instagram (a drizzle of olive oil, hummus, avocado, tomato and an over easy egg on toast) - and it was everything I hoped for and more. Tom got the Veggie Breakfast Panini, and we spent the next 5 minutes passing it back and forth, fighting over who got the last bite (you can’t beat that perfectly toasted bread!). We couldn’t leave without sampling the soups (with a soup sampler, of course!), and the rumors are true - they are the best. Our favorite was the Broccoli Cheddar Tomato (we went back for more the next day!), but the Curried Cauliflower was amazing and for the meat eaters out there, the Buffalo Chicken smelled awesome. Also, they do catering and takeout. Backyard picnic anyone? Yes, please!

See you at The Exchange! We’ll be the ones eating all the soup. Oh! And they’re going to be open on Saturdays starting April 29 (in addition to Monday - Friday) - a new weekend brunch spot!

Sara Patten outside The Exchange Cafe

P.S. In case you missed it, a First Look at another new downtown restaurant - [farmacy].

The Weekender: April 19 - 21

Spring in the city - finally! Buds on the trees, tulips sprouting up, patios and porches opening downtown. There’s just an energy about the city in the springtime that we love, and we’re so happy it’s here.

This Easter weekend, we’re planning on potting some pansies for the porch, and spending lots of time with family. Here’s what’s doin’:

Have a great weekend!
Bri + Tom

P.S. In case you missed it, a go-to dessert recipe just in time for the weekend.

Recipe Swap: Coconut Creme Pie

When it comes to dessert, we’re huge fans of pie. And while we’ve (okay, mostly just Bri) mastered a great berry and apple pie, we’ve yet to find a winning recipe that will satisfy our pie craving when those aren’t in season. Looks like that’s all about to change! We’re thrilled to have our friend and neighbor Jen Gohn (who has her own blog called Pershing Road, by the way!) share her go-to Easter dessert recipe - Coconut Creme Pie!

Tell us about yourself, Jen!

I am a wife and mom to three amazing kids, two in college and one still at home. I live to care for my family and make our house a home. My husband and I were born and raised here in Glens Falls. We moved away and lived in Seattle for awhile many years ago but moved back right before our oldest child was born, having realized we didn’t want to raise our children anywhere else but Glens Falls! There’s nothing like the small town community living that we are blessed to have here!

The Recipe…

This Coconut Creme Pie recipe is one that I have been making for more years than I can count! I honestly have no idea where I got it from. I make it every year for Easter, and everyone loves it so much they have been convincing me to make it at Christmas also! Usually when I make it my girls stay close by and sample the filling, whipped cream and toasted coconut topping.

I think that this is a fairly simple pie to make, but I also bake all the time. Some people are intimidated by making a custard, as you have to be careful to temper the eggs so they don’t become scrambled! It’s really very easy to do! You bake the crust on its own, prepare and cool the custard, make the whipped cream, and then assemble everything when cooled. I only make Martha Stewart’s Sweet Pie Crust for all of my pies, but you could certainly use a store bought crust and cut the prep time way down!

Coconut Creme Pie

3/4 C sugar

3 eggs

2 egg yolks

4 1/2 Tbsp flour

3/4 C milk

3/4 C coconut milk

1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 tsp coconut extract

1 1/2 C sweetened flaked coconut

Topping:

2 C whipping cream

3 Tbsp sugar

1/4 tsp coconut extract

3/4 C sweetened flaked coconut

1 pie crust, baked

Whisk together first four ingredients in a medium sized bowl. Heat two milks in a saucepan over medium heat until tiny bubbles form around the edges. Slowly add to egg mixture while whisking to temper the eggs. Put combined mixture back into the saucepan and whisk constantly until thick and bubbly. Remove from heat and pour into a bowl. Stir in the extracts and coconut. Cover with plastic wrap placed right on top of the custard mixture so a ’skin’ does not form and let cool completely. Once cooled, spoon into prepared crust; cover and chill eight hours or more.

Whip the cream, coconut extract and sugar together to your preferred consistency. Fold in coconut and top the chilled pie before serving. If you like, you can sprinkle the top with toasted coconut.

And a few lightning round questions…

A favorite cookbook?

I love all of Barefoot Contessa’s cookbooks and I also love The America’s Test Kitchen Family Cookbook.

A must have item in your kitchen?

Couldn’t live without my Kitchen Aid stand mixer or my Le Creuset Dutch Oven!

A favorite local spot for sweets when you don’t feel like baking?

Gambles Bakery mini danish and crumb cake are a family fave. Silo donuts, Sweets by Marisa’s Cupcakes, and Lake George Baking Company, too!

Thanks so much, Jen!

P.S. Another favorite from our recipe swap - blueberry crumb cake.

Have a recipe of your own you’d like to share, or a cookbook favorite that’s too good to keep to yourself? We’d love to consider it for a future feature! Send us a note here or email us at hello@glensfallsliving.com.

My Glens Falls: Ray Fisher

This week, we’re excited to chat with Ray Fisher! We first connected with Ray after discovering his Instagram account, where he shares his beautiful photos of Downtown Glens Falls. We were thrilled to learn a bit more about him, including his favorite spot for ice cream, and the one place he’d love to photograph a sunrise from.

Photo courtesy of Ray Fisher.

Tell us about yourself!

I’m Ray Fisher, a photographer and dad to 3 amazing little girls and a baby boy.

On Life in Glens Falls

I've lived here most of my life, except when I was very young and a 2 year hiatus in Florida.

I came back to Glens Falls because I've lived here so long that a lot of my friends still live up here, not that I didn't make great friends in Florida (miss you guys). but friends are one of the most important things to me and I've been lucky to have some great ones. 

I stayed in Glens Falls because I fell for my wife (I knew her a long time before that, but we both grew up) and we had our first munchkin. My family is my entire world and everything I do now is to hopefully create things they can be proud of.

We rent a house in the city, just makes more financial sense right now. And honestly, I just love that my neighborhood has a park within walking distance - it really helps keep the kids busy in the summer.

Some Glens Falls Favorites

My favorite thing about Glens Falls has to be the aesthetic. I'm a visual person and just the fact that I can walk down the street and see an old Gothic church, walk a few blocks and see some old buildings with old iron fire escapes, old houses with their own personality, go walk around an old cemetery, and then walk around the woods (I know Cole's Woods is technically Queensbury but eh I still walk them).

A Perfect Glens Falls Day

Honestly, my perfect day in Glens Falls would probably be waking up super early, going out and getting some nice sunrise shots hopefully from someplace elevated (I've been wanting to get on top of the Traveler's Building forever). Then come home, wake up my kids, go outside and let them play for a while. Then we all go get ice cream at Cooper’s Cave because I am a sucker for mixing all those soft serve flavors. Then take ‘em all to the movies assuming something we want to see is playing. Then after we tuck them in, leave the kids with grandma and go take some night portraits of my wife out and around town. Yeah, that sounds like a pretty good day.

Photo courtesy of Ray Fisher.

On The Past

I have a loooooot of memories of Glens Falls, but one of the best has to be when I was around 11, my mother used to work at East Field when the Lumberjacks still played here. She would bring me to work, so I got to watch the teams warm up, plus I would always walk around under the bleachers looking for foul balls (I found like 30). Then one day just to put the icing on the cake, I won a raffle they had to win a ball autographed by the entire team! I know it wasn't any big team or anything, but it was great. 

As for a favorite store I miss two things - the first is Jolly John’s, my mom used to take me down there to get fried clams like once or twice a month. I walk by the building everyday, and it still brings back memories. The second is the original spot for Dirty John's (New Way Lunch) - not that the new spot isn't great, I still eat there like all the time, it's just nostalgia.

…And on The Future

As for the future, honestly if I could bring one thing to Glens Falls, it would be one giant creative space for every creative mind we have in this area to get together, talk, collaborate, create, and just be around other creatives. All for free (or at least affordable enough for everyone) with spaces and equipment for photographers, videographers, artists, musicians, and any creative project to just be able to come together and work on creating. We are lucky to live in an area with as much artistic support that we have, but there are still some barriers that are difficult for some people to overcome - musicians have a hard time finding a space to practice, high school students can't afford studio space, that kind of thing. I just want to take the starving out of starving artist.

Honestly, this area is just a great place to raise a family - no hurricanes, no tornadoes, lots of snow, beautiful lakes and mountains within driving distance. As a photographer, I am very lucky that I live here, but as a father I feel pretty good about sticking around.

Thanks so much, Ray, and congratulations to you and your family on your new baby boy!

See more of Ray’s work here.

P.S. Check out last week’s My Glens Falls with Sarah Mosher here.

Balance and Beauty

Balance. Work and family. Spouse and children and parents. Time and money. We spend a tremendous amount of time trying to balance them all on the scales of life. Do we ever feel there is a thumb on the scales? A thumb applying pressure that perpetuates imbalance? Maybe it’s the same thumb we use to unlock our phone. Maybe, just maybe, we can’t find our balance because we are so incredibly wired in, so cyber-connected that the scales are always skewed towards some other thing that our devices tell us to go to, be at, take care of (….you are reading this online, aren’t you?).

We do need to spend some of our lives online; our world is simply put together that way. But shouldn’t there be a life balance waiting to be struck between wired and real? To find that balance sometimes we need to truly disconnect. Not think about it, not just want to (but need to keep my phone with me), nor maybe tomorrow I will, nor it-might-be–nice-to-do-but-only–right-after-I-finish-reading-these–next-few-posts. We need to disconnect in order to balance; to truly connect with our world - eye to eye, spoken word to word, breath to breath. To be where things live.

That balance can be struck a step out our door. We live here, in a magical place where we are always five minutes away from deep quiet, from a calming breeze brushing our cheek, from the snap of a twig underfoot. The place where our whispered voice gets a response not from Alexa, but from a cardinal or an owl. Where we can then head indoors and, alone in front of “Christ with Folded Arms”, examine every brushstroke as if standing next to the artist himself and see some minute exquisiteness our screens would hide from us. Connected then to Rembrandt (!), just you and he, in a way that Instagram only pretends we can. Or yes, we can hear Bach as Bach heard it, pouring out from the breath and emotions of a musician in cascades of real humanness, sharing a sublime something drawn from a lifetime of diligence and understanding.

These things are so good, so indispensable to us because they are taken in live and are alive. The woods, the lake, the art and the music grow and change in front of us and we are part of that growing and changing. It is a world in which we have a part to play. Our part is to live in this world; one very real and very present.

So, go ahead, tap ‘shut down’. And go find real. This informative and lovely site will still be here when you come back. But it will be a much better read for you having found your balance.

Having served as the Music Director of the Glens Falls Symphony since 2000, Charles Peltz is a proud resident of our vibrant Glens Falls community.  Dividing his time between Glens Falls and Boston, where he is Director of Wind Ensembles at the New England Conservatory of Music, Maestro Peltz brings to Glens Falls a wealth of musical expertise.

Join The Glens Falls Symphony on May 5 at 4pm for the close of their 2018-19 season with Bernstein's evocative "Chichester Psalms, followed by the season's spectacular Grand Finale, Beethoven's triumphant Symphony No. 9. More information and tickets here.

The Weekender | April 12 - 14

Hey there! Happy (almost) Friday! What are you all up to this weekend?

It’s supposed to be 70 on Saturday, and a ride in the ol’ Wagoneer is definitely in order (if we can get it to start!). That, and the raking that we never finished up last weekend. Here’s what we’re hoping to get to after we power through that yard work…

Have a great weekend!

Bri and Tom

P.S. In case you missed it, a new date night spot downtown.